August News

"P" is for Pig.

We all know that children learn in different ways.  Mrs. Gari Laminack and the ladies of Free Spirit Preschool know how to make learning fun and memorable.  Several of your children may have come home last week really excited about learning the letter "P".   Part of this excitement comes from a very special circle time featuring, yours truly, James Abram, professional photographer and storyteller extraordinaire.

Almost 8 years ago, when our son was in preschool at Free Spirit, James volunteered to come in and read to the kids during story-time.  His unique style and storytelling ability were an instant hit with the kids and teachers alike.  This story has become a favorite request at church activities and around the campfire.  Here's a peek of circle time for the letter "P".

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDFr9Lx7CDM

So if your kids came home trying to shake their cheeks and blow something down, you know the reason.  I wish I could capture the laughter that went all the way down to their toes, the giggles that made them throw back their heads and the excitement that made them wiggle and squirm on their mats.  After story-time you couldn't contain them anymore.  They all jumped up to tell Mr. James something about themselves.  One had no front teeth, one had new puppies and one had a visit from an elephant that sat on their house.

After many high fives, elbow bumps and fists bumps Mr. James had to leave.  Until next year when the tradition continues.

Thank You!

Thanks to all of our fans who voted us 

Best Photographer.

see all results in the Woodward News 

Moments of inspiration come when you least expect them.

It is a rare moment when James comes home and says he has just had the best photo session ever.  He kept going on and on about this couple that came in for their 60th wedding anniversary photos.  He was so taken with them that he even had Ivy come out and meet them.  At the young age of 79 Don is a full time brick layer that had to take time off in order to come in for their photographs.  Bernice is dedicated to sending care boxes to soldiers deployed over-seas.  You can hear the passion she has for this cause when she talks about what she does.  At the time most people think of slowing down and retirement, the Anderson's are so full of spunk and zest for life it reminds you of a young couple newly married.  I finally got to meet the Andersons when they came in to order their photographs.  I'm so glad I had this opportunity to meet them and James was right, they are an amazing couple.  Their energy definitely came through in the photographs from their session.  These are some of our favorites.



I can only hope that in 40 years our marriage will be as strong, fun, playful and loving as what I witnessed today.  If not I just need to take Bernice's advice and sock him in the chin.  Thanks for the inspiration Don and Bernice.    -Raynell

A new meaning for P.A.T.I.E.N.C.E.

I've seen (and heard) it a million times.  "No".  The one word that says all and controls all.  The one word that can fill a moms, or dads, heart with dread.  We've all been there, our darling child is letting their opinion be known about our plans for them that day.  There must be a way to make them do what we want. I mean, really, aren't we the adults.  They are supposed to do what we want them to do, say what we want them to say and act like we want them to act, all the time with a smile on their sweet little faces.  But, God, in all his wisdom, created the age of the two year old to teach us something about character.  And this week I was witness to the gift of patience.

Raelyn stepped over the threshhold of our studio door and knew immediately that this was not the place she wanted to be that day.  Even though mom and dad had these grand visions of their beautiful daughter dressed in the splendor of golden angel wings, Raelyn was having no part of it.  Her favorite word soon became "No".  No amount of persuasion, cajoling or bribery could make her want to sit where she was supposed to sit.  At this point I was preparred to see frustration being etched on the faces of mom and dad but what I saw really made me reflect on my own response to situations that don't go the way I want.  The way they smiled at her when she jumped from the stool was still full of warmth.  Their laughter as she countinued to run from the room was still filled with love.  And you could tell the little games she wanted to play filled them with joy.  No harsh words, no strict demands, just pure and simple enjoyment of their daughter.  Even though they left with not a single shot taken, you could tell their time together was not wasted.

The next session began with alone time with mom and dad, walking around the studio, looking at pictures and just hanging out.  Once in the camera room things were starting off pretty much the same as last time.  Mom and Dad were trying everything to coax her to sit on the stool, wearing themselves out in the process.  Then finally one good shot. Then a few more between her many trips running to the front door. Watching how patient they were with Raelyn was truly a blessing.  I don't know how they managed to always stay calm and positive.  I think the only way we made it through the session was with the patience of mom and dad.  So the next time I get frustrated, demanding or put out with my kids, I hope I can recall how a little patience can change a "No" moment into a moment to treasure.  Here's a few shots of their "treasured moment".  --Raynell

Easter Photographs Are Just Around The Corner.

I know is doesn't seem like it but spring will soon be here and our studio will be host to live easter bunnies.  Our annual children's Easter portrait special has always been a hit with the kids.  They love it so much that we have kids coming into the studio throughout the year wondering where the bunnies are. 

So come enjoy the fun and get great photographs at a great price.

March 31st through April 2nd

NO Session Fees---Packages Starting at  $49.95

If you were to pick one portrait special to attend this year,

this would be IT!

Oh, We Have an App for That!

Want to keep updated with what's going on at our studio?  We have an App for that.  Our FREE App allows you to see the latest news at our studio, get tips on how to make your photo session go great, how to design a wall grouping in your home, how to care for and store your images, plus lots more.

 

Want to schedule an appointment directly from your phone?  We have an App for that.  This App will allow you to make your appointments on your preferred date and time.  You can also view images from your session and see our favorite DailyPic.

This is just one of the new ways we are making things easier for our clients who are always on the go.  Just go to the App Store, search for James Photo and download this Free App.

New Design for Cheerleaders.

Sometimes we just need a little motivation to step out of the norm and do something we've never done before.   We had that opportunity when the high school cheerleaders came in for their annual photographs.  After seeing so many new ideas and new ways to design, we just had to change from what we've always done to offer something new and fresh.  We are always trying to stay tuned to what's current and giving our clients something they can't get elsewhere.  I think this hits the mark.  GO BOOMERS! 

Best Baby Photographer in Woodward? You Decide.

What does it take to be the best at what you do?  Knowledge, natural talent, perfect lighting, education?  All of these and more.  When I told James I wanted to be involved with the baby photographs I think I heard him give a big sigh of relief.  He has told me that photographing babies was one of the areas he just had no creativity for.  Now we have combined my love of babies and baby posing with his skills behind the camera and have created a team where you get the very best.  These newborn portraits are a few of my favorite shots taken in the last couple of months where James and I have worked as a team.

Not only have we combined our talents in the camera room but we will also be offering a new baby program designed to capture each stage in your babies first year.  We are still putting the final touches on this new division and are making sure the products offered will be top quality.  Look for more details on this new line in the coming weeks.

So how do you rate who is best!  Let us show you what we think "best" should look like.

-Raynell

Descending Angels

One of the many vendors we browsed at National convention carried this great line of angel wings.  Once I saw this gold set I couldn't wait to get home and offer it to our clients.  I hope everyone else thinks its as beautiful as I do.  For this promotion we will offer no session fee and a "Make your own package" special.  I have also decided to include some of our new products at a special introductory price.  We will provide the wings and headpiece for this set and also camisoles for the older girls to wear.  Come let us capture the little angels in your life.

January is education month for our studio

The month of January has been a whirlwind of education for our staff.  First Raynell and I went to Imaging USA, the Professional Photographers of America national convention in Nashville.  We spent 4 days in seminars and hands on training classes and attended the largest tradeshow expo in the business.  Raynell and I studied with great photographers and business trainers from all over the country including J.B. Sallee, Rod Evans, Lori Nordstrom, Will Crocket, Jerry Ghionis, Jed & Vicki Taufer and Photoshop god Julianne Kost.  We got some great new ideas on photography, sales & customer service and social media.  We are looking forward to implementing these things into our business over the next couple of months.

Next Jennifer and Tristyn attended the Kelby Photoshop Training School in OKC.  They spent a full day learning new Photoshop techniques and cool tricks.  Having our entire staff know how to use this powerful tool is important in providing our clients with the best possible image enhancements.

Finally, I attended SYNC (Seniors & Youth National Conference) in Tampa, FL. This is the greatest education opportunity for High School Senior photographers.  I studied with 12 incredible senior photographers, some of the most talented people in our business like Kirk Volclain, Gary Box, Scott Crosby and Craig Kienast.  I picked up some new photography techniques which I'll implement right away and a few marketing ideas we will use starting next month with our Class of 2011.

What does this mean for you, our client?  Well I believe I'm a better photographer and my staff is more prepared to serve you better.  We bought some new equipment and a few new backgrounds, and brought home some great ideas to improve our business.  The goal for us in attending these events is to better prepare ourselves to provide you with a better experience at our studio.

-James

While Mom and Dad are Away.

We had carefully planned all the events for our trip to Nashville, TN for Imaging USA, the national PPA convention.  Our dogs were going to be safely boarded at the vet.  Kids were staying with my parents for some quality grandma/grandpa time and both their schedules were perfectly lined out.  The studio was left with only a short "to do" list and all in all we had our ducks in a row.  Airport security and departure from OKC was a breeze.  We arrived at the breathtaking Gaylord Opryland Resort and spent the evening unwinding from our flight. 

  

We were both prepared for a full three days of seminars and Jim had outlined guest speakers at vendor booths in the trade show.   After the first day, I had taken in so much information I could hardly think because of the new ideas buzzing through my head.  Being around such great photographers really motivates you on how to improve your skills and to try new things.  The first day was so great I couldn't wait for the next to hear more speakers and see what other ideas I could come away with on how to improve our business.  Then it comes...the dreaded phone call from home.  Isaac has hurt his neck/back.  His head is pulled to one side, his opposite shoulder is drooping down in order to balance himself so he can stand up and he is in so much pain he can't stand to be touched.  So a paniced grandma calls and we finally find a doctor that will see him immediately.  I go through the morning classes in daze not really caring if someone had the magic "Easy" button on how to run a business or if someone was giving away the trade secret on how to pose babies.  Until I heard Ike on the phone, in a voice that actually sounded like his own, nothing else seemed to register in my head.  Finally, I was able to refocus my thoughts and get back into training mode.  In the next few months I hope to have in place some of the new products, ideas and services that will enhance your experience at our studio.  There were so many great speakers and they all had at least one idea that I would love to put into action.  But for me personally, here is a quote from my first class that will definately stay with me for a while.

"There are only two things you can control in your life:  What you put into your body and what you put into your mind." 


So let go and let God.     -Raynell

Dancing Dreams.

I don't know any other way to put it but little girls hold such a special place in the hearts of those who love them. It was almost impossible not to be affected by the arrival of this little princess.  It was so amazing to hear the love already in the voice of her mom as she talked about the birth of her little girl. To hear her aahh over this precious bundle captured in perfect innocence was truly beautiful. I'm so gratefull that we were chosen to be a part of this moment in Jaylee's life.  To see more of Jaylee, check out her video on our facebook page.

Children and Family Specials Just in Time for Christmas.

Trying to decide what to give all the people on your list? How about something they will treasure instead of something that will be "re-gifted" or in the trash later. We are offering two great specials to make your Christmas shopping easy.

How sweet is your angel?

Sweet curls, creamy cheeks, soft flaxen hair and deep blue eyes that could melt the hardest of hearts, this little angel is a treasure. However, all these attributes often take a back seat when it comes to the levels of stress this little princess causes her parents. Deciding the best day and time to take your photographs and what clothing would look best to wear on that special day, are, in themselves, stressful decisions. Then comes picture day and all your best ideas and hopes for great photographs are struck down by a mere two year old with ideas of her own. You leave feeling dejected but somewhat hopefull for at least ONE good photograph to commemorate the milestone of another year. But here is where your choice in photographer pays off in a big way. The gift of seeing the split second where a true smile shines through, or that click just before a soft expression becomes the look of defiance, is why you can trust James to get more than just "one good picture". Being able to capture the light that makes the eyes sparkle with mischief is one of his many natural abilities that even years of training can never teach. Thus your hopes for great photographs are exceded when you view the images captured in the photo session you thought had gone as rotten as finding last weeks sippy cup filled with milk under the seat of your car. (Although, I admit that hasn't happened to me in a while, but the memory still lingers.)

Moving from behind the computer to in front of the camera.

Here is my first attempt at using my vision for baby photography. James has told me many times he would rather just stand behind the camera and let me do the baby posing but I've always let something hold me back. Capturing the tenderness and emotion of the bond between mom and baby has prompted me to study and find out as much as I can about baby posing, lighting and photographs from the best baby photographers around. Seeing their vision and realizing "yes, this is what I want to do!" has encouraged me to step into James' world. I was quick to find out that what I see in my head is not always easily transferred to what comes out through the camera. With practice and much patience from moms, I hope my posing ideas will become second nature and what I want to capture is transferred into great images. I know this will take time to learn and of course lots of babies to practice on.

Challenging Others by Stepping Up.

Whoever said youth lack motivation and ambition need to take a look at Kory Fayle and Tanner Bryant, two seniors from Arnett. Their story is told in the Thursday edition of the Woodward News. When a teammates sister is fighting for survival and faced with chemotherapy and the loss of her hair, these "youth" have taken the path of the wise and shown their support by shaving their heads. In an attempt to boost community support and prayer they have vowed to continue to shave their heads until she is finished with her treatments. When I read this story I was touched by their ambition and encouragement. It is so nice to hear of Teens actually breaking through the bonds of low expectations and doing great things for others.

This little guy just warmed my heart. Came with his mom and dad to order and just kept smiling and talking to me. It was so cute how he would peek around his dads arm to look at me. His little gurgles just warmed by heart and made me long for the days of first laughs and slobbery kisses. Thanks for sharing him with us Cayla and Bryan.

Our GRAND Adventure.

What could be better than spending time at the lake with your church family. We spent our summer vacation at Grand Lake with four other families. We were quite a site pulling out of town with our train of 5 campers, 4 boats and two jetskis. We couldn't have picked a better time to go, the lake was beautiful and the weather was great. During the day we would cruise the lake, picking out our dream house or going through the marina's and deciding which party boat had the coolest name. My favorite was I.T.A.L.Y. (It Tis A Little Yacht). When they weren't skiing or tubing in the boat, the kids enjoyed catching perch off the shore behind the campers and swimming off the dock. All in all, it was great to get away and relax on the lake. Now back to the real world where sessions call, orders are placed, bills are paid, laundry is piled and cleaning needs to be done. And thank God that we have a phone that rings, people that order, bills that are paid, clothes to clean and a house that needs dusted. -Raynell

Do it yourself project turns into quality family time.

Have you ever had one of those projects that you just dread. Well you're looking at one. Our new natural light camera room, which was supposed to be finished 6 weeks ago, is now completed. Our whole family passed up a weekend at the lake to finish this project. Isaac was the official "saw man", cutting and measuring all the pieces that were up against the wall, Ivy was the "strip layer", laying the pieces to be fitted together, I was the "glue girl" and Jim was the "tapper", fitting the pieces together to perfection. It took us two days to finish but the transformation is amazing. The kids both worked so hard and didn't complain once that they gave up lake time for work. We were down to our last section and Ivy says, "Mom, my fingers are red." Gotta love her, mine were too.

Won't you be our friend.

The last couple of days have been a blur learning about facebook and myspace. I still don't understand it all but I get so excited when someone wants to be our friend. Aren't we special! Here is the first of many senior videos we hope to post to our facebook. Enjoy.

Future Photographer? Who knows!

By qualifying in the state finals, Isaac was able to go to the National TSA Convention in Denver, CO and compete in the Digital Photography competition. He made it to the top 10 out of the 100 plus albums submitted, which qualified him to compete in the on site project. He had to take new photographs, crop and prepare them, put them on page format with a description of the process he used to make the final print and then go in for a personal interview with three judges. He did not place in the top 3 but, once all the scores were posted, we found out he placed 4th in the competition. How awesome is that for his first year in TSA. -From a proud mom, Raynell

Loads of sand brought lots of smiles.

Kids just loved the sand in their toes and the shells to play with in our annual beach special. James finally got to use the new camera room for these settings. It is amazing the difference natural lighting can make in a portrait. But it also helps when your subject is as cute as this little guy.

Get Ready for the Rodeo.

RODEO UP!

Rodeo Days are coming July 15th. Get your cowgirl/cowboy decked out in their rodeo finest and swing on by for photographs in our unique country set. Booking appointments now. Take advantage of these low prices. Packages starting at just $24.95

A New Light.

Some of you have probably seen the construction chaos in our front office. We are finally putting the finishing touches our new natural light camera room. We are trying to complete the project before senior season hits and we still have a few things left to do. These are some shots I took to test the paint color. Not bad for a monkey with a camera. However, I may be a little partial because of the subject. -Raynell

Time Out!

Have you ever felt the need to give yourself a time-out? I had reached that point where it didn't feel like I had an extra minute to spare for anything except the overwhelming stack of jobs that had to be finished. My kids had both left for a week at camp, we had a list of things that needed to be done yesterday and I was really feeling bogged down with all the things on my plate. Then my husband comes to the rescue. Our kids had to be picked up from camp in Branson, MO on Sunday, so he booked us at the Chateau on the Lake a few days early so we could have our own private Time-Out. It was wonderful. We had no schedule, no computers, no phones, just a beautiful pool, a balcony overlooking the lake and solitude. It was so nice just to be alone together. I have never felt so pampered on a vacation. But I must admit, it was wonderful to finally have the kids back on Sunday.

Summer Fun!

Children's Summer Beach Special is here.

This event has always been one of my favorite. I just love the bright colors of sun dresses, the cute swimsuits and the sunglasses on all the little beach bunnies. There are still some times open for this special, so call today!

Meet the Bunny!

Our spring Easter special booked fast. This year we were so lucky to get our bunnies from S. Pond. They are house pets that she has loved on and played with to make them the tamest bunnies I think we have ever had. She has dress up clothes for them and also takes Mr. Nibbles for a walk on his leash. There is one bunny that will lay on its back so you can scratch its belly. They are all so cute (especially when they belong to someone else). Thanks S. for the bunnies.

-Raynell

Spring Break Project.

Our projects over spring break have already been put to good use. Above are a couple of the new backgrounds I painted during the week. That's the best workout my arms have had in a long time. I'm just glad I don't have to paint like that all the time. There are some others that I have painted but I haven't seen them in prints yet. -Raynell

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

Our plans of spending Spring Break at Lake Eufala did not happen as planned. Instead of a lazy week of sitting by the campfire, fishing and spending time with family, we dove in to several projects here at the office. I tapped in to my creative side and painted three new backgrounds for James to use in the camera room (pictures coming soon). I can't wait to see how they will look in photographs. Jim and the kids used the time to lay new flooring in the camera room and to hang a lighting system from the ceiling. We have one more big project to do before our break is over; a new natural light camera room. So even though we did not get to enjoy time away at the lake, it gave us the opportunity we needed for projects that we have been putting off for lack of time. Can't wait for you to see all of our improvements.

-Raynell

Got Bunnies!

Yes, it's almost here. Time for bunnies. You probably just received your flyer in the mail promoting our annual Easter photos. We have already had lots of calls so don't wait until last minute. After school appointments always go first. Also there is no school scheduled for April 10th, so keep that in mind for picture day.

-Raynell

Another busy weekend

What better way to spend the weekend than supporting your kids. Isaac went to his second TSA (Technology Student Association) conference in Rushsprings where he won 1st place in Digital Photography. He says in runs in his blood. He was so excited with his win since his album in the first conference was disqualified because of missing release forms. Then we were off to Edmond for a gymnastics meet for Ivy. She did so good, 3 blues and a red. (Blues=great job, red=ok). Her balance on the beam was great for every move except on one turn she lost her footing and fell. My heart broke for her since I know that is the event she loves the most. She is so focused on finishing every pose she makes it look so easy. Although it was a long day, I wouldn't have it any other way. Being able to support and encourage your children...priceless.

-Raynell