June Mini Sessions Available

{June Mini Sessions}

Where
 Talon Winery (Lexington)

When  

Thursday, June 6, 2013
weather make up date: Thursday, June 20, 2013

Times

6:45-7:15
7:15-7:45
7:45-8:15
8:15-8:45
*customers may book more than one session, if available*

Cost

 $50 session fee.
When you spend $15 on prints, purchase the entire disc of images $53
Minimum Package price: $118.90 (all taxes included)

$50 deposit required to be paid by credit/debit/paypal or personal check no later than WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013.  Payment for prints and disc required before submitting print order and mailing disc.  Images available online for viewing before payment is required.  More information available in contract.

This mini session will be set in the vineyards of Talon Winery!  Bring a picnic blanket for some cute and casual family pictures.  Mix it up a lil bit for your 2014 Seniors.  Or maybe just a romantic picture of you and that special some one!    Email me at amitchellphotography (at) yahoo (dot) com to sign up.

Summer Craig Jewelry :: Retail Photography

One thing you learn quickly when starting up a business is not pass up an opportunity.  After some experience in different areas, you may find your focus or 'niche' in which you succeed at.  I'm still trying to find my niche, but I won't pass up an opportunity to try something new!

Summer Craig of Summer Craig Jewelry recently asked me to photograph a few of her pieces to go along with her website make-over.  She came to me with ideas in mind of what she wanted the final images to look like.  A clean, crisp white background was a must.  I quickly did a Google search of 'how to take pictures of jewelry.'  On a side note, seriously...how would we know how to do anything without Google?!  Up popped tutorials and advertisements for light boxes.  Well, given I don't have a large clientele in the jewelry business, I couldn't justify spending any substantial amount of  money on pre-fab, brand-spankin'-new  light box and all the accessories it entails. 

However, during my net surfin' I fortunately stumbled across a crafter's blog, who also photographs her wares as a hobby.  She created a step-by-step tutorial on building you own light box with these simple materials: cardboard box  (check!), white tissue paper (check!) and white poster board (added to the week's grocery list...check!).  Cheers for the fragile DIY-ers out there!  Hubby and I went to town with the utility razor cutting out holes on each side of the box (we had plenty of boxes to choose from since our recent move) and taping white tissue paper over the cut-outs. 

With much sweating from the all lights, flashes and just plain frustration of figuring something out the first time, we ended up with these shots....

Ta-Da!!

Drooling over these few creations?  Head over to her facebook page and leave her some love!  Then hop on over to her Etsy shop and browse her entire on-line collection.  Also, just a disclaimer, the images on her sites may not reflect the work I've done...work in progress!

Interested in having some of your work photographed?  I charge an hourly rate of $75.  Please ask about pricing options for images and discs. 

Miss A :: 10 months

10 months already...time FLIES!  Every time I've labeled this family's online gallery, I'm 2 months behind on Miss A's age!  For those who haven't had children, it really is a blink of an eye and they are talking in full sentences, spouting off facts and vocabulary from a recent exploration in which you didn't even think they were paying attention.  Little eyes and ears are watching you! 

Miss A's parents recently moved to a home located on a farm which boards horses.  Picturesque scenery if you ask me!  To see horses from every window of their home and the sun rise and set is almost a dream come true.  The family invited our whole gang to join them for dinner before the shoot began (Miss A's daddy and I worked together in college and have stayed in touch).  Our four kiddos are all close in age and the weather was mighty warm for the season, so play date for the other lil ones followed after a delicious dinner. 

I cannot wait until our next session (1 year) when we conclude Miss A's baby package with an entire family session!  Barns, fences, fields, HERE WE COME!

 

If you're interested in a baby package, they make great gifts or investment for memories to come!  Click here for pricing.  You may customize your package to suit your needs by adding or substituting sessions.

Remembering...

the ones we've lost...

I guess I really shouldn't say 'lost.'  We know where they are.  We aren't guaranteed how long we will enjoy our life on Earth, but one thing is for certain and that's our life on Earth will end. 

My husband's mother passed away suddenly only 3 months after our wedding.  In the past 5 years she hasn't met two grandsons and two granddaughters...and a pending grandchild...DON'T WORRY, IT ISN'T US...its the other twin!  Nate and I made a trip to Arlington during Thanksgiving after his mother's passing.  We haven't been back since.  We had good intentions of visiting the site again, but short trips to DC to visit my grandmother, weather and two lil kids make it hard.  However, this spring I made it a point. 

Arlington is always a somber place.  You see sites of men who served our country and lived a full life.  Then you see birth dates that are the same year I was born...that hits close to home.  What hits even closer to home is seeing birth dates of young men and women who served who are younger than my 'little' brother.  Now that's sobering. 

Walking between the rows of neatly placed white granite, I tried to steady my breathing to keep the tears from washing over.  Why hide it?  I really don't know.  I had my son's hand in mine.  He's skipping happily along and pointing out all the stones placed lovingly on the headstones.  My parents are bringing up the rear with the fresh cut daffodils, jug of water and flower pot.  He doesn't know where we are.  He doesn't know why we stop at a particular spot.  But he's happy to help arrange the flowers!  My little girl fell asleep in the car on the ride over the cemetery.  I really contemplated waking her up and making sure to document our day with both kids with their grandmother.  Silly?  Well, I let her sleep...there will be another time. 

Next we made the short trip over to my grandfather's site.  Granddaddy went on to be with the Lord March 1, 2012.  He was given an extra 6 years of a full life thanks to doctors and prayer.  I really base it on prayer since the doctors kept telling him he shouldn't be alive.  The Lord wasn't ready for him yet.  He gave him the strength to fight the melanoma that attacked his body.  He commissioned his oldest grandson as an officer in the Marine Corps (forgive me if there's a more 'proper' way to say this), attended two weddings for grandchildren and met 3 great-grandchildren.  All the while still holding his bride's hand and calling her sweetie-pie....even up to his last moments of life.  We know he was watching over us during his grandson's wedding over Easter weekend.  There will be more times we will reminded he isn't with us, but we will also remember the good times when he was with us.

During our brief stay at his site, we relived and empathized with a near by family.  Another family was burying a loved one with full military honors.  Nothing is more honoring than having 6 six jet-black horses leading a wagon with the American Flag of someone who risked their life for our safety. 

*stones on the headstones are of Jewish tradition.  Read more about it here. 

She Can Sell Your Home!

 

I had the pleasure of meeting Amy at a local church's vendor fair.  She wasn't selling homes then, but rather beautiful Italian trellis necklaces.  Amy came about this mid-life career change to put her family first by having flexible working hours.  All of us with children (of any age) sure can relate to that!  I wish Amy the best of luck with her new endeavor!  If you or someone else you know is thinking about selling, please keep her in mind!

 

Also, for anyone interested in a head shot for business cards, websites, etc I charge $30 for up to 30 and sell individual digital files for $15 a pop.  Let me know what I can do for you!

 

Amy Hadady,
Realtor, Realty World
859-494-7661
amysellshomes01@gmail.com

May Mini Sessions Available

{May Mini Sessions}

Where
 UK Amphitheater (Lexington, UK campus)

When  

Monday, May 20, 2013
weather make up date: Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Times

7:00-7:30
7:30-8:00
8:00-8:30
*customers may book more than one session, if available*

Cost

 $50 session fee.
When you spend $15 on prints, purchase the entire disc of images $53

$50 deposit required to be paid by credit/debit/paypal or personal check no later than MONDAY, APRIL 22ND.  Payment for prints and disc required before submitting print order and mailing disc.  Images available online for viewing before payment is required.  More information available in contract.

Mini sessions are perfect those annual birthday pictures!  Procrastinating parents of seniors, I have your covered!  Or think ahead for your Senior in the fall!  Don't forget your kids (of all ages) with their sports!    Email me at amitchellphotography (at) yahoo (dot) com to sign up.

likeable business::transparency (part 5)

...the truth shall set you free!

Wondering where I'm coming from?  Get caught up with me and browse through the previous posts in this series:

likeable business (part 1)
likeable business::listening (part 2)
likeable business::storytelling (part 3)
likeable business::authenticity (part 4)

likeable business, by Dave Kerpen



In my previous post I made known one of the best pieces advice I've ever been given: if you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.  While I've never been on reality TV (and can barely stand to watch it, except for maybe when I need a mood booster...hey, there are some things in life that can make you feel better when you feel like your day has crumbled like the cookie in your toddler's hand), there is one thing the characters and casts can't hide from...the truth.  Cameras are rolling all the time.  All you have to do is hit rewind and that person cannot deny what they said or did. 

Even though there aren't cameras posted around my home, there are email trails to follow...which I do frequently look back through when corresponding with customers.  Not because I try to weasel myself out of something or look for a loophole, but to jog my memory about the previous convos.  When you have a load of laundry to do each day, dishes to keep up with, dinner to prep and get hot, ABCs to teach and games to play with the kids, you tend to forget things and details may get fuzzy.  Thank goodness for email...otherwise I would probably misplace or have grape juice spilled on the journal I would have to jot notes down from each face-to-face or phone convo. 

Part of this chapter is devoted to transparency within your business, which have no value to me because I am the business.  Employee numero uno.  Owner.  Manager.  Self proprietor.  No one beneath...just above me...the city, state and IRS.  But in regards to customers, there is a level of transparency the business should have to build a relationship.  I don't have to disclose my finances because I'm profit-based.  Whew...which I guess opens a whole can of worms.  The word profit almost makes me shudder...Fortune 500 companies and other businesses alike are always looking for that 'bottom line.'  I personally know individuals who have left their jobs because of the corporate greed.  Losing benefits?  Furlough's?  Pay cuts and freezes?  Then that company exceeds all analysis expectations and has huge gains for the quarter or year?  (note: this is not an inlet to a debate about the economy or politics)  I recently read a book and in it the author brought this to light about your work life: are you in to make a killing or to make a living?  To be completely transparent, if it weren't for my husband's income, I would qualify for the earned income credit.  The check you write to me or the paypal invoice you pay doesn't not go straight into my personal wallet.  No sir...

2011 was actually the first year I paid myself for working.  The two previous years?  Operating on a loss or breaking even.  There's more to taking pictures than well, taking pictures.  I have to pay an annual fee for the online gallery you get to view your pictures on.  I purchase the discs, cases, labels, shipping and packing materials, business cards, stamps...  Don't forget the camera!  Rental and repair fees for equipment, new equipment, new software, new hardware...and no, I don't upgrade my hardware and software each year.  I have a list of priorities.  Last year it was to purchase a new camera, that way I have a back up camera (think weddings...would you want your photographer showing up with only one in hand...didn't think so).  This year it is a computer.  I've just about maxed out this laptop.  Next year it will be an editing monitor.  Folks, this stuff ain't cheap.  And not to mention the taxes.  Not just the sales tax I collect from you.  Self employment tax, school tax...I have to pay the city $100 annually just to do business.  We moved this past year.  Each time I moved I had to update my address with the Secretary of State.  Guess how much that costs...$10 a pop...but multiply by two because I update the address of the owner and the address of the location in which business records are kept.  So I spent $40 just on updating addresses this summer. 

This past year (2012) I was fortunate enough to pay myself with all the time off I took from maternity leave and moving...and learning how to juggle a home, family of 4 and a business.  What I paid myself is what a family will pay for one month's rent for a 1300 square foot home in McConnells Trace Neighborhood.  I know what the house rented next door to us cost.  For 2013 I not only hope to cover the cost of a new computer, but my child's half day preschool for two days a week.  I probably won't pay myself. 

Making a living, not a killing.