There are some changes coming for Melissa Klingerman Photography. I’m not going to put out the details quite yet but in an effort to provide more specialized services changes are a comin. We’re very excited and will hopefully be sharing the news with you in the next few weeks.
Well then, I took photos.
This shoot ended up being much shorter then I had planned but goes to show me that sometimes, working under pressure can work out.
My own prom was *gulp* over ten years ago now. My mother snapped photos of us in the dining room. I ended up marrying my prom date. These guys are pretty young so who knows what’s in store.
And what a spring it has been! Weather so up and down it’s crazy.
Hard to believe just a few days ago we were out in shorts and tshirts mushroom hunting and now have to put a jacket on to go outside.
Well…on one of the nice days I was busy with this pretty young lady.
More to share on another day.
Ah my much neglected blog. It’s been a busy year so far. Had some losses and some triumphs. Still hoping it’s going to be a much better year then 2011.
Spring (or nearly spring as is the case) is such a great time of year. You can open the windows, frolic outside, dust yourself off from the long cold winter months and watch everything wake back up.
As for me I’ve been sticking close to home. A few sessions previously and coming up that I’ll share but for now just some chatter and a glimpse at a local celebrity.
So, anyone that knows me knows that I love LOVE the 20′s, and the 50′s and many things in between. So thrifting and antiquing are a passion. I recently discovered a trove of awesomeness not even half an hour away in Rochester, IN. Green Oak Antiques is a large, completely spifftacular thrift/antique store that upcycles and repurposes many things as well as creating their own amazing pieces. They are simply amazing and the people are just as great.(they are open every day but Thursday)
Secondly there is a little shop that opened up last year here in Argos, IN. Marshall County Discount Center. It’s actually more of a three in one having a hunting apparel/supply store, archery range, and thrift store all in the same shabang. I love going there, seeing what was brought in after they hit an auction or sale…it’s not all spectacular but most certainly worth a visit.
But, I have picked up lots of goodies from both that will be used in future shoots. I do so love to use props.
So, with this doblet of a post I leave you with this. 
Enjoy your skip into spring.
Speaking of giveaways. What are your favorite items to try for? This does not have to be photography related.
Well anyone that knows me knows I LOVE a giveaway. Facebook is the main way I keep track and I enter a fair amount. Do I win? Not much. Okay okay, not really. But it’s fun, keeps me feeling marginally productive and hopeful.
So, here are a few current giveaways you can get in on.
MCP Actions is giving away a Canon 5DMkII or a Nikon D700
Two Peas and Their Pod is giving away an Epiphanie camera bag.
La Fleur de Mon Coeur Boutique is having a multiple prize giveaway
And last but not least for this round of deal sharing is
Creme de la Baby and their multi prize giveaway
Okay, so I am wrong it wasn’t completely last. If you’re local here in Indiana I’m offering a free session to one lucky winner. How to play? Check out and like my facebook page and toss out your name suggestion for our rockstar piggy bank.
So I know this is a photography blog and all but I love deals and giveaways as much as the next guy SO. Here are various awesome and spifftacular things to check out.
1. NAIL POLISH Zoya is offering two free bottles of nail polish FREE (with code ZOYA2012) but you have to pay shipping. Normally 8 dollars a bottle. I love it, have a serious nail polish addiction anyway so yeah.
2. 50% off MOO cards. And some free moo cards but let me get there. So, the 50% offers are through Good Morning America and it’s good for 50% off 100 mini moo cards or 50 regular moo cards. Your designs, their designs. Doesn’t matter. Now the free ones? They are through facebook when you have timeline. I don’t have timeline. I hate the idea of it, and I hate having to navigate it. Not even free can get me to switch until they drag me kicking and screaming. So anyway, you have timeline Go to your timeline, then the “About” then right by your contact info there is a businesscard, click it & you can get some freebies. I can’t guarantee that one as I haven’t done it yet.
3. CRAVE Photography is having a givaway for either a Nikon or Canon 85 1.2 lens. It ends tomorrow so short notice, sorry but you can still get your hiney over there.
4. MCP Actions will be doing a giveaway for either a NikonD700 or a Canon 5D MkII. It hasn’t started yet and word is to watch their facebook page for word on when it will start.
5. Bad Sass Backdrops is having a sale AND a giveaway. As usual info on their facebook page. I LOVE them. Also check out Sassy Designs for amazing digital papers.
Not a huge list. Sorry, it’s late and that’s all I am remembering right now.
So evidently New Years resolutions are expected these days. I never really bother anymore, I can’t keep them to save my life. However this year I really thought about some. Not so much the typical ‘I’ll look like Kate Moss by Labor Day’ but some with a bit more meaning. So my resolutions?
Make more memories.
To be honest, since I lost my mother I feel that many facets of my life have been on a big pause button. I’ll think about things but won’t put anything into motion. But she’d be very upset with me about it, and I want to give my daughter memories that she can cherish forever. What will they be? Who knows but we’re gonna get them started.
Be IN the pictures.
I’m always behind the camera, if I’m not behind, I avoid. Yep, I’m one of ‘those’ people that does not do a heap ton of pictures with me in them. But I need to get myself in these much more often. Really embrace the family and my place in it.
Print more pictures.
I did a post on this awhile back, and I’ve been slacking like I thought I might. But I will get on it, and be adventurous. Those shaped metal prints? Try them. That crystal fabric print? Try that too. Photos of our loved ones are the perfect art to grace our walls. Simply because they are OUR works of art. Embrace that.
Well, it seems I touched a nerve with my fauxtographer post.
Here is are a few suggestions for future comments.
Be sure to start out by pointing out a grammatical error, it’s a wonderful way to attempt to feel immediately superior, go you! (Then vs Than is not a spell check issue)
Keep the passive threats to a minimum, ‘I’ll be watching you on FB’ (not a direct quote) isn’t really in this season. Sorry. But whatever floats your boat.
Informing me that if I delete a comment it shows my true professionalism. Well, my comments are moderated. If I chose not to hit that little ‘accept’ button then that’s my prerogative and I’ll deeply consider the blow to my professionalism.
If anyone wants to leave a negative comment, you can, free country, can’t please everybody. But, if you stand behind what you say, you sign it, you don’t stand behind a fake name throwing stones.
Now to everyone else, I hope 2012 is a wonderful and prosperous year for you.
Well if you look around the photography world you’re going to see a billion and one posts about the newest influx of ‘fauxtographers’. Individuals that will get a camera (in this season, as a holiday gift) and decide that they are going pro.
I mean after all, it’s the camera that does all the work right? You just pop it on that little green box, toss on your 18-55 kit lens and print out some free business cards then you’re OFF TO STARDOM!!
No. Not really. Not even a little bit. Not even a smidgen. It’s true that with the invention of digital photography it’s gotten easier to ‘snap’ pictures. But learning photography is still a requirement. If you have a passion then by all means, run with it. Just don’t run to your nearest computer and pop up that craigslist ad just yet okay?
There are many things you need to learn, even basic things that you should respect yourself and the art of photography enough to learn. You see that shiny new camera box in front of you? Yeah? Open it…take out the manual…and keep it with you for the next month. Reading it front to back at least ten times. After those first ten times. Keep your camera with you as well and do it all with your camera. And do it over and over and over. Then. When you know the book by heart. Go and read many of the titles by Scott Kelby and Bryan Peterson. And in between all this, practice. Every day, everywhere (well everywhere legal anyway). Tired yet? Good. Now by this time you should be shooting on M. Know what metering is, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, bokah, moir, motion blur, and a bajillion other terms are.
What was that? Photoshop? No, you’re far from photoshop.
Huh? I’m being stupid? Too complicated? Well I’m so sorry I thought you wanted to be a professional photographer?
Just the tip of the iceburg guys. Unfortunately there are going to be many people (and are at this moment, I’ve seen them) that hang out their shingles as pros, sell themselves (WITH A CD!!! OMG DON’T FORGET THE CD) for $100 and of course specialize in EVERYTHING. Weddings? No problem, it’s just one of the most important days some someones life, who cares if you don’t have any clue what you’re doing, and never bothered to ask the church if they allow flash? Events? Sure, I mean you handled Great Grandma Bertha’s 90th party just fine, she didn’t even realize that you only had three usable pictures because it was too dark in the nursing home even with your onboard flash that made everyone look like ghosts. Newborns? Psh EASY as pie, just dump them into jar with some marbles OR have them overextend their wrists holding up their own heads and you’re good! Families? Pets? Toddlers? Cake Smashes? Car Shows? Cat Shows? Funerals? It’s all good. You’re a photographer who is great at everything right? And of course you tout yourself as ‘Affordable’ that’s important right? I mean who wants to pay $300 plus for quality work from someone who knows what they’re doing? It’s not like you have any overhead or anything, paying taxes are for losers. Doesn’t matter that it’s ILLEGAL to operate like this. It’s just photography. Right?
Dang, I guess being a pro is easier then I thought.
But the sad reality is that most of the people that will read this will be the ones doing it the right way. Taking the time to learn the craft and respecting themselves and their competitors. The ones that do as I wrote above will either never find this (because their camera is just so good on that green box, who needs to look anything up) or if they do stumble upon it will proclaim with much pride. That’s not me, I use the P setting!!!
Unfortunately there will always be clients for these fauxtographers because they want cheap and don’t give a poo about anything else. To them, I say you get what you pay for, rock those badly cropped 5×7′s you printed out at walmart that are now stuck in a box in your closet somewhere.
**Minor disclaimer** Custom photography is a luxury. And it’s one that not everyone can afford. However, there are some amazingly talented photographers in the ‘cheap’ range. Some are still portfolio building, some just haven’t had the courage to up their prices yet. Be careful to know the difference between a great up and comer and Joe Blow Snapshots down the road.
