192,720 hours

8,030 days

1,144 weeks

264 months

22 years

us

I love this cheap camera-on-timer photo of us.  When I look past the 80′s Reebok aerobic shoes, and nasty print framing Brent’s head, I see love.  Two kids on a honeymoon funded only with wedding cash because they couldn’t afford to save up for a “proper” honeymoon. Our honeymoon planning went something like this: [this conversation, by the way, began at the Family Diner about 2 hours after the end of our reception]

“We were blessed with some cash for our wedding.  Where do you want to go for our honeymoon?”

“Let’s go to Florida”

“Ok, where do you want to stay?”

“I don’t know…let’s just drive!”

And so we went.  We drove aimlessly south…away from our snowy February wedding.  I don’t remember the route we took.  We didn’t have the internet, Google, Facebook, or our iPhone for a guide.  Just a huge folded piece of paper called a map.

Honestly, I only remember going to Epcot and Gatorland.  That’s it.  What I DO remember is adventure, holding hands, happiness, fun, care-free, and love.

Today marks 22 years of marriage for Brent and I.  And you know what?  I don’t remember every single detail of the last 8,030 days, but what I do remember are the same things that describe our crazy, last minute Florida honeymoon: lots of adventure, still holding hands, tons of happiness, loads of fun, and more than imagined love.

I love you, Brent.  More than then.  More than I thought ever possible.

I’ve waited for months for this trip to come…and it’s finally here!

WPPI is Wedding and Portrait Photographers International.  Over 16,000 photographers from all over the world come together to learn, share, grow, network, and have fun!  I love learning new techniques.  I love talking with other photographers and see how they run their businesses.  I love looking at new products to see how I can use them in my photography sessions.

I’m looking forward to taking classes on photographing weddings, engagements, portraits, seniors, and even a class on becoming a better barista [yeah, that's very important as a photographer :) ]…I may even get to go to a private concert with Ingrid Michaelson [if I'm speedy enough to get to the booth in time for one of the 100 free tickets!]

So, I’ve got my 3 notebooks and mechanical pencils ready…let’s do this!

One way to hold on to those ever-changing years is to have your family portrait taken…often…before the jump out of the nest and fly away!  I am now scheduling for spring 2012 Family Sessions.  Use the contact form in the menut on the Teri Klinger Photography website to get in touch with me.  We’ll find a date that works with you and your family for your next Family Portrait Session.

Here are 5 things you can do to help your Family Session be a success!

1.  Clothes

Choose the clothing that fits the look you are going for: formal, casual, relaxed, etc.

Then build a color group to work around.  Make sure your clothing choices coordinate both in color and in style.  Coordinating colors might be: earth tones, blues & greens, reds & browns, or jewel tones.

Add layers and textures.  Hair accessories, fun necklaces, and cool watches can add interest without standing out too much.

Don’t forget about socks and shoes.  I know you’ve seen it…great outfit, but in-your-face white socks – they can stand out like a sore thumb.  Stylish shoes or boots look great in a family portrait!

Stay away from bold polka dots & stripes and shirts with words.

2.  Hair/make-up/stuff to bring

It’s best to have haircuts about a week before a photo session – not the day before.

Men: cleanly shaven

Women: recently waxed, and fresh make-up

Kids: fresh haircuts

Stuff to bring: tissues, brush/comb, wet wipes, toys to keep them occupied if needed.

3.  Enthusiasm

Sometimes kids [well, ok, and maybe Dads!] don’t jump for joy when they know that they will be having their photograph taken.  Be positive!  Let them know that having a family portrait taken won’t be painful [promise!], and that it is important to you.  Don’t worry or stress if they come and aren’t in a good mood…I got it covered! :)

4.  Relax

Don’t sweat it!  I am also a Phys Ed teacher, so I’m used to kids who are talkative, rambunctious, fun, shy, loud, sad, happy, or angry.  Between teaching and being a Family & Child Portrait Photographer, I’ve seen it all [well...almost all].  Feel free to help with the posing, keeping them happy, distracting, etc., but know that I do not get stressed or upset if your kiddo is not 100% cooperative – relax! It’s all good.

5.  Enjoy!

This is supposed to be FUN!  You’ve planned outfits, bought clothes, packed bags, maintained the peace, and now it’s time for your Family Session – enjoy it!  Think of the wonderful memories you are creating and will preserve!  You’ll be glad you took the time and made the effort!

If you an iPhone, you have to check out Instagram.  I’m totally addicted!  [follow me on Instagram at teriklinger]  I posted about Instagram a couple weeks ago, so this is my second posting of favorites.

My goal is to take one photo every day in 2012 of where I’m standing [#fromwhereistand] and what I’m doing at that moment.  Because I’m inside more often than not [boo-hoo...winter!], I have a lot of photos with my furry friends.  Meet Fluffy the guinea pig, Chaya the black lab, and Marley the mackerel tabby! :)  And as an interesting side note…the photo below where I’m in my soccer gear, we happened to WIN our Tournament that night – yay!

For Christmas my husband totally surprised me with the Fuji X100!!  If you’re not a camera geek, the X100 is a retro-looking digital camera [looks like a film camera] that has a lot of image control similar to an SLR.  It can be considered a ticked out high end point and shoot.

I had been drooling over it at Cardinal Camera ever since it came into the store.  Kurt, the owner, secretly called my husband at work and told him how I kept visiting the Fuji and would probably love to have it.  Well, Kurt was absolutely right, and my husband, Brent, bought it that week.

I took a photo of it in Christmas morning with my iPhone…

I knew right away that I wanted to replace the neck strap, but was having a hard time finding something that I loved.

Then I found it.

Modenski on Etsy.  You have to check them out – the hand strap fits perfectly and looks awesome on my camera!  Take a look…

Being a Wedding Photographer means that I get to tell the entire Wedding Day story through beautiful images.  What better way to help show this story than to display it in a stunning black genuine leather Luxury Wedding Album.

This beautiful wedding album belongs to Chris and Becca Samsoe…what a cute hubby & wife you make! :)

After a photography session, it’s so hard to choose just a few favorite images!  The Magazine Style Book is a great way to keep a lot of those images.  For more details on book sizes, number of photos, and pricing, please contact Teri at teri@teriklingerphotography.com.

I’m a sucker for love.  Hopeless romantic.  Softie at heart.

Maybe that’s why I like weddings so much.  The anticipation…wait for it…they see each other for the first time…sigh

How do you explain that feeling?  It’s like you’re going to explode with happiness.  What’s the word for that emotion?  I’m not sure what the actual word is, but I think it’s a combination of joy, happiness, relief, elation, devotion, and extreme love.  Maybe that’s it – extreme love.

Whatever the word is, here are just a few of my favorite wedding photos full of extreme love…

Are you starting to think about your Senior Portraits, but you don’t know what to do, who to ask, where to go, or how much it will cost?

I’ve tried to make the whole process seem a bit easier by answering some FAQ’s below…things you can expect before, during, and after your Senior Portrait session.  If you have any other questions, or if you’re ready to book your Senior session, email me at teri@teriklingerphotography.com OR you can fill out the CONTACT ME link in the menu line above.  Ok, here we go…

1. When do you need to have your Senior Portrait turned in to the yearbook staff at your school?  Some schools take a more formal Senior Portrait at school, so you don’t have to worry about the yearbook.  In that case, many Seniors choose to have their own creative Senior Portraits taken by a professional photographer.  Other schools require you to personally turn in a digital file by a deadline.  If that’s the case, find out that date asap.
2. Where do you want your Senior Portraits taken?  Do you like tall grass & fields?  Barns, fences, and sky?  Modern, downtown, and buildings?  Water, bridges, and trees?  Maybe you like a combination of all of them.  Try to picture yourself and what you love…that’s where I want to photograph you.  If you don’t have a specific place in mind…no worries, I’ve got plenty of ideas.
3. Schedule your Senior Session a few months early.  Once the weather begins to get warm in the spring, my schedule begins to fill up, so make sure you get your session scheduled for your most convenient time.
4. What about cost?  You can find the Senior Portrait session pricing here.  Please note that Senior session payment is due prior to the session in order to hold your day and time.  I do not take snapshots.  Whether I’m photographing a Senior, wedding, family, or engaged couple, I stive to creatively capture the true personality of the person or persons in front of my camera.  This takes time.  We won’t rush.  Prints and products are not included in the Senior session, but are available for purchase in Collections or a’la carte.  You can find examples of some products on the “info” tab at the left of my website.  If needed, a hi-res digital image will be sent directly to your school free of charge.
5. What should you wear?  My suggestion is to wear your favorite outfit[s].  Usually your favorite outfit is something you look and feel great in!  Just try to avoid real trendy clothes [or your kids may snicker at you years down the road...trust me, mine did.].  Bold colors [safety yellow, orange, bright green] will be distracting and draw attention away from YOU.  Also try to avoid large flowers, stripes or patterns.  Many people forget about their socks…remember, your socks may be visible during some of the photographs…leave those Kermit the Frog ones at home!
6. Wax on wax off.  If you’re a girl and you wax, you’ll want to have that done at least two days prior to your Senior session.  You’d be amazed at what the camera sees!  Guys, don’t forget to shave the morning of your session [unless you want that hair!].  Blemishes?  No worries at all!  You can do your best to conceal them, but don’t sweat it…I can remove them in a flash.

1.  How long will it take?  You can plan on 1-2 hours for a Senior Portrait session.
2. What will we do? When we meet at our location, we’ll chat a bit about some ideas you may have, some ideas I have, and other important details.  You may be nervous, but you really don’t have to – I’m very easy to get along with and will may you comfortable soon enough. :)  We’ll walk around a bit to different parts of the location.  I’ll stop once in awhile, ask you to do “something” or stand a certain way, and I’ll snap some photos.  You don’t need to be worried about what to do, how to smile, or how to stand – I got it covered!
3. To change or not to change? Feel free to bring a couple different clothing changes!  Before we start photographing, we’ll talk about what clothing you brought…different clothing looks best in different settings.
4. Can I bring a friend?  Sure!  I will only photograph one Senior session at a time, but your friend is more than welcome to come.  It’s nice to have someone goofy standing behind me, but just warn him/her that I will probably put him to work! :)
5. Model release.  After we’re finished with the session, I’ll need you or your parents to fill out a short Model Release.

1. How long until you can see your images?  Your images will be ready to view within 3 weeks of your Senior session.  I will post some of my favorites on my Teri Klinger Photography Facebook page, as well as my website.  I will send you an email letting you know that your images are posted.  I’ll also include a link to a gallery where all of your images will be posted.  An additional email will be sent giving you more details on how to order your prints and products.
2. Are the Facebook images copyrighted?  Yes.  All images that are posted on line [Facebook, blog/website, and gallery] are watermarked and copyrighted.  I do give permission for you to use a photo for your profile picture, but please do not remove the watermark.  Thank you! :)
3. When will my prints and products be ready?  Upon receiving payment, I will place the order for your prints and products.  Your order will be available for pick up within 3 weeks of payment.  Enjoy!

1. To book your session, either call me at 215.661.0213, email me at teri@teriklingerphotography.com, or use the CONTACT ME form at the top of this page.  Looking forward to working with you!
2. Do you have more questions?  No problem – contact me at the numbers/addresses above.
3. :)

Ok…yum.  This recipe has been a family favorite for years.  I guess the freshly fallen snow gave me inspiration to get in the kitchen and bake a little.  Since I needed a picture-of-the-day, I was more than happy to cut a piece, photograph it, and then EAT it! :)

p.s. if you want an easy way to print this recipe…hit the “email” button below this post and the recipe will be sent to your email!

Half-baked Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a large bowl, cream together:

1 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

Beat the following ingredients together,and add to the mixture above:

2 egg yolks [save whites for meringue for later]

1 teaspoon water

1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix the following dry ingredients together before adding to mixture above:

2 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Once all the ingredients are mixed, it makes a very sticky dough.  Spread into the bottom of a jelly roll pan or large shallow baking dish [10x13 or larger]

[note: I break the rules here and bake in a 9x13 pan]

Top the dough with 8 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips.  Press the chips into the mixture lightly.  In a small bowl with clean beaters, beat the egg whites until to stiff peaks.  Fold in 1 cup of brown sugar.  Spread this meringue on top of the chips.

Bake for 25 minutes.  Meringue will turn toasty golden brown.

Eat and enjoy!