The Circus is coming to town...

Meet Hanley the clown, ringmaster, strongest man and ticketmaster.  I was so excited when Hanley's Mom told me he had a Circus theme for his first birthday and that she wanted that incorporated in his photos.  The wheels started spinning and this is what the two of us came up with.  Mom had all the cute costumes and I worked really

 hard on the props.    I think Hanley enjoyed his Circus session the most!  Of course Mom, Dad and I got a ton of laughs and I am sure when Hanley grows up he will hate his Mom for doing this to him haha.  It was all in good fun :)

16 VERY lucky Winners!!

Now I really feel like Oprah.. Let me tell you guys something.. this was HARD!!  My hands were shaking while punching in numbers at random number generator.  GAWSH!  16 numbers were chosen and 16 wonderful lucky winners are posted below.  I wish I could give each and every one of you a prize!  Okay here goes...

If your name is posted below PLEASE first email me at nikkijphotography@yahoo.com to claim your prize.  You MUST email me first.. then you can contact the vendor.  You can of course thank the vendor in the meantime on their FB fan page :) 

{Winners have until Thursday at midnight to claim their prize.  If your prize is unclaimed I will draw another winner.}

WINNERS!!!

 The winner of the Epiphanie Camera bag is....... 

       Sara Lassiter!!

The winner of the sweet apple blossom hat by Loopsy Daisy is....

Victoria Meyer!!

The winner of the Soft Light Preset Collection by Nikki Jay is...

 Shara Bachman!!

The winner of the Whimsy Dreams Preset Collection by Nikki Jay is....

 Jessica Butcher!!

The winner of the newborn posing bags is....  


          Sam Hunter!!

The winner of the photo action set by Kristi Nicole is.....   

         Kelli Hernandez!!

The winner of the $50 gc by Fototale is....        

                        Christi Falls Photography!!

The winner of the $30 store credit by Laynie & Belle is....    

 Jessica McMasters!!

The winner of the patchwork pixie bonnet by Laila & Zoe is...

Abbie Rogers!!

The winner of the soft purple beanie by Adorahbul Creations is...

Kendal Barriere

The winner of the hat and diaper cover set by Paris Texas Knits is...

 Mandy Meierotto!!

The winner of the 9ft double sided banner by Stuff so Simple is...

Terry Anne!!

The winner of the sweet baby booties by Lil Bow Peep Lamb Boutique is...

Natasha Brown!!

The winner of the free logo by JL Anderson Photography is...  

    Bri Mason!!

The winner of the $50 store credit by Splash of Color by Moonlight is....

Karen Barthoic!!

The winner of the his and hers newborn crowns by Castaway Collection is....

TJ Barber!!!

Congrats to the winners and thank you for entering my giveaway!  I would like to thank all these super AMAZING vendors for all their support on making this giveaway the very best it can be! 

I'm a Photographer.. hear me ROAR :)

You have been warned.. I'm not much of a blogger... so read at your own risk. :)  

So you ask.. what got up your butt and made you feel the need to blog?  Well here goes.. Like everyone in the world I love to have a good vent.  I try to keep my fan page and personal page drama free so why not fill my blog up with all the drama I can find.  HA!  Here we go..

Originality!  Such a fun word!  How many of you are REALLY original?  Everyday I see someones posts saying "They are so mad that so and so stole their idea, pose, location, etc etc."  I mean really?  With so many photographers in the world today.. literally one around every corner.. it is CRAZY hard to be original!  I mean I wonder how the photographer who invented the newborn hands on the chin pose feels now?   Please do NOT get me wrong.. I am all for being original.. I dislike straight copycats!  I think that if your going to try something that you have seen before.. try it.. BUT add your own little style and flair to it  and give credit when credit is due. 

I know it has to be frustrating to see an idea that you worked super hard on plastered all over the place by numerous photographers... WELL.. thing is.. when you post a photo on Pinterest, FB, Twitter and any other public site.. it's bound to happen.  Think of it as flattery.  Trust me.. I have dealt with this first hand over the last 7 years.  :)

Whew.. I feel better now.. that's my first vent.. and now that it is off my chest.. I can move on to another :)

Pricing!   I do NOT care what the photographers in my area charge.. nor do I care what the ones that are not in my area charge.  Why?  you ask.  Well first of all.. that is their business.  I'm not out to undercut anyone or to sweep the town making money.  I just love what I do and people love what I do.. and they hire me.  My prices are my business and my clients business.  I could care less if the lady down the street from me charges $10 for an hour with a disc.  I of course think she is undercharging.. but who am I to tell her she's a  "fauxtog" for doing so??   

I hear it everyday.. so and so charges this much and all the customers are going to her now.. well if your customers want to try something cheaper LET THEM.. I am SURE they have checked out the photographers work before hand and if that is all that is in their budget.. then frankly there is nothing you can do for them if your prices are $500 more than theirs.   We aren't MaryKay consultants.. once you provide a service for a client they CAN go to another photographer!   9 times out of 10... the clients will come back to you!    Maybe I'm confident in my work, clients and people skills.  Who knows.. but the whole pricing uproar just doesn't bother me as much.

MAN this feels great... I may have to blog more often! 

Please NO bashing here! 

All of you know I value quality work.. I think if you work hard, study, and learn your camera and programs you will go a long way!  I'm in no way shape or form saying anything bad about anybody! 

Hugs and Luvs to all of you!  Thanks for reading and who knows.. I may keep this blogging thing up :)

Nikki Jay

Nikki Jay's FAVORITES!!

Just like Oprah's Favorite things giveaway.... well.. aside from the fact I can't send you on vacation or buy you a car. :)

I am SO excited for this giveaway!  I have reached another goal of 7,500 fans!  I adore EACH and every one of you!  The support you all give me has really helped me find my place here in the photography world and I appreciate each and every "like" or "I love this".  

 I wanted to send my thanks to you guys, so I contacted some of my very favorite vendors and asked them to donate to my "favorite things"giveaway.  I have 16 AMAZING items listed and I am sure you will not be disappointed!

Thanks again for all the love and support and for letting me share with you what I love to do!

Nikki Jay's Favorites!!!

**************************

Epiphanie Bags

Winner chooses an Epiphanie Camera bag of choice!!

http://www.epiphaniebags.com/

https://twitter.com/#%21/EpiphanieBags

https://plus.google.com/u/1/109186684104532183840/posts#109186684104532183840/posts

************

CastAway Collection

 ~ Burlap Mini Crowns ~ The Handsome Prince & Pretty Princess

*************

Splash of Color by Moonlight

$50 gift Certificate

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Fototale Designs 

$50 gift certificate

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Kristi Nicole Photography

The Incredible Dawn to Dark Photoshop Collection Action Set for Photographers

******************

Adoruhbul Creations

 Soft knitted newborn purple beanie

*******************

Laila n Zoe

http://lailazoe.bigcartel.com/

******************

This Little Light Prop Shop

Made of easy to clean, high quality white vinyl this set of 9 posing bags make posing babies so much easier. Prefilled by hand with dry beans and sewn with durable nylon thread, they conform to babies position making them very easy to use. $85 value

*********************

Paris Texas Knits

Vintage Flapper Diaper Cover Set

*************************

Stuff So Simple

9ft, 9 Flag Double sidded banner

*****************

Lil Bow Peep Lamb Boutique

Vintage inspired pair of Mary Jane's with OOAK vintage buttons

*******************

JL Anderson Photography

*********************

Loopsy Daisy Baby

Apple Blossom hat

*****************

Laynie and Belle

$30 store credit

*Photo by Nikki Jay Photography*

***********************

Nikki Jay Photography

Soft Light Preset Collection for Lightroom

*****************

Nikki Jay Photography

Whimsy Dreams preset collection for Lightroom

***********************

Please Read

As most of you know Facebook has certain rules and regs on giveaways.  I can not tell you to "LIKE" a page or "SHARE" a post on your wall in order to be entered.  You CAN however comment on this blog below in order to be entered into the giveaway.  Please make sure you leave your full name and email.

*I would LOVE for you to like the vendors pages and leave them a comment but as I said it is NOT required, but it would be nice of you to do so.*

 I will choose 15 winners, one for each item in the giveaway.

Winners will be chosen via random number genorator.

Winners will be posted on July 10th!

Good luck to each and everyone of you guys!

****This  promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.****



5,500 Giveaway WINNERS!!!!

Feature Photographer.. Darci Amundson

I am super excited to welcome Darci Amundson from Darci Amundson Photography as our very first Photographer Q&A feature!

http://www.facebook.com/darciphotography?ref=ts

I fell in love with her crisp clean style and was lost in her galleries for hours checking out all of her stunning work!

Welcome to the blog Darci!

All about Darci....



Born and raised in Polson, MT...population everyone knows everything about you.  Fell in love with photography in high school but never thought of it as a career because I didn't want to work in the darkroom.  Was a pharmacy tech for 8 years and worked in Montana, Scottsdale, AZ, and then moved to Denver in 2006.  For my first Christmas with Josh he got me my first digital camera and lens kit...I was in heaven!  I had never done portraits before but went to a pinup photography workshop and I was hooked!  That first year I learned all I could about lighting (studio lights were a whole new ball game for me), found every photoshop tutorial online I could get my hands on, then the ball jut started rolling.  Never in a million years did I ever think I would have my dream job.  I started my business part time in 2009, still working full time as a tech.  It wasn't until I was featured on groupon and got 84 new clients that I felt comfortable enough to go full time, that was May 2011.  Other than photography my boyfriend and I love to travel, go camping, and just hang out at home watching movies and cooking

Q. Is there a Mr. Amundson? Kids?

A.  Not married, no kids. My boyfriend and I are having our 4th Anniversary on Valentines Day...I met him at an anti-Valentines Day Party ironically. We have one fur-kid, Flex, he's a boxer/cattle dog.




Q.  Where are you located.. do you have a studio?

A.  I have a studio but I do all of my sessions on location except my Boudoir and newborn-9 month sessions...Denver is too beautiful not to be outside!

Q. What line of photography do you specialize in?

A.  I do pretty much everything BUT weddings! I specialize in photography for females so I get a lot of Boudoir, pin up, and maternity. I also LOVE seniors...my main focus this year! I have been featured on Groupon and Living Social so that brought me a lot of families.

Q.  Whats in your bag?

A. Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 50mm 1.2, Canon 70-200 IS II, 3 pocket wizards, light meter, reflector.

Q. Favorite Lens and why?

A.  I gotta go with my big guns...80% of the time I'm using my Canon 70-200 IS II...I LOVE the DOF with this lens and can give my clients their space so I don't feel like I'm in their bubble.

Q.  Raw or Jpeg?

A. RAW all the time!!

Q. How long did it take you to discover your style?

A.  My style is always evolving.  I love playing with textures but that doesn't work with every session.  I also am in love with the Vintage look, but once again it just doesn't fit every client's personality and style.

Q.  Where does the inspiration for your sessions come from?

A.  It definitely starts with my clients.  When I get to know their style, whether they are wanting a beautiful nature scene or more downtown/urban grunge, that's where I get inspired and push my creativity for a more personal session for them.  I also have a photography group that has over 300 photographer members and I set up themed shoots.  I get inspired by little things, the cover of Vogue, an episode of America's Next Top Model, I also have an amazing makeup artist, Rebekah Trigg, who always takes my visions to a whole other level!

Q. What photographers do you admire?

A.  I'm really focusing on my High School Senior Market this year so I learn a lot from Rod Evans, Beth Forrester, Blaine Phillips, and Brianne Graham.

Q. How do you relax your clients.. do you  help pose them?

A.  I am a people person.  I definitely can joke around and just have fun with my clients so they can relax and enjoy their experience with me.  I like to guide my clients into poses that really work at the beginning of the session.  I've been told they really appreciate the guidance and it keeps me in control of the session.  Don't get me wrong I love the "candid" shots but you still have to guide them into those to get the right lighting and angles.

Q.  If you could take any workshop what one would you take?

A.  I LOVE Tri Coast Photography's lighting techniques with speedlites.  I've heard them speak a few times now at Imaging USA and would love a hands on workshop with them.

Q.  If you could pick anywhere in the world to do a photo session at where would it be?

A.  You know that scene in The Notebook where he rows out to the lake filled with swans...that's where I want to do a shoot!

Q. If shooting in the studio.. natural or studio lights?

A. Studio lights but I keep it pretty simple usually only a 1 or 2 light setup.

Q.  Whats something you know now that you wish you knew when you first started?

A. Flash website suck for SEO!!!  I had no idea and I have 3 of them!lol  I'm now struggling on finding ways to increase my SEO without having to completely re-do my websites but I may just have to bite the bullet one of these days and start from scratch.

Q. What editing programs do you use?

A. CS5, love my actions!  Also use NIK software, Topaz Labs, and Imagenomic plugins.

Q. If you could name your style, what would it be?

A. Eclectic...my style may be edgy and trendy for a senior, Vintage & Romantic for a couple, and Modern for a family.  I like to be able to fit into my client's style rather than the other way around.

Q. What advice can you give newcomers just starting out?

A.  Don't give your work away!  Your time and talent is worth something so you must remember to PAY YOURSELF!  Research how to effectively price your prints and products to make a profit. 

That concludes our Q&A session with Ms. Darci.. if you would like to follow her work please click on the link below and become a fan on her FB page.

http://www.facebook.com/darciphotography?ref=ts

Thanks again to Darci Amundson Photography for being our very first Feature photographer Q&A!

If you think you have what it takes to be on the next feature please email me at nikkijphotography@yahoo.com for details!

Photographers Dream Giveaway.. Winners (re-draw for unclaimed prizes)

Here we go again...

Can't believe how many unclaimed prizes were left!  I guess that's good for those of you wanting another chance! :)

Here we go..  New winners!

Cheeky Charlies.. and the winner is... Paula Lynell

Stella & Dot Jewelry.. and the winner is... Jesse Geddes

Alicia's Sew Amazing Creations.. and the winner is... Jillian Dayle

Cupcake Sprinkles... and the winner is... Bridget Carlson

Creative Crochets... and the winner is... Melanie Briggs

Fototale Designs... and the winner is... Kayla Nelson

Kristi Nicole Photography... and the winner is.. Genevieve Einwalter

Vintage Lucy's... and the winner is... Misty Fugate

Congrats NEW winners!

You have until 1/22/12 @ 5pm to claim your prize!

Please do not contact the vendors directly.  If your a winner please email me to claim your prize and the vendor will then be in contact with you.

nikkijphotography@yahoo.com

Unclaimed prizes will be redrawn on Jan 22nd.