Limited Edition Schedule for the rest of the year!

July 7, 2010 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

it’s long overdue…but the much awaited calendar is being released!

Summer Nights: july 13-16
golden light, vintage feeling romantic tones…think tall grasses, golden sun –8pm sessions.
65.00 session and receive a 4×4 stone tile as our special gift.

Christmas in July: july 20-23
why be rushed to do Christmas photos in the height of the xmas crazies? take advantage of the beauty of summer, tan and fit, and RELAXED! late afternoon or early evening session available…
65.00 session includes 24 4×5 folded cards or 24 5×7 flat cards.

Game On: july 27-30
perfect for the sports enthusiast…black and white and everything sports illustrated-like!
especially for kids, this 65$ session includes a personalized aluminum water bottle perfect
to quench the thirst of your athlete.

Anti-School Pictures: august 31-sept. 3
who needs boring and normal? let’s rock the school clothes and get a cool personlized lunchbox in the deal? 65.00 session fee, includes the lunchbox.

Urban Princess meets Sk8ter boy: sept. 14-18
personality tween session: funky fashions…a little bit of attitude, added to urban settings, this is a sure winner with your tween. this session comes with 40 friendship cards with your princess or sk8ter can share with their friends. 65.00 session fee includes the friendship cards.

The Box Sessions: october 5-8
designed specifically for the family wanting ‘out of the box’ fun…something creatively crazy but OH SO FUN! 24-4×5 folded cards or 24-5×7 flat cards are included with the 65.00 session fee.

Believe Angel: october 18-24
always one of our most popular limited editions..this books out almost immediately! 65.00 provides you with the greatest 3 set accordian fold mini books…think xmas present for each of the grandparents, and you get one too!

Home for the Holidays: november 23, 24. and 26
now that everyone is home to share the thanksgiving turkey, isn’t it hte right time to get that family portrait done? 65.00 session that includes a cd slideshow of the images to enjoy after the family has gone their separate ways again.

All About Me: dec. 14-17 ( will NOT be delivered before xmas)
this session is designed to show the ever changing charm and personality of your child. the images from this session will go into an album that will incorporate answers from a questionaire for you to complete with your child prior to the session. their questions and responses will be woven throughout the album. 75.00 session fee includes the 5×5 10 page album.

ONGOING LE’S:

splish splash: anytime it’s raining!
bring your rain boots and a fun umbrella and let’s sing and dance in the rain! just remember to bring a towel to dry off with…
65.00 session includes a 5×5 personalized decorative door hanger print.

look at me: for those turning one

perfect for the landmark moment of the first year of your child’s life…receive a 10×10 circles print with your $65 session fee.

a WONDERFUL blog post by photographer Ajaton Joki

June 21, 2010 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

as more and more photographers are entering the market place, it is confusing as a consumer to wade through them all…

do you go by price?  experience?  eye?  and who’s to say that any of that will give you the RIGHT photographer for you?!
this is a PHENOMINAL blog post by photographer Ajaton Joki…it has been kept in its entirety, and the images are HERS not mine.
i hope that her words are able to help you to make a more informed decision when searching for the right photographer for YOU!
living life artfully,

heather

———

Are All Photographers the Same?

June 17, 2010

A question I am asked frequently is why photographers charge what they do.  There is such a discrepancy in prices – and those shopping purely on price alone are nearly always going to go the least expensive route.  But is that the wisest decision?

One phrase I hear a lot is, “it only costs 10c to make a print – so why do you charge so much?”  And if the value of the image was only the print paper cost itself, that would be a valid question.  But then again, a lawyer makes several thousands and all they produce is paper worth less then a penny.  So why do we pay lawyers upwards of 100 euros an hour?

The easy answer is that an experienced photographer – one who has spent years studying the craft, honing skills, and perfecting style, is going to give you a much better image than the beginner who is simply clicking a shutter button.  If clicking the shutter is the only parameter of a professional photographer, I’d like to offer the services of my 7 year old – she takes great pictures (everyone says so!) and I’m happy to hire her out for $200 for a disk of images.  She’ll be happy too – she’d love a new Lego Star Wars set.  But why pay $200 for my 7 year old (or a beginner photographer) when you can just have the grandparents click the button instead – and for free?

I could make this post longer by summing out costs of being a photographer:  VAT/taxes, insurance, business development costs, time, software, equipment, the desire to not work for free for other people …….  but really, I would think that most would recognize there are obvious costs behind owning any business.  Would you really feel you were saving money if you hired a lawyer who had no formal training or education but who felt they would be good at winning lawsuits because they saw someone do it on TV?

The parallel is true since many photographers are encouraged by friends and family (would you tell your best friend that the image she shot and is so proud of has a kid in dappled light and a telephone pole sticking out of his head with a white balance so off that he is practically blue?).  Similarly, many photographers are not licensed business owners – so if you get charged for poor portraits, you have no recourse.  I would love to charge less – and certainly my photography business isn’t going to buy me a Lexus.  But at the same time, it is frustrating to be legal, pay taxes, and yet lose customers to those operating illegally.

Truly:  professional images comprise a lot of factors – otherwise, why would you hire someone to photograph your children if you could just do it yourself?  Composition, metering, focus, white balance, skin tones, light in the eyes, pose, post processing….. these are skills that take time to develop.  And the difference in quality should be fairly obvious if you compare portfolios.

Which always leads to the next question:  “It’s just the camera, right?”  And that one hit kind of home for me.  One day last year, my sister told me she wanted to take images of her family and have them be as good as mine – so she asked which DSLR she should buy.  I answered her honestly:  unless you are going to shoot in manual modes (not auto) and learn ISO, F-stop, Shutter speed, spot metering, etc, she could spend thousands and thousands and not have as good images.  Good images are about using the equipment and reading the light correctly – neither of which can be obtained in AUTO by clicking a button.  If you don’t believe me, go ahead and spend thousands.  But also be prepared to admit that it’s not the camera, it is the artist BEHIND the lens, that is making the creative and beautiful portraits.  And as for my sister? She bought a prosumer and not a DSLR and has been very happy since.  And saved quite a bit of money in the process.

It really isn’t about the camera.  When the light is read correctly, the right F-Stop is chosen, and sound post processing is applied, this unassuming location:

Becomes this professional portrait:

One thing I really find interesting is that people will buy Coach purses, fancy flatscreen TVs, expensive toys and sets for their children, and all manner of luxury goods that have maybe a 1-2 year lifespan.  But when it comes to professional portraits, which will last a lifetime, they base the decision purely on price.  I’m not sure at what point children and family become less important than a fancy purse.  But I can tell you that those who purchased high quality portraits have a beautiful reminder of a time that has past – and those portraits are still hanging or displayed while the purse has long since been thrown away.

Sure, parents can choose to purchase inexpensive photography based solely on price.  Not everyone can afford the price of a good photographer and the compromise often is quality.  But I truly hope and encourage buyers to really consider what they are buying and why – and not to choose solely on price.  Your memories do not have a price tag and once this moment is gone, you forever lose the chance to have hired a true professional to beautifully capture your family.

Choosing the best you can afford will always be the best advice given to anyone looking for quality professional portraits.  As with anything hand-made and requiring an artistic eye, those who produce quality work often charge more – it compensates for the amount of time they have spent learning and perfecting their art.  Choose not based on price – but on how the photographer expresses themselves – and how that will translate into your family’s portrait work.  Choosing based solely on price is saying that all photographers are the same – and that really isn’t true.

Sure, price may not always reflect skill.  That’s where a buyer’s judgment and comparison of portfolios come in.  But it is a good bet that a lot of the cheaper photographers will disappear in a year as they realize they are actually losing money and working for nearly free.  And that is also a concern because they may not have an interest in protecting or archiving your photos.

just a reminder of our ‘true bliss program’

June 16, 2010 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

we introduced this right before thanksgiving and have had QUITE  a few people take advantage of it…just thought i’d remind others of it in the event that they were not aware it exists!  no hidden costs or fees…purchase what you want at regular prices, but receive 15% off all images that go into the album!

contact heather at 605.886.8858 for more information…

hope everyone is out and enjoying the beautiful day today!  i am enjoying it through an open studio door…

living life artfully,

h

MATILDA JANE TRUNK SHOW STARTS THURSDAY!

June 7, 2010 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

MATILDA JANE TRUNK SHOW IS COMING THIS WEEK!!

whoo hooo–

“From school time, play time, party time to anytime; the world of girls
…reminds me of Matilda Jane. Every last one of them, unique, full of
color and always unpredictable.”

thursday 10-6pm
friday 10-6pm
sat. 10-4pm
sun. 10-4pm

with outfit purchase receive a FREE limited edition session designed specifically for the matilda jane clothing!

contact heather at 605-8868-8858 with any questions.

feel free to invite your friends…let’s spread the word and make this a HUGELY successful event!

our fresh faces winners have been announced!

May 17, 2010 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

first of all…CONGRATS to everyone that entered!  i think it was a fun contest, and i think EVERYONE did a FANTASTIC job…you all were a true joy to work with.

we do have to announce the winners of each category:  da da da daaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

the winners are;

maternity:  image 42

in the baby category:

image number 31

in the child category:

image number 6

and a bonus category:  family

congratulations to our winners and also to all that entered.  i will be contacting all of you about the model releases, as well as other pertinant info!

thanks again!

living life artfully,

h

OOOPS! i GOOFED! you have 1 MORE WEEK to vote for the fresh faces!!

May 8, 2010 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

i’m so excited to start working on our advertising that i almost clipped our contest short a week! yikes!

you have until sunday MAY 16 to vote for your favorite…so KEEP THE VOTE GOING!

sorry for the confusion!

h

only 3 more days to vote for your Fresh Faces favorites!

May 7, 2010 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

remember, voting ends sunday night at midnight…so now is the final push for your favorites!  the winners will receive a 10 image brag book as well as be prominently displayed in our advertising and marketing pieces…

so, rock the vote people and choose your fav’s!!

good luck to all,

h

our annual one day only senior portrait special!!

April 29, 2010 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

Matilda Jane Trunk Show and Limited Edition scheduled June 10-13

April 29, 2010 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

incredible article regarding custom PROFESSIONAL photography-how to educate yourself as a consumer!

April 28, 2010 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

http://www.professionalchildphotographer.com/information/

great article written about custom PROFESSIONAL photography…to our customers. this is not an article i have written-it’s worded so much better than i could!

in this day and age of everyone having a camera and calling themselves a photographer, our clients and customers need to be more savvy in their search for ‘the… photographer’ for them. spend wisely once…have no regrets!

consumers nowadays have TONS of photographers to choose from: from the very inexpensive to the most expensive.  this series of articles does a wonderful job of explaining the differences and WHY photographers choose the pricing that they do.  it breaks my heart when i hear of people being so disappointed with images done by inexperienced or little experienced people calling themselves photographers and CHARGING money for what often times appears as nothing more than a snapshot that anyone could take.  lighting, posing, background, depth of field all play such a LARGE part in the creation of an image, and without education, experience, and understanding of body and facial structure, images can often times be not very flattering or appealing.

please take a few minutes to read the linked articles and educate yourself so that you spend your time and money wisely…it’s all about being smart these days!
as always…

living life artfully,

heather

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