...Meet Haley...

Hey everyone! I want you to meet my new intern, Haley! She'll be working with me part-time over the summer. She's already been a great help. Check out her bio:

"My name is Haley Berryman and I'm 17 years old and a senior at Cox Mill High School in Concord, North Carolina.  I am an only child and have three pets who I enjoy photographing often.  I am extreamly passionate about fashion and especially photography.  I am obsessed with high fashion and couture.  My dream is to one day become a famous photographer and live in Italy.  It would be a dream come true for me to have one of my photographs in a spread in Italian Vouge. 


When I am behind the camera I feel comfortable and in my own element.  I take pictures of everything and anything and I always have my camera with me because you never know when the oppertunity for a great picture will present itself.  I believe that photos capture memories so I take pictures of everything I do.  I never want to forget how I spent my life so I never miss a chance to take a picture!"

-Haley

...Waiting for Palmer...

One of my favorite things to photograph is pregnant women, especially a first pregnancy. It's such a special time and definitely should be documented. A lot of women feel funny about having maternity photos. They feel too big or unattractive but it's one of the most important times in your life. To me, every expecting mother is absolutely beautiful!

The following images are from Lauran and Shane's maternity session. Talk about a gorgeous pregnant woman! And Shane's not too bad either. :D This will be their first baby girl, Palmer, due in July. I can't wait to meet and photograph her!

Spring Sessions and Great Gift Ideas for Mother's Day and Father's Day!

Easter, Mother's Day, and Father's Day are right around the corner!

Looking for a great gift for Mother's Day or Father's Day? Whether you book a new session or order from your previous sessions, photo products are the perfect gift for your loved ones. If your family is looking for a gift for you, ask for gift certificate!


Great Photo Gifts:

• Gift Certificates
• Accordion Books (Set of 3)
• Prints, Gallery Wraps, or Stand-outs
• DVD slideshow (I can also make slideshows with your own personal images as well!)
• Memory Books

Now that the weather is getting nicer and flowers are in full bloom, it's time to book your spring portrait session! April and May are filling up fast so call or email today to schedule your session!


info@imagesbymichele.com or 704.584.9516

A Lot Has Happened in 5 Months

I cannot believe it's almost March and I haven't written a single post in 5 months! A lot has happened during that time:

1. My sister (one of the 7) Terri got married
2. The busy season was awesome, busier but smoother than the year before
3. Pretty relaxing Christmas and New Year's (spent in NC...a little sad I didn't get to see my family but I needed some rest)
4. Attended Imaging USA in New Orleans (AWESOME!!! I got a great new gadget to help me entertain the little ones while I'm taking their photos)
5. Painted and redecorated the Gallery (not totally finished but it's going to be AMAZING)
6. Got a new car (Toyota Highlander, which I will be adorning obnoxiously with the Images by Michele logo!)
7. Jessy got her license! Ahhhhh!!!! I'm pretty sure I have a whole head of gray hair! She's actually a really good driver but I still worry like crazy. 

That pretty much sums up the last few months. I also discovered that I am gluten and dairy sensitive and that if I eat anything with either of those, my immune system gets thrown into a hiatus. Needless to say, once I gave up all of my favorite foods, I lost 10 lbs! :D I actually feel great and even though it's been rough, I've found lots of substitutes for some of my favorite eats. 

On a photography note, here are a few newborn images that I've recently taken that I love..yup I have baby fever!!:

Beginner Photography Classes Are Back!!

“Most photographers aren’t willing to share their “secrets” for fear that clients won’t need them anymore, but Michele was so open and an excellent teacher. Not only do I know how to use my expensive camera to a fuller capacity, I know the tricks to taking better and more thought-out pictures. The photography class flipped on the light switch for me and I would definitely recommend to others! Loved the mix of classroom and hands-on learning so that I could apply the knowledge to real life. And even though I’m better at taking pictures, I still need Michele and her professional skills!”     -Brooke W.

“I bought a nice digital SLR camera without any knowledge on how to use it. It was frustrating to spend that kind of money and keep ending up with photos I wasn't happy with. Michele taught me how to use my camera much better than the manual could. Thanks to her photography class, I have been able to take some amazing photos that I'm proud to display in my home!”     -Katie C.

“My camera was always on the same setting until I took this class. The pictures I take of my children have drastically improved. I've even had friends ask if they were professionally taken. Thanks for a great class!”  -Colleen Y.

Beginner Photography Classes are here again! You can bring any camera you own and we'll figure out how to get better photos using it. We'll discuss photography lighting, background, composition, as well as camera basics including aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc. At the end of the course you'll know what each of the settings on your digital camera can do. Once you have a better understanding of your camera functions, you'll be able to decide when to use them to get higher quality photos. Beginner Photography Class Details: 4 1.5-hour classes Classes meet at my house on Wednesdays (starting September 7th) Time: 7:00 - 8:30 pm Limit 6 students per class (If more than 6 sign up for the class I may open another night) 3 of the classes will be lecture/open discussion and the remaining 1 will be outside, hands-on (we'll schedule a Saturday or Sunday that works with everyone) $30 per person per class ($108.00 for all 4 sessions if you pay for all up front) Also, these classes are open to everyone so if you know someone who might be interested, pass along this email. If there are certain topics you'd like me to discuss, send me an email. Sign up today! Spaces are limited!!

Wow - It's Been a While...

If I could fire myself from Blog Editor I totally would! I really meant to keep this blog as up-to-date as possible but I've failed miserably!! Ahhhh! A LOT has happened in the last few months.

The Beginner Photography Classes were a total success. I found it fulfilling to teach clients and watch them become better photographers. As a result, I think I've also become a better photographer. In the upcoming months I'll be organizing another class and eventually an advanced course.

For Memorial Day break we went to Carolina Beach for the week. It's a trip we take every year and it was awesome! The slideshow below is from that trip. We had one rainy day and then several windy days which made some awesome photos. I also discovered (with Leigh) a love of finding unique shells and also sea glass. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with all of the pieces I found but it'll be cool. CAROLINA BEACH MEMORIAL DAY WEEK SLIDESHOW 2011

The next big trip we took was to Italy!! It was amazing!!!! I will have a full post on that trip as soon as I'm finished editing. So far, I've only edited 350 images...and that was only the last day in Rome!

One week after we got back from Italy, Jessy and I drove to Connecticut for a family reunion. It was the first time in 5 years that all of the sisters were in the same state. We all had the week off, including my mom!! We had something planned almost every day and it was great seeing everyone. I took some family photos which I'll post here soon as well.

And...the final thing (so far) that happened this summer: Jessy became a big sister! Gabriel Anthony Maldonado was born on July 27th and is sooo adorable. Jessy can't wait to go back to Connecticut to visit her "baby brudder". :D

I will definitely try harder to keep this fresh but I might just have to hire Jessy to do this job. ;)

Spring Sessions and Great Gift Ideas for Mother's Day and Father's Day!

Easter, Mother's Day, and Father's Day are right around the corner!

Looking for a great gift for Mother's Day or Father's Day? Whether you book a new session or order from your previous sessions, photo products are the perfect gift for your loved ones. If your family is looking for a gift for you, ask for gift certificate!

Great Photo Gifts:

• Gift Certificates
  
• Accordion Books (Set of 3)
  
• Prints, Gallery Wraps, or Stand-outs
  
• DVD slideshow (I can also make slideshows with your own personal images as well!)
  
• Memory Books
  

Now that the weather is getting nicer and flowers are in full bloom, it's time to book your spring portrait session! April and May are filling up fast so call or email today to schedule your session!