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    • Kristen the designerKristen the designer

    Happy Fridays: Halloween Costume Ideas!

    October 22, 2010 | Posted by Kristen the designer

    As a kid I have to say Halloween had to be my favorite holiday. My mom was always so creative with helping me design and create the best Halloween costumes. Every little girl loves to dress up like a princess, and every little boy loves to play the superhero. These days with the amount of costume choices out there your kid could be just about anything he/she wants! To help you out I have featured some of the most popular, and some of the cutest, Halloween costumes for 2010.

    Children Ages 6 Months – 3Years

    1) Cow – Probably one of the more traditional costumes but still fun for kids of all ages! Also one of the easiest to make yourself. Buy a little bedtime onesie with footies, add some black felt spots, a couple of ears and voila!

    2) Mike from Monster’s Inc. – not only is this costume super cute, it also acts as a candy sack. The mouth area has a built in pouch to store candy! How cool is that?

    3) Lion – I can not get enough of this costume. So adorable!! And it is perfect for a little boy or little girl!

    4) Elmo – this one is also one of my favorites because it is just so darn cute :)

    5) Dragon Slayer – coming off the very popular animated film How To Train Your Dragon, every little boy will want this costume for Halloween.

    6) Sleeping Beauty – Princess costumes are a most for every little girl. This one is modeled after one of my favorite Disney films, Sleeping Beauty.

    Children Ages 3+

    1) Cinderella – like I said, every little girl should get to dress up like a princess at least once!

    2) Vampire – vampires are everywhere recently so naturally they make the list of most popular Halloween costumes.

    3) Hannah Montana – This costume is also another easy DIY friendly one that any parent could throw together last minute! All you need is a blonde wig, cute dress, tights, and a pair of white boots. Piece of cake!

    4) Iron Man – such a great costume for every little boy who has already been Batman, Spiderman, Superman etc. Iron Man is new and fun!

    5) Witch – the go to costume for girls! I liked this one because it had so much extra flare :)

    6) Pirate – another great idea for a boy’s costume. Traditional but super easy to give it a little extra new twist!

    For more great costume ideas please check out Just Kid Costumes. Happy Friday everyone!

    Sandi BradshawSandi Bradshaw

    This is what love looks like…Session Share

    October 20, 2010 | Posted by Sandi Bradshaw

    To say that this family is special would be a gross understatement. These boys have traveled quite a long road on their journey to becoming brothers. Although…I suspect that they were brothers long before they resided under the same roof. Their family’s story is so moving…to know of the patience that they’ve had to have while they waited…far longer than they expected to…far longer than they should have had to…to finally all be together. Their oldest son is their biological son…the middle and youngest sons have joined their family from Russia and Haiti. It’s such a beautiful thing to me when families are brought together from across the world. A truly beautiful thing.
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    Mom described all three of her children differently…one as being shy with an inner strength, one as being their wild child and addicted to fun, and another as a little shy…and a little wild ‘n crazy as well. I truly wanted to capture their individual personalities in their images…and although when I look at their individual images I do see those characteristics so clearly on each one…but, when they’re all together…I see strength and wild boy fun in every one of them…and I see brothers…who are so happy to be a family!
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    To learn more about Sandi and the workshops she offers please visit www.focusphotographyworkshop.com. Sandi will also be speaking at the next School of Photography by Color Inc. in Michigan on November 2nd!
    Alice ParkAlice Park

    October 2010 Member Spotlight: Sarah Lane & Giveaway!!

    October 18, 2010 | Posted by Alice Park

    Well hello Autumn, you snuck up so quickly with your lovely foliage and late night editing. This time of year when mini-sessions marathons abound, clients are booking with holiday cards in mind and seniors are entrusting you to capture their finest hour. So how do you keep things rolling like a well-oiled machine in the studio? In this month’s Member Spotlight, Napa photographer Sarah Lane of Sara Lane Studios shares how her recent addition of a studio manager has freed her up to concentrate on marketing her trademark senior brand, Studio 12 Seniors, and gives us tips on how to rock your next senior session on the forum!

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    Basking in the glow and warmth of gorgeous Napa Valley, the lovely Sarah Lane has created a niche for herself in the senior market. We met up with her this summer at the NAPCP Retreat and have been watching her closely since then.

    Hi Sarah, we loved meeting you at the NAPCP Retreat! Where do you see yourself and your business in 3 years? In 5 years?
    Still loving what I do and having the right perspective. I pray that God will still be blessing the studio and that we will still be honoring Him with the work that we do. Also, I am really excited to see Pics for Packs get it’s feet and be a fully functioning program! Pics for Packs is a program that we are launching with Studio 12 Seniors that encourages each senior to bring in a new backpack to their session (they receive an 8×10 if they do!) and in the summer we fill those backpacks with school supplies. Our plan is to have a backpack drive (and the seniors are invited) to pass out these packs for underprivileged kids in the community!

    Who or what inspires you and your work? How?
    Love, confidence, fashion, movies, music and anything vintage.

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    How do you maintain your balance with work and home? What is your secret?
    Ha! I am still trying to figure this out! I have recently hired a studio manager which has been a HUGE relief! Although training has been a bear! I have come to the understanding that I cannot do everything on my own. Or at least everything well. When I was, my family was the one who paid the price. Now that I have begun to build a team, it has allowed me more time at home with my family. Granted, I am still at the studio 40 hours a week but I have given up my 3am editing sessions! Gosh, I don’t miss those!

    Take a peak of Sarah’s gorgeous studio below!

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    Tell us about your new Senior brand. How did it start and what are you envisioning for it?
    Studio 12 Seniors came about earlier this year, honestly from the frustration of new photographers popping up in our area and naming their business with their name and studios attached to the end. Since seniors are such a big part of our clientele, we wanted to make a branding that was all their own. Something that was cool and relevant and that’s where Studio 12 was born! It also gives us the freedom to bring on additional photographers if we choose to go that route in the future.

    What are some of your client’s favorite products? (photos also great!)
    I LOVE a company that I recently came across called The Frame Guys. They make really cute custom shabby chic frames. The above studio pics feature the blue and yellow collection, and they come in a large selection of colors and styles. Roger is my contact there and the number is 601.625.8156.

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    What is the best advice you have received regarding photography?
    Be YOU and shoot what YOU love :)

    What advice can you give to those starting out?
    Try not to get caught up in being the next so and so! Be yourself and love what you do. Your love and passion will shine through your work! Don’t fear failure. It’s in our greatest failures that we truly grow :)

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    Sarah, we loved meeting you at the NAPCP Retreat! What is your desire and hopes for our very specialized and unique industry?

    I seriously LOVE NAPCP and think that it is a great resource for any photographer that specializes in child photography.

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    To see more of Sarah Lane, check out her website here, and read the latest on her blog here!

    Overwhelmed with the number of Christmas cards to design for clients this year? Art-Is Design was conceived out of Heather’s insatiable desire to create! Heather is a portrait photographer out of Texas who loves designing custom cards from scratch for her clients as well as other photographers. Her designs touch on all different styles & tastes while incorporating vintage, modern, whimsical, and contemporary designs that will surely fit all of your photography clients desires – product templates designed specifically for photographers by a photographer!

    Want a chance to win a free set of Heather’s delicious holiday designs? Here’s how!
    (you must be a fan of NAPCP on facebook AND be following us on twitter to enter)

    1. Facebook: “I want to WIN Art-Is Design templates from @NAPCP (National Association of Professional Child Photographers because….” (and fill in you reason!)
    2. Twitter: I deserve Art-Is Design templates from @napcp_tweets because (and fill in your reason!)
    3. Leave a comment HERE with your reason AND to let us know that you’ve completed steps 1 & 2!

    Deadline: TODAY at 11:59 PM EST!

    UPDATE: The winner of the Art-Is Design giveaway is Katherine Forbes!  She writes:  I SO want to win the Art-Is Design templates because my Walgreens Christmas cards just aren’t going to cut it this year!! That, and of course her work is BEAUTIFUL!!! :D

    Thank you to everyone that entered!

    Magan BlasigMagan Blasig

    Getting Involved

    October 18, 2010 | Posted by Magan Blasig

    Before I begin, I should say that while I am a professional photographer, I am not an expert at how everyone should run their business. I only know what my goals are and how things work for me when I implement them.  Starting a business is scary, exciting, exhilarating, and frustrating all at the same time. I personally looked at running a business as something that I could do easily. I failed, initially, to calculate in how much of my time would be working with clients and running a business versus how little time (in the grand scheme of things) would actually be spent photographing children, babies, weddings, and engagements.

    Now that I am over a year into this, my viewpoint has changed drastically and I actually enjoy the business side just as much as actually photographing everyone. It’s a huge challenge to me – something that is a little foreign and unknown, but I want to crack it and understand it completely. It’s something I want to conquer and know how to do extremely well.

    … which is probably why I spend so much time reading business books, attending workshops, and going to events like the one I went to yesterday. Two of my good friends forwarded me an email and said, “We think you should go to this.”  It was for women only. More specifically for female entrepreneurs who own small businesses. I didn’t even read the rest of the email (until later) before I signed up to attend.

    I walked into the room on the 17th floor of the Hyatt a little intimidated. Sure I’m a business owner, but I’m just a speck of dust in comparison to all of the powerhouse women that exist in this world. I couldn’t muster the courage to join a table where women were already gabbing away. Instead, I decided to take a seat at an empty table and soon after was joined by another young lady. Our table quickly filled up with women who had been in business for merely a month to two and a half years to thirty five years. Our occupations were so widespread. It was fascinating to hear about their businesses and their journeys.

    I think that’s when it hit me.  I was there for a very specific reason. To be encouraged and built up. To be shown that with enough dedication, passion, heart, effort, and business sense, I could turn Magan’s Lens into something pretty darn incredible. I also realized this… andlisten up (especially if you’re a new business owner or want to be)…

    Sometimes I get so caught up in networking with people in my own industry, I forget that other industries exist. Somehow, everything revolves around photography. Printers. Album makers. Other photographers. Wedding planners.  Caterers. Bakers.  Prop manufacturers. Don’t get me wrong – all of those things matter. Networking with other photographers matter. It’s a beautiful thing to have a support and referral system. However, ponder this. What can we do to branch out to help and assist those other industries?  How can what I do better what someone else does?  And furthermore, how can their experiences and knowledge help me grow?  What advice can I share with them to make something easier/simpler/less strenuous for them?

    So there I sat in our little conference room.  All of this coming into full focus for me (I promise I don’t intend to use photography puns.)  I had heard most of what the panel of speakers talked about yesterday.  I had a pretty decent basis of information, but the biggest thing I realized is…I need to get out of my little bubble and figure out how I can volunteer and service other segments of my community.

    To those of you that are already there and realized this: How do you serve and volunteer? How do you network with non-photographers?  Please leave comments below!  To those of you who are in need of doing this…let’s make it happen.

    Kristen the designerKristen the designer

    Happy Friday: Clutter Free Tips for Your Child’s Room!

    October 14, 2010 | Posted by Kristen the designer

    Keeping your kids organized can be quite a feat! Every toy, book, and stuffed animal has to have it’s own special spot. Working with small spaces or limited resources can also make organization difficult. Well here to save the day are some helpful tips from HGTV! They have some great systems and ideas to help encourage kids to stay organized, and to make Mom and Dad’s work a little simpler!

    Book Shelves:

    “Functional and stylish storage is an essential element to consider when decorating a child’s room,” says designer Susie Fougerousse. “If the room allows for it and your budget permits, a bookcase with doors or drawers is a classy way to enhance the look of the room while providing valuable storage for odds and ends.” Another helpful tip is to buy a neutral colored book shelf that can be used for several years instead of a matching set they may need to change after a couple.

    Storage Tips for Boys:

    Loft beds are great for your little man. Plenty of storage options from built in book shelves and drawers, to more traditional lofts allowing for needed space underneath. Boys also tend to have a good bit of sporting equipment that can often wind up all over the garage in disarray. Here is a great example of a way to utilize a small hall closet to house all your athletic gear!

    Storage bins come in all shapes and sizes and can be uniquely crafted for your child. Add a little paint and specific labels so that your kid will know exactly what goes in which bin.

    Storage Tips for Girls:

    Every little girl likes to be unique and show off her own style. Keep this in mind when organizing a girl’s room. There are so many great colorful and decorative options for storage. Conquer the clutter with containers and smart shelving that can transform any closet space like the top left example from the Container Store.

    Get a little crafty with this fun storage method. Slipcovered ottomans with removable lids offer plenty of storage for small toys, books, and bedding.

    Well there you have it! A few ideas for transforming your child’s room with less stress…Happy Friday everyone!


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