Update Regarding Special Kids Photography Accreditation

YEAH!! I have passed step one for the accreditation. There were 2 tests to take..one all about different special needs and specific considerations, etc and the second test was a technical test for knowledge about photography.

The next step is to submit photos to be judged nationally. So now, I have to decide which photos to submit..hmm..and I'm having a hard time because I've grown attached to all the families that I photograph and especially those with special needs children.

I'll write more once the process is further along. Thanks for all of the support!

~holly

The Hummer's

Kristin called and asked if I would photograph her family and by family she meant Carver the dog too. We met at Founders Hall in Hershey and it was wet wet wet..I have some favorite spots there that I had to abandon because it was a marsh..and wet dog is no fun. But it was a fun sunny afternoon and the girls were great and had fun choosing a prize from the treasure chest. I did apply some creative artistic touches to a few of the pictures but aren't the girls the cutest...oh and the dog too!

Amanda and Josh ~ 10.17.2009

Amanda and Josh had a kinda wet and cold day for a wedding. All during our conversations she had such high hopes for pictures outside with beautiful fall colors. Well, it was raining, very very wet and muddy everywhere and at times we had flurries. We did make it out for 3 outside shots but it was way too cold to stay outside (I love the one I put on the blog..the fellow on the right is way crazy before the rest of us even got going). Despite the weather, we got some nice portraits inside the church. This first one is one of my favorites.. is Josh being a little naughty?? - just look at her smile!!

I'd like to say thanks to Marci from Circle of Life Photography for being my second photographer for the day. Marci is pretty much a natural light shooter and my readers know I am the complete opposite..I like to be able to control my light..so it was a learning day for both of us which was cool.

Hope you enjoy!

~holly

Rich...and his Cool Car!!

Photographing a car is way out of my league but I figured you never know what you can do until you try. Rich asked me to photograph his Pontiac firebird and I could tell what care he takes of this car! Recently at an all pontiac car show, his car won the class for the year of the car but he said he was shocked when he learned it also won best in show. And from there it's been nominated for a national award. So we met and I took the standard 4 corners of the car but then the fun started when I asked to just take fun shots. I am not a car buff by any means but even I could tell the attention to detail he had taken in completely restoring the vehicle. What I really loved about this car was the paint job...it's so perfect that it reflects everything like a mirror. So the fall trees were so cool looking. Have fun looking!

Gift Certificate are here in Time for the Holidays! With a bonus too!

Gift Certificates are here!!

And it's just in time for Christmas gifts!

This is a great time to ask family members about purchasing a gift certificate for your family or someone else. I am running a 2009 Holiday Special...for every $50 you buy in gift certificates I will include a credit for a free 5x7 print. For more information feel free to send me an email or FB message. Happy Holidays!

Little kids are simply the cutest!

Oh my these two little ones were adorable. This is another portrait session from WSM. Again this is another family that has never had a family portrait taken..so what a pleasure it was for me to provide this for them.

These sessions are very interesting because the kids (and I'd do it too) want to see every picture as you take them..because that's what digital provides. So I find myself "bribing" the kids with "I'll let you see a few if we can take 3 more" or something like that. And since they have never taken portraits it's all unknown to them.

If you have read my blogs in the past about WSM then you know how I bring an entire set up with me but I try to keep it simple..backdrop, light, reflector and I will occasionally borrow a chair if I can get into the room (We take these in the evening and the childcare rooms are locked by then). It is very hard for children who have never seen a studio set up to understand what is expected for them to do in order to take these portraits...and they are just kids. I have so much fun in letting the kids help set stuff up and we laugh and tell jokes and just make it a play session...I want to make sure that the next time the family does have portraits taken that the kids will see it as something fun.

Well, hope you enjoy..(yes there is only one family I am posting..the other family I took portraits of - and I loved how those turned out, did not speak English...but I did get to use the 6 words of spanish that I know..come here, sit, smile, please, thank you, bye..OK so I know numbers but that won't do me any good..anyway, I did not ask permission since I can't converse well enough..but smiles and laughter are a universal language yes?!?

Enjoy.

~holly

Michael's Senior Portraits..what a Smile!

Michael is one of those kids who just does not stop smiling.
I can't help but smile right now while writing this post!
Earlier this year the youth from our church went to New Mexico on a mission trip.
The youth held various events to raise money for this trip and a silent auction was one of this events...well, his mom won the portrait session donated by Life's Joyful Expressions at that auction and the following are his senior portraits.
Can you tell he is very into music and volleyball. He even got an early birthday present so he could use it in the pictures. I had a great time working with Michael and his mom Nancy. I hope you enjoy them as much as I had taking them.