The Magical Cookie Snatchers

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Aaron McGregor Photography

The Cookie Snatchers

Very few things compare to the magic of Santa Claus. It is really beautiful to envision a miniature sleigh being pulled by a team of flying reindeer. Throw in a little moonlight off glistening snow for good measure and you are on your way to sheer fantasyland. Reading “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore to my two-year old son has awakened some of those childhood memories. The poem weaves a wonderful tale composed of rich language and wonderful metaphors. All of the elements contribute to this classical piece and inspire us even today, 190 years after it was penned. Of course, the “fantasyland” I am referring to is only a figure of speech for the purpose of this letter. Let it be known, and rest assured, that there are a ton of examples that Santa Claus does exist and is very real. Never doubt that!!!

In keeping with a classic tradition, my wife Heather and I brainstormed ideas for a Christmas photo of our son, Emmett and mastiff, Ruben. We knew we wanted to create a timeless image so we fused a little bit of Norman Rockwell with some Clement Clark Moore. The props and set design were drawn up and the scenario of a child eating a cookie beside his loving companion was conceived. Overhead lighting and a warm glowing tree in the background was a requisite for the illumination. Now we were ready to take a photo that required the collaboration between two of the most uncooperative and unpredictable subjects – a young toddler and a hungry dog.

Heather and I really wanted something reminiscent of an innocent, yet naughty little boy sneaking a bit of Santa’s cookies. We also thought that our obedient mastiff, Ruben would try to sniff the plate of cookies that were placed right in front of him. The scenario that was inside our minds never played out since Ruben actually went for the cookie that Emmett was eating! Happy accidents are one of the joys of photography. I have included a few of the images that were from this session. I hope you and yours have a Very Magical Holiday.

http://www.amcgregorphotography.com

Senior Portraits & Cyber Marketing

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Aaron McGregor Photography

How do people do it? In this 24/7 world where sleep never rests, we are expected to produce at maximum capacity AND write a weekly blog? When I entertained the idea of writing a blog, I thought that it was going to be a piece of cake. All the reasons to “drive more traffic to your site, get a better SEO ranking, people will love hearing about photo sessions and techniques, etc. etc. etc.” Well it has been 8 long months since that first blog, and I have produced only a handful. Yay me. This brings me back to my opening question, “How do people do it?” It is difficult for me to maintain a prolific blog in the height of summer and into autumn. So please excuse the timing of this blog, since Tessa’s portrait session occurred FIVE MONTHS AGO!!!

Tessa called me after searching the internet for a photographer to take her senior portraits. She requested to have her portraits taken at Cedar Creek Park along the scenic Youghiogheny River. In keeping true to pleasing clients, my prices are very reasonable and competitive for professional photography: they can change into as many outfits as they bring and two 8x10s & two accordion-book keepsakes are included with every portrait session. This fee also covers travel, editing, online proofing, mailing out reprints, etc. A photo session typically lasts an hour.

Tessa had a great time. She was completely into the photo session and the environment truly expressed her love for nature. She brought a change of clothes and the session lasted a little over an hour. There are many things that have changed since I first started my business. Pleasing clients, taking photos and marketing yourself were the main priorities. I loved getting new clients based on referrals from past clients the same as I love getting those referrals now. It is the best compliment anyone can receive. However, the marketing landscape has changed with the explosion of the internet and search directories. It is almost incomprehensible what a small business owner must do to keep afloat. As of today, I have zero reviews of my business on Angie’s List, Yahoo, Google or the fifty thousand other search directories. Who has time to create an account, sign in and write reviews in this 24/7 world? I don’t blame people for not writing reviews. Honestly, I have never written a review, and I have received excellent service as well as horrible service in the past. To stay on track with marketing Aaron McGregor Photography in this cyber world, I will be posting more blogs over the winter about photo shoots that occurred in the summer and fall! I am sure you are chomping at the bit to see more blogs about weddings, portraits and pet sessions. I know I will be writing them over the next 24/7s!!!

http://www.amcgregorphotography.com

Portraits of a Mother & Daughter

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Aaron McGregor Photography

The most feared sentence a seven year-old can say to a photographer is, “I HATE getting my picture taken and I will NOT smile!” It is bound to happen at least 5000 times over the course of a career. Those were the exact first words that were spoken by Evalina (affectionately named “Lina”) when I met up with her and her mother, Vanessa. I was thrilled and honored to capture this lifestyles session for them. I prepared mentally with visions of this pose, that pose, them acting cute together and smiling through the fields. But all of these visions evaporated from my mind like snow falling on a flame. The first lesson I always tell my photo students is to have a PLAN B! At the conclusion of Lina’s defiant statement, I could hear my former students mockingly whisper, “Alrighty then, McGregor, where’s your PLAN B now?”

But really, how many kids love getting pulled away from their friends, their hobbies or their summer vacations? I would think that number would be South of zero. The best way to prepare for a photo session is to plan it out. But life does not abide by strict rules or follow a game plan, so why should one expect a “lifetyles session” to do the same? One thing to be certain of is Murphy’s Law waiting to toss a monkey-wrench into your bike spokes. Fortunately, I was trained to juggle and ride a unicycle at the same time (metaphorically speaking, of course)!

Reactions on the fly are a must. You really have to be prepared for all kinds of adversity. Otherwise you will have a terrific portrait of a disgruntled mom placing her rebellious, screaming child into a head lock or its equivalent. The more you force a child to smile, act “normal” or straighten up, the more resistance you will encounter. I always find inspiration in literature, and in this instance, I remembered one of my favorite quotes by Khalil Gibran. “Let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.”

Sometimes photography has little to do with taking a picture, but it has everything to do with the art of capturing the human condition. My greatest career achievements are to present original and creative heirlooms that capture the winds of the heavens dancing between you. I can only hope these photos embody that for Vanessa and Lina. http://www.amcgregorphotography.com/