Well, I guess Fall is finally here... {Okemos Photographer, Lansing Photographer, Lansing Family Portraits, Okemos Newborn Photographer, Lansing Senior Portraits}

Are you surprised as I am that it's suddenly fall?  The warm temps we had were awesome!  Flip flops and sleeping with the window open....then suddenly...it's fall, autumn, cold!  There was Ice on my windshield this morning for the 7 a.m. carpool ride.  I do NOT look forward to the cold again.

But...the advantage to the extended fall is that it's October 25th - 2 months to Christmas - and we are still enjoying beautiful fall colors outside!  

If you want fall portraits - give us a call today!  517-349-3340 and we'll try to find a time for you in our schedule - it's still a crazy time of year here at the studio, but we know we have to get these done before the dreary days of winter settle upon us.  We'll work with you to find a good time to get those family, kid or senior portraits!   Don't miss your chance!

Class of 2017 Senior Portraits! July special - Save up to $70! {Photography, Senior Portraits, Lansing Photographer, Okemos Studio}

It's always nice when you're reassured that you're not just blowing hot air.   Last week, I had TWO clients/ class of 2017 parents tell me that they were so happy they chose us for senior portraits this time.   They had chosen someone who does photos 'on the side' for their older children, and were thoroughly disappointed and regretted that choice.

Don't regret your choice.  This is a BIG time in your senior's life and a BIG decision.  These portraits will be displayed in your home forever.

So now that we've established that you should always choose a professional, why choose Okemos - Studio?

- You'll get a private, personal session with no waiting!   We never "double book" our photographers.

- We will take care of you from the moment you walk in the door, show you to one of our two spacious dressing rooms and get you a cold beverage.

- We offer free outdoors in our studio park, which was professionally landscaped for photography.

- We offer a free 'buddy' pose with most of our sessions.

- Our photographers will help you relax, so you can feel comfortable and have a great time.   Because if you have fun, you'll feel good.  If you're comfortable, you'll look great!

- We retouch your complexion on every image in your package.  We know you already look great, but we'll take care of any areas that concern you.  :-)

- You'll get a free yearbook image with your order - and we'll send it to the school for you - no worries!

- We offer free name and year on wallets - and you pick font & color.

- We put free Sneak Peek images on facebook - but only after we've done some retouching - so you look great in the images you tag & share!

- We've been in business over 55 years, watching many studios around us close up shop.  How have we lasted so long?  Well, we're talented, professional, and experienced.  We keep our looks fresh, with new lighting techniques, props and backgrounds. And we have a reputation for quality and great customer service.  You know -the important stuff!

Here's one more thing to help make that decision just a little bit easier: Seniors photographed in July can save up to $70 off their package!   All they have to do is be photographed in July and place their order by August 15th.  We offer online viewing and competitive pricing.

Give us a call at 517-349-3340 today to schedule your session.   We'll take care of you and make your senior portrait experience the best it can be.   Trust professionals.  Trust Okemos Studio.

Summer of 2015 got away from us! {Okemos Studio, Senior Portraits Lansing, Senior Portrait Photographer}

As always, the summer blew by and before you know it, the leaves are falling off the trees and we are talking about Christmas order deadlines!
It has been a great summer - we've worked with lots of fun students and their families - and fit in some children and family portraits along the way.
Enjoy these samples, more Christmas info is on its way - and enjoy what's left of our fall before the snow flies!

New options in our outdoor studio! {Okemos Studio, Senior Portraits Okemos, Senior Portraits Lansing, Outdoor Studio Lansing}

Did you know that we have an awesome outdoor studio on our property, in our back yard?   We do!  Right here on Grand River, we have an outdoor park!   It's Huge and has been professionally landscape designed just for photography (of course!)
We purposefully put in all the natural features people request most- like a pond with waterfall, lots of foliage, flowers, trellis, sandy beach scene, and tall wildflowers.  But, we also have a lot of architectural sets like barn wood, wood siding, metal sheeting, brick & concrete to give us a variety of options for every session.
Since we have been in business for 50 years, we're constantly changing and adding new design elements.
Here are a few of the changes we've made - the metal sheeting gives a nice textural element, with some reflectiveness for interest.   The blue door is a pop of color that complements most any outfit!   And the red barn wood is from a salvage yard and decades old.  We haven't touched that one - it's perfect the way it is!  
We invite you to stop by and take a peek at everything we offer.  You'll be shocked at what is back there!

Location, Location, Location! {Senior Portraits Lansing, Senior Portraits Okemos, Okemos Studio} Save up to $100 in June!

 I get the envious, yet sometimes difficult job of choosing the images we post online.   Sometimes it's just so hard to choose!   These girls both did a great job with their location sessions at MSU Children's Gardens and Old Town in Lansing.    I have posted a few here - but their sessions were fabulous - and they did fabulous!

So, the answer is Yes - we go on location!  We call them Senior Safaris - and can go to either of those locations, or one of your choice - a barn with your horse, your house, anywhere in the Lansing area! 

Sessions are 1 or 2 hours long and include unlimited outfits.  There are limited times available as summer goes on - it’s best to call early!   517-349-3340

Book your session in June and you could save up to $100 off your package!   Call Now!

2016 Senior Season Begins!!

We are so excited to be gearing up for our 2016 Senior Portrait Season!   We always start by photographing our senior reps, trying out new backgrounds and props.  So far, we've only been able to do indoor - outdoors is next week.  (Providing the weather holds out!)

I love that these images show how there's just nothing like professional indoor photography.  Anyone with a camera can call themselves a photographer - but can they do this??

Why do we call it 'senior season'?   Because Now is the time to do senior portraits!  Why should you worry about next year's portraits now?  Did you know senior yearbook photos are due shortly after school starts?   That means seniors need to be photographed during the summer or early fall to allow enough time for getting the image ready (retouching, etc.)

No doubt your family has a lot of plans for the summer - vacation, work, camps.  If you call now and schedule a session ahead, you'll get one more thing off your To Do list!  Plus, you won't have to worry about scheduling around back to school activities, sports practices, etc.   If you wait until August to call....yikes!  Remember how busy August gets??

 

April News!  

 

Thank you again to Amber for being such a great model for her Oldham session!   We are privileged to know her. 

Class of 2015 and 2016 seniors - it's that time of year -we start our GREAT spring session special!   Save $100 off a location session - or get 48 free wallets with your package with a Deluxe or Favorite session at the studio.  Call 517-349-3340 for details.

Class of 2015- Aaack!  When is your open house?  Have you ordered your invitations yet?   Come on in and we will show you samples and discuss the different options.   Turn around time is less than 2 weeks, but you have to allow time for mailing -so it's best to come in SOON!  

BOX sessions!  It bears repeating - we are the ONLY studio in Okemos, Michigan, The MIDWEST, that offers these sessions!   Come on in if you have questions, or to see what we are even talking about!  

As lways, thank you for reading and for your interest in Okemos Studio!

Luck

Luck is a funny thing. 
These images are from an amazing session we did with an amazing woman and her family.  As you can see, Amber's smile can light up a room and she's as beautiful as she is determined to beat her cancer.  We were SO lucky to be able to photograph her!   And I'm sure she thinks she's lucky that she found the Oldham Project, and she could have this experience at no cost to her or her family.  Personally, I think we were luckier.  :-)

But when you hear Amber's story - you see she has had just a bit of luck of her own.  Her cancer saved her baby's life - and her baby saved hers.  That's amazing.  Just like her.
It's hard to say 'lucky' when you're talking about cancer, but sometimes it's true.  So, here's to you, Amber!  You're an amazing, beautiful, strong, inspiring woman.  Keep fighting.

Spring is coming - and so are the bunnies! {Bunny photos/portraits - Lansing/Okemos Michigan photographer} Bunny Special starts March 9!

The Funnest Week of the Year is about to begin! We love the Bunny Special! You just don't know Joy until you see a little one be introduced to a live bunny rabbit. Ok, so maybe a couple of children are a little skittish, but most warm up and have a blast! Ironically, we find children who have grown up with big dogs to be the most nervous - those that have kitties are fine! They're used to furry little things that want to get close. :-)  In any case, we always succeed and have some priceless portraits for you to enjoy forever!
Reminder -this special is for children ages 6 months to 12 years.  Children over 12 are allowed if they're with younger siblings.  :-)  We don't want to leave anyone out!
Note - Okemos Studio's Bunny Special starts on March 9 and some days are already limited on availability - be sure to call this week to get your best choice of times!  We always get last minute calls that fill up the end of the week.  Don't miss out - call 517-349-3340 today!

Fall Family, Christmas & Card specials! Doing Press Release Portraits the Right Way. {Okemos/Lansing, MI photographer - children, family portraits}

Producing a monthly newsletter - how easy is that?   Seriously - just write up some stuff and post it out there.
Well, if you've ever been responsible to produce one, you have no idea.  Every month you have to come up with some relevant news and write about it in a hopefully somewhat clever way.  You then have to make sure to include the timely specials, feature new images, save it in 3 formats and post it to no less than 6 websites.   Oh, and on time - hopefully - every month.
There have been times when I have a plan for the day and then realize it's the 5th of the month and I haven't done a newsletter yet.  Drop everything!
This post is case-in-point.  Done last week, October's news is finally getting to the blog.   No, I don't post every month, but I wanted to this month to feature a couple of things. 
First, we're having our annual Fall Family Sale - save 20% off family portrait packages for session done in October!   This is a great chance to get that family portrait you've been meaning to do - and maybe even get a few Christmas presents - And save some $ in the process!   We're open to idea - so please give Rosalyn or Kathi a call and we'll help you plan the perfect portrait.
Secondly - Press Release Portraits - Please, please, please - do them right or don't do them at all!   I have seen So Many business cards or websites featuring a photo of someone taken against a wall (cement block, even), with bad lighting and bad shadows.   Or, they've taken it themselves - maybe even outside - and removed the background - badly - using their rudimentary Photoshop skills.   Pardon the pun, but is this the image you want to put forth to your clients?  Do you want them to think you take the cheapest, easiest way to do your business, or that you take the time to do things right?   Trust professionals to give you the professional image you need to succeed!   Call us with your questions and ideas and we'll help you achieve the right look for you.   In a hurry?  High and low resolution images can be ready in just a few days!  Call 517-349-3340 today!

Box Sessions - Exclusive to Okemos, Michigan and Beyond?- {Lansing Photographer, Okemos Studio, Box Portraits}

    What is that old quote?  Success is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration?  It's true.  What's a good idea if you don't actually do something about it?   Here is a perfect example:  Our Box sessions - inspired by an article about another photographer halfway across the country, we decided to make our own to offer this crazy, fun, unique portrait idea.
    Thankfully Ron has a great talent for building things and he came up with a design and built our box, all within a relatively short time span.   Really, probably one of the quickest ideas to come to fruition at the studio, ever!
    What is the Box, exactly?  Well, I guess you could call it a Cube, too.   But, it's just as the name  suggests, it's a big wooden box that people can climb right into.   It fits 4 people, as you see below, and could probably fit 5 if there were enough little people.  :-)   Pets are always welcome to the studio, too, if you want to include the entire family!
 

Pinterest - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly {Lansing Photographer, Michigan, Okemos Studio - children, family, senior portraits}

I'm sure you've all heard of Pinterest - the online bulletin board where you people can post helpful hints, recipes, decorating ideas, and of course, portrait ideas.  it's a great way to waste time, but feel good about the ideas you get - personally, we've tried a few new recipes that my family has enjoyed.
But, when Pinterest goes wrong, it can go very, very wrong.  My friends like to routinely post "Pinterest Fails" on my facebook page - of images that have inspired a parent to do a portrait, then they try to do it themselves, with disastrous results.
Take this image: How hard could that be, right?  Just put the baby on her belly while she's sleeping, and just snap away.  Well, what you don't see is that, if I recall correctly, I have a bean bag on my lap, one of my hands is underneath her bum, and the other is under her arm, trying to keep her head vertical.  And I'm not even the one taking the portrait!   The other photographer is squatting with her back against the wall, trying to capture just the right angle and expression.   SO Easy!!

So, Pinterest has its uses, its benefits and certainly can be very entertaining.  But, not everything should be a DIY project!

Now that that's been said - guess what!  We're on Pinterest!  We often get requests for clothing suggestions, outdoor ideas, etc., so we've created a few boards for inspiration.  It's a work in progress, but hopefully it will be a good source of information for a successful portrait session!  No Fails Here!   Follow us here:  http://www.pinterest.com/okemosstudio/    See you soon!

Why we do what we do {Children Photographer Okemos, Lansing, Senior Portraits}

Sometimes I have days where I say to myself "THIS is why I am in photography", which is what I thought when this little doll, J, came in on Friday with her grandmother and parents.  She is as an absolute delight!  Her smile reflects her personality - funny, sweet, and just oh, so precious!   We were so lucky to be able to spend that time with her - and create some images we're rather proud of. :-)

To make this experience even more special, her grandmother told me that she had her senior portraits done by us, and her father and son both had portraits by us - so J here was the 4th generation of the family to be in our studio.  The fourth.   She said when she wondered where to take J for her one year portraits, of course she thought of Okemos Studio!   She said it was great we were still here - and that's because of our quality.  I think she felt fortunate - when we were the ones to feel fortunate to have such an amazing time photographing this little girl.

THIS is why I do what I do.