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

The Loyalty of a Hearing Impaired Dog

Posted on September 26, 2013 by Aaron McGregor Photography

Samantha was thrilled to know that she could help out her favorite Animal Rescue Group raise some cash when she heard about my August Special, “Cold Hard Cash for the Dog Days of Summer”. She wanted to book a photo session with her boyfriend and their puppy-dog, Ali. Samantha wanted to help out the rescue group where she adopted Ali. “He is such a sweetie pie,” she said, “he is a white American Bulldog, with a lot of energy. He is our baby!” I responded that my sister owned that breed and he was such an affectionate companion. She wanted to know if I could get a few photos of him by himself at the park and they would love to get a family portrait as well. Terrific! I always ask the parents if they want a family portrait during the photo session. We just needed to book the time and day when she said, “Oh, one thing you might need to know about Ali. He is deaf. Will that be a problem?”

This was going to be a new experience for me. I knew I had to rely on the use of visual cues in place of oratory ones. My typical approach to a pet session consists of rolling around on the ground while squeaking, meowing, clicking and rolling my “R”s like Chewbacca. Samantha told me that Ali responds to sign commands. That is great! Sometimes my mastiff responds to sign commands for sit and stay a lot better than verbal commands. Some people drop off a hearing impaired dog at the pound because they don’t have the time to train them. All dogs love to please their owners. In addition to snuggling and protecting, the best way for a dog to prove their loyalty is by following your commands. Dog Obedience 101 teaches that if you by put a treat in your hand and raise it above their head, the dog will respond by sitting. Rewarding and praising every time results in classical conditioning… thank you Ivan Pavlov! Training a deaf dog may need more patience on behalf of the owner, but the reward is the same: a loyal companion that takes pride in pleasing their owner.

We had an awesome morning at South Park. Samantha, Mike and Ali choreographed a beautiful dance together. You could see the happiness in Ali’s eyes. It was evident that he loved to please his people. After he obeyed one command, he was eager to perform the next. This symbiotic relationship between dog and owner is the epitome of true love! In addition to receiving an original work of art, Samantha helped out Biggies Bullies with a monetary donation. It is awesome to know that there are still people like Samantha and Mike in this world that are willing to train such a unique companion and donate to an great cause. 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/

Big Donations Possible for Pet Rescue

Posted on August 2, 2013 by Aaron McGregor Photography

There could be Cold Hard Cash on the table for the Dog Days of Summer! Throughout the summer months, also known as “Wedding Season” for us photographers, it’s often difficult to donate time by taking photos of adoptable pets that need forever homes. So, in an effort to keep helping those pups in need, I’m offering a special Dog Days of Summer promotion. For every dog portrait session booked in August, you will be able to get an original artwork of your beloved pet AND I will donate 20% of the proceeds in your honor to your preferred local animal rescue group. I will also donate 20% of any custom enlargements, specialties and merchandise that you order from your session. It’s a great way for us to contribute to a local animal shelter.

For example, if you book a portrait in the park valued at $65.00 you’ve instantly made a $13.00 donation to your favorite pet shelter! On top of your $13.00 donation, you may decide that you need a museum quality framed 8×10 custom enlargement valued at $175.00 for your picture perfect pet. Your contribution just increased by $35.00, plus the $13.00 totaling a $48.00 donation. What? Your Pug’s personality cannot fit into an 8×10? Maybe they deserve a statement piece over the loveseat, like a 20×24 canvas wrap valued at $225.00. Your donation just jumped to $45. + $13 totaling $58.00! Imagine ten of your animal friends doing this. I am sure your favorite rescue group would love to receive a $580.00 check from you. That can buy a lot of food and supplies!

Every portrait includes a hardbound souvenir keepsake featuring 10 of your favorite photos from the session to keep dear to your heart. You will also have access to low resolution files, downloadable from my website at http://www.amcgregorphotography.com, so you can share your professional pet portrait with your friends and have a super awesome profile pic for all of your social media sites.

If you’ve already made all the donations you can afford this year and you don’t need a work of art of your Fido, please help by sharing this blog with others, it has the potential to really have an impact. To ensure your donation, you only have to book and make a deposit in August. We can schedule the photo session for as late as October 31st. Right now, Biggies Bullies is in the lead for donations. You can also donate to Pet Friends, Inc., Animal Friends of Westmoreland, Orphans of the Storm (no kill Shelter), Western PA Humane Society, Steel City Greyhounds or any other animal non-profit.

Being Loved in Return

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Aaron McGregor Photography

There are few things in life more rewarding than volunteering for a non-profit at the local level. Pet Friends, Inc. in Irwin is about as local as it gets for me. They kennel their dogs at Carwen’s Grooming and Boarding where my wife and I attend obedience classes with our dogs. By taking photos of these adoptable pets, I get to meet the pets and help them find their forever homes within my local community.

For just a few moments, I get to hang out with a different dog and discover their personality. It is so awesome the moment when a dog meets someone for the first time. They will sniff you, eye you up, come in for a pet, sit at your feet and appear to love you all within five seconds. A dog does not understand the concept of judging a book by its cover, for dogs use all of their senses when greeting someone new and are not concerned with looks alone. They love unconditionally. I have heard that shelter dogs make the best pets, for they know what isolation feels like and understand the concept of loyalty. All of these dogs at Pet Friends, Inc. would be great additions to anyone’s family. All of them are adorable, happy and in desperate need to love and be loved in return.