Author Archives: Visual Impressions Photography

Supporting Local Schools and Community

13 Thursday Feb 2014

Posted by in Business, Childrens photography, How to, Informational, Personal, Upcoming events

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Learning Garden

Verne A Duncan Elementary School builds an outdoor classroom/garden

For those of us with school aged kids we know more than ever what a big role our schools and community play in raising our children. This time of year is ripe with auction procurement and committee meetings by dedicated parents who want to improve their schools and the programs they offer. One such school that is gearing up for an April auction is Verne A Duncan Elementary in Happy Valley, OR. Through a partnership with Visual Impressions, this school benefits from photographic coverage of this ongoing project that their auction will further support.

Because we value our Community Visual Impressions strives to connect with schools and businesses around us. One way we go about doing this is by donating to our local school held auctions. While most auctions don’t happen until March or even April it is important to start thinking how to support your local schools now. Each auction item schools are able to procure, goes into either a silent auction or a live auction–for those oh so coveted items–for parents and community members to bid on. The hope for all of us is to get a good deal on an item but we must not forget that even more important is to remember that the function of this is to raise money for our schools. So you want a beach house for the weekend, you know what it is worth and don’t want to bid past that cap? Try another approach, think “donation” that comes with a pretty cool perk, this will get us all past the initial draw of “whats that worth” and a little closer to doing a great thing for our schools.

Visual Impressions makes it a point to donate to at least 3 local schools in our area of Portland Oregon, by doing so we are creating connections that will continue to support our schools for years to come. Our clients are our neighbors, friends, and sometimes even our family; it is important to remember this as the school we are supporting today might be the school our children attend tomorrow.

If you are interested in donating items to your local school auction please contact your schools PTA or secretary for the person in charge of procurement. I hope everyone enjoys a prosperous auction season and if you need a donation to your school, remember to contact your neighbor, Visual Impressions Photography.

2014 Annual Bunny Event

05 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by in Childrens photography, Informational, Upcoming events

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My Peeps Bunny Event

My Peeps Bunny Event

Visual Impressions Photography is proud to announce our 10th year in Oregon and we are celebrating with BUNNIES.

This year celebrate spring with our “My PEEPS” sessions.

These are mini sessions with live bunnies and are a treat for all ages. While recommended for children 7mo. to 7 yrs we have clients of all ages scrambling to be photographed with these precious bunnies.

Come and experience a private mini session where you are the main star. Each session lasts approximately 15-20 minutes with up to 6 poses to choose from. Your session fee is good for immediate family and is such a fun experience. Feel free to dress the kids up, or go for a more casual look, either way the photographs will be adorable!

This year our Bunny sessions will be held March 22nd, 23rd, and 24th.

CALL for your appointment today! 503-320-3076

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Please Vote For Visual Impressions Photography

31 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by in Business, Contests, How to, Informational, Personal, Uncategorized, Upcoming events

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Supporting local businesses is an important part of a thriving economy. Visual Impressions Photography is proud to say we have some of the best customers around.

I ask that you continue to show your support by voting for my business in the Fedex Small Business Grant contest. The winner receives a $25000 grant to use within their business and community.

VOTE FOR US

Why should I use a professional or “boutique” photography studio?

29 Wednesday Jan 2014

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“AAAAAH…. Mommy Susie hit me!”Portland photographer

“Did not!”

“Did to!”

“She started it”

Now picture yourself with your two children in a crowded cubicle waiting for what you where hoping for would be a “serene” photograph you could hang on your wall.

It could still happen… except wait, you now have a head ache, your shoulders are tight and you can’t wait to get the kids back to the car but know that if you leave now you will miss your 15 minute photo session with the 16 year old photographer who is at this minute wrestling with a 1 year old in the camera room.

This scenario is one of many my clients share with me when they come for their session at Visual Impressions Photography. I understand that boutique photography is not for everyone and that the price-point many of these chain stores hit appeals to many.

The main difference between what our clients can expect to find with us vs. the chain photographer is the experience.

When you come in for your personal consultation we will determine what kind of photography you are looking for. Whether you want all Black & White images, something funky and colorful or even something traditional, this consultation is going to uncover exactly what your hopes are for your photographs.

The experience you will receive at a boutique studio include:

  • A private portrait session in a quiet studio where you and your children are the focus.
  • No lines – You will find that you won’t have to wait; there are no other distractions and the photographer has everything setup for your session because they know what it is you want. Before you realize it, the session is over and the kids don’t want to leave.
  • Our photographers are prepared for unexpected situations and will provide support to overcome them.
  • Many photographs and poses to choose from
  • Backgrounds created to fit your session and a vast supply of props.

Many parents don’t know what to expect when they go in for a photography session, or realize what they are hoping for as a result. Most can agree though that spending money and time on portraits that don’t meet expectations is frustrating and often times why they postpone additional portraits of the family. I can’t tell you how many people I talk with who had photographs taken of their children at age five and then realized that their children were 15 and 18 and hadn’t had a family portrait for 10 years.

I hope this look into the world of Boutique Photography will mean you don’t let 10 years pass between those family portraits.

2013 Portrait Photography Award

20 Monday May 2013

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2013PortraitAward copyFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Visual Impressions Photography Receives 2013 Best of Portland Award

Portland Award Program Honors the Achievement

PORTLAND May 13, 2013 — Visual Impressions Photography has been selected for the 2013 Best of Portland Award in the Portrait Photographers category by the Portland Award Program.

Each year, the Portland Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Portland area a great place to live, work and play.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2013 Portland Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Portland Award Program and data provided by third parties.

About Portland Award Program

The Portland Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Portland area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

The Portland Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community’s contributions to the U.S. economy.

SOURCE: Portland Award Program

CONTACT:
Portland Award Program
Email: PublicRelations@awardprogram.org
URL: http://www.awardprogram.org

Photography as a Career

07 Tuesday May 2013

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Photography is a great industry – there are a lot of great people involved. For those of you interested in a career in photography here is my two cents – 
Start by gaining a mentor, someone you can shadow and learn from.
Put in the time to learn the skills you need to be a productive and positive addition to our industry.
It takes time, investment, and passion to live what you love.
It is worth it and you will gain great friends.
 

Free Portrait Session for 2012

30 Friday Dec 2011

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No winners yet for our Facebook contests for the two free sessions to be given away on New Years Day. Also the Camera contest has been extended. To enter for the sessions tag Visual Impressions Photography in a post telling a little something about our studio. For the camera please tag us in a post and tell us how you plan to use the camera if you win. We will draw the winners at random and post them on Facebook on New Years Day.
Good Luck everyone and have a safe holiday.

Getting the Best Christmas Candids

21 Wednesday Dec 2011

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We all have that moment; when the kids are tucked around the tree, a gleam in there eye, all the presents silently waiting to be unwrapped while we find ourselves without our cameras. If you are like me you will grab your phone or the nearest IPOD available. While these are great devices it is often better to prepare a camera and avoid the lag time often found in phone or IPOD cameras.

Two days before Christmas take the time to charge your camera’s batteries and place the camera in a convenient place near the Christmas tree. This way when you are stumbling out of bed at 5a.m. you won’t have to search for it, instead you can just grab it and start capturing those memories.

Lighting: When capturing candid images on Christmas morning it is easy to get really dark images or images with too much flash. If you have an SLR camera with an exterior flash try bouncing the flash off of the ceiling or other large white service. This will give you the light you need but with a softer effect. If you have the option to choose a slow shutter speed with flash this is the best as it will allow some of the ambient light from the Christmas lights into the image while the flash will still freeze the subject. This option can cause some interesting results though so have fun with it.

Placement: Try and prepare the area you will be unwrapping presents in before hand. Now obviously we expect the mayhem of a Christmas morning but try and avoid general clutter as this will detract from your overall image. Couches make great backgrounds but dining chairs often create a busy feel to an image.

Clothing: In our house we don’t often (never) get dressed before starting our Christmas morning. For this reason I often will buy the kids special pajamas just for the Christmas morning images we love to create. As for us parents, it is important to make sure we are in some of the pictures as well. I suggest wearing something you wouldn’t mind be photographed in and pony tails are great for taming the “morning” hair. I will also use a cute Christmas cap to hide my bed head since I have short hair.

Have Fun: These suggestions are only meant to help create images we will be proud to put into our albums. They are only suggestions, the most important thing is to have fun and Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas

18 Sunday Dec 2011

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This Christmas Season I am offering something special to my clients. In addition to our annual drawings for a winner of a portrait session on Christmas Eve and New Years, we have decided to offer another fun little contest; see below for details on all three chances to win big.

In order to be entered into the Christmas Eve and New Years contest you have to “Like” us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/VisualImpressions and include a post with your favorite picture of yourself. This can be funny, serious, or just plain wacky (keep it appropriate though people this is a family business LOL). Along with your picture please include a few words about us or our work, make sure your comments/photo’s are public or I won’t be able to see that you posted. Once this is completed you will be entered into the drawing and a random name will be drawn on Christmas Eve and posted at Midnight! Similarly you will do the same thing for the New Years Drawing only this time you will also include your New Year’s Resolution!

This is going to be fun. Now about the fun little contest we are adding this year; We will be giving away a FujiFilm instax 210 camera!

This is a great camera and much better than the old Polaroids. To get your hands on this pretty little number just “like” our page (link above) and post a link on your page (public please) along with what you would do with it. Let the fun begin. The instax will be given away on the 24th of December at random. (One entry per day).

Good luck and Merry Christmas!