unobstructed studios

You are not your job.

2017-03-09T21:47:00.000-05:00

So many things are so different than they were even ten years ago, it used to be a matter of pride and dedication to stay at your job for long chunks of time, fifty years, careers, people had careers. They stuck it out and they stayed with companies through thick and thin and they left with reasonable retirement accommodations.

Then came in the era of the 401k and the millennials, and suddenly it was more about now and less about later, You could job hope because if you even cared to save for your retirement, you could do it on your own independent of your company.

Then there is this group of people stuck in a gap between generations that are entering their mid thirties and if they are like me and the people I know they are stuck being defined by their jobs, they work long hours, they will even work from home when they leave work, and enter a blurred zone of what is downtime and what is work time.

And I am here to tell you to stop it. We are not our jobs.

We are people with interests and families, we are people who put in our time at work and we deserve that very little bit of coveted downtime. No matter if it is to sit home and watch TV or to go to concerts and shows or to just sleep, because we all know we aren't sleeping enough.

We owe it to ourselves and our loved ones and even more importantly our cats, we owe it to them to leave work at work and no longer let it define us or control us.

Our jobs are not tattooed on our foreheads either, we aren't born like in the game of Life into predetermined careers and lifestyles, we can change those things we aren't happy with. It may not be easy but we are the controllers of our fate and happiness. As a photographer who needed a break and took up a whole new field for a few years I am telling you, you can literally do whatever you want to. I am not saying you will be good at it but you are the only thing stopping you from seeing if you are. When we reach a point of unhappy in our careers maybe we need to try something new, If something isn't working there for you, maybe something elsewhere will. You don't need to make a million dollars a year to be successful, in my opinion, success comes from being happy to walk into work everyday you are there. It comes from coming home and not being so drained and exhausted your family suffers from your job too. Success comes more from a million tiny moments of happiness added up throughout your day much easier and faster than those pennies add up in your checking account. Notice I said checking because realistically, we aren't barely even using our savings accounts anymore, now are we?

Think about this if you still think I have had too much to drink before sitting down to write this, when you go to a funeral and I am certain most all of us have been to far too many, how many times has someone gotten up to speak and said, Jane was such a great accountant, Jane could really crunch some numbers like nobody else could. Or do they mention how Jane was a great mother and she was a kind person etc.

Life and even death are not defined by your job or career but more the tiny moments that add up in between leaving work and returning, Work will still be there when you get back, unless you work with Milton and wont return his stapler, leave work at work, and if it makes you unhappy, don't do it anymore.

2013 the year of the newborn

2014-01-10T17:21:00.001-05:00

So it has been well, over a year since I have blogged and its funny it seems like it was just yesterday that I was blogging about Tiffany and Chris and the wonderful wedding they had and now I realize their first year of marriage was in September. First of all for those

who read and enjoy these blogs they are not as easy as you would think, it seems like a rather effortless process but it can be a challenge of writers block and trying to not cross the line of too sappy of content when gushing about peoples life moments like engagements or weddings, then you have to mix in a good amount, but not too much, of marketing and personal touches from your own life. I don't know why people are so fascinated with the everyday lives of photographers but they are, one day I will write a book of the random things people ask me and want to know about my life that has no relevance at all to their photos hehe

So you see blogging is almost like the one this I am just really not good at, cooking. Mix in ingredients, stir and burn and then order take out :) It is natural I would not be a good, skilled and committed blogger if I can manage to set a pizza roll a flame in the microwave. Let’s also add in that I cannot spell to save my life, and in reading any blog by me understand that I am a photographer and not a writer, I will make mistakes and I know they are there so I don't need you to point them out to me, unless you have never in your life made a single mistake EVER in your life, then call me, please do, and tell me your secret of world domination through perfection. I'd love to hear it.
All this being said, while I begin to recap and take you through the last year, keep in mind all the things previously mentioned and know that there is a small part of me that likes to blog, but given my blogging handicaps, and sub par spelling and dry humor are merely weaknesses that one day I may overcome. And hey......if it is that bad, just look at the pictures :) Happy New Years and cheers to more blogging in 2014!!
So what’s been up you may be asking yourself? Well, pictures of course!! In the last three years I have seen a huge jump in my client base to the point that I am not currently accepting new clients at the moment, but do not fear! The time is coming! Soon I will be accepting new clients!!

So of all the amazing things that have happened this year all in all I would say 2013 was the year of the newbie! And by that I mean WE HAD A BABY!!!! And by that I mean my best friend and her husband had my little god baby and let me tell you, she is beautiful!! We had a blast at the maternity session and really went a far different route with hanging baby clothes of a clothes line and it is actually something that we loved so much we used again to! And amazingly this lady had a baby and then less than 2 months later was back at shooting and second shot an amazing wedding with me! That is crazy! And from that we actually did a significant amount of maternity shoots and then newborn sessions as well, including my little god baby Lilith!! And Lilith was all waves and smiles during her newbie shoot as you can see!! And she is just getting cuter and cuter too as you can see

above!!We definitely saw alot of maternity and newborns sessions here are some highlights from just a few of those shoots! It was amazing for me because I got to see some of my best friends and people I have known for years and years go through so many wonderful life lessons this and last year. One newborn session in particular was a bride of mine from 2011 and I have known her for years since I was about 21.

I got the awesome pleasure of I had the honor of doing a maternity and gender reveal for a client of mine that I have known since she was a little girl and she is now a beautiful wife and mother of about to be two babies! It is just so heartwarming to see people grow into amazing adults and even better parents!

It was also really cool to have done maternity sessions for folks and then turn around and meet their little bundles of joy at their newborn sessions!! So all in all 2013 was for sure the year of the newborn and this makes me very very excited for 2014 the year of the cake smash! And I love me a good cake smash session!! Mixed into these newborn images are some additional highlights from the year.
This year should be ever bigger, ever grander and far more fabulous I have already started to acquire some amazing props thanks to my awesome boyfriend that got me a vintage scale for newbie shoots, one I have wanted for years and I CANNOT wait to use it!! I am seriously so excited! There is a lot in store this year and a lot of changes too!! One thing that we are focusing on as a business improvement for 2014 is our turnaround time, we are trying to shave it in half and cut it from 5 to 7 business days to 3-4 days!!

We have already start the entry period for the FOURTH annual cutest kid contest, can you even believe that we are in the fourth year!! I am so excited to be able to offer the entry fee of $15 for the first two weeks, which actually ends today and then goes up tomorrow. This year you can win a free full session which includes multiple locations and the runner up wins a half session! I am sure you all remember the “boy in the blazer” from last years contest and the reigning champion and cutest kid Amari!!

A few more highlights!! Caroline the worlds best intern graduated college and nailed a great job up in Tennessee! I miss her some much!! She helped me shop when she interned for me!! But i am so proud she is doing so well for herself!! I got to do all my volunteer jobs for the same organizations! FROG! The best oncologist in the area and across the country because they do have a New York Office I believe! This AMAZING group of people do so much for their patients including tailgate parties and jags games, even the employees are taken care of too and are all just so sweet and nice and I could go on and on and on! This year I got to work with them on four different projects and I got to meet the American Idol contests that just so happen to be related to one of the doctors and I just had so much fun!

And I got to meet this amazing man! And we had the pleasure of meeting this amazing lady named Lisa, she puts on mystery parties, like murder mystery who dun it parties that are seriously a blast! We went to one and seriously had so much fun learning all the characters doing some role play and learning who was the killer and all the costumes were just amazing!! Then at the couples shoot I did for Lisa and her husband, they were awesome! They were open to doing a shoot with holi powder it is the brightly colored powder that is in the color me rad marathons and used in the festival of color. It was one of the funnest shoots of the year and they were so awesome for being open to it! And they made a fabulous Christmas card from their shoot!

Back to that amazing man too! Someone I have known for years and didn't talk to nearly enough, and he kinda came in and swept me clear off my feet! I have never been happier, he makes me laugh and encourages my dream of photography and couldn't be any cuter at all with his southern roots and piercing blue eyes. He has made my year one of the best in years. Here is me and him the night of our mystery dinner party! It was seriously so much fun I suggest everyone book one of these parties!! Good times!

So here is to 2014 and all the ups and downs that will come with it. One of the things I have taken with me from 2013 is that I am not perfect and I cannot always be in 20 places at once. Sometimes it is okay to say no and sometimes it is okay to take time to smell the roses. Everyone, every single person on this planet is beautiful in their own way and I am head over heels in love with the fact that it is my job to bring that beauty out of everyone and show it to the world.

Lets meet at 9 and just have fun!

2013-09-03T13:05:00.001-04:00

This is what fun looks like. And this what every one should do!! A few weeks ago I posted something about shooting more types of shoots for ladies just to make them feel good about themselves. And this is one of them, this shoot was planned in about 20 minutes between me and Melisa, the model in these photos, and the end results are freakin' magical.

I think every women at least should schedule a shoot for themselves, wear their favorite dress or outfit or wear that dress you love that you only could pull off at a formal wedding or the golden globes or something. Find a location and go take some non traditional portraits, why you may ask?? Because you only live once, just do it! You will be amazed at what it will do to your self esteem. This shoot was supposed to generate about 10 images and well I am still editing it at 50 images, we put our heads together and I through out ideas and she threw out ideas, we brought props, we even did a little chatting and laughing and talking. It was one of the more fun shoots I have had in a long time. You even could have used the summer special for this too, but now that the summer special is expiring tomorrow this session is going to be $100. And if you would like a to add a $50 print credit to the session you totally can, I would recommend that too because what is the point of going out and having this much fun and letting your images sitting on a dvd just waiting to be printed? These types of shoots are designed to function more as art than just portrait work. If anyone is interested in one of these shoots and is on the fence about, do it! They make an amazing gift as well.

Besides the fact that you are starring in your own art, these shoots are so much fun. This one in particular was a riot, we had amazing light and some great conversation, we got to play around with props and just have a relaxed and great time. We may or may not have trespassed but it was totally worth it.

To book one of these or to gift one of these sessions to anyone, email cynthia@unobstructedstudios.com, and I will get you completely taken care of set up for a shoot. Think about the face that you don't have to just use this for women, think of how beautiful an artistically spectacular image had your child in it?

One of the things that made Melisa a perfect match for this shoot was her willingness to try new things and run with new ideas and also bring ideas to the table as well. You can book one of these and go the simple route or you can book one and go over the top Avant Garde jumping in the ocean in your wedding dress, it is based on your preference and willingness to try new things and make some awesome art. Think of all those cool shoots they always do on shows like Americas Next Top Model, wouldn't it be fun to try some of those, not the ones with any live animals or bugs though. Take a look at the images below and enjoy the beauty of them and consider your own!

Tiny Little Dancer

2013-07-11T15:08:00.000-04:00

Here is just another look at the summer special and all the great images that come from a 30 minute shoot. These sessions are such a great value, you will always end up with a little bit more than the flyer says you will.

And by the way this is Emily, she is a beautiful client of mine, her and her mom have been clients since last year when I first shot Emily's dance recital and then we did posed pictures after that. Her dance recital was amazing. And this year Emily has begun ballet too!! I am letting her get plenty of practice before I take her to the wildflower fields for some beautiful ballet shoots.

She comes from a line of very strong willed women from her mom to her grandmother. This family is amazing and I am proud that they are my clients. Emilys mom is taking Emily on her first cruise to Honduras around to the Bahamas or some place lol

They are just a great family all around, they are a family that is close and that sticks together. Emily as tall as she is, is only 11 years old, but she is smart and polite, she definitely already has the pose of a ballerina for sure. Each of these 30 minutes sessions finishes up in the allocated time and still there are always extra pictures and when I am done the clients have not even broken a sweat yet, so it is the perfect session time.

Look through the images below and consider booking your session today before it is gone and no longer available!! You can email cynthia@unobstructedstudios.com to set up one of these summer specials.

Christmas In July

2013-07-04T17:04:00.001-04:00

Normally July is known for these kinds of lights and not Christmas lights but this year fireworks are going to be the Christmas lights of the summer. And that is because it is Christmas in July!! Exciting news and exciting things have happened at Unobstructed Studios this year and after many many years of hard work and blood, sweat and tears, I am very happy, even more than happy, I am proud to announce the launch of the first annual Christmas is July Contest, and it is a contest like no other.
Backstory: I was approached by a private donor that is preferring to remain private, a person that shares the same beliefs as I do, one that feels that tit is very important for photo of your family to not be considered a luxury item anymore but something that every family needs, something that every family should have. And although I have a low rate it is still un-affordable for some people, that is why the money was donated. In my years as a photographer I have given away plenty of shoots for discounted and even for free and i simply can l=no longer afford to do it and still be able to pay my own bills and operating cost and this upsets me more than anything because I am so passionate about helping people and families. So you can imagine my joy when I was given the money by a selfless person to provide a session for a family that cannot afford one themselves.

Entering: You can enter your family into this contest or you can enter someone else, in order to enter you have to email Unobstructed Studios with the subject of your email as Christmas in July. In this email you need to include your name and how many people are in your family and what your family consists of, is a mom and dad and a 4 year old or what not. We need to know how many people and of what age your family entails. Or the family you are nominating. In your email, a brief description of your family and why it is that you feel that you should win this session, if you are entering another person or family you need to included in the email why they need to win. Maybe you are entering someone who is a single mom and she works more than one job to make ends meet and never asks for help from anyone and she really deserves this. Maybe you know someone that recently suffered a major loss in their life whether it was the loss of a loved one or maybe they had a disaster strike their lives, maybe they were victims of a fire or a robbery, the private donor that is sponsoring this family wants to be sure that they are truly helping someone. You have to use your own judgement when entering this contest and you will know if you are entering it for the right or wrong reasons. The deadline to enter this contest is the 15th of July and every single entry will be reviewed by the donor of the funds and they will be the one that had te final word in who wins the session. The session is an hour long family session that will yield 30 images on a dvd and included copyright and printing rights.
So, if you know someone that could really benefit from being entered into this contest enter them!! You have until July 15th to enter but please don't delay!! If you have any questions you can email contact@unobstructedstudios.com and I will gladly get back to you promptly with answers. If you want to enter your family or another family email that same email contact@unobstructedstudios.com, if you want to match the donation so that more than one family can benefit from this contest email that same email address. You do not have to even match the dollar amount that was originally donated, but if enough donations come through than we can continue this contest and bring more nice things to deserving people.
I would like to add this little disclaimer to anyone entering, I do understand that some of the information in your entry email may be personal and should not be shared with the general public. No one will be viewing these emails but myself, the photographer and the one person that donated the money for this session. I do not want anyone to feel like I cannot be trusted with their information, it will all remain private and if there is anything that is put out there for the public to see, say if you were to be the one to win the session, I would first inform you that you win and ask you what you are comfortable with the public knowing. I understand and respect people and their privacy.
Please by all means, share this contest with anyone you like, the more entries the better!! We want to spread the word and get this information out to as many people as possible and give as many people as possible a fair chance at wining!

Baby Blues

2013-07-01T10:50:00.001-04:00

Normally a blog would feature one family at a time but not in this case, this is a story more so about a process than anything else. I cannot even tell you how many sessions I have shot, how many different types of sessions and how many different events etc, in 2011 I shot over 250 sessions for example and I have been at this photo game for many many years. I have a vast portfolio, when people want a job done for free they come to me and say this will be a great addition to your portfolio, well chances are, it wont be, because I have done so many types of things that my portfolio is actually too big, but that is great in reality.

You put a child in front of me and i can make magic happen, you give me a grown man that hates to smiles and is known to be combative in photos, no problem at all. Give me someone who cannot read and just bought a DSLR camera and I can have them have it mastered in a few sessions. Try to hand me a newborn child and I won't even hold it. I will cower and try and run the other way. Now, don't get me wrong I love them, they are precious little babies and they have the cutest little feet and fingers. They are beautiful beginning of life reminders of how life is an amazing thing. I have shot a handful of newborn images that have turned out pretty ok but they have taken hours to shoot and I personally am not really happy with them. Some of which I have asked to re-shoot for my own self esteem lol I have been unhappy even though my clients have been satisfied. Newborns are my weakest link. I have brainstormed, I have read books and articles I have consulted other photographer friends. So, instead of just accepting that I am not good at something and that it does happen and all that jazz. I have launched a huge effort to fix this problem. This includes heavily discounted newborn sessions, these sessions are an investment any session is but especially newborn sessions. So I have marked them down to under $100 and they are still that same prince now.

I believe you cannot have a successful newborn session with out a Mom that is on board and willing to help at the session in more than one way. And being that there are times that the baby needs attention and you cannot be constantly taking pictures during the session I have graciously thrown in lifestyle images to these sessions too. Whether I have children or don't, whether I want children or not, this doesn't mean that I do not like them. Quite the opposite I think kids are great, there are some kids I value more than adults and some that are smarter too. I am not afraid of kids at all but I was scared to death of newborns. At a recent shoot I was holding a four month old baby for my client when the little girl tried to catapult out of my arms to get back to her mom, apparently kids do that!?!?! I was so scared I have yet to pick up a child since then.

A child safety is more important to me than my own and that is one of the reasons that mom must be on board. There are many pictures of newborns you look at and think awww but you don't realize that a hand or finger has been removed from them because a few day old baby cant hold up their head on their own and things like that, or that there is a heating pad under the blanket they are on to keep them warm and comfortable. If your photographer does not practice safe photographer, they shouldn't be in business. So when I decided to make this effort to investigate and improve my newborn photography, I looked into every safety precaution I would need and implemented it. So then I moved on to props....

Props are expensive no matter what you are shooting but newborn props blankets hats and headbands can go off the charts. So, to cute some of the cost down, I am making my own with in reason, if I can do it I will if I can't I will buy it. My mother used to crochet when I was a kid and she taught me some stuff so I am using what I know to learn more and practice and then I can make a few hats and a few blankets. So many newborn sessions are about variety, never using the same prop in the same year that I have a hard time paying 50 bucks for a one time use blanket or hat. If I can make some myself I can save a little money. And this is also one of the reason s that newborn photography is normally about 300 plus dollars.

Thus far I have completed one hat and I am halfway through a blanket custom made for newborns.
So basically I have begun embarking on a journey to perfect an area of photography that scares me and I am far from done, newborn sessions will continue to be discounted until I feel I am comfortable enough to whip one out in under 5 hours. I cannot thank these parents for the patience they have shown me as we trial and error through this process together and keep in mind that if you know anyone that is having a baby and looking for newborn images, Unobstructed Studios has newborn sessions under $100.
It was a hard step to admit that I needed to improve on newborn sessions but once I did I felt better about taking on the job to improve them. I have already learned alot and I can already see a change in the image outcomes. Aside from obvious developments about temperature etc and things I have studied to get better, I have learned a few things that you won't find in a book at all.
No matter what two always follows one. And if you don't know what I mean by this you probably have no kids. Boys, pee a lot more than girls and two always follows one.

When a newborn is not feeling it and just really won't go to sleep and just is kinda fighting dosing off and all, they will find a way to show you they aren't comfortable, and after you feed them, let them go one and two and burp them and put them on a heating pad to keep them warm and do everything you can to make them comfortable and fall asleep, after all that, if they don't want their picture taken, even at 4 days old, they will find a way to let you know. Sometimes, they will use their fingers to tell you :) {see right image}
If there is an animal in the house at the time of the newborn shoot, they need to go outside or in another room where they cannot be near the newborn, that is a no brainer, but the lesson I learned was, if you are going ot limit or cut off their access to the room the baby is in, you should make sure that the animal cannot even see in the room you are in with the newborn, especially in the event that the baby cries, because that dog will flip the crap out and he doesn't know he is being loud and keeping the baby up he thinks he is protecting the baby and he or she is, they are being great protectors, but they don't realize I am not doing anything wrong. The beautiful boxer mix to your left is such a sweet little dog named Annie, and she was my friend before and after the session but during the session, this was Annie staring in the window at me and the baby. And when that baby cried because she wsa hungry, Annie didn't like me anymore and Annie tried to get in the door herself, with out the courtesy of using the door knob. I am thankful dogs have no thumbs :)
Newborns are beautiful little reminders of how precious and magical life is. Buuuuuuuut sometimes those beautiful little reminders need something to help us remind us if it is a beautiful boy or girl. And that my friends, is where all those adorable and expensive hats and headbands come in. But, I am getting alot better at those hats!! Sometimes it is as easy as the color of the blanket you are putting them on. But, I did realize very fast that green blankets are always going to be a no no because they produce the worst color skin tone on a newborn, There are just so many things to learn and in 10 years I am still going to be learning them I am sure. But I did learn some good things too, as much as the whole picture is amazing, sometimes the details are just as beautiful and important, especially those little toes!
Whether awake or asleep, a baby is precious and sometimes they wont sleep no matter what you try, no matter what you feed them, no matter how warm you keep them or how quiet the room is, and if you choose to take images with them open you are still going to get amazing images that you will love forever and get to look back on and remember and smile.
And alot of times some of the best images are not the posed ones, and this has been part of my mission statement since day one, life is candid and crazy, it happens fast and its dramatic, every single time I do a newborn session I cannot leave with just posed images, I cannot do it, it goes against everything I am as a photographer and person. There are always wonderful posed images of course and those will look amazing over your mantle, but there are also the moments of mom rocking her baby back to sleep or a little girl that is so caught up and captivated by her little sister that she just sits there and stares at her. Those moments are more important than posed ones, they always will be and they will always be there too. You wont see me turn my camera off until I am walking out the door because I do not want to miss those candid moments, and I am sure y'all don't want me to either. If anyone you know is having a baby in the near future and would like to take advantage of the newborn special rates like these two families did, please email me at contact@unobstructedstudios.com

Hot Summer Sessions and Savings!

2013-06-05T12:16:00.001-04:00

Summer Sessions are here!!!

These sessions are designed for a few reasons....one it is becoming way too hot to be outside for hours shooting. And two the cost is alot lower and more affordable as well. Below you will find the proof sheet from one of these half hour sessions and you can see that is yielded more than 15 images and it is a definite deal. You can include up to two people in these sessions, and anyone else over that is $25, that is still an amazing deal. And like always, it is not a case of pick the best 15, this particular session I am sharing with you had over 20 images and my client Erika will receive all 20 something images.

These sessions are amazing, and they really are a great deal. It is similar to a mini or half session in which you have one location and one outfit, so it is a session that will meet the needs of almost every client unless you are building a modeling portfolio and need make up and wardrobe etc. These are simple shoots, that produce beautiful images and in under an hour, you cannot go wrong there, you won't even break a sweat while shooting one of these.

Under the proof sheet is some of the larger sized images from the session, look at them!!! They are not all the same pose and some of them are very different, so you will have variety, and you may not think 30 minutes is enough time but it really is, this session had 28 images to be exact, and never once did Erika feel rushed at all, in fact we stopped a few times to chat about a few things and we walked around the area we were at and looked a few different options for shooting. And if you are a client of mine, you know that I will not leave a session until I know that I have the images I need to produce a DVD with at least 15 amazing images on it. And ten times out of ten, you receive more than the session guarantees you get. And at $60 you cannot go wrong with that rate!! It is so low and so worth it! If you haven't had your pictures done in a while, now is the time to book yours!! Life happens fast and kids grow fast and things change fast, pictures freeze time. And if you know anyone that could really benefit from such a low rate, please feel free to share this with them. I firmly believe that memories should be available and everyone should have them, as well as images of their family.

To book email cynthia@unobstructedstudios.com I will be glad to help in any way throughout the booking and shooting processes to make sure it is a wonderful and fun time while helping preserve your memories.

Mommy & Me {and our photographer}

2013-06-05T10:39:00.001-04:00

Now that I have finally earned internet privileges from my service provider I can catch up on my blogging! I am sure you are all barely able to contain yourself with the joys of reading my life altering blog posts. I am actually beginning to enjoy blogging more and more every blog. Let me remind you once again that I am not a writer, I am a photographer. I am make mistakes and I always spell check but sometimes I miss things, if you are one of those types that a misplaced period or comma will keep you up at night, then you may want to stop reading now and just scroll down to the pretty pictures. I type like I think, fast and like one giant run on. So buckle up, here goes....

What we are embarking on is a mommy and me session. And to be completely honest, this session scared me a little. Yes, I have been doing this whole photography gig for 7 years, and yes I have shot plenty of session sof mom and child but when you change the name of it to Mommy and Me, to me, it takes on a whole new meaning. It is no longer a simple portrait session, it becomes a greater thing. My goal is to capture the same thing, but now it is called a Mommy and Me session. This is hard to explain. It has always been my goal when working in sessions of family members to capture not only the unique characteristics of that family but also the bonds of that family. It is not always an easy job either. And with this new found Mommy and Me pressure too, I am capturing the bond between mother and child.

When I first started talking to Mandi about her session, I immediately loved her! We had alot in common and she had something about her that put you at ease, I know now that it stems from her bionic maternal instinct, but anyways, when you talk to her, ya just feel comfortable, one of those ladies you could tell anything too and she listen until the end types. I hate to admit that I didn't actually meet her face to face until the day of her session but that is sometimes how it goes when two people are busy and on different schedules.

The day of her session was one of the nicest days weather wise we have had in ages. And you can see that in the images below, it was a gorgeous day. And a few other things you can see in these shots from Mandi's session, it is carried through in these photographs, the love that she has for her baby girl and the bond that the two of them share. It is a beautiful thing and I will say it is also something that you cannot Photoshop in and you cannot force or stage, it is natural thing that exists only between a mother and her child and it is beautiful. It is love. I am pretty sure I was scared of the Mommy and Me session because I was scared that I may not be able to capture that love and I was jumping out of my chair when I looked back at the images from this shoot for the very first time. Baby Kindyll, who I might add is a very strong and active lil baby....I held her for a nano-second before she tried to launch herself out of my arms, scaring the ba-jesus out of me, back to her mother...as I was saying, baby Kindyll has such a strong bond with her mother it was hard to get shots of her looking at the camera and not her mommy, still that is so sweet. And all in all it was a no need to worry or stress session just because it was a different named shoot. Turns out I love the Mommy and Me sessions, I think every mom should do one or two, one as your child is a baby and one as a toddler. As you look at the images below and think to yourself about the last time you had pictures done, let alone a specialty session like a Mommy and Me, consider booking one. If you are interested in a Mommy and Me session, email me {cynthia@unobstructedstudios.com} and lets talk about it, mention this blog post to receive $50 off a Mommy and Me session. But, I do suggest to not wait to long to book a date, we are booking into the fall already.

Unmentionables

2013-05-28T07:22:00.001-04:00

It's that time when we must talk about those unmentionable things that no one likes to talk about and remind everyone that Unobstructed Studios is a company and has policies.

Session rates went up a few months ago and they will not be going up again until January if they go up at all. A half session is what most clients can get by with unless you need location and wardrobe changes. It's is $150 and requires a deposit. Every single session requires a deposit. A half session deposit is $75. The minimum deposit amount if you receive a special or a discount the deposit is $50.

If your total amount due is less than one hundred dollars the full amount is due as your deposit when you book.

A full session is $225 and this requires a deposit of $100.

I will not hold a spot for anyone, not even my own family, with out a deposit.

If you are rescheduling your session with in 24 hours there is a $25 fee. Whether you reschedule, cancel or cancel until further notice. The fee is $25.

If you are more than 30 minutes late upon arrival at your session it is a $20 fee. You will not receive your images until its paid.

A full session covers 8 people after that additional people are $25 a person.

A half session covers 6 people.

I am not the enemy here at all. I am merely a small business owner that is tired of being taken advantage of and losing money that makes my company run.

I have no problem offering specials from time to time and giveaways but some people do expect that I should be giving everything away. I hope you all can understand I have bills to pay and an operating cost to meet and in photography that is a high cost. Should anyone have questions about this here is my cell phone number, 904.200.0897.

I do have deadlines and costs associated with those deadlines and when things are meet and everything is running smoothly I am able to being more savings to you all, the clients that keep me running. This is more than a job to me I am very invested in each and every one of my clients. I value each one of you personally. And I am extremely greatly for each and every one of you.

You cannot measure the love of a parent

2013-05-08T12:42:00.000-04:00

They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I do believe this, I believe that this is also very applicable to family members as well. I have two siblings that live over 2000 miles away, hell, one lives in another country, So, when you finally do see that person the time you have with them is alot more valuable. You cherish those moments alot more. And that is one reason I am a photographer, I want to bring to people those magical moments when they have those reunions and see people in their lives that they previously have not seen for years. Those people that you have a relationship with but you only speak on the phone or through the internet somehow.

I am sure that many of my fans can recognize the man in these images, as I work with him alot, if you do not remember him, this is Scott, he plays the bass for the River City Kats, I do alot of work for them being I am their official photographer, and yes I am very proud of that. Anyways, most of you do not know that Scott has a daughter, Sarah, she lives in Idaho. And although she is just like her Dad, they had not seen each other in almost 20 years until last month. This reunion has been months in the works and Scott did what ever he had to do to make it happen. We all heard so many wonderful things about Sarah prior to meeting her. I can remember way back when I first met Scott in about 2007 or so and even then he had the most amazing things to say about his daughter. She truly is Her Dads child. When Sarah made it to Florida and we all finally got to meet her, it was amazing to meet someone that had so many similarities to their father whom they haven't seen in 20 years.

Sarah obviously inherited a music gene from her father because the girl can belt a note like no ones business. It is rare to meet a person like Sarah, that is so young but has such an old soul. She actually started playing some music that she liked for her dad and it turned out to be some of the songs on his bands set list. The irony is just amazing I could go on and on about the common things these two share. It was almost as if no time had past and these two had just seen each other the other day. And although it was a sad day to see Sarah go back to Idaho, I know we will be seeing her again soon, and I am totally down for taking a trip to Idaho to see my new friend, I hear it a beautiful state. These images of Scott and Sarah I took a few days after she got here, just because I wanted Scott to have these memories of her visit and their time together. And he just so happen to have a wonderful backyard for photos, and I am so thankful that no one mowed the grass because it was amazing. The overgrown grass and little weed flowers than popped up were beautiful, these are the location features that I search for and he had them right in his backyard.

2013-04-17T14:56:00.000-04:00

Look y'all!!! It's my sister!! My sister and her boyfriend Will are making their first of many appearances on the blog today! After a few months of dating these two are gracing us with their pretty little faces! My sister has been wanting to do a session for awhile now, as it has been awhile since I twisted her arm into doing a shoot a few years ago, that session was just of her and a few of me and her for our mom. But, it was alot easier this time around, especially since she wanted to do it! Me and my mother teamed up on these two and for Christmas we got them a gift certificate for a full couples session, which by the way, in case you didn't know is $225, split into two payments, if you need them to be, one deposit and one payment. And it also now includes two locations and two outfits and about 60 images. And, it now comes with amazing packaging when you receive your DVD. Anyways moving on, and back to their session!! It was a gift for Christmas, but we ended up shooting it in March because of the insane weather this year. So, we all road together and headed towards Boone Park in riverside which if you know me, that's one of my favorite places to shoot, but I will not be shooting there anymore solely to add more variety to my images and not keep using the same places.

So, we get to Boone Park and walk around and try and find some amazing light and it was one hell of a challenge, it was such a spotty light day, the sun was coming in and out and there wasn't alot of shade coverage anyways, so from the start the light was like the weather had been the previous 3 months. We took a few shots here, got some good ones and then I asked if they would mind leaving and finding somewhere else. From there we headed further into Riverside and landed at riverside park, this is right by 5 points, it is most well known for the duck pond in the middle of the park. One side of that park is all shade, that makes this photographer very happy! This park is always full of the most interesting people, including the homeless man that would not move his laying in the middle of the sidewalk self out of my way. He literally straight up ignored that I was even talking to him or that I existed when I politely asked him if he minded moving over slightly to the right some. But, its okay I had a great ole time photo-shopping him from all the images he photo bombed. Other than him and a rouge duck that flew directly at into my face just about, the location was great and the pictures were great and you can really see the love between these two. And, yes I am partial 100% because it is my sister, and I am so happy for her and her boyfriend who is so sweet to her and treats her like she deserves to be treated. And he better or else he will have me to answer to!! And yes sir that is a threat! LOL. But in all seriousness, I am so happy that my sister has found her happiness and on top of all that they now have these wonderful images to go with it. And, they even got a great photo-book from this session too!! You can add one to your shoot as well!!

I love the couples sessions like this one, where you can see that they are so in love and so happy. For one, when a man is willing to even do a couples session, that alone says something right there about how much he loves his girlfriend or wife or what have you. I know how much men hate having there picture taken, so that being said, when that is the case, during the shoot, sometimes I will tend to focus slightly more on the lady and it always always always makes for amazing images.

Another great reason to shoot in riverside, just jumping around topic-wise, is that there are so many different locations that are amazing and totally with in walking distance to each other. From Riverside Park I made these two little love birds walk across the street to an old church that had amazing brick walls. It added a great texture to some of the images and it gave the session alot more images to choose from with alot of variety in not only posing, but backgrounds. I am all about getting the most for your money here folks!! And the church also had a great little grassy area in the front of it too, that made for a great place to shoot, so, if anyone is down for alot of variety, riverside is where it is at! Just please be aware of crazy ducks that will fly directly at your face and make you scream like your being killed and then have everyone turn around and stare at you like you are a moron. I love this job, no lie.
Couples are so much fun to shoot, I love the interactions between them I love having my clients renew my own sense of the love in the world by their actions. That being said, I want to work with more couples!! If you would like to book a session or get more information on a session just let me know, you can email contact@unobstructedstudios.com to get more info or to book. I will be glad to help in any way I can and I am so excited to implement new packaging for all sessions, I am sooooooo happy an excited about the new packaging and presentation of your images, I cant wait to share it with y'all.

Sarah's AMAZING Senior Session!

2013-03-01T22:39:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone, meet Sarah, she is pretty!!! Oh and she is super smart too!! Last month we did her senior pictures and they were so much fun. You just have no idea, one of the main goals that I have as a personal photographer is to make sure that your session is fun. Yes you should have amazing images and all but you should have fun and enjoy your whole experience!! So, we meet downtown at the Florida Theater and cruised around that area for awhile for her first outfit. In walking around and talking to Sarah, I got to learn alot about this smarty pants girl that is about to graduate high school. Sarah is a student at Providence High School and this girl has alot of ambition ! It was so awesome to meet someone so young that has such a strong head on her shoulders and I tell you what, the girl gets it from her momma!

You all should also know that I strongly encourage you all to bring your family pets to your shoots as well as they are just as part of the family as other members of the family!! This is Pippa, yes Pippa and this dog is adorable!! She was named after a somewhat new found member of the royal family. We had to get Pippa in some of these shots, especially since Sarah has decided to go to college out of Jacksonville, not too far but still out of Jacksonville, so Sarahs amazing mom may have gotten Pippa to combat a little upcoming empty nest syndrome. How stinkin' cute is this puppy! And she was so sweet too!! And let me tell you there is nothing that makes an image wonderful like a puppy and a pretty girl. Seriously y'all unless you have a pet bull, bring it to your session! I am an animal lover and I will never have a problem with a cute furry family member, ever, unless its actually like your uncle or something, I am talking four legged cute and furry friends!

These last few images are some of my favorites from Sarahs senior session, I just loved working with her, she was so up for anything and yet so posed at the same time. This girl is going to go very far in life, as headstrong and motivated as she is. Again, it is such a nice change to see kids actually motivated and ready to strive for their future. Sarah was actually accepted into alot of great schools, including her first choice school, the University of Florida. I wish her the very best of luck in the swamp, not that she will need it at all! I am actually slightly nervous for her to read this blog post and notice that I am a photographer not a writer and that I make mistakes :)

If you are interested in booking a senior portrait session or a similar session with Unobstructed Studios, we would be honored to help you with that! You can email us at contact@unobstructedstudios.com to set up your session at any time!

The River City Kats are out of the bag....

2013-02-27T21:13:00.000-05:00

If you have not heard yet of the River City Kats, yet, I am sorry for all the great music you have missed out on thus far, but have no fear I am here to enlighten you now. The River City Kats are a blues band based out of Jacksonville, a three member band that just recently became three members, but held their ground and sound impressively well before the addition of their drummer. They have played on some of the best stages around Jacksonville, including Free Bird.

I have had the privilege of being their official photographer for awhile now, and every show I have been to has never let me down. Here is there bio, read it, enjoy it and thank me later....

RIVER CITY KATS ARE A SOUTHERN ROCKIN' BLUES BAND.....SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE! AN AMAZING 3 PIECE GROUP WITH CAPTIVATING LYRICS AND STAGE SWAGGER TO ENTERTAIN MOST CROWDS AND MOST VENUES!

LONNIE IS THE FRONT MAN AND JUST A COUNTRY BOY FROM KANSAS WITH AN ARSENAL OF LYRICS TO PULL YOUR HEART STRINGS AND MOVE YOUR FEET! BEING INFLUENCED BY EVERYTHING FROM BLUEGRASS TO METAL YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WHATS COMING NEXT!

SCOTT IS THE BASS PLAYER THAT HOLDS IT ALL TOGETHER! HE HAS HIS OWN STAGE FLAIR AND STYLE THAT CHARMS AND ENTERTAINS YOU. COMING FROM OHIO, HE ALSO HAS A FEW INFLUENCES UP HIS SLEEVE AS WELL.

THE KATS WELCOMED MIKE WELLS INTO THE BAND IN DECEMBER OF 2012 TO COMPLETE THE BAND! HE IS A DYNAMIC DRUMMER THAT BRINGS SEVERAL GENRES AND YEARS EXPERIENCE TO THE KATS AND PROVIDES THAT ROCKIN' HEARTBEAT THAT DRIVES THE BALLAD LIKE BLUES!!

TOGETHER THEY ARE THE " RIVER CITY KATS" !! AN AWESOME 3 PIECE BAND THAT PROMISES A GOOD TIME AND IS AVAILABLE FOR MOST EVENTS!

Feel free to check out their upcoming shows March 15th at Roc Bar in Arlington or April 20th at Yesterdays in Riverside. Tickets are available for their March 15th show in which they open for Tesla, if you are interested in getting tickets you can get them by calling Lonnie @ 904.226.1529

The Kats are currently embarking on recording their debut EP as well. Below you can also find a link to their Facebook Fan Page and their Reverb Nation Page as well.

Here is the link for the River City Kats Facebook Fan Page, go there, like and show some love.
http://www.facebook.com/RiverCityKats?fref=ts

Here is the link to Reverb Nation, this is a great place to check out and listen to some great songs by the kats.....http://www.reverbnation.com/rivercitykatsjax

3rd Annual Cutest Kid Contest

2013-02-20T12:20:00.001-05:00

Just a few updates regarding the 3rd Annual Cutest Kids Contest.

Due to the freezing cold temperatures in the last few weeks the deadlines have been pushed back and the contest is now reopening for entries.
The entry fee is $25 and includes a 20 minute session and an 8x10 of the contest photo. The winner is chosen by a 5 day voting process and the most likes wins a free full session for their family it is good for a year and is a $200 value.
To enter you can email Unobstructed studios at contact@unobstructedstudios.com to set your session date and an invoice will be mailed to your email that is due the day you book your session.
After your session you will have a private proofing gallery online and from there you will pick your contest image and that is the 8x10 you will receive. With your print you will also get a disc of all the images on the gallery!
This is an amazing deal! An everybody wins type of contest! Don't miss out on this special!!

2013 Cutest Pet Contest

2013-01-14T07:21:00.000-05:00

It is that time of year again!! Time for you all to enter contests to win stuff!!! Here is the deal, last year we did a very impromptu cutest pet contest because fo the popularity involved with the cutest kid contests that year and the previous year. The response was amazing! I have some amazing clients and fans and you all never let me down! So, because of the popularity with the contest last year, we are doing it again!!

In this blog you will find enters for this year, so far in the contest we only have pups! Any pet can enter, any!! There is a $25 entry fee and what does this cover you ask? It covers a mini shoot with your pet! It is a 20-30 minute session that will generate about 5 -7 images, all of which you will get! And you also get an 8x10 of the entry photo!

The judging period is a week long and the photo that receives the most votes will win a free full length sessions $200 value, for their whole family, including them! We love animals at Unobstructed Studios and you are always encouraged to bring them along on your shoots as they are part of your family!!

If you are interested in entering your pet, all you have to do is contact us at contact@unobstructedstudios.com and we will be glad to set up your entry session.

Keep in mind that running at the same time we have our 3rd annual cutest kid contest! Yes, that's right, third annual The entry fee is the same amount and the contest is run the exact same way and any child ten and under is available to enter the contest!

Cutest Kid Contest & policy changes

2013-01-02T16:28:00.001-05:00

I am sure you all like how i lured you in with the teaser for the cutest kid contest and slipped in the new policy changes and rate updates! Tehehe, I am sneaky.

Last year I was particularly lenient on late fees and rate discounts, and I am sorry to say that is no longer going to be the case at all. I am sure that everyone will be ever so understanding as this is a business and a non for profit organization. Lets refresh, your deposit is due THE DAY YOU BOOK YOUR SESSION. If your deposit is not paid you will get a late fee. I cannot bend on this, I am sorry. Second payments are sent out with a specific due date, if it is not paid the day it is due, you will get a late fee. Please keep in mind that unless you are booking a wedding or event your invoice acts as your contract.

Proofing galleries will go up after 7 to 10 business days and they will come down 15 days after they are posted.

Full sessions are riced at $200, plus tax, half deposit.

Full sessions come with a $25 print credit. Shooting time is 2 hours, and generate 40-50 images delivered on USB Drive or DVD

Half sessions are $100, plus tax with a half deposit. Half sessions will generate about 25 images and they are delivered viz digital file submission.

If you or anyone is entering into the cutest kid contest, it is for children 10 and under. Here you will find the rules and regulations:

1. To enter the contest your child must be ten and under at the time of the contest judging in March. Each child entered will receive their own mini shoot at the location of the parent’s choice. If you have more than one child entering you do have the option to split up the shoots to different days per children. Every child enters will receive an 8x10 of their contest photo and their images from the mini shoot. The shoot normally lasts around 20 minutes and at most will generate 8 images on a DVD and gallery for you to choice your contest photo and print.

2. The winning child will receive a free full session face value at $200.00, per 2013 rate increase prices. This session is valid for ONE YEAR. It will expire March 2014 if it is not used by then.

3. Once your entry fee is paid please work out a date that is best for you and your child to hold their session and rely it to your photographer.

4. The winner is chosen by fans of the Unobstructed Studios Fan page based on the number of likes on the contest photo in the week long time frame allocated for voting. If you or your family members partake in any activity such as creating false profiles to generate more votes you will be taken out of the contest. This is an everyone wins contest by everyone getting a DVD and print of their child, there is no need to cheat.

Tiffany & Chris 09.01.12

2012-10-17T03:40:00.000-04:00

There is no reason to doubt a couples love at all, when you can see it. And might I add that is the case with this couple! Its Tiffany and Chris!! They were married on September 1, 2012 at the San Marco Preservation Hall and I will say to you all, it was AMAZING!

Me and Tiffany met about a year via telephone, and I feel like I have loved her ever since that day! We chatted about the wedding and life among other things and we really just hit it off. So much so that our first meeting ran very very late because of all the chatting we did! She hadn't set a wedding date yet and neither had another of my brides and both of them had the same day in mind too!! What ended up happening was she chose the first and selflessly gave the coveted date away to the other bride with out even thinking twice about it! Tiffany is also the one bride I have had that was completely calm up until and through out the whole day of her wedding.

I just cannot say enough about this family! They are amazing! Every single person we met that day was so kind and welcoming as if we were in their family too! And this was also my amazing second shooters first wedding with me and boy did she set the bar high for herself! She did such a great job and there are so many amazing shots of this wedding.

And to Tiffany and Chris, from the bottom of our hearts and by we, I mean me and Shannon, we wish you two the very best in life together. We look forward to working for you again in the future as your family grows.

Here are the juicy details of Tiffany and Chris's September 1st Wedding

Wedding Dress Designer – Alfred Angelo

Shoes – Kenneth Cole

Grooms Tux came from Burlington I think it was Sean John ( the rapper)

Cake designer – Frank Boatright –

Flowers – Daisy Boatright.

Hair – Terri Boatright

Make – up - Me

DJ – DJ’s to Go

Chapel – San Marco Preservation Hall

Reception River City Brewery

Gift Contest!!!!

2012-09-17T12:33:00.001-04:00

It certainly seems like it has been an awfully long time since we had an exciting contest here, huh? It has been!! Below you can find all the details on the Gift Contest!!

We are going to be gifting a session to one of our fans slash clients and anyone can enter to win!! Here's what you do, submit via email, tell us who you are nominating to receive the session, it can be anyone, even yourself. But, you have to tell us why you feel this person deserves to win.
Photography is all about story telling and we want to hear your stories, maybe you are nominating someone who is always there for everyone in bad times or a single mom or dad that has worked hard for their family, or perhaps someone who has just over come extenuating circumstances.
Please make sure to include all their information. Submit all entries to cynthia@unobstructedstudios.com and in the email subject, put Gift, so we can easily sort through all the submissions!!
Everyone knows someone that they could tell us about and we are ready to hear about them!!!
We will only be accepting entries until the end of the week, so get to typing!!!

I see a boat!! I see Daddy!!

2012-09-14T17:26:00.000-04:00

Okay, I am not sure where to start.....but let start with this little disclaimer....I am a photographer, not a writer, and though I did excel in English in college, I am still not a writer. I am the worst speller on the face of the planet. You will never meet a speller worse than me. So, while reading and enjoying my blog, please understand that I will spell check it once and then call it day. Good images speak for themselves.

On to the good stuff, I had the pleasure of shooting my very first military homecoming!! This has somewhat been in the planning works since January when me and my client, Debbie were talking about her husband Nicks upcoming deployment and how she was going to basically be a single mom for seven months and I asked her if she had ever thought of doing a military homecoming.

She had thought about it alot, in fact, so much so that she had an outfit picked out and purchased for her baby girl, Lillian, before she was born. So, we have been keeping this under wraps since January. This has been keep a tighter secret than my Christmas sessions!

So I had set the date aside in September, and I set aside the whole day because I knew I had to go through the security process and all and being it was my first shoot of this kind I had no idea how long it would be, I thought I would be there all day. And then the date kept changing!! Thank you to hurricanes, tropical whatevers and the government the date changed I think three or four times.

So the night before the 'big day' I am going through the details with Debbie and where to meet etc....here is the plan I was given lol

Set the alarm for 6:00, shower, get ready, here is where it gets funny. Debbie says to me, if I am doing okay in the morning lets meet at my moms house (closer to Mayport than her house) and I will come get you and her from there.

If I am freaking out in the morning you go to my moms and ride with her and I will pick yall up from the park and ride near Mayport. But I think I will be okay.

Morning off comes and I am ready to go!!! I call Mary, Debbies mom, and say I am a little behind due to traffic and I am freaking out that I am going to be late for this once in a lifetime event. So I will meet you all at the park and ride, she agrees and gives me directions to park and ride. Then Debbie calls me and she is freaking out! She will meet us all at park and ride, now that we are all riding separately lol she then gives me different directions to the park and ride. So I start to sweat and freak out more. I stopped on Mayport road to get a third opinion on directions to the park and ride from the nice gentlemen at the Kangaroo, he was right by the way. I get to the park and ride and I am the first one there. Uh oh. Mary is turned around, not lost, turned around. Debbie is close but not there yet.

Once Debbie gets there it is now time for us to be standing in front of the ship on base and Mary is not there yet, so she is contemplating leaving anyways and having Mary find us on base. So, after a few phone calls, we are doing just that, leaving the park and ride and going on base and Mary is meeting us there.

Once we get on base Debbie is so excited to see Nick, she is not the worlds best navigator, and I am in the backseat with her two kiddos, Logan nad Lillian and Debbies brother Dalton is in the very back of the SUV thingy we are in. And no one is in the seat up front, that was Marys seat. I am reading directions from the back seat while Logan is yelling, "I see the boat I see Daddy! I want to get out!!"

Side note, Logan thinks that his Dad is on Noahs Arc and he is expecting to see animals. LOL.

So, being that we see no road signs we are lost and Dalton and I are trying to help Debbie from the deep depths of the SUV thing over Logan yelling. I did offer to drive, several times. And I did also point out officials that we could ask for directions. We found the boat and couldnt actually get to it, so we had to drive all the way around and ask an officer who directed us to park in a certain lot and we were all good from there. From the back seat I am scouring the lot for open parking spots, I totally offered to pay the ticket for her and park in handicap, I know its wrong but I don't care at this point, I want to see this reunion.

I find the first spot that is so small I cannot open my door to get out. So I have to (THANK GOD FOR DALTON) hand over my equipment and climb over the seats and out the back of the vehicle. Meanwhile, Nick who is on the deck of the ship, can see us pulling in when we got there.

Once we got there and got out of the car, the military homecoming stars aligned, we immediately found Mary and we found Nick on the boat and he was one of the first sailors off the boat!! So, all this being said, I hope you all enjoy this little preview from my very first (and hopefully not last) military homecoming!!

If you or anyone you know are interested in scheduling a military homecoming or any other type of session with Unobstructed Studios please feel free to contact us at any time and we will be glad to work with anyone to get them the images they want from their special event. Our contact number is 904.657.0867 and email is contact@unobstructedstudios.com. We are always accepting new clients and welcome new faces :)

And this is where Debbie just went ahead and went under the ropes to great her husband and it was so touching to be there for that moment. I actually pushed a grown man out of my way to get this shot, I did apologize afterwards, but come on, who steps in front of a lens like that!! Jeez!

Someone clearly takes after their mother with going under ropes LOL!!!

This was so cute after everyone started clapping, and stopped clapping actually, Lillian started clapping too!!

I don't think that Logan is going to let Nick out of his sight for a while!

I have never, in more shoots together than I can count, seen this boy this happy, it was amazing! He had the hugest smiles as soon as he saw his Dads boat!

2012-08-30T12:31:00.000-04:00

Omggggg....are you ready for the cutest little family! Let me tell ya!! This little boy, Amari, is so stinkin cute! I have done his pictures a few times in his little lifetime and every time, he just gets cuter and cuter! He has been in 2 cutest kid contests with Unobstructed Studios and I did his baby pictures when he was just a little guy. Well, Amari is about to welcome in December another little one into this adorable family. And he is such a good a sweet big brother already! It was so cute to see him kissing his mama's belly at this shoot!

And this is an example of another amazing client, one who was such a trooper, waking up and getting ready to be at the beach at 6:30 in the morning to dodge a series of afternoon rainstorms that have effected every session after one clock for a month! Rebecca actually got to the beach earlier than that to watch the sunrise with her family!

And can I say how lucky we are to have beat the weather because just a few short days after this session, Rebecca tripped and broke her hand!! So, we are wishing her a speedy recovery! So please enjoy the images from Rebecca, Jaylen, Amari and Aiden's session at the beach, especially the most adorable image ever of Amari holding the sonogram image of his little brother, which at first he was holding upside down!

I just can't say enough how sweet this little boy is! And he has a huge bright amazing smile!

I have the prettiest clients! Rebecca has some amazing genetics, she barely looks like there's a baby in there from certain angles. And the back lighting on this image!

Amari had this much energy throughout the whole entire shoot too! Goodness can we bottle that stuff?

This picture of Rebecca and Jaylen just makes me so happy that she has an amazing boyfriend who is also a great Dad too! And as a photographer I love that they fit well together with their height!

Hey Ladies!!!!

Aww! Look at how cute and happy this family is!

It was an uphill battle to keep this kid out of the water during their shoot, so once we were finished the first thing Amari wanted to do was run into the water. A good boy should be rewarded, and he was. He is like a fish too and that water, to me, was freezing.

Should anyone want to receive information on booking a session with Unobstructed Studios, its simple! Just email us at contact@unobstructedstudios.com at any time to book a session!

Fall Halfs and Holiday Specials

2012-08-27T14:13:00.000-04:00

What a year 2012 has turned out to be so far!! And there's still so much more to it!!

I have managed to somehow finish the 2013 calendar of events already too!

Hows that for being caught up on stuff! Below you find the specials that are running through the end of the year and maybe a peek as to what's in store for next year too!!

Fall Half Sessions

September 21st, 22nd and 23rd Fall Half Sessions!!

3 spots are available per day

30 minute sessions 10 edited images

8x10 of your choice $60

add a custom photo book for only $25

Halloween/Autumn Special!!!

October 12th, 13th and 14th

4 Spots available for each day

30 minute sessions 10 edited images

8x10 and wallets

$65

add a custom photo book for only $25

Holiday Special!!!

Running from October 1st through November 30th

$140 full sessions

one and a half hour sessions

20 edited images

holiday photo book and dvd

2013 Line Up

Pulling out all the stops in 2013!!! The year is going to start off with a huge Valentines Day special both for adults and for kids! In the early spring the 3rd annual cutest kid contest is coming back followed by Easter specials!! And that's just the beginning of the year!

The Battle of the Blog

2012-08-11T03:38:00.001-04:00

Circa 2011, I logged in so many hours blogging that I actually began to detest blogging and the proof can be seen in the difference between how many posts I posted in 2012.
For the most part though, I actually for mind it, I quite enjoy it and I love bragging about all my clients and such.
In the last few weeks I have been given a lot of thought to the relationships I have with my clients and how much I adore them all.
I have a more complex relationship with my clients than most photographers do and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Each and everyone of them holds a place in my heart. I have always gone above and beyond for then and I always will. Nothing is more rewarding to me than the true friendships I have formed over the last few years.
Some of my clients I consider family to me. I have visited them in hospitals,i have been to their kids little league games and I have mourned losses with them.
So all this being said, there's no reason I can't blog more about the people I hold so dearly in my life. And that is what I shall do! Blog!!!!

AFRP Convention

2012-08-05T14:58:00.000-04:00

2012 American Federation of Ramallah Palestine Convention in Orlando Florida.

Held at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando Florida the American Federation of Ramallah Palestine Convention this year was full of amazingness, amazing people, vendors and sponsors, not to mention the amazing views from all around!
If you have never been to the Waldorf in Orlando, have a look at the view:

Complete with a golf course on site and a lazy river. The Waldorf is attached to the Hilton so, there were most definitely two pools and a ton of great things to do. The property is also located on Disney property so that's just even more to do while you are there. Now that you have been familiarized with the area, here is a little bit about Ramallah, Palestine, including the history. Ramallah, built on 19,000 dunums of land and located 16 kilometres north of Jerusalem, was known as “Ramalie” in 1186, when the king-consort of Jerusalem, Guy de Lusignan, offered this little village in trust to the German hospital in return for a one-year loan.

The name Ramallah is composed of “ram,” an Aramaic word that means “hill” and “Allah,” the Arabic word for God. Thus it means “the hill of God.” Most probably it was originally called “Ram” and, only after the Arab conquest of the area, the word “Allah” was added. Another possible explanation of the word

Ramallah is “God-willing” or “God wished” or “wanted,” as “rama” means “wanted” in Arabic, though the first explanation is more likely. And Ramallah today, Al-Manara Square is an important landmark of the city. It took its name when, between 1930 and 1940, the power station that provided Ramallah with electricity was fixed in the centre of Al-Manara. The man in charge of lighting the city used to switch on the lights of the main streets and the few nearby houses in the evening. Things changed later when the Jerusalem Electric Company was founded.

Ramallah was incorporated as a city in the year 1908, with Elias Audi as its first mayor. Since then 26 mayors have been in charge of the municipality. The twenty-fourth mayor was an Israeli who was appointed by the Israeli military governor. In 1994, the Palestinian Authority took over and, later, Dr. Issa Ziadeh was appointed mayor of the city. After he passed away, Mr. Ayoub Rabah took over until a new election was held. At present, Janet Michael is the city’s mayor.

Ramallah has expanded in all directions, especially to the west where thousands of new houses and buildings cover the al-Tireh area and surroundings. Ramallah today is not only the home of its inhabitants but also the temporary administrative capital of Palestine. People here enjoy openness, tolerance, and a multitude of cultural and educational activities.

So, back to the convention, a gathering of some of the nicest people I have ever in my life met. It was so much fun to work at and see all my clients and meet some new ones as well. From July 5th through the 7th there were plenty of great images captured at a multitude of events. From comedians to fashion shows to a grand finale banquet, which ended with fireworks, here is a little look at just some of the great events.

The first day of the convention saw a very long line for registration for all the guests, followed by a kick off party, Monte Carlo Night, in which every guest was given some gambling dollars and let loose to play at the slots or the tables, all the stops were pulled out for this event, and all of the events. Not to mention a fabulous lunch on day one by one of the sponsors, the Bank of Palestine. Day two highlights included a fashion show by one of the sponsors, Chi, in which all the attending guests were given a nice gift bag stocked with amazing Chi products, including Chi fragrances. Performing artist Jennifer Jajeh entertained a full crowd of guests later in the day with her one women show, including my favorite part, ask a Palestine.

The finale banquet was exquisiteness down to the very last detail. The convention coordinators and chair members really did a perfect job planning everything. They thought of everything, including having child care available on site for all the guests.

To see all the images from the convention you can visit the link below and check out the gallery! You can even purchase images from the convention at the link or even grab a DVD of all the images for only $35. The convention was a great time! Next years convention is going to be in Detroit, Michigan and I am so excited for it!!

http://www.unobstructedstudios.com/clients/20120707_afrp/index.html

Above is the link that takes you to the gallery to view all the images from the convention. This includes images from all the events and the posed family shots. If you have any questions about the gallery or DVD purchase you can contact Unobstructed Studios at contact@unobstructedstudios.com at any time and we will be glad to answer any questions you may have.

New Year New Policies

2012-01-19T14:11:00.001-05:00

A little yet, yes, but it is a new year and that means a new, fresh start and the beginning of new policies at Unobstructed Studios. So, below you will find a look at the new policies as well as all the old ones too!!

We are very excited to welcome you to the Unobstructed Studios family and we are very eager to work for you. It means a lot to us that you have trust in us with your memories. There are few things that we’d like to share with you to help you out along the way.

Unobstructed Studios is dedicated to preserving your memories in a professional manner. If you have any questions, concerns or comments at any time please feel free to contact us. There are several ways to do this.

Call us at 904.657.0867. Email contact@unobstructedstudios.com. Please understand that we do most of our post processing at night and our communication hours are from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. If you are contacting us after 5pm, we may not be available immediately but will return your call or email the following business day.

Session Payments

A deposit is required for every session, if your session is less than or equal to $150, the required non-refundable deposit is half. Deposits otherwise are 1/3^rd and 15% on weddings, deposits are due within 24 hours of the day you book your session. The remaining balance of your session is due at least 24 hours before your actual session date. Unobstructed Studios no longer accepts cash or check at session locations.

Preparing

Before your session it is important to prepare yourself and your body for it. The day before your session drink plenty of water. Not an unreasonable amount, but make it a point to have an extra couple of glasses. This will ensure an even skin tone and a better complexion. Also, make sure that you and anyone else that will be participating gets plenty of rest. It is not unusual for children to be exceptionally tired after their session. If it is hot outside, make sure to continue drinking water throughout and after your session.

Most sessions are held outside; if you are allergic to anything that may potentially sting or bit you, please let your photographer know in advance. This way we can be extra careful around insects, for your safety. If you are pregnant, please let your photographer be aware of that, especially if you at any location that may have any type of animals, such as a farm.

Once your session is shot, with in ten days you will receive your final product. There is time and consideration taken into account for other sessions and post processing. There is a reasonable amount of post processing done to your images. Any additional processing will be at an additional charge. Normal processing includes, sharpening, blemish removal and tone and color adjustments.

When you receive your digital images there are a few housekeeping items that should be addressed. When uploading your images on any kind of web based network, copyright needs to be included. Image captions should read as follows:

Image care of Cynthia Sullivan

Unobstructed Studios

www.unobstructedstudios.com

This protects the intellectual property of your photographer. It is also recommended that you refer your friends to Unobstructed Studios when they inquire about your photographs.

We ask that you do not alter images in any way. This includes cropping and/or editing. If you need additional editing done, please contact Unobstructed Studios to professionally handle enhancements.

Copying is prohibited.

Cancellations

Consultations that are canceled within 24 hours of the consultation time will incur a charge $25.00, this must be paid in full before the session.

Sessions that are canceled within 24 hours of the session time will incur a charge of $50.00 total; this must be paid in full before the session.

Clients that arrive to their session more than 15 minutes after the scheduled session time will be charged a fee of $25.00, to be paid at the day of the session.

If you have any questions about anything, please contact us at any time and we will be glad to clarify anything for you.

We look forward to working with you and sharing your memories with you.

Cynthia Sullivan

Unobstructed Studios

2011-12-11T09:32:00.001-05:00

The Very First Annual Unobstructed Studios Chrimmas Party

2011 has been a crazy year for Unobstructed Studios and it is time to celebrate that! December 16th, 2011 at 6 pm is the time to celebrate. As a great big thank you to all of our clients and friends we are inviting everyone to the Very First Annual Unobstructed Studios Chrimmas Party! The festivities for the night will include live entertainment, a silent auction and raffled prizes.

Helds at the Mandarin Community Club on Mandarin Road. The building that is home to the Mandarin Community Club was rebuilt in 1872, for use as the Mandarin School, after a fire destroyed an earlier building on the site. Harriet Beecher Stowe, famed author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin", spearheaded the building project. Black and white childeren were educated at the school. The address is 12447 Mandarin Road, Jacksonville Florida 32223.

Raffled prizes will be award to raffle ticket purchasers, tickets are $5 for one or five for $20 and prizes include a free full session which is valued at $300 and is good for one year. A 24x36 canvas print of beautiful downtown Jacksonville will be raffled off as well. As well as other prizes.

The silent auction will feature works from other local artists in the area.

The silent auction will feature works from other local artists in the area and include other mediums. Local artist Aaron Smith, a painter and Jacksonville University graduate has donated three paintings for the silent auction. A percentage of the proceeds from this auction are going to be benefitting the Mandarin Community Clubs efforts to fund the historic preservation of the property.

About Unobstructed Studios

Unobstructed Studios is a non-traditional photography company that specializes in candid memory preservation. Owned and operated by Cynthia Sullivan a graduate of Jacksonville University and Jacksonville resident. Unobstructed Studios can be contacted at 904.657.0867 or by email at contact@unobstructedstudios.com