If you’re already on Mpix’s mailing list, you may have recognized some super cute kids on their recent Valentine’s Day email.  Oh, and you might have spotted me too

You’ll be seeing even more of us in the coming months on Mpix.  I’m SUPER excited to be working with them and introducing you to their fabulous products.  I’ll also be doing some guest posting on their blog. And maybe there will be some giveaways here and there too!

Let me tell you, people.  I’m picky when it comes to my prints.  I always get asked where I print my prints and Mpix is the only place I will recommend.  See, they have a professional lab as well.  So you know you are getting the same quality as a professional photographer (if you’re a pro photographer check out Mpix Pro!).  I also love how cute their templates are.  Super modern, fun, and not cheesy at all!  You simply drag and drop your photos into their templates.  No Photoshop needed!

Not only is Mpix an amazing lab, but their customer service is top notch.  I think it’s because they are from Kansas.  And all people from Kansas are nice, right?

Be sure to check out Mpix if you haven’t already!

I’m the type of person who likes to do everything myself.  I’m a control freak.  I want it my way or the highway.  Especially with my business.  But, there comes to be a point where you realize you can’t do it all.  You’re not super mom (or at least I’m not).  And you might just need some help.

With my photography business I like to outsource the things that I don’t like / don’t have time to do.  And one of those things is RAW processing.  It’s tedious and time consuming and I’m just not all that great at it to be totally honest.  In the past I have just shot RAW for my weddings.  I’ve used two of the big RAW processing companies and they’ve been okay.  My biggest complaint is that it’s just not consistent.  There are different people processing my images each time and it can be a bit frustrating.  Especially for a control freak like me.

If you follow me on Facebook and Twitter you probably heard me talking about editing a lot this past Fall.  Okay, fine.  I was complaining.  A lot.  I was drowning in my editing all while still nursing a newborn and taking care of my crazy 3 year old.  A very nice Mom*tog reader, Marissa Lynn, emailed me telling me that she wanted to help me.  To offer her services so I could start spending more time with my family.  See, Marissa is a Navy wife.  She’s the mom to a little girl and loves photography, but because they move so often she’s not able to really establish her business.  In the mean time she has started editing for other photographers just because she loves to do it. I decided to give her a try and I was so impressed.  She’s FAST, super great and accommodating, and her prices are so reasonable.  And she’s a mom.  So she gets that you would rather be spending time with your kids rather than sitting in front of the computer.  I’m so glad she reached out to me because her help has really freed up more time for me to spend with my family!  Really.

Marissa is looking to take on a few more clients and if you are drowning in editing like I was, I would really suggest contacting her.  Because she’s awesome.  And you’ll be happy to have more time to do what you love.

Check out Marissa Lynn’s website to learn more about her services!

Before Christmas I was invited to see a demo of the new Lighroom 4.  I’ve been dying to unveil the new changes to you, but had to keep my mouth shut until today.  There are some VERY excited changes that have been made, which I’m so excited to share with you!

Here are the highlights:

1)  One thing I use Photoshop for that I haven’t been able to do in Lightroom previously is album design.  If you like using Blurb to make albums, you’ll love that Lightroom has partnered with Blurb to make creating photo books that much easier.  In just one click you can publish your book to Blurb.

Included in the book module are professionally designed templates.  You can also add text.  It would be awesome if in the near future templates for specific photo labs and album companies were added as well!  But, the new book module will do for now!

2)  Another feature I am super excited about is the ability to play and edit videos from DSLRs, point and shoots and even smart phones.  Since I’ve been using my 5D Mark II more, I have been trying out video.  The problem I’ve been having is that my pictures always look way better than my video.  In Lightroom 4 you can make basic color corrections to the video including white balance, exposure, contrast among other things.  Hello?  How cool is that?  You can also trim your videos as well.  This is a feature I will be using a lot!  And you can directly publish the videos to Facebook and Flickr as well!

3)  Local editing adjustments have been added including the ability to do a local noise reduction and white balance, which is AWESOME!  There have been changes made which should also simplify the develop module.

4)  With a new map module you can now “geotag” your images and organize them by location.  This makes searching your images that much easier!

5)  Emailing images has been simplified.  With Lightroom 4 you are able to email images directly in Lightroom using any email account that you’d like!  It’s super easy.

There are many more improvements, but don’t take my word for it.  You can download the beta version of Lightroom 4 here… for FREE!  Go try it out for yourself and let me know what you think!  Have fun!

In early December I bought myself an early Christmas / end of the year tax write off present.  I had been coveting the Canon 100mm 2.8 L Series lens for a while and I finally took the plunge and bought it.  Macro lenses are great for getting super, duper close up on your subject.  You’ll see macro lenses used a lot in nature photography.  It’s a prime lens, which means you can’t zoom in or out.

I’ve had the Canon 100mm 2.8 macro (the non L Series version) for a few years.  The only time I ever used it was for ring shots at weddings and it did it’s job.

The big problem with that lens is you basically need to manually focus it, which is fine when you’re shooting objects that don’t move.  It was a lot harder to use on things that moved, like my squirmy kids and the newborns that I’ve been shooting a lot more of in the past year.

The 100mm 2.8L is a totally unnecessary lens for most Mom*togs and even a lot of photographers.  It’s pricey.  But, I LOVE it.  It’s really fun, super sharp, and the focus is great.  My only complaint is that I wish it stopped down to 2.0.

I would highly recommend renting this lens if you have a new baby or even to capture the little details of older kids.  You’ll have a lot of fun with it.  The only problem is that you might not want to give it back!

PS  If you were interested in buying the 100 2.8L, there is a $110 instant rebate that ends January 7th!

Canon 5D Mark II, 100mm 2.8 L

F 2.8, 1/160, ISO 800

F 2.8, 1/100, ISO 1000

Wireless Remote – $49.95

Diana Lomography Camera – $65

Shooting Gloves – $15.99

Retro Print – $22

Camera Necklace – $88

Pixel Pocket Rocket – $18.75

Camera Strap – $22

Jo Totes – $87

This is the LAST time the UNmanual and UNposing Guide will be going on sale before the holidays!

30% off the UNmanual

and

40% off the UNposing Guide

Use the codes:

“cyber30″ for the UNmanual

and

“cyber40″ for the UNposing Guide

Happy shopping and happy shooting!

If you follow my friend Julie’s blog then I’m sure you’ve seen The Happy Day Project.  While I haven’t been doing the tasks in order and it might take me more than a week to finish everything, Brayden and I have had fun spreading a little unexpected sunshine each day.  It’s given me an opportunity to talk to him about giving and to try and teach him about what this season is really all about.  It’s not easy with a 3 year old, but I can see it starting to sink in.  Just a little.  And a little is fine with me.  I’ll do another post soon on our experience with the project, but seeing what Julie and Jeannett have done and how they have inspired others to give with their whole hearts inspired me to do more.

We all have cameras.  What can we do with our cameras to put a smile on someone’s face?  Can you take pictures for a family who deserves beautiful family pictures, but can’t afford it?  Can you do a day of sessions and donate the session fees to an organization?  Can you gift a session to your family and friends who have made a difference in your life and the lives of your children this year?

You don’t have to be a professional Mom*tog to do this.  How many of you are always behind the camera and would just love a simple picture with your kids?  Take your fancy camera and schedule a play date with your mommy friends.  Set your camera on auto and take turns taking pictures of each other.  You can do something to give back to your friends and you’ll get a cute shot of you and your kiddos as well!

I know we’re all busy.  Trust me.  I get it.  I’m busier than I’ve ever been this year.  But, I’m sure you can find an hour (or two, or three) to use your camera to do some good.

Julie and I have something in the works.  And I’m really, really excited about it.  I have so much to be thankful for.  It’s kind of ridiculous.  I’m happy to use my camera to be able to spread a little sunshine to those that need it.

*** Are you using your camera to put a smile on someones face?  Post about it in Real Mom*togs!

I got an email from Jennifer a few weeks ago that made me LOL:

“Do you have must haves/ or ways you make yourself comfy while you shoot?
Hair up bangs back… anything like that?

ALSO! Im sure you get it all the time, but I absolutely LOVE your style, fashion wise! I think we have similar taste in clothes, I would LOVE to see some posts about FASHION for a Mom*tog on your site! Maybe? ”

It made me LOL because while I read it I was still in my pajamas… in the afternoon… wearing a nursing tank… that probably had spit up on it… and I’m sure I hadn’t showered that day.  Ha!  How’s that for being fashionable?

But, I really do like this question!  I choose the outfits that I shoot in based on a few criteria:

1)  Jeans have to fit comfortably so I can roll around and chase after little kids and have to have a high enough waist so I don’t have crack attack.  I wear jeans practically every single day so I believe in investing in a good pair.  My favorites are Citizens and Joes.  Because my pre pregnancy jeans are still a little tight I bought some Old Navy jeans (which I do not recommend because the zipper will not stay up!!!) to get me by until I loose that last 10 pounds (Halloween candy is not helping!).

2)  I have to be warm / cool enough.  There’s nothing worse than being on a shoot and being too hot or too cold.  Since the weather where I live can be totally different than where I’m shooting I often layer to make sure that I stay comfortable.

3)  I always wear tanks under my shirts.  This helps prevent said crack attack and helps prevent anything from hanging out up top when I bend over.

4)  I have to wear boots when shooting in fields.  I’m terrified of snakes.  Although I’ve only had one encounter I make sure to always wear boots so a) it won’t slither on my foot and b) I can stomp on it if it gets too close to one of my clients.  Because that’s what I like to think I would do if a snake tried to attack one of my clients

5)  I do like to try to look cute.  My goal is to look professional and put together while still being comfortable.

6)  My hair is almost always back.  I have a lot of hair and can’t stand to have it in my face.  My new fave hair style is the side braid.  I rock it almost everyday.  Because I’m too lazy to blow dry and straighten my naturally frizzy / curly hair.

7)  I like to accessorize with a cute camera strap or camera strap cover.  When I shoot weddings my outfits are so boring.  A cute pop of color in my camera strap and Shootsac cover allows me to show some personality when my outfit doesn’t.

Here are a couple of outfits from recent shoots:

Everything from Old Navy

My shooting boots were a splurge that I bought last year from Anthro.  I heart these boots!

One of my favorite shops is Ruche.  They have Anthro-esque clothes for way, way cheaper.  This was one of those days where it was cold and cloudy at my house, but wasn’t sure what the weather would be where I was shooting.  I wore my new favorite sweatshirt from Ruche.

See.  I told you I like the side braid   I wore my black sparkly TOMS with this outfit.  They are also my wedding shoes because they are so comfy and cute!

*** In a totally unrelated note I heard that TOMS is coming out with ballet flats in the Spring.  If this rumor is true I’m SO excited.  I love TOMS.  Not just because they are comfy but because they give back.

What are your must haves when you’re shooting?

If you’re a professional photographer you know how important your clients outfits can be to the success of their shoot.  I love for my clients to show their personalities in their shoots and clothing choices are a huge part of that!  We all know how boring white shirts and jeans (or khakis) can get.  And it’s always that one time that I forget to educate my clients on the importance of outfits that they will show up wearing the generic family portrait “uniform”.

My friend Leslie Kerrigan recently came out with a great resource for professional photographers to share with their clients.  The Look is a guide for photographers to share with their clients and educate them on what to wear and how to put outfits together for their photo sessions. The guide consists of complete outfits for families and kids using the latest fall fashions and the resources to get these outfits!

Sharing The Look with your clients, will help them learn the do’s and don’ts of dressing for a photo shoot and it will help them show up to their photo shoot confident and looking fabulous!  I’ve been sending this out to all of my clients this season and they are finding it SO helpful!

Leslie has been kind enough to give away a copy of The Look to a lucky Mom*tog reader! To enter:

1)  Like the Leslie Kerrigan Photography page on Facebook.

2)  Leave a comment here stating you did so.

3)  For an extra entry follow Leslie Kerrigan Photography on Twitter AND leave an additional comment here stating you did so.

Contest ends Friday, October 14 at midnight PST.  A winner will randomly be chosen on Monday and will be notified via email.

AND Leslie is also offering a 20% off discount code to Mom*togs!  Enter the code “Momtog11″ at checkout.  The code is good until November 1.

Thanks, Leslie!

Who do you shoot for?  Do you shoot for yourself and your family?  Or do you shoot for your blog?  For other photographers?

It’s so easy when you’re starting out to obsess over other photographers work.  To wish you were someone else.  Don’t.  Trust me.  Been there.  Done that.  Don’t waste time comparing your work to that of other photographers.  Don’t strive to be like other photographers.  Strive to be yourself.  To find your own style.  Don’t be the next _______ (insert the name of big photographer here).  Be you.  Shoot what you love.  Who you love.

If you are a professional photographer, shoot for your clients.  Don’t shoot to get featured on some blog.  Tell your clients stories.  Put yourself in their shoes.  What would you want to remember about your family at that very point in time?  10, 20, 30 years from now they won’t remember what blog their session was featured on.  Or how many comments were left on their blog post.  But, they will be able to look back at the pictures you took for them and be able to remember the love they were feeling for their family at that time.