Valentine's Day Mini Sessions - What to Wear

Valentine's Day Mini Sessions are coming soon and with them comes the overwhelming thought, "What will they wear?!"  Don't panic! I'm here to help!!! Actually, the internet is here to help, but here is a pallet that I found to get you started.  (Thank Jolene Pete of Jolene Pete Photography for putting this list together!)  It has several simple, yet adorable, outfit ideas that would be great for these mini sessions.  I can't wait to see what you came up with and work with all of your fantastic little people this weekend!!!

Effective October 1, 2012

The first two years of Faith Inspired Photography were spent portfolio building and my prices were set accordingly.  But, thanks to some pretty amazing clients, I have merged out of that phase and the time has come for my prices to change to accomodate my growing business.  I have grown so much in my photography & editing skills and have even upgraded in my equipment, so I know that all of you will understand that when quality increases, so does the price.  This decision did not come without MONTHS of research, consideration, and prayer.  I will always try to stay reasonable and competetive and do not plan on making that annual increase that I have seen many businesses do.  I will do it ONLY when and if it is valid and needed in order to continue to give you the time and quality that you deserve.  

New pricing can be located under Pricing and are effective October 1, 2012.  If you currently have a session already scheduled for October, you will be granted to pricing that was given to you at the time of your booking.  But, if you haven't booked yet, you can see out the Pricing tab here on the blog to check for your prices.  If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to email me at faith.inspired.photography@gmail.com.  Thanks so much for your help and continued support! 

Safety Notice: PLEASE READ!

Recently, it was called to my attention that someone online had posted one of my photos claiming it as their own.  Even scarier, they were also claiming the children in the photos were their own.  When confronted, the individual deleted it immediately, but the entire situation was alarming and made me feel like it was necessary to address it with you all.  The safety of my clients, as well as my work, is of the utmost importance to me.  I love the internet and what it makes possible for my business, not to mention what it makes possible in my personal life.  I am the first one, when I snap something adorable of my kiddo, to slap that sucker online, and I often wonder what we did before!  But, I do think we need to be safe and smart when we are sharing our lives and work on the internet.  

So, here's the lecture (Not really, but it feels like I'm nagging and I am really sorry about that.): When you purchase a CD, I explain that it contains files for printing (without a watermark) and photos for emailing and uploading (with a watermark).  It is EXTREMELY important that you upload ONLY those photos with my watermark on them and do not crop it out for any reason. Not only does it protect my work, but it also protects you as the client.  Any photos uploaded onto my blog and/or Facebook portfolio are protected and have the watermark present, so the picture had to have come from someone else having uploaded the pictures from their CD or emailing them out, without the watermark present.  I haven't had this happen before, so I don't usually say much about it when people upload the wrong pictures or when they crop out the watermark, but this situation was VERY scary.  I want my clients safe.  And I want to be able to continue doing what I do for a very long while.  Again, I apologize if this sounds aggressive, I just feel VERY passionately about my work and about my clients.  

Thanks so much for your help keeping us all safe, especially those sweet little faces we all love and adore!!! :o)

Regards,

NeniaDawn

On a side note:  Not only did I confront the individual and report them to the website, but I did go all "Criminal Minds" on them and I creeped their other social networking profiles (Facebook, Flickr, Tumblr)...I felt like a scary ninja lady, it was liberating...Anyway, no other pictures were found that raised any "red flags", but I still felt like I needed to look. :o)

New Year...New Focus

2011 was a challenging, but GREAT year for Faith Inspired Photography!  And it would not have been without the love and support of my wonderful friends and clients!  "Thank You" is simply not enough.  I have learned SO many things and am continually blessed by the ways that I am touched through working with all of you.

I do apologize for not doing a better job of keeping this blog up to date.  One of the things that I am hoping to master this year, is how to more effectively use it and the Facebook page together.  Pray for this technologically-impaired girl as I work through this! :o)  As with all things, I am a work in progress! 

Which, I think was obvious to everyone this year...

 

Except me.

Not that I thought I was perfect and couldn't stand to improve.  Quite the contrary, actually.  I had it in my head, that I had control over all of this and if I wasn't the best or a session didn't go perfectly, that I was a failure.  That if I didn't master everything there is to know about photography (and there is ALOT), then I wasn't fit to call myself a photographer.  That if a toddler screamed through an entire session, somehow, that was on me too.  That if I didn't do indoor photography or had a smaller camera than someone else, I was less.  And that if new clients didn't call, it was because I had nothing to offer them.  I could go on and on, but I'll spare you the gory details.  It was ridiculous.

As it turns out, I am human.  All photographers are.  Shocking right?!  This revelation is baffling even to me.  And, as difficult as it is for me to digest it, it is SUCH a relief at the same time.  I am a work in progress. And the best thing about that is that it means I am progressing...growing...changing...all the time.  I am SO not done.  And if I can be confident in nothing else in this world, I can be confident that He who began a good work in me, will follow it through to completion (Phil. 1:6).  Thank you, Jesus!  I am His.  As are my talents or gifts.  My job is NOT to be the perfect photographer.  My job is to use my gifts and talents to bring Him glory.  To love people by giving of myself and the skills He has given me to the best of my ability.  To be content with the tools He has given me to make that happen.  To not be discouraged by the unkindness that has occasionally reared it's ugly head.  To just continue on trusting in Him and His plan for me.  That is all I can do.  He will do the rest. 

In 2012, Jesus will stay the focus of all that I do.

I'm pretty sure this doesn't reflect the business model that most professionals would use and that's okay with me.  This entire post might seem too personal and VERY unprofessional.  Also okay.  I like "real" better than "professional" anyway.

Now, here is the fine print in my little vision...Lame, I know, but it has to be said and done.  I do not believe that the Lord wants me to be a poor businesswoman either.  Or naive.  And I have been.  I want so badly to be liked, to please people, and to have return clients, that I have been lax in my policies & procedures.  I have not been a good steward of my business and that has to change.  I appreciate those of you who understand and support that.  Please take a few minutes to get some FAQ answers and also make note of some changes in Pricing.  As always, if you have ANY questions at all, please don't hesitate to email me!

I am VERY excited for all that the Lord has in store for us this year!  I have been working on several new shooting and editing techniques and have some excellent session ideas in store so please stay tuned for what's to come!  I pray that the Lord continues to bless this adventure by allowing me to do what I love and capture life with all of you!!!

~Baby E~

I am so excited about these photos! This may be my best newborn session to date! This family was so hospitable, fun, and easy to work with! Check out the rest of this session here!

Wheeler Maternity Shoot

I am LOVING how this entire session turned out.  This couple always has such a good time together and it really makes for GREAT photography. For more of this session, check out my Facebook page & don't forget to become a fan while you're there!!!

Beautiful!!!

Haven't even touched on the edits from this morning's maternity session, but this picture was too beautiful NOT to share!!! SO excited to see how the rest turn out!!!