Winter Portraits

Once the beautiful golden yellows, reds and oranges of Autumn fall, many people simply stop thinking about taking a professional family portrait. I'm here to say: don't make that mistake! How about a Winter Wonderland portrait?

I fell in love with winter imagery in my 20's, when I composed a snapshot portrait of myself, my husband and our little Pomeranian puppy out in the snow with a our little point-and-shoot film camera. It was completely a spur of the moment idea that came to me as I watched the soft, fluffy quiet snow blanket our backyard. The black branches looked like lace, the entire world was a tranquil white, and the winter sunlight, filtered through clouds, cast a lovely, even, flattering light. (Best softbox in the world, clouds!)

"Are you sure this is going to work?" asked my husband.

"Just take it, it'll be cool," I reassured him. (I had him press the shutter, as I was holding the puppy and he has longer arms = better focus.)

Here is that photo from way back in 1994, scanned in:



Baby, It's Cold Outside...


Having a monochromatic background might seem boring at first, but it actually allows the focus of your photo - the people - to stand out even more. The riotous colors of fall, while indeed gorgeous, are sometimes distracting. Plus, a neat winter portrait is unique -- you just don't see very many of them! To this day, that image is one of my absolute favorites.

Another year, we posed in crazy red, green and white striped long johns for our holiday cards. We got more compliments on that photo than any other!

So why not embrace the season and give a Winter Wonderland portrait session a try? Frolicking in the snow, sledding, ice skating, colorful scarves and hats and mittens are all really fun things to capture. Or if you prefer to stay inside, how about a photo by a crackling fire with mugs of hot cocoa? C'mon, you know you want to show off your flannel bunny pajamas! *wink*

Sneak Peek: Family Portrait!

Fall is one of my favorite seasons to photograph (the others being winter, spring and summer LOL). So when Pam sent me a message asking if we could squeeze in a family portrait session before the leaves disappeared and her husband, Tim, had to go on a business trip, I said, "Let's go for it!"

Here's my fave from the session that was scheduled on Sunday night and shot on Tuesday afternoon. Which just goes to show you that a fabulous family portrait doesn't have to be a big production... just go for it!

Singapore: A Final Look

So after enjoying the glittering night skyline, sampling the delicious cuisine, wandering amongst the neighborhoods of Little India, the Arab quarter, and Chinatown... I had a chance to photograph the most beautiful creatures in Singapore before I left...

Tiger tiger burning bright,

In the jungles of the night.

What immortal hand or eye

Dare frame thy fearful symmetry.

--- Tiger Tiger by William Blake

Singapore: Part II

Singapore is a beautiful city and one of the things I enjoyed so much were the incredible nightscapes. Singapore has a gorgeous skyline with some really unique structures, including the Singapore Flyer, a giant ferris wheel- like observatory, and the Marina Bay Sands resort, the building that resembles a giant ocean liner in the sky. (Nope, I didn't Photoshop that in! LOL) I put together this slideshow that highlights the skyline and also showcases some other interesting architecture and cultural elements... Enjoy!

Singapore: Beautiful Futuristic Island City

As many travelers know, different airports have different smells. When you step off the plane in Hawaii, the air smells of plumeria flowers. When you step off the plane in Hong Kong, it smells like Chinese cooking. In some cities, you immediately smell the exhaust and air pollution. But when I stepped off the plane and into Changi Airport in Singapore, I was surprised to smell -- only very clean cool air! Singapore was definitely living up to its reputation as a very clean country, from the moment I stepped off the plane.



Singapore is on the southern tip of Malaysia.



Singapore is a tiny island country located south of Vietnam, in between Malaysia and and Indonesia. All told, it is about 10,000 miles away from Kansas City (almost exactly on the opposite side of the world) and about a 23 1/2 hour flight. But boy, was it worth it!!!

I've never been in a place that is so progressive, clean and efficient on the one hand, yet chaotic, colorful and sensual on the other.

I was fortunate to have a local guide who spent an entire day showing me around: my old buddy Kim from my graduate school days! Kim is such a great guy and it was so nice to catch up with him and meet his beautiful family. He is very knowledgable about Singapore, having been an officer in their military and gave us a look at daily life as a Singaporean, taking us to a grocery store, public housing, local restaurants. He also happens to be a great karaoke singer! LOL

Eating a delicious lunch with my friend, Kim!

After getting the local view of Singapore, I split the rest of my visit between the glittering, polished cityscapes and the crowded, fascinating bustle of the local ethnic neighborhoods. There are about four to five primary groups of people in Singapore that manage to live quite harmoniously together: the Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Arabic.  There is also a British presence as well, as Singapore was once an important port in the British Empire. One of my most memorable experiences was seeing a Buddhist temple, a Hindu temple, a Muslim mosque and a Christian church all within a few streets of each other!

Singapore has a great mix of ethnicities and cultures.

I also could not get enough of the food - I tried a dish called "laksa" that uses a local herb called "laksa leaf". It reminded me of a spicy basil flavor and was delicious! I also loved the oyster omelette! (note our empty lunch plates in the photo of Kim above) YUM!

More on my Singapore experience in the next blog post...

I'm back! What a whirlwind bunch of adventures!

Hey everyone, I made it back from the past month's worth of travel! WOW! It was crazy and intense and I loved every second of it. First, I was in Asia, then back in KS for four days before taking off to Sao Paulo, Brasil and then the Amazon rain forest. What an amazing experience! But, as everyone who travels knows, it's also wonderful to be back home and hanging out with my family (both human and furry).

Just a quick note today to let everyone know my local email and phone are back in action. If you contacted me while I was abroad, I'll be in touch within a few days or feel free to call/email me again.

And images to come...

On the Road Again...

Hi friends, and soon-to-be future friends :)

Just wanted to give you a heads up that I will be out of contact for a little over a month, beginning October 6th through November 10th. Got some crazy travel ahead, including        Singapore,
Sao Paulo Brazil,                 TOKYO,
                           the A m a z o n (no, not the bookstore),
                                       and      Phoenix, AZ.

It's going to be a pretty incredible ride, and I promise it will make for some awesome images heading your way via this blog or my Facebook page over the winter. We can all keep warm during the cold Kansas winter, huddled around the photos of these beautiful, warm locations! LOL

Speaking of Facebook, I just added my new Facebook Badge over there on the left of the blog. Pretty nifty, huh? It will update with new photos that I post automatically and is replacing my Image of the Week. I was getting too lazy to update that independently each time, so this will be great as you'll get to see more of my current stuff (albeit at a very very low rez!) :)

Family Portrait Special! FREE Holiday Ornament

Dear Friends,

It's that time of year again! Striking is excited to offer a very special promotion for those of you planning to book a family portrait session soon.

Book your family's portrait session between now and October 15th and receive a lovely silver keepsake ornament for FREE!

Perfect as a holiday gift or to grace your own Christmas tree as an unforgettable memento of this year. Available in six shapes, from 2.5" - 4" in length, the ornaments are edged in silver, brush-textured aluminum. They are also light enough to be used as bookmarks or bag tags as well!

I've got an incredible variety of unique, high-quality products that you just can't find anywhere else that are just perfect for holiday gift-giving. Custom designed holiday cards that bring out the very best in you and your loved ones; stunning heirloom jewelry using genuine silver, gold and gems; adorable leather-bound pocket-sized "brag books" and more!

Call 913.602.8061 or visit Striking Photography's website today to learn more and take advantage of this great offer!

Incredibly Awesome Senior Promo

So I have been in some secret, behind-closed-doors (or emails!) negotiations for a really cool senior promo coming up this spring. I can't say too much yet as the exact details are being ironed out, but I am *really* excited about it! It is completely unique to the Kansas City area; in fact, I do not think I have seen a single other studio holding a promotion like this one.

All I can say is --- are you just a *teeny* bit tired of the "modeling" and "rep" contests that are being held and are really just a popularity contest?

Yeeeaaah... so am I :)

A Sunset With My Son

Just happened to be driving home from one of my son's activities yesterday and saw this nice sunset. We got home, ran into the house, grabbed the camera, ran back out and found a field and took a few shots. This one was my fave.

Behind the Scenes: The Making of the KC Irish Fest commercial

More on the Striking / KC Irish Fest Video

Last year at the Kansas City Irish Fest:

94,000 people attended
494 kegs were tapped
962 bottles of wine was uncorked
2,200 lbs of plastic bottles were recycled
17,500 kids went through our children's area
27 bands from 5 countries performed
1,000 people volunteered... and our commercial will be airing beginning Friday night!

Have you got your tickets? You can get them at Hy-Vee. I will be there celebrating with the cast and crew of this video on Saturday night!



And who is the star of this video? Why that would be KC's very own Aaron Bagby, a comedian who regularly performs around town at Comedy City, Westport Coffeehouse and other funny places.

Check out the video Striking directed and shot for the KC Irish Festival 2010!

This video was an absolute blast to shoot! It is, of course, a complete parody LOL The Kansas City Irish Festival is the third largest Irish fest in the entire country and is taking place this weekend, September 3 - 5, 2010 at Crown Center. There are numerous bands playing live traditional and Celtic rock, dancers, crafts, beer, and more! It's an all-around great time!

The commercial will be airing between band sets in the evenings starting around 8pm. Striking will be in attendance on Saturday night around 8pm! Come raise a pint with us and enjoy your Labor Day weekend!!!

Sneak Peek: Boudoir Session!

There are times, as a photographer, that discretion is the better part of valor. Boudoir sessions are definitely one of those times. I adore doing these shoots, because they are so fun. Initially many of my clients are intimidated, but once we get clicking they loosen up and really let themselves shine! It is so amazing to see women become relaxed and comfortable in their skin and revel in their own beauty. How often do we do that, ladies? Not nearly enough! :)

But the problem for me is, once I get the images back, I want to show them to EVERYONE and brag about how gorgeous they look! Of course, I CAN'T!!! However, with my client's permission, I often am able to share some select images...

This session was a treat because we ran the gamut of distinct looks, from very classic black-and-white to a super-saturated, artistic use of color. Yes, that is the same woman in the same session!

Want to see more photos like this? Interested in booking your own session? Call the studio 913-602-8061 or drop me a line via my Contact tab at the website. Let's talk!

See the Difference: Why You Should Hire a Professional for Your Wedding Photographer

With the economy being as tight as it is, engaged couple are looking for ways to save when they throw their wedding. Whether it be making their own favors or paring down the invitation list, brides are definitely getting budget-savvy when it comes to their nuptials.

That said, I truly believe that the one place where couples should not compromise is the photography. It is so tempting, in today's market, to ask Uncle So-and-So, who just bought a cool new digital camera, to take the wedding photos. Or to ask a good buddy who dabbles in photography on the side to come and take the photos. But this is probably not a wise idea, and here is why:

One of the few things that will last beyond the wedding day (aside from your love for each other :) ) is the wedding day photographs. Think of your parents', or your grandparents' wedding days. I'll bet out of all the things they may have saved, a wedding portrait or pictures will be in there. In many cases, that is the *only* thing they have saved for all these years.

Wedding photographs last long after the wedding. So isn't it worth it to hire a professional photographer?

For more information, check out this very informative article.

Shedding Light on "Natural Light Photography"

As a photographer, I live or die by the light in my images. The word photography, in fact, derives from the Latin words for light ("photo") and writing ("graph") -- so literally, I am "writing with light" when I take a photograph.

Natural light photography almost always means exclusively using light from the sun. The sun is the most incredible light source photographers have at our disposal, and it is critical to know how to work with it when creating outstanding images outdoors.

However, I have to admit that I balk a little when I hear the words "natural light photography." Because...

What do you do if the sun doesn't show up?
The client has taken time out of their schedule, has probably gotten their clothing, makeup, hair and nails done, perhaps had to coordinate several other people's attendance... not to mention as the photographer I have set aside time to prep and shoot --- and the sun is a no-show.

What do you do if you can't shoot outside?

Even if the weather is nice, some people just don't want to go outside to shoot. The wind can really mess up someone's hair at times. Perhaps they have allergies or other health conditions. In one case of mine, a woman (the eldest daughter) wanted to have a family portrait taken. Her siblings were visiting from out of town, and it was the first time her family had been in the same place, all together, for twelve years. The only concern was that their father was ill, needed oxygen, and was in a wheelchair. In this case, the client specifically needed to be indoors, so the sun was not a realistic option.

As a professional, I believe it's important to be more than just a one-trick pony when it comes to getting great photos. If the sun doesn't show up for a shoot, it's critical to be able to create something awesome regardless through the use of strobes (aka "flash") and other light modifiers. For example, where would a model be if she could only successfully pull off one style? The most successful models can look sexy, glamourous, professional, avant-garde, natural and wholesome, romantic, older, younger -- because that is their job. I feel the same applies to me in terms of a photographer -- I definitely use natural light, but I can also create many many other looks and styles with supplemental lighting should the natural lighting be flat.

As a photography client, it is to your benefit to be sure that your photographer is well-versed in all aspects of the craft. A few things to look for:

Pay attention to a photographer's portfolio. Are all the photos taken under similar lighting conditions? Or is there a variety that demonstrates mastery of the craft under many conditions?

Check whether or not the photographer belongs to any professional photography organizations. Professional Photographers of America (PPA), Wedding Photojournalist Assocation (WPJA), and Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) are all excellent and well-known professional organizations of photographers.

Has the photographer been published? Magazine photo editors know what's current, demand the highest quality photos, and they don't like to work with flakes. (They are working under a publishing deadline, after all.) If your photographer has had their work published or used publicly, it not only suggests that they take good images, but that they are a decent and reliable businessperson as well.

Has the photographer won any awards/recognition for their work? Winning recognition from other professional photographers is also a great indicator of high quality work. Who better to judge a photographer's work than other experts in the same field?

For more information about my qualifications, please feel free to contact me via my website, http://www.strikingphotography.org/, email Debra@StrikingPhotography.org or call the studio at 913-602-8061.

Sneak Peek: Headshots for a Young Model

This young man is an up and coming child model who just finished participating in a model search for a local children's hair salon. The stylist suggested that he try modeling because he was so cooperative and had great hair. (I am jealous; can you imagine having great hair days all the time at that age? lol)

He was so fun to shoot and loved to chomp on pretzels in between takes! But I think he's more sweet than salty :)

Want some incredible photos of your kids or a family portrait? Ring the studio at 913-602-8061 and set up your appointment today.

To see some more great portraits of children, families and seniors, go to http://www.strikingphotography.org/.

Sneak Peek: Senior Session!

This young man is a graduate of BVNW and a proud member of the Huskies! We had a really fun time shooting on the football field, and some incredible, dramatic skies to go with the shoot.

In addition to straight portrait shots, we wanted to get a little bit of action as well and so he tossed the ball up into the air and caught it. It took three takes, but on the last one - BAM! - he nailed it and I was there to capture the shot at exactly the right time, as the ball was coming down into his hands, but not blocking his face.

I thought I'd also take this time to showcase some of my own Photoshop work. All retouching, editing and special effects (such as the awesome charcoal sketch shown here) are done in-house and by me, personally. I do not farm out my work and have it mass-produced generically. I do everything custom and by hand because I want the post-processing work to remain true to the vision that I have created with my client. If you like it and want more, you got it. If you don't like it, it is easy for me to change. I can tailor any special effects exactly the way you like it. Black and white? No problem. Aged vintage? You got it. Crazy Andy-Warhol poster effects? Done :)

If you'd like to get some custom artwork created for you, please give me at call at 913.602.8061 or visit http://www.strikingphotography.org/.

Sneak Peek: Natalie's Senior Session II

So as I mentioned previously, Natalie had done a couple of senior sessions with me, and they were split. Here are a few more highlights from her shoot. We went out to a local park that had an incredible lake, wide open fields, and wildflowers galore. We had a blast and even saw some wildlife -- a gorgeous blue heron landed right behind where we were shooting, and turtles were poking their heads up from the water.

We were fortunate to get some incredible skies as well. No, this lighting is not photoshopped, although it looks like it was done in HDR. I love how this light is so edgy and dramatic. It feels completely different from the softer, more gentle shot in the wildflowers....

So I am wondering... what's YOUR style? :) Give me a call and let's create something together!

913.602.8061
http://www.strikingphotography.org/

Sneak Peek: Natalie's Senior Session

Ms. Natalie is one of my favorite people to work with and she always, always creates fantastic images! One of my favorite things about her is her incredibly dazzling smile - that is some star power if I have ever seen some! She is also able to pose beautifully without smiling, but when she smiles she completely lights up the place. People (including me) are simply charmed by her!

These are some from a session several months ago, and we also just shot the second half of her session last week. (Keep yer eyes peeled for the second half sneak peeks, coming up later this weekend!)

This is one of the very cool options I was offering last season - the ability to split your session. So you do a mini-session in the fall, and then another in the spring. What I love about this for a senior picture session is that the looks are almost endless! You can do a very warm weather, sunny, summery feel for one session, and you could do a cozy, wintery session for the other. Or you could do one that is much more casual, and then glam it up on the second. It really offers a great way to express your personality in your senior pictures!

Technically, I am not offering the split session this season BUT... if you've got your heart set on it, I'm sure we can work something out ;)

Call me at 913-602-8061 and we can chat! To see more of my work, don't forget to check out http://www.strikingphotography.org/ too.

Early Bird Senior Special!

Book your senior session* by June 15, 2010** and choose your savings!

$50 off the Basic package
$75 off the Upgrade package
$100 off the More package
$150 off the The Most package

Seriously? It would be crazy to NOT take advantage of this deal :) Or if you prefer, take that same savings and use it on some great add-ons to your package. For example, suppose you like the Basic package, but reeeeeaaally want a sterling silver necklace to give to a special someone? Take the $50 you save with the Early Bird Booking Special and get that jewelry. Need a few more wallets? Use the savings to get them.

Sessions are filling up fast, so please call 913.602.8061 or email the studio (debra@strikingphotography.org) now so you don’t miss out!

*requires a deposit to hold your session date
** you can schedule your shoot for later this summer, just reserve it now

Senior Style Portfolio: class of ‘eleven

STYLE + PORTFOLIO = unforgettable senior pictures

Choose your STYLE:

POP: clean. minimalist. white backgrounds. studio. modern. bold graphics / Inspired by J. Brand, 7 for All Mankind, Apple, Rampage, Bebe, Stella McCartney

SEA: surfer. summer. outdoors. sepia tones. natural. boho / Inspired by Hollister, Abercrombie and Fitch, True Religion, Missoni

NEON: urban. graffiti. splashes of bright neon colors against white or black. '80s retro / Inspired by Hot Topic, Buckle, Adidas, Ecko Unltd, Tokidoki

VINTAGE: romantic. lush. floral. vintage. faded Polaroids / Inspired by Victoria's Secret, Urban Outfitters, H&M, PacSun, Ralph Lauren, Prada

DRIVE: strong. sporty. intense. driven. gritty / Inspired by Nike, Gatorade, Halo, Killzone 2, ESPN

VAMP: black-white-red. silver moonlight. goth meets grunge. magic. mystery / Inspired by Twilight, M.A.C. cosmetics, New Orleans, Alexander McQueen

Choose your PORTFOLIO:

BASIC: 32 wallets, 2 4x5s, 2 5x7s, 1 8x10

UPGRADE: 64 wallets, 2 4x5s, 2 5x7s, 2 8x10, 1 11x14

MORE: 80 wallets, 4 4x5s, 6 5x7s, 2 8x10, 1 11x14
Proof book of all your proofs
Bring a Friend – FREE
Custom open house invitations – FREE

THE MOST: 120 wallets, 4 4x5s, 8 5x7s, 4 8x10, 1 16x20
Multimedia DVD slideshow of all your proofs
Accordion mini album (great for display)
Keepsake sterling silver photo locket on a black or brown leather cord
Bring a Friend – FREE
Custom open house invitations – FREE

STYLE + PORTFOLIO = unforgettable senior pictures

Sessions are filling up fast, so call 913.602.8061 to book your date today!

Keep Yer Eyes Peeled...

for the Class of 2011's new offerings! Will be posting them first on my FB, then here and on the site. Oh, and on my FB, I will post the Senior Early Bird Booking Special, which is going to be a very good deal indeed! If you haven't had a chance to friend me, please feel free to do so by going to my FB page here:

http://www.facebook.com/StrikingPhotography

To be honest with you, I get a little bored with things that stay the same, year in and year out. Same old packages being offered, same old lighting, same old poses, same old backdrops.
*** yawn! *** For me, photography is about being an innovator, and I like to change things up a lot. That's why I really didn't mind that some studios were copying my ideas for packages. You know what they say: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! ;)

And so each year, for all my new seniors coming up, I offer completely new packages. Keep yer eyes peeled, should be up within the next week...

Stoplight Reflections - An Exploration

I like driving on rainy nights, because the streets are transformed into a shiny, reflective wonderland. The street lights, car tail lights and stoplights meld into a colorful splash, and the silvery black reflective nature of the wet streets adds to the beauty.

The problem is that every time I notice this, I'm the one driving. I briefly considered trying to shoot while driving, but quickly nixed the idea in the name of safety... I can't imagine what a police officer would say if I tried to explain that the reason I crashed my car was because I was trying to take photographs of the streetlights!

However, the other night my husband was at the wheel, and so I was able to capture these interesting images. I'm certain he was mystified as to exactly what I was trying to create, since it was quite dark. But he knows me too well by now and just let me happily click away :) (Thanks, hon!) I shot a series of each scene, so you can see the progression of movement, focus and extended exposure.

Enjoy!

Ashley's Senior Session

Amazing. Fantastic. Gorgeous. Beautiful. I run out of wonderful words to describe this young woman!

We shot until the sun was almost down and honestly, I could have kept shooting until my trigger finger got numb and I just fell down in a happy stupor. Ashley has incredible talent in front of the camera, and she's more than willing to try interesting, unique poses which always lends itself to a great session. Climbing trees? No problem! Her mom, Robin, was also such a joy to work with... so helpful and supportive. We had a great time traipsing around in the giant field and finding exciting locations to shoot. I was very pleased by the variety of "looks" we achieved in just one shoot.

Introducing animals into a photo session always adds a little bit of unexpected excitement... animals, unlike humans, do not "pose" and so you've really got to be on the ball as the photog. Quick reflexes and knowing your camera are a must because you never know exactly what the animal will do next... it might be fantastic or it might be a disaster. Our little birdie was so cute but I kept worrying that it would poop in Ashley's hands LOL! It also wanted to try and fly away so Ashley had to be sure to cup it just right in her hands.

Notice: no animals were harmed in the making of these images :)


To book your own magical photo session, whether a senior session, wedding or family portrait, give me a call at 913.602.8061. To see more photos, visit Striking Photography's website!

Awesome boudoir shoot today...

Boudoir photography ROCKS! So fun and creative. I just love bringing out the attitude and unique beauty in every single woman I photograph. And it's never the same, because each person has their own definition of what is sexy, and every woman has different features that she loves and wants to feature! For one, it might be her sparkling eyes. For another, it might be her gorgeous legs. Whatever it is, I think it's so cool to see a woman gain confidence in herself and in front of the camera!

So this boudoir session rocked today, and I've just gotten several new sets in the studio, and will be posting some previews here soon as well as some sneak peeks.

Don't forget to check out Striking Photography's portfolio of other work here at my website.

Rock on, ladies! :)

Mother's Day and Father's Day around the corner...

Had my third studio tour in seven days, and it went great! Busy busy. Booking lots of Mommy and Me and boudoir shoots right now. Mother's Day is just around the corner, and Father's Day is soon after -- don't forget, beautiful portraits make a great gift!

Off to the Sheraton again...

Overland Park Sheraton Easter Banquet: Sneak Peek

The banquet was *incredible*! The attention to detail was so impressive... there was literally an army of people making sure every detail was lovely. Matt Jackson, the guy in charge of food and beverage at the OP Sheraton, is a great guy to work with. And the ice work was simply stunning! I also loved the fact that children were made to feel very welcome, with some fun special touches just for them. Some highlights...

Easter Banquet at the Overland Park Sheraton

Hey everyone! Striking will be at the O.P. Sheraton this Sunday, shooting their gorgeous Easter banquet. I was told there will be many incredible ice works in an Easter theme - should be amazing - and I believe a special guest will be appearing after he's done distributing eggs in baskets throughout the world... ;)

I've attended several events at the Sheraton and I gotta say, they do an absolutely wonderful job. I'm looking forward to shooting this (yummy) event! If you haven't seen their property, check it out here.

And if you'd like to have Striking be there at YOUR own fabulous event and would like more info, don't forget to visit our website here.

Happy Easter, y'all!

The Barker Family

My favorite way to shoot family portraits is on location - parks, natural areas, urban settings, or for a very personal touch, your own home and yard. This beautiful family session not only showcases the love between family members, but also shows some of the different effects and collages available with Striking.



With the weather starting to warm up, and flowers starting to make their appearance, now would be a great time to book some fun family portraits! I myself just planted some bright and cheery yellow tulips in our front planters... Think Spring! ;)

Doing a Job Talk at My Son's Elementary School

In a couple hours, I'll be heading over to our local elementary school, where I've been asked to talk about being a photographer in front of 80 first graders! *gulp* This might be the toughest crowd I've ever faced! ;-) LOL

Wish me luck!

***UPDATE***

The kids were fantastic! Boy, they are so smart! They asked so many great questions and were good listeners. Here's a pic I snapped at the end - some future photogs among them, I am sure! :)

OOh, fresh studio samples arriving!

My new studio samples are arriving! We've been having some remodeling done around the place, and I ordered some new artwork for the walls... nothing like gigantic, 4 feet x 4 feet across boxes arriving at your doorstep!

The room is awash in packing bubble wrap and cardboard boxes. Already hung three, two more to go! I'll try to post some new pics of the place once I get them up.

Received a Special Mention for Best Wedding Photo 2009!

I am sooo honored to have received a Special Mention in the Best Wedding Photo of 2009 competition held at photo.net last week!

Photo.net is an online photographer's forum with over 800,000 registered members and spans the globe. It's a great honor to get recognition from other professionals within the photography business -- and it was a little nerve-wracking to even submit for this competition, since I knew I'd be judged by people who really KNOW photography iykwim!

This is the award-winning shot, which I call "Kiss of Color".

Hello there!

Wow, it's been a long time since I have posted on here! My Facebook page seems to be replacing this site, and I'm at work getting a new Wordpress blog up and running that will display my photos (and yours!) in a much larger format, which should show some of the great details even better.

However, I did want to update and spill some rather exciting news - Striking is going to be a featured photographer on TheKnot.com! The Knot is THE definitive online spot for modern brides, and I urge you to check it out. There are TONS of resources there for brides, and not just photographers! :-)

I just heard from their rep and have got the exact date -- Striking's appearance is going live on February 14, 2010! WOOT! Happy Valentine's Day! ;-)