Texas Bluebonnets!

“It’s not only the state flower, but also a kind of floral trademark almost as well known to outsiders as cowboy boots and the Stetson hat. The bluebonnet is to Texas what the shamrock is to Ireland, the cherry blossom to Japan, the lily to France, the rose to England and the tulip to Holland.”

— Jack Maguire

Every spring many central Texas roadways and pastures are covered in beautiful blue wildflowers, the Texas bluebonnets.  Many people LOVE to have their kiddos photographs taken sitting among these gorgeous blooms and for that very reason I offer Limited Edition Bluebonnet Sessions.  These sessions are limited to four per year and can be taken at any time during the bluebonnet season.  You might be asking yourself, "Why would someone pay for a bluebonnet session when they can just take their own pictures of their kids?"  While that is true, some people want to invest in professional wall art of their little ones enjoying Texas bluebonnets.

Sneak Peeks of our four Limited Bluebonnet Sessions in 2018.

If you're interested in booking one of our four Limited Edition Bluebonnet Sessions for next year, consider signing up for our weekly emails so you'll be notified when booking begins.  

Even if you prefer to take your own bluebonnet photos of your little ones, please use caution when doing so.  You can read more about this on our blog article that was recently published in the Groesbeck Chamber of Commerce quarterly magazine or you can find it on our blog

“Bluebonnet time is when the sky falls onto Texas.”

— A. L. Walker

It's Time for a Transition

I began my photography business for several reasons.  One of which being a particular need that I had as a mother of 6 children.  I needed a professional photographer that could provide my family with professional wall art that did not cost an arm and a leg.  Many photographers charge per person, which is costly for a large family.  I don't really understand this extra charge from a photographer's standpoint.  Our large family isn't eating a meal with you.  We aren't asking for a full 2 hours of your day.  Our session will be the same amount of time as any other session.  So why the extra charge?  For this very reason, my session fee is the same for 1 person as it is for 10 or even more.  

The other reason being I HATED receiving a disc or an email with photographs that were for the most part, unusable in my opinion.  Sure I had 80 images on a disc with a print release, but out of those 80 I could barely find enough to fill the frames on my walls!  I would then upload those few images to a consumer retailer, such as CVS or Shutterfly, only to have those products again not meet my standards.  Those products began fading after a few short months of being on our walls.  The colors looked nothing like they did on my computer screen.  I wanted high quality wall art that would last a lifetime.  

I am constantly striving to find ways to better meet the needs of other families that are like ours - they want high quality wall art without going into debt to do so.  As expenses continue to rise, I am forced to find ways to cut expenses so I don't have to raise the price of the session fee.  During this time, I found a new program that bundled online galleries and custom mobile apps!  I have to admit change is hard, but I am determined to learn a new program to keep the session fee as low as it can possibly be so I can still offer my amazing clients the same great wall art options through an online gallery.  

Perks

• You can view the images in your online gallery as a slideshow with music!

• You can actually see the images on a wall so you know what size would look best!

• You now have the ability to crop your images!

Cons

• It's a new program so I am learning too!  

Click here to check out a sample gallery with in the NEW program!

Here is the way a 16x20 piece of wall art would look on this wall.  

Here is that same image as an 8x10 piece of wall art. 

We are transitioning to this program slowly, but it will be fully switched over by July 27th, 2017.  After this time, any prior custom mobile apps will no longer be available UNLESS you contact me asking for me to put together an app in the new program.    

We can't wait to hear what you think of these exciting changes!  My favorite thing about this new program is the ability to see photographs in various sizes on walls.  You can even send me a photo of a wall in your home and I can upload that for you!  This makes is so easy to ensure that you are investing in the size you truly want to showcase your family in a particular room.

Hard Earned Cash

Most of us work hard for our money.  Most of us need our money to stretch as far as it can possibly go.  However, we all have different priorities as to where we will spend our hard earned cash.  

Let's just take an example from my own family.  One of my kids LIVES for all things XBox!  To this kid, XBox is the very reason he wakes up each day!  He works hours upon hours to get a nice check just so he can spend money on games and gear for the XBox.  No one else in our family understands this.  The XBox is not important to anyone else in this house.  The XBox is his number one priority at this stage in his life.

My oldest son seems to spend all of his hard earned cash on underwear.  My youngest boy prefers to spend his money on anything hunting or fishing related.  My point is this...we all have different priorities.  There's no wrong or right choice.  It's just what's important to you.

I obviously value professional photography and professional wall art.  I am proud of my family and I want to showcase that in my home by hanging their portraits on our walls.  I want guests to visit and walk over to them and look at them.  More importantly, I want products that will last a lifetime.  I want wall art that will be around for generations and generations.  Just think about the old photographs your family has.  Which photographs are still in good condition after 5 years?  10 years?  20 years?  50 years?  I can tell you exactly which ones because my grandmother is a HUGE genealogy fan!  The photographs that last are those printed at professional labs rather than consumer labs.  It has always been that way and it was more than likely always be that way.  

I'm not saying that I ONLY print photographs at professional labs.  All the snapshots on my phone are printed at consumer labs - Shutterfly or Free Prints to be honest.  But all of our professional portraits that I hang on our walls and display as wall art, are printed at a professional lab.  What's the difference you ask?  A lot!  And we as consumers tend to go for the "cheapest" and most convenient option, such as a disc of images (that won't last a lifetime by the way and neither will cheap prints).

Let's think about little things, like an oil change.  When I get an oil change, I go to someone that can do it quickly without breaking the bank.  However, as things become more important to me and my family, I tend to spend some more time and money.  

Let's use tires as an example.  When I was a teenager I had a front tire blowout at a high rate of speed.  The car went off the road and flipped several times, end over end.  I survived thank goodness and my worst injury was a broken femur.  Tires are not something I purchase based on price or convenience.  I choose to go to someone I trust 100% to make sure my tires are going to be as safe as possible for me and my family.  

Let's jump to photography.  Where is that on your list of priorities?  Is the product something you want done as cheaply as possible with the greatest convenience?  Is your idea of family photos showing up at a location with little guidance from the photographer as far as planning outfits, locations, etc, receiving a disc of images, and then going to WalMart of Shutterfly to have them printed?  Or do you expect more from a professional photographer?  I personally expect guidance in planning, answers when needed, with the end result of professional wall art hanging on the walls in my home.  

Often times you get what you pay for.  Photography isn't any different.  

Help!! I NEED Inspiration for Our Wall Gallery!!

So...I have this HUGE wall in our living room that is absolutely perfect for displaying photographs of our large family of eleven...yes ELEVEN.  In 2012 I put together a wall display that I loved, however we have since added 3 family members and now it just feels squished with several 8x10 prints in frames.  To see what I mean, check out this Print Size Guide I found on Pinterest.

This guide was found here:  http://blissfullydomestic.com/home-bliss/6-creative-ways-to-display-your-photos/139915/

Now you can see what I'm talking about.  In my opinion, I feel like an 8x10 is not proportionate with the wall and the sofa.  I need photographs that are at least 16x20 for the family portraits and 11x14 for individual portraits.  I could go larger than that, however I have to remember that I have to fit in 9 individual portraits and 2 family portraits.  If I go too big on the prints, I will run out of wall space.

Through photographing other families and seeing the wall art they've ordered in beautiful large canvas, prints, and metals, made me realize that I want those same beautiful large wall art pieces of my family!  I want friends and family to walk into my living room and not have to get close to the wall to look at an 8x10 print, but rather be able to see my family's portraits the minute they walk into the room.

Now that I know I want larger portraits on the wall, the question is how to arrange them in a gallery?  I have been obsessed with looking for ideas!  Every time I look at ideas, I just end up with MORE ideas and this huge task is not any closer to be narrowed down.  So far my favorite article which discusses several ideas can be found here.  This is seriously like the mother ship of wall gallery inspiration articles!

I have the wall.  I have the portraits.  Now what?  I'd love to hear and/or see your ideas!

For further reading, please check out these articles which I included in this blog: 6 Creative Ways to Display Your Photos and Top Ideas to Create a DIY Photo Gallery Wall Layouts

More Than A Picture...It's Wall Art! Part Five: Collections

We are going to continue our discussion about wall art in this blog post.  This is the fifth and final part in our five part series on the topic of wall art for your home or office. 

In the first part, we discussed the reasoning and beliefs behind offering our clients professional quality wall art opposed to pictures.  We then began discussing the first type of wall art that we currently offer - collages. 

In the second part, we discussed the differences between print quality with three local retailers in the Central Texas area and compared those prints to a professional lab's prints.  There really is quite a difference!

In the third part, we discussed the differences between a canvas gallery wrap from a professional lab and a local retailer.  As with prints, there really is quite a difference!

In the fourth part, we discussed a new product that we are offering - metal prints!  These prints are actually printed on aluminum and so vivid that you must see it to believe it!

Part Five:  Collections

We are now offering five collections in our online galleries!  And as always, you can choose a collection or choose prints a la carte.  The choice is yours!

• Basic Collection - This collection is included in every portrait session fee.  Clients can upgrade if they'd like or choose other sizes that better meet their specific needs.
• Digital Collection - This collection only includes digital images, no prints. 
• Print Collection - This collection includes several prints in various sizes, including one 11x14 print.
• Canvas Collection - This collection includes several prints in various sizes as well, but it also includes a 16x20 canvas gallery wrap.
• Metal Collection - This collection includes several prints in various sizes as well, but it also includes a 16x20 metal print. 

The Canvas and Metal Collections include a complimentary disc of images!

We LOVE to see your beautiful WALL ART on display in your home and/or office!  If you get a chance, send us a photo of your photos!

More Than A Picture...It's Wall Art! Part Three: Canvas

We are going to continue our discussion about wall art in this blog post.  This is the third part in our five part series on the topic of wall art for your home or office. 

In the first part, we discussed the reasoning and beliefs behind offering our clients professional quality wall art opposed to pictures.  We then began discussing the first type of wall art that we currently offer - collages. 

In the second part, we discussed the differences between print quality with three local retailers in the Central Texas area and compared those prints to a professional lab's prints.  There really is quite a difference!

Part Three:  Canvas

Canvas gallery wraps are a classic way to showcase your family portraits!  Just as we discussed in last week's post with regards to print quality, the same is true with canvas gallery wraps.  Simply put, you get what you pay for. 

When I first began my photography career, I had a fellow photographer that helped me with the business side of things.  She ordered a canvas from an online retailer and was horrified when she received it due to the quality of it.  I remember it clearly, she told me that it was "fine," but she did not feel it was professional quality and felt that her client deserved the best.  She promptly ordered the canvas from a professional lab and was so much happier with the results.  Upon hearing about this, I wanted to see the quality for myself so I purchased a few canvases of my own family. 

I ordered one from CVS for less than $20 on a 50% off sale.  Upon first look and having little experience with canvases at this point, I thought it looked alright.  It didn't amaze me, but I wasn't disgusted either. 

I then decided to order one through Shutterfly for about $90 full price.  Again, it looked alright.  It was pretty much just like the CVS canvas.  I honestly expected a difference in quality due to the increase in price.  I did not find that to be true in this case. 

I then decided to order a canvas of our daughters for my husband on Father's Day from a professional lab.  Yes, there was an even larger price difference, but when I received it I was AMAZED!  The quality was substantially different and worth every penny!  The professional canvas felt much more sturdy and looked vivid, whereas the other canvases looked dull.

Advantages of Professional Quality Canvas Gallery Wraps

*  A solid wood base creates a very durable, no-sag surface

*  The tightest, cleanest canvas corners in the industry

*  A thick, black backing that comes standard with hanging hardware and wall bumpers

*  UV-free protective coating allows the product to be wiped clean with a damp cloth

An example of a canvas gallery wrap printed from a professional printing lab.

At Smith Family Photography, we offer canvas gallery wraps in two popular sizes - 11x14 and 16x20.  If you'd like one in a different size, we can definitely do that as well! 

Check back next week when we discuss Part Four:  Vivid Metals.

More Than A Picture...It's Wall ART!

It's more than a picture, it's wall ART!  That sounds fascinating to me, but what does that actually mean?  This topic is going to be a five part series, with each part focusing on a certain product that we are offering our clients.  If you visit the "About Me" page of our website you will find a lot of information about us and our beliefs.  We believe that if you are putting in all this effort for photographs, you want products that are quality - you want products that will last a lifetime. 

“We strive to provide you with the service that you and your loved ones deserve. With that being said, typically a great amount of planning and preparation goes into a photography session - everything from deciding on a photographer, choosing coordinating outfits, choosing a location, etc. All of those factors take a great deal of time and energy! We want that time, effort, and energy to shine in your portraits! For that reason we have a large selection of print products to offer you in your personal online gallery - everything from standard professional prints that will last a lifetime to beautiful canvas gallery wraps and vivid metals. The products that we offer are professional quality and will last a lifetime. They will become cherished memories for generations. They will be beautiful pieces of art that are displayed on your walls for years to come. ”

— Anna Johnson-Smith at Smith Family Photography

Part One - Collages

Collages are a popular item that we began offering last July.  I personally have always loved collages, however I wasn't sure that others shared this same love until one client received her online gallery and adored her family photographs, but asked if I could create a collage for her with certain images.  I told her that I'd love to put something like that together for her and she loved it!  After that I began contemplating the inclusion of collages in each online gallery.  I began planning and finally decided to include at least one pre-made collage in each and every online gallery and provide the option for building a personalized collage if the pre-made ones do not meet your needs and/or wants. 

Since the introduction of collages in the online galleries, nearly every client chooses at least one collage!  They have become THAT popular!  They are a great way to display your favorite photographs on one print.  This makes them a perfect addition to your wall of photographs, as well as a perfect gift for friends and family. 

An example of a customized collage that was ordered as an 11x14 print.

Most collages are ordered in print form, however sometimes they are also ordered as a canvas gallery wrap.  I had a client show me a wall display of various canvas gallery wraps to make an art piece for a wall in their home.  She wanted a large canvas gallery wrap, 30x30.  I put together a customized collage that was very similar to what she was looking for with separate canvas gallery wraps. 

An example of a customized collage that was ordered as a 30x30 canvas gallery wrap.

As you can see, collages are a creative way to display your favorite photographs from your session!  The sky is the limit and I love creating one of a kind pieces of art that are printed at professional printing labs so you know you are receiving a quality product that will last a lifetime plus some. 

In two weeks we will continue this topic with Part Two:  Prints.