Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Our Family Session with Bri Wachsmann Photography
For years I've had great intentions. Um, but you know about intentions, no matter how good, never amounting to anything. That was me. Every year as Christmas neared, I'd think, "I need to take a family photo of us." Then, it would dissolve into a last minute scramble to just get one of the boys, so I would at least have something for my Christmas cards.
Now, I could have done it. I have the gear. I could set up a tripod, and use a shutter release. But, motivating my family into a group without committing hari-kari seemed as possible as scaling Everest without my morning coffee. (Granted with-or-without the coffee I won't be scaling Everest, but you get my point.)
Thankfully, my dear friend Bri, of Bri Wachsmann Photography, ran a great Facebook special and I was able to get a 30 minute session with 5 digital images for $80. Suh-weeeeet! Definitely worth following your photographer on FB, so you can snag amazeball deals like that. (hint, hint) But, I digress. Bri has a different style than I do, which I knew would make it even more fun to see our final images.
As a photographer, with "experience" in these matters, you might think that heading out to my family session would be different than you heading for yours, but yeah, it wasn't.
I took the official Matriarchal responsibility, of stressing about what we would wear, quite seriously. I then bribed and cajoled two little boys to wear the clothes I'd chosen. All while re-assuring my husband that we WERE going to take a family photo and he WAS going to be in it. Sound familiar, anyone?
We were finally dressed and rounded up into the car, and I "instructed" my husband for our photo session from my great photographer's wisdom. "Don't try to parent while we're there. Let the photographer take over, it makes it much easier on them. They know what they are doing."
(I won't mention who had their words ever so gently repeated back to them during the session as her husband took her hand and walked her away from our children. A-hem.)
Anyway, it was a great session. My youngest son was asked to sit in a chair, to which he replied, "Nah." My eldest was eager to explore the fun wooded area where we were, not to have his photo taken. All part and parcel to the whole photo-session gig. I kid you not that Bri juggled hedge apples to gain my eldest child's admiration and attention. (Note to self: learn to juggle...it might help with your own clients in the future.)
It was hard to select just five photos from my gallery. But here's what I selected, and why.
The standard family photo. We are all looking at the camera. (No small feat.) Classic Christmas card photo. Gosh, I love my family. Since my now four year old was 6 months old the last time we had a formal "family photo," we were definitely due.
My youngest is just plain photogenic. Bri caught his mischievous little self looking so dapper, and I loved it in the black and white. Don't his eyes just slay you?
Looking at this capture of my older son, I can remember the smiles of the moment as he and Bri juggled hedge apples. It captures his personality. While I considered getting it in black and white, I loved the color. I'm a fan of both and I don't have any problem mixing and matching in my house. That's just me.
This may be my favorite photo out of all of them. My boys created their own see-saw while we were there. This is what I personally love about doing custom photography and hiring a custom photographer. It captures life in a beautiful way. Not just smiling and staring at a camera. No chain-store photo session, here. There is a mixture of standard posing and lifestyle moments. It is so hard to get them to coordinate for a photo together, believe me, I know. This photo captured them as they are, enjoying the moment.
Lastly, even though I thought I personally looked a little ghastly with my big-braced mouth roaring in laughter, I still kind of loved this photo. Yes, I'm just as self-critical as you when I'm evaluating my photos. But, this is my family. We do life together. We might drive each other crazy, but we also enjoy each other. We laugh together. I have included similar photos for clients, and it was fun that Bri caught our laughter for us.
And.... here is how some are displayed in my home for the moment. I ordered prints and a canvas (Although, now I'm wishing I'd done 20x30 on the canvas. Bigger is better sometimes.) as soon as I could, so that I could enjoy them. I'm a fan of digital images. We live in a digital age, but seeing my photos displayed, smiling as I walk by them, that brings me pleasure.
Among the masses of people with nice cameras who put up a photography shingle, there are experienced and talented ones who are skilled at using their cameras for art. Check out a photographer's work, look at their style, determine what you like. See if they offer quality and consistent work. Follow them, and invest in a session. You will then have something that a thousand phone snapshots won't provide. You will have quality artwork that you are proud to display in your home.
Thank you so much Bri Wachsmann Photography for a great family session.
Now, I could have done it. I have the gear. I could set up a tripod, and use a shutter release. But, motivating my family into a group without committing hari-kari seemed as possible as scaling Everest without my morning coffee. (Granted with-or-without the coffee I won't be scaling Everest, but you get my point.)
Thankfully, my dear friend Bri, of Bri Wachsmann Photography, ran a great Facebook special and I was able to get a 30 minute session with 5 digital images for $80. Suh-weeeeet! Definitely worth following your photographer on FB, so you can snag amazeball deals like that. (hint, hint) But, I digress. Bri has a different style than I do, which I knew would make it even more fun to see our final images.
As a photographer, with "experience" in these matters, you might think that heading out to my family session would be different than you heading for yours, but yeah, it wasn't.
I took the official Matriarchal responsibility, of stressing about what we would wear, quite seriously. I then bribed and cajoled two little boys to wear the clothes I'd chosen. All while re-assuring my husband that we WERE going to take a family photo and he WAS going to be in it. Sound familiar, anyone?
We were finally dressed and rounded up into the car, and I "instructed" my husband for our photo session from my great photographer's wisdom. "Don't try to parent while we're there. Let the photographer take over, it makes it much easier on them. They know what they are doing."
(I won't mention who had their words ever so gently repeated back to them during the session as her husband took her hand and walked her away from our children. A-hem.)
Anyway, it was a great session. My youngest son was asked to sit in a chair, to which he replied, "Nah." My eldest was eager to explore the fun wooded area where we were, not to have his photo taken. All part and parcel to the whole photo-session gig. I kid you not that Bri juggled hedge apples to gain my eldest child's admiration and attention. (Note to self: learn to juggle...it might help with your own clients in the future.)
It was hard to select just five photos from my gallery. But here's what I selected, and why.
The standard family photo. We are all looking at the camera. (No small feat.) Classic Christmas card photo. Gosh, I love my family. Since my now four year old was 6 months old the last time we had a formal "family photo," we were definitely due.
My youngest is just plain photogenic. Bri caught his mischievous little self looking so dapper, and I loved it in the black and white. Don't his eyes just slay you?
Looking at this capture of my older son, I can remember the smiles of the moment as he and Bri juggled hedge apples. It captures his personality. While I considered getting it in black and white, I loved the color. I'm a fan of both and I don't have any problem mixing and matching in my house. That's just me.
This may be my favorite photo out of all of them. My boys created their own see-saw while we were there. This is what I personally love about doing custom photography and hiring a custom photographer. It captures life in a beautiful way. Not just smiling and staring at a camera. No chain-store photo session, here. There is a mixture of standard posing and lifestyle moments. It is so hard to get them to coordinate for a photo together, believe me, I know. This photo captured them as they are, enjoying the moment.
Lastly, even though I thought I personally looked a little ghastly with my big-braced mouth roaring in laughter, I still kind of loved this photo. Yes, I'm just as self-critical as you when I'm evaluating my photos. But, this is my family. We do life together. We might drive each other crazy, but we also enjoy each other. We laugh together. I have included similar photos for clients, and it was fun that Bri caught our laughter for us.
And.... here is how some are displayed in my home for the moment. I ordered prints and a canvas (Although, now I'm wishing I'd done 20x30 on the canvas. Bigger is better sometimes.) as soon as I could, so that I could enjoy them. I'm a fan of digital images. We live in a digital age, but seeing my photos displayed, smiling as I walk by them, that brings me pleasure.
Thank you so much Bri Wachsmann Photography for a great family session.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
A Very Different 2 Year Old Session| Leila Photography| Waco, TX Photographer
So, having a session with a 2 year old is nothing new. Amber was like most of the two year olds I've known: Excited about life, fun and very, very active. With golden hair and big brown eyes, she is quite a beauty.
However, Amber has 4 legs, setting her apart from my typical client. Having a session with a Golden Retriever to create a Christmas present for her momma, was a fun break from my normal routine. This brief 20 minute session captured Amber's fun personality and beauty. To say that her mom was pleased with her 16x24 framed portrait of her baby is an understatement. I had the pleasure of witnessing her excitement, which made this session all the more special.
I did this session of Amber because her daddy and momma are family, but I'd love for you to check out Alissa's Photography. This amazing teenager uses her photography skills to help find foster and adopt homes for shelter animals. It definitely inspires me to see her passion for what she does and I'm sure it will you, too.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Giveaway Winner -Leila Photography 1 Year Anniversary
I'm so excited to announce the winner of the Leila Photography One Year Anniversary Giveaway! Again, special thanks to Classic Grace and Tie Dye Dino Shop for making this giveaway so much more fun.
We had a total of 229 entries. Rafflecopter selected the winner through Random.org. Drumroll, please!
The winner is Kayla Wilsher! You will receive an e-mail with details on claiming prizes. Congratulations!!
A very special thanks to the wonderful clients who made this 1st year possible, and thank you to those who entered and shared this give-away. I look forward to the exciting things that 2014 will bring!
We had a total of 229 entries. Rafflecopter selected the winner through Random.org. Drumroll, please!
The winner is Kayla Wilsher! You will receive an e-mail with details on claiming prizes. Congratulations!!
A very special thanks to the wonderful clients who made this 1st year possible, and thank you to those who entered and shared this give-away. I look forward to the exciting things that 2014 will bring!
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Leila Photography 1 Year Anniversary Giveaway
Leila (Lee-eye-luh) Photography officially launched on January 13, 2013. Thanks to my amazing and super-fun clients, it has been a wonderful year of photographing milestone moments, precious newborns and gorgeous families.
So, now it's time to celebrate. ....And how do we celebrate? With a give-away, of course. To make it even more fun, I invited some fellow awesome-mom-business-owners to join the give-away. Hip-hip-hooray, they agreed. Now, it's a give-away party!
Leila Photography is giving away one Life Session with Digital Package ($320 value)! Check out all of the fun details for what a Life Session and Digital package include here.
Ashley with the Tie Dye Dino Shop is offering a $25 Gift Certificate as part of the give-away. She has the cutest bow-tie and hair bow creations. (Just perfect for your photo session.) You will love checking out her Etsy shop.
Also, my amazing friend Carol Ann of Classic Grace is giving away this adorable little Vintage nightstand/side-table that she refinished. It is so much fun to scroll down her Facebook page and see all of her sewing, re-upholstering and refinishing projects.
Yep, with these two vendors included, I wish I could enter my own give-away. So, here are a few of the boring details, and then we can get on with this thing!
Winner must book the Life photography session by July 2014, with the session to be completed by December 1, 2014. A standard contract and model release will be required. Session must take place at Leila Photography's in-home studio or on location within 30 miles of the 76705 zip code. The Life Session can not be used as a Newborn Session or for a group exceeding 6. The Classic Grace give-away item must be claimed in the Waco area. (Deliver of item may be an option within 30 miles of the 76705 zip code, but item will not be shipped.)
Ready. Set. Enter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
So, now it's time to celebrate. ....And how do we celebrate? With a give-away, of course. To make it even more fun, I invited some fellow awesome-mom-business-owners to join the give-away. Hip-hip-hooray, they agreed. Now, it's a give-away party!
Leila Photography is giving away one Life Session with Digital Package ($320 value)! Check out all of the fun details for what a Life Session and Digital package include here.
Ashley with the Tie Dye Dino Shop is offering a $25 Gift Certificate as part of the give-away. She has the cutest bow-tie and hair bow creations. (Just perfect for your photo session.) You will love checking out her Etsy shop.
Also, my amazing friend Carol Ann of Classic Grace is giving away this adorable little Vintage nightstand/side-table that she refinished. It is so much fun to scroll down her Facebook page and see all of her sewing, re-upholstering and refinishing projects.
Yep, with these two vendors included, I wish I could enter my own give-away. So, here are a few of the boring details, and then we can get on with this thing!
Winner must book the Life photography session by July 2014, with the session to be completed by December 1, 2014. A standard contract and model release will be required. Session must take place at Leila Photography's in-home studio or on location within 30 miles of the 76705 zip code. The Life Session can not be used as a Newborn Session or for a group exceeding 6. The Classic Grace give-away item must be claimed in the Waco area. (Deliver of item may be an option within 30 miles of the 76705 zip code, but item will not be shipped.)
Ready. Set. Enter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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