A blog post a day keeps the . . .

I don’t know that it keeps anything away but after going to WPPI and hearing all of the photographers scream that blog posting is a great way to connect with clients I have decided to work on one of my worst habits – not posting regularly. So like with every bad habit it takes 21 days of change to truly think that you’ve changed the bad habit. So here and now I am committing, whatever should happen, I will be posting one blog post a day For those of you who might have been checking in for the last little while it’s been more like one a month or so – so this will be a challenge for me but if your willing to read I am definitely willing to write – after all (yes I know it sounds like sucking up but its true!) I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for all of you

So ok if I am going to blog it should be about something right? Well how about WPPI? If your a photographer you were either there or wishing you were there but if your a client your probably wondering what that is. WPPI stands for Wedding and Portrait Photographers International – It’s a great organization and every year it’s members are invited to a conference in Las Vegas to learn from other photographers about certain aspects of the business. There is also an amazing tradeshow where you can check out the latest products and see vendors items up close. At most of these booths they have great photographers doing presentations about the products and how they use them and/or how that product would benefit you. This is great because you get to see whats successful but it’s also nice that you get to meet these photographers and perhaps talk to them for a minute.  I got to meet quite a few photographers that I admire at WPPI – all of them for different reason. The main one I wanted to meet was David Jay – I really admire his business sense and his ability to get his name out there and invent products photographers really need. I’ve used showitfast for about a year now and I love it – my clients get a slideshow of their images set to music and time and time again they come back to that slideshow to show their friends, each time marketing my work and it’s not just me – he’s pretty popular in our studio – My assistant Samantha is a huge fan but unfortunately she is pregnant and has a little boy and could not make it to WPPI this year. So she made me promise that I would take a photo of him for her with his arm outstretched so that we can photoshop her in later. I’m sure this made DJ laugh but I can’t wait to “insert Sam” into the photos.  So Sam and I will have a photoshoot in the near future so that we’ll be able to show you those. I ran into DJ just past the Pictage booth and he was talking with Jasmine Star as well as a few other photographers. I asked for the photo and he was very nice about it and then I got a photo with Jasmine – who I have to say is the most bubbly person I have ever met. I only spoke to her for two seconds but she just exuded happiness I wanted to tell her that I love how much people smile (natural smiles) in her photos and ask her how she gets them to feel at ease but honestly I could tell without even asking, it’s just something about her. Here are both of the photos – I feel like a dork in them but honestly I’m ok with that

Not sure what I was looking at but honestly I think I was just having a hard time focusing as I was happy to meet them both at the same time

This is me with my Nikon bag that I apparently wanted to include in the photo lol

More photos from WPPI to come – got photos with other photographers as well as around Vegas, also got a chance to do a bit of a maternity shoot with my friend and fellow photographer Jayme Morrison oh and we also did a shoot featuring JB and DeEtte Sallee’s “I shoot people tour” Tshirts Looking forward to posting those as I really made a fool of myself there

That’s all for today but I’ll be back … tomorrow

Slideshow of recent shoot

Hey one and all so here’s the first real post – my website is live! wohoooo and among all the other new and funky programs and equipment I have bought in the last little while – I got showitfasts web slideshow program and I have to say I love it! Check out a recent slideshow done for a client getting married in May – these are the engagement photos and the bride loved the slideshow – I have a good feeling about this program…. click here to view the slideshow. In other news I also did a couples portrait session with Jimmy and Brianne – Jimmy is a friend of my brother’s and is practically a member of the family at this point – so he came with his girlfriend Brianne to the botanical gardens (wearing the sweater my mom gave him for Christmas one year) and we got some really fun shots! On a side note Amanda Lachapelle Photography will be happy to welcome Brianne in January when she will start with us as a co-op student! Check out a few photos from the day

It’s been awhile…

Oh but I promise there are some good things to come – in fact you might not even know what hit you once I put up all the new changes and stuff to look at for now sit tight

The beginning!

So the creation of this first blog is being done while I am currently working on my new website. I have never had a blog before so pardon me if sometimes ramble on. So as a kind of introduction to you the reader, I guess I will start by introducing myself.

My name is Amanda Lachapelle, owner of Amanda Lachapelle Photography. We are a new company just getting started and while the business number and premises are new I am not. I have been photographing weddings for friends and family for 4 years pro-bono, as they say, which is pretty much a fancy word for “free”. This past year I have been working up to the point of being fully up and operational with a full body of work to show clients as well as a professional website among other things.
I have entered into this field with the experience from working for families and a long time love of photography. Since I was young I remember being in the darkroom with my step father at the time and watching images born and memories captured, it was like freezing time. The allure of taking pictures has always been there, if you ask any of my friends growing up – they will say – that I always had a camera in my hands. Doing something for once that is my passion brings great fulfillment to my life and makes each day worth getting up for.

To any bride and grooms reading this blog I will say this, for me as wedding photography is my focus and where I get the most joy out of photography, I love seeing couples in love! I love weddings in general – the planning, the thought and effort that goes into the big day. My approach is to make you feel as comfortable as possible with me before the wedding day so that on a day where emotions are running high you do not feel like you have a stranger there. When photographing a wedding I try to capture the essence of the couple; and how can you do that if you don’t know them?

As I end this blog I am just finishing the photoshop work on my site and am now on to the html portion. Wish me luck!

I look forward to many more posts – see ya on the other side!

Amanda