From Behind The Camera

Referrals

2012-01-23T13:46:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday!

Today I'd like to describe our new referral program. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising and we've decided our clients deserve credit for their wonderful referrals. In January 2012 we implemented our Referral Program. It's very simple and very beneficial. For every new client our current clients refer the current clients will receive a $10 credit to be used toward a regular priced session. The more referrals the more money clients will save! There is one stipulation... credits must be used before the start of the new year. We hope our clients find this as fun and exciting as we do and can't wait to start putting it to use.

What a Ride

2012-01-20T14:50:00.000-06:00

I've said it before and I'm saying it again... I stink at blogging. I make mental notes, I write sticky notes, I change the blog's appearance but for some reason I cannot remember to actually write something. Fingers crossed, I will remember to do this on a regular basis. Part of the reason for my return to blogging is to update everyone on the changes we're making or have made for 2012.

Sessions: All of our session pricing has changed a smidge. The new prices were posted on our website at the beginning of the year and can be found under the pricing tab. When we changed the pricing we also decided to stipulate how many edited images will be on the CD. These numbers were based on what clients currently receive and to save on confusion we decided to make these numbers known ahead of time. Sessions will now have an hour of coverage (unless otherwise noted), this will give us more freedom to travel. In 2011 we had a lot of clients choose locations because we were already there but we want clients to choose a location because they like it not because they feel like they have to. The last change we made to sessions is our turn-around time. Last fall was crazy! (and we love it that way) but our editing time was longer than most clients are used to. Our standard editing time will now be 3-4 weeks. These changes aren't major changes just little ones to help us run things a little smoother.

Weddings: We did tweak our wedding prices. We tried something new in 2011 and it worked but not as much as we thought it would. We still don't offer "packages" but we have things grouped a little better than we did last year. Options can still be added giving clients the ability to customize their wedding day... they just get a little more from the start. We have also stipulated a minimum number of edited wedding images. Last year a lot of couples asked for a "number" and we thought this was the best answer. Our turn-around time for weddings has also been tweaked. The standard editing time will now be 6-9 weeks. We feel this is still a very reasonable waiting period but wanted to make it known.

Studio: Here is the part I dread the most. We will be without a studio after February 29th. Our current landlord found a new tenant for our space (we have a month to month lease). We were supposed to be out December 8th but have been given a few extensions. Our extensions have run out and we can't find a new location. Commercial space that is reasonably priced is hard to find. I also don't like the idea of committing to one location for 3 years. So for now we're doing everything on-location. The best part about this entire ordeal is that our lease in Chillicothe should get us through the bulk of winter. Everyone knows outdoor pictures are more fun that studio pictures so it wouldn't get used much between April and November. We will continue to look for our next studio but will be in limbo until that happens. While we're without a studio we're offering to do sessions inside client's or a relative's home if outside is not an option. We ask that everyone please have patience through this process. If you see or hear of a space you think might work for us please feel free to share it! =)

Florida Wedding!

2011-09-07T19:32:00.000-05:00

It's finally here! Our destination wedding in Florida! We fly down tomorrow night and will return on Sunday (I know we're a little spooked flying on September 11th). We've traveled for several weddings but nothing in Florida and we're super duper excited! You bet your buttons I'll be posting a sneak peek of this one!

Congratulations Sarah & Jason we're ready for your big day!

Jumped The Gun

2011-08-11T11:56:00.000-05:00

Once again I admit I am terrible when it comes to blogging.

I just realized I hadn't posted an update concerning our "move". We ARE NOT moving to downtown Peoria. The space we found was great but it wasn't exactly what I wanted, therefore I'd still be looking for the "perfect" location. On top of that our current landlord made us an offer we couldn't turn it down. So... for now we are staying in Chillicothe at 322 W Ash St. We're going to spruce things up inside and outside since we'll be spending at least another year there. The changes should be under way at the beginning of November.

After it's all said and done it works out perfectly for us considering our house hasn't sold and we're still living out past Tanners Orchard. We will be in downtown Peoria someday just not any time soon.

It's good to have goals right?! =)

We're Moving!! (again)

2011-07-24T18:11:00.000-05:00

We're excited to share that we're on the move again! After August 31st we will no longer be located in Chillicothe. While I'm not prepared to share our new address just yet I will say that it's located in downtown Peoria. There are a few loose ends to tie up before things are "official" but we wanted to post a quick heads up for those who have a session scheduled after August and those who plan to schedule after August.

We're super pumped and will keep everyone updates as we have more information to share!

Fall Openings

2011-07-12T09:28:00.000-05:00

We've got great news! We've decided to open up some of our Sundays in anticipation of a busy fall schedule. Fall is extremely popular this year for weddings and we don't have a free Saturday until the second weekend in November. That being said... we now have two available Sundays in August, two available Sundays in September and three available Sundays in October. I'm sure these will go fast.

We will schedule no more than four sessions per Sunday, with the following available times... 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm or 6pm. Locations and times will be limited and based on the previously scheduled sessions. If you have any questions or if you'd like to book a session please contact us!

Summer Updates

2011-07-06T09:04:00.001-05:00

With our summer schedule filling up quickly we decided we needed to change a few things to make our summer go a little smoother.

The first being our use of facebook. Don't worry, we're not deleting our page... we love facebook! However, we are now asking that clients contact us via email or by phone to schedule a session or inquire about pricing. We realize facebook is extremely convenient but it's also faulty and unreliable.

please email us at crphotographydesign@wildblue.net

or call us at 309.493.7200

The second change we're making is with our scheduling. One session will be scheduled per day Monday through Friday at 10am, 2pm or 6pm. This will remain in effect until the middle of August. On Saturdays we will schedule no more than four sessions per day with the following available times 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm or 6pm. We are no longer scheduling sessions on Sundays. Unfortunately, this means we are booking more than a month in advance. If you're interested in our available days please view the calendar on our website. www.crphotographydesign.com

Our third change is thanks to our lovely Illinois weather. We've spent a lot of time in the rain this spring and summer and trust me... it's not fun for anyone. Starting today, if there is more than a 50% chance of rain or more expected/predicted for the day of a session it will either

A. need to be rescheduled to another day (if the client wishes to do outdoor pictures)
or
B. moved to the studio (not available for groups or families of more than five people).

The final change we are making is with our editing time frame. With our schedule as busy as it is and wedding season in full swing the expected turn around time for a session is now three to four weeks and the expected turn around time for a wedding is now six to eight weeks. As much as I hate to say it... I'm not superwoman. If you have any questions regarding your photos and when they may be finished and delivered please email or call us.

Catching Up!

2011-06-18T17:53:00.001-05:00

I realize I haven't posted much of anything over the past year and I wonder.... how do people find the time?! If I'm not taking pictures, I'm editing them and when I'm not doing either of those I'm being a wife, mom, and housekeeper. There aren't enough hours in the day and days in the week.

Okay enough of the pitty party... the reason for my post is because I am promising to post more often. I have a giant sticky note on my computer screen that says

"BLOG TODAY!"

(we'll see how long it works).

I have been doing most of my "sneak peeks" on our facebook page which is great because people get to see a glimpse of their pictures but I think I've outgrown the facebook scene. I find myself on it all day long doing nothing but being nosey or watching our fan base grown or shrink (which stresses me out!). My goal is to post a sneak peek for our weddings on our blog instead of facebook. I want to be able to describe our couples, their locations, their weddings, etc and facebook doesn't allow me that option. Eventually all of our sneak peeks will be posed on our blog so I can describe a session in more detail.

We've photographed four weddings so far this summer and I'm hoping to get their "glimpse of the day" posted in July (I know that's extremely late for our May weddings but my schedule is crazy until then).

So wish me luck and keep an eye out for your Glimpse of the Day blog post!

- Cori -

Vendors & Crafters Needed!

2011-03-28T16:24:00.000-05:00

We're planning a couple projects and mini sessions for this summer and are in need of vendors and/or crafters who'd be interested in teaming with us!

We aren't looking for any product in particular.... clothing, shoes, hair bow, tutus, shoes, purses, the options are endless.

All interested vendors and/or crafters can contact us via email at crphotographydesign@wildblue.net or phone at 309.493.7200 to discuss more details.

Planning Ahead for Family Pictures

2011-03-14T13:25:00.001-05:00

Spring is here!

I have been patiently waiting for warmer weather... while I have fun doing sessions in the new studio I am itching to schedule some outdoor sessions. With the warmer weather also comes wedding season! We have a lot of really happy, fun, and creative couples getting married this year and we are thrilled to be a part of their special days! Our wedding season is stretching from May to November with the bulk of our weddings in October. This now means fall family pictures in October will be limited to week days and a few Sundays. I would strongly suggest planning ahead and getting a session on the calendar sooner rather than later. We will be running a family session special in September, keep an eye out for the details on our Specials page.

Wedding Packages vs. Ala Carte Wedding Options & Custom Made Packages

2011-02-08T10:30:00.001-06:00

The other day we were contacted by a potential bride and groom concerning their wedding photography. I replied to them with our wedding packages and additional options. They soon replied with a question that has puzzled me for several days. Their question... "You have so many wonderful options, have you ever thought about offering everything Ala Carte? If so would the prices change?"

The truth is I have thought about offering everything Ala Carte. By offering everything Ala Carte our couples would have the ability to pick which options work best with their budget, needs, and wedding day vision. I know there are a lot of couples who really enjoy "packages" because the decision making has been done. Then I wonder, are they really happy with their package? Are they getting something in that package they don't like or want? Would they rather have something else in the package?

We tweak our wedding prices and options annually (and it should have been done by now for 2012, I'm slacking). Styles and trends change every year, as well as the economy. We want to offer what's new, popular, or highly sought after. When we tweak our options and prices we try to view everything through the eyes of our couple's. What would we like to see if we were in their shoes? What would we want if we were in their shoes? There is no point in offering something nobody will want. I thought I solved this tiny problem by allowing our couples the option to add different options onto their package, the funny thing is most couple's didn't do that. Most purchased the bigger packages even though the package contained options they didn't want just because it contained the one option they did want. That seems like a huge waste of time and money. Yes I said waste of money... I may make a living from photography but I'm not out to rip people off.

So the question remains... have we thought about offering all of our wedding options Ala Carte. The answer is yes we have. We've tossed the idea around quite a bit. We made baby steps towards the Ala Carte concept by offering a variety of options which could be added onto any package if they weren't already included. I guess I'm afraid to offer everything Ala Carte because it's normally not done that way. Would a couple get confused if they contacted ten photographers, nine of them offered packages, and I offer Ala Carte? Would they see creating their dream package and doing the math too time consuming?

If anyone has any opinion on this matter please feel free to comment. I know what my gut is telling me but I'm the photographer not the bride and groom. To all our mothers, brides, future brides, those reading this for fun... please help!

We're Moving!!

2011-01-26T08:56:00.001-06:00

I'm extremely excited to announce that our studio will be moving in a few weeks! Starting February 7th you can find us in Chillicothe on the corner of Route 29 and W. Ash St.!

We've spent all winter searching for a space that was not only bigger but more convenient for our clients. I know the drive to Camp Grove is a hike. Plus you can now find us with GPS and mapquest, oh the little things that make me smile.

While the new studio isn't huge by any means it does give us a lot more room to work with. I now have 700 sq feet for more props, backdrops, and work space. I will eventually have several small "stations" for individual portraits. I will also be expanding my collection of larger backdrops. (I know I'm tired of using white too) My collection of props will also expand now that I have space to store it all. We're tickled pink for this opportunity and have a million ideas running through our heads... we can't wait to get started.

For our grand opening we're offering 50% off all in-studio sessions between Monday February 14th and Monday February 28th.

With the new studio will come some changes... good changes.

I will now be at the new studio Monday through Friday from 8am to 3pm. I will be scheduling sessions during that time as well as accepting "walk-ins". Evening sessions will still be available but by appointment only. Saturdays and Sundays will work the same way... available by appointment only.

Our email address will stay the same, however, we're still trying to figure out our telephone service. For now clients can still contact us at 309.493.7200, but after February 7th I won't be able to return calls or emails until after 3pm when I return from the new studio. Clients with scheduled sessions will be able to reach me on my cell phone, the number given at the time the session is scheduled.

2010 Wedding Photo Contest - UPDATE -

2010-12-21T21:24:00.002-06:00

It was brought to our attention that there was a way to vote multiple times on our blog. Had we known this was possible we wouldn't have extended the voting method beyond Facebook. We thought the use of our blog would be nice for those friends and family members who do not use Facebook, giving them the ability to vote. Due to the fact that not everyone could figure out how to cast multiple votes (myself included) we have ended the blog voting in order to keep the voting fair.

Voting is still open on our Facebook page and will remain open until midnight on December 31st.

In order to vote on facebook friends and family need to...

"Like" our Facebook page,
click on the "Photos" tab
click on the 2010 Wedding Photo Contest album
click on the thumbnail of their favorite image
click "Like" which is displayed under the image

We're sorry for the confusion and inconvenience but we have to make sure the contest remains fair for everyone. We hope you understand. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.

Little Visitor

2010-09-14T20:36:00.000-05:00

By chance this morning I glanced out the back door and noticed something very unusual hanging out on our back deck. I slowly opened the screen door and inched my way out. Surprisingly enough the thing didn't move, it didn't even flinch. I walked down the deck steps and into our covered patio area so I could get a closer look. Once again, it didn't move. I looked at it or a while and decided I wanted to take a few pictures. I ran into the house, grabbed Chris's camera, and darted back out. As you can guess it didn't move. I was able to get some really cool pictures and tried a few different camera settings... all in in all I'm pretty excited about our little visitor. By the end of the day it had moved on (or got eaten) so the boys couldn't enjoy seeing it.

I got in front of the camera!

2010-09-10T07:32:00.000-05:00

My family and I took a much needed (but really short) vacation over Labor Day weekend. I wanted to utilize the beautiful scenery at my grandparents house for family pictures. My awesome mom pushed the "button" for the family shots after I got the camera settings ready. I'm actually extremely happy with the way they turned out. The only thing I noticed... my children look like they're miserable in every single picture. You can obviously tell they had better things to do than pose with mommy and daddy.

Here are a few of my favorites! I love the reds, yellows, greens, and blues in these pictures. We just remodeled our upstairs bathroom and these are going to look amazing hanging in there! Yes I decorate with pictures instead of artwork... I would much rather see my adorable (and sometimes stubborn) children than a flower somebody painted.

Winter Wedding Special

2010-09-06T21:36:00.005-05:00

Are you planning a winter wedding?
Do you still need a wedding photographer?

Well look no further!

We're offering an amazing special on
all winter weddings in 2010 and 2011!

In celebration of our 8th Wedding Anniversary
we thought we'd launch our new special.

When you book your winter wedding with us
receive 25% off your wedding package!

What's even better...
no package is excluded from this offer.

We do have one stipulation...

weddings must take place in December, January, or February.

Mummy's Little Munster... Halloween Special

2010-09-03T12:05:00.001-05:00

We've decided to run a mini-special the last two weeks of October in celebration of Halloween. We're super excited about this special as it's something totally different than anything we've done before.

The special is running October 18th through 23rd and October 25th through 30th.

Day and evening sessions are available.

The sessions will be taking place outside at our home-studio. We will be supplying a fall theme background with corn stalks, pumpkins, gourds, squash, flowers, leaves, hay bales, and much more. The sessions will be done outside regardless of the weather as we have a great covered area to protect everyone from the elements should it decide to rain (which it never fails to do). Each session will last 30 minutes and more time will be given to those who have multiple children. The session includes photos of your child/children in their Halloween costume as well as one additional outfit. Also included is one CD containing as many edited high resolution images as I can possibly share along with the release to print.

The cost for the Mummy's Little Munster session is $50 for the first child and $10 for each additional person. Family pictures are more than welcome!

Plan ahead and make the trip a family day! We're located just three miles North of Tanners Orchard.

Exciting New Photo Contest!

2010-07-16T12:21:00.000-05:00

In May of this year we held our first photo contest using our facebook page. The contest featured all of our Spring Special clients, those who took advantage of our Tutus Tiaras... TopHats & Ties promotion. The contest was a huge success and in the end everyone won!

We've decided want to do another photo contest. Only this time we are utilizing our blog! That's right the contest will be posted on here. The specifics of the contest haven't been nailed down yet but we do have the backbones figured out. The contest will likely start in the middle of November and last about a week. The prizes are going to be bigger and better than our first go-round. Be sure to check back to see what we have up our sleeve.

Planning Ahead

2010-06-22T13:14:00.002-05:00

Can you believe that 2010 is half over?!

We've had an amazingly busy and wonderfully chaotic year... Thank you everyone for your support!

With 2011 only six months away we wanted to let everyone know that our session prices will be changing on July 31st, 2010. If you have scheduled a session you're session fee will remain the same. The price changes will only affect those who schedule sessions after July 31st.

Don't worry... our prices are not drastically changing... just some minor tweaks which need to be done from time to time. We want to continue to provide our clients with CD's along with a release to print. In order to do that we need to raise our prices.

Not everything is changing... there are a few sessions and options that are remaining the same. Our sessions aren't the only services being revised... our wedding packages and options had a make-over for 2011 as well.

Speaking of planning ahead... don't forget we have a wonderful fall special, Falling for Family! As of right now our fall schedule is wide open but it won't stay that way for long. Take advantage of our special and contact us today!

Twirly Whirly Something Girly!

2010-05-21T22:50:00.000-05:00

It has a nice ring to it doesn't it?! Twirly Whirly Something Girly is my new side business! Hence the reason for a 10 day delay in posting. In April I ran a great special for children up to age to called Tutus & Tiaras... Top Hats & Ties. In preparing for the special I went on the hunt for tutus and matching headbands with flowers. I found it really hard to find nice, full, and fluffy tutus at a decent price and made with decent colors. I found it even harder to find cute flower hair pieces, everything I found was cheap and covered with horrible looking rhinestones. I decided then that I had to make my own.

I'm specializing in sets... each set includes a full tutu, made with 75 to 100 yards of tulle. The colors for each tutu are color coordinated with their matching flower (which is included in the set). Also included in the set is a 3" crocheted headband. All of the flowers have alligator clips on the back so the flowers can be used alone, with other headbands, or with hats. All of our flowers are natural, real-looking flowers, there are no rhinestones... just the beauty of the flower.

Each set is completely unique, no two sets are identical. I'm not making these in bulk and I'm not taking orders. I'm creating and selling them as I go. Currently our sets are listed on our facebook page. I hope to start a blog site for Twirly Whirly Something Girly in the near future which will showcase the tutus we have for sale.

I'm really excited about this new venture and have been having so much fun making these sets!

Twirly Whirly Something Girly on Facebook

Summer Specials

2010-05-11T07:57:00.003-05:00

Posting two days in a row! Can you tell I'm going stir crazy?

We have a great summer special! This special lasts ALL summer... June through August!

Wedding Slideshows

2010-05-10T21:07:00.003-05:00

For the past few months I've been contemplating adding another option to our wedding Bells & Bubbles. (as if we didn't offer enough options already)

I've been tinkering around with wedding slideshows and have ended up with mixed feelings about them. I personally think they're great keepsakes! I wish we had one from our wedding. They're a great way to view and share your wedding pictures besides looking at them one by one on the computer or television. However, from a business standpoint they take a LOT of time and energy to create. It took me several days to create a slide to one song. Not only do I have to figure out the best music for the slideshow I have to time the pictures and transitions to the music. With that considered they wouldn't be the cheapest option we offered. (or the most expensive) I am also left to wonder if they're something our clients would be interested in. Most of the weddings we've photographed have not had a videographer. (there aren't many reasonably priced professionals available) While my slideshows wouldn't contain actual video from the wedding they do have an almost video feel to them.

Please feel free to share your thoughts... any insight would be extremely helpful in my decision making process. For now, I just might have to create one from start to finish and base my decision on the end result. This should make one of our happy couples VERY happy.

Having Fun

2010-05-06T20:54:00.000-05:00

I know it's been a while since my last post and that's because I've been having so much fun!

We decided to host our first ever photo contest through facebook and were blown away by the response! We'd like to thank each and every person who voted and participated! We had such a good response that we've decided to host a few contests a year after various specials and events. Our prizes will vary with each contest as well as the media we use... next time we just might try using our blog.

Landon was our first place winner... it was a very close race but he managed to sneak by his cousin (our second place winner) in the knick of time!

We were thrilled to award prizes to our first, second, and third place contestants but were even happier to award the remaining 27 contestants with a prize! That's right everyone in our contest won! With faces (or feet and butt cheeks) as cute as theirs who couldn't consider them a winner?!

Another fun event was a wedding we photographed this past Saturday. We had the opportunity to photograph a very fun couple on their special day! Morgan and Anthony made their ceremony and pictures fun and personable by incorporating their (well maybe his) love of Star Wars!

Thank you for letting us capture your special day Morgan and Anthony! Everything was beautiful!

May the Force be with you!

I strongly believe that the success of any company, no matter how big or small, depends on the amount of fun you have. It's not a job when you're having fun! It's a love and passion and when those two combine you can't help but have fun!

Brides & Baseball Specials!

2010-04-27T18:37:00.002-05:00

Okay so I'm a little late (actually a lot late) in getting things figured out and posted for our upcoming bridal show. But at least I got it done... better late than never.

In honor of our first bridal show I've decided to offer two amazing deals! Please feel free to share this information with anyone you know tying the knot!

The first awesome deal for the show will be the "It's All About The Dress" raffle for a FREE session. Nope that's not a typo... I'm giving away a free session to someone at the game who enters! It doesn't matter if they've been married for ten years or getting married in ten years! The winner will be drawn, announced, and contacted on Saturday May 1st. This is an amazing deal and so much fun!

The highlight of the game is our one day wedding special!

If you commit to hire CR Photography & Design during the game

(which starts at 6:30 this Friday!)

with a deposit of $250 and signed contract you can choose between the following...

FREE Portrait Collection (a $250 value)

100 FREE Thank You Cards (a $300 value)

There is a minimum purchase of $1,000 required

The offer is good from the start of the game until the end of the game

I hope to see you there!!!

Mark Your Calendars!!!

2010-04-22T17:32:00.002-05:00

On Friday April 30th for

BRIDES & BASEBALL!

The Peoria Chiefs are hosting a bridal show that is more convenient and fun than any other bridal show in the Peoria area! Your fiances can catch the game while you catch up with the latest in wedding photography, videography, linens, flowers, DJ's, and reception halls! What could be better!

I know what's better... the fact that we'll be there!

We're working side by side with the Holiday Inn City Center!

The game starts at 6:30.
grab your wedding planners, head to the game, and we'll see you there!

May Special

2010-04-13T20:55:00.001-05:00

Okay so call me crazy!

I've decided to squeeze in a May Special!

I am sooo excited to get outside for sessions!

The gorgeous weather we've had lately has me itching to get out.

If you have any questions please let me know.

Spaces for the special are VERY VERY limited!

crphotographydesign@wildblue.net

studio phone: 309.493.7200

mobile phone: 309.868.3510

Where is the camera when you need it?!

2010-04-08T17:32:00.000-05:00

I have returned refreshed and rejuvenated from the sunshine state!

Our vacation was absolutely amazing and much needed... March was extremely busy and April is shaping up the same way and we absolutely LOVE it!

I decided that a vacation should be just that... a vacation. I opted to leave the fancy cameras at home and just take my point and shoot. Of course as soon as I get to Florida I was spotting photo op after photo op. The flowers, the beach, the people, I wanted to capture everything!! I wished every day that I had my good camera... not that my point and shoot isn't a good camera, my options are limited.

I have learned my lesson... take the good camera! As I sit here typing this blog I'm kicking myself for missing out on all of those wonderful pictures! I guess this gives me a good reason to take a vacation next spring. =)

Bring on the fun, the creativity, and the excitement! We have a ton of great photo sessions this month and I am super duper excited to get started!

Oh on a side note... our sitting fee poll closed on April 1st. We'd like to thank everyone who made their opinion known. We'll be tweaking our prices on January 1st, 2011 and this information will weigh in greatly.... thank you! thank you! thank you!

On-Location VS. In-Studio

2010-03-30T11:18:00.000-05:00

In one corner of the ring we have On-Location and in the other corner of the ring we have In-Studio...

Thanks to our lovely (and always changing) Midwestern weather, the question of whether to do sessions in the studio or outside gets tossed around a lot. And it can be a pretty hard decision.

My first choice has always been (and always will be) outside! There is a TON of variety when working outside... the grass, the foliage, the sky, buildings, flowers, colors, textures, lighting, shadows, and the list continues! The variety for outdoor pictures is tremendous and makes every photograph unique. My family and I love exploring every spring and summer for new "spots" to take pictures. The more unique and different, the better. The world around us has so much to offer!

Don't get me wrong, I love my little studio and can't wait for my new one... but I can't re-create nature inside and when I try it looks fake and leaves much to be desired. I do know that there are just some photographs I can't capture outside and that's why we decided to start the studio and I am so happy we did! Over the past few months I've captured a lot of amazing photographs of infants and children that wouldn't have been possible outside.

The question still remains... In-Studio or On-Location? I guess we'll have to leave the answer up to mother nature and what she wants to bless us with.

Let's Trash That Dress!

2010-03-23T19:15:00.002-05:00

Spring is here! With Spring comes the rain and I'm sure we'll get a lot of it! I want to take advantage of the rainy, yucky, muddy weather and turn it into something fun, memorable, and creative. I'm looking for a few adventurous women who are willing to trash their wedding dress or even a prom dress this spring. When I say trash it... I mean past the land of no return. Your dress won't be recognizable. These sessions aren't for everyone, I know that. But if your dress is sitting in a garbage bag in your closet, pull it out and let's have fun! It doesn't matter if your dress is 20 or 30 years old, put that baby on! I plan to throw mine on this spring and trash it! (if it still fits) There is an emotional release, a feeling of being a bad girl, of doing something you know is not quite right but oh it's so much fun! It's an emotional high that I can't explain.

If you or someone you know is interested please contact me! These sessions will be extremely discounted and more fun than you can imagine!

We'll get down and dirty while looking down right sexy and flirty!

To Those Who Are Serving Our Country

2010-03-21T16:09:00.002-05:00

Thank you for everything you and your families do for us!

As our way of saying thank you for defending our country we're announcing our new (and permanent) Armed Forces Discount! Members currently serving in any branch of the United States Armed Forces will receive 20% off any portrait session including wedding packages!

We're very excited about this new offer and hope that our current clients are future clients are too!

Summer Special... Summer for Seniors!

2010-03-16T19:03:00.004-05:00

Spring has finally arrived and we are so glad it's here!

We're happy to announce our new summer special! It's a Summer for Seniors! Schedule your Senior Pictures during the months of June, July, or August and receive 25% off your session fee!

We have four great packages for our 2011 Seniors.

Chicago ~~$100~~ $75

Two Outfit Changes

One Location & In-Studio

Miami ~~$150~~ $113

Three Outfit Changes

Two Locations & In-Studio

New York ~~$300~~ $225

Three Outfit Changes

Two Locations & In-Studio

40 personalized wallets

20 4x6 2 5x7 1 8x10

Beverly Hills ~~$600~~ $450

Three Outfit Changes

Two Locations & In-Studio

80 personalized wallets

40 4x6 4 5x7 2 8x10 1 11x14

*Includes CD with Print Release*

All of our Senior Picture Packages include an online gallery for viewing and ordering unless a CD is included or purchased. Galleries are available for six months and accessible through our website. CD's with a printing release are available for purchase for $50. Online galleries are not posted for sessions that purchase or include the CD. Quantity of pictures vary based on the package chosen, locations used, and weather. We guarantee at least 100 photos. We love to travel!! The more unique your locations the more unique your Senior Pictures will be! We do not charge a fee for traveling within 50 miles of Peoria, IL.

Don't hesitate... our openings will fill up fast!

309.493.7200

www.crphotographydesign.com

crphotographydesign@wildblue.net

Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

2010-03-02T15:46:00.002-06:00

I just realized I hadn't posted a blog since February 19th! I've been so busy lately it completely slipped my mind. Our newest special, Tutus & Tiaras...TopHats &Ties is going great! I've had a lot of really fun sessions and will be doing a lot more in the next few weeks. Thank you to everyone who has come out! Don't forget to book your session... the special is running until the end of April!

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to vote in our poll. The information is going to be very helpful when we sit down to revamp our prices at the end of the year. We wouldn't be in business if it weren't for our clients and your opinions are very important to us.

Now for the real reason for my blog post...

I am so excited to let everyone know we have finally started preparing for the renovations of the new studio! For the past two years we've planned on renovating the upstairs of our garage into a spacious new studio and we're finally ready to make that a reality. Granted we're still in the planning stages (and trying to find the right contractor) but we're making progress. Our goal is to have the new studio up and running by the end of the summer, just in time for the cool fall weather. And what's even better... we're going to host a huge open house complete with raffles and give-aways when it's complete.

Since we're still planning and trying to find the right contractor, if you know anyone who might be interested please pass along our contact information or send us their information. We plan on taking our time and finding the right fit for us and the job.

The Itch

2010-02-19T21:01:00.001-06:00

It's funny how much someone can miss doing something, especially when they love doing it!

I was supposed to have an infant photo shoot this evening (I was really looking forward to it!) but unfortunately one of her older sisters got sick and they had to reschedule. It's been a few days since my last photo shoot (in which time my new backdrops arrived) and I was getting the itch to take some photos! We all know there's no better models than your children! Oddly enough I didn't have to do any bribing tonight either! All three were more than willing to do a photo shoot. There was one catch... they got to pick out their own outfits and pose themselves. We all had so much fun and we got some great pictures. They're pretty traditional but I let them be the boss.

Here are a few of my favorites.... I love my children.

Wiggles & Giggles

2010-02-16T11:16:00.003-06:00

We're happy (and super excited) to announce our newest portrait package... Wiggles & Giggles.

Over the past few years we've had a lot of interest in a package that included portraits taken throughout the first year of a child's life. At first we weren't fond of the idea of forcing our clients to continuously come to us should something happen during that first year, but we decided to give it a try anyway!

Wiggles and Giggles includes six portrait sessions beginning with a maternity session, followed by newborn (3-4 weeks), three month, six month, nine month, and one year sessions. That's six sessions total! As always, our clients will receive a CD with print release after each session.

Not only does it include all six portrait sessions, the package also features a hardback, custom cover, 7x7 Photo Book with up to 60 pages filled with portraits taken throughout the year! And what's even better... the book is being included at cost! Our clients will enjoy the opportunity to pick the photos they'd like featured in the book... up to 10 poses from each sesssion!

This is an amazing package and I wish I knew a photographer offering this when I was having our children.

The total for the package is $100 per session... at the end of the year there will be nothing owed and you'll have a photo book to cherish for years to come!

In Front of the Camera

2010-02-11T13:27:00.000-06:00

I did it! I got in front of the camera instead of being behind it! I figured it was high time I put my feet in my client's shoes... and give Chris some practice in the studio. We both had so much fun! I forgot how it felt to have my picture taken (granted I had a large mirror behind Chris so I could see how I looked). We experimented with new poses, angles, lighting, and editing. I have to admit I didn't recognize myself in some of the pictures once they were done. I'm sure it won't be long before I'm itching to get in front of the camera again... great pictures of yourself is such an ego booster!

Here's one of my favorites and my profile picture on Facebook.... I love bright colors!

Three Month Special!

2010-02-08T16:54:00.000-06:00

That's right... our new special is going to cover three months! We received a lot of feedback (thank you to everyone who voiced their opinion!) and finally narrowed the choices down to one.

Our new special is....

Tutus & Tiaras... TopHats & Ties

Let's Play Dress Up!

Enjoy $25 In-Studio portrait sessions for children ages 0-2 years old.

That's a savings of over $50!

The session fee includes one CD with all proofs and print release.

This special is valid during the months of February, March & April!

Monthly Specials

2010-02-02T09:53:00.000-06:00

Every month or season we like to offer specials.... it's a great way to increase our business and save you money! Over the past few years we've offered free sittings, free prints, discounted sittings, and referral programs. This year we'd like to try something new... we'd like you, our clients, to help us create our specials. We want to know what you'd like to see offered as a special.

Our January special has been extended into the first part of February and our Winter special will be expiring at the end of February. We need a Spring special... please share your ideas with us... we'd love to hear them!

Valentine's Day

2010-01-29T09:26:00.002-06:00

Valentine's Day is a wonderful Hallmark Holiday that often lets us give a gift we'd normally not give. One great option for a Valentine's Day gift is pictures... we all know 99% of men would love fun, sexy, flirty or a little dirty pictures of their significant other.

Between now and February 7th I'm offering those portrait sessions for almost half price!

There's no need to feel shy or embarrassed... I'm not in tip-top shape myself. I've always had a little extra where it counts and I've learned how to hide it! These pictures can be as revealing as you want them to be. I don't make anyone do anything they're not comfortable with. And trust me... men LOVE the pictures regardless of how much you show.

This week I took over 600 pictures for a client... we were having so much fun and she had GREAT ideas that she knew her boyfriend would love! The pictures turned out amazing! Here's one of my favorites.

Getting Started

2010-01-28T16:35:00.000-06:00

Welcome to our blog! This is our first post and we're not quite sure what we're doing so bare with us!

My husband and I started CR Photography & Design in 2004. I attend Illinois Central College and received my associates degree in elementary education. I love working with children but after completing my degree I realized teaching was not for me... I needed to follow my passion for art and use of my creativity. That's when I started to focus on my natural ability as a photographer.

At an early age I discovered my knack for photography. My sisters and I would play dress up and I would take as many pictures as I could afford (this was back in the days of film). It didn't take long before I was photographing friends that spent the night... there are some funny pictures floating around out there.

Time passed and I had our three beautiful children. You couldn't ask for better models. I was able to teach myself everything I know through trial and error. After several years of photographing my children and family I started photographing friends. Our friends told their friends and it all started from there.

In 2009 we converted one room of our house into a small studio. We are now making plans to expand the studio, doubling our space and naturally our studio options. I'm very excited to have a larger work space (and one without the mess my kids make). We're hoping to open the new studio sometime late this summer.

I love photography. I love working with people. I love being creative. I love my job. I can't imagine myself doing anything else. I take great pride in my work and I hope that shows.

Over the last year our business has exploded and we owe it all to our wonderful friends, family, and clients... without you we'd be nothing... Thank you!