Flowers with a baby

[Melody]

Well the baby is in there honest it is! :lol:

I'm not thrilled with the pictures however it took me forever to make that darn blanket of flowers and the hat it was a ton of work, however the mom's like it so..............

I'll practice a bit more.

Melody

[Melody]

Oh here she is with her Dad

[Igor]

Melody, #3 is very smooth and superb color'ed.
#1 & 2 are a bit busy IMHO, but nice too :)

[Melody]

Melody, #3 is very smooth and superb color'ed.
#1 & 2 are a bit busy IMHO, but nice too :)

Thank you Igor I love that one, he adores that baby! I wish the baby was sharper however I am going to try again on Thursday :)

Busy? :lol: :lol: That is an understatment!! Not my thing but hey if that's what the customer wants so be it. btw she was also in a huge birds nest, and a big basket and some colored eggs I just don't know what they will have me doing next :woot: :D

Melody

[Igor]

...that's what the customer wants so be it....
Thant's all that matters :)

[Mrs. Swampy]

I love these types of photos with the kids and flowers. I can't remember the name of the series that was so popular a couple of years ago.

[High ISO!]

I think the woman was Ann Geddes? She became well known for these sort of photos.

Melody, your flower blanket came out really cool! The hat too! a litter of cute puppies would be fun with that blanket....if they didn't pull it apart first! :haha:

Alissa

I love these types of photos with the kids and flowers. I can't remember the name of the series that was so popular a couple of years ago.

[Melody]

YEP that's her Ann Geddes :) ,

Look I'm reading while I'm talking to you on the phone Alissa! :lol:

Melody

[High ISO!]

:D :D :D Now I'm replying to you....while I'm on the phone to you!!! GEESH are we stupid, or what? :hitother:
Alissa

YEP that's her Ann Geddes :) ,

Look I'm reading while I'm talking to you on the phone Alissa! :lol:

Melody

[Melody]

:D :D :D Now I'm replying to you....while I'm on the phone to you!!! GEESH are we stupid, or what? :hitother:
Alissa

Guess not since we are STILL on the phone when did you send this?! :lol:

Melody

[High ISO!]

.....I sent it YESTERDAY....and we're STILL on the phone! You're corrupting me, keeping me on the phone ALL FREAKIN night...and the next day!

I've been up since yesterday....SHEESH!

Alissa

Guess not since we are STILL on the phone when did you send this?! :lol:

Melody

[Serge]

:goldcup: I really like what you've done with the "bonet" of flowers in the second one, reminds me of calendars I've seen by a woman who's name escapes me now, the one with the father is very powerfull, you've got your lighting sorted very well Melody :clap:

[Theo2005]

The dad-and-baby is really great. Congrats Melody. :goldcup:

Personally, I don't care about the "geddes-look", never liked that myself. But if you know me one-little bit, you already know that, right? :D

I would advise you to concentrate on the pictures like the dad-and-baby and emphasize on those. :cheers: Otherwise you will be making a lot more of those blanket things before too long. :haha:

Theo

[Melody]

.....I sent it YESTERDAY....and we're STILL on the phone! You're corrupting me, keeping me on the phone ALL FREAKIN night...and the next day!

I've been up since yesterday....SHEESH!

Alissa

Me!?! :lol: I've was up since yesterday until tomorrow too! Amazing how much we get accomplished in our 'networking' sessions though....and the ability to multitask while we do it ;) Doubt most could keep up with us, did we miss anything? Printing, processing, PS tips, suppliers, customers, politics at events, overhead, workflow, quality of products, hardware, styles, etc. I'm interested to get our approvals and yet again another avenue to explore. We did a lot! :cheers:

Melody

[Melody]

:goldcup: I really like what you've done with the "bonet" of flowers in the second one, reminds me of calendars I've seen by a woman who's name escapes me now, the one with the father is very powerfull, you've got your lighting sorted very well Melody :clap:

Thank you Dear :) One more vote for flowers ;)

I need to work more on the lighting, I know it can be improved and even while shooting I knew what areas needed attention, some I got are quite awful :( It really wasn't the purpose of the session it was to see what 'props' fit what size baby and what I would need to do or change so it was very productive. Now I can work a bit on the different lighting for certain types of setups etc.

Melody

[BARBARA LUKE]

Melody your work is wonderful. :goldcup: ....I wish i had the guts to pack my job in and try making a living with my photography...... lots of people ask me to do there childrens pics .... but do they want to pay???Big question......i don't have anywhere to take the pics in my home as it is too small so i would have to rent a place.... That were the overheads come in.....that i wouldn't mind but i still need to earn a living......Your shop looks lovely also inviting.......Cheers Barbara

[Melody]

The dad-and-baby is really great. Congrats Melody. :goldcup:

Personally, I don't care about the "geddes-look", never liked that myself. But if you know me one-little bit, you already know that, right? :D

I would advise you to concentrate on the pictures like the dad-and-baby and emphasize on those. :cheers: Otherwise you will be making a lot more of those blanket things before too long. :haha:

Theo


Thank you Theo :)

My personal preference if limited to one is just the baby, I agree the subject gets so lost that I wonder what was being shot the baby or the 'prop'.

However while I'm in the exploration stage in this sort of thing I'll try the different approaches/props to see what works and hopefully figure out how to shoot them in different situations and get my lighting correct for each.

One thing I already know is many of these mom's want those props, with all the fun and color, it's got to be that they loved the Geddes style and want similar with 'their child' in it.

I was discussing it with Howard yesterday and it's different for me so the adjustments will be necessary. In mtgs etc. people have to decide on ONE with this if the client can't decide on which one they simply buy a variety of each which for sales is a good thing ;) I can already tell the amount of effort and time is tremendous to change the setting and lighting while they are there....you see in addition to the flower blanket I shot this little girl in a big basket and in a huge nest and put her in feathers etc. too which obviously requires I change my backdrop and I was hoping to avoid that during a session. It's still too new for me and I have to develop a system/workflow so it goes quickly and smoothly.

Make more of those blankets and hats? :woot: I made two sets, it was awful three trips to LA, cases of flowers I had to dismantle. I work with a huge heat press, yet with a darn little glue gun I kept burning my finger tips :woot:

There is definitely a decent percentage of parents who want this different sort of style I'm now getting anyone who has even heard what I've got to work calling for sessions.....there isn't one sample of this out for them to see and I've done NO advertising at all, it's two womens word of mouth :getdown:

Melody

[Melody]

Melody your work is wonderful. :goldcup: ....I wish i had the guts to pack my job in and try making a living with my photography...... lots of people ask me to do there childrens pics .... but do they want to pay???Big question......i don't have anywhere to take the pics in my home as it is too small so i would have to rent a place.... That were the overheads come in.....that i wouldn't mind but i still need to earn a living......Your shop looks lovely also inviting.......Cheers Barbara

Barbara,

Thank you :) Boy do I know you mean!!

I had no where to put the lights up permanently in my office or my home it simply takes way too much room.

Lots of women do baby/children pictures 'on location' in parks wherever with natural light. It does cut down on expenses, however your time is quite valuable as well which many don't realize. It also takes into account the limitations of time of day for lighting and the sun cooperating, so your amount of sessions or days becomes limited but quite possible.

One difference I've noticed immediately, people coming IN to a studio have the expectation to 'pay' for your time they are entering a 'place of business' most come through the door or calling ask what the session fee is. While I'm working very hard to give it a home and cozy feel the street outside verifies it's not.

I could ramble on and on about what I've found so far.... boy do I have a long way to go yet....and so much more to learn, however I'll happily share what I have on this journey if you'd like.

Melody

[Melody]

I love these types of photos with the kids and flowers. I can't remember the name of the series that was so popular a couple of years ago.

Thanks Connie :) Another vote for flowes I appreciate the input.

I'll have to try the other blanket I made it's peach roses that have the glicerin stuff on them it's richer looking, however this one seemed better for a spring sort of feel, there is a third one for a tiny baby that is various pastel colors sort of a spring feel too.

Wait till you see the nest thing! This experiment stuff is becoming a riot! :lol:

Melody

[Camarochas]

Melody,

I think they're all very nice. It shows that you can diversify and not shoot the same style all the time. I'm sure the mom will love them all and the dad will be especially proud of the one with him and the child. You're dong great.

Charlie

[High ISO!]

I'm all talked out now.....and still trying to catch up on that lost sleep!
Alissa :bugeye:

Me!?! :lol: I've was up since yesterday until tomorrow too! Amazing how much we get accomplished in our 'networking' sessions though....and the ability to multitask while we do it ;) Doubt most could keep up with us, did we miss anything? Printing, processing, PS tips, suppliers, customers, politics at events, overhead, workflow, quality of products, hardware, styles, etc. I'm interested to get our approvals and yet again another avenue to explore. We did a lot! :cheers:

Melody

[Melody]

I'm all talked out now.....and still trying to catch up on that lost sleep!
Alissa :bugeye:

Ok it's not even 4am here and I'm up already! :getdown: Talked out? I've been around you for a week solid you can keep up or pass me I know you can! :lol: btw I got the approval yesterday, yours should be in now too! Shop away :)

Melody

[Melody]

Melody,

I think they're all very nice. It shows that you can diversify and not shoot the same style all the time. I'm sure the mom will love them all and the dad will be especially proud of the one with him and the child. You're dong great.

Charlie

Thank you Charlie :) I'm plugging along, I'll get there!

Yesterday I started my quest for little boy stuff, and spent several hours searching for motorcycles, did you know they make real little ones that actually run on gas etc. too cute looking! Gotta decide chopper style, bmx, or superbike...... :lol: my husband is sure I've gone nuts! :crazy:

Melody

[Tom V]

... it took me forever to make that darn blanket of flowers and the hat it was a ton of work, ...

Melody


Melody,

These are very nice images. If they were easy to do, everyone would do it.

[Sleeping Bear]

Very nice work! This is the type of photography that you either love or could care less about it and those that love it will pay big $ for it.

You've put in a ton of work on the props, lighting, backdrops, shooting, processing, etc. I would say that most people don't put in that type of effort anymore and if you willing to go the extra mile you'll get the business. You are creative and energetic and willing to step outside of your comfort zone and make tihngs happen in your life and business. Bully for you!

Melody is much too gracious to say how we put her in a bind when we were on the West Coast earlier this month. For weeks we had planned on shooting Annie (my 3 month old) with all the props Mel has been working on and using the images to setup the nursery theme in her studio.

Well, the night before the shooting little Ann became sick and grumpy. More of the same the next day so I made the call to not do the shoot. To top things off we could not stay any longer due to the fact that my wife, oldest daughter and myself had been sick earlier in the week and it was just a matter of hours before all eight kids were sick and throwing up...you get the idea. I did not want to spend that time in a hotel room, it would not have been pleasant, plus we could not get any shooting done anyway with the family croaking.

So we headed back to Colorado before the nightmare unfolded. Yep, the rest of the kids became sick after we returned home and we avoided a nightmare. There were also other factors involved that had nothing to do with Mel that turned things a little topsy as well.

I felt terrible letting Melody down on a professional level and also as a friend, which she has become.

To top it all off we hauled about 800 pounds of marble to California for printing and it sits there now as we did not have the time to print on it. Well, Melody had the time, we did not.

With all that said I am very glad to see that Melody found a baby to shoot and get that portion of her business off the ground and wish it could have been Annie.

[High ISO!]

Yep...ALL recovered now...

You forget, I just got back from a solo trip to St Louis...which was a pretty dismal and a VERY stressful time :mad2: ....I guess that's the reason I was so wiped out yesterday! :surrender

Alissa

Ok it's not even 4am here and I'm up already! :getdown: Talked out? I've been around you for a week solid you can keep up or pass me I know you can! :lol: btw I got the approval yesterday, yours should be in now too! Shop away :)

Melody

[Glasseye]

Luv #2 & #3 stunning :goldcup: Melody

Thanks for sharing

:cheers:
Andy

[puntisaks]

very nice baby images. Skin tone,composition,mood,lighting,model,prop so nice.

[Melody]

Melody,

These are very nice images. If they were easy to do, everyone would do it.

Thank you Tom :)

It didn't look that time consuming on first glance, I found out really fast it was! Huge heat press and I'm fine, give me a glue gun and I burn my finger tips :dunce: OH wait till I show you what I want now though, I'm going to be begging for your help!! :getdown: :getdown:

Melody

[Melody]

Very nice work! This is the type of photography that you either love or could care less about it and those that love it will pay big $ for it.



Hi Ron,

Thank you for your generous comments :)

It's getting lots of attention I worked on the edit of it and made a big flag, no one is passing that display window without stopping.. :D

We were just both like the kids excited for our new projects and disappointed that we had to be the 'grown ups' and do what was necessary but we did it!! :righton: Good Dad's put the kiddies first and so they should!!
I so wish it could have been Anne she is such a doll, I've done other babies since this and several have called for sessions upon seeing it.

On a side note check your e-mail I printed on the marble the same day I made the flag :getdown:

Melody

[Melody]

Good deal Alissa now your ready to rock n' roll again!! You get them! :beat:

Thanks Andy! :)

Thank you Puntisaks :)

Melody

[Magic]

Melody the third shot is wonderful and you captured the love beautifully. Well done!!!

[Melody]

Melody the third shot is wonderful and you captured the love beautifully. Well done!!!

Thank you Magic, it was wonderful to watch him, he's just entranced by her :)

Hey did you all notice the little footprints in his tattoo? Those are actually her's from the birth certificate :) :)

Melody