Just a bit about the photographer :)

In the day to day rush to get things done, take care of customers and orders, and post new information, I've realized that while I learn things about my clients through their photographic experiences with us, they might not know very much about me. And I find that when I do business with someone, I like to have the personal connection. It makes me feel like I know I'll be taken care of. So this blog is just a little blip about me and my family, and how I got started in this crazy business I love.

For those who don't know, I am currently a home-based portrait photographer living in Dixon, Kentucky. Don't let the work-from-home thing fool you....I have dedicated space for my business, so you don't have to worry about walking into the living room to see the toys and all the "stuff" lying around. ;) I live here with my husband of a little over a year (we're still newlyweds! LOL) and our two daughters, ages 9 and 7 (going on 16 and 20). With the exception of my time overseas, I have lived in Dixon for over 16 years. I love the small town life, and the fact that my girls aren't getting lost in the shuffle of the big city. I feel really lucky to be able to raise my girls in a town like Dixon, where we are lucky to have great people be a part of our lives.

I am a veteran of the US Army, in both Active Duty and Reserves. I was stationed in Germany for my active duty time, and got to travel quite a bit, which I loved but was really grateful to come home and settle back into a normal life. The military gave me the opportunity to travel and to go to school that I might not have had otherwise, plus it gave me confidence to be able to start my business. :)

People often ask how I got started in photography. Well, I loved taking pictures even as a kid....I know, I know, everyone says that, but it's true. I remember being about the ages of my daughters and having one of those flat little cameras that took the weird looking film....I took that thing everywhere. Anyway, when my oldest daughter was born, there were no portrait studios on base, and my German wasn't that great to go elsewhere, so I began to study different techniques so that I would have pictures to send back home to my family. When I came back home after I was discharged, I went back to school for my degree in business, and began taking pictures for friends and family, and things just kind of took off from there, with the help of hard work and determination. I've been in business about 6 years now. My work is mainly with children and families, but I also photograph high school seniors and weddings. I am constantly seeking information and learning new things in order to make my work better than ever.

And that's pretty much me in a nutshell. :) I love meeting and talking with new people, so drop by the Facebook page or give us a call sometime....would love to hear from you!

Heather

E-Session: Mark & Rebecca

I truly enjoyed the engagement session I had the other day with Mark & Rebecca! A very laid back couple, they were up for anything and pitched a few ideas of their own. I look forward to not only shooting Rebecca's bridals, but their upcoming wedding as well!

Townsend Family

What a great family! I enjoyed this session so much, and the colors of the fall leaves are absolutely beautiful. I love doing outdoor sessions anyway, but the images from these have to be at the top of my list of favorites. :)

a perfect time?

This post and its images are from the blog of photographer Deb Schwedhelm (http://www.debsphotographs.com/photoblog/?p=957), and I love the message, so I thought I'd pass it along. It's about how there is never a perfect time for family photos, and how even though the circumstances might not be ideal at the time, you and your family will be glad you did them. :)

* * * * * *

is there a perfect time?

May 13, 2010

a friend posed this question today on her facebook wall: what is holding you back from booking a family photo session?

quite a few women (moms) quickly commented that their weight is holding them back, which made me really sad. and a few posted money, which i understand but i also believe that there’s enough photographers out there to cover everybody’s budget.

this all led me to thinking about the perfect time.

is there ever a perfect time to have photographs taken of your family?

i posted on our wallflower friends blog today about an awesome article i read, which had the overall theme of taking the time to slow down and appreciate life and the everyday beauty that surrounds us. in a swirly kind of way, i feel what i shared there and what i’m sharing here is totally intertwined.

it’s so easy to say –
i’m too fat.
i have too much going on.
we’re too busy.
maybe next year.

but i just want to say STOP IT! we need to take the time to appreciate the value of family photos, if not for ourselves (because we’re too fat or whatever), then for our children. in 20 years, your children are not going to say,

i really love this photo of my family but i wish my mom had waited until she lost some weight.

and i think about steve’s mom, who died when she was 40, only months after being diagnosed with breast cancer. steve was five at the time she passed away. he cherishes every single photo of his mom (not just the ones where she was thin, beautiful and looked perfect).

and kirsten sandstrom, who recently passed away at the age of 37, leaving behind a husband and three young boys. i don’t think for one second that those boys will look at photographs of their mom (who pre-cancer probably wished she could have lost some weight) and see her as anything except the most amazing and beautiful mom there ever was.







we never know what tomorrow will bring our way. and life is quickly racing by; before we know it, our kids will be grown and leaving the house.

NO, THERE IS NO PERFECT TIME.

i hope that this will inspire someone, who might be waiting for that perfect time or to lose a couple of pounds, to book a photographer…today!

and let us all try to slow down, remember what’s important and see and hear the everyday beauty that surrounds us. © deb schwedhelm | tampa family photographer

LayAway Program

So, I know the holidays are a little way off, but let's face it: money can be a little tight. We understand this, which is why we offer a LayAway Program. Simply sign an agreement at the time you place your order to pay your account over 2, 4, or 6 months, and you will receive your statement in the mail each month telling you when your payment is due. You can pay by cash at the studio, by check through the mail, or you can opt to pay your account by PayPal online. As you can see, we are pretty flexible with our options! Once your account is paid in full, your order will complete processing and will be available for pickup or shipping. Also, if you are buying portraits or products for Christmas gifts, we not only will hold your order for you until December 22nd, we'll even gift wrap it for you at no charge if you request it! No muss, no fuss, one less thing to worry about, and more time to spend with your loved ones. And isn't that what the holidays are all about? :)