Graphic Design Updates

As part of my business plan for 2010, I decided to hire a graphic designer to help with some branding. I wanted help from a professional to pick some colors, customize my logo, design business cards, and inspire some ideas for packaging my CDs.

I brought in Rachel Busby with Busby Design, and she did a wonderful job. I now have a fresh logo, fresh colors, new business cards (on order) and plenty of ideas for packaging. The logo and colors are now featured on my web site.

Going forward, customers will receive their CD wrapped as a little gift. My hope is that the presentation of the CD will be more appealing, and that it generates a little excitement about receiving their family's images, kind of like that rush a child gets on Christmas morning. (Hey, moms can get like that over pictures.) Once I finalize the packaging, I'll post some pictures.

Spring Portraits and Morning Light

The two best times of day for outdoor photography is the early morning and the late afternoon when the sun is low in the sky. The light is warm, and not harsh. Early or late in the day is not always a great time for families, however, and it takes some creativity to work with the sunlight to get optimal photographs.

Thankfully, all of the members of this beautiful family are early risers, and they were able to drive a decent distance to meet me at my favorite park for pictures in the Ballantyne area - at 8:00 am!

I think the pictures turned out very well, and it is due in part to the beautiful morning spring light. It is also due to a beautiful family. :-) I have to give the kids extra credit (ages only three and six), because they were some of the most fun and well-behaved kids I've ever worked with.

Cutie Pie

It's been a very busy few weeks, and I'm finally ready to post some pictures again. This little cutie pie just turned one year old. The parents wanted some more formal portraits of him and then some "fun" pictures of him doing his everyday things: playing, learning to walk, crawling, eating... What fun to document a busy hour in the life of a one year old!

I love all the babies that I am lucky enough to photograph, but this sweet little boy was one that I just wanted to HUG! I had to resist several urges to scoop him up and give him a little squeeze. But he was happiest with his mama - not the crazy lady with the camera - and happy is what we aim for during a picture session!

As happens with mothers, I was reminded of the days when my children were one year old. I have pictures to help remind me, and I'm glad that I do. They grow up so fast!

Thoughts on Mother's Day

Photo Above: My Beautiful Mom - Happy Mother's Day!
I haven't posted anything to the blog in a few days, but I have been busy with photography! The springtime is a great time for family pictures, and I hope to have some images to share in the coming days.

I also took some time off to travel this weekend, visiting family for Mother's Day. I'm making up for the lost time in the coming weekends, with three sessions next weekend and two the following.

Mother's Day crept up on me this year (doesn't it seem like it came earlier than usual this year?). Next year I want to be ready and offer gift certificates and special deals to customers in advance of this special day. These offerings are on my "business goals" document for next year. Although J. Rae Photography is four years old, my time has been happily split between being a mommy to two young children and developing my business. I've continued to make business investments in 2010 so I will be ready for 2011.

On a personal note, I received the sweetest Mother's Day presents from my girls. Both of them created wonderful little works of art for Mommy in their classrooms. Something about their words and pictures meant even more this year than in years past. Maybe they are at that wonderful age where they are old enough to express their feelings but yet young enough that it is expressed in a precious way that could only come from a child. For me, these words of appreciation are the best gift I can get; I'll take them over a massage or manicure any day.

My four year-old made me a lovely hand-made card. Her teacher videotaped the class singing a Mother's Day song, and I got to watch it online (over and over again). My five year-old, who is now learning to read and write, made a storybook called "A Book About My Mommy." Here are the words of the book, with her words in italics:

This is a picture of my mom. She looks so: huggy.
My favorite thing to do with my mommy is: loving my mom.
The best thing about my mom is: she takes care of me.

The pictures she drew in the little book are as sweet as the words. I hope you enjoyed your Mother's Day, and any treasures that your little ones gave you, too!