Yipee, another blog from me! So this is a senior from Valley Vista high school in Surprise, AZ. She is a wonderful girl. Very fun and spunky. We went out to Surprise Park and had a great time together. Jazmine, you are beautiful and It was such a pleasure working with you and your mom. Here is your sneak preview!

class-of-2010

Jazmine

Congratulations to all of the highschool seniors out there on graduating. The class of 2010 rocks! Anyways, I have had so many wonderful seniors this season and enjoyed working with each and every one of you and your supportive families. I admit that I (stillllllll) am not great at blogging everyones sessions (quite a few of you get an email instead of your sneak peeks) but I wanted to share just a couple pics of my latest seniors.

So, here is Miss Kayla. She was great to work with and we all wish her the best with her move up to Flagstaff because she was accepted at NAU. (Northern Arizona University)

class-of-2010

Kayla, a 2010 senior in Arizona

I know, I know… lol I suck at blogging> Everytime I think I am getting ahead, I get super busy and blogging gets bumped to lower on my list. I have a ton of sessions to catch up on editing and more sessions on the calender. I am LOVING it. We also took our first family vacation ever just after Easter. It was wonderful. We went to Seattle, Washington. Amazingly beautiful there! I could NOT get over all of the green there! While we were there, I had the privilege of meeting up with some fellow photographers that I “knew” from an online message forum. We had some classes, hands-on training, and tons of fun. It was seriously such a beyond awesome week for us. I have tons of pictures from that(20 gig worth..lol) that I have promised myself not to even look at until I am all caught up on client pictures! Anyways, just wanted to pop on here for a quick minute and let you all that the blog hasn’t gone unforgotten. It’s just buried under pictures right now…lol When I get time I will come and post a few pictures from the last like 2 crazy months! Hope you have a great week! Here is a quick picture taken by my 8 yr old daughter Hannah from our Seattle trip with her own little point and shoot camera

Seattle, Wa beach

I just can not even imagine going through what this family is having to endure. Their beautiful baby girl has neuroblastoma, and is dying from it. We have some very special family friends (the Watsons) who lost their precious daughter Mae to nasty cancer. http://web.me.com/brwatson/Watson_Family_Blog/Blog/Blog.html It isn’t fair. it sucks. I am so sad for everyone that has to go through this and all affected by it. I am amazed by the faith of these families in their darkest times. SO anyways, if you all can keep layla and her family in prayer or if there is anything you can do to help, please do so. and please if u have kids or any family around, go hug them. the future is unknown and we need to live each moment to the fullest. Her website is www.laylagrace.org

Layla Grace

Hugs, love, and prayers

Hey everyone! yayyyy, it is Friday. I am going to start doing a FAVORITE FRIDAY feature on the blog. I will just show you one of my favorite pictures that week. Old or new, doesn’t matter. Then I would also like you guys to send me in YOUR favorite pictures and with proper permissions, will post them every so often too. Feel free to leave comments on what u like about the FF pic. or if you have a favorite pic that I have taken of you or your family or heck, even any of my personal photographs, leave me a note and I will get that picture posted up here on a FAV. Fri. post!

so, to start us off, this is one of my favorites from a newborn session(greatttt session.. the newer the newborn, the better. I think this little princess was about 6 or 7 days old. Enjoy!

sweet newborn baby girl

Wow, I can not believe I have neglected blogging so long. I am sorry. Life got crazy, we got sick, threw in some busy holidays and some family changes and you have Me and my absence on the blog. Thank goodness for extremely understanding friends and clients who got their sneak peeks through email instead of up on this blog. I love you all. Anyways, we ended up having a super amazing Christmas. My best friend Kayla showed up on Christmas Eve with gifts and stuff for the kids and a card that was one of the most special things I have ever gotten. As you all know, this was a long tough year for us. We did a major housing downsize (over 4000 sq. ft. huge-o-house to a 3 bedroom 2 bath 1100 ft house) The economy changes have effected everyone. But it was worth it. We have grown immensely this year. So, we were had decided only to get each of our kids one thing, (can’t afford more this year) and that was fine. Kayla and I talk every day usually so she has been helping us on this new rod we are on. Anyways, knowing everything about us that she does, and wanting to help, she asked our friends from a message board that we are on together to help pitch in and make it an amazing Christmas for us. I was sooooo beyond shocked. Totally crying and just soooo thankful. For everything we have and family, and friends, and their generous donations to me and my kids!

So I want to thank all of my amazing photographer friends for being generous and amazing wonderful people!

Sue Ann Holland– GA photographer–
Mandi McDougall–WA photographer–
Mary Basu ——-OHIO photographer-
Krista Webb——CANADA photographer
Jennifer Decesari—RI photographer–
Ashlie Hilton —–Tucson, AZ photographer–
Sue Ringquist —– Japan photographer–
Kayla Renckly—- AZ photographer–
(if u use Kayla, you get BOTH of us for one great price)

THANKS GIRLS, I LOVE YOU ALL.

What Is Custom Photography?
here are some very wise words by Marianne Drenthe of Marmalade Photography
out of Chicago as to what Custom Photography is and why it does cost more
then going to Walmart or Sears!

What custom photography ultimately is all about is choice and experience
(as in THE experience). Custom photography is about finding someone who
will photograph your family, give you devoted 1:1 attention without worry
of the next ‘in line’ or the feeling of a crowded portrait studio. A
custom photographer will typically show you a fairly extensive gallery
culled to only show the good images that meet the photographers’ creative
sensibilities. Often the images are fully edited images-color corrected
with blemishes and undereye circles removed. Custom photographers are
also known as boutique studios, offering a range of products and
unparalleled service. Think Lexus vs. Hyundai, think Nordstrom vs.
WalMart.

Custom photography should have you, the client and your experience in mind.
Digital technology is brilliant. The digital revolution has brought
amazing flexibility and amazing amounts of control for the photographer,
the hobbyist, the professional, the amateur. With flexibility comes a
price though. Camera equipment is still considerably more expensive when
you factor in its’ lifespan, the need for additional resources for
processing those images, the time it takes to get a usable image and the
effort that goes into all of this.

Even though you pay $1.99 for a print at your local drugstore and paying
for film is pretty much a thing of the past (although you still pay for
memory) you may be wondering why you may pay upwards $$$ for a custom
photography print. Some photographers hear this statement every once in
awhile:

“How in the world can you charge $40 for an 8×10 if it costs me less than
$2 to print at the local drug store?”

The answer is multifaceted and has a lot to do with the time,
aforementioned equipment costs, artistic vision and reputation of the
photographer, expertise and the usual costs of running a legitimate
business.

TIME of the CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHER:

Approaching it from a time standpoint, for instance let’s imagine if you
will that you have hired a photographer who has work that you love and
that is traveling an hour to your on location session. Time break down:

session prep time (30 mins – 1 hour, includes equipment and back up
equipment checks + vehicle checks)
one hour travel time TO session
15-30 minutes prep time at client’s home
90 minutes-3 hours with client photographing subject
one hour travel time FROM session
30-45 minutes uploading time from digital cards from camera to computer
30-45 minutes time spent backing up the original images
4-8 hours editing time to present you with a diverse gallery of edited images
1 hour prep time getting ready for ordering
2-3 hours time with client for ordering images
1 hour sorting through and checking order
30 minutes-1 hour prep time for delivery
30 minutes-1 hour getting order shipped
any additional phone time or time needed for add on ordering, shipment
issues, quality issues
As you can see, average client time for a session ranges from just under
14 hours to 20 hours dependent on the photographer’s level of service.
This is time dedicated only to your session. When the photographer
charges $150-$300 for the photo shoot you are not just paying for the two
hours of session time, you are paying the photographer for 14-20 hours
complete time for your session.

COSTS of the CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHER:

Regarding equipment costs, a good quality professional camera with a
selection of good optical quality lenses and digital storage mediums and
computer set up can run from $10,000-$30,000 costs dependent on the
photographer. Even though you can purchase a really good quality digital
SLR for about $2100 there are still other costs related to photography. A
good lens for portrait photography can run up $900 to $2500. A dependable
computer system with software loaded for business and creative usage can
run $2500 to $8000 dependent on the photographer.

Then come lab costs for specialty products. A good photographer knows the
lab is integral to their success. Photography labs dedicated to the
professional photographer often cost more and offer a range of products
that allows the custom photographer to continually offer new, innovative
products for you, the discerning client.

Discussion other costs of running a photography business could take awhile
so we’ll skip the intricate details. There is of course much more:
including costs of running the business, taxes, studio rental/mortgage if
the photographer has ownership of a dedicated studio, vehicular costs,
costs of advertising/marketing, costs of sample pieces that the
photographer will likely bring to your session, etc.

APPLES to ORANGES:

Often times clients will mention to their photographer that X studio in
the mall/department store only charges $$$ for an 8×10 or they may mention
other things related to discount photography chains. The fact is those
discount chains make their money on volume, not on customized 1:1 service.
According to several articles at the time, did you know that in February
2007 a rather well known discount department store that started in
Arkansas closed down 500 of their portrait studios across the nation? The
reason is simple, you cannot make money on 99¢ “professional” prints if
you do not sell enough of them. Interestingly enough – those same studios
that offer the loss leader packages often charge much much more for their
a la carte pricing (as high as $40-50 for an 8×10). The whole reason the
big department stores began offering portrait studios in the first place
was to get you, the savvy consumer, in through their door so that you
could spend more money with them in other departments. Your “PORTRAITS”
are considered the true “loss leader”.

Going to a chain studio, as a consumer, you don’t have the benefit of 1:1
attention for 2 hours at your home where your child is allowed to explore,
play and be comfortable in their home environment, nor do you get the
experience that many custom photographers are known for or the lovely
captures of natural expressions. You simply get a bare bones, “SAY
CHEESE” experience. Keep this in mind when selecting a photographer.

I hope this (lengthy) article helps shed some light on WHY a custom
photographer is a better choice for your family’s memories. The
photographs that are produced as a result of the professionalism and
dedication that your photographer has will be cherished for a lifetime
(or more) and great thought and consideration should be placed into
hiring who is right for your family’s most precious investment.

So I promised pictures. Here are the kids…thinking we may use these as their yearly birthday pictures and also first school day of the year pics since it was alll like in the same week. So we have Makena who just turned 4, who is sporting her special self cut (cough cough, hacked) hair. Thank goodness for short hair styles! Then we have Jackson and Noah(the red head) who just turned 3 and started preschool. Can you guess who are serious one is???? LOL Well, in pictures anyway. We are adjusting well to our new school schedules…the crazy thing is now when they get home, they rarely take naps anymore. I would have thought that school would wear them out as it does their sisters…but not these boys. They are sooo wound up the rest of the day. Oh well, it is tooo stinking cute seeing them with their backpacks on and all excited to go to school. While they are gone, I get time to work more, so that is totally wonderful and always needed. Here are the pics… enjoy and leave some comment love for me!

child photographer

Phoenix child photographer

Phoenix child photographer

Hey,
So since we moved, my family and friends have taken me on to try and teach me to stop living out of the microwave and frozen pizza isle and eat/make real food. I hate cooking. My mom used to joke that we should change my middle name from Marie to Don’t. as in Julie DON”T cook. lol Anyways, I have some super wonderful people, Laurie:-), who come over and help me plan out menus for a week at a time, grocery list with ad matching for that week, and help me get a dinner made. We have tried out a few recipes and some have worked and some have definitely NOT worked. One that my family seemed to love was called

Italian Chicken and Veggie Grill.

It was wayyyy easier than I thought it would be to make and the smell once on the grill was absolutely AMAZING! All you do is take some uncooked chicken breasts, stick them in a ziploc baggie and pour some Italian salad dressing in them and let them soak for however long u have. I usually have done an hour or two but if I didn’t forget so much, would do it in the morning sometime. then in another bag, u cut up some zucchini, red peppers, onions(we peel and slice of the hairy end parts of these and throw them in the bag kinda whole) and whatever other veggies u have that u like grilled, in a ziplock bag and pour some salad dressing on them too. then just stick it all on the grill and tahhh-dahhh. you have dinner! Serve with a nice salad or some spaghetti noodles under it and its THAT easy. Last night we had it with garlic bread and it was delish! so here is a pic from the first time I made it. yummy!

dinner

IT’s Party time! My twin boys turned 3 this Tuesday! WOW! We had a little family birthday that night. The boys loveddddddd it. They got some of their favorite things, balls and cars. They also got some of their other favorite things… CAKE and Ice Cream. My mom picked up a super delish ice cream cake from Baskin Robins. during the afternoon, Hannah and I had a fun time together and made them a cake also. Coming from me, that is HUGE. I am sooo not a cooker. lol anyways, here are a couple pics of the cakes. Kid pics coming soon when they actually look at me for a second or two. LOL one of each cake. Very fun!