Grad Rep 2010 - last 2 of 4 to post!

These poor Grad Guys have been waiting patiently for a sampling of their Rep pictures. Between Fall family pictures and finishing up my weddings, there hasn't been much time for anything around here. But here are the last 2 of 4 to introduce you all to! Chance and Nathan came for their shoot together because they're very good friends. And aren't they photogenic?? Britni (my work experience student from last year) came in to help get the Rep Cards ready and commented on how Abercrombie Model-ish they both were - and she's right! They are great, smily guys, eventhough some of my favorite shots are non-smily. I guess that adds to the model look! Thanks guys for being open to posing for me and for making my job so easy!!

Here are some of my favorites, and, as always, some are posted to Facebook

Until next time,

Crystal

Alex & Matt - engagement session

Here are some of my favorites from Alex and Matt's engagement session. The others that I've posted are on my Facebook page - please go have a look-see there as well!
This couple is all that I want my bridal couples to be: beautiful people, kind, happy, in love and willing to go anywhere and do anything! This was a beautiful Fall day in many respects, up until the Gale Force Winds entered right in the middle of the session! That didn't stop us though, from using as much of Matt's family farm as we wished. And we did just that. There is only a small sampling here, limited only because of my posting limit on blogger (telling me that maybe it's time for a new blog... hmmm..).
Anyway, enjoy the love story these tell!

A quick cuddle break, all the while listening for bears... (I was, anyway :S)

I do love shoes, from all perspectives! And these boots are special because Matt is wearing them just for Alex (he's not really the cowboy boot type, from what he claims). Isn't that sweet?!

This one I love for their expression, the colors of the field, but most of all for the cows creeping up to take over the shot in the background! Who knew cows SO aren't shy?!

Lovely, HUMONGOUS, sunflowers!! Perfect... I love both of their expressions here, in the midst of their sunflower jungle

And the old truck that started it all. This was one of reasons we decided on using this location, one of the many gems we found to shoot around :) Isn't it great?

Thanks again, Alex and Matt. I just loved working with you and anticipate greatness for your wedding day!!

Just so you are aware, and don't think I'm crazy over only my Grad clients...
I DO have 10 Grad Reps this year, and I DO think they are all wonderful and I DO need to finish processing and posting some of all of their fun sessions. Which is my way of saying that I DO understand that there's been a lot of Grads posted here lately, but I DO need to give them their time in the spotlight, because they deserve it.

Tonight it is Jaclyn's turn. She did her session with Britni, as I said in my last post. They are obviously very good friends and so fun! So have a look here and on Facebook, and appreciate how cute and photogenic she is and then you'll have to wait awhile for the final four - but it will be worth it, promise!

I will need to break from all processing for a few days, as I prepare for Donna & Tyler's wedding this weekend - my last of the season. I think then I will try to post for some of my recent brides before I post anyone else. Because I DO think it's their turn :)


Mmmmm... sunflare...

We found some beautiful color that evening - bold blues..

soft greens... all to make a girl look fabulous!

A beauty in Black and White too!

Thanks so much, Jaclyn! You were a great model and will be even more fun to shoot in your Grad sessions!

Tonight I have yet another Grad Rep for you to meet. I honestly shoot much more than Grads, but because they need to have their pictures ready to show to this years Grad Class, they have been getting a lot of the Facebook and Blog spotlight recently. Anyway..

I'd like to introduce you, again, to the Beautiful Miss Britni. I say again, because she was in a blog post back in the spring. You may recognize her as my work experience student from Feb-June last year. This term is too busy for her to come to work, but she wants to be back in her second semester - and we can't wait to have her back! Here are some of her favorites from her fun session this summer:

Like many of my reps this year, Britni shared her session with a very good friend of hers, Jaclyn. (Jaclyn will be highlighted very soon.. :) ) They obviously have very much fun together!

I'm always in search of textures and architectural elements here in Cold Lake. They are very hard to come by, but we managed quite well, I must say.

Love the light, the colors, the softness... it all makes my heart happy...

And then God stepped in at just the right moment with a touch of breeze. Who needs a studio and a fan anyway?!

Back in the studio for some of that background texture that can't seem to get out of my system!

I so love Britni and have since she was a little grade one student in my class, many years ago. She has grown into an amazing young lady that I am proud to know! Thanks for the very fun evening shoot, Brit, and for many more fun moments to come!

It's the Guys' turn..

Tonight I would like to introduce you to yet another of my fabulously wonderful Grad Reps - Jarid! He was the first of the Guy reps to sign on, and the first to do his fun shoot. He admitted that when he arrived, he wasn't too sure of what to do and he may have been a little nervous... put that together with sharing the shoot with someone he had never met (a cute girl, to boot!) and I can understand the hesitation! But him and Melissa (see last post) got along right away and both had the kind, open spirit that I always like to see in my Grads. We travelled around town and shot lots - adding ice cream, darkening skies, and laughter to the mix. When I was dropping Jarid off at home afterward, he was way over the nerves and told me had a great time. And that's the way Grad portraits should be, in my opinion!!

Here are a few of my favorites, as well as others posted on my facebook page, as usual..

Great job, Jarid! Looking forward to more sessions for the rest of your Grad Collection!!

For the rest of my 2010 Grad Reps, thank you for your patience. It will be your turn soon! I'm soo looking forward to showing you, and I will as soon as I have a minute to breathe here at the studio!!

until next time,

Crystal

Melissa, Grad Reps 2010 Continue

As I have said before, I am incredibly blessed to have the Grads I have to represent me this year. They are all so wonderful!

Tonight I would like to introduce you to Melissa. I've been taking her portrait for the past few years and have always loved her pretty smile and soft disposition. I was thrilled when she signed on to be a Grad Rep! Her Mom, who works for us on a casual basis (wonderful also :) ) and her little sister tagged along for her fun shoot. She shared the session with another Rep, Jarid, whom she had never met before. I think it may have been a little scary for them both at first, but they were soon laughing and having a great time. I had so much fun too, and can't wait to shoot their real Grad Sessions later this year! Thanks for being so photogenic and open to all my suggestions, Melissa. Looking very forward to next time!

In the studio, before we left in search of cool places and colors to shoot around. In this one, she is wearing a special scarf she brought back from Africa!

Melissa shared her session with Jarid (who will be posted next). They didn't know each other before hand but ice cream always makes it easier and more fun, don't you think?

Love the soft, buttery tones and pretty colors in this one..

Love it!! Way to work the poses, Melissa - you were wonderful!!

Thank You for Reading & A Special Little Boy

I had a lovely comment on one of my posts tonight that tugged at my heart. Thank you, 'anonymous person', for sharing your story with me and for encouraging my work with the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation. I have yet to shoot my first session for them, but it's exactly your situation that has led me there - to help with the healing. Her comment also reminded me that I need to keep my blog posts coming, regardless of how busy my office gets. Because there are people who are reading!! Thank you so much for reading, all of you!!

Now for some pictures :)

I love this little guy!! I have been shooting his picture for the past few years, and as a result, he's comfortable and fun around me - no warm up time required!! I told his Mom that, really, if she wanted, I could just keep him for the hour and she could go for coffee. He's really soo sweet! We ran around and played and at the end of our time together, we were walking back to the vehicles and he asked me if I would come along with them for ice cream. Awwww ... I just love him! Here are a few of my favorites (and there will be some on my Facebook Page as well)

Just a note before I go for tonight. I am booking up fast for Fall Shoots - for September alone, my weekends are full and I only have two more evening sessions through the week. If you are available to come through the day, there are some available appointments, but not many. If you would like portraits for Christmas, you must have your session before the end of October. Call us at the studio, 780 594-0588 for more information!!

Until next time,

Crystal

Digital Files

The teacher in me is always fighting to come out some how.  Because of that, and perhaps my degree in Education, comes the desire to educate in all circumstances. Lately, I have felt the need to prepare a lesson, to anyone who will listen, about Professional Photography. There's so much about this new profession of mine that is unknown to the general population, and, sadly, to some of us photographers. What's been an eye-opening education for me in this past few months, has been the realization of the true differences in processing now that we shoot digitally as opposed to the days of film - time wise and price wise. So that will be the focus of my lesson today - the processing of digital files!
 
In this digital world of photography, the game has changed. Back in the days of film, we would shoot a roll, package it up and send it to the lab for printing.  The only cost we had, whether it be a fancy lab or a Wal-Mart photo lab, was the cost of the paper it was printed on. We didn't realize the work that the lab had to do to the negatives before an actual presentable picture could be printed.  I wasn't even aware that there WAS extra work for them. I realized that this was not the case once I started to learn more about the photography business. However, with digital photography, the main job of a photo lab IS to print. All of the work between the shoot and the printing is up to us, the Photography Studio. And even though as Professionals, we can take great images straight out of the camera, they still need to be uploaded, edited, processed, proofed, retouched, enhanced (sometimes) and THEN sent for printing.

With that workload in mind, think now of the costs. The same file that we take through all of these steps and then export to use for printing, will be used to print a wallet size, 4x6, 5x7 or 8x10 image (for anything bigger than 8x10, we go back to the original RAW image file, resize and retouch further and finish it differently). It's costing us the same in wages to process a 4x6 print as it is for an 8x10 print. The price of the paper that a 4x6 photo is printed on is only slightly less than the paper used for an 8x10 image. So, understanding this principle, that our cost, in time/wages, is virtually the same for both the 4x6 and 8x10, the price for the client, when we look at it fairly, should also be the same, right? It's very frustrating to us as professionals to have people devalue that process, but I think it's just a matter of not fully understanding the reality of the costs. In this past few months, I have had many 'Ah Ha' moments in this area, because I now have to pay someone to do this for me. Now that you (hopefully) have a better idea of this too, please pass it on!

Also, with this topic, I just want to leave you with a few examples of what an 'out of the camera' digital negative looks like, and what a Custom Professional Studio, like ours, can print as a final project. Here below is a wedding couple, caught in the moment, with spring snow flying. A beautiful picture of them as is, as you see in the first example here:



But here is the retouched/enhanced version of that same image, which graces the walls of our studio:



Here again is a wedding couple, walking toward the family store. Very nice capture, as is:



Then the enhanced, edited version with pop!


This last one is subtle. Beautiful couple here:


Everything a little better here. Skin is smoother, background fixed and a little bit of extra saturation in the color. Not enough to change it, just enough to give it the extra attention it deserves.



Every image that leaves our studio is touched, in some way, to make it better. Whether subtle or enhanced versions, we know our work and our clients are worth the extra treatment!
Thank you to those of you who made it through this whole post, and for letting me educate you, if only just a little! If you have any questions, please ask!

Until next time,

Crystal

Grad Rep 2010 - #2!

Here is my second Grad Rep for 2010.  She is one of a few Grads this year that I had the pleasure of teaching as a little girl - I was her Grade 1 teacher :)  Now, all beautiful and grown up, Daylyn was just as much a pleasure to work with now as she was back then.  Smiley, kind and soft spoken, she is the perfect person to represent my studio!  Thanks so much for signing on with me, Daylyn!  It's going to be a great year ahead!!

The End of Summer brings the Start to So Much!

I can't believe that summer is almost over here in Northern Alberta.  Today the weather was cloudy and cool and Fall-ish.  So much so that I needed not only a sweater, but thick socks and an afternoon coffee to take off the chill.  It's often cool in Cold Lake in mid August and then once school gets underway again, we get a second blast of warm summer-like weather.  That, mixed with the beautiful Fall colors is heavenly.

As I'm thinking of the summer holidays finishing off for the kids, I start to think of the beginning to so many things: school, sports/extra curricular activities for the kids, hockey for Doug and hopefully clogging for me. For the business we're heading into family pictures, finishing off the last 4 weddings of the year, losing Rebecca (my fabulous Office Manager) to have her baby in October and, this year, I'm gearing up to think of Grads too. It's very exciting to think of starting the Grad shoots early this year, so that they don't all pile up together in the spring/summer.  So if you're a Grad, please consider starting your pictures early - it really doesn't have to wait!  I've been working at my Grad Rep shoots (another first for me this year) and having a blast doing so!  I have finished 4 of the girls, have two guys tonight, and a few more after that booked for the coming weeks.  As I get them finished, I will highlight some of my favorites here for all to see!!  Today I'd like to introduce Sarah.  I finished processing her pictures first, because she had to go on holidays and I needed to know what her favorites were before she left.  Daylyn did her session at the same time, so she will be next (promise, Daylyn!). But for today, the beautiful miss Sarah!!  

As I always try to do, there's more on my Facebook page.
Happy Monday, everyone and until next time!

Crystal