Fall Sale

We are offering two days full of mini sessions later this month- October 17 and October 25. All sales are for our adoption costs.  Space is limited, but we have room for you.

We are still arranging the details on our locations, but they will highlight autumn and be awesome. As we get confirmation we'll let everyone know our locations.

In the meantime, if you want to reserve a spot, send me an email (nikki@purplelemonphotography.com) and let me know which date and time of day.  If you are wanting the 17th, we'll have morning and maybe afternoon slots. If you are wanting the 25th, we'll have morning and late afternoon/evening slots.

This is a huge savings.  If you've been on the fence about a session for your family, kids, yourself, your spouse, your...pet monkey, this is it.  Really, if you have a pet monkey, I want to meet your monkey.

Also, we'll also have another set of unique minis coming up in the winter.  It's specially tailored to those with a sweetheart, groups of friends, and small families. Save the date for December 6.

Stamps!

We have been working hard this winter to get some updates finished up for the next couple of shooting seasons.  If you don't know, we are adopting from Ghana and know that at some unknown point in time, I'll be taking some time off. So we wanted to get all things squared away before that happens to keep us running well during that next maternity leave.

One of the things that stood out to us as we evaluated every single aspect of what we do, was that our packaging didn't necessarily line up with our personal values and our brand.  In order to make our product line and packaging do that, we changed bits and pieces to use recycled products, minimize paper consumption, continue to reuse what we can (for example, we reuse cardboard packaging from our printing company and pass it on to you to keep your prints safe in transport), and buy from the USA to maximize our chances of working with a clean and transparent supply chain.  We aren't down with unfair working conditions, so we improved our purchases.

In an industry with amazing packaging and the primary product called "prints", it's tricky to minimize paper.  So do you want to know what we did?

We're going to use a stamp!  I'm super excited.  Not sure where I am going to get a ginormous ink pad in the color I need, but I've got some ideas...Seriously, guys, this stamp is four inches across!

Keep checking in to see some of our other changes over the next few months.

CELEBRATEfamily

If you didn't already know, we are in the process of adopting from Ghana, in West Africa.  To aid in raising funds for this process we are going to CELEBRATEfamily with mini sessions and an open house in our home.

Who: Families, babies, kids, couples, individuals

What: 15-20 minute photo sessions* and open house**

When: September 7 & September 14 from 10:30am- 4pm.

Where: Our home, 8703 David Ave, St. John MO 63114; sessions will be all throughout our home (some outside, but mostly inside).  Trust me, I know all the best spots. ;)

Why: We are raising funds for our international adoption and want to celebrate family!

How much: It's up to you.
Open House donation- anything is welcome! As a thank you for stopping by, we'll do a 1 minute supersonic-speed session for a new Facebook profile picture
$100- 10 digital files
$150- 10 digital files, customized CELEBRATEfamily CD case
$300- 10 digital files, customized CELEBRATEfamily CD case, digital holiday card (for Facebook or emailing or printing yourself)
$500- 10 digital files, customized CELEBRATEfamily CD case, digital holiday card, 5x7 slim album
$800- 10 digital files, customized CELEBRATEfamily CD case, digital holiday card, 5x7 slim album, large wall portrait

*The photo session details:
Come spend 15 uninterrupted minutes of loving on your family.  Laugh, tickle, smile, hug, give each other some eye contact and focus on each other.  I'll touch base with you before your session so we can customize it for you, you know what to wear and what to bring.  Perfectly timed for holiday greeting cards and presents.  We will accept regular orders from these sessions as well, at regular studio prices. Any profits will go towards the adoption fund.

We have a limited space of 15 slots per day, so be sure to sign up quickly.  Sign up with a slot around the same time as a friend and spend an hour or two with us.  Hang out. Play games. Eat a snack.  Get a few mosquito bites.

**The open house details: Our house will be open for you to come stop by and spend some time on both of these days.  Come enjoy some lemon-treats or food from Ghana.  Play some Wii games. Have a playdate at our house. Chalk up my sidewalk.  Blow some bubbles.  Hang on the couch and talk to a friend (who you get to schedule in the slot next to yours) while your kids get their photos taken in the next room.  Enjoy knowing that my house isn't perfect.  I've got car tracks on my walls and a few cobwebs in the corners, too.

Come by to CELEBRATE(your)family by spending a small part of your day together with us.

Email me to reserve your spot! nikki@purplelemonphotography.com

Maternity Leave

We are beginning to close up shop for a little while, since our second wee one is almost here.  We will be available periodically by email until he arrives and then closed until late winter. Stay tuned for a few photos after he arrives, and then we'll be back to portrait work in March.

Becoming a Certified Professional Photographer

I have been photographing for as long as I can remember, documenting everything from little things (like pine needles, ornaments on a tree, and stuffed animal fuzz) to big things (moving vans as we left Indiana for Kansas when I was 11, houses, oceans).  I didn't understand how our basic camera worked, and I pushed it beyond it's limits. I didn't realize why the camera always made my creative photographs look blurry.

Then I figured that out.  I would take self-portraits and force my family to sit in front of the camera.

My neighbors were not as unwilling as my parents.

I photographed friends and family. I got my first "big" picture framed when a dear friend printed a photograph as an 11x14. That was HUGE!  I took the senior photos of a classmate, and it was projected on an even HUGE-er screen.

As a freshman in college, I photographed my first wedding. It was terrible and I lacked any kind of reasonable system, but I loved it.  My professor probably thought I was insane- I learned later that he is a well-known wedding photographer and knew what he was doing and I definitely didn't. He at least told me to take a tripod. Thanks, Dominique!

I got a job as an assistant wedding photographer, and trained as a lead. Learned so much, and it led me to start my own business.

At each step I wondered if I was really "professional" - and even still today doubts creep in.  I'm young, and I know I always have a lot more to learn in this ever-changing industry.  I hear stories from clients, unfortunately way too often, that previous photographers didn't act professionally- no guidance, no creativity, never got the images finished, or were just confusing.  Though it saddens me that so many fellow photographers have fallen into this category, I am glad that my professionalism stands out.

I have been in process of becoming a Certified Professional Photographer, for quite a while, and I am finally there.  I have a title beyond Nikki Dukes, superwife-awesomemom.

Nikki Dukes, CPP

After passing the image evaluation phase, I wrote, "The most intimidating and nerve-wrecking part for me is over. I have passed a portfolio review by masters in my craft and have been seen fit to be called professional. I cannot express how unbelievable that is to me- others have said it's no surprise, but for me, it really is."

I was almost there.  Just a test away.  I called upon my awesome-high-school-test-taking-skills, studied hard, made some old school flash cards, learned many helpful things along the way, and took my #2 pencil to the exam site.

I passed, with a sigh of relief, on the first try.  Both of the hardest parts of earning certification I did on the first try.

Now I get to live up to it, continue in professionalism and high standards in the photography industry, and work to earn my re-certification here in a few years.

(indirectly) on the Today Show!

I recently wrote about Sunny Little Studio (ok, take a break and go check them out).  They take children's drawings and turn them into stuffed toys. Pretty awesome, right?

Well, apparently someone else thinks so, too, and they will have their samples on The Today Show this Friday. I'm pretty proud of them, and think that is pretty exciting.

So though I am not going to be on TV this week, as far as I know, they will, and then people will go to their website, see the cutest little penguin ever, and then somehow, I bet, at least maybe one person will click my link for being their photographer, and bam, I will have indirect traffic from being (not) on TV.

I'm ridiculous. :)

The Story of My Desk

^{A little over a year ago, I had an idea. After intially dismissing my idea as pure fantasy, merely a dream, I convinced my husband that my idea was a true reflection of my person, my character, our family values. How can he say no to that?}

^{It's been a long process for sure, but as it says in Proverbs 13,}

^"12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
     but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life."

What was this idea? I wanted to redo my office, specifically build a desk. 

A desk? A desk is a reflection of your values? Seriously? Yes, very much so.  In fact, my hubby and I had to advocate to keep the "spirit of the piece" in mind as we created it with his dad.  And no, I'm not completely crazy. In fact, I feel like wood covered in purple paint that is my new desk is a "tree of life"- breathing some fresh creativity into this photographer.

A small preview to keep you reading.

After this image was posted on Facebook and got scads more comments and "likes" and "shares" with even more comments and "likes," I wanted to first clear the air. This was not an original idea. I didn't make this up...completely.

Like I mentioned, I had the idea over a year ago (January of 2011, to be as precise as I can find evidence in my email). I saw this and loved it: http://open.salon.com/blog/planetpals/2010/08/26/the_dorm_room_repurposed. 

 

Imagine this is the middle section of a Venn Diagram 

Comparing the Values of the Desk and of my Life and Family

Creative, Fresh

Modern, yet connected to the past

Inexpensive

Fair trade and Ecologically mindful

Clever and fun, but yet perfectly practical

Though each piece isn't perfect and comes with a past, it's perfectly usable for a grand purpose

Goes against the grain, a little unexpected

Depends on community/friends/family to work*

Added Bonuses for the Business

Purple is the color in the name of my business

Extra space to display my work 

Fits clearly with the list of qualities we wanted in our photography business

I began a search and purchased a few Craigslist tables (5 total, four coffee tables and one kitchen table) and a retro metal kitchen cabinet. This step cost us roughly $110.  Other parts of Step One were recorded here. 

The design: I brought out my long lost genius brain and did a lot of math. I took photographs of each table, put them to scale on the computer and arranged them many times until I had a pleasing and workable arrangement.  I had to make sure that the levels would fit, stack at the right depths, heights, etc. It was challenging, but exciting.  The final implementation stuck fairly closely to the original designs I made, so that was pretty thrilling as well.

I got to help slice them in half lengthwise, which was pretty fun. 

Then I had to paint them just the right shade of purple, which was a daunting task. (We eventually gave up painting since that whole "hope deferred makes you sick" thing was getting to me and I could never set aside enough time to paint more than a small section. We hired a friend to help us out.) Since it is up high, even the undersides of were painted, and they were strange shapes since they were cut in half.

We had no concept of the ease of assembly or time required to complete this, but once we started actually putting it together, it was rather quick, only taking about 6-7 hours. 

 The little fella had to get in on the action.

 We always say we're not handy, but look at my hubby... I may have to take that back.

Throw in a few laughs

 

a few power tools

and bam. Superdesk!

We're considering an open house this spring. Would you want to come by and see it in person?

We'd love to thank:

Brian's Dad

Scott

Renita

Casey

Sunny Little Studio

There's a new business coming to town- Sunny Little Studio is launching today!

Our dear friend and her business partner have joined the ranks of custom-made softie (soft toys, stuffed animals) creators.  I've been photographing their little creations over the last few weeks and seeing their process come to life, and it's worth checking out.

They take a drawing from your child or grandchild of an animal, creature, or person and then bring it life in the form of a stuffed creation to love and enjoy.  How fun is that? A one of a kind stuffed animal! ...or monster, robot, vampire, etc.

This little guy is seriously so cute and squishy. We couldn't stop cuddling him...

 

If your little lass or little fella has drawn a special picture or needs a new cuddle-buddy, skip on over to Sunny Little Studio and send in that drawing.

Testimonial of an indirect nature

I have intentionally chosen not to put testimonials on my website, but I have to say, when I get a nice note from a couple in the mail, or the mother of the bride sends a note my way, or I get an email with about a bazillion exclamation marks, it encourages me tremendously.

When I was doing a little google-ing of ourselves this evening to see how hard it is to find us, I came across this blog post from last summer that really made me full of gratitude.  (Thanks, Emilie.)

People often ask me about the bridezillas, crazy wedding stories, and major wedding mishaps- and you know what- I don't have them. I am paired, most often, with brides and grooms that are wonderful, passionate, have vision for their lives, their marriages (and their wedding photos), and we just mesh.

I look forward to seeing what couples head our way to fill our our 2012 calendar.  Who else is out there that is recently engaged and is looking for a photographer? Some DIY brides? A couple with a funky wedding who will be daring with me at some unusual location? Vintage-inspired bride?  Someone who doesn't see themselves as necessarily creative, but will go out on a branch with me?

Lemon Love

On the phone today, my husband and I laughed, talked about holding hands when he gets home from work, and even talked about being in love.  We're kind of sick like that. Or maybe we just make other people sick... But we really LOVE LOVE.  We love marriages, love stories, and seeing people really doing well together- that's part of the reason I am in the wedding industry. I also really like cake.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner (as are a number of special anniversaries), so we've got some great ideas to help keep those fires burning- those date nights peppy- those anniversaries sweet- and never a marriage sour.

Valentine's Day Idea #1: small Photo
Pick out a picture of yourself for your sweetie from your wedding, enagement, or familiy session to go on their desk at work.  A blessing to look on something sweet between memos, meetings, and bites of leftovers for lunch.

Valentine's Day Idea #2: BIG Photo
Did you just get the CD? But you really loved that sweet, romantic photo I took of you?  Maybe you were nuzzling, or the clouds in the background made it look almost surreal, or you just had expressions of sheer wedding joy? Get it big as a surprise gift to hang in your home. Remember that love every day.

Valentine's Day Idea #3: Gift Certificate
Let your sweetheart choose their favorites- you just have to show them you were thinking of something they'd like. We can provide you with a Gift Certificate for any amount, applicable for products or new pacakges.  Maybe that family session she's been asking you for.  Or that one for the kids?

Valentine's Day Idea #4: Secret Photo Session
Schedule a trash the dress, bridal session, or just a little session to help your hubby go oooh-la-la! We might not have that done before the holiday, but we can get you something to let him know something is on it's way.  Or get ready for that anniversary and schedule it today!

Valentine's Day Idea #5: Go on a Date
If you didn't get an engagement session- or maybe you just come to us for photos of your kids- this is for you.  We take an approach to engagment sessions called the "date for three"- I am your third wheel, while you go somewhere you love or do something you love to do together, or something you've never done but always wanted to do.  We'd love to do a few "dating sessions"- with those who are dating all their lives, even after the wedding day.

Valentine's Day Idea #6: Add some special words
 We do plenty of custom design work around here, so give us something special to add to a favorite image I've taken.  Send me a handwritten love letter, or a favorite scripture, passage from a book, the envelope from the first letter he sent you, a favorite song, etc. We'll add it to in image- make it large or small- to hang on the wall or create a keepsake box to hold your relationship momentos.


But... you took those a long time ago. Can I still order?
You've got a few choices here if your photos aren't online anymore. You can use your CD- those numbers likely match up with what I have. You can try to describe it to me- I don't know how easy that will be. You can request yours be put back online, and my hubby loves me so much, he'll click the button to make it so. Or you can let me choose.

I'm headed out for dessert on February 14th. What you are up to?
Nikki Dukes
Owner, Purple Lemon Photography

Updates for the New Year

I am sitting down, with my home and office all to myself, for a whole work day.  First time in three weeks.

We had birthday, Christmas, New Year's, weddings, sickness, and life happening and I am ready to be back at it full swing.  Shooting really never ceased, but I haven't been in the office.

Just wanted to pop in with a few updates and random photos that don't really have to do with this post.  If the updates don't really apply to you, pass it on to someone for whom they do.

We've had our regular inquiries for weddings for 2012 and 2013 weddings over the last many months, but we are in a unique situation.  We are hoping for another child sometime in the hopefully near future. Combine my medical history with an industry that often has bookings one or two years in advance and we hit a strange challenge with scheduling.  So many unknowns...

We really want to be able to commit to couples that I can actually photograph their wedding.  So for the past 6 months or so, we've been closing months for wedding bookings and opening them as we feel comfortable. We are now open through August of this year... So sorry to all of you fall brides who are still on the waiting list. We aren't quite there yet- if you are still holding out for us, we thank you for your patience! We are so honored!

Winter is a big time for engagements, so please contact us right away for a wedding consultation and to schedule some engagement photos!

Short engagement? We might just be the best fit for this season of our lives and yours.

Since we haven't been booking as rapidly as in the past (since we've had months closed for booking), and have been trusting that we'll still get the weddings we need to support the minsitries that we do with our business, we want to make sure that people know we do have openings left. So here's the deal...

Weddings: We will give a 20% discount to all wedding packages booked with an album for now through May 2012.  That's huge! Spread the word... Also, we rarely offer custom wedding packages, but for spring of 2012  weddings (January-May), we will offer custom packages for small weddings.

Engagement, Family, Kids, Babies, Maternity: We finally have WEEKENDS! Many families love our work but can't make a weekday or week night session, and since we do a lot of weddings weekends aren't always an option.  But we have a handful open right now.

Go ahead and book your late winter, early spring sessions now!  You, too, can have a sweet photo with your kids. I know I love this one with my son taken just a few weeks ago...

Let's enjoy this mild winter and take some photos. Winter is still a great time for photos- indoors, outdoors, at home, out and about.  The possibilities are endless. I've got a little something for everyone up my sleeves (and since it's winter, my sleeves are long).

Where in the world am I?

Well, we've been in London...

and in Leiden, in the Netherlands (Holland)
 
Photographed a newborn today, but don't have time to edit those (but I cheated and have one of big sister to share)

And I am on my way back out of town for a retreat at the lake in about 2 hours. But this time I have one bag. Not this much.

Needless today, we've been busy, and there will many more photos and stories to come soon, especially since once I get back I enter yet another round of weddings and engagement sessions.  Stay tuned...

Taking Great Pictures of Kids

This weekend ends the local celebration of World Breastfeeding Week with a seminar on Breastfeeding and Parenting.  Somehow, the Purple Lemon name has started making the rounds here in St. Louis (which I have to say is pretty exciting), and on one of those rounds I ended up being asked to be a speaker to a couple hundred folks (or so I hear) on how to take great pictures of kids.  So on Saturday morning, bright and early (if the sun even rises that early), I'll be setting up shop at the Zoo for my presentation and a booth with Purple Lemon stuff.

I've never been nervous before a crowd, though after singing a solo or acting as a pre-teen, I'd get a few jitters. Would they clap? Did I do an OK job?  It's been a long time since those days, and other than at my dad's church two years ago, I've not done much public speaking in my adult life. I don't think I'd be nervous, except that I'm sick. Will my voice hold out? Will I sneeze uncontrollably all over the stage, leaving phlegm hanging perilously from my nose? I suppose only time will tell.

So what's my best tip for taking great photos of kids?

Well, if I were shooting a wedding, I'd say, my best tip is to grab my assistant Casey, and say, "Can you get some photos of the kids real quick, while I go photograph the shoes?" Then you'd get a cute set of expressive sibling pictures like this:

But if she isn't around, I'd say:

Shhhh! I can't give it away yet, I haven't given my presentation! Maybe next week...

Renovations: Step 1

It's only been about 9 months in the making (sounds like a baby), but the office renovations I've been cooking up are finally underway.  Last winter I saw a photo and decided I was going to completely re-do our office to look like a picture I saw. Brian thought I was crazy. You might too, if you saw the photo (which you won't, for now).  However, I was very convincing that the renovation would completely embody my personal values and style.  Who can say no to that?

That led to months of searching for the right things. Like a collection of coffee tables and the right shade of purple paint, among other things.

And to my father-in-law purchasing a table saw to temporarily store at my house.

During my busiest season, logically, the renovations are officially underway.

And a rare look at the lady behind the camera (being silly, looking terrible, and wearing awesome protective goggles that I insisted I wear to protect the eyes that ensure a successful photography career). Did I mention that I have a not-so-secret love of power tools?

Purple Lemon Photo School

We are considering offering gift certificates for the upcoming holidays for adults and children (ages 8 and above) who would like to learn a few photo basics.  I taught a course like this about 8 years ago and thought it would be a fun offering for the winter months.  You would get to learn things about how a camera works, how to use your camera (basic level instruction), creative composition, and basic lighting.  You would receive edited photographs on a disc to keep and a print of your favorite image.

Photo School would take place in January or February 2012.

If you are interested in Purple Lemon Photo School or are interested in purchasing a gift certificate for a family member or friend, leave us a comment so we can see how much interest we have. Thanks!

sweetness of summer, part four

NOT back to School (yet)
It's not back to school season yet, so why not take some time to schedule a lazy-days of summer photo session this August?

I've been thinking about how wonderful those moments are when your kids are in their jammies, or splashing in the tub, getting tickled on the living room floor, or eating their cereal in the morning (or afternoon or evening or bedtime or whenever. Seriously. It's cereal).

We always want photos of those moments when the laughs are real, the hair is sticking up with bubbles, and they are dawning the most perfect PJs that may have ever landed on planet Earth (ours were rocket ship pjs before Eli got too big). People snap photos on their phones and post them to Facebook, but faces are kind of blurry and the flash took a bit longer than expected and the expression is gone. (And sometimes those are photos that mean the most), but think about having a mini session or a larger session birthed out of something ordinary turned into extraordinary art.

Sessions start at just $150. But the cool part is: I am in charge of a charity event a few times a year. Our next one is just after school starts- September 3. I'll let you earn extra photo credit on your order (up to $50) by donating clean, lightly used coats, shoes, jackets, pants, or long-sleeved shirts. $5 earned per item.

sweetness of summer, part three

august is the sweetest month of all!
It's my fifth anniversary on August 5th! I LOVE marriage. This week has been a week of celebrating the marriages of the couples in our small group from church and this weekend is my brother's anniversary. It makes sense that I am passionate about healthy marriages and I love my job. Being a wedding photographer not only has it's obvious perks (cakes, limos, dancing), but I also get the honor to spend time with couples during a really special season of their lives, as they prepare to be married. I hope that I am able to share what glimpses of wisdom I have gained in my five years with new couples and can encourage them to walk humbly together, serving each other generously, and learning to bless each other's socks off for the rest of their lives.

August is Trash the Dress month. It's a time to say, "Honey, I love you. I need this dress only once. Let's make art!"

I am looking to celebrate my five year anniversary (aside from my awesome trip that I am taking with my awesome hubby) with some trash the dress sessions. Maybe some more extreme trashing, and perhaps some more "tame," yet artistic bridal portraits. I am trying to gauge interest in a TTD party- a bunch of ladies all gussied up together and taking a day trip to Alton, IL to photograph and have fun. And get a few individual sessions booked, too.

These sessions make great anniversary gifts, valentine's gifts (planned way in advance), and something just for fun!

Sessions are $150 and include $50 in photo credit. Depending on the response for the TTD party, the price might be adjusted (either up or down...your bet is as good as mine at this point).