Sunday, March 4, 2012

Just Breathe



Photography "off-season" + Maternity Leave = pure bliss. I get completely refreshed over the winter months, I feel like a bit of a recluse but I use this time to just breathe, sleep, cuddle, and be totally and completely lazy with my family. I don't really care if we don't have Saturday plans or events to attend, I don't really care if I go grocery shopping with my hair in a bun or wearing yoga pants. I don't mind not having a lot to post on facebook right now. I won't have these quiet moments in a few months, our life turns into go go go and there won't be any turning back so I'm soaking up the quiet, boringness that is my life right now.


Thats why blog has been quiet this winter, but I'm still here! Don't forget about me because in 1 short month is my first wedding of the year. I'm getting a bit antsy without shooting so i do have a personal shoot coming up when the weather lets up. Meanwhile I have been doing some business related work, I am updating my website (not done yet) www.danistephenson.com, I ordered all my packaging (sessions & weddings), I am working on a new sample album for clients to view, ordered a new camera bag (smaller) that will be easier to carry when shooting sessions and...I took the plunge and ordered my new camera. So I am accomplishing some things on the business front. With the new addition to our family I took a LOT less weddings and sessions, I am currently booked with sessions through August and probably will not take anymore. I had a pretty good workflow going last year and I hope to perfect it this year, I think I will be all ready to go by time wedding season arrives.


We're settling in as a family of 4 and I'm loving my time off, Cooper and I have had lots of cuddle and bonding time. He's really a good baby, now that we have feeding down better and sleeping better at night I have no complaints. Teag is wonderful, the other day I was doing the dishes and Cooper started to cry so I asked Teag to give him his nuk and he said "go-kay!!" (he gets really excited) and sure enough Cooper stopped crying (I didn't think he would do it) and then Teag was quiet so checked on them and he was holding Coopers little hands and saying "hi little guy". Melt my heart. My kids give me so much more than I could ever give them.


Here's Cooper at 1 month, I'm so proud of this lil man, he is so sweet and handsome.








Keep in the loop as photography season begins, I will be posting mini-session dates!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

My new man

Cooper Rylan





Just a quick heads up, I am taking 4 seniors this year only and have 2 booked, I am booked with family sessions into July 2012. Since my family has grown my availability will be even more limited this year, contact 6 months in advance to guarantee a session with me. Thank- You!

Monday, January 2, 2012

The 2012 Workshop is here!

Krystal and I get an incredible amount of inquiries to mentor or give advice, etc. We always say to keep a look out for future workshop and here it is:




This workshop will be focused on Weddings only. We have the most incredible models for an open shoot during the workshop as well as cramming in as much as we can about all things weddings. 

Only 10 seats available! Email or Facebook to reserve your spot!

Danistephenson@hotmail.com or Krystal@krystalmuellenberg.com

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year!

2011 was such an amazing year. I’ve said it before; I feel I grow every day/ year in the vast world of Photography.  In 2011, I feel I was the most true to myself and my shooting style and hope that continues in 2012.  I even had a few (surprise) features I am really proud of. Both ads will be featured in the upcoming 2012 issues of the Wedding Planner and Guide as well as the Once Upon a Time Bridal Guide.


The stunning Mrs. Rachel Willer


The gorgeous Mrs. Andrea Wertz




Every year I make new goals for myself whether it be business related, branding related, equipment related or for personal reasons. Last year I had one main goal, I vowed to balance my life better and learn to say no. I felt I had a much better year because of it.

My 2012 goals consist of a mixture of ideas.

# 1- Continue my life balance-I’m sticking to my guns- I will have 2 little boys and 1 big one to keep in line now!  Which means less photography, keeping my sessions to a minimum, weddings to 2 a month maximum and never working on Sundays. If you want a session with my you will have to contact me       6 months in advance to be guaranteed a session this year. (I am booked into June currently) I will be doing more mini-sessions this year, I will be doing little to no traveling for sessions anymore, I shoot a lot at my own home and plan to continue that.  (I do however, travel for weddings) If I am scrambling to find room for sessions or staying up till 1am editing or working every night and weekend, I don’t feel I’m giving my clients my best work or attitude. I want to give every client 100%. I realize I can’t take as many clients and do as much as I would like but in the end I feel better about delivering quality vs. quantity.

#2- Take emotions out of my business and be true to myself. Here’s a clip from an awesome article I read about pricing

As a general observation, I am shocked at the low prices of a lot of portrait photographers – especially new photogs, and I hope this isn’t offensive to anyone, but what is more important than your photography, is your business skills when running a business.  This industry is completely saturated with underpriced photographers – many talented.  Think of this — the stats are something like 95% of all photography businesses fail.  What makes you feel that you should be in that 5% that does not fail? Business sense, that’s what”. (MPC BLOG)


  Clients will not value your work, if YOU don’t value it.
 

Hand in hand with that philosophy is staying true to myself. Shooting clients who understand my work and my untraditional shooting methods, clients who understand my pricing, all clients are different and want different photographs, I need to be proactive in not only attracting my target clients but also choosing them. I have a long but to the point description of my work on my website, I have to stay true to what I do and choose clients that fit my style and I fit theirs to be successful. Please visit my website for a description of my work, style and pricing. www.danistephenson.com

#3- Network-Photography has become a growing industry especially it seems in my client area and I live in a small town. Networking with other photographers is really important to me. The relationships I made so far as priceless to me. They understand, they are supportive and most of all they are fun!


Krystal Muellenberg and I have teamed up to put on a workshop. What I learned from workshops I have attended was that I learn the most from other people(attendees), from talking shop and networking. Which is exactly what we hope to accomplish. We can only share our experiences and what we learned along the way. I’m excited to work with other photographers and share insight with them and gain insight in return. Lst year we did a mock wedding workshop that was a huge success! Check back for future workshops!


I also teach a photography class at Western Tech in Tomah, this class is fun for me, I can blab about photography and spill my guts to eager new photogs. I love to do it, I hope to find time to continue that class this year.



In addition to that, Something I loved to do since the very first time she asked me to second shoot with her is work with Krystal, we have similar shooting styles yet different points of view and we love to work together, so much in fact we are now taking on joint weddings, we had a few in 2011 and the end result was absolutely amazing for the clients, they get twice as many pictures, different angles, places, reactions, it’s sharing the responsibility of a wedding and supporting each other during the day. Be sure to check out our 2012 workshop and our joint weddings option!

In my personal life this New Year we will be welcoming our new son, Oh I can’t wait to see him! I’m very much looking forward to having an infant again, my first child was a whopping 9’13lbs and I didn’t get much “infant” time with him, when he was 3 months old he looked like a 6 month old, so much for newborn clothes. Maybe his brother will take on the role of “little brother” in more ways than one. I feel so very blessed to have a wonderful husband and our Teag (2) he’s truly the light of our life and to bring another life into our family and to give Teag a brother is so exciting. Sometimes I look around and think “pinch me” because I love my life. I’m so very grateful. Of course, no ones life is perfect, I don’t expect it to be, there is always hiccups and hurdles we face but I count my blessings. I can only have the highest hopes for 2012 to be another amazing year.





I wish all of you readers, blog followers and facebook fans the Happiest New Year and I hope 2012 is your best year ever. Thanks for following my work and being a fan, I appreciate all of you so much!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Ashley & Lucas | Lakeville, MN Wedding Photographer

Lucas and Ashley's wedding was my last of the year, bittersweet really, bitter because it will be so long before I shoot another wedding, sweet because it was a fairytale ending for me. This couple, this wedding was really an inspiration for me, I was very sick, very pregnant and still I felt this wedding and I hope you see that in my photos here. I'm not only chosen by clients but I chose them and I couldn't be happier with this entire year, probably my favorite year of photography for me thus far. I feel like I found my "place" and Ashley and Lucas are a perfect example of my target wedding clients, not only are they sweet and easy to be with but they put together a gorgeous wedding with details I really appreciated, family that was lovely to spend the day with and a wedding party that was so easy-going. a perfect wedding day for me.


The day was fabulous and even more so because my friend Krystal Muellenberg was there with me, I shoot better with Krystal, and it wouldn't have been the same without her. Two pregnant photographers taking the Minneapolis area by storm, I am truly blessed to be friends with such a talent. Please check out her blog for her preview of the wedding, and remember we are now accepting "Krystal and Dani- Joint weddings for next year". We love to work together and the clients get 2 point of views, its a perfect combination.


Thank you everyone for reading my blog, Thank you 2011 clients and future 2012 clients. Please enjoy my last wedding of the season and keep checking my blog for new updates throughout the winter.


On with the show....





Ashley was stunning, she was so sweet, emotional and just glowing all day, her sister made these incredible bouquets, I'm still amazed.



Ashley's family was lovely to spend the day with and she and her dad have that unspoken bond that you can just feel


Ashley made these gorgeous clutches, let me repeat..MADE THESE.


I gotta give it to them, sweetest "first look" of the year" We set up Lucas and the minute he seen Ashley he took off, faster than 2 cameras!


I adored Ashley's clean, classic details throughout the day



Krystal was kind enough to split the work and shoot the boys while I did the girls, be sure to check out her preview on her blog for more guys photos.


The perfect-sized wedding party


A nice lady at the park told us of a trail that went into the woods where the trees were still bright yellow...gorgeous.





I have to admit- I'm amazed this one turned out, one of my favorites ever.



So for a change of scenery we stopped at probably the most amazing field with the most amazing light I have ever witnessed.




These photos don't just "happen", this field, the perfect lighting/timing and amazing couple all come together to make great photos. I can't gush enough about this couple and location they chose.


The reception was at Brackett's Country Club, absolutley gorgeous, Ashley really inspired me with her details



Cookie bar + 2 pregnant photographers = bliss.






Best grooms speech ever, as in photographer holding camera in front of her face even if not taking photos good, yes, I am a pregnant blubber but this speech put me over the edge, it went something like this "My parents taught me about choices and today I couldn't be happier with my choice with Ashley, (turns to bride) Ashley, you are my everything, you are my whole life" it was breathtaking and I mean that.



Knadles: Congrats to you on your marriage, you do not need best of luck wishes from me, I seen the way you look at eachother, I just hope I did your day justice, thank you for being the very happy ending to my 2011 season. All the best.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Chad & Emily | Tomah, WI Wedding Photographer

GUSH!!! I don't even know where to start, I knew Chad and Emily before they got engaged, I was beyond thrilled when they contacted me to shoot their wedding and let me tell you I wasn't let down, they put on one of my most favorite weddings ever. Chad and Emily are an adorable couple with awesome family and friends to share their day with, everything was lovely and fun to just be there. It truly was the perfect day. Special thanks to my second shooter Theresa Hanson, be sure to check out her preview of the wedding!


On to photos!















Ahhh....perfect timing sun!








Are you ready for this reception decor? Emily totally made-over the fairgrounds building into a cozy, country atmosphere. The food was delicious, an old fashioned cook-out, a kids station with hot dogs, juice boxes and milk cartons, peanuts, all the pies of the season, ice cream! absolutely awesome dinner with no waiting, no head table, no speeches, no cake cutting- it was a free for all and everyone loved it!










Wedding tip: for a rocking party- hire a band, hire a band, hire a BAND! Emily and Chad hired The Cheap Shots and they totally ROCKED!!! Their was 200 people on the dance floor until they had to shut the place down. Best reception dance ever!




A family tradition, Emily wasn't going to let some wedding dress stop her...love this!



Emily and Chad- Big congrats on a unforgettable wedding and marriage.