How Crop Affects Your Photos | Angie Hollenbeck Photography | Lacey/Olympia Area Family Photographer

Today I wanted to take a minute to explain how choosing a photo size may affect your photograph. When you choose a size, please remember specific sizes will affect the eshetic of your photograph. Depending on what size you want (more likely than not) a portion of the photograph may have to be cropped.

My camera (which happens to be a DX) naturally captures (crops) photographs in the ratio of 4x6 (8x12/16x24)...so naturally those are the sizes that work "best" with my photographs. My goal during a shoot is to allow some space around the subject to allow for cropping since the most popular sizes tend to be in the ratio of 4x5 (8x10/16x20/etc).  Below are examples of how cropping will affect a given photograph.

The photograph on the left is the "original". This is the 4x6/8x12/16x24 (and so on) ratio. You will notice that there are no body parts cropped out whatsoever. For the photograph on the right, I have cropped the above photograph to the equivalent of an 8x10. Notice how their feet are starting to get cropped out? That is how your photograph can be changed. Granted, the main focal point is still included...there is still noticeable change. 

Here is another example. Again the first is a 8x12 crop and second an 8x10 crop. Its amazing how much more "boxy" the 8x10 looks, isn't it?

 

Also keep in mind that FX cameras are a completely different ball game. This is just a quick guide for my clients as well as photographers that are currently using a crop.

Snow Globes Here, Snow Globes There... | Angie Hollenbeck Photography | Lacey/Olympia Area Photographer |

So the past few days these ADORABLE images kept popping up on my Facebook page of photographs inside snow globes. I did a little tracking and found this adorable Facebook page called The Sleeping Willow where the template was created. I adore anything holiday and immediately jumped at the chance to try it out and offer it to my clients! Here are a few samples of these adorable creations!

Please contact me to book a Snow Globe Session! 

angie@angiehollenbeckphotography.com

www.angiehollenbeckphotography.com

{H} Family Sneak Peek | Angie Hollenbeck Photography | Lacey/Olympia Area Photographer

This morning I woke up to yet another dark and rainy day. I stalked the weather channel just to see (much to my dismay) that the rain would be here ALL day. I headed out to downtown Olympia with my fingers crossed that the rain would hold out just long enough to capture a few photos for this sweet family...and it did! We dealt with light rain off and on but managed to get a few cute shots. And let me tell you, Mr Jeremiah made me work for each of these shots! ;-)  Thanks to the {H} family for allowing me to photograph your adorable little family. Oh, and might I add, they did so stylishly! ;-)

The Gold Hope Project | Angie Hollenbeck Photography | Lacey/Olympia Area Family Photographer |

I have been meaning to blog about this for a few weeks now. I am so honored and proud to be a participating photographer in The Gold Hope Project. Have you heard about it yet?

"The Gold Hope Project is a group of photographers that have come together to capture the moments that your family holds so dear to their heart. Some of us have been touched by the presence of cancer, and some have not, but we have all been given a gift that we would like to share with you."

One of the most important things that we can do is to spread the word. It is vital to raise awareness only about the project itself, but about childhood cancer as well. Although the odds of a child beating cancer have increased significantly over the years, it is still a continuous fight. My job as a participating photographer is to provide a few moments of fun (while incorporating gold into the session) and providing photos to the fighter's family to last a lifetime.

If you are a photographer or vendor, please consider applying to become part of this fantastic organization. All others, please spread the word! Visit TGHP's website:  http://goldhope.weebly.com

{P} Family Sneak Peek | Angie Hollenbeck Photography- Lacey/Olympia Area Family Photographer |

Introducing the {P} Family!

This adorable little family endured the brisk Washington morning and spent it with me! I had an absolute blast and I am so thrilled they allowed me to photograph these moments! And can I say- can you believe how great this mama looks!? She only has a few more weeks until the newest member of the family arrives! Here are a few of my favorites from the session!

Holidays....Ummm, Yay! | {ahp} | lacey/olympia area photographer |

I adore fall. The colors, the smell of apples, leaves blowing around, the festivals and pumpkin patches...I could go on and on. Simply said, it makes my heart warm! It is also the time of year that stores turn into Hallothankstmas! (Yes that is a lovely (completely made up) compound word rooting from Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.) You know what I mean...you walk into good ole Target to find Halloween hugging Christmas...with a pinch of Thanksgiving somewhere in between. It is almost too much for me to handle...who does not LOVE holidays!? As a child I could hardly contain myself when each holiday rolled around. As an adult...there are definitely differences. Instead of worrying about what waits for me under the tree, I now have to carefully budget and plan and create the gifts that those closest to me will cherish. In all of the hustle and the bustle...we lose the magic of the holidays and forget about what it means to truly bring simple JOY to others.

Holiday portraits and Christmas cards have lost their importance somewhere between childhood and now. We rely so heavily on sending e-cards and generic well-wishes on Facebook that we have forgotten about what it feels like to open a Christmas card with the faces of those whom you adore plastered upon it. After opening that card you feel a sprinkling of holiday spirit...and you happily hang it up for all to see. We now assume that everyone knows how we are doing and what our kids look like because Facebook is there to do the work for us.

With October slowly winding down, I wanted to stress the importance of getting those holiday photos done and ordering those cards. I don't care if you book with me or another photographer, have a friend snap a shot, or stick your camera on a tripod... just make it a point to get out there and do it! There is no replacement for that bit of holiday spirit that is delivered along with your cards. Not to mention that in a few years down the road, Facebook will not display your memories proudly on your wall.  The best part of this advice? You still have PLENTY of time before things get crazy...so get on it!

P.S. Those who are considering it but have not yet done so...if you book a holiday session with me between now and December 20th, I will give you the choice between a FREE 11x14 (a $45.00 value) or 25 holiday cards (up to a $50.00 value)!

The fine print:  This must be on a newly scheduled session and cannot be combined with any other discounts or offers.

{R} Family Session | Angie Hollenbeck Photography | Lacey/Olypmia Area Photographer |

This family is super special to me and I had a blast capturing these moments! It was the perfect night for a session and I think that these photos truly represent my style as a photographer...just saying that gives me the warm fuzzies inside! Here are just a few of my favorites! There were SO many to choose from.

{L} Couple Shoot Sneak Peek | Angie Hollenbeck Photography | Lacey/Olympia Child, Couple, & Family Photographer |

Last night was the perfect night for a couple's shoot! We spent some time out at beautiful Chamber's Bay and took advantage of all the cool spots that it has to offer. These two are super cute...and I think they compliment each other perfectly! As always, Mr. L was not nearly as excited to be there as his lovely wife, but he was a good sport none-the-less! Here is a sneak peek of the session!

{M} Family Sneak Peek | Angie Hollenbeck Photography | Lacey/Olympia Child, Couple, & Family Photographer |

Being a military spouse, I understand the importance of family photos, especially pre-deployment. I believe that photos tend to make us feel a bit more connected during the months apart. I was so excited that the {M Fam} trusted me with their precious family moments! I always realize going into a session that with multiple kiddos keep me on my toes, and these little busy bodies were no exception! We headed out to Priest Point Park in Olympia to take these shots...and the rain just missed us! Here are just a few of my favorites from the session. 

 I offer $50.00 off to families and couples facing a deployment as well as 10% off products. 

To schedule a pre-deployment session, please contact me at: angie@angiehollenbeckphotography.com

Sneak Peek! {S, T, & M}

Oh my goodness! So this evening I had the opportunity to photograph a fabulous little family that happens to live just a few doors down from me! I was excited going into the session because it was out in Rainier and on a horse farm...and I am a country bumpkin at heart! Little Miss M was full of life and oh my goodness how I love that red hair! Here are a few of my favorites!

HYPOCRITE | Angie Hollenbeck Photography| Lacey WA Photographer

 It is a few weeks before my senior year of high school. I have the world at my feet. I am a good student, I have great friends, and I am looking forward to getting the heck out of my small town frame of mind. The phone rings one Saturday (err Sunday?) morning and suddenly things start to spin. It was Liz (one of my close friends) and she tells me that a friend of ours has fallen out of the back of a pick-up truck and didn't make it. 

WHAM- my whole view on life suddenly changes.

  At first I experience anger, shock, confusion...the usual stuff. Then finally emerges the realization that life is short and in a blink of an eye everything can change. Panic sets in and I feel like I should hold everyone close to me and never let them go. These feelings last a few months until one day I get my "aha" moment and realize that I need to treat each day as a blessing and my new slogan becomes "each day comes but once in a lifetime". I vow to "live" more and have more fun...and yet somehow my slogan becomes a poison and indirectly starts to suffocate me. As a matter of fact, it wasn't until I was blessed with a new life (my first son) that the things that truly matter in life surfaced in my mind. I vowed to become a better person and treat each day (and person) as if they are a blessing.

Fast forward a few years (and a few more kids later). I look in the mirror and haven't a clue who is staring back at me. There was a time when I use to look in the mirror and think "eh, not too shabby". Well now I look in the mirror and feel like running for the hills. Simply said- I have a lack of self-confidence (sound familiar)? After three kids, I am pretty sure that happens to a lot of moms.I refuse to get in front of a camera or even go out and meet new people because I am ashamed of me.

So what does this have to do with photography?

Well I am a firm believer that you should know your photographer as more than a business person so this is just a step in that direction. Further more, I read a blog post by one of my photog idols (Rachel Brenke) and she mentioned getting outside of your comfort level. So that is exactly what I have been doing. My first instinct is to run and hide and hope that things will get better...that magically I will wake up one morning feeling confident and in control. Instead- I am taking a few magical steps.

 #1 was getting family photos done. Well, with a possible deployment in my family's future that was the push I needed. The sneak peek can be viewed at Barefoot Photography's blog HERE...and I am SO glad that we got them done.

 Next on my list- meet more people! I am forcing myself outside of my comfort zone for ME and for my business. 

Lastly, I am getting my butt up and working out. Its difficult when so much time is sitting in front of a computer editing and marketing and creating but that excuse can hit the road. I am on it and holding myself accountable. I will be a better mom, wife, photographer, and all around person because of it!

So- why a hypocrite?

I have told people left and right- take care of YOU and never ever let YOU be an excuse not to get family, boudoir, couple, (insert other occasion here) photos done. One day you will look back and regret it. And there it is...hypocrisy! 

So, here is your lesson for today- do not be like I was. Take control and do what you need to do to get past whatever it is keeping you from getting photos done. STEP OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE. It will be worth it- I promise. We are not promised tomorrow. And promise yourself that you go out and get your family's photos done. I don't care if its me, another photographer, a family friend, or even a tripod...make an effort and get those photos done. They are sure to be cherished! 

P.S. Thanks Rachel for the added motivation.

Searching for a Boutique! | Angie Hollenbeck Photography | Lacey WA Photographer

Hey all! Happy Thursday! We are ALMOST to the weekend...whoo hoo! 

This week, I have been taking time to re-assess my goals and made some major changes to my shy little business and boy am I excited! 

One of my simple goals is to connect with a BOUTIQUE! There are SO many boutiques that have amazing, gorgeous products but simply lack the photos to match.

I want to partner up with a (small but legally established) boutique. So, if you would PLEASE get the word out and send any boutique owner's my way, I would appreciate that! 

I may even give a hefty discount to anyone that finds the boutique that wants to work with me.

angie@angiehollenbeckphotography.com

Thanks much!!

"Cake" | Angie Hollenbeck Photography | Lacey WA Photographer

This week I am so excited to share this with the world! The cover above makes me giddy every time I see it! The lovely cover model is a prior client of mine...and that photo is one I had taken this Spring in one of my boudoir/pin-up styled sessions! In honor of this fun and exciting time, I am featuring the talented author - Elise Marion!

www.elisemarion.com

www.facebook.com/elisemarion86

www.goodreads.com/elise_marion

Below is an interview with Elise. Enjoy!

What "hats" do you wear aside from writing?
Aside from making a living as a writer, I am also a military wife and mother of 2. I spend my days balancing my time between the two, and let me tell you, it's not easy! Because I am independently published, I do not have the same resources as an author published by a major house, which means I spend a LOT of time wearing what I like to call the 'marketing' hat. I spend just much time promoting on twitter, facebook, blogs, and other romance sites, as I do writing in an effort to spread the word about my books. I also personally choose all of the photos for my cover art before having it designed, work with editors to polish my work, and organize promotional virtual tours for each book as it comes out. I also write a blog that reviews books and showcases independently published authors of romance like myself.

How long have you been writing?
My love for writing really started as a love of books. That evolved into an active imagination and flair for storytelling and by the time I was 12 I was sitting down to write my first novel. I wrote poetry all through high school and also penned my first couple of romance novels. They were beyond cheesy and mushy, but I got my start scribbling out my gooey love stories on notebook paper.

How did you decide to become an author?
Years ago I got an idea for a Historical romance that just wouldn't get out of my head. I hadn't written anything in a long time, so I decided to give in and get this story on paper. After two computer crashes and about a year's worth of 'I'm not going to rewrite it.....okay, I'll rewrite it', the book was finally done. I immediately rushed off to find agents and publishers interested in my work. I never realized until then that publishing is a business. I mean, I did know this before, but the impact of it didn't hit me until the rejection letter started rolling in. None of the agents said that my work was bad. In fact, most of them said my work was good but they couldn't represent it. Their reason? They didn't think they could sell it. Publishing is about trends, point blank. If your book isn't what's trendy (Twilight, Hunger Games, etc.), then agents just aren't willing to take a chance. It's all about moving 'units'. For me, though, it was about getting my voice heard, about living that dream of seeing my book in the hands of others and having them love the characters I'd created as much as I do.

It wasn't until June of 2011 that I discovered the world of indie publishing. Getting a Kindle at my baby shower opened my eyes to the revolution that is happening in publishing. Ebooks have become the wave of the future and more and more authors can be discovered by publishing their work digitally. After weeks of research and work on preparing my book for the ebook market, I finally published my first novel to Amazon. Barnes and Noble, the itunes bookstore and many others followed. I've published 3 novels, 4 novellas and 1 short story since then and I have to say that doing this was the best decision I've ever made. Those agents that didn't think there was a market for my book were dead wrong, but I didn't do what I did to prove anything to them or anybody else. I did what I did for me and it's been the start of something really spectacular in my life.


What inspires you?
I am really inspired by love and the human connection. Yes, it sounds corny, but I am a romance author! :) My stories are about people from all walks of life, all backgrounds. Other than that, I think it's the idea of building a legacy that inspires me. I aspire for so much, even if it's a long shot. The dream of seeing my books on the NYT bestsellers lists or on the big screen...these are the things that push me to keep writing.

What is your favorite book that you have had published and why?
I think that my favorite is, and always will be my first. It's my baby. It's the one that put me on the map and I am so attached to the story and the characters. As a writer, you do get bad reviews from time to time, but that is one story I hate to see bashed because of the power I feel it has. It's all about love overcoming adversity, and in that particular story adversity is a tame word for the kind of emotional torture I put those characters through. I think that the Historical style is also my favorite to write in, which is another reason I love that first book so much. I think it's style totally defines who I am as an author.

Briefly describe "Cake".
Cake was a blast to write. I wanted to create something fun and funny, but also emotional and heartwarming. It is about a wedding planner named Taylor Vaughn who is desperately in love with her best friend. When he asks her to plan his wedding to another woman, Taylor struggles with her feelings for him and whether or not to reveal them. On the other side of that is a new love interest, a man named Ethan who designs and bakes stunning wedding cakes...I'm talking Cake Boss stuff here. Taylor approaches him about making some cakes for weddings she is planning, but it soon turns into something else.

Essentially, Cake is about that precarious of position of friendship between men and women. Taylor and her best friend, Caleb have been together all of their lives, grown up together. At some point the possibility of more becomes a question but Taylor will find herself torn between the two men. Ethan isn't shy about making his feelings known to Taylor, but she is still unsure. In the end, it's not so much about which of them will choose her, but which of them she will choose to give her heart to.

When is it available? Where can one purchase it?
Cake was released July 2, 2012 and available for purchase now at these ebook retailers:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cake-ebook/dp/B008GITQ58/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1346258993&sr=8-7&keywords=elise+marion
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cake-elise-marion/1111917884?ean=2940044724174
AllRomance Ebooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-cake-857412-149.html
(Coming soon to iTunes, Kobo, Sony, and Deisel ereader stores)

It is also available in Paperback form at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Cake-Elise-Marion/dp/1478163798/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1346259103&sr=8-7



Thanks Elise! Take some time on this holiday weekend - download it on your Kindle, kick back, relax, and enjoy some "Cake"! 

Milestones & Stages! Angie Hollenbeck Photography | Lacey/Olympia Area Photographer

The last few weeks have been quiet around here as there has been a lot going on! My oldest son turned six (tear) and my two younger children have birthdays (two days apart) in the beginning of October so I have been racking my brain with gifts, photo sessions, and trying to remember to mark down each milestone. I saw this idea of Pinterest awhile back and decided to pick a photo of my kiddos and write down a few unique things to their age. 

So with BIRTHDAYS, BIRTHDAYS, BIRTHDAYS, and more birthdays on my mind I decided that instead of simply marking the milestones down on my children's photographs,  that I would offer it to clients as well. So, with that said, below are a few examples of what I now offer! This is a complimentary service to those with children (and/or pets) that they want photographed. All I need is a list of things they are into currently and I do the rest!