English Photography

Facing my growing pains: 2012, The reinvention of English Photography

I have been writing this post in my head for weeks and the time has come to put those thought into written form.  The truth is I have been facing growing pains for quite a while.  One of the great things about taking time off every January to recharge at the PPA national convention is it gives me the chance to review the weak links in my business.  I have to humbly admit I have many weak links in my business chain.  But the good news is I have identified the issues and am ready to rebuild.  It is going to take me the whole year of 2012 to build a foundation from the ground up to fit my current lifestyle. 

2012 marks many huge milestones for me, 11 years ago I quit working for other photographers and solely worked building English Photography.  The biggest milestone that took place 11 years ago was I gave birth to my oldest child.  2012 also marks the year my youngest child will enter kindergarten.  For a working mother that is a HUGE change... the day when all your kids go off to school.  I need to dispell the myth that life gets easier for moms when her kids are all off to school.  I want to raise my kids with as few regrets as possible, of course some regrets are inenvitable, but I don't want to look back and say, " I wish I had.....".  Being an involved parent is something I don't want to miss out on and that means putting in time and effort to better the world around my children at school.    I have spent the last week over my head with science fair projects, teaching art lessons and fundraisingand a million other small projects.  These are all things I wouldn't dare give up because this phase of my life will pass as quickly as the last 11 years have past.

So I stand here needing to make BIG changes to in order for everything to work in this new phase.  I feel like a snake who is wiggling to free themselves from skin that no longer fits.  I realize that to many you may never see the changes.  The artistic integrity of my work will stay the same and probably grow with increased efficiency.  It is the financial part of the business that must be over hauled.  I take full responsibility for taking a relaxed stance on the business end of things in the last decade.  I had to because it fit my lifestyle when I had babies in my arms.  But that is the case no longer and I need to be more responsible for not only money but the value of my time.  Honestly, I value time more than I value money.  I can always find more money somewhere, but no matter how hard I try I can not create more hours in the day or more energy in which to accomplish things.  So it comes down to the simple statement: Am I using my precious time wisely?

I want to have it ALL, who doesn't?  I want to have everybody like me, who doesn't?  But mostly I want to stand before my children knowing I did the very best job I could being their mother.   That's doesn't mean I am not going to be working, it is quite the opposite.  I want to be working smarter.  So throughout 2012 I will be rebuilding my business.  To some of my favorite clients, my new policies will be a confusing adjustment.  But I love each of you to pieces and I am asking you to understand and respect my desire to be the mother I want to be by creating the business I need to be.  I will give full disclosure on the blog as new policies are put into place so that no one is uneducated on the changes.  Because all of my clients become heartfelt friends this is a hard pill to swallow.

So here are the first policy changes of 2012, I will be updating the website immediately with all policies once they are listed here.

-- Session fees will be due at the time of scheduling via credit card.

--There will be a $275 dollar minimum reorder on all sessions.  This fee will be due upon receiving proofs and will be set aside as prepaid credit toward any reorder.  I can not delivery Image catalog or post online ordering galleries without reorder minimum paid in full. 

I realize that 2012 will be filled with a million tiny little changes in order to get my business transformed into what my husband is lovingly referring to as English Photography 2.0.   I am upgrading myself in order to provide an even better portrait experience for the wonderful clients who have become part of my heart.  Thank you for cheering me on throughout this year as I become the mother and the business I want to be.  I have been in business for over 17 years and I intend to be in business  for another 40.... at least, I am sure this will not be the only time I reinvent myself during my life.

Namaste!

Finally posting my favorite trio of teens, my nieces and nephew.  I think next to my own kids, these guys tug at my heartstrings the most.  Talk about reinvention... all three of them have started new schools in the past year.  If making changes for me is as successful as it has been for these guys... I am making the right choice.

Love you guys!

 

January means time for self rediscovery

Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE January and February.  Most others think I am crazy because the weather is cold and there isn't much to do...... which is exactly what I love.  January brings on a season of simplicity. (Please keep in mind, simplicity is a relative comparison.)  Although plenty of inspiration is born out of stressful desperation, I need simplicity for the sake of purposeful self rediscovery.  I have to admit, my soul gets a little lost between October and the end of December.  I guess lost isn't the right word.... maybe just burried.  Time to pull out the shovel and dig out who I am and what direction I want to be taking. 

Setting New Years goals is big in my house as you could probably guess.  On New Years Eve the whole family sits down to check off what they accomplished from last year and decide what they what to go for in the coming year.  I am happy to report all three of my goals for last year were met and exceeded. Yeah!  The boys get into it too. Let me share some of their 2012 goals.  Will, 1. Ride switch on the wakeboard 2. Participate in Avalanche training workshop 3. Bike to Grandma's via The Canyons to Millcreek into SL.  Jonas, 1. Start piano (already checked that off yesterday) 2. Participate in summer dog sled racing program 3. Keep a fish alive for 6 months in his new Salt Water Aquarium.  Unfortnately, Sasha isn't quite old enough to understand the concept of goals but I promise it'll be exciting when she does.  Both Josh and I have a list of 5 goals this year which is a few more that usual but we like a challenge.  I have learned for myself that if I don't spend these three months setting my course for the year ahead I can find myself either dead in the water with exhaustion or forgetting what are my important priorities.  I made a comment to some people I volunteer with that all my inspiration come between January and April and then the rest of the year is implementing those ideas.  Backyard Art came together so well last summer because I determined my weekly projects before March was over and started gathering supplies.  If I would have waited until I was over my head in summer schedules I would have chosen to go with what we the easiest NOT what was the best. 

So I have had two weeks to remember who I am and now I am headed to New Orleans to add another level of inspirtation to the year.  I LOVE PPA convention and hanging with my friends who geek out over all the technical advancement that happen each year in the world of photography.

I thought self dicovery related to this awesome session I had with a young man who is getting ready for his Bar Mitzva.  I am absolutely delight to be a part of this huge milestone in his life.  He is such a joy to be around it gives me great hope for my own boys that it is possible to successfully navigate your kids through these trying times.  I have to say, I love working with skiers!

2012 Love it already!

I finally have the presents of mind to sit down and wish the blogosphere a very Happy New Year.

I just want to tell all photographers who read this blog that my card was printed to a 5x10.  FYI there are no envelopes for cards that size.  Maybe the wonderful people at the lab should have thought of that before they sold them as cards.  Luckily the envelope I found that was 5x11.5 still qualified as regular first class mail.  If you ever have the same problem Office Depot sells the closest sized envelope I could find. 

Wishing you all a year filled with joy and gratitide!  Looking forward to New Orleans next week and PPA 2012. YEAHHH!

Zion National Park Family Portraits

Back in October we headed down to Zion's for the Fall break.  I posted an invite to anyone interested in family portraits in one of the countries most visited and beloved national parks.  I hope posting these images will inspire some more people for next year in Zion over the UEA/ October school break.  This session was a dream come true for me.  When ever I am out indulging in all Utah has to offer I am always inspired and wish I could combine two of my favorite things, Utah landscape and families.  So if you are like me and have always dreamed of portraits in the most remarkable settings Utah has to offer, I am more than ready to make your family masterpiece happen.  Here's the official invite for Zion October 2012 portrait sessions... it's totally work it!

Thanks C fam for helping me check another item off my bucket list.  I honestly can't believe how perfect these all came together.  Thanks a million for letting me capture your family magic.

 

It is almost too late...

I am up to my arm pits in holiday cards.  I am happy and driven but quickly coming to that place where being able to accept more card orders just isn't humanly possible.  I know I have a few people still waiting for their image catalogs, and a few still on the schedule, this message is not intended to panic you.  I have already made mental room in my head for you.  This message is intended for everybody else who thinks that I  would be happy to enable your procrastination and come to your rescue.  I have been tickled with how well most all my clients hopped on the band wagon and gave me the precious gift of time by ordering early.  My heart is full of gratitude for you.  With that thought in mind just had to post a few images from some cards I have been working on today.

Hope your turkey day was delicious and that your black friday wasn't black.  Here's to celebrating the fasted month of the whole year. This season is the rollercoaster you can't get off until the ride has come to a complete stop around January 3rd.

I'm still here....

Tis the season to be jolly, fa ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra.  The truth is I am very jolly and having a great time up to my ears in Christmas cards and orders.  When the blog is quiet you can bet that the hard drives are spinning on overtime.  Unfortunately, it is not the season for deep thoughts on the blogsphere.  It is the season to keep the nose to the grind stone and just keep swimming.  Although my post may be a little less frequent until the big day is over, I'll do my best to keep posting images.  I have had some spectacular session in the past while and am blown away by the beauty that surrounds me daily.

Although the fall was super short this year, the leaves were stunningly gorgeous.  This family aced the clothing requirement.

Age 8 is amazing because you can see both the kids face and the teenager if you look carefully. 

I big congrats to this guy, he graduated highschool this week.  He is Olympic bound and doesn't even have time to attend his own graduation ceremony.  This image above is the back of his graduation announcement.  Can't wait to see his profile in the future winter olympics.

PLEASE NOTE*** All Christmas orders need to be placed by Thanksgiving if you already have your proofs.  Christmas card orders need to be placed by this coming monday for those who have their proofs.  I honestly appreciate my wonderful clients who are on te ball this year with holiday card orders... it makes my life so much better.  Thank you thank you!

I think after christmas I am going to have to catch you up on all the art I have been teaching in the school... gonna have to wait until January though.

 

Happy Halloween!

Man, this month has been insanely crazy!  There were a couple of moments I thought I wasn't going to make it through in one piece.  But I have to admit this month was also filled with a lot of joyful memories and wonderful moments I will treasure always.  These crazy days filled with sewing costumes and school projects and all that goes along with raising 3 kids and working can be exhausting.  But these days with my kids being young are numbered and I want to savor every halloween that comes along.  Josh and I regularly talk about the costumes our mothers made for us as kids and each costume represents a special memory of our moms.  I want to make sure my kids will have those same memories of me.

I had the fortunate experience of being invited to take halloween portraits at my kids elementary school family halloween dance the other night.  I had no idea how much fun I would have, it makes sense since I love halloween costumes and I love portraits.  The kids were so cute and it was a great night.  I couldn't help but share some of the images I snapped in celebration of this fun season. 

Of course my kids had to help me with my test shots... here is Will in all his Mace Windu star wars glory.  I told him that this costume had to last him 2 years... he is thrilled with that idea and so am I.

Wishing you a very Happy Halloween!  My candy of choice this year is Butterfinger... how bout you?

 

Time flies when...

Man, time is flying by and I am just trying to hold on for dear life.  Each day ends with pure exhaustion, I am sure many of you can relate.  I think I am starting to realize that October is one of the craziest months of the year.  Honestly, I am loving every minute though.  Life is about creating memories and parenting is about giving your kids great memories that will last a lifetime.  I can definitely say my family is creating memories these days. 

    This gorgeous family has doubled in size since their last family portrait about 4-5 years ago.  I am sure time is flying by for them too.  I was so honored to get to see how much this family has changed and how even more beautiful it has become.  This family is scattered across the country and came together for one day and I was tickled to be a part of the memories they are created on their one day together.

Thanks a million B family for hanging out in my front yard and playing Star Wars with my kiddos... you guys hold a special place in my heart.  Thanks!

Ivy League

The season has officially begun with the first snow of the year.  Although I put on my jeans and sweater I still denied that the winter had begun it's slow march by wearing my sandles.... my toes were chilly.  In the warmer days I photographed this magical session celebrating this cutie starting the first grade.  I loved every minute..

I hope you are all ready for your holidays.  Pretty, pretty please schedule any sessions you need for the holidays ASAP.  Please!  If you need some ideas for fantastic holiday cards email me and I'll fill you in on all the new awesome cards available.  If you have your image catalog and are ready to place your order, take 10%all card orders placed before October 23. 

Backyard Art: Summer wrap up with Monet, self portraits and garden gallery stroll

This post is long over do well worth the wait.  One of my new year's resolutions this year was to make Backyard Art a wonderful experience for all involved and looking back, I definitely feel the goal was accomplished.  Let me catch up on the last couple projects of the season.

Monet is such a favorite when it comes to famous artists.  I really wanted to give the kids some exposure since he will be one of the first major artists they will learn about in their education.   My kids have amazed me with their ability to remember the artists we learn about.  Jackson Pollock, Monet and Van gogh are artist they can easily recognize no matter where we go and they are eager to point them out. Our Monet lesson started with talking about how much magic gardens have growing in them and how painters have been trying to capture this magic.   

We started our Monets with shreds of tissue paper which were glued in layers using liquid starch as our glue.  The kids had two rules they had to follow... first, all the tissue papers had to go the same direction and second, they had to cover up all the white.  The project was great for kids of all ages.

Once they had covered the entire paper I pulled out the other tissue paper for the lilies,  We cut basic circles and the crumped them up only glueing the center to give it a 3D effect.

I absolutely loved how they all turned out, each very different yet all very Monet.  This is most of the morning class showing off their masterpieces.

Thinking about the final project, we just HAD to do a self portrait.  I thought all summer long about the best way to do this with such a huge age range in the kids.  These collaged self portrait turned out to be pure gold... they were so lovable and perfect.  I started by photographing each childs face the week before and having an 8x10 printed up.  We cut out just the major features of the face and then finished the collage by cutting up all my old National Geographics to create the hair, shirt and other details.

It's a crack up to see the kids with a life size picture of them selves with there real features showing through.

Each childs personality came shining through on this project.  They loved searching through all the magazines for the images that most excited them. It's amazing how much they really do look like their self portraits.

I love how these features are cut out.. so Picasso!

Love the crown and jewels!

This boy used volcano pictures to create his red hair.

Jo's makes me laugh everytime I look at it.  He is so proud of his spider hair and his brain shirt.

Below is ALL of my fabulous backyard artists this summer... only missing the TN crew.

We capped off the whole summer with a Garden Gallery stroll to show off all the kids had accomplished.  Reinforcing a childs creations is so important to their whole attitude toward art and the artistic process.  We had invitations so the kids could invite their extended families to celebrate.  I surrounded the entire backyard with all the wonderful art from these kids, we had goodies and even had a few art projects to do that night so that dads could get in the action.

I absolutely loved how these letters looked together with all the books we read.

These are the programs which showed off our "Featured Artists".  On the back I listed our projects and the goal of Backyard Art.

The art was displayed with each childs art all together and then next to their siblings.  These three cuties are standing in front of all their summer masterpieces.

Here is a dad getting to do spin art with his boy, definitely a great moment to have a little father son creation.

Besides the art, the Jelly Belly's were the next biggest hit.  No one can resist picking out their favorite flavors.  Although i didn't capture this on film, one of my favorite things was seeing the kids art turned into mugs , thank you cards and mouse pads. 

I was so tickled by all the aunts & Uncles, fathers, grandparents, and friends that came to this special evening.  I was honored to have been part of such a fun and memorable night, Thank you for taking the time to come and celebrate.  Thank you to each of my sweet artists and their moms for making my summer so joyful and creative.  I loved every minute with all of you and hope you will remember all the fun we had everytime you look at your magical art, I know I will. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!