Friday Fractured Thought | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer

Another week down and I cannot BELIEVE it is starting to feel like late fall.....just. not. ready!

- Holy WIND STORM. Our house escaped unscathed. However, I did end up with recycling products all over my yard because of the inept garbage folks in Beloit Township. Recycling bin that they failed to pick up vs. wind storm of the century = BAD IDEA JEANS.

- The hubby and I decided to watch the show Modern Family from the pilot episode all the way to the current season. What a hilarious show! LOVE it...how did I miss this one? Gives me something to watch on Wednesdays too.

- I have two spots open for the mini-sessions this Sunday. Yes, I realize there is a Packer game on and asking folks in my neck of the woods to miss part of the game in favor of having their pictures taken is pretty much akin to being sacreligious, I'm hoping there's at least two families out there who care about football about as much as I do and will snatch up the last two spots.

- Woke up this morning and realized my daughter had drawn people all over our entertainment center with crayon. Thanks Betty.

- I've decided to bite the proverbial bullet and place an ad in the Wedding Planner and Guide (Madison edition). Keep a look out for it soon. : )

- So glad 16 and Pregnant is back on for another season. I love trainwrecks on TV. It's good watchin'.

- Speaking of TV....Really, Project Runway? REALLY? All I'm going to say is....yuck.

- We're finally kind of, sort of getting Second Shooter's room ready. I've also been going back and forth a bit on the name we've chosen for her. For one, I know several people with a dog named the same thing. Kind of makes me think "Is this a dog's name"? But, after going back over our lists again and again, it's still the name the hubby and I come back to. So, there's your hint, Internet. It can double as a dog's name.

And no. It's not Fluffy.

- Don't forget, Clients...I'm still running a 25% off Smugmug sale...so now is the time to get those holiday print and product orders in. Again, if your sitting or event happened prior to June 2010 and you'd like to take advantage of this sale, hit me up on email and I'll load your pictures for you.

- I have two weddings left for the season. I cannot believe how fast this season went....where did my summer go? Seriously. Tomorrow is Last Wedding #1 in Milwaukee and then my final wedding (making 32 for the season...eek!) is in Chicago. Hubby will be coming with me so I don't have to waddle AND carry bags....

- Bookings for 2011 are coming in....I have 11 booked already for next year and inquiries typically start to pick up right after Christmas (all those shiny new rocks). So, contact me ASAP if you have a 2011 date you're interested in....

- I am super excited for Halloween...I finally get to take Betty Trick-or-Treating...it will be her first time, so I'm going to be sure to snap a lot of pictures! The kid is not too big on candy, so bonus for pregnant mom!

- This weekend, in addition to the 2nd-to-last-wedding, I also have 2 family sittings and the Mini-Sessions. Hoping to get some rest next week, as sleep has been escaping me a bit lately.

Here's your small moment-'o-Betty.....playing with off-camera flash and the chunk of trees by our house.

Learning on the Job 2010 | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer

With the season winding down and my thoughts turning towards maternity leave, the end of the year, and 2011...I thought it would be a good time to revisit a blog post from last year called "Learning on the Job". I'm still relatively new to this game and I always find it interesting to learn from others, see what they've picked up, and maybe share a few nuggets along the way.

So, here's what I've learned this year....and hope to carry on to 2011.

1. Shiny, Happy People Make My Job Easier.
I'm a bit of a people-pleaser. There is nothing that makes me happier than to hear that I did a good job for someone, that they loved what I did, or that they noticed that I went the extra mile. When my clients are happy, I'm happy. This has been a REALLY great season and my clients this year have been just tremendous. It thrills me to no end....and it makes me want to seek out new and different ways of bringing them a fabulous photography experience. In my old job, I came from a background of dealing with unhappy people all the time. Part of my job was to try and make them LESS unhappy....but it was an uphill battle that was hard to conquer (I worked in health insurance...it's really hard to make people happy when they feel like they're being taken advantage of).

But, now...I get to work with people on the happiest days of their lives...do you know how lucky that makes me? Do you know how fortunate we are to do what we do as wedding photographers. I try to remind myself of that when I'm knee deep in paperwork....or it's the middle of winter and I haven't shot a bride/groom/couple in weeks. We are lucky lucky folks. We shouldn't forget it. We participate in happiness. There is no better job on earth.
2. Stop and Smell the Roses. Or Just Take a Nap.

I have to be constantly reminded to slow down. If I had my druthers, I would be a total workaholic. However, that is a difficult row to hoe when you have kids...and a husband....and, you know, stuff to do outside of work.

I tried, this season, to really not be holed away in my office every night. Some nights this worked...and I got to catch up on my TV shows and spend some time with the hubby. Some nights it was a futile effort. Sometimes, work beckons...especially in the middle of a busy season. But, I have to give myself a bit of a high-five for staying relatively on top of things this summer....even with a big move to a new city and a pregnancy. Part of that making clients happy-vow is quick turnaround. I try to always keep that as my goal.

But, this year, I think I did do a better job of slowing down and taking a bit of time for myself and my family, and I hope to do an even better job of that next season.
3. Don't Fear the Reaper....or the OCF.

Off-camera Flash was my nightmare. I love the look....the drama it can bring to a scene/set-up...but the whole concept of TTL and triggers and what-not scared the living bejesus out of me, to be honest. I'm not a math person.....I'm not good with geometry (just as my high school teachers...I think I failed basic geometry three times).....I just don't think in angles and percentages.

This year...late in the season...I decided to give it a go....better late than never. And the concept is still new. But thanks to a few photo friends and the ease of use brought on by Scott Robert triggers I'm finally NOT as scared of OCF as I used to be. I'm hoping to really use it to my advantage in 2011.

The lesson? Do something that scares you....even if your first few attempts royally suck. New skills take time and patience to master....and patience is a concept that is new to me as well, sometimes!

One of my first OCF attempts EVER....

4. Silence the Inner Critic.

I am my own worst enemy at times. When I present a final product to a client, or even shoot for fun, I find myself being incredibly nit-picky. Its the perfectionist in me....and part of me has had to learn to kind of let that go.

For one, if I continued to be as nit-picky as I want to be I would never get anything done. I need to learn, big time, to ignore what other people are doing...the good and the bad....because it doesn't help further my work in the slightest. It's so easy to become preoccupied with how awesome someone else is...and it can easily make you feel pretty self-conscious.

I'm still working on telling that little voice inside to shut up and go away. It crops up every once in awhile.....but I know that I've done some work this season that I'm really proud of....and I have to remind myself that next year is a new chance to rock it out.

Picture courtesy of Betty Claire Photography

5. Don't Dress Like a Sad Clown.

I've been putting off my need for a new work wardrobe until after Second Shooter is born and I get my old pre-pregnancy size back (oh...it WILL happen....believe me!). Until then, I've been kind of making do....which has led to some..shall we say...interesting combinations.

One thing I learned at the WPPI Road Show this year is, in a sense, dress for the job you want. If one were to see some of my ridiculous get-ups...you would probably think my goal was to join the cast of Cirque du Soleil.

So, one of my biggest goals for 2011 is to stop dressing like a frumpy hobo clown. Because my luck is terrible, and the day I decide to just throw on the first hot-pink coat I can find that fits is the day that my husband decides to take pictures of me "in action".

Awesome.

In last year's post I lectured about shoes. Apparently taking my own advice wasn't in the cards because I went through about three pairs of shoes this summer alone and they were all cheap, cruddy shoes that left my feet in massive amounts of pain.

Come March I'm buying some decent flippin' shoes. Mark my words. Hold me to it, Internet.

Style. It eludes me.

Looking back, I think I'm right where I want to be with Type A this year. I had 32 weddings on the books this year (2 remain....can't believe the season passed so quickly!) and countless family sittings. I met some AWESOME clients and expanded my network around the Madison area....picking up some tremendously wonderful pals in the process. That is invaluable really. The community we have going around here for professionals is really amazing. I can't say enough good things about it.

With 2011 looming, I'm hopeful and feeling very positive about the good things that await. I'm taking on my first bridal show in February (something I've been putting off out of, again, fear mostly....)...and I'm looking to really do some great things with the branding and "look" of Type A during the slow season. So, keep an eye out for some fun updates and changes.

And...if anyone wants to call up Stacey London and Clinton Kelly and get me a new $5000 wardrobe....I'm all for it.... : )

Holiday/Winter Portrait Sittings | Milwaukee Family Photographer

As you know, I'm getting rounder by the second and due to give birth on December 23rd. With Peanut I went into labor 3 days early (if this is just TMI.....I apologize...but, hey...its nature! )....and since this pregnancy is going along swimmingly I'm assuming I'll be right around my due date this time as well (here's hopin!...I know there's no way of really knowing, but I'm an optimist!)

So, what does this mean for scheduling Christmas/Holiday and Winter portrait sessions? Well...it means it's business as usual until about the 2nd week in December.

I have a chunk of open dates for portrait sessions. Remember, I come to you and locations are completely your choice (I have a massive location list that covers most of Southern Wisconsin if you need help).

So yes, I am STILL shooting...and plan to until I get down to the wire.

Weekday sittings are ALWAYS an option and I welcome them, but I know weekends are often most convenient for people, so here are some open dates to take a look at!

NOVEMBER: Weekdays are pretty open with the exception of Nov. 18th and Thanksgiving (I will be out of town from November 25-27) Weekend openings include the late afternoon of the 7th, and the 20th & 21st. If you would like to order prints, products, or albums for the holidays from your fall sitting, I highly recommend snatching up one of these November dates.

DECEMBER: December is pretty open. I think people fear my going into labor at their sitting. Fear not the Labor Fairy, folks! : )

Open dates include any weekday until the 15th and the weekend dates of the 4,5,11,& 12th.

As most seasons, if you are looking to get holiday cards or gifts made, time is of the essence.

Contact me @ typeaimages@gmail.com to set up your family/portrait sitting.

Daytripper | Chicago Family Photographer

I woke up this morning feeling like I was "missing" something...or that I forgot to do something. It's not a good feeling....a feeling like you need to be somewhere but you're not sure WHERE....

Then I realized it was Saturday...and I had no wedding to shoot today. After a busy busy summer season it's such a bizarre feeling to have a Saturday practically off.

I did, however, get to take a leisurely "day trip" to Schaumburg, IL to photograph the Sostak family. I've done several sittings for the family...their kids are beyond adorable (and they play up to the camera, lucky me!). We hit up Busse Woods Forest Preserve in IL, and beat out the rain (a little sun even poked through...BONUS!).

Little Miss Edy just turned one and she was all smiles and cute-ness....Cal was a perfect subject and more than willing to throw clumps of leaves at me for "effect".

So glad we got a break in the bad weather! Enjoy the sneak peek!

DISCLAIMER: Edy has the bluest eyes known to man...seriously. So blue, in fact, that they look "enhanced". Just want to put it out there that I did not mess with Little Miss Edy's eyeballs. They are THAT blue...and THAT gorgeous by nature. Ok...enjoy!

"Hey Cal....throw a big clump of leaves at me! Really....do it!"

Ooookkayyy Lady....if you say so!

Seriously...those EYES...they're just amazing.

Ok....a little cheese-tastic...yes....but really, what good is being a family photographer if you cannot embrace the cheese sometimes? Life is short.... : )

Location: Busse Forest Preserve Schaumburg, IL

Friday Fractured Thought | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer

- Allow me to start this week's Fractured Thought off with a bit of a pregnancy whine. I think I am housing a budding gymnast....that, or she's running out of room and fast. This kid doesn't stop kicking. Ever. All day long it's "bop bop bop....WHAM!" with her pointy little feet. Wonderful...miraculous....yadda yadda....it's kind of just uncomfortable at this point. Yeah, I've got 9 weeks to go....I'm so ready for December 23rd to get here! And if she decides to make an early entrance (not TOO early...mind you) I'll be all for it.

- Project Runway....again, I won't spoil it. I know how annoying that is. But, I think the judges are pretty much on crack this season. That or they have been struck blind.

- My hubby brought home an Ipad from work (he has to learn the in's and out's so he can support them....yay for us!). I can see how it MAY be cool...as kind of a novelty item at bridal meetings or something....but thus far the only real use it's getting in the Reseburg household is from Betty and her enjoyment over a bug-squashing game. Kind of an expensive play-thing.

Pass.

- Speaking of technology, I'm about THIIIISSSS close to getting a "real" cellphone. I've been on the "pay as you go" lame-o phone track for quite a few years.....fervently resisting things such as texting or Ap's or anything of that nature. I hate cellphones...I am a complete technophobe when it comes to cellphones. As long as mine can call people I'm a happy camper...but start me on a texting route and I'm pretty much all thumbs. It takes me a good 20 minutes to send a quick text.

But, I'm realizing I need to just bite the stinkin' bullet and get a real phone. One with a Qwerty keyboard so I can text without fear of ridicule over my need to properly write out most words and explain everything in long, drawn out sentences.

- How cool was it that they got Ben Gibbard (of Death Cab for Cutie fame) and my favorite girl Zooey Deschanel to sing at the Giant's game the other night? Ben did a really stripped down, beautiful rendition of the National Anthem and Zooey's version of God Bless America was quite beautiful. I love her voice.

- My husband informed me that I scheduled my Holiday mini-sessions smack dab during a Packers/Jets game. Shows how much I know about football schedules. Go me! Well, if you decide to come on out for a quick 20 minute session on Oct. 31st, I promise to make it a good one : )

- Kind of sad Teen Mom is over. How cute are Catelynn and Tyler? I just want to take them home and give them stability. Seriously.

- I have to give a huge, big, awesome shout out this week to my lab Miller's Professional Imaging. Holy COW are they on the ball. I ordered a gigantor flush mount album for a client on late Tuesday night. It was on my doorstep, looking gorgeous, by Thursday morning. Miller's rocks.

- Speaking of Type A type-stuff, if you read below I'm currently running a 25% off SmugMug orders sale for clients, client pals, family, etc. This applies to prints, canvases, thin wraps, and downloads. Coupon code is : seasonend10. The sale is good through November 15th, so spread the word!

- Also, I have a few openings still for sittings in November. I will be working on portrait sittings up until my due date (Dec. 23rd) so get those holiday sittings booked : )

However, I am trying to get all album orders for the holidays in by the next 2 weeks, so if you can send me your orders/picture choices ASAP that would be great!

- The holidays are also a popular time for Kindred Spirits Hospice sittings. If you or someone you know is a patient of Hospice and would like a free of charge documentary hospice sitting, email me at typeaimages@gmail.com and lets set something up.

- This week I took Betty to the pumpkin patch in Caledonia, IL. This place is adorable...and its free admission during the week! She loved it, and it gave us a chance to get out of the house while the weather was still decent!

Coming up this week: RELAXATION. A sitting scheduled for tomorrow (which hopefully still goes through...it's supposed to rain...big BOO!)...bridal meetings...Madison CLASS get-together (YAY!) and another family sitting on Friday. WHEW!) I have two weddings remaining for the season...this season SPED by. 32 weddings later...I'm ready for a NAP!

Here's your weekly moment-o-Betty. Enjoy!

Trying out her Halloween costume. She's a "Nice Giraffe" (I say Evil Giraffe is still cooler)

Forgive the "orange-y-ness of this picture....our living room has a very warm hue and I was too lazy to white balance properly. Bad, bad me...I know. But any-whoo....this is Betty...shakin' her tail feather to Jimmy Eat World. That's my girl!

Hittin' up the corn at the pumpkin patch in Caledonia. After we had done the corn maze several times I realized you were supposed to buy tickets for it. Whoops.

25% OFF SMUGMUG SALE!! : )

NOW What Do I do | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer

Once your Type A Images pictures are all nicely edited and finalized, and you get your excited little hands on that DVD of proofs, you may be wondering "Well...NOW what?"

The confusing part about commissioning a professional to take pictures for you, whether it is for a wedding, a portrait session, or something entirely different, is that each professional does things just a bit differently. This will account for the wild range of prices you may find out there when looking for a photographer (well...that and....there's that whole "ya get what ya pay for" thing, but we won't go into that!)

A lot of people offer just the "shoot and burn" approach. Shoot...and burn you a disc (some will just hand you their CF or SD cards!). Warts (and bad exposures or out of focus images) and all. That's it. After that, you're on your own. Take it on over to CVS and get your prints. Easy peasy? Sure! Cheap? Probably! Professional and a great experience to rave about....well.....meh. Probably not. It's the drive-thru at McDonald's approach to photography commissions. Serves a purpose, cheap and fast, but McNuggets are probably not going to be winning any Michelin Stars any time soon...and shoot and burn isn't exactly the most high-end or dedicated way of approaching a customer's memories. A lot of newer photographers on the scene take this route for a number of reasons: low overhead (discs are cheap and editing software is expensive) and they think this is what customers want.

Some customers....sure! But, in this case...what kind of unique and professional experience is the customer getting? With DSLRs being so affordable these days, it doesn't take much skill or know-how to simply shoot machine-gun style and burn off a disc.

So, moving on....what CAN you do with your images?

Now, I offer a high-resolution DVD of proofs to my clients. This DVD has tweaked images that have gone through a culling process, eliminating the ones where you look like a goober or the flash didn't fire...you know, stuff of that nature. I painstakingly go through your pics to make sure the ones I hand you are work that I will stand behind...that I'm proud of.

Not every photographer offers the high-res DVD, and that's kind of a personal thing for each photographer. Some are album focused (which is awesome, and I'll get to WHY its awesome in a bit) and some want you to buy physical prints first. I offer the DVD of proofs for a number of reasons: I'm a tech geek and I think its important that you have your files to put on your computer and back up that way and, truth be told, I want you to stick those suckers on Facebook and spread the word of my awesome-ness. : ) Word of mouth, baby.

But, I do think physical prints ARE important...and I do my best to guide my clients in a way that will get them the best results for their hard-earned cash. It makes me a sad panda when I think of my images being printed out at Walmart or Walgreens, in all honesty. Why? Because these are not professional prints. The machines used to print out the images are not going to be able to tell if I wanted the image to BE as saturated (or un-saturated) as the file shows....and the kid running the machine is probably going to assume I want everything jacked up to major-saturation. They won't look at each images as a separate entity...but the batch as a whole, and they will all be processed the same according to the machine's settings. You may get lucky with the drugstore routlette and end up with some halfway decent prints....but I wouldn't count on it.

Type A Images offers professional lab images via your online proofing site SmugMug, and I have to say I continue to be impressed with the quality of printing I get from the professional lab. It's just heads and shoulders above the Fuji machine at Walgreens. Plus, when you commission a photographer to do a sitting for you, you are paying for that photographer's eye...their vision...their take on the subject. THAT is the price you plop down for the 8x10. The image printed on the paper. So, when you question why a Walgreens 8x10 is $1 and mine, well...are more than that, the reason is you are paying for the BEST representation of the image you hired me to make. In the color, clarity, and form I intended it to be in.

To make another food analogy, you wouldn't have Wolfgang Puck make you a steak and then smother it in Hunt's Ketchup, right? Well...you might...but I'm sure Wolfgang wouldn't be too pleased...and you would have wasted the price of the steak, because all you're going to taste is ketchup. Cheap...unappealing....ketchup.

Canvas gallery wraps are another great way to put your favorite images to use. These suckers are GORGEOUS and always a conversation piece. I have several, and I've gifted several to family members featuring my cheeky little Peanut, and they always love them. There's just something to be said for seeing your darling little mug blown up on canvas. I recently ordered a bunch for my office from the lab and I was really blown away by the color quality and sharpness. Just fabulous. So, I do highly recommend picking up a few...especially with Christmas coming because these make awesome presents that are sure to beat the pants off any Snuggie or Slap-Chop you can stick under the tree.

On to albums, I'm a big believer in albums. I wrote a blog about the importance of an album a few months ago and I stick by that sentiment. We never got an album from our wedding and its one of my biggest regrets. Sure, you may say, I'll make my own.....blah blah blah. Let me just share this with you: no, you probably won't. After the wedding is done you're going to move on to other things and that disc of images is going to start collecting dust. If you're not having your photographer build you an album, you're missing out.

I was there...I saw your whole day...typically from start to finish. So, presenting my vision of your wedding day story is part of my job description. Binding this all together in a beautiful, professional album or press print book is a great part of my job. It's presenting you with the final telling of your story...in a beautiful, heirloom way.

I just started offering new album choices and I'm really excited about them. Everything from press print guestbooks with linen paper (GREAT way to show off your engagement session) to leather bound flush mounts.

I know it can be a daunting thought with all of the option out there. So, no matter who you hire to capture your day or photograph your family, sit down and talk with them about the options they offer to get the most from your images. You hire a professional for a reason: to get professional images. Take that all the way to the end of the experience and get professional level prints and products to show off your images. You'll be happier with your experience in the long-run.

Leather flush mount with hinged, lay-flat pages

The new guestbook option with linen texture paper (no smudges!). These are also great for parent albums.

See how linen-y? : )

Gallery wraps.