Living Again..

Been a while since my last blog post.. Been pretty busy .... work and other extra activities. Either I am hormonal or just thinking too hard, but I needed to get these thoughts out of my mind.. So, here I go.. everyone who knows me are aware on how much I love holding a camera or how much I love to capture moments especially every moment of my beautiful little girl's life.. But most of you do not know .. there are times when I do not want to touch or look at a camera because it is a shameful reminder of a life I had before (getting teary eye as I type this).. Everyone says, you learn from the mistakes that you make in your 20's and you are just found identity in the 30's and those are your best years.. Well ..I just turned 32... and I am still waiting for those best years... Often, I look at my camera and I just want to post it on Ebay or Craiglist, just to sell the darn thing.. Why do I want to get rid of an very expensive camera.. I have my reasons, but it is also bittersweet as well. I love it and I hate it.. but the camera just reminds of a past that I once had and how content I was in that world. I miss the care-free moments, I miss just smiling for no apparent reason, miss doing art and using my creative mind and miss joking around. Those are the things I miss when I pick up that camera.. I miss having support without me thinking negative thoughts and wandering of intentions of that person or their peers. I miss being with someone who shared the dreams and inspirations. Just on those moments alone.. my camera sickens me. Just want to keep it in a bag and do not want to touch it again. Even, looking at Photoshop makes me sick to my stomach cause it just reminds me more and more.. Well, all those are alot of thoughts .. I hope I do not sound psychotic.. On the bright side, I want to capture everything of my little ones' life.. I do not want to miss a beat.. I love people looking at the world from my point of view. Everyone point of view is always different, but you having someone who loves the world from your eye.. It can bring a smile on your face.. one that no one can take away.. Have you ever read the book "The 5 Love Languages," if not it is a good read. I have learned that my love language is giving.. Boy!! Don't I know it. .. I think I have given so much in the 20s, but I use my eye to give to others in my 30s. Sounds weird, huh.. But that is the way I feel ..  Maybe I need to be patient or maybe I am just a little more mature .. or maybe I just need to move on and stop dreaming.. or maybe I just need to stop being giving and just forget every one but darn it.. Just want the same smile on my face as my 20s.. well.. nice way coming back to blogging. Just a Hopeless Dreamer trying to find her way in the world..

Until Next Time, Tosha XOXO

Artsy not Fatsy...

Tiled Photograph Coasters

This past weekend, I was wondering what can I add to my holiday special. Trying to figure out the next big thing in my world. I decided to make photography tiles and this was my end result. I am very please with it and Ivan thought they were excellent. We discussed over dinner on how much should I charge, but in my head I was thinking this year to do DIY gifts to family and friends and just buy gifts for just certain people.  Hey, I know the grandparents will like it!!!!

Until Next Time, Tosha XOXO

Girls' Day Out

Saturday was very interesting, but fun. I had the opportunity to listen to tweens talk about school. Like who they like, who they do not want to be around and etc. Kinda reminds me of my time in elementary.. oh what memories. Any who, I had the opportunity to photograph to wonderful and beautifully made girls: Kaylen and Lucia..... Lets get to know these two tweens..

Kaylen is actually my daughter and pretty much my mini me. She has the most beautiful caught light eyes and a wonderful personality. She is a gifted athlete and compassionate towards her friends. This is actually the first time, she wanted to take pictures and allowed me to pick the outfit and the hair accessory. Isn't she lovely?  Lastly and not at all least, Lucia. Kaylen and Lucia are classmates.  Lucia's fashion inspiration is the 80's (yes, I said it, the 80s). She is a gifted singer and will practicing for her world premiere on CNN (her mom knows what I am talking about.) She was pretty tight in front of the camera, but when I started to be a goof ball, she started to open up. Did I mention that her mom is also a photographer, so I had some big shoes to fill.  Lucia became a natural in front of the camera after a couple of shots.  After the trip to Sloss Furnace and Bluff Park, we ended the session with Snow Biz in Pelham. yummmy.. That day ended on good note with a Strawberry Margarita snow cone..  

Until Next Time, Tosha XOXO

3 Artists Equals Creativity

I had the opportunity to photograph two wonderful people, Kathy and Allison (Alli). Lets start with Kathy.

Kathy attended Jefferson Christian Academy with me. Wow! That has been a long time.  This G.R.I.T.S (girls raised in the south) has turned into a California girl ( the song is ringing in my head).  Kathy was such a trooper during this session. This shoot was done the day after my house was flooded and it was still raining and somewhat cool. The atmosphere ended up making this session fun. Might I add, she is a wonderful painter and trying to convince me to go back doing shows
 (thinking about it, we will see!).

MMM.. who is next .. oh yeah.. Alli..

This shot was very special to me because it was my FIRST maternity shot.. Which I really think I rocked it, if I say so myself. Alli is an art therapist and a darn good one.  Her 8-5 job is merging community artists with individuals with special needs. Which I applause since I am a pediatric occupational therapy by education and  trade.  This shoot was fun and colorful as you can tell. I knew Alli is about contemporary and  I just added a little urban to it. We do appreciated good graffiti especially when "You are Beautiful." Congrats Alli on the newest arrival to your family. 

Until Next Time, Tosha XOXO

Oopps! Catch Up Time!!

.... Looks Around.... and ponders if anyone notice that I have no blogged. I do apologize for not blogging for the last couple of weeks. It has been hectic for me, more than you will understand. Maybe one day, I will tell you more.. but it will determine how much I really want to tell you. Well, I have a shooting crazy for the last couple of weeks. Let me share two sessions that I have done recently.

VSA Alabama ArtPartners

As you all know, I love this organization and I really consider them as a family. They have been so helpful during my transition with my daughter, Kaylen. How can I say no to them when they have been so compassionate towards me and others in the Birmingham Metro Community. Just to see all kind of art genre creativity comes from scratch has been a blessing for the artists and individuals with special needs.  There is no limits on what you can achieve when you have the support of others. I am looking toward to the new ArtPartners session in October to see what will they come up with next.. 

Check them out at VSA Alabama

First Senior Portrait Session

(might I add during Tropical Storm Lee)

Recently, I did a casting call for high school senior so I can take practice shots for the price of the CD.  This is how I met Bre through Facebook (social networking can be effective). This session was done on Labor Day. Yes, it was raining all day, but this photographer knows how to adapt and willing to try anything once.

 So here is Miss. Bre... one of  Huffman's finest!

Wants to attend UAB (University of Alabama, Birmingham) or UAH (University of Alabama, Huntsville)

I would say UAB, since I am alumni (hehe!)

Wants to be a pediatrician

She loves to dance, rap, & and sing

Considers her self very different from her peers

Her friends does not know that she can dance, but she can get down! 

Congratulations to you, Bre. Have a good senior year.

Until Next Time, Tosha XOXO

-

●● Big and Lil' Man ●●

My morning started around 7:30 on a Saturday... going to Pepper Place for my weekly fruits and veggies.. off to  Brookwood Mall to hang out with my lil' group at the store Journey's and Earthbound.... Cell phones rings.... Lord, it is my brother, Will... wondering to myself what does he want.... 

Will: "I am in Leeds and do you have your camera?" 

Me: Yes, why?

Will: "Me and Caidon are dressed alike and I wanted to see if you wanted to take pictures since you have a new location here. Where are you?"

Me: "Brookwood Mall, will be there in 30 minutes.. 

I need to finish up with Trey and Terrence"

How can I turn down a photograph opportunity. This impromptu session was hilarious. I had to chase a very energetic 3 year old in a small gated area. I just decided to forget it. I will caught him in the moment.  The funniest part of the story is.....

Me: Caidon can you sit down here, please. Auntie want to take a picture of you here!!

Caidon: NO!! It is too high and I will fall

Me: You will not fall

Caidon: You will fall too, no picture!!

I love that boy.. But check out the end result of our impromptu session. The elements of the environments.

Until next time, Tosha XOXOXO

The Effectiveness of Using Social Media for Business

I am sitting in the office at my daughter's appointment. Just browsing the net, I found this cool article that shows the effective of using social media.


Credit goes to http://www.lightroompresets.com/2011/08/15/how-social-networking-sites-can-increase-your-business/

Whether you are a full-time photographer, or doing photography on the side, your mind is constantly trying to come up with ways to increase your business. Next to word-of-mouth, the internet can be one of your most powerful resources for marketing. With so many social-networking sites available to you, creating an internet presence for your business can be a lot easier than you might think.

Here are a few websites that will help you get your name out there. Whether you utilize them all, or just one or two, is completely up to you, so consider each of them based on your brand, and the clientele you would like to attract. Also, keep in mind that not everyone is on each social media site, so while it may be good to start out with just one of these sites to test the waters, the more of them you are on, the more people you will reach.

1. Facebook

One of the great features of Facebook is that you can create a page that is strictly for your business, while keeping your personal Facebook page separate. Your business page on Facebook lets you give a brief description of your services, upload photos, and post status updates to let people know about upcoming specials or new work. Another great feature is that people have the ability to comment on and “Like” the things that you post. The reason that this works in your best interest is that when people interact on your business page, it will most likely show up in their Recent Activity, so that all of their friends will see the activity occurring on your business page, regardless of whether or not they are following you. That way, people who may not have otherwise seen your page will be introduced to your work.

2. Flickr

Flickr gives you a place to meet other photographers, and networking with photographers can be vital to your business. There are many local Flickr groups that meet once or twice a year and showcase their work in galleries. If you sell fine art prints, this is a great way of showcasing your work. If you are more into portrait photography, getting to know other portrait photographers can be extremely beneficial because not only will you learn from them, but if, for example, they live in another state, they may have a friend who lives in your state and wants a photo shoot, so they can recommend you to their friend! Also, Flickr has SEO (Search Engine Optimization) that feeds into search engines like Google and Yahoo. If you post a photo to Flickr and tag it with keywords that are relevant to the photo and your business, those photos will show in the image results on search engines. For me, tagging my photos appropriately has lead to everything from client shoots, to book covers, simply because someone was doing an image search and came across my photo. SEO is definitely a highlight of Flickr!

3. Personal Blogs

A blog focusing on all of the different aspects of your photography is a wonderful way of posting information that is relevant to your business. Whether your blog is part of your website, or a completely separate page, it will give you the chance to have a voice, talk about your process, and showcase what is unique about your services. Just like Flickr, blogs tend to be powered by SEO, so discussing the appropriate topics and using relevant keywords will help boost you to the first page of Google! And, we all know that being on the first page of search results tremendously boosts your chances of increasing your business.

4. Twitter

 Much like Flickr, Twitter gives you the opportunity to follow people who share your interest in photography. Since there is a character limit for each of your Tweets, you have the opportunity to keep your updates to-the-point. Whether you are advertising photo specials, or discounted prints, Twitter is a great way to get your message out to people who are in a hurry and not inclined to read a blog post.

5. Google +

There is a new social-networking site, powered by Google, that is still in its development stages. For now, Google has set a limited number of users, but it is a perfect social-networking site for photographers because of their invention of “Circles” – an application that allows you to create circles of certain people, and select what information you share with them. This helps prevent a lot of the clutter that is sometimes prevalent on Facebook or Flickr, and you can share information with specific groups of people. Images look wonderful on Google+, thanks to the black lightbox.

As you delve into the realm of utilizing social media to increase your business, keep in mind that, for it to work in your favor, you have to be diligent, and you also need to interact with people. If you only post every two months, chances are that you will not get a lot of attention through these sites. People have a short attention span, and if you do not engage them regularly, there is a chance they will lose interest. You may want to take note of photographers who use social media – examine how they word their posts, what sort of content they are displaying, and how they interact with people who comment on their posts. You can learn a lot just by observing, and then find a way to put your own unique spin on how you utilize social media.