Help please - new logo!

I am so excited to be getting a new logo for my business! I designed my own logo back in April of last year, and have never really loved it. So I decided to commission the lovely Amanda to design some concepts for me - and I was blown away! She did an amazing job, and was so wonderful to work with.

Now for the hard part - picking one! I am a terrible decision maker when it comes to stuff like this - so I am asking for your help! I've narrowed it down to 4 different designs. This is where you come in - please leave a comment telling me your favorite one. Everyone who comments will get a gift certificate for a free 8x10 to use at a future session. One lucky commenter will win a $50 gift certificate to be used towards a future print order! (I will draw the name randomly - aka see what piece of paper Charlotte draws out of a hat) :)

So please, vote for your favorite - and really try hard to just pick one :)

Hopefully I will be posting my new logo in the next couple of days - I am so excited!

Here are the choices:


{click to view larger}


Happy voting!

-S

p.s. If you do leave a comment, please email me your home address so I can mail you a gift certificate for the free 8x10 - thanks! :)

.glow.

You know how they say pregnant women have that "glow" about them? Well, I photographed a mama-to-be today that definitely had that glow. The images speak for themselves - wow! Such a gorgeous momma. I am so excited to photograph their baby girl in just a little over a month!

A & L - here's a big sneak peek for you...I picked just a few of my favorites :) Enjoy!


Doesn't she look amazing?







Got quite a few of the 2 of them together, too...or should I say 3 :)




Just love this moment I happened to catch...such a fun couple!












I've got a very important task for all my faithful blog readers in a few days...so PLEASE check back - I need your help! :)

I'm finishing up my 3 weeks break from sessions, and I have to say, I am so excited to get back in the saddle again! The break was much needed, and unavoidable...BUT I am so ready to get my creative juices flowing again! I've got so many great ideas for my sessions this spring. I have a maternity session early next week, so you'll be seeing some images from that soon - I can't wait! Then starts the Spring rush - as I call it - so the blog will be much busier from now on...lots of sneak peeks :)

In case you were wondering, the What to Wear Guide did NOT get emailed out on time -oops! I am hoping to get that out this weekend, so bare with me :)

We are headed to Chuck E Cheese tonight...what are your plans for the weekend?

My mini facial :)

This is not photography related in any way, but I just had to share it with my blog readers! I stumbled across this blog a few weeks ago, and found this great skin care regimen. We have always been pretty health-conscious (or so I thought), but I recently have felt challenged to go more natural with not just what we put IN our bodies, but also ON our bodies.

I admit - I have been a Proactiv user for a few years now...and while I have always been uncomfortable with putting those harsh chemicals onto my face (and in turn into my bloodstream), I honestly didn't think anything else would work for my "problem skin". BUT...I just started this new completely natural, home-made regimen...and -

WHOAH. My skin has NEVER, ever looked this good. It actually glows! Even the texture of it has changed...it's smooth, and even...no dry or oily spots - it's just balanced. With Proactiv I had such a hard time finding the perfect balance between drying the heck out of it but still controlling it. This new regimen seriously has changed the way I feel about my skin...and the fact that what I am putting on it doesn't contain 20 chemicals that I can't pronounce...even better! :) So b/c I am just so excited about this, I have to share it! Just try it for a day and you will never go back!

The best part - it is SAFE and healthy for my skin/body - and it's MUCH cheaper than anything I could buy in the store. My hubby is stoked that we no longer have to buy Proactiv, too :) He even told me last night that he had noticed how great my skin looks - yay!

Ok, so here's what you do:

1) Take equal parts extra virgin olive oil and castor oil and combine in a sealed glass bottle. Add essential oils if you like (I love tea tree oil for it's blemish fighting properties and lavendar for the smell) - just a few drops will do ya :) There's your face wash - easy and cheap!

2) Tie your hair back, and massage a liberal amount of the mixture into your face - about 30-60 sec is all.

3) Wet a washcloth with STEAMING hot water. Ring it out and lay it on your face. When it cools, do this again. Then again. This part steams out all the impurities and helps the oils do their job (and feels SO good). This is my favorite part. It reminds me of the mini-facials they do at the local spa.

4) Rinse out the washcloth and wipe all the oil of your face. Be sure to get all of it. This is the exfoliating part....ahhhhhh. You will not believe how smooth your face will be just after the first time you do this!

5) I like to splash hot water on my face as the last step, then pat dry. That's it! If you are prone to dry skin, you can take a tiny bit of the oil, rub it in your hands, and then on your face as the last step - instant moisturizer!

I do this every morning and every night. You can get castor oil and olive oil at most supermarkets, but I prefer to get all natural/organic from the local health food store, since pesticides concentrate in fats. You can also find essential oils at any natural/health food store.

Ok, so I want everyone to try this tonight! :) If you do, PLEASE - leave me a comment telling me what you thought! If I get enough comments, I'll draw a name to win something really cool!

Enjoy your gorgeous skin! :)

dear mr postman...

I finally got my stack of Welcome Packets sent out this week! If you have a session this spring/summer, you should be receiving one of these this weekend. If you don't get one of these by next Tuesday, shoot me an email. I'm pretty sure I didn't miss anyone, but just in case :)

I also emailed out the What to Wear Guide today to all of my spring/summer clients...so keep any eye on your inbox for that lil treat :)

Have a great weekend everyone!

~S

Your Custom Photographer

I found this great resource for parents looking for a custom photographer. Lots of great information, and a great guide for finding the right "fit" for your family. I know I have some blog readers that are not from this area, so hopefully this will help you too as you look for a photographer near you :)

It's full of great info, so go check it out!

I get to see this baby girl again tonight when I go to finalize her birth annoucements....I can't wait! I love my job:)





~S

The most popular question...

...from my clients when booking a session isn't about availability, pricing, or even me :) It's "What should we wear?" One of the great things about being a custom photographer, is that I often do sessions at client's homes, and can actually help them pick out outfits the day of their session. But sometimes clients who like to plan ahead (like I do) want to have those outfits decided beforehand...still others may be traveling out of town to meet me, and may not have the luxury of a full closet of choices when they meet with me. For ALL my clients, you have officially hit the jackpot.

Introducing the "What to Wear" guide! This extensive guide steers you through the entire process...gives you the basics, as well as what traditional rules are meant for bending, if not breaking entirely (you all know I love breaking those rules). :) There's even a handy dandy shopping guide that covers each type of style and gives you plenty of choices for finding that perfect ensemble. On-line shopping links included, of course.

Oh yeah- and we've got moms, dads, and sibs covered, too. There's even a special section for maternity and newborn sessions.

The best part about the guide? It's totally free. Yup. I know. Pretty awesome. When you book your session for 2008, within 24 hours you'll receive a PDF version of the guide that you can save to your computer and view to your hearts content. Pretty generous and earth-friendly of me, you say? Aw, you shouldn't have :)

Here's just a teeny tiny taste of this information-packed guide:







*For the 17 of you that have already booked your sessions for 2008 (you over-achievers, you), I'll email you your guide in the next few weeks :)

Have a beautiful weekend, everyone!

~S

Introducing...

...changes and a new product!

Due to some huge steps up in my print quality and products, I have made some changes in my pricing structure for my prints and products, so please check them out and make a note if it. Starting in 2008, all prints 5x7 & larger come finished with a delicate linen texture, and all prints 8x10 & up will come mounted on sytrene. This hard material keeps your print from bending or folding, and substantially prolongs the life of your photograph - yet won't interfere with framing. These may sound like small steps, but they are just another way of turning your prints into true art. This is something I am very happy to offer my clients as your custom photographer :)

By the way no worries - if you have already booked your session for 2008, you will fall under the old pricing structure for prints. However, all sessions booked from here on out will be subject to the new pricing. Thank you!

Now for the really good stuff! I am so excited to annouce this new prodcut line! Introducing...





These square art prints come mounted, printed on gorgeous metallic paper and finished with a delicate linen texture. The metallic finish combined with the linen texture is subtle, yet makes the print oh-so-touchable. It is just gorgeous! Well, see for yourself...




These 5x5 or 8x8 prints also come with an easel, ready for display. They are perfect for a desk, wall shelf, side table...just about anywhere! More unique than the typical 5x7...and I really can't put into words just how gorgeous they are! I of course had to order some for myself :)

More annoucements to follow later this week....hopefully! I am adding some new things to Summer Knobloch Photography this year, and am so excited to tell you about them. If I can get my act together I'll be posting about them :) I've also got a great website/article to share with you - so I'll try to squeeze that into the week as well! ;)