Loose Talk:The Studio Sinead Photography Blog

Important Information About Your Online Galleries ...

It has come to our attention that a number of you are having problems with our online proofing/ordering site.

First, let me say that we regret the inconvenience and are working to solve the problem. We have hosted our online proofing/ordering with the same company for a number of years without incident, but, because of some changes in their business practices, we will be moving to a self-hosted proofing and ordering system in early 2008. Until then, here are some important things for you to know:

1.) DO NOT register with the site when you log on to look at your photos. They will attempt to collect your personal information and email address but please know that they are NOT doing this on our behalf. They are not authorized to contact our clients or to sell you any products whatsoever. They are only authorized to process your reprint orders. We never give out our clients' contact information.

We already know how to contact you!  Simply click the button that says "continue", enter your password, and enjoy your photos.

2.) You must have cookies enabled on your computer in order to order photographs.

3.) Any photos placed in your favorites folder will only remain there for 24-72 hours. The favorites are geared toward those of you who wish to make a purchase, and not as a place to store your images for later use.  Again, this is a function of the host company and not something that we have decided.

4.) You cannot use the "album" function.

5.) In your online gallery, there will be a caption under each photo that says "photo id". For wedding clients, this number should match the number in your proof magazine.

Please let us know right away if you experience any problems accessing, viewing, or ordering from your galleries. We want your shopping experience to be a fabulous one and we are constantly working toward that goal. Thanks so much for your patience.

Dr. Dina and Friends ...

We had such a great time with Dr. Dina, her friend, Mary, and their children!

Have I mentioned that I absolutely love doing portrait sessions in our new studio? Well, I do.  I have always been an available light kind of gal (and I still love my on location sessions) but I adore having this new dimension to my work. And, let's face it, here in Michigan it's good to be able to go indoors from November to April!

Have a peek at Dr. D's session below. And if you want to have your portrait made, now's the time! The sale continues through December 8th. And please, please bring me a new toy for my Toys for Tots bin. It's empty!!! (Oh, the shame.) And yes, you can contribute a toy without signing up for a portrait session. We want to help the kids here in Washtenaw county to have the best Christmas possible! E-mail us for details.

It's On! ...

Our holiday sale is happening now. Find the details here. Please email us for more information and to find out about our unadvertised specials. If you are a 2008 winter bride, (December through March) email us for information about our Winter Specials.

Come on out, get a great portrait, and help us make a fabulous contribution to Southeast Michigan's Toys for Tots program.

Share the love, people!

See you soon...

Holiday Fabulousness (the really big sale) ...

OK, everyone, here it is: the sale you've all been asking about! I will post a link to all of the information at the end of the day, but here is what you need to know right now:

Holiday Mini-Sessions:  Our $250 session fee will be $200. Donate a new toy to our Toys for Tots bin and get your session for $150! The session fee is valid for up to four people. More than four? Extra people are $25.00 each! Due to space limitations, there is a maximum of six people for these sessions. Photos must be taken on or before 12.08.2007. Bookings are on a first-come, first served basis, payable in advance. Book now to avoid disappointment.  Session fee is for the time/talent of the photographers only. Online proofing only. Email our special holiday email address for more information and to reserve your spot. We are taking reservations for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday sessions. Forget the mall! Come see our super fab new studio and get a great portrait instead!

We will also be offering sale prices on reprints and, back by popular demand, we will have bulk 4x6s on sale! The more you buy, the more you'll save! Stay tuned. Much more to follow!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.  If you are traveling, be safe and please don't drink and drive. See you this weekend!

Stefanie + Matt ...

Sometimes, we really can't believe our good luck.

We ended our 2007 wedding season exactly as we began it: on a crisp Saturday afternoon in the company of a couple who are very much in love.

Matt and Stefanie were married in the ballroom of the Mansion at Pine Knob on Saturday evening.

If you follow this blog, you will realize that this is the second time we've been to Pine Knob in about a month. While we had a gorgeous day for our October wedding, we were quite worried about what surprises Mother Nature might have been keeping in reserve for us for our November visit.  We needn't have given it so much thought. The day was gorgeous, the light was beautiful, and Stef and Matt, along with their families, were a joy to be around.

There was much to love here. I could tell you about the shoes; the flowers; the cake ,or the beautiful pearls that Stefanie received from Matt as a wedding gift-- and all of those things were, of course, fabulous -- but what really stood out in our minds was the wonderful love that Stef and Matt share, and their absolute joy in being together. You could hear Stefanie's sparkling laugh in the halls of Pine Knob all afternoon.  Matt never seemed to stop smiling, either.  And when their pastor read a letter that Matt had written about his feelings for Stefanie, I'm sure there wasn't a dry eye in the house. I have never heard the distinction between loving and being in love expressed so clearly or articulately.

The wedding date was a very significant one for Stefanie: it was the anniversary of several other weddings in her family, including that of her grandmother.

"Everyone who chose this day has had good luck," Stef told me.

It was easy to believe. That same grandmother was present at this wedding and, in addition to being a fabulous dancer, she was as sparkling and vibrant as the bride herself.

And so it was that Stefanie and Matt signed their marriage license in a room where her grandmother's wedding dress, the satin now turned gold with time, stood watch. They had a wonderful day, a wonderful party and we just have a feeling that they are on their way to a wonderful life. For us, it was an absolutely fabulous way to end what has been an already terrific year.

Stefanie and Matt, thanks so much for allowing us to share in the joy of your day. Here's a little glimpse of what we saw:

Dr. D and Co. ...

We had a great time yesterday with Dr. D and her family.  They came in for their annual holiday session and, as always, they were so much fun to be around. I have lots more to post from this session, but I know that Dr. D is waiting for her sneak peek, so here it is! Enjoy! (Click on the individual images for a better view. And if anyone out there knows how to post large horizontal images to a Typepad blog, e-mail the studio. Please!)

Director's Cut ...

Our 2008 promo reel is almost finished.

As is our custom, everyone on our client list gets to see it on January 1st. But a few of you will have a sneak peek. Watch your email -- if you're in, you're in. And we have a special gift for you as our way of saying thanks.

Happy Wednesday...

And Speaking of Albums ...

It's that time of year again.

They laugh at me around here because every year at just about this time I swear that I'm going to stop offering albums. It's no secret that the process of distilling someone else's treasured memories into a 20+ - page narrative can be quite stressful. But then I have the opportunity to do an album like the one that I just finished for Jenny and Tom and I remember exactly what it is that I love about the process.

Jenny and Tom chose a Fine Art Album and opted for a clean, flowing, visually unbostructed design. My favorite. It's always wonderful to have creative freedom in what is essentially a collaborative process.

I also loved having the opportunity to work a little "magic" on the book's first image:

You can see the rest of the album if you click here. And yes, our album offerings are safe for at least another year. :)