Thursday, February 26, 2009

Murfreesboro Trip


We will be in Murfreesboro March 12-13 (Thursday-Friday)-that's in 2 weeks. If you would like to schedule a session while we are there, please contact me ASAP. We aren't able to get to Murfreesboro that often anymore, and I'm not sure when we will be able to come back. Hope to hear from you all soon!
denise@skeltonphotography.com
615.804.0925

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Photography For You

Wow! It's been awhile since I posted last. I was hoping for a post last week, but it was super crazy with all kinds of meetings at school and parent teacher conferences.
So, here I am finally with a little post for my photography loving blog readers. Lots and lots of friends have been asking me for advice about purchasing a digital SLR camera-that's one that you can change lenses on. Just yesterday, I went with a friend to Ritz Camera to look at what her options were. Since so many people have been asking, I thought I might do a little blog post on it.
Here goes.....
I started with a Canon Rebel XT. (Every post needs pictures, so here I am the day I got my camera. SO excited! How do you like my cow slippers?!)At the time, the Rebel XT was relatively new and was the only Canon of its kind on the market. Since then, I have recommended this camera (or the newer versions) to friends who asked-in fact, about 7-8 people have bought it after our conversations. Hmmm, maybe Canon should send me some commission!
Anyhow, since then-Canon has come out with an XTi, XSi, & XS. The Canon Rebel XS is what my friend decided on yesterday. It is cheaper than the XSi and there are minor differences.
The Rebel is a great starter camera because it is user-friendly and can be as advanced as you need it to be. It's great for family shooting or for beginning photographers. My advice is to get a good starter camera (like the Rebel) and when you are ready to invest more, buy better lenses. Lenses really make a bigger difference in image quality than a camera body (once you have a good one).
Anytime I am looking for camera equipment or other technological stuff, I look on cnet.com. You can search for whatever item you are searching for and it will give you reviews as well as places you can buy online with prices (you can sort from low to high). One thing to beware of: if it appears too good to be true, it probably is. Be careful about purchasing items like this from ebay or other online stores that don't seem reputable.
The most important thing is to get to know your camera and become comfortable with its features.
Here are some great places to help you with getting to know how to use a Digital SLR:
Digital Photography School
A photographer in California has started this great blog for "Momtogs" - moms who love photography. It looks like she is going to be posting technical aspects about photography for beginners.

I hope this was somewhat helpful to you! There are also other great cameras out there besides the ones I mentioned, but I am familiar with Canon, so that's what I told you about! :) If I can be of help in your camera search, please feel free to email me!

I am planning to do a post next week about backing up your images. Stay tuned!

Monday, February 9, 2009

Envelope Please............And the Winner Is........

First, I want to thank all of the wonderful clients who made 2008 so great! And a great BIG thank you to the wonderful voters!

For the Family & Friends contest, sweet Maggie in the Closet won! The runner-up, by ONE VOTE, was Ryder's Kisses-#2 on the original post.For the Wedding contest, the Coke Break from Lindsay & Nick's wedding won by a LOT! :) I loved what Wendy said about it, "There are so many different things that you could say to interpret that photo. Things like...."Wait a minute before we carry on here, I need a Coke break." or maybe, "Buddy, we may be married now, but you are not going to stop me from having my Coke when I need it." It is just something so normal and ordinary that we do set in a very special day when we do out of the ordinary things."
LOVE that comment! That really sums it up, doesn't it?!
Both of these families win an 8x10 print of their image PLUS another 8x10 of any image of their choice! Congratulations to you!

The voting winner was chosen by using, the Random Number Maker from Random.com
I actually had to run this twice because the first winner didn't leave their name! So, the voter winner is................................drumroll, please........................
.....................
Serious Shopaholic!
Serious Shopaholic (whose real name I know!) :), you get to choose your prize. The prize was going to be 20% off a lifestyle family session-perfect for you with that sweet baby on the way! Since you live super far away from me, your other choice for a wonderful prize is a handknitted scarf! That's right, all of those snow days last week gave me the opportunity to learn how to knit, and I am a KNITTING MACHINE! :) Mrs. S, just shoot me an email or Facebook me and let me know which you would like to choose.

And since I am in a very generous and fun knitting mood, Wendy-you get a handknitted scarf too! :) Facebook me and tell me what color you would like!

Thanks again to my awesome clients and voters!

Stay tuned for fun pictures and great info for clients next week!

Friday, February 6, 2009

Winterfest & Voting

Although, we are out of school AGAIN today (I can't believe it!), our Ridgeview PTO Winterfest is on as scheduled for tomorrow. We would love for you to join us and bid on Mrs. Skelton's Sunshines' baskets. I will allow you to bid on other baskets, but you must bid on mine first! :) Look below to yesterday's post to see what wonderful things are in our baskets. You won't want to miss it!

Thanks for all of those who have voted for the 2008 Image of the Year. There's still one day left of voting, so send your family and friends this way to vote!

Happy Friday!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Win a Lifestyle Family Session

My school-Ridgeview Elementary-is having a PTO Winterfest this Saturday (the 7th) from 12-4pm. There will be food, games, and best of all-a basket auction. Each class is able to have up to 5 baskets-with ALL MONEY from the baskets going to OUR CLASSROOMS! This is HUGE!
Of course, my class is doing 5 baskets! The baskets we have are: Polka Dot Fun (comes in a super cute Polka Dot bag with all kinds of girlie stuff and gift certificates to different places), Par For the Course (awesome golfing basket!), Ultimate Sports Basket (with ALL KINDS of tickets and sports paraphernalia), Mountain Getaway (2 Nights to Sugar Mountain Ski & Country Club), & Capturing Your Life, One Moment at a Time-Can you guess what that is?! - 1 lifestyle family session (& other fun stuff). If you want to see a full list of what is in each basket, click HERE.
Now's your chance to get that lifestyle family session you have been wanting AND help out our classroom fund! The money will be used for wonderful things like books, learning materials, and much needed classroom items.
And because every post needs a picture, and I can't post pictures of my students.........Here's a photo from The Day I Learned I Was Not Destined to be an Olympic Skier (you can see more pictures on my Facebook page by clicking that link). I have had wonderful snow days 3 days this week-Wesley had a snow day yesterday too, so we went to Sugar Mountain to ski! (Yes, it was my first time, and I spent a LOT of time on my tush!)

Sunday, February 1, 2009

2008 Contest Vote Off

Welcome back to the Skelton Photography 2008 Favorite Image of the Year Contest.
Since my wonderful, dedicated, loving, kind-hearted, slightly indecisive blog readers could not vote on ONE image........here's a Vote Off!

I have narrowed down the choices (okay, I admit I
might have given you a few too many too choose from before) to the ones that received the most votes.

Please choose your favorite from the Friends & Family Gallery & the Wedding Gallery below.
Please vote by leaving a comment by Saturday, February 7th. The number is above the image.

Enjoy! And remember, the image winner and a lucky voter will win a surprise! :)

Happy Voting!

Friends & Family

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9


Wedding Favorites 2008

#10
#11

#12

#13
#14

Thanks to my fabulous clients for allowing me to document your lives in 2008!

*Remember, you can vote twice-one for a wedding image and one for a friends & family image.*
xoxo
~Denise~