~ chp ~

BLOG CONTEST

2008-07-25T16:41:00.002+02:00

CHECK OUT THE NEW BLOG AND JOIN IN THE FUN!!

http://chelseahudson.wordpress.com

NEW BLOG ADDRESS

2008-06-10T07:26:00.003+02:00

I am in the process of updating and customizing my blog... but in the meantime I will be over at:

http://www.chelseahudson.wordpress.com

Lifestyle Portraits

2008-06-07T00:02:00.005+02:00

There is a "buzz" term floating around the photography community ~ "lifestyle" portraiture. I am sure there are a dozen eloquent descriptions of just what this is out there on the web, but here is a brief CHP description with some photo examples.

Lifestyle portraiture is a departure from the traditional posed, staged portraiture of the past with its muslin backdrops, artificial lighting etc. Instead, this new type of portraiture strives to capture more than just a picture or snapshot of a person or family dressed in their Sunday best, which we all know can really be faked. Rather, it strives to capture the lifestyle of a person or family, or child, which is definitely hard to fake. Lifestyle portraits are diverse and unpredictable. There is nothing cookie-cutter about it, as each and every person's lifestyle is as unique as their person-hood is.

These two pictures prove that you don't have to be saying "cheese" to capture a great and memorable portrait. These funny faces reflect the true essence of this 3 year old... sure, its a stage, but its HIS stage right now. And that is worth capturing and remembering in the years to come!

And it sure doesn't take much to get the imagination churning with these little ones... here James is coming at me "like a tiger."

What does lifestyle portraiture look like? Well, it should look like YOU. Your life, your style, your environment, your comfort zone, your activities and hobbies... When I shoot a portrait session, I ask my clients to pick out places that bring them joy and comfort and/or nostalgia (i.e. a back yard, special park, the restaurant of a first date, or "memory lane"), to pick out clothes that reflect their personalities (with maybe a little coaching from me :) ), and props that reflect their personalities or memories (i.e. a special stuffed animal or toy for a child, a basketball, guitar or instrument for a senior). I like to get down on the ground when photographing a child so that I can capture them in their world... which is vastly different from the world that is just a few feet higher. I like to hear a client's love story in detail before we meet so we can incorporate some significant places or things into the shoot if possible. This, in a nutshell, is lifestyle portraiture.

This photo was taken at a splash pad... pure joy. You just can't "stage" that!

Just the other day, I met a friend at a local park and brought along my camera. We weren't there for a portrait session, we were just there to have fun. But had this been a portrait session, the pictures would have been just the same. With lifestyle portraiture, you don't have to dress up if you don't like... you don't have to pose in awkward positions for insane amounts of time. I love capturing kids in their element and often that is when they are oblivious of the camera. I love to follow a child onto the playground equipment and capture those priceless and effortless smiles and giggles as they come down a slide, swing high into the sky or make sand castles. I love to capture kids interacting with their parents playing catch, tag or as we call it in our family "gettchyoo." :) That is lifestyle portraiture. Now, to be sure, I do ask you to look at the camera at times, I do gather the family together to get THE family portrait. But even that should be unique, casual, and most of all comfortable. I have captured the family together blowing bubbles, walking hand in hand, jumping in the air, rolling on the grass in a family pile.

I absolutely love this photo... what a moment! These two were spying through the steps on some other kids playing at the playground. Don't they look like they are plotting something sinister?!

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SUMMER SPECIALS!!

(for those in the Phoenix metro area)

Don't forget to book your summer lifestyle portrait sessions for 30% off the package prices!! Or if you or someone you know is looking for a wedding photographer, book by August 1, 2008 for 30% off any wedding package price!

Contact me for more details at info@chelseahudson.com !

Texas Photo Sessions

2008-05-28T18:40:00.006+02:00

Looks like I will be heading to Texas in mid July.... anyone in the Hill Country area interested in some family/baby/maternity/kiddo/senior portraits this summer? Email me if you are interested so I can start narrowing down some dates! If there is enough interest, you might be seeing some posts soon regarding possible:

~ Marathon sessions: mini sessions for a fraction of the price - 30 minute sessions scheduled back to back in one location for a nominal session fee (all ordering is a la carte).

~ CHP referral promotion: refer your friends to book a session with me and receive free prints, upgrades and/or even a free session.

~ Blog contests for the Texans.... keep checking back for more!

All of the above are contingent on whether or not there is enough interest in booking sessions in the San Antonio area in mid July so EMAIL (chelsea at chelseahudson.com) me if you are interested!

drum roll please.....

2008-05-26T07:52:00.002+02:00

and the May Blog Contest winner is................... not a local. :)

Due to the lack of blog comments from LOCALS, I will just have to run the contest again sometime in the future after building up more of a local client base. Guess I need to get out and meet some more Phoenicians!

Just for kicks, though, I drew a random number just to see which commenter would have won....

Amber... girl you have a free photo session if we ever connect in your state or mine, or anywhere in between! :)

Ok, thats all for now.... I am one tired mama! My hubby and I celebrated our 5th anniversary this weekend! Lots of fun celebrating with and without the two girlies of ours!

IT'S HERE!!!!!!!!!!

2008-05-19T17:32:00.003+02:00

Its finally LIVE! I have been working on a new website, actually TWO websites - CHP Portraits and CHP Weddings! Check them out here:

WWW.CHELSEAHUDSON.COM

In honor of the new website and new pricing (contact me for a 2008 price list) and new location (Phoenix Arizona baby!), I am going to be offering some killer "specials" this summer. These specials are for local clients only at this time. I want to get to know some fellow Phoenix-onians (or whatever we call ourselves here)!

Here are the first batch of specials ~ stay tuned for more! This is going to be a fun summer! :) :)

WEDDING & PORTRAIT SPECIAL

In honor of my 30th birthday this year, I am offering a 30% discount on all weddings and portrait bookings this summer!! Hurry and jump on this special as it

ends August 1, and my full prices will be in effect from that time on.

Portraits ~ Book your session by August 1, 2008 and you will get a 30% discount off whatever package you choose. This discount applies to the package price only, and not to prints and products purchased in addition to the portrait package. Contact me if you have questions or want to book soon! ALL sessions must be booked by August 1 and completed by August 31 for the discount to apply.**

** Bookings are limited to availability so book soon to ensure an available date!

Weddings ~ Book your wedding by August 1, 2008 for 30% off your package price!! This discount applies to the package price only and not to prints, albums, or other products not included in the package price. The wedding has to be booked (with a retainer and signed contract) by August 1, 2008 to reserve your date at the discounted rate.**

** I only take on a very limited amount of weddings each year, so book soon to ensure availability!

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May Blog Contest

(this is the first of many CHP blog contests to come so stay tuned for more fun this summer!)

This month I am offering a FREE portrait session* to a random local commenter this month. On May 25th (Memorial Day Weekend as well as my 5th anniversary weekend), I will be choosing a random commenter from this blog post to receive a FREE session! So check out my new websites and head back here and let me know what you think, what you like, what you don't like :), to just say hey! or be the one to tell me what residents of Phoenix call themselves (Phoenix-onians? Phoenicians? Phoenix-ites?) and you may be the lucky commenter of the month! On the 25th, I will write out the number of comments on pieces of paper, and will randomly draw the number of the winning commenter, and announce it on this blog.

* The free session is for the CHP Digital Package which includes one full portrait session and a CD of full resolution digital files with personal printing release. Contact me if you have questions or would like a full 2008 price list.

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STAY TUNED FOR MORE FUN SOON FOLKS!!!!

wait for it.... wait for it...

2008-04-29T22:58:00.001+02:00

COMING SOON to a computer near you... the new and improved www.chelseahudson.com experience!

Easter Girls

2008-03-25T20:33:00.002+01:00

Ahhhhh, what fun it was to photograph my two girlie girls in their girlie Easter dresses this year! I call these my happy pictures.... just looking at them brightens my day. I need to print these off in very large prints or canvas prints and have them hung around my house. Whenever I am having a rough day, or the girls are driving me to my last nerve at the moment, I can look up and around and remember the JOY they bring on a daily basis, and the GIFT they truly are in our lives. Hope these make you smile too...

*on a business note.... changes are coming soon to this blog, the Chelsea Hudson Photography site and more. Stay tuned!

CHP changes on the horizon...

2008-03-04T18:24:00.002+01:00

F.Y.I.

CHP will be undergoing some pricing and policy changes this month. Please stay tuned for more info...

For my current clients... one of the policy changes that will go into effect April 1st. is that your current online gallery will be closed down. This gives you and or your friends and family a bit over 3 weeks to order anything from your gallery.

All subsequent galleries will have a time limit of 3 weeks for clients and their friends and family members to order prints and other products. After the 3 weeks, the gallery will be taken off the site. I will be sure to email my clients reminding them of the time limit when there is one week left for the gallery to stay open. If a client wants to extend the online gallery time, they can do so for an extra fee.

There are other policy changes to follow, but this is the most pertinent to my current clients. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email me: info@chelseahudson.com.

Introducing...

2008-02-21T04:35:00.003+01:00

We are so thankful and blessed to be given this little bundle of joy! For more information (maybe too much information... :) and a lot of pictures, you can go to my personal blog HERE.

Things that make you go hmmmmmm.....

2008-02-18T00:12:00.002+01:00

Got this quote in an email today.... I am sorry I do not know the original author of the quote, but I believe it was taken off www.strobist.com:

"A famous author and a famous photographer once met and exchanged pleasantries.

The author said he much admired the photographer's work, and went on to ask what kind of camera and lighting he used.

After responding, the photographer said that she really liked the author's work too, and was just wondering what kind of typewriter he used..."

Pretty in pink....

2008-02-12T22:08:00.000+01:00

This is my firstborn, Adelaide... I can hardly believe she is nearly 26 months old. Time does fly when you have kids, folks! I wanted to get in at least one more "just Addie" photo shoot before her baby sister decides to join us, because, well, we all know how many pics of that little girlie there will be in the near future. Adelaide isn't a huge fan of the camera in her face, so I just followed her around letting her do her thing... whether it was making faces in a mirror, throwing rocks, watering the plants (again), running around... These are the real moments in her life. And she isn't always smiling for them.. there are lots of serious looks, looks of concentration and frustration. And there are the looks of pure joy. All of these are raw emotions and I want to capture them all because they are real life.

Welcome to Adelaide's world....

* if you want to see more, there are quite a few on my personal blog here.

CHP has been "featured" on another blog!!

2008-02-01T13:27:00.000+01:00

Sarah Quiara, a fantastic photographer out of central Texas, has recently started a blog called http://mamarazzischool.blogspot.com. She is giving all kinds of workshops, tutorials and tips for moms (and anyone else really) on how to capture better photos of their kiddos (so someone else's kiddos). Its a fantastic and much needed market out there. I get emails quite regularly asking for these kinds of tips.... how to better use a digital SLR, what lenses to get, how to shoot a certain age group and so on. Sarah's Mamarazzi School and blog are a great resource for all you moms out there that are fed up with the blurry pictures and lost moments when you just KNOW you and your camera are capable of so much more together!

Recently, Sarah has asked some of us fellow photographers to submit our own photo tips and examples and mine was the first to be featured this week (besides Sarah's)! How fun is that?! Scroll down beneath the "workshop" post for lots of photo tips!

Check it out!!!

http://mamarazzischool.blogspot.com/

we have arrived

2008-01-29T07:07:00.001+01:00

FINALLY - we have arrived at our final destination - Phoenix! after about 2-3 months of constant transitions. And actually we haven't ALL arrived yet.... My husband, John, is on his last couple of days on the job in Berlin. He then flies into Phoenix late Friday night... along with the other masses of people coming in for the superbowl. I sure hope he gets here on time cause he has two girls here that are missing him like crazy. A month is a long time to go without hubby and daddy.

Thanks to my dear friend and amazing photographer, Alyssa, I have some preggo photos to capture this pregnancy. Here are about 4 or 5 of my absolute favorites, but you can click over to my personal blog to see more if you are so inclined. I adore shooting pregnancy photos. I love the emotion, the drama, the creativity it pulls out of you. I never thought I would do it with my own pregnancies... but Alyssa really outdid herself. I am in love with the feel of these shots. We had so much fun shooting them together... well, me posing in ridiculously out-of-my-comfort-zone poses and outfits, and her with her amazing eye for angles, backgrounds and compositions that really step out of the box. She totally rocks the fashion/urban style here and I just love having these memories to cherish forever.

Speaking of baby.... looks like baby girl is baking a lot faster than we first thought. This little bun in the oven may be done and ready to pop by Valentines Day or soon thereafter rather than in March! Nothing like moving halfway across the country (and world for that matter) to a new city and living out of boxes 2 weeks before having a baby! :) We can't wait to meet her, though!

Moving Soon!

2008-01-07T14:45:00.000+01:00

My husband, John, and I just got back from a 5 day whirlwind "discover Phoenix" trip. It was very successful, even though we didn't get the house we originally tried to contract on. At least we narrowed down exactly where we want to be and explored much of the city and its surrounding areas. We also found a doctor for baby and me! What a blessing! Our real estate agents have a daughter who is a labor and delivery nurse in Scottsdale and she worked me in for an appointment while I was in town... and all is A-ok with baby and me! We now have a doc, doc office, and hospital to deliver at all settled! That is a huge load off my mind and a big deduction in the overall general stress level of this international move.

We fell in love with the city of Phoenix.... there is so much to see and do... so many wide open spaces... and mountains right in the middle of the city! It seems that many people lead very active and outdoor lives and we just love that and are greatly looking forward to the adventures that await us there.

Note: Chelsea Hudson Photography does not have a new mailing address yet, but I do have a new USA cell phone in case anyone needs to get a hold of me. It is 602-405-8286. Also, for those of you in the San Antonio area, I will be here for another 2-3 weeks and have some time for some portrait sessions. If you have been thinking about doing some pictures (Valentines, late Christmas gifts, annual family photos....) lets schedule it! Just email me or give me a call!

Here are a couple of pics I snapped while driving through the mountains right outside the city - what a beautiful, rugged wilderness:

McCaleb Slideshow

2007-12-23T16:54:00.000+01:00

Here is a slideshow with some of my favorites! Click the play button on the controls in the lower left and then be prepared to wait for a bit for the show to load... sorry! :)

The McCaleb Family

2007-12-23T00:51:00.001+01:00

Man-o-man.... I haven't even finished the editing process but couldn't resist posting these.... I am so in love with these pictures of this family... I can't even stand it! The chemistry, love, joy, and peace these siblings and their mom have with each other is just amazing. And you can see these qualities even just in the photos! Did I mention how gorgeous they all are? Oh yeah, you can see that for yourself... but just know its beauty from the inside out!! So here is a sneak peak... but slideshow and more to come later!

First Photography Contest!

2007-12-22T15:08:00.000+01:00

Greetings from warm, sunny Texas! It is good to be in my home state, although I already miss dear Berlin... Life moves on and so must we!

I just found out that one of the images I submitted (pictured below) made it to the final nominations in a photography contest online! I am so very excited, as this is the first photography contest I have every entered.

Jesh de Rox is an incredibly talented photographer out of Canada, and really is leading in the industry when it comes to emotive, artistic, and textured art photographs. He is hosting the contest on his blog. Three other incredible photographers, Brianna Graham, Jessica Claire, and Nate and Jaclyn of the image is found helped him go through all the submissions and nominated the 10 photos in each category. Now it is up to YOU and I, the blog reader, to vote on our favorites!

PLEASE PLEASE go to Jesh's blog and check them out... Of course I would love to place in the contest, but really there are so many amazing photos up there... just vote for the ones that you like the best and that move you.

On my mind....

2007-12-13T22:32:00.000+01:00

I did some quickie self portraits the other day... this is my favorite and sum's up where I am these days. :) Its a girl.... and she is an active one. She sleeps during the day and parties at night... all-night-long. We can't wait to meet her, though. Adelaide, my almost 2 year old likes to play with my belly and say "baby." We thought, "Hey, she's getting it!" That was until she lifted up my husband's shirt one day and pointed to his belly and said, "Baby!!" Ha ha!

Happenings....

2007-12-06T19:53:00.000+01:00

Well folks, we are on the last leg of our European sojourn. We are snug and cozy in a furnished apartment in the heart of Berlin... a very happening place to be this time of year. There are Christmas markets within walking distance in just about every direction from us. So festive. So warm-and-fuzzy feeling. But pretty soon we will be getting on a jet plane and heading back to the US of A. We fly out of here on December 17.

Meanwhile, we have been doing all we can to see as much of our friends, Berlin and even more of Europe before we leave. Last weekend we did a whirlwind trip to Rome. And it was fantastic. Here a few of my favorite shots from the trip if you are interested.

The Sistine Chapel:

The Coloseum

Ancient Rome:

As far as the future is concerned, I am getting excited about pursuing my photography business in the Phoenix metro area this coming year! For those of you who have contacted me about doing various shoots/events... this is good news. :) My travel/destination fees will be reduced dramatically as we move onto the same continent as the rest of you! :)

Blessings to you all this season... more to come soon!

They are up!

2007-11-18T22:57:00.000+01:00

UPDATE:

Greg and Susan's wedding photos are up in the Client Gallery. You can access the gallery by going to www.chelseahudson.com and clicking on the "Client" page. The password is the groom's last name. Enjoy!

The Wedding

2007-11-14T16:16:00.000+01:00

Well, first of all, I have to say it was so wonderful to be able to be a part of Susan and Greg's wedding day... even if only to meet this extraordinary couple. The love and respect that their friends and family had for them was so incredibly obvious... and very well expressed throughout the day! It was so fun to be a fly on the wall (albeit with a huge camera hanging around its neck) at the reception and listen to toast after toast attesting to the character, perseverance, personality and love these two have for each other, their friends and family and also most importantly, God. Susan and Greg, I wish you all the blessings and joy God has to offer as you embark on this new journey together! Thanks so much for entrusting such a big part of your wedding to me... I hope these pictures (and the hundreds more to come) will bring back all the memories and feelings of joy, excitement, love and anticipation of your wedding day for the years to come.

Onto the wedding.... it was one of the most colorful and "happy" weddings I have ever been to! Susan is Indian and thus incorporated many aspects of her culture into the wedding. The bridesmaids and a good percentage of the female wedding guests were in the most gorgeous, bright, elegant saris! Talk about eye candy!!! I couldn't get enough of the colors, texture and details of this wedding. It was just stunning. Enough talk... here are a sampling of my favorites from the wedding...

The Details:

Getting Ready:

The Dress:

I love this first one because of its old world feel.... the girls were staying in an old, beutiful bed and breakfast and it seems this picture really captures the feeling of the place.

The Bride:

Susan and her fam before the wedding:

Greg and his guys:

A HUGE thanks to Shelby Martin of Shelby Leigh Photography (link on right) for her amazing second shooting skills! While I was with the girls, Shelby was getting some of these awesome shots of the guys!

The Ceremony:

Mr. and Mrs. Smith:

And they had this amazing getaway car... bu by the time we got outside it was dark... thanks to a flood light, though, we were able to get a couple of shots off...

Susan & Greg

2007-11-12T05:29:00.000+01:00

I flew to the USA this past weekend for the fabulous wedding of Susan and Greg. WOW. What an event.... I hop on a plane tomorrow to head back to Berlin, so I only have two of my favorite ring shots from the wedding to post for now... but many more to come very soon.... stay tuned because you will not want to miss the pictures from this unbelievably gorgeous wedding. So much more to say about this amazing couple.... but just a couple of shots for the time being:

The Zadrozny Family Pics

2007-10-22T15:41:00.000+02:00

I first met the Z family in May of this year. They emailed recently wanting to do a Christmas family portrait shoot. We shot these on a COLD day... but hey, that adds to the "feeling" of the pictures right?? Look how cute these little girlies are in their matching Christmas outfits... they look like little elves on the go! This first family picture is my favorite of the whole bunch!

The Bertolini Clan

2007-10-22T15:04:00.000+02:00

My family and I met up with the fabulous Bertolini clan on Sunday to attempt some tandem family pictures. Alex is a photographer as well and so we tried to take turns taking our family pics! Ha ha! It looked like a nice sunny day... except for the slight hail storm, ginormous clouds, and freezing wind. Even with the cold, we had a good time... especially when we wrapped it up and headed to the warm train station to eat. Yes, Berlin has amazingly good food in the train stations! Thanks Alex and Robin for hanging out and shooting with us!! Here are a few from the shoot:

And just a couple of my man and little girlie...

Leaving on a jet plane!!!

2007-10-17T10:10:00.000+02:00

Well, we are finally wrapping up our European sojourn. We have been given "marching orders" from my husband's company and will be moving back to the USA in December of this year. Our destination is most likely Phoenix, AZ.

I can't tell you how bittersweet this is for me. I have truly loved our time here in Germany. Sure there have been some major "downs" but overall, this time has been a highlight of our lives together and will continue to be. I will miss so much of what are lives are here.... and at the same time, I am excited to be moving closer to friends and family in the USA. Each day brings with it a roller coaster of emotions!

I love it that we have a living souvenir to take home with us, our daughter Adelaide who was conceived and born in Berlin, and yes, even baby number two will be a German souvenir! Even though she will be born in the USA (March '08), she was made in Germany with love! :) I love it that Adelaide will be able to come back to the city of her birth someday, look at the US Embassy and tell her friends, "Hey! My dad helped build that! I have roots here!"

I know we will be back, but we know it will be harder to get here and yes, much more expensive than if we were just moving to a new city/job on the same continent. That makes leaving all the harder. We have made some wonderful friends here... lifelong friends I hope and pray.

We will be going through the San Antonio, TX area for about two weeks while in transit. And then we are off to a new life in the West! I look forward to progressing with my photography business and hope to connect with more clients and fellow photographers in the Phoenix area soon!

I am working on some more German souvenirs.... no, not babies! Photo souvenirs. I am presently creating a coffee-table book of just Berlin pictures. It is fun to go around this city, a city I have grown to love, and capture the places, things, people I want to remember and look at for years to come! Will post more when it is completed!

Have a great day and God bless!

Joe and Anne - The Wedding Album

2007-10-03T18:52:00.000+02:00

I just recently finished the predesign of Joe and Anne's wedding album. I think we maxed out the album with the number of pictures Joe and Anne wanted in the album! :) I love these coffee table style albums as they really tell the story of the wedding day... not just show the pictures. And this one tells the story of a gorgeous German bride who meets the man of her dreams, an American basketball player, in Berlin. Enjoy the story...

* as usual, please be patient as it loads....*

'Tis the season.... already!!!

2007-09-23T22:57:00.000+02:00

Happy first day of fall! Here in Berlin, we joked that it was the nicest day of the summer!

Speaking of fall... Here is that "fall special" I mentioned in an earlier post. I am excited to offer a great deal on family portraits + print package (GREAT for Christmas gifts) + custom Christmas card designs this year. Obviously, this is only for those located in or around Berlin, Germany. Below, you will find several sample Christmas card designs I have created. All are customizable... color, wording, photos etc. to your taste and desires. Please contact me asap if you are interested in scheduling a family portrait session as the time does tend to fly by around this time of year. The latest I can accept portrait sessions that include the card designs is November 25.

FALL SPECIAL: 200 euros

Includes:
*1-2 hour portrait session at location of your choice
*Christmas print package: two 8x10's, four 5x7's, six 4x6's (if you prefer in european sizes: 2 21x30cm, 4 13x18cm, 6 10x15cm)
*25 custom designed 5x7 Christmas cards with the photos/single design of your choice
(cards come with envelopes and can be one sided or folded cards with customizable message inside)

Simple Pleasures

2007-09-21T17:44:00.000+02:00

I love candy... and photo props. And when they combine together for one object... I become snap happy. Here is my precious 21 month old having her first lick at a lolly pop.... remember the old tootsie pop commercial? How many licks??! Ha - it would take quite a few to get anywhere on this thing! Enjoy!

P.S. For those of you who check this blog in Germany.... stay tuned for a fall "special" you won't want to miss!

love how she is practically cross-eyed looking at the thing!! :)

Mmmmmm.... such sweetness!

Tagged!

2007-09-07T17:28:00.000+02:00

So, this little blog game of tag has made its way around almost the entire photography community I think. In fact, I have no idea who there is left to tag....

Thanks, Dan, for including me in the fun, though!

Sooooooo, 8 things you may or may not know about me.... this could be interesting:

1. I absolutely hate potatoes and beans... of any kind. Yes, including french fries. They all make me gag, or worse, puke. My parents used to make me eat them, assuming I was just being picky, until that fateful evening when I threw up the mashed potatoes all over the dinner table. No more taters for me thank you very much.

2. I have been to every continent except Antarctica.

3. I started riding a horse, by myself, at 2 years old. My mom started me riding with her when I was 6 months old.

4. I was in a skit at my church with David Robinson, of the San Antonio Spurs... I came up to about his belt buckle. Seven feet tall is TALL, folks.

5. My husband (boyfriend -to -be at the time) first told me he loved me while we were both sitting on lawn chairs under a starry African sky while on a safari in Uganda. We also rafted the Nile that trip. Talk about adventure romance.

6. I really want to act in a movie someday - a childhood dream that has never gone away.

7. I have a celeb gossip fetish.

8. My Grandfather (Dad's side) was the youngest of 20 kids. His father was one of 16 I think. My mom is one of 7 kids. Her mom is one of 9 kids. Unbelieveable. But oh so true.

So now I have to tag some people.... Oh boy. Some of these photogs may have already been tagged...

Alyssa
Sofie
Paige
Anne
Stacy

Esther and Evans - Esession Slideshow

2007-09-01T19:07:00.000+02:00

When I was back in Texas, my friend and fellow photographer, Paige, and I met up one night to shoot our friend Esther's engagement photos. It was a beautiful evening of warm (HOT) sunlight... the perfect setting for this smokin' hot couple! (note: it takes a little while to load.. but its worth the wait!)

Belly Shots - Texas Style

2007-08-12T04:23:00.000+02:00

I am in Texas, visiting my mother and other family and friends. One of my dear friends is preggo with numero dos. She had never had any belly pics done in either pregnancy, so this was a lot of fun. Another friend, Paige, and I went out to see Ladonna and brought our cameras and creative ideas and went to town. The lighting was anything but ideal, as it was the middle of a hot, bright Texas day, but we still managed to get some fun and memorable shots of Ladonna, her baby and her daughter, Haley, who is SO ready to have this real live baby in her hands! :) I love that these are so natural and earthy and pure looking... love that they reflect our beloved Texas landscape, too. (*note: I don't have all of my editing software with me, but I actually really liked how these turned out.. like I said... more natural and less processed.... refreshing. Sometimes us photogs need to wean ourselves off the editing processes to get some fresh perspective... of course I also have grand ideas for some of these with some special effects.... :)

Deister Wedding Numero Dos

2007-07-17T23:02:00.000+02:00

Yes, its true... I had the privelege of photographing yet another Deister wedding this weekend. And it was fabulous. Beautiful. Perfect. The bride was absolutely breathtaking. And again I was able to reconnect with my good friends, the Deister family, on this side of the Atlantic! The whole day was a blast. And what made it extra special was that my husband, John, made his debut as my second shooter and assistant. And he was AMAZING! Not only did he capture some fantastic shots, but he was the best helper and assistant a pregnant photographer could ask for on a wedding day! :) I hope we will be doing many more gigs together in the future!

Without further adeau... I give you Joe and Anne's Wedding Day! Enjoy!!
(*note: for some reason it takes awhile to initially load.. please be patient*)

New Guestbooks

2007-06-29T22:48:00.000+02:00

Mmmmmmm, I just got some yummy guestbooks in from a new company and I must say, I am thrilled with them. They are simple. Clean. Classic. And overall just smokin' hot! For those interested in a more inexpensive guestbook (as compared to the flushmount albums), these are definitely the way to go.

The covers are leather and the red book is an 8.5x11 size and the black is a 10x10" book.

Ahhhh Italy.....

2007-06-27T16:21:00.000+02:00

My husband, daughter and I just got back from a whirlwind "taste of Italy" trip this past weekend. We covered 900 kilometers in 3 days and spent each night in a different city. Among the places visited were Genova, Cinque Terra, La Spezia, Florence, Chianti wine region (lots of little villages), and then some little tiny town with a river outside of Bologna. It was a dream.... from the perfect weather, enchanting scenery, mouthwatering food, to the unforgettable Italian hospitality... it couldn't have been any better.

Here are two Tuscan photos I want to have printed on canvas gallery wraps. both evoke such good and warm memories every time I look at them. The first was taken on a drive through the wine country. The second was the view from the farmhouse we stayed in:

More to come in a slideshow soon!

Food for thought...

2007-06-13T19:23:00.000+02:00

... when thinking about wedding and portrait photography.

I hope this helps put things in perspective when you are "shopping" for a photographer. Before you dismiss someone because of his or her "exorbitant" prices, think through some things... specifically the "talent, service, experience and quality" (quoted from the second paragraph below) you want from your photographer. The following two photographers and bloggers have recently articulated some very key points in this issue:

From Kenny:

Photography costs:

I sure am glad that I bought a camera. Otherwise, photography for my children would cause me to get a second job to pay for the pictures. Other folks also talk about how expensive photography is, especially when they hear that wedding photography will cost around $3,000 - $10,000. I don't do photography for a living but I do have a lot of friends who do. So allow me to speak on their behalf.

When photographers charge $3,000 for a wedding, they pay an average of $1,000 for the materials (binding, photos, thick photo paper, etc.). Then they have to pay like $800 in federal and state taxes. That leaves them with $1,200. Health insurance for a family will cost them about $700/month for decent coverage, leaving $500 to live on. They shoot for like 10 total hours (engagement session, wedding, reception) shooting pictures. They now have to spend the next 2 weeks post processing the photos. And you know what?........once the wedding or whatever event you're having is over, you don't have the $50/person food, the $2,000 venue, the $2,000 flowers, or the $5,000 open bar. All you have are the photos and video to remember it by.So the next time a photographer tells you he's charging $3,000 for a wedding, don't walk away with the impression that he's making bank on you. If he's a decent photographer, you're getting a good deal.

My take: this is a ballpark assessment made by Kenny... but a good ballpark. Every wedding package is different and consists of a varying amount of materials. Some photographers put in way more than 10 hours per wedding couple. Post processing cannot be emphasised enough. Specifically the TIME it takes to post process a wedding (depending on the size and amount of photos of course). I have heard of photographers averaging 50-100 hours per wedding client(pre and post wedding). And any photographer worth his or her salt is going to spend the time necessary to create spectacular, one-of-a-kind finished products for their clients. After all, as Kenny states, when all is said and done, the photos and video of your big day are all you have left to take you back to those precious moments. Do yourself a favor... choose quality over economy any time, every time!

From CJ Scott:

Why is wedding photography so expensive?

I get asked this often and I’m sure you’ve wondered about it yourself. Well, let me ask you this…

Why are some paintings so expensive when canvas and paint are relatively inexpensive?

Why do we go out and pay for nice expensive meals when we can cook a meal at home for less money?

Why are first class seats more expensive than economy class seats…same plane, same destination?

You catching my drift here? Or shall I focus on more photography-related questions…

Why should I pay twenty dollars for a 4×6 when I can get it printed at Wal-Mart for just a few cents?

Why should I buy a professionally designed album when I can do it through Shutterfly for way cheaper?

Why would I pay someone four grand when I can pay someone eight hundred bucks?

Well, at the end of the day it all boils down to the talent. The service. The experience. The quality. It’s up to you to decide what kind of value you place on these things.

My take: What she said!! Think about it. Puts things into perspective, doesn't it?

Change of Scenery...

2007-06-12T12:31:00.000+02:00

Feeling a little overwhemed by the sheer volume of engagement pics on this site, so I thought I would change the scenery a bit.... and who can't just adore looking at these cute little girlies??! All of these little girls belong to someone on John's job... and are posted from oldest (2) to youngest (1 week).

and two color ones cause I just can't do without them!

Travis and Delissa - the Guestbook

2007-06-10T17:10:00.000+02:00

I am so in love with Delissa and Travis' pictures that I decided to design a guestbook album as a sample album for my business. And as soon as I saw her red shoes I knew it would have a lipstick red leather cover. This one will be an 8.5 x11 inch horizontal red leather album. Yum. I can't wait to see it in "real life"!! Again, check out how very different it is from Joe and Anne's and also Audra and Cameron's books. I love diversity. And I love that we all have our own flare and style.

Joe and Anne Revisited

2007-06-08T15:11:00.000+02:00

Because they are just so dang hot! :) Actually I just finished designing their guestbook album. It will be 10x10" with a black leather hardcover. I can't wait to hold it in my hands and then transfer it to theirs!!

I absolutely love designing guestbooks. They are so unique and so personal. Each one is different and reflects the style and essence of that particular couple. I design the initial pages, and then work together with the couple to get it just right, just their style. In the end, some of the layouts and designs may not be what I would have chosen, but as long as it is what the client loves, I am thrilled! I truly want my clients to not only be 100% satisfied with the finished product, but also 100% WOW'd and totally in love with it.

Travis and Delissa... the slideshow

2007-05-31T17:13:00.000+02:00

E-Session in Paris

2007-05-28T14:18:00.000+02:00

I met a wonderful couple in Paris this weekend to do their engagement session. One word comes to mind when I think of Delissa and Travis - FUN! They are so much in love and obviously have so much fun together. It was such a pleasure to meet them and become friends in the course of a few hours and many miles of walking together all over the city. :) Paris, like Berlin, has no shortage of gorgeous photo backdrops.... the problem is that it would take days and days to find our way to all these amazing nooks and crannies, and possibly a few sets of feet to get you there.
The weather forecast was rain, rain, oh and a few thunderstorms, but as you can see, the weather held out for us (Thanks, God!), albeit a bit hazy and cloudy.

Here are the photos! Slideshow to come soon with many more photos!!

Didn't I say they were fun?!

And last but definitely not least.... some "fine art" creations. Delissa really wanted some vintage/romantic style photos. As I began to play with some textures and effects, I started to see those old Parisian postcards, or newspapers in my mind... faded, grainy, antique. I hope that some of these evoke that old-time romantic feeling one conjurs up when you think about love and romance in Paris.

Miss Mila

2007-05-24T00:09:00.000+02:00

"peace"

I love these "three generations" shots.... so emotional. so rich.

"just hangin'"

WOW.

2007-05-21T23:03:00.001+02:00

Words can't express how awesome this e-session was..... so I am trusting the pictures will express it all the better. Joe and Anne are friends of ours here in Berlin and I am shooting their wedding in July. I don't think it can get here soon enough. Its is going to be so much fun, and so incredibly beautiful... I mean come on, just look at them! Slap on a breathtaking resort on a lake outside Berlin and you pretty much have a photographer's DREAM! I am pretty sure this post will have a TON of pictures, but I promise not to post ALL of them. There is a SWEET slideshow for that HERE.

Meet this rockstar couple:

Happy Family Portraits

2007-05-21T03:11:00.000+02:00

Meet the Z family! Aren't these little girlies just to die for? What fun it was to shoot their family photos and capture such moments of raw joy and emotion. From a tea party, to butterfly wings, to a chocolate fix break - this family knows how to have fun together!!

And here are a couple of projects I am working on for these pictures. I saw a couple of groups of shots here that would look great in either a collage or storyboard, so I decided to make a couple up to begin with. Also, the newest thing in photography right now is the use of textures to a digital image to help create a very unique work of art. Again, some examples to follow.:

Actually, I designed these last two with textures and a desaturated "vintage" look to them with the idea of them being printed on a canvas gallery wrap. I think the actual texture of the canvas would so complement the texture effect.

(the actual nontextureized ones)

Another round of Belly Shots.....

2007-05-19T00:20:00.000+02:00

It seems that each photo shoot I have, I walk away thinking that it was the best EVER. And then the next one rolls around and THAT one is just the best ever. Today I was so thrilled to shoot Sandy's maternity pictures. She is simply gorgeous and so photogenic. Ironically, she has thought she was not photogenic for years and avoided the camera at all costs! Not so anymore!!! Her beauty and confidence is so transparent and she was so fun to capture in photos! There were so many incredibly fun and unique shots, and also some very classic and traditional captures as well. I am having a really hard time scaling the sheer numbers down. My "favorites" folder is, uh, quite large. :)

Engagement Guestbook

2007-05-10T08:43:00.000+02:00

Ok, so I guess these last couple of posts are plugs for soem of the different products I am realllllly excited to be able to offer my clients.

The engagement session guestbook is absolutely one of my favorites. I mean come on! Do you remember the lame-o plain sign-in books with the lined pages? Who even looks at those again? Who even keeps the book?? :) So whoever thought of the engagement session guestbook album is a genius in my opinion.

This album is designed very much like a coffee table custom designed album that one would order for their wedding. However, the difference is that this guestbook album is usually printed in a smaller format (the following photos are from an 8x8" book), and include more "open" space throughout the book for guests to be able to write comments and congratulations to the bride and groom. This "open space" could be solid white pages spliced throughout the book, or light backgrounds, or even faded out pictures to allow black ink to show very clearly.

So, in the end, the couple not only has a fabulous book of loving and memorable comments (as opposed to just signatures), but also a very timeless and stylish album of their engagement session. Sweet! I hope every bride and groom I work for will allow me to design an album like this for them.

Here are some of the spreads from Audra and Cameron's engagement session in Berlin - each spread is approx 8x16" (two 8x8 pages):

Storyboards

2007-05-04T23:29:00.000+02:00

Adelaide, my almost 17 month old, has just started walking in the last couple of weeks. It is such fun to see her exploring her world with such joy and enthusiasm! And one of my favorites sounds right now, by far, is the faint pitter patter sound of her little feet coming into whatever room I am in... I still can't help myself but to stop whatever I am doing, and wait there with open arms and a huge smile when she 'rounds that corner... then she lets out a squeal of delight and practically tumbles into my arms. I know, I know.... I am a rookie mom. But I am savoring this precious, and rapidly changing time we have like this!!

So, storyboards. They are all the rage in the photography community. I had never done one before and after seeing today's crop of park pictures, I couldn't resist giving it a go myself. And I LOVE them. LOVE LOVE LOVE them. Why frame one photo when 4 tell the story so much better?! Storyboards are totally customizable and come in many sizes. There can be anywhere from two photos up to five max. I can't wait to have a couple of these printed up and can share them with clients and friends. I hope you enjoy my first three designs... I can't wait to expand on these and try many other variations! Each of the following were designed on a white background, 20x10" canvas.

Danish Church...

2007-04-19T16:20:00.000+02:00

... one of my all time favorite shots. i love landscape/travel photography and would love to get into it so much more. so much to learn. so much to see. so much to do. i must admit that living in europe has certianly given me some beautiful opportunities thus far.... more to come!

Happy Easter!

2007-04-09T10:19:00.000+02:00

My little girlie has received some wonderful, and beautiful hand-me-downs from her cousin, Greer. Here in Berlin, people don't "do" easter like they do back in the States. I mean there are eggs and bunnies and church, but it isn't nearly as big of a deal here. I received several emails from friends back home asking about Adelaide's "easter dress pictures." Right. I had totally forgotten about THAT part of the Easter tradition (especialy in the central and southern states I would think).

Adelaide's easter dresses are from Texas, and thus they are sleeveless. Very adorable. But it was way too chilly here, still, to wear them outside. So I decided to have an impromptu indoor shoot instead. It was the first time she had really been in a dress (that she can remember anyways) and she didn't quite know what to do about it. :) I mean, come on ladies.... when was the last time you tried to crawl in a dress? Its a frustrating process.

So here's to wishing you and yours a wonderful Easter weekend. I realize this is a day late, but hey, we are still celebrating, eh? May you enjoy a sense of new life and spiritual renewal... its what I am hoping and praying for!

God bless!

E-Session in Beautiful Berlin

2007-04-05T16:17:00.000+02:00

What a great way to plan for your engagement session - on vacation in Europe! Audra and Cameron were here visiting mutual friends this week and we just happened to pick THE nicest day of the year thus far to jet around Berlin and do their e-session. And I do mean jet. We walked ourselves to death. But it was worth it.... the diversity of the places and lighting was perfect. Here are a "couple" of my favorites.... I am also in the process of designing their wedding guest sign-in book using their engagement photos. Check back soon for a sneak peek!

Lots more on the SLIDESHOW!

Belly Shots

2007-03-26T11:05:00.000+02:00

Maternity photography is rapidly becoming one of my favorite genre's of photography. There is just something so precious about the emotion, anticipation, and joy of capturing a soon-to-be mom with her unborn child. I had the pleasure of working with Abby this weekend and documenting this momenteous time in her life. Hope you enjoy! More on the SLIDESHOW.

"...You knit me together in my mother's womb... I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
Psalm 139

New Ad's...

2007-03-20T14:59:00.000+01:00

I have been working on some 4x6 ad's to be able to pass out to people (the "grande" business card I guess), and post in various areas (coffee shops, cafes, English language centers...). I am trying to stick wth one or two corrospondeing genre's for each card. Let me know what you think... what stands out, what would grab you, or annoy you. :)

Exciting things to come....

2007-03-15T06:49:00.000+01:00

After a pretty low key winter, things are starting to pick up in the Hudson household as well as the business. I have some really exciting photo shoots coming up and can't wait for them to happen and see the shots!

April: Engagement shoot in BERLIN

May: Engagement shoot in PARIS

June: Hopefully another engagement/bridal shoot in BERLIN

July: Beautiful outdoor wedding on a lake in BERLIN
Family reunion in CAPE COD, MA

I love living in such close proximity to so many amazing cities... Paris, Rome, Venice, Prague, Barcelona, London... What an adventure for a photographer. I hope to hit many more cities in the time we have left here in Europe! John and I made out "to see before we leave" lists and they are as follows:

John: Rome, Norway, Russia and somewhere in Eastern Europe
Chels: Rome, Paris, Ireland, Eastern Europe, maybe Russia

my munchkin...

2007-03-08T10:02:00.000+01:00

My little girl loves apples. She eats the entire thing if we aren't watching... core and all. We had an impromptu "shoot" together with some wonderful afternoon window light coming in. If you want to see more from this shoot, go HERE.

Doorway to Europe

2007-03-06T11:33:00.000+01:00

I love taking pictures of doors... bright ones, intricate ones, gothic or modern. They fascinate me. I am working on a few "european" projects to commemorate our time living in Europe. No, we aren't leaving yet, but the job will be ending this year, so I am trying to stay ahead of the game in a sense.

Spanish Holiday

2007-03-01T23:46:00.000+01:00

My husband and daughter and I just returned from a fabulous mini vacation to Spain. We originally intended to spend the 3 full days in Barcelona, but found ourselves opting for the "country" instead. We rented a small mobile home at a camping park in beautiful, breathtaking Vilanova, Spain. This coastal town of 60,000 feels and operates like a much smaller town and its beaches are literally to die for. What a getaway! Here are a few of my favorite shots... Feel free to check out the SLIDESHOW for more pictures as well.

Family Ties

2007-02-01T16:08:00.000+01:00

Meet the wonderful and beautiful Schmerbeck family. I was blessed to be able to do my brother's family portraits right before returning to Berlin after a wonderful 5 weeks in the US visiting family and friends. My niece and nephew, as you can well see, are two of the cutest kids around. Their parents aren't half bad either! :)

For more pictures, check out their slideshow HERE!

Winter Fun with the Kids

2007-01-11T16:11:00.000+01:00

Whenever I come back through Texas, its always fun to reconnect with some of my girlfriends and their "broods." Adelaide, especially, loves seeing the incredibly high energy of all the kids. She isn't around a lot of kids in Germany, so this is fascinating for her. She sat in one spot on the ground while I ran around taking pictures of the full-speed-ahead kids at play and just watched in awe. You gotta love Texas winters when you can put some hats on but still enjoy the beautiful sun and reletive warmth!

She's into wet, slobbery kisses right now. :)

I love the look of defeat! "Ha!! I beat you!!"

Obviously, the kiddos in the last photo are anything but enthused about the prospect of sitting still for a "group shot." That is, all but Adelaide who is in her own happy place somewhere! :)

Baby Natalie

2007-01-01T15:58:00.000+01:00

** Updated**

* For more adorable pictures of Natalie, check out her slideshow HERE. *

Yesterday, I was blessed to be able to photograph beautiful baby Natalie. Her mom and I go way back... middle and high school friends, and world travel partners. It was so fun to be able to reconnect in this way and see her little doll. Here is a sneak peek of just a few black and whites from the session. Enjoy!

Liz's Fashion Shoot

2006-12-14T08:51:00.000+01:00

What fun! A beautiful model.... amazing European, trendy venues in Berlin to shoot in... and FREEZING cold weather. What a mix! Minus the cold weather, it was a great experience.

Today's project.....

2006-12-05T16:49:00.000+01:00

People have been asking me what templates I use to create the Christmas cards and invitations I have posted. The answer is "none." I know there are a multitude of programs out there that make creating collages and composites, invitations, cards and other such compositions a breeze. However, had I run out and purchased them, I would never have learned how to do all of these in photoshop (as well as having a much larger credit card bill!). This collage took quite a bit of time, and it is not perfect, but I did it. Someday, when I have enough money to run and and purchase the software, I will. But not before I teach myself how to do something by "hand" first. I think it is too easy to lean on the abundance of creative programs that, in reality, zap our creativity. But I also value my time (as does my one year old daughter)... so there is a balance to be sought here.

Show It Slideshow Mania

2006-11-30T09:25:00.000+01:00

I have had my eye on the Show It software for some time now... I knew it was on the top of my "to purchase with photography business funds" list, and when I saw the special discount David Jay was giving this month, I couldn't resist the purchase. These slideshows are amazing. Here are the first two I have put together... Check 'em out!

Bertolini Family

Hankins Family

'Tis The Season

2006-11-16T16:37:00.000+01:00

I had never designed any Christmas photo cards before this year. And boy was I missing out on some fun! I love designing Christmas cards, birth announcements, invitations and more. Here are my first attempts:

(I saw this design on a photography forum and loved it so much I tried to create it on my own...)

My Main Squeeze

2006-11-09T21:39:00.000+01:00

Today's shoot with my little princess...

Meet the Bertolinis

2006-10-24T00:44:00.000+02:00

Alex, Robin, Scout (see last photo) and the newest arrival, Lidia Bertolini are good friends of ours here in Berlin (and coworkers). I had such a wonderful time photographing this beautiful and fun family. Enjoy!

The Self Portrait

2006-09-29T08:15:00.000+02:00

A friend recently challenged me to learn how to do self portraits. I had been avoiding the issue. But recently I bit the bullet and set up my camera and tripod and went to town... It is a great way to practice with and learn the art of correct exposure. Here are a few from that shoot - far from perfect, but getting better.

I still have to work on my "serious" face... John thinks I look mad when I try to look serious. :)

Welcome to my photo blog!!

2006-09-12T16:41:00.000+02:00

Greetings! I have decided to join the photo blog world. I will periodically be posting sneak peaks from various photo shoots or events, along with commentary, as the opportunities present themselves. Enjoy and God bless!