byMelinda Images & Design

Blog is Moving

2011-04-23T07:29:00.002-07:00

Yippee! I finally figured out how to get my blog hosted on my website.

The new blog is located at www.bymelinda.com/blog.

All of the old content is there, and watch for new content coming soon!

Melinda

Nicole - Class of 2010

2011-04-08T20:36:00.000-07:00

This beautiful girl wanted her portraits made in tall grasses. It was hard to find this time of year in Phoenix, but we found the perfect spot and she rocked it out!

Let me know what scenery you want in your senior portraits. I'll do my best to make it happen. Call or text 602.628.8019 or send email to bymelinda@cox.net to schedule your session.

I love it when they cry...

2011-04-01T08:55:00.000-07:00

I know that sounds bad, but it really isn't. Canvas prints often make me cry. They are just so beautiful and seem to mean more somehow than a print on paper. I love the prints on paper, too. But canvas just takes it to another level for me.

In late January, I photographed an extended family who were in town to celebrate a very special 80th birthday. I could tell that the family genuinely loved each other - especially their matriarch. She cried when she saw the images on canvas. It just melted my heart!

Two of the family members purchased canvas collections to display in their homes. They loved them so much that they sent me a hand-written thank you card. Here's what they said... You can't believe how much we love not only the canvases, but the photos, too. They really reflect such personalities of everyone. The canvases look fabulous arranged on the wall - I stop and look at them each time I go by. Thank you for doing such a wonderful job!

Let's schedule your portrait session, soon! Call 602.628.8019 to make your reservation.

Baseball is in full swing!

2011-03-24T15:14:00.000-07:00

and guess what...

My little guy has decided that he wants to be the catcher. We went out last weekend and got gear that fits since the gear the league provided was too big. He is taking this very seriously and pretending that it doesn't hurt when he gets hit.

Hot Lights in Las Vegas

2011-02-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

AfterDark was a great experience in Las Vegas! Not only was I able to attend an amazing business class, but I also got to play around with some cool equipment. These hot lights are on my list of equipment to buy as soon as I can make some more money.

Love is in the air in downtown Phoenix - Engagement Session

2011-02-01T12:36:00.002-07:00

Bec and Duane are getting married! We had a great time exploring their stomping ground (downtown Phoenix) with them to celebrate. They are so sweet and fun. Aren't they just amazingly cute together!?!

Their wedding is just a month away. Ivan Martinez and I have partnered on this project and are excited that we will get to share their special day with them.

We know it can be hard to figure out what to get for the couple who has almost everything they need, so we are offering a gift registry for them. If you want to help them add pages to their wedding album or add prints or photo gifts to their package, let us know, and we'll provide a beautiful gift certificate for you to give to Bec and Duane. Call 602.628.8019 to find out more.

Wish Bec and Duane the best, and enjoy the show!

byMelinda Images & Design
http://www.bymelinda.com/
602.628.8019

Finally getting the recognition she deserves

2011-01-26T21:28:00.000-07:00

Many of us feel that our child's teacher is the best teacher ever. I hope you are luck enough to feel that way!

Well, Riley's tacher was just named the AAGT Teacher of the Year. We are so happy for her and so lucky to have had her as Riley's teacher both this year and last year! Way to go, Ms. Mensing. Keep pushing our kids to do their best and to love learning. You deserve this award and all of the attention that goes along with it.

Watch for some client work to be posted soon. Sorry I haven't posted more lately. It's been busy around here!

Oh Happy Day

2010-12-24T10:45:00.001-07:00

Our little guy had a great day yesterday: bicycle rides with Dad and Gramzie, tennis lessons, and watching a Sun's game from a suite. The game was really late, so he fell asleep in the car while wearing his new Suns shirt.

This morning, he discovered a huge present he wasn't expecting. (Thanks, Marlene and Alex!) Our house will forevermore be riddled with lego pieces. Then, he still got the Nintendo DSiXL that he was wanting.

Can you believe that he chose to play with the legos for about an hour before going back to the DSiXL?! So much fun!

Soldier in the making

2010-12-20T16:56:00.000-07:00

Nick, the senior... Lauren, the beauty... Max, aka Big Dog... and a couple of parents thrown in for good measure.

Call or text 602.628.8019 today to schedule your session.

Family Fun

2010-12-20T16:02:00.000-07:00

This family was extremely fun to work with! We had a blast, and I loved watching them interact with each other.

I've been really busy working on client orders this month. Watch for some catch up post in the next week or so.

I'm also working on a photo a day project. I plan to post those images soon, too.

Sweating for Sara

2010-11-29T20:13:00.000-07:00

The daughter of a friend was in a terrible car accident while away at college. At first, we weren't sure if she would survive. Then, there were concerns about what extent she would recover. Now, she is home. It is still a long road to recovery, but there is talk of her returning to school next fall.

One recent Saturday, a lot of Sara's supporters gathered to raise money and to show their support. We had a great time. Enjoy this video.

Sara, we are so proud of you! Keep amazing those doctors and the rest of us!

Shutterbugs week 3

2010-10-30T08:57:00.000-07:00

The topic for this week in the shutterbugs workshop was composition. Look for use of the rule of thirds, leading lines, and negative space.

Shutterbugs on the playground

2010-10-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

We took the class outside this week. Everyone had fun taking pictures of each other and the equipment on the playground.

Shutterbugs: Starting to think like photographers

2010-10-30T08:55:00.000-07:00

The shutterbugs (grades 1-3) had a great time in their enrichment class. They learned to think, look, see, point, click and enjoy.

First three edited (teaser)

2010-10-24T16:33:00.000-07:00

There are many more amazing images of this awesome girl. Sixteen going on Super Model. She even did her own hair and makeup for this session!

Moore Fun

2010-10-18T19:10:00.000-07:00

Brothers who actually get along... I'm so glad she decided to post a comment to the BIG Photography Giveaway on the Becky Higgins blog. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had the chance to meet her and the handsome men in her life.

See what I mean!?!

Chusok 2010

2010-10-14T12:19:00.000-07:00

Smiling faces, rekindled friendships, Korean culture, great food, one big happy family...

Sneak Peak - New Backgrounds

2010-10-10T13:41:00.000-07:00

Marlene and her family won a portrait session through the Becky Higgins Blog contest earlier this year. It has been about 14 years since her family had a portrait made. I'm glad we were able to have the session before her boys grew up completely and moved out on her!

She had her heart set on an outdoor session by a lake, so we scheduled it for October. Unfortunately, the recent heat wave drove us indoors for most of the session, and she wasn't able to reschedule. Since I was just as disappointed as Marlene, I decided to create a cool new backdrop for the session. I gathered up four doors and got to work painting and distressing them. Some were already pretty distressed!

More images soon! I'm still editing them...

Holiday Card Mini Session

2010-10-10T11:02:00.000-07:00

Need an updated family portrait? Want to send out the best holiday cards ever?

Kill two birds with one stone by having a Holiday Card Mini Session.

For $175, you will get a half hour mini session at my studio. Indoor and outdoor sessions are available. You will also get 40 single fold or 20 accordion fold holiday cards. Other styles are available at an additional cost. Two dates are available for these special sessions – October 23 and November 7.

Special wall portrait pricing is available for this event. You can also make holiday gift giving easy with photo gifts for your family. Holiday ornaments, purses and key chains are some of my favorites.

Upgrade to a full session for $100 more and receive an additional pack of 20 holiday cards for free. A full session includes clothing changes, both indoor and outdoor settings at my studio or on location at the site of your choice, and additional time.

A limited number of Holiday Card Mini Sessions are available. Call 602-628-8019 today to schedule your session.

Clickers Week 2

2010-10-08T15:39:00.000-07:00

We discussed light this week. The kids especially enjoyed learning about modifying light with reflectors and portable light sources!

Clickers Week 1

2010-10-08T15:09:00.000-07:00

Here's where it all began. During the first session, the clickers learned about thinking before shooting. It was really neat to watch them roam around the classroom and frame their shots before taking them!

Clickers Week 4

2010-10-08T15:07:00.000-07:00

The clickers learned about style this week. Most of them were drawn to photojournalistic and contemporary styles.

Regardless of their preference, they really understood STYLE...

Kids and Cameras are an amazing combination

2010-10-06T14:20:00.000-07:00

These images were from the third week of our photography enrichment class for grades 4-6 at SSKY elementary. Just before these images were taken, we discussed the basics of composition. We covered framing, line, and the rule of thirds. You can really see those concepts expressed in these images! I hope you enjoy the show...

Back to School

2010-09-23T18:30:00.000-07:00

Second grade is turning out to be pretty amazing. I can't believe we were lucky enough to find Sonoran Sky and Ms. Mensing!

Arcadia High School Calendar

2010-09-09T19:02:00.000-07:00

It is all set up! You can make an online donation through the St. Vincent de Paul FaceBook Causes page, and they will send you a calendar in the mail.

Impact the future, one life at time. Support the One at a Time Financial Assistance Program by contacting St. Vincent de Paul's Development Department at (602) 261-6814 or by making a donation at http://tiny.cc/oneatatime.

School Year Calendar

2010-08-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

I worked with a few models from Arcadia to create a calendar to raise funds for the One at a Time Financial Assistance Program through St. Vincent de Paul. It provides scholarship funds to students who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford to go to college.

The calendars are fun calendars that will be great for recording the events of the school year. Check out this video to see what they look like. Five dollars from the sale of each calendar will be donated to the One at a Time Financial Assistance Program. St. Vincent de Paul will also be giving copies to donors to the program. Check out the St. Vincent de Paul FaceBook page for more information.

New Website - check it out!

2010-08-20T07:58:00.001-07:00

It was about time.... I finally broke down and updated my website. It is full of yummy images and even works on the iPad and iPhone! I think it better reflects my style and has more impact than the old site. Watch for updates to the blog, too.

There's even an iphone gallery that will be updated frequently with images from my iphone 4. I love using it as a camera!

Let me know what you think about it and let all of your friends know about it.

The first person to send a referral who has seen the new website will get an extra $50 print credit above the usual $50 print credit for referrals.

Check it out at http://www.bymelinda.com/.

Incredible - enough said!

2010-07-30T18:42:00.000-07:00

Emily is an incredible young lady. Devoted. Caring. Sweet. Talented.

I've only known her for a short time, but I can tell that she is going to make a big difference in this world! I can't wait to find out what it is...

Call me at 602.628.8019 or send email to bymelinda@cox.net to schedule your image session now! I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Back to School Mini Sessions

2010-07-30T09:04:00.000-07:00

Looking for a fun way to document your back to school shopping efforts? Call 602.628.8019 now to reserve a time for your back to school photos!

Bring your kid, the backpack filled to the brim, and those adorable back to school outfits - don't forget the new shoes!

In the comfort of my indoor air conditioned studio, we will make some really fun images using my new backdrops. If the weather cooperates, we might even head outside for some more fun. Then, I will prepare the images for viewing, and you can make your selections right after the session. The selection process is really fun because you will get to view the images on the big screen in our home theater while snacking on movie snacks and popcorn.

Call 602.628.8019 or send email today to make sure you get the time slot you want!

I can't wait to see what your child picked out for school!

Learn from the Pros

2010-07-30T08:29:00.000-07:00

Hi, I wanted to take a minute to pass on some great educational resources that I have found to be invaluable.

I joined the Arizona Professional Photographer's Association the same month that I started my studio. They provide amazing educational workshops, studio tours, and monthly meetings. The members and speakers provide a welcoming atmosphere where everyone shares their "secrets" to help ensure the success of each member. I highly encourage you to check it out. Learn more about the organization by checking out their website at http://www.arizonappa.com/education.html.

By the way, I'm teaching an InDesign workshop on August 22. Sign up now to reserve your spot. http://www.arizonappa.com/education.html#august_22

If you prefer learning in the comfort of your own home, give the PhotoVision DVD's a try. They are filled with information from leading professional photographers across the country. I've learned so much about posing, lighting, marketing, and just about everything else from watching these DVD's. I usually watch the entire DVD within a few days of receiving it and watch particular segments again just before a specific type of session.

Now because of a special sale, anyone can receive PhotoVision's 6 DVDs for just $39 by using the promo code: PVFAN. I look forward to my bi-monthly, 2-hour photo educational fix arriving in my mailbox chocked full of information and inspiration.

If three people order a subscription using the link below, I'll get the 2011 subscription for free. That would be totally cool! Click here to find out more. http://fansof.photovisionvideo.com/Melinda/044350

I'll keep you informed as new educational opportunities approach. Have fun and keep clicking!

Friends, Fun, and a couple of creepy crawlies

2010-07-27T12:47:00.000-07:00

We recently went on our first camping trip as a family. Riley had a blast. He even made some new friends!

It was great, but a few people had trouble sleeping because of the two tarantula spiders and the scorpion that we saw just before going to bed. Part of the adventure...

What we did this summer: Part 2

2010-07-18T11:20:00.001-07:00

We went to Uncle Tom's cabin near Chicago. Uncle Tom took us to the beach and took us fishing. Riley loved playing with the dogs so much that he decided to become a dog. He used the doggie doors and everything! Thanks for the great hospitality!

Part One: What we did this summer

2010-07-17T15:18:00.000-07:00

We went to Chicago and had a great time at Navy Pier. Our little adverturer isn't so little anymore. He had to be 48" to ride the EXTREME THRILL SPEEDBOAT RIDE. Guess what! He is exactly 4 feet tall right now.

We had a blast. Our only regret was that the ride was a half hour instead of an hour long.

Jordan - Class of 2011

2010-07-08T15:23:00.001-07:00

The class of 2011 has tons of fantastic students this year, but Jordan is one of the best. Handsome. Artistic. Nice. What more could you ask for?

Call or text me at 602.628.8019 to schedule your image session now before the craziness of your senior year starts.

Studio and on location sessions are available.

New indoor studio space!

2010-07-05T12:19:00.000-07:00

Get out of the heat, but still enjoy a fun-filled image session. This video shows how much fun it can be.

Call 602.628.8019 or email bymelinda@cox.net to schedule your session. Let's make memories and art together!

Photography Giveaway

2010-04-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

I'm really proud to be participating in the BIG PHOTOGRAPHY GIVEAWAY on Becky's blog. Becky Higgins is a very talented life artist and a part-time photographer. If you are interested in winning a session with me, watch her blog during the month of May and post a comment. I will be picking a winner from those who comment to the posting about my photography. My posting is currently scheduled to appear in mid-May.

This is so exciting!

You can even nominate someone you think deserves a session. Pass this information along.

Here's a link to Becky's blog. http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog/

Good luck!

First Outdoor Studio Session

2010-04-27T16:58:00.000-07:00

Zach wanted a more contemporary feel to his images, so instead of heading to a park we opted for using the lines and texures outside of my studio. I love the look! Watch this video to see how it turned out.

Prom Princess

2010-04-24T22:34:00.000-07:00

When I first met Kasie, she was into the Lion King and other little girl things. Now, she's a stunning young lady.

I hope you enjoy this video of her on prom night.

Graduating Soon!

2010-04-20T06:39:00.001-07:00

2010 has some of the most beautiful graduates ever! These two sisters will be celebrating their graduation soon. They are very different, but both as sweet as can be.

Congrats

2010-04-11T20:23:00.002-07:00

Congratulations to Kayla! She is graduating from high school soon, and she was a great model at our image session. Here are a few of my favorite images from the session.

Fun Day Relay Race

2010-03-22T22:24:00.002-07:00

The kids had a great time in all of the events, but this one seemed to be a favorite.

High School Senior Models Needed

2010-03-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

byMelinda Images & Design is looking for high school Juniors to be models in calendars that will be distributed during the 2010-2011 school year.

We need 3 models from each participating high school. Your sessions need to be completed by the end of April. See the attached files for more information.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Kolby's Touchdown

2010-02-28T16:26:00.002-07:00

I just love it when the little guy scores! Kolby had a great game. He got some fantastic flag pulls and ran the length of the field for a touchdown.

He was unstoppable!

I also loved it when the team got so excited that they practically tackled Kolby in the end zone. Landon even gave him a huge hug! The parents went ballistic. I don't think the Sparks have ever been happier!

Go Kolby!!!

Click the link below to view a little video of Kolby in action.

Kolby's Touchdown

Happy Kid

2010-02-27T15:24:00.000-07:00

The majority of the pictures I have taken lately have been at football games where Riley is wearing his mouth guard. During practice before the game today, I finally got an image of his new toothless smile. Doesn't that just make you happy?!

Take me out to the ballgame

2010-02-18T10:38:00.000-07:00

Riley is in full swing right now...

Hip Hop on Mondays, Flag Football and Baseball practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the next few weeks, Saturday Flag Football games, Music lessons on Wednesdays, and chess club and jewelry class at school. Don't forget Mascot club before and after school every day. He loves it all and would do more if we would let him. This kid has more energy than anyone I know. Thank goodness he a good sleeper.

Doesn't coach understand that I could get better pictures if he would start practice an hour early before the light is almost gone?

Guess who stayed up late Monday night...

2010-02-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

Riley decided to stay up late Monday night and pull his wiggly tooth. It took about 45 minutes of wiggling it and three full rotations before it finally came out. Here's what he looked like on Tuesday morning.

Loose Teeth

2010-02-11T20:57:00.000-07:00

Riley had two loose teeth earlier this week. The one that didn't seem incredibly loose fell out at school on Monday. The other is hanging by a thread. It will probably fall out tomorrow. Here's a picture of him with one of the teeth missing. Watch for another one soon with the second tooth missing.

Unexpected Email Message

2010-02-11T20:54:00.000-07:00

Look what Riley's teacher sent via email this afternoon! I feel especially happy because my boy is turning into quite the artist, and his teacher takes the time to send email messages with neat stuff.

Just in time for the New Year

2010-02-01T10:50:00.002-07:00

This baby girl is now home with her loving family. She wanted to make sure the family started the new year off right!

Waiting for Baby

2010-02-01T10:47:00.005-07:00

The family was making preparations for their new baby when I visited their home. I bet the baby is going to have a lot of fun with this little guy! He is full of energy and always ready to play.

Hip Hop Boyz

2010-01-26T15:58:00.002-07:00

It is so much fun watching the boys learn the hip hop moves. They are really getting the attitude down!

Sparks are flying!

2010-01-18T15:00:00.001-07:00

The Sparks are flying now! These images are from their second game. See them one at a time at www.backprint.com/bymelinda.

City Girls playing in the dirt

2010-01-13T18:54:00.001-07:00

It is so much fun to watch City kids play in the dirt!

Touchdown!

2010-01-09T20:11:00.000-07:00

The sparks scored lots of touchdowns on the first day of the season. It will be great to watch the boys learn and improve throughout the season! Here's a slideshow of some of my favorite images from the first game.

Goodbye 2009... Hello 2010

2010-01-06T15:24:00.000-07:00

It has been a great year filled with lots of change. It is hard to believe that our "quiet baby" has really turned into a "noisy boy". He is halfway through first grade already!

Enjoy this video recap of 2009!

Holiday card images & so much more

2009-12-03T06:50:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to create family portraits for some friends last weekend. Riley was friends with both of these boys at different times while at Montessori Center School. Since then, all of the boys have moved to new schools, but they are still great friends. It was really nice watching the boys interact and play! And, it is always a pleasure to photograph the interactions between family members.

4 times the fun

2009-12-02T21:53:00.003-07:00

This family was 4 times the fun! Zac is a great big brother to the triplets. We had a lot of fun at the zoo a few weeks ago. I was able to present the images to their Mom today, so I can finally share the images. Enjoy!

Senior Yearbook Ads

2009-11-12T19:04:00.000-07:00

I designed Nick's yearbook ad. It is hard to believe he's already almost ready to graduate from high school.

I can't take credit for the image from New Zealand. He wasn't willing to pay my travel expenses to get that image. Maybe next time. ; ) Also, the baby picture was taken way before I even knew Nick existed.

I would love to design your yearbook ad!

What does the flu look like?

2009-11-11T14:42:00.004-07:00

Well, when you are Riley the Invincible, it looks like this...

The doctor didn't want to give him the flu test because Riley didn't look sick enough to have the flu. We insisted that he give it because a few kids in Riley's class had the flu. We were right. If he hadn't had a fever (and later some stomach issues), we never would have know. All he ever complained about was that his neck hurt. We really need to listen when he complains, because it must be bad.

Spooks & More

2009-11-11T14:25:00.009-07:00

We were able to spend Halloween with one of Riley's best friends. What a Treat!

They live in a great neighborhood for Trick-or-Treating. The kids always have a blast, but it is even sweeter when candy and costumes are involved.

Not scared of anything

2009-11-10T18:22:00.003-07:00

Riley isn't scared of much these days. He rode everything we would let him ride at the fair. Thank goodness he was about an inch too short to ride the most outrageous of the rides. We'll have to see how adventurous Mom and Dad are next year.

Can you believe he rode the roller coaster by himself?!

I'll try to get the Halloween pictures edited and posted this week. Watch for another post soon!

Ho! Ho! Ho! --- Holiday Card Samples

2009-10-19T19:04:00.003-07:00

Here are the holiday card samples that I promised to show you. Use images from a previous session or schedule a mini session before November 22 to ensure the cards arrive in time.

Canvas Prints & Studio Upgrades

2009-10-08T14:45:00.003-07:00

My canvas samples arrived. I love them! What a great way to present images. This is only a small section of the family room that I've recently set up as a presentation and display area. The room makeover will take more time to complete, but it is ready for clients now.

It was hard to let this one go. It was my first large canvas print. I'm so glad that Eva and Craig loved it, but it looked so great that I didn't want to deliver it. Believe me... large canvas prints are incredible. I really liked the print small, but the canvas blew me away.

Friends, Chess, Trophies

2009-10-08T14:40:00.003-07:00

Riley didn't want to play in the chess tournament last weekend until he found out that one of his best friends from Montessori Center School was going to be there. He was a little concerned about moving up from the Kindergarten level to the First-Third Grade level in the tournaments. He ended up winning 3 of 4 games and getting a trophy. His school team also won two trophies. Needless to say, he had a great time playing chess, and he got to play with Quincy in between games.

Spread the Word

2009-09-15T15:46:00.002-07:00

During Family Portrait Month - October 2009 - I will donate $50 plus 5% of your purchases to PPA Charities to benefit Operation Smile, which treats children around the world who suffer with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.

Celebrate your family by helping a child!

Call Melinda at 602.628.8019 to schedule your appointment now.

Appointments are limited! As a Thank You for participating in this event, you will receive 2 free gift images with the purchase of a wall image at least 16x20 in size.

Family Portrait Month is sponsored by PPA Charities.

School Update

2009-09-15T15:39:00.004-07:00

First grade has been fantastic so far. We are still adjusting to having so much homework, but Riley complains when I pick him up in the afternoons that I'm not letting him stay there long enough. These pictures were taken during the science project on Friday. Mentos and Diet Coke are explosive!

Guess what Riley wants to be when he grows up. I guess Space Camp had some impact this summer.

First Grade Already!?!

2009-08-19T13:02:00.003-07:00

Someone at our house is really excited about starting first grade. It is only the third day, and he has already started making friends and doing homework. He even has a pretty major crush on his teacher!

When he was doing his homework last night, he was supposed to be writing about his summer vacation. His answer to every question (like what was the most exciting thing you did on summer vacation) was his teacher. I couldn't let him answer every question that way, so he had to switch gears and actually think about the summer. He would rather focus on his teacher, though. So cute!

High School Senior Image Package

2009-08-17T22:41:00.002-07:00

Want some fun and creative images to remember your Senior year by? Read the information below to find out about my Senior Image Package.

Plan on having a lot of fun. Bring a few outfits -- something outrageous or really cool that you want to be photographed in, something more traditional for the portraits for grandma’s wall, something casual and fun. Bring something that represents your current interests – an instrument or athletic gear, your car, or pet (and someone to watch it while we work)… We will talk either over the phone or preferably in person before the shoot so I can understand what you want the images for and how you plan to display them.

There is a $275 image appointment fee. The entire amount can applied to the purchase of images and products. The fee needs to be paid up front to hold the appointment time. Senior portrait sessions are one-hour in length at any location (that allows photography). There is an extra fee if I need to travel further than 20 miles from Paradise Valley Mall.

Print prices start at $25. I can also design custom announcements or inserts for announcements as well as pages for yearbooks. Prices vary.

I will create a custom package for each Senior. We will have fun and will create a combination of images to please the parents and images to please the Seniors. The majority of the session will be focused on capturing the fun/cool images.

I can give a $50 discount for two outgoing seniors from each school who are interested in becoming image reps. Image reps will receive image rep cards to distribute to their friends and classmates. They will be asked to post an image slideshow to their Facebook page (or other personal online site) and contact at least 25 students and promote my images. They will also receive a $25 image credit for each referral who books a session.

Come, join in the fun. Check out the Teens and Tweens page on my website www.bymelinda.com for more images.

Fun in the Sun

2009-08-07T22:12:00.002-07:00

Here are a few of my favorite images from Saturday's Fun in the Sun.

Fun in the Sun from Melinda Kolker on Vimeo.

No Posts in July - Got too busy

2009-08-01T15:59:00.004-07:00

July was a crazy busy month! I feel like I say that a lot. I'll try to be a better blogger in August.

I attended Image Explorations, a photography school in Canada, mid-month. It was a great experience. I have a lot of new marketing ideas that I'm excited to start trying out soon. I also learned a lot about lighting. Just before the course, I paid off my credit card. Now it is charged up again with lighting equipment purchases.

About a week after I returned from Canada, we left town again for a family reunion at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. It was a great trip. We all had a fantastic time - especially the kids! I can't imagine a better place for a reunion where there are so many kids. Here are a few pictures from the reunion. See what I mean about happy kids!

Catching Up

2009-06-29T20:28:00.002-07:00

Graduation pictures are posted at www.backprint.com/bymelinda.

Hopefully, I will have wedding sneak peeks for Connie and David by the end of the week!

Birthday Bash

2009-06-29T20:23:00.002-07:00

The images from the birthday bash are now available at www.backprint.com/bymelinda. You will notice that the birthday girls are mostly absent from the images. I want to save something as a surprise when I meet with their Mom.

Unexpected benefit

2009-06-13T07:26:00.004-07:00

At first I was a little disappointed that the yearbooks didn't arrive until the night before graduation, but someone had the idea for the kids to sign each other's yearbooks. They were running around after graduation in little groups signing their names by their pictures. It made me soooo happy!

Graduation Day!

2009-06-13T07:20:00.002-07:00

Riley graduated from Montessori Center School yesterday. He was so excited. He came bursting into our room at 5:40 AM saying "I'm so excited!". Wasn't he handsome!?! He helped pick out his graduation attire. He hasn't worn a tie since his Finalization Day when he was one.

It was a great day! He is definitely ready for first grade. Montessori Center School will always hold a special place in our hearts. This school has prepared him for so much in life. His teachers have instilled a love for learning and a sense of curiosity that will be a great benefit throughout his life.

We are going to miss this school! Images from the graduation party to follow soon.

Triple the fun!

2009-06-09T13:10:00.003-07:00

These three cuties just turned 5. They had an incredible birthday bash. The images from the party will be posted to www.backprint.com/bymelinda near the end of June.

Beautiful Baby

2009-06-05T20:30:00.006-07:00

I love my first newborn images! I learned a lot about planning and preparing for newborn sessions. It is more different from a toddler session than I thought it would be. But... I'm giddy because I reviewed the images with the family tonight, and they loved them!

I hope you enjoy them, too! Let me know if you can think of anyone with a baby. I want to make more beautiful baby images soon!

More Senior Portraits

2009-05-28T19:20:00.004-07:00

Nick is graduating next year. Here is a slideshow of his senior portraits. Isn't he handsome!

We took a trip to the zoo. It was a lot of walking, but I think it was worth the effort!

Montessori Yearbook

2009-05-26T21:19:00.002-07:00

I've been wanting to do a book about Montessori Center School for a long time. Here's the final draft. We may make a few changes before it goes to the printer, but this is pretty much it. The book isn't quite as detailed as I had planned in my head, but it is really special! If you are interested in purchasing a copy, I can make a few changes and remove the graduate section and add pictures from the year your child attended the school (as long as it was within the past few years while Riley was attending and I was photographing events). I hope you love it as much as I do!

It was really important to me that the gardens be documented before they are removed to make room for the light rail. I also wanted to have something special so we can remember the school and teachers. I can't imagine a better place to start an education!

Too bad it wasn't a 1-day tournament

2009-05-04T14:40:00.004-07:00

Riley competed in the 2-day State chess tournament. He was incredible on day 1. He said he was tired on day 2.

At the end of Day 1, he was in either second or third place. His last game of the day was played on table 1 against the #1 player at that point. He pulled out a draw (kind of like a tie), but the other player told the results keeper that Riley lost. There was some controversy when Riley's coach found out. It eventually got worked out, and Riley and the other player were awarded a draw. So, at the end of Day 1, Riley had scored 4.5 out of a possible 5.

For whatever reason, he wasn't as successful on Day 2. He lost all 4 games. It was good enough for him to take 12th place out of 34 children in his age group. The best part was that Riley took the losses in stride, made a new friend, and had a lot of fun. He can't wait until the next tournament. We even met some of the parents of the Sonoran Sky chess team. And, Riley's new friend will be in kindergarten at Sonoran Sky next year. It will be nice to have a friend there.

These chess tournaments are a big deal for a lot of the kids and the parents. At this point, it is still just a fun past time for us. I hope we can keep it that way and not get too competitive.

San Diego Vacation

2009-05-01T19:41:00.003-07:00

Riley's spring break was a few weeks ago. We decided to drive to San Diego and spend a few days there. Riley loved Legoland so much that we bought annual memberships and went three days in a row. I can't imagine a more perfect amusement park for a 6-year-old boy. The faces on the Washington monument and the inaguration scene are both made of legos.

We also went the an aquarium and the beach. After the beach, we asked Riley which he loved more, the beach or Legoland. He picked the beach. Too bad we didn't know that before we spent so much time and money at Legoland.

This part is from Riley:
Riley went into the deep, deep and really cold ocean. He said it felt great, but the adults thought they would freeze if they went as far as he went. And one of the surfers said "Hello!" to Riley. We stayed at 3 different hotels. Tower23 was our favorite because it had a really, really nice firepit near the ocean.

Wiggly No More

2009-04-26T21:21:00.008-07:00

Thursday morning Riley was really excited because he had a wiggly tooth. He wiggled it so much all day that it hurt when he went to bed that night. He came home from school on Friday and said the Miss Margaret (the resident expert on wiggly teeth) said it would come out either Saturday or Sunday or Monday.

Fast forward past a weekend full of baseball, Korean Children's Day, a quick trip to the Lego store, a chess lesson and bedtime on Sunday night. About half an hour after we turned out the lights, Riley called out that his tooth was gone. He must have wiggled it pretty hard while we thought he was sleeping and managed to pull it out.

He is so much braver than I was. My first tooth fell out while I was eating soft-serve ice cream. I wasn't about to let anyone pull it, much less pull it myself. Anyway, by the time I got upstairs Riley had a mouth full of blood and was proudly holding his tooth in his hand. We let him stay up and bask in the glory of his accomplishment. He's going to be pretty tired tomorrow, but I'm glad we were able to be there when he lost his first tooth. No more wiggly tooth for a while.

It is pretty hard to smile while showing of your missing tooth.

Prom Night

2009-04-26T21:06:00.005-07:00

I had the opportunity to shoot images of a special night for my cousin Nick. He and three of his friends met me before their prom. We had so much fun! What a great way to start the evening. Here are a few of my favorite images from the shoot. I still have some edits to do on the images, but I couldn't wait to share them.

And, I still have his senior portrait shoot soon! I think we will have even more fun when we aren't rushing so much. Nick, thanks for letting me be a part of your special evening!

Cool stuff

2009-04-08T14:50:00.007-07:00

I've been making some business identity updates lately. Here are my new business cards.

This is by far the largest logo I've had printed.

I'm making a few changes to my website. www.bymelinda.com I hope to have them published this afternoon. Make sure you check it out.

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

2009-04-08T14:34:00.006-07:00

Here are some fun gift ideas for Mother's Day...

Hey, I'll even giftwrap it and deliver it for you! How's that for customer service!

Six - Already?!?

2009-04-03T11:18:00.003-07:00

First grade is right around the corner! My little boy is growing up too fast! He had birthday parties at the Lego Store and Enchanted Island. Both were easy for Mom and Dad, but great fun for Riley and his friends.

My house is being taken over by legos. They are everywhere you look. I love them because he is learning to follow the instructions and build really big things all by himself. He also creates the coolest things when the original crumbles and he just plays with the pieces. Creativity, learning, building, playing - could you ask for more? Oh yeah, Mom and Dad get some quiet and can actually think when he is absorbed in his lego creations. Bonus!

SWING, BATTER, BATTER...

2009-04-03T10:35:00.003-07:00

Baseball season is in full swing! The kids are learning so much from Coach Bob, and we are all having a great time. Just look at the concentration on these kids' faces!

Sonoran Sky

2009-03-15T18:26:00.005-07:00

Riley will start first grade at Sonoran Sky in August. We went to the school carnival - a fundraiser - a couple of weeks ago. The goal was to let him experience something fun at the school before his first day there.

What a great experience! Riley could have stayed there all day. He loved all of the bounce houses, the art stations, the lego table, and the science exhibit. It was a hot day, and this is what happened in the car on the way home from Gram's.

Way Cool!

2009-03-15T18:11:00.003-07:00

I haven't seen anything this cool in a long time. Riley's permanent teeth show up on his x-rays!

As soon as they put these up, Riley started analyzing the images. He noticed right away that there were some permanent teeth that didn't have baby teeth to go with them. His molars even show up.

Based on the dates on the stickers, it looks like the permanent teeth have shown up for a while. The doctor said to expect the baby teeth to start falling out in about six months.

My baby is growing up. Here is scientific proof.

Merit Award

2009-03-09T16:13:00.005-07:00

The Arizona Professional Photographers Association held a print competition recently. I entered mainly to get feedback on my prints. I really didn't expect to win anything in my first competition, but one of my prints won a Merit Award.

Here is the winning entry.

Here's another one that the judges liked, but that didn't score quite high enough for a merit.

Sara is Graduating

2009-03-09T15:58:00.007-07:00

My niece Sara is graduating this year. We took her Senior Portraits at the Mesa Arts Center. Here are a few of my favorites from the shoot.

Congratulations Sara! Have fun at ASU next year.

Another First

2009-03-09T15:22:00.010-07:00

It's been a while since I've blogged. The good news is that it is because I have been extremely busy since I booked my first wedding job. The wedding was on Valentine's Day. I recently previewed the images with the bride, so I can now share some of the images with you.

Congratulations Dan & Stacia!

Imaging USA

2009-02-02T16:26:00.006-07:00

I attended the Professional Photographers of America convention (Imaging USA) in January. It was incredible. I learned so much.

I also bought some cool software that allows me to do paperless proofing with clients. Last night, I figured out that I could use our plasma TV as a display device.

I'm setting up some display space and rearranging my office so it is more of a studio. What a job that was! I still need to clean up the family room. I even made the curtains for the studio. Everything is working out pretty well.

I ordered photo jewelry to have as samples. I still need to pick the photos and finalize the order for the photo purses and other items that I bought at Imaging USA. I'm also learning the new software and configuring it.

Oh, I almost forgot. A friend of a friend called and asked me to photograph her Valentine's Day wedding. It is pretty exciting! I'm doing all kinds of research. It is a good time of year for researching wedding photography. The AZPPA meeting tomorrow is on wedding photography and the PPA magazine for this month is the wedding issue.

I'm working hard, learning tons, trying new things, and having a blast!

Little Dancer

2009-02-02T16:12:00.008-07:00

I don't want to spoil the fun of the reveal, so I just picked a few images from this little dancer's photo shoot. I had a lot of fun photographing her as she danced and as she practiced ballet moves.

I'll post my favorites after I get a chance to show them to the family.

Christmas Holidays

2009-01-07T20:29:00.006-07:00

We had a fantastic Christmas. Christmas Eve at Cyndi's house. Opening presents on Christmas morning. Then driving to Oklahoma (about 14 hours with a stop over in New Mexico). We even had a white Christmas driving through the Flagstaff area. The worst part about driving on Christmas Day is eating at Denny's twice in one day.

I know I've said this many times, but Riley is the absolute best traveler. He read and played with his Christmas toys pretty much the whole way to Oklahoma. Oh, and I forgot to mention how much we all love legos. They are the first toy we have found that Riley will play with for hours on end. I love how creative he is with them!

In Oklahoma, we had a great time with Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents and lots and lots of cousins! Riley loved having so many kids to play with. Too bad we don't live closer together. Riley even got a chance to learn to drive and operate a back hoe.

On the way home, we made such good time the first day that we were able to stop in Flagstaff and enjoy a couple of hours of sledding fun.

Montessori Center School Fundraiser

2009-01-07T20:03:00.004-07:00

Well, at least I have a few good reasons why I am behind on blogging. I organized a fundraiser for the scholarship fund at Riley's school. I have been photographing and editing the photos for 14 families at the school in addition to all of the holiday hooplah.

Here are a few of my favorites from the fundraiser photo shoot sessions.

Thanksgiving

2008-12-05T09:39:00.004-07:00

We spent Thanksgiving with Riley's friend Trey and his family. It was a great get-away in Wickenburg. The kids had so much fun scrambling up the huge hill near the house. It is great to see the kids have so much fun with found objects - rocks, nails, bottle caps... Riley and Trey have such a special relationship!

Montessori Center School Fundraiser

2008-12-05T09:29:00.005-07:00

The Robert family was the first to sign up for my fundraiser at Montessori Center School. Here are some of my favorite shots from the shoot. I love that the pictures were taken at the school!

Christmas Card Special

2008-12-05T08:47:00.005-07:00

The rocks and waterfalls were a great backdrop. Terrie and the kids were a lot of fun.

Check out my website for current specials.

Transformers Soccer Team Photography

2008-12-05T08:36:00.005-07:00

I was the official photographer for the Transformers soccer team. I designed a mini book that featured the coaches and each of the players. I also designed the team photos and the player cards. The player cards are my favorite! Let me know what you think. I can adapt this to just about any sport or activity. Let me know if you want me to set something up for your team.

Family Reunion

2008-11-03T19:49:00.004-07:00

It was a busy weekend. Jay's Dad and his brothers were in town from Oklahoma and California. We met up with the local crew and played games, built lego creations, splashed in the hot tub and ate, ate, ate... Riley loved having so many playmates.