Friday, February 17, 2012

365 Project & Cats

I'm already wondering what the heck I was thinking when I committed to another 365 project! It can be such a chore! All whinging aside, though, I have to say that it does me good, forces me to use my camera every day, make the most of whatever conditions I'm presented with ... makes me try things I might not have tried before!

For those of you who're following my 365P, you know that this year I've changed it up a bit. I'm not just shooting random images of whatever I feel like this time. This year, every week consists of a different topic - so far we've had grave markers, doors, local scenery, the colour red, circles - quite a mix of things.

If you'd like to watch how the year unfolds, and participate in the weekly process of subject selection, please "like" my photography page on Facebook so that you can get the updates!

I'm also still regularly taking photos at the Invermere Companion Animal Network, so that they've always got up to date images to post on their website to show potential small pet adopters what animals are currently looking for a forever home.

Any of you who know cats, who're the vast majority of clients at ICAN, know that they do what they want, when they want, and how they want. This makes taking decent photos a challenge, especially when I'm shooting alone - which is most of the time! It's great practice for me, though, as I get to work with various types of lighting without any pressure!

It's a bonus that I get to cuddle the cats and kittens, too!

Here's one of my fav's from the shoot I did on Valentine's Day ... the rest may be viewed on my Smugmug page:

Hidey

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Personalized Photo Albums

I am delighted to announce that I am now able to offer my clients personalized photo albums ... that is, professionally printed and bound books that display your personal photographs!


You select the photographs, you select the background colours, you select the layouts, you select the cover colour, you select the cover type ...


The albums can be used for anything - weddings, engagements, graduation/senior collections, families, pets, events, etc.


The beauty in these hard-cover albums is their simplicity. They'll stand the test of time. When you grandchildren look at them, they'll be gazing in wonder at the photos, not thinking how "old fashioned" the book or the design is.


All albums are produced with hard covers. Covers may be ordered with a linen finish, or leather. The manufacturer uses only 100% full-grain, natural leathers that are selected for their grains, strength, and quality. Full-grain hides feel better and are more attractive than fake, bonded-leather covers.


Covers are available in your choice of six colours: Virgin White, Sultry Blue, Forbidden Green, Smouldering Brown, Passion Pink, Voluptuous Black, and Redlight Red.


The pages are photographically printed which means that they're streets ahead of regular press printing quality.


The spreads are not cut over the binding, they're microfolded, so images printed across the middle of the book aren't distorted.


Albums lay flat for optimum viewing - no binding-cracking required!




Linen books have pages that consist of two layers pasted back to back, and the collection starts on the first page. Leather albums have a black textured paper in the inside covers and on the first/last page, and feature a hard substrate layer between the photographs to keep the pages stiff.


Along with custom sizes, the books are available in four standard sizes, each with 10 spreads (20 pages):

4" x 4"

8" x 8"

10" x 10"

12" x 12"


Pricing for albums starts at $120 for a linen-bound, 4x4 album with 20 pages.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Kittens!

Yesterday I got to spend some time with a trio of kittens that had been dropped off at ICAN on Friday. They're about 8 weeks old, and so cute! Here they are: Mongoose, Pink and Tip Toe ...

Mongoose, Tip Toe & Pink
Here's my favourite shot from the session, Pink:

Pink
The whole collection can be viewed on my smugmug page.

Oh yes, I used the FlashBender ... very handy even in the confined space of the kitten room!