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I know. I know.

Posted on January 19, 2011

I know I have SO much to do on this here blog! Announce the Love Light winner, show you the July Fresh Class pics and winner, share with you what’s changing about our business, etc.

But well, between an out of town trip, our car being stolen, a trip to the doctor for Parker and an ER visit for Gray (who is fine now) the last two weeks has been beyond insane.

So take this cutie patootie pic of Parker and know I’ll get back in the swing soon!

Because it is just too funny not to share…

Posted on January 16, 2011

Me. Wisconsin. Frozen lake. Full-body 1970′s snow suit. Oh yeah baby.

I mean, it doesn’t get any better than that does it?

You’re welcome!

Calling all JULY Fresh Classers!

Posted on January 14, 2011

When we put on a Fresh Class and teach people to use their cameras a bit better we promise a CONTEST at a random time. I’m sure our July class didn’t think it would take us 6 months to announce their contest though! August-Dec is just insane for most portrait photographers and we were no exception so this was the first chance we’ve really had!

HERE’S THE DEAL!

Send us ONE image you’ve taken in the last six months before Sunday. It has to be an image of a person in your family. And it has to evoke an emotion in you… that you have to explain to us. There can be NO post-processing done to this image at all. Straight out of the camera. Send the images to jodie@freshartphotography.com BEFORE Sunday.

Monday I will post the images to share with our readers but this contest is a bit different. Kim and I are going to critique them ourselves and POST the critiques when we announce the winner. Other people can vote on their favorite BUT we ask that you tell us WHY you like one image over another. OR if you are a pro-photog we’d LOVE you to leave a comment with your own critiques!

Why are we doing our own critiques this time? And why are we asking you to give your opinion? Because what we ultimately want for the people that attend our class to LEARN. And part of learning is to see your image, your FAVORITE image, through the eyes of someone else. Especially someone that has more experience than you do. Kim and I are always looking to improve and help each other to grow… it’s an important part of perfecting your craft/hobby.

SO!

Send us your image. Of a family member. And tell us WHY you love it and WHAT it means to you. And Monday we will post all of them with our critiques plus announce the winner.

We will be looking for focus, exposure, cropping (in camera of course, no post-processing includes no cropping), composition, and of course creativity.

AND… later tonight or tomorrow I will be posting a fairly long post I’m working on about our business. Thing we are good at and areas we fail, goals for the year or five years down the road, things we want to change, things we want to outsource and why…. we’re hoping that by talking about some intimate parts of our behind the scenes it might help some newer photogs and/or start some good discussions in the comments. We will both be popping in to answer questions in the comments on this upcoming post so be sure to check them out!

Happy Friday!

OH… we do have TWO slots open for our Fresh Class next Sat the 22nd because two people canceled so email us if interested!

Vol. 25 NEW overlays!

Posted on January 12, 2011

Jessica Rose is amazing. We know that. And she just came out with a new Valentine’s Day set of Photoshop overlays that are so awesome! I played a little already…

(the hanging hearts are from last years valentine overlay set but everything else is from this set)

I’m in love. AND Jess is giving 35% off ALL of her overlays right now!!! How cool is that?

Go HERE to see all the other ways she used them (she used two of our pics so look for us!) and buy some! We like to use her overlays to add to one or two images in each gallery as a bonus for our clients, a little surprise as they go through their images! And if they order them… bonus!

So go check them out and tell her we sent you!

ALSO… in case you missed it, the link for the shirts from the last post is HERE!

Happy Wednesday!

Nathan+Colin | St. Louis Childrens Photographers

Posted on January 11, 2011

UPDATE!!! We’ve getting asked a ton about where Tina got the monster number shirts… HERE is where you can find them! And let me tell you, they are ADORABLE!!!

I know we say this a lot, but we LOVE this family. Tina has become so much more than a regular client and now we both consider her a friend. We can talk about ANYTHING with her. Literally. Which makes it funny when her sweet husband comes along because then we attempt to talk in code so we can be open+honest without totally grossing the poor guy out! HA! Becoming friends with our clients is the biggest bonus to our job. Because ultimately, we GET it. We bond with our moms because we’ve been there. A tired mom with a one and two year old like Tina? We get it. We’ve been there. Kim multiple times! So it allows us to talk openly about just about anything! Stretch marks? Weight gain? Unruly kids? Saggy boobs? We chat about everything! Which makes sessions so much fun. But Tina is just one of those people we really connect to and always look forward to chatting with!

Of course we love her two boys too! Nathan at two and Colin almost one! She is one BUSY momma! And a studio session with a one and two year old? HARD! Let’s just say Nathan was NOT excited about us taking his photo. This… well it is how the first hour or so went! HA!

We even made Tina get in there to try to cheer him up! And although she’s going to kill me, I’m posting this one because I think she’s SO beautiful!

After awhile we finally won the boys over!

Thanks Reckamp family! You know we love you!

Mac’s Birth Story | St. Louis Birth Photographers+Videographers

Posted on January 10, 2011

DISCLAIMER:

1. There is about 30 second of footage in the middle of the 9 min video of actual c-section surgery… it’s quick and a big piece of the story so we kept it in but if you are at all squeamish with blood or don’t want your children to see a c-section please be aware.

2. The footage filmed in the operating room was filmed by an OB, Dr. Paul, not by Kim nor I. He did a great job but we wanted to be honest that we did not shoot that section of the video. We are SO glad he was able to take my camera in there and get what he did!

3. Alicia… why do I see you using a point and shoot camera?

4. Song choice is the HARDEST part of making a film in my opinion. Sometimes I get the song in my head as I’m shooting and then the video is a breeze. This time, I was clueless and literally spent about 6 hours over the weekend listening to and debating about song choice! It was a nightmare. Ultimately I went with some of my first gut instincts and a tip from Kim. Here are the songs… 1. So Glad I’m Here by Elizabeth Mitchell 2. Magic by Rabbit 3. Recipe for Love by Rabbit 4. Safe and Sound by Matthew West

5. Tom and Sharon did not know if it was a boy or girl going in so if you listen carefully when Mac is born you can hear Sharon say, “it’s a boy?” and then the doctor replies with, “it’s a beautiful baby boy”. That is also why everyone was so excited when Tom came out to introduce him! And one of my favorite parts is when Sharon’s mom and niece/nephew hear “it’s a boy!”… seeing Barb jump up and down makes me so happy!

6. Get Kleenex and LOTS of it if you’ve followed this family’s story at all. Trust me. You’ll need it.

Enjoy… this was a total pleasure to put together!

Untitled from Kuhn Construction on Vimeo.

Did you know the Johnstons had a baby? | St. Louis Newborn Photographers

Posted on January 10, 2011

We talk about Tom and Sharon a lot and they must be our most blogged family! So rather than talk about them more and tell you how in love we are with our Mac, I’ll let you just see some of his newborn photos!

And get your kleenex ready because tomorrow we’re posting his birth video!

Oh man. Can you get cuter than this little guy?

This week we have TONS to share! Mac’s birth video, the Reckamp boys, another sweet newborn and then my family hits the road for WI to visit my sister so I’m sure I’ll be sharing some cousin craziness! Here’s to a good week for all!

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