We are moving...

My blog is packing up and heading out to a new home. Check it out at:

blog.heatherdawnphotos.com

Can't wait to have you visit our new home!

Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!

I have "Bloomed"!! We send our children to school and push them to be great stars. This time I needed to push myself and grow. My amazing husband took advantage of a gift opportunity and paid my tuition for the Spring Bloom workshop as my Christmas gift. What an awesome experience this has been! I have learned so much. The poor other participants probably are sick of seeing Emilia since she was my primary model as I continued to recover over the weeks. Thank you Brenda and Kristy for pushing us and teaching us! I have gained confidence and really am starting to identify my style. Most importantly I have stopped being safe! If something doesn't work if doesn't work. I'll try something different. What an awesome lesson for all of us in all areas of life. Here is some of my images from assignments over the last 6 weeks:

You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

Epiphanie!!

I have had an Epiphanie!  No I did not spell it wrong. I know many of you have faced the same problem I have. You need a camera bag that can protect your gear, hold some extras, a diaper or two, and make you look stylish at the same time.  I have needed a new camera bag for a long time. I have poured over reviews, browsed endlessly through online stores looking for something I even wanted to look at let alone carry. Everything was so masculine and almost institutional. And then it happened....I fell in love with Ginger!

 Isn't she pretty? Smooth creamy leather. lots of zippers and pockets to play with, and the bright blue lining is like singing as you open the main compartment...listen to you hear it..AHHHHHHH!

There is room for everything in this bag. No longer to I have to scream when I catch my children playing with my flash that couldn't fit and was sitting on my desk.

This bag is everything I could ask for and I had to share it with all of you. Check it out! There are three beautiful styles to fit you. Trust me this bag is worth every penny. You WILL not be disappointed. Plus they are having an incredible give-away right now.

Awesome News!

Yesterday I had an appointment with my Dr. Guess what...I can finally start weaning off of my walking cast. I can take it off and wear my brace around the house but if I go anywhere outside I need it for a couple more weeks. The best news is I can also drive when I don't have the cast on! I have to work on weaning off these nerve meds because taking them I can't walk straight let alone drive. I know you are thinking why are you telling me this I'm not a doctor and I am interested in your pictures not your medical history. Well the reason is right as everything is turning green and beautiful and the long winter is finally retreating I can start taking sessions again! I have mentioned we are undergoing change you may notice a new look to my blog and website. I'm still tweaking them but you will also see out new logo! Pretty nice Huh? My website also has 2010 pricing listed. There has been some changes so check it out. Keep your eyes open. I am planning a Grand Re-Opening soon that will roll out some goodies, referral plans, and mini-sessions.

For those of you in the Mt. Juliet or Lebanon have you checked out your Town Planner Calender? For those of you wanting to schedule Spring sessions go look. You will find a $30 off coupon on a single session with a free 8x10. Don't have a calender?  Go to To www.townplanner.com and download one today!

Why Choose Custom Photography?

I love taking pictures. It is my passion. But I am a mother of 3 who knows what it is like to live on a budget. I know that looking at the price tag of hiring a good photographer can be overwhelming. Is it worth it? If it wasn't I wouldn't offer it to you. When I was pregnant with my youngest we were still fairly new to town but I needed Maternity shots done to join the pictures from my other two pregnancy's. I found a photographer I LOVED her work but her price tag was overwhelming. I ended up going with a more economical choice. Was I happy with the pictures? They were ok. But now thinking back I won't ever get that time back and my husband and I both agree it would have been worth the money to hire the photographer we loved. The article below offers things to consider when you are considering custom photography.

Why Choose Custom Photography?

Custom photography is more of a luxury than your entry level cookie cutter chain experience. Custom photography truly is not for everyone, it requires a level of commitment, investment in time and money, forethought and planning on the part of the subject/client and requires a larger time commitment for the photographer as well.

Clients who enjoy taking a more active role in the creation of their families’ memories have the desire to have portrait art that is truly personalized. These more discerning clients have been known to budget and allot time for a custom photography session. Many clients opt for it to be a once a year special experience, some opt to have custom photography sessions done to record their child’s stages in life. Having said this, it is clear that custom photography is not in everyone’s budget, it is something that most families save for to splurge on from time to time to memorialize their children as they really are (not posed and primped in the cookie cutter studio setting).

There is a great deal of time involved in creating high end custom photography sessions for a client. The luxury of great service, better choices and a superb end product. The result of all this are heirloom quality images. The time invested at the session is only a small portion of the time involved.

Custom photography has been likened to purchasing a fine vehicle. To get to point B from A let’s face it, even a bus ride would suffice. If you want to luxuriate in a finely appointed vehicle, customizing your own experience by listening to smooth jazz while sitting in a climate controlled setting adjusted purely for your comfort in a body hugging leather interior, perhaps that Lexus you so desire is your cup of tea.

Custom photography is much the same cup of tea. It is the Lexus of the photography world. It is where the intangibles make the experience truly wonderful and the images themselves make the investment of money and time truly worthwhile.

Custom photography can be broken down into even more levels. There are on location, studio, mixed studio/on location, specialty location and destination type photographers. The beauty of custom photography is in the choices and in the luxury of thoses options. The customized service level you are sure to experience will be amazing. The knowledge that your final images are the result of someone caring about those moments so much that they take extra time ensuring that the artwork you receive is good enough to stand by with their name on it. That level of quality and commitment is all but lost in the age of "mass produced," "mass marketed," corporate "everyone is a number". Custom photography is based on being unique to you. How great an experience would be, to be able to sit back and allow a photographer to do this highly custom work for images that you will most likely cherish for a lifetime?

Keep in mind more than anything that the Lexus will never appreciate in value the way your portraits will. The portrait art you become invested in from your custom photographer will no doubt increase in value and become more priceless as the years pass.

(wording used by permission by Professional Child Photographer)

Do You Love photography?

When I first started getting interested in photography I would go from blog to blog soaking in all the information I could from amazing moms, business women, and photographers. I would love to say I am mostly self taught but that would be a lie because I have learned much of what I know from people just like me on the internet. What an amazing resource!

Recently I took a step further and joined a web board that is a huge wealth of information. You might even call it the Mecca for those wanting to improve their photography, learn about running their business, and get a ton of support. This mecca is called Clickin Moms.

I had lurked around the board for a while wondering if the cost to join was worth it. Let me tell you IT IS!

Are you looking to grow as a photographer? Already have a business and want a place to review your photos or get business ideas? I have a treat for all of you out there. Right now if you click on the link above (the word Clickin Moms) on this post or on the picture to the side and use the coupon code "FRIEND" it will give you 10% off your membership fee.

So go check it out! I know you won't be disappointed!

On another note I have recently gotten some great goodies that I would love to share my thoughts on with you. Keep your eyes open for more posts soon!

Quick update!

Thank you everyone for your patience as I recover. Things have been slow but sure. I'm finally on two feet with crutches still doing most the work ;) I have started physical therapy and am pushing to be back to normal in about 6 more weeks. Get ready because when that happens there will be lots of changes! I have spent my down time in classes, tweaking my business and getting ready for an all new launch! I can't wait to share everything with you.

For now check out this amazing giveaway from Bloom Workshops (which I highly recommend to anyone!)

Check it out because this is a great giveaway for photographers at every level!!
http://www.bloomworkshops.com/