Friday, February 27, 2009

Liberty, A "Hairware by Heather" Shoot

I know we are all counting down the days (You are, aren't you?!) until the Grand Opening of the Studio! I know I am, my nails can tell you that story (chomp chomp chomp!)...

Liberty hasn't had a shoot since her 3rd birthday (yeah, July, of 2008. Bad mom, bad bad mom!) so I figured now was better than anytime to showcase my little angel, and to also advertise something very special we will be offering in our Studio!

Heather Miller, a very talented woman and friend of mine, makes these bows, clips, and boutique hats. The great thing about them is that you can choose the boutique hat you want and the adornment to go on it all based on the look you are going for. I got these in today, and so we decided what better way to do Libbie's shoot than to play with some of the styles!

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These, and many many more styles, will be available at the studio Grand Opening and will be available anytime at the studio as well!

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If you'd like to check out Heather's blog, go to Hairware by Heather

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Here's some other fun shots of the day:
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MY FAV! This going to be on a Gallery Wrap above my Desk ASAP!

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Many of you who read here know that the only way to get Libbie to do anything is to bribe her. I am not proud of this, by the way, but I need cooperation just like any mother, so you just gotta do whatcha gotta do, ok?! For today's session we bribed her with Strawberry Marshmallows and puddle jumping even though I knew how insanly cold it was, I wanted some great images, and got them, so I owed it to her. HEre is what she chose to wear:

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Yep. That's my Libbie :)

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Rachel, Senior 2010

Yes, I said 2010! I am already beginning to get the bookings 2009-2010 Seniors, and I'm loving it! Rachel is going to be a rep for me representing Parkway High School for '10. We were planning on scheduling in the summer, but she found out that the bridge on her road will be torn down within the month, and she wanted some pictures on it before then. I was so excited! Senior photography is why I do photography,a nd to be shooting so early in the season makes me very very happy :)

Here's some great shots we got that day...

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Rachel, thanks for being my rep for 2010! I can't wait to shoot the rest! :)

Friday, February 13, 2009

jt Photography 101 - Honors Class :)

Education is key when making sure clients know what they are getting when they come to me. I think the best way to educate you about our business is to give information on the blog in some FAQ's and some informational tidbits that I can add to make your experience at jt Photography better.

Why are your session fees so expensive?

This is the number one question I get. (And to tell you the truth, they really aren't when compared to those who shoot our style and in our market. I can show you this if you'd like.) It doesn't bother me if you ask it, but I want to educate you on this question.

My session fees are in place to make sure I don't have to raise my very low print prices. Session Fees cover my editing time to make sure you have above exceptional portraits, helps me buy equipment & programs to stay on the cutting edge, helps to cover costs when I offer discounts, and pays my photography-related bills. A very small portion of this fee goes into my pocket.

If you "shop around" at print prices (or a'la mode on our brochures) in comparison to other local photographers who shoot the same style as us, and our in our market, you will find that we are nearly giving our prints away! We do this for our clients because we want our clients to find value in what they can display in their homes. And we want our portraits displayed everywhere in their homes!

Why do you have Senior Reps, and some places do not?
Senior Photography is my passion. My goal is to be shooting Seniors year round, and for this market to become my specialty. Don't get me wrong, I love photographing Weddings, Maternity, Babies, Children, and Families, but Senior photography brings me fashion, artistic, and relational inspiration. It makes me work harder at being my best.
Seniors that have come to me in the past have told me that they never realized their session would ever feel so personal. As soon as these Seniors book, I send them an information packet with a Senior survey, I friend request them on Facebook or MySpace and then study their interests. I want to know what we can talk about during our shoot, What style to shoot them, and where to go based on their interests. I feel this is the best way to get my Seniors to be comfortable during their shoot. Trying to get someone in their comfort zone in front of a camera only requires getting to their heart, this is best achieved by knowing what to talk about. Taking that time to get to know my Seniors is of the same importance to me as making sure I wake up everyday.
Senior Reps serve a big purpose in my business as well. They tell more of their friends about jt Photography when they are given that responsibility. The more Seniors I book from their "Spreadin' the love" the deeper the discounts they get. They also get perks such as discounted Senior Albums, Graduation Announcements,and percentages off their total bill due to word of mouth sales.

If you love to shoot outdoors, why are you getting a Studio?
Our Studio's main purpose is to get my career out of my home. My year of working at home was wonderful, but it's hard to seperate my home life from my work life. Being a work-a-holic has it's perks, but not being a dutiful housewife has major downsides! Trying to tear myself away from piles of work to work on piles of dishes and laundry was becoming a losing battle. Plus I was bringing clients into an unkempt house, which made me feel as though I failed on that end. Waking up in the middle of the night to answer email- also not practical.

The studio will also broaden my spectrum of photography. I will be able to photograph babies without the dangers of weather, and never again have to cut a session short due to rain or snow. The studio frees up time for you and puts me on a real schedule. No more unorganized chaos! YESSS!!!!

Do you do Traditional Photographs?
Traditional, to me, means plain, bland, and spiritless. Those who know me know I am everything BUT.
Bold bright colors, extreme angles, dramatic black & white, and grungy textures all are ways to describe my style of photography. When I say this is not your mothers photography, I mean it, and I say it with pride. God gave me this gift, and I plan to use it to the fullest extent!

If you are looking for Traditional, know that I will put my own spin on it. I have yet to disappoint on the images I have taken of a client. I want my clients to come to me again and again with the same desire for an amazing portrait.

As an example- I had a client (My Aunt Lisa <3) come to me for Caleb's 2nd Shoot (he's a rep, they get 2 shoots for the price of one!). She loved his first shoot, but wanted a good closeup, head and shoulders shot that looked polished.

Here's what I took for her:
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It's what she was looking for + my edge. It's a favorite of hers now. But not as much as this one:
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This is how I modified 2 of Caleb's favorites into one for his wallets:
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Why can't I see the pictures right after you take them?
Many people think if you have a "fancy camera" that what you shoot will look professional. This is why so many people say "Aunt Mary has a nice camera, maybe instead of going to get them done professionally, we will just have her snap a few at Cousin Suzie's wedding."

Can I ask you who are guilty of this- I KNOW YOU ARE!- this question, Are they ever what you really compare to a professional portrait?

Is it really something you would hang above your fireplace?

Would you take the pictures with you everywhere you go to show people?

Would you be excited to talk about it?

If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, then call me immediately, because you are in need of some portrait therapy!!

My clients can tell you that their pictures are gorgeous. I want to show you the difference.

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This what I download to my computer after we shoot. Kinda, BLAH, Except for Miss Megan, she is fabulous! But the picture kinda lacks something, yes?

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This is the same picture, cropped, color-corrected, lighting balanced, imperfections fixed, and enhanced. See the difference? It's beautiful! (And one of my favorite portraits!)

Why do you give us Proof DVD's, why not individual 4x6 proofs?
My clients know that I don't show you pictures. I want you to feel the portraits. I want the day we spent to flood back, I want the feelings of your baby's first portrait session to bring you to tears (Yes, people, I do it on purpose!), I want you to come to me with "I need you to help me decide!!" My proofs come on DVD's, set to music, for you to keep forever. That's my gift for you to look back on when that baby is 17, and whenever you want to just remember.

Paper prints would drive my prices for you through the roof. DVD's are playable memories, which do you prefer?

I hope this answered some questions, and I am always willing to answer more. So if you have some q's for me, leave them in comments with your email, or email them directly to me jtphotography@live.com and I will answer them personally.

Monday, February 9, 2009

BRIDES!

If you are planning a wedding in 2009, you know how much of a pinch your feeling to get some great photography, right?
I just added a SPECTACULAR NEW (and AFFORDABLE!) package to my Wedding Investments, this is a price that usually only friends and family get from me :) But I am offering it to brides now so that you can still pay for your cake and eat it too! :)

Book now at this price, it won't stay around too long! It's limited and only available to a certain number of couples!

Email me at jtphotography@live.com or Call me at 419.203.0889 for details!
It's so crazy low I'm not announcing it on my blog! :)
Book it, baby!

You are Cordially Invited....

To the event of year! OUR GRAND OPENING!
Saturday, March 7th, 2009 at 5:00 pm we will be celebrating our grand opening of the jt Photography Studio at 137 E. Main Street, Van Wert, Ohio!
We will also be holding a Matilda Jane Trunk Show starting at 5:00 pm so come a lil early to get your seat! I would also appreciate your RSVP (the info is below!) so I know how many to expect! YES, YOU CAN BRING YOUR KIDS! But if you choose not to there will be Big Boy/Big Girl drinks there as well! :D And even if you don't intend on viewing the Trunk show please just come to see the studio!

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Here is my invitation to you for the Matilda Jane Trunk show at the Studio Grand Opening!

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The only thing I left off of here was the time, Trunk Show starts at 5:00 PM. Grand Opening opens it's doors at the same time!
Please RSVP to:
jtphotography@live.com
or
419.203.0889 (By text,call or voice mail!)

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You definitely cannot miss this event! Not only is there going to be door prizes, but if you purchase any Matilda Jane clothing valued at $50 (total sale) you receive a $25 gift certificate to the studio! Some door prizes include FREE jt Loot as well! (Frames, gallery wraps, session discounts, free prints!!)

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I just want to thank GOD!, my loyal blog readers, clients, friends, and most importantly my FAMILY (Especially Troy, and my Mom & Dad!!) for being such great beacons of light, support and help!! I could never have done this physically without any of you, mentally without your words of encouragement, or emotionally without the love you have shown me. I PROMISE that I will never forget how much you have all made me the success I am. You guys RAWK! I can't wait to see what this year has in store, and I can't wait to share it with all of you!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Thinking of Easter...and what to dress your kids in!

Easter seems like so far away. It's April 12th, right? Guess when our Easter QuickTakes start? March 21st! They are going to book up fast, so if you would like to get some beautiful portraiture of your children, I think NOW is the time to book your spot! QuickTakes are $20 for a 15 minute session, and if you don't think you can get amazing portraits in 15 minutes feel free to go look back on our previous QuickTake sessions from Christmas! We are running the QuickTake sessions for Easter from March 21-April 4th, and everything shot and ordered before April 4th is GUARANTEED BACK by Easter!
Also wanted to pass along that if you are looking for something funky and totally yummy to put your kids in for QuickTakes, I am hosting a Matilda Jane Trunk Show!!!! If you aren't familiar with Matilda Jane, you will be! Their clothes are so fresh and everyone will be asking "Where did you get that dress/top/bottom/skirt?! I HAVE TO HAVE IT!"
The Trunk show will be at the Studio (137 E. Main St.) March 7th at5:00! If you are interested in attending please email me your mailing address to jtphotography@live.com

You don't want to miss this Trunk Show, because for every $50 you spend on Matilda Jane Clothing, you get a $25 gift certificate from us! Awesome clothes and free jt loot! What more could you ask for?! Check out their blog here.

Get your QuickTakes Booked and send me your addresses for an invitation to the Trunk Show!