So you want to take a picture do ya? Well I do too.. so why dont we do it together?! Whatcha say?

I dont know half there is to know about photography, I am just a Momma that started a business and asked questions and had amazing photogs to help me learn my way around! Photography is just like clothing, there are tons of fads and you have to keep up with the jones to keep going in this field, so I am continuously learning now and growing to learn more and more… so it dosnt stop.  But what I do know are the basic fundamentals that I was taught by photogs on how to use my camera.

If you dont know me then you wouldnt know that I grew up around a camera.  My mother still makes us stand by the same tree in her front yard to take the same photograph that we have for years.  I also worked in highschool at a photography lab which didnt give me too much experience but I did learn the concept and lanugae of photography.  To this day you can go to my mothers house and find my shoe box of photographs that I have had developed over the years of me growing up.  I seem to have always had some sort of camera on me.  I started out years ago with film, then my first slr digital was a Pentax (which is still fab) but I have a wonderful mother who loves photography as much as I do and I was able to enherit her lenses once she switched to canon.  I then Began learning more and more about photography.. more than just shooting on green.  I would study several photographers blogs and take classes and honestly ask questions if I didnt understand and they would guide me in a way that I woudlnt just get an answer, I was intriqued enough for them to give me just enough so I would have to figure the rest out myself.  I am in no way a professional.. no way a know everything about photography.  I am Just katie with a camera who understands how eye opening it is to learn the fundamentals of shooting in raw and shooting in manual. 

So that being said, Id like to offer a class for the mommas out there (daddys too) who want to learn how to use the slr camera to take photos of their children and even those starting out in photography.  Very basic simple things that will help you understand your manual and also understand what ISO, Shutter and apperture means.  Two years ago I didnt understand much of any of this.. now its like second nature.. no more throwing your camera down because your photos are under exposed whne you really dont understand what under exposed means.  Also if you know me, I ams uper ADD so things will be dummy proof.  Simple, and easy to understand.  I seem to make things more easily understand in katie language(totally makes sense if you know me).

I will have invidual classes and a group class.  Classes are 40.00 for group and 60.00 for individual.  Group classes will be offered one Sunday afternoon a month.  Each Sunday class will involve the same material so new folks can get in but after the first class you are welcome to have an individual session to go over any problems or questions you are having.  Each Sunday Class will include the material outline, 2 hours, 1 hour of info and the other time devoted to trying it out! 

This is new for me, I love people, I love photography, I love explaining it.. so why not? 

See below the calendar for classes until august:

April 18th 3:00

May 9th 3:00

June 6th   3:00

July  25th 3:00

Great news! March is the best month! You know why? Cause it allows me to have way more daylight and I can shoot longer! woohoo for you and me.  So now, I am taking twilight sessions, these will be sessions shot at 6:00  Mondays and Fridays.  I will be Full time in the next coming months as a photographer but as of now these will be the only times I schedule sessions.  These will be the “twilight sessions” no, not like the vampires that I love so much, more like the actual sunset sky.  The light at the twilight sessions is fantastic, gives you beautiful tones with some great sunflares!  So Check the calendar, Mondays and Fridays only and I am only booking April-May.  It will fill up fast so please notify me on through my site calendar and not through facebook where things can get lost in translation! 

*** The twilight sessions are NOT mini sessions, these are normal sessions with a style towards the shots.  So these will be my normal session fee of 75.00 but since they are “special” sessions only booked in April and May you will get happy, a print credit of 50.00!  Yay for happies!

So for your idea of a twilight session “Lou” has done us a good job modeling those out!

Okay, My normal routine last weekend, get up, go to caedon’s socer game, then the rest of the day is with my eye through my camera.. I should just glue it.   Anyway, My first shoot of the day was a newborn in Ridgeland.  He was a little bigger since he was 4 weeks but stil beautiful! Even though these where portraits for little man, 2 year old big sister loved my camera!  She was into everything and watching me to make sure I was watching her.  While little brother was feeding and taking little breaks from shooting I played and followed little miss priss around.  She had a baby that she carried around (actually any baby doll she would be closest to) and she would call it baby Harrison.  Her parents explained that all the babies she had were baby Harrison since they had that name as a choice for the soon to be boy at one time .  So she gets baby harrison out.. then she has to iron her (yes she still says her even though its named baby Harrison) clothes.  After Ironing baby Harrison’s clothes she then had to change his diaper (which her parents have to hide from her since she changes baby Harrison’s diaper with her real new little brothers diapers!).  Check out the shots of little Mrs. Priss I got.  I thought they were too cute for words.  She was so serious about being so domestic at age 2!  Besides the cuteness of these little actions.. I also thought it was the cutest thing when she would call her daddy to do somthing or come here but instead of daddy she would say “Honey” like mommy does.  She is one good little mommy, and big sister!  Not my normal post but after seeing these photos I had to share them and their story!!!

Okay We have gallery wraps and thin wraps and stand outs and press board portraits to sit on easils.. but frames.. here we go! I use a national brand firefly to get portrait frames from and then I also have a local vendor, my wonderful sister in law, who makes amazing frames aswell! If you want to start picking out EXACTLY  what you are putting on your wall, start with a wall and work your way out.. Here is the best way to do this…

Portrait- Pick your favorite portrait, then your second favorite, then your third… then pick the ones that go with those or compliment those (this will be an easy way to narrow down the fortress of photographs you have stumbled upon)

Wall- find out  where you want to put these photographs you have picked out.. do you want them together in a wall cluster?  Do you want them in threes? Do you want several in all diffrence sizes? Do you want just one Large photo to fill the space? Pick out what you want and that will help you decide where to put those portraits that you need!

What way to put on the wall- Do you want to be modern, traditonal, or just plain out out of the ordinary?  You can choose between so many diffrent types of mediums to put your photographs on.  For me, I like an unframed canvas, not hung on the wall but placed on the fireplace.   I also like clusters of all diffrent sizes and textures of photographs to go on your wal to fill the space.  If you need extra help, I have guides!!!!!  Once you figure out your style, this wil help you decide if you want a gallery wrap, a print to be framed or a stand out or slim stand out..

Last but not least.. family- once you buy yourself somthing and get it in you WILL say. aww mom would like this.. and youll end up giving it ot mom and you will left to either reorder and wait longer or just not fool with it and be sad you didnt keep it.. TRUST ME I DO THIS ALL THE TIME TO MYSELF!! I love giving photos to family members to I end up with not alot of my kiddos hung around the house.. so think of this when your purchasing.. nothing is more awesome then giving grandma a big thick georgous framed photo for her home… trust me.. its great and you have to have one for yourself.. so think in twos when order somthing really awesome so you dont end up giving it away and not having one!!

Okay lessons for the day recap–\

1. PICK THREE MAIN PHOTOGRAPHS THEN PICK ATLEAST THREE ADDTIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS THAT COMPLIMENT THEM (you may have more depending on your decision of how many to hang on the wall but always pick your top three and the rest will be “complimentary photos” and this applies to only one room.. you can start over with three other favorites in the next room)

PICK A PLACE ON THE WALL- if you have multiple rooms then do step one for each room.   Have a blank wall, fireplace, shelf or even countertop to place these items that you want to get and think of how many and how you want to put them in this space.

PICK A STYLE- Moder, Traditional, OUT OF THE ORDINARY- pick a finish (glossy, metallic, matte), framing or hanging style (gallery wrap, slim wrap, stand out)

FAMILY TIME- Remember to purchase one addtional photograph for that mother or other family memeber that you KNOW you will give to them if they just adore it when they see it so you WONT be without or have to reorder one and wait! You know you want to put that sucker up there as soon as you pull it out of the box!!!  TRUST ME I KNOW THIS FIRST HAND!

Okay somtimes I make sense and somtimes I just talk.. hopefully I did some of both! I have wall templates if you would like to see any, see an example below and this will def. make your rooms AMAZING and think of that baby plan or year plan your on.. you can add each time your on it!

 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I WAS COMP. BOOKED IN TWO HOURS!! HOW AWESOME ARE YOU GUYS!! VERY AWESOME!!!

You have waited, I have procrastinated… but I made a date.. and here it is! March 14th!  I honestly didnt think I was going to be able to do them this year before easter since March is filled with weddings for me but I am a trooper and Ill work extra hard to work that wedding on the 13th, get up go to church and then work those mini sessions that afternoon…. just for you guys!!!

So.. heres the deal..

10min sessions (which really means about 15 but give or take some) for 30.00.   Once your images are up for proofing you will recieve a 25.00 print credit towards your order… so im not even good at math and i think that basically says a mini session for 5.00 in the end.. pretty darn good huh?  

so.. the real reason you are reading..  the slots…  See below the times..   YOU MUST CONFIRM YOUR TIME WITH ME.  Payment needs to be sent before March 7th.  By March 7th if you have not paid for your time slot, it will be given to next in line with payment.  I normally do not request any payment for session fees until the day of the session but the past session I have had to turn away several clients due to being over booked and then end up with no shows that could of been the clients that I had to turn away!!  So no biggie just trying to give the new guys a shot at getting in!!  So like always, first come first serve and you MUST book through my site.. no booking through facebook since it can get lost in translation.. once you are confirmed I will put you on the calendar and by the 7th if you have purchased your slot you will be removed!!!

Location, Location, Location….  This year we will be shooting in a rye field near brandon, Ill let you know closer to date but we will have green grass, brown grass and lots of rustic feel.. these will be more rustic and airy with a touch of sunshine rather than your normal holding a rabbit photo.. no offense to those who use animals but I want to create art that is timless and beautiful and your 3 year old holding a bunny will scream “easter”.  But I do have some referals to send you to if you do want live animal shots who are great photographers!!

Okay.. Guess thats it.. Get set.. GO!

1:15 A. Collins

2:00  Baldridge

2:15  Heather Taylor

2:30 Pletcher

2:45 Stewart

3:00   Puckett

3:15  Miley

3:30 M. Usry

3:45  D. Davis

4:00 B. Smith

4:15 J. Smith

4:30 H. Usry

4:45  L. Jackson

5:00 Kennedy

5:15 S. Armstrong

5:30 A. Norrris

5:45 J. Irby

That’s it! 

Checks payable to Katie Stafford, 223 clubview circle, pearl, ms 39208

ALSO REMEMBER TO CONTACT LEARNING EXPRESS IN THE RENISANCE MALL TO BOOK A MIN SESSION FOR THE YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.  CONTACT LEARNING EXPRESS TO BOOK A TIME FOR THAT SESSION.. THIS IS TOTTALLY SEPERATE THAN MY SPRING MINI SESSIONS!!!!!!!

ohh dont we all! New Stuff…. Pretty, lovely shiney new stuff!  I ordered this for a trusting client that said they just wanted this picture in a big size.. so i flew with the idea and the photo.. it was printed on slim wrap mettalic glossed board.  This also has an inch thick hanger on the back that pokes it away from the wall and its lookes AWESOME! so if you did a mini session downtown with me.. this would be the awesome thing to do with your pretty new photos!  I promise you will squeeel when ya get these in!!! I promise!!!!

Just a month away and how sweet do they look.  I can only wish for clients as awesome as these and grateful to shoot their wedding!

Little Miss Sawyer!

This beautiful little tot recieved well over 800 votes and one herself a 16×24 print for mommy and daddy to have! Good job sawyer!!!!

I want to also thank everyone that voted, we recieved well over 2,000 votes and I am lucky enough that I posted over 70 images and that wasnt even all of my sessions, that was one photo from one session from each client!! 2009 was an amazing year so I bet next year’s contest will be even bigger!!!

So Turnages, you will be getting a big happy in the next week or so!

As my last post said, I am booked to the gills on regular shoots till just about June! Soon I will be able to shoot during the week!  God is amazing and I have had alot of blessings in life.  My children are amazing, I can make people laugh and stop time for them and put it in a tiny little piece of paper for them.  If thats not an amazing job then you are silly for thinking otherwise!!!!

So.. If you know Me as Katie then you know Im very active in Heather’s Tree and local Domestic Violence Provention in Jackson, MS due to the loss of a dear friend. 

If you know me as Mary Moment then you may think my name is Mary and I’m Just a photographer.  Well.. I am Katie and Mary Moment is the one that strives me to photograph and to help out organizations thatI know would make this world turn  a little smoother.  Heather’s Tree is where Mary Moment All began.  I will give every bit of my ounce of care to Heather’s Tree and also to local domestic awarenes groups as long as I photograph and keep having this amazing job since so many women cant even have jobs because they are abused.  Mary moment helps by holding fundraisers and donating money to Heather’s Tree each year and helping other local shelters and orgs. 

I now want Mary Moment to help with photographs.. I want to help capture those moments in life that you cant get back.  If you dont have a photo, will you remember?  Yes but photographs just make it more real.  so in this aspect I want to add another charity to my list.. the littlest heros project.  This is a project where I offer my services free of charge to a family of a child/children that is terminally ill or has some sort of life altering illness.  These families dont know how many days they have with their children and catching their little moments as they fly away and me putting them in a apicture for them is somthing that I can do.  If you want to learn more about either of these charities that I work with, please visit their sites below.

www.heatherstree.org

http://www.littlestheroesproject.org

Okay guys! I have updated my calendar online, the dates marked are not available anymore ! I booked very quickly this year!  You may always inquire to see if I have an additional time to book that day so feel free to do so but there are very few, and I mean few, from Now to June that I have evening appointments left.  So Im giving a big thanks to my returning clients from 2007 to now and also my newbie clients!!!

I will be contacting you within a week of your session to discuss locations and any addtional details we need to nail down aswell as just sending you a reminder of your shoot that is coming up! Some of you guys are booked 5 months out so you may forget… so RIGHT IT DOWN ON THE FRIDGE!!!!    When you inquire regarding a date and time or if you change it please make sure we confirm this and that I put you on the calendar to avoid being missed or somone getting your spot!

So thats that.. if you havnt booked and you want to be in between now and June, get on the books now my sisters and brothers!! Im blessed to say that Im just about filled!!!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::NEWS::::::::::::::::::::::::::

February  7th Mini Sessions:

Lolli Pop Sessions- Downtown Jackson-  10 min. mini sessions

$30.00 with 20.00 print credit  

Street shots with lolli pops and tutus- Boys encouraged to wear jeans and funky shirts

Shots will go quickly and you will recieve 15-20 proofs online within 2 weeks from the sesion

Times that have been inquired about but not confirmed are not listed, if you do not see your name then please confirm your time with me!

1:45 Cindy Hudson

2:00 Ashley Kennedy

2:15 Betsy Boone

2:25 Brandi Smith

2:35 Leslie Lovelady

2:45- Lisa Rhodes

3:00- Amy Upton

3:15

3:30 Morgan Wigley

3:45 Sarah Foreman

4:00 Melissa usry

4:15 Michelle J.

4:30 Melissa Alexander

4:45 HC Session

5:00 HC Session

SPRING MINI SESSIONS WILL BE IN THE NEXT BLOG SO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE DATES!!!!!