Sharing My New Office

This is my new office and I love it!  I has been a pretty big change for me and our house hold,  but it sure beats working in the living room!

I now have plenty of storage instead finding places here and there throughout my house to store things!  I have found that garment bags are perfect for backdrops.  Now I just need a table or cabinet for packaging prints.

I fixed up this old corner cabinet from my father for my camera collection.  I will have to take a little better picture sometime so that you can see all my camera’s!  In the process of taking these pictures I discovered that there has to be a trick to interior photography so that you do not get distorted pictures.  Something that will bug me till I figure it out.

I didn’t think to take pictures of the room before I started painting but this was my daughter’s bedroom with lime green walls, lavender trim and a pastel sea green/blue closet (she picked the colors out).

I have an open door policy to which everyone loves especially my supervisor.  He loves sleeping in my office and sometimes is takes his job a bit too serious!

 

For some of you who kept up on my progress on Facebook, you know that I had a terrible time getting this office finished!  I’m just glad that I made the decision to do this!

One last thing…  I ordered some of my first enlarged prints of my macro nature art.  I can’t wait to get them from the printers and have them framed to hang in my office!

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Object: Clothes Pins

This challenge is suppose to encourage you to use an object as your focal point and inspiration!  Composition, focal points and framing can really make the difference in whether an ordinary everyday object could even be interesting to photograph or to even look at.

So I am going to tell you the story about this photo that I am entering for this Week’s Photo Challenge.  I love to hang my laundry outside during the warmer months in Michigan.  As a challenge to myself, I decided to see if I could photograph clothes pins!  To make it a little more interesting, I hung my colorful neoprene lunch bags on the line with the clothes pins.  I was just looking to see if I could make it look interesting enough to capture someone’s eye!  Anyways, I like the photos…

Weekly Photo Challenge: Object

New Way to Pay for your Prints – Introducing the PayPal Button

I am so excited today to share the New PayPal Button on my website! I am a huge fan of PayPal and I use it whenever it is available.  Now I can offer you this feature on my website!!!!

No more limiting my customers to Credit or Debit cards….  one click of the button and you can log into your PayPal account and purchase your prints.

If you have not used PayPal before, it is supper simple and easy to set up and account.  Go to PayPal and set up an account.  You have the option to use credit cards or debit cards as your payment option but even better…  you can have PayPal set up to use your checking or savings account for your payment!

That’s right…  You can now pay for your prints with your checking account from my website!!!!!!

No more shuffling around to find your Credit or Debit card to make a purchase!

Char

Re-introduction to Photography by Char!

Almost 1 year ago I made my first post to this blog dated February 25, 2013.  I was extremely excited because I had hired someone to design me a Logo, Website and this Blog!

However, I did not follow thru with posting to this blog as I originally promised.  Shoot, I didn’t even keep my website design for a year! The Logo was the only thing that I truly kept.

So now that I have admitted this to you, my readers and customers, this is what I plan on doing in the future…

At least 1 blog post a week…  I PROMISE.  A blog post may be about a session, sporting event or team, something that I am offering, or how to do something website, ordering or photography wise.  You may even find more posts like my last one “Weekly Photo Challenge: Beginning“.  Or I might just share someone else’s work that I found inspiring.

My goal for this blog is to draw more followers and customers.  I would like to be able to entertain but also provide informative information and share my work with the world.  When you read this blog, I want you to want to come back and read more or to at least gain you as a customer.

Okay…          I will be honest…                   both would be extremely nice!

Something about myself that you may not know… I am shy.                 Yes, a shy photographer who loves covering sporting events!

One might ask, “How does that work?”         Well…        it is like this…         I really depend on word of mouth.  When I am feeling courageous I might introduce myself to a new coach or parent and hand out business cards.  Believe it or not…    Facebook has been a tremendous help in this area!

As a photographer I am all about what I am photographing.  By that I mean, “It is all about you, the client, the team, the athlete and the sport that I photographing.”

I am not about the perfect pose or studio settings…   but instead, I love capturing what you or a team wants me to capture in the natural setting of being “on location”.

I love discovering the dedication of an athlete to the sport they love or the character a senior brings to their own life or the love between two people when they join lives forever in marriage.

Oh, and one more thing about myself…

I am also a mom.  A mom who has lived with those not so nice sports portraits of my children.  A mom who has coached little league soccer teams.  A mom who is very proud of her children and her work…

A mom who has developed a photography business based on my experiences as a mom and the inspiration that has come along with that experience.

My name is Char and I hope to be “Your Sports & Portrait Photographer” in the future!

Daily Prompt: Show us You 1/17/2014

Memory Pages are not just for Sports but can be created for ANY School, Sport or Event!

My 12″ x 12″ Memory Pages can be customized to your school, sport or event!  One way to find out how to order a Memory Page from me is to go to my Website, scroll down to the Sports Folder, click on it and you will find the following information…

12″ x 12″ Memory Pages cost $25.00 each.  Starting in September, 2014 – when you purchase 4 Memory Pages you will receive your fifth Memory Page for FREE.

Here are some examples of Memory Pages from Union City 2013 Homecoming…

and here are a couple examples of Memory Pages done for Harper Creek 8th Grade Football.

Memory Pages are 12″ x 12″ and perfect for Scrapbooks.  You can also find frames for 12″ x 12″ prints at various stores.  Memory Pages are an excellent way to display your Senior’s accomplishments and participation in various sports and events for their Graduation Open Houses!  A Memory Page makes a great present and is a keepsake that will last forever with proper care as they are professionally printed.

To order your 12″ x 12″ Memory Page, contact me with the Athlete’s Name, Number and Sport/Game/Event they participated in by sending me an email, message on Facebook, filling out the contact form on my website or by calling me at (517) 767-3013.

I do offer the option to have a Memory Page mailed to you with a tracking number and in a cardboard sleeve for an additional $5.00.  For more information on having your Memory Pages mailed, please contact me.

 

Prints or Downloads

I have had a few people inquire about how to purchase Prints & Downloads from my website.  Here is a quick break down on 2 ways to purchase Prints & Downloads from my website…

All galleries will have a button “Add to Cart” in the upper right hand corner.

When you click “This Photo” you will be taken to this screen.  Select the size print you would like to purchase and then you can click “Back to Photos” to add more to your cart or “Checkout” to purchase the prints you have in your cart.

You can also click “Downloads” at the top of the shopping cart.  This will take you to the screen shown above.  Here is a break down on the different sized downloadable file that are offered

– Low Res (1Mpix) is about 1000 x 1000 megapixel file.  This will work for 4″ x 6″, 5″ x 7″ and possibly 8″ x 10″ prints.

– High Res (4Mpix) is what you would purchase for good quality 8″ x 10″ or larger prints (reasonably sized).

– Original File is just that.  It is my original file which is high quality and resolution.  This would be purchased for printing large poster      or larger prints.

All downloadable files come with a personal print release which basically states that you can print these photos for your personal use. You cannot resell any of my files or prints.

This screen viewed above is what you will see if you select “Photos from this Gallery” when you click on “Add to Cart”.  This screen is actually pretty cool if you have several pictures in a gallery that you would like to purchase!  You can select the Print Size or Download that you would like to purchase and then just click on each of the pictures that you would like to purchase.  Once you click “Add Photos to Cart” you can continue on to another gallery and purchase more!

Prices shown here are for Sports and Event Galleries only.  If you are interested in Portrait Session & Prints Prices, please contact me.

Thank you for your business and support but even more so…  Thank you for allowing me to photograph your athletes!

I thought I would take a moment and tell you a little bit about Myself & Photography by Char

I grew up in Athens and graduated from Athens High School (Charlotte Converse).  Shortly after I moved to Union City where I was married and started a family.  I since then I have divorced and now live just outside of Tekonsha with Mark.

I have been asked if my photography skills came from taking classes or if I am self-taught.  The answer to this question would be both.  I started taking sports pictures of my brothers when they played baseball, basketball and football with a 35 mm film.  I also did some portrait and candid work at weddings, anniversary and birthday parties.  I did take a black and white photography class where I learned how to develop my own film and prints in a dark room.  I bought my first digital camera several years ago and I have taught myself how to use it.  It has taken me a long time to get where I am now.  At the age of 44 I finally turned this passion of mine into a business, Photography by Char.

Another question that I have been asked has been “Do you ONLY photograph Union City School Sports?”  The answer to this is NO!

My 2 children have attended Union City Schools and have been involved in sports pre-k thru graduation.  Union City has been a wonderful place for me to start my business but I certainly do photograph for other schools and communities.   For example:

1)        I have always enjoyed photographing any Athens vs. Union City sporting competition.  I have also photographed Athens Winter Homecoming, their 2013 Follies and followed the Lady Indians to Regional and State Final Tournaments at the Breslin Center.

2)      I have also traveled to Battle Creek to photograph Harper Creek Middle School Football, Freshmen Volleyball and traveled to Coldwater to photograph the Varsity Harper Creek vs. Coldwater Football game this past fall.

3)      I have been asked to travel to Battle Creek for Baseball this spring/summer and to Marshall for Soccer.

4)      I have had parent customers from Athens, Bronson, Harper Creek, Quincy, Union City and

I do not charge at the present moment to attend and photograph a sporting event or other special events (dance recitals, proms, etc).  I also do not charge to travel to your home school to shoot a Portrait Shoot of a team or group.  I rely solely on the sale of my photographs and portraits to athletes, parents and coaches.  I also work with schools and coaches to provide photographs for the organizations and publications.

I also photograph Seniors & Families along with Weddings.  These have mostly come from my work as a Sports Photographer!

I have found a real joy in my ability to provide documentation of not only an athlete, team, school year but the life of these teens, young adults and families.

Now that my kids are grown (Martha graduates this spring!) I am looking to expand and cover more schools and teams in the area.

Now would be a great time to schedule those Summer and Fall sporting leagues for Portrait Shoots and Game Coverage.  You can contact me and request a photo shoot on my website www.photographybychar.com, by email photographybychar@gmail.com, by phone at (517) 767-3013 or by commenting here on my blog.

Welcome to Photography by Char Blog!

Not only do I now have a blog but I also have a new logo and website!

This has been a really exciting time at Photography by Char.  I started by hiring jR Customization  (www.jrcustomization.com) to design a logo and redesign my website.  jR Customization also made the suggestion to start a blog for Photography by Char with the launch of the new website.  After some discussion the decision was made and here we are!

You can visit the new website at www.photographybychar.com.  You will find 4 sections with slideshows, portfolios, information and new drop down menus.  Accessing sporting events and school events is easier with one word passwords which means ordering will be easier.  Easy Client Login process to view, proof and purchase your portraits.  There is also a Contact page that can be used to inquire on more information, bookings and ordering the Memory Pages & Posters that I have been creating.

You can also subscribe to this blog!  I will be blogging at least once a week covering such things as photo shoots, events that I photograph, specials, and athletes.  With a busy season ahead of use this spring you could be a future feature of my blog if you are a 2014 Senior, Spring Athlete, Getting Married or decide to have Family Portraits done!  I am looking forward to sharing my new adventures at Photography by Char with you!

– Charlotte