Archive for June, 2008
Interview with Neal Creative!
Hey everybody!! Guess what? Another great interview with Danielle, owner of Neil Creative. Danielle has graciously offered 20% off templates for Senior Solutions readers for the month of July! Use the code SrSolutions when you check out.
She is also doing a giveaway for a paper pack and and askua template!! All you have to do is comment to be entered!! There will be a random drawing on Sunday July 6th.
Thanks Danielle!!
List your sites:
How long have you been a photographer and how did you get started?
I’ve been art directing photo shoots for the last 5 or 6 years, it always happened that no matter where I was working as a designer, I would end up going on the shoots to direct. I was always intrigued with photography but at that point just didn’t have the time to go back to school for it. When I got married two years ago, I spent most of the time trying to find the right wedding photographer; in the process I think I may have become obsessed with photography. When I returned from my honeymoon I immediately signed up to start taking photography classes at one of the nearby colleges. I just finished up the photography program and will soon be going live with my website and business.
Tell us how you got started doing design work?
I was always involved in the art programs in high school, so it was only natural that when I went to college I ended up in the art department. I received my Bachelors in Fine Art in ‘99 and have been working as a graphic designer ever since. I’ve had a wide range of jobs in the business from non-profits to ad agencies to a Fortune 100 company. It was only last year that I started my blog and offering my designs to photographers.
What is your favorite thing to design?
That’s a tough one. Logos are unique and original so those would have to be at the top. But I also like working on magazines at my day job, it’s pretty tedious work laying out 30-40 page magazines and I am pretty anal about it being perfect from cover to cover.
If you were a new photographer starting out and didn’t have a lot of money to spend, what is the one thing you would recommend they buy first pertaining to your design work?
A logo and a good marketing kit for sure! I used to work in the brand dept. at one of my jobs and your brand is everything!! Not just the logo, but the complete look of your marketing package must be consistent so that clients see your stuff and remember you!
What are your hottest selling product(s)?
Lately I’ve been creating a lot of my templates without copy, so they aren’t specifically senior or baby or wedding templates and they are really hot right now. The same template can be used for a save the date, a graduation announcement or even a birth announcement, they’re very flexible.
Where do you get your inspirations?
Life - I find inspiration in the strangest places. A brochure that I did a few years ago was inspired by a trip to CVS. I’m always paying attention to patterns and designs around me. It’s kind of scary. As for photography, since I’m still a newbie I love to surf the web and see the cool things that everyone is doing and their unique styles. Things that I would never have thought of!
What is your favorite camera and lens to use when shooting?
I just upgraded from a Nikon D50 to a D300 and love it! I’m torn between my 17-55 2.8 and my 70-200 2.8 VR; it just depends on what I’m shooting!
What is the one thing you could not live without (besides family and photo related camera gear)?
My dog! My husband works a lot and on top of that a lot of crazy hours. Most of the time you can find him sitting on the floor next to me while I’m on my computer. He makes for good company when it’s midnight and I’m home alone.
If you could spend one day with a photographer or designer and ask them anything about their style, business etc who would you choose and why?
Scarlett Lillian for sure. I don’t even know how I stumbled across her photography site. She also used to be a graphic designer and I believe even did video at one point. She’s a great photographer and seems really down to earth. I check her blog daily. If you haven’t read it, you need to check her out; it’s more than just about photography it is about her life too. She’s a strong, Christian woman, who has become a huge inspiration to me. I can’t even image how much fun it would be pick her brain for a day.
Giveaway Winners
Thank you so much Heidi for the great interview and for your gracious giveaways! Here are the random winners!
Ann Gordon #16 - a set of Graduation Announcements
Sabreena #5- Set of Birth Announcements
I will have Heidi contact you!!! Make sure to watch the blog tomorrow for another great interview and more giveaways!!
Interview with HeidiKruger Creations
Today I am interviewing Heidi Kruger from Heidikruger Creations.
Heidi has graciously offered to give away 1 set of her Graduation Templates & 1 set of her Birth Announcement Sets!! All you need to do to enter is comment here after reading her interview, the winners will be randomly drawn ( generated online) on Sunday. To comment click on the little box that is at the top right of this post.
In addition if you are in the market for a new logo she is offering 15% off Custom Logo Design for the rest of June if you mention Senior Solutions!!
Thank you Heidi for taking time to answer my questions for our readers and your giveaway prizes! Now on to the interview!!
List your sites: www.heidikrugercreations.com & www.vitabellaphoto.com
How long have you been a photographer and how did you get started?
I’ve been non-professionally photographing all kinds of great things since I was a kid. My dad loved photography but I thought it was boring because he loved landscape photography. I use to ask him “why aren’t there any people in your pictures? I don’t like photo’s without people in them Dad!” I guess I was a portrait photographer way back then, before I even realized it!
Of course I did some weddings on the side in college to make a few extra bucks (probably went right to the bar fund back then!) and that was over 10 years ago (I’m getting old).
I became very active as a digital photog after my first son was born, four years ago. Bought my trustee 20D and still use her religiously to this day.
Tell us how you got started doing design work?
I have always been an artist, drawing, painting, always making and dreaming up something. I love painting murals for my kids and friends kids. I guess I’d say I’ve been into graphic design for at least 5 years but like I said, I’m an artist at heart, it’s in my blood.
Tell is why it is so important to have great business marketing materials?
I think the first impression is so important. So is the second and third and so on and I believe that clients want to feel like they have spent their money well. Good photography is key but name recognition and a first-class look goes a looooong way.
If people recognize you (why you need a great logo) and refer you because you met or exceeded their expectations as a photographer and as a business then you’re set, things WILL happen for you, no doubt about it!
A great LOGO!! No doubt about it. Brand yourself, create an image and no one will ever know that you are just starting out. If you create the look and walk the talk you’re good as gold.
I also HIGHLY recommend a photography course or two before jumping in head first. If you are charging someone to take their photograph then you should at least know how to use your camera. There is so much more to great photography than a good pose!
What is your most popular or hottest item?
Custom Logo Design with a Starter Marketing Kit
Where do you get your inspirations?
My clients are often my inspiration. I love meeting new people and getting a little information about them always helps me generate ideas.
I usually dream about designs and fonts too. That probably sounds crazy but I get a lot of inspiration from my dreams (and daydreams for that matter).
What is your favorite camera and lens to use when shooting?
Back to my Photog mode. 
I love Canon but that’s all I know. I love my 50mm for most everything.
Have you had any strange requests for designs?
Yes! But that’s a whole other story!
What is the one thing you could not live without (besides family and
photo related camera gear)?
Oh geeze… after my family and photog/design stuff it would probably be my car. I feel like I am trapped when I don’t have it. Even if I don’t go anywhere all day it’s nice to know it’s there if I need it.
OH GOSH, I probably should have said CLOTHES!!! I would NOT leave the house, to use the darn car, if I was naked!
If you could spend one day with a photographer or designer and ask them anything about their style, business etc who would you choose and why?
I have to choose just one? Oh, this is hard. So many people have and continue to inspire me. I would have to say Carrie Sandoval. I LOVE her photography work and when she was designing logos I thought her work was awesome! She also has 4 kids (I think) and I find that to be amazing in itself. I would love to see her work, follow her around at a photo shoot and pick her brain about design.
An interview with me…
Hi everyone! I hope you are enjoying reading Michelle’s interview this week!! I was honored to be interviewed by Jodi of MCP actions this week too. Run on over to check it out!
I am giving away a free senior solution guide ( random drawing) all you have to do is go and comment on Jodi’s Blog under my interview! Thanks Jodi!!
Interview with Michelle Kilander
Well I promised that you would start seeing some interviews soon and here we go with our first photographer!
Meet Michelle Kilander of Heirloom Photography! Michelle has kindly offered a 25% discount on any of her templates until the end of the month for Senior Solutions readers! Simply contact her heirloompics@yahoo.com and tell her you were sent from Senior Solutions!
You can view all of her templates here http://www.heirloomphotography.blogspot.com/
How long have you been a photographer and how did you get started?
One of my very first jobs was in photography. When I was 18, I worked for PCA. I am sure there are many of you that are saying “me too”!
I really wasn’t into photography before but thought I would give it a try. After about a year there, I really began to love and appreciate my job. I think, for the most part, it was a wonderful feeling capturing that special moment for a family. Whether it was a newborn child or a senior graduating high school, it became a part of my life and continues on to today.
I have worked for so many other photography related businesses within the past 13 years that it really kinda stuck on me. After I had my first child, Tiffani, I would never put down my Canon 35mm camera. I had so many pictures; I didn’t know what to do with them all. Three years had passed and I gave birth to my son, Nicholas. It was after that moment that I really felt I wanted to do this as a career. Many of my family and friends encouraged me to start my own photography business and in February 2005, it officially began. It has been 3 years now and I am still going strong adding more memories to my life and the lives of my clients.
Tell us how you got started working with seniors?
I did not start off wanting to do high school seniors at first. I did do a few for family and friends but really nothing more. In the area I am in, the high schools have a contract with a local photography company to do all the yearbook pictures. It wasn’t until last year that I really wanted to get involved with doing high school seniors. I thought that just because they have to use that company did not mean that they had to buy them so I gave it a whirl. I created the Senior Idol Contest for all the high school seniors that come to my studio for their senior portraits. After their session is complete, they can pick one image from their proofs to add into the Senior Idol Contest. Towards the end of the school year, the voting begins for anyone and everyone to vote for their favorite Senior Idol. The winner gets goodies and their name and portrait recognized as Tucson’s Senior Idol. It has done very well so far and expect it to be bigger and better this coming school year.
Do you have any tips for new photographers just starting out?
Follow your dreams. Not only is it hard to be in business, it is hard to be a good photographer. We all aspire to be good in what we do and many of us will become great.
Work hard at what you love doing and learn from your mistakes.
I am a huge Walt Disney fan and love the movie, “Meet the Robinsons”. There is a great quote from Walt Disney himself and the end of the move:
“Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious…..
And curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”
Keep Moving Forward.
What are some of your favorite vendors to use?
I have many places I just love using.
Printing Services:
WHCC www.whcc.com
Mpix www.mpix.com
Frames, Albums, Folios and Presentation Packages:
Albums, Inc. www.albumsinc.com
Additional Frames:
Frames by Mail www.framesbymail.com
All Barn Frames www.allbarnwood.com
Canvas Printing:
Simply Canvas www.simplycanvas.com
Pixel2Canvas www.pixel2canvas.com
Easy Online Prints www.easyonlineprints.com
Proofing Site:
Printroom www.printroom.com
Photo Purses:
Snaptotes www.snaptotes.com
Business Cards and postcards:
VistaPrint www.vistaprint.com
What is your favorite camera and lens to use when shooting seniors?
Since the beginning I have always been a Canon girl.
My first camera I got for the business was a Canon Digital Rebel with the kit lens and used that for about a year. When I started getting into doing many weddings, I needed a back-up so I bought another Canon Digital Rebel. My second year, I purchased a Canon XTi and sold one of my other Canon Digital Rebels. Now my camera bag consists of the following:
Canon 5D
Canon XTi as a back-up
Canon 24-105mm Lens, Canon 85mm Lens, Canon 35mm Lens, Canon 70-300mm Lens
Tamron 28-75mm Lens
I love using the Canon 85mm lens on my high school seniors. That is my favorite lens by far.
What is the strangest thing you bring with you on shoots?
I am fortunate enough to have my studio and garden located on my property so there really isn’t anything I would say is strange. I do have several cases that I need a towel in the garden for when I get those “will do anything” seniors that want their portrait taken in the pond.
What is the one thing you could not live without (besides family and photo related camera gear)?
The number one thing that I could not live without would, of course, be my family and friends. But since I can not use that answer, I would have to say the computer/internet.
It is my way of connecting with my family and my clients. My clients are able to view their proofs online and order online as well. My sister sends me videos of my niece since they live so far away. The internet has given me a chance to grow in my business that I have since started selling templates to photographers so that they can use them for their clients. I would not be where I am today without the help of that good ole PC.
If you could spend one day with a photographer and ask them anything about their style, business etc who would you choose and why?
There are so many photographers that I would love to meet. Doug Gordon does amazing work as well as Kevin Kubota. If there was one person I would want to meet other than Doug and Kevin, it would be Naomi Angel. Her work with high school seniors is truly inspiring. I remember seeing her work for the first time last year and my jaw just dropped. Her lighting, exposure and post processing is just incredible and it would be awesome to meet her to say thanks for inspiring me. She is truly a gifted artist/photographer.
Check out some of Michelle’s beautiful work! Thank you Michelle for taking the time to meet our readers!
