special delivery…..

i’ve made a big decision. i’m rebirthing my photography business.

after years of playing around, then getting paid, then being semi-serious…. i’ve decided to do things the right way and give that one last push to deliver this thing.  i’m writing a business plan, creating client contracts, a pricing list, a new photography blog (that is looking awesome thanks to help from a friend) and rebuilding my portfolio with new pics.  i’m going to do some marketing and get this thing really going.  i’m ready.  i’m not scared anymore.  i’m tired of playing with it and am ready to DO it.

stay tuned.  i’m not going anywhere!

new shots

here are some shots from sessions i’ve done recently.

it’s hard to stay motivated. i want to work so badly, but i havent’ broken into the clientele here.  i dont’ want to charge too much, but like jodie otte says (www.jottephotography.com) i don’t want to work for 2 dollars an hour either.  it’s hard to get people to understand the investment up front.  so, i’ve done some freebies, trying to get my stuff on people’s walls.  hope it works.  i want to work.  badly.  did i mention that? 🙂

pics from my project…..

some of the shots being used for the patriotic project i’m working on.

i’ve been busy working on my projects for imagevine.

the latest project is a patriotic one for memorial day. i’ve been to the national cemetery, had trevor in his uniform, taken pics of kids and red, white and blue lollipops, and americana stuff in my home.  it’s been a wild ride.

i’ve enjoyed my projects but i really want to be working here in my community.  it seems like there are no end to women willing to do tons of work for little or no money.  small money, then all the pics on a CD. i can’t do that.  i spend hours on my photos, and i really want to make more than minimum wage.  i don’t know what to do.  i was getting away from CDs, but it seems that that’s what the people want.. sadly, i would have to charge a lot in order to get that.. i guess i’m going to have to rethink my pricing until i can get established in the area.  i know i am worth the money with maternity and infants, and the hardest part is finding the customers.

so, i’m discouraged.  i have work through ImageVine, and i’m so grateful.  it gets me behind my camera.  maybe i should take this time to hone my skill and take lots of my kids.  two of  my kids have birthdays this week- i’m thinking that a photo shoot for each of them are in order.  that’s where i’m at.  working on getting myself established here.  i hope it happens soon.  i’m starting to get bored.

two pretty ladies!

i can’t believe that it’s been this long since i’ve posted, but i’m determined to change that.
i have taken hundreds of photos since my last post and i’d like to share a couple of my favs!

enjoy and come back soon!

i’m thinking it’s time to add a few new images.  i haven’t done any shoots this month other than working on my contracted job with imagevine (more on that later!) but i figured you still would want to see newer photos!

i really like details.  the ones you might not see immediately, but the ones that are often the most powerful.  i like drama, emotion, and relationship between people.  trying to capture those things in my images is what keeps me going in photography.  always chasing that emotion, that reaction, that moment where realism is able to be caught and frozen.  that moment you might never remember except that i have now grabbed it out of passing time and lassoed it onto digital media.

here are a few images like that-details on a few, emotion in a few others, and other unexpected moments… all totally my favorite feelings.

this little girl belongs to a sweet friend of mine.  my friend from high school has 5 kids, and this blonde beauty was the “surprise!”  #5 that was added to their family.  she is a pistol and yes oh so girlie.  i love hanging out with her and listening to the awesome things that fly out of her mouth.  she’s sassy, smart, sweet and those curls!  i could eat her up. 
we did a small 20 minute session one morning while her dear mama wrangled three other toddlers to give us some space.  i got a few shots i really love- her hair and her eyes are amazing… and i had a great time hanging out with sweet baby “A”.

we’re moving!  and i’m excited. 
this past week we were able to drive by our new house in quantico, va.  we lived there years ago and moved to GA almost 6 years ago to the day.  i feel like we’re coming full circle.  the houses on quantico are new and lovely and i can’t wait to see the inside. 
i really love making a house a home and have been blessed with awesome hand me down furniture, great finds and deals and lots of creativty.  i really enjoy going ingto a new house and figuring out how to make it mine.  i’m looking forward to it again!

i also am looking forward to kicking off my business in that area.  northern va is a fabulous area to be a photographer and i am praying for a very fertile year!  for my clients and my business. 
hoping to have consistent work there and looking forward to getting better and better!
if i’m headed your way, keep me on your radar screen for a session! 

what’s in a name?

i’ve been asked why i chose the name “a juicy pear” for my business.  it was actually quite intentional and has meaning to me.

i was a dance major in college and took different art classes.  one of my favorite courses was art history.  i loved dissecting the imagery and tossing around theories of what message was being sent in the chosen subjects.  fruit is a major player in art, and historically, the pear represents the female form. i loved the idea of half of a pear showing its seeds as representative of fertility, womanhood, motherhood and beauty.  since i love capturing images of women and especially pregnant women, i thought that the name would be a subtle connection to art and symbolism. 

i wanted to be a midwife for many years and was just starting school when i got pregnant with samuel.  i stopped attending and always planned on going back, but as i moved through the process of 6 pregnancies, and 4 deliveries, i started to notice the less glamourous side to midwifery: everyday check ups, pap smear appointments,  pregnant teens and unplanned pregnancies filled the offices, and i realized that i was more in love with the idea of delivering babies to excited, and loving parents more than doing the everyday tasks of a midwife.  for me, photographing infants and pregnant mothers gives me that powerful emotion and connection i wanted. i get the special joy of being with parents who are celebrating their new life, andi  share with them a very fleeting and sweet time…

eye candy…..

i guess you can’t be a good photographer blogger without photos.. so with a flock of butterflies bouncing around in my belly, i present to you some of my work.