I always say how I have the greatest clients ever.   Really.   Over time you build relationships with clients that you have worked with over and over again.    I meet this family over 2 years ago and have honestly been blessed to watch Miss R. grow and now welcome a new baby brother and sister as well!

…and yes, those awesome clients….well, they also make my cry from time to time.   This picture below tells SO much, but right after I took this, Miss R. looked up with this huge smile on her face and said, “I love them both SO much.”  Yes, I cried.  :)   I am SO blessed to do what I do.    This might be one of my favorite pictures ever.

She is such a proud big sister!

Mr. R….is all boy.   He likes to be left alone and not be held or messed with…he also knows EXACTLY what he wants….and that is NOT his hands under or behind his head.

Miss K….is sweet.   Petite…..and delicate.

They are used to spending their time together….but are totally okay with being apart as well.

One has olive skin and baby rolls.   The other has chicken legs. 

…but I am sure they will always have a special bond.

…and quiet moments.

…and moments of pure JOY.

Thank you Peter, &  Meredith for being such awesome clients and for allowing me to witness and capture your blessings year after year, moment after moment.    I love you guys!   :)    Congratulations!!

January 13th AND January 20th

6:30 - 9:00 PM both nights

at my House here in Victor

6674 Pond Side Cir.

$75.00 (includes wine and snacks)

Class Limited to 5 Students ONLY

I am very excited to announce my 5th Beyond “Cheese!” workshop!   I decided to do this one a little bit differently than I have in the past and break it up into 2 weekday sessions so that crazy sport Mom’s like myself can have thier weekends to play TAXI!!   I also decided to make this class a bit more hands on and personal.   The class will be limited to 5 students ONLY so we can all just sit around the table and talk…and drink some wine. 

Anyway, as the tag line states, Beyond “Cheese!” is a FUN photography learning experience for people who just don’t have a clue how to use their cameras.  Tired of looking at blurry pictures and wondering if it is your eyes going bad or your camera?  Do you find yourself looking at your camera totally confused wondering what Av or Tv or that little green box is?  Do you REALLY need a 13.2 MP camera?  Can’t figure out how in the heck you get your pictures off your digital camera and to Grandma?  Beyond “Cheese!” can help you with all of these questions!  This workshop is for BEGINNERS who want to learn more about their digital camera (point and shoot or D-SLR), how to use available light and camera settings to produce better quality shots, shooting adults, kids or events and post processing after the shoot.

The workshop will be taught by me,  Kristin Williams of Kristin Williams Photography from Victor, NY .

The workshop will include FIVE hours of total instruction, fun and laughs while we drink wine and snack and discuss things such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO, different types of cameras, exposure, metering, megapixels, picture types, lighting, positioning, composition, etc..   After we figure out our cameras, we will then get ready for some post processing fun! Now that I have all of these pictures how to I get them off of my camera?  Is there a way I can edit them on my computer?  How do I e-mail them to Grandma or store them online?   We will learn about FREE photo editing options out there and then learn some basic Photoshop techniques like cropping, adjusting exposure, making your colors pop, resizing pictures, etc.

The cost for the workshop is $75.00 per person.   You will go home with a boat load of instructional material, a whole new set of tools to improve your pictures and an invitation to the Beyond “Cheese!” Flickr group to post some of your “new” work and to ask Kristin any questions you may have after the class.

If you have questions on the workshop or would like to sign up for the workshop, e-mail Kristin at kristin@kristinwilliamsphotography.com to reserve your spot and I will invoice you electronically.   Tuition can be paid by cash, check or credit card.

I hope to see you there!

SIX weeks ago, I started the “new me” tour.

SIX weeks ago I convinced myself it was time to take charge of ME.    It was time to take care of ME.   It was time to deal with issues that I have been dealing with for years head on.    It was time to start exercising.  Start scheduling time for ME.   Start scheduling time for my family.    All of this is never easy in the fall.   It is the busiest time of year for me and yet some how, knowing I had no other choice, I PUSHED my way through.

On Friday, I had a follow up visit with my Dr and I am so excited to tell you that all of my hard work over the past six weeks paid OFF!  I lost 22 lbs and yesterday I finished my first 5K race in 8 years in 33:40.   YEAHHHH!!!

In that SIX weeks I also worked with two specific families that really touched my soul.    The DiSanto’s and the Fowler’s.   It is not that I don’t have some sort of connection to ALL of the families I have done shoots for, but these went beyond that.       The DiSanto’s had dealt with two cancer diagnosis’s in the past year…and yet the LOVE that I witnessed working with them was life changing.     They are what being a FAMILY is all about in every single way.

I also had the honor of shooting a very special newborn.   As most of you know, my mother was killed by a drunk driver in 1980.   In the car with her at the time of the accident was my mother’s best friend, Linda.    She was pregnant at the time of the accident with her first daughter Elizabeth.    Well, in September, life found a way to go full circle and I had the honor of shooting Elizabeth’s first daughter.

After both of these shoots it came even more clear how much photography was a part of ME.    It wasn’t just a little side business to make a little extra money to pay for all of the boys sport costs, etc.    Photography provides me so much more than that.   It has become part of who I am.  It has blessed me with wonderful friends, and great experiences.   Over the years, and through my own experience with losing my Mom, I have learned just how fragile life is and how sometimes our loved ones get taken too soon and pictures instantly become treasures for years to come.

With all of that being said, when I decided to “retire” after 2010, I did it to be a MOM.    Over the past 5 years, I have done over 250 shoots.   At 2 hours a shot for actual shoot time and 4-5 hours of post processing time, that is over 1500 hours of time away from my family.    I know I don’t get this time back, and as I sit here looking at pictures of them, it is hard to believe my “baby” will be 10 in May.

So, here is where I struggle.   As much as I want to have more time to be a MOM, how could I possibly have a “new ME” tour and NOT have at least SOME photography be a part of it??    So, you win.   :)    Maybe instead of retiring all together, we can compromise a bit.  :)   lol!

As celebration of the new “ME” and to honor all of the families that have touched me in so many ways, today I am opening up SIX shoots for 2011.   This very well may be ALL I do in 2011.   I have so much I want to do.   I want to go to all of the boys games, I want to train for the 1/2 marathon in September.   I want to be a MOM.    I might get a new full time job, I might be traveling more with work…..I just don’t know.   So much has changed in the last 6 weeks that I can’t even imagine what I have in store for me in 2011!

So, here are the details.   These SIX shoots will be scheduled as one shoot a month for May, June, July, August, September and October.    Right now we will just schedule you in that month and when we get closer to the month I will contact you and we can pick a specific weekend and time.    The session fee for these shoots will be $200.00.   It will be due within 5 days to hold your spot.    If it is not received in 5 days the next person in line will take your spot.   Print prices and digital package prices will remain the SAME as 2010 for THESE SIX shoots.

So, how do you get one of these sessions???    They will be booked on a first come first serve basis.   Once this blog posts gets posted, the first e-mail (cjconmom@gmail.com) I get will be given the month they requested and then I will go right down the list.  Once the six shoots are gone, I will not be creating a “waiting list”.   I will invoice you for the session fee later tonight when I am done with my last day of shooting for 2010!!    Pay your invoice right online and you will get the shoot.    I know there are SO many people that wanted shoots in 2010 and didn’t get them.    So, tell your friends, now is your chance.   

A very special thank you to my wonderful friend,  Shannon Hersh, who did all of my scheduling in 2010 and was VERY much involved in helping me make this decision.   I couldn’t have done it without you.     I Love you so very much.

Thank you to all of my 2010 families.   I am so blessed with your business and friendship.

I can’t believe I am saying this….but…..see you in 2011!!

PS.   Don’t forget about the old digital file special mentioned HERE .    All files from an old shoot for $100.00!!

I know I said I would announce this on my birthday on Monday, but I have to admit…I was too busy celebrating!!   It was a wonderful birthday…one of the best ever!   Anyway, I have been excited to announce this special!    E-Mail at cjconmom@gmail.com if you are interested.

A couple of other things….

1.  My home phone is officially disconnected and we have taken the plunge and gone cell phone only.  So if you need to reach me, call me on my cell phone at 217-2054.

2.  Wondering where all of the sneak peeks are???   I have been so slammed that it has just been easier to put them up on my business page on Facebook.  So if you are not a fan, click on the link and become one and check out all of the new pictures!

Oh….and…..I just might have an announcement on Sunday - my last day of shooting!!   My wonderful manager, Shannon Hersh, is helping me work through all of the details.  Don’t even TRY to bribe or ask her what it is…she is sworn to secrecy!!

I always tell people to pick a location that means something to them…this couple did that and it shows in every single picture.    This couple met at St. John Fisher, so we returned there to take these pictures on a beautiful summer  night.    The colors were beautiful and the kids had a blast. 

I love couple shots….especially this one.  :) 

Love this one. 

Chris played football at Fisher so it was awesome to get this shot right down on the field. 

Daddy time. 

Thank you for an awesome shoot Chris and Jessica!   So glad I FINALLY captured your family shot you wanted.  :) 

Every year, I pick a family and donate a shoot to them.   In the past I have taken nominations for families, but this year, I didn’t have to.   I knew EXACTLY who to pick.   I meet the DiSanto Family when CJ played t-ball when with their daughter.   We live in a small community, once you meet a family, you know them because your circles always cross.   Tim is a teacher in our school district and Julie has that smile and kindness that you will never forget.    To say they have had a challenging year would be an understatement, but regardless of what they were going through, they still stayed the same old sweet, loving family that those in our community know and love.

I can’t tell you how special this shoot was…to see the 5 of them interact…to watch the love they have for each other…to hear all of Tim’s “BIG” ideas for the next picture….to see them stick together.    It is one of those shoots where I walk away a better person just for being able to spend time with them.

Tim and July picked Nazareth for their shoot because it is where they both went to college.

This kids are the nicest kids you will meet…and great sports too!

Another of  Tim’s “visions”…just makes me laugh.

Love this one….it also cracks me up because we did this on the first day of class and this is one of the main doors to the main buildings were the students go to class…they were not going to stop us!

Over the past year or so, both Julie and Tim have dealt with some amazing challenges, but their love for each other is so awesome to witness.   I can’t even put it into words, but I think this picture totally does.

After we did some shots of all of the kids on the front steps, Tim wanted to finish off the shoot with a good laugh.   The DiSanto version of “Abbey Road”  (like I said, the kids were really good sports!).    Taken during the middle of the first day of classes at Naz.   I laughed SO hard taking this….standing in the middle of the road.

Thank you to Tim and Julie and all of the kids for allowing me to spend this time with you…I will forever be changed by my time with you that day.    You are an amazing family and it was an honor to be able to capture your love for each other in pictures.    Thank you.    Love and prayers to all of you.    Fight like a girl Julie!!

Fishers Park was the perfect location to shoot this family!    The weather was beautiful and the kids were such a joy to photograph.

They all have such amazing eyes…and I love the outfits they picked out as well…you know how much I love brown!

….she is GORGEOUS.

Love this shot with Mom and daughter….no wonder why she is so gorgeous!  Look at her Mom!

Thank you for such a wonderful shoot!!!   You guys are amazing!

Christy and Jamie are our neighbors….and such good friends.     We are so blessed to know them and every time I am with them they remind me to live it up!!  They always have so much fun and their shoot wasn’t any different.

Beautiful.

CJ is going to be a rock star some day.   Just wait.

This picture is them to a “T”!!

Family…

They have a good family friend, Bill, who joined us for their shoot.   Love this one.

Different processing…not sure if I like it, but it is fun!

When I say FUN, I mean it.  At the end of the shoot all of them ran out into the water and jumped in in their nice clothes!!!!   It was so funny to watch and photograph!!

Thanks Palmiere family for being such wonderful friends and for reminding us to have fun!

This little guy took me two tries…he was all boy and didn’t want to miss a thing!   He was so sweet though and I enjoyed my time with this awesome family regardless.

This is all boy.

When we had him outside in the beautiful breeze he wasn’t interested in sleeping at all!

Getting all 5 sets of feet aligned is not easy, but I think this shot it cute.

Big sister.

Big brother…with big blue eyes!

She is such a great big sister…so very smart too!

This guy was always moving!

Thank you Kendall family for allowing me to share some time with your beautiful family….even if you are big time Red Sox fans! 

She pretends to be shy….but she really isn’t.   I promise.

We headed out to The Apple Farm in Victor for this shoot….I love this location!    So many different places to shoot!

I have done pictures for this family every year…it is awesome how connected you come to them…this little girl is a dare devil!

…a funny one!

This shot was taken through two open barn doors.

The swing is always a big hit here!   Love this shot of the three of them.   So much fun!

Miss A. took this shot of her parents.   I always give the parents heart attacks when I give kids the chance to take some pictures, but she did an awesome job with this one!

I better watch out!