I am sooooo excited to introduce you to this beautiful new product, I only hope that my description and these images do it justice.  Luckily, if you are a client you will get to see and feel them firsthand, but this should help get you excited!    These amazing leather-bound session albums hold 20 5×7 images from your session bound in a soft leather with a photo cover.  They feel …. luxurious.  That’s the only way I can think of to describe it.  They come beautifully presented in a satin lined album box, and you can choose from three leathers: black, brown, and pearl.  These are the perfect option when you want to have many images from your session but the custom designed album is a stretch for your budget.  I can not wait to put these into my senior’s hands this spring, they really do make a lovely keepsake for your one-of-a-kind senior portraits!  As with any newly introduced product, it is available to past clients as well, so please contact me if you are interested. 

Last month, I had the wonderful opportunity to have my work featured over on the awesome new inspiration site TML:Focus, from the ladies of The Maternal Lens.  There are so many amazing photographers and sessions over there, you’d be crazy not to go check it out.  It’s a great place to get some inspiration, whether you are a photographer or a client with an upcoming session.  Thank you ladies for the wonderful opportunity, and thanks to Miss Charly for a killer senior session – “urban vogue” indeed! 

I am so incredibly honored to have one of my senior sessions (starring the beautiful Chandler) featured over on a great photography site, The Lens Loves.  It truly is humbling to have my work published among so many talented photographers.  Even better, the founder of the site, the supremely talented Drew of DrewB Photography, was one of the first photographers I came across whose work really inspired me.  So to be selected for a feature by her is really a dream come true!  Go check it out and make sure to browse the site, there is so much wonderful inspiration to be found.  You can also find Lindsay Horn Photography and LHP Seniors listed under their new nationwide Photographer’s Directory as well!   Thank you Drew and Krista for this great opportunity!

First, let me just say that I’m completely humbled and blown away by the amazingly kind and gracious things that were said in your reviews.  I’m not sure if it’s the pregnancy or just me, but reading them brought tears to my eyes.  After all of the time and energy spent planning your sessions, spending time with you, and staring at your beautiful faces for hours while I edit, it means so much to hear that the experience itself was as meaningful for you as it always is for me.  You guys are the greatest!    Just another fabulous reminder that I have the best job on the planet, and that I’m blessed to work with such wonderful people. 

So, now for the fun part!  We had 12 total participants, so I drew two names from a hat (literally!) where I had put in an entry for every review left on either site.  And the winners are ….

Shannon P. and Stacy S. ! 

I’ll be contacting you shortly so that you can redeem your free gift prints!  I want to again thank everyone who entered, and remind you that any referral you send my way earns you a $50 print credit as well, so keeping spreading the word!  If anyone out there reading is considering entrusting me with your families memories, I hope you’ll take a minute or two to check out these reviews, both on my Facebook Page and on Google. 

And in hopes that we have said “bye bye” to all of our cold winter days, I’ll leave you with a parting shot of everyone during the great Ice/Snow storm of 2011. 

Yes, I said birthday week!  That’s how we do things around here.   Okay, maybe not, but a girl can dream, right?  My birthday is on Tuesday, when I will officially be even later into my twenties (but still hanging on).  So, to celebrate my birthday week I wanted to have a little mutually beneficial giveaway for my past clients (wink, wink)!  There are two ways to enter:

1) Go to my Facebook Page and leave a review under my Reviews tab.  You can find the icon under my profile picture or just click here.

2) Go to my Google Business Listing and leave a review there.

Do one or do both to double your chances!  Chances for what you ask?  Every review posted by Friday night (the 4th) at midnight will be entered into a random drawing for a free gift print from your session (a $45 value)!  Even better, if I get more than 10 different clients to post reviews, I’ll pick TWO random winners!  I’ll announce the winner(s) on Saturday.  My clients always have such kind things to say to me about their images and their overall experience, I’m just hoping you will be willing to share that with others.   

Of course, I can’t leave you without a picture, so here is another one of my sweet Emory from her two-year session.  Love her!

I’m sure you’ve all been eagerly awaiting this follow up to my 2010 recap post, so I hope that the suspense hasn’t been too painful!   If you haven’t read that one yet, go ahead and take 2 minutes to get up to speed. 

Okay, ready?  Good!  I first and foremost want to address my scheduling situation.  I had already filled my schedule through May of 2011 (my clients are amazing!) before I knew I was pregnant, so I’ve already cut off my spring/summer season after that point.  I do have a lengthy waitlist for this spring, but I don’t expect any cancellations unfortunately.  I will be taking an extended maternity leave from June through the end of the year.  Yes, that is rather long, but little ones are only so little for such little time (follow me?), and I could honestly use the opportunity to work on some side projects and personal projects that have been brewing for quite awhile.  I plan on being back in business for the start of 2012!  Now, here’s where the crazy part comes in.  The large bulk of my Spring 2012 (yes, 2012) schedule is already booked thanks to some 2012 seniors (and parents) with serious foresight (again, you all blow me away!).  I do have a couple of spots left, and I will be keeping a cancellation list until contracts are sent out and deposits paid either over the summer or early fall.  Of course, I do have openings available for newborn sessions – it would be unfair to leave them out since they haven’t been conceived yet.

So, what does all of this mean for current and former clients?  I will have a firm order cut-off of June 4th for design and specialty products (cards, albums, storyboards, etc.) and June 11th for print orders.  I will NOT be taking orders, reorders or otherwise, after this point.  I need to make sure that I have everything wrapped up prior to our little one’s July arrival.  Please mark your calendars if you are hoping to place an order between now and then!

Okay, picture break!  Here’s my hubby and precious Emory (big-sis-to-be) over Thanksgiving:

Are you still with me?  Great!  I also wanted to make note of some things I’ve implemented this year to really enhance your client experience with Lindsay Horn Photography.  First and foremost, I’ve devised a questionnaire that I’m asking all of my clients to fill out and return before our pre-session consultation.  This allows me to get a feel for exactly what you are hoping to achieve with your portrait session, from the session itself to the end products that you will so proudly display.  They’ve been immensely helpful so far in achieving this goal!  Whenever possible, I’m also scheduling our pre-session consultation in person and at your home if that is something you are comfortable with.  I feel like meeting my clients face-to-face ahead of time makes the session go so much more smoothly.  The client gets the opportunity to get to know me a little and get a feel for my personality, and I get to do the same!  This helps put everyone at ease once the session day rolls around.  Meeting in your home is wonderful for a few reasons.  First, I love the chance to peek at wardrobe ideas and give some “live” advice and direction on the spot.  It’s also a great opportunity for me to look at wall space or other areas where you have hopes of displaying your portraits - I always come prepared with measuring tape in hand!  Lastly, I’m able to show you samples of every product that I offer as well as how and where you might use it in your home.  All of this information helps me to plan you session more efficiently. 

I’ve spent a significant amount of time creating a new set of client documents to help guide you through the entire process as well.  They include a complete Welcome Packet, a 2011 Product and Pricing Catalog (with pictures!), and a Client Ordering Planner which will help you determine your print and product needs and walk you through the ordering process.  Of course, I’m also available to help as well, but these fabulous tools go a long way towards making your experience all the more sreamlined and enjoyable.  And forget the Product Guide, I’ve added several new products to my offering for 2011 that you are going to FLIP over! 

As I mentioned in my previous post, I had some other big plans that had to be put off over the holidays, but I plan on working those up and having them ready to go for 2012.  These incude a nifty Wall Display Guide, a new organic line of products, gorgeous custom framing, and  few BIG ideas that I can’t share just quite yet.    Thank you as always for your continued support, and I hope you’ll stick around when things slow down the latter half of this year … I promise I’ll still have images to share – likely a bunch of these two and our newest addition! 

I’m so excited about these new client slideshows!  I started using a client slideshow at the opening of every ordering gallery in the fall, but those are nothing compared to these fancy shmancy slideshows!    EVERY client will have the opportunity to view and share your own personal slideshow with all of your images set to music.  Think I’m exaggerating about how fabulous these are?  Turn up your speakers and check one out for yourself, and thank you to the beautiful Lindsey for allowing me to share her images with the internet world!

Pretty cool, huh?!?  It gets even better … I’ll be offering these lovely slideshows for sale on DVD if you decide that you just can’t possibly watch it enough times.  Each slideshow will get the same gorgeous packaging as my digital files – a custom case with a custom labeled DVD.  Isn’t technology wonderful? 

When I attended the PPA Imaging USA Conference and Trade Show in January, one of my missions was to find a new album to offer.  Now, I wasn’t unhappy with the old album, but I was relishing the idea of being able to hold and feel actual samples of many different albums in my hands so that I could compare features and know exactly what I was getting.  These had my attention from the get-go.  I didn’t come across another album where the colors just leapt off of the page like they do in this gorgeous product.  The only way to describe the feel and texture of the archival matte paper is luxurious.  I spoke to the founder of the album company himself at the show, and he said that the company began when he found this paper and started looking for an album company that would use it.  That’s how amazing it is folks.  These pictures just do NOT do them justice, but lucky for my very special clients, I will have samples present during your pre-session consultation so you can see for yourself!   Here are the triad of products I’ll be offering:

As you can see, they are a 10×10 album, an optional custom album box, and a 4×4 companion album (only available for purchase with a 10×10 album).  I have a variety of designs from whimsical (as shown) to bold to very simple.  Your album will be custom created just for you using 20-30 images from your session (15 chosen by you).  One Proof and Revision is included in every purchase. 

Your cover options include a full photo wrap, a Dulce fabric cover (with or without option photo strip), or a leather cover (not shown). 

The custom album box is a wonderful way to carefully and beautifully display and protect your session album.  A custom photo wrapped cover will make it a conversation piece all on its own, while the soft suede-lined interior gently holds your album. 

I am SO excited about these, and I hope you are too!  I can’t wait to show them to YOU! 

Well, this post has been a LONG time coming.  Back in the fall we did a big giveaway and feature with the fine folks at Tea Collection over on our Wardrobe Wednesday page.  This was my first introduction to this company, and after hearing and reading so many wonderful things about the company and their products, I picked up a couple of outfits (I love their girl’s dresses) for Emory’s two-year old birthday portraits.  Now THAT was a saga in itself (her portraits), and I will save that for another post all about my girl (consider this your sneak peek).  To make a long story short, we received the clothes, they are FABULOUS, we eventually got the portraits done, and now I wanted to share a little review with you.  It’s something I hope to be doing every now and again … as a photographer I may be looking for different things in the clothing I choose for myself and my family, and who knows, maybe that information will be useful for someone!   

The first thing I noticed when checking out Tea Collection’s adorable children’s clothing (and particularly their girl’s clothing) is the color palette.  It is so frustrating for me to go and purchase clothes for Emory only to find hot pink and flourescent purple EVERYTHING.  That’s all well and good for play clothes, but when I want something for portraits, I’m generally looking for deep rich colors or something that is vibrant without verging on tacky.  Believe it or not, that can be hard to find for little girls, especially if you don’t want to break the bank.  So when I first laid my eyes on the Tea Collection website, I had that “Ahhhhhhhh” singing moment in my head.  Seriously.  Their colors are all so rich and yummy, they are colors that I would want to wear.  I was hooked! 

Upon receiving the items I selected, I was blown away by how well-made they were.  Anyone who knows Emory knows that she is ROUGH on her clothes, far more little boy-like than lady-like let’s just say.  She’s barely two and I’ve thrown out countless pairs of pants and tops due to holes, stains, etc.  It is obvious that these clothes are very well-made, and so far they’ve survived a lot – spaghettios, grass/mud, our “dog” phase where Emory crawls on her knees all the time, and so on.  They’ve probably been washed dozens of times but they look as good as the day I opened the package.  That gets two big gold stars on my list! 

Another very cool thing I love about this company is that each collection they design is inspired by a different part of the world.  Their tag line is “for little citizens of the world.”  How neat is that!  Emory’s outfits shown here from the fall collection were inspired by Old World Hungary.  They really incorporate a sense of art into the design, and perhaps that’s why they appeal to me so much as a photographer.  It also means that each new collection will be fresh and different, although you will still get the same great quality, color, and artistic design that makes them so unique! 

While these, particular clothes are no longer available for purchase (shame on me for waiting so long to blog, I know!), I just got the catalog today for the newest collection, and let me tell you, it is to die for!  It was inspired by Catalonia – it just sounds gorgeous doesn’t it.   Here are some of my favorites from the early spring collection, chosen with an eye specifically for what might look good for your next portrait session:

Plumas Scalloped Dress - Gorgeous colors, and just enough fun design to make for easy accesorizing and interesting portraits

Jardin Ruffle Top with  Barcelona Bermuda Shorts - Great spring feel to this outfit, and something to run around and have fun in too!

La Musica 5-Piece Set – Another great thing about Tea is they offer mix and match sets at a discount!  This one is my favorite, pick any outfit, you can’t go wrong!

These. Are. Awesome.  I saw these fabulous little books at the PPA Imaging tradeshow in San Antonio, and I knew right then and there that I needed to share these with my amazing clients.  These 4×8 books with an accordion fold out are so multi-purpose – lay it on a table as a book, open it up and display it on a shelf, or secure it in it’s frosted case and stick it in your purse.  They are a wonderful way to show off several of your favorite images from your session!  As with all of my design products, I have several templates to choose from, and they can all be fully customized to your taste.  These books are a wonderful showcase and keepsake for any type of session.  All of my spring 2011 clients will be seeing a sample at your pre-session consultation, but as always, they are available to past clients as well, so let me know if you are interested.  Check these out!