2012 Charity Model Search for America's Cutest Kid!

Occasions! Photography is participating in the Charity Model Search to select America’s Cutest Kid and to raise funds for the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation. (NILMDTS.org)

Is your child America’s Cutest Kid? We’ll give you the opportunity to prove it! The prizewinners will receive a generous savings bond and gift cards!

Model Search Special:

$45 entrance fee includes a 30-minute model session and one image submitted to the international gallery.

Finalists will be determined by online votes. Each vote is $1 (no limit on the amount of votes you can cast), and all proceeds from votes benefit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS.org).  The top 25 vote receivers will move on to the final judging round to determine the winners.

Grand prize winner and runners up will be determined from the 25 finalists. The winner and runners up are selected by photography experts.

Call 317.997.5009 now to enter your “Cutest Kid” in this exciting contest.

*Contest open to residents of the US. For more information, visit http://www.charitymodelsearch.org.

2011 Entries:

First Steps

So every photographer says, "I want to capture your memories."  That is our goal, capture a moment in time and freeze it for our clients to treasure forever.  Most of the time, that consists of a smile, a goofy grin, the kids posed for that perfect picture.  So this Sunday when I went to clients home to take some pictures of their two little ones, this was what I expected.  I'd photographed them before in the studio and we decided that we'd do the next session at their home so the kids would be a little more comfortable and they were.  It started out as a typical session.  Getting Tenley and Ty to smile was my mission. 

Then something really cool happened:

Tenley took her first steps! Her dad looked at me and said "she's never done that before!"  So he had her do it again, and again...then called mom and grandma in to see!  It was so cool and we captured it!  We truly froze a moment in time that is priceless....her first steps!

It's time like this that I feel so blessed to be able to do what I do!  I love my job!

Caitlyn - class of 2012

Wow!  What a month October was!  How many days in October?  31?  Ok, I had 32 sessions in the month of October!!!!  It was a busy, busy time but let me tell you I loved every minute of it.  My poor knee may not agree, but oh well. Between fall family sessions and seniors I have been busy as can be.

So I'm now trying to get caught up on my editing and finishing all these session, but my blog needs updated as well.  So I will try to start at the beginning of the month.

First up was Caitlyn - Taylor High School - class of 2012.  Believe it or not, this young ladys mom and I went to elementary, jr high and high school together.  I feel so old that this is her 2nd child graduating from high school; but it was fun spending the day with Caitlyn and her mom and Nana.  Caitlyn has an awesome look that just came across so natural...Here are some of my favs....gorgeous!

Fall Family Sessions have begun!

After a week delay, thanks to 38 degree weather last week, we cancelled out family sessions and moved then to this week and next weekend.  Today was the first session, so glad we waited, we had a perfect day today and PERFECT lighting!  Kim, Jeff, Casey & Lyndsey were great!  I haven't had time to really look at them yet, but just glancing thru here are a few that I'm already in love with!

What a great looking family!

Kim & Jeff

"Mz. Thang"  What a gorgeous girl, she had was posin' up a storm for me! 

The "Cool Dude" typicla tweener, didn't really want to be there but was awesome anyway!

Thanks guys for a great session!  Lots more to come :) 

A Week In Review ;)

So for the past week I have been working a "temporary consulting" job  so for the first time since July of 2010 I have had to get up at 6am, get dressed (in dress clothes) and drive to an office!  I was really dreading it, and am still dreading doing it again this week, but it hasn't been that bad.  Would I rather be home in my studio?  Absolutely, but I think the worse part has been having to wear shoes!  Seriously, I hate shoes unless they are my old ratty flip flops and I'm thinking they don't make the "dress code" in the office.  To be honest I've been in a pretty bad mood all week  because of it and probably took it out on my husband and kids when they really didn't deserve it. 

All in all the week went pretty fast and as the week came to a close, I received a call from Riley Hospital of a family requesting the services of NILMDTS.  Because I was working, I tried to find one of our other photographers to take the session; but I was not having any luck and time was running out for us to get there.  So I ran home, got my camera and went back to do the session.

I don't give details of NILMDTS sessions because it is a very emotional and private expereince for the family and the photographer, but as with the other 19 beautiful babies that I have had the honor to photograph, this little angel takes a special place in my heart along with his beautiful family.  I spend a very short amount of time with these families, but in that brief time I feel a connection that runs very deep as they allow me to share and capture some very special moments with their child. 

As I have spent the  past few days editing their images and getting them ready for them; that process puts me into a complete and total different mind set.  As with every session I take for NILMDTS it brings me down to earth and back to reality about how precious life is and I step back and look at my blessings. 

As we start a new week, this family prepares to lay their first child to rest and my thoughts and prayers are with them hoping that they have peace and love to guide them through this difficult time in their lives.  And as I start this new week, I will do so not with dread of having to "go to work" but with thankfulness for my family and all the wonderful things that God has given to me.

I'll leave you with a picture that brings a smile to my face every time...this was drawn at Disney this summer of my two kids...and it's fitting, the artist captured it perfect...JT is always looking at Lauren like "what the heck are you doing?" and she is always smiling that little onrey smile!  Have a wonderful week :)

Beautiful Emma - Isn't she a doll!

This session with Emma was so fun, she wouldn't stop moving, but we got some great shots!  LOVE THESE!  She is such a good model! 

Fall Specials.....hurry and save!

Act now and save big on all kinds of sessions! 

Brides: Book your 2012 Wedding with Occasions! Photography by Nov 1st and save $250 on your wedding package and 10% off a print package! 

Mommies to be....Book a My First Year Session and get your maternity session for free! My First Year inlcudes Newborn/3mo/6mo/1yr sessions + a 1 Year Framed print that include an image from each session!  This program will be changing in 2012, get your's booked today!

Seniors.....book your Senior session by Nov 1st (we'll shoot in the Spring) and save 15% off session fees! 

Families.....Fall Sessions are a great time to update your your family portraits.  I have some set fall days at locations around town or you can schedule a session to meet your timeframe.   Fall Sessions special, through Nov 15th is $55 (save $25) + $20 in print credit and 15% off holiday cards.

Meet Julie - Cardinal Ritter Senior Rep Class of 2012

I have a fun shoot today with Julie....what a gorgeous girl!  Julie and her mom spent the afternoon with me and we couldn't have asked for a better day!  It was beautiful out there!  Mindy Kennen was in to do Julie's makup....WOW!  She did an awesome job (as always) and Julie looked amazing!

Since Julie is a Senior Rep and will be "working" for me :wink wink: she will have a few other sessions over the next months of her senior year.  Today's session was the "Studio Shoot" and the "Summer Shoot"  We spent about an hour int he stuido and then headed out to one of my favorite secret shooting spots.  I'm loving what I'm seeing from her shoot so far....here's a sneak peek:

Fall Family Sessions, book your sessions now!

Fall is a great time of year for family pictures.  It is beautiful outdoors, there are so many options for loctions.  Some of my favoirte images have been taken in the fall!  Earlier this summer I did Family Days at specific locations...it was a great idea, but it was so hot and humid it just didn't work out well.  So I decided that we'll do them in the fall too when it's cooler and more comfortable to get outside.

So, here's the deal...$55 session fee (Regular price is $75), 1 hour time slot, up to 6 people ($5 for additional persons), and $20 credit towards print purchase.

• October 1st
• Forest Park in Noblesville
• Several different options here, covered bridge, trees, fences, etc.
• Time Slots:  9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm & 5pm
• October 16th
• Shadyside Park in Anderson
• Several areas of the park to choose from
• Time Slots: 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm & 5pm
• October 29th
• Locations TBD, have an idea? Let me know
• Time slots will depend on location

Call today to schedule your time slot, these will go fast!

317.997.5009

Changes are coming.......if I blog it I have to do it right?

So Monday night I attended my 5th Sandy Puc' seminar.  Each one has been different, there have been topics from Babies to Weddings....she covers it all and in a fun, interesting and unique way.  Listening to her speak is just energizing....she is so full of experience and knowledge and passion for what she does.  When I first saw her I said, "I wanna be like Sandy" but the more I see and hear her speak I realize that I don't want to be like her I want to take her passion and knowledge and reinvent me to bring out my own passion and excel at what it is I love...Photography!

The show Monday was all about Kids photography....how to be creative and unique and how to build your business to suceed.  Many of the things she talked about have been discussed in previous shows, but hearing them again just drives home the points that I have make some changes.  Good changes...for me, my business, and for my clients. 

I'm not going to rush these changes as I know that I need to do it right, so I'm giving myself a timeline of 6 months to prepare and do the things I have to do. Some may go beyond 6 months, but I think that is a good start.  This will be happening in the background and I will be doing "business as usual."   You might see some new pieces of the puzzle pop up here and there, but I hope to have everything in place by early 2012.  If you have small children, this is going to benefit you the most, but all clients, wedding, seniors, family will gain from the changes. 

Some things I plan to do.....

• Branding....anyone that knows me, knows I HATE corporate buzz words like "branding" however I need to do it...all marketing materials need to be redesigned and given a "look" that is unique to Occasions! Photography.
• The First Year Baby Program....there is so much more that can be added to this
• Referral Programs....give my current clients more incentives to refer their family and friends
• Products....streamline my product list, add unique and cool items that you want

Those are just a few things but I have so much going thru my head right now it's impossible to capture in a blog.  Watch for more details over the coming months....I will need feedback and may have a few contests to help me decide on styles and products and who better to help me out than my wonderful clients!

Sandy said during her show Monday that she continually has people come up and say to her,  that they put ideas in place and did the things she talks about and their business is better today because of it.  I hope to be able to say this to her when I see her again :) 

Wish me luck....here I go!