Vicki Byerley Photography

St Jude Dream Home Giveaway

2009-06-19T00:01:00.002-05:00

Yes, it's that time of year again. It's almost time for the AMAZING giveaway of this amazing home! It is seriously BEAUTIFUL and valued at $375,000. How can you win it, you ask? Well, all you have to do is purchase a ticket for $100 and your name is placed into the drawing for the house. The odds on winning are CRAZY GOOD! You also have a chance to win a plethora of other prices too, like a $1000 portrait package from ME! Seriously, it's a great thing for a wonderful cause!

The home is located at 1515 W Gaslight Drive in the Lions Gate subdivision in south Springfield (Just off of South Campbell and Plainview Road). Come check it out!! While you're there, you can check out some of my work throughout the home. For more info go to www.stjudedreamhome.org.

Out of the Office

2009-06-12T00:01:00.001-05:00

I will be out of the office through Wednesday June 17th. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! :)

Out of the Office....

2009-06-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

I will be out of the office from Monday June 1st until Tuesday June 9th. All emails and voicemails will be returned as soon as I'm back in the office on the 9th. Have a wonderful week! :)

Things that make me melt....

2009-05-26T00:01:00.001-05:00

Sometimes it's really hard for me to resist pinching the cheeks of these little cuties. Like little C for instance. His cheeks just scream "PINCH ME!!", do they not?

He fell in love with that awesome flower, so we went with it. :)

How about the bond of brother and sister? {I'm melting here}

Or perhaps the simplicity of a child's beautiful face. Yeah, that gets me too. {SWOON}

Monday Madness!

2009-05-25T00:01:00.002-05:00

This week you can get a complimentary 8x10 and 5x7 with your paid session! Not a bad deal.....

:)

New sessions only. Not available with any other offers.

Out of the Office....

2009-05-21T09:57:00.001-05:00

I will be out of the office from the afternoon of Thursday May 21st until Tuesday May 26th. All emails and voice mails will be returned on Tuesday. Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend! :)

Monday Madness!

2009-05-18T00:01:00.001-05:00

For this week, you can get $100 off a Gallery Wrap Canvas 16x20 and larger! Sweet! :)

Monday Madness!

2009-05-11T00:01:00.000-05:00

Senior Portrait season is fast approaching. Therefore for this week I am offering 48 free wallets with your order. You don't have to be a senior to get in on this deal though. So make sure to schedule your session this week!!

Not good with any other offers. New sessions only. :)

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

2009-05-10T00:01:00.000-05:00

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body...
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom ...

What is Custom Photography?

2009-05-08T00:01:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered what the big deal is about "Custom" photographers and why they charge what they do? Well, here is a great site that answers all of those questions. The contributors on the site say it much better than I can.

CLICK HERE!

Monday Madness!

2009-05-04T00:01:00.001-05:00

For this week you can get a complimentary slideshow with your order, valued at $150! To view a sample slideshow click on the link on the right side of the screen. (---> over there :) )

Only 3 available. Must be a new session.

Monday Madness!

2009-04-27T00:01:00.000-05:00

This week we are offering half off cards. Birth Announcements, Birthday Invitations, Graduation Announcements, Greeting Cards. It's up to you!

I was attacked by a ninja...

2009-04-23T23:46:00.003-05:00

...and I barely made it out alive.

Okay, well, maybe not. But it sounded rather cool.

This is C. You may recognize him as the winner of the 2009 Cute Kid Contest that was held here on the blog back in January. Isn't he just as cute as a bugs ear? It's no wonder that he won. C is alllllllll boy. Dirt, sticks, trains, ninja moves. He likes it all.

Monday Madness!

2009-04-20T00:01:00.002-05:00

Ah, Monday again!

This week you can receive a $50 print credit to apply toward your order. Simply email me directly from the main website on the contact page. Only 5 available. For new sessions only, not available with any other offer. :)

WOW!

2009-04-17T00:01:00.000-05:00

I honestly don't know what to say about this other than....OH. MY. GOSH. Very inspirational.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luRmM1J1sfg&feature=related

Sharing a few....

2009-04-15T00:01:00.002-05:00

This is Miss Andrea. She is one of my 2010 Senior Models and she was great to work with. We ended up racing the sun but it was so worth it. Isn't she beautiful?

Monday Madness!

2009-04-13T00:01:00.003-05:00

It's Monday once again. The weekend went by way to fast for my taste and now it's back to the weekday grind. But that's alright because it's time to announce the weekly special! I'm starting to look forward to Mondays. (Okay, that was a lie, but these specials make it a little bit better.)

This week I am offering 25% off all Boutique items. Boutique items are things like Handbags and Jewelry - all with images from your session. I have several beautiful items to choose from.

This special is good for the next 5 days. This is another AWESOME idea for Mother's Day (it's coming up pretty soon, dads). Not available with any other offers.

Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T01:13:00.001-05:00

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter. Enjoy your family and don't eat too much candy. :)

Great Location

2009-04-07T00:01:00.003-05:00

So I found this great location. Not only is it a beautiful old 1880's building but the inside is breathtaking. It's not that far outside of Springfield so I will be offering sessions here. The lighting inside is just awesome! Can you say B-E-A-U-TIFUL? Oh the possibilities!

If you are interested in having your session here just let me know. :)

Monday Madness

2009-04-06T00:01:00.003-05:00

This week I am offering 30% off prints 16x20 and larger. This is an awesome deal. There is nothing better than a LARGE print of your little ones to hang over your fireplace. Large prints truly are magnificent!

Hey dads - this would be a WONDERFUL Mother's Day gift that she will be proud of forever. Forget the flowers that will die in a week. Give her something that she will cherish always! This is guaranteed to heat things up for you! Seriously. ;o)

Only 5 of these are available. Must be a new session, can't be used with any other offer. Email me from the Contact page on the main site. Hurry! This really is an awesome deal!

Perfect!

2009-04-05T00:01:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I just luck out, I think. Perfect location, perfect lighting, perfect everything. It was just a perfect day. How did that happen?

Found a great sign....

2009-04-04T00:01:00.000-05:00

Need I say more? :D

Who likes Specials?

2009-03-30T21:15:00.002-05:00

Okay, so I’ve been thinking, which is quite a scary thing for me to do, really. But I want to start offering weekly specials here on the blog. Sound good? I thought so! :)

So every Monday, I will post a new special here on the blog. It could be anything. You just never know with me. So make sure to check every week.

Here’s the deal.

The special is only good for the five days after it’s posted. It’s only available for new sessions. Only one special at a time. CA, OpLove or other charity sessions do not qualify for the weekly specials. There will only be a handful available each week. Once they are gone, they’re gone!

So for this week I am offering this cute 8x10 Name Storyboard with a paid session, customized with your child’s name and the month/year of your session. There are only 10 of these available (only one per session). This is an item that is not available for purchase otherwise. So make sure you grab it up. It’s sooooo cute!

In order to get this special you need to go to the main website, choose the date you want your session on the Calendar tab, and then send me an email directly from the site from the Contact page.

Remember, you can always view my current rates directly on the site under the Info tab on page two. Just click the little arrows at the bottom of the page to be taken to the next page.

Ready....Set....Go!

Gone!

2009-03-27T15:32:00.002-05:00

The complimentary session has been taken! Congrats to Maryanne Lamar. I look forward to working with you and your beautiful children.

Let's keep this going (it's fun)! For the next 3 people to contact me via the contact page on the main site will receive a free 11x14 print with their paid session. :)

Update: All three have been taken. :)

The first cut is the deepest....or something.....

2009-03-27T11:49:00.005-05:00

So, my daughter had her first haircut the other day. Yes, she's 6.5 years old and never had a trim or anything. It was such a bitter sweet moment for me. She was excited. Giggled all the way to the salon. I about cried. We only cut about 3 inches off so it is still very very long (I LOVE really long hair on little girls - it photographs so well). But still, momma was sad. We went to Cookie Cutters in Springfield and it was wonderful. It's such a cute place just for kids.

Anyway, since I'm all about specials at the moment I thought I'd do a "My daughter had her first haircut" special (yes, I'm a bit of a dork, thank you very much). SOOOOOOOOOO.......for the first person only, you will get a complimentary weekday session ($75 value)! To enter, go to the main site (Click Here) and fill out the info on the Contact page. Make sure to include the "My daughter had her first haircut special" in the message some place.

Hurry, because this WILL go fast!

Ready....Set....Go!

:)

Winter be Gone!

2009-03-26T00:01:00.002-05:00

Have I ever told you that Spring is my favorite season? Well, it is. I just love the return of warm weather, the wildflowers in bloom and all the green that surrounds us after months of cold and grey. I basically hibernate during the winter so this time of year just makes me smile.

So for this glorious time of year, I am offering 25% off my retainer fee PLUS a complimentary 8x10 print! It's time to get those cute spring portraits done! This offer is valid until the end of April only. Pre-purchase your fall session now or schedule for Easter portraits today. To schedule, check out the Calendar tab on the main site (Click Here), choose your session date, then use the Contact page on the site to email me. Make sure to mention the "Winter be Gone Special" when inquiring.

Also, if you pre-purchase an Emily or Elizabeth Collection, your retainer fee is waived! Current rates and Collections are listed under the Info tab on page two.

Ahhh. The sweet smell of flowers, tutu's and monster trucks is in the air. :D

Hey 2010 High School Seniors!!

2009-03-05T00:51:00.005-06:00

Here's the deal:

Would you like to receive 24 wallets ($75 value) FREE? Would you like your session only to be $50, regardless if it's a weekday or weekend session? Book your session before April 1st and you got it (the session does not have to take place before April 1st).

Here's the scoop:

YOU decide when and where to have your session!
UNLIMITED clothing changes!
Friends and pets WELCOME!
Bring any props that you want!
Girls: Bring your prom dresses!
Guys: Bring your sports stuff!
Get portraits that are DIFFERENT than your friends!

You've waited your whole life for your senior year. Make sure your senior portraits reflect YOU!

Just an Update

2009-03-03T00:40:00.003-06:00

We found the owners for the beagle in my last post. Apparently, she is an escape artist and is quite known by the local police department. So, I guess I was harboring an escaped convict there for a while. Poops-a-lot dog and schizophrenic cat could not have been more thrilled to see her little tail wagging as they took her away. I'm just happy that she is back home with her family tonight. She was a cutie but a noisy little thing. It's one thing to have a child that talks in her sleep but totally different to have a dog that barks in hers. I can only imagine what she was dreaming about. Probably running away from the cops....again.

Oh, and her name was Bell, but she will always be Harpo to us. :D

Have you lost your doggie?

2009-02-28T14:18:00.004-06:00

The other day, when it was fabulously warm out, my daughter and I were playing outside when a cute little beagle decided to join us. She is a playful little thing. She had rabies tags as well as City of Nixa tags but we have been unable to track down her owners from the information on the tags (apparently, even if you register your dog they don't keep track of it, so what's the point, right?). Anyway, if you have lost a female beagle in Nixa let me know - Or if you want a female beagle (to either have or foster until the owner is found). Needless to say, we can not keep her (our other animals, poops-a-lot dog and schizophrenic cat, don't care for her too much, but I don't see why because she's very lovable). She was found in the southwest part of Nixa.

In the mean time, my daughter will continue to play "How much is that doggie in the window", which is totally funny because she will write dollar amounts on post it notes, come up to me and ask me how much the doggie in the window is and try to pass the post it note for real money. She's trying to bribe me into keeping her and has temporarily named her Harpo. If we kept her my other animals would have a stroke or have to go to critter prison for murder. I think they are plotting against her. Seriously. I've caught them in dark corners with their heads together like they are discussing ways to rid of "the other animal". I never realized that there was an critter mob in my home. But there ya go.

Here's a snapshot of the cutie.

For all the moms out there....

2009-02-26T00:01:00.001-06:00

Have you ever been there, enjoying a nice relaxing meal, and then something happens that freaks you out so bad that you jump and then you realize it was nothing out of the norm? Ah, you are not going crazy. You're not alone.....

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T15:30:00.002-06:00

I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day. I hope you are able to spend it with those you love. I hope you all receive lots of chocolate too. ;o)

Just a little side note: The flu has made an appearance here so as soon as everyone is back on their feet I will post more on the blog.

Psst! Hey Dads!

2009-02-06T00:01:00.001-06:00

This is top secret information that can earn you some serious brownie points from the boss (the wife) and the board of directors (the kids) .

Do you and the kids want to give mom something really special for Valentines day this year but you don't want to spend $100 for roses (which will die in a week and that $100 will be in the garbage)? Then I think this little craft is just want you need. My daughter made me some of these last year and I LOVE them. They were very cute and she was so proud of herself when she gave them too me! And all you need are a few items and a little quality time with your precious kids.

Click HERE - Foam Roses

Homemade gifts from your children are ALWAYS the best gift to receive! Pass it on.

For all the Reds.....

2009-02-05T00:01:00.001-06:00

I LOVE redheads. LOVE THEM! They are actually my favorite type of subject to photograph. I love redheads so much that I even have red hair (please don't ask me what my natural hair color is because I couldn't tell you - it's probably all grey now - sigh). There is just something about them. I love their spunk and their style. I was so honored last year when I was asked to include some of my redhead work into a VERY cute book all about redheads. The book has finally been published and I highly suggest it if you know one of these special kids.

Click here for the Little Redhead Book

If you get this book, see if you can spot the work of yours truly. :)

Camera Found - Could it be yours?

2009-02-04T00:01:00.001-06:00

Well, if you've been to The Basin in New Hampshire's Franconia Notch State Park then it could be.

This is an amazing story of someone trying to do the right thing. I know I would be devastated if I lost my camera, full of memories. So the fact that this man is trying to reunite camera and owner is just awesome to me. He was hiking in the park and saw the camera in a river. He pulled it out, took it home and was able to retrieve 269 files! Very cool story!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE.

Attention 2010 High School Seniors

2009-02-03T00:01:00.002-06:00

We have a new Model Program for 2010 High School Seniors. You can win many prizes, including ipods, laptop computers and even a college scholarship! For more information please visit the main website and click on the Seniors tab.

This program is HOT! Don't miss your chance to be part of it!

The contest is OVER!

2009-02-02T00:01:00.001-06:00

The Cute Kid Contest has come to an end. The winner will be contacted within the next couple days. I wanted to thank everyone that entered and everyone that voted. It was lots of fun! :o)

Congrats #4!

Time to VOTE!!!!

2009-01-26T00:01:00.002-06:00

It's time to start the voting process for the 2009 Cute Kid Contest!!!! Let me tell you, the judges had a HARD time deciding on the 10 finalists. EVERY kid entered was simply adorable but they had to choose. I am SO glad I didn't have to do it.

How to Vote:
Look at the 10 finalists below and choose your favorite then click on the corresponding number in the poll box.

Let's keep it fair and honest. ONLY ONE VOTE PER PERSON! If this rule is broken the child may be disqualified. Voting will be open for 1 week only.

And the Finalist are....

{CLICK HERE TO VIEW LARGER IMAGES}

The winner will receive a complimentary session, $100 print credit and a CD slideshow - valued at $325!

ALSO:

For the next week, anyone that schedules a regular session with us will receive a $50 print credit. To schedule a session email us at byerleyphotography(at)yahoo.com (change the (at) to @) or contact us directly via the contact page on the main site. Our available dates are listed on the Calendar on the site. http://www.vickibyerleyphotography.com/.

Note: I won't be posting to the blog until the voting is over. I know, you'll miss me. :)

The Judging has begun.

2009-01-25T00:01:00.002-06:00

Thanks to everyone that entered the 2009 Cute Kid Contest. The judges are reviewing all the entries. We will announce the finalists soon.

In the mean time, I wanted to share a little funny. One thing I love about our country is how we can make fun of the man in charge. Sure, sometimes I felt bad for President Bush on Letterman, but hey, if you say it then expect to be made fun of. lol So I wanted to share this. I think it's hilarious!

Enjoy! :o)

Time is UP!

2009-01-24T00:01:00.002-06:00

Well, time is up! We are no longer taking entries for the 2009 Cute Kid Contest. The panel of Judges will start to review all the entries today. Once they make their decision, the finalists will be contacted and the voting will begin here on the blog. Tell everyone you know to come vote! It's going to be fun! :)

This is the LAST day!

2009-01-23T00:01:00.000-06:00

Get those entries in before midnight tonight! You know you want to. You know your kid is the cutest in SWMO. Let's see them!

One more day!

2009-01-22T00:01:00.001-06:00

It's almost time! Entries for the 2009 Cute Kid Contest will be taken only for one more day. DON'T miss out on this one! Let's see those cute kids!!!!

To enter, read yesterdays post. :)

Only two more days!!!!

2009-01-21T00:01:00.004-06:00

Time is almost up to get your entries in for the 2009 Cute Kid Contest! We will only take entries through this Friday - January 23, 2009 at 11:59pm. We've had some wonderful entries so far.

If you haven't entered your child in the contest yet, here is what you need to do.

Email my assistant, Jess, at byerleyphotography(at)yahoo.com (replace the (at) with @ - I do this to reduce SPAM in my inbox) with the following information:

A current NON-professional snapshot of your child (your child must be between the ages of 0-12)
Your child's first name only
Age/DOB of child
Location where you live
Parent/Guardian Name

If you have more than one child you would like to enter please send separate pictures of each child. One picture per child is best.

Starting Saturday, a panel of judges (meaning someone other than me) will choose the finalists. Soon after we will contact the finalists, place their child's image here on the blog and open it up to a public vote. YOU get to choose the winner!

The winner will receive the following:

A complimentary session for the winning child
$100 print credit
CD Slideshow (CLICK HERE to view a sample slideshow - Hit RUN when prompted).

Total prize value is $325 - NO PURCHASE NECESSARY!!!! How awesome is that!

So get on the ball, folks! Get those entries in!!!!

Hey new moms! Check this out!

2009-01-20T00:01:00.001-06:00

These are just about the cutest diapers I've ever seen. Makes me want to have another baby just so I can use these. AND they're GREEN! Can't beat that!

Click here to see these Super Awesome Green Diapers

It's game time!

2009-01-19T00:01:00.002-06:00

No, I don't mean football (yuck)!

I found this awesome game and wanted to share it with everyone. What a great way to open those lines of communication while teaching your children important life lessons.

CLICK HERE for The Chatterbox Game

We could have used this when I was a kid. Not for me, of course. I was perfect. It would have helped my sister though. She's the crazy one. LOL (did you believe that?)

;o)

Amber Alerts on your cell phone

2009-01-18T00:01:00.003-06:00

I just wanted to post this because I feel it is very important and I hope everyone does it.

Please go to www.wirelessamberalerts.org and sign up for Amber Alerts to be sent directly to your cell phone. It's free to you and could mean the world to the families of abducted children. It will only take a moment of your time.

For more information on how the Amber Alert program came to be, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amber_Hagerman.

Please sign up for Amber Alerts for your cell phone NOW!!!!

1 more week....

2009-01-17T00:01:00.000-06:00

One more week left to get your entries in for the 2009 Cute Kid Contest! We have had some great entries so far (there are LOTS of cute kids out there). We will stop taking entries next week. Don't be left out because you could win a $325 prize!!!

Why I close in the winter....

2009-01-16T00:01:00.002-06:00

Well, that's because I'm a big baby. ;o)

Since I'm a natural light photographer, I mainly work outdoors, in the elements. So it's true, I'm a baby that really doesn't like the cold. More importantly however is that it sometimes gets way too cold for children to enjoy outdoor sessions, like today where windchill temps will be in the negative. It's not fun being out in temps like that. So when it starts to warm back up in the Spring, I will reopen for sessions. I know, a photography blog can get quite boring without images. To be honest, any image I take this time of year would be blurry because I would be shaking too much due to the cold and wouldn't be able to hold the camera still. So I'm really doing you all a favor. Really. lol

Now, it's time for me to go grab a warm blanket and sit by the fire. :o)

I thought this was rather amazing....

2009-01-15T00:01:00.002-06:00

I'm on this inspirational links kick lately. This link was shared with me and I wanted to share it with you all. It's truly amazing.

ARE YOU GOING TO FINISH STRONG?

Do you have an inspirational link? If so, email it to me at byerleyphotography(at)yahoo.com and I may share it here on the blog. :)

Need inspiration?

2009-01-14T00:01:00.000-06:00

Feeling down and need to be inspired?

CLICK HERE!

Come hang out with me!

2009-01-13T00:01:00.001-06:00

Do you have a MySpace or Facebook page? Well then, come hang out with me!

Facebook
MySpace

(Have I ever told you that I'm addicted to the internet? Well, I am - LOL!)

Pixels, Megapixels and Resolution, OH MY!

2009-01-12T00:01:00.003-06:00

It’s funny but every time I see the word Pixel I think of our cat (you can see him HERE). Yes, I have a cat named Pixel - lol. So for this entire post I’m sure I’ll be thinking of that little ball of fur and attitude.

If you have a digital camera, it’s a good idea to understand exactly what Pixels and Megapixels are. A pixel (PICture ELement) is the smallest part in a digital image. These are the small squares you see when you look at the image very closely. I always think of those little toys that are in the shape of pixels, like HERE. All those little squares blend together and end up making your final image. It takes 1 million (said in my best Dr Evil voice) pixels to make a megapixel. Therefore, if you have a 6 megapixel camera, that means the camera’s image sensor can pick up 6 million pieces of information. The higher megapixels your camera has, the more data that is stored in the file. The more data stored means more details in the image. This is really important to know if you want to enlarge your pictures beyond 4x6. With more megapixels, you will have more data and therefore will be able to enlarge the image more without losing detail.

With most cameras, you can choose how much data is stored with each image. It’s always best to choose the highest level, or resolution, the camera has. You want as much data as possible when you are editing your pictures on the computer or when you make an enlargement. Yes, the larger the file the fewer pictures you can get on a memory card. However, memory cards have drastically come down in price. You can get about 480 pictures, with a 4 megapixel camera, on a 512mb memory card. That’s A LOT of pictures and the memory card costs significantly less than the equivalent in film and developing. Plus the memory card is reusable. You can always reduce the resolution later but you can never increase it. So make sure you always shoot the picture with the highest resolution you can. A common misunderstanding when it comes to resolution is, the higher the resolution, the sharper the image. That is not always true. Sharpness depends on several different issues, including your lens, the lighting and how you manage the file.

To set the resolution on your camera, navigate your camera’s menu and find the”Resolution” or “Quality” option, choose the highest level possible and hit select (or OK depending on the camera). You usually can check the resolution by looking in the viewfinder. There should be some indication of the resolution.

Want to know how big a print you can get with your camera? Then it’s a good idea to follow the below recommendations.

2 megapixels = up to a 4 x 6 print
3 megapixels = up to a 5 x 7 print
6 megapixels = up to a 8 x 10 print
12 megapixels = up to a 11 x 14 print

Can you get larger prints than the above? Sure you can. It really depends on the picture and how you shot it. The above is just a general rule of thumb. So just get out there and have fun!

Photography Tip #1

2009-01-11T00:01:00.003-06:00

I know there are a lot of you out there that love to take pictures of your kids and families, myself included. I get asked often for a few simple tips that will help your pictures look better. So I thought I would start giving out basic tips for you to practice that will really make your pictures look their best!

Tip #1 - GET CLOSE

In my opinion, this is the most important rule of photography. By getting in close you can create an intimacy in your pictures that otherwise would be lost to a plethora of "stuff" that clutters the rest of the frame. Try taking a few steps closer to your subject and fill the frame only with them. You don't need all the other stuff, like the car or house, in the background. Be careful though, because you can get too close. It's always a good idea to read your camera's owners manual to see how close you can get to your subject and still have an in focus image. There is nothing worse than taking a picture that you just know will be awesome only to find out later that it's a blurry mess. If you can't find your owners manual, you can find one online by doing a simple Google search. Keep it simple and you will draw more attention to your subject.

How about an example? These two images were taken to illustrate my point. There is a huge difference here. In the closer version you get lost in her beautiful face whereas in the first one you get lost in everything else around her instead. Which one do you think looks better?

So the next time you are taking a picture of your loved ones remember to take a step or two closer to them. You will be glad you did!

Evil Eye

2009-01-10T00:58:00.004-06:00

I've seen this many times before but I still think it's funny! :o)

Oh gosh, you've just got to love kids!

Two more weeks to enter your Cute Kids!

2009-01-09T00:01:00.004-06:00

We will be taking entries for the 2009 Cute Kid Contest for 2 more weeks - Until Jan 23, 2009 at 11:59pm . To enter, all you need to do is send my office assistant, Jess, a recent snapshot of your child (ages 0-12), his/her first name only, age/DOB, city where you live, and parent/guardian name to byerleyphotography(at)yahoo.com.

Once all the entries are in, a panel of judges (meaning not me - which is very good considering I think ALL kids are cute) will choose the finalist. We will notify you if your child is one of the finalists. Then we will open the contest up to a PUBLIC VOTE - that means you and your friends and family can vote for the winner! It will all happen here on the blog.

The Grand Prize winner will receive the following:

A complimentary session for their child
$100 print credit
CD Slideshow (CLICK HERE to view a sample slideshow - Hit RUN when prompted).

Prize is valued at $325! No purchase required AND you get to have lots of fun with ME! ;o)

So make sure to get your entry in TODAY!

Digital Files

2009-01-08T04:44:00.006-06:00

Question: Do you sale digital files?
Answer: Absolutely!

I currently sale digital files as an add-on to either my Emily Collection or my Elizabeth Collection. I also have a digital collection (not an add-on to a collection). So if you are interested in purchasing files from your session let me know. There's sure to be something for you.

New Lead Law = Not so good

2009-01-07T04:44:00.001-06:00

I had a friend forward this to me yesterday and I wanted to share here. I'm all for reducing lead in children's items and all but this law is ridiculous! I know several small business owners that make things for children and if this law passes they will not be able to afford to stay in business. For instance, most of the links I posted yesterday, including the sellers on Etsy, will most likely have to go out of business because of this. This is NOT what our country needs at the moment.

Here is a link to another blog that explains it much better than I ever could. Once you've read it please take a moment and write to your Congressmen, sign the petition or do whatever you can to spread the word.

CLICK HERE to read more on this topic.

More info HERE.

Sign the petition HERE!

What are your thoughts on this new law?

What not to wear

2009-01-06T03:41:00.002-06:00

Anyone that’s had a session with me knows that I give them suggestions on what to wear. What you wear, or your child wears, to your session greatly affects the outcome of the final image. So I thought I would go one step further and give you links on where to get great clothing for your child’s upcoming session.

The main thing to keep in mind is to keep things simple. You do not want the clothing to be so busy that it distracts from your child’s face. Solid dark colors always work best. You should also consider the location you choose when deciding on clothing. A more classic look goes well if your session is being held at an area park, however, if you choose a more urban location, a more stylish or hip look works great.

Great places to shop:

www.jellybeansinc.com
www.childrensplace.com
www.limitedtoo.com
www.matildajanegirls.com
www.oldnavy.com
www.macys.com
www.sophiasstyle.com
www.spoonfulofsugar.com
www.hannaandersson.com
www.trendytogs.com
www.bestdressedchild.com
www.lainaline.com
www.cutelittleclothes.com
www.bercotchildrenswear.com
www.adorableschildren.com
www.barefootbella.net

You can also find adorable clothing on www.etsy.com.

Do you know how hard it is for me to list all these links without doing some shopping of my own? It's HARD! So even if you don't go shopping you can always get great ideas on how to dress your child for your upcoming sessions!

Grrrr....

2009-01-05T06:54:00.001-06:00

I photograph Tigers too. ;o)

Love this

2009-01-04T16:59:00.002-06:00

Okay, this is soooooo not photography related. I did hear about this from another photographer though, so does that count? Either way, I just HAD TO SHARE!!!

CHECK OUT THESE AWESOME CALENDARS HERE!

I don't know about you but I would go through the entire calendar in like 3 minutes. Don't even get me started on what my 6 year old daughter would do to one of these. That girl has a bubble addiction. Oh, maybe I should get one and tease her with it or something. Or better yet, "Pick up your toys and you get to pop a bubble". Yeah, I'm so doing that.

Why I'm hooked

2009-01-03T01:19:00.001-06:00

I get asked often "Why do you love photography so much". It's true. I love everything to do with photography. For me, it's one of those things that you have to do or you will die. Okay, maybe I won't actually die if I didn't do this but I would be pretty grumpy and hard to live with. Yes, more grumpy than I already am. Trust me on that one. Not only is it a great stress reliever for me but photography has allowed me to capture some seriously cool blackmail material for when my daughter starts dating. Oh is she ever going to hate me. Bwahahahahaha <--that's my evil laugh, in case you didn't know.

Could you imagine having NO photos of your family. Especially your loved ones that are gone? WOW! The power photography has over our lives is amazing. Photographs allow us to remember. It freezes time, it allows our children to be little forever. It's all in that one little photo. I remember when I was a little girl, my mom had this big wooden box of all of our old family photos. You know the ones....the black and white ones when your parents were children taking a cross country trip and they are sitting in front of the Grand Canyon but the person taking the photo chopped their head off so all you had was the image of a decapitated person with part of a national monument in the background. Yeah, those. We had a BOX full. Sometimes, I would pull out that box early in the morning when no one else was awake (yeah, I'm so not a morning person anymore) while in my smurf jammies (showing my age there, eh?) and lose myself in the past. I could spend hours on end looking at all the faces I didn't recognize. It simply amazed me. I was able to see where I came from. And let me tell you, there were some pretty scary looking individuals in those photos, which explains A LOT. But still, I loved looking at them. From that moment I *knew* photography was special. I didn't understand it at all back then. But I loved it. Then one day, my sister, Carolyn (Hi Carolyn!) and I found my moms Vivitar 110 camera and we snuck into our neighbors back yard. He had this huge cherry tree and we climbed all over it's mangled and gnarly branches and took photos of each other posing like we were supermodels (America's Next Top Model had NOTHING on us). From that moment on, I was completely and irreversibly hooked. We had sooo much fun. The photos were, of course, horrid, but by gosh we thought they rocked! So at that point, I loved photography, but was clueless. It wasn't until High School when I was in Mrs Wiggin's journalism class that I started to understand it more. I thought I was soooooo cool carrying that fancy smancy film SLR camera out onto the tennis courts taking "action shots" of the players in mid air. Still, those photos were horrid. But it sparked my passion for learning. And I've been learning ever since.

Even now, every image I take, portrait or otherwise, brings me back to that little girl in her smurf jammies sitting on her bed looking at old photos. It's become a bit of a spiritual thing for me. I *LOVE* capturing emotion in the everyday. And yes, I *LOVE* making my clients cry (insert that evil laugh again here). I love being able to actually see a child's soul in an image. THAT is the good stuff. That is what I strive for. That is what I love about photography.

Resolutions

2009-01-02T22:40:00.003-06:00

Okay, I'm not one to make New Year Resolutions. I mean, how many people actually keep their resolutions more than, what, 2 weeks? Not many. So I have always said my New Years Resolution was not to make any. It's worked well for me, actually. But here I am, on the second day of 2009 making a resolution to blog more. I *hope* to make it past that 2 week mark (ACK PRESSURE!). So I thought I would blog a bit about various photography topics. I'll try not to babble too much but goodness knows babbling is something I do best (just ask my friends - I've even passed that trait to my daughter). Hang in with me here, I'm trying. :o) So stay tuned for the first post in Vicki's attempt to be a better blogger.

Scary, isn't it?

Happy New Year!!!

2009-01-01T10:49:00.001-06:00

Just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! I hope 2009 brings you much happiness and joy!

I also wanted to thank everyone that has entered the 2009 Cute Kid Contest so far. We've had over 500 entries already! Keep them coming!!! You all have some seriously cute kids, I hope you know that. We will continue to take entries for a couple more weeks, so get those photos in!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

2009 Cute Kid Contest

2008-12-11T06:49:00.007-06:00

Do you have the cutest kid in SWMO? Well, we’d love to see them!

{Announcing Vicki Byerley Photography’s 2009 Cute Kid Contest}

Open for both girls and boys ages 0-12 years. Grand Prize Winner will receive a complimentary session, $100 print credit and a CD Slideshow (CLICK HERE to view a sample slideshow - Hit RUN when prompted). Prize is valued at $325. To enter please email Jess at byerleyphotography(at)yahoo.com with a current photo of your child, child's first name, their age/DOB, location (where you live), parent/guardian name. Entries will be taken for a few weeks. We will contact you if your child is chosen as a finalist. Voting for the winner will be public on our blog.

Have a safe and wonderful Holiday Season!

~Jess

Murl Returns

2008-12-05T21:29:00.004-06:00

Some of you may remember Murl from these posts: HERE, HERE and HERE. I love photographing her. She's a little spitfire! She's almost 94 years young now and full of attitude. Now, I'm not sure I want to live that long but if I do I hope to have half as much attitude as Murl does. Gotta love her! I can't wait to photograph her when she turns 100!

Please note: We will be out of the office after 12/12/08 in order to spend this time of year with our families. If you need to inquire about your order status or need anything else please email us at byerleyphotography(at)yahoo.com or use the Contact page on the main website (email is the best way to contact us this time of year). Orders take 4-6 weeks for delivery. Deliveries will be made as soon as they are in. Thanks for your cooperation. Have a wonderful Holiday Season!

Out of the Office....

2008-11-26T16:29:00.000-06:00

Please Note: We will be out of the office during the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend. We will return on Tuesday December 2 , 2008. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Triplets!!!!

2008-11-06T20:15:00.001-06:00

There is just something special about triplets. And these three are just about as cute as they come. You can tell they have that special bond and that just melts my heart.

My new lil buddy....

2008-11-05T21:46:00.001-06:00

This little guy was a LOAD of fun! What the little explorer. He was just a little ham and you all know how much I LOVE that! He renamed me Mickey too. How cute is that! Here’s little K.

Catching up....

2008-11-04T07:47:00.001-06:00

Yes, I know. I am way behind on posting recent sessions here on the blog. Bad, bad me. There has been so much going on here behind the scenes that I think I may be going crazy (and you thought I already did that). But I vow to update the blog a bit over the next few days. I also vow to add new images to the main website soon. CRAZINESS! So here is the first set. This little beauty was only a few days old and she was just a DOLL!!!! Gosh, it makes me want another baby. But no, no, no, can’t do that! I will just have to enjoy the sweet smell of the newborns I photograph instead. That will hold me over, I’m sure....I hope....

Welcome to the world, little L.

Mini Sessions for Cards

2008-11-01T16:35:00.002-05:00

Mini Sessions are now available for Christmas Cards. The date for these sessions is Nov 15th. We have a wide array of BEAUTIFUL cards available this year. Mini sessions are 20 minutes long and are only $25. Book your mini session early to get the best time. Times fill up quickly and are available on a first come first serve basis. Our deadline to have cards and prints back by Christmas is Nov 20. Anything ordered after Nov 20 will be delivered after Christmas. Email us at byerleyphotography(at)yahoo.com or contact us via the contact page on the main website.

New Hours

2008-10-01T16:44:00.001-05:00

As of today, October 1st, 2008 our new office hours are from 10am – 4pm Tuesday – Friday. Saturday by appointment only. Session times will still vary depending on the season. Please email us if you wish to schedule a session or if you have any questions. Thanks!

I've got her number! {snickers}

2008-09-19T08:44:00.001-05:00

Every now and then I photograph a child that thinks they will fool me. Make me think that they are shy.....

Or maybe even a bit stubborn and refuse to look at me....

But oh no, that doesn't work on me. I wasn't born yesterday, after all (although some may disagree with me there). I always win in the end. I'm sneaky that way....

They always end up looking. They just can't help it.

Happy birthday little S. I hope you have a FABULOUS DAY!

Sneak Peek for the M Family...

2008-09-16T22:30:00.004-05:00

What a cute family this is! The little guy had the cutest smile and the little girl had the cutest red hair. She would sit there and twirl it in her fingers. TOO SWEET! I just love little things like that.

Mom and dad, enjoy your sneak peek. Your gallery will be ready soon!

Sneak Peek

2008-09-11T20:50:00.005-05:00

This is Natalie. She is a senior this year at Pleasant Hope. This girl has the most amazing eyes I have ever seen. She is simply beautiful. All I know is that senior girls did NOT look like this when I was in school back in the early 90s. If I've said it once, I've said it a million times, but my clients just happen to be the best looking people on the planet. Natalie is living proof of that!

Enjoy your sneak peek Natalie! Your gallery will be ready soon. :)

PLEASE NOTE: I will be out of the office on Friday September 12. I will return all voicemails and emails upon my return on Monday. Thanks!!!! :)

Getting Better Photos

2008-09-03T22:56:00.006-05:00

I have been teaching an online photography course for a while now. However, it hasn't been available to anyone local to me and recently I've receive several emails about coming up with something for local people on learning to take better photos of their kids and family. So I have done just that. I've created it so anyone can take it. Unlike with my other program, where you have to have a SLR camera, with this program ANY camera will work. We will focus on the basics and work from there.

Here is a basic breakdown of what we will cover:

Composition
Getting Close
Where to place your subjects in the frame
Focus on the eyes
Your level
Keep shooting
Cropping
Perspective
Room to Look
Frame in a frame
Natural light
The Golden Hours & lighting
Light the eyes
Flash
Clothing
Groups
Phrases
Un-posing
Negative Space
Leading Lines
and more

With this program you can take as long as you need to work through the lessons. Also included are several practicing assignments. You do not need to have a fancy camera. There are absolutely no limitations on this, like with my other program. ANYONE can do this and it won't cost you an arm and a leg too! You could even do it for FREE! Email me at byerleyphotography @ yahoo.com (remove spaces) or contact me via the contact form on my site for more information. :)

Skater dudes...

2008-08-30T21:48:00.003-05:00

I had the honor of photographing this family recently and they were a lot of fun. I swear we will see these kids someday in the X games. They LOVED anything to do with skateboarding. It was so cute! Meet little C and X!

So, I'm a slacker. I know...

2008-07-30T16:44:00.002-05:00

I know I have been slacking on the blog lately. There have been many things going on behind the scenes and I've taken some time off from working as well. So, I thought I would post a few images of a beauty I photographed recently. This is Lillian and she was a joy to photograph. I have several more of her that I will be adding to a new project I will be starting soon.

Silhouettes, Silhouettes and more Silhouettes

2008-06-17T00:01:00.000-05:00

Have I ever said that I love Silhouettes? Well, I do. I LOVE them!! I love taking them. I love looking at them. I just LOVE them!! Did I say I love them? Because I do. :o)

Sleeping naked in the park...

2008-06-15T23:08:00.002-05:00

That title got your attention, didn't it? LOL

This is one of my favorite recent images. It was taken last week during the first Foundations get together. I {heart} it. Oh the joy of being a baby without a care in the world. This is little R and his beautiful momma.

The Foundations get together was a HUGE success. We had a BLAST! Photographers from my online program traveled from all over the country to hang out with me for the weekend. It was so much fun that I plan on making this a yearly thing. I will be sharing more images from the weekend over the next few days. For more info on the Foundations Program click HERE.

Sneak Peek

2008-06-13T03:39:00.004-05:00

Every year I donate to the St Jude Dream Home Giveaway here in Springfield. I donate a photography package valued at $1000 and the winner is chosen on live TV during the giveaway. This is little C and J. They are the grandchildren of last years winners. Are they not just the cutest!?! For more information about the St Jude Dream Home Giveaway check out the St Jude site HERE. This years Dream Home will be given away later this month. It's really worth the time to check it out and enter. The 4,700 square foot, 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom, finished basement house is valued at $380,000!!!! It's for a WONDERFUL cause and you could win awesome prizes!

http://www.stjude.org/dhspringfield

Saying Goodbye to a good ole friend

2008-06-12T13:31:00.002-05:00

I normally don't post personal things on here but I just wanted to post quickly about this. When I got married back in 1997 (yes, I'm showing my age a bit) my husband and I received a wonderful wedding gift, a Golden Retriever puppy. Everyone knows that I am a HUGE dog lover so I was thrilled with the gift. We had another dog at the time named Bandit, and being married to a goofy guy, he had to name him Smokey, as in Smokey and the Bandit. Yes, we had a red dog named Smokey - lol. I spent tons of time training him. I trained him to be a therapy dog where I could take him into hospitals and nursing homes for animal therapy for the patients. He loved going into places so complete strangers could love on him. He was just a great dog. As loyal as they come. Well, we had to put him down yesterday because he had brain cancer. It has been really hard on my daughter (she's 5). They were the best of friends and did everything together. So she is taking it hard. We miss our furry friend. Luckily though, he was on medication the last week of his life and it allowed us to cherish those last moments with him. Every night we would take a walk and let him sniff out whatever he pleased. We fed him foods he normally wasn't allowed to have (like popsicles and pizza - lol). He was happy. On one of our nightly walks I decided to bring my camera along and I managed to capture this of Smokey and my daughter. She is kissing his nose here and he was loving every moment of it. I am so glad I have this one last image of our dear friend. And yes, this one will become a HUGE canvas print for my wall.

So, this is in memory and in honor of Smokey. My baby. We miss you, boy.

July 26, 1997 - June 11, 2008

FYI

2008-06-05T06:22:00.000-05:00

Over the next few days I will be in and out of the office a lot. Several people from my Foundations program will be in town for a sort of workshop/meet-up. Therefore I may be slower to respond to emails and voicemails. I will return your calls and emails as quickly as I can though. Everything should return to normal by Monday. Have a great weekend! Thanks! :o)

Out of the office

2008-05-20T16:44:00.002-05:00

I will be out of the office until the afternoon on May 29th. All emails and voice mails will be returned when I get back in town. Have a WONDERFUL Memorial Day weekend! :o)

I've been TAGGED!!!

2008-05-05T02:30:00.004-05:00

So, my dear friend and partner in crime, Renea Lynch from Look at Me Photography in Trenton, Mo tagged me on her blog. That means I have to answer a set of questions (or she will beat me. She's really mean. lol)

The rules are:

1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answer the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

What I was doing 10 years ago: I was newly married and in Paramedic school. I was also working for St John's EMS. Yes, I used to work on an ambulance. With blood, and gore and all the cool gross stuff that goes with it. Gosh, that has been a looooong time ago.

Five things on my To Do List today:

Proof a session
Place a couple orders
Go to the post office...again
Return a few calls
Girl Scout Meeting for my daughter

Snacks I enjoy: Carmel, Chocolate, Beef Jerky, Cashews, Salty chips

Things I would do if I were a billionaire: I would buy my mom her dream home. Well, it would be more like a house with a HUGE flower garden. She's crazy about flowers. I would also pay off all my debt and purchase my dream: a natural light studio which would consist of indoor and outdoor areas for portraits. A girl can dream, right?

Three of my bad habits: Procrastinating, working too much, not sleeping.

Five places I have lived: Springfield, Springfield, Nixa, Nixa and Nixa. I haven't moved around much.

Five jobs I’ve had: Photographer, Associate Underwriter for American National (Anpac), EMT for St John's EMS, Receptionist for a Marketing firm that is no longer in business, Receiving Clerk for Bass Pro (that wasn't a fun job, but I was a teen. I didn't like anything back then). I've done all sorts of things.

People I want to know more about (a nice way of saying TAG!):

Bethany Farrell-Menchaca
Tara Staton
Carole Farmen
Stephanie LeBouff
Jenny Thrasher

Cute as a button

2008-05-01T05:24:00.000-05:00

This little girl was a hoot! She really didn't want much to do with me - lol. She only wanted to explore her surroundings. Which is perfectly fine. She is as cute as they come and soooo tiny. But she makes up for it with all her personality! :o)

Three Cute Kids....and a Horse....of course

2008-04-08T09:55:00.000-05:00

These three kids are a blast to photograph. I was lucky enough for the session to be located at a stunning location as well. So it made for a wonderful session. The little guy is just so stinking cute and pulling himself up on things now. You can see the pride and joy in his face due to his mighty accomplishment in the first image here. TOO CUTE! The little girl is a doll and wants to be a model someday and the little boy is just so cute and a ball of fun! :) There were many horses there that day so I had to include them, of course!

I just LOVE how the horse is looking down at his admirer here. {swoon}

Out of the office...

2008-04-02T14:11:00.000-05:00

I will be out of the office from 2:00pm Wed 4/2/08 until noon Friday 4/4/08. All emails and voicemails will be returned on Friday afternoon once I return. Thanks! :)

Back to work and a Sneak Peek!

2008-03-29T06:44:00.000-05:00

I am officially back to work now. I really enjoyed my time off but I am so glad to be back in the swing of things. All available session dates will be posted on the main website now instead of here on the blog. So make sure to check the site often if you are interested in a session. www.vickibyerleyphotography.com :)

To start things off, here is a little sneak peak. This is little L. And he is ALL BOY! I love photographing boys because they are sooo different than girls. They love to get down and dirty and there just isn't anything better than that! We had a lot of fun but we were rained out in the end.

A Plea for Help....

2008-03-06T16:07:00.000-06:00

Imagine having a beautiful child.
Imagine finding out your beautiful child won’t survive past two years old.
Imagine having ONE wish for your child.
Imagine everyone banding together to make the wish a reality.

This is the story of Lilie’s family, and this is me (and hopefully all of you), committing myself to find a way to make this happen! Lilie is terminally ill. She has been diagnosed with GM1 Gangliosidosis. It is a rare, incurable lysosomal storage disease (enzyme deficiency) that will ultimately take her life by what research shows. . . by the age of two. She will continue to degenerate, go blind, have seizures, and eventually lose all ability to move and succumb to this disease. She is all but blind and her mom (Jen) is spending her last days enjoying what life is left in her daughter.

All Jen wants to do is take her daughter to the Ocean before she dies and Make a Wish will not grant them the wish because she is under two and they believe that Lilie will not get any benefit from it that it would only benefit the FAMILY… Jen is devastated.

Visit their Caring Bridge page here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lilieclark

This family is a dear friend of a good friend of mine. I’m asking for your help. Myself (along with a couple photographer friends of mine) would love to be able to get them to Florida. If we can get them to Florida (there are 6 in their family), they can stay with family…but with tons of medical expenses, right now it just isn’t possible.

So I’m asking for your guys’ help….anything that you could donate to this fabulous cause….$5, $20, $500…I get approximately 500 visits to my blog daily, if each person donated just $10, we could have $5000 in just one day…that would be A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!! Put yourself in their shoes, imagine having one last wish for your child.

A Paypal account has been set up for the donations. If you are willing to help out, please go to Paypal and send funds to the following address sulrich@neb.rr.com.

New site is LIVE!

2008-02-17T06:44:00.000-06:00

The new website is finally live!!!!

The look is completely different from the old site. Come check it out and let me know what you think. If you contact me via the Contact page from now until the first day of spring (March 20) then your name will be added into a drawing for a complimentary session (valued at $75)! How cool is that!

Please note: You may need to clear your cache if you cannot view the new site. To clear your cache all you need to do is click on the Tools button at the top of your screen then choose Internet Options. Then delete your cookies, temp internet files, etc. :)

New Website in the Works

2008-02-04T01:27:00.000-06:00

Yes, you heard me right. It's been a loooong time coming but I finally have the chance to update my website. It's going to be AWESOME! I will continue to have an HTML site for anyone on dial up but the main feature will be a flash site. What is a flash site, ya say? Well it is an ultra cool way to view my work. LOTS of updated features for your viewing pleasure. ;o)

I have really enjoyed my time off and it's about over. I have spent a lot of time with my little girl and even managed to get new images of her to boot. So I am happy, relaxed, and ready to get back to work. I will be taking new sessions soon. I will add my available dates to the site real soon! So keep checking! I plan to have more dates available this year during the afternoon as well. This will be Monday-Friday mid-afternoon only but I will continue to have the popular evening and weekend sessions. Be sure to check out my updated 2008 pricing/retainer fees on the main site.

And since I like to post images every time I post new info I thought I would share a couple of these fun girls. They were both a BLAST! Lots of laughter going on.

I hope everyone is having a wonderfully blessed 2008 so far!

And the winner is....

2008-01-09T02:07:00.000-06:00

#4! CONGRATULATIONS!

I do want to add that this little cutie (little A) is one of my favorites to photograph! She was such a BLAST and I hope to get to photographer her again soon! You can see more of her in my newly updated gallery on the main website.

Little A's mommy, email me at byerleyphotography@earthlink.net to get your prize!!!!

Fav of 2007

2007-12-30T23:48:00.000-06:00

Can you believe it?!?! 2007 is coming to a close. It has been a fabulous year here and I am so thankful for everything 2007 has given me. Although the year has been wonderful I am ready for it to be over. I am excited about what 2008 has in store. I'm positive that 2008 will be even BETTER!

I've said this many times before but I think my clients have the most beautiful children EVER! It's a photographers dream to be so lucky to photograph all these amazing children. So on that note I thought I would run a little photo contest. A panel of judges hand picked the 5 children for the contest and I am happy with their decision. Now, it's up to you all to vote on your Fav of 2007. The winner will receive a complimentary 8x10 of the winning image. Now onto the voting...

Fav of 2007 Photo Contest

Please Vote only once.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Sneak Peak!

2007-12-01T22:08:00.000-06:00

These girls were a blast to work with! They definitely remind me of my friends and I back in high school. I forgot how much fun we use to have doing absolutely nothing and laughing until it hurt for no apparent reason. Those were some of the best times of my life.

It was a bit chilly out the day we did these but the girls were troopers. But then again, I think all the laughing kept them warm. ;)

Available dates for November

2007-11-01T22:17:00.000-05:00

Here are my available dates for November.

November 1st - Booked
November 2nd - Booked
November 3rd - Booked
November 5th - Booked
November 7th - Booked
November 8th - Booked
November 10th - Booked
November 12th - Booked
November 13th - Booked
November 14th - Booked
November 15th - Booked
November 18th - Booked
November 21st - Booked
November 26th - Booked
November 27th - Booked
November 28th - Booked
November 29th - Booked
November 30th - Booked

And for December. These dates are filling up FAST! So make sure you schedule today.

Dec 1st - Booked
Dec 3rd - Booked
Dec 4th - Booked
Dec 6th - Booked
Dec 8th - Booked
Dec 10th - Booked
Dec 12th- Booked
Dec 14th - Booked
Dec 15th - Booked
Dec 20th - Booked
Dec 21st - Booked

Vicki Byerley Photography will not be scheduling sessions from Dec 22nd until late February or early March. This is mainly because I work outside and it's just a bit too cold for children (and parents as well) to enjoy themselves while we are working together. Check back soon and I will have my new dates available for next year.

Sneak Peak!

2007-10-13T02:16:00.000-05:00

CUTE! CUTE! CUTE! These two kids were simply ADORABLE! We had a great time wondering around exploring the park. There is just something about a little boy missing is front teeth and a little girl that sings Old McDonald. SO much fun!!!!

On the first one, they were chicken hunting. ;o)

Christmas is in the air - ALREADY!?!?!

2007-10-06T02:27:00.000-05:00

Yep, you heard correctly. Christmas is fast approaching. Normally I'm not the type that does "Christmas in October" but when it comes to your portraits and Christmas Cards it's something you should think about. This year I am offering BEAUTIFUL cards! You really don't want to miss out on them.

The deadline to order cards is November 20th. This is so you can get them back in time to get in the mail. Your friends and family are going to LOVE these cards!

So you need to book your session soon! You can also use images from a past session if you wish. Just shoot me an email at byerleyphotography@earthlink.net and let me know.

Here is a little teaser...

Aren't they all GORGEOUS!!!!

Return of The E!

2007-10-04T18:44:00.000-05:00

I had the chance to photograph this little one again and of course I jumped on the opportunity! So we walked and walked and walked and walked. Then we walked some more. She was definitely tired of me by the time we were done. But that's okay. I got my fill and I am happy now. :o)

Available dates for October & November

2007-10-01T06:27:00.000-05:00

Can you all believe it? It's already OCTOBER! This year has just FLOWN by.

Here are my available dates for October.

October 1st - Booked
October 2nd - Booked
October 3rd - Booked
October 4th - Booked
October 5th - Booked
October 7th - Booked
October 8th - Booked
October 9th - Booked
October 10th - Booked
October 11th - Booked
October 12th - Booked
October 15th - Booked
October 16th - Booked
October 17th - Booked
October 18th - Booked
October 19-21st - Booked for Workshop
October 22 - Booked
October 23rd - Booked
October 24th - Booked
October 27th - Booked
October 28th - Booked
October 29th - Booked

November: I only have a couple dates available for November so far. I plan to add more as time goes by.

November 1st - Booked
November 2nd - Booked
November 3rd - Booked
November 5th - Booked
November 7th - Booked
November 8th - Booked
November 10th - Booked
November 12th - Booked
November 13th
November 14th - Booked
November 15th - Booked
November 18th - Booked
November 21st
November 26th
November 27th
November 28th - Booked
November 29th - Booked
November 30th

New family member

2007-09-22T02:20:00.001-05:00

I finally broke down and got a little kitty for my daughter. I've been holding off for the longest time. But when I saw this little guy I JUST HAD TO HAVE HIM! Isn't he just the cutest darn thing you've ever seen? He is 11 weeks old now and we named him Pixel (very fitting for a photographer, eh). So far he has been a great addition. He adores my little girl and she adores him. They already have that special bond. And that melts my heart!

Anyway, meet Pixel.

Oh, and by the way, I am TOILET TRAINING this little guy! How funny is that! lol

Cute Kids Galore!

2007-09-21T02:50:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I have been slacking a little bit with the blog. I know! I know! Bad me! But I have been so busy lately I can't even think straight! That's a good thing! :o)

Oh the upside to not being around here much is that I've had the opportunity to meet some amazing people and GORGEOUS kids! If I've said it once, I've said it a million times; My clients have the best looking kids in the world! I am so lucky!

For example, these three cuties. They were all so much fun!