Good-bye, 2012...

         …this is a year that will live in the infamy of my own personal history.  It will be the year that marks a time when I finally made the plunge; that I stuck my neck out there and found my place in a town that I had not really felt a part of until these last few recent months.  So much has happened since September that my memories of last January seem like a distantly vague acknowledgment of inconsequential nothingness in comparison, but I can say that I did not foresee all that has happened and most likely will continue happening for me in 2013.  In fact, during January of last year, I was happily living the humdrum little life of a quiet little homemaker, taking only the jobs that I wanted to while caring for my beautiful, amazing boys from the safe confines of my quiet little home…and yet here I am contemplating and planning out January of 2013 in a studio that has become as much of a part of defining who I am as my family has been.  I foresee a new definition of my person emerging and that one not only includes the lovely family that I have, but the community that I have immersed myself in as I move forward in my business and my new space. 

I love that all of the people that have come into the door of my little space have not only embraced me, but have embraced my family, too.  It was so important to me since my sons and my husband are so much a part of how I see myself.  As some of you know, my sons are Autistic and I really feel that this sort of public and social forum can only help them as we maneuver through the twists and turns of a new year full of possibilities.  I hope that as I move forward that this business can continue to represent the very best in family values, to encourage the vision (that is ever changing and evolving) that I hope the studio will become, and that I will be able to continue to offer only the best in photography to people.

Part of offering the best in photography to others has been getting to know each family and person that walks through the simple little door of my tiny little space.  It has been a labor of love to understand the people behind the pictures…each of you is so amazing that I want to make sure that each photo is a representation of who you are.  A person can have perfect lighting, composition, and framing…but if it says nothing about ‘who’ the people are and is not flattering, I do not feel that I have done my job.

So here’s to all of the new people in 2013 that I have yet to have met, here’s to all of the people that will come back to see me, and here’s to the changes that lie ahead!  The future isn’t marked and I can only see the endless possibilities of something amazing awaiting the future of DJMdesigns…which is really me.  I suppose at some point, I will have to loosen the shackles of shyness and quit referring to the business as a third party acquisition but a relevant and essential part of me.  

*HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!*   I look forward to seeing you all and hope you stop by today and ‘Ring in the New Year’ with $10.00 pictures.  We will be there until at least 6pm tonight!

Wrapping up Santa...

...has been bittersweet. I have greatly enjoyed the kids and watching their little eyes light with magic and wonder, but I have also worked very long hours and had almost no days off. Was it worth it? Absolutely! So much so, that I know we are doing it again next year; I know what I will be doing the same and what I will be doing differently...

I want next years Santa Time to be something different, amazing, and fun. I want children and parents alike to start wondering every year what we are going to do differently...I want there to be anticipation over it coupled with excitement...most of all, I want to make our Santa Experience just that an experience that will leave everyone with fond memories far into their futures. I am sure it is a tall order, but I am determined to make next year full of new memories.

This year sparked the First Annual Santa Drawing and we can tell you this much and by next year we definitely want to add a few more families to our visiting list. What a great moment in my business history! It was so rewarding and so fun that Santa and I knew immediately that we could easily visit other families on a Christmas Eve night as well with little difficulty and with greater enjoyment.

I know the kids were ecstatic, but I almost think we got the better end of the experience. I hope that they remember that moment in time for the rest of their lives and I am sure that I will! With this 2012 coming to its end, I have many more plans and holiday promotions happening in my mind even as I type out this blog. In fact, before Santa places his fur-trimmed cap upon his head in 2013, I think that everyone will be pleasantly surprised at what lies a head!

So if you haven't already stopped by to see me at DJMdesigns...come in and take a peak. We are little, but far from boring! Valentine's Day and Easter loom in the near holiday future...there are a few things that I have up my sleeves to make that special holiday or occasion worth all of the memories as those children grow older.

I am waiting....

...for all of the pictures to finish processing and as I look at each little face in each photo I catch myself smiling and reazing that 'just one more thing' that I want for our studio and Santa to be about for the kids for next year.  NEXT YEAR...yes that is a tall order there are eleven whole months before most folks start contemplating what is going to happen during the holidays, but I am finding out after this last minute Santa throw together what I want to keep, change, and add for the next year...AND just what it takes to make it all work.  

This Sunday was slow with one cancellation and a 'no show,' but that is okay...it gave me time to work on some photos for Monday orders.  I really love this work and where we are going in this community.  

So while many of you are busily shopping away or thinking about this year we are thinking about what next year might bring and who might be walking through our doors...  To next year...   

It's that Christmas Time of Year....

...at DJMdesigns Photography. Santa's Village (it isn't really a village yet, but we have high hopes for upcoming years) is in full force and as we maneuver through this new Seasonal Event we are finding that the vision that began it all is an ever changing process. Each new change brings about another set of ideas and concepts that hadn't previously been thought of before.

When the idea of Santa coming to our humble little studio came about, we thought of simple tasteful photos that parents would hang up at Christmas time each year. What we ended up getting were these amazing life experiences that seem to forever change the way we felt about Santa in general. Even more than that, it changed how I viewed my business. In fact, this whole move from my small home business into a studio has been more than a physical transitory process it has been one of the most amazing experiences (next to my children and marriage to my husband) of my life. It has become so much more than something I like to do, or even love to do. It is becoming something that I am beginning to appreciate on a much deeper level than I had ever anticipated.

Which brings me back to Santa, whose very presence has begun an incredible journey of not only fun moments with kids, but with incredible and amazing memories in our little studio. When I first envisioned my space, it was more of an idea to get my work out there into the public eye while still being able to offer affordable pricing in an unforgiving economy.

Now it is all about creating new experiences and moments with the people in the community that I live...it is about creating something that is special and not just with my pictures. It is about creating something within a community of people. Each whisper in Santa's ear, each tweak of Santa's nose, and every shiny eyed wonderment as little faces spy the jolly-faced man sitting in his giant chair waiting to hear what each child would like on that December 25th...Taking those standard upright photos with Santa became about capturing the moments of life where magic still exists and where there are purer and more wonderful things happening all around us.

Each click of the camera button, each shutter of the lens brings a whole new meaning to what I do each day and I am loving it. It is now when things are still pretty new for us in this venture that I realize that I want to create a photography studio reminiscent of simpler times, of times when the town photographer was part of the town in more than a pretty sign or colorful gimmick...We have already decided that Santa and the drawing (for those do not already know) that enters contestants in a chance to win a surprise visit from Santa on Christmas Eve to be something that we do every year. We hope in an effort to keep our prices low that we can build on this idea. That with each coming year, DJMdesigns will have something a little different and a little bigger than it was before. There is a lot to be said for keeping it simple and following a basic recipe.

I hope that all of you that have watched my business grow in the last few months continue to watch it grow and maybe you can even grow with DJMdesigns. There is a lot we want to do and we hope that we can give some of what we have gotten so far back to the place we live and to our neighbors very soon. Thanks so much, DJ

Making a change...

After years of sitting safely behind the confines of a small inhome office, DJMdesigns has decided that it was time to branch out...be in the world as it were...and we have done it!  We are on the countdown to have the Grand Opening in about two weeks.  Fast you say?  I say NAY, nay... it only took us six years to get here and I think it is about time that there was a Grand Opening! 

There are lots of plans and we are transitioning all of our stuff from the only place to the new and finding out exactly what we have and what we need.  We will keep you posted on the details and prices that we will be sharing it is going to be a big adjustment that I think we are more than willing to make.  I hope that you all come on by and say hello! 

What's Trending...

Photo booths...photo booths can be fun little cubicles where people can take their own picture, but recently they are also just sections set up during weddings, parties, and showers where the guests can go take funny pictures using various props to create fun memories during a time of celebration, too.  I love doing something fun and I am all about doing something that isn't always strictly traditional, so when one of my recent brides suggested that she wanted this at her wedding reception, I was all for it! 

After talking with her, I began to notice that there were pictures of this fantastic trend all over the place.  I want to see this go a step further...I want to see people invited to bring their own props for the pictures...How fun would it be to see what each person looked like with his or her own particular point-of-view reflected in his or her pictures?  I think it would be fun and interesting to say the least and perhaps help break people out of the mould of following these trends too closely. 

Being unique is part of what I love to capture in people. We all are unique and different in our own ways. We all have our own favorite color, type of books that we read, types of shoes that we like to wear, or if we wear hats or don't wear hats...it is all individual to the person. So I say, lets keep doing these wonderful photo booths, but lets mix it up some and come up with ideas that fall within the scope of the event's theme.



As can be seen...people had a lot of fun!

Photos taken 07/28/2012

 

Karecci-Swofford Wedding....

On Saturday, I had the priviledge to participate in the wedding of two really amazing young people...it was a beautiful day and a beautiful bride... I have to say, I was really impressed by the venue.  I have been around and seen a number of places, but this particular one was truly magical.  I loved that intense attention to detail by the owners and to my surprise...it was actually their home.  They invite people into their home and then celebrate amazing, memorable parts of those other people's lives with them.  I love it! 

The food that they had there was amazing and the service excellent.  I took special notice of how involved the owners were and how on top of things that they made sure to be.  They handle almost everything and did whatever the bride and groom needed to expidite the event.  The details were impressive and the accomodations for the wedding party to get ready in wonderful.  So here' s a little unsolicited plug by me for a place I would recommend to anyone looking to have an amazing event, amazing time, and wonderful service:

The Albees Garden Parties

4127 20th Lane

Olympia, WA  98502

360-866-4683

www.thealbees.com 

Ryan and Davina looked amazing and the love that they feel for one another was palpable.  I am honored that they chose me to capture those future memories for them and it was their special day that reminded me of why I started my business so long ago...I used to only do weddings and events and for some photographers it is their least favorite thing to do; for me though... it is my favorite.  There is something so mezmerizing and enchanting about the moment that a person says, "I do" to the one person that they know is their soul-mate...their one-and-only.  As for my position as photographer, I see my role as someone that is fascilitating future reminders of the wonderful love that two people can share with one another through the images I capture on their special day. 

 

It is has always been my goal to give the special couple something good to  remember about a day that should be all about happiness, love, and commitment to a life together.

 

Congratulations Davina & Ryan!!!

The Early Bird Gets the Worm....

          DJMdesigns is getting ready to run two different Senior & Grad’s promos in the next few weeks… The first one is all about getting your appointments schedule early.  Anyone that calls to get their senior picture appointments in the next month gets an instant 20% discount.  In the last few years we have had so many kids schedule at the very last moment and then it is crunch time....SOOO I am hoping that this is incentive enough to get them to follow through!  This special starts next Monday, July 23, 2012 and runs until August 23rd.  

          Be sure to get in on this deal…after August the rates go back up right after August 23rd.  DJMdesigns works appointment to appointment, so whatever time you need me…is the time that we schedule.  So call 360-285-3566 or email me at sales@djmdesignsphotos.com now and get your appointments before we all booked up!

         ALSO, watch for postcards that look like the one above to be popping up soon.  There are special savings that apply anytime and on any session (not just senior sessions) if presented at the time of service.  Things are changing, we are growing, and we hope to find all of you in our appointment books very soon! 

Introducing a few of our Senior Reps

            Saturday, the 14^th, I took the first in a series of senior pictures introducing two of my senior reps for the year, Ben & Devon.  I really loved every minute of it, and I think that what I love about doing senior pictures is that this school year in their lives is a major landmark event and a crowning moment of achievement as they take their first steps away towards adulthood.  Senior year is fleeting and times seems to speed up at crazy rates and before a kid knows it he or she is walking down that aisle to take his or her diploma from the extended hand of their principle. 

            It is my goal to help each of these kids turn their senior pictures into some that isn't just about doing it for Mom & Dad, but about doing it for themselves.  Senior pictures should be a representation of who these kids are and what they are doing in their lives right now, because there will come a time, twenty years from now, when those kids (who haven't been kids in a long time) will look at their pictures and remember when...they may laugh at their clothes, they may snicker at their hair... they may even start reminiscing over the good times that they had with friends from long ago.  But it is these pictures and the ones that they are taking with their phones that will truly showcase their lives at this very moment in time.

          So here are two of my reps for the 2012-13 school year:

 

           

   What for upcoming Specials! They are coming soon!      

Be sure to stop by our website:  http://www.djmdesignsphotos.com/

for more information and call 360-285-3566 for more information or

to schecule your appointments with us!

email:  info@djmdesignsphotos.com

           

             

Love is in the air...

               On July 8, I had a great opportunity to share with family something that I really love doing.  My brother and his fiancé asked if I would do their engagement pictures.  What an awesome experience to share with them one of the major milestones in their lives together.  I love my work and a lot of that has to do with the gratification I feel by helping to create and preserve important moments in others lives for them…with them.  So imagine how wonderful it was to get to do what I do best for people that I have known for years (and in my brother’s case his whole life).  The pictures turned out amazing and the love that they have for one another translated well.  Thank you little brother for allowing me to participate in this part of your life!  I will treasure it always.

        

        I had the great opportunity the day before to do another couple’s photos the day before.  Even though I barely know them, I still desire to provide them with great pictures.  There is something special about what I do and I am not saying that because it is something that I love.  I say it because people hire me to help them to preserve those fleeting moments in their lives.  Years later, these people will be looking at their pictures and remember something magical was happening that day or remind them of another time in their lives.  People are inviting me in, even if for a short moment in time, to be part of something important to them.  Weddings, engagement, maternity, newborn, graduations… these are all landmark times in one’s life and there is nothing more important than remembering them. 

          Pictures…images, if done right, can do that.  They can capture those special moments that one might forget until he or she takes out that album or puts that disc in the computer and the day comes back as fresh as the day it happened.  That is what I look forward to every time I take that camera out of the bag. –DJM