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

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!!

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

Still talking Grads

With today's post, I think it's time to represent some GUY grads. Mike had many pictures taken (so fun!), and many that would be great to highlight here, but, alas, I will limit myself to a few. I also would like to remind those graduating next year, that I have a few spots open for Grad Reps. If you have already expressed interest in being a rep, make sure to contact the studio with the days you're available in late July, because it's time to get the ball rolling! We will go out, take some fun shots, and choose one of those for your rep cards, which we supply for free. Then, hand them out to your friends, and for everyone who comes in with your card and books a Grad Session, we will give them $25 off their session, and you get $25 credit for each and every person! You also get fun freebies and discounts from us for your own Grad pictures, on top of the credits you receive. Everyone wins!







And because it's grad, afterall, one that's more traditional...



Now, off to another shoot at the Park. Have a good evening, everyone!

until next time,

Crystal 

My first Bowling Alley Shoot!

Hello everyone! Two days of entries in a row - not bad, not bad..

Today I give you a Grad that loves to bowl. And because of that, we, of course, did his first session in the local bowling alley! It was great to be able to challenge myself with angles and improvise backgrounds. So for your viewing pleasure, some of my favorites of Josh :)

A Bigger Vertical Picture - Hooray!!

Here's another of my Grads from this past year. She decided to save her formal session for the warm sun of our summer evenings. Doesn't she look glamorous in this beautiful light?
(and don't you love that I have figured out how to post a vertical picture bigger?? - I'm getting there...).

Tomorrow I am registering my children for their activities for the year in the morning, and shooting a wedding in the afternoon. If anyone needs to call tomorrow, please leave me a message - I will call you back sometime on Monday.

Happy Weekend everyone!!

more grad pics and updates

Here are more shots of one of my favorite Grads - Fred. He is all personality and heart and I loved every minute of this session with him!






Tomorrow my kids are back at school, and I can hopefully regain a little of my routine for our family life and for my business. I have hired both of the employees that I was searching for, and on Tuesday of next week, both will be here for their regular shifts. Katherine will be here now and then to help with training, but soon it will all be up to my new staff: Olivia - to do our digital work, Caitlin - to manage the office, Heidi - to act as second shooter (and to work on special projects as they come up) and me to concentrate on the shooting and the business itself. It will be so glorious to have things running smoothly again!

And just a note, we are now taking bookings for September and October for Fall pictures. The leaves can change at any time here in Cold Lake, but as a rule, I can usually shoot outdoors until the middle of October and still have Fall color. There is usually a week or two after that time that we still have Fall leaves, but they are often on the ground (although that can be nice too!) Inside portraits in the studio are also a possibility at any time. In order to have portraits back in time for Christmas, I stop shooting by the middle of November. Any sessions scheduled after that time will be with no promises of a pre-Christmas delivery.

Some Favorite Grads

Over the next few days, I have decided to post some of my favorite Grad pics from this past season. At the moment, because I'm still playing with the blog arrangement and framing, I'll just put up one. Fred made for many favorite pictures, so there will be more of him to follow!