Almost Spring Newsletter - 19 August 2009
Hey there
I just knew we couldn’t get too excited about the prospect of Spring just yet as Jack Frost always like to have the last say. But, Spring is around the corner whoo hoo – who is joining me in a swim on the 1st of September? I think I’ve become a woos as I’ve got older, the pool temp needs to be 26 degrees for me to swim , so, in a crazy moment, my boys will drag me in the pool and I can bet it will be around 16 degrees. Is that good for circulation or to get the heart jump started into Spring?
Enough about the weather (what would we talk about if we didn’t’ have it to talk about… I wonder)
With Spring around the corner, that means Christmas is around the corner too! Yikes. This year, spend your bonus on yourself! Start buying your gifts now and remember that photos make great gifts!!
After looking at all the photos that teenagers put on Facebook, I shake my head. Some of positively awful and many out of focus, but, they’re taking photos and creating memories so thumbs up. I’ve got a handful of photos from my school days that have brought back many laughs and Facebook comments but none are those ‘perfect’ ones. For those of you with daughters aged 12-15, this may appeal to you. It seems as if this age group is a challenge to do parties for, they’re too old for pamper parties and too young for discos (it’s okay if the friends have but it’s a lot of work and stress for you). So, I’ve come up with a funky birthday party / gift idea. I had 3 girls in Grade 11 come for photos last week; they’ve been friends since primary school and probably will be for many years to come. We did an assortment of lovely photos that they can enjoy now, but, when they are all 40 and married with their own children, these photos will be prized possessions. How many of you have beautiful photos of your girlfriends now and way back when? Why not have a ‘photoshoot’ for your 12-15 year olds and then a DVD afternoon, sleepover, fondue evening etc.
The photoshoot will be around an hour; they can bring dress up clothes, their Matric dance dresses and even their school uniforms! I’ll make a CD of the best images for the birthday girl to share with her friends and use for emails, profile pics etc and then if there are ones that you want reprints of or to enlarge and frame, you can order those from the CD. It will be R195 for 2-4 people or R150 per person for 5-10 people and R100 for the CD (multiple CD’s can be ordered at R50 each). Bonus – all little horrid spots will be removed!
And for those of you STILL toying with the idea of doing a sensual shoot; you just have to read the testimonials on my website to be convinced that your man will absolutely love this kind of gift! Don’t worry about the wobbly bits, lily white skin, stretch marks etc – those are minor issues! Seeing yourself in sensual photos will make you realize that you are special and unique AND lovely!!
I’m keeping this newsletter short as I know many of you are like me …. Waffle waffle waffle doesn’t hold my attention for long.
So in closing, let’s shoot! Family, function, sensual, teenager shoots – lets ‘just shoot’.
Fabulously yours as always
Adele
P.S Please forward this mail onto your friends / colleagues.
P.P.S Join my group on Facebook called “Fabulously Feminine Photography” and the other one “Fabulously Feminine Photography inc AK Photography”.
28 May 2008
Hi everyone
Okay admit it, the winter woollies and fluffy slippers are out and in full swing … says she sitting here at the desk with no shoes
I’m tapping the keyboard trying to put down my thoughts - perhaps journalist training would have helped J
I am very proud of the article that appeared in ‘The Star’ on Friday 22 May about my business. There is a link to it on my Facebook group, ‘Fabulously Feminine Photography’ or I can mail you the PDF file if you’d like to read it. I’ve had so many beautiful women come for photos and they have words to say about cellulite, rolls and hanging bits. Is it any wonder why we feel the way we do? Society tells us that the ideal woman is wrinkle free, has no stretch marks or cellulite and its no bigger than a size 32. If you really want to know why we have this warped view, go have a look at www.photoshopdisasters.com. There are several models there that are not as ugly as the Neanderthals but certainly deformed with longer limbs (legs and fingers), they can even turn their heads way past 90degrees! So, let me assure you that even with all those bumps, rolls and droopy bits – you are NORMAL! With well applied make up, a good hair style and a decent photograph, EVERYONE can look GOOD!!
I’ve also had some lovely families in the studio. It is so important to keep capturing moments. I’ve met some women who have had kids leave home that are now overseas and chances for them to get all the kids together for a photo shoot is a challenge. So, whilst your monsters still live at home, take LOTS of photos.
I’m looking to do a project with teenagers and photos. Over the 8 years I’ve been involved with photography, it seems that from age 13-19, families stop having photos. I can put it down to possibly 3 reasons;
1) Kids are too busy at school and with sport
2) They’ve turned into aliens since going through puberty and are just horrid and / or tolerable
3) Puberty has been cruel and they hate their spotty skins
I want to make kids like what they see and who they are. If women at 35+ are having self image problems, could it stem right back to teenage years? I want to photograph teenagers in an environment where they have fun, their personalities are portrayed and their problem skin is magically fixed. I’m looking for around 6 teenagers who would be prepared to be photographed and have their images used for media and website purposes. In lieu of this, I am happy to provide them with a handful of awesome images in a CD box as well as the images on CD that they can reprint and do with as they wish. Please call me if you have a teenager who fits the bill and I promise to make him/her feel like a celebrity.
Hope to see you in the studio soon!