All Booked!

I just wanted to let all my blog readers know that I am officially booked through October.

:)

UPDATED! October Session is FULL

Hey all! Just wanted to post an update that the October Mini Session day is FULL. There are still spots open for September if you are interested!

Family Mini Sessions 2012

I first want to say thank you to all of my clients, old and new, who have been patient with me this summer and waited to get their family photos done! Between a busy summer with the kiddos and having to send my camera into Canon for a few tweaks, it's been really hard to fit everyone in this summer. But alas, Fall is rolling in and it's time to get those family photos scheduled! To try to accommodate all of the families who have inquired, I am offering two mini session days, one in September and one in October. In addition I will take 6 individual family shoots between those two months (which will go fast!).

Please contact me asap to reserve a spot and get your deposit in!

~Jenna

Technology Tips (from a total non-techy)

Hi folks!

I just wanted to write up a little post with a few tips and reminders on the technology side of my photography. I need to state first and foremost I AM NOT A TECHY. I don't know how many times I have screamed and panicked at my computer in regards to some technical glitch on my photos. I can navigate my way through just about anything on the computer, but when it comes to formatting/color shifting/coding etc my brain shuts off. I got nothin.

That said, there are a few pretty BIG deals that I want to make sure ALL my clients make note of. (And honestly, even if you aren't MY client, I think some of this is good for ANY client who has professional photography done to take a read over....). That said, I speaking only on my own behalf, not of any other photographer.

Here we go....

*SAVING YOUR IMAGES- PLEASE make sure the very first thing you do when putting your cd into your computer is COPY THE IMAGES ONTO YOUR HARD DRIVE. Do not just leave the images on the cd. A CD can get broken, lost, etc. and then your images are GONE. How sad!!  I cannot promise to keep all of your images on my computer forever. Since I release the rights of the photos to you, you are responsible for you images. I have recently started offering professional prints so I will hang onto images for up to a year at this point in case clients chose to order prints, but even so...make sure YOU have the images on your computer as well. Because of the multitude of photos that I am taking, I cannot keep every image from every shoot on my computer...it takes up too much space. So, PLEASE remember to save them onto your computer!! Lost photos make me want to cry..... :(

*FACEBOOK- Facebook, I think, is one of the most beneficial tools for a modern day photographer. Its free, its easy, and everyone is on it! It truly is so great for us mommytogs. That said, Facebook is all about change. All. The. Time. Sometimes the changes are good, sometimes they make you want to scream! A few little tips for how to view/use/display your photos. First, always feel free to TAG yourselves in any of your photos I post. Also, you can SHARE the album on your wall. Simply click on the album and select SHARE POST on the top right corner of the post (you might have to hover for it to show up). Also, if you want to use one of the images as your profile or cover photo, do not save or download the image. If you are tagged in it, it will show up in your Photos and select the image from there. I highly recommend re uploading your image once you get the CD and save the images onto your computer. The picture quality will be much better. If you chose to upload photos onto your page, please add Jenna Luoto Photography in the caption, or tag my page on Facebook (if you can figure out how. Oh and if you do, can you let me know!!?!)

*PRINTING- As all of you should know, I have chosen for the time being to Copyright Release my images to Costco Photo Printing. There are too many photo printing companies out there that make the photos look TERRIBLE (see photo in post here). I am putting my name on those photos and I want them to express my talent and quality of work all the way to your wall. My preferred way of printing is through my chosen printing company, but I have a hard time transferring over to prints only. I really enjoy giving my clients the cd so they can have the images down the road, etc. So, please remember that if you are printing elsewhere, you are practicing copyright infringement. No Bueno:(

*HOW TO PRINT- If you chose to order through Costco and not through me, here are a few tips:
-When selecting photos from your computer, make sure to select the box that says FULL RESOLUTION (see photo). This will allow you to make enlargements and give you the highest quality print. Takes a little longer, but worth it.

***Also, a little note: For whatever reason, Costco Photo does not support iPhoto. Something in their wires crossing just doesn't mix (see how techy I am?). So, if iPhoto is your choice of photo importing, you will need to make sure you are copying the files from the cd onto your hard drive somewhere else instead for uploading to Costco. If not, your images will all show resolution warning. Any of my photos should never show that warning if you upload them through Full Resolution. The easiest way is to create a folder on your desktop, (or in your Pictures folder) and drag the images from your CD folder into the new folder).

*ALTERING IMAGES- Like I mentioned before, I really enjoy being able to give my clients the cd with images from their shoot for them to have and to hold. That said, I am releasing those EXACT images to you. Altering or further editing the images (other than cropping for prints) is adjusting the photos from the state that I released them to you. If you chose to print or post select images and would like them changed somehow (color to black and white, color to sepia, etc.) please contact me and I would be happy to adjust them and re edit them for you. NO charge!! Again, I want to make sure that the product you display is representing 100% of my work. (note: I cannot change a photo from BW to color.)

Thank you for taking the time to read through this boring post! It's one lame part of an otherwise incredibly fun and rewarding line of work! I am so appreciative of all my wonderufl clients and appreciate your support and respect!!

If you have any questions about anything I posted please feel free to contact me!

Father's Day Mini sessions!

2012 Father's Day Mini sessions!

Spaces are limited! Email me through my website, or message my through facebook!

2012 Mini Easter Sessions!

I will be offering mini sessions on March 31st for Easter (spring theme)! Those sweet little Easter dresses and dapper dude ensembles are just too much cuteness to waste! Please let me know if you would like a slot (spaces are limited).

Email me through my website www.jennaluoto.com OR message me through Facebook!

And......I'm back!

Yes folks, my sabbatical (of sorts) is now over! I am feeling refreshed, refocused, and ready to get back and helping you capture all those wonderful stages and memories of your lives!!

Back in September I decided to take a step back from my photography to really focus on my family, on myself, and redefining what I really want this company to offer, represent, and stand for. I've done a lot of simplifying, contemplating, but more than anything....being REAL.

Coming back, that is one thing I want my clients to know about me; I am real. I have no desire to put on a facade, to follow trends, or to try and be anybody else. I am honest and I always desire to give clients what they are dreaming of. I am not the most knowledgable photographer out there. Im not the most creative photographer out there. Im not the cheapest or the most expensive. I am not competitive and Im not set out to be the next big thing. I love to take pictures, I love to give clients photos that make them smile. I love to photograph babies and kids through all of their stages and families as they add little members and grow through the years. I love photographing woman and helping them realize their true beauty. I love working with brides (and grooms) and helping capture every fun, sentimental, joyous moment of their big day. I love anticipating the birth of a newborn client and getting to be trusted with taking those very first photos. And I love being able to contribute financially to my family.

So, that said....as I make my return there are several changes that will be put into place with my re launch. One of the biggest changes is MY NAME! Yes, this is big so PLEASE make note!

Dolce Photography will now be known as JENNA LUOTO PHOTOGRAPHY. I made this choice for several reasons; some personal, some business. All in all, it is what's best for me. So, PLEASE make sure to like my new Facebook page and update your bookmark to 

www.jennaluoto.com

Scheduling:
I will be limiting my sessions in a more organized manor. One of the hardest things for me was having to tell someone "No." I want to be able to accommodate all of my clients and work with their schedules, needs, and wishes. However, I have to think of my family first. First and foremost I am a mom and wife. That is the role God has called me to in this stage of my life and I want to make sure that I am honoring that with the respect and love that it is due. So, to be able to responsible on both ends, I am going to try scheduling at least one month out and limiting the number of shoots I will take each month. So, if you know your little one will be six months in May, make sure to contact me in April to get in the books! I will post on Facebook and here on the blog when I am scheduling for each new month. My hope is that by doing this I will be able to accommodate both  my client's and my family's needs. (**NOTE: Please contact me with any scheduling inquiries. If it fits for me to fit you in, Im willing to be flexible...as long as it works out!)

Payment:
I will now be asking for 50% non refundable down payment for every shoot upon booking. Because I am booking a month out and limiting myself, I need to be sure that clients follow through with their appointments. (**NOTE: I understand people get sick, work comes up, etc. I will honor that 50% down for a reschedule if I still have openings that month, otherwise I will carry it into the next month.)

Pricing/Printing:
This is a big debate within the photography industry. Do you give your clients the cd or not? For those of you who may not know, one of the main struggle with giving a client a cd with their images means that they can chose to print those images where ever they want. When we as photographers put our name on a photo we want to feel confident that the final image hung in someone's home represents our quality of work. Here is an image that a fellow photographer put together to show the print quality difference between a pro printer and non pro printer. No, this is not an exageration. This truly is the quality difference you get when choosing to print from a budget retailer.

That all said, I feel very drawn to letting my clients have there images for years to come-photo projects they think up down the road, new frame collages in the living room, etc. What I have decided is as follows:
-I will include a cd with the edited images from each shoot.
-The cd will be copyright released for Costco printing. (Any other printing source would be considered copyright infringement.) Costco offers the most professional printing quality accessible to non professional customers (in my opinion).
-I will offer professional lab printing to my clients (I use Millers Photo Lab). I have set my prices at an affordable rate so clients can chose to print the few images they do want immediately printed in superior quality.

**Please note: This is an area of my company that may evolve over time. Just note that it is always my goal to give my clients as much access to their photos as possible, while still keeping the quality of my work represented.

And I think that about covers it! Sorry for the novel, I just wanted to make sure everyone was up to speed with all the changes.

THANK YOU all for your support! It makes it all worth it!