So what does the word photograph mean to you? Webster defines it as a picture or likeness obtained by photography.
I define it as moment in life captured to remember forever. It is, in some cases, a work of art, to express emotion. It is a memory that can not be replaced. It can remind us of someone or something that will bring a smile to our face.
How would you define a photograph?
Friday, February 25, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Who is this lady behind OJW Studios?
Getting to know me....I think it is very important that you feel comfortable with me as your photographer. So I asked some people to send me questions to answer for this post. Things that people didn't know about me that I would like to share. Here you go a few questions from friends.
Favorite vacation spot?
Disney World! Only because I lived in Florida for most of my life. Growing up my parents would take us as a family every October to Disney's Fort Wilderness Campground. Then after my Dad passed away my Mom wanted to go to Disney again to make happy memories with her grand kids and so for 4 years straight we went to Disney almost every month with Grandma. I do miss going, I think my kids miss it more than I do.
My second favorite vacation spot has to be the Dominican Republic, my husband and I had a wonderful vacation there 7 years ago. The resort was wonderful, the beach was beautiful and we didn't take our kids so that made it heavenly. I did miss them after the 4th day.
Favorite drink?
I am a tea lover and my favorite flavors changes seasonally. Summer I LOVE just Green Tea and light flavor teas. Fall I enjoy Apple, Cinnamon and Pumpkin flavors. Winter I LOVE Citrus and Orange flavors along with Hot Chocolate. Then Spring I enjoy the fruity berry flavored teas.
Early Bird or Night Owl?
Definitely a night owl. It is when I do my best editing. All distractions are away, tv is off, kids are in bed. It is just me and my computer doing what I love, editing photos.
Sadly I still have to wake up early to get the kids off to school, but sometimes I can squeeze in a nap here and there to make up for those late nights.
Favorite Book?
I love a good mystery. I don't have any favorite book. I did enjoy the Harry Potter books, Twilight books and Narnia books. Those books I will read again when I don't have anything new to read. The library is my favorite place to go, I can get a good mystery book and a few craft books to keep me busy on slow days.
Favorite Movie?
Not a lot of people know this about me....I went to school for Computer Animation. Only changing my mind when I had one semester left. lol. So I absolutely love all movies that have wonderful computer animation in them. Transformers, Star Wars, The Matrix all had great graphics and All the Harry Potter movies. Then there is my first computer animation love PIXAR! All Pixar movies.
Most embarrassing moment?
I love to forget them, but the one that stays with me happened when I was in the 5th grade. I had to do an oral report. I got up there spoke way to fast and by the time I was finished my teacher looked at me and said "Olivia, too short". Not thinking right I scratched my head and looked down and said " but Mrs. Fisel, I have always been short". Everyone laughed! So for a few years I was called "Too Short Olivia".
Music?
Something else most people don't know about me. I know how to play the flute, piano and drums. I played my flute from the 5th grade until 8th grade. Stopped only because I wanted art classes and I couldn't have both in high school. Didn't have enough space in my schedule. My grandfather on my mother's side taught me how to play the piano at an early age. I think I was 4 or 5 when I really started to sit and listen to him play the piano by ear. He didn't know how to read the sheet music but he could play anything he heard. I started to bring over sheet music when I was about 7 or 8 and I would play when ever I could. They lived only 5 minutes away at the time so we went over there a lot. When I went into high school I took a piano class to further my learning on piano. Then when I was 19 I took drum lessons and a year later I joined a small local band out there in Florida. So for four years I played the drums and some keyboard with them (another girl and I would switch back and forth with the drums so we didn't get tired). I left only to start my family. Family life and the traveling drummer life didn't mix well with me.
Now after all that there I didn't tell you what music I like. I like everything. Some styles of music more than others. I enjoy music that I can listen to with my children around. So John Myer, The Fray, Lifehouse and other bands like that top my list right now. I do enjoy watching and listening to bands like St Valentine's Massacre live, but don't like to listen to them in my car or at my house. Just something about the metal music that I can only enjoy it while watching the artists work. Country music I don't know much about but I don't hate it. My daughter and I both enjoy Taylor Swift. Then when I am in a funky mood I will listen to Lady Gaga. She has some fun dancing music, aka cleaning music.
Favorite vacation spot?
Disney World! Only because I lived in Florida for most of my life. Growing up my parents would take us as a family every October to Disney's Fort Wilderness Campground. Then after my Dad passed away my Mom wanted to go to Disney again to make happy memories with her grand kids and so for 4 years straight we went to Disney almost every month with Grandma. I do miss going, I think my kids miss it more than I do.
My second favorite vacation spot has to be the Dominican Republic, my husband and I had a wonderful vacation there 7 years ago. The resort was wonderful, the beach was beautiful and we didn't take our kids so that made it heavenly. I did miss them after the 4th day.
Favorite drink?
I am a tea lover and my favorite flavors changes seasonally. Summer I LOVE just Green Tea and light flavor teas. Fall I enjoy Apple, Cinnamon and Pumpkin flavors. Winter I LOVE Citrus and Orange flavors along with Hot Chocolate. Then Spring I enjoy the fruity berry flavored teas.
Early Bird or Night Owl?
Definitely a night owl. It is when I do my best editing. All distractions are away, tv is off, kids are in bed. It is just me and my computer doing what I love, editing photos.
Sadly I still have to wake up early to get the kids off to school, but sometimes I can squeeze in a nap here and there to make up for those late nights.
Favorite Book?
I love a good mystery. I don't have any favorite book. I did enjoy the Harry Potter books, Twilight books and Narnia books. Those books I will read again when I don't have anything new to read. The library is my favorite place to go, I can get a good mystery book and a few craft books to keep me busy on slow days.
Favorite Movie?
Not a lot of people know this about me....I went to school for Computer Animation. Only changing my mind when I had one semester left. lol. So I absolutely love all movies that have wonderful computer animation in them. Transformers, Star Wars, The Matrix all had great graphics and All the Harry Potter movies. Then there is my first computer animation love PIXAR! All Pixar movies.
Most embarrassing moment?
I love to forget them, but the one that stays with me happened when I was in the 5th grade. I had to do an oral report. I got up there spoke way to fast and by the time I was finished my teacher looked at me and said "Olivia, too short". Not thinking right I scratched my head and looked down and said " but Mrs. Fisel, I have always been short". Everyone laughed! So for a few years I was called "Too Short Olivia".
Music?
Something else most people don't know about me. I know how to play the flute, piano and drums. I played my flute from the 5th grade until 8th grade. Stopped only because I wanted art classes and I couldn't have both in high school. Didn't have enough space in my schedule. My grandfather on my mother's side taught me how to play the piano at an early age. I think I was 4 or 5 when I really started to sit and listen to him play the piano by ear. He didn't know how to read the sheet music but he could play anything he heard. I started to bring over sheet music when I was about 7 or 8 and I would play when ever I could. They lived only 5 minutes away at the time so we went over there a lot. When I went into high school I took a piano class to further my learning on piano. Then when I was 19 I took drum lessons and a year later I joined a small local band out there in Florida. So for four years I played the drums and some keyboard with them (another girl and I would switch back and forth with the drums so we didn't get tired). I left only to start my family. Family life and the traveling drummer life didn't mix well with me.
Now after all that there I didn't tell you what music I like. I like everything. Some styles of music more than others. I enjoy music that I can listen to with my children around. So John Myer, The Fray, Lifehouse and other bands like that top my list right now. I do enjoy watching and listening to bands like St Valentine's Massacre live, but don't like to listen to them in my car or at my house. Just something about the metal music that I can only enjoy it while watching the artists work. Country music I don't know much about but I don't hate it. My daughter and I both enjoy Taylor Swift. Then when I am in a funky mood I will listen to Lady Gaga. She has some fun dancing music, aka cleaning music.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
More Random stuff......
What do you do in your free time?
I LOVE anything to do with art...Spring and Summer I will sit outside and draw or paint, but in the Fall and Winter I tend to stay inside and knit or crochet.
Do you like chocolate?
OH MY! Do I like chocolate! Every type of chocolate!
Do you like rainy days or snowy winter days more?
Well since I am new to this snowy weather I will have to say the snowy days....as long as it isn't too much snow (like 2 feet of snow in one day).
Name 3 things in nature you find most beautiful?
The way the water caresses land. It doesn't matter if it is a beach or just the edge of a river. I love it.
The crazy hap-hazard way snow falls, there doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to the pattern of snow fall.
Natures colors! I love the spring time to see all the beautiful colors of nature. From the yellow of daffodils to the red of a tulip. I find that there is nothing better than a beautiful colorful spring bloom of flowers.
Name 2 favorite foods?
Cookie Dough Ice Cream
Pizza
Something or someone you miss the most from childhood?
I will have to say, my Dad. He only passed away 5 years ago, but I miss him everyday. Doesn't matter how old you are you always need your Mom and Dad.
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Paris.....I want to explore all the art museums there.
I LOVE anything to do with art...Spring and Summer I will sit outside and draw or paint, but in the Fall and Winter I tend to stay inside and knit or crochet.
Do you like chocolate?
OH MY! Do I like chocolate! Every type of chocolate!
Do you like rainy days or snowy winter days more?
Well since I am new to this snowy weather I will have to say the snowy days....as long as it isn't too much snow (like 2 feet of snow in one day).
Name 3 things in nature you find most beautiful?
The way the water caresses land. It doesn't matter if it is a beach or just the edge of a river. I love it.
The crazy hap-hazard way snow falls, there doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to the pattern of snow fall.
Natures colors! I love the spring time to see all the beautiful colors of nature. From the yellow of daffodils to the red of a tulip. I find that there is nothing better than a beautiful colorful spring bloom of flowers.
Name 2 favorite foods?
Cookie Dough Ice Cream
Pizza
Something or someone you miss the most from childhood?
I will have to say, my Dad. He only passed away 5 years ago, but I miss him everyday. Doesn't matter how old you are you always need your Mom and Dad.
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Paris.....I want to explore all the art museums there.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
RED!
This seems to be the color most used on Valentine's day. The color of love. It tells us to stop and look. The above portrait was my way of showing red as a strong bold color.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Another day, another question......
Here are a few frequently asked questions that I wanted to post on here. If you have any questions please email me and I will answer you within 24 hours.
What does the session fee include?
The session fee covers my time and photographic talent before, during, and after your session. It does not include any prints or products that I offer.
How soon should I book my session?
As soon as possible! I normally book sessions 2 weeks in advance, sometimes even farther in advance (2 to 3 months) .
What if my child gets sick right before the session?
Oh please reschedule! If your child is sick and not feeling well they typically don’t want anyone bugging them…aka me with my big camera. I highly recommend contacting me at least 24-48 hours in advance to reschedule a time that will work for both of us. I am very happy to accommodate, so no worries.
Do you have a studio?
My studio is getting framed out as soon as the snow melts enough for us to bring the supplies down. Since I am a mother and my kids needs come before my studio it is taking a little longer than planned. I have a temporary studio set up but it is only for small children and baby sessions since it isn't big enough for family portraits at this time. So what that means is I am mostly an on location photographer right now. As soon as my real studio is up and running I will have a grand re-opening posted with new studio specials.
How long will my session last?
Your session time can vary. It can be 30 minutes to 2 hours. It all depends on how the sessions goes. When working with children and pets it is always closer to the 2 hour mark.
Do you shoot weddings?
Yes, WE do. On my main website page you will see the link for weddings where you can find out more information on our wedding sessions.
What does the session fee include?
The session fee covers my time and photographic talent before, during, and after your session. It does not include any prints or products that I offer.
How soon should I book my session?
As soon as possible! I normally book sessions 2 weeks in advance, sometimes even farther in advance (2 to 3 months) .
What if my child gets sick right before the session?
Oh please reschedule! If your child is sick and not feeling well they typically don’t want anyone bugging them…aka me with my big camera. I highly recommend contacting me at least 24-48 hours in advance to reschedule a time that will work for both of us. I am very happy to accommodate, so no worries.
Do you have a studio?
My studio is getting framed out as soon as the snow melts enough for us to bring the supplies down. Since I am a mother and my kids needs come before my studio it is taking a little longer than planned. I have a temporary studio set up but it is only for small children and baby sessions since it isn't big enough for family portraits at this time. So what that means is I am mostly an on location photographer right now. As soon as my real studio is up and running I will have a grand re-opening posted with new studio specials.
How long will my session last?
Your session time can vary. It can be 30 minutes to 2 hours. It all depends on how the sessions goes. When working with children and pets it is always closer to the 2 hour mark.
Do you shoot weddings?
Yes, WE do. On my main website page you will see the link for weddings where you can find out more information on our wedding sessions.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Don't miss out on this.....
Just sending out a reminder about my 100 "likes" special that ends May 11th! You don't want to miss this! I will not offer 50% off session fees again this calendar year!
What is a typical session like?
I do not like to rush my sessions so I schedule my day so there is about 2 hours of time just for that family.
I LOVE the nontraditional style of photo journalistic photography, it shows who you and your family are. So I lean more to that style when I am taking your portraits. I do some traditional portraits but that style isn't what made me start my journey in photography. I will pose you and your family but then ask you to move a bit to make the pose your own, this tends to make everyone more comfortable.
I will ask children to be silly and make faces for a few portraits, this way I can get some beautiful smiles later. I might even get silly and make faces or fall down to get a laugh or two for some great portraits.
What should I wear?
If you can't decide what to wear just select a few outfits, bring the unique too and I can help decide what clothes will photograph best for each child, and yourself!
I feel newborns are captured best with as little clothing as possible. Don't be afraid to bring your own personal props for you little one too! For little girls (and even teens) tutus are fun! If it is mostly photographs of our toddler child a dress up box is fun too. Just let me know and I will have large ties, hats, tutus and hair accessories on hand for some cute portraits. Trendy clothes work well for older children. Solid colors in middle tones work best, I would try to avoid wearing all white. This isn’t a huge no-no it is just recommended that you dress in something that’s shows more of your personality and your child’s personality. Fun aaccessories such as hats and scarves are encouraged, while logos, busy patterns, large stripes, and cartoon characters are not as they can detract from a portrait.
What happens if it rains during my location portrait?
Don't let a little rain stop your portrait session! If rain is in the forecast on your portrait day bring out the boots, raincoats and umbrellas. Portraits in the rain can be beautiful! We can start off in either your home or my studio then go out for some fun rain portraits.
What happens after my session?
After the shoot, each photograph is hand-edited and carefully processed. A sneak peek is posted 3-5 days after your session on both my blog and my facebook fan page. Then about 3-5 days following your sneak peek I will send you a link to a private online gallery. Twenty to thirty finished images are presented in a custom gallery that is easily shared with friends and family. Galleries remain active for 10 days, this will give you and your family time to pick your favorite prints. Prints are delivered within 1-2 weeks of ordering. Large prints or specialty prints can take up to 5 weeks.
How do I book a session?
You can either call me Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays 9am-3pm OR email me at anytime. I check my email at 8am and 10pm everyday. Please keep in mind that some email accounts put my email in spam folder so if you haven't heard from me in 24 hours please check your spam folder.
I am typically booked two to three weeks in advanced so it is important to call early to reserve a date. Your session fee must be received the day of your session. If you are looking to have a newborn portrait session I ask that you contact while you are still pregnant so I can keep a few days open around your due date, since the best portraits for newborns are within the first 2 weeks.
What is a typical session like?
I do not like to rush my sessions so I schedule my day so there is about 2 hours of time just for that family.
I LOVE the nontraditional style of photo journalistic photography, it shows who you and your family are. So I lean more to that style when I am taking your portraits. I do some traditional portraits but that style isn't what made me start my journey in photography. I will pose you and your family but then ask you to move a bit to make the pose your own, this tends to make everyone more comfortable.
I will ask children to be silly and make faces for a few portraits, this way I can get some beautiful smiles later. I might even get silly and make faces or fall down to get a laugh or two for some great portraits.
What should I wear?
If you can't decide what to wear just select a few outfits, bring the unique too and I can help decide what clothes will photograph best for each child, and yourself!
I feel newborns are captured best with as little clothing as possible. Don't be afraid to bring your own personal props for you little one too! For little girls (and even teens) tutus are fun! If it is mostly photographs of our toddler child a dress up box is fun too. Just let me know and I will have large ties, hats, tutus and hair accessories on hand for some cute portraits. Trendy clothes work well for older children. Solid colors in middle tones work best, I would try to avoid wearing all white. This isn’t a huge no-no it is just recommended that you dress in something that’s shows more of your personality and your child’s personality. Fun aaccessories such as hats and scarves are encouraged, while logos, busy patterns, large stripes, and cartoon characters are not as they can detract from a portrait.
What happens if it rains during my location portrait?
Don't let a little rain stop your portrait session! If rain is in the forecast on your portrait day bring out the boots, raincoats and umbrellas. Portraits in the rain can be beautiful! We can start off in either your home or my studio then go out for some fun rain portraits.
What happens after my session?
After the shoot, each photograph is hand-edited and carefully processed. A sneak peek is posted 3-5 days after your session on both my blog and my facebook fan page. Then about 3-5 days following your sneak peek I will send you a link to a private online gallery. Twenty to thirty finished images are presented in a custom gallery that is easily shared with friends and family. Galleries remain active for 10 days, this will give you and your family time to pick your favorite prints. Prints are delivered within 1-2 weeks of ordering. Large prints or specialty prints can take up to 5 weeks.
How do I book a session?
You can either call me Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays 9am-3pm OR email me at anytime. I check my email at 8am and 10pm everyday. Please keep in mind that some email accounts put my email in spam folder so if you haven't heard from me in 24 hours please check your spam folder.
I am typically booked two to three weeks in advanced so it is important to call early to reserve a date. Your session fee must be received the day of your session. If you are looking to have a newborn portrait session I ask that you contact while you are still pregnant so I can keep a few days open around your due date, since the best portraits for newborns are within the first 2 weeks.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Looking for newborn models......
I am in LOVE with this lady's work http://capturedbycarrie.com/blog/! I have been trying for about 2 years now to get every newborn session to have a portrait with the baby posed all curled up with their heads propped up on their little hands. Sometimes the babies just don't like it so this is something I want to work on. To help me work on my newborn poses I thought I could use a few newborn models for this style of portraits. If you know anyone or if you would like to have a newborn session with the fee waved to let practice these poses, let them know I am now accepting newborn models up to 2 weeks old.
I am also looking for models ages newborn to 6 months old to model hats for As Fine As a Frogs Hair's spring hat and hair accessories for girls and a few crochet baby ball caps. Contact me at findoutmore@ojwstudios.com to let me know you are interested.
All these above modeling sessions will be February, March & April only!
I am also looking for models ages newborn to 6 months old to model hats for As Fine As a Frogs Hair's spring hat and hair accessories for girls and a few crochet baby ball caps. Contact me at findoutmore@ojwstudios.com to let me know you are interested.
All these above modeling sessions will be February, March & April only!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
I have reached 100 "likes" on my facebook fan page!
I am happy to announce that from now until May 11 we have 50% off all session fees! Plus all the other deals for my 100 "likes" special.
So hurry and book your session before May 11th to get 50% off your session fee and more!!!!!
So hurry and book your session before May 11th to get 50% off your session fee and more!!!!!
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