Bad luck!

I really have the touch lately. Woke up Thursday morning and turned on the computer, only to see a black screen! This was the second round of computer problems I've experienced in the last couple months. Luckily it was an easy fix and the computer guy had it fixed by last night (thank you, thank you, thank you, Bobby!). Since we were out of town all weekend anyway, it didn't put me out too badly. I have a couple sessions this week, so check back in another few days for some sneaks!

Summer 09 Promo!!!!!!!

Your child can look like a Gap Kids or Crew Cuts model, too! Bring fun accessories like hats, beads, boas, capes, sunglasses, tutus - whatever floats your boat (or your kiddos' boats!).

This is my first promo to do in quite a while, so jump on it! Regular studio sessions begin at $125 so this is a great savings! Plus, no worries about sweaty, red-faced kids in this crazy Texas heat!

And, you can promise your kids it's gonna be fun, quick, and there might be some candy involved........

*offer cannot be combined with any other special
**session must be booked by Wednesday, July 8th

Published!

I mentioned in a previous post that I had the opportunity to do a shoot for a Dallas-area business when they were awarded "Contractor of the Year" from a nationally published trade magazine. The article, which came out in May, focused on two main things that have made this business a success: family and faith. We shot group photos at the Dallas Arboretum, and then some at their office location. Photos I took were featured on the cover, as well as in a 4 page spread inside. Here are a few shots of the cover and article.

You can find the magazine's website at http://contractingbusiness.com/. If you scroll to the very bottom of their homepage, you will see some small photos of recent issues, including the May one I did!


Cover:



Article, first 2 pages:



Article, 2nd 2 pages:



My little credit line!



One thing that's a little coincidental about this: My first job right out of college was sales for a HVAC and controls company. Needless to say, that's not what I'm doing now and I do not miss it one bit, but reading through the magazine took me back!

A little selective color for your viewing pleasure...

You've probably seen "selective color" images before, but not known what to call this technique. Well, here are just a few ideas of things that can be singled out to remain in color in a black and white photograph.

Some people (and photographers) believe selective color to be overused and outdated. However, photography is art, art is subjective, and therefore, if you like it, or if I like it, it's all good! I figure these must be the same group of people who decide when the new black is navy, always know which fork to use, and whether or not cream or powder blush is in this season. Blah blah blah...








After your session, if you pick out an image or group of images you'd like to see with some selective color editing done, let me know. There will be a small design fee for the time I spend on the artwork, but then it's all yours! :)

Why post low-res, copyright-protected images?

Most photographers who post their images on the web take extra measures to ensure their images are difficult to copy and reproduce. However, the average blogger does not consider this when posting family snapshots to their blog or website. If you have a blog or website and do not have it set to private, invitation-only settings, then anyone, anywhere in the world can view your personal photos and copy the images directly from your site. You assume this risk when you open a public blogger site. While you know this is a possibility, I bet you doubt anything will ever really happen. Well, so did this family...



US Family's Photo Turns Up in Czech AdBy BETSY TAYLOR, AP

LOUIS (June 11) — It's an international mystery: How did a Missouri family's Christmas card photo end up in the Czech Republic, splashed across a huge storefront advertisement?

Danielle Smith said Wednesday that the photo taken of her family last year got sent to family and friends, and was posted on her blog and a few social networking sites. The photo showed her and her husband, Jeff, holding their two young children.
About 10 days ago, one of Smith's college friends was driving through Prague when he spotted their huge smiling faces in the window of a store specializing in European food. He snapped a few pictures and sent them to a flabbergasted Smith.
"It's a life-size picture in a grocery store window in Prague — my Christmas card photo!" said Smith, 36, who lives in the St. Louis suburb of O'Fallon.
Mario Bertuccio, who owns the Grazie store in Prague, said the photo was from the Internet. Details were sparse, but he said he thought it was computer-generated. When told it was a real photo — of a real family — he said he started taking steps to remove it.

"We'll be happy to write an e-mail with our apology," said Bertuccio, who said he would send the Smiths a bottle of good wine if they lived in his eastern European country.
The Smiths and photographer Gina Kelly hadn't authorized anyone to use the pictures. Kelly said she has asked a professional photographers' organization to help figure out how her image wound up in Prague.
Smith has gotten 180,000 hits to her Web site since she recently posted the story about the well-traveled snapshot. She said the photo wasn't used in an unseemly manner, it was just used to tell potential shoppers about the store's delivery service.
Smith said next time she posts a photo on the Internet, she's going to lower the resolution or add an electronic watermark to make it hard to reproduce.
"This story doesn't frighten me, but the potential frightens me," Smith said.

Just a word to the wise: Do at least one of the following four things if you post images to your blog site.
1) post only low-res images (640x480 is fine for the average snapshot)
2) copyright or watermark your images
3) right-click disable your blog
4) make your blog private, invitation-only

Little Parrot

Remember Anna from a few weeks ago? Well, this is her baby sister who turned one this spring. Love these shots we caught of her... those legs just crack me up.

Oh, and the reason for the title of this post - "Little Parrot" is because this girly can talk! Her mom had to run out to the car for a little bit, and she repeated every word I said while Mommy was gone. All her wires are connected! ;) Wait, is that the saying? Or, maybe she IS the sharpest tool in the shed? Or maybe she's a future member of MENSA... TBD!

"This is my chair, so don't even think about it..."

RHHS '10 Senior Duo

I had a lot of fun with these twins this week. They are going to be seniors at Rockwall-Heath HS next year, and needed to get some senior pictures done early. We headed to the park for a casual, laid back shoot. Compared to working with the ever-moving toddler I am used to photographing, these guys were a breeze! This is a pretty big sneak peek, but since it is really like two senior shoots in one, I am sharing a lot! You'll see that we did some traditional senior portraits, as well as some neat, creative ones.

Here they are looking very tough, and I love the drama of the black and white.



Some smiles now...




I love this next one. This makes me think of them on the horizon of their final year in high school, at home, before they graduate and go their separate ways. Tear, sniff, tear! :) Don't worry, mom, they will always know where home is!

I wanted to capture a close up head shot of each boy showing off their senior ring. One chose silver and the other chose gold. And they didn't even fight over who got which one (I asked).


I'm loving how the light just peeks over the edge of his silhouette:

The boys with their mom:

I had a great time with you all! Thanks so much for being so easygoing and up for whatever! I really hope you enjoy these sneak peeks and the remainder of the album. I am looking forward to seeing your ad. Congrats and have a great year, guys...

Bittersweet

That's the word one of my best friends in the world said when she told me she and her family were moving from Texas to Phoenix. While they are sad to be leaving their wonderful friends and family in San Antonio, they also have some awesome opportunities in AZ that simply can't be passed up! If anyone can make such a major life change a smooth transition, it's the duo you see below and their two kiddos. We have been trying to get together for some photos for months now, and it finally worked out. Unfortunately it was raining the entire day, so we settled for some more urban, photojournalistic style shooting in a friend's town home in uptown Dallas (Thanks, Wes!).

Alan was one of the first people I met as a freshman at Baylor, and Lib and I met just a few months later when we pledged the same sorority. They have been such wonderful friends over the past 9+ years (ooops, did I just give my age away?) and while I will miss them terribly, I am looking forward to hearing all about life in Phoenix and visiting sometime after they're settled!

Here are some samples from our afternoon. I love this one of Alan and Mateo.

Miss Isabella



Check out these eyes. In college, we must've heard every single guy there compliment Lib on her eyes at least once! Bella's got a color of her own, but I bet she'll be raking them in down the road...



Where did he get the blond curls? Well, I heard that there have been other blondies in the family. Genetics are a funny thing sometimes. In this case, pretty cute ones.

Thanks, y'all! I am so glad we got to get together one last time before the big move. It was great seeing you and getting to do the shoot. Love ya, miss ya already. - Jules

UPDATED!**

I've been playing around with some collage ideas lately. Here's one that prints out as a 10x20 using a few shots from the brother and sister in my last post. All you have to do is frame it! And, since a 10x20 is a standard size, you should have lots of options when it comes to picking a frame. I am all about the small things that make life a bit simpler these days! Due to the wide, white border, you don't even need a mat!

To me, the Matilda Jane clothing line for girls (and women!) just screams vintage. So I couldn't resist posting this one that has a more vintage feel.

Since her mom is one of only two D/FW reps for the clothing line, you can believe that her closet is full of cuteness. I think the photo below would be perfect for an ad. The MJ logo is pretty hard to miss!

Well, back to work for me. Coming up next... hmmm... well I haven't decided yet. I've got a few things "pending" that are just waiting to be blogged! Oh, and if you'd be interested in hosting a Matilda Jane trunk show sometime, just email me and I'll put you in touch with their mommy!