When did I REALLY become a professional photographer?

I have been wanting to write this post for awhile, time just always seems to get by me! I would like to share a little about my journey..

Besides being in love with photography & my camera at an early age, like many other photographers I fell in love with it all over again capturing my own children.
I didn't really set out to be a "professional photographer", it found me.

I don't want to go into that, for another time.

Let me start by first stating, that to say I am a "professional photographer" has taken quite some time and didn't come without lessons learned the hard way. Oh, at first I thought I was a photographer, but definitely a pro I was not. The realization came to me in 2009, when I attended a large photography conference. I heard fabulous pro's speak & tell their story, share their talent and was blown away.

I was a little fish in the giant ocean! Wow, I was ready to go home & crawl under a rock. I learned those few days that being a photographer isn't flipping a switch to "auto" or even "program" modes. I learned new words like "soft focus", finding the light, depth of field, manual mode, proper exposure, and the list goes on. Soft focus, btw is not something you want to be told about your work unless it is intentional,lol!

I put my camera up for little bit and then got it back down, if those people could do it so could I! With the help & encouragement of an amazing new friend and fellow professional photographer I switched my camera to "M" or manual & promised I wouldn't take it off. I poured over books, practiced on my kids, my dog, my neighbors, family, landscape, you name it. I started to see differences, but still not where I wanted to be. Finally, I realized that I needed more education to help. In the past few years, I have spent many hours (and lots money!) attending workshops all across the country to learn. It has been amazing and hard work all at same time! I had to be away from my family, which was very hard!

There is so much more to the story, but I don't want to bore you with it..

In learning to be a "professional photographer" I also had to learn business aspects, it isn't just about taking photos. I get inquiries all time about pricing, how I do things, etc. There are photographer's on every corner just like hair dressers, doctor's, restaurants. Referrals are great, but just because someone has numerous fb likes or friends or a photo gets lots comments doesn't make you photographer.

When you are looking for a photographer, really look at their quality of work! It isn't about being "affordable" or cheap! The saying is really true, you get what you pay for- With facebook & internet it is easy to compare. And it amazes me how many people think they are "professional photographer's" because they bought a camera, setup a website or fb page & decided to start a business.

I am sharing a few photos from my early days when I thought I was a photographer and some from recently. I thought it would be more helpful to use the same subject in all, my daughter Maddie. They are all edited/processed the same way. The first two were taken with camera on program mode and are soft in focus besides using an external flash. The last two were taken in manual mode, using natural light, & sharp in focus.

You be the judge-

Meet the Boys...and be ready to FALL in love!

Can't wait to share pics with everyone of each of the boys & let you get to know them a little bit!

To back up a minute, I have been wanting to focus little more on boys for some photos. I have 3 girls of my own, which I love to capture, but feel like I always use girls for models, or to "play" when trying out something new or creative. I also hear from many clients that boys just don't seem to have as many choices with clothes and accessories so I want to help change that. AND, I want to show them having their picture taken is fun, not boring & something they have to do because Mom said to do it!

So.... take a look at 6 local boys, all regular kiddos who joined me for few hours on a school night (THANKS to all the mom's!)

First, we met up at my studio to pick out outfits from clothing they already owned. Once everyone was there and dressed, we walked over few blocks to do few group shots and some individual ones outside. With it being a weeknight, we didn't have much time to stay & play outdoors so we headed back inside for few of each in the studio.

It was a great experience for me and hopefully each of them! New friendships were made and a new perspective on getting your photo taken. I think they are each considering a modeling career on side now, lol.

Look for several upcoming posts about each of them individually!

Thanks for allowing me do what I love :)
Kerri

What a cutie! Had fun playing outside with this little guy! Check out how cute his little shoes are : )
AND I even snuck Mom & Dad in for few with him-

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Look what I get to use this week for newborn shoot!

SUPER excited to use this adorable newborn crown that was just designed by SUGARBUG BOUTIQUE for a newborn session today! It is so little, just darling! Will post few pics from the session later this week!

My Sweet Maddie Pie Princess

Maddie & I got little time to shoot few quick pics,seems like I don't have much time to "play"! The whole family has been super busy, just like everyone else this spring. Here are just few of my favs so far! Can't wait to get some time to go through them all & get some ordered for the walls! Definitely will have to print several, as I'm sure I will NOT be able to choose just one! Hope you like them! I will catch the blog up soon with details of what's happening around the studio (we've been working on redesign) and also lots photo sessions that haven't made it to the post yet. Enjoy the last few days of April! (can't believe that) Kerri

Maddie, 6 years old & Mo, just 8 weeks!

Maddie turned 6 years old this week, WOW! She is getting so big, so fast. Seems crazy to think she is my youngest & that big.

We didn't get to do much for her actual birthday since it was a school night. Everyone else was busy or gone this weekend in our household, so her & I snapped a few pics this morning then went to Chuck E. Cheese for lunch today. (where she picked, of course!) Have to admit, it was lots of fun just hanging out with her & taking a day off work myself.

For those of you that didn't know yet, she has had rough 2012 so far! She started out in Nov & Dec getting ear infections again. She had them really bad as an infant, had tubes put in at 9 mos. She had to have them surgically removed when she was 2 1/2 and has not had any trouble... until the end of last year. Her dr. decided to re-tube her 1st of Jan & it was an excellent decision. When they got in there, one ear was literally rupturing.

February she had a second surgery, very unexpected! It all started on Valentine's Day! She got sick during her class party & had to go home early, had to cancel going to my sister's bday dinner too! She was very sick all afternoon & evening. We kept her home the next day also, she wasn't getting sick anymore but had high fever & slept alot. That night she seemed worse, higher fever & couldn't stay awake for more than 10 minutes or so. The next morning she came into the bathroom while I was showering & I found her asleep on the floor when I got out. When I asked her to tell me what was going on, she quickly said her side was hurting really bad. At that moment, the light went on! I had my appendix removed when I was in second grade & remember it all too well. I pressed left side, nothing...right side, she yelled out in pain. We went to hospital hoping I was wrong, but quickly got back test results (they did xrays, c-scan, blood work, & not even sure what else!) This was all by 9:30 a.m., we were moved upstairs to Pediatric floor & told would be going to surgery. At about 1:30 or 2, still waiting...after pressing for information we were told the dr was in surgery & it would be at least 3:30 or 4. This was so hard, watching her lay there in pain, begging for a drink (which she could not have due to surgery) and waiting... whole time not understanding how in town this size there was only 1 dr on call! Besides the fear of it rupturing!

Finally, at 4pm we were taken downstairs for the surgery. In meantime, her fever was still spiking higher. Met the dr, who tells us that he is pretty sure it has already ruptured! CAN you imagine what all was going through my mind at this moment! After longer than expected surgery, they come out to tell us the good & bad news. Good news, it didn't rupture... the bad news, they had a very hard time locating it. It was up very high on her side, pressed between her liver & colon. It was very infected, the only reason it didn't rupture was due to the pressure of her other organs on it. They had to really manipulate & twist her to locate it & make her incision larger than most.

Most appendectomies have a pretty quick recovery time for children. Well, not for Maddie. She ended up being in the hospital for 5 days, kept getting sick for first few, developed Illeus from the manipulation, continued to have fever & was put on antibiotics same as if had ruptured. She didn't get her appettite back for about 4 days after being home & considering she had not eaten anything solid since day before Vday, that was long time for someone her age & size.

Needless to say, she had a great birthday & is finally getting back to normal self. She was released this week from any restrictions, which for her means she can run & dance! So 6 is looking good & we are ready to enjoy the rest of 2012 healthy!!

Sooo, this all leads up to "Mo" her BIG, special birthday present!! Another story, lol! She met a friend's two tea cup poodles & fell in love with them. That is all she has asked for her birthday past few months. We of course, told her no way. Another friend knew how much she wanted one & happened to know where to get one, lol. After everything she had been through, how could I not get her one, lol!!

AND he is really cute & sweet! BTW, he has a little brother if anyone is interested, just email me for details. kerri.zeien@yahoo.com

February ALREADY!

Happy Valentine's Day & Happy Birthday to my one & only sister! I cannot even believe this month is half over, not liking how fast this year has started out... I haven't had much spare time as you can probably tell since my poor blog has been neglected. For those of you that don't already know...I became the new, exclusive St. Mary's Hospital newborn photographer the first of October!! Super exciting, they were ready for a change after a decade of the same look. This definitely made for a busy fall/holiday season.

January & February has been all about catching up, cleaning, organizing, sessions & getting ready to attend awesome workshop! I get to see friends & get inspired for spring!!

Been updating website & will be blogging some fun, new stuff soon! Hope you are enjoying your winter hibernation too! So glad to be back : )