Long Awaited Slideshow Magic

Check out the long awaited Sue Ann slideshow here.

Working On My Slideshow Skills

I am working on a great new way to publish slideshows here for you.

Check out a slideshow of my new website images here.

And Even a Slideshow

Maybe I can figure out how to put a slideshow up here. Let's see.

A Few New Images for the Blog

You can click on the above images to see them in full screen size. Thanks to Charles for working with me for the above images (including getting me off of the roof mostly uninjured!)

A Few Groupings

Photos

My photo editing software is out of service, but I couldn't wait any longer to post these. I will update this blog when I get a chance to do a little editing. It doesn't take much when you have a great subject!

Here are a few photos. There are more black and whites that I may post later. I am trying some new things with black and white images and having a lot of fun doing it! I love color, but who doesn't love classic black and white? I have been scouting out a few local places that I can't wait to try out. Of course - you can't loose with this beautiful West Texas sky in the background!

More Sue Ann

I knew you couldn't get enough! I decided to post her grouping. Also, she asked what sort of artsy things I could do with her incredible blue eyes. Here are a few of the ideas I came up with!

Sue Ann

I have a gorgeous friend who needed some great new pictures and was willing to let me try lots of new things! Let's see if I can narrow it down to a few favorites just for this blog! I may post more as a set later tonight!

Give Your Advice

I'm working on a part of this business that is very difficult for me - I think it is one of the most difficult parts of any small business - How much am I worth? I have a very unique product that I am selling. As a matter of fact, I don't know of any photographers that sell their services in quite the same way. Therefore, I don't know how to research the market.
I've read "about" a book (that's what people do who don't have time to read actual books in addition to being in school) that talks about being a "purple cow" in your feild. The basic idea is that once you've seen a couple of plain old cows - you've seen them all, right. Ah, but then you come across a purple cow - now that's something to go see about. I'm trying to be that purple cow here! If you don't know what I am talking about - its the idea of selling not just the sitting fee or a certain number of pictures, but the images! That means that I am selling the right to reproduce as many as the client desires! That also means that if they want more, I don't make more money. But come on, in this day and age people scan and reprint whatever they want anyway (you know its true!)
I've been working on a few packages (another difficult task) and I am trying to price them. I actually want to make enough money to make it worth my time and the time it takes away from my family (Photographers are by no means 9-5 hourly paid people). The sitting time (and travel) are just one part of the editing, sorting, planning - basically production of pictures. I am looking at this long term as our families second income.
Of course, I don't want to be so highly priced that people don't even make appointments. That leads me to another issue - how do I make people realize what an awesome deal they are getting!!!!!
So if you have the time, read through a few of my package ideas here. Then tell me what price you'd put or if you'd change anything, etc. I'd be much obliged! You don't have to be a professional to give imput - customer imput is even better!

My New Flash

I hope to get some real practice in this week, but I just had to try it out! I got my new flash hooked up this afternoon. Here are my first pictures! I just love light and color!

The Ever Supportive Husband

I got one of my new lenses in the mail yesterday! I was so excited and couldn't wait to try it out, so the ever supportive Charles let me follow him to and from the mailbox. Of course he couldn't just smile - he had to make it an adventure! I promised to delte them since they were just practice pictures - but how could I delete this handsome face?
So now I will be practicing on anyone who will let me to get use to my new equipment! Pictures anyone?

New Front Page Image!

Site Down

http://www.lisadawngalleries.com/ is down for now. I am trying to make it better and more user friendly. It also needs a lot of updating.
My plan was to leave the site forwarded to the original site, but when I took on a new host now there is only an error message on the page. I've never actually created a web page before, and I am totally clueless!
If you know of a good resource or even where I need to start - chime in. I need a Nerd here!

For now you can visit the site by clicking here. It is under construction, so check back again soon to see what's new.

Also, I want to give a shout out to my wonderful mama who is actually on the web now! Waita Go mom!

* The website seems to be back up and running. I'll be adding new pictures a little at a time.

Headers

Here is what Mandy and I have come up with so far. I plan on making a few of these to rotate.

Your feedback is truly helpful, so be sure to leave a comment. Criticisms are really beneficial at this point.

This came to me in the night

Branding

My friend Mandy is spoiling me! It's like having my own graphics designer!!! Here's something she's working on. Check some of her work out at http://www.bugsnbuddies.blogspot.com/

Let me know what you think. I'm still trying to find a color scheme that fits me!

Diving In

Well, I have decided to wade into this photography business. I have a wonderful opportunity to shoot a wedding in December, and I can't wait!!! I may also be shooting my cousin's wedding on Labor Day weekend! Wow - how did this all start rolling?

Today I made my first major order as a photographer, and my husband says I need to make back what I have invested. This blog is one of the steps I am taking to eventually start marketing my business and posting my work!

Here is what I ordered:

580ex flash and Gary Fong diffuser
Canon Zoom Super Wide Angle EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Autofocus Lens
A veritcal grip
and 4 more GB of memory

I can't wait until they get here! My next big desire is a jessica claire shootsac! If you havn't ever visited her blog go at once to http://www.jessicaclaire.net/
After that go to the shootsac blog at http://www.shootsacblog.com/
My bag cover choice is "festive" although there are many incredible designs!


I can't figure out how to designate where a picture goes so that I can label what I am talking about. They all just pile at the top once I put them in?

A Tagline

I am working on a tagline for my business cards and websites. Here are a few ideas. Tell me what you think. Help me tweak them or come up with something totally fresh!

Making Moments Last

When the moment is precious - Capture It!

Live It! Love It! Shoot It! (thought of by Charles and the one I'm leaning toward now)

I want to say something about how fast moments pass and capturing at least a small part of them to keep forever as a treasured memory! I am also trying to design a logo, so any ideas there would be well taken.
I am thinking of using ldphotography with big dots between the l and d and between the d and photography.

So there was my first post on my brand spankin' new photography blog. How about that?