Senior portraits are always a milestone in a family. Sometimes it seems strange to take the photos BEFORE your senior year starts, but many schools have early yearbook deadlines, so the photo session needs to be at the end of the summer or the early fall. Luckily, that timing is perfect for outdoor shots! I love outdoor photos and the colors that this time of year brings. When trying to decide on location, know that it can be as simple as your backyard! This photo actually WAS taken in my backyard! Parks are nice, gardens, zoos…but all you really need is some grass and maybe a tree or two – everything else is icing on the cake! This works well if you want an indoor session with some outdoor shots…you can do both with one sitting fee all in the same location. Since we are actively booking for senior portraits right now, I would like to offer a special – and it times perfectly with the Senior rush! Book your senior session today and mention you saw this blog, and you will receive 16 wallets of any 1 pose for FREE! This is for new bookings only, and you must mention the blog when you call. Book your senior session today!

The show choir Esteem gives the girls a chance to gain experience and confidence while spreading a positive message in our community. Here they perform at the Concert in the Park series at St. Mary’s park in Monroe.

Whew!  What a 48 hours this has been!  After lots of work, discussion, tweaking and VERY little sleep, the grand re-opening of heartstrings photography is a success!  The new website looks great; I have purchased new packaging and will be ordering new business cards tomorrow.  I placed my first lab order since the relaunch and ordered a HUGE new backdrop for my dance and group photography.  Thanks to everyone who helped – even if it was just letting me know I had your support!

I did not schedule any shoots this week as I knew my time would be limited! The photo is an example of my event photography – and of course my favorite events include my children!  This is a wonderful group of girls who make up the show choir Esteem, which was created by and is directed by Alison Drougel.  My daughter was thrilled to be a part of this group for a while and believes in the work they do.  The girls try to spread a positive message of acceptance and self-esteem to the people of Monroe and the surrounding communities.  Sometimes confidence can make all the difference!  It is a message we all should take to heart!

A fabulous jump by a member of the Motor City Dance Extension at a recent performance “Jazz in Motion” at the River Raisin Centre for the Arts.

Hurray!  After needing to sit down and do this for some time, I am finally relaunching my website and jump starting my updated business!  I look forward to using this new site to share my favorite images, offer “sneak peeks” to my clients and share my musings as I take this journey in photography!  I hope you will come back and see what is new…you never know when you might catch a glimpse of someone you know or find out about a special offer or discount!

I can’t promise I will post every day but I will try to share a bit with you each week. I would like to take a moment in this first post to thank some very special people…

Thank you, John, for my beautiful new logo!  I love it and think it is very “me”.  Thank you for listening to me and creating something very true to my personality and the heart of my business.  You are the best!  (John Pegouske is my brother, and the owner of Westborn Camera Company in Dearborn.  He buys and sells new and used cameras and equipment – if you need camera equipment, be sure to check him out!)

I must thank my amazing husband, who is right now at 2:45 in the morning sitting and working on the website so we can launch tomorrow.  I could not do this without his love, inspiration and support.  You mean the world to me sweetheart!  I love you!

A huge Thank You to Lindsay King, of Lindsay King Modern Photography.  I attended one of Lindsay’s workshops and the personal attention she gave before, after and during that session was amazing.  She inspired me to search my heart and take my business to the next level!  She helped me have the confidence I needed to jump in and build on an already wonderful and fulfilling endeavor.  I am grateful that she would share her knowledge and talents with others and am happy to have her on “team heart!”  Thank you, Lindsay!

To my clients…without you this would be a dream, a hobby…I appreciate you more than you know!  I hope you enjoy the new and improved heartstrings photography and I look forward to working with you SOON!