I've MOVED!

Hello to all my faithful blog readers! I am happy to announce that I'm officially moving on to bigger and better things! No more blogger for this girl! I have been working on my new blog for weeks now, and it is finally up and running. I would love for you to go check it out and add it to your favorites!

All future updates will be posted at this address:

http://www.melissahatcherphotography.com/blog/

Thanks!
Melissa

Big Bang Deal!

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Details, details, details!

Details are crucial...at least in my world! I have just a strong a passion for the detail of my work as I do my photography itself. I truly believe that how you present your work to your client is just as important as your images. I believe and treat each one of my images as a piece of art. I remind myself of this as I shoot, edit and package. It is just one more detail that I don't want to overlook. I think it says alot about my style and passion for what I do!

Here is a little sneak peek of how my new packaging will look! So excited!!!

Fresh and New

I'm sorry it has been so long since my last posting. I've taken a few weeks to do some re-evaluating and revamping. After I returned from Amy Wenzel's fabulous workshop back in September I had so much going on in my head. It has taken me some time to get some things on paper, order new products, design a new look, etc. I think I'm getting close. :)

I definitely can say I came back inspired and full of new information about how to run a successful photography business. It was up to me to get the ball rolling and step out on a limb (a very shaky and unsteady limb) in order to start establishing my vision for my business. It has been a very hard, but beneficial 2 years. I've learned alot, and I continue to learn, but I refuse to give up! I LOVE what I do. It is my passion!

So, with all that said, I want to share with you some "new".

Below is a new product I have recently started to offer. It is an Accordian Book. It is a beautiful piece that measures 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" and can display up to 12 images. It is perfect for a travel size album that can easily fit in your purse, but it can also be displayed on a shelf or desk. I LOVE these books and have purchased some for my own personal images.

Plus, they are perfect for the holidays! Stocking stuffer anyone? Previous clients, let me know if you are interested in having one made from your recent sessions!

Accordian Books - $40

Amy Wenzel is AMAZING!!!

Wow! What an amazing weekend I had at Amy Wenzel's Photography Workshop! I don't even know where to start. I traveled to Michigan earlier in the summer to attend the workshop, but as you know, her husband was diagnosed with a Brain tumor the very evening we arrived. This was the much-anticipated postponed/rescheduled event!

I met up with my good friend, Kristen again in Michigan, and we had a fantastic time! There is sooo much information floating around in my head at the moment. I'm hoping that it somehow continues to absorb so that I don't forget a thing.

I've been so excited to edit and post some of my favorite images I took from our afternoon of shooting. The models were pretty impressive. I mean, the oldest was 9 and they all seemed to be naturals. Can you imagine being a kid and having 20 crazy photographers coming at you with their cameras, yelling at you and telling you how to turn your head? Kinda intimidating, don't ya think?

Amy, if by chance you read this.....YOU ROCK! I learned so much and loved getting to hang with you for a few days! Thanks again!

My new favorite blog!

As you know I post a lot of my favorite, most inspirational, photographers on the right side of my blog. I look at them daily.... ahem, lust over them daily. I really do get inspired just reading their thoughts and seeing the beautiful images they post. It helps me, so much. Ok, sometimes, if I'm honest I walk away feeling depressed by the amount of stuff I still have to learn or figure out. But, usually I do just feel uplifted.

One of my favorite photographers on my list is Brenda Acuncius. She has such a cool eye and is so creative. She is actually the photographer I bought my first ever action set from....I love them! Anyway, she was recently interviewed by another photographer, Drew B. Brenda posted the link to this new site called, "Momtog" where her interview was posted. I became instantly blown away at this cool new find.

"Momtog" is a great site that is just for Mom Photographers. It was so cool to sit there and read through the site (which I did in one sitting) and know that there are other mom professionals that love being exactly that, Moms with a cool, fun job on the side. It is such an informative and fun site to visit. I would highly recommend it to any of you, whether you are a professional "mom" photographer or not. Just enjoy!

Won't last long!

Best Week EVER!!!

I did it......I just registered and booked my spot at Amy Wenzel's photography workshop this June. I'm super excited!

Jimmy came home last night and we figured out a way to cover the expense. I think he is just as excited as I am about me attending. I've been wanting to do this forever and I think I've found the perfect photographer to learn from, plus a little added bonus.....Kristen will be with me! It will be so much fun to have my good friend there to compare notes with and just enjoy each other's company. I miss her since she moved to NY!

Anyway, I'm just on cloud nine right now! I still haven't received my lens, but I know it is coming. I think it will be here tomorrow. I couldn't ask for a better week! Now, to start scheduling sessions so I can pay my June trip off!

A thing of beauty!!!

I can't even begin to tell you how super excited I am! I just purchased my first lens with my own, hard-earned money. And, it's not just any lens. We're talking 85mm 1.8 with that sweet, sweet bokeh, lens! I ultimately wanted the 1.4 but the 1.8 is a better deal and really, in the long run, offers me most everything I want. I cannot wait to see that UPS man pull up to my house in a few days with my much anticipated, new lens!!!!! It is gonna knock your socks off!

Beautiful Mom

I love all the directions you can take with photography. I feel as if everytime I do a shoot I walk away learning more and more about poses, lighting, etc. It never gets old and I love every minute of it.

I did a beautiful maternity shoot the other day and I've been waiting to post the pics until after Valentine's Day. The pics were a surprise for her husband, so I've had to wait. I think they turned out so great. These were more of an elegant look and I love the softness of the images.

There have been quite of few maternity shoots lately. I have just recently added a "Baby's First Year" package deal to my repetoire. I have not posted the info to my website yet, but the details are this:

"Baby's First Year" Package {$250}
Includes :
Maternity session
Newborn session (within first 10 days after birth)
6 months session
1 year session
*Free 8x10 from each session

If you are interested in booking a "Baby's First Year" session, contact me today!

I'm back on!

Update: Email is working again.

My photo email has been down for a few days. If you have written me and not gotten a response I apologize for the delay. I do have another email address you can contact me at: melhatcher@gmail.com Sorry for the trouble. I'm hoping to get my hubby on it tonight.

Off to the printer!

So, I've had a few requests to see the finished product of my session information trifold brochure. I've been working on it for a while and I finally finished. I'm hoping to get it off to the printer in the next couple days.

A little shout out to my wonderful hubby. I couldn't have done any of it without you and your super, fantastic brain and photoshop skills. I love you, handsome!

Basically, the image you see will eventually look like a 5x5 trifold. I posted the front of each page so you could view it better. Tell me what you think, especially before I send it off to print.

What's wrong with these pics?

As I was messing around photoshop the other day trying to figure out how to do make my logo into a copyright image, I discovered something. Can you see what I see?







Not cool, right? The one on the left is the one that is on my business cards. I fixed the image to look like the one on the right, but I still have like 500 cards that are wrong. Ahhhh!!!!