Elizabeth Crook Photography - Blog

I've moved the blog over to Wordpress, so please update your RSS feeds, bookmarks, and Google Reader with the new address!

http://www.elizabethcrookphoto.com/wordpress

See you over there!

I'm sorry for the blog appearance, everyone!  It's a mess.   I'm working very hard on the new website, blog, and all new marketing materials.  In doing so, I had to update the blog software.  And in doing that, something happened on the web server and my host is working to get that corrected.   Due to the upgraded software, it appears that I lost all of my customization on the blog (white background, banners, etc).   And rather than recreate that, I'm just going to leave it as is, forcing me to get the new design finished as soon as possible!  Ahhh!

So hang tight, friends!   Good stuff on the way!

Back in 2005, I documented the wedding of friends Rob & Christine on a beautiful estate in Southern VA. (looking for a wedding pic to post here soon)

This fall, Christine contacted me about a special upcoming date, but without an actual date (for those of you who know the military, you'll understand that!).   Rob was returning home from his second tour in the Middle East, and he was going to meet his new daughter for the first time!   So we sat, patiently, and impatiently in some cases, awaiting for word of when this would be happening.  I told Christine that the only day that I could not be available was Thanksgiving.   And would you believe that they landed just before 11pm on Thanksgiving Eve?!  LOL   Anyways, it was such an honor to be present and to document this special event for such a wonderful family!   

After a few delays and then word of bad weather as we all stood at the edge of the hanger, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and many tears were shed when the plane touched down in front of us and was finally safely on US soil. I had 3 major challenges ahead of me.  1) the lighting situation.  Couldn't exactly bounce light off the ceiling of a plane hanger or night sky.  2) a news camera man who decided to stand if front of me the entire time (thanks to my private security guard to stepped in finally!  ::wink::)  and 3) trying to get these images in focus through eyes full of tears!

Rob, Christine and girls - THANK YOU!  Thank you for serving us and fighting for our freedom, for your strength of which I don't think I could ever have, and for the big hugs the girls gave me as I left that night.   Love you all!

Third from the left, I think he just saw us for the first time here.

I loved that she kept touching his face over and over, as if "I know that voice..."

Dear Friends,

The holiday deadline is now here for all print and product orders (gift certificates still available!).   This year there will be no exceptions, as I have my family and a very excited 14 month old to enjoy and focus on for the holidays!   If you have contracts and retainers for 2010 dates that you would like to send in, please do!   And again, if you need a last minute gift, Gift Certificates are ready for you!

Blessings,

Beth

Beginning now until Sunday at midnight (EST) purchase the Digital Negatives from your portrait sessions for only $250!  That's 1/2 off!!  So don't wait, because the weekend will be over before you know it!  And if you still don't know what to get that friend or family member for Christmas?  How about a gift certificate for Elizabeth Crook Photography!  Certificates can be used toward a photo session, products such as beautiful Gallery Wraps and enlargements, and even toward album upgrades for 2010 brides & grooms!   Cash, Check, and Credit Cards accepted (credit card processing through Paypal)

And I just have to post one of my all-time favorite things from the holiday season....Calvin & Hobbs ::nodding::   I can't get enough!

Just letting you all know that Christmas Card orders are due this Friday!   Get them in while you can!   Umm, if any of you figure out where time went, could you let me know please?!   

And since posts are boring without photos, here's a shot that I took while on a cleaning spree in my house on Sunday.   Our orchids came back to life and are doing better than ever!

Starting now until November 30th, order any size Canvas Gallery Wrap and save 15%!  That's right, 15% off!!  Woohoo! It's the perfect Christmas present to go under your tree (hint, hint, Gentlemen!), or for your parents, or heck, there's nothing wrong with buying yourself a present even!!  No matter who it's for, it will look stunning on their wall!   Can't decide which photo to use?  Purchase a gift certificate toward a particular size gallery wrap and I'll honor the 15% off when you are ready to proceed!

Here's two recent Gallery Wraps that I did for a client in Kansas. The first shows the image wrapped around the frame.

The corners are nice and tightly wrapped...

Here's up close to see how the texture looks...

And this one shows the image with a solid color border on the wrapped sides...

Did you order yet?  Why are you waiting?!  November 30th!  That's it!  DON'T WAIT!

Some of you may remember JR & Courtni from a few years ago.  I did their engagement photos up in the PA mountains back in 2003?  I'm having a hard time believing that it could possibly be that long ago!

Two weeks I got a call from JR saying he wanted to surprise Courtni for her birthday with a portrait session!  Absolutely!  And can you believe that the Sunday after her birthday just happened to be the most gorgeous day of the fall?!  We met at a park in Wilmington and had so much fun running around, rolling down the hills, and making leaf angels.  I had such a great time with them and didn't want the sun to set!  But I hope the kiddos slept well that night...   (warning - lots of photos! And not all of my favorites made it to the blog!)

I LOVE that Mom & Dad jumped right in the middle of the fun!

Thank you for such a great day, Brown Family!

While the costumes are cute, be sure to frame in close and capture the look on your little one's face! There's personality to be captured and a story to be told!

And don't worry about constantly fixing the costume to look perfect for the photo. It's unnatural and often makes the photo look posed.  I find the more you fuss with the little model, the less natural and less comfortable they will be in front of the camera.  Although I wish I could have captured the second after I took the photo below...she took her hand and flipped that ear out of her face, with a graceful flip of the head, like a movie star would do with her hair.  Jason and I were cracking up!

She always props her foot up and lounges when we go for walks in her wagon. I felt it was very important to capture that as a memory because it never fails to make me laugh or smile!

Although she still has the dark circles around her eyes from being sick, I didn't want to Photoshop that out, as it's part of the story of Halloween 2009!  I did, however, remove a touch of dried up snot that was on her nostril.  It was just too distracting and drew the eye in and didn't work with this photo.  Eewww!

I hope you all had a Happy Halloween!!

I had the opportunity to take some photos of this sweetie-pie last week.  The weather out was gorgeous! And he was hanging out on the sidelines while his Mommy coached a field hockey game. Thanks W for playing with me!!

We were playing a game of "don't you smile", but look at those eyes!

Cheering for the home team!

The sky tonight was unbelieveable.  A storm was starting to roll in, which is dropping the temps considerably.  I ran out front and grabbed this.  The clouds had so much depth and I just couldn't capture it in photo.  

This one is out of focus, but just makes me laugh whenever I see it, so it's still a favorite.

Me Ra & Brian - THANK YOU!  Words cannot express how much I appreciate everything you taught us, shared with us both professionally and personally, and how much fun and entertainment you provided.  I could seriously just sit and watch you two to each other for hours!  LOL  I haven't laughed so hard in a long time, and fought to hold in the tears probably a dozen times (not including the times I let them flow!). 

And Amy, I love you girl!  Thank you for the opportunity and you are so going the next opportunity you get.  No discussion!