Friday, August 29, 2008

New Site Launch - September 1st!

I can't believe the summer is already ending, and fall is here! Although I'm always sad to see summer go, I love the feeling of school starting... new classes, new friends, new notebooks and supplies, new schedules...

In honor of the new season, I'm excited to unveil Striking Photography's new look for the website and blog on September 1st (Happy Labor Day)! Our new site will have the best of the old and incorporate new content as well. Expanded galleries, new slideshows featuring recent sessions, plus a *gorgeous* new color scheme that really pops!

Check back September 1st to check it out...

11x14s Sale Ends Sunday 8/31

Just a reminder that our 11x14 promotion is ending Sunday, 8/31!

Please let me know by noon on Sunday if you'd like to order yours and get 20% off your 11x14 portrait! (excludes portrait packages)

Monday, August 25, 2008

Little Known Facts

As email has grown, I've often received the following 'chain letter' several times over the years. (Yes, I can actually remember a time, just barely, before email. Ok now I'm dating myself.) I thought it would be fun to share some 'Little Known Facts' about myself with my clients.

Here goes!

WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Nope

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Yesterday, watching the highlights of the 2008 Olympic Games

DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Yes

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Rare Roast Beef - Grr! I'm a carnivore!

DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Yup, three. They keep me busy!

IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Absolutely!

DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Not much. But I appreciate those who do cuz they crack me up :-)

DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS
Yes

WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Only if I could take photos along the way

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Golden Grahams with milk, any time day or night

DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
No, takes too long!

DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
You gotta be to lug around all this equipment LOL

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Chocolate Chocolate Chip

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Their smile. Smiles are universal.

RED OR PINK?
Both!

WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
I can't tell jokes to save my life. It's embarrassing!

WHO/WHAT DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Hawaii

WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
None, I'm barefoot

WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Does a mocha frappacino count?

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The fan in my studio

IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Green

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SMELLS?
Rain, the ocean, cinnamon baking

FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Football (Go 49ers!), basketball (Go Bulls!), and live soccer

HAIR COLOR?
Dark brown

EYE COLOR?
Green

DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No

FAVORITE FOOD?
King Crab legs

SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings

SUMMER OR WINTER?
Being from Hawaii, I have to admit I'm a summer girl. But I appreciate the beauty of all the seasons.

HUGS OR KISSES?
Hugs AND Kisses!

FAVORITE DESSERT?
Anything Chocolate

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
I just finished Eat, Pray, Love.

WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Nothing, it's completely black. How lame is that?!?

WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
The Olympics

FAVORITE SOUND?
Ocean waves, my kids laughing

ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles

WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME???
Brazil

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Photography, of course! :-)

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Fantastic Indoor Studio Remodel!

The folks here in Overland Park probably remember the gigantic rain we had a couple weeks ago. We got over 6 inches of rain in one night!

Striking Photography also got a flooded studio. Doh!

For those new to Striking, I do my indoor studio work out of my home. Our finished basement is the perfect location - it's always cool (important when working with lots of lights), it has a great little powder room (for make-up and outfit changes), and I have excellent control over all the lighting (no extraneous sunlight or reflections bouncing around).

However, a sopping wet carpet does not a good working atmosphere make! So we decided to completely remodel the studio - it has a fantastic new acid-stained concrete floor (so gorgeous I now want concrete in our bedroom LOL), repainted, new storage... the works!

I am completely thrilled, and love my new digs so much I may well have to throw a launch party for it. Keep your eyes peeled for more news about that as it develops...

In the meantime, enjoy a portrait of a lovely young lady I photographed in the new studio, the new Image of the Week!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Ten Minutes From Home

As a professional photographer, I am continually challenging my eye through both formal and informal means. I am a member of several photography groups, one of which holds an Assignment of the Month.

This month's assignment was called Ten Minutes From Home:

This assignment is called Ten Minutes from Home. Not 9 minutes, not 11 minutes, 10 minutes. Get on your favorite mode of transportation, whether it’s feet, a bicycle, a car, a bus, a plane, a Segway, whatever, and head 10 minutes from home. When you get there, stop and take some pictures.

Here are some of my favorites I took for this assignment...





Who knew ordinary things could look so cool?