Christmas Craziness Photo Contest!!!

My own Elianna in a sea of wrapping paper on Christmas morning 2012!

"Christmas Craziness" Photo Contest: Wanna win your child/children a FREE photo session -- a $75 value!? It's simple: Email photos of your lil ones' reactions on Christmas morning to carlahailey@gmail.com before midnight Dec. 28, 2014. I will post your photos to an album here on my page. The photo with the most "Likes" by midnight Dec. 31 will win one FREE children's session (good til April 30)!

Please read all of the following before submitting your photos:

SOME SIMPLE RULES: Contest open to both male and female children aged 1 day-18 years. Prize is good for the $75 sitting fee only (meaning it will be waived); photo packages available for minimum separate purchase. Parents/guardians will receive "proofs" only. Parent/guardian still wishing to purchase photos must order a minimum $35 photo package. Package options will be determined at the time of ordering. Siblings are allowed, but please submit just ONE photo of them. Photos must be submitted by parent/guardian ONLY, when possible. Previous customers/clients ARE permitted. NO professional photos please. PLEASE, when emailing photo submissions, type "Christmas Craziness" in the subject line. I get a lot of emails daily and without it I may overlook your submission. Photos must be emailed ONLY along with the first and last name of parent/guardian as well as ALL contact info. Submissions w/o such requested information may not be uploaded for contest. Contest begins 12:01 a.m. Christmas morning, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. Session must be scheduled from Jan. 1, 2014-April 30, 2014, at my home business location or within an agreed upon location inside the Metro Nashville City Limits. Rules subject to change. If any parent or guardian is unable to adhere to these rules, then winnings will automatically fall to the runner-up. If, in the unfortunate event, only one submission is received for the entire contest, then contest in its entirety becomes null and void, hence the word contest. If there are not at least 2 contestant then there is no contest.

DISCLAIMER: By submitting your child's photo you are releasing your copyright of the image and thus allowing Smile For YaYa Photography to use said image in promotional advertising. Immediate family members (spouse, mother, father, sister, brother or children) of owner/photographer of Smile For YaYa Photography automatically disqualified. Page Administration DOES NOT vote. Please direct questions to the same email address above or message me here on this page.

So please don't forget to "Like" and "Share" my page and "Share" this post/contest with your friends to increase your child's chance of winning. Good luck to all!

-- "YaYa"

Raising Rates :(

K, so ... I have been really struggling doing sessions recently. For starters, I have had a lot of no-shows or last-minute cancellations. When that happens I am stuck with an empty block of time in my book and financial loss that I can't make up for. I also have to hire a sitter for my over-active 4-year-old, and must pay said sitter for a minimum 4 hours. I have done some calculating, and by the time I add up the sitter's fee, gas cost, wear and tear on my vehicle and countless hours of editing, I am left with no choice but to increase my prices. :-(

I hate it just as much as you guys do, but as my prices stand right now, I am actually paying my clients to take their pictures. This is my livelihood guys, so please try to understand! Other than being a photographer, I am a stay-at-home mom who needs to share with her husband the financial burden of running a household. It has been my desire, since relocating to the West Nashville area, to capture for this community their most priceless moments at an affordable price. I promise I will still strive for that, but must also be compensated for my time and effort. And I also promise that this "worker is worthy of her wage." (1 Tim. 5:15) If for some reason the outcome of your session is not professional quality, we will come to an agreeable compensation for us both or a discounted make-up session.

So, after much thought and consideration I have made some changes in my pricing scales, in the time I allot for sessions and also in the photo options and packages available. As always, I will still accept cash, check or credit card.

The first change is that my "one-hour" photo session will now include a $75 sitting fee. One photo session actually takes up 2 hours in my appointment book - even if my camera only actively shoots for one solid hour from start to finish. This is because I must factor in drive time and/or set up and posing time. (This includes all session types except newborn, children, bridal and weddings.) So again, a one-hour shoot now has a sitting fee of $75 which is due at time of session. If you intend to pay with check, I would require that the check be given to me 72 hours in advance. This is so that funds can clear before shoot time and insures me against no-shows. You will be tagged in Facebook previews and be emailed proofs so that you can decide what photo option/package you prefer. For an additional $55 you may choose between a flash drive of 5-10 photos and print release or a photo package of 1 collage print, 1 8x10, 4 5x7s, 8 4x6s and 10 wallets.

Secondly, as stated above, newborn and children's sessions (0-10 years old) are now allotted a minimum of 3 hours. That sitting fee is $150, is also due at time of session. Same check-writing policy applies. Now, I have always offered a 15% discount to any parent who schedules newborn or children's sessions between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday; that discount still stands (making the sitting fee $127.50). That discount was offered at my home location only, but now I expand that offer to include parents in other counties. Meaning you can come to me or I will come to you for this same discounted price. Again, you will be tagged in any Facebook previews and be emailed proofs. Also, for an additional $55 you may choose between a flash drive of 5-10 photos and print release or a photo package of 1 collage print, 1 8x10, 4 5x7s, 8 4x6s and 10 wallets.

I will now also block out 3 hours for bridal sessions. That sitting fee is $200, and is due at time of shoot. You may include your bridal party in these poses, but please bare in mind that the more people you have in a photo the longer the session takes. If we should exceed our 3-hour time slot, I will have to increase the price by $25 every 30 minutes. You will also be tagged in all Facebook previews and emailed proofs. For $200 I will throw in a flash drive of 5-10 poses and a print release.

Weddings block out my entire day and therefore are now $400 paid in full by 72 hours before the wedding. (Payment installments available). The same check policy applies; funds must clear before I show up. :-/ For $400 you will receive a 16x20 canvas print, a flash drive of 10-30 photos and a print release.

For $575, I will give you a Bridal-Wedding package deal of a 2-hour bridal photo shoot, an all day wedding slot, a flash drive of 5-10 bridal poses and 10-30 wedding shots, a print release, a 16x20 canvas print, 1 8x10, 4 5x7s, 8 4x6s and 10 wallets. This fee is also due in full 72 hours prior to wedding. (Since this package is technically 2 separate sessions, I will allow for 2 installments of $287.50).

Mommy Moments Maternity - This package is a series of 5 sessions ("announcement photos," first, second and third trimester and hospital photos). Each session includes 5 poses. You will be tagged in all Facebook previews and emailed photos and a print release. The cost of this package is $275. It makes for a great gift idea! (Payment installments available).

Baby's First Year - This package is a series of 5 sessions (newborn, 3, 6 and 9 months and 1 year). Each session includes 5 poses. You will be tagged in all Facebook previews and emailed proofs. The cost of this package is $385, and includes 1 collage print, 1 8x10, 4 5x7s, 8 4x6s and 10 wallets with each session. It also makes for a great gift idea! (Payment installments also available).

I do wish to express again that this decision has come from much deliberation and contemplation, and I feel I am still offering some very comparable rates. Please feel free to reply with comments or questions. And as always, to schedule your next session please call me, Carla, affectionately known as YaYa, at 615.584.5283 or email me at carlahailey@gmail.com.

Thanks to all of you for being so understanding.

[BTW: If you and I have previously discussed a price prior to the posting of this blog then I will honor the price we agreed upon. :) ]

So April and May flew by ...

Indeed! April and May both were some especially busy months for me! I'm not hoping things slow down though! I love what I do! :)

So let's re-cap ...
In early April I photographed our Dress Me Up contest winner, spunky Lil Miss Kayla. And in May I was able to shoot Mr. Evan, our Handsome Heroes winner! What beautiful children both of them are. So photogenic! I loved every moment of these shoots!

In early April I also had the opportunity to photograph Heidi Fralick and her precious children in Nashville's Centennial Park. What a beautiful family, Heidi! I had a lot of fun on this one too. (Loved chasing around the giant coy in the duck pond). I it worked out great that we could also incorporate Dakota's Senior pictures into this shoot location. Dakota is also very photogenic. Can I just say that I love it when I don't have to tell my subject what to do. :-) Dakota can really work the camera!

Mid-April brought me two very sweet and precious little sisters, Kaylee and Karlee. These two were so sweet, and Ellie really enjoyed them being here. Mom Angela had some really cute outfits she needed modeled and I needed some practice with little ones. By the end of our hour we were able to improve a dress up session - Ellie included! :)

Little Baby Colton came right on time at the end of April. It had been late January since I have had a baby to photograph so I was very excited. I felt a little rusty, but all in all I think the outcome was great! Maybe this summer will bring me more babies! Truly, I think aside from nature, babies really are my best work!

And aside from scheduled sessions, there were a number of photo ops these past several weeks, like Ellie playing in a mud puddle. Ya know, I started to yell at her and tell her to get out of the mud because she was getting filthy, but I decided to listen to the little voice in my head instead. It said, "Just go get your camera. We're only a kids once, and you're gonna want to remember this. What's the point of being a kid if ya don't get a little dirty?" And what came out? A lil something I like to call "Mud Magic!" That's right folks; the mud and magic meshed together in all that mess and produced something so perfectly candid! I have never been so happy to watch my child get muddy! It does wash off after all. :)

More improv photo ops came with the recent visit of my best gal pal, Carrie Riner. She is a fellow photographer and her son Levi is just as amusing as Ellie. We had no idea where we were going but we knew we wanted to take some photos together. We ended up at the 8th Avenue Farmer's Market - a perfect location since it sits next door to the Bicentennial Memorial Mall and spray fountains. Ellie found those first. Levi was more cautious and stayed clear of the water. He preferred to stick with the Radio Flyer race car.

Other than that, what I have going on right now is a Father's Day photo contest. Wanna find out how you can win a free one-hour session for your that special dad? Visit my album at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.469984426412658.1073741839.123829817694789&type=1

From One End Of The Spectrum To The Other ... Read For The In-Between!

Wow! March was a busy month! I got to photograph Baby Jonah again and a tattooed hottie! :-) Talk about both ends of the spectrum!

Baby Jonah is always fun. He is almost always in a good mood for me. He's a lil ham! He knows he's cute! LOL! But those are the best babies to have a session with. And man did he ham it up for last week's session. He is crawling at NASCAR speeds, sitting up on his own and pulling up - all but walking, and even though he's 8 months old I have a feeling it won't be long before walking is next!

Last week his mom needed a sitter and I took advantage of having him here for the day. We had an improv session on my kitchen floor. He was doing his best "Tommy Lee" on some pots and pans and well ... I think one of the cutest pics I've ever taken came forth!

I also pulled out some new props and set up a quick backdrop with lighting for the tin tub and Coca-Cola wagon. And so "Ham-ma time" began! Let me tell ya, this kid knows what a camera is!

Ahh but anyway ... onward to the other end of the spectrum. Amanda was my free session this month. I have been wanting to step out of my comfort zone and do some boudoir photography, and I have also been wanting to take some photos of someone who is all tatted up! Amanda was the perfect combo - beautiful girl with cool tattoos.

Truth be told, we were both nervous; neither one of us had really done anything like this before so it was a lil awkward at first, but by the end of the session I think we had really come out of our shells and became comfortable with each other. And I have to say that I am very proud of what developed. Both Amanda and I have gotten wonderful feedback on the photos - she for how beautiful she is and I for the great work! I can't wait to "shoot" her again too.

April is finally here though, so that means I am getting booked up with little girls dress up sessions, little boys handsome heroes session, Mother's Day schedules and with the warmer weather I have a lot of families wanting outdoors shots. I'm also gonna set aside a day for Mommy & Me mini sessions since Mother's Day is just next month. Point being I'm getting really busy folks, so if you want me to take your picture you had better call soon! (615) 584-5283! 

Remember that I offer many affordable specials and packages: Baby's First Year and Mommy Moments maternity - combine those 2 packages for an even greater discount. And I always offer a standing discount of 15% off to parents who schedule children's sessions from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday. Call me for your appointment.

Ode To The Goofball!

Ode To The Goofball!

JoJo, oh JoJo! What can I say?
Taking your picture made my day!
You're so full of joy, smiles and laughs.
Taking your picture was truly a blast!
What a goofball! What a jokester - even a clown!
A day spent with you is a day without frowns.

Never stop smiling or having your fun,
Cause you brings smiles to everyone.

I'll gladly take your photo again -
Especially ones with your mischevious grin!

But in the meantime, be a good boy,
And never stop letting God use your joy!

Be My Valentine!

Welp ... Valentine's Day is only getting closer!

So far, to honor the month of love, I have given a way a free child's photo session and am offering a $10 discount to all couples during the month of February.

Kody, my Little Sweethearts Photo Contest winner, was a bit of a challenge, but the end result was so much better than I could've hoped for.

Little Kody just wasn't in the mood to have his picture taken. And that's okay; that's usually the case with children 18 months-3 years old - they just would rather be doing other things.

Karen, Kody's mom, and I eventually bribed little Kody with Dum-Dum suckers and episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. And I would say that even some of those pouty pictures were perfect in the sense that they seemed to showcase Kody's true personality and mood for the moment.

That's why I love doing kids so much - their candidness!

Even my own kid didn't want her pic taken that day! In fact, I think she is no longer amused by my constant shutter release! Ellie's most common saying these days "No more flash photography!" Ha Ha! Funny kid!

But I did manage to talk her into posing for me that morning to make sure I had lighting and backdrop in place. I let her stay in her PJs while I got it done. It just happened to turn out well that her jammies were red and almost Valentine-themed!

So I'm hoping to get some more Valentine/couples sessions in this month. I have plenty of spaces open. Call me to schedule yours today. I'm Carla. My number is 615.584.5283. My sitting fee is $35 for one hour. That also gets you a Cd of the session with 5-10 poses and a copyright release so that you can take your disc to any location to make as many copies of whatever size or package you chose. That's a great value, and I'm told I have one of the most affordable sitting fees in Nashville.

And to think, if you schedule a couple session this month you get that same deal for just $25!

Traveling Sessions ... Out Of My Element

Recently I traveled to Goodlettsville to photograph my cousin Adam and his beautiful family; I wanted try how easily transported this "traveling studio" Robert got me for Christmas was going to be. While there I also photographed my uncle and aunt, Stephen and Tanya, and their youngest, Savannah.

Well ... I'm gonna grade myself on a learning curve considering I'm an amateur photographer, and I am still learning to use the equipment. And ... well, what I learned in this session is that how I use the equipment is going to change with every new location.

My cousin's apartment was a little small for set up, so we used the complex's club house which had an open floor plan and sloping and vaulting ceilings in every section of the room which really threw shadows all over. No one part of the ceiling was the same. I never would've guessed that the shape of a ceiling could make such a difference in lighting. Shows what I know! I think ultimately what I should've done was turn every light out except for my photography bulbs, but ... you learn as you go right?

As per my norm, baby Logan's pics seemed to have turned out very well, as did some of the other kids. My niche seems to be babies and children - candid moments at that! But if you'll compare these photos to those I've done in my own home where I am used to working with the lighting, you will see what I'm referring to.

But ... it is what it is, right? I do hope Adam and Tricia feel they got some decent photos out of the ordeal. Though, as I explained to them all, I would love the chance to redeem myself. So these two Davis families are hereby handed an open offer for another session come spring.

And hopefully, every session I do will always be a learning lesson for the next!