Playing Catch Up! – Murfreesboro Photographer

Posted on September 19, 2011

I have been so busy lately that it has been hard for me to make time for blogging my sessions! So today, while I have a little time, I’m going to play catch up! These may be a little out of order, so please forgive that! =)

First up is this little sweetie! We had lots of fun playing dress up!

Next up is Miss Krista modeling for Beautiful Mommies Magazine!

Little Miss Avery was lots of fun to work with at her 3 month session!

Next up is Nancy looking all fierce for Beautiful Mommies Magazine!

Next up is this sweet little princess modeling for Chloe’s Tutu Sweet Shoppe!

I just LOVE the faces that Paisley always delivers! She is so much fun to shoot!

& last, but certainly not least the gorgeous miss Laney Grace! Laney was a rockstar at her shoot, even with tummy troubles!

Filed Under Babies, Children, Newborns |

| Send this post to a friend | Leave a Comment
Tags: babies, baby, child, children, Desirae Todd Photography, DesiraeToddPhoto.com, family, kid, Murfreesboro, Murfreesboro Photographer, newborn, Photographers, toddler

Fotog Feature Friday: Rachel Vanoven – Murfreesboro, TN Photographer

Posted on September 2, 2011

Rachel Vanoven has been a huge inspiration to me over the last year or so! I am beyond excited to share some of her work with you as well as a little bit about her! I hope you enjoy today’s post!

These are a few random facts that Rachel provided me to let you know a little more about the lady behind the camera:

1. I was a single (young) mother for a couple of years before meeting my husband…hardest job in the world right there!

2. I spent 2 months in Africa when I was 15 and I’m trying to get back!

3. I can blow air out of my tear duct (great trick for the kids)

4. High school was M-I-S-E-R-A-B-L-E…I was overweight, played the tuba, threw shot put, and was a drama nerd before Glee made it cool…oh and did I mention I’m a hair under 6 feet tall?

5. I buy watermelons and just carve out the very middle and let my kids eat the rest. Bad mom of the year winner right here!

How long have you been shooting? 3 1/2 years

What made you want to become a photographer? I’ve always been interested in photography, as a kid, I used to dress up my little sister and drag her around the house in various poses and snap away with my cereal box prize camera! Then, later in life, I taught myself photoshop and did a little web-design for a small company, made the jump to editing my own photos and it just took off from there!

What does Photography mean to you? For me it means so much possibility…each newborn, chunky 9-month-old, freckle faced seven-year-old has an entire life ahead of them, and I get the awesome job of preserving “them” in a short period of their lives. I think someday their kids and grandkids will sit around and look at these images I captured, it’s totally crazy to think about, right?!

What struggles have you faced along the road to the success you now have? Definitely struggling with the whole stay-at-home-mom jump to being a working mom. It was really tough on my marriage and my kids. I finally had to come to a place where I made sure my family came first. It sounds so cliche, but it’s horribly difficult to achieve when you love your job and your clients are so dang awesome. But at the end of the day I love my family more and my husband/kids are even more dang awesome!

What’s in your bag? Nikon D700, 50mm 1.4G, 70-200 2.8, and 60mm 2.8 macro

What is your favorite piece of gear? My 50 mm 1.4G

Where do you draw your inspiration? From my mini-clients for sure…the newborns/kids themselves!

Describe your style in 3 words: colorful, relaxed and fun…I think that applies to my newborn AND family sessions!

Ideally, how many sessions do you take on a month? Between 12-16, I try to keep it down to 2-3 sessions per week

What’s the secret to balancing family life & business life? Like I said above…really focusing on letting the editing wait and making sure all three kids are tucked in with kisses. Or snuggling that extra 10 minutes in bed with my husband instead of running to the coffee pot and pulling up photoshop! Making sure to schedule a date night at least once every other week, and only doing 1-2 evening sessions weekly so family dinner still happens. And hiring my *uh-mazing* assistant/office manager Alicia was the best thing I ever did business wise!

Which photographer, if you had to just pick one, would you say inspires you the most? This is a REALLY awful question!!!!! I’m picking two, so there! Neener neener neener! Oh So Posh Photography and Sheye Rosemeyer. Is it weird I’ve never really been into stalking newborn photographers? I definitely have my favorites, but newborn posing/editing/styling trends are so crazy that I try to just do what I want when it comes to the newbies!

Name one photography trend that drives you insane! Only one?!?! Hmm, probably newborns hanging dangerously or just uncomfortably. It can be done, but I’ve only seen maybe 3 photographers do it where I’m not cringing.

Any secret, tips, or tricks for getting that perfect shot? Kind of like when you get in shape and everyone wants to know your secret, but they definitely DON’T want to hear, “I’ve been working out and eating healthy”. New photographers DON’T want to hear, “Play with your camera. Photograph anything that moves. Annoy your friends by borrowing their children/babies. Spend time with whatever age group you plan on photographing and learn what makes them happy!” But that’s my “secret”…I don’t get people who have had a camera for 6 months and are already complaining they aren’t good enough…like all it takes is knowing your camera. SO much goes into a session that is simply just acquired from doing a hundred or so shoots! Or taking a workshop, that’s always a fun (but pricey!) shortcut!

What is your favorite subject to work with? It’s a tie between newborns and families. Too broad? Well newborns if I HAVE to pick a favorite, but only because I only shoot newborns in the morning and in my studio. So I’m a morning person and my studio has kick butt light, so it’s easy

What advice would you give to beginners in the photography business? Get a good financial advisor and make sure you know what you’re getting into! This is NOT an easy job! Fun…yes, totally a fun job! But that doesn’t mean easy!