Lori Ivey Photography

East Texas Family Photography

2012-01-31T05:36:00.000-06:00

This chick is awesome! I really don't know anyone funnier than she is. One text message can leave me rolling and wishing I hadn't just drank a Big Gulp. And her family is LOVELY. These boys - they are something else. And that husband - adores her.

Sweet Family Shoot + Headshots

2012-01-27T04:53:00.000-06:00

I've known this family for quite a while now. When I was a stay-at-home mother of 2 little ones, many an afternoon would find me at B's home - the kids playing - the mommas playing cards and visiting. And the food! There was always food at B's - the BEST food! It feels like a lifetime ago - but I'm so lucky to have the memories!

I was more than happy to update their family images - plus get a few headshots for their church website. You can check their church out here: http://gracecreekchurch.com/

Sweet Valentine

2012-01-26T16:06:00.000-06:00

Oh how I enjoyed these sweet little ones in the studio on a cold January day. I can't wait to create custom Valentine cards from this session - how fun is that!?

I got to photograph this little one when she was only 10 days old.... My how they grow in only 5 months!

So sweet how big brother is looking at baby sister - love.

East Texas Family Photographer

2012-01-25T05:32:00.000-06:00

I LOVE this family. I look forward to their session every year. And not because they are amazing and sweet - but FUNNY. If I could film the antics these 3 pull BEHIND me while I'm shooting - just to get this little man to smile - well that video would be the definition of VIRAL. We laugh and play - and more than anything - I love getting to see this little guy grow every year.

Thank you M Family for letting me into your lives! (And we make THE BEST Christmas cards together!)

Foggy Fall Family Photos!

2012-01-24T05:45:00.000-06:00

Foggy Fall Family Photos - say THAT 3 times fast! I'm not going to lie - when I first pulled up to one of my favorite photo locations and saw that THICK fog I was a little worried. I usually arrive to a shoot 15-20 minutes early to scout out my spots and create a plan for our shoot together. I've learned being completely prepared ahead of time really helps me focus on setting the family at ease - instead of worrying about the next pose or lighting situation.

Thankfully - the fog began to lift - and I think it looks incredible! Not to mention this beautiful family - how could you mess this shoot up!? You can't.

Sweet K Family - thank you for letting me spend some time with you this past Fall.

On that note - I'm about 23 sessions behind on blogging and hope to being catching up soon.

Sibling Shoot ~ Lifestyle

2012-01-14T15:24:00.000-06:00

Charlee and Natalee were great. Charlee tore up the studio as any proper one-year-old should, and Natalee is so motherly towards her little brother. Natalee you've seen on here before - she's mine. Charlee is her half-brother and we think he's adorable!

Studio Tour

2012-01-10T14:32:00.001-06:00

I've finally gotten around to writing this post. I've had a few questions from other photographers about my studio. When I was building and planning, I loved NOTHING more than a great, visual studio tour for ideas.

Even though I'm a natural light, on-location photographer, I've always dreamed of having a great space to not only work and edit in, but also to host clients and even have a place to shoot small children and newborns. With the advent of Pinterest earlier this year I was able to let my imagination run wild!

I wish I had before pictures - but the studio, before it was a studio, was just a dusty old two-car garage. Nothing fancy. It DID have AC vents when we moved in, so that was one thing I didn't have to worry about. Also in August, I flew out to California to work alongside Megan Squires who also has a natural light studio. She does an amazing one-on-one mentorship for newborn photographers and you can learn more about her here: http://www.megansquires.com/

In August I got the go ahead from Mr. Man and we dove right in. The two months prior to that were full of planning and designing (you know I had a MASSIVE spreadsheet going, not to mention idea boards). And - I was on a budget. I was not only building a studio space, I was also having to buy equipment, back drops, back drop stands, blankets, props, etc. so that I could shoot in the space when it opened.

We hired a contractor to take out the garage doors and install a wall of windows and french doors. The windows would be my shooting light. Everything else we did ourselves.

I got my sign made at a local sign printing company.

My canvas wall. I've had a lot of questions on the dimensions so here they are: (2) 24x30 and (4) 24x16. From Canvas on Demand Pro - 1.5" thick. Book paper wreath from a local store: Sew Junkie Boutique. I also have gotten several of my newborn knits and petti-rompers there.

I got my dresser from IKEA and use it to store blankets, knits and small baby props.

I think clear promotional pieces are important. I have a small folded pricing guide that also explains my digital collections. This seems to really help my clients make buying decisions.

Accordion album from Miller's.

I have a couple ledges with some prints in different finishes. Shown here is metallic and my other favorite - Fuji deep matte paper. (I've only been able to find this paper at Pro DPI.)

This is the back wall of the studio. I have a small seating area in front of the desk. To the left is a flat screen where clients can view their images from the iPad (which they hold in their hands during the ordering session). Chairs - I got both from TJ Maxx. Curtains - IKEA (cut myself and did the iron-on hem thing - so proud of myself as I am domestically challenged in a big way). Desk - freebie - woot! Tissue Poms - Etsy: I've used her many times and she is SUPERB: Prost to the Host

To the right of my desk I have another sitting space. I want to mention, because I was working with limited space (around 550 sq. ft. not counting the storage in back), I wanted to make sure everything was multi-purpose. The chairs, stools, couch - I wanted to be able to incorporate them in shoots as well. This couch I found online for a steal. Coffee table - something old I already had. Suitcases - found at a flea market. In the back corner you can see some of my drops from Rock the Drops. Love them and you can find them here: http://rockthedrops.com/

Also - I have about 200 sq. ft. of storage in the back for props and all kinds of equipment.

I also get asked a lot about the "mural thing" behind the couch there. That's a fabric wall cling and I adore it! You can find them at Pro DPI: http://www.prodpi.com/

The cameras (replicas) I found at Hobby Lobby. The pillows at TJ Maxx. (I shop there a lot). The Eiffel Tower card holder is from Ballard Designs.

My family books that I offer are lay-flat and you can find them at Miller's: http://www.millerslab.com/

The door on the right there goes to a hallway into my home. I plan on doing the hallway in large prints and frames of my family to show my clients MORE examples of what they can do. One of the biggest advantages of having a studio is helping clients SEE what they can create for their homes.

Where I keep my packaging supplies. I'm running a little low on supplies after the holidays - time to re-stock! I get my DVD cases from Kraft and Jute. The Audrey Hepburn children's book is from Anthropologie.

My husbands old camera from High School...

Luxe frames (this is hanging on the wall now) from Miller's: http://www.millerslab.com/ These may be my favorite new product.

Here is a pull-back. Depending on how the light is coming in, I just move my stand around to the best spot.

Here you can see my window. I think it's 10ft long. Also notice, it comes very low to the ground. A MUST for newborn work. Those with higher windows will often work on top of a raised surface.

No studio tour is complete without a shot of THE bag. Kelly Moore: http://kellymoorebag.com/

Large wall print (all prints over 8x10 come mounted on styrene. Shown here with Fuji deep matte paper from Pro DPI.

Luxe Frames. (Miller's)

Coffee Table Books: Miller's

Lay-flat binding for pano-spreads. Shown here with glossy paper.

Pull back. I also use a reflector when necessary. Drop is from Rock the Drops and flooring is from The Savvy Photographer Store:

A few shots in the studio: Drops all from Rock the Drops or Savage Paper.

And some images from our grand opening:

My girl Kendra! Love her and was very thankful to have her at the grand opening to shoot some images for me.

So there you have it! If you have any questions I'm an open book!

Wall Art Inspiration

2012-01-06T11:28:00.001-06:00

Guess what! I've just reduced prices on gallery wrap canvases! Why!? Because it's what I love to sell - and I want to sell more of them!

Often clients are not sure what to do with their beautiful images of their families. After just spending 20 minutes on the web, I put together a few of my favorite finds to provide inspiration!

Candid and casual - yet it still makes a statement about who this family is.

How adorable would this be in a child's room?

Awesome.

Adorable.

And who can resist Organic Bloom frames? So sweet in a nursery:

A little girl's room:

Or even in a dining room:

Ultimate Things I Love * Part I

2012-01-03T09:53:00.001-06:00

The Ultimate Guide is here! Broken down into categories, I've rounded up the best resources and products for photographers, bloggers, moms and women in general! Part I is all photography related. Let's get to it!

For Photographers
There are some amazing tools and resources out there for photographers. When I first opened my business I constantly scoured the internet for the most impactful and relevant tools for my business. There was a lot of trial and error. These resources are things I would not want to run my business without!

My Gear
Make no mistake. The gear does NOT make the photographer. I started off on a Canon Rebel and a $100 prime lens. A photographer that understands their gear - and it's limits - can rock what they've got! With that being said, I wouldn't recommend someone go into business with this gear. It's a great place to start, but once you begin exchanging services for money, there needs to be a level of professionalism. You don't want to do the industry a disservice by bringing down the value of photography in the eyes of consumers by 1 - charging before you've mastered your skills (learn to shoot in manual people), 2 - charging too little (more on that later), or 3 - using less than professional equipment.

What's in my bag:

Canon 5d Mark ii - a workhorse of a camera. I love the full frame sensor and the ability to shoot in low light and still turn out quality images.
Canon 7d - my first professional camera. Not a full frame - but I still love it all the same. My back up and I still use it at weddings.
50mm 1.4 - I prefer prime lenses any day to zooms. Yes - they are physically more work, but nothing beats these fast, crisp lenses and let's not even get started on the bokeh.
35mm 2.0 - Great for large groups and I use this one in my studio a lot. My studio is small and tight.
Sekonic L-358 light meter (rarely comes out of my bag)
5-in-1 Reflector Disc
About 10 CF cards from 4GB to 32 GB

One more note here. A lot of photographers feel the need to have the best, newest equipment available. It saddens me to see someone go into tremendous debt simply because they feel spending more and having more will make them a better artist. More photographers (talented ones too) go out of business every year often because they did not make wise business decisions. It's ok to start slowly and build your business from the ground up. And guess what - when I updated my camera body or lens, do you think ONE of my clients noticed? Nope - not even one! Updating your equipment is more about YOU as an artist than it is about the client. Update when the time is right - and for the right reasons!

My Computer
Dell PC - In my other life I live in ACCESS - data and databases. With that being said I've always used PCs and probably always will. My computer is a 3 year old Dell and it continues to work great for me. Sure the shiny, slickness of a Mac calls my name now and again - but I've resisted and have found my PC to meet all of my business and editing needs.

Lightroom 3 - I love Lightroom. I use it for culling and organizing images. But that's about it.

Photoshop CS5 - I LIVE in Photoshop. Love it and learn more about it every single day. What I love the most though? Nearly perfecting my images IN CAMERA. Photoshop should rarely be used to "fix" an image. And overuse of actions is a trend I hope to see LEAVING the industry soon.

My Bag
Kelly Moore Libby - A gift from my husband. I love them both! I don't know that you can beat the quality, style and durability of these bags. These bags are MADE WELL. Period. Plus they're cute!

Website
A web presence is so important for photographers. It's the digital age and people are generally going to book you through your presence on the web.

Facebook - it's a no-brainer. Completely free marketing - if you know how to use it. I finally started a business page a few months ago to separate my business from my personal page and it's growing surely but slowly. One thing I would mention here - and this is only my opinion - but think about what kind of "fans" you want to have. One of the most popular ways to garner new fans is to do contests and freebies. While these aren't bad at all - I love giving goodies to my clients - it can often lead to creating a fan base that really isn't a "fan" of your work - but just someone out to get the latest promotion or free deal. I consciously made a decision to try to acquire quality fans - those who truly value art and photography. I don't want 8,000 fans that block my feeds because they hit "like" in order to win something. I want 8,000 fans that are - FANS.

Website - there are a lot out there. A lot that cater specifically to photographers. I've used bludomain and I really liked them. I ended up wanting to stand out from the crowd a bit though and recently turned to ShowIt for my new website. While a bit more pricey, design and my brand are one of the most important things in my business. ShowIt helps me to do just that. Check them out here: http://www.showitfast.com/

Blog - There are tons of blogging platforms as well. I use Blogger. Completely free and easy to use. I purchased my template from Cinnamon Girl Studios. Check her out here: http://cinnamongirlstudiodesign.com/

Online Ordering - I typically do a lot of in-person ordering in my studio now - but for online ordering I've only ever used Zenfolio. Totally customizable - I think it's a great value. Check them out here: http://www.zenfolio.com/

Business
Studio Management - I don't think I could live without Tave. They are amazing. It's a web-based studio management service that helps me manage clients, leads, dates, tasks, shoots and even has online contracts and invoicing. LOVE it! You can try it out for free for 30 days here (you won't be disappointed): Tave Studio Manager

Accounting - I have my own system that I just love. The business side of my business appeals to me (Business Major in the house - whoop!) and I spend a lot of time researching and learning. My accounting system is easy peasy - anyone can do it.
1. I have a very simple Google spreadsheet I have set up. I use a Google doc because I want to be able to enter data from anywhere. If I buy a new baby blanket at TJ Maxx I can enter this expenditure right on my phone. This spreadsheet also tracks revenue, mileage and other tax notes.
2. I set up a dedicated email account where I forward ALL my tax documents. If you get audited did you know you will have to show that TJ Maxx receipt? I personally can't stand keeping up with paper documents - or heaven forbid if I have to PRINT something. The majority of my purchases for my business are done online. In that case, the vendor will email me a document (example - emailed receipt from my lab for a customer's prints) and I forward that straight on to my tax email account. Before I send it I type a quick description in the Subject line including the total. (Example: Millers Prints $43.56). For non online purchases, such as the TJ Maxx blanket, I just take a quick picture of the receipt with my phone and forward that on. EASY PEASY PEOPLE.

You can view a sample and use it yourself by making a copy here: Sample Tax Spreadsheet (If you make a copy make sure you change the visibility to Private. You don't want your tax info hanging out there for everyone to see.....) You'll need to set up a Google account as well if you want to use the spreadsheet online.

Products
I offer a wide range of photographic products to my clients. From loose prints, to wall portraits, books, canvases and more - there is a lot to offer. Here are my favorite labs:

Miller's - I use Miller's a lot. They are great, their products are quality, and their turn-around is quick! I use them for regular prints, mounted prints, books and press products.

ProDPI - I love to offer Fuji Deep Matte Mounted Wall Portraits - this is the only lab I found that offers that paper.

Canvas On Demand Pro - High quality. I love selling canvases and these are the best I have found yet.

Photo Card Boutique - I found this little gem this year and absolutely love them. Their templates are the absolute best I have found and the price is astounding. Totally customizable and automatic downloads - PCB makes making cards and custom design work easy peasy.

Design Aglow - Just look around their site. You'll want to drop a chunk of change if you do.

Photographers I Heart
I love the world of blogging. I follow several blogs very closely - there are really too many to list here. I use Google Reader and stay up to date daily on new blog posts. Here are a few of my favorites:

Crave Photography
Jasmine Star
Jinky Art - Probably my favorite child photographer of all time. AMAZING
Jose Villa
Kerianne Brown
Megan Squires - I got to spend 2 days shooting along side Megan in August - learned a ton! And she is one of the sweetest people I have EVER met. Check out her About Me video - fun right?
Baby As Art
Bellini Portraits
Design Aglow
DrewB
Inspire Me Baby
The Savvy Photographer - They have TONS of resources for photographers - plus tons of eye candy galore! Their Studio Tour series was very helpful when building my studio this year.
Seniorologie
Meg Borders - I get to spend a day with Meg in Vegas in February learning all about taking my Senior business to the next level. Check out her About Me video - gorgeous!
Kelly Moore
Kendra Michelle - She's my favorite photographer to get a cup of coffee with!
Kristen Cook
Lisa Lucky
Otto Schulze
Eric Clausen
Promise Tangeman - designed my website. She's amazing!
Sarah Lane - I'll get to meet her in Vegas at the Prime Workshop as well!
Simply Bloom

Networking
I hate that word. But I LOVE networking. To me - networking is simply meeting like minded people and getting to know one another. Not in an effort to see what they can do for me. It's about not feeling alone. Not being the only one who gets excited about f-stops and golden light. Being able to ask questions like "what the heck is back button focusing and how has it changed your LIFE?" Knowing if I'm puking my guts out the morning of a wedding I would have a friend come physically hold me up if they had to.

The photography business CAN be cut-throat. But it doesn't have to be! I love meeting new photographers. I love eating too. And networking usually involves both. Here are a few places where I have learned and networked:

Clickin Moms. Just about any questions you can POSSIBLY have about photography or your photography business you will find it here. And NO you don't have to be a Mom to join. Check them out here: http://www.clickinmoms.com/

East Texas Pro Forum. I just started getting involved with this group of photographers only recently. It's a great group - everyone strives to learn more and it represents a wide range of photographic styles (although typically more conservative). Check them out here and if you're local and want to go let me know! You can be my guest! http://www.theproforum.com/

Thursday Therapy - I actually have never been before. Me and a few other girlfriends are going today in fact! You can find one in your city by clicking on the link.

Kendra Michelle - my own little photo best friend. No memberships available - she's already taken! Check her out here: http://www.kendramichelle.co/

Not sure where to start? Find a photoghrapher whose work you admire. Email them and introduce yourself! What's the worse that can happen? They don't respond? Then move on. It's what I did - and I made some great friends in the process!

I love to talk photography. Have ANY questions at all - just comment here or email me at loriiveyphotography@gmail.com

Part II coming soon!

PS - I would love to hear about any resources you think are just dandy! Let's start a list - GO!

Winter What to Wear

2012-01-02T14:11:00.000-06:00

With upcoming family sessions during the cooler winter months I wanted to share a quick "What to Wear" installment! Don't let the dropping temperatures keep you from scheduling your session! Bundle up, get cozy and let's make some memories!

Longview Texas Senior Photography

2011-12-22T12:16:00.000-06:00

From cupcakes, to sprinkles, to vintage luggage and bright red heels - I love everything about this session. Bre's big eyes match her big heart. We had so much fun! And you know how much I LOVE cupcakes. My favorite place to buy them is La Cabane - check them out! (They have snicker doodle cupcakes - no lie!)

Longview, Tyler, East Texas Wedding

2011-12-13T15:01:00.000-06:00

My little sister got married. The day was joyful and profound. I was honored to be a part.

Getting ready....

Love birds were texting before the ceremony....

Handsome and precious.

Love everything about this image.

The look on his face - priceless.

Our Dad turned 80 this year. I'm usually not an emotional gal - I was crying and it got ugly. Just keep on clicking...

Sweet.

Love this girl.

Family Photographer, Longview and Tyler Texas

2011-12-10T05:12:00.000-06:00

When families come to me for their family portraits I truly get a thrill. Knowing I'm helping them capture memories for decades is amazing. And quite frankly - I just love families!

My Family

2011-12-09T05:12:00.000-06:00

Being a photographer - I can honestly say I don't have nearly as many family images as I would like. I'm hoping to change that - it's actually on my Bucket List! But we did take a few this past month and I'm so glad we did.

Our sweet girls:

The Whole Crew (that's some pretty darn good Photoshoppin' if I do say so myself......)

My Family: There was actually one where my face didn't look like I just ate an Atomic Warhead - but Mr. Man wasn't looking at the camera - that's love don't you think?
I'm hoping to do some more this month. I'm really envisioning something great (including color coordinated clothes - what an idea!).

East Texas Wedding ~ Belgium House ~ Dixie Cotton Gin

2011-12-08T05:49:00.000-06:00

Like many photographers, Fall is our marathon and once December gets here we let out a long satisfied and tired sigh. Now that December is here I'm looking for time away from my business to spend with my precious family. AND - I look forward to getting to work on some important, personal project that I've put off for too long!

One of those things on my list is dusting off the old blog. Not just catching up on posts, but also a complete redesign for my website - oh my heart just did a pitter patter!

If you'll remember I did this bride's lovely bridal session back in JULY at the Dixie Cotton Gin. She was such a trooper in the 100 plus degree heat!

And then finally - her beautiful wedding in September at The Belgium House.

Venue: The Belgium House
Caterer: Adalante Catering
DJ: Moore Music
Second Shooter: Kendra Michelle (My FAVORITE GIRL IN THE WHOLE WORLD)

And finally their Day After Session. A Day After Session is perfect for those weddings with a tight timeline. It's often difficult to get all of the images a couple wants on such a jam-packed day. Finding an hour between the ceremony and reception for portraits is difficult - especially for sunset ceremonies and those choosing not to have a First Look. I cannot stress enough to my brides the importance of scheduling your ceremony with enough light left in the day for portraits. Any photographer worth their salt will tell you light is CRITICAL to beautiful images.

Engagement Session

2011-11-18T06:12:00.000-06:00

Love this girl. We've known each other since your most awkward phase in life - yep - middle school. She's gorgeous, and now she's engaged! I loved everything about this session. Makes me want to be engaged. I told my husband that and he just looked at me strange... :)

The Prime Workshop!

2011-11-17T10:36:00.001-06:00

First of all, you may not know, but Meg Borders and Sarah Lane are two of my all time favorite photographers. Their work is divine! Well they have teamed up to create The Prime Workshop. It's a workshop for photographers with an emphasis on all things seniors - YUMMY! It will be hosted in Las Vegas during WPPI. For me, it would be a dream to attend!

WELL - Wednesday evening I was editing and enjoying a little blog reading when I came across an announcement. Meg and Sarah were going to be giving away a seat to the workshop! All you have to do is submit a video on your blog explaining why you should attend. Easy right? Yes - and no. With a packed shooting schedule this week I had no time to create an amazing video. So what you see below - is an un-amazing video! None the less it communicates what I wanted to say, shows my personality, and completely makes me look like a moron. But Sarah and Meg......SO WORTH IT!

Disclaimer: Please do not judge. I AM a professional and a grown up (scouts honor).

******UPDATE******
Well my hard work and ability to embaress myself in public actually paid off. I'M GOING TO VEGAS BABY!

McKinney, TX Engagement Session

2011-11-09T15:46:00.000-06:00

I can't wait to shoot these two sweet people's wedding next spring at the 1899 Farmhouse! They were so much fun!

I drove up for an engagement shoot at Erwin Park in McKinney and the light and location was just gorgeous!

Studio Grand Opening!!!

2011-11-03T06:12:00.000-05:00

It was a blast! I was so excited with everyone who showed up and so thankful to all of my friends and family that helped. Especially my sweet husband though. I couldn't do what I do without him!

And thank you so much KENDRA for taking these images!

My friend made these super cute camera cookies - LOVE THEM!

So true....

Crazy girls...

Ingrid (on the right) is the genius behind these amazing little desserts.

Me and Kendra - love her!

First Session in the Studio!

2011-10-28T06:08:00.000-05:00

This past weekend I got to play with this sweet little one. Her parents are basically like family - love them! And she agreed to bring this sweet girl over for me to play with in the new studio. My first Mini Session Event is coming up in a few weeks and I can't wait!

AND - if you're interested in updating your kids' pics (kids of ALL sizes) - pop over to my Mini Session Event post and consider signing up. I have a few spots left and it's such a fun and easy way to get a few current images and Christmas cards.

Until then here are a few shots we got together last week:

I'm pretty sure she thought she was Santa here:

Engagement Session ~ Los Pinos Vineyard

2011-10-27T12:31:00.000-05:00

Kayce's full engagement session.

Engagement Session ~ East Texas Winery

2011-10-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

There is this wonderful winery not far from where we live: Los Pinos. Amazing food - wonderful wine (duh) - great service - and can you find a more beautiful setting for engagement images? Nope - no you can't. This session and this setting was meaningful because: 1. my little sister is getting married and 2. long before this place was a winery it was an equestrian center. We spent so much time here. Working, riding, training horses, being thrown from horses, mucking stalls, working on stadium jumping and dressage. Bundling up in frigid winter temps and melting in humid Texas summers. We loved it so. It was a magical place for us. I think it still is....

My little sister is getting married!! :)

Family Sneak Peek

2011-10-17T05:49:00.000-05:00

This week is going to be utterly fantastic! Our little town is gearing up for its annual festival and the weather appears to be cooperating! I have several sessions scheduled this week in the studio that I'm completely excited about. AND - if these images don't make you smile - check yo pulse.... This gorgeous family was such a blast to work with.

Fireman's Insurance Fund Benefit

2011-09-30T05:49:00.000-05:00

I was contacted by Fireman's Fund Insurance Company last week because they needed a photographer to document an award ceremony for a local volunteer fire department. With the recent fires here in Texas I was thrilled to get to be a part. I, like many others, am very grateful for the sacrifice our firemen and women make every day to keep our families safe. With the money received, the department was able to buy some much needed turn out gear. (I learned that is those chunky suits they wear. I also learned they are nice and toasty when having to be worn for a photo shoot!). The guys were so nice to put the gear on for pictures. The entire department was very thoughtful and polite - not to mention fun!

First Ever Mini Session Event!!

2011-09-27T05:37:00.000-05:00

Package A: $100 and includes: 25 flat cards + $50 print credit (a $160 value)

Package B: $150 and includes: 25 flat cards + $125 print credit (a $235 value)

Package C: $250 and includes: 50 flat cards + 225 print credit (a $395 value)

Mini sessions are good for families and couples that:

- want to get a few great images for their holiday cards

- want to fill up some blank space on their walls with some great family pictures

- want a quick session to get some fun and casual pictures

- don’t want to spend the $$ on a full portrait session

- if you have more than 3 people, you may want to consider booking 2 sessions

Mini Sessions are not:

- newborn, senior, engagement, or extended family sessions.

-These type of sessions usually take much longer – but contact me if you are interested in one of these! :)

- a session with multiple locations or multiple outfit changes

To book your session, please fill out the form below with your desired package choice and time slot. Payment is due in full before your session is considered officially booked. I will send you a link where you can update your information, sign my contract and pay your session/package fee.

Available Sessions:

~~9:00 - 9:20~~

~~9:30 - 9:50~~

~~10:00 - 10:20~~

10:30 - 10:50

~~11:00 - 11:20~~

~~11:30 - 11:50~~

1:00 - 1:20

~~1:30 - 1:50~~

2:00 - 2:20

2:30 - 2:50

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://myforms.loriiveyphotography.com/view.php?id=7" title="Holiday Mini Session Event"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Holiday Mini Session Event&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Bridal Session ~ Dixie Cotton Gin ~ Shreveport, LA

2011-09-26T09:52:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited to finally get to post these bridal images we did back in July. The Dixie Cotton Gin is a wonderfully unique setting for weddings and I couldn't wait to get to shoot there. The owners are so very helpful and kind. If you're planning an event and want something romantic and rustic, consider the Dixie Cotton Gin.

And Kyndall - so gorgeous. These images were shot in JULY in soaring 90 degree temps. Her mother kept the car going with AC on full blast and she would jump in to get a break from the heat between shots.

Her wedding was this past week and it was absolutely stunning. I can't wait to post those images too!

See them all here.....

New Christmas Cards are Here!

2011-09-23T16:05:00.000-05:00

Rusty is bringing the Fall decorations out of storage this weekend, my cocunut Scentsy (you can buy it HERE) has been replaced by pumpkin, and humid heat has turned into a cool, smoke scented morning wind. FALL IS FINALLY HERE!

With that comes the addition of my new Christmas cards for 2011. I still have many more templates available from previous years - but this year I decided to go with a modern edge.

Weddings * Belgium Wedding with Kendra * East Texas

2011-09-22T19:51:00.000-05:00

I'm in the middle of 3 weddings in 15 days and things are fast paced, fun and hectic around here. I got to shoot this wedding with KENDRA at the BELGIUM HOUSE last week and here are a few of the details. Such a fun wedding with lots of unique ideas incorporated. And as always - shooting with Kendra is a blast!

Getting ready with the girls has to be one of my favorite parts of shooting weddings! And of course this is also the time we (photographers) get to take A LOT of creative license with detail shots. Yes - we get weird looks as we try to perfectly photograph those messy make up brushes - but these are the details that make the day. And details are worth capturing - and capturing beautifully....

WORK IT GIRL - WORK IT! (Kendra working her magic).

San Francisco ~ Part II ~ Mentor Me Baby

2011-09-15T21:48:00.000-05:00

Rusty and I had a wonderful time in San Francisco. You can read all about it HERE. But two days before we drove into the city I got to work along side MEGAN SQUIRES in her natural light studio and it was amazing. My own studio is only weeks away from it's grand opening and when I finally decided to take the plunge into studio - I knew exactly who I wanted to train with - Megan. She has an awesome gift with newborns and I have admired her clean, beautiful and classic style for a while now. When she began offering one-on-one mentor-ships this summer I knew I was going to make it happen!

Below are some of the images I took during our two days together. If you're a photographer wanting to specialize in newborn photography I just cannot say enough about Megan. The girl has got it going on! Not to mention she is an awesome person to hang with and get to know! I count her as a friend!

We flew into Sacramento on Wednesday and that evening I was only a little nervous about meeting Megan the next morning. I had an awesome feeling from our correspondence that we would get a long great - but you never know - right? Her studio is nestled in a quaint down town area - only a couple blocks from our hotel. The weather was wonderful and her studio was superb. So thoughtfully put together - whimsical and fun, comfortable - it was just perfect. You can see images of her studio HERE.

When I walked in I knew right away that we were good to go! I love it when you immediately feel a connection with someone - like my girl KENDRA (bosom buddies at first....coffee??). Megan was the same way and we got down to business! I learned so much - she is a wonderful teacher. And my goodness - the thought of organizing that many babies, plus the amazing goody bag she put together - it was just absolutely the best vacation / learning experience a photog girl could ask for!

Thank you sweet Megan - you're truly the best!

Newborn Sneak Peek

2011-09-12T21:16:00.000-05:00

My first babe in the studio caused a lot of excitement for me around here. First off, the studio is not even a studio yet. It's getting there - but when we did this newborn shoot it was basically a garage with windows. My goal for my studio has always been natural light with clean, modern and crisp images. We are only weeks away from the official grand opening and I just can't wait! Until then - here is a peek at some of the studio shots.

Wedding Sneak Peek

2011-09-06T22:19:00.000-05:00

Personal * San Fran Baby

2011-08-25T06:07:00.001-05:00

Words don't do this trip justice. Rusty and I went to California this month partly for work and partly for fun. The first couple of days I got to work along side Megan Squires shooting newborns and wee ones in her fabulous natural light studio. My time with her was AH-MA-ZING and I can't wait to edit all of the images from those sessions. And seriously - I feel like a criminal calling this part of the trip "work." Megan was superbly fantastic - I felt like Anne of Green Gables and Diana Berry - "kindred spirits" right away. But I plan to blog more about that later when I can devote the time to it that it deserves!

After my time with Megan was up - we drove Friday afternoon into San Francisco - about 2 hours away. We stayed in a fabulous little hotel right in Union Square - The Handlery. The weather was amazing with a high of only 62 degrees. I was excited to bust out my Fall Wardrobe. (Yes I just treated my Fall Wardrobe like a proper now ON PURPOSE - simmer down grammar nazis!)

The city had such a wonderful atmosphere. I even enjoyed all the freaks on the street. The old man who followed me for two blocks singing me a song? Loved him. Yes I know he stank of liquor...and other things. But these people are PEOPLE. They were once babies and have walked thousands of miles down roads I've never seen. I hope I always love people.

We drove into the city with a list - a long list of things we wanted to do in the little time that we had. On the top of the that list - Chinese food. GOOD Chinese food. Armed with a recommendation from friends (thank you Miners!) we headed into the heart of China Town for the House of Nanking. And did they deliver. So yummy!

I couldn't decide which one I loved best. The top one is my new desktop wall paper. (I have a huge crush on my husband in case you didn't know.)

It was cold. And I was NOT complaining.

Everywhere we went I decided - THIS is where we are going to move - this house right here. Wait no - THAT's our future home - that cottage there. Rusty lets me play house and even feeds my fire by making cute suggestions like "if we lived in THIS one we would be even closer to the bike trails...."

The next day we headed to Fisherman's Wharf.

Sourdough bread....

A ferry boat ride to see the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz....

We decided to rent a couple bikes to explore the city. Best. Decision. Ever. We rocked those bikes all over the place and returned tired with sunburned hands. It's the best way to see the city in my opinion. Planning our route was almost as fun as the trip itself. I love maps - especially when planning an "adventure." I also love calling things an "adventure." Dropping the girls off at dance and then swinging through McD's for a dollar drink? An adventure - duh.

Riding across the Golden Gate Bridge was an amazing experience. It's such a vast structure. Made me feel so tiny - in a wonderful way. After we crossed the bridged we kept going all the way to Sausalito for a late lunch and that's where we finally found our "for real" future home. You can't actually see it here - it's covered by clouds....

Lombard Street. We actually rode our bikes DOWN it. The cop conducting traffic got quite a kick out of two loonies doing Lombard on a bike. He said "go on down - hope you have good brakes" and laughed. I think he secretly hoped we would crash for his afternoon entertainment. But alas - we did not. We smoked Lombard!

We did so much more - eventually I had to leave my camera behind and just EXPERIENCE the trip. Wonderful memories.

Family Sneak Peek ~ East Texas

2011-08-23T22:13:00.000-05:00

The last two weeks could be described as a whirlwind. A trip to California right before the start of school, not to mention weddings, family shoots and studio renovations, it's been exciting, exhausting and so much fun! On a personal note, I've experienced personal highs as well as loss and sadness as our family said goodbye to a special member we all love dearly. Saying goodbye to a father while saying hello to new life, seeing a couple's earthly story end temporarily in death while celebrating and documenting new love has made this photographer a bit emotional. And emotional is OK. Embracing emotions can make an artist's work more organic and genuine ~ and while that may be true, it certainly has made me appreciate what I get to do ~ document and celebrate life. It's so precious.

With that being said ~ this family was fun and sweet. They live on a real live ranch, and for a few moments I got to glimpse what their life is like. I saw two children who are loved by Mom and Dad and family. A place where they will get to grow up and breathe ~ space to play and run.

Personal * Noah ~ 13 Years Old!

2011-07-30T21:28:00.000-05:00

I'm determined to schedule a one-on-one shoot with all of our children so I can order some art for the walls in our home which are still bare! It was Noah's turn ~ appropriate being this is his birthday week. I really can't believe he is a teenager. We included the newest member of the family as well ~ Jack ~ our 5 month old Australian Shepherd.

Mandi's Wedding Sneak Peek

2011-07-28T06:08:00.000-05:00

Just a little sneak peek of a few details from Mandi and Chris' beautiful wedding.

Haught Bridal Session

2011-07-24T06:00:00.001-05:00

I'm writing this blog post 2 days before this wedding - I am so excited for Mandi and Chris! (Don't worry - it's a draft and won't go live until AFTER the wedding). I know it will be a beautiful and special day.

My Girl

2011-07-20T21:34:00.001-05:00

With the risk of sounding melodramatic can I just say editing this session was painful. As in my uterus cried. This is my baby.....

High School Girls Are the Best!

2011-07-20T06:12:00.001-05:00

They are up for anything - locations, shoes, clothes, jewelry ~ oh my! Her mom is a friend and we had fun jumping in the air conditioned car and hopping from location to location, the vehicle being a veritable changing room!

Bridal Session at the Dixie Cotton Gin

2011-07-14T18:19:00.000-05:00

I am absolutely over the moon excited and cannot wait to share the bridal images from yesterday's session.....but I have to! Here is a sneak peek of our location: The Dixie Cotton Gin.

You May Have Heard.....

2011-07-12T06:21:00.021-05:00

Plans have been in the works for quite a while now ~ and I have had a most difficult time keeping this news to myself. But I wanted to wait until everything was completely and utterly official!

I'm so pleased to announce the upcoming opening of my studio! THIS was me last week when I got the news:

And - if you're just finding out about this little tidbit - that means you aren't on my newsletter list. Signing up is very easy and I promise you will NOT be inundated with tons of emails. What you WILL be inundated with is lots of fun info - give aways, and the latest and greatest from Lori Ivey Photography!

Subscribe to our newsletter

The winner of the 12x18 custom dry erase board from the last newsletter is Brandy with the response to this question:

What is your all time favorite FREE activity and why? I want to know what gives you joy - whether it's reading a good book or window shopping.
Brandy's answer: "Well my favorite activity is free but usually if I am lucky will walk away with a great find!!! I love to go antiquing or just rummaging through someones junk in hopes of finding a perfect treasure!!! Its not always free but a lot of fun!! And you never know what you might find, maybe the perfect frame for that beautiful Lori Ivey photograph of your precious kiddos or the family dog."
Brandy ~ I'll be emailing you this week about your custom dry erase board ~ congrats!

Wedding ~ 1899 Farmhouse with Kendra

2011-07-09T10:05:00.000-05:00

Another lovely wedding. I second shot with Kendra at the 1899 Farmhouse for yet another beautiful and sweet wedding.

How could you NOT want this girl at your wedding with a camera???

One of the BEST things about our job is getting to work with other super nice people in the wedding business. These guys were the friendliest and most professional DJ's I've worked with yet!

I ran back into the farmhouse to get band-aids or batteries - I can't remember which - and caught this shot through the window - love it.

What's on My iPhone Now

2011-07-08T06:02:00.000-05:00

I love my iPhone very much. That being said - I've never been 100% happy with the wallpaper backgrounds. So - I created my own. Feel free to use them if you like. Just click on the image - save it to your computer - email it to your phone! They are already sized just for the iPhone.

When I'm nostalgic or need encouragement:

When I'm crying and throwing a pity party because I feel like a house slave:

When I want to run away to the great city of Paris:

Oh wait - wrong Paris - let's try that again....

Enjoy!

Please note: I do not encourage Paris Hilton or Paris Hilton like behavior on this blog. All references to said heiress are meant to be fun and a bit sarcastic in nature - so please do not picket or protest my little blog.

Wedding ~ Kendra Michelle

2011-06-22T05:47:00.001-05:00

One of the things I absolutely love most about being a photographer are all the warm, wonderful, crazy, artsy and inspiring people you get to meet and work with! Kendra Michelle fits this bill completely! I got to work with her this past month second shooting at one of her weddings - see the stunning bridal session here.

For this wedding, which took place in Dallas, Kendra and I drove up the evening before to scope out the ceremony site, and basically feast ourselves silly at Uncle Julios's, a restaurant that Kendra introduced me to - DIVINE - and DUH - I know exactly why I love this girl so much!! And for those brides of mine who have opted for a second shooter I promise you won't regret it - Kendra shoots for me too when she isn't booked with her own weddings! You can check out her version of our trip here.

Below are some of my favorite images from the wedding. It was beautiful - and the bride and groom were just stunning.

First Baptist Church ~ Staff

2011-06-08T05:17:00.001-05:00

I had the pleasure of working with the fantastic staff of First Baptist Church of Gilmer this week as they are updating their website and needed staff pictures. They are such a lovely, fun and loving group of people!

Things I Love Right Now

2011-06-03T16:08:00.036-05:00

I so love these posts. Not because I think millions of people are dying to find out "what exactly DOES Lori Ivey love right now..." no - I'm not that delusional. I love it because I get to play and dream. I get to scour the Internet and say "Look - look right here! Who wants to join me in admiring the awesomeness???"

1. Pinterest. Beware. This can and will suck hours out of what was once a profitable day....At first I didn't really get it - and what's with the whole "request an invite" thing - it's like a super secret stuck up club....until your IN it!!!!

2. Embarrassing my kids. They are finally old enough. When they were younger - it was just a mean woman being mean to a sweet little angel. Not now. Now it's just plain funny. And it's payback. Payback for sleepless nights, shredding your poopy diaper at 2:00 am when you were bored in your crib, tooting at the Doctor's office and everyone thought it was me, Legos lodged between toes, having eternal rights to the last brownie - because I'm the mom and supposed to be selfless....oh yeah.

3. Studio Dreaming. I've been dreaming for a while now. Fashioning a plan - letting it take shape. Searching the internet for inspiration (thank you Pinterest). I LOVE natural light photography and will always be a natural light photographer. But I want a space. My very own. A place to work. A place to host clients and show off the yummy products I offer. Not to mention newborns. I love everything about newborn photography but turn down sessions left and right because....well - newborns and the great outdoors just don't mix. So my dusty cob-webby wheels have been turning.....we'll see what's in store this coming year....

4. Cute packaging.... I simply love my CD packaging. Everyone of my digital collections comes with a custom designed CD case with images from your session... How cute is this guy?

And don't forget....every client who spends $500 or more gets one of these lovelies.... Dry Erase Board

Engagement Sneak Peek

2011-06-02T17:17:00.001-05:00

I can't wait to do this wedding. Mandi and her guy will be getting married out by this old barn - sigh. LOVE.

What is a Picture?

2011-05-31T05:13:00.001-05:00

Sneak Peek ~ Stephen + Kristen

2011-05-26T23:37:00.001-05:00

It's the season of love....My calendar is filling with couples, engagements, weddings - and this makes me smile. These two sweet people are so obviously in love.... And we had a ton of fun too!

Genna ~ Sneak Peek

2011-05-20T07:08:00.001-05:00

I love this baby - and I love her parents! I feel so blessed to call this family our friends!

New Wall Collections

2011-05-19T07:03:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited to start offering my newest collections - Wall Collections! I think the hardest part of the buying process for my clients is just trying to figure out what they want to do with their images. Now with Wall Collections they can visualize just how beautiful their walls can be!

And....I love a new, fun product that is both beautiful and functional. Now any client that spends $500 or more gets one of these sweetie pies! How cute are they??? This dry erase board is customized with images from your session and is a great size ~ 12x18. They come with magnets or double sided tape for your refrigerator or wall!

Family Sneak Peek

2011-05-18T11:47:00.000-05:00

What a sweet family - people like this make me just absolutely love what I do!

Finding The Light

2011-05-18T06:12:00.017-05:00

We found it!!! Often times when a client suggests a new location I feel like a kid in a fresh new candy store! However - I ALWAYS get there at least 20 minutes early to find the light. When I first started out in photography it was such a difficult process. Now ~ I feel like a blood hound with nose to the ground. My clients will often look at me strange as I walk to and from - looking at the sky - back at my camera - turning in circles. But it finally pays off - I promise!

By the way - Rusty took these images. He is usually the one I say "stand there - no - to the left." But every now and then he gets tired of my commands and he insists we switch places.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE when my clients have ideas of things to try while we are out on a shoot - but the one thing I adamantly insist having complete control over is light. Yes - those tulips are very pretty but if you don't want to look flat and twenty years older than you really are I suggest we go over THERE. Yes - over there where it is very boring - nothing but a few trees and an old pasture. Trust me please!

Interruption in Service

2011-05-13T12:28:00.002-05:00

Looking for your Sneak Peek and can't find it? Blogger is performing updates and missing posts will reappear soon (so I'm told....)

Give Away!

2011-05-12T14:47:00.000-05:00

I have a brand new Facebook page and I'm having a give away! To enter, all you have to do is visit the Lori Ivey Photography Facebook Page and "like" the contest post! A lucky random person will be chosen for a $100 gift certificate. Super easy and your chances of winning are hot since the page is so new...

So go ahead - click that little Facebook icon over there - on the right....go on..... Good Luck!

Engagement Session ~ Kyndall + Rory

2011-05-12T14:33:00.000-05:00

I'll let the pictures do the talking..... What a beautiful couple and I'm absolutely honored to be a part of their engagement and wedding!

You can see all of them here:

Sneak Peek ~ Leah + John

2011-05-09T07:08:00.001-05:00

Part two....

My First Wedding

2011-05-09T05:03:00.001-05:00

It was more fun than I thought I could have! I loved it - and who wouldn't with such a gorgeous bride? Leah - you are beautiful in every sense of the word. I started working through these early this morning and had to post this image - it's one of my absolute favorites. It says so much! More to come later today!

Things I Love Right Now

2011-05-06T06:12:00.003-05:00

1. Instagr.am

A fun little app for your iPhone that makes photo sharing fun. You just open the app, select an image from your phone's library, apply one of several cool little filters and share. Easy Peasy.

2. My new shoes. Steve Madden - see above. FYI - I'm not rocking a weird tan line - that's a shadow. And that pedicure - got it during Spring Break - TWO MONTHS AGO FOLKS! Heck yeah!

3. My new branding. I'm in LOVE with it! I've been meaning to work on my web sites, logos, etc. for a while now but I kept putting it off because I couldn't find the PERFECT identity to represent Lori Ivey Photography. Anyone who knows me knows I love all things birds. Eggs, nests, bird cages - they were at my wedding and are in my home. I knew that I also love modern + vintage and wanted that to be present as well. Seems like a contradiction right? Nope. It's not - and I'm pretty sure my clients love the vintage + whimsy with a touch of romance that shows up in their images as well. What do you think?

4. The Beach. As in we are going there. Soon. And I can't wait. I can't wait to dig in the sand with my toes, chase crabs with flashlights with the kiddos at night, fall asleep to the sound of waves.

5. Smart AND Funny women who are successful because they are.....well....SMART. Novel idea huh? Not because they are beautiful. Because they have a BRAIN. I'm reading Tina Fey's new autobiography and it's made me literally laugh out loud several times. I will warn you - it's a little vulgar in some parts. Funny - YES.

6. Mother's Day. It's upon us and I shall have yummy food and a pedicure - I cannot wait. I love you mommy! (She was my first blog subscriber too - SHOCKING, I know).

7. The idea of a perfect day. I'm working my way through this crazy good business book. If you are a photographer - ask me later what this is. It will transform your life. NO LIE. But it asks you to write out your perfect day. What do you do? What does it feel like? And then it asks you what is stopping you from having your perfect day. Granted - you may not be able to have all of these things every day. But why can't you have several of these things throughout the week? If part of your perfect day (like mine) is meeting girlfriends for breakfast, or browsing through a book store for an hour, or sitting and having a coffee at Starbucks...there is absolutely no reason why you can't do those things. REGULARLY. Of course My perfect day also includes sleeping in, going shopping where everything is on sale and fits as well as a clean house AND board games with the kids (as in the house is clean WHILE WE ARE PLAYING BOARD GAMES). Those of you out there who don't have kids yet have no idea how utterly impossible this is to achieve. Once you have kids it's one or the other - not both. No I can't do this everyday - but I can do it A LOT.

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

Sneak Peek - Morgan

2011-05-06T05:47:00.000-05:00

This little guy is sweet - and he seems like such an old soul already. His eyes say more than words. I love getting to see my littlest clients grow up each year. Can't believe you're already two Morgan!

Sneak Peek - Duvall Family

2011-05-03T06:12:00.001-05:00

I just loved this family. They were funny and sweet and momma is hot! They love this kid and you can see it in their images.

See them all here...

Bella and Carol

2011-05-02T05:13:00.001-05:00

I love getting to have sessions with old friends. Carol and I go way back to Jr. High - that award, not fun time for anyone. But Carol made it brighter. And she was pretty then. But my goodness - she is absolutely stunning now. And her little Bella - just precious.

See it all here....

Desktop Give Away!

2011-04-13T06:08:00.002-05:00

I've been working on a lot of new designs. I've had a lot of requests for custom invitations this month and nothing gets the creative juices flowing more than party invites! I like to keep things fun and fresh - including my desktop. I made these modern/vintage (oxymoron?) desktop images for fun.

Want to use them? Just click on the image and once it opens in the new window - right click - save as - set as desktop image in your desktop properties and viola! Your icons now have a funky cool place to call home!

Happy Wednesday!

Zumba, A Girl, A Horse....OH MY!

2011-03-23T06:18:00.000-05:00

One of the things I am totally pumped about right now is Zumba. Yes - I know - I'm late to the party on this one. But it is so. much. fun. Growing up me and my friends loved going out dancing. Back then they had actual clubs just for teens. Like just for 13 - 15 year olds. No alcohol. No smoking. Now that I'm a parent I'm not sure how I feel about that. But I do know one thing - I've always loved to dance. My sister and her mom (my step-mom), our step-sisters have always loved to dance. It was a part of growing up. And don't get me started on our Dad. Know around these parts as the Reo Rambler - he can still dance anyone in circles and he's fast approaching 80. I can't tell you how many times I've seen 'Dirty Dancing.' My step-mom - a beautiful ballet dancer. Same for 2 of our step-sisters. Countless days in a garage with my BFF from childhood (Jaime) putting together "routines."

My sister Kayce is a Zumba instructor and she invited me to one of her classes last month. I'll be honest - I didn't think it would be lots of fun - or even a great work out for that matter. I was so wrong. I've been Zumba-ing every since!

Girl can SHAKE it!

After class I rode with Kayce to see her love - her Beau. He's tall, dark and handsome...

Growing up, Kayce and I got to experience that rare childhood gift of horse ownership. I don't know what it is about girls and horses - but it's magical. There is this fantastic winery not far from our house. One of the reasons I love to go there - not because it's exceptional (it is!) - but because it's where we spent so many days when it was a stable. Josiah was my first love. A tall dark temperamental Thoroughbred with a sweeping black mane. We rode English style - and loved everything about it. The horses, dressage, stadium jumps - even the tights and riding boots.

Horses lend us the wings we lack. ~Author Unknown