A Birthday Shoot

After spending a weekend at a work event we left the little one run free a little on Gettysburg. Birthday Balloon in hand and a dish of ice cream.

New Backdrop helps with family shoots

If you have worked with me in the past you have probably experienced the hobo backdrop of the black curtains and white table cloth. Those days are over!!! I recently purchased a fantastic studio kit on eBay. It came with a backdrop holder, a white, black and green backdrop, plus umbrellas and light stands. While I'm still new to studio lighting, I'm really loving the soft light that can be achieved by turning the umbrellas around, making them double as a softbox.

It will be a continued study of what works and what doesn't but I always get great shots no matter what.

I really love this family shot from the weekend. My first subjects in front of the backdrop.

Website Upgrade and Press Ad

Today is the day that I decided to actually design and layout my website. It has been functioning with it's slideshow front page and multiple galleries but it was just that "kinda working" - not beautiful. Now, it is gorgeous. Well, it is to me. The opening page has images that are the same size, the text lines up and the logo is large so you can actually read it. Then onto the opening slide show, wait what's that you hear??? Music, I finally added a cool back-beat to the site. So the slide show, I have images that fill the page, amazing. The music continues to play as you move through the galleries, the galleries are updated with newer pictures. Everything seems to work - except the meta tags, which in the Internet world is a very big deal but I'm working on it. So if you have time cruise on over to http://www.stephanienericcio.com/ and check it out. Here is the press ad I came up with on the fly, for the program for the Auditorium Dedication to Clyde Barr at the Carlisle High School. The event will be fantastic but that is another post for a different venue. Since I was such a forgetful procrastinator, this is what I could do with the time I had. I wanted an image that would have high contrast, print well in black and white and be out of the ordinary. I think this image fits the bill well. It is not common for a mother to let their child be photographed with crazy bed hair and her eyes have such great contrast. OH and she's my kid of course I love this picture.

I Love All My Picts BUT Don't Have Space to Display Them All

I love all my pictures but do not have enough wall space in the house to display them all. This is a dilemma for me because I photograph my daughter all the time. Well, I found a great solution. A 16 x 16 story board that showcases several different images from one photoshoot. When framed in a square 16 x 16 frame there is a 4" white boarder all around and the images themself fit in an 8 x 8 area. This is a great way to show off all the the fave shots without wallpapering the living room!!!!

Just Volunteered for Wish Upon a Wedding

I'm not the best at blogging or facebook posting. I love doing the work, not typing about doing the work. That being said, I will be trying to post more. Todays post is about this great cause that I signed up to be a volunteer for. The non-profit organization is called Wish Upon A Wedding. www.wishuponawedding.org They organize weddings for couples who are dealing with terminal illness or other major life crisis that prevents them from getting married and time may be an issue.

I signed up for the Philly / PA area, to offer my Photography service free of charge. If there is a need in the area I will be contacted to help.

There was an article in one of the photography magazines about this group and other photographers that have helped felt so strongly about the weddings, the group makes a beautiful day.

If anyone has a business - bakery, flowers, photography, makeup, hair - anything that has to do with a wedding day, look up your local area and sign up. Make someones dream come true.

Kelly Moore Bag

I am obsessed with the Kelly Moore Bag Classic Style. This camera bag has it all and still looks totally fashionable.

The bag I shoot with now is a backpack style and I hate it. I have to lay it down to open it, completely zip it to pick it up or all of my stuff spills all over the floor, which makes me look like a total dork - first wedding, major geek factor. SO, I ditch the bag at one location, then the photo shoot takes off and we are across the field before I realize that my lame bag with the lens I want is on the other side of the world. sigh.

I have studied several camera bags and the one that I truly want is the Classic. It has an over the shoulder/crossbody strap. It opens on the top and has tons of space for my camera, lens and flash, plus extra pockets for phone, lipgloss and diapers. The perfect bag!!!

It doesn't look like a camera bag. It looks professional when on a job and when out on the town doesn't scream I have $$$$ of camera equipment in here!!!!

I never really was concerned about my bag until I shot the wedding and toured Philly. Two times when something like this would have been a life saver. Now, every time I do a shoot, I curse the day I got the backpack.

My birthday is coming soon and I have high hopes of unwrapping one of these awesome bags. I'm looking forward to the Purple bag, to match my awesome new Pea Coat and mittens.

This is the best camera bag out there with sex appeal - check it out at www.kellymoorebag.com

Family Portraits for the Holidays

I have been taking a number of family portraits for the holidays. I think it's a great gift to give and it should be no surprise to my family that's what will be under the tree for them too. Beautiful photographs of us. Here are some of my favorite family pictures from the last couple of weeks. I have a another group little ones to take this weekend. I'm excited about the shoot since it will be up North in a different environment - perhaps even snow.