#1 – Cookie Cutter is out – Buying matching pumpkin outfits may seem like the easy to go.  It may also get us an automatic blog entry on www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com.

Instead try a mix and match approach of pairing complimentary colors together.  The most important thing to consider is tone. Want to make it easy….stick with solids.  One of the first things I was taught was to lay all the outfits out on the bed or dining room table.  Walk away from it for a while.  When you come back to it where does your eye go.  If it goes to a certain outfit or piece of clothing that is the piece that doesn’t flow.  Your eyes should move from one side to another without stopping.

#2 Monochromatic – Pick your colors and layer, add textures and dimension, add prints, just keep it in the same monochromatic family. The look below makes it easy to add a bold accent color.  Experiment with turquoise, yellow or fuchsia.

#3 What’s hot now… Layers, layers, layers.  You just cant walk out the door with just jeans and a t-shirt now. The look above does a good job of showing an example of layering.  But I posted one below for examples of layering using more than one color.

#4 – If you want to go for something different – embrace it and do it all the way!  Bold bright colors add dimension to your photos and enhance your good looks.  I guarantee that everyone will say how wonderful you looked in the photos.  It will draw their eyes to the photos and make them look at your family!!

See all these cool outfit ideas, I borrowed them all from www.pinterest.com.  If you haven’t been invited yet, shoot me an email and I’ll send you an invite.  You can’t join without having an invite.  Search for family portrait outfits and see the examples for yourself. Want to narrow it down, just add the color you are using and take a look.

We still have a few fall outdoor mini-sessions available this weekend. It’s $99 and includes the session fee and a 24 pack of 5×7 holiday cards.  Call us at the studio to reserve your spot today! 972-937-9511

Come visit us at The Waxahachie Bridal Extravaganza, being held at the Waxahachie Civic Center, today from noon to 5 pm.  Make sure and enter your name and email address into our sign in book for your chance to receive a complimentary engagement session and 11×14 print.  See you there!

Be Good!

This weekend is going to be a busy one.  If you are local to Ellis County, this Saturday is also Oktoberfest at the Civic Center from 10 am to 8 pm.  If you see my husband, Hector, tell him Hi for me.  Poor guy is working it 6 am to midnight – buy him a Diet Coke for me.

Then on Sunday, September 18th we are setting up our booth at The Waxahachie Bridal Extravaganza from 12-5 also being held at The Waxahachie Civic Center.  And that poor guy I wrote about earlier… he is such a trooper, will be there again to help me.  Lots of Diet Coke for that man!

I’ll see you around.  Be Good!

Since the first year we opened the studio we have had ducks here the week of Easter.  The first year was the experiment and I gotta tell you, we had some problems.  I bought six ducks and two chicks that year and brought them to the studio about three days before my mini sessions actually started.  It was a great thing for my daughter to take care of and spend time on while she was here and she loved them so.  I had mentioned to the contractor who was doing work in the back of the studio that I didn’t know what I was going to do with the animals after the sessions were over and we left the conversation at that.  The next morning I walk in and the animals are GONE.  The contractor advises me that he took care of “the problem” for me.  I wish someone could have captured my face when he told me he had given away the ducks and chicks before I had even snapped ONE photo with them.  Needless to say he went and purchased more for me.

So after the sessions were over, a sweet client of mine told me that she would come pick up the ducks and take them to a pond by her house. I told her great, just let me know when you can get them.  I don’t know the exact time line but the ducks became adults at the studio and they were having parties overnight so I took them to my house.  We put them in the back yard and I figured they would be safe there until my sweet client could come get them.  One night it storms REALLY bad and they get underneath our pier and beam house directly under our bed and start going crazy.  My husband turned over in  bed and looked at me and I swear I had seen the eyes of the devil.  I had to laugh because they knew I was there and I was their “momma”.  That is where they went to be safe.  My husband hand delivered the ducks the very next day.

As for the chicks, a very dear friend of ours built a chicken coup for my two little chicks and thought he would have himself some fresh eggs later in the year…..  I gave him two roosters.  oops.

Call the studio, they will be here for photos Friday and Saturday before Easter.  Session fee is $50 and $10 additional dollars per child.  Each session comes with 2 5×7′s and one set of wallets.  Only one outfit please.

Be Good!

How it works…. the event is first come first serve and last year we had people camping out to be the first in line.  A $5 cash donation and two canned goods per child will be collected at the door (of course if you want to donate more you can).  I’ll be taking the photographs of the kids and displaying the photos on a computer screen.  You’ll make the selection and we will write it down and place the order for you.  We’ll have other packages available at special event prices.  Photographs will be available for pick up two weeks after , November 11th and 12th from 5:00 – 6:30.  If you didn’t pick up your photos from last years event, I still have some here at the studio.

We had fun taking the photos for the promo pieces yesterday.  I’ve never considered myself to have a darkside.   After viewing what came out of the session I have to say that I must have some darkness buried deep within. The kids did a fantastic job.  I think my daughter considered it her acting debut. My husband and I laughed and laughed at her video segments.  She took it very seriously.

I’ll be sending out a newsletter to my current clients for special VIP times for the event this week.  Be on the lookout for information in your email boxes this week.

Be Good! And don’t forget to watch the spooky video and check out how awesome the kids did.

Be Good!

Fair warning… I’m getting ready to get all mushy/artsy on you.  I just came back from Texas School for Professional Photographers.  This is my second year going and I will be going back again next year.  I have to say, the first year was over whelming, a bit depressing, and inspiring all in one.  For one week you have an intensive class with an instructor or group of instructors.  The amount of information I received last year is still sitting in a spiral with notes all around it.  I still go back to it and look to see what I have implemented and what has been lost over time.  It was depressing last year because honestly they tore my business apart, but only so I could rebuild it and make it better.  Sadly, I only spend about 20% of my time being an artist and the other 80% doing other business stuff.

This year, I went into it with an understanding of what was about to happen.  It was a very different experience for me.  I left there inspired by words and music.  Strangely, I had let my passion for words escape me.  And the music… I sit in silence at my studio most days and I never realized how much it was hurting my creativity.  It should be interesting what changes between this year and next.

The model above was provided to us for an event they called “The Shootout”.  I thought she was a high school senior.  We later found out she was 15.  If you are a photographer reading this blog and you are accepting payment for your work, I urge you to attend next year.  It is the single best piece of advice I can give to you.  They will challenge you to be your own artist, they will help you run a successful business ,and they will help build a network of friends you can go to whenever you have questions.  There is nothing better than learning from the best in this industry.  Save your money.. be at Texas School 2011.

Be Good!

You don’t often see those words together do you? That’s because you typically never utter them in the same sentence. This morning I met a bride at the studio for her bridal session. As usual, we were walking in Downtown Waxahachie when this woman walked out of her car. With tears in her eyes she asked the bride, “are you getting married?” The bride said, “yes, in June”. The woman clutched the bride’s hands and placed two folded fifty dollar bills in them and told her, “take this – do something with it, live life to the fullest” . The bride, her mom and myself were all bewildered with this random act of kindness. She went on, “My son committed suicide last night and he never had the chance to get married. I want you to have it, and I want you to use it for something special.”

So you can imagine – three strangers to this woman holding each other in the middle of the street, comforting a woman who was mourning the loss of her son who had taken his own life just hours before meeting us. We did ask all the questions that are running through your head. Why are you alone? Do you need help? Can we call someone? She said, “I brought him into this world alone and I am going to make arrangements alone. I am going to dress my son up and make sure he is given a proper burial. As his mother I have to do that for him”

Live life to the fullest. We never know what tomorrow brings.
Be Good!

We took advantage of the last of the tulips at the Arboretum. I had a good spring season there this year. Rachel is becoming a pro at the Arboretum.  It’s her second time there.

And on the other end of town, Layton and her family spent a couple of hours at the Ft. Worth Botanical Gardens with me.  Did you know its free to go there?  A definite plus!

And finally Baby Kate at the studio.  We worked really hard to get this little one happy. Treats, peek-a-boo, the fake sneezing, and singing… anything for that smile

Be Good!

I’m a bit delayed in posting this preview.  My apologies to Mattie’s family.  It’s been a bit crazy here at the studio.  If you haven’t heard, the ducks are here and we are currently in the midst of Spring/Easter mini sessions.  I only have a few spots left for Friday and Saturday so if you are interested call quickly because I don’t think they will be open by the end of the day.

Be Good!