This spoke to me when I saw it on pinterest! How often we forget what matters to our children…It’s not the way we look. It’s not how clean our house is. It’s not how many times we made it to the gym this week.
Children think their moms are amazing! So who cares if your hair isn’t done and you have no makeup on? So you haven’t lost those last 10 lbs of baby weight….your child loves you for you. Never forget that.
Source: motherletters.com via Rachel on Pinterest
Oh My Word! Have you ever photographed your best friend and her family? If you haven’t, you should! It is so much fun! We laughed so much and it was so easy to get the truely natural smiles out of them because i knew exactly how to make them laugh. The best part? Her son was already comfortable with me! If you have ever shot children, you know this is the hardest part-getting them comfortable with you, the photographer. Here is my beautiful friend and her equally beautiful family!
Have I told you lately how much I love newborns? I think so in my last post. Thankfully, I had a wonderful family call me up and ask me to do their newborn photos. Even better-they were referred to me from a previous client! Score! This family was so awesome! They were perfect clients-laid back, go with the flow-my type of people! And these two make the cutest babies! Don’t you think?
Big sis could not smell his feet enough! She thought it was so funny!
When I get phone calls or emails from moms-to-be about newborn sessions, the birds are chirping, the sun is shining and my heart is singing! There is something so very special about newborns. Of course, they are sweet, cute, cuddly, tiny. But something inside me just melts each time I get to hold a newborn baby. When the W family first inquired with me about their newborn shoot, my heart was singing! Then she told me that she also wanted homecoming photos and I was over the moon!!! Though it doesn’t work out with every client who inquires with me, I can not tell you how thrilled I was when Mrs. W booked her sessions! Not only did I get to capture these moments, but I got to spend the afternoon with this bundle of awesomeness.
These brothers are proud (even if little sis was over the photos by this point!)
Then there are these quiet moments, when we take a break……
Thank you, W family, for letting me share in two of your family’s most special times.
I have to say, there is nothing more special to see than a family reunited after 7 months of separation. Photographing military homecomings are at the top of my list of events to photograph (second only to newborns!). This homecoming was no exception. Dad was gone 7 months in Afghanistan. He found out his fourth child (the first girl!) was on the way only days before he left! Homecomings always bring tears to my eyes, and this family was no exception!
Did I mention how excited I am to photograph their new baby girl in a few weeks!?
Oh.My.Word. These three little words are the first words that pop into my mind when someone mentions WPPI (the biggest photography conference of the year). I don’t even know where to begin to tell you how amazing my experience was there. From the classes I took to the people I met to the products I saw, every single bit of it was amazing (except maybe when I lost the key to my best friend’s husband’s truck, but that’s another story!).
Last year at this time, I was just starting my photography journey, let alone know there was a whole week dedicated to it, where people come from around the world to attend! When Me Ra mentioned WPPI last year, I definitely was not attending-1. It was across the country and 2. I had just been gifted my camera 2 weeks earlier. Now, when she mentioned it this year, I was starting to consider going. I am only 3 hours away from Vegas (where the conference is held) AND I found a stellar deal on a ticket. I just couldn’t pass it up! And, boy, am I SO glad I was able to attend!
So what happens at WPPI, well what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas……unless you’re a photographer at WPPI and then it’s flashed all over blogs and facebook! There are 3 major parts to WPPI that mattered to me. Classes, Connections, and Products.
The classes, oh the classes! There is a reason these guys and gals were asked to speak. They know how to hold a crowd! The first class I took was with Michele Celentano. She is a family portrait photographer in Phoenix. She was a girl after my own heart. She petite like me, loves to be healthy, did I mention she is training for a figure competition? She blew me away! She gave awesome tips for photographing families. One great thing to share….always make mom look better than her best. If mom looks good, not only will she buy the photos and products, but she’ll keep coming back to you because you make her look great! How true! How many times have you not framed a photo because you didn’t think you looked good? Guilty right here. I can’t wait to incorporate some of her ideas into my business..like a brochure for potential clients (mine will be ready in a couple of weeks!).
Another great speaker I saw was Jamie Schultz. This gal does it all! From photography to card designs to lunchbox food that belongs in a museum, she seriously does it all. Jamie gave some amazing advice, but the one that hit me the most was how she invested in her clients. She truly gets to know them. She takes the time to learn about them and their families before their session even starts. Jamie has been welcomed into numerous families who began as clients. And again and again they keep coming back to her, because she knows them and knows how to capture them. One of my favorite things she said was (paraphrased here…) “once I turned the focus of my business from where I wanted to go to what my client wanted, my whole business changed”. She said it made it more meaningful. Sounds simple, but it seemed so profound when I heard her say it (again, a whole another blog post..coming soon though). She sends a questionnaire to her clients so she knows exactly what type of photos they want so she can come prepared to the session. She showed emotion during her talk and let us into a little bit of her and her life. She touched my heart for sure.
Last one I’m going to talk (write?) about…..Dane Sanders. That man is awesome! He has given me the idea for the basis of my newly revamped business plan! His thinking if so out of the box, and it’s wonderful! One thing that was so great about him is he truly believes we are all better together. His talk wasn’t him standing up lecturing us. It was so interactive. When I got onstage (oh yes I did, and those who really know me know this didn’t scare me one bit!), I put a question and before he gave his answer, he asked the rest of the group…because we are all better together. Love it! One thing he says is great to do it make yourself the photographer in your neighborhood. Immerse yourself in your marketing area. Live there if you can. Get to know everyone in the neighborhood. That way it goes something like this……….You pass by a couple of neighbors chatting, only one of whom you know while on your daily run. Their conversation: “Who is that, she looks familiar?” “Oh, that’s Rachel Abelson. She super nice, her kids are so sweet. And she’s an awesome photographer.” “Really? Do you have her number? We need some updated family photos.” And bam! You have another potential client. Sure this isn’t possible for all of us, but if you can live in your target market area, do it! You’ll already be involved in their lives and you’ll always be the first one they think of for your service.
Phew, that’s enough for one post. Next up….the people!!! Stay tuned…..
Hugs to you!
It was at a really young age that I knew I wanted to be a mommy. As I got older, I knew that soon out of college, soon after I was married that I wanted to have kids. I wanted to be in my early twenties. Maybe because my mom was 25 when she had me (as I was when my daughter was born!), maybe because I had no aspirations of being a big business woman, lawyer, etc. I have a couple of friends who were the opposite. My friend Lindsay, being one of them. I think she had said no kids before 35. There was vet school to come, traveling, living different places, and a few other things. When she called me 6 months ago and said she was having a baby, I almost fell off my bed! I love when my friends have kids! I get to throw showers, pick out gifts, and then of course hold those precious little ones. The best part about this announcement was that she was thrilled, even if it was 4 years earlier than planned!
Over the next few weeks we threw around dates for her shower so I could make the drive 3.5 hours and be able to take her maternity photos. Last weekend, the time finally came! I hadn’t seen Linds since my little man was teeny tiny, and we were thrilled to see each other again. We got up before the sun Saturday because we both love silhouette photos. And did I mention……I got to try something totally new….adding a horse into the mix! It was amazing!
Here are a few of my favorites….
I’ve never been big on Valentine’s Day. I do love getting gifts (and giving them!), but I like when they are for no special reason. I actually told my husband he really only needed to get me gifts for our anniversary and mothers day. Now that we have children we have added birthdays to the list.
Any of you with me on the whole Valentine’s Day being overrated? overpriced? But that doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate yourself though! This year, how about treating yourself for Valentine’s Day? Get dolled up, put on your sexy undies, and get your picture taken! Never done boudoir pictures before? Not to worry! It’s all about your comfort level. All pictures are tasteful and you can wear as much or as little as you choose. After our time together you will feel beautiful, sexy, and ready to take on the world. Give me a call and we can chat about how to tap into your inner sexy! (’cause you’ve got it!)
I had the awesome pleasure of photographing Ms J a few weeks ago. She was surprising her hubby with something he had been asking her to do for a while now…boudoir photos! I love that she chose me to capture her in this new element. We had a great time laughing and working on her “sexy” face. Let me tell you, we had a great time. And isn’t she beautiful?
