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Haak Vineyards & Winery, Spring 2011 Bridal Show.

3/22/2011

I assisted my sister, Emily, of Something Blue Events with her booth at the Haak Vineyards Bridal Show this weekend. These were Emily's most beautiful tables yet and brides have been raving over her floral arrangements! The beach themed table was inspired by two of Haak's three beach themed wines, The Red Crab and Pink Pelican. The elegant vineyard themed table was inspired by their Tempranillo and Blanc du Bois. Just gorgeous!

And, on a side note, we need to do more bridal shows at vineyards. It's fun to sit outside sipping wine all day! And we are big supporters of TEXAS wine!

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Baby Alexandre

3/10/2011

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I just finished baby Alexandre's portrait album. You can preview it here.

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First Bridal Show: Baytown Wedding Expo

2/23/2011

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Wow! I Haven't written in a while! Back in early December my grandfather was rushed to the hospital after they found a cancerous tumor on his spine. It was removed successfully and he was home in time for Christmas, only to find out he also has stomach cancer. My sister, Emily, and I moved in with our grandparents the day he was admitted to the hospital so we could take care of our grandmother while he was gone and both of them when he returned. But we are back home now and finally able to return to our regular work routines!

Emily had her first bridal show at the Lyceum in Galveston at the end of January and we had our first bridal show together at the Baytown Wedding Expo this past weekend. I know it's an obvious statement that you should market to your target audience but, boy, what a difference we saw between these bridal shows and previous, more general trade shows! It's so exciting to have potential clients coming up to you of their own volition rather than having them walk right by you, as happened more often than not at the general trade shows. Emily's next show is at the San Luis in Galveston on April 3 and I'll be there helping out. Stop by and see us! With not a lick of sales or marketing education between us we're having to learn on our own and we've seen a big improvement in our ability to talk to people about our own work (it can be a difficult thing to do!). What information would you most want to hear about

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First Trade Show: Survived.

11/7/2010

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Well, I and Something Blue Events (that's my sister's company, she changed it from Weddings by Emily) survived our first trade show yesterday! It was a lot of fun and exactly as successful as we'd expected. What powers of prediction have we! People took our info and we gained experience and knowledge about how we should run our booths. We also talked to some very helpful veterans who offered us their words of wisdom.

We're in the process of booking several more shows. We have a February bridal show in Baytown, Something Blue Events may have a January bridal show in Galveston, and we're both looking into an April bridal show at the San Luis in Galveston as well as a general show at San Jacinto Mall this December and the Heights First Saturday Arts Market this December. We will post dates and locations once they're confirmed. Keep your fingers crossed for us! And come visit!

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Newborn Bereavement Photography?

10/15/2010

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I was just talking to a friend who works in the neonatal intensive care unit at a local hospital, asking him about newborn photography there. It's my understanding that there are a few national photography companies who have cornered the market on hospital newborn photography and who have signed contracts with the institutions so no other photographers can work on their grounds. He said that he doesn't know whether the nursery has a photographer since he doesn't work in that department but that his unit has a photographer who takes portraits of babies who have passed away. I'd never heard of this. Never thought of it. What a difficult job!

So I did a little research and found out there is a national non-profit organization of photographers who volunteers to do such work: Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. It sounds a bit morbid at first but once I started reading their through their site it makes perfect sense. Parents want to remember their child and this is the only time to take professional portraits. The photos, like any other portraits (especially of loved ones who have since deceased) are memorials to the person pictured and are treasured by those who have survived them. I'm happy to see that this is volunteer work and that parents aren't being asked to pay for the portrait sessions in such difficult times (though, on the other hand, I started watching the television series "Six Feet Under" recently and they make good points that the bereavement business is a business and that they can't just give their services away to everyone who is experiencing loss). But I'm glad this is volunteer work. A baby's death is different from that of someone older, someone who's had more of a chance to live and whose loved ones have had a chance to get to know them and form memories of them. I'm interested in filling out the application to offer my photography services but such an emotionally taxing job requires me to think about it for a few days before I jump right in.

If you are interested, you can make a donation on their website. Click here.

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Baby Evan photo session

10/13/2010

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Well, I didn't have much time to play with my new camera and lenses between now and the time they arrived...until this weekend when I booked my first newborn baby photo session! The day before I bought lots of props - cushy blankets, textured baskets - and did a test shoot with a baby doll. Then, Saturday morning, I photographed week-old baby Evan in his home. His mom and I planned to do some nude photos of him on his belly in a basket but he would have none of it! He wanted to be clothed, warm, and swaddled...so that's what he got and he was a fantastic little model. Here's a sneak peek at one of his close-ups. I will post more to the Portrait Gallery page over the next few days.

And I have Denise and Joel's wedding to shoot this Saturday! Busy week. My sister, Emily, of Something Blue Events is coordinating the event so we'll be traveling together to Edna, TX. I can't wait to photograph the couple and their family in the gorgeous setting of the state park they've chosen as their venue. Nature gives us the most incredible environments for photography.

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New Camera!!!

9/20/2010

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I'm so excited!!! My new Canon 7d camera just arrived in the mail! I can't wait until the battery charges so I can start playing with it!!! I think I'll take it to the zoo later this week to test out the camera and my new lenses. Yay!!! Book portrait sessions with me soon. I'm ready to shoot!

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Green Bride Guide approved vendor!

9/8/2010

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I was just informed that I was approved as a Green Bride Guide vendor! One of only 6 in the state of Texas, so far. Yay! It's nice to be recognized and to gain credibility for my environmentally friendly practices.

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First Trade Show!

9/2/2010

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I am taking Autumn Beckman Photography to my first trade show on November! My sister Emily and her Weddings by Emily will also there helping represent our umbrella company Sisters Sisters Weddings. We're still in the process of brainstorming specific ideas but we know we'll have a raffle and maybe some free swag. There will be lots of fun vendors and food so stop by and talk to us, support us, and take a look at our albums.

In keeping with the spirit of Autumn Beckman Photography's commitment to social responsibility, please bring a new unwrapped children's toy. Baytown Blue Santa will be on the premises to collect them. They're like Toys for Tots but run by the Baytown Police Department.

November 6, 2010 - 9am-6pm
Baytown Trade Days and Market
The Citizen Conference Center
401 W. Texas Avenue at Pruett in Downtown Baytown, TX

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Sisters Sisters Weddings

9/2/2010

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My sister and I met for a business lunch yesterday (it turned into a five hour meeting!). She is a wedding coordinator (Weddings by Emily) and I am a wedding photographer (obviously) so we've put together an umbrella company called Sisters Sisters Weddings where we provide event coordination and photography in one streamlined package.

I always had the impression that coordinators were a luxury for those who could afford them but since Emily and I have hosted and worked several events together I have come to realize that having a planner, especially on the day of a wedding, is absolutely critical to allowing the couple some much deserved peace of mind because they don't have to worry about all the little things but, instead, just sit back and enjoy the day they've been waiting for so long.

Clients who hire us both for the same event receive several advantages and discounts (see the website for details) including 5% off each of our services.

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Haak Vineyards & Winery, Spring 2011 Bridal Show.

Baby Alexandre

First Bridal Show: Baytown Wedding Expo

First Trade Show: Survived.

Newborn Bereavement Photography?

Baby Evan photo session

New Camera!!!

Green Bride Guide approved vendor!

First Trade Show!

Sisters Sisters Weddings

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