I’m so excited to be a guest blogger for The Wedding Planner Blog. I’m trying to make the posts informative and entertaining, but I must admit, writing scares me a little. I would really appreciate it if you would leave comments to let me know how I’m doing.

Displaying Your Photographs-Part 1
We live in an instant world, like instant messages and instant oatmeal. We want it now! The invention of digital photography fed our need for immediacy and made it possible to send images around the world in minutes, rather than days. However, more and more digital photos are living in cyberspace and somehow rarely make it to print anymore.

We need to get those photos off of the web and into our homes! Pictures from your wedding and other memorable events can become family heirlooms that can be treasured for generations to come. This articles is about one of the best ways to display your photos, photo albums.

Wedding Album with Custom Photo Cover

This is me on the last day of 2009. Some people think making New Year Resolutions is corny. I happen to love the idea of starting fresh with a clean slate each year. If not at the beginning of the year, then when? I make resolutions every year. I write them down and post them on my wall as a daily reminder. Some resolutions have worked, like the year I declared I was going to work full time for a magazine. Others, such as losing ___ pounds, remain on my wall year after year. Goal setting is important, and writing your goals helps to solidify them. Here are mine in no particular order:

Blog More
I used to fancy myself a pretty good writer, but somehow I started getting in the way of myself. I would be so concerned with being extra clever and witty that it stressed me out. I guess it’s the perfectionist side of me. That perfectionist attitude was counter-productive because I didn’t try to overcome it, I just stopped posting! A wonderful client recently requested that I blog about her family because she liked the stories I wrote to go with the pictures. I had no idea that people actually read my blogs! LOL! So I’m going to set a blog schedule and stick to it. Just be prepared for some witless, un-clever postings hopefully intertwined with some gems.

Get Money Control!
I have to face facts that I am not great with my money. To be more specific, I don’t spend wildly on frivolous things, I just lose track of my spending and end up with stupid late fees and overdraft fees. I’m done with those in 2010. This year I’m going to be meticulous with my spending!

Watch Less HGTV and Actually Work on MY House
My friends know I’m an HGTVaholic. If my tv isn’t on HGTV they usually have some kind of well-deserved wisecrack. I sit and watch all the people with extra money buy perfectly nice homes and rip out bathrooms and replace them with shiny new ones. Problem is, I look around my house and want to rip out everything and come up with another great color-scheme, floorplan, and furniture style with each great episode. I don’t invite people over often because I’m convinced they will think my house is as disappointing as I do. I have a big house with a lot of rooms and constantly being disappointed with my abode is exhausting. So with all the time I’ll have from not watching tv, and all the money I’ll save from getting rid of late fees and overdraft fees, I can do some great things to my house.

Shoot 12 Weddings
This one is more of a goal than a resolution. In 2008, I shot two and last year I shot five on my own, including one in Philadelphia and several in Baltimore as a second-shooter for my friend Tiffaney of TJW Experience. As part of my blogging resolution I’m going to start blogging about all my 2009 weddings this month and continue throughout the year.

Get Fit!
I’m done with the diets (for now). But I’m not done with attempting to get fit. I started working with a fantastic trainer last year. I started seeing results pretty quickly while working with Candii at Sharpe Shape Fitness, but I had to stop because of my crazy work schedule. Yeah Yeah I know that’s a poor excuse, but you try getting up at 5am everyday and returning after 9pm and shooting on the weekends. I’m an adjunct professor of photography and graphic design in a small school in Northern Virginia…and I live in Baltimore. Try getting through that rush-hour traffic everyday and feel like working out at night. Hmpff! But I will make it my priority this year. Besides, it takes muscle to lug around all of that heavy equipment.

Be a Better (Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Friend, Teacher, Photographer) Person
This is my goal every year. This year I’m going to recycle more and work on reducing my carbon footprint. I’m going to be more committed to shopping local and buying goods from the farmer’s market. I might even grow a vegetable garden. I’m going to spend more time with my family and friends. They were so awesome to me in 2009. I will strive to inspire the students who show interest to use good design principles so they can get great jobs after graduation.

I’m also going to dedicate myself to finding my style or photography and doing it well. I have one idea and I think I’m going to pursue it. But for the next 30 days I’ll ponder other ideas. It’s time to find my photographic voice once again.

I was telling my Graphic Design students at Sanford Brown about my former school projects. Flipping through my old sketchbook, we found the storyboard for a video I did in one of my first classes at the University of Baltimore. The set and characters took me hours to construct and it involves a potato and lots of fruits and it’s based entirely on a famous tv show that used to be on Bravo. This is my first draft (I can’t seem to find my final version) but it still cracks me up every time I see it.

My Grad School Video Project on my Facebook Page

Here are some common questions I’ve been asked lately about my sessions. In the event that I’ve left off a head-scratcher, leave a comment and I’ll add it to the list!

|Q| What can I expect during a typical portrait session?

While each portrait sessions is unique, there are a few commonalities that you can expect. Portrait sessions last anywhere between 1-2 hours.  The goal is to capture you at your most natural for the best results.

I shoot mostly using natural light, preferring to take advantage of the afternoon gorgeous afternoon glow. Most shoots will take place about 2 hours before sunset. Outdoor photos taken between 10am and 3pm often produce images with harsh, unflattering shadows.

*A special note about baby photos. Always remember that the baby is in control! Make sure the baby is well rested, well fed and happy. Don’t force your child into an outfit that he or she hates or finds uncomfortable. Actually, it’s a good idea to prepare a coordinating outfit for the adults because sometimes it’s easier for the baby if the parent is in the photo too. It may take the little tyke a while to adjust to a stranger, but I’m extra patient, so don’t worry.

|Q| What should I wear for my portrait session?

You should bring your most flattering and comfortable clothing. You should also avoid displaying brand names, bold patterns or wearing clothes that are so trendy that they’ll be out of style next season. Think TIMELESS!

You’ll notice that many photographers ask that you don’t wear all black or all white. We do this because in order to get great skin tones, white and black often lose detail in the editing process. In addition, these colors often highlight lint, pet hair and spills.

For families & couples who may want to coordinate their looks, try using a unifying factor like khaki pants or jeans with everybody wearing a solid top with a different color. Or choose a unifying color that fits the mood of the shoot- greens for spring, reds for holiday photos, etc.

You may change clothes as many times as you want during your allotted session time, however 2-3 outfits are recommended.

|Q| Do you have a studio?

Not at the moment, however I am searching for the perfect space in a growing arts district in Baltimore. In the meantime, I take my show on the road-using Baltimore’s scenic parks and cityscapes as a backdrop. I also shoot in-home portraits and can set up shop at my home at your request.

|Q| How should I prepare for an in-home shoot?

Don’t stress yourself out by running around and trying to clean everything before an in-home shoot. Instead, select 1 or 2 of your favorite areas that fit the mood of the shoot. A brightly-lit room with gorgeous windows is great! A blank wall is fine! The goal is to have a clean background or if something is in the background, it looks good. For baby photos, I will probably take a trip to the nursery or playroom. Because of the space required to set up, I will not set up a background unless specifically requested.

|Q| I live in DC/VA/NC. How will you be able to have me as a client?

I travel to these locations frequently and every effort will be made to arrange in-person meetings and to find a mutually agreeable session date. Also, many tasks can be handled online, such as online proofing and purchasing. Out of state bookings require a non-refundable 25% deposit.

|Q|How do you edit your photos?

I shoot with reckless abandon. Truth is, digital photography has made it easier to keep on shooting without the need to stop to change film. So, my first round of edits usually involves removing images that are out of focus, too dark/too light and generally unflattering. The remaining images are edited for color and contrast only to for client proofing purposes.  Once you have made your selections, each image is carefully edited to remove blemishes, lint spots and to add a creative touch. These are the images you see in my online portfolio.

|Q| What are digital proofs?

Digital Proofs are watermarked, low-resolution files that are easily viewed on the web. They are available to clients to select favorites for print either online or mailed on CD for $10.

|Q|What are digital negatives?

Digital negatives are full-sized images that have been edited for color and contrast.  You can share your digital negatives, however they are not optimal for printing because they haven’t gone through the final rounds of edits. Remember-all images purchased directly from me are fully edited and printed on superior quality paper. They are included in all wedding packages to offer for the bride & grooms piece of mind.

|Q| Who owns the rights to the photos?

The photos are yours, however I retain the full copyrights. Which means that your image could appear on my blog, website and in printed material unless you expressly request that they aren’t. You may not edit, crop or make any other adjustments to the photos without written consent.

|Q| How long will it take to receive my proofs?

Depending on the time of the year, you may not receive your proofs for up to 3 weeks after the shoot. I try everything in my power to send them within two weeks, and can manage a quicker turnaround during the slower seasons. But I’m a 1-woman show and that’s not always possible.

|Q| How many images should I expect?

For portrait sessions & events, expect to view 50-75 images. For weddings, expect roughly 500 images.

|Q| I have more questions, what do I do?

Please leave a comment below and I’ll be sure to take your new question into consideration!

Ahhh yes, wonderful technology. Where would we be without it in today’s world? I’m able to connect with old friends I wouldn’t have otherwise found, and just the other day, I sent an IM to my mamma!

But as soon as you get comfy with your pal technology, it bites you-stabs you in the back even. What’s this rant about? I’m ranting because my laptop died-along with a week’s worth of work and two photo books I was in the middle of editing. Now, I know I’m supposed to back up back up back up? But we never think these things will happen to us in real life!

So, if any of you reading this want to fool around with trying to rescue my laptop’s info, please let me know. It is (was) a mac and it served me well.

Hey everybody. Thanks for stopping by. If this is your first time visiting my site, please take a moment to look around and click on various links.

This is my blog. There are several reasons why I decided to make this my home page, but the main one is that you will have access to the most recent content and information without having to go to my portfolio sites.

This is a work in progress, so if you have any ideas or suggestions that might help, please let me know! Comments are always welcomed!

I’m going through this transition from full-time employee to all-time freelancer. It’s not a lonely journey thanks to the help and support of some really good friends.

My homegirl, Kelly, of Kelly Blue Yoga, took me to dinner to explain the ins and outs of business record keeping. Now I have my very own big a$$ binder that I plan to fill with important business info in the new year. Hana, who survived a similar situation, gave me a lot of useful tips for staying sane and is one of my biggest champions. Nache of Creative Route is a web developer and graphic designer who not only allowed me to photograph her wedding, but also stayed on the phone with me for two hours while talking me through the development of a good website. Thanks to her persistence (and bossiness!) my new site will be up & running by January 6th! I’ll keep you posted on the development. Last but not least, my diva friend Wendy is making big moves in the make-up world. We plan to collaborate on several projects in 2009. I encouraged her to sign up for a blog today because she has tons of great info to share about being fierce! So when that’s up, I’ll share.

I just want to show gratitude for their help & support.

Wouldn’t you know it? As soon as I landed my first cover, I was downsized due to the economic turmoil. Initially I was shocked, but I had the weekend to mellow out and begin my personal economic bailout plan. While working on my plan I decided to write these Ground Rules for My Last Days at Urbanite to send to my coworkers. These rules apply to my family and friends as well.

Read carefully and avoid the following:

1. There will be absolutely no crying or looking at me with those big sad eyes. The first person who cries will be punched in the nose.
2. Please don’t stop by my desk offering apologies. It’s not your fault and it’s not Urbanite’s fault; but if you offer an apology, I will hold you personally accountable (and punch you in the nose).
3. Do not feel sorry for me. Feeling sorry for me implies that you don’t believe I have the skills, determination or talent to make lemonade from this situation. The offender will probably be punched in the nose.
4. Do not attempt to hug me or pat me on the shoulder. These acts will make me feel like you’re feeling sorry for me, and you know how I feel about that.
5. And the most important rule-There will be absolutely no going away parties. I appreciate the sentiment but I find them extremely uncomfortable and depressing. And when I get depressed, I usually punch people in the nose.

Constructive ways to show your support:

1. Subscribe to my blog, read a few posts and leave comments. http://lakayephotography.blogspot.com. Comments are awesome and they make me feel like you care.
   
2. Hire me! I would love to continue to shoot for the magazine. I especially love to shoot the food reviews cuz they come with free food! Also, did you know that I shoot family portraits? For those of you daring enough, I also shoot boudoir. Read more about my holiday specials here:
   http://lakayephotography.blogspot.com/2008/12/holiday-portrait-special.html.
3. Help me market my business. I have a stack of fliers, business cards and resumes at the front desk. Chat me up to your friends with babies or who are getting married. Sing my praises to your jewelry-making, art gallery owning, clothing & accessories designing, small-business-owning friends. Casually mention me in your conversations to your industry contacts. Tell your clients their photos suck and they should hire me to shoot instead. (just kidding about that last one…maybe)
4. Become a fan of my Facebook business page.
5. Invite me over for dinner.
6. Write a testimonial for me on Flickr or write a recommendation for me on LinkedIn.
7. Offer words of wisdom. If you’ve started a business or survived hard economic times, please offer your advice.
8. Stay in touch. After the end of the month, you can reach me by email at lakayem@gmail.com.

Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

Your pal,

La Kaye

IMG_0236, originally uploaded by soulsticecity is back.

Unless you live under a rock, you know that Barack Obama has made history as the first African American President (elect). I remember attending the February rally in Baltimore and being utterly euphoric and transfixed on every word this man was saying. He moved thousands of people to an uproar and sometimes to complete quiet as we strained to hear every single word he said.

Well, last night was momentous for this racially-divided country. My niece and nephew- who have never voted or had interest in politics called me last night to express their joy and to tell me about how much they enjoyed going to his recent rally in Virginia Beach. Another niece, away at college studying to become a lawyer, voted by absentee ballot and also called me. My mom, who with her giant afro and dashiki participated in sit ins in the rural south, called me immediately after the announcement to express her joy. She must have been happy-it was way past her bedtime.

Each one of my family members called me independent of each other and I called the people who I loved while they were also receiving calls. I can only imagine this type of excited communication was happening for thousands of family members all over the country (and in Kenya too). And it let’s me know that this election has had a major impact and I’m proud to witness this newfound history.

hey there cyberspace and future customers!

i’m almost done with my first wedding book. i’m a big fan of white space and i’m trying to keep the layout simple.

now my challenge is blending black & whites with color. i’m so glad my bride is so patient with me because i still have a while to go. i’ve been experimenting with some new photoshop techniques and i’m really enjoying the effects. i love this flower and ring shot that i took at this wedding.

thank goodness i have the warm glow of the tv to keep me company as i work.