PCS (Photographer's Child Syndrome)

I know. I know. Why do I even have a blog? Well....for starters. It's to randomly vent (kind of rudely sometimes. And for another, it's to bring awareness to this horrible affliction.....DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE IT??? Everyone ALWAYS says to me "It must be so awesome being able to get such good pictures of your kids whenever you want!" BAAAAHAHAHAHA. No. I take more pictures of them with my iPhone, slap the Valencia filter from instagram on it real quick. My kids act like total a-holes (I love them regardless obv.)every time they see a camera, because they fear that I will steal their precious childhood moments and waste them on picture taking. Which I would do though. (jk...not all of their time). Or another good one is: "You always manage to get the best shots of your kids? How can I get mine to sit like that?!" Girl...you can get you some Photoshop and a glass of wine, cuz that picture you are talking about is at least 3 pictures manipulated together." ANYWAY- PCS, more commonly known as "Photographer's Child Syndrome". How do you know if your child is suffering? Here are some signs you can look out for the next time you are taking pictures of your children: 1) Straight up. When your child see's the camera, do they just scream in terror? Relax kid....I'm just charging up for a wedding, but now that you mention it, the light coming through the window behind you is perf. Just go stand by it for a quick sec, you don't even have to smile....and I'll give you a lollipop. This scenario results in me trying to just get him (by him, I am referring to my 4 year old) to just put his chin down a little bit. But then he starts fidgeting, and I lose it a little and need to make everything perfect. Then he cries. Loudly. As if I am hurting him. So I give him a lollipop and accept the fact that it's over. 2) The total fake "cheese". WHAT IS THAT?! Who even taught you how to do that. I'm standing here singing "The Hot Dog Song" from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse at the top of my lungs (in a public park), and you are still "CHEESING" at me as if you are about to stab me in the eye.

3)The inability to just TAKE SOME DIRECTION. ANY. JUST AN OUNCE. Honestly. I brought you into an open field, where you can play and frolic, and just be yourself. Why are you whining? Just because the camera is present, doesn't mean you need to stand by me and cry. Go run around. 4)When they finally start paying attention to you, something weird happens with their face. You already know.

I think that was a sneeze btw. Of course. 5)Their hands go in spastic motions around their face for NO REASON. I just...I don't even have words for this. 6)They are suddenly VERY AWARE of their surroundings. Never mind the fact that just the other day, while trying to point out the GIANT RAINBOW that seemed to go from one side of the yard to the other (literally), he couldn't, FOR THE LIFE OF HIM, find it. Now that you need him to just focus for one sec. he is suddenly all "What's that Mama?" and you're like "I have no idea what you are taking about baby, just, you don't even have to look at me, look at your brother ok?" And he's still "Mama, I see sumpin. Who is it?" And since I forgot my glasses, I almost missed the TINY SPEC of a person riding a bike ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE PARK. Jesus, I'd need a golf cart to make it that far without passing out. 7)"Are we done now?" Uh...just a second bud, let me just get the lens on , so we can START. This is going to be the longest 15 min of my life. 8)"I seriously just shot 800 pictures in under 10 min, and only ONE is DECENT?!?! Let the composites begin....." Ohhhhhh...but it's worth it....most of the time ;) xoxox

You can catch some more of my babies HERE :)

Photography Idol

So... I entered my FIRST ever photography contest. I'm a wreck. I don't take rejection well, so fingers crossed!!! Here is the image I submitted!

And check out the Chic Critique Forum where I entered!

Baby Mania! Things you should know when choosing your NEWBORN photographer.

Well. Here I am again...after promising...again...that I was going to keep up with this blog. Lets face it. I wont do that. But I will drop in every once in a while to talk about something that's going on, or to vent. HA. So. We welcomed out second (and last) little one in August. A perfect little boy. Grehsen Chase. (GREY-SEN NOT GRESH-on) Conner is thrilled to be a big brother, although he's still confused and a little jealous. The adjustment has been...interesting. But wonderful. So anyway. Back onto the photography track. Apparently the entirety of people of my FB friends list are expecting a baby. Yay! Super exciting. And, although I am- for some reason- becoming a wedding photographer- my heart lies with newborn photography. And while I would LOVEEEE for everyone I know to bring their babies to me for their newborn pictures- the reality is, most of them don't. So I hope that at least they can take some information from me so that when I have to look at their newborn pictures, I am not cringing because they didn't get the best quality that they could have. Now. (If you are a photog. you know who I'm talking about) I'm no Rachel V, or Mary M. But I do know the basic rules of newborn photography, and I know my Do's and I DEF. know my Dont's. So when choosing your Newborn photographer here are some things you should look for and ASK. *First and most importantly- SAFETY. Babies DO NOT pose on their own. Their tiny little bodies are handled, and molded into those dreamy breath taking poses by the photographer. It would be SWELL if they had some training and experience before they are putting their hands on your babies. While we all know babies are much more durable than we all think, they are still extremely fragile. If your photographer gets excited because baby is propped up on his/her hands by themselves, without being spotted, and held, you probably are going to want to pack your stuff up and search for someone else. Those types of shots are not real, they are photo shopped composites. *Second and my hugest pet peeve. FLASH. GAAAHHHHH!!! Your baby was just in a warm comfy DARK sanctuary for 9 months. WHY on EARTH your photographer would feel the need to scare the crap out of him/her with the brightest of white light into their face is BEYOND me. Aside from the fact that they don't like it, and it will startle them out of sleep- their skin is so precious and pure, and that hideous light never does anyone any good. And it certainly doesn't make for a very calm or beautiful, and def. not a natural photo. (NOTE: if the lighting situation is dark (I mean with no windows or t night), then off camera lighting MAY be necessary, but it should NEVER be pointed directly at baby) *Third- Newborns should be photographed before 2 weeks, so they are still nice and sleepy and flexible for the adorable posed shots. Sure, they can be photographed any time you want, but if you are paying someone to do it, you should do something that you aren't capable of doing yourself. Between 4 weeks and 5 months, there isn't much we can do with a baby, aside from laying them flat on their backs. *And lastly. Take a look at their post processing work. (Their final images, on their website or FB pages) You do not want a photographer that is processing their images with things like: Vignetting (this is where they turn the edges and corners either really dark or really light. Or color selection (where they make the image black and white and just leave a certain thing in color. or Blurs or any kind. These are all signs of an amateur photographer, first of all- and if the photographer isn't an amateur, it is still distasteful, and takes away from the point of the image. I hope that helps!!!

Liar Liar.

I am such a liar- I keep promising myself that I am going to keep up with this blog- and then I come back like once every other month to complain about one thing or another. Ooops! Some new things happening over here though, so I wanted to pop in! First of all, we are expecting our second baby- a very unplanned surprise ;) I have recently stepped off the ledge onto the huge water slide that is "SPRING/SUMMER/WEDDING SEASON", where I will endure a rapid and downward PLUNGE into insanity for the next 3 months or so- until I get a "break" (by BREAK I mean, I get to take care of a newborn for a couple of months and not work) And then I go straight into Holiday- which, is my busiest time, and as everyone knows, means "Heather is Crazy, let's stay at least 10 feet away". So it will take a while for me to return emails, inquires, phone calls, etc. Another new thing, that you might notice, especially if you are a returning client, is that there are some business changes happening, contracts have changed a little bit, and I am starting to cut out discs for small sessions (regular 30-60 min sessions)So your galleries are going digital, which means, you receive them via email or drop box. Boring boring... on a much FUNNER (yes funner) note I am working with one of my FAV vendors, and now very good friend, who has partnered up with her amazingly talented mother, and started their new venture into the world of children's clothing and accessories. I can't mention names yet, but if you follow me on Facebook , then you have seen her page, and product featured all over the place. So anyway- next week I am holding a "Fashion Shoot" of sorts, where I have like a million kids (prob more like 24...but whatever) coming at various times through out a few hour time span- and they will be modeling the ADORABLE vintage/country/modern (if you can imagine how adorable that looks) apparel. When everything has been photographed, they will make their E-Launch- which I can hardly wait for, even though I get my hands on this stuff like...any day now! So be on the lookout for that in like 2/3 weeks- you won't want to miss it! Anddd... I think that's it for now! xoxox

A "Real" Job.

Well- we all know this blog has just turned into an occasional place for me to go on one rant or another. So today I'll tell you about how I don't have a "real job". Yep. You heard it. How many times do I hear "It must be nice to not have a real job". Or simply, "Well, Heather doesn't have a real job". Or whatever the case may be where someone is implying that I (or maybe just all photographers in general, don't actually work. (I guess that's what a real job would entail, right?.... working?) Soooo... here I am. I just want to let you all know, that apparently, I am delusional... call me crazy- but this is how I have imagined my (working) life: Let's say its Jan/Feb and I am recovering from holiday while slowly getting into Boudoir- so my sched is pretty clear. I try to fill in the gaps with some mentoring, maybe updating my website a bit- educating myself- attending some online, or if there is some in the area, workshops. Some Valentines sessions maybe- Oh, it's Jan...tax season. (which I guess I'm sending to some imaginary place, since I don't have a "real" job- someone better knock some sense into me) So yes, I have some downtime. So I get to hang out with my son, which is fine by me. And this Feb. I will be traveling to Texas for some newborn sessions. Ok- so March- still kind of slow, if the crazy New England weather perks up, I might just host some Spring Mini Sessions (maybe)- and then it picks up with Easter portraits for the little ones. April. Still a little slow, but people are coming out of hiding because of the warmer weather. And...wedding.season.begins. So there will be engagements sessions, a couple weddings in April. (And Happy 3rd Birthday to my little guy- Oh...and I will be away at a wedding most of the day on his Birthday (at my imaginary job) Oh MAY. Weddings galore. Even doubled up one day for a morning wedding and evening.(Yes, I'm good.) On top of regular sessions. June. Scattered with family sessions- and I seem to get a lot of June Birthdays. A couple weddings- one which I will be traveling to New Orleans for- which takes 3 whole days away from my family. (thrilled to do it of course, but silly, since it's not a "real" job though huh??) July. Independance Day Mini's all month, to which a potrion of the session fee goes to Semper Finest, a great little organization where you can dontate or put together a care package to send to our troops. Aug slows down for a minute- before jumping into Sept. for fall sessions, and Oct. for Fall/Halloween- which are sold out by Sept. Nov/Dec- you're lucky if you even set eyes on me if you are my friends and family, because I am drowning in Holiday sessions, which are already being booked. And then- EVERYDAY. Hours of editing. Emails, networking, advertising- etc. I forget to send things to people- respond to emails- confirm something or other. Not because I am busy though I guess- probably because I am imagining something or other- I mean, who really knows? Right? So The question that I have, that is worrying me me now- is- that if none of that is "REAL" - what DO I DO with my time??? xoxox

2012 A Year in the Making.

Well. I debated on a "Best of 2012" from all of the sessions that I have done this year, and I found my self trying to include everyone...and that's a lot of people. So I had to stop, because "Best shade of pink" was just getting a little ridic. ;) So I will narrow it down (Since I am off until 2013 now) to some sappy words and a big thanks. I seriously can not believe how fast this year has gone by. As most of you know I only started my business, under my own name, a little over a year ago, and I am still shocked and so grateful at how much success I have had. I have met some seriously amazing people-clients, vendors, photogs.- some who I consider friends by now, and others, very good friends ;) Over the next year, I will be traveling a lot for work, and I am so excited for the opprotunity to meet more people from all over the country. 2013 will also bring a few exciting changes for Heather P. Photography as well. (stay tuned ;) So on to the thanks. I want to thank my very first "digital" clients. Some of you know that when I started photography- everything was still pretty much still film- and I was taught that digitial was for sell outs hahaha- so I clung to that- and refused to switch over. Until I branched out on my own that is- BUT I still miss that charm that you get in film images, and the calm of a darkroom. Anyway. my very first Digital family. The C. family, whose Christmas pictures I did last year, and...I dont even want to talk about it. And The O. family who was my first "on my own" family, and they even had back since then (thank goodness) So needless to say, the switch was not easy. What is with camera's trying to do things for you?! I needed something fully manual with no other option apparently. But I got the hang of it. And then the editing. Oh lord the editing. Photoshop took me hours and hours (times a million basically) to get right, and I kept falling into trends, like over brighting, saturating and yellowing. Ick. (sorry if you are one of those clients who got all that) So I stopped looking at everyone else and did my own thing- not looking back. I want to thank my 2 best friends, Kate and Kendra (and Mike for obvious reasons ;) for always making me think Im the bomb. Thats all I need to say about that. My Grandmother-for everything. She is amazing. My love, Austin- for supporting every decision that I make, even if it's not a good one. My Parents for believing in me even though they know that I always have a spectacular idea, and then lose interest in it very quickly. My Mother in law, Nila, and Father in law Dennis- because I couldn't have come this far without them, and they have put so much into this. My son Conner for making me smile, even when I am totally stressed. My newest BFF Kelly for making such amazing banners and props and always giving me awesome things to use for sessions. (Green Jazz Face on FB- check her out) Jaimee from Ava's Tutu Cute Boutique for making the gorgeous accessories that you see all over my page. My old boss Kelly, for letting me use her kids,for my random ideas, even if they dont make sense. My 2 fav. fellow photogs- Scarlet and Dana for always listening to my obscene vents, and always making me laugh when we chat. Giovanny, who I do some commercial work for, and he always has to listen to me when I am cranky- and he still gives me work ;) All of my clients, you have all been amazing, I cant even put into words. All photographers say that they have the best clients, but I truley know, for a fact- that I for real- do have the best of the best. There are a select few, who I have seen more than once, and I have fallen in love with your families. (Santerre,Spooner,Williams, Castagna to name a few ;) And Last but not least. My team. Austin for handling all of the technical stuff that I dont have the patience for. And some beautiful ladies who you may see behind the scenes. Michaela, who also happens to be my sister, you will most likely see by my side at a wedding, or big event. She handles all of the second shooting, and either doing, or reminding me to do things that I typically forget about, because I have gone crazy 10 min. in ;) And You might see Brittany at one of your sessions. She is helping out with the shooting, so she can get ready to start her business when she moves away next summer :( And she picks up some of the editing as well. Love them. Thank you.

'Tis the Season

I remember as a child, the feeling of Christmas (I celebrate Christmas, not hating on the other holidays-this is just the one that I know ;) Starting right at Thanksgiving, and you could feel that holiday excitement radiating every where you went, right through New Years! People were happy to hear Christmas music, and they were nice to each other, and SMILED! It was fun to decorate, and wear cheezy sweaters and earrings shaped like presents or that jingled when you walked. It was okay to make ginger bread houses in school because people werent so paranoid about one thing or another- and allergies werent as common. Fast foward 20 something years to 2012. First of all, you can't say Merry Christmas without offending anyone- people gag at the sound of Christmas music. Nobody even glances at their neighbor out in the yard, or the person walking by them. It is a burden to have to string up those lights. And we have parties to mock those chunky sweaters adorned with snowmen, cardinals and Christmass Trees- extra points if you throw in those jingle bell earrings. Ginger bread houses at school?! Your child is lucky if they can bring reindeer shaped cookies- because so and so cant be in the same room as anything with butter in it because we haven't properly trained him to be aware of his surroundings. (ahhh the art of over protecting and coddling)(btw, I have a child with lifre threatning allergies, so this is somehting I am very familiar with) As a Photographer I am aware of my responsibilities. I chose them. I knew that it was a close and personal career- which is why I love it. I am a person. I like to sleep late when I have the chance. I eat my asparagus with my fingers. Sometimes I dont even feel like putting on concealer under my eyes. I put on sweat pants as soon as I walk through the door. I hate when the house is messy, and when people wear their shoes inside and track things all over the floor. I could drink pepsi from a trough if it were available to me. Sometimes I don't brush my teeth for a full minute before bed-because I am just too tired. I like to wake up my 2 year old to bring in in bed with me for the night. I LOVE packing a picnic and finding an open space where I can just lay and watch the sky and Conner can just run and play. When i start reading a book, I finish it in 2 days. I love cooking, playing, singing at the top of my lungs even though I have the WORST voice in the world........AND-I spend more time with other's people's kids than my own...because that.is.my.job. I hate that sometimes I have to spend time editing while my son is awake, just so I can get a session finished. But I do it. I stay up until 1 am sometimes later, so that I can answer emails, perfect images- update my pages- design albums, and order prints- or take an online workshop to learn new tricks or tips. Most of the time, I go out of my way to meet up with the client to deliver one thing or another. And my prices are STILL lower than my COMPETITORS (please note that I did not just say other local photographers) So now it is the HOLIDAY SEASON. And I am still all of those things. Clients sign a contract that has all of the info that they need in it. I am FLOODED with emails asking questions that could have been answered if they had read that contract. And I cater to them. And then I stay awake until 3 am to make sure their needs and wants are fulfilled. And then wake up at 8 am for a full day of sessions. And it's not enough. So I want to just remind everyone that- HELLO! It's (Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza, whatever!) Relax! It's a time for joy and cheer. Photographers, small business owners, vendors- we are still people. But we are not a huge corperation. We are us- by ourselves. And when we have 10 antsy people at our throats because they aren't getting what THEY want for THEM, in THEIR time-It is not exactly joyful. It's sad and depressing. And when I have to "have dinner" with my family by looking at them over the top of my computer, so that I can try to make someone else happy-I'm not exactly cheerful. Now- since I am a Photographer, I'm going to take this in that direction now- COMMUNICATION. You chose your photog. because you liked their work. So you know their style. If you want a full styled shoot and for the photog. to execute it for you- tell them. Ask questions, but know- you get what you put in- clothing, location, time of day etc. And take a second to step back and think about the work that is going into your images, your prints, whatever the case. But don't forget that there is ONE person behind of all that- standing in front of 5-20 families at a time. On the sidelines of their own families. Happy Holidays :) xoxox