My Mom is hot ~ Hot Mama session

Several weeks ago when my Mom came out to visit, we did a Hot Mama session for her.  It was SOOOO much fun!  She loved getting her hair styled and make-up done at Salon Chocolat and then, of course, we had a blast during her session.  We giggled like school girls and I loved helping my Mom feel beautiful because she is, in every way.  Oh, now I'm getting all choked up but it was so wonderful being able to share my talents with her after years of her selflessly sharing hers for me.  

What book are you reading?

I LOVE to read but it's so hard to find time to do it when you are Mom. That is, until I discovered books on CD! It's amazing how much "reading" I get done while driving! It's also amazing how much driving I do taking kids to and from!

My current book on CD is called the "E-Myth Revisited" (I know, nothin' fun...I'm getting boring with old age) but this book ROCKS MY WORLD! If you are serious about running a business, this book is an ABSOLUTE must-have!

So what book are you reading right now? I need to know what my next book on CD should be.

{MODEL SEARCH}

France Photography is looking for fresh faces to feature on a new website we are launching (for photographers). We are in need of models in each age category:

0-18 mos., 2-3 yrs, and 4-5 yrs.

What do I get if my child is selected?

~complimentary portrait session (reg. $200)

~$50 print credit (additional prints may be purchased at regular rates)

~$15 clothing credit (with the purchase of a $50 outfit) to one of our participating children’s clothing boutiques near you (including Rockabye Reno, Baby Willows, & Bellisimo)

How do I enter?

Send a recent jpeg image file to francephotography@gmail.com along with your name, address & phone number. A signed model release is required. Deadline to enter France Photography’s Model Search is April 10th 2009.

How will I know if my child was selected as a model?

If your child is selected, we will contact you by April 13th . We will then schedule a fitting at the participating children’s boutique near you as well as the portrait session and viewing session.

What if my child is not selected as a model?

Even if your child is not selected, you will still receive a $50 gift card to France Photography just for entering.

What have you got to lose?

Babycakes!

This is one of my Baby Plan clients (check out our new baby's first year plan on our children's site -it rocks!) and I actually got to take these portraits on the day of his birthday.  We did a mock cake session and it was such fun!  Little "R" didn't know what to do with himself when we set an entire cake in front of him.  He obviously figured it out though!  Happy First Birthday Baby "R"!

Francypants Academy~ 2 openings!

Registration is opening up for the 2nd round of Francypants Academy. Francypants Academy is an online mentoring course for photographers who want to take their photography and their business to the next level. It will start April 1st and go for 4 weeks if you want to do the "crash condensed course" or 8 weeks if you want to take it slow. You will be allowed access to the Francypants Academy Forum where my past mentees and I share the latest and greatest ideas for your business.

I will only be accepting an extremely limited number, 2 mentees, for this round to ensure that you receive lots of personal attention. Email me at francephotography@gmail.com for more details.

Here's what my January 2009 mentees are saying about Francypants Academy:

"Kelli's Francypants Academy was KEY in helping my business go from "nice friend with a camera" to "high end custom portraiture." Kelli revealed all of her business secrets and did not hold anything back. It was a great investment!" ~Melissa E. of Melissa E. Photography

"Kelli France and Franceypants Academy helped take my photography to that next level. She covered everything from photoshop, business and sales, and of course how to find your style and take amazing photos." ~Jami E. of Images by Jami

FaceBook In Reality

What if Facebook were in real life? If you Facebook you have to see this. It's so true and hilarious! (Pardon the crude language on the video.)

Playing the Tooth Fairy

The other night my daughter came in after bedtime with a tooth in her hand!  This is the first tooth she has lost (the other one was abscessed so we had to have it pulled at age 3).  She was SO proud!  She must have been wiggling it in bed because she pulled it all by herself.  She was tickled pink when she woke up the next morning to $3 under her pillow (what's the going rate these days??)  I was a little bit sad that she is getting so old!  I don't like it!

Sacramento Senior Session ~ Urban Ballerina

This session ROCKED!  We spontaneously found this old abandoned home on the side of the road as we were driving to our other location.  It was perfect!  The owner of the house even came over and gave us a tour and let me shoot some images indoors too.  It was very cool and little bit spooky (there were masks in the windows-yikes!)

It has helped that this senior was bursting with personality so we had a LOT of fun!  Her and her family drove all the way out from Sacramento because they wanted something different and unique for her Senior portraits.  

It's not easy being green

Every year for St. Patrick's Day we make Leprechaun traps with the kids (well, I should say, Matt makes them and I document ;0)).  This year's trap was especially cute.  My daughter and husband created a ramp for the Leprechaun to go up into a trap door that says "Leprechaun Candy Store." Once he enters the door, there are two large holes inside that will trap him in there.  My daughter is SURE it will work this year!  We'll see. I don't know if I can handle another little person in the house...especially a mischievous green one ;0)

heel-arious!

Babies in stilletos? That's what I'm talking about! One of my clients showed me these when I was dropping off her order. She was saying how we have to use them in her baby's next session and I'm ALL over it! They are soft little baby shoes with heels, called Heelarious. Aren't they the cutest things EVA?! Seriously.

2 firefighters and a baby ~ Reno newborn photos

This baby's parents are both firefighters so of course we had to take some shots of him in a fireman's hat. Getting a baby to sleep happily in a fireman's hat was a miracle in itself. I was impressed at how helpful this baby's Dad was during the session. He was like my personal assistant! And I am lovin' the way this little man is all nestled in his Dad's neck--makes your heart melt!

Oh and this image above is going up on their wall as a 30x40 canvas, which I am super excited about. I'll have to take pictures of it when we hang it for them.

Graphic Designer Wanted

I have lots of fun ideas and not enough time to design them all so I thought it was time to ask if anyone out there is interested in being my personal Graphic Designer.  You would being doing odd jobs for me here and there and I would pay you for it.  

If you are interested, please send me samples of some of your work to francephotography@gmail.com.  You do NOT have to be local since I can do a lot of online correspondence.  Can't wait to hear from you!

Senior Grad ~ class of 2009

Loved her hair. Loved her clothes.  Loved her soft & sweet personality. Love Senior sessions.

Wall of the Week

Had to share these walls of one of my clients.  She got three 20x20 Gallery Wrapped Canvas's and a large Storyboard for her baby's room.  I absolutely LOOOOOVE how they look in her home!  She loves them too and her husband told me that they have gotten so many compliments on them.  It's so fun to have art on your walls, starring your child!

Oh happy day!

So I was at the store yesterday when a beam of light shone down on my favorite seasonal treat...Cadbury mini-eggs. DROOL. I immediately bought a bag of chocolately goodness to devour before they go out of season again. Now normally, I don't even really like plain chocolate that much but these...are a girl's best friend every Easter. Yes, I am easily amused but it's the little things that keep you going. Oh, happy day!

Engagement Portraits Part Deux

I just had to show you the other half of this session. I couldn't resist trying out a couple different ideas on these guys and this one was so fun! They are getting the storyboard below for their home along with one of our new "Couture Collages" (that I've been working on like a madwoman) that includes a cluster of 5 canvas.'