One on One Mentorship

I've been teaching intro to photography classes for 2 years now, and I will continue to teach them. But, I feel that a one on one scenario is a much better space for learning, growing, and cultivating; with that being said, I'm excited to announce I am now offering one on one mentorships. This is for all you mamas, daddys, grandparents who want to learn how to take extraordinary photos of your family. How to bend the light in your favor. How to cultivate a connection. How to let your kids be kids and document them. Get away from the 'cheese' and let things happen organically.

If this is something that you are interested in, email me at skeltonphotographie@yahoo.com or make an old fashioned phone call. I'd love to talk to you. And learn about you. And understand why photography is important to you.

If any of the above images speak to you, let me know. If you're looking to get authentic, organic, REAL images of your children, grandchildren, call me. I want you to get these types of images of your family.

New Service: Birth Announcements!

Before Henry Wallace was born, hell, before I was even pregnant, I spent a lot of time looking over birth announcements. And fell in love with almost every option. I even pinned a few (hundred) and you can check them out here: https://www.pinterest.com/emac21684/tater-baby/

What I didn't realize was the cost to get them made. As a photographer, I understand that you have to charge enough in order to make some sort of profit, but I couldn't fathom paying over $100 for 25 birth announcements, it just didn't seem right to me! Especially with a newborn and Tay and I both being on leave, we had no money coming in.  Goodbye fancy smanchy announcements :(

What's a girl to do? Well, if that girl is a photographer, she sets up a newborn shoot in her master bedroom (which has AMAZING light), edits and designs her own birth announcements and then sends them to an awesome printer that specializes in square prints - I'm in love with square prints. Totally in love. Am I the only one? I hope not.

And here it is!

If you have a little one making their debut soon, contact me and let's schedule a newborn shoot! If you have another photograher take your newborn photos, I can still design the birth announcement.

The cost of the newborn shoot is $150 and with the added option of creating your birth announcement the cost is $200. With that, you get an hour (approximately) of shoot time and 24 cute square birth announcements. Not bad, am I right? And your input on the design is needed and welcomed!

Bring on the babies!

Before and After

While working on a recent engagement session, I came across something that has really started to unnerve me: cloudless days. As a photographer, I love cloudy days. They add a little drama to images and make them look more interesting and make shooting so much easier. 

Now, there is nothing wrong with the below unedited image, but there isn't any drama to it.

With the click of a button and the flourish of 9 million brushes (over-exaggeration perhaps?) the image has some much needed drama. And makes me happy. So long cloudless days!

 Now for the side by side.

Much better right?

Family: Dysfunction and All

As a photographer, I am hired to document things. Newborns, to big kids, to weddings and all things in between. One thing I always told myself from the beginning was that I was not going to sugar coat anything. I was always going to tell the truth. Some sessions are so easy and natural, while others are a bit more taxing.

Getting three kids all different ages with varying interests to cooperate for family photos is never an easy fete, and I loathe the overly-posed studio poses in favor of more natural ones.

With this photo, I just asked big brother to grab a seat, and knew that the little ones would gravitate towards him. Big brothers are awesome. You can see these two little ones love their big brother.

 And then, there's this. Sometimes big brother's patience wears thin, little brother would rather play in the dirt and sister just had a goofy spell.

Of all the photos from this family session, this is honestly my favorite. I know that it's not perfectly composed and the lighting is a bit off, but it's perfect to me. And mama agrees too. It shows her bunch just as they are most of the time.  A crazy happy little family.

November Mini Sessions

Summer is officially coming to an end. School is starting. The air is cooler crazy hot.
And we all know that once school starts, Christmas and the holidays are right around the corner; which leads me to my next point. Mini sessions!!

I always hate myself every year for putting off mini sessions for Christmas cards (or just because).
This year, I will not hate myself. The date is planned. And set in stone. Let us pray that the weather will be perfectly cool, a bit cloudy, and no rain in sight.

The location for the sessions will be determined closer to the date, but the sessions will take place in either Belzoni or Silver City; depending upon the location of all those who book.


And now for the times:
 9:00
 9:30
10:00 - Booked
10:30
11:00 - Booked
11:30
12:00
12:30
1:00
2:00 - Booked

As of right now, this is the only time I will be doing sessions for Christmas cards. Any time after this date would be cutting in close for me in terms of editing, and also cutting it close for you to get those adorable Christmas cards out!

And now for the important details:
- 30 minute session
- Copyright disc of edited images
- Signed print release
- $125

**You don't have to use this session as a Christmas card session, it could be a 'just because' session!

Skelton Photographie Office Tour

When we first moved into this house last year, we knew that Tay needed a quiet dedicated office, and that I need a small nook/corner/office area for myself. Tay got the third bedroom as his office and I used the formal dining room as mine. Well, I put a desk there and some art, but I never actually used the space. I always felt so disconnected from everything else going on in the house, since the dining room was closed off from the living room and the kitchen.

And, of course, since we are renters, actually putting our own stamp onto the space was not an option. I need colors. I need patterns. I need to be visually stimulated! The below photo is not visually stimulating or inspiring. A photographer needs to be inspired, and the old dining room was not cutting it. 

The only good thing about my old "office" was that I could see the world from it!

I would always end up with the laptop in the recliner. That also had its flaws. I was easily connected with everyone else in the house, but I didn't have a dedicated space to edit photos and write notes and address packages. I always wound up taking up the coffee table and two end tables. Nothing seemed to work.

And then I decided to bite the bullet and FINALLY invest in the new desktop computer I had been dreaming of/coveting for months. That was the catalyst that made me decide to have a dedicated office area that was connected to the house and functional as well.

With the hopes of a new computer and office lingering on the horizon, I decided it was also time to do more branding with Skelton Photographie. I have some business cards that I bought years ago, that frankly, are completely embarrassing looking at them today. Oh Lord, what I would tell myself if I had the chance before ordering those things!  Since we were doing the whole out with the old and in with new thing, it was time to update the embarrassing cards.

Oh Hello...Skelton Photographie business cards

I'm starting to incorporate these cool notes into my wedding packages.

Before the new computer came in, I decided to start getting my office nook ready. We have an old desk that has been in the family for years and you can tell! But, instead of spending money on a new desk, we just used the old one. One day I will paint it. One day. And add new hardware. But, for now, I just spray painted the old hardware red to match my awesome chair - that came from Goodwill for about $5.

The inspiration board. Which has a lot more added now.

Bam! The new office area! With a fire engine red chair and matching red hardware. Aside from the one that was lost in the shuffle somewhere.

Big screen swallow little laptop. I'm totally in love!

The newly painted hardware.

The inspiration board, a little photography cheat sheet, and a monthly calendar. God bless you organization!

I try to keep my planner with me at all times to know dates far in advance, but this allows me and Tater to see what I have going on in the current month. And it is a lifesaver.

Tay & I honeymooning in Jamaica, an old Minolta, and my grandfather on his honeymoon.

The wireless mouse & keyboard are amazing. I will never go back.

Behind the Scenes

To be a photographer, you must also be: flexible, a weightlifter, a hair dresser, a best friend, a contortionist, a comedian, a fashion guru, and you must be willing to embarrass yourself and lay in the middle of the road. Or plant your knees in a creek.

Just a little photographic evidence to prove that we do a lot more than just hit a button :)