I love feedback

I have had so much fun with these photo book giveaways.

I will definitely be doing another photo book giveaway. 

The next winner will be randomly chosen

from those who have left me a review on my facebook page,

so if you haven't already, please head on over and do so,

I really REALLY appreciate any and all feedback.

Crystal Lee Photography is approaching

its 1 year anniversary,

 this past year has been truly amazing.

I thank everyone for their continued support.

Our Little Angels

Congratulations to Amy, who won an 8x8, 20 page hard cover photo book.

It was so fun putting this photo book together. 

I have met with Amy twice now 

to photograph her daughter, at 6 months old and also at 9 months old,

so I had plenty of photos to work with. 

Class of 2011 

Congratulations to Kirsti, who was the first to comment

on the (last minute) blog post for a 7x9, 20 page, soft cover photo book.

I put together this photo book with photo from our Senior Portrait Session.

Being that this was a last minute giveaway,

I was thrilled that Kirsti was able to email me a few of her own photos

from her graduation ceremony and also from her graduation party. 

It was so fun to have those photos included in this book.

New Lens

I'm learning very quickly, that when my hubby says "you should think about getting (such-n-such) new lens"

that it's best just to agree with him.

Last night, my Aunt took my kiddos for a few hours.  My goal was to get some organizing done.  I'm having a garage sale in two weeks, my garage was a disaster, and I have an unorganized basement that, once attended to, will have many treasures to be put into my garage sale.

I was feeling quite pleased with my clean garage and ready to tackle the basement, when my hubby brings up the fact, that I really "need" to add another lens to my camera bag.  Like I said earlier, I've learned not to argue with him, so I call National Camera, find what I'm looking for, is in stock and we arrive to the store 15 minutes before closing.  Figuring, since we don't have the kids in tow, that we should sneak in a mini date, so we stop at Starbucks.  I kinda felt like a dork going in with my camera. It wasn't like I went unnoticed either.  My new lens is the Nikon 70-200mm 2.8...eight inch long lens. Oh my goodness, let me tell you, it's amazing...more than amazing...I'm not sure if I EVER want to take that lens off my camera.  I am in my glory!

Power of Passion

Earlier in the week I was able to take part of an amazing tour, the Power of Passion tour, hosted two amazing photographer's, Sandy Puc and Jerry Ghionis.  The Power of Passion tour visited 33 cities in 6 weeks, Minneapolis was the last stop.

me with Sandy Puc and Jerry Ghionis

They were both amazing, full of wonderful information and very inspiring.

Jerry's wife Melissa was also there, she was so sweet, they are such an adorable couple.

Everything Sam (aka Sandy) and Jerry said touched my heart.

It was a very moving night!

I found the following excerpt at http://www.dbusinessnews.com/, and I couldn't have said it better myself:

Influential photographer and marketer Sandy Puc’ and acclaimed wedding photographer Jerry Ghionis will be in Minneapolis on April 11 to share their expertise with the Power of Passion Tour. The tour kicked off in Denver on February 12 and will be stopping in 32 cities across the United States.

The five hour seminar covers the next level of wedding photography and how to market your business and has enlivened the crowds in cities across the country from Las Angeles to Louisville. Both photographers emanate confidence with their craft and their ability to empower other photographers to apply new techniques to their business while also having the power to bring them to tears through Puc’s continued passion for charity work and Ghionis’ ability to teach the crowd to truly connect clients to their feelings.

Puc’ and Ghionis’ onstage presence is impossible to ignore and the attendees leave with a renowned sense of excitement and inspiration for their craft. Puc’ and Ghionis share their skills and expertise during the show with unmatched enthusiasm, humor and enlightenment. The seminar covers wedding photography essentials along with direct and indirect marketing techniques that keep your clients coming back time and time again.

“This tour is especially exciting for me because not only are we inspiring our audience to learn something new, to try something new with their studio; but Jerry and I are inspiring each other. I couldn’t have a better partner for my 2011 tour and am honored that Jerry is joining me,” Puc’ said of her Power of Passion Tour.

This is the first time Puc’ and Ghionis have teamed up for a seminar that combines the masterful techniques to wedding photography and fundamental marketing tactics.

About Sandy Puc’
Sandy Puc’ currently holds the prestigious titles of Print Master and Explorer of Light from Canon USA. She served on the Board of Directors of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) for seven years. She is a frequent contributor to professional journals, and is well known in the photography industry. Her first book, Children’s Photography, was released in the spring of 2008. Puc’ is a co-founder of Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, a non-profit organization that provides portraiture services to families whose babies will never leave the hospital. (www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org)

About Jerry Ghionis
Jerry Ghionis is the only Australian named as one of the Top Ten Wedding Photographers in the World by American Photo magazine and one of 13 “Icons of Imaging” named by Microsoft. In February 2009 Jerry won the WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) Wedding Album of the Year for a record sixth time to add to his long list of accolades.

Seriously, you can only imagine how awesome they were!...Sandy will be back in Minneapolis in May, along with Jared Abrams...looks like another awesome night.

meeting Shelley Paulson

My husband is so supportive of my interest and love for photography.  If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't be where I'm at today.  A few months ago, he was looking for local photographers that I could possibly meet with and learn from.  He introduced me (via the Internet) to Shelley Paulson, a 

Equine, Wedding and Portrait Photographer from Buffalo, Minnesota. He also informed me that she does local workshops and online courses.  For a few weeks he would ask if I had connected or contacted Shelley Paulson yet, and I hadn't...trying to juggle a new business, my four little kiddos and everything else that comes with taking care of a family of 6, I kinda disregarded what he had wished I would do.  So after his many requests, I did decide to find Shelley on Facebook, and when she would post links to her blog, I started following her blog.  I was really blown away by her talent and I was truly inspired by her photography.  Very soon after I connected with her, she posted (on facebook) that there was one spot left, for her Portraiture from the Heart Workshop, which was being held in Minneapolis.  I felt like that last spot was meant just for me, so I immediately went online and registered for the course.  It was such a wonderful workshop, Shelley was even more amazing in person.  I already knew from her website, that she was an amazing photographer, but to see that she was equally, an amazing person, a person just like me, with similar doubts and concerns was really a comfort to me.  I sometimes think, regarding photography, when will I get "great"...well I may not ever think I'm great, I don't know.  I do know that I'm getting better and better and I will continue to educating myself and I will continue to keep a camera in my hand, because that is what makes me happy.

 My husband recently brought home several magazines that he thought I would enjoy.  Magazines that he thought I could gain knowledge/tips from.  It was really exciting to see Shelley Paulson, who I had just met, a few weeks ago, featured in, not one, but two of the magazines. 

In Popular Photography, the April 2011 edition, on page 12, Shelley is pictured.

She is promoting Mpix for their printing quality.

I feel like I've met a celebrity, it's very cool!

And then, when flipping through Minnesota Bride, April 2011 edition, page 68 and 69, I see photos of Lexi (Alexys Eskola), who was one of the models at Shelley Paulson's, Portraiture from the Heart Photography Workshop, who "I" had photographed...and then "I" start to feel like a celebrity...just kidding...but wow, how cool is that?...and the photographer of the photos were none other than Shelley Paulson. 

Also in Minnesota Bride, on page 143, there is a spread of photos by Shelley Paulson Photography, covering the wedding of Jacqui & Ben.

Here are a few photos of Lexi, that I took at the Portraiture of the Heart Workshop on March 26, 2011

Shelley put on a wonderful workshop, and I met so many wonderful photographers.

Check them out:

Tim, Buena, Pam, Tara, Cassandra, Heidi and Deborah

This photo of me, was taken by Shelley Paulson,

it was such an Honor to be photographed by her.

Thank you Shelley!

Workshop

I attended a wonderful workshop over the weekend, put on by Shelley Paulson.  Shelley is an amazing person.  She is an extremely talented photographer and such a kind and loving person.  I feel honored to have met her, and I hope to take part in her future workshops.  I also met seven other fantastic photographers.  I love talking photography, so to spend an entire day in a room full of people that share the same passion as me, well, you can't beat that.

It was a long day, full of so much great information.  Shelley had arranged for nine models to come.  There were three kids...a super cute 6 year old boy with a mohawk, that I never got around to photographing, a stunning pregnant woman and five beautiful young adults.  The models were so fun and easy to work with. 

The beautiful models I was able to photograph at the workshop

In the last seven months, I have learned so much.  I also am the first one to admit that I have much, much more to learn.  On my drive home, after the workshop, I had many mixed emotions. I was really doubting myself and my talent. With the thoughts that "I can't do this, I'm not good enough, what if someone doesn't like my work, I should have my business organized before I continue"...I almost came to the conclusion that I'm done with photography.  Thank goodness, that was short lived.  I love photography. I'm going to stay true to myself.  I will continue doing what I love, photographing those that want me to photograph them, and remembering that not everyone will appreciate my art, and that's ok.  I will continue pushing myself and continue educating myself to be the best that I can, and as long as there are people that enjoy looking at my work, I will continue to share it.  Photography is my hobby, so I will always have a camera in my hand.  If I'm so blessed to be able to do what I love, and earn a living, well, that would be a bonus.

Thank you (you know who you are) for your love and support and belief in me.

Me, Crystal Lee, Photographer

(photo taken by classmate, Heidi)

Shelley took photos too, very excited to see what she got.

I am truly inspired by Shelley's work

visit her website, blog and facebook

she really does capture

the beauty and the emotions of life

Shelley Paulson Photography Website

Shelley Paulson Photography Blog

Shelley Paulson Photography Facebook

Thank You Shelley!