Christy & Shane!

This past weekend, I was blessed to be a part of Christy and Shane’s big day.  Dispite the cool (cold!) weather, stiff breeze and threat of rain, this wonderful back yard wedding went off without a hitch!  I was made to feel like a member of the family and a long time friend.  Every member of the bridal party and every guest was amazing.  These are people I could just hang out with on a daily basis and never need a break!

And did they all know how to have fun!  And they all dealt with me and my ideas!  That’s the best part!  LOL

Here is a sneak peek of their wedding images.

Enjoy and be sure to check out their complete wedding gallery on the website!

Michelle

 

Introducing Signature Cards!

I am so happy to introduce About You Photography’s latest product!  SIGNATURE CARDS!  These are completely amazing.  Extreme high end.  They come in sets of 50 with up to 10 different images per set.  The front is the image of your choice, the back contains information pertinent to you!  Your name, phone number, e-mail address, website, face book, my space or whatever you want!
These are ones I had done up for myself with my own choice of information on them!
These measure 2.5 by 3.5 inches and can be used in the place of wallets for those extra special people in your life!
Investment is 50 for $130.00
Next time you see me, ask to see one!  They are AMAZING!

Michelle

 

Horses Of The 3E Ranch

Recently, I was asked to visit the 3E Ranch by Mohall North Dakota to see some of their beautiful animals! And like my other visits to see them, it was amazing. I leave the check book and the trailer at home because if I didn’t, I’d be bringing home some beautiful new horses to play with…and living in the barn because my husband would be a little upset with me! LOL But I thought I’d share a few images with you! Horses are good for the soul!

You can see more of the beautiful horses of 3E Ranch at http://3eranch.us and visit their on-line galleries with About You Photography HERE and HERE.

Michelle

 

Attention Rodeo Contestants!

Each rodeo contestant who orders images and products from About You Photography this year will have their name put into a drawing at the end of the year for a set of Signature Cards featuring up to 5 of their favorite images from the year!

What are Signature Cards, you ask? Well, let me tell you! They are very high end, thick 2.5X3.5 inch cards with your image on the front and whatever information you want on the back. It can be your name, website, phone number, and e-mail address or whatever you want!

Here are examples of the one’s I’ve had done up for myself. They are AMAZING! A set of 50 retails for $130.00 so this is a nice little drawing to put your name in the hat for!

Tell your fellow competitors!

Michelle

 

A Beautiful And Thoughtful Letter From A Bride

Yesterday, I received this wonderful e-mail from one of the beautiful brides I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with.

“Even before we were engaged, I knew Bruce and I had to have Michelle photograph our wedding. With her western background and artistic ability, there would have been no one else who would have captured it so perfectly. Before making any other arrangements after the question was popped, I booked Michelle!

The day of the wedding, which was scheduled to be outdoors, it was chilly and raining (at times down-pouring). It was raining so hard on the way out to the wedding site the windshield wipers on the pickup could hardly keep up. When we got there, one of the first people I saw was Michelle. She came in the motor home with the wedding party and assured me that the sun was peeking out over the other side of the hill. As soon as the rain let up, we hi-tailed it to the edge of the cliff for some scenic photos. We were interrupted once by rain, and resumed photos one more time.

My husband-to-be that day commented that, any other photographer would not have made this happen without driving everyone nuts! Meaning, she stayed calm, cool and collected, getting all the shots we wanted and all the shots she needed.

She asked me countless times throughout the day if I was OK and if I needed anything (I apologize, Michelle, for my rude, sarcastic response after the 476,567th time you asked me!).

We really knew we had hired the right person for the job when she hopped on the back of a horse w/her camera and followed the wagons and teams to the reception hall.

And, as I knew they would be, the photos from that wonderful day were fabulous. I still look through the albums often, as I will for many years to come.

Thanks Michelle for capturing the best day of our or my, anyway – life…I guess I shouldn’t speak for my husband!

Bruce & Amanda Lea
Williston, ND”

Here is a link to their wedding gallery.

Such a wonderful praise from a fellow photographer is so wonderful to get!  Amanda and Bruce’s letter actually brought tears to my eyes.  Thank you both so much for being who you are, as adventurous as you are, and for having such a wonderful sense of humor about the weather on your wedding day!  The rain storms actually added to it!  I LOVED IT AND I LOVE YOUR IMAGES!.

Michelle<

 

Lynsey & Trevor

This past week we were blessed enough to take Lynsey and Trevor’s engagement images. Have you ever seen a more beautiful couple? And they are just as sweet as they look! I can’t wait until their wedding day!

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4 Available Rock The Dress Sessions!

June 11th and 12th….We have 2 spots available each of those days for a ROCK THE WEDDING DRESS session! Can be rural (the location of your choice around the Minot, Glenburn, or Bottineau Area) or our cattle ranch or Urban, in Minot or Bottineau. Incorporate your lifestyle into your images. Anything goes! Investment $250. Receive an 11X14 textured print and a 5X7 20 page hard cover coffee table album. First call, first serve!

Let’s take the images you always wished you had taken in your wedding dress! From sexy and sassy to fun loving and dramatic…it’s time to get the images you want!

 

BorderLine Barrel Series June 19 — Quick Look!

Last night, I had the pleasure to photograph the first night of Border Line Barrel Series up at Dunseith ND. What a great group of people! They really put on a great program complete with amazing food! I thought I’d put out a quick blog post with some of my personal favorite images. Enjoy and make sure you check out the gallery in the 2009 Events section of our Equine section of our website for the full number of final images!

Michelle

 

Different Image Crops and Sizes

This might not be what you’re thinking! I’m NOT talking about corn and barley and flax. I’m talking about image size considerations! It’s one of the most popular questions I find that I get asked. What is the difference in sizes?
Let me tell you MY personal spin on image sizes and cropping.

To start with, I chose an average crop for myself. A 16X24.
I then cropped that image to a 16X20. That 4 inches doesn’t sound like a lot but it does put a different spin on the image, doesn’t it?
Notice the areas no longer in the image in the 16X20. It makes quite a difference in the over all appearance.
Let’s look at the size comparison side by side….

Now, let’s take a look at the 11X14, the 8X12, and the 8X10 side by side. Be sure to notice the amount of image that is in each crop compared to the others.

Notice the size differance between the 16X20 and the 11X14. HUGE difference. Something to really think about when considering an image for that perfect spot on the wall!

Here is a little tidbit….did you know that 8X12s, 8X10s, 5X7’s, and smaller are considered desk images? Unless several are arranged in an attractive grouping complete with frame and matting or placed with a larger image, they just don’t quite have the WOW impact most of us want from an image we choose to put up to stand alone on our walls.

Honestly, I’m guilty as sin in this regard. I have 8X10s hanging up. I love them. But now that I sit back and study them and their individual placement…I am disappointed in the impact they have. I am going to try taking them down and arranging them together on some shelves throughout my living room and kitchen and choose 3 or 4 16X24 inch images to fill those two walls. When I get it all done I’ll post images from before and after. But, I digress…let’s move on!
Here is the 5X7, 4X6, 4X5, and wallet size differences. Once again, notice the amount of original image within each crop.

In a portrait with a single person in it, the various cropping ratios might not make that much of a difference to you. But trust me, it depends upon the image in question! If there is more than one person, or a sporting event or landscape, it can make or break a wonderful image.

Here is a team roping image cropped to the various sizes to show you how an image can be preserved or wrecked by the wrong crop. Keep in mind that for every image, it can be different.

As you can see, the crop can make a huge difference in images! Just something to think about the next time you’re wanting to order an image!

Michelle

 

Equine Portait Session Special! Minot Area/Bismarck Area

We are thinking of having a day in the Bismark area and a day in the Minot area where we find a central location where people can bring their horses for portraits. The cost for this would be $100 per horse and would include 5 final images to choose from. Each session would receive the package of one chose picture to get an 8X12, 2 4X6’s and 8 wallets professionally printed.
Let me know if you’re interested so that we can start choosing a date. We will need a minimum of 6 horses per day. Be sure to let your friends and family know about this!
E-mail us at info@auphoto.net as soon as possible to ensure you have your spot reserved!
Michelle