Wednesday, April 29, 2009

The Studio Playroom Mural {Kansas City Maternity Newborn and Child Photographer}

I have this amazing woman who has been my friend for several years...she is one of those people that never has anything negative to say about anyone, and always leaves you feeling refreshed by her presence...

So a couple of years ago she (ok at my bullying) started her own business. I have her site linked off my blog and she was featured in my newsletter once, too. I think she is FABULOUS all around, so I begged her to do a commission for my new Studio....she was gracious enough to squeeze me into her busy schedule, and I absolutely LOVE what she did for me...

So, if YOU are in the market for a mural in your kids bedrooms, playrooms, etc...you should call her...she's FABULOUS. :)

Thank you Kristin! I love it so much!!

http://kidartbykristin.com/











Tuesday, April 28, 2009

On Being Authentic {Kansas City Child Photographer}

I get lots of "inspiration" emails about business, marketing and life in general. Sometimes I dont read them, but I like the ones I get from Jeffrey Gitomer (he's a sales guru and makes a lot of sense for my business). So today he has an article from another guy, a motivational speaker named Mike Robbins....it is called Be Yourself, Everybody Else is Already Taken...catchy title, so I read it.

I'm going to post it here so everyone can read it...I think its a very powerful message...especially in my industry. I know that I am often criticized within my industry for being too "real" on my blog and in my day to day dealings with clients and other photographers. People think I should be less personal, more aloof, not let the world see my vulnerabilities, not admit "weakness", always appear "business-like" and tough. I always respond that I'm NOT always tough, things DO bug me, and I dont MIND my clients knowing what I think/feel/do in my personal life....I share my family, my rambling thoughts and my big hair from high school pictures....

I always thought maybe I was wrong....now I am postive I am just ME...and totally AUTHENTIC.

Be authentic...be yourself, b/c its true: everyone else IS already taken!

************************************************************
Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken: The Power of Authenticity
By Mike Robbins

How often do you not say or do something because you’re worried about how it’ll be perceived? For most of us, myself included, this happens more often then we’d like to admit.

We live in a culture that is starving for authenticity. We want our leaders, our co-workers, our clients, our vendors, our family members, our friends, and everyone else we interact with to tell us the truth and to be themselves. Most important, we want to have the personal freedom and confidence to say, do, and be who we really are, without worrying so much about how we appear to others and what they might think or say about us. Sadly, however, even though we may say we want to live and work in a way that is real; most of us don’t and it’s not that easy, especially in today’s challenging times. We’ve been taught by our parents, teachers, spouses, friends, co-workers, bosses, sales managers, politicians, the media, and others, that it’s more important to be liked and get the job done than it is to be who we truly are. As sales people, we often feel a sense of pressure to say what we think the customer wants to hear or what we think will get us the business, whether or not it’s totally authentic.

However, as the famous 19th century author and poet Oscar Wilde so brilliantly stated, “Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.” What it Really Means to Be AuthenticAuthenticity is about having the freedom to be who we really are--ourselves, natural and without a mask in with our customers, co-workers, family, and friends, and also in our work and life. It takes courage, commitment, and depth to:

Tell the whole truth (even when we don’t want to or we mess something up)
Be vulnerable and real
Admit, own, and share our true thoughts, feelings, desires, insecurities, passions, and more.

However, being open and real about all of these things (and more) is what it means to be authentic. Authenticity is what has people trust us, want to do business with us, and count on us personally.

Five Principles for Being Your Authentic Self

In order to utilize the power of authenticity in your life and your work as a way to enhance your relationships, increase your success, and empower yourself, here are five key principles:

1) Know Yourself – Make a commitment to your own personal growth. Discover more of who you are. And, seek out and allow the support, honest feedback, and coaching of others.

2) Transform Your Fear – There’s nothing wrong with having fear, it’s the resistance and denial of fear that is the real problem. When you admit, own, feel, and express your fear, you have the ability to move through it, transform it, and utilize its power in a positive way. Taking action in the face of fear is courageous and empowering.

3) Express Yourself – Have the courage to speak your truth boldly, whether or not you think it is what the other person wants to hear. Deal with conflicts quickly and directly. Be vulnerable and real about what you think and how you feel. While on the surface you may worry that this will be seen as “weak,” in actuality expressing yourself completely gives you access to real freedom and power.

4) Be Bold – Live, speak, and act with courage, passion, and truth – even if it’s difficult or scary. Go for what you want in your work and in your life. And get back up when you fall down, which you will – especially in sales and especially these days.

5) Celebrate Who You Are – Appreciate and honor who you are, what you do, and the gifts and talents that you have. Celebrating yourself is not about being arrogant. It’s an awareness of your own power and it’s the key to self confidence, fulfillment, and authenticity.Being your authentic self in life (and specifically in sales) is not for the faint of heart, but once you’re willing to truly engage and do the work to become more real - your life and your business will be more fulfilling, rewarding, and successful!

Mike Robbins, CSP is a best-selling author, sought-after motivational keynote speaker, and success coach who works with Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, sales people, athletes, and groups and people of all kinds. He and his work have been featured on ABC News, in Forbes, and many others. To learn more about his new book, Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken (Hardcover, Wiley), and to receive free bonuses with your purchase of it from authors like Jack Canfield, Marci Shimoff, Jeffrey Gitomer, and many others, click on this link: http://www.BeYourselfBook.com

Friday, April 17, 2009

Jeans, Jewelry and Junky Munky Fashion Show {Kansas City Photographer}

at the Market Boutique in Briarcliff Village...

I had a BLAST photographing this event...I met the most awesome ladies who were modeling (you know who you are!) and have been having the best time getting together with one of them and shooting for total creative FUN!

Anyway, if you made the event, look for yourself in the video!

If you didnt...shame on you! Nah, we understand...just boogie on over to see Kelly at the Market Boutique and pick up some rockin' Junky Munky tees and skirts, a new pair of jeans and heels and we will call it even ;)

Lets hope this YouTube thing works...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1qpW32wbsE

xoxo~
S.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Line Creek Elementary! {Kansas City Child and Family Photographer}

Just want to remind all the Line Creek Parents that we have extended the Portrait Fundraiser deadline to April 22, 2009...hoping to really raise some $$ for our PTA! The PTA works hard all year to provide our kids with class parties, field trips, school supplies, etc....without the support of our parents and families, the PTA cannot function!


Here is the info again...


Your $29.95 gets you a regular full session for your children and/or family plus a mounted 11x14 custom print. Your session will include up to 40 images to choose from, and can be at the Robichaud Photography Studio and Gallery at 1839 NW Vivion Road or at an outdoor Kansas City location...its your choice.

In addition to your 11x14 print (this is a single image, not a collage), your session images will be available for purchase. The Robichaud Studio offers all sizes of prints, classic and whimsical framing, coffee table books, albums and jewelry.

Simply fill out the order form (from the original flyer), attach your check, payable to Line Creek PTA, and you will receive your certificate within 2 weeks (faster if you request the email version...save some trees).

How to redeem? Once your have certificate, call the Studio at 816-260-1529 or send an email to susanrobichaud@gmail.com to book your session!


Dont you want images like this of YOUR family this year?...


Saturday, April 11, 2009

Facebook Night Out: HUGE!! {Kansas City Maternity Newborn and Child Photographer}

Wow, so many gorgeous women, lots of yummy food provided by Tastefully Simple Rock Star, Rayma McKinney, fabulous hair provided by Katie Barges of Salon Haleh, and image after image of beauty!

We hope to have another FB Night Out in the future, so keep your eyes peeled!

Saturday, April 04, 2009

I love when I get {Kansas City Baby and Child Photographer}

Mommy in some of the session images...there is nothing more precious that a true tangible reminder of how much our kids just love us, and how much we love them (especially when they reach that "I hate you Mom" stage....)

I wish more parents would be in the session...I"m going to start demanding it, ROFL



Thursday, April 02, 2009

My Husband Works All Day...{Kansas City Child Photographer}

I hear that a lot, when I'm getting people scheduled for their sessions....so I schedule without Dad. Or we do an evening or a weekend, where possible. Usually I can get Daddy in for the newborn session because he takes a few days off after Baby arrives....that's always fun.

But when I was scheduling someone this morning for a session, and she said "Oh, my husband cant come, he works all day", I really for some reason started obsessing on that issue....and it sort of ties in with where all of our heads are these days...the economy.

How do these 2 issues tie together? I'll tell you (like you would be able to stop me, right?)

You have a child, and for the most part, Mom stays home (or stays home part-time) with the kids. Dad works all day....comes home, tired, but happy to spend a couple of hours with his family before baths, books and bedtimes roll around. So Dad doesn't really see the kids as much as Mom does...so he isn't the first one to get that first smile, see that first step or enjoy that first lost tooth grin. And those moments, as we all know, disappear in a heartbeat....never to come again.

So how does Dad get to experience his kids day-to-day milestones? In photographs, of course. Mostly snapshots....I have my share of blurry snaps where my shutter lag was so bad that my kid moved on before the flash fired...leaving me with an out of focus wobbly head leaving the frame. But why do we settle for only those....why do we not want more for our family?

Maybe some do, but think they cant afford it, in "this" economy.

Lets think about it though....what is so important in your life that you would do anything for it?

Your family, right?

Do you look at your child's baby pictures and smile? I do....and believe me, I'm happy I have anything, because honestly, 2 kids later, I don't really remember how small the boys were in that first few weeks....I try to remember, but I don't. In fact, its difficult for me to tell who is who in the little blurry snaps from those days. I truly wish I had professional newborn photographs of my boys (and my pregnancies). I don't. I didn't take them, and I didn't hire someone to do it. Now its too late for me.

Do you have photographs of that first smile? Your baby sitting up (wow, remember how COOL that was...no more lying on the floor all day watching the baby stare at the ceiling fan)? Your baby's first birthday? His second, fifth? How about his tenth?

Probably some...but are they the kind that capture the essence of your child at that time in his life? Or, like me, do you struggle to remember.

So since Dad works all day, and is missing his kids like mad (mine calls to talk to the boys after school, pumps them for info at the dinner table, and loves when I send him any images I capture of them)...why not invest in something better for him (and for yourself).

(Even better....get Dad to come for a session with the family...it will mean so much to everyone).

"But we should be saving our money" "We need to cut back on our spending" "We are in a terrible recession"

True, but in times of economic crisis, we turn inward, to our families, to our memories...we should make every effort to preserve those family memories, even MORE in times like these...

Because its more important than money, folks. Its about Time...Time Lost or Time Stopped....its your choice.

That cart full of useless junk from Target costs $250...is that what is more important that stopping the cold march of time? I don't think you really think that. I know I don't.

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

TO-MORROW, TOMORROW, ITS FACEBOOK TOMORROW

Now you will be humming the theme from Annie all night....gotcha!

Dont forget, Facebook Night Out is tomorrow night starting at 630!

Bring food with you, no I'm kidding. Just bring alcohol....no, I'm kidding again. But if you WANT to bring something, feel free...I'll eat.

See you TOMORROW!!!
 
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