I want to thank everyone who came to my show Friday night: it was so nice to see and meet all of you!  (I also want to thank you for taking care of as much of the snacks and drinks as you did; I really wasn’t looking forward to hauling everything home!)

I took a few pictures of the gallery after I hung my pictures, but before I hung the labels.  (I was too distracted Friday night to remember to get pics of the setup before people arrived!)  Here’s what it looked like, pre-labels:

When I arrived at the gallery to finish setting up, I was surprised to find most of my labels lying face-down on the floor!  (Turns out that some ladies who work there had come in earlier and turned on the ceiling fans, and my museum gel just wasn’t strong enough to stand up to the breeze.)  I got all the tags put back up, and managed to get most of the snacks and drinks out before the crowd arrived.  (BIG thank you to my mother-in-law, Colleen, for dipping all the strawberries in chocolate, and another BIG thank you to my father-in-law, Del, for setting up the speakers and running home for the wine opener!)

I wish I’d thought to get my camera out sooner, but I was too busy chatting to take pictures until at least half of you were gone!  Here are the few pictures I managed to take:

Thanks again, to everyone who made it!  : )

If anyone else is interested in seeing everything, the show will be up through April 1, at the Blue House Gallery, in Allen (102 S Allen Drive, 75013).

The gallery is open weekdays from 9 am - 2 pm, or you can call 214-227-7754 to set up an after-hours appointment.  (Boudoir photos shown by appointment only.)

Mounted prints available for purchase at the gallery.  (Other sizes available here.)

My photos will be on display throughout the month of March (March 5 - April 1), at the Blue House Gallery, in Allen. (102 S Allen Drive, Allen, 75013)  Gallery hours are weekdays, 9 am - 2 pm, or by appointment.

(After opening night, boudoir photos shown only by appointment.  Call 214-227-7754 or 214-709-6257, or email carole@hisandherscreative.com to set an appointment.)

The opening reception will take place on Friday, March 5, from 7-9 pm. Light refreshments will be served.

I’m only allowed to display my boudoir photos on opening night, so if you want to see them, you’ll need to make sure you’re there! Please feel free to RSVP on my Facebook event page, if you’re coming.

Hope to see you there!  : )

What a year!

Last January, we completely shifted gears, and we dropped all of our business offerings except for photography and videography.  That took a huge leap of faith on our part, but I can’t even begin to tell you how glad I am that we did it!  I really feel as if I’ve found my calling, and I love it more every time I shoot.

In 2009, I shot a bit of everything, just to find out where my heart lies, and it turns out that it’s in weddings (and related shoots) and boudoir.  I’ll continue to do other sorts of sessions (family, kids, pets, etc..) upon request, but our advertising will focus on my favorites, and I hope to be kept busy with them.  

Also, I’ve decided to keep the boudoir separate from the rest, so if you’re interested in that side of our business, you’ll need to visit my new boudoir site: Just Hers Boudoir. : )

I was going to paste a few of my favorite shots from the year in this post but, if you know me at all, I’m sure you can imagine how my “few” quickly turned into “way too many to post.”  In lieu of creating a post that’s ten pages long, that nobody will want to finish, I’ve created a music video of my favorites. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!  (Which is quite a lot, actually: the song is stuck in my head now, and I like it so much that I’ve had it playing in the background while I do other things!) (The band is Derby, and their website is here.)

Happy New Year, everyone!

Just a few tips to help you get some better pictures this holiday season:

1) Get a little closer, don’t be shy!
- fill the frame with your subject, but don’t feel that you need to show his/her entire body. Your child’s smiling face, or whatever is in that tiny palm—THAT’S what we want to see!
- and while we’re at it: your child may be the center of your universe, but they don’t always need to be at the center of your photo! Move them towards one side or the other, and you may be pleasantly surprised.

2) Step away from that background!
- people have a tendency to line up directly in front of things—don’t let them do it! Move them forward a couple of feet if possible, and your background will be much less distracting.
- speaking of backgrounds: be careful of what yours is! It’s far to easy to have things (trees, bike handles, lights, etc…) growing out of people’s heads when you forget to look at what’s behind them

3) Don’t be a straight shooter!
- change your angle of attack: shoot from way down low, or way up high—anything but straight ahead from eye level, and your pics will take on different flavor.
- don’t be afraid to tilt the camera, either! I wouldn’t advise doing it on every shot, but sometimes it’s the right thing to do.

4) There’s safety in numbers!
- Shoot, shoot, and shoot some more—and then, when you think you’ve got the perfect shot, shoot a couple more, just in case.
- Don’t worry about trying to pose all of those shots! You’d be surprised to know how often the unplanned shots wind up stealing the show.

5) Go towards the light!
- Turn off that flash! Look at your surroundings, and see where the light already is, and you won’t need it anyway!
- Shadows are NOT the enemy! They add texture and dimension to your shots, when you pay attention to where they land….

6) Getting the perfect Christmas portrait
- I would recommend either hiring a pro or, if that isn’t an option, having someone else take it. It is so much harder to take portraits of your own children, especially when it actually matters, and especially if you want to be in the picture, too! Also be aware that you should always consider the kiddos schedule… no meal times or nap times. They never work out for anyone!
Hope you find these tips helpful! If you have any questions about something I didn’t cover, feel free to ask away!

Carole : )

I don’t always have as much time for things as I’d like, but I always manage to get it all done!  : )

I’m shooting a wedding this coming Saturday.  When I do weddings, I like to provide photo cards to place at the reception, to let people know where they can go to look at the pics.  In order to do this, I need photos. . . .  Sylvia and Jason have been busy with last-minute wedding stuff, so today was the first chance they had to get together with me for a mini-shoot to get the pics we need.  Today at 1:30 pm, to be more specific.  And the order had to be placed by 5 pm—luckily, that’s 5 pm PST, but still—that’s not a lot of time to edit pics, design a card, and get the cards ordered!

Thank goodness I work better under pressure, right?  :)

Anyway, here are a few of my favorite pics that didn’t make it onto the card, and the card itself:

Again, some of these still need a bit of editing, but I didn’t want to make anyone wait any longer to see my favorites!!

Two things about this last one:

!) No, that center pic is NOT a studio backdrop!  lol

2) The pic with both of them with a foot on the rock: I did NOT pose them!  He put his foot up on his own, and little sis immediately ran over and had to do the same thing.  ”Monkey see, monkey do” and all….  It was really cute!  : )

Some of these still need editing, but I couldn’t stand it—I had to post something!!

Sunday afternoon sneak peeks coming soon….  : )

I have lots of editing still to do, but I wanted to show off a few of my favorites from Saturday.

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I had a few people ask me if I can design Christmas cards for them, so I’ve decided to offer the service to everyone.  You can see a few samples of my designs here, if you’re interested.

Prices:

Option 1:
$10 - I design your card using photos taken by me.

Option 2:
$15 - I design your card with photos you provide.

In either case, you can provide the text, or choose one of my options:

May the magic of love twinkle in your lives throughout the holidays and the upcoming new year.

Through a looking glass of a thousand stars,
heavenly angels watch over us and bless us unaware.

May health happiness and good times greet you each day of the new year.

May beautiful moments and happy memories
surround you with joy this Christmas.

Wishing you good times, good cheer,
and a happy new year!

May the splendor of this season remind you of Him who is worthy of all our praise.

Wishing you the gift of faith, the blessing of hope and the peace of His love at Christmas and always.

Merry Christmas and many good wishes for a new year of happiness and prosperity.

Wishing you and your loved ones all the wonder and magic of Christmas.

“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more.” —Dr. Seuss

Hope the holidays bring you lots of reasons to smile.

Wishing you time to enjoy the simple pleasures of this holiday season.

Wishing you a bright and delightful holiday season.

May your holidays sparkle and shine.

Be filled with wonder
Be touched by peace
Believe in the miracle

Wishing you all the happiness of the season and peace and prosperity in the new year.

May the holidays refresh your spirit and bring you new inspiration and happiness.

Christmas, ‘my child, is love in action. Every time we, love ~ every time we give, it’s Christmas.

Your friendship is a glowing ember
Through the year; and each December

A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world!

Christmas is not a date. It is a state of mind.

May the timeless message of Christmas fill your heart and home with joy today and throughout the coming year.

The day ends with a night full of stars
that never appeared so prettier than before.
Each twinkling star is passed along to you with a special wish;
That all of the days you live could be like Christmas.

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love!

With love and appreciation at Christmastime and always.

Christmas is in the air! Wishing you all the joy, hope and wonder of the season.

May your home be filled with the love of Christmas.

Heartfelt Greetings and Bountiful Blessings

Warmest thoughts and best wishes for a wonderful holiday and a very Happy New Year.

The year-end brings no greater pleasure than the opportunity to express to you season’s greetings and good wishes. May your holidays and new year be filled with happiness!

May you be overwhelmed with joy this holiday season!

Wishing you a beautiful holiday season and a new year of peace and happiness.

May the holidays bring you pleasant memories and much happiness.

May the magic of Christmas be with you in every season.

May all the joys of the season be yours.

Candy canes and little toy planes are things that we adore.
But wishing you a merry Christmas is something we love even more.

Delivering warmest wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year.

May the holidays deliver an abundance of happiness and good cheer! Season’s greetings.

Wishing you the brightest of holidays!

May you have the spirit of Christmas which is peace, the gladness of Christmas which is hope, and the heart of Christmas which is love.

May the peace and beauty of the season remain with you throughout the coming year.

Warmest thoughts and best wishes for a Christmas filled with happiness.

Wishing you the joy of family, the happiness of friends, and the love of Christmas!

We all have different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere!

Wishing you a holiday season filled with peace and joy.

Write it on your heart: That every day is the best day of the year. Happy New Year!

May your holidays be merry and bright!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of New Years.

Wishing you the many blessings of Christmas now and throughout the year.

May the warmth and peace of the holiday season be yours today and always.

Wishing you all the joys of Christmas and happiness throughout the New Year.

Wishing you the Love, Peace, and Happiness that the true meaning of Christmas brings.

These aren’t templates: they’ll be designed by me after I see your pics. (These prices are for one-sided cards. If you want a folding card, just add $5.)

If you want a two-sided card, add whatever the first side cost. (It’s the same as designing two cards.)

I can order the cards for you, with prices starting at $35 per set of 25.

For those of you who would prefer to order them yourselves, here are a few companies that I have ordered from and been satisfied with, in no particular order:

Snapfish

Winkflash

Kodak Gallery

My Photopipe

Mpix

(The last two are as close to pro labs as a consumer can get on their own.  I haven’t compared prices, so definitely check them out!)

I believe they all have templates available, if you decide not to go the custom route, and they offer both flat and folded cards; I’m fairly certain they all include envelopes.  They’re all running different promotions, so be sure to look for discount codes, both on the sites themselves, and in Google!

You know someone. You know someone who’s experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can’t afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family’s spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography — $600 worth, to be exact. Whether it’s canvas or albums, prints for Grandma, or a slideshow to watch over and over, it’s in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season.

Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a $100 credit (enough to cover a free mini-session and a $25 print credit).  What better reason to show some love could there possibly be, people?

The rules:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)

* The nominee must reside in Texas. They must be able to travel to the DFW Metroplex for their session. Tell me who you know, what they’re experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.

* You must e-mail me the full story : nominations@hisandherscreative.com.

The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve and all entries must be received by December 17th at midnight – get nominating! I can’t wait to read all of your entries!

Open your heart to someone this holiday season — and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

With love,

Carole Hayes  : )

ps

If anyone wants to sponsor additional winners, please contact me at: sponsor@hisandherscreative.com

I would LOVE to make this giveaway even bigger!  : )