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SUMMER STUDIO vacation plans!
We will be closed from August 1-September 1 so please book your summer sessions ASAP! Weekends are filling up fast, so if you want a weekend session please call. Summer sessions occur in the early morning or late afternoon due to the heat and sun.
Here are some selected images from Keith and Emily's wedding day 3 weeks ago..I have several favorites..but look for the reception photo with the GIANT Hand.. I think that is my favorite!
So.. it was the hottest spring day EVER, but Emily and Keith's wedding day was beautiful, and I have to say... the hot haze from the sun made for beautiful light! More to come in the next few days!
Sarah and Jason spent the weekend with family and friends at The Oaks near Easton Maryland. It was a beautiful setting complete with waterfront and rustic buildings..the perfect place for such an occassion! Enjoy the highlights of thier day!
It was a beautiful Saturday morning in Takoma Park, Maryland. We had a great time as we hung around the house, listened to music (I enjoyed some serious "air piano" !) and played at the park. Thanks for letting me into your weekend family time!
I haven't been the best at updating lately. I have changed things slightly as far as previewing of images. My family clients now will see their images for the first time with me in person via large screen and projector. This allows for the personal attention that I want to give my clients when they view their images. It also ensures that clients are looking at properly calibrated (color) images. THis is the best possible way for you to view your artwork. BUT I just can;t help myself.. Here is 1 image of the 80+ images from a recent family session. It was a great morning... I just love family time..
Lori and Jon...Sweet thangs!
The changes are complete and my website has a fresh look! Check it out! www.emilydeisroth.com
THere are all kinds of goodies throughout (like slideshows and new galleries) so don't just whip through it...you just might miss something!
Thank you to Sharon Cooper at Websites 1-2-3 and Ilene Hass for their fantastic work (and patience!)
Kate and Scott are living in NYC and getting married at the Ceresville Mansion in Frederick, MD in September. They were in town to visit family recently so we took the opportunity to spend a morning together and "capture the luuuuuv"..as you can see..they are quite smitten with each other!
I apologize if things are a little slow on my end. I have had one child or other home sick from school for about 2 weeks..which means productivity is well..almost non-existent. Yesterday was my first day back in the office for a full day.. Today is a half-day of school and Easter preparations so I am trying to do "urgent" tasks before I leave for the day..
If you have emailed and haven't heard back please email me again. My inbox is overburdened and I am confident that I returned all emails and phone calls..but if I missed you please call or email again.. and I am sorry for that.
On that note.. I am proud to announce the new logo for emily deisroth photography! Thank you Identity Kitchen!! I can't wait to see my fabulous business cards etc..
This album was designed for Laura and Shane... Thanks to Alex Kon at Blended Motion...Album designer extroidinairre who started helping me with my wedding albums about a year ago...
I have had the pleasure of working with Ellen Petty, the creative force behind Identity Kitchen , on building my business identity. I have been learning a lot lately about business identity and marketing. I heard about Ellen while attending a workshop called The Modern Portrait hosted by the lovely and talented Mother and Daughter
Diana Adams and Justine Ungaro . I learned so much from one weekend with the two of them (and fellow photographers). The seminar is all about the business of photography...so there was no talk about f-stops or style or lighting or anything like that...If you are in the photography business you want to go the The Modern Portrait..I was enlightened! I have been to many seminars and this was by far the BEST. They were so organized and had thought of every detail. Many artists fail in business because they just can never wrap their minds around the business of art...The Modern Portrait can help you!!!
I was also the happy recipient of a gift certificate for a new logo design (which I REALLY needed) created by Identity Kitchen.. Ellen presented me with so many great designs that it was hard to choose! She really took the time to look at my work and my website and she took the time to actually talk with me (and boy can we gab!). She is great to work with and really "gets it" Somehow she managed to take it all in and create a single image that I think says it all! Want to see it? She has posted 3 of the designs to her blog..See if you can pick the one I chose!! It was tough!
Why have someone else create your logo or help you with your business identity? Well, we are just too close to our businesses (and too busy running our businesses to be able to step back as a non-partisan party. We need a 3rd party to critique us and offer suggestions that we would never even think of...someone who is NOT a photographer! Plus, as business owners we need to learn when to let the professionals handle it.. We can't do it all.. A hard lesson to learn.
Also...two other women that I have worked with for the past 2 years designing my website...Sharon Cooper of Websites 1.2.3 and Ilene Hass . Both are the creative force behind my website and have also helped in developing my business identity. I have to say that they have been SO patient with me lately! we have been trying to do some updates and it is ME who is clogging up the works! They have both been so creative and open about my ideas and have shared their own ideas and expertise to create a site that really makes my studio stand out..They have also made it very easy for me to do some of my own updating (and tolerate it when I screw things up!) and have made the site a true reflection of my studio.
It's so great to be surrounded by so many women entrepreneurs! I think we have all been working from our kitchen tables at one time or another (like I am right now!!). Our hours vary from day-to-day and it's always funny to get a reply from one of them at 11 pm after you send an email!! Its a good feeling to realize that we are all making it work in our own way..
Until next time! ... I spent yesterday with some some fabulous girls and can't wait to share!
Trying to keep my promise on posting recent (and not so recent) sessions. I love the maternity newborn packages... remember what it was like before baby? Well as much as you may miss "Lbb" (life before baby).. I bet you can't imagine life without that precious little one. Well even if you can.. enjoy the photos anyway!
WHile I was doing a session the other day I realized how much I enjoy also photographing my clients pets...If I only had the time to also offer pet photography! I always feel so darn good about getting a great shot of an animal because well... it's hard to get an animal to look into your camera or be still for that matter,..kind of like photographing toddlers! Here are some more images from a maternity session that you may remember. At the time I was swamped so I only put up the one photo. Here are a few more pet oriented photos from their session..I am particularly fond of the second one... Anyone who wants to know...it was a boy!
Over the next few weeks I will be sharing some of my favorite images from photo sessions as far back as November. That's about the time that I lost all sense of time,space and continuum..AKA Holiday Season Rush! Which is about the time that I stopped updating the blog. I feel bad about it.. I want to b able to update frequently and keep the fresh stuff coming at ya!. Well here are 4 favorites from 2 sessions... both done in January. (I will go back farther I promise!!!)
My next project is to do some updating to the website.
And hey! The new office is DONE and I have been in there for almost 2 weeks! A few minor details need to be completed..like shelves for example. But I am LOVING it!!! Its so nice..and I just love walking across my backyard with my cup of coffee in the morning and walking into my very own space..no one else's stuff is there..just mine..Come by and see it sometime! Now all my clients can come in and view their images on a perfectly calibrated BIG honkin monitor...AND you can come in and look at all of the product samples..albums, storybooks, canvas's, storyboards... Good stuff.... OK well here's some eye candy ( the color reminds me of a swirly lollipop!)
Birth Announcements that is! I thought it would be nice to have something fresh for the new year...and to go along with my maternity and newborn specials. You can view these and others on my website..in the "related activities" section.
Unfortunately the slide shows are slowing things down a bit here on the blog, so to view the a slide show from Shana and Tom's wedding click here
We will be running some winter specials for maternity and newborn sessions. All Photography done on location.
Maternity/Newborn Combo
Mini - $600 includes 2 half-hour sessions, on-line gallery, 24 birth announcements and 15 custom images on CD in color and black and white (includes personal use copyright).
Full - $950 includes a 1 hour maternity session and a half hour newborn session, on-line gallery, 25 custom images in color and black and white on a CD(includes personal use copyright), 48 birth announcements, 10 page storybook album with custom design.
Newborn only
$450- includes newborn session, website gallery and slide show, online ordering, 20 custom images in color and black and white on a custom CD, 24 birth announcements.
This was the very last photo from a session that I did for our neighbors. My daughter and their daughter have become great friends. The session was over so I told the girls to sit together on the steps so that I could get a photo of them together. My first glance at this photo brought tears to my eyes.. memories of childhood girlfriends, being goofy and just hanging out. Just simple fun, and the joy of knowing that my daughter has found that kind of friendship. This is a photo that I think Cameron will have for the rest of her life..the kind that sticks with you and follows you to college..occasionally makes its way out of the shoebox. Yep.. It's one of THOSE.
Krissi and Reese celebrated their commitment and love at the Universalist National Memorial Church in Washington DC. Along with their celebrants, their closest friends and family were there to be a part of the beautiful ceremony. All of their meticulous planning and coordination in the months before was evident as every detail came together to create a wonderful day for everyone who was present. Thanks for letting me be a part of it!
To view the slide show click here
Phew! We just returned from vacation last night and boy oh boy do I have a lot of work to do! If you are waiting..I'm on it..I swear! Here is a session from the week before last. I just love this compilation...a wide range of personality, and a 3 year old..being well..a 3 year old! This is an entire session, as I did not have time to narrow it down for your viewing pleasure, so it's about 2.5 minutes long. ENjoy. and because I know that you will ask... The song is by Love Serenade by The Waifs
The studio is closed for rejuvination and feasting (and a little sunbathing). We will re-open on November 29th. If you would like to schedule a session please send an email to contact@emilydeisroth.com.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Laura and Shane's wedding was absolutely beautiful. It was a wonderfull fall afternoon in Leesburg and it doesn't get much better than that. My wedding clients know that I will just blabber on about how we can do this and that and "wouldn't that be cool" etc etc.. they also know that they can say "no way" to anything if they are not into it.. Well..Laura and Shane were very open to my ideas..the field you see below was nothing pretty to look at..it had a rickety fence all around it and big dips concealed by the tall grasses. It was obviously what was left after nearby construction had finished. When I saw it I KNEW that that was where we were going to do their portraits..I had been thinking for so long about an image using just that setting (the tall grasses, not construction), and there it was right in front of me.. and well.. Laura and Shane said "absolutely!" SO Laura, in her dress and shoes, climbed under the fence and walked ever so elegantly out into the field and we had a great time. Thanks Laura and Shane for being so willing!
And here is their slideshow... Disclaimer: The images have been significantly decreased in size and quality to allallow for slide-show viewing.
So, I know that I have hinted at some BIG changes for the studio in 2008...it all begins with this transformation... When we purchased our home it came with a lovely detached garage which was too small for any modern day car and was leaning heavily to the right. It was charming. I painted a sky mural on it..it was even more charming (and a great back drop for photos)..
Well now it is going to be my wonderful new workspace thanks to the talented Ray Giroux ( and help from Robb.thanks honey!). I really need to still be able to work from home because.. well..I need to be able to work at night and work in fits and spurts. My hours vary from day to day and I do not work in 8 hour stints. I work a few hours here and there between dropping off the kids at school, doing homework and housework, going to this practice and that practice.. Having a space away from home would make things really difficult. THis a great solution for us..plus, the kids would like their play space back and we would really like to use our dining room table!!! And for anyone who has ever been on the phone with me when my kids come home from school.. well, we won't have that disruption any more (or at least they have to knock first!!
CHeck out the progress!!
In the beginning there was light....
Than walls and windows
THis is the wall and ceiling... and below you can see that the kids like to be involved.. Harry LOVES the big dirt piles and Cameron was very excited about the door...
We have a door!!!!!! So, a new space in 2008..how exciting is that? Don't worry.. Larry will have his very own special spot in my new office/digital darkroom/working studio and you can visit him (and me) any time!
Married on October 20th Stacey and Cooper exchanged their vows at the beautiful St.Louis Catholic Church in Alexandria. It was a joy photographing this couple and their families who were so laid back and welcomed me as part of their special day. Here are 4 of my favorites from the day. I especially love the center 2...Cooper prior to the ceremony and Stacey presenting flowers to the Virgin Mary.
Slideshow to come!
Who new? Big demand for some quick easy and affordable..not to mention TOTAlly cool photography! Here is a recent session on a very windy morning!
We are closed today for a Birthday Holiday! Celebrating one day late and hitting the Annie Liebowitz and Ansel Adams exhhibit at the Corcoran...than a nice lunch...
Please send an email or leave a voice mail and I will get back to you tomorrow afternoon. Thanks and have a great day!
I am falling behind in posting to the blog lately. Here are a few from a recent maternity session. I have 3 weddings and several family sessions to share.."It's gettin It's getting Its gettin kinda hectic"...Anyone remember that little ditty?
Nikki and Mike were married 2 weeks ago at the Westin Grand in downtown DC. Here is a small sampling of images from their day!
Larry is our cat/pet model. I just know that he was waiting for me to notice him on the purple chair..he is SUCH a camera hog. See how he looks right at the lens? Years of training.
The purple couch travels, so if you are interested in a fall leaf(with color) and purple chair photo let me know!
I will be out of town until Tuesday October 9. Please email session requests and I will get back to you in the order in which they were received. Have a great Columbus Day weekend! We are off to celebrate the marriage of a great friend in Mass. It's a total rejuvenation weekend before the big pre-holiday/fall wedding season storm begins!
I talk to clients everyday via phone and email receive a lot of questions! I know that there are a lot of options out there and, whether you ultimately decide to hire me or not, I want you to have the information that you need to make an informed decision. SO periodically I will post an answer to an FAQ (frequently asked question) and that FAQ will be added to my website... someday!
"Why to do you charge so much for a disk of images?"
This is a loaded question for photographers. First, understand that we hope that clients are hiring the photographer and not the camera. Most photographers honestly believe that they are creating a piece of art and that you are the subject of that artwork. In our case, every image that you receive on your disk has been custom designed in our digital darkroom and also converted to our custom black and white counterpart. We consider ourselves to be artists and, as you can imagine, we spend a lot of time on our clients' images to make them just right and convey that certain "feel" that represents who you are. This is a level of quality and service that you are not going to find at Sears Portrait Studio.
Second, as artists we give up a certain amount of rights to our artwork when clients have control of the images on the disk. It's the digital age and times have changed. We risk having our images floating around in cyberspace or other media without our name attached to it. We could force clients to order prints at very high prices (and not offer the disk) only to have that client scan those images and make reprints on the cheap (that is copyright infringement by the way). So, we have decided to give our clients a personal use copyright which allows us to maintain the copyright of the image while allowing you to use your images for reprints and other personal projects. We want you to have your images. We want people to be able to afford us and we need to be able to make a living!
We realize that the traditional business of photography is not the future of OUR business. Ultimately I see clients choosing photographers because of their style and not because of their packages or print prices. So prints and packages are becoming the icing on the cake for people who don't have the time to do-it-themselves and studios are now selling themselves and their style more than ever.
The business of photography is changing and we hope that we have found a happy medium for our clients and for us.
****HOLIDAY MINI SESSIONS**** booking for CD only through December 10. We currently only have weekday availability.
$300 - 30 minute photo session 10 custom images on disk. Use your disk to create holiday cards of your own!
$500 - 60 minute session 20 images on disk. Use your disk to create holiday cards of your own!
If you are ordering holiday cards, they must be ordered by December 4th to ensure delivery in time for the holidays.
All images are presented in custom color and black and white for a total of 20 or 40 images on your disk.
All photography done on-location.
202-248-9354
contact@emilydeisroth.com
Many of my wedding clients ask why an engagement session? Without getting too sappy I like to say that its a great way to document this particular time in your relationship..that is IF...you can relax and be yourselves in front of the camera. Part of that job falls on me in helping couples to be themselves and to relax and just be together and well.. kind of ignore me:) Emily and Keith will be married in 2008 and I think that these photos taken at the FDR memorial really showcase their personalities and their relationship..a lot will change in the next several months as they plan for their wedding and their life together...so this is here and now...Music credit : U2 -( in case you didn't know that)
Well, fall is definetely here. It's our busiest time of year with fall weddings and photoshoots. Holiday orders for albums not already designed must be placed by October 15 in order to garuntee holiday delivery. All other products must be ordered by November 10. Collages.net has re-released many of my client sites for the holidays, so take advantage od the free re-release of your website!
Here are two favorites from a recent baby-naming/housewarming celebration.
These are from a recent birthday party that I was hired to document. I had so much fun that I honestly felt like a guest! I always say that a 1 year old's party is as much for the parents as it is for the child..it's like saying "we made it! Lets party!!!". It really was a joyful, celebratory day..thanks for having me!!!
I am back from vacation ( a great time was had by all) and getting caught up. THis past Tuesday was the first day of school and I am serving on Federal Grand Jury Duty, so things are slow going, but I am getting them done. Here is a little slideshow of recent families that I had the pleasure of meeting. I am hoping to get to some of those vacation photos soon!
I am out of town until September 3rd. If you would like to schedule a session or wedding consult please email (contact@emilydeisroth.com) or call the studio (202)248-9354 and leave a voice mail. I will be returning calls and emails on September 4th and 5th.
Tah Tah!!!!
I had the joy of spending a morning with this family from Bethesda Md... I had lots of fun finding out about the boys' favorite things to do and toys to play with.. Turns out that they are big baseball fans and even partake in lawn bowling periodically..although that's not exactly what happened here! I'll let the storyboard tell the story...
I just love the expressions on each of their faces in each frame..especially the youngest in frame 2!!! Can you say "trouble"!!! Makes me laugh every time I look at it.. And that was only the beginning.... I'll save those for another day though...it is late and we are leaving for NYC tomorrow!!! I'll be back in a week when school starts for my kiddos..The summer flew by didn't it?
I have to admit it.. while I was editing Morgan and Melissa's wedding images I actually got all choked up...their images were gorgeous, but it was the images that I took when they saw each other for the first time that really got to me. They had agreed to see each other prior to the ceremony, which gives me the prime opportunity to set up their meeting and capture it on film(or CF card!). I chose the spot and asked Melissa to wait..and wait...while Rob (my second photographer and husband;) )) went and retrieved the groom ... so Melissa was getting a little anxious not knowing where or when Morgan would appear..but alas..they finally see each other. Months and months of meticulous preparation..it was finally here....
and here are a few of my other favorites from the day...
This is my favorite image(above) from the whole day..taken by Rob who is now shooting with me at weddings...He brings his own unique perspective to photographing weddings and events.
I really like to take a unique twist on those group shots(above)...the sky was so gorgeous for Morgan and Melissa's wedding day and I HAD to take advantage of it.
Here is a great one of the Father of the Groom...I just love that bounce in his step!
