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    • Linda De Los ReyesLinda De Los Reyes

    Showing It Off – Clients’ Wall Displays

    May 17, 2011 | Posted by Linda De Los Reyes

    It was such a treat for me to help my client put up all of her gorgeous canvas gallery wraps in her family room a few weeks ago. To see a wall display from concept to digital rendering to reality is so gratifying. Before the photo session, she had mentioned she had a few places in mind to put her new photos but would certainly need help figuring out how. Music to my ears. During our post-shoot consultation, I measured the wall above the couch in the family room so I knew how much space we had to work with. Using the images in her “YES” folder (those images she knew she just had to have), I worked up several ideas.

    Following is the final display hanging in her family room. The two anchor portraits on each side are 16″x24″ while the middle squares are each 11″x11″. All canvases are 1.5″ deep with black side edges and a dust cover on the back. Quite the eye-catcher, eh?


    Another client of mine had picked out a prime spot for her session images at the top of the stairs on a  wall that connected the bedrooms.  But once she saw the artwork, she realized she wanted to put them someplace where any visitors could enjoy them as well – downstairs. She had already begun a display that showcased several photos going up the stairs. But there was still a wall that would be a wonderful spot to anchor the existing photo display. All three canvas gallery wraps are 16″x24″ and 1.5″ deep with black side edges and dust covers on the backs.

    Kristen the designerKristen the designer

    Happy Fridays: Senior Marketing with Design Aglow!

    May 13, 2011 | Posted by Kristen the designer

    Our good friends over at Design Aglow have just rolled out the most fabulous Senior Marketing kit! If you haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, you absolutely must right now. If you are looking to branch out into high school senior photography, or maybe need a makeover for your current marketing materials, look no further! The kit includes several beautiful designs for anything and everything you could possibly need. And to make things even sweeter, you can save $70 today while the whole kit is marked down until 5p.m.  There’s not much time left so head on over and pick up your copy now :)

    Also, as a reminder to all our NAPCP members, do not forget to check out the Vendor Discount section of the site for additional savings from Design Aglow! Happy Friday everyone!

    Kristen the designerKristen the designer

    Artsy Couture Giveaway!

    May 12, 2011 | Posted by Kristen the designer


    Be one of the first photographers to offer this exciting new product line, Artsy Couture’s Gallery Blocks. Customizable, fun and fashionable wall art, a Gallery Block is a laminated professional print over a solid wood construction. Sold individually or as a series of smaller blocks on a larger block background, the design possibilities are endless. This month, one lucky NAPCP member will win one of Artsy Couture’s most popular Floating Gallery Block sets, “The Classic Three” – (1) 10×8 and (2) 6×8 floats on (1) 28×11 of pure loveliness! Good luck!


    Want a chance to win one of Artsy Couture’s Floating Gallery Blocks, The Classic Three? Here’s how!

    Rules:

    (1) Must be a NAPCP member.

    (2) Must “Like” BOTH Artsy Couture’s and NAPCP’s Facebook page

    (3) Write something nice on Artsy Couture’s Facebook wall on behalf of NAPCP

    (4) Post a comment on the NAPCP Facebook page to let us know that you’ve completed all of these steps!

    Deadline: Friday, May 13th at 11:59 pm est

    Kristen the designerKristen the designer

    May Member Spotlight: Kelley Ryden and Tracy Raver!

    May 12, 2011 | Posted by Kristen the designer

    In the spotlight this month, Tracy Raver and Kelley Ryden, authors of “Sleeping Beauties: Newborns in Dreamland” have been photographing newborns exclusively since 2007. Kelley brings to this duo her stellar camera skills and comforting of the newborns, while Tracy adds her handmade crafts, perfect posing and great set-ups. Teaching workshops on their technique in-studio and abroad, Tracy and Kelley will conduct an intimate workshop for attendees on the finer points of newborn photography at this summer’s NAPCP Retreat 2011: Vail.

    Tell us about yourselves and how you make your business work?

    It helps so much Kelley and I get to work together as a team. That’s how we can get some pretty tricky shots. Kelley’s the technical side and I’m the artsy side. Put the two together and it just works.

    How do you maintain a work/life balance while juggling the studio management, teaching workshops, and motherhood?

    It’s very hard to not work all the time. We do limit our number of private sessions per month to about 6 each. Then with teaching and publishing work it can add up fast to work overload. Just being honest with our clients on how long it takes is a key. We do strive to capture images in camera the best we can so that limits our time editing on the computer.

    What was the biggest turning point for your business?

    An article published in a UK on line periodical. That’s how the Today Show found us and lead to getting a publisher and the two books we have in stores now. We were busy before this with client work, now it’s almost non-stop craziness! We wouldn’t have it any other way. We like to keep busy and working hard in the studio getting amazing shots.

    What has (and hasn’t) worked well for you in terms of your marketing strategy?

    We let our websites do the marketing for us. Keep them updated with new images as well as our blogs. Word of mouth by our clients keeps the clients coming.

    As someone who’s been in business for several years, what’s one piece of advice you can give to those starting out?

    Know your camera, know your style and be comfortable with your pricing. Keep your number of clients per month to a manageable number. The more you can give good customer service the more referrals you’ll get and the faster your business will grow.

    We are thrilled to watch your business continue to grow. What are your plans for the future?

    Future plans are to get our own babies older and all in school and then do some traveling to teach and client work. We’d absolutely love to get some celebrity newborns as well. We will continue with publishing work and have one more book to produce which will come out in the next year or so.

    What are some of your favorite product offerings and biggest sellers?

    We are very simple as is the area we live in, good midwest living. Basic wall prints are what our clients want, and always an announcement card. We are starting more to get interest in custom designed client books. Those are fun to put together and just amazing in print.

    We are so excited to have you both join us as featured speakers at this year’s NAPCP Retreat 2011: Vail! What will you be sharing with us?

    We will be sharing everything we know! No questions will go un-answered…We strive to show how to keep baby calm, good camera technique and capturing the shot.

    To see more about these two, visit Kelley’s site here, and Tracy’s site here!

    Shannon StevensonShannon Stevenson

    Family Session Share

    May 10, 2011 | Posted by Shannon Stevenson

    Inspiration
    For this particular session we wanted to create a really fun and relaxed mood. It was wet and cold that day…but it didn’t stop us from capturing these little magical moments. Using different family combos we expressed in images the bonds that are so obvious when you meet this family.

    Favourite Element
    I love when a family comes with full trust and are so comfortable that they barley even notice you are there. With a caring watchful eye I wait for moments like these, quietly preserving snippets in time that otherwise may go unnoticed.

    Biggest Challenge
    I love to shoot wide open, but it is always risky in family sessions. The little ones moving at the speed of light is always reason for concern at 1.2. However, I love the effect and the risk is so worth it!!

    Final Words
    I just love working with children and families. I am always inspired as I watch and capture the bonds between siblings and/or parent and child. For parts of each session I keep as much distance as possible to capture the purest of candid moments, but I also love to get involved and be goofy too!


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