Friday, December 30, 2011

Everyday Moments | Alison Stumpf Photography


What's your 'PHOTOGRAPHIC" New Year's resolution? To catch up on your 15 year olds scrapbook which left off at the first day of Kindergarten? To organize all those digital pictures? How about putting the old 35mm film negatives in a safety deposit box?
With 2012 hanging around the corner- there is plenty of photo resolutions I've been thinking about.

1. Take more 'everyday' pictures.
Capture what life is really like in your house. Don't worry about the pile of dirty dishes in the sink in the background (hey, that's life, right? - at least in my house it is) Capture those ho-hum everyday moments that seem mundane, but is a little time capsule of life as you know it. This is a goal I'm working on personally. Forget about the perfect picture. Forget about the perfect lighting. Capture the moment. I practiced this goal a few weeks ago when my daughter and toddler son fell asleep snuggled in my bed. I didn't want to disturb them by turning on the lights, so I cranked the ISO on my camera and ended up with a grainy, terribly noisy snapshot...that is 'perfect'.
Here are a couple blogs that you might find inspirational about capturing the everyday moments in your life.
Everyday Moments
Memories of the Everyday


2. Organizing those photos
I've got a great workable system for all my client photos. I've got externals and folders with in folders organizing my workflow from images straight out of the camera to edited to proofs to resizes and web images. In fact I just patted myself on my back with a client requested to purchase a disc of images from her 2006 session and I located it within a couple minutes. SO WHY are my own personal images not organized so well? Sometimes I seriously consider buying a 35 mm film camera and go to the days when I can take one shot, develop the film and keep the negatives in a box and feel organized. Of course, I'm still very miffed at the lab that lost the film from my oldest child's first birthday party...but that is a whole nother story.
if you need a better system like I do- you might find this link helpful. Of course- the hardest part of this resolution is actually implementing it...but I encourage you to do so!
ORGANIZING TIPS

3. Apocalypse Prediction
No, I am not talking about the Mayan prediction of the end of the world in 2012- but you might feel that way if your computer with all your digital photos on it bites the dust. They say it's a matter of WHEN- not IF- and I can vouch for that. Last year about this time I had not only an external hard drive failure, but the 'back up' to the hard drive failed as well and I lost years of personal photos. Hospital and birth images of my children, birthdays, etc. It cost me (let's just say a lot) to recover the drive- but truth be told I was happy to pay it to have the images back.
So put at the top of your resolution list to get a back up system in place. Save important (all) images in 2-3 places and at least one off site location. There are various internet backup sources that offer this service at a fairly reasonable price.
Before Your Computer Dies

4. PRINT it!
Another area of 'need' for me is to PRINT those pictures. Do you take a hundred photos at an event and fail to print even one?
Thinking that day will come. Well, the day is today. Print, baby print. I think about the fun of growing up and grabbing the shoe box or tattered album from the closet that contained snapshots of my childhood, or shots of my home farm and how it looked before I was born, and the entertainment that box of images offered. If you don't print some images, your pictures are living their 'full life".

5. DELETE it!
That's right- you heard me. DELETE IT. You don't need 15 pictures of Suzy smelling that flower. Pick the best one and delete the rest. Remember the days of film when taking a pictures actually 'cost' film? You had to be a little particular about the shot and make it count. Well- in the days of digital, snap away if you like, but keeping multiple images of the same thing bog you down space wise and organizationally as well. Pick the best- purge the rest.

6. PUT the camera DOWN!
Seems a funny tip from a photographer- doesn't it? But I'm taking this advice myself more and more. I long ago tried to force myself to not have to lug my 'nice' camera to every event because sometimes I found by the time I got home I realized I felt like I spent the whole time trying to take pictures and I only 'saw' my child's performance thru the lens of a camera. So the fancy camera stays home- I'll throw in the point and shoot and I don't need a pictures of every move my kid makes. Snap a photo and then put the camera down and ENJOY the moment. See it through the lenses of your eyeballs.

So Happy New Year and Auld Lang Syne to you and yours. Make 2012 your year to accomplish those photographic resolutions!

OH, and I almost forgot the most important resolution of all----- schedule your portrait session with Alison Stumpf Photography. :)

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Johnson | Jackson MN Family Photography







Taking advantage of vacation to catch up on some blog posts. This is such a great family and the kids are delightful. I think I can visualize images from each of their sessions in the last few years...from the oldest brother's serious toddler portraits to middle daughter's fantastically crazy hair as an infant- and baby brothers big brown eyes under the little newspaper boy's hat. One advantage of doing portraits for a family thru the years is the chance to get to know the parent's style and artistic eye. I know mom appreciates the more spontaneous shots...images of the siblings hanging out and being friends, or sharing a quiet moment together. I also appreciate their willingness to go along with my own crazy ideas- like, "Hey- let's do a family picture with an old yellow tire!". The kids really enjoyed visiting the lake and the spontaneous shot from behind of them pointing at the fish that showed up at the surface is my favorite from the session.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Merry Christmas!


Wishing everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS~ and a Happy New Year! Another Santa snapshot to add to my holiday wall gallery. Holden will certainly appreciate this one in years to come! :)

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Ashton's Family | Jackson Family Photography MN




It's always a pleasure to work with Mr. Ashton and his family. Mom and dad and are sweet as can be and Ashton was a little apprehensive this year. You'd never guess it tho- just look at those smiles! WIth a little warm up time and some silly songs and faces and a few games in between shots, he warmed up just fine to the idea of pictures. I've always had a thing for brown eyes tho-- and he has some beautiful ones. :)

Monday, December 19, 2011

Mallory | Okoboji Photography





It was a pleasure to work with this beautiful girl and talented musician. Mallory brought a few of her musical instruments for her shoot- a few days before she participated with her clarinet as one of the youngest students in the Iowa All State Band in Ames, Iowa. There's no doubt she is a talented young lady. Not only did we feature some of her musical instruments, but some of her sports gear from Okoboji High. GO PIONEERS! I've been utilizing the chalk board more lately and clients and I are loving the results.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

IMAGE OF THE YEAR CONTEST WINNERS




Congratulations to all the participants and winners in our 2011 Image of the Year Contest. I had such a fantastic response and it was great to read all the comments on the different images. The winners of this years contest based on number of comments are:
1ST Place Mary Iliff (Bailey - Shopping Diva) 16x20 Canvas Gallery Wrap
2ND Place Laura, Nathan & Tyson Stender Family FREE 2012 SESSION
3RD Place Jaime Bliesmer (Hannah- Fur Hood) 11x14 Wall Portrait

It's the time of year that I reflect on the wonderful clients I serve- and appreciate the repeat customers and am thankful for the new ones that I've had an opportunity to meet this past year. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and Holiday Season.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Image of the Year Contest- now on FB- check it out!

Check out our facebook page and make your vote on your favorite image of the year. The contest features over 50 selected images from various child and family sessions held in 2011. The winners will receive some great prizes from Alison Stumpf Photography.
You can find us on fb by clicking the FB sign on the right side of this blog page- or enter ALISON STUMPF PHOTOGRAPHY on the Facebook Search page.
Make your vote!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Charlee | Newborn Photography MN



Meet Charlee. I love the name and the spelling for this little angel. We even considered Charley for our little Holden. :) Babies change so quickly and so it's so important to document these days that you think you will never forget...but soon find yourself looking back and thinking, "Were they ever so small- really!?" It's also a great time for a portrait with mom and baby. Though sometimes mom's are hesitant, it's an invaluable keepsake for the baby book and for your baby to look back on and see just how they made mom's eye's smile.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

ALISON | Senior 2012 Sanborn Photography






I'm still playing catch up with blogging-- meet Alison, a 2012 Senior who came to me as a referral from another senior I did a couple years ago. I love referrals and word of mouth is my primary form of advertising. Alison had some ideas what she liked and was also open to trying some different things, and I was glad she was thrilled with the results.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Poppe | Lakefield Family Photography





It was a pleasure to work with this Lakefield family who needed a family portrait. I am fond of square crop family portraits as I think they look so contemporary and fresh and this family agreed. After the family portrait we did a few with dad and son and mom and daughter, and dad was especially fond of the one of dad and son back to back- I think dad is losing the height battle! :)

Be sure to check out the accessories store on the site for specialty products like bevel mount portraits, gallery wraps, storyboards and more! It's a great way to feature your favorite shots.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Boys, Boys, Boys (and Boys) | SW MN Family Photography




The focus of this session was getting the family portrait and holiday card shots. Once we got that accomplished, mom requested some images of the boys being BOYS! The boys were more than willing to have some fun in the leaves. We usually have snow covering the ground in MN this time of year, so it was a rare opportunity to have some fall fun in November. I didn't see til editing that the littlest boy has his tiny toe sticking out of his sock in the one where he is flat on his back enjoying the fun. As a mother of two boys I can contest that they don't make socks to last!

I told mom this was the easiest session cooperation wise yet. Last time I told her that she announced she was pregnant with No. 4. So we'll see if I get any news in a few months! ;)