Trey's 1st Birthday- Smash Cake Style!

It was Trey's 1st birthday! This little guy was a ball! He dug right into the cake without giving it a second thought! He was full of smiles and seriously so stinking cute I wanted to take him home. Here is the sneak peek!

Feature Friday, Featuring Wensleydale Farms

This weeks featured business is one that is unique to the blog thus far! Wensleydale Farms is located in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin and specializes in all things Alpaca! 

While new on the market they co-own a multi-time color-champion stud and have top of the line yarn and products for sale. The owners greatly enjoy their animals and that enjoyment is evident in the ease with which the alpaca, horses, cats, chickens and dogs co-exist on the farm. 

Also, they're having their first open farm Saturday, July 21st! In addition to being able to meet the animals and visit the farm store there will be a number of other vendors present!
So stop on by the website or facebook page and pick up a little something! Be it yarn or a nesting ball, you'll be sure to love it! 

www.wensleydalefarms.com 

www.facebook.com/wensleydalefarms

The Flag & Photography

Happy Monday all! Over the weekend something interesting was brought to my attention concerning using the flag for photography purposes. I have seen the photographs with it used as a background, or with a baby wrapped in it, and even for boudoir with the lady wearing nothing but the flag. Of course being a military spouse and a proud American, I have always admired the photos that were patriotic, but never really took the time to think about the way the flag is suppose to be used and what the "Flag Code" states is appropriate. I was inspired to “spread the word” about what I discovered. Here are a just a few details to keep in mind. 

(These facts are from www.ushistory.org and are taken from the Flag Code.)

1)   No disrespect should be shown to the flag. Publicly mutilating, trampling, defacing, defiling, defying or casting contempt, either by words or by act, upon the flag is never tolerable.

2)   The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.

3)   A flag is a flag or anything by which the average person seeing the same without deliberation may believe the same to represent the flag.

4)   The flag is never to be used for advertising purposes.

5)   The flag should never have placed upon it, nor any part of it, nor attached it to any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.

6)   The flag should never be used as wearing apparel.

7)   The flag should never touch anything beneath it, including the ground.

Also, I think it important to note “the Flag Code serves as a guide to be followed on a purely voluntary basis to insure proper respect for the flag. The Supreme Court has ruled that politically motivated violations of the Flag Code are protected by the First Amendment. The Flag Code has no provision for enforcement. No fines, no penalties. There is nothing law enforcement can do when the Flag Code is broken.” (www.ushistory.org).

Keep in mind that in no way I am giving legal advice but rather reaffirming what the flag code states, as there has been debate about what is acceptable use in our industry. Talk to your lawyer before you do anything and cover all of your bases.

 Basically, what I have taken all of this to mean is that by using the flag as a photography prop or background, there is always a chance that you may somehow offend someone. You also may offend someone by posing a baby in its birthday suit, taking a shot of a kissing couple, or doing boudoir photography. You will never make EVERYONE happy. The flag represents this fantastic country we live in…use it respectfully and you should be just fine.

Feature Friday, Featuring Nikki Sue Photography!

This week, I am featuring Nikki Sue Photography located in San Antonio, Texas! Nikki Sue Photography specializes in children and seniors and she does some stellar work! 

I asked her to tell me a bit more about her lovely business and this was her reply:

"While I specialize in both children and seniors, I have to say that senior girls are my most favorite sessions to date! Children are fun and energetic and full of life, but you don't always get to get that gorgeous sunset shot or the attention span you were wishing for like you can with seniors!  Senior girls love the camera.  They love to feel beautiful and want to look like the gorgeous models in the magazine!  They have a "free spirit" sense about them once they open up to the camera. Often times, they are open to themed sessions and other artistic ideas as well, which is always a real treat for me!"

I can relate Nikeya! I have recently discovered the magic of working with young ladies! 

To check out more of her amazing work or to book a session with Nikki Sue Photography, please contact her at:

Contact Info: Nickeya Laycock 210.373.8395  nickeya@nikkisuephotography.com

Website/Blog:  http://www.nikkisuephotography.com 

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/Nikki.Sue.Photography

Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/nickeya_laycock/

Custom Photography Vs Cookie Cutter Studios

Before I decided to make my love for photography a career, I (too) never understood or appreciated the difference between custom photography and the cookie cutter studios. Why then (as photographers) do we expect our clients (or potential clients) to know what exactly it is they are paying for? Just to give everyone a better understanding (and perhaps a deeper appreciation) of the art of photography, let me give you an outline of what each session entails for me.

Prep Time!

 Before each session, I take the time to try get a feel for what exactly it is my client wants from their session. Usually, I ask a few questions and make sure I can deliver what it is they want in a final product. After getting a deeper understanding, I prepare an invoice and a welcome packet and send those via email. I also find a suitable location that fits the client’s needs and scout out other possibilities. From there, I prepare my equipment…I charge batteries, prep memory cards, clean my lenses and camera, pack my bag and reflector, get my contract ready, and so on until I am ready to load everything into my vehicle. After loading everything needed, I make sure to fill up my lovely gas-guzzler and head out. After traveling to the desired location, I now start to test light and prepare for the upcoming session.

Session!

This is honestly the shortest part of the process. I chat with my clients for a bit and try make everyone feel comfortable, take care of the contract, and then its time to start taking some photos! I take into consideration the background, the foreground, the lighting, the reflections, the shadows, the angle, the faces, the clothes, the wind, moods/boogers with kiddos, (etc) during each and every photo that is taken. I make sure we have a variety of angles, close-ups, and poses before parting ways.

Editing!

I get home and as soon as I have a free moment, I load the session onto my Mac. It seriously is like Christmas morning for me…I cannot wait to see each work of art! From there, I select the “cream of the crop” from the session and delete the rest before I start editing. My goal is to keep the editing as simple as possible, but the process still takes approximately 6-8 hours.

Post-Editing!

After I complete the editing process and am happy with the finished product I offer a “sneak peek” via my blog and/or Facebook. I put a few of my favorites up for the clients to view before the entire session is ready. After the session is ready, I upload it to a private password protected gallery and then send an email with the password and instructions for the gallery. Once the session is viewed comes the ordering process. Some sessions include a disk, so I burn the disk and package it. If the client has additional prints and products, I prepare those with my professional print lab and order them. Once receiving everything, I package it up and either ship it directly to the client or schedule a pick-up. I also add any favorites to my portfolio and website! Finally, the session is considered complete.

Now for the cookie cutter portrait studios:

You schedule an appointment.

The “photographer” is not a professional but has had “some training”.

You go in and sit in front of a backdrop.

They tell you to pose and say cheese…typically you get 20-30 minutes of shooting (if you are lucky).

They go over your photos, and pick the best within 20 minutes.

There is very little (if any) editing done.

You place the order and leave.

You pick up your order.

The session is complete.

This is simply the way I have experienced it…it wont always be this way. This is just to give everyone an idea of what exactly it is they are paying for and what goes into each and every custom session.

Personally, I pour my heart and soul into each session…each photo. I LOVE what I do! It isn’t just a “job” where I make minimum wage and then leave. I don’t have set hours…my work is always in front of me. I am taking classes, reading, training, and always looking for ways to improve myself. I cannot shut off the “photography part of my brain”! Custom photography comes in all price ranges…what a photographer charges generally depends on their experience. Just remember that usually, you get exactly what you pay for. Before you go for the cheapest, make sure they offer quality products,  match your personal “style”, and can offer what it is you are looking for. Even if you don’t choose Angie Hollenbeck Photography, take the time to find the best custom photographer for you!

Also, what would a photography blog be without a photo?  These are my beautiful babies!

Feature Friday, Featuring Austin Avenue Cakes

This Friday's feature is especially SWEET (yes I had to do it) for me because this lovely lady- Tiffany Austin, owner of Austin Avenue Cakes- is a beautiful client of mine! Austin Avenue Cakes is a fantastic home-based cake business (serving Pierce and surrounding counties) and this girl has some talent! I asked Tiffany a few questions about her business:

What is your favorite part of your business?

My favorite part of being a cake decorator is being a part of so many special days. I have been a part of weddings, birthdays, and baby showers. There is always so much love in the air when I deliver cakes. In a world where there is so much unhappiness it is so good to be surrounded by that feeling.

How did you get into it?

It started something to get my mind off of my husbands deployment. He went to Iraq in 2004 and I was so bored and lonely. I saw cake decorating classes at the local craft store by my job and reworked my schedule so every Tuesday night I could be there.  I absolutely loved it. It turned into a business a couple years later when I got asked to do a wedding cake, and has continued from there!  

What do you specialize in?

I love doing a little bit of everything but I especially love doing wedding cakes. Since we have not opened a location yet it is hard to find brides that want to go with a home baker. When I do get the chance to do them I relish in the moment, knowing that on their special day I can provide such an integral part. Kids cakes have to be the most fun though. Seeing their faces when their cake arrives is priceless!

Any thing specific you'd like to share (I.e. specials, stories, facts, etc)?

I guess it would be that baking is an art form, No matter where you are getting a cake from that person is putting a little piece of themselves into your cake. I am happy when I see anyone smile. That is enough for me! As soon as the Army is done relocating us we plan to settle in TX and open a bakery and share our love of sweet with as many as we can.

Contact Austin Avenue Cakes!

austinavenuecakes@gmail.com

http://www.austinavenuecakes.com/

Austin Avenue Facebook

 

Cents & Compliments

I have had some major inspiration lately and as a photographer I feel RENEWED! It sounds silly and really quite cliche but once in awhile, you need to have one of those sessions that just kick butt. This past weekend, I had not one but two of these! Sometimes, it takes these sessions to remind a photographer (and small business owner in general) that you do not need to justify your work or pricing and you are worth every single cent and compliment. Even if family and friends see my profession as a "cute hobby" or a passing trend, every now and then a client reminds me that this is so much more.

Nine years ago, I was a high school senior dreaming of living on the West Coast ("check!" only I am a bit more north than I had imagined) and was planning on owning my own salon (ok, no "check!" there). I went to cosmetology school straight out of high school and was bound and determined to cut and color my way to riches. Well, obviously, that didn't quite work out as planned. Half way through, I realized that was NOT the industry for me...quite simply said, I did not enjoy being in a room with that many high maintenance ladies. I then decided since I adored my niece and nephews (and really all small kiddos) I was going to get my degree in Early Childhood Education...and I did follow that through. Shortly thereafter, I had my own babies and realized how ridiculously QUICKLY they grow and I wanted to capture every single cute facial expression, outfit, stage, and milestone. That created my love and passion for the art of photography. 

I seriously jumped into the business aspect and started working on my portfolio without knowing a single thing about business or even the specifics of my camera. I had some fantastic client's that encouraged my work and I felt the drive to keep on, and learn as I went. Two years later, I feel so blessed to have people still trusting me to take their photos and capture their memories. I can see the improvement in my business sense and in the technical aspects of my work...and I hope others can as well. For the first time since I started on this crazy journey, I am starting to feel like I am worth the cents and compliments! Thank you to all who have encouraged and appreciated what I do :)