Fresh Seniors to start the Senior Season

This week was a great start to the new Senior portrait season.

APPA convention

What a wonderful week spent with my fellow Arkansas Professional Photographers Association members at our annual convention and print competition in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
We got an early start on Sunday morning to get to Hot Springs in time to help set up the print competition equipment, and check in prints. It is always interesting, entertaining, but most of all educational to listen to the judges talk about the prints and come up with scores.  I used to be terrified to enter prints and even more terrified to listen to the judges, but not anymore. Even when I don't get as high of a score as I would like, I always get an idea of how I could make it better.  I have heard speakers for years tell us that print competition drives you to be a better photographer - I am starting to believe that now.
The program speakers were great.  I think some people don't think they can get anything from a program if that is not exacty the kind of photography they do, but that is just not true. For example, I do not photograph weddings, but learn alot from wedding photographers that I can use in senior and family sessions. You just cannot close yourself off.

Convention ended with me getting my APPA Fellowship degree and being appointed the NW Arkansas director. Plus a chance to get some fabulous images downtown Hot Springs of my favorite 2012 senior - my daughter Natalia. Good Week!

First 2012 Senior this year

So most of the 2011 Graduates are done, out, finished, and graduated - leaving the Class of 2012 as Seniors.  And officially starting the Senior portrait season, well at least at our house. Natalia wanted senior pics taken before she cut her hair, before she goes off to Girls State, before...  So we scheduled the date, made the plans to shop for a new outfit, figured out how to squeeze everthing in, and as plans go everything fell apart, we decided it would not be a good day to do them blah blah blah = disappointed kiddo.  Tornado warnings loomed, humidity was horrible, and we then decide to go spur of the moment and do some night time senior portraits. Had so much fun!

Now the problem with having two parents that are photographers with two different styles, her Daddy is taking her this afternoon to take her second senior session this week. LOL.  She says she is going to make a book called "All the Places You Will Go......to take Senior pictures" :)

We are booking Seniors for June which is a great time to get the best specials.

Have your Senior portraits taken in June and get a free 5x10 storyboard PLUS a full length music video from your session with a Senior Collection (or equivalent) purchase.
Also be entered into the drawing for a $1000 Scholarship with every image from your Senior Collection or Love Em All albums.

FUMC Dessert Fest

FUMC Dessert Fest

Baby Girl for Misty Ramsey and Joshua Slaughter

Misty Ramsey and Joshua Slaughter have been added to the Hardgrave Photography Baby Registry.
They are expecting a baby girl - due June 21st. Gift certificates for baby portraits can be custom made for any amount or product you may wish to give.

It's Just the Beginning! $1000 Scholarship

It's Just The Beginning!  $1000 Scholarship Offer

WHERE - Hardgrave Photography

WHY - First, we are big believers in furthering our own education when it comes to our craft.  Second, we wanted a chance to give back to the seniors that trust our studio to create wonderful senior pictures.  Third, our own daughter is graduating in 2012, so we have been in the scholarship hunt and know that a $1000 will help someone out a lot with college expenses.

WHO - 2012 Graduates

HOW - Just buy a Senior Portrait Collection (or equivalent), and every image from your purchase will be put into a drawing for the $1000 Scholarship to any college or trade school you attend.

WHEN - The drawing will be held January 1, 2012  by a law firm.

The Mayan Calendar is not predicting the end of the world 2012, but the start of a new era. It is definitely going to be a new era in the lives of our seniors graduating in 2012 and going on to start their adult lives. It's just the beginning..

Spring Break Next week

I am so excited about the Senior Spring Fling next week!  I spent the day yesterday mowing, and cleaning up leaves and shooting areas for outdoor sessions. Tomorrow is my "Lowes" day so I can get the paints, new props, and a start on some new outdoor sets.

This morning was spent playing with my teddy bear, umm, well at least trying to perfect a new lighting technique. So if you drove by and saw me outside photographing Teddy, don't worry, I haven't turned into an exclusive professional Teddy Bear photographer - he is just very patient with me as I figure out how to do new things with my new gadgets.