senior sessions

I have worked with young kids for as long as I can remember.  Cadet teaching, vacation bible schools, babysitting, and summer camps in high school.  Much of college was dedicated to learning how to teach young kids followed by a wonderful start to my career in Kindergarten and middle school.  I love the little ones and have always known that they are where my passion lies.

To be honest, any student over the age of 14 stressed me out!  They have opinions, likes and dislikes, and can read straight through any 'show' you are trying to put on.  I envied my husband for being able to teach and coach high schoolers so naturally.

When I began my venture into photography, I instinctively knew that I wanted to continue my work with young kids.  I had experience with them and they are where I am most comfortable.  I love every minute I get to capture a child's eagerness to learn about the world they are discovering.  There is such a raw joy there.

Over the summer, however, I began considering the possibility of doing some senior portraits.  I text our babysitter, who happened to be a senior this year, and who also happened to be one of my husband's former basketball players.  I was curious if she would be willing to let me take a few 'senior' pictures of her to see if this was something I was interested in doing.  Of course, she willingly obliged and I excitedly (and slightly nervously) got ready for her shoot.  During that session, and the ones that have followed since, I realized a few things:

1. Though there is a distinct age difference between seniors and the younger children I work with in education, there is still a raw eagerness about their world.  Seniors are on the brink of a journey that there is such excitement in.

2. Capturing these moments for a senior is incredible for me.  You can sense the joy about this stage of life and all that is to come.

3. They are quick to relieve my insecurities...they are far more accepting than I gave them credit for!

4. I love that they will sit still and pose how I ask them to! :)  Very different than squirmy two and three year olds!

I say all of this, not only to give an insight into why I hope to continue my senior business and showcase their strengths while capturing an incredible time in their lives, but also to be honest about this journey I am beginning into photography.  I am learning more every day and am so thankful to all of you who have believed in me and encouraged me to continue.  Thanks also to my seniors who have trusted me with this special time!

I leave you with some photos of that first senior session that I hope is only the first of many, many to come!

PS, Isn't she gorgeous!

ahh sweet golden hour

We took the kids on a walk tonight and K started to get a bit fussy, so my husband decided to carry her the last half (quite a workout with nearly an extra 30 pounds!).  When we got back to the house, he set her down in the grass to walk a bit while I finished pushing B in the stroller.  Our house is on a hill and as I rounded the corner, the gorgeous light from tonight's golden hour demanded a run inside to get my camera.  I apologize ahead of time for the picture-heavy post, but seriously!  I am in love with this light (and that precious little girl in each frame :).

Rock the Shot September Photo Challenge

I am entering this photo into the September Rock the Shot Photo Challenge.  This month, the challenge was to submit an image with at least one animal.  This photo is, by far, my favorite photo of my two first babies, by blood and fur :).  I love it so much because it shows their relationship so perfectly.  Mo, my pup, lets baby crawl, pull, and investigate him however she chooses and he just takes it, fading into the background until it is his turn to get attention from me again.  He is such a good friend to her and I can't wait to see their relationship grow as she gets older.

Canon EOS Rebel T2i, 50 mm 1.4, ISO 400, f/3.5, 1/100

www.rocktheshotforum.com

it's a giveaway!

Several days ago I was brainstorming some photography-related things.  I came across the idea to host a giveaway to win a session.  After tossing the idea around and tweaking a few things, I decided, why not?

However, I have a secret...this giveaway is not only for you (you never know who the winner will be, could be you!), it is also for me.  As many of you know, I am fairly new to this business-side of things and still very much in the learning phase of how to run a business and market myself.  I would love if you would help me gain some more exposure and get my name out there while offering something for you!  Here's the details:

Grand Prize:
Winner will receive a 30-minute session with a printing release to their images.  This session may also be given as a gift to someone of the winner's choosing.  It's worth a chance to enter as a great Christmas gift if you don't think you would like photos yourself, or you just had them done (thanks awesome clients!).

You may enter this contest if you will be in the Kokomo, Indianapolis, or Ann Arbor, MI area anytime in the next year (so if you would like to see me, please do enter!).  I will arrange a time to do the session for you whenever I see you next (or sooner if you are local :).

Here’s how to enter the Giveaway for a chance to win a mini-session from Mackenzie Lee Photography. You will enter using the Rafflecopter below. Each item below is worth one entry, except sharing about the giveaway on Facebook -- that's worth two entries!  You have up to EIGHT chances to win. EDIT: Many of you were clicking the steps and not realizing that the 'rafflecopter' does not do most of the tasks automatically.  Please follow the instructions below exactly or you will risk forfeiting that entry.  I will check to see that the winner who is drawn followed these directions (because it's only fair and that's the teacher in me :). Here's the step-by-step instructions! 1. You must like Mackenzie Lee Photography on Facebook - sign in using Facebook and it will do this automatically when you click on 'Do It.'  After you do this step, it will unlock the rest of the entries, which are all optional but give you bonus chances at winning! 2. Share this giveaway on your Facebook page.  This is NOT automatic.  You cannot just click 'Do It' and expect it to appear on your wall.  You  must copy the text (Check out @mackenzie lee photography and her work! She is giving away a session on her blog!! www.mackenzieleephotography.blogspot.com) on that entry line and paste it onto your wall.  Make sure you do this correctly because it is worth two entries!!  If you do not paste this onto your wall, this entry will be forfeited. 3. Sign up for email updates!  This is NOT automatic.  You must go to the form on the right side of the blog and type in your name and email.  4. Follow me on Pinterest!  Click on the Pinterest link and once it links you to my page, you must click Follow! 5. Leave a Blog Post Comment!  This is NOT automatic.  Go to the bottom of this post and leave a comment in response to the question I asked in this entry button.  If you do not leave a comment, you will forfeit this entry! 6. Follow me on Twitter!  This is NOT automatic.  If you are on twitter, click on the link and make sure you follow me once you get to the page. 7. Tweet about this giveaway!  This is NOT automatic.  You must copy and paste the information in this entry button onto your twitter account. (@Mackenzieleephotography is awesome. You should check out her mini-session giveaway on her blog! http://mackenzieleephotography.blogspot.com) Okay, that wraps it up!  If you already entered, please go back and do the items that you thought were automatically done for you.  Sorry for the confusion! a Rafflecopter giveaway Hurry! Giveaway begins tonight at 12:01 and ends Friday, September 14th, at 12:01 CST. Winner will be notified and must respond within 24 hours.  The winner will then be announced on the blog. LEGAL STUFF: This promotion is in NO WAY sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. You will NOT be notified publicly via Facebook if you are a winner.  By entering this giveaway, you are providing information to Mackenzie Lee Photography and NOT to Facebook. Prizes do not have cash value. There will be no returns/exchanges on any of the items.

tickfer family + announcement

I couldn't have asked for a more gorgeous evening to do this family pictures last night!  It was one of the cooler evenings we have had and the light was absolutely perfect.  I drove around earlier in the day to look for a location for our session.  I stumbled across the neatest little gate and decided to drive back and see what the property looked like.  Unfortunately, there was a no trespassing sign on the property...so I did what any reasonable person would do.  I started knocking on neighbors' doors to see if we could get permission to use the space!  Two houses and an awkward encounter later, we were good to go.  I will definitely be going back to this spot even after I had a deathly encounter with a spider (NOT a slight exaggeration...I hate spiders) and burrs covering an entire side of my body.  All in all, it was a great evening!

We also had Shelby change into her cheer jacket and take a few pictures to wrap up her senior sessions we started in the Spring.  Go Kokomo!

And now for the announcement I know you have all been waiting for...

I will be posting a contest tomorrow on the blog to win a mini-session this fall!!!  I'm so excited to do this for one of you and also hopeful that it will introduce me to some new fans.  Check back tomorrow for rules and how to enter - have a great Sunday!

Fall Special

Happy Labor Day! I don't know about you, but I am so ready to pull out my fall decorations. The cooler weather lately has been so refreshing. As I went for a run this morning, I reflected on how thankful I am for the summer we've had and began to get excited for all the 'fall-ish' things we will get to do with Kennedy this year, as she is more ready for things like apple-picking (if we can find an orchard that has some!) and hay-rides than last year.

In honor of fall (and as a kick-off to my return from 'maternity leave'), I have a fall special I would like to share with you. Thanks to all of you who have already booked sessions - I am about half full already! I am so very grateful to all of my returning clients. It means the world to me that you trust me again to capture these moments for you :) To the new ones - I can't wait to work with you in this capacity. We are going to have so much fun!

 I have some basic information about the session posted below. If you would like more information (i.e. the fine print), please email me ASAP. I am returning to work soon (sigh...) and will not take as many clients as I previously have. This is your chance to get some gorgeous fall photos and Christmas card ops! :)

 Happy 'almost' Fall -- can't wait to hear from you soon!

I'm back! (and have exciting news)

I apologize for the brief hiatus in blogging - I was busy taking pictures, editing, and placing orders (and having a baby!).  Now that he is a month old -- where did time go? -- I am starting fresh with the goal of blogging each session in a timely manner.

To begin this fresh start, I would like to tell you that I will be announcing Monday my fall mini-session special!  These will be formatted differently from my spring sessions (more time per session and a few extra perks as well).  Think Christmas cards (which I will be offering for order) and gorgeous family photos in the fall colors - I can hardly wait!

You will have the chance to book your session beginning Monday unless...you subscribe to my email list on the right.  If you do (and I hope you do!), you will be notified on Friday about these sessions and get the chance to book early.  This is important because there will be a limited number of sessions available as I will be going back to work in just a few weeks (a bittersweet topic for another day).

And because, what good would a fresh start be without some photos of the darlings in my life, here you go...enjoy and don't forget to sign up for email to get early dibs!