The time has come...

...for DJMdesigns to evolve and change again; however, this time I will not be expanding or trying to accommodate more clients.  Instead starting after the Pumpkin Patch this year (2016) I will be dropping my event locations specials to once every four months (possibly once a month), one weekend in that month and limiting the number of standard onsite sessions I do each month, and accepting weddings at a limited capacity.  The focus that I need for my sons is more important and with the exceptionally low client numbers in 2016 and in reservations for the Pumpkin Patch (at its all time low by this time the last four years) it has become apparent that the time has come...it has come for DJMdesigns to slip quietly away and just become DJ McCullough, mother-writer-photographer.  I am currently not even making enough money to make it worth my while.  I am not sad about it; I am not even worried.  This is life.  I suppose ten years is as long as any small business runs and technically I don't even make enough money yearly to qualify for a business license.  I have a small select group of customers who have used me consistently over the last decade who will remain, my family members, and close friends.  I have other projects that could use my attention and my sons need me to be present for them in every sense of the word.  That has become apparent especially these last few weeks.  

By January I will be dropping the main business facebook pages, the website will convert to just a blog (not this one), and will be seen by a select number of people.  I will be keeping all of the committed dates for upcoming weddings, my new teen reps for senior photos, and honoring times with Hunter Farms (on a limited one weekend in October).  For those that have supported me and those who have always been there for me...Thank you.  Please send me friend requests on FB if you want to keep in touch.  I will still be taking photos, but for fun now...

April is Autism Awareness Month

I am a photographer, but always a mother first...my sons each have an autism diagnosis.  Currently every year 1 in 68 children are diagnosed on the spectrum; that is a 100% increase in five years.  Some say it's over diagnoses but if you met my boys (both only partially verbal) you wouldn't say that.  Brushing it under the rug, ignoring it, pretending that it doesn't affect you is not responsible considering the vast growth.  There is in fact NO known cause which means there is no cure.

My sons had had so many limitations foisted on them from the beginning that I look back and am grateful that I told the public schools at the time to stuff it.  I was originally told they would never be potty-trained, speak, or function properly in this world.  They do all three (although speech is a struggle after not receiving appropriate intervention in public schools).  

My oldest son loves his photos taken (the youngest not so much; they are extremely diverse.  All they have in common are red hair and an autism diagnosis).  Anyways, my oldest has recently expressed that he wants to model possibly.  Even though my initial reaction was to try to keep him

From it I realize it would be a great disservice to him.  I never want to put limitations on a potential we cannot know for sure it will be.  I always hope my sons know that I will move heaven and earth to give them what they want and support them in their endeavors.  This could be nothing or everything for Seamus, but we never know unless I let him take those steps.

Life is about growing up and falling down a few times along the way...but sometimes we don't fall; we fly.  I will be adding this link to the album I will share on social media and I am nervous as my son spreads his wings.  

What's happening...

I love writing and I love photography so I will focusing on the blog and posting links to read the new news about DJMdesigns more throughout 2016.  I am still using my most common medium for social media, but for whatever reason my Facebook photography page has had a few glitches and issues over the last eighteen months.  "What are they?"  You ask.  Let me break it down:

•Firstly, my messaging for my page stopped working several months ago.  Not helpful to a business at all.  

•Secondly, I haven't been able to post a photo album for almost two years.  It's why I share from profile to the page now (there have been hidden benefits to this).

•Thirdly, Facebook has been disoriented and telling my clients that I am in Yakima.  No such thing!!!!!!   I haven't left Western Washington and to be honest I don't particularly want to, either.  I love the rain, the green, and my Loyal Customers have been the bestest!!

Businesses evolve it seems with each passing year, especially small businesses as we struggle to meet demand and meet the expectations of an ever changing series of trends.  I see them all in my line of work.  I have to pay attention and I have to keep up.

This is still a small family business though.  I don't have employees which means I am not just taking pictures and editing, but my own receptionist, webpage designer,  marketing manager, blog and advertising specialist, and bookkeeper as well.  It is a one person operation, so hiring me means I may be a little slow to get new calendar dates up or respond to an email until the next day!  Some ask me why I don't charge more so I can pay for more help.  My answer is that it is much easier to find $50 than it is to find $150.  I make more consistent money doing the Event Location Specials than I do anything else.  This feeds and clothes my kids.  This isn't my hobby, this is my job.  I have to be practical.  Perhaps the best compliment I get regularly is:  "...these photos are better than photos I have paid $300 for."  Sure, I might get a single $300 client in a weekend (or month), but the specials can double that when booked out.  It's why I love them so much and why I will cater to those people most when it comes to scheduling.  Of course these are promotional and usually only at certain times of the year, but I am grateful to be working.  

With that being said, I so appreciate my return clients, my referrals, and those who support me.  You all are supporting my family, too.  That means the most to me.

Not everyone can handle non-traditional business models...that is groovy, but realize most traditional photos mean fake plastic smiles, non-specific or generic ideas, and they aren't personal at all.  I provide a service that is all about being personal.  I love that I have gotten to watch children grow, families get larger, and that I have had the opportunity to meet amazing and wonderful people.  

Best of all, it has helped me be the mom I need to be as well as the mom I want to be.  It is because of this very thing that my Loyal Customers have a surprise coming that has been a while in the making.  The next few weeks they will get to see it. I am excited and want to show how grateful I am to you all.  

The best is yet to come!!  ~DJ

The time has come...

... to make some changes.  During an economy that seemed to be dwindling my business had previously thrived.  In an age when everyone thinks that a nice camera makes them a 'photographer' other photographers seem to be failing and struggling; mine hadn't until recently.  In my specific field of onsite and event photography I was doing pretty well; that is until a few personal road blocks created issues far outside of my control.  People wanted me to be able to keep the studio and I couldn't and be a good parent to my sons.  SO, I worked from home again and worked around their needs.  I don't regret it, but in this day and age people are all about:  now, now, now and not about quality of work and respecting another person's time.  People take that 'customer is always right' thing and push it further than it was intended and sometimes it had meant that the courtesy of people went by the way-side.

In the almost decade that I have been in physical business, this last year has seen some of the hardest times that DJMdesigns has ever seen.  I have taken some blows personally, financially, and there have been some professional hits as well.  Customers have been really amazing and I LOVE my consistent and regular clientele a lot.  They have always been there for me; they have hired me based on who I am as a person as well as my specific skill set.  Not everyone pays attention to what kinds of photos I take and not everyone likes my style...and I have zero problem with that.

What I have an issue with is these same people have made special efforts to try to take my business in the Shelton area down.  I cannot say who it is, but will say this:  If you are hearing rumors and know who I am?  You know what I stand for and I will leave it to each and every single one of you to believe or not believe them based on what you know of me.  I stand by who I am and by the integrity by which I have tried to always maintain.  I will continue to do so and hope that in the end, people will make right choices.

Over the last few months, my business has been waning for the first time in years and I will not credit it to the gossip,  but instead will say it is the declining incomes of so many people that have lost their jobs connected to the longest and oldest business shutting its doors for a time.  Precious revenue will be saying good-bye for a while.  It is because of this and a few other reasons, that my little family will be looking elsewhere to live.  I have my eyes set in a few places after careful research of schools, economy, and potential for me to do other work.

DON'T FRET, THOUGH!!!  I will be continuing my work in Shelton on some of the weekends and will announce when I will be back in town. I will be starting a new system for delivering the discs, which will in turn mean a small increase in fees.  Just because I love taking photos doesn't mean I can do it for free.  I have to make a profit or it doesn't benefit my sons and that means it doesn't benefit me.  I will be starting a closed group on Facebook of my most loyal customers and they will get first dibs on special sessions AND will have special discounts.  I feel like it is fair considering all that they have done for me.  They have supported me when others haven't.  I appreciate them and acknowledge them.  AND with that...until next time boys and girls...watch for the new 'stuff' coming and the newest things in the works.

Any and all obligated sessions or weddings will be kept for the 2015 year...any new bookings will be on a special contingency. 

Working towards a newer DJMdesigns in 2015

Evolultion, change, progression...what do these words have in common?  Photography...at least my brand of photography.  I love learning and changing the way I do things; it means I am striving to bring you all the very best photography that I can bring to you.  I am constantly looking for ways to support my family while I still offer affordability.  It is and has been my goal to do this and I continue to strive for it...which brings me to what is coming in 2015.

New prices, new specials, new website design, new format, and hopefully just photography that keeps on getting better and better all of the time...SO watch for updates to the website and watch for new things to keep on coming.

BUT most of all I want to thank everyone that has taken this journey with me...supporting small business supports families.  I am every so grateful for the continued support that is given to me and my little family.

Well, hello stranger...

Well, hello stranger!  It has been a while.  I feel like it has been FOREVER since I have had a good sit-down-and-write session on the blog...oh WAIT it has been forever.  I feel like life and business are a never ending pendulum of crazy busy chaos and since business for me is part of my life...any disruption can be creative disaster and insanity.  But aside from the small calamity of life that has impeded my work in the last few months (along with a few other incidents that shall remain nameless) I am back to work and fired up for a lot of fun sessions in the next few months before taking my winter hiatus this year.  So watch for specials coming to a weekend this summer near you!

Changes are happening...

Changes are happening all around and I feel a small surge of renewed energy as we reach out and offer the studio as a cooperative place where photographers of all kinds can come in and work together in a time when so many are starting up and failing...we want to succeed and bring a positive working environment for the photographers and for the clients.  It will obviously have some issues and some hiccups, as all things that are new seem to do.  But I really am happy to announce that we have a brand new addition to the DJMdesigns family:  D Swofford Photography is joining the team and expanding our ability to reach everyone.  Last year we had to turn people away because I couldn't meet the demands, this year we are hoping that we can meet demand and grow at the same time.  It is my hope that we work hard and still be able to be with our families.  

I lost sight of why I really started the business:  my family.  My sons are my everything and without them I am nothing, so when a few incidents within the studio occurred because come clients were not happy that I could not keep up (along with things that occur that are far outside of my control) with what they wanted I decided that it was time to make a change or get out of the business. 

I want everyone to understand:   Digital does not mean instantaneous...it means convenient, no dark room fees, but it does not mean instant.  There is a process to making images look professional.  This is not Sears or JC Penney, this is a non-cookie cutter business that takes each client on a face-to-face value and investing time in them.  That means meticulous attention to detail.  With that being said, it is our hope that we get things done in a timely manner.  For example, for most photographers doing what we do it takes four to six weeks, but we work to get it done sooner than that.  I am happy to offer these things as a courtesy, because I want to be a nice person.

With that being said, I also should not have to worry about people being abusive or snide when I cannot keep up with the high volume of clients.  Either be prepared to plan your sessions accordingly OR realize in order for us to keep our prices low you will have to wait for your items.  You cannot have it both ways, so I hope that we keep our Sunday smiles and best on when you come in to greet our newest addition to the family...I want her to feel welcome and wanted.  This can be a superbly advantageous movement for everyone involved. 

So thank you for your patience, your understanding, and your support.  It is and always will be welcome and appreciated!    

Putting myself out there...

                So here I am…I am laying it all on the line for everyone in a very public way.  Most of it isn’t new news since most people who have been coming to DJMdesigns already know about my sons and why this business was started so many years ago…but after the chaos (the beautifully overwhelming chaos, mind you) of Christmas this year and some negative interactions with people this year it started to become hard for me to want to keep moving forward with the dream that has spun itself into my mind over the last few years.  It was over my little forced vacation at the first of the year that I realized that I needed just say what it is that I am feeling and thinking about everything that is DJMdesigns Photography.

                My sons are important parts to the equation of the business in a way that many people just cannot understand.  I have to lean heavily on a balance of letting people know who they are and that they are here and keeping their presence away from exploitation.  I am extremely protective and extremely guarded about much of their lives in the very public World Wide Web.  With that being said though, I am aware that there would not be a DJMdesigns without them and I would most likely have left all of the skills that I acquired from that journalism internship to the wayside years and years ago.

                I never knew that seven or so years ago when I began using the skills I had in photography to help make money for my family that I would be sitting at a computer typing away about what exactly brought me to this point and just how overwhelming the reception of my work has been.  I knew that when I moved into the studio that I would be taking on a challenge which I diligently researched long before actually taking the steps to do so (I am a bit of a preparer…I will spend hours researching a subject and days or months preparing for it no matter what it is) and was quite certain that I would not really gain any popularity until I had been in the studio for AT LEAST two years.  I had no idea just how quickly that I would gain in popularity.  But even so, it has been my goal to bring affordable rates to people in a time when money is hard to come by in a community that has been hit hard by the demands of the economy.  With that being said, it is important to really publically make people aware of the concessions that must be made to make this happen:

If you want to have great photography at such a great price (I am by far the least expensive business out there), then you have to be patient, considerate, and realize that there is only ONE person working to make this happen.  It means that you might not get called back right away and that email might be the fastest option.  I appreciate you all, but am trying to give you the best while still keeping my prices low.

I am one person.  I am hoping to bring another person in…we did try seasonally, but it was hard to do that after I became sick because there was zero time to train someone to do what they needed to do.  I will be trying to bring someone in again with a clear idea of what they will be doing soon, I hope.  But with those changes rates must increase (not by much) and I still will offer the discs with each package as a courtesy to you all, but I really need people to understand that in order for this to work I need everyone’s cooperation.  You are getting a superior product at a cheaper price and that equals:  longer process times.  I still go through a process and this is not JC Penney’s where it is all a cookie cutter mold and every image is the same.  It is a place where each session is about the person in it and that each family is given my 100% attention and time.  To assume anything less would be unfair.  It is with these statements that I invite your family to become part of DJMdesigns family.  I love my clients and I love the people that keep coming in and meeting our family and embracing them we appreciate and enjoy our time with you.  

                   Even after some of the things that have happened, I refuse to let things bring me down too much and thanks to a friend I am thinking of all of the good things that are happening.  We really love our loyal customers that have been with us from the start and welcome the new ones with all of the same love.  I really believe that 2014 is the breakout year for us and we invite you to help us make it happen.  Much love ~Doni

Some of what's coming in 2014!

          We are heading into our 2^nd year at the studio and I am so very excited to see what 2014 will bring DJMdesigns!  So much has changed and so much will change after the first of the year.  We hope that you all come in and join the fun that will be happening!  Some of the changes, to name a few, will include the Birthday Club, The Special of the Month Club, and Santa’s Helpers.  Each of these will have special perks for our returning clients and hopefully help people to know what is what each month (Details about these will be offered soon).

          The look of the studio is changing as we move the desk to open up the studio and perhaps let stay where we are for a little longer.  We love our little studio and our landlord, so we are happy to stay where we are.  We are realizing that we are outgrowing our space though and it will be a bittersweet thing when the time comes!  It is our hope that we will continue to grow as time goes on.  Along with the look of our studio changing, our website will be changing as well and hope that everyone takes the time to stop by and check it out when it is done.  Some of the major changes on our site will include the Senior & Grad title, which will become Teen & Grad (we are choosing Juniors that will grow into Senior Reps), Couples & Weddings, Family & Pets, Maternity to First Year, The Santa Experience, Hangin’ at the Patch, and Springtime fun.  We have big plans and bigger goals.  We hope that everyone can join us for this new leg of the journey.  We are so excited!  I cannot wait! 

          New people are coming in just to help me out and hopefully I can offer a part-time position to someone after the first of the year, but with that means some changes in rates.  As many of you know I really want to keep my prices low for families, but Christmas really showed me just how much help I need!  I was booked so back-to-back I couldn’t even answer my phones or check messages until after 9pm.  I did my best to get back with everyone, but it made it super hard to do with almost no time to do it…especially while I was so sick.  I had to take more time off than I normally do which just threw everything way off.  I am a one woman show these days doing it all and I love it, but the reality is it makes it hard to make sure that everyone gets what they need.

          The holidays were rough and I am afraid some people left unhappy (just another sign that help is needed), for this I am a little sad.  I am a very accommodating person and love being able to make sure everyone gets what they want in a timely fashion.  So with that being said, after several requests (almost 100) we will be starting Santa two weeks before Thanksgiving so that people can get their Christmas cards in.  However, Santa will only be available on the weekends and in the evening until Black Friday.  Three prices points will be added to Santa since some people didn’t want the full experience.  Times are tough and payment options will continue to be offered; but a deposit will always be required for sessions and will not be a separate charge from the entire package.  Some people were worried that it was an extra fee; it isn’t and will just hold your date.  We are in very high demand with people making appointments (especially at Christmas) months in advance out.

          Thank you all again for taking the time to read through this and coming in and supporting us!  We strive to keep our prices low, our studio casual, and the atmosphere one that will keep you coming back again and again!  Keep your eyes peeled for what is happening in 2014.  I do not think you will be disappointed!

 ~Doni, Owner of DJMdesigns

Santa Claus is coming to town!

Santa Claus…Santa is more to me than a fellow in a red cap sporting a white fluffy beard.  He is the embodiment of childhood which is a time when all seems possible, the world still seems like a good place to be, and there is a tiny inkling of magic lurking in each crevice of a season marked by joy, hope, love, and peace.  Last year was the very first Annual Santa Experience (even though we hadn’t decided to call it that at first) and was something that we thought could be a fun thing to do during the holiday season.  We never imagined it would become its own entity far outside that of DJMdesigns Photography and what my vision originally was…instead it became something much bigger than the entire business.

The Santa Experience is something that will embody a full one-on-one interaction with Santa and that will involve more than just a few moments on his lap in an over-crowded mall somewhere.  With our Santa there are no lines to be waited in (and as we no small children LOVE waiting in line for a long time), there is no rush, and best of all no pressure to sit on Santa’s lap at all.  It is our goal to let children be who they are, acclimate to Santa in a way that they can feel comfortable, and walk away with a positive experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives.  But most of all, we want them to want to come back and see us year after year and perhaps someday their children, too.

That isn’t all though, our Santa is accepting wish lists and letters with the intention of writing back.  We want this to be about community, family, and all that is important about Christmas.  We want our Santa to pave the way for a positive fun-loving experience that is just a little something more than a five second moment on his knee and a “see you next year” sort of deal.  We want it to be magical; we want it to feel real…and we want children to get a chance to be children in a time when sometimes it doesn’t seem possible for that to happen.

There is just one more thing that we think is really we want everyone to know about our drawing each year that will land some lucky families a visit from Santa on Christmas Eve right at their front doors just as one more thing that makes us part of this community!  So stop on by our reservation links or call ahead to see when you can come pay your deposit for your child’s special time with Santa.  We would like to become your new tradition each holiday season!  Please feel free to visit our website and click on The Santa Experience tab where you can find the reservation links:

http://www.djmdesignsphotos.com/