Autumn Hull Photography

Two Cutie Patooties in a Row

2008-07-12T00:43:41-07:00

I had the pleasure of photographing two three month old baby girls back to back the other day. The girls weren't related, it was just a coincidence, but what a great bonus day for me!

This is usually a tricky age, because they can't sit up yet on their own, but they are too active to want to lay down very much, so you have to get creative.

Seriously, I think little baby girls, in color, on white is my new very favorite type of session to do. At least until I do my next session...

Updated Website & Studio News

2008-07-11T11:02:52-07:00

I finally had a chance to update my website with all the details on the Baby Plans, Lifetime Membership, Limited Edition Sessions, the Referral Program, my schedule of available appointments, and pictures of the new studio. Stop by and have a look!

Also, I had a visit from a friend of mine, Teri Montoya, who is an amazing boudoir photographer with a studio right across the street. The large two-story space right next to mine is available, and she's thinking of moving her studio there and giving me the top story, which is an exact mirror image of the floorplan of my studio. All we'd have to do is have them put in a doorway, and poof! I'd have twice the space. This means I could add a second camera room for my Associate Photographers, a conference room just for my Photoshop and marketing workshops, AND an office for all of us to work.

Another photographer who does portraits and weddings will probably take over the lease for the space she has now, which would turn our little block into Photography Studio Central. Hmmm... definitely has some great potential there. I'm thinking a group marketing campaign, lots of cross-promotions, referrals, combo workshops....

Things are happening!

New Photo 101 & Photoshop Workshops Ready

2008-07-10T12:38:57-07:00

I've been teaching a workshop just for parents on how to take better photographs of their children for years now, but I had to put them on hold while I got the new studio up and running. Now the parent workshop is back, with a new name and a new Photoshop workshop to go along with it!

The new workshop is called Photography 101, and it's for anyone who wants to learn how to use their camera and take better snapshots of their children, family, and friends. It's now held in my studio, which means we can take a few more people for each workshop, and we can lower the price!

Photography 101 is now only $125 per person and can accommodate up to 10 people.

Since I started offering this course, people have been asking if I also taught a Photoshop for parents class. Until now, there was no practical place for me to hold it.

The new Photoshop class is called Photoshop 101, and it's a great introduction to the program for anyone who just wants to get the basics under their belt.

This class is also $125, or it can be combined with the Photography 101 class for a total of $225.

The first day for both workshops is Saturday, July 26th. The Photography 101 class is from 10am to 12pm, and the Photoshop 101 class is from 1pm to 3pm.

Space is limited, so be sure to register early!

www.autumnhullworkshops.com

Registration Closed for Ten for The Weekend

2008-07-07T12:39:31-07:00

The registration for this weekend's Ten For The Weekend is now closed. The next weekend workshop, scheduled for Friday, August 22nd to Sunday, August 24th, will be the last one for 2008. The workshops will resume in January, 2009.

If you would like more info on the group workshop, you can visit my website at www.autumnhullworkshops.com. It's a great way to get yourself up and running in a short amount of time. It covers studio lighting, guided practice photo sessions with live models, and a full day of intro to Photoshop and digital workflow. Since the class size is limited to only 10 people, everyone gets plenty of personal attention and no one gets left in the dark!

Congratulations to our PhotoBooth winners!

2008-06-30T17:36:28-07:00

It was a good race, and many of the PhotoBooth shots gave each other a run for their money, but the winner by a landslide is this little cutie:

It just goes to show you... you can get as creative, silly, and spontaneous as you want, but there is nothing more powerful on this earth as a little girl in a tutu.

Congratulations to the Nott family, who won a free Portrait Session and a 16x20 custom canvas print.

Also, one lucky voter was scientifically chosen at random (by asking my daughter to pick a number, then counting down the emails until I got to that number) to receive a $50 gift card good toward a Portrait Sitting, prints or products, or workshop fees. And the winner is.... Ryan & Brenda Metro

So congratulations to our winners, and thanks everyone who posed in the PhotoBooth and sent in all those votes. I hope to see you all back in the studio very soon!

PhotoBooth Contest Ends Tonight!

2008-06-27T08:25:49-07:00

Don't forget, today is the last day to vote for your favorite PhotoBooth entry. No votes will be accepted after 8pm. I'll announce the winner of the free portrait sitting and 16x20 canvas print and the winner of the $50 savings card sometime after that this evening.

Good luck!

Limited Edition Sessions: Celebrating Motherhood

2008-06-23T22:42:18-07:00

Now that the studio is officially open, and now we can get started with our brand new feature: The Limited Edition Session. Those of you who have been clients of mine over the years might wonder: "How is a Limited Edition Session different than your Mini Sessions?" Well, I'll tell you!

A Mini Session was available almost anytime, and it was 1/2 the time, 1/2 the price, and 1/2 the proofs as a standard session. I am no longer offering Mini Sessions.

A Limited Edition Session is so much cooler. Once a month, we will host a themed Limited Edition Session Day. The themes will be different every month and will include a wide variety of topics, like "Santa Sessions", "Little Valentines", "My Grandparents & Me", and "Best Friends", and our old favorite: "Tutu Cuties".

The best difference is that Limited Edition Sessions are less than a Mini Session. They are only $60 for a 15 minute session, AND include a special offer on a product related to the theme. For instance, "Santa Sessions" will include a special price on Christmas Cards, and "Just The Purse, Ma'am" will include special low prices on Custom Photo Handbags ordered from that session.

Here's the downside: each Limited Edition Session lasts for one day only, and when it's booked, that's it until we offer it again next year.

Our first Limited Edition Day is all about the Mommies! This LE Session is called "Celebrating Motherhood" and is perfect to showcase that special bond between a woman and her children.

It is only available this Saturday, June 28th, from 9am to 5pm in our brand new studio located at 25020 Avenue Stanford, Suite 100, Valencia, CA 91354.

All images will be shot in black and white, on a black background, and retouching is included.

The cost of this quick, 15 minute session is $60, whether you have one baby or six babies, and even if your babies aren't babies at all anymore! The special offer with this session is a matted and framed 8x10 print, available for only $165. If you upgrade to include the special offer, this brings your cost to $225, and since the cost on an 8x10 framed print alone is normally $275, you can't possibly pass it up!

Just think, all you have to do is show up for 15 minutes with your children (or grown children!), pose for a few quick shots, pick out a frame and a mat while you're there, pick out your favorite shot online a couple of weeks later, and in a few short weeks, you'll have a beautiful portrait of you and your children, ready to hang on the wall.

Don't worry all you Daddies out there, you'll have a turn pretty soon!

If you would like to reserve a spot for the Celebrating Motherhood Limited Edition Session, you can email autumn@autumnhullphoto.com or call 661-297-6951.

Watch your inboxes and mailboxes for the next month's theme!

The PhotoBooth Contest

2008-06-23T16:26:40-07:00

During our Grand Opening weekend, we held a PhotoBooth contest for our visitors. In order to enter, they had to step into our studio with one of the Associate Photographers and give us their best shot. Each participants got 3-5 shots in rapid succession, and then were able to draw a savings card out of the jar. The cards were all winners, ranging from $25 off a session all the way up to a completely free session. For the grand prize, a free portrait session and a 16x20 canvas print, they have to win all of YOU over.

I've chosen my favorite shots of the weekend, now it's up to you to pick the very best image. You can pick the cutest, the funniest, the silliest, or just the strangest image, it's your choice! To vote, send an email with the number of the image you like best. One vote per email please, but if you are one of the hopeful PhotoBooth models, you can feel free to tell your friends, family, co-workers, etc. to stuff the ballot box in your favor!

autumn@autumnhullphoto.com

(Please don't vote by leaving a comment, the email votes are the only ones that will count.)

And voters... there's something in it for you, too! I will pick one voter at random to receive a $50 savings card good toward portrait sittings, print or product orders, or even workshops.

I'll leave the voting open for five days, and announce the winner on Friday night. Good luck!

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The studio is now official!

2008-06-23T13:18:35-07:00

The Grand Opening Open House was a great success, and we are now officially open for business! Thank you to everyone who came by to see the place and meet the new Associate Photographers.

I am going through the PhotoBooth images as we speak and will be posting my favorites here later today. Then it will be up to all of you blog readers to pick the winner, who will receive a free portrait sitting and 16x20 canvas print, a $750 value!

Stay tuned everyone!!

The Big Day

2008-06-19T23:52:00-07:00

I breathe a sigh of relief as it all comes together today. This shot is about three hours before the Ribbon Cutting, and all I'm waiting for at this point is the flower delivery and the food and ice. I've been so busy getting everything ready, I forgot to look around me and see what we've accomplished. I am so proud of this studio, it's even better than what I imagined in my head.

Once the flowers arrived and all the final touches were placed around the studio, I was ready for the Ribbon Cutting! All that was left was the quick phone-in interview to the local radio station that I had set up to promote the Grand Opening. I'll post the audio clip of it later.

Here is me "cutting" the ribbon with my family, friends, Associate Photographers, and the Miss, Little Miss, and Mrs. Santa Clarita. It was such a great ceremony. There were presentations made by representatives from the Mayor, Assemblyman, and our Senators, and a plaque from the city. We had a short reception afterwards to celebrate.

Now I get one day of rest, then it's the really big event... the Open House all day on Saturday to introduce the new studio, the Associate Photographers, and my new price list with some great new products, baby plans, and a lifetime membership program.

Be sure to check the blog next week to participate in the PhotoBooth contest. We have a photobooth set up in the studio, and guests will be posing for 3-5 fun, silly photos. I'll pick the 20 or so best images and post them here for all of you to vote on. Whoever has the winning photo will receive a free portrait session and a custom 16x20 canvas print.

I hope to see some of you this Saturday!