Tip: Family fall portraits - clothing should coordinate not just with each other but nature's palette too.

Retreat update

Ok, so I didn't log in each day. As the days past one blended in to the others and it was the complete week that gave me a bigger picture. So now armed with new ideas and goals I will be implementing some things immediately and others as time goes on. Most will be transparent to clients. Anyway, for one we will be adjusting our hours of operation a little bit to better reflect when we actually need to be available for our clients and when we need to do internal work. Over time we will be expanding our coffee and treat station and have more goodies for clients. We will also be implementing customer home delivery in the future. Those are just a couple of the things that I worked feverishly on. It was a great week and I look foward to new directions that will be coming so stay tuned.

New Plans, New Directions

For a long time I've been collecting information, magazines and books that inspire me. I study with other successful photographers from around the globe and participate in sevearl on-line communities. After years of this my head is left spinning with ideas. Many have become part of Kaiser Fine Photography while others await implementation or various steps to become a reality. For a long time I've drempt of having a long period of time to sit, reflect on where the business is, where it is going and which of these ideas I can get implemented without worrying about the day to day running of the business. This week is that week. I'm so excited. While if the weather is nice I may go to various spots to just be alone and think, I may end up just staying at home too, who knows where the wind will carry me. My main goal though is to come out of the week with new goals, products, a clear vision and a revitalized drive. Then again I always give myself too much to accomplish but it will be a seriously good start. I will sign in each day and keep you posted on my accomplishment.

So where did I come feom and where am I now?
I've operated Kaiser Fine Photography since February of 1990. Photography has been my passion and hobby since age 11 and I received a Bachelor of Fine Art in Photography. We moved to Scranton in 1989 and I worked at various businesses over a period of time after moving here. But I wanted to start doing photography again shortly after coming here. It was in February that a graphic artist that I worked with designed a business card for me and Kaiser Fine Photography was born.

I networked and started doing PR photography, something I've done since age 14. I enjoy meeting people and this grew the business. By 1997 I had a studio in my home and was laid off by my employer at the time. It was time for me to be full time anyway, it was just scarey to make the move myself, so it was made for me.

The business steadily grew and I've moved locations several times. I currently occupy a 142 year old house in Carbondale that my husband and I purchased in 2007. It was my dream to own my own building and have my own property for portraits. I actually found an old list of written goals that I carried in an old organizer. Of the 6 goals listed I had accomplished 5 of them and retracted from 1 for now (a level of staffing).

KFP has grown and I'm thrilled. Not without family sacrifice though but that is something I think all mothers deal with in some form. The business has had it's financial ups and downs but I've come through each stronger and savvier for the experience. Now it's reached a stage in the business life of "early maturity". It is time to revisit where the business is, the state of the industry and realign the vision a little and get excited again about what I'm doing. I cherish what I do and seeing the babies and children and families grow up over the years has been something I enjoy very much. Every one gets personal attention and I love the excitement of a session. New ideas inject new exitement not just for me but for you the client too. So let's see where we can take this! For today, I'm lounging around and relaxing until we go to a friend's house for a Labor Day party. Tomorrow I send Taylor off to school and start on my new venture!

Where did it go?

Ok, I'm guilty. The summer has flown by and here we are looking at Labor Day and my last post was June?? Impossible. Although I spend more time on Facebook and posting images on there. I hope you will go to the group and join. And tell your friends too.

But as I reflect back on the summer, it did go by fast. I took two partial weeks for college tours and a short vaca. We toured some Boston colleges and then went to Ocean City, MD for a couple days to just lounge on the beach. The rest of the time we've been slammed at the studio. Stephanie works part time assembling your orders and handling the phone and clients stopping in when I am not available. I take care of the photography (of course) and the sales and the retouching. Not to mention the other things that go into running a business. I'm certainly not whining! I'm loving every minute of it. This has been one of the best summers ever.

So what next? Well I have some things up my sleeve. But to start with I am taking some personal time next week. It is going to be a week of reflecting and planning. By the end of the week I will have a game plan in place for new ways to spoil you - my client. If you have any ideas that you would like to share or things you'd like to see, by all means let me know!

What an absolutely glorious day! This afternoon we have our first college tour. Kind of a practice run for Taylor to see what the college tours are about. I can't believe she's a senior now!

Seniors Seniors Seniors

It's that time of year that the new senior class starts to think about their portraits. It's kind of a scarey time for me though as my daughter is now one of those. She's been a great help to me this year by making sure I change some of the things I offer and some of the style of photographer I do gets updated. So now I wait for the booklet to be in the mail and actually am biting my nails -the first special deadline is Friday and that's not alot of time. But I'm sure it will work out. There are other levels of specials also for later dates. So off we go. Even before this mailing is out I have several seniors booked already. What's left for me now is to get the camera room organized with the senior props and backgrounds and finish printing up all the other things that support the summer. I am also working diligently in the back yard to create some new vignette areas for portraits. It's fun creating new things and areas.

Oooo, keeping up with technology can be challenging but fun!

Ok, so this is a photo-free post. I just had to say. I'm excited to be part of the Greater Carbondale Chamber of Commerce's Art Walk on May 28th. I don' t know who our featured artist will be but hope you will stop by that evening and see. We also will be displaying, for the evening, the work of Stephanie Maxwell and her hand crafted wire trees and pendants, and Taylor Kaiser's artwork, as well as my own landscapes and fine art work. Hope to see you!

And, watch your mailbox for our newsletter. Probably next week - our spring - summer issue will hit your mailbox. We have a new look and it's more magazine style and easier to read and to keep on your coffee table for reference. I'd love your feedback when you get it.

Things have morphed againg into our "May" season. that is when the daytimes slow down a little bit (but actually, not so this year) and the evenings and weekends get frantic with award dinners, donor dinners and commencements for the colleges I do work for. The B'nai B'rith dinner last night (the Americanism Award) was my 18th!!! I can't believe it. I did the first one in 1992. That just amazes me. It's an honor actually. Next we look foward to various events for the Jewish community center, again that I've been covering since 1992&3. I reflect over the years as to where I started and where I am now and how the goals I had written down over the years have come true...but that's a marketing, goal setting lesson for another day.

Laughter comes to KFP

I'm excited to have my long time friend Jeannine Luby move her office to our studio. There has been an extra room standing empty (well, except for all the cardboard that takes up space awaiting recycling) and Jeannine can use the space for her business "Laugh to Live". Here is an article that Jeannine wrote for my newsletter...

Smile and Say Chee ‘hee hee hee’ se!
Laugh to Live! Comes to Kaiser Fine Photography

Everyone wants to wear their best smile in a picture. Some days it can be tougher than others to find that smile…but it’s there. Stress reveals itself through a barking dog that needs to be let out, burnt toast, spilled coffee caused by a pothole in the road, a late arrival to an important meeting, an unkind or negative word said to someone because of your bad morning. We all experience stressors like this that take their toll on us and make us not feel like smiling. But the smile is inside waiting to be let out! And the smile is just the doorway to something even more important… laughter.

My name is Jeannine M. Luby, certified laughter leader and owner of Laugh to Live! I’m proud and pleased to announce that I’ve just opened a new office on the second floor of my good friend (and fabulous photographer) Cheryl’s Carbondale Studio. I welcome you to stop by the North Church Street location to introduce yourself. I would love to share some information about how wonderful laughter and humor are. I am dedicated to integrating more laughter and humor into people’s daily lives through Laugh to Live’s services that include: motivational presentations, laughter yoga sessions, comedy improvisation & stand-up performances and humor writing, for corporate, group and private audiences.

Every man, woman and child (and yes, even dog) can benefit from laughter. Ever since Norman Cousins made the medical community take notice of the wonders that laughter did for his body* after he watched Marx Brothers’ comedies, research has continued to reveal the benefits of laughter … and it gets more and more encouraging every day.

Laughter can help reduce stress, improve heart health, lift our mood, burn calories and help us think more clearly and creatively … just to name a few of the many valuable and positive effects it brings about.

I look forward to meeting you and sharing a laugh or two … for the health of it.

Visit www.laughtolive.net to learn more about what Laugh to Live can do for you, employees at your office, caregivers, teachers, students and everyone in our community! Or feel free to call 650-7518 to ask about how Laugh to Live! can help you find your smile.

*Cousins, who had a life-threatening disease, found that after 15 minutes of hearty laughter he was able to get two hours of pain-free sleep without drugs.

A busy community

I always post portraits and things like that but realized I rarely post what else is going on out there that we are involved with.

Well, on March 19-20 I hosted live bunny portraits. The session fees were donated back to the Griffin Pond Animal Shelter where I foster the bunny from. This year was ver exciting because I donated $315! It was wonderful and they were very happy. Next year I may extend the special a little bit and ask for 2 bunnies. It is alot of handling for one bunny and I feel bad sometimes that the bunny has just had enough handling. Here is the press release photo that was sent out to the area newspapers.

Then there is the Carbondale Area YMCA. The Y has been undergoing a $9 million transormation over the last several years. I've been fortunate to be part of this campaign by supporting their photographic needs including the progress of the construction on a regular basis. Well this past Sunday, March 28th they had their "soft" grand opening. Introducing teh public to the new facility. It is unbelievable. The pool is beautiful and includes a waterslide, there is a Spin Room with several rows of spin cycles, and the Cardio room includes the usual treadmills and olypticals but also virtual skateboard machines and other really cool things for working out and fun and there is a free weight area too. The room is huge and there is the addition of a nurse on duty and the trainers, all right there.

Sunday's activities included a drawing for the first sliders down the slide (see photo) and the last person out of the old pool. It was exciting to be part of history.

First row: Halley Schwartz, Julian Turonis, Thomas Uzialko ( first to go down the slide ). Second row: Beth Wiggins ( Aquatic Director ) Mia Karev, Jeremie Bucklaw, Gwen Delfino, Mike Delfino, John Calabro, and Susan Mancuso ( Capital Campaign Chair ). Third row: Dr. Joseph Calabro ( Board of Trustees ), and Steve Durkin ( Executive Director )

In the meantime, at the other end of the valley in Scranton, the B'nai B'rith is preparing for the annual Americanism Award dinner held in May. I stopped in for two photographs that evening. First is the dinner committee and the second was a check presentation to the JCC youth from the B'nai B'rith lodge.

And all over the country people are launching campaigns for various seats in government. Here John Moran, a cformer Mayor of the city of Carbondale is preparing for his campaign for State Representative. I wish luck to all those running for office. They have the community's best interest at heart and I believe any of them can and will make a difference.

The past weeks have also been very busy inside the studio as we saw a record number of moms and families for Mother's Day portraits as well as a host of new babies for our Baby Plans. Those postings will be for another day as there are so many to post to Facebook that it will be quite a project to catch up. One that I hope to finish in the next week since so many moms and dads are anxious to see their images on line!

BRRRRR! Wow, we have had our share of snow. I know other parts of the country has also. I can't wait for spring now. Well, even though several appointments had to be postponed due to either snow or sickness - things have been crazy around here! Mother's Day portraits are in full swing and we are seeing more and more new babies each month!

Our new "Organic" baby plan is catching on and the moms love the look. I've posted a couple from one session below. I look foward to the nice weather when we can go outside for portraits!

I just got back from our conference for the Professional Photographers of Pa. The meeting originally was for earlier in February but got snowed out. Go figure. The speakers were good and I learned quite a bit as I always do. And of course I bought a couple new backgrounds from my friend who is always more than happy to show me what's new with her creations. It's great because no one else will have these backgrounds. I added several colors of fabric for draping as a background or an accent and I added two muslin backgrounds in cool colors. I can't wait to use them. I figure I'm safe until mid April when we have our State convention...

Back in January I travelled to our national convention and made some serious purchases. Of course all had to be special ordered so they are just now coming in. The poor UPS guy. New lighting equipment and a new toybox type prop that has a weathered finish to it - that will be used for organic style newborn and baby sessions and who know what all else!

Going to meetings such as the Prof Photographers of Pa. and going to classes like I went to in January and being involved with my photographer friends on forums I belong to continue to be such an inspiration and I come away with so many ideas.

So what else can I tell you - well, how about when you come in we are offering coffee and cold softdrinks for our clients (and kids too). I want our clients to feel at home while they are here!

Catch up!

Well it's time I catch up here. Been travelling during January and now that I'm back and in the swing of things again it's time to work on things. One of my goals is to keep up with this at least weekly. I just love seeing the babies coming in for their first year. It's a party. This little one just turned 1. I just love how they hold their hands out to help them balance.

Is it really 2010?

Thank goodness! Although I am really embarrased that it has been months since my last post. I did make some resolutions this year. Of course it is well into January now and my treadmill is still sitting there calling my name and my various bible study books I wanted to read also are still there waiting for me. Although it hasn't been because I've been lazy so maybe I'll let myself off the hook - a little bit. The Christmas season was a fantastic one. Considering how the first half of the year went, by August things were ramping up to being back to normal - thank goodness.

Then last week I spent 5 days in Nashville for the PPA national convention. It was an awsome time. I didn't see the city but Gaylord's Opryland was a fabulous place for a convention. It was PPA's biggest one yet with over 9000 people registered. I roomed with a friend from Georgia and met up with some of my friends from Pennsylvania Prof Photographers too. Twelve classes in 3 days had my head spinning but that's how it is. I spent alot of time at the trade show too. I went a little crazy there and crossed off the list some of the things that, admittely were the "nice to haves" not the "need to haves". But it was the first time in a couple years had the opportunity to handle and talk to vendors right then and there. Of course they offer things at show specials - so who and I to say no?

It was great too to see one of my friend Joe Campanelli receive the "Diamond" designation for print competition. All 5 entered prints were accepted into the PPA International Loan Print Collection. Another friend, Gerry Solan recieved his Masters. I'm so proud of both of them and was thrilled to see them receive it. Then as it turns out PPA also announced that my friends Tammy Wolfe and Tamar London are the "next team to be watched". They own London Wolfe Photography in Altoona and have toured teaching other photographers for several years now. Their business is thriving and we are all proud that they are on the PPA "watch list".

Next up? Well Sunday Taylor (my daughter) and I leave for Las Vegas. It is a 3 day award winning marketing boot camp for photographers. It has been a few years since I attended so I am excited to see my friends, be in warmer weather and have my daughter with me! It will be so worth getting up at 3:30 am to catch a flight.

2010 is going to be fantastic. There are some question marks on the horizon but I am planning how to handle any combination of things that could come 'down the pike'. I am pleased to announce new baby plans for new moms and other things too. Check out our Facebook group for some updates or call/email us for a newsletter.

Ok, so from here I want to just give you a little tidbit on using your camera outside this time of year....I would love your feedback so let me know if you have questions or comments!


Winter Camera Tip:
Electronics don’t tolerate the cold. Keep your camera in an inside coat or pant pocket at all times when outdoors. When you go back inside, place in a plastic ziplock back BEFORE coming inside - the moisture will collect on the bag instead of delicate electronics or lenses as it warms up. Wait until the camera is room temp before using (1-2 hours.).