Elizabeth Crook Photography - Blog

New blog address!

nospam@example.com (Elizabeth) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:27:51 -0700

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!

new website/blog update!

nospam@example.com (Elizabeth) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:43:25 -0700

It’s coming! Coming soon! I’m just waiting for some font to be embedded
into the new website and then I can go live. Wooohoo! Another week
maybe. Good things are coming!

Continue reading "new website/blog update!"

BLOG ISSUES!

nospam@example.com (Elizabeth) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:41:54 -0700

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!

Military Homecoming : Willow Grove Event Photographer

nospam@example.com (Elizabeth) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:07:32 -0700

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..."

Holiday Deadline is here

nospam@example.com (Elizabeth) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 09:14:00 -0700

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

3-day sale!

nospam@example.com (Elizabeth) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:31:00 -0700

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!

coming soon...

nospam@example.com (Elizabeth) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:35:16 -0700

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!

Gallery Wrap Sale!

nospam@example.com (Elizabeth) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:26:08 -0700

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!

Brown Family . Wilmington Delaware Family Portraits

nospam@example.com (Elizabeth) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:12:13 -0700

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!

Happy Halloween!

nospam@example.com (Elizabeth) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:15:14 -0700

McKenna was feeling under the weather the past few days and I was totally bummed that she was going to miss all of the Halloween excitement. And I was so excited to finally have my own little one to photograph on this fun holiday!! But she started to improve around 12noon on Saturday. So we decided to give the costume a try, get her out in the fresh air, take some photos and maybe a quick walk on our street. I’m so glad we did! Our little Lamb didn’t cry in her costume (much to our amazement) and even if she did, I would have documented it anyways. And she seemed to enjoy being outside for a few minutes, as did I! It was still a little early in the evening, and we didn’t bother knocking on any doors and didn’t want her around people in general. So we kept it low key. But at least Halloween wasn’t completely canceled this year!

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!!

Little W

nospam@example.com (Elizabeth) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:29:00 -0700

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!

amazing

nospam@example.com (Elizabeth) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:53:45 -0700

I just saw this website created by Phillip Toledano called Days With My Father.

It's much more like a photo documentary. Journal. Writing from the heart. It's the most beautiful, amazing, heartfelt web project that I've seen in a long time. And I want to share it with all of you.

the sky

nospam@example.com (Elizabeth) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:10:27 -0700

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.

and 5 minutes later...

This post is brought to you by the letter "M"

nospam@example.com (Elizabeth) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:24:34 -0700

I haven't posted any of my little one lately, so here you go

Confidence Workshop, Washington DC

nospam@example.com (Elizabeth) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:45:24 -0700

I just had the most amazing weekend: professionally, personally, reuniting with an old friend, making 21 new ones... I had the opportunity to attend the Me Ra Koh Confidence Workshop

in Washington, DC. First of all, this was my first time away from my baby since she was born...11.5 months ago! So my emotions were running like crazy all weekend. But in the end, it's exactly what I needed. A ladies weekend, a time to focus on my business and myself, a really nice long bath at the hotel with a glass of wine and French Cafe radio on Pandora blaring through the hotel iHome (sorry neighbors!), a full night's sleep without the baby waking (did I mention that I felt drugged the next day?! WEIRD), reuniting with a great college friend that I haven't seen in 12+ years, and learning new techniques while being forced to think outside of the box technically in more ways then one!

The first day we had a photo shoot with Mommas and their sweetest newborns. However, we were given not-so-ideal room and lighting situations and had to be creative to make it work. The second day, we strutted outside into the harsh afternoon sunlight and had families model in the streets of Dupont Circle. I still haven't had a chance to sort through everything in my head yet. I feel like I need a serious brain defrag! LOL But I plan to try out some techniques tomorrow and can't wait. Now, on to some of my favorite photos from the weekend...

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!