I’m in desperate need of some new business cards. But I need to choose my new logo first. Whichever one I use, I need to be able to live with it for at least one year. I want my logo to reflect my personality and my photographic style. I like all of these, but perhaps something slightly different? Ahh!!
I only have 3 business cards left… I need to place an order like right now!!
January is typically a slow time for most Wedding professionals. Aside from meetings with potential clients for Weddings later in the year….there really isn’t much going on right now. And although I miss shooting, and if called to shoot a wedding THIS AFTERNOON (I really miss it!) I’d grab my camera in a heartbeat, I’m glad for this slow period. It’s giving me a chance to organize my files, re-think my branding, plan for the busy season ahead, and spend much-needed quality time with my family (more on this later). So during these cold winter months (frigid here in the Midwest), aside from the occasional portrait session and snap shots of my kids, I’ll be posting about some other Wedding-related stuff I come across. I know a lot of my clients who are currently planning their Weddings for later this year read my blog (hi!!!), so maybe what I dig up will help them, and help those I have yet to book 
One thing that I include in all of my Wedding Packages is an Engagement Photo session. Most couples absolutely love this idea, but occasionally I’m asked if it’s necessary. My answer is always yes. The Engagement photo session is so important for so many reasons. Not only does it give me and my clients a chance to get to know one another better, it will help for the couple to be much more relaxed on their Wedding day, which is so important. And you get all these awesome photos too!
The Wedding Channel is such a great resource for couples planning their wedding, with tips, advice, and planning tools (no I don’t work for them!). Here is what they say about the Engagement shoot:
Q: Do You Need Engagement Photos?
A: While it is not necessary to take engagement photos, there are plenty of reasons why you may want them. Establishing a relationship with your photographer long before your wedding will make a difference in the outcome of your wedding images. Your photographer will be able to watch you and take note of your individual personalities, which will help him capture images on the wedding day that are unique to you.
The other benefit is that you get to know your photographer and see how he or she works. You will get to see images of yourselves long before the wedding, so you can tell him what angles you like and what shots you don’t care for. Hopefully, you’ll have more confidence in yourselves and in your photographer, so on the wedding day you will look forward to having your picture taken…
…Whatever you choose to do, get creative and have some fun with your photographer. In the end you are the ones who win. Knowing and liking your vendors, especially the photographer, is significant in the success of your wedding and will help keep you focused on the real reason you are having getting married in the first place — each other.
(Read the article in its entirety here.)
And let’s face it, once you’re married, and Life settles in, you become busy with your careers, your family, eventually children… the likelihood of having a fabulous photo shoot just for the two of you is slim. I always tell my couples have the Engagement shoot now, while you still can …and I don’t charge extra for it either! 
I love lists, and I often make myself little ‘to do’ lists to help keep certain tasks on track. So when I came across the 101 in 1001 project, I thought wow, this is like the ultimate to do list! This is not a new idea. Google “101 in 1001″ and you’ll come across many blogs dedicated to the project. Instead of making a list of New Years resolutions that no one ever keeps, it seems to be more sensible to make a list of personal goals and give yourself a nice chunk of time to complete them. There’s even a website for the project: Day Zero: The Home Of The 101 Things To Do In 1001 Days Project. Check out some of the different lists here.
When I started my list, I easily thought of the first 15 or so, then I really had to stop and think about what it is I want, what it is that I want to do….what’s important to me. And everything on my list, I feel, are things that will lead me to a better, more fulfilled, more love-filled life… which is what we all want anyway, right? I’ll post updates from time to time as tasks on the list become completed. Some of the things are just for fun, some are fairly necessary (#8) but all will keep me busy over the course of the next 2.75 years!
Chantal’s 101 in 1001
To be completed: October 19, 2010!
I came across two awesome ideas, neither of which are mine, but I just had to spread the word…
The Great Project:
Solo Photo Book Month…or SoFoBoMo
What is it? It’s Paul Butzi’s brilliant idea for photographers to assemble an entire book project within one month. Writers have NaNoWriMo, musicians have NaSoAlMo, and now we photographers have this. This is perfect for me too because I just had an idea for a month or so long photography project involving some stuff that will be happening with my family this Spring. I’m not ready to say what that is yet, but stayed tuned, I’ll be posting about it soon enough.
So if you’re a photographer brimming with project ideas, check out the SoFoBoMo post on Paul’s blog and sign up. The time period is roughly from April 1 to May 31, allowing wiggle room for people’s varying schedules. But the photos, text and editing must all be created within a 30-day time period. It’s looking like there will be a website for the project fairly soon…I’ll be sure to post the link.
The Great Offer:
Deborah Fraime, from “For You” Event Consulting & Catering Services is running a special for all 08/09 Brides: a 15% discount for all Wedding planning packages, including a FREE 2 hour planning session. Deb is a fabulous planner with whom I have had the pleasure to work, and she is also a beautiful person….and I can’t wait to work with her again soon!
Check out her website and give her a call. Planning a Wedding can be so stressful and overwhelming, when it should be such a happy time. Having a professional planner makes all the difference in the world!
This has been the longest running birthday…Ever!
Cherie’s 5th birthday was Jan. 3rd. But since it was so close to Christmas, and she wasn’t going back to school until the 6th, we decided to postpone her birthday party with her friends. On the 3rd we had a quiet celebration here at home and Cherie enjoyed being Ultimate High Princess Extraordinaire for the day. Except one day wasn’t enough. Since we planned to have her actual party on the 12th, Cherie enjoyed an extra week of birthday-ness.
I had no idea what to do for Cherie’s birthday party. My other two children have summer birthdays which makes it so much easier to have a bunch of friends over, throw some hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill, throw water balloons, have a pool party, whatever…. but a January birthday? When it’s like 30 degrees outside? Enter, Sharif & Chanel, Cherie’s older brother and sister. I declared them the official Birthday Party Entertainment Crew. They did everything! The played games with Cherie and her friends, kept them happy, laughing and having fun at all time. It was great….the girls had such a great time!
Here are a few snapshots from the day:
Getting 7 little girls to sit still for a picture after cupcakes, ice cream, fruit punch, and candy was no easy task. And Cherie simply refused to look at the camera:
So you would think that after two weeks of celebration, Cherie would have had enough, right? Well you’re wrong. At her pre-school, each child, around the time of their birthday (depending on how many kids have b-days during a given month, school holidays, etc.) get to be the Star Of The Week. They wear a special Birthday Crown, they get prizes and get to do all sorts of special things. Well this past week, Cherie was the Star.
So it began on January 3rd, but on January 17th Cherie’s birthday SEASON officially ended.
And I’m exhausted!
Last week I had the distinct PRIVILEGE and HONOR to photograph Erin Johnson, the uber-talented children’s photographer based right here in Central, Ohio. Can you say n-e-r-v-o-u-s?? I’m usually fairly confident with myself and what I do, even though I’m usually a little nervous before any shoot (I’m told that’s normal!). But when asked by another photographer to photograph her and her family…my usual level of nerves decided to catapult themselves to astronomical! Erin is 8+ months pregnant with her 4th child and wanted some maternity photos, as well as a few family photos showcasing her three beautiful children and her gorgeous, growing belly.
Erin and I corresponded via email and chatted on the phone, but we had never met until the day of the shoot. When she opened the door to her house, I think my jaw dropped. It’s true that pregnant women glow, but with Erin, you need sunglasses. She is so beautiful and so adorable with her perfectly round belly….you’d never know that she was 37 weeks along with her 4th child! Unbelievable!!
And we had so much fun!! We talked and talked and talked…which put me so at ease. And her husband Sean was so funny (even during his recovery from the Buckeye loss to LSU the night before).
Erin: Thank you so much for trusting me to document such an important time in your amazing family’s life. I’m so proud to help tell your story. It was such a pleasure meeting and getting to know you (the first of many get-togethers to come!). I’m so looking forward to being there with you when your new baby boy is born and I can’t wait to snap his first portrait! THANK YOU!!!
Below are a few of my favorites from our session last week:
We shot a lot of family photos, and they all look great, but I just loved this moment in between the more serious pictures when all eyes were on the camera. This, to me, is a Real Family Moment that so beautifully illustrates the love and fun shared between these 5 people…
I love how they’re all cuddled up on this giant chair. So comfy!!
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