This is a GOOD Bad Habit! | Brenham, TX Commercial Photographer

Yesterday I had the opportunity to hang out with one of my oldest friends (well....she's not my OLDEST friend - but one of my friends I have known for a really long time :) ). 

She is an awesome jewelry designer and has FINALLY decided to get on the Facebook bandwagon - and she enlisted my help to get her all setup.  I had the great honor of photographing some of her new jewelry yesterday and I can't wait to show y'all!

Please become a fan of her Facebook Page HERE to get updates on her latest jewelry creations!  If you're interested in purchasing some of these pieces you can visit her Etsy page http://www.badhabitz.etsy.com/

FYI- These would be WONDERFUL accessories for your next photo shoot - hint hint :)

2011 Senior Rep Program

Calling all 2011 Seniors - do you have what it takes to represent Homegrown Photography?  Do you want a free Senior photo session and earn free prints and products?  Well here's the deal:

Homegrown Photography is currently searching for outgoing and funky 2011 Seniors - one Senior from EACH of these schools:  Cy-Fair, Cy-Woods, Brenham and Bellville. These 4 Seniors chosen will represent Homegrown Photography and tell all their friends and classmates about their awesome photo session and pictures.  When friends or classmates book their photo session you recieve print credits towards the purchase of your senior pictures - and get entered in a drawing for a $100 gift certificate to your favorite store! This is everything you get:

1 hour photo session with unlimited wardrobe changes ($100 value)
20-30 fully edited proofs
4x6 Brag Book with all proofs from session
50 rep cards with your picture and Homegrown Photography's information to pass out to friends
$20 print credit for every referral booked (*referral must present rep card and pay session in full before credit is received)
*Booked referrals will receive $20 print credit


The Fine Print:
You must be 18 years old or have parent/guardian approval.  You must sign a model release so that Homegrown Photography can use your images for advertising on our blog, facebook, etc.  You must represent Homegrown Photography EXCLUSIVELY and in a positive manner.  Representing another photographer will result in termination of Senior Rep status - print credits and all other items will be considered null and void.

So do you think you're up to the challenge?  If so, go HERE to fill out the application.  All applications must be received by Monday, August 23rd.

Good luck y'all!

The Visitor by Brad Voelkel

Although some people may find it odd that we live next to a cemetery, you couldn’t ask for a better set of neighbors. They are quite, mind their own business and they never complain. Every day there are 20-25 cars that stop by there to pay their respects to friends and family.

There is one particular man who has caught my attention. He stops at the cemetery daily just before sunset and sometimes around lunch time. He is an older gentleman maybe in his 70’s. He drives an early 80’s Chevy van and he is always by himself. He sometimes sits in his van out front and never gets out. At first I thought he was a caretaker for the grounds there but I never saw him working. A couple of weeks ago I decided to watch him a little closer to see what he was actually doing.

On Monday this week I walked out on the front porch and I heard a trumpet play briefly and then stop, it was coming from the cemetery. I walked out into the yard but I didn’t see anything or anyone. I thought I was crazy or that the place was haunted and went back in. About 10 minutes later I went back outside and noticed this man’s van parked by the street. I stood out of sight and watched the man as he finished a beer, picked up a black bag, walked to his van and drove off. I thought to myself, great - the town drunk hangs out in the cemetery and drinks…

This evening just as we got home from eating supper this man’s van pulled back up to the cemetery. This time I stayed on the porch and watched him a little closer. He got out of his van with two beers and a black bag. I watched as he walked over to a gravesite and sat down. He opened a beer and sat it down on the grave and then he opened another. He sat for a minute talking while drinking his beer. About 10 minutes go by and then he starts to open his black bag. I thought to myself this must be where he keeps his beer…but to my surprise he pulls out an old trumpet. He plays a couple of short tunes like he was warming up or something. Then he put it back in the black bag and went back to his van, got in and sat with the door open. It looked like he was waiting for something or someone to get in. Another 10 minutes or so go by and he gets back out of the van with his trumpet and walked back to this grave and stood at attention. He picked up the trumpet and began to play Taps! When he was finished he saluted, turned, and in a marching manner walked back to his van and left.

This evening after I saw this, something told me that I should write this little story and share it with my friends and family. I said to myself, I am going to walk over to the cemetery that terrified me as a child at 9:45pm and see who this person was that this guy was playing Taps for. I got over to the grave which is covered in flowers and read the name and details off to Britney my wife who wrote them down for me.

Name: Emmett Lee Keith – 2nd Marine Div PFC Col 3 BNH - WWII
Born: 6/18/1921
Died: 6/19/1944 (today is June 19, 2010!!!)

He died the day after his birthday and at the young age of 23. As I moved flowers back from the headstone I noticed Emmet was also a Marine and a veteran of World War II. This young man may have given his life for this country but I am not 100% sure.

After talking to my parents who have lived in Shelby for the past 8-9 years they told me that this man has been visiting Mr. Keith’s grave for years although they were unaware that he did it daily.

I am not sure what drove me to write this story or to walk over to this young man’s grave in the middle of the night to find out that he died on this day 66 years ago. But a feeling of warmth surrounds me now knowing that I have given Mr. Keith some recognition - along with his faithful friend who visits him daily just to have a short conversation, share a beer and sign the day off with the most beautiful rendering of Taps that I have ever heard.

Happy Belated Birthday my neighbor and Rest in Peace…

Oh Boy! | Newborn Photographer, Cypress TX

A little over a week ago, I had the pleasure of photographing the cutest baby boy.  His daddy and my husband grew up together and they were quite the goofballs back then...actually, they're still goofballs - so not that much has changed over the years.  We're so happy for you guys - congratulations Frankie and Holly!

The proud Papa!

Wall Art Portraiture and more goodies! | Cypress Family Photographer

If you haven't had a chance to take a look at my print pricing list - you can find it here: PRICE LIST
After looking at the list, many of you may scratch your heads and think, what is a Standout or Gallery Wrap and what does that look like?  So I thought to myself...why not post some pictures so you can get an idea of what you might want to put in your home.

I'll start with the Standout.  This has a more contemporary feel to it.  It's thick, lightweight, with finished black edges and doesn't require a frame - so it's ready to hang as soon as you get it!

Here's a close up of the side view - the one with the thinner edge is the 3/4" that I'm offering on the price list:

Next is the Float Wrap.  The Float Wrap is a new concept that gives folks a more economical option if they like the look of a Gallery Wrap, but it's more budget friendly.  The Float Wrap is created by wrapping the photographic print around padding and masonite to create a thin wrap with a raised, elegant look.  Then attached to the back is a 3/4" gatorboard block that allows the Float Wrap to extend out from the wall.  This block contains drilled holes so it's also ready to hang - no frames needed! Each Float Wrap is sprayed with a laminate that will help protect the print from scuffs, scratches and cracking and also provides UV light protection.

Here you can see a detailed view of the gatorboard block with the drilled holes ready for hanging

Next is the Gallery Wrap.  With these, the actual photographic print is created and its emulsion is stripped, bonded to canvas and wrapped around a real wood frame.  The Gallery Wrap also includes the laminate protection just like the Float Wrap.

Here's detail of the back of the Gallery Wrap and the option of either a wire hanger or the metal hangers with bumpers

So that's a good run down on the different options available for Wall Art from your photo session.  You're probably looking at the list and wondering what a Widescreen Wallet is too.  These come in handy for Senior pictures.  They're a neat option for Seniors that allows a picture on the front AND back or you can have a collage of pictures on either side.  And they are  press-printed with a glossy finish.

The regular wallets are a little different that what you may be used to from past portrait packages.  These wallets come 8 to a sheet and they have rounded corners - which definitely makes them feel more special than your average run of the mill wallets

And last but not least - hopefully you've had a chance to look at the bonus levels! If you're curious how that works, it's pretty simple.  Once you reach the first price level of $150 - you will receive 2 complimentary 8x10s of one image (that's a $60 value!)...but wait, what if you reach the second price level of $225?  Well, you'll receive the 2 complimentary 8x10s AND a Brag Book of all the images from your session!  So what exactly does the Brag Book look like - it's a spiral bound book that holds 4x6 images from the session.  You choose either black or white border.

Well, I hope this has cleared up any questions you may have had about the products I will now be offering and I hope it gets you excited to put some of your special homegrown photography on your walls...remember, I'm here to help you create YOUR history!

Limited time offer for past clients & NEW ONES TOO! | Cypress Family Photographer

Okay everyone, as mentioned earlier this week, I'm extending a special offer to my past clients to say thank you for your support!  Beginning today, all past clients who book a session by April 1st, 2010 will receive their session fee at 1/2 price.  That's right...your session fee will be $50! 

So you've never booked a session with Homegrown Photography?  Don't feel left out!  You can enter to win a 1/2 priced session.  Here's what you do - post about Homegrown Photography and this offer on your MySpace, Twitter, or Facebook account.  Then come back to my blog and post a comment and include a link to the post you made about Homegrown Photography.  On Monday, February 22nd I will randomly pick a winner and post it on my blog. 

So - you ready?  On your mark, get set GO!

A new year...a new name!

Wow, what a year 2009 was!  It was the year I started Homegrown Memories Photography and today marks my ONE YEAR anniversary!!  I learned so much last year.  Not only the technical stuff, but I learned how much work is involved in starting up a business....and making it work.  I'm so grateful for all the clients I had in 2009, that trusted me to capture their families, their children, and those special times in their lives.  To all of you, I say THANK YOU!