Some sweet little twins! {Kansas City Newborn Photographer}

I had not had any twins in MONTHS when these boys' mama contacted me! I was very excited to finally have some twinkies in front of my camera again! The session was quite long, as one was awake while the other slept....but the images turned out to be among my favorites ever!

Thanks for coming and being so patient!!

Something different (Kansas City Portrait Photographer)

So I woke up from a dream last night (strangely my dream was about tuna fish which I can't explain but did have for lunch today bc of that dream) and while I was falling back to sleep I had an idea!

Here's what I want to do.....most of you remember when I did Portrait Parties several years ago...I met a lot of you that way. I want to bring BACK the party.....but instead of me taking your kids pictures, I'm going to teach YOU to do it.

Lets face it, most families have a nice DSLR or two now.....and although it does just fine on auto, that camera can do more! And I wan to show you what it can do!

So what this will entail is :

A hostess (or host, I'm not trying to be sexist here) to have the party at their home. Provide the guests and the snacks/drinks.
A 2 hour time slot (can be weekend or weekday or evening).
Each guest needs to bring a DSLR (or a film SLR if anyone besides me still owns one), lenses and a notebook for note taking!

What I will teach you:

What all those settings do
Iso/shutter speed/aperture
Depth of field: what it is and how to exploit it
Metering natural light
How to find good light
Creativity in your pictures

The cost for this intensive 2 hour course is $100 per person. The minimum party is 5 attendees and the maximum is 10. The host/ess does not pay the course fee.

Let's get started everyone!!!! Who will be first? I'm excited....

And hungry for more tuna......

Womens Only Self Defense Seminar....please come!

I am taking Krav Maga which is an Israeli martial arts course. We are not only doing great conditioning but every class contains valuable self defense drills. I feel fantastic, empowered and strong!! I cant stress enough how amazing it feels to take down an "attacker" twice my size with just a few well-placed punches, kicks and twists!

This Saturday, March 19 from 1030-1230 pm, my instructor in Krav Maga is holding a Womens Self Defense seminar. He will be demonstrating tactics, combatives, drills and strategies for dealing with all types of issues : Harassment, Abuse, Rape Prevention, bullying and male intimidation! It will be fact-driven (serious but not a downer...we all know most men are amazing...we have great husbands, boyfriends, brothers and bosses!!), action-packed (wear comfy clothes, you will be training!) and you will leave EMPOWERED!

Imagine walking to your car from the grocery store and some guy 2x your size grabs you by the ponytail and starts to pull you into his van...do you know what you would do? I didnt...we ran that drill and I immediately panicked! I thought I was cool under pressure, but I folded! Didnt scream, didnt set my body weight, didnt do ANYTHING! Had that been an actual attack, I would have been taken. Luckily my instructor taught me the defense and we ran it again....until its muscle memory....until I dont have to "know" what to do...,my body just does it!!

You dont have to be super-fit (heck Im certainly not!), super strong or super-agressive. We all know bullies pick on people smaller than they are....dont be that person!

Learn to protect yourself AND your children! Teach your kids that Mom is strong and confident!

I hope I see you all on Saturday! I cant wait!!!

RSVP required, but if you just want to email ME, thats a good RSVP too....I can let them know you are coming!

If you are a KC Premier Martial Arts member, this is a free seminar. If not, its a $20 donation to their charity, Premier Kidz Foundation.

More info: www.kcpma.com or 816-746-5728 KC Premier Martial Arts is located at 1847 NW Vivion Road in Riverside (2 doors down from the old studio location)

Parents Night Out....

The martial arts studio where my kids and I train is launching a Parents Night Out and the owner has asked me to be a part of it! Its a fun thing for me bc a) I love kids obviously and b) I really love the programs that his place offers! So when I was asked to help get the PNO program off the ground, I was excited!!

Our big debut is this Friday night from 630-1030. Its 20 bucks per kid, we will be eating pizza, doing karate, playing games, crafts, hnaging out. You can sign up online at www.kcpma.com under the "Event Registration" page.

I will be there with your kids the whole time, Eric Siley, the owner and chief instructor, will be there the whole time (he will be doing the instructing of course) and it will be fun! My kids will be there and I hope lots of their friends!!

Hope to see you Friday night!

My life right now (Kansas CIty Photographer)

So I haven't blogged in ages.....some of you know why and some of you just think im lazy lol.

Truth is, things didn't turn out exactly like I wanted.....I thought the big studio and the events and the trappings would be what I really wanted to do with my life/career....turns out I was wrong.

I loved that studio space.....the light, the room, the furniture, the smell of fresh bread from next door....but as I worked and worked to pay the rent, I started to fall apart! Late returning calls and emails, missed orders, no time for birthday cards like I used to send my clients. The more trappings I acquired, the more I lost sight of why I became a photographer.....to build relationships with my clients....treat them as friends....have them know they are valued.

So last fall I decided to scale things back....do less and give my loyal clients more. So this week I closed up the studio space and packed away some of those trappings....I'm going backwards, but in a good way...I'm going back to what I loved about my photography....the simple smile of a toddler at play, the joy of a family having their first family session in years and making a shy high school senior feel like a super model!

I am also going to blog more....not just about my business....but about my life! I want to share in your lives and I want you all to share in mine....so I want to share some stuff I'm doing now for ME, too!

I am still running...I have a 5k this Saturday, running a 10k at rock the parkway in April....the trolley run for team Carly Jade, and of course hospital hill! I am also training in 2 new fields: Krav Maga which is a hand to hand combat training program, and Cage Fitness which is a Mixed Martial Arts inspired workout. It's all amazing and I feel the best I have in years! Not to mention I'm getting quite fit for the upcoming swimsuit season!! You can check out these classes at KC Premier Martial Arts (www.kcpma.com)...which is located just 2 doors down from the old studio location....

My kids are busy, spring sports wil be starting up and we will be on the go as usual. Both my boys are also still in karate and doing great with it! Keeps them out of trouble!

I am looking forward to this new fresh spring weather and my new fresh look....new website and stuff will be launched very soon too! Its a great life and I'm grateful for it every day!!

Wandered out to my "backyard" {Kansas City Family Photographer}

I love families....I love how they laugh and tease each other with ease....I love how excited they are (ok, the Moms) about getting family portraits done....and I love how they dont complain (out loud anyway) about tromping through the woods so I can capture them in a patch of light no bigger than my dog.

This family was terrific, and we had the best lighting....I love my backyard..... ;)

More What to Wear {Kansas City Family Photographer Susan H. Robichaud}

A couple of more options in the What to Wear for Fall Family Portraits....geez, this is HARD work! Im glad I am a professional PHOTOGRAPHER instead of a professional FASHION DESIGNER! I couldnt do it....just putting these ideas together took hours, LOL

I guess that means I am not very fashionable...oh well, YOU can be!

What Should We Wear Susan? {Kansas City Child and Family Photographer

With family portrait season upon us once again...the cries are being heard throughout the Studio (by me included, I had the WORST time dressing my family this year)....

WHAT THE HECK SHOULD WE WEAR FOR OUR SESSION?

Ive put together some ideas to get you started....I'll add more as days go by (hopefully)....in the meantime....GET SHOPPING!

A Family and Some Fields {Kansas City Family Photographer}

I love Family Portrait time for my friends.....Dena is a fabulous photographer in North Central Kansas and since I pressured her into doing MY annual family session this year, she "twisted my arm" to do hers....Ok, no one pressured and no one twisted....we actually just like each others work and traded, LOL

Since we live 4 hours apart, we decided we would meet in the middle...so sprained ankle and all, I gathered my family and we trekked to Manhattan this past weekend! D knew this cool area and we had the best light!

Of course *I* think most of the light came from all the subjects beauty and handsomeness..and I *am* the professional, so I am right.

Love you D, J and K!!!

Playtime! {Kansas City Child Photographer}

After a slew of beautiful newborns, it was a real treat over the summer to get to meet Miss C....finally, someone to play with, LOL

Miss C, being a discriminating 4 year old and all, was the perfect playmate for me....we picked flowers, we played with stuffed animals, and we had a tea party. All in all it was a wonderful playdate!

And I did take some images, too....lest I forget I was working!

Thanks for coming over to play!

Popcorn and Portraits! {Kansas City Child Photographer Susan H. Robichaud}

My boys are both Cub Scouts this year...so we have to sell double the amount of popcorn that we have had to sell in previous years! I only have so many relatives, and selling door to door stinks! (no offense Fuller Brush Company, but you can have the cold calls!)

So, short of accosting people on the street, setting up to nab you at the grocery stores or buying it all myself (which I admit I did last year)...I've come up with a better plan!

Buy Cub Scout popcorn from MY kids, and get FREE PORTRAITS from Robichaud Photography!

Here's the way it works:

1. Purchase popcorn from my kids at any of the levels listed below. (Popcorn MUST be paid for at the time of ordering, NO EXCEPTIONS)

2. At the time you pay (when you order the popcorn), you will receive a certificate entitling you to the FREE GIFT from the level you purchased!

3. When your popcorn order arrives...eat it!

So, Susan, what do we get you ask?

Platinum Popcornist

Purchase $100 or more in popcorn and receive a certificate from Robichaud Photography for a FREE FULL (no time limits) session, plus Two (2) FREE 5x7 prints ($580 value).

Gold Popcornist

Purchase $75 or more in popcorn and receive a certificate from Robichaud Photography for a FREE DELUXE MINI session (30 mins), plus Two (2) FREE 5x7 prints ($180 value)

Silver Popcornist

Purchase $50 or more in popcorn and receive a certificate from Robichaud Photography for a FREE BASIC MINI session (15 mins), plus One (1) FREE 5x7 print ($90 value)

Bronze Popcornist

Purchase $25 or more in popcorn and receive a certificate from Robichaud Photography for One (1) FREE 5x7 print ($40 value). (purchase of session required to use certificate...unless you want to order from a still-available archived session...I can do that, too)

I myself bought enough yummy buttery microwave corn to last me all during the chilly movie-watching winter. We are on our last box now I believe, so I timed it well.

There is also the chance to send a popcorn donation to our military overseas in case you hate popcorn.....

Here is what we have this year and the cost of each:

Military Donation: $40
Military Donation: $25

Chocolate Lovers Pack (Choco Triple Delight/choco caramel crunch/white choco pretzels/choco pretzels): (one 22 oz bag of each flavor listed) $50

Sweet and Savory Collection: (choco triple delight/caramel corn with almonds cashews and pecans/cheddar cheese corn): $40

Cheese Lover's Collection: (cheddar cheese corn/white cheddar cheese corn): $25

Microwave Popcorn: 18 pack box $18 (choose Unbelievable Butter or Butter Light)

Choc Caramel Crunch: $16

Caramel Corn with Almonds, Cashews and Pecans: $16

Butter Toffee Light: $16

Caramel Corn: $10

Popping Corn (if you have a popping machine): $10

Please ask me if you want a more detailed explanation of any of the product!

If you would like to order and get your popcorn PLUS your Portraits, here's what to do:

Email me: susanrobichaud@gmail.com

Tell me what you want to order.

Send me a check made payable to Pack 348.

Send it to PO Box 680193 Riverside, MO 64168

I will email you your certificate and contact you when your POPCORN arrives!!

Simple....yummy....perfect!!

Annual Fall Family Mini Sessions {Kansas City Family Photographer Susan H. Robichaud}

Believe it or not, its that time! Robichaud Photography's Fall Family Mini Sessions!

This year (and yes, mostly bc it was FREEZING last year...I was sick for a week!), we are having them here at the Studio. I have a lovely area behind my studio that I am using as a sort of Portrait Garden, and it has several cool spaces for portraits. And if you want to get really brave, we can climb down into the creek and use that area, too.

This is a unique location that is OFF LIMITS to non-tenants of the building. So, what does that mean? None of your friends and neighbors will have portraits like yours :) Well, if they dont use me, they wouldnt have cool portraits anyway but you know what I mean!!

So here are the details...and once the time slots are gone, they are GONE....dont miss out!!

Sunday, October 17, 2010 from 9am-3pm

Session scheduled every 20 minutes starting with the 9am session and last session starts @ 3pm.

First come, first served....I will take time slot requests until I am forced to just slide people into whatever times are left.

Cost: $30 Session Fee (time and talent only, no prints included) for up to 6 people. $10/per person extra after 6 people. NO extra charge for pets!

Fall Family Minis: SPECIAL PRICING

Collections:


Collection One: $375 ($500 value)
(1) 16x20 (unframed)
(2) 8x10s
(3) 5x7s
(15) wallets (up to 2 "poses")

Collection Two: $275 ($400 value)
(1) 11x14 (unframed)
(2) 8x10s
(2) 5x7s
(15) wallets (up to 2 "poses")

Collection Three: $165 ($210 value)
(2) 8x10s
(2) 5x7s
(7) wallets (one "pose")

A La Carte:

A La Carte Pricing available here (using the Portrait Collections Menu for 40% savings!)

http://susanrobichaud.com/2009portraitcollectionsmenu/index.html

* special a la carte pricing for Fall Minis= 10% off a la carte pricing!

Digital Negative Options:

Add one (1) digital negative (printable up to 5x7 size: perfect for DIY holiday cards) to ANY COLLECTION for $125!!!!

A La Carte digital negative: $225!!!

Email Susan @ susanrobichaud@gmail.com to sign up!!

Giddy Up Cowpoke! {Kansas City Newborn Photographer Susan H. Robichaud}

When I met Baby B.'s parents @ their maternity session, I was VERY excited to learn that they are big horse people...I have always wanted to put a newborn on a saddle, but whats the point of just plunking a baby on a saddle with no background to it.

So Baby B. was just dreamy (as are his parents....*so* in love with each other) and allowed us almost unlimited "playing"....

So we set up the saddle (carefully, with much spotting) and gently placed B. upon it. He started fussing and I was about to say "Ok, never mind", when he gave a big sigh, peed on us and settled into the saddle. :)

Git along lil' doggies!

A New Love for an Old Friend {Kansas City Newborn Photographer Susan H. Robichaud}

I'm going to sound *so* old when I say this, but the first time i met Baby R's mommy, she was in High School! In fact, I did her Senior Portraits....OK, she isnt 40 but she is a mom now, so that makes me feel like Im 100. Or maybe thats just todays run making me feel old and creaky.

Baby R and Mommy and Daddy dont live here in Kansas City anymore, but I was lucky enough to get my hands on R. and A. when they came to visit family (yeah, yeah, in JUNE, I know I know). And I was so happy that I got the chance to see what a wonderful Mother A. is...patient and kind, relaxed and happy....what we should ALL aspire towards....

Love you both!

A Girly Girl {Kansas City Newborn Photographer Susan H. Robichaud}

When Baby R.'s Mommy contacted me in May about her session, she said that she wanted "artsy" and "girly"...since baby girl was their first daughter :) I told her I could handle both!

R. was a dream to photograph (not that I dont love photographing the parents and siblings, I do!)...she slept deeply, liked hats (very important!) and was like putty in my hands!

This session was in June if that tells you how far behind I am with my blogging.....just a reminder that I am very active on Facebook if you want to friend me :)

2011 Senior Models {Kansas City High School Senior Photographer Susan H. Robichaud}

ROMPER!!!!

Ok, I had to get that out....Miss M. knows what I am talking about...she is right now spitting Diet Coke out all over her keyboard bc she cant believe what a complete dork I am!! ;)

I have never photographed a Senior from Liberty High before...so Miss M. graciously agreed to represent Robichaud Photography at her school, which is so cool!

As is typical with *my* Seniors (I swear, I am NOT bragging, its TRUE)...Miss M. is gorgeous, brilliant, witty, charming and athletic. I am so lucky that I get the coolest Seniors at my Studio. We have such a good time and I can feel like I *might* still be cool....then I get back into my Mom van to go home and realize that no, my coolness is long gone, LOL

So thx M. for agreeing to be one of my Senior Models...Rock On Class of 2011!!

The Early Addition {Kansas City Newborn Photographer Susan H. Robichaud}

Baby T. doesnt like to be late...Baby T. doesnt like to be On Time either....Baby T. likes to be early....I think he just knew what an uber-cool family he had waiting for him....So why not come early and join in the family fun?

Mom told me that while she was hanging around @ St. Lukes Northland Hospital, she saw some fabulous newborn baby and child photography all over the labor and delivery unit. When she asked the nurses about them, they were so sweet to direct her my way :) (have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE St. Lukes Northland's staff??)

So even though Baby T. was a wee bit older than a few days...I was so glad they came to the Studio! Gorgeous family!! (and Mom *did* get a family portrait with her included, even though she said multiple times she hates being in pictures)...

The Littlest Hero {Kansas City Newborn Photographer}

I cant believe I havent blogged all summer...crazy busy! I have done more newborns than any other age this year....I could fill this blog with a different infant every day for weeks! And Im waiting on 6 more babes within the next several weeks!

This little cutie's Daddy started planning this photography session with my Studio when his wife was only a few week along! Ive been honored to be included in the pregnancy updates, did the maternity session right before I left on my vacation, and was ready to photograph Baby a week after his due date....um, which was Aug 28.

I left on my vacation on July 26, he was born a few days later...whoops, so much for all that planning!

So the one shot *I* had been planning since 8 months ago was this one...I just love Firefighters!!

And PS....this is another one of those shots that looks so simple, but its not...please dont think about plunking a newborn into a wobbly container of any sort....these shots are taken seriously in my studio. All precautions are taken and with 7+ years of experience even I still abandon them when I feel like they arent working....

Newborn-palooza {Kansas City Newborn Photographer}

Ok, so since January I have done more newborn sessions than I did in 2009. Was it HOT last summer?? Did no one go on vacation?? LOL, this little guy is the babe of my gorgeous maternity session I blogged about a couple months ago....

One gorgeous session blogged....um, like 21 to go! Good thing I love these little peanuts!!

So I have been nominated.....{Kansas City Family Photographer}

for a contest on Nickolodeon....Best Family Photographer in Kansas City.

I dont know about that, LOL But its very flattering, so I will put it out here and if you would be kind enough to go cast your vote for me, I would appreciate it!

You can vote once per day.....not saying you have to....but you can!!

Love ya!!

http://www.parentsconnect.com/parents-picks/kansas-city-mo-usa/best-kansas-city-family-photographer