Earth Hour USA – Texas

Well why not?  I’m only going to live once (that I know of).  So if I do not respond to emails at this time, please do understand.  More about the Business Summit and a great bridal & evening wear shop owner I met with yesterday, to come.

  

World’s Biggest – Small Business Summit

I’m  in the office, but also “out of the office” through Thursday. From 11am - 3pm each day I will be attending MS – Small Business Summit to of course, develop new ideas to provide you my clients and visitors with, so that we can have a better buying experience.  From e-commerce to referrals, advertising, and publishing.  If you have an idea you would like me to try, let me know!  I’m open to new ideas, and integrating ideas from other industries, and making them our own. 

 I think the day you stop listening and learning, is the day you stop growing.  Wouldn’t you want to grow and change with the times?

Learning is growning.

at home for Easter (Finally! :) )

Happy Easter everyone! 

I arrived back home in the valley last night to spend a few days with my family, and have some sessions set up as well within the next few days.  As long as the weather cooperates they should all be outdoor sessions (yay for spring!)  As a side note though, for those traveling this weekend – WATCH OUT!!  the state troopers are out in complete force.  On the drive home I saw 16!  Yes, 16.  Slow it down and get there safe.  It isn’t worth your life, or a ticket.  (and they aren’t cheap – with all the construction that’s going on out there!) 

Calling all brides, calling all brides!!

Today was quite a day for phone calls.  Checking in on all of our brides/potential brides and scheduling consultations.  Answering questions, and working on packages.  Leaving messages, and letting everyone know: We’re still think of you!  We called all over the state, making sure we could reach everyone we could wanting to know:  How are you doing?  We know planning a wedding can be wonderful and stressful all at the same time, and we want you to know, we’re here to help you! 

With Edg Photography you don’t have to think about questions like: 

*Are they going to show up?

*Are they going to do a good job?

 * What if rains!?

*Am I limited on time?

*Are they going to insist on dinner and sitting at the main table?

*Do you use professional equipment?

*Do you have back up equipment and lighting?

*What type of attire will they be wearing?

*Can you develop your own film?

*Am I limited to color photos only? Can you do black & white, sepia, etc.?

*Do you have photos of entire wedding that I can see?

*Do you have references I can call?

*Who will be photographing our wedding? You?  An assistant?

*What happens if you get sick or can’t make it to our wedding? 

*Are you apart of any professional associations or organizations?

*What is your experience?  How many years?

*Am I only limited to this package?

*Can you photo me with my/our pet(s)?

*What kind of photographer are you?  What’s your style?

 We’ve been asked all of these questions and more, and we’ll answer your questions too!  That is why we highly recommend consultations to all of our potential clients and brides.  We want to meet with you, know your plans, feeling, and ideas on your special day.  What is your personality? Would you like to build a personalized wedding package? Let’s work together to make the day a pleasant, fun and memorable experience!  We want to do more than just meet your expectations, we strive to exceed them! 

To find out more about us, what services we offer, and we can do for you, just call and setup a no-obligation consultation.  Appointments can be made by phone, or set up via email, (but nothing beats just sitting down and visiting for a while. )  We look forward to visiting with you soon, and if you hear from us, don’t hesitate to say you read it hear first!

Random Poetry

A power line is to an outdoor wedding, as an exit sign is to an indoor one.  Just a fact of life and the business.  (Also letting you brides know, we are aware of the most obvious and little things.)

Hello, “I’m Chrisitina and I am the premier Wedding & Portrait photographer in B/CS & Houston areas because I said so. :)

  And I have a sense of humor. 

So I’ve gone and done it.  Obviously if you see this entry, those who are close to me know, I’ve joined the rest of the informant world.  Spies, we’re all spies.  But seriously, I’ve been thinking about doing this for the last several weeks, and finally decided to do it.  It also gives me a chance to try out an idea that was discussed at last night’s PPGH meeting.  It basically revolves around the idea of combining an introduction and icebreaker.  Such as:  “Hi, I’m Christina and I’m a professional time traveler.”  or  “Hi, I’m Christina and I own a canon.” or the classic favorite among photographers..  “Hi, I’m Christina and I shoot people.” (for a living).  This will always illicit some sort of response, both good or bad, but a response nonetheless.  The idea is to include something interesting in your introduction to spark a conversation versus, just having that awkward moment, after being introduced to people.  So what will you be today? 

Well as you probably guessed I work as a professional photographer.  No not just on the weekends or on the side.  A real photographer.  That means I live off of what my clients pay me – and what the state & government leaves me.  No husband, no other means (other than debt – boo!!), stocks, bonds, lottery winnings, or inflow of cash.  Just a classic game of relying on your skills and abilities, and keeping your wits about you when others may panic.  Don’t get me wrong I panic too, but that’s more come bill time when its a really slow month.  So when asked why prices are what they are, I try to get people to realize, I’m like you.  I’m like you in the sense that I work for someone by project (i.e. You), and when that project is complete - or near completion, I must begin looking for a new project in order to pay bills this/next month.  I don’t have a constant paycheck every two weeks, or once a month, my payday is determined by you – my clients.  And believe me – I’m really, really appreciative of you.  But this is also why fees are what they are.  (*Note:  there is the occasional exception that when some person/group is clearly in need of photography assistance, that rules will be bent and twisted into a nice pretzel with salt and set aside, to work with that person(s) or group.)  Other than that, I work to keep a roof over my head, keep the bills and school loans paid, provide for my family and their future, and because I really do enjoy what I do.

Small projects, big projects, sessions – weddings, families, babies, children, pets and their people, sororities/fraternities, professional, commercial, concerts, live events, fundraising and awareness events…  I really do like doing them all.  Every session/project/or event presents a different challenge and different circumstances (and lighting!!), and its my job to know how to best capture the moment.  Hence – “it’s more than a moment”.

 So now you know a little more about me, and can follow along in this written & pictorial journey through the “everyday life”.  I can promise there will be flash backs, love, humor, real life, some sadness, traveling, randomness, and an in-flight movie.  And of course, LOTS & LOTS of pictures!  So be warned - pictures to follow.  Enjoy!