In the Box Mini Sessions | Arlington, TN Family Photographer

Please view my website for behind the scenes on how I constructed the box and what is happening in my studio right now

 http://cindypic.com/in-the-box/

 

    

 

Visit my New Blog/ Website to view what is happening in my studio now and this years Holiday Season  www.cindypic.com

Pumkin Patch Mini-Session | Arlington, TN Child Photographer

The Pumpkin Patch Mini Session Charity Event was a Success! Cindy Meisch Photography helped the Cub Scouts with their "Feed the Need" food drive! Lots of cute kids came to the studio and donated a few canned goods in exchange for a digital file of their child in my pumpkin patch!  I will continue to collect canned goods through out the month of November. They will be donated to the Memphis Food Bank. You can also make a monetary donation direct to the food bank to help those in need!

Cole is 1! | Arlington, TN Baby Photographer

Can you believe Cole is one? Where did the year go? I remember when his Mom told me she was pregnant! I feel amazingly blessed to have been there to capture his memories and smiles for the first year of his life! Looking forward to watching him grow! Now go hug your babies no matter their age because it goes by so fast!

Preparing for a Family Portrait Session | Memphis, TN Family Photographer

1. Choose an amazing Photographer! Look at their images on their Website, Blog and Facebook. Do you connect with the photographers style? Can you envision their portraits hanging in your home?  Before you even look at their price list make sure you LOVE their work.

Yeah! You found a Photographer you love!

2. Contact the Photographer for a Consultation. Consultations can take place either by phone or in person. I personally am a fan of an in-person consult. I like to go to my clients house. I want to see their style. Are you formal or casual?  Boho or preppy?  It also gives you an opportunity to know whether or not you are going to click! It gives your family an opportunity to meet  the photographer prior to the session.  It also helps the photographer to prepare for the session. What are your goals? Do you want a formal portrait to go above the fireplace, a fun canvas collage to go above the sofa, or a collection of images that travel down your stairs?  This is where you ask: What can I expect the family session to be like? Where will the shoot take place?  How long does it take to edit my images? How long does a session last? etc...

3. What to Wear?  There are several sites to draw inspiration from. Either your favorite store or just google what to wear. If this is a family portrait I suggest starting with Mom's outfit and build from there! If Mom is comfortable and feeling beautiful about what she is wearing the rest will build and coordinate from there. You do not have to all match but you should coordinate.  Dark and solid colors photograph the best. (And are timeless!)  Long sleeves and long pants are the most flattering. Stay away from busy patterns. Pick out everything from head to toe. What accessories will you wear and do those dress shoes you are planing on your child wearing still fit? 

3. Grooming- get your hair cut 2 weeks prior to the session. This is not the time to try a new color, perm or radical change.  Ladies if you don't normally wear makeup a little mascara and lip gloss will help your eyes pop and give your lips definition.  Remove temporary tattoos with rubbing alcohol or baby oil. Remove old polish and treat your self to a manicure.

4. Day of the Portrait Session make sure everyone is well rested. Feed everyone before you get dressed avoiding foods that stain. If your clothes will wrinkle easily plan on changing upon arrival. (I have a large backdrop that I can clamp around my tailgate that makes the perfect dressing room!)  Plan to arrive 5-10 minutes early. Pack some dry snacks like Goldfish or Cheerios and some bottled water.  Bring a comb or brush for last minute touch-ups. Pack up everything you need to create a memorable session. Does your family have something special you want to incorporate into the portrait. Does your child have a lovey or a toy that will make them feel comfortable? I also photograph Mom and Dad with out the kids and the kids individually. Bring a toy to play with while the kids are not being photographed.

5. RELAX! Let the photographer worry about the smiles and that they are looking in the camera. Kids definitely feed off their parents emotions and the more a parent tells a kid to smile the less cooperative the child will be. Think about making the memory that will be attached to the portrait that will hang on your wall. Think about your spouse and the good times that you have shared. Think about your child and the things that bring you JOY at this point in their life. Laugh, love and have fun!

Outdoor Photoshoot Checklist | Arlington, TN Family Photographer

In the Memphis area it seems there is a short window of time to capture memories outdoors. The weather can go from pleasant to scorching in a few days. I just wanted to share my list of things I pack in my bag to take to a shoot. And I had to add an image from a recent session I did with the Pickens family. Their daughter will be leaving for the military soon and they had not had a family portrait taken since their youngest was a baby. I met Kim through a friend and I remember talking about how passionate I am about what I do and not waiting to capture your memories. I am happy to have been able to be a part of their memory!

Check List for Photographers

Gear- camera, cards, reflector, battery etc

Props for the shoot

Contract/pens

small step stool or ladder

Blanket, quilt, waterproof pad or towel to sit on.

Water bottles/cooler

Smarties to bribe!

gold fish, Cheerios, dry snacks that won't melt

dog treats/squeakers

Bug spray (I love the Off Clip-on's)

Rubbing alcohol (or baby oil) to remove temp tattoo's/Cotton balls

Nail Polish remover/ Cotton balls

Trash bag

hairspray

cheap combs/ dollar store brushes

mirror

baby or wet wipes

hand sanitizer

tissues

lint roller

chapstick

safety pins

large piece of fabric and clamps to make a mini dressing room. I use a big backdrop and clamp it around my vans tailgate. Put an old rug on the ground and a small chair. You could also open your 2 doors and clamp it around them. This is great for Seniors

Product Samples

Sugar and Spice Mini Session | Memphis area Childrens Photographer

What are Little Girls Made of? Sugar and Spice and everything nice...
I am please to offer the Sugar and Spice Mini-Sessions! May 18 & 19th. This is the basic set up for the sessions but the backdrop for these sessions will be the woods at Buckhead Creek Park. I am still adding the perfect props! The girls tent is pale pink, yellow and brown striped with a lace trim. The table will be set for a tea party!  The boys tent is red, blue and yellow deep strip with a brown ball fringe trim. I will have my collection of quilts and everything needed to capture the magic of childhood! If you would like more details please email me at cindy@cindypic.com This definetly has me wishing I was a little girl again! I can not wait to photograph my own daughter!

Stearns | On Location Family Photographer Arlington, TN

Every year during Fall Break my Family and I spend some time on my sisters farm in Southern Illinois.
During my visit I make time to update their family portraits. I loved 2010's session and did not think 2011's images could be any better... but they were! I love the fact that all the images are taken at their farm.

My brother in law never smiles for pictures. I feel like giving a high five to myself and screaming YES! for capturing a smile from him!

View their entire amazing session here:

I love my sister and her family. I also love that I can share my gift of capturing Memories with her and her family. 

The M Family| Arlington, TN Family

I first met Cara and her sweet baby at a Mom's group. It seems every time I book a session for outdoors at my favorite park the weather cooperates! It was a beautiful day! Miss Daila was a little stingy with her smiles and so we followed up their family session a few days later with a studio session where I captured some beautiful smiles and tried out a new cheeky bum pose! Who doesn't want to remember the sweet baby rolls! Gorgeous family!

I Heart Faces - A touch of Sun | Arlington, TN Photographer

This weeks photo challenge is a Touch of Sun from the I Heart Faces blog. This image was taken in downtown Arlington, TN  in front of the old Blacksmith shop. Love this family... see their session video here

If you found this through Facebook and you want to have a memorable experience like this family please call or email me. September is booked and I only have a few October and November Sessions left.

Happy Fall! | Arlington, TN Photographer

Happy Fall!





    The calendar showed Labor Day and like a switch the Fall Season was turned on in the Memphis area. Last year we were still in the 90's and the leaves took forever to change and most went from green to brown.  A few trees have begun to change into the beautiful reds, oranges and yellow. Oh how I love Fall! First you should know that this beautiful young lady is my niece, Megan. These images were taken last Fall on my sisters farm. Not only is she gorgeous but the trees made the perfect backdrop. I love photographing outdoors in the fall. The weather is cooler, your skin is still kissed with the glow of summer, the light is warm and the backgrounds of Fall are like no other time of year. 

    Fall also means campfires, marshmallow roasts, Fall Festivals and for my kids playing outside! Take a minute to look around and enjoy the colors God has painted this Fall Season!



Baby Cole!

I first met Jenny at a Girls Night Out Event. She has become a sweet friend of mine. I was honored when she asked me to capture some images of her and her husband Ryan with his Brother and Sister-in-Law last fall.  At the time I thought I totally had put my foot in my mouth when I said something like "maybe the next time I photograph you it will be a baby session."  I was kicking myself for the comment as I thought about it because what if they didn't want kids, they couldn't have kids and frankly it was really none of my business. Well it turns out that morning they had just told Ryans Brother that they were expecting! So the look I got after I had made the comment was a "how the heck does she know look".  After spending the afternoon with Jenny, Ryan and their precious baby Cole the one thing I knew from the second I met them is that they are natural parents. And that is one lucky baby to have so many people that love and adore him!

And in case you were curious this is the image captured last fall.

Love! Love! Love! My Job! | Arlington, TN Photographer

    I have always worked hard at every job I have had. Whether it was my families llama farm, selling shoes or working for a design center.  But none of those jobs had me excited to go to work each day. 
    Even though I have been photographing professionally for awhile now I still get excited with every session. I make sure I pour over every resource available to me and attend every class I can just to be better at what I do. My best friends will tell you I am my own worst critic and I can find fault in just about every image I capture. The greatest feeling comes from capturing a pure moment, a smile from a father at his Newborn baby,  a mother's knowing smile that life is short and this baby will grow in the blink of an eye. It is also not thinking about how others are going to see you. It only matters to those that come after you and there is a memory your children can hold in their hands to tell their children.
    I can remember my Gram's soft skin, my Dad's hands callused from work or my Mom teaching me how to sew. How grateful I am to have snapshots to go along with those stories to tell me children. What Memory are you leaving behind?

This was our very first llama, Bernie. Oh the story I am going to tell my daughter about this llama and how it thought my dad was his Mama!  What an amazing chidhood I had!

It is time to Pay it Forward| Arlington, TN Photographer

    Have you ever heard of the "movement" called Roadside Families? Me neither. I stumbled upon this when I was reading a blog entry from Take off Your Mommy Goggles. Every entry I read I find myself thinking... "I wish I would have wrote that", "That is exactly what I was thinking" or I learned something new. After reading 3 blog entries in a row I decided to click on find photographers. Something you may not know about Photographers is that most of us are generous with our time, talent and inspiration. I found an amazing photographer named Lisa Thomas from Kiralisa Photography in Germantown, TN.
    By finding Lisa's page I found she is part of RoadsideFamilies. In a nutshell photographers are are choosing another photographer and their family to photograph as well as a deserving family that would not have the resources to hire a professional photographer and doing a 30 minute session that includes a portrait ready to hang. I am hoping that my family is chosen by Lisa for this amazing opportunity. I am also not waiting to Pay it Forward!  I am looking for  a deserving family to photograph. Do you know a family that deserves a portrait session with me? Please nominate someone by emailing me at cindymeischphotography@yahoo.com or if you are a deserving family please email me! Winner will receive a portrait session, a printed portrait and 15 images on a disc.
    If you have ever wondered what session with me is like take a peek here. This is a sweet friend of mine Ashley and her family. What you get when you hire a professional is more that a image printed on a piece of portrait paper.... you get a memory! 

    I know this blog post has a ton of links and I hope you took a moment to click on them.

Arlington, TN Photographer | What to Wear

    "What should I wear?" Is probably the question I get asked the most after... "How much do you cost?"
There are many places to look for inspiration starting with your own closet. What is your/family style? Are you casual, funky, formal? What colors dominate your closet or your home?

    It is not necessary for everyone to match but, everyone should compliment each other. Last year I captured a family that dressed in browns and blues. I dressed my own family in brown shirts and jeans. Dark colored clothes photograph beautifully outside.  Do you need more inspiration? On Facebook the page Wardrobe Wednesday has some great tips. I saw a photographer friend that dressed her family in grey and had pops of yellow. My family could never pull that off but it worked for them.
    I also think that it is important to be comfortable in the clothes your are wearing. If you are wearing dark shoes you should wear dark socks. If your pants are a little short pull them down a bit before you sit down. Little things like making sure your fingernail polish is not chipped, nails are clean and temporary tattoos are removed will save you extra editing charges from your photographer. And of course your best accessory is your SMILE!

Baby Love!

There is something magical that happens when you see  a baby.  To me it reminds me of the miracle that my own children are.  This little angel was 10 days old when I photographed her.  I felt like I was moving in just to take her portrait.  It is amazing how something so tiny requires so much stuff. 
When I photograph a newborn I bring the studio to you! I bring my lights, backdrops, beanbag and any other prop I can cram into my van. 
I also captured a few memories with her older brother who is 4. I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up and he said "A brother"  He was totally smitten with his little sister and could not give her enough kisses.

Come Fly With Me!

Sorry for the long absence away from my blog! I have been busy taking a class, participating in a Marketing Webinar and spending some quality time with my family. As the new year begins and we all make our Resolutions for the year I have reflected on 2010 and think about Goals rather than resolutions to make 2011 the best it can be for myself and the Cindy Meisch Photography. I am looking forward to many great photography sessions and I am even photographing my first wedding at the end of the month at the Memphis Zoo!
I am thankful to the many people I photographed in my first year of business. If you want to see what the Cindy Meisch Photography Experience is all about book a session! If you call me before the end of January 2011 and book a session  by June 1,2011 I am waiving my Portrait session fee and you have no obligation to purchase any Portraits. Please have one of your resolution or Goals for 2011 be to capture your families memory today! Life is short!
I am also working out my Marketing Calendar for 2011 so if you have a Wedding in your future and you have not booked a Professional Wedding Photographer please contact me today so I can add you to my schedule!

Generations

I photographed this family a few weeks ago. They had not taken their photograph together in more than 10 years. Three generations that are very close to each other. A few times the ladies had mentioned that the Father doesn't smile for pictures. As you can see in the center portrait I captured a beautiful smile. You see I took the stress out having their portrait made. I traveled to them. The image was captured while they were sitting on a bench surrounded by all these beautiful retaining walls he had built and landscaped. The background is a tree that I photographed on their beautiful property.

This family is so close that the daughter bought the house that shares the backyard with her parents. I am grateful that they used my business to capture their Memories. But I am also happy that they have such a great image that captures happiness and love.