Hey All! This is just a little announcement for my clients, to give you a heads up on what to expect very soon showing up in your mailbox! I don’t know about you but I LOVE getting something in the mail! I think it almost a thing of the past. Who uses snail mail anymore right? I think it is old fashioned and I love it and I hope it sticks around for a very long time!

If you have booked with Creative Image Collections and are either going to be ordering a custom bound wedding album or it is included in your collection you will be receiving a little note from me in the mail VERY soon! I have been working extra hard behind the scenes here to make sure you are very well taken care of, and in a sort-of pretty kind of way! I think of myself much like that of an Oompa Loompa. I often work when others think I am not! I stay hidden behind my little (big) computers most of the time working on keeping up with emails, album designs, and preparing for the next adventure. Often society doesn’t even know where I am! Heck, often I don’t know where myself is! It reminds me very much like working in a secret chocolate factory with secret orange elf helpers. It is very exciting except I really don’t have little elves helping me other then my 2 kids, and most times they are more work then help!

In a nutshell (I am addicted to that phrase lately) I have decided that the album process is most times overwhelming for my clients and at times mis-understood. Since all of the products I offer at the studio are custom designed products, these often take time and energy to create, from both myself as well as you! However, this is the very reason as to why I LOVE them so much. The albums are fun AND they are unique. Every single one of the albums I have designed with my clients is different from the other. Not one the same! I think that is the way it should be since you yourselves are very much unique. Not one of my clients are the same, so why should their albums be?

Well, often I am asked many of the same questions about the album design process. The major ones are answered on my website under the FAQ but I thought it would be convenient for you if I was to go the extra mile and put the information right into your fingertips so you have something tangible to revert back to when starting the book design. I know it can be overwhelming, much like a part-time job on top of your normal everyday priorities. I never once want you to feel as if it is homework. So because I care very much about my clients and their stress levels, I have given you a cheat sheet, or Cliff Notes so to speak, on what to expect from the process as well as giving you tips! I think the process should be a fun one, one maybe that you enjoy over a glass of wine (or two). The books that we create together will become a family heirloom in your lives and that in itself is pretty nifty I think. I want only the best of the best for you and so I have decided to make this a new thing for the studio and for you! Of course in addition to the information I send out to you I welcome ALL calls to the studio or emails about ANYTHING at ANYTIME! I seriously can’t stress that enough…so many times I have had email chats with my brides about their flowers or if the girl’s dresses have pockets or not. I seriously dig this kind of stuff!

On another note…I am so happy to have a wonderful wedding season coming up this year. Technically it has already started for me, but soon it will be in VERY full swing, including two destination weddings in the books! I am very excited to be creating everlasting memories for you that will become an heirloom in your family in the years to come! Such an honor. In other words…Wooohooo!

Have a happy Wednesday!

I am off to see a beautiful new baby girl and hoping to steal a few pics of her!

MEG

A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of hosting another One-on-One workshop at my home for a lovely lady named Kate! I LOVE offering these one-on-one workshops because, not only they a ton of fun, I also get to really spend some QT (Quality Time) with just one person and really focus in on what they want help with. Kate and I started off in my new editing area (I am planning a post on that very soon!) going over a lot of key info, such as lens choices and lighting, being able to create images that don’t necessarily need extensive retouching, but also covering some post processing techniques and workflow strategies. We worked together from 9am to 6:30 and only stopped to eat lunch, which is always on me! Either which way, I wouldn’t want it any other way, but I do enjoy helping others, because I too was once in their shoes and felt EXTREMELY overwhelmed with what is to know about building a business in photography. 
I asked Kate to send along an email prior to the workshop so I was able to really know exactly what she wanted to learn. I am hoping that she enjoyed it! I think not only was it a pleasure helping her, but also I think I gained another photography friend, as we MUST do lunch again!

We photographed Michele, who was an awesome model for us! She’s so pretty and just a pleasure to photograph and work with!

If you are intersted in doing a One-on-One workshop with me please feel free to contact me at anytime! I can do them on weekends as well if I am not previously booked, depending on my shooting schedule. The workshop includes a light breakfast, lunch and lot of my time, extensive  information, and a TON of hands on learning…on-location shooting as well as behind the computer!!!

Enjoy…

This is Kate working her magic!

Thanks a bunch Michele for helping me out and I will see you Kate at Sesame Seed VERY soon!

;o)

Happy Tuesday!

MEG

This is a just a quick little business-y post on presentation. I have always made a pact with myself since opening my business that I would offer nothing but the best in quality of products and presentation materials. Recently I had two wonderful experiences with retail stores and it is what inspired this post. My first was at Janie and Jack, the children’s clothing store. I was searching for a cute little outfit for Matt’s sister, Jen, who is due any day now with her first baby! VERY exciting! So exciting in fact that I wanted to get the perfect little outfit since it’s such a special of a time in her life. Why not present your baby in the perfect little outfit? So my experience first started off with my knowing that I was going to head to Janie and Jack because I knew their clothing was absolutely ADORABLE and just walking by that store gives me a high. I have two kids that would look so cute in just about everything in that store, not to mention what the clothes would do for a photography session!

Anyhoo…I headed in and the sales girl was just about the best salesperson I have ever encountered. In fact I was so blown away that I wished secretly I could hire her for my studio sales. I also took the time to fill out their questionnaire on line to comment on her wonderful sales skills. I was sold on their cute little green one-sie outfit (and I sprung for the hat to match) the second she started showing it to me. First off because it was quality and you could tell. Secondly, because she spoke about it so highly about it, but tactfully without letting me feel pressured into buying anything that wasn’t in my budget. Then she rang me up and asked if it was a gift and if it needed to be wrapped. I am ALWAYS pressed for time, and frankly not the best wrapper out there, I admit. So I agreed! It started with the most precious spring-like box, dainty and baby like. She placed the clothes inside the box ever-so-perfect and folded over the matching tissue paper. She secured the box with a mint green ribbon and a Janie and Jack sticker finished off the look, tying it all together. “Easy peezy nice and easy”, the sales girl stated, as she closed out the sale. She was right. What more did I have to do? My gift was already in a pretty little bag and I felt pretty darn excited and proud to show it to Jen. I have to add, Jen did take notice at her baby shower of how pretty the wrapping job was! I wish I could take credit for it, but as I mentioned before, my wrapping skills are just not up to par with Janie and Jack’s!

The real question here I think was…What more did Janie and Jack have to do? Their product was not only one of quality, but it was well thought out in it’s presentation too. They didn’t stop at the high quality of clothing that they offer or the personable sales person in the store. They took it a step beyond and branded and packaged their product with care and style. I did indeed spend a bit more shopping at their store then I would have if I bought from another less boutique-ish type store. However, in my book…you get what you pay for.

Branding, branding and more BRANDING. Smart, smart, and more SMART!

Seriously, this is one major reason as to why I NEVER drop ship prints or books to clients. I want to present them with something special and put the thought and care into the presentation of the image as much as I put the thought and care into capturing their portrait or wedding.

the mint green ribbon to tie it all together!

a well crafted box…

The sticker to bring closure to the packaging…not to mention BRANDING.

Now to introduce this little guy! If you have ever gotten a gift card from Anthropologie before, you might have met him. This is the part two to my post. Jen and her husband Tim gave this gift to me just recently, and I can’t thank her enough for it because it was extremely generous of her AND it is my all time FAVORITE store! I can’t explain the feeling I get inside the Athropologie store. It is like no other. I of course am anything but a materialistic driven person BUT I do love me some Anthro! It is the girl in me you just can’t take out.

So here is what I was presented with…

A rustic and not so perfect crafty frog that is too cute for words! I am thinking you will know what I am thinking about this sewn in tag. BRANDING.

how perfectly the cards just slip right into his little pouch!

and the gift card has little notations of positivity ALL over it! LOVE it!

Buttons for eyes, and two little hands that don’t actually match in color. They don’t need to. They are imperfectly perfect. Am I making sense?

However, this little guy has been caught sleeping in the editing room on MY presentation and branding materials…

and has been caught chit-chatting on the phone during office hours…

Brushing his hair (ehem…the little bit that he has).

and trying to stay warm in my favorite pair of UGGS. How dare he?

So in a nutshell, my point in sharing this with you is that I know by shopping at both of these stores, that I indeed will have spent a tad bit more then if I shopped elsewhere. However, I enjoy shopping at both stores fully and feel my money is well spent on items that I am proud to present and wear, ones that I know will be in my closet for long lengths of time and possibly my children’s clothes saved and preserved for memories sake. The experience in both stores are honestly just that, AN EXPERIENCE. From the time I peek into the store windows and open up those oversized wooden doors (Anthro), to when I am presented with a cute little crafty frog as gift card holder, I know that both stores have put their thought, care and creativity into their presentation and products. This makes me realize my purchase was more like an investment. So when wondering what type of products I would offer to my clients to preserve and present their wedding and portrait images in, I couldn’t see why it would be anything but the best in the industry. Yes, indeed, you may give a bit more on the products I have to offer, but the thought and care of yours truly is behind every product and image I create and present to my clients. Not to mention your images become a family heirloom.

Happy Friday!

MEG

A few weeks ago I had the greatest honor of photographing Astrid and Mike’s wedding at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers in New York City. This is a couple that I think is safe to say, they are VERY meant to be together! They met by chance and it was obvious fate had a play at hand in their coming together. I LOVED how the day unfolded and everyone at this wedding was genuinely kind. Mike, just two short days after getting married, was admitted to the hospital for heart trouble. He is doing much better now thank the heavens, but I think tests like these are just going to prove their connection as a couple to be that much stronger! They are so in love and just really truly enjoy each other’s presence. Photographs do not lie! So this is an obscenely long post for an awesome wedding!

Gown: Amy Michealson

Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Flowers: Atlas Floral Decorators

Feathered Hair Piece: Bridal Styles Boutique

Venue: The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers

Getting ready…

Her dress was sexy and classy all in one! So flowy and smooth! It felt like butter when I picked it up to get these shots!

Astrid’s Christmas present from Mike…her Louboutin heels for the wedding! LOVE ‘em!

Gifts for the bridesmaids!

Astrid and Mike had a Love Letter and Wine Box Ceremony. They both wrote letters to each other stating the reason as to why they fell in love with each other. Then they placed them in a box, during the ceremony, with a bottle of wine and sealed the box. Years from now, IF (and that is a HUGE if) they ever hit a rough patch in their lives, they can unseal the box, drink the wine together, and read each other’s letters for the first time in hopes of remembering why they fell in love in the first place. LOVE it! God…why didn’t I think of that! Seriously a cool idea!

Mike gave Astrid a Swavorski Crystal shoe pendant as her wedding gift. Hollaaaaaaaa! This was so perfect!

They did a first look…I love these moments! It is honestly such an honor to be able to photograph moments like these!

Outside for some formals!

The girls!

The guys!

We had a beautiful day to photograph and Astrid planned everything so perfectly with the lighting! Seriously, some wonderful light to shoot with!

love this one…

This has got to be my favorite series. If this doesn’t tell you how fun these two are together then I don’t know what would! I love Mike’s reaction to the uncooperative veil!

Astrid is just stunning!

Mike is handsome…and now that i think about Mike looks a bit like John Travolta?? No?

one of my favorites…the breeze just picked up his tie while I was photographing him.

Mike calls this his JC PENNY shot. I say GQ!

Astrid wasn’t the only one with cool shoes at the wedding…LOVE my details!

The ceremony begins…

Mikes’s dad watching Astrid’s dad give her hand to Mike’s!

probably my fav of the day! Can’t fake happiness like that!

hammering shut the wine box!

They also did a cord and veil ceremony…

!

some details…

Mike and Astrid went with my custom designed guest book…

guests always enjoy thumbing through it while signing in at the wedding! It is a great keepsake! ;o)

The cake was red velvet!

first dance…

and the party goes on…

Congratulations to both of you and I hope you enjoy each other to the fullest every day!

Happy Thursday All!

MEG

Yesterday I had a wonderful time doing yet another ONE on ONE workshop with an awesome lady, Kate! We had a blast photographing Michele and I have yet to edit through the images to share with you. I did snag this quick while in between shots. It was the only color on trees in Downtown Danbury. I have shot against this wall before, but here is a fresh, fun and different perspective!

So, because I am full of cheesy jokes…Yesterday, all in all, was a BERRY good day!

Happy Sunday…

MEG