March SPECIAL!

My new years resolution was to support more local charities! March is so exciting! Between supporting SCARS (25% of proceeds go to SCARS) and purchasing a photo shoot for $150 which includes:

Unlimited Unlimited time - Unlimited Photo's on a CD - Framed 8X10 print but for a limited time You also get a FREE Scarf from Pretty Little Knots Custom Made for you! You pick the colors and the style and you get it FREE from CM Photography all through the month of march! 


Not only do you do something great for Charity, you get great photo's and a FREE Scarf! This offer ends at the end of March so book fast!


Have a great day guys!

The Dream - The Future of CM Photography

For those who do not know too much about CM photography, I started this small business last year. The last year I have learned so much on what not to charge, who to watch out for, what not to do, what to do and so on....Since June 2010, I have raised over $150 for 6 animal friendly charities! Something I am so proud of and cannot wait for 2011 to see how much I will raise- - with your help, of course!

Photographer has always been something that has been a huge interest to me. I have not gone to school for it, everything I know, I taught myself or read or watched directional DVD's to help myself grow. With a lot of practice in every area, I hope to do great things and deliver even better photo's for clients..Although that is not the ultimate goal!

One day I hope for CM Photography to be able to do the following:

• Occasional photo shoots for people - I want to focus more on nature and animals and sell photo's to donate the money to either my own charity (I one day hope to have an animal sanctuary or something great for animals) or another charity of the month.
• Do photo's for free or by donation for people occasionally (for people who really deserve it all around the world!). The free photo shoot would include all digital prints on a CD, a framed poster sized photo, and a photo book including ALL prints.
• I really just want to travel the world and bring it back with me in photo's for everyone. The world is beautiful and I want people to see it through my photography. 

These are all big dreams I have in the future of my photography career. Don't worry, I love what I do for now, and I will continue to work on ways to better myself and get more clients but eventually, CM Photography will be very, very different. In the mean time, I am still looking for more clients to help fund this dream and the dreams of many, many others. :) 

FREE Photo Shoots!

I have so many idea's running through my head for the following categories! If you are interested in being a model for a free shoot please let me know by emailing charitablemoments@gmail.com or calling (780) 218 - 3666!

1 Dancer
1 Figure Skater

1 Trash the Dress 
Musical Artist
(band welcome)
Musical Boudoir Photo shoot
(Must be able to play an instrument besides drums)
1 Gay or Lesbian Couple
1 Body Builder
1 Boudoir  
1 Soldier 
(couples welcome as long as one is enrolled in the military)



You will receive 20 HD photo's on a CD.

Must be able to travel to and within Edmonton. Serious inquiries only!

Are Free Photo Shoots Good for Networking?

Although photo shoots can sometimes take a lot of work, it is a good way of showing potential paying clients your talent, practice people skills/photography talents and sometimes a great way to try a new skill that you have learned.

That being said, I don't think photography should be done for free, forever. Building parts or strengthening part of your portfolio is one thing but regardless, photo shoots, editing and so on can take a lot of work and time. It is a great way to learn new skills though and new people. Plus, a free photo shoot can lead to a few paying photo shoots because of recommendations. Word of mouth is the best way of marketing - and sometimes the cheapest....Free shoots are also a good way to give fresh photo's to a portfolio, especially if you have not had a shoot for a while.

Today for example, I got the privilege of working with a client who was willing to sit for a boudoir (my first boudoir photo shoot) and a singles outdoor photo shoot. It was also a free shoot to practice these skills but also to bring a new look to my portfolio. 

Elenna, was so awesome and I had such a joy working with her! (Please be informed that I do not post boudoir photos for privacy reasons!)

Erik's Story and February's Charity of the Month!

On January 4th I got the honor to take photo's for a dear friend of mine. Linnea and Erik are both fighters. Erik a fighter for his life, Linnea, a fighter for her son. The true meaning of MOM. 

When Erik was only 16 years old he got into an extremely terrible accident which took away a good part of his life. Erik went from a healthy, happy 16 year old to a young man who cannot talk and not move. Although he understand what is going on around him, he cannot respond in a way you or I can. 

Erik's accident started with a knock on the door from a policeman. The last person any mother wants to see on her doorstep, especially with bad news. Linnea was told that Erik was in a bad accident and is being flown to Vancouver immediately. Erik was in a motor-cycle accident, Linnea has always told me that she knew it instantly and she was right. Erik was on his way to work on his motor cycle on a foggy morning. He thought he saw a car coming straight on towards him and swerved into the ditch. Erik had a habit of not doing up his chinstrap on his helmet. When he swerved into the ditch, his helmet flew off and his handle bar quite literally cracked his head and crushed his skull. Erik has a brain injury. Erik also survived. Through all the test tubes, cords, weight loss, hunger, tears, hurt, pain, scars, surgeries, loss, mourning (it never ends) Linnea was there every step of the way and Erik survived. 

Linnea does a PARTY (Preventing Accident and Risk Related Trauma in Youth) program in Quesnel, BC and educates people on what happened to Erik can easily have been preventable. She shares his powerful story and introduces Erik. I am so proud of her strength and courage. You would not believe what she has to go through in the healthcare system, welfare system and yet everyday this amazing women gets up at 7am and visits her son every morning. She wakes him off, gets him up, monitors his health, knows more about his medicine than his own nurses, gives him a bath, buys all of his movies, and items. Everyday. Linnea is such a strong women and I don't know how she puts up with it. She always talks about how blessed she is and never dwells on what she has lost. Erik gets better daily and I know for a fact that it has everything to do with Linnea's faith in him. 

Taking these photos was an absolute honor. She deserves something amazing. February's Charity of the Month is going to be going to the fundraiser for Erik's new bed! They have a bed that is absolutely perfect for him that would make life way easier for Linnea. Unfortunately it is not covered by the BC healthcare system and it is over $17,000. The nurses and Linnea herself have been doing fundraising for Erik's Bed for the last few months and I would love to be part of that. If you are interested in helping, please book a photo shoot with me or you can contact me to help by making a donation to Linnea and Erik so they can continue to empower young kids with making the right choices. 

Charity of the Month - Free Photo Shoot!

CM Photography is Hiring.....a model? 

I really want to advertise my charities of the month! So every month I am going to post a theme for the next month's charity on my facebook page!

This way we can advertise our charity of the month better! 

For example:

CM Photography is choosing next month's charity, The Edmonton Humane Society! We are looking for someone to pose with their furry friend(s) (Must be adopted). Please comment below if you are interested in our free photo shoot of the month and you will be randomly selected for 25 photo's on a CD to share, save or print!

To enter to win, all you have to do is comment and you will receive a free shoot. If more then one person enters, someone will be randomly selected to win. Photo shoots MUST be done before the first of the following month!

If this does well, I will gladly continue it all year but for now, it will only be done for 3 months! Please remember to invite your friends so they have a chance of winning too!

This contest is for Edmonton residents only and must take place in the Edmonton area!

Smile!

Jessica

2011!

Thank you for stopping by my blog to check out some of my work. I am trying something way different this year and I am hoping it is easier to stay more organized with photo's everywhere! 

Well, another year has come and gone and it is time to start over, again! I love this time of year for that reason. I have learned so much about photography and people and ideas for new packages and business in general. I have raised over $300 for charity in the 5 months I have been doing photography professionally and compared to how much I would have raised without this company, it would not have come close. I am just as thankful as I am sure they are. I have many awesome clients and have met lots of amazing people who have inspired me and I am hoping 2011 is even better yet. 

I have revised some of my packages to make them more affordable and to easier for everyone. I will be adding a lot more of everything to my facebook page as well.

In 2011 I want to support a lot more local businesses as well which is why some of my props I use in my photo shoots (which include items made by Kloey's Klips, Pretty Little Knots, Rae Lee Unique Designs and whoever else may be interested) I absolutely love these ladies' work!

If there are any other local entrepreneurs, feel free to contact me and I will see if I can use anything from your business in photo shoots (your work will be promoted and paid for!) 

Thank you!

Health and Happiness;

Jessica