My youngest daughter at the Galveston photographed with a point and shoot, 2008 age 5

Recently us 5th grade parents were asked to send in baby pictures of our 5th graders.  This caused me to rummage through a box of old pictures.  Over and over again, memories started flooding back of when my kiddos were younger.

“Why didn’t I take more pictures?  They will never be this age again.”

“Who’s that?”

“I wish I knew more about photography then as I do now.  So many out of focus images. And why isn’t his foot, hand, or elbow in the frame? ”

And…

“Gosh I was skinny then.  Why did I think I was so fat?”

Can you say “regret” and “wistfulness”?

Memories crammed into a plastic storage bin.  You would think that as a photographer I would be better at organizing and displaying my own photos, but I’m not.  Other peoples – yes, but my own – no.

So I’ve decided to giving photography classes to people so that they don’t suffer from the pangs of “photo-regret-tidus“.   Life is too short.  The kids grow so fast.

So my first “HOW TO BETTER CAPTURE MY KID’S PICTURES “ class will be:

Date:  Friday, May 11th

Time:  10 am – 12 pm (Maybe a little longer to answer questions or if we want to eat together.)

Place:  My house (I will give you details when you contact me.)

Cost:  $50

CONTACT ME TO SIGN UP 

If time and date doesn’t work for you, still contact me and if I have enough interest, I’ll create another class.

Also contact me if you are interested in summer teen photography classes, private or evening or weekend adult photography classes.

What will be covered… basic photography, composition, “what do all of those things on the dialy mean“.  I will answer any questions you have.  Bring your camera and your user manual if you have it.  No childcare will be provided and babies are welcome if they are not mobile.

Note:  Jenna Whidby has been a teacher for over 20 years, she is in the process of obtaining her Certified Professional Photography certification, and is the 2011 Professional Photography Guild of Houston Aspiring Illustrative, Child/Children’s, and Individual Photographer of the Year.

While I offer web sized images (of my choice) with every session, timelines images are ALSO offered with any purchase.

YAY!

WHAT CAN WE CREATE TOGETHER?

Let me show off how wonderful their storyboards looked:

Don’t ‘cha just love them?

Children feel special, appreciated and loved when they see images of themselves placed in the home.  In my little way, I love when I can help the world be a better place and assist others in their goals.

Did you know that most people think that it is illegal to pick bluebonnets?  Did you know that in the State of Texas, it is not illegal?  Not to say that, it’s something that you should DO because now that you know it’s legal, go crazy, but…  just saying, I find that interesting.

My son handed these to me, and I really didn’t want to hold them because, at the time, I was afraid I was wrong about the legalities of bluebonnet picking and that I would get arrested… or at least have somebody make a frowny face at me and give me a busy body lecture about what a bad human being I was for picking bluebonnets.

No one was arrested or lectured… thank goodness.

This is a picture of me and my children… taken by my husband… one of the few pictures I have of us.

Sitting in the bluebonnet field.

AND HAVE A HAPPY EASTER PEOPLE!!!

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Professional Photographers Guild of Houston’s 

2011 BEST ASPIRING CHILD/CHILDREN PHOTOGRAPHER

2011 BEST ASPIRING INDIVIDUAL PHOTOGRAPHER

2011 BEST ASPIRING ILLUSTRATIVE PHOTOGRAPHER

CONTACT ME TO BOOK YOUR SESSION TODAY! 

‘Tis the season for animals everywhere to breed have large litters and be dumped off at one of the various animal shelters around the city.   These animals are just a FEW of the great amount of animals at the Montgomery County Animal Shelter, and are in desperate need of a good home.

I’ve been very fortunate to have some VERY special pound pups (actually they were adult dogs) in my life.  They seemed very grateful to be adopted and turned out to be GREAT FRIENDS, LOYAL, INCREDIBLE GUARD DOGS, LOVING, and MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY.

Look into the eyes of these sweet animals, and you will know that maybe you would like to bring them home today.

BOOK before the end of March

and

receive your session for only $10!

(Regularly $225, Minimum purchase order $350)

Details:

• $75 retainer fee will be due at the time of booking, $65 of that will go towards print purchases
• Must Book before March 31st
• While the sessions usually do NOT last three hours, please make at least a three hour window for this session

CLICK HERE TO CONTACT ME!

What is there not to love about newborns?

(Especially when you get to play with them and give them back to mommy and daddy.)

As some of you know, I am ATTEMPTING to earn my CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER credential.  To earn this I  must pass a very difficult examination (which I did) and now I need to pass the image submission portion (which I still need to.)
The examiners are VERY VERY picky… the lighting, clothing, posing, composition must be PERFECT or my client images will not pass.

So this is why I am offering $10 portrait sessions… to encourage you (my peeples) to take the leap of faith and have some stunning images created that will last a lifetime (not such a bad deal for $10 bucks.)

What will you receive for your hard earned $10 dollars?

• A web size image (not big enough to print, but GREAT for showing your friends and family on FACEBOOK or in EMAILS.)
• The chance to purchase prints, albums or canvas wraps that you will be able to hand down from generation to generation.  Right in the comfort of your home, too.
• For every print you purchase, you will receive a web sized image of each image.

 LIMITED NUMBER OF SPOT AND TYPES OF SESSIONS

FAMILY  (couple, any age children with or without parents)  Knight

FAMILY  (couple, any age children with or without parents)  Blute

FAMILY (couple, any age children with or without parents)

TEEN (13-19)  Marshall

TEEN (13-19)  Kirby

TEEN (13-19)

CHILD (6-12)  Zavatsky

CHILD (6-12)

CHILD (6-12)

If you do not fit into one of these categories or missed out on one of the nine spots, then do not worry.  I can give you the $10 session fee deal too; but there will be a $350 minimum purchase and a $75 retainer fee ($65 will go towards your purchase.)

The first people to pay their session fee will receive these spots.  (Contact me, if you would like to be place on a waiting list.)

Jenna Whidby is the Professional Photographers Guild of Houston’s

201 1 BEST ASPIRING CHILD/CHILDREN PHOTOGRAPHER

201 1 BEST ASPIRING INDIVIDUAL PHOTOGRAPHER

201 1 BEST ASPIRING ILLUSTRATIVE PHOTOGRAPHER

$10 SESSION FEE (NORMALLY $225)

Starting in March and going through April, I am planning on photographing my Certified Professional Photographer Image Submission Sessions.  I am going to ONLY offer a handful of these sessions,  (3 family, 3 senior or teen, 3 children aged 6-11,) so if you would like to be one of the ones who are the first to jump on this opportunity, then I NEED your email address below.

WHEN I AM READY, I WILL FIRST SEND OUT AN EMAIL ANNOUNCEMENT, AND THEN THE FOLLOWING DAY MAKE A BLOG POST ANNOUNCEMENT… I swear.

ENTER YOUR EMAIL HERE

As some of you know, I am seeking to earn my Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) credential.

 Part of the process means that I need to submit prints from ACTUAL client work.

SOOOOOO this is where you come in… I am looking for  families, children (ages 6-11,) teens and high school seniors who are interested in having custom portrait work created.

The requirements are these:

1. $10 NON-REFUNDABLE SESSION FEE, must be paid in advanced.  This amount will guarantee to hold your spot.
2. All of my print product (canvases, prints, frames, cards, albums) WILL NOT be discount.  So please be aware of my prices.
3. Be aware of COPY RIGHT LAWS:  “The Copyright Act protects photographers by giving the author (creator) of the photograph the exclusive right to copy, edit, and distribute image by sale or transfer.These exclusive rights make it illegal to copy, scan, edit, or share photographic prints and digital media without the photographer’s permission. Violators of this Federal Law will be subject to its civil and criminal penalties.”(NOW… I know that I don’t REALLY need to say this to MOST people.  However in this digital age, copying images is just so easy… and after all… EVERYBODY seems to do it.  However, it would really hurt my feelings to find out that one of my clients took my images and made illegal copies.  This is how I make my living, pay for my expenses ~gear, professional dues, training, overhead, etc.~, and after doing SO MUCH work for you, much of what you do not see… WELL… it’s kind of awkward to discover that someone did.)
4. You will give me creative control.  I will pick where and help you make suitable clothing choices.  (Obviously I want you to be happy with the prints.  FOR EXAMPLE, if you are a High School Senior who more wants something edgy and or urban, I am going to photograph you Downtown.)
5. You need to sign a model release.
6. Any parent must agree NOT to yell at their child to SMILE.  (I assure you, that will not get the best results from your child or your photographer.  Believe or not, after working with children over the last 20 years, I am pretty capable of coxing what I need from children.)

So-far, what I have described above, it not a whole lot different from my normal sessions… minus… I hardly EVER discount my sessions.

More DETAILS to come in the following weeks.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME!

I WANT TO CREATE THE BEST IMAGES I CAN FOR YOU!

*As part of the CPP requirement, I cannot use any images from work that I do for free.