11x14 sale! Wednesday night and Thursday ONLY!

**TONIGHT AND TOMORROW ONLY** 5 pm this THURSDAY evening central time.....order AN 11X14 from any previous session for only ** $50.00 ** But hurry, this offer is only valid for the first 50 clients who contact me! There is no limit to the number of 11X14's each client orders. Happy Thursday everyone!!

FACEBOOK CONTEST!!!

Element Portraits is having a contest! suggest to your Facebook friends that they add me - and make sure they put YOUR name in the subject line - who ever has the most suggested add's wins a FREE family or child or senior 1 hour Session PLUS a FREE 16x20!

** DISCLAIMERS -
1)  you may not suggest other photographers **
2) If you win this contest, you will have 30 days from 3/15/10 to use your instudio credit.

2011 SENIOR Model Rep - Rayley Rouscher

2011 SENIOR Model Rep - Rayley Rouscher

More Arizona stuff...

me in action...I love this shot, in fact I want to publically thank Luis Escobar for sharing these images with me to put on my blog. He was documenting the seminar with his point and shoot the whole time. It was wildly fun opportunity to get to hang out with my peers! I hope each and everyone grow a sucessful business!

Checking out some of Nicky's images from our 2011 Senior fashion session!

Some of the other photogs that were at the seminar!

Nicky, loving her images! Check out that smile on her face!

Here are a few of her shots that I didnt post earlier -

Love the vintage and parking garage images but my all time fav is this one...

Love the vintage close up...shes beautiful! Thanks Nicky for being such a good sport and of course being so photogenic! xoxoxo

Whew - I think I would love to teach more seminars! if you are a photographer and want to know more contact me! 319-239-3736 or email at elementportraits@cfu.net

ARIZONA

I am in Scottsdale, Arizona speaking to a group of 25 other photographers. I am speaking about facebook marketing and social media. Yesterday we had a fantastic session with Nikki - she's adorable! and here are a few images from her session. 

  

Thanks Nikki! you were SO much fun to photograph! Thank You!

and for you Midwest photogs who follow my blog...dont you wish you could be outside in a tank?

2011 Senior Portraits

I wanted to write a brief note about being a High School Senior and the importance of having your senior portraits photographed by someone who knows what they are doing. Why trust your memories to someone who is new and may or not be in business in 5 years.

It is important to find a photographer who has experience in this industry. It is important to find a photograhper that can capture your personality, creativity and be able to show your personality with in a photograph. A photographer that knows how to pose you so that you look your best, some one who can see natural light and not use a harsh flash. A photographer that has the experience and creativity to capture images that you will always be impressed with...

Another hint is to not go on price alone, because when you do that, you will get what you pay for. Cheap senior pictures are just that - pictures, not portraits of a time in your life that you will never get back. The purpose of Senior Portraits is to record a time in your life when you will never look the way you do right now. It is as with any other photograph, a moment to capture this time that will only happen once in your life.

Victoria in the Snow

Victoria, favorite muse and I went to play in the snow this weekend. We only lasted for about 20 minutes..I picked a few pof my favorites to post. ;-)

2009 in review

http://animoto.com/play/BsSgcxtKzADu0IgT9yodzA?utm_source=project_complete_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=project_complete_email&utm_content=challenger

MAD LOVE...

Just entered this image in a photo contest. Its called "Mad Love". I think it fits this couple perfectly ;-)

SPEAKING TOURS FOR OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS...

Yes, thats right! I am now teaching other photographers how to photograph and edit AWESOME! I feel like it is MUCH needed these days. It is important to our industry to help along struggling photographers that want to shoot beautiful images as well as create a thriving business as well as re-educated photographers who have been in business for years. My goal is to help seasoned photographers not get lost in the sea of new ones. My goal is to help new and seasoned photographers grow their businesses and take it to the next level.

In my seminars, I speak to small groups of 15 or less OR a one on one type situation. I will come to your studio, and teach you about low cost, no cost marketing, social media, business plans, creating goals and sticking to them. Introduce beautiful new products into your sales line so that you can have the edge above your competition. I will show you how to shoot and edit to create a buzz with your clients and reach the goals for your business.

Our industry needs this! Getting a good seminar, where you can ask questions that pertain to your business as well as hands on training...is as important as a good camera and lens!

If you would like a seminar brought to you, email me at elementportraits@cfu.net so that YOU do not miss the AWESOMNESS boat! ;-)

The YMCA Portrait Project

This is a pretty big deal to me. I have been working out at the Y for a few months now, and every time I would walk in there, I would notice how boring and grey the walls seemed. I felt like it is such a family friendly place, and people in our community truly love the safe environment that the Y provides...and I can genuinly say, that everyone I know has either child hood memories or current positive memories of the Y.

Recently, I went to the CEO of my local YMCA and approached him about hanging portraits with testimonial from each person that I photograph. My goal is to hang 30-50 20"x24" portraits of YMCA members. In the last 2 weeks, I have photographed 30 families. It has truly been an honor to get to know these families whom I might not have had the opportunity to get to know. So, if any of you participated in this project, I THANK YOU!

If you live locally, please stop by the Y. Leave a donation. Be a part of our community! Today is the Y's OPEN HOUSE. Stop by and see the beautiful people I put on the walls!

I am posting SOME of the portraits in random order - apparently BLOGSPOT has changed to only uploading one item at a time! anyway, here you go! check them out and post a comment...

The RAMSEY FAMILY

As always, I am late on my blogging...I always say with such conviction, that I will post more, but then life happens and other things take presedence. Everyone I photograph with little ones, knows that I love baby feet. This is probably one of my favorite baby feet moments!

and this is the baby where the feet came from ;-) He's a cutie!

an adorable capture of this sweet guy!

and the rest of his wonderful family! I love having the opportunity to photograph family over and over and watch their family grow! Thanks Ramsey Family for coming to see me again!

all because of a photograph...

The Tattered Photograph




She sat before me, wrinkled, grey,
a tear upon here cheek.

Her head was bowed, her eyes cast down,
she could barely speak.

Her husband of half a century
had taken glory’s path,

now all she had were memories
and one tattered photograph.

She looked up with beggar’s eyes,
and asked so tenderly,

Can you repair this photograph?
It means the world to me.

For fifty years I felt his touch
now death’s torn us apart.

This photograph is all I have
to ease the aching in my heart.

I fixed the cracks across his face
and brightened up his eye,

and when she saw the photograph
she could only cry.

How much? She sobbed, it matters not

…I’ll pay any fee.

I said, I only want a smile,
that’s good enough for me.

She squeezed my hand and paid her bill,
and in a solemn tone

she said, my husband’s picture
is the dearest thing I own.

The months slipped by so swiftly
…I saw her now and then,

and every time she took my hand
and paid her bill again.

Then one day she passed away,
and I went to say goodbye,

but when I saw her lying there
I couldn’t help but cry.

A gentle smile adorned her lips,
but on her lifeless breast

they had placed that precious photograph
… it was her request.

Stocks and bonds and diamond rings
she left to fade away.

She only took the dearest thing
on this final day.

Yes, she took that portrait with her
into eternity,

and with that special photograph
went a tiny part of me.

And each of us must never forget,
who share this precious craft,

that wondrous thread of golden love
we weave into each photograph.

poem by Marty Richart, 1983

I found this poem recently, and decided I would post on my blog. It is one of the most beautiful poems I have ever read. It is reflective of what I wish to acheive in my life and career. I have such a passion for life, for relationships, for my career....and it all began with images of my beautiful family. Finding a photographer who is a prefect fit, and who can become a part of your family is priceless. It is capturing the moments between the moments. Those are the moments that I love to capture. Those are the moments that my clients seem to adore as well.   

2011 SENIOR MODEL PROGRAM!

I have just launched our 2011 Senior Model Search at Element Portraits & Designs and the Senior Experience!

Who is eligible? Uprising seniors graduating in 2011.

What’s in it for you? Our Senior Model Program is a way for Class of 2011 Seniors to earn free stuff and get amazing senior portraits, while helping us show off the latest styles and update our senior images!

Here are the details..just email me for an application, I will email you back a questionaire that you can bring back when you come to my studio for a FREE consultation. I will also give you a mini photo session and a FREE Face Book picture as long as you are my facebook friend,

Then we will schedule a time for your Free Session! Bring 3-4 fun, funky and fashionable outfits.

You will also get 50 Model Cards – these are custom cards with your name and image to get you started as well as several other special products.

Website, Blog & Facebook – are some of the places in which you may appear!

You’ll receive a cool video slideshow and images to display on your Facebook

You DON’T have to be a perfect model size or look like a model to get IN. I base my decision on personality, activities and eagerness to be in the program. We are looking for models that truly appreciate the Senior Experience quality, and can see the difference in our work. ONLY a limited number of Senior Models are accepted from each school! If you meet our requirements…sign–up today!

YMCA PORTRAIT ESSAY

I am in need of several models to photograph for the our local YMCA. Participants need to email me directly at elementportraits@cfu.net or call 319-239-3736
Models must be willing to sign a model release, as well as write a short message about how the YMCA has touched your life. You can be of any age or demographic.
I need images to be up at the YM by February 4th, so time is of the essence.

I am looking forward to hearing from all of you soon!
Thanks!
Beth

Dogs are Family too!

I love it when dogs smile at me. I am not sure what he is thinking, but I am pretty sure that he is thinking "what the heck lady...why do you keep making all those dumb sounds. I am NOT a cat, so please quit meowing!"
ok, so I am a crazy lady too, because all animals - in my mind anyway, have a British accent! HAHA
So when I go to the fridge and my dogs are right there next to me, trying to nose in to the action inside the fridge, I can imagine them saying to me " Please mum, can you just spare a bite, for a poor hungry mongril like myself?"...always make me laugh..hehehe