utopia Photography

So I was having a cup of coffee yesterday talking to a client/friend about life.  We were also looking at her proofs.  We were saying how it’s funny how mom’s don’t have many pictures with the family since usually it’s the moms that are behind the camera, coaxing eyes and smiles.

I can do that.  I can capture parents and their children for who they are.  The more natural and open to each other, the more meaning I get on film. Those are some of my favorite images, the ones with mom and dad. The ones where they aren’t looking at me or even acknowledging that I’m there.  They are focusing on each other.

Sometimes there are parents who are apprehensive about stepping in front of the camera but there is where my coaxing comes in.  The images are not really for you ( the parents ) in the long run, it’s for the kids.  The kids are going to want to see what you looked like, who you were and how you loved them 10, 15, 20 years from now.  They will want to see that, remember it.  I feel good, great really, being able to help with that.  I can do it and I can do it well.  Every kid should have that.  Whether it’s taken professionally or with a timer.

That’s when my own guilt kicked in.  I need that.  I am the one behind the camera.  I am the one coaxing eyes and smiles from my own precious kids.  I need to be hugging them in pictures.  I need to practice what I preach.  I think I just found my resolution for 2012.  Whether I ask a professional to take one, or a timer.  It will be done.

I leave you with a mom pic.  Can you feel the love?  Do you see what I mean?

-lisa

Ok, I know it’s been ages but I think I’m finally ready to give this another go.  There has been so much I’ve wanted to write but I’ve been lazy.  Yes, lazy.  No excuses.  So I’ll be getting back on the horse and hopefully you’ll see more of me around.  Now that I’ve put it out there….

Lots of announcements in the coming weeks.  Very exciting.  So add me to your readers and find me on facebook.  Tell your friends… I’m back and ready.  I’ll also be revamping the site.  All new images and some information changes.

I’ll leave you with a picture of my three.  They are growing up soooo fast.  Way too fast if you ask me.

-lisa

Thank you, thank you everyone.

Let the carbo loading begin!

I had such a great response that I was able to open up and extend to a half day on Sunday the 21st. I have only 3 slots still available. Call me asap if you want one of them. It’s going to be an exciting weekend!
-lisa

I’m now booking for 2011. Remember, it’s still fun to do “Happy New Year” cards or Valentines Day cards as well. I’m actually doing a few of those for next year.

I’ll still do newborn sessions through the beginning of December if the little one is still 10 days or younger at the time of the session. Expecting moms should call me asap to set something up.

Thanks everyone!
-lisa

Ok, so this is what I’ve kept under wraps.  How cool are these?  They are 12 x 12 and can be arranged in any space.  You could even keep two and give two as gifts.  They even stand by themselves on table tops or shelves.

Here is the info:

You need to buy them in a set of 4 but you can get any image on them ( one image on each.) You can get all the same image or all different.

The set of 4 is $475 + tax.

You’ll need to order these by Dec. 5th to get them for Christmas.

Seriously, I love this new addition to my collections.  I can’t wait to get a set for my house.  I just have to take the pictures first.

I have two more great announcements up my sleeve so stay tuned.

Thanks for stopping by,

-lisa

Ok, so it’s been awhile.  Not just a little while, a long while.  A since June, while.  Things got crazy… yadda, yadda, yadda… Then it got to be so long, there was just too much to write. Then it got to be overbearing.  Monkey on my back, overbearing.

I decided that it was completely silly to get all overwhelmed about a blog.  Just silly.  So I thought, that it doesn’t have to be long, or chock full of information.  I can dole that out over time if need be.  Just baby steps to get back in.

Couple of tidbits…

I’m sooo close to being completely booked out.  Only a few spots left in November.  HOW. COOL. IS. THAT?  Well, for me I guess, and for those who have spots.  Sorry.  For everyone else who are just a bit late to the party and can’t make any of those dates work, I have some ideas brewing.  We’ll make it work.

I have a major holiday awesome idea that is becoming a reality.  I just need to get the samples up on my wall so I can take a picture of it, so I can then blog it! Stay tuned, you are gonna want one of these.

Images from sessions long ago but still so fun to look at.

What a great family!  I’m creating a book for them and the only problem we’ve had is that there are just too many images.

This little one is a new ( kinda new at this late date ) big sister.  She is the cutie I featured in my last email blast.  Dang blasted cute, both of them.

There I did it.  Now was that so bad?  No, not really, kinda fun.  See you in three months.  jk.

Thanks for stopping by.

-lisa

I can’t wait to meet your circle of friends.
Come and do a session with me in 2010, refer another family for a 2010 session, and both you and your referral will receive a:

Complimentary 11×14 wall print from your session.
Here are some of the rules that apply to the offer:

Sessions can be booked separately but both sessions need to be booked for 2010.
Complimentary 11×14 wall print worth $125.00 to be ordered by the end of this year.
Already had your session for 2010? Refer a friend for their 2010 booking and call me to receive your print as a thank you.
Referral must be a new client to utopia Photography and not another existing client family.
Thanks,
Lisa

Here are two families with beautiful children.  Makes my work a breeze, I tell ya.  They both welcomed a newborn into their folds.

Beautiful girls:

She cracks me up!

And these handsome guys…

Thanks for stopping by,

-lisa

Hope all of you are drying out from quite a rainy spring and are ready for summer.  I know I am.  Lots of happenings around here.

We are officially kicking off the sixth year of Projectfocus tomorrow.  We meet our new participants and their families.  I’m quite excited about that.  It will be a very powerful show this year.  I’ll keep you posted here but you can also visit the blog or become a fan of Projectfocus on fb.  We have a great group of interns this year who should keep those updated frequently.

I’ve been shooting quite a bit and I have a backlog.  I know none of you are surprised about the word “backlog”.  I know, I’m hanging my head in shame.

I have a couple of new price changes and some new offerings in the works.  I will be needing to charge a $50 print fee for all orders of press printed, double sided cards.  My new company tacked on this crazy new charge.  I’m really sorry about that, I’m kinda upset myself.  They are not charging me that fee for anyone ordering 250 cards or more.  So if you want to order that much, don’t worry about it.  On the upside- I have decided to create some crazy cool designs for non-press printed square cards.  They will not be double sided but the image quality will be amazing and I’ll special order some square envelopes and it should be cheaper for you than the double sided ones.  I’ll have some samples by next month and I’ll post them!

Just a friendly reminder to set up your holiday session date!  I know it’s not even June yet but I don’t have many weekends left from September through November so call me as soon as you can.  I still have a many weekdays left but the weekends are a hot commodity.

Here are some sessions I loved:

She is growing up right in front of my lens.

These little guys just steal my heart every time they come for a visit.

This little beauty and I became fast friends.

Thanks for stopping by,

-lisa