That's what she thought of the session

I was honored to have this client come all the way from Arizona to bring Baby E. to me! Such lively expressions from such a little one!

This one cracked me up....I told Mom that if she just put Baby over her shoulder, I would get some priceless expressions....I think I was correct!

What WERE they thinking?

I'm teasing a little with my title.

I am honored to have been chosen as the new Secretary of the Professional Photographers Association of Greater Kansas City.

This is a local chapter of the greater national Professional Photographers of America (PPA). We meet monthly, have fabulous speakers and an amazing group of talented and generous photographers.

If any local photographers are just getting started in the business, I would encourage you to come to a meeting and see what we are all about.

Email me or call me and I would be honored to have you as my guest!

Cheers~
S.

Do you live in the DC area?

I am most likely going to be in the DC/VA/MD area in March-April (dates are up in the air due to the babies actual birthdate not being known, obviously). I have been commissioned to photograph newborn twins, who are due in April, but we all know they tend to come early!

I would have a couple of other slots available for sessions, as long as date flexibility doesnt bother you!

Call me at 816-260-1529 or drop me an email!

Latest Maternity

Lovin' all these calls/emails, folks! Keep calling!!!

One of my colleagues said he thought this looked like larvae, which I found amusing, to say the least!

I love it....and she is about 38 weeks I believe!!

Lil' Urban Dude

I had to bribe him with a slurpee, but it was worth it....love this jacket!

I just love the innocence and joy of this age (3). The littlest things are so exciting!

Are You Pregnant?

I have some ideas and lighting techniques that I want to try out, but as I have mentioned before, maternity photography hasn't been booming lately. Maybe no one's knocked up ;)

Anyway, I am seeking a few "subjects" for a few sessions. They will be artistic (yes, nudity will be required in some), and always FUN!

The session is on me, and the prints will be 15% off my regular prices (but there is no obligation to purchase).

So, if you know someone who would be interested, have them contact me!

Thanks!!
816-260-1529

Slacker that I am

I'm doing this 12 week course (thats 12 WEEKS, not STEPS, just so ya know) all about recovering your creativity. I've been feeling so burnt out and restless, as you could probably tell, what with my recent film interest and not posting much.

So I am working on that, and discovering myself as an artist much more than as a business. It's nice, I feel free and look forward to where this will all lead me. Hopefully down a path that is strewn with hope and beauty for me to surround myself with.

Or maybe the holidays make me sappy. That's probably it.

Cheers~

The Snowflake

Baby C. loved that Christmas Tree. It was kind of far from where I had set up my lights, so I plunked him down by window that dreary Saturday morning last weekend and got out the film. Shooting only with limited window light, squished between the door jamb and the exersaucer, I captured Baby C. and the Snowflake.

I think he is perfect.

My New Hobby

I *finally* bought a negative scanner. This means that I can shoot more film and only pay for my negative development (a big savings). I wish I had room for a darkroom, but I would have to sell one of the children so I could have his room.....

So I have been a scanning fool. And I *love* this one of my boys together.

I just *love* film....its really the way it should be.

Beauty in Pregnancy

I *love* maternity photography, but it doesnt seem like its a real steady business lately. Sometimes I have a run of it, then I go months without any. Guess I'll have to start stalking preggys in the supermarket again.

Anyway, I had one last night. Usually my clients are OK with nudes, and honestly, I was surprised when this one wasnt into it, especially since she is so beautiful, with that perfect smile and darling tummy.

But as I worked, I realized that when the clients are not into the more "revealing" shots, my creativity sort of soars. I tried some cool lighting and really thought about HOW to "show it without showing it".

So, thanks R., you brought out something better in me as a photographer...I love growth.

Not Enough Crying

Last year I had a whole slideshow of babies sobbing on Santa's lap, but this year, I only had a couple. So, since these are always my faves.....I had to post them!

Jones

I recently found out that at Jones Soda you can have your own labels made and put on bottles, which I think is pretty cool.

But, you can also submit *your* images to be picked for national bottling.

So, I submitted a few...I hope Patrick wins!

http://www.jonessoda.com/gallery/view.php?ID=702358&category=2&offset=103

If you click on the link, you can vote for him!!!

My 5 seconds of fame

There is this online kids magazine that I get called Tot Trends Weekly, filled with goodies and cute clothes. They asked me if I had a cute baby in a hat that they could use on a cover of the magazine for their Getting Warm issue.

Do *I* have cuties in hats?? Um, sure....so today I open my email for my new magazine and there is Baby C. staring at me :)

Always loved this shot...

Ho Ho Ho

So yesterday was my annual Toys for Tots Santa Day. We had about 35 kids for mini-sessions all day long. Santa heard many requests, for everything from an ATV (Ok, Chad, but Santa has to ask your wife) to Just some Candy Canes (I wish that had been MY son! Judi gets off easy this year!).

Everyone looked so darling, and hardly anyone cried, so there goes the great slideshow like last year.

I will be sure to post lots of images from the whole day, but b/c my name is on the door, my kids got processed first, LOL

It's cooommmmmiiinnnggggggggg

I am debuting a new web site this week....it is so beautiful, and I cant wait until it's done!!!

But, I'm busy getting ready for the big Santa promo this weekend, I did my 3 year olds portraits and our family portrait this past weekend, so my new site will just have to be worked on here and there.

I love it though! Hope you will too!

My baby is almost 5

My first-born, almost aged right out of my studio parameters...guess I'll have to take him elsewhere next year!

Since both my kids have winter birthdays, I have to do their portraits early. Definitely NOT your average 5 year pictures...

Not like I could get out of it

So I submit for your amusement, my short stint as Wonder Woman, with 2 of my Justice League companions, Batman and Robin. I will be gracious and leave my husband as the Flash out of this embarassment.

Actually, I *love* dressing up with my kids on Halloween. Not many parents do it, so it seems more special. And anything my husband and I can do to make our kids feel special, we are into it.

Credit to the Flash for this snapshot...at least when I get hit by a bus, my kids will have a picture of me for posterity.

Here Fishy Fishy

I almost *never* use white. I dont particularly like it b/c there is no contrast, which is my "signature" in photography, I think. I also dont like the all-flat-lit super bright white, so I dont light my floor (this is one of those posts for the photogs who visit my blog, lol)

But this little guy seemed to be the perfect lil' one for the fishy set-up.

It pays to look up

I was photographing a super-cool senior recently when I happened to look UP. Though I don't know what it means (besides as one of my friends pointed out, it means a lot of ticked off parents b/c these things cost a ton)...I thought it was really cool. They are just tied above a street downtown....

I'm shameless

My friend Kristin, who is an amazing woman, mother and artist, has just (after MUCH pushing, shoving and nagging by her friends, including ME) launched her new business and has a gorgeous new website to show off.

I would LOVE to see some of her work in your kid's rooms! As soon as MY kids decide what they want, I will be having my boys room done.

So, without further jabbering from me....KidArt by Kristin

http://www.kidartbykristin.com/

Where is Batman?

My kids are dressing up as Batman and Robin for Halloween (and yes, I am Wonder Woman, so laugh your butts off, I dont care)...

I'm the only mom that dresses her kids in costumes and takes them into the slums to have their portraits made!

Anyway, here is "Robin"....seeking Batman I think...

You May Kiss Your Bride

No, I am not doing weddings, but nice try!

My cousin got married a couple weeks ago, and I debated for a long time about bringing a camera. I have this personal issue about a professional bringing his or her gear to an event where he is not working. I find it rude to say the least (heck, we all know how irritable I get when people bring cameras to my sessions, dont we?).

So, I decided I would bring my film camera and my fave yummy film that no one would possibly even like! (its very grainy and artsy, but people dont really "get" it)

So, "You may kiss your bride" came, and I leaned just a tiny bit into the aisle for one ceremony shot of my cousin, in her beautiful gown, glowing with happiness.

And tried not to laugh remembering all the stupid stuff we did we were 16!

Congratulations Diane and Steve, love you guys!

A Must-Watch

Feeling fat? Feeling ugly? Feeling like you could never be as beautiful as a model in a magazine? Um, watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U


Comment from Author:We asked a high-end fashion photographer to make her look as beautiful as possible for a cover/billboard (normal advertising request). I asked the retoucher to save his progress in files/layers, and that's what was used to create the animation. It's 100% real. Retouching took 4 full days. Make-up, lighting, and shooting took about 4 to 5 hours

By Example

I give you one of the reasons I like to focus on children pre-school age.....have you ever seen a 10 year old answer How Old Are You with this?

Love this!

Eve in the Garden

After my post yesterday I thought I should show an image of a Senior who was so terrifically in sync with me (scary thought, eh?) that she didnt hesitate when i said "hey take this apple and go stand in that poisen ivy".

Ok, it was just ivy, but it was funny.

So, J. being my "Eve in the Garden".

Beauty

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Thats what they say anyway. Recently I have been photographing a lot of High School Seniors. Gorgeous ladies with the whole world just waiting for them! I envy their youth and time, time which shouldnt be wasted.

Wasted how? Wasted by feeling badly about themselves. I hate hearing "I am fat"...."I hate my nose"..."I look stupid". I am looking at a fantastically wonderful woman and she hates her pictures b/c she has fallen victim to some inner voice that overpowers her self-confidence with BS!!!

I try to tell them, really I do. How in the real world there are people who cant wait to cut you down, make you feel ugly and stupid and worthless. Why help them out by doing it to yourself? Become comfortable in your own skin, learn who YOU are, not what you see in others. People project their own insecurities back on you!

These are things I've learned. It isnt that I dont remember being 17 and feeling the same way....but once I understood what a waste of time it was, I really wanted to go back and get that time BACK!!! But, I cant.

Today, I challenge you to do this: take 5 minutes, stand in front of the mirror, smile at yourself. Find something you LOVE about yourself. And spend 5 minutes complimenting yourself on that.

For me today, I think its my insight. Have to go find a mirror now.

Tick Tock

I have never had a client actually *have* one of these cool clocks so I could do this shot. No way am I hauling one in my car, either! There are limits to my art, you know!

This was actually a *very* cool table, I just took the clock off its wrought iron stand. Baby would not stand for being bare-bottomed on that cold hard glass, so we swaddled her for this shot.

So, tick tock, she was born at 9 o'clock!

NILMDTS

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep is an organization that I hesitated joining. It is a charitable photography project which does Infant Bereavement Photography. I joined a few weeks ago but was not totally sure I would be able to go, if called.

Yesterday I was called to Children's Mercy. These are twins and one is not doing well. He and his brother are on their way back home today, and my thoughts are with them.

Please consider, if you are a photographer, joining NILMDTS (http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/). If you would like to make a donation, please visit the web site and see what you can do.

Open Letter to Komen

(open, meaning I sent it to every newspaper, Tv station and journalist with an email address).

**************************************************************************
September 28, 2006

CERTIFIED MAIL-RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
REGULAR U.S. MAIL
AND EMAIL
Ms. Ann Beytagh
Associate General Counsel
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
50505 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250
Dallas, Texas 75244

Re: Cards for a Cure

Dear Ms. Beytagh:

We are in receipt of your letter dated June 21, 2006, a copy of which is attached hereto as Attachment A. We admit we thought it was certainly sent in error, as we are both in pursuit of the same end: a cure for cancer. That our path to that end is channeled into the various support systems for the families of sick children, rather than through a Corporation such as yours seemed to us to be inconsequential. We are able to donate 100% of every donated dollar to our charities since we do not have the corporate overhead associated with a large foundation such as Komen. We assumed that the letter was a form letter of sorts, meant to dissuade would-be scam artists from preying upon innocent donors.

We then received an email on September 22, 2006, a copy of which is attached hereto as Attachment B. The email clearly insinuates that if my corporation refuses to bow to the demands of your attorneys, we may be facing a legal action.

As we are sure you are aware, small business owners rarely possess the capital required to fight a protracted legal battle against a giant corporate entity such as Komen. We have consulted multiple attorneys here in Missouri and been advised of the potential costs involved in defending the corporation against a federal trademark infringement suit. It would, of course, bankrupt the business I have spent years building, and would possibly bankrupt my family as well. You are correct when you assumed I would not allow that to happen.

Page 2 of 2


As a prior supporter of your foundation, I am very disappointed in the action you have chosen. Obviously your corporation will no longer be the beneficiary of any donations from my corporation, or from my family.

We will be changing the name of our charitable project as of this date. We expect no further correspondence from your corporation or your attorneys with respect to this issue.

Although my attorneys advised me heavily to not take this personally, I do. I have been an avid supporter of Komen, the American Cancer Society, Alex’s Lemonade Stand and other Cancer-related charities since the death of my brother 23 years ago.

I find it SHAMEFUL that a corporation such as yours uses its influence, not to mention donations, to fund legal maneuverings against someone like me, just a photographer trying her best to give back to a world that she believes is beautiful, even in the face of so much suffering. Perhaps a better way to “help” people “be aware” would be to be “aware” of the pain such things like this cause. I only hope that any other honest people you have harassed into submission won’t decide that their efforts just aren’t worth it.

Still Ticked at Komen

I hate to keep beating this particular horse, but my blog buries posts after like a week, and I would hate for anyone to think I wasn't still STEAMED!!!

Lucky for me I have clients who are attorneys, so one of them graciously offered to help me. I am waiting to hear back from him. Hopefully he doesn't tell me to just change my project's name.

After all, it *IS* the principle of the thing, right?

Shame on You!!

Twice now I have received threatening letters from lawyers at the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (of which I have been an avid supporter). They are apparently pretty ticked off about my raising money for children with cancer.

They state they are 'concerned' that people will be 'confused' about the purpose of my Cards for a Cure project and that they 'insist that' I 'cease and desist immediately using that name' because its is too close to one of the billion phrases they use, mainly "Cards for THE Cure".

I guess they think people in the midwest here are so STUPID that they cant READ what the $$$ from my notecards is for.

My assistant did a Google search for the same name as I am using. I believe she got like 12 pages of places using the same name.

I sure hope Komen isn't using MY DONATIONS to fund legal action against me.

Nah, they are probably using YOURS.

Skylines

When I was growing up, my parents used to joke that KC had no skyline (they lived many years in NYC, so I think their expectations may have been a little high for 1975 in Kansas City).

Over the years we have gotten some more skyline, and when I moved back here from DC, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I *like* the KC skyline....

One of my sons likes it too.

I'm NOT a street legal Chevy

I get a lot of calls for family portraits (not something I do), and I always wonder WHY people call me for those sessions when there isnt ONE family on my site. Or why people just stare at me when I say Oh I dont offer family portraiture in my studio. They always look confused (now they seem confused when I say I dont photograph children over the age of 5. unless they are High School Seniors).

So I was talking to my husband about it. He made a comment that I thought was pretty accurate. He said its like going to a car race (we arent Nascar fans, but he was reading the sports section at the time, so it was either that or football). You go to the track and you see the lead car is the best, the fastest, handles the curves like a dream. And its a Chevy.

You think to yourself "If the Chevy can do THAT, it will have no problem driving me to the office everyday". So you buy a Chevy. But here's the missing piece...you dont buy THAT Chevy.

If you went down to the pit and told the driver "hey where can I get that Chevy so I can drive it to work tomorrow"....he'd say "thats not what THIS car does. Its not MEANT for that, its not the right choice". He would direct you to another place, a place that has a car that, although isnt the performer you saw at the track, is a solid car, with a good track record and will do what ITS meant to do: drive you safely around the city.

So, no, I'm not a family portraiture expert. I dont offer it b/c I'm not the right choice. I'm a specialist, like that race car....if you need a specialist, someone who does ONLY what I do (makes me pretty good, folks), then yeah, I'm a good choice.

If you need a street legal Chevy, I'll be happy to direct you to a great dealer. ;)

Newborns

Soft and squishy, curled hands, flakey skin. I love them.

I love their little yawns....but if you ever go into a session thinking "I'll get a yawn shot", you won't. They can tell you want one....I fake 'em out by putting my camera down...then they do it.

They are like little leopards...stealthy with those yawns. ;)

Blue Angels in KC

I, like every other photographer in this town, went to the KC Air Show yesterday with my family. We are very lucky, b/c my husbands office is near the airfield and we can either sit in air-conditioned comfort and watch, or go outside and have a great view.

Its better for my kids, they arent sucking jet fuel on the tarmac for 4 hours. And my husbands office has vending macine, full of Gatorade and microwave popcorn. And there are things to do when they get bored....

Like, follow the leader:



Find your hands in your jacket:



Geology:



Then, the Blue Angels....



And through our city:



Hope some of you got out there!

NAOCP

I am very honored to have been recently accepted into the National Association of Charitable Photographers (www.naocp.org).

This organization provides no-cost photography (and other donation services) for NICU, Hospice, Military Deployment and other groups to whom professional portrait photography may be out of the question.

There is no charge for these services and I personally gift the parents with a Session Album containing the 5x7s from their session, a CD of images and a DVD slideshow.

If you want to help, please visit the site and see what you can do! Every little bit we can each do everyday to improve someone's life is worth more than anything you can possibly imagine.

Since I just was accepted, I have no images to share here, but can share this little guy from the Ronald McDonald House work that I do...what a pistol! Love ya, Iz.!

Boston

My hubby and I went to Boston in July (before the dreaded back injury). Since we returned, I have been trying to get to some of the stuff I shot. I have only managed 3 or 4 images...

Here they are:

Acorn Street in Beacon Hill (very famous street, saw it on a postcard, even)


Doorway in Beacon Hill (can you tell I liked the neighborhood?)


Fanueil Hall (used to be historic, now a mall, lol)

MY Sept 22 Seminar

I know a lot of photographers read my blog (and I'm flattered, thank you!). So I thought I would post that I am hosting a seminar on Friday, Sept 22, 2006. Its filled up already, but you can always email me to be on the list for another.

Its going to be really cool, we will find out what kind of teacher I am , I guess.

We are doing a newborn studio session (with 3 yr old brother, too!), an outdoor 10 month old baby (I hope, B.....can I borrow E?) and then in the afternoon, a VERY cool 20 year old has agreed to be my "high school senior" model. She looks 17, so it will be perfect.

I'll be sure to post some photographic "evidence" of what we did after the date!

For now, a shot from my wanderings on the plaza yesterday...

Rain Boots

My own 2 year old wears his rain boots everywhere...people just smile and smile whenever he is out with me wearing them. I suggested to a Mom recently that if her 2 yr old has some, to bring them to the session.

Needless to say, a 2 yr old without rain boots would be a sad sight! He didnt want to take them off, which was OK with me!

2 Seconds

Anyone who spends more than 5 minutes talking with me about photography (my fave subject right after my family) has probably heard me say that I think good photography is mostly an illusion. A play on a moment which was captured on film but “created” in the photographer’s mind in the seconds before the shutter clicked. It is how I personally view my photography. And I have recently been thinking about those seconds. You know the ones I just mentioned? In those few seconds, I make the image in my mind, for those few seconds, its perfect, its real, its alive, and in an instant, its gone. Did I get it? Yeah, sometimes I do. And that is perfect.

Over the last couple of years, I have tried my hand at a lot of photography. I started with only natural light, outdoors mostly. And I liked that. Then I did some indoor natural light (boy that was trickier). Then I invested in studio lighting and learned (still learning!) about that, so I did that for a while. I even rented some studio space and became a “studio” photographer. And I liked that. Then I moved back to natural light, mostly outdoors. And I still really like that.

I also tried a lot of different styles to my work. I have tried candid, posed, posed but candid, and just confused myself. I have been back and forth and up and down and have come to the conclusion that I like a lot of things. That makes me a good photographer (although a hard person to pin down on the answer as to what I like best).

As much as I like it all, I know what I LOVE. That is maternity photography, newborn photography, baby photography and child photography. It is one or two kids only so that I can concentrate on those seconds instead of trying to corral all the kids and parents into the shot. It is NOT traditional, NOT posed, NOT grouped, that’s NOT me. I like to connect with the kids, and up until about age 5 (or when they go off to school), I really can do that. I love singing the Mickey Mouse Hot Dog song, and talking about my favorite Princesses. I love mud fights and Thomas the Train. I love baby drool and how a 6 month old falls sideways when he reaches for my pull toy ducks and Mom or Dad catch him and he cracks up. I love squishy newborns with their little hair swirlies. I love having a beautiful pregnant woman tell me “I didn’t know I looked that good”. Well, you do!

So, since that is my LOVE, that is what I have decided to do. Live in those seconds, grab those times, create my illusions, if only for a couple seconds. The moment is gone as soon as I blink, so I have to grab it.

I want my current clients, my future clients, my friends and my family to know that I will always do my best for them, and by focusing exclusively on maternity, newborn, babies and children up to school age (yes, this means no large sibling group shots and no family work), I will be able to give to them what I create in my mind in those seconds. Before I blink, I’ll create my illusion, and create your portraits. And they will be perfect.

I can’t wait to start my new journey….from this moment forward, I will be starting down a road that has taken me almost three years to come back to. I know I will miss out on some of your portraits now, but your families and children will always be in my heart, and in my soul.

~Susan

I've Got a New Attitude

I am in the process of transitioning my portraiture, and have found some willing Moms who share my vision (or just trust me) and have been lending me their kids for my new stuff. I would ultimately like to get away from the little-Mary-in-the-park-type work and into a more hip, trendy, and artistic field. So, basically I am announcing my *new* attitude. I will be suggesting some new places, trying new things and probably making some of you wonder if I'm losing it...but just look at the real images I can achieve when I truly LOVE what I am doing. I think you will agree, the location doesnt matter, its all the attitude....do you have it?

Color My World

So I rarely like color, as anyone who knows my work will tell you. But, sometimes a shot just SCREAMS color, and for this little guy, this one was it! He is one of my favorite clients, I just love him and his parents are fabulously cool (hey, anyone who listens to the same music that I do has GOT to be cool).

Little Gap hat baby...

Big Announcement!

Ok, this is fairly huge. My work has been chosen to decorate the beautifully renovated Labor and Delivery unit at St. Lukes Northland Hospital. I want to thank Becky, my studio manager and friend, for her tireless efforts in the project. I literally could NOT have done it without her.

And Thank You to Karen at St. Lukes for choosing me, and Thank You to the staff for allowing me to photograph your kids, I am so excited about this!

I dont know if I can publish photos once the display is up or not, but I hope so..its going to be gorgeous. The 2 waiting rooms, the labor rooms, the post partum rooms and the hallways!

This is the hospital where I had my kids and would seriously pay out of pocket to go there is I had to. Love "my" hospital"!

Here are a couple cuties I photographed during our 2-day session for the staff....dolls!

Vandals Trash One of Our Parks

I was saddened to read that vandals trashed Shoal Creek park (aka Hodge park) in Liberty over the weekend. I shoot there a lot, and think that the grounds and historic buildings are very lovely. Most people dont even know its there, and its too bad that now its damaged.

I'll have to dig out some stuff I've shot there recently...its so nice.

Ok, heres some from 2 weeks ago: