HELP!! Look into the future with me....

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/invited/2380958/8b63e37d04aa8a630f881ad52643a8dfebd59056

I am being offered what looks to be an amazing and rewarding opportunity. I will most likely be laid-off from Pharmaceuticals. This is sad, right? At first glance, yes. I LOVE my job and have LOVED it for years, but after sliding by through several downsizings, I have come to terms with my future. There is no future for drugs....

Here's the opportunity. I get to jump head first into owning my own business! I've wanted to do it, but have been too scared. God has decided to put it out there for me, and I'm taking the chance.

Here's where I need - your honest feedback and insight to begin the brand.

Do people need more photographers in Athens? Nope. There are several amazing options. Can I shoot? Yes. I plan to continue to shoot portraits all the time. That will be a small part of what I plan to offer.

I feel like every time I talk to a friend of mine, young or old, everyone talks about the need to print images. Like you, they have pictures all over their hard-drives, on cds, some old prints, their iphones, etc., but aren't showing them off. They're stuck in cyberspace....

I want to help people display what they already have, and supplement life's milestones with my photography, too. I am thinking in three directions and am working with some amazing partnerships.

1. This is my specialty --- coffee table photo albums. Sure people can do them these days, but does anyone really have time? I have just finished my annual book for 2011 and have lots of man hours in the design, text, etc. What a pain!! Weddings take weeks sometimes. So many mamas tell me, “I had such a great scrapbook for my first, but my second.....I forget my third's name sometimes.....” Can you relate? I want to do these for people and present an amazing quality, professional photobook – not just another internet upload and print kind of thing.
2. Some other friends have beautiful, professional images, and don't know how to display them. Do they buy frames and print, work with canvases, metal? What's good quality and what isn't? I hope to go into people's homes and take the images they want to display and do it for them. What do you think?
3. Lastly, is there a need for digital books? I feel like some might want to get all of their pics into adorable slideshows, email books, etc. to send friends and family, post on facebook, etc. This one is an easy one, but people still shy away from it. I can build family websites, blogs, etc.

So, that's where I am headed. I will still shoot. I will offer milestone reminders to my families and schedule portraits for them so that they won't miss another big event. I will keep track of everything. I also plan to incorporate events – birthday parties, senior portraits - whatever families need – and can provide quick display options for these, too.

Lastly, I can take any existing photos and edit them for clients. Did you go on vacation with a point and shoot and want your images to simply look better before you frame them? I can do it. I can incorporate old and new into everything I do.

Now. For the brand...... I have researched, and researched.....played with words, looked at logos.... I need something catchy, not too cheesy, but that depicts what I am trying to sell. Here are some thoughts..... drum roll.... “Polished Projects,” “Polished Perspectives,” “Showy Spreads,” “Display What's Dear?”

HELP!!

Also, let me know if this is something that there is even a need for. If not, I can stick to what I know – adorable portraits, fine art, and weddings, but I have a real passion for this idea. I will take ALL advice and thank you, dear friends, for taking the time to think with me.

I have also attached the link to my personal 2011 album that I have just finished with Blurb. I am looking to work with them (I have created all professional books with them so far and everyone loves them) to get things rolling. Let me know!

I am blessed to have you in my life!

Best,

Heather

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/invited/2380958/8b63e37d04aa8a630f881ad52643a8dfebd59056

Christmas in Dixie

Here are the highlights. I've found that the times when pictures are expected, like birthday parties, holidays, etc., I always seem to come up short.... I think I get too involved in the excitement.

We are a VERY blessed family. Merry CHRISTmas from the Waters' clan. It was a good one!

My SWEET boy!

Gracie with Mimi and her newest computer

Little Man Christmas morning

She seemed pleased!

Posing with her new PJs at Mimi and Pops'

Our visit with Uncle BoBo (Dr. McDreamy) in Atlanta. He was on call. :(



He's absolutely ADORABLE, but mom and I had to give him a hard time and remind him to make time for haircuts....it rivals Patrick Dempsey in size, don't you think?

Gracie's Atlanta adventure - the parking garage was awesome!

Scrubs as a tree skirt....



Helping BoBo unwrap his presents...

Payton and JP --- what did we all do before we had iphones?

Sweet, funny JP 

Hooray!! Mr. Popper's Penguins. Wow.

Such a proud big sister. He's awesome.

Other Christmas Video Highlights for Gege...

The kids were SO excited!!

Dance party in the living room! Hooray!

They are all sweet kids. Pics to come soon. :)

Christmas Videos for Gege!!

Gracie woke up this morning, stood at the top of the stairs and preciously asked, "Is Gege downstairs?"

We had such a wonderful holiday with Gege, Uncle BoBo, Payton, Parker and Suzie! She is a sad, sad little gal now that the excitement is over. We already look forward to our visit in February. Pictures will be posted later, but these videos needed to go up for Gege. We love you and are not the same when you're gone.

They couldn't wait for her to get here!! Gracie LOVES her Gege!! (She knows there's usually candy, presents and complete lack of dicipline involved....)

December Fun

Finally!! I have been able to take portraits (sort-of) of our precious John Davis!!

It was really difficult to find the time when Gracie was away (or asleep) and my assistant, Kevin, was available.

How sweet  and happy is this little boy? He has been so laid back and smiley from the very beginning --- until now. He has a big personality, and a Waters family temper. Good for him! We have been hoping that he would come out swinging, just to defend himself from big sister. She is a sweetheart, but most definitely a diva. They are already becoming the bestest little buddies. It is really sweet to be with them these days.



Speaking of the diva, here are a few of the pictures from her preschool Christmas party. They created a winter wonderland room with snow and ice skating. It was adorable and the longest Gracie has smiled over the last week or so. She had a blast!!

She has been....challenging....lately. Kevin and I keep taking her temperature and asking her if her tummy feels okay, etc. It is tough knowing you put your gal in "time out" 6 times before nap if you find out she does in fact have strep throat. Poor girl. I rounded both her and D up this morning and were were off the the pedes just to make sure (and to justify her behavior).

And we were right --- Gracie is in fact a 2 1/2 year old with a lot of spunk. And absolutely no strep throat. Or any illness whatsoever...

"GERIN!!"

My kiddos love their "Gerin!" Erin, our babysitter, has become part of the family while I go out parttime to work for corporate America. Without her, Grace still would probably be in diapers and sleeping a crib... Davis snuggles up to her the minute she walks in.

We feel very safe and blessed to have her in our lives, and are not above locking her in the basement if she ever threatens to leave us (at least for the next 5 years or so).

As proof that she is one of us, Grace refused to smile for the camera in a Christmas picture with her too. Knowing that my favorite pastime is taking photos, Gracie refuses these days to cooperate. I hear the terrible 2's are nothing compared to the 3s?!? Maybe I'll get another picture of her, without a surprise or a bribe, by her 4th birthday...

Swinging....

Don't take my picture, Heather!!

What a great Fall, Ya'll!

To make things easier, I have included some of my favorite portraits from this fall. What amazing families and adorable children! I am sure I will finish out the year with tons of pictures of my sweetpeas. I can't help myself around the holidays.