Candid Creations Photography

My Totally Rad New Blog

2009-04-03T13:56:00.000-07:00

Well it's a little sad because this is my first blog site - with this site I was officially - a Blogger! But, at the same time I am so excited about my new blog and being able to really showcase my images at a larger size and have a new look to showcase my new logo and my new images. OK, so you get the idea - I'm re-energized and ready to take my photography to the next level. All you have to do to stay in touch with my blog is to change your bookmarks and visit my new blog at Mary's New Blog

Once you get there just go ahead and subscribe to my blog and you'll never miss a thing. In fact - once you check out the new digs you will see a promotion for the first 10 subscribers who are clients or may want to be future clients. I hope all of my regular photography friends will go ahead and subscribe as well - that's how we keep in touch and stay motivated!

I am working on getting a link posted on my new blog back to my old blog but I'm still learning my way around and it might take me a few days.

Thanks to everyone who has kept up with me!

Mary

The Emerson Girls

2009-03-27T08:52:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I had the pleasure of working with Jennifer again and now that Anne Mitchell is two years old we welcomed her new baby sister - Elizabeth. Note to Mary - little boys think pushing the button on my light meter is a real magic treat - little girls - well they like pink candy! Time for me to stock the candy box again. Here are a few of my favorites.

Hippity - Hoppity

2009-03-17T13:59:00.000-07:00

What fun! Expect the unexpected when working with animals and children - as the saying goes. We had so much fun last Saturday though with our Bunny Promo and I don't think I've ever laughed so much or sneezed so much in one day. Note to Mary - take allergy pills before working with live animals. Bun Bun and Jennifer were just awesome to work with though. And how adorable were all the little outfits the kids wore. There is nothing like bringing out the child in a child as when you put them in the presence of such a cute, adorable little furry animal like Bun Bun. We adapted our bunny treats - little bribes for staying on the set - throughout the day and totally got lucky when I brought in the head of lettuce to our set. Just have to say many thanks to everyone who supported my first live bunny promo. And special thanks to those who are already signed up for next Saturday's Blessings promo. These are some of my favorites and funnies from Saturday.

Fundraiser for COMEC

2009-03-05T12:31:00.000-08:00

Hey All,

I will be out at the fabulous new childrens boutique, Lily and Frog, tonight from 4 to 8 helping raise some money for COMEC - the Commission on Missing and Exploited Children. Stop by for some great shopping for spring outfits for your next photo session and receive 10% off. Lily and Frog is donating 10% of all sales to COMEC and I am holding a drawing for one free photo session - $125 value. I will donate the $125 to COMEC on behalf of the winner and Candid Creations Photography.

Lily and Frog is located at 4615 Poplar Ave at Perkins Extended in the Laurelwood Collection.

So come shop for a good cause and enjoy appetizers, wine, beer, soft drinks and the great Children's Play Area.

See you there!

Amberlee is Ready for Spring!

2009-02-22T09:30:00.000-08:00

I knew my session with Miss Amberlee was going to be fun when she came into the studio all smiles and talking up a storm. I didn't have a clue what she was saying but she came ready to play. There were so many great images but here are just a few of my favs. Enjoy!

Hippity - Hoppity Easter is on it's Way!

2009-02-19T13:56:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to finally be able to share some images from my first ever Easter Promotion. Blog readers are getting advance notice so call 901-850-1757 now to reserve your session. March 13th and 14th Bun Bun the Bunny will be visiting the studio to join me in our photo sessions. March 21 and 22nd I will be offering my Blessings photo sessions for a special reduced rate. Here is the card many of you will be receiving in the mail. I'll be sharing more images and out-takes from the session in the next few days.

Lorelei

2009-02-16T08:26:00.000-08:00

I had so much fun working with little Miss Lorelei last week. She stayed shy for only a few minutes and then really put on a show for the camera. Who knew that my only request for some great rock n' roll music during the session would come from a 2 year old but she loves it. Here are some of my favs from our little rocker - Lorelei.

Easter Bunny Promotion

2009-02-10T16:03:00.000-08:00

I am really excited about my little bunnies coming into the studio and will be sharing more details later but I have lined up two of the most adorable little bunnies for the Candid Creations Easter Bunny Promo on March 5th, 6th, and 7th and can't wait to do my promo shoot this Saturday. I am also excited to be working with the new children's boutique store here in Memphis in the Laurelwood Collections - Lily and Frog to be bringing my clients some exclusive offers and discounts on their awesome clothing selections.

Subscribe to my blog now to be kept in the loop on all of my latest discount offerings and promotions!

Watch for details on the Easter Bunny promo coming early next week!

TTFN

Young Guns at the New Daisy

2009-02-10T15:33:00.001-08:00

Ok, these are my guys! Brandon, Tommy, Michael and Brandon of the Young Guns. I had a great time Saturday night out at the New Daisy watching them rock the house and of course I had to try out this new Animoto slideshow website I've been playing with lately. I don't normally get to do a lot of concert photography but these guys are neighbors and friends and I've listened to their music for the past 6 years and watched them go from a garage band to a performance band and I couldn't be happier for them!

Laughing at myself

2009-01-28T16:27:00.000-08:00

Today was a slow day because of the snow so I thought it was a great day to tackle some of the more mundane organizational projects I've been wanting to do for a long time. What I didn't realize was how long it had been since I had attempted to do these projects. When I first started over 5 years ago I was diligent about collecting and compiling anything that would help me learn more about photography. So it started with subscribing to every photo magazine out there, then I would rip out articles that taught me something new, they would stay in a big pile until I had time to sort, later I would put those articles into color coded folders by topic ..... that would end up sitting on a shelf. When I got more advanced they moved from folders into a 3 ring binder with tabs preciously placed in sheet protectors. That's why I have to laugh at myself today as I'm going through all these folders and notebooks and looking at the articles. The rapid pace of digital photography and it's associated technology alone has made them outdated - not to mention the fact that some are 3 and 4 years old. I will admit I got a little sentimental remembering those early days and how I had to come up with some system for digesting and organizing all of the new information.

The good news is that as I'm looking through all these articles on color space, resolution, sharpening, pixels, retouching, black and white conversions, tonality and color correction, lighting ratios and I no longer feel overwhelmed - in fact, it makes me realize how very much I focused on the technical aspects of digital photography in those early years. Lately, my focus has shifted more to the artistic side and instead of notebooks on photoshop tutorials - I'm compiling a notebook of images .... images that appeal to me for whatever reason - maybe it's the expression, the camera angle, the colors, the dramatic lighting, the candid nature, and I hope I can learn as much from this notebook as the early ones.

As I move into the next phase of my photography - I have to laugh a little at myself - this is my office and my thoughts in the very messy process of organization ;)

52 Weeks - 52 Images

2009-01-27T10:15:00.000-08:00

The people I get to work with.

Cancun, Mexico

I love my new gallery!

The simple things

Hilton Head, SC

This is normally the time of year when I put together my personalized calendar together. Yes, I know January is a little late - but the end of the year usually ends up being so busy for me that I don't seem to be able to find the time. So yesterday I worked on my calendar and decided to go with a great 8x6 calendar from Miller's that allows one image per week - hence, 52 images. In looking back over the past year of images I was able to reflect on some of the changes in my photography, my business, and my personal life. This was the first year that I photographed images for a band, my first year to really get the opportunity to work with models and do more glamour photography, and also my first year to really do a full-fledged senior girl photo session.

2008 was also a great year of travel for me - I was able to travel to San Francisco and Napa Valley, Hilton Head, Jamaica, and Cancun. Some of my favorite images selected for my calendar remind me of the wonderful adventures I was able to share with my family in the past year. I redid my studio and my hallway gallery with images that I love - and really enjoy hearing the comments from my clients as they stop and look at my images. I added a natural light area to my studio, new furniture, and a new sales projection area. I was able to get back into photographing weddings with my sister in Texas and realize that I truly enjoy wedding photography and all that entails.

I have been influenced by the new styles in photography from my good friend Devon Jones, local and well known photographer Allison Rodgers, and the works of Chicago Photographer Audrey Woulard. I started blogging for the first time! I went live with a new website :) And I had the chance to work with more new clients than ever before.

I am so appreciative of all the good things that Candid Creations by Mary Photography has brought into my life. I hope as I work my way through all 52 weeks of this coming year that the images on my calendar remind me of the wonderful people I have been able to meet, the wonderful places I've been, and inspire me to have an even better next 52 weeks.

A Texas Style Wedding

2009-01-19T15:01:00.000-08:00

A Beautiful sparkler exit.

I just finished up working with my sister again in College Station, TX for a typical Aggie Wedding. One thing you can expect if photographing a young couple who have recently graduated from Texas A&M is a ton of spirit. And that's exactly what Kimbra and Luke's wedding had so much of - spirit and family love. What can you expect from a typical Aggie wedding? Well ....... cowboy boots, country music at the reception, everyone singing the Aggie War Hymn, a circle of everyone showing off their Aggie rings, a groom's cake with an A&M theme, a welcome Howdy from everyone we met and worked with, and just a great sense of tradition, family, and love. These are some of my favorites - enjoy!

Melissa and Michael

2009-01-18T16:07:00.000-08:00

It's been quite a while since I've posted anything on my blog but I'm back from my holiday break and feeling re-energized and ready to have the best year yet in photography. Melissa and Michael's maternity session was my first official session of the year. They were the perfect couple to work with and I loved that they brought new ideas and were so willing to just play. I knew when I saw what I was getting on the camera that I was going to love working with this very photogenic and fun couple. Here is just a sneak peek of some of the awesome images from our session.

The Rosser Family

2008-12-10T07:40:00.000-08:00

My last portrait session of the year was with my neighbors and friends - the Rosser Family. It's always so nice to work in a client's home with all their own Christmas decorations and I know their images will be even more special because of that. Aren't they a beautiful family!

Merry Christmas to all my friends and the wonderful people I've had the privilege to photograph this year!

A Visit to the Town Square

2008-12-10T07:27:00.000-08:00

It was chilly, chilly for my session with Victor and his family down at the Collierville Town Square this past weekend but we braved it out for as long as we could and thankfully found one location that was blocked from the wind and we got the jackets off. I always enjoy working with new clients and the Pearce family was so friendly and warm - I hope to work with them again - next time in warmer weather though!

The True Meaning of Christmas

2008-12-06T10:50:00.000-08:00

I have so many wonderful friends - but Jacque McGhee has to be one of my very best friends. The other day she called me - and she was so full of emotion and passion - and I was busy and overwhelmed with all that I had on my schedule - but I stopped and listened to what she had to say. And when she was finished - I was absolutely humbled. One of her very dear friend's son has leukemia and has spent so much time here in Memphis at St. Jude's or the Ronald McDonald house this past year. Jacque was talking to her own son, Cooper, about the meaning of Christmas and what it meant to give to others in their time of need. And Cooper at his very young age - understood and said to his mom - "like Ben". Jacque herself has spent much of the last year between here and Jonesboro dealing with her mom's recent cancer diagnosis and our family has been touched by cancer with my sister-in-law's brave fight against peritoneal cancer. What Jacque wanted to do with her Christmas card photo this year was to be photographed in St. Jude apparel and in her Christmas message to all her friends and family she wanted to remind them of how fortunate we are - but also to remember those less fortunate and to give what they could to St. Jude or any other cancer fighting organization. I support her and I hope that everyone who follows my blog remembers that even in these very difficult economic times - it is important to give to other's. Even just a little - means a lot when it comes from many. May your family be blessed with health and happiness this Holiday season.

A Very Special Family

2008-12-06T10:22:00.000-08:00

Photographing the Thompson Family in Hernando has been my utmost pleasure and not just because they were selected as my "Client of the Year" last year - but because I have been honored to be a part of one of the most memorable and heartfelt sessions I have ever had the privilege to photograph. Last year Elaine brought me out to their beautiful home to photograph their family before her husband Ken was to be sent to Iraq to serve his military duty. She wanted Ken to have photographs of their children, Lily and Max, to keep with him and remind him of the love and support that was waiting for him when he got home. And it was my true honor to be invited to the airport this spring to photograph their reunion when he arrived back in Memphis. This year they celebrate their Christmas together as a family and I am so happy for them. To all the families who are celebrating this Holiday Season with loved ones serving overseas for our country - we as a United family - support you and wish your sons and daughters, wives and husbands - a speedy return and happy reunion.

Jack and Hannah

2008-12-06T10:13:00.000-08:00

I loved working with little Jack and Hannah for the first time this year. They popped out of the car all excited and dressed up and were so polite and perfectly cute. Hannah is quiet and shy but so full of animated expressions when she warms up. And Jack was so cute and willing - but when he was done - he just told me he was done - and that was it! I loved our session and watching them as they warmed up to the idea of having their picture taken. And Hannah - I hope you get that little talking horse that wants carrots for Christmas!

Dear Santa - It Wasn't Me

2008-12-04T08:14:00.000-08:00

That is what is on Conner's little pj's. It has been my pleasure to photograph this little man several times over the past couple of years. He is full of energy and has just the best smile and gorgeous blue eyes. I love that his mom even brought his Christmas pj's for some shots. What do you do when you are in pj's - well you take a nap! He loves his pj's so much he wanted to wear them home but since he had to get back to school we had to do a little bribery to get him back in regular clothes. He had a blast with the snowballs - especially throwing them at Miss Mary! And if he had his way - he would have taken his new best friend Rudolph home with him. He is such a sweetie - thank you Conner and Kimberly for such a fun session.

Tis the Season

2008-11-25T15:40:00.000-08:00

You know my favorite clients are maybe the ones I only see once a year - but when they come to the studio or we schedule our annual session - I know I get to have fun and relax - they are my neighbors and friends - and I know the holiday season has officially begun. I love being able to come up with something for their Christmas Cards that is unique and fun. So here is to the official start of the Christmas Card season .....addressing all those cards .....remembering your friends that you only hear from once a year...... what stamps do you use .... oh, geez, Aunt Beth moved and I need to get her new address .... what do I put in my Christmas letter that sums up my last year of life .... oh, my - look at these pictures - everyone seemed to grow up over the past year. It is such a sentimental time of year - a time of reflection and a time to remember our dear friends. So to all my dear friends - Merry Christmas!

TuTu Cute!

2008-11-23T07:54:00.000-08:00

I had a chance to photograph the Wood family yesterday and meet their new little girl, Meredith and get to see how much Abigail has grown since I last photographed her a couple of years ago. I almost titled this blog post Toot Sweet because Abigail is a typical 3 year old who has a mind of her own, could flash the most beautiful smile one second and take it back the next, but when her mom pulled out the tu tu for some pictures at the end she just became the happiest little ballerina around. When she left she was all smiles and had a big hug for me! Thanks Abby!

What I love about Weddings

2008-11-19T12:25:00.000-08:00

For those who know me - really know me - they know I cry watching Hallmark commercials, I can cry if I only see the last 5 minutes of a really sad movie, and I will always be touched when I am in the presence of two people who are unabashedly unashamed of showing their love for each other with the rest of the world. That is what I love about weddings! People are happy at weddings - and you just can't help but feel and respond to the warm, fuzzy feeling of being a small part of a family's most happy day. Meet Colin and Raechal Evett - the newlyweds from the last wedding I photographed in Texas. Such a sweet couple that they delayed their wedding by almost a half an hour to wait for their grandparents to arrive who had taken a wrong turn on the way out to the Greenbranch wedding venue - beautiful place by the way. It was a gorgeous late afternoon wedding - a bit chilly, and a bit windy - but not one person complained. Here are some of my favorites!

A Match Made in Heaven

2008-11-15T08:38:00.000-08:00

That was the theme for Hannah and Robbie O'Bannon's showcase wedding last Saturday night in Downtown Bryan, Texas. They got married in the outdoor Palace Theater, walked down the aisle to old show tunes and even had their name up in lights! I assisted on this wedding for my favorite photographers, my sister Kathy and her husband Robert and we had a blast working together. Check out KNorwood Portraiture for all her awesome wedding images. Here are several of my favorite images from the night.

ART - Deep in the Heart of Texas

2008-11-14T18:28:00.000-08:00

I've been silent on the bloggin of late but that is because I am in Texas - my birthplace and the home of all my family. But it doesn't mean I haven't been taking pictures! I'm here to help my sister Kathy out with a couple of back to back weddings but the second night I was here I got to experience Bryan, Texas nightlife at it's finest. We were downtown to scout the location for our first wedding and by chance Kathy's friend Kristy Petty was hosting her Grand Opening of Art979 - an art gallery featuring local artists and a unique breakfast and lunch place. Kristy opened her gallery on one of Bryan's once a month Art Step evenings so there was plenty of music and art and people walking around and we enjoyed it all. Downtown Bryan is a great place to hang out and have fun and I was just so glad I had my camera with me to capture some of the ambience of the place.

Introducing Little Miss Emily Jean

2008-11-04T18:31:00.000-08:00

It's always exciting for me after having the honor of photographing maternity photos for someone - to then get the chance to photograph their newborn. David and Jennifer brought Emily Jean out to the studio today for her first little photo session - at a mere 4 weeks of age. She was both petite and sweet and loved sticking her little tongue out at me :) I hear that runs in the family :) I know Jennifer will be up late tonite - not getting much good sleep yet - so I wanted to be sure to share a few of the photos of little Emily Jean even at this late hour of Election Eve.

Little Mister Blue Eyes

2008-11-03T17:29:00.000-08:00

Today was Jansen's day in the spotlight - all he cared about was that it was his day to be outside on a beautiful day - in a beautiful place. I knew it was going to be a good session when he smiled at me from his carseat - and then reached out for a hug. You have no idea how much that touched me! Such a simple thing - but it made my day :) He is a beautiful boy with such wonderful parents - Melanie and Brad. Melanie sang songs, played peek-a-boo, asked what the "Lion says" - hey, all I had to do was take the pictures. I loved every minute of our session! Thanks guys!

The Young Guns!!!!!

2008-11-02T18:05:00.000-08:00

Ok, these guys are young Stevie Ray Vaughns - and they are only 14! Seriously, you have to hear these guys play to know how extremely talented they are. Tommy, Brandon, Brandon 2 and Michael are the young artists for Young Guns. They have traveled the state of TN already playing gigs and they rock the house with their intense guitar licks. Our session was as action packed as their music - stopping traffic - literally! We had a complete roadie crew with a stylist, manager, a photography assistant - thanks so much Erin - and even our little groupie Melly. The session rocked dudes!!! Be sure to check them out on their MySpace page.

Super Heroes, Sweeties, and Scary People

2008-11-01T11:40:00.000-07:00

Things don't always go as planned and it was a little crazy around our house last night but it sure was fun. I have to say thanks to all my little Trick or Treaters last night for letting me take their pictures. I hope it was as much fun for them as it was for us. I know some of you walked away with Release Forms and some of you didn't. All of the full-res images are on a different site so if you don't see your pic click this link to see them all. Trick or Treat

If you have any questions about how to get your pics just shoot me an email to mdegreve@comcast.net.

Have to give a special shout out to the Young Guns for providing the live music for our cul-de-sac. I've been going around today with "Go, Go Godzilla" in my head.

Kids and Dogs - Gotta Luv Em!

2008-10-28T13:53:00.001-07:00

OK, as promised - here are some of the out-takes from Liam's session. These little Jack Russells's are soooo smart - just don't know how to pose! I think I've identified the culprit as the little brownie. But you know what - they both loved on me - and I gotta luv 'em back!

The Couch's on the Couch

2008-10-28T12:41:00.000-07:00

Sunday afternoon I had the pleasure of working with Max and Holly Couch and their most handsome 6 yr old son Liam. Holly is an artist herself - check out her jewelry line at -www.thehollycouchcollection.com - and knew exactly what she wanted from the images taken. After a pre-consultation visit to her home she readily agreed to move some furniture around in her dining room to create our little studio. My friend and fellow photographer Colette and I showed up with our equipment and after making all the little adjustments we were ready to go. Liam proved to be quite the little model for us - but he is all boy too and I loved it. He had some of the greatest expressions - total boyish charm! I have to save my next post for the out-takes from the session - anyone who has ever worked with children and dogs at the same time can relate :)

You know - if Holly put her hair up and put on a suit and Max wore a suit and a John McCain mask - they sure would look like Sara Palin and John McCain. Hmmmmm .....

Campaign Stop

2008-10-28T12:16:00.000-07:00

Imagine how surprised we were to attend the McGhee's Annual Halloween Party and see such VIP guests in attendance. I always knew Jacque and Steve knew people who knew people who knew people .... but OMG, for Sara Palin and John McCain to make an unscheduled stop in Memphis just to shake a few hands. Well, I considered myself very lucky to have my camera with me. They agreed to this publicity photo thanks goodness. But the real moment happened as I turned my back for a moment and caught them out of the corner of my eye - making out! In my rush - I blurred the shot - but there you have it. It's official - now we all know why he chose Sara - she's HOT!

2 Sisters + 2 Photographers = Magic!

2008-10-27T17:10:00.000-07:00

Today I had an incredible opportunity to work with my friend and fellow photographer, Brian Grose. We met up at Starbucks and headed out to Coldwater, MS to photograph two beautiful girls for their senior portraits. And what better place to photograph these girls that have been home-schooled by their awesome parents Kathy and Tom, than at their lovely home complete with a pond, barn, and a wheat field! As Brian called it - "the compound" - it was an incredible acreage for sure. The temperatures had dropped considerably from yesterday and it was a chilly North wind that we had to contend with but Deanna and Jenna were brave enough to shed their jackets for short periods and let us get some awesome shots! I just love getting the opportunity to work with other photographers whether it is my project or theirs. Brian and I worked with each girl and while one photographed - the other worked my new favorite accessory - the simple reflector. It is amazing how much light can be bounced around outdoors. Now - the girls were freezing - but I don't think it showed. Thanks for a great day and the warm hospitality!

Great Expectations

2008-10-27T06:38:00.000-07:00

Since Demi Moore's pregnant photograph appeared in Vanity Fair, people have definitely been embracing pregnancy more and more. Maternity photography is an extension of that. It's also a chance for a mom to feel beautiful and relaxed before she gives birth. I was so glad when Kelly chose me to photograph her maternity photos. Having already photographed her sister Lindy with her newborn Madeline I'm sure helped quite a bit! We had a packed house of girls in the studio with a football party of the menfolk in the next room. Not sure which room was generating the most noise but I know everybody was having a great time. Kelly I wish you all the best with your pregnancy and can't wait to meet your new little one.

Trick or Treat Special

2008-10-25T15:02:00.000-07:00

I just love Halloween! When my kids were little - yes, my youngest is now 18 - but when they were little - Halloween was always such fun around our house. One year we even hosted a Haunted House in our neighborhood that was so scary some kids didn't make it down the hallway! Now we still get all dressed up and go all out with candy and ghoulish decorations for our Halloween Trick or Treaters. This year I am doing a photography special for all my clients and neighborhood ghosts and goblins. It'll be fun - REALLY!

Trick or Treat

Estanaula Trails Special Offer

From Candid Creations by Mary Photography

Bring your costumed Trick or Treater by my home studio

In Estanaula Trails for a mini-session for only $20!

When: October 30^th and 31^st

^{Where: 347 Chickasaw Land Cove}

^{Cost: $20 per child or add a sibling to the shot for only $5}

^{Please call Mary at 850-1757 or send an email to}^{mdegreve@comcast.net}

^{to reserve a time slot either day – OR – drop by during normal Trick or Treat hours.}

^{No appt needed during Trick or Treat hours. Studio will be setup conveniently}

^downstairs.

One full-res 5x7 image will be emailed by Monday, November 3^rd.

A Passion for Fashion - Senior Style

2008-10-20T12:58:00.000-07:00

I was so happy to hear that Kelsey was the one who did the research on the internet to find her photographer for her senior pictures and was willing to make the trip to Collierville all the way from near Jackson, TN to spend the day with me :) We had a very fun day together and when she came into the studio with all her clothes - well, I just wanted to go shopping in her closet! She had some great outfits and tons of shoes and hats and scarves to work with. Yes, Kelsey loves to shop!

She also has the longest and most beautiful hair! Can you believe she has never cut it! What a beautiful young lady - inside and out. Thank you for spending the day with me and I wish you all the best your senior year.

What a gift!

2008-10-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

When Brian called me months ago to schedule his session I asked him what he wanted his portraits for. I loved his answer - to give as gifts for Christmas. In this day and age shopping for Christmas gifts for loved ones can be challenging at best. But an updated portrait is one of those gifts that will fit any decor, never go out of style, and will be treasured and cherished long after the holiday season is over. I so enjoyed my session today with Brian and have to give a special shout out and thanks to Kate for being my impromptu assistant and for being there to bring that sparkle to Brian's eyes. I have to confess - his "eye of the tiger" shot has to be one of my favorites - but I promised :) Thank you both so much for a great session.

JD at the Town Square

2008-10-14T11:13:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness the day was so perfect for being outside. I hear the rains are coming later this week so looks like some rescheduling is going to happen. I met up with JD and his mom Janet this morning at the Collierville Town Square to finish up his outdoor portraits. In keeping with the family tradition - he wore a black shirt and we took a few similar poses that Janet really loved of her older sons - and then we tried some new things as well. Today he will head back to college at UT Martin where he is studying accounting. Safe travels JD and I really enjoyed working with you. See - having your picture made isn't all that bad :)

A Classic Match

2008-10-13T20:16:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of working with JD and his mom Janet this afternoon to create a classic portrait of their youngest son - to match portraits of their two older sons - all taken at age 18. On my in-home client consultation visit I was able to see the exact size and placement on the wall where their portrait of JD was to hang. That was extremely helpful before we headed into the studio. JD and Janet were so much fun to work with - and isn't he gorgeous! All three sons are so handsome. I look forward to tomorrow's session with JD at the Collierville Town Square to get some great outdoor shots.

Avery's Eyes

2008-10-13T18:28:00.000-07:00

My little subject this morning was Miss Avery Haynes - a gorgeous, and very happy 8 month old. I photographed her big brother about 2 and a half years ago and was so happy that Carrie called me again. I think Avery just has the perfect little baby face and you just have to check out her long eyelashes - she is going to break some hearts one day. She granted me with some beautiful smiles during our session. I think my favorite has to be Avery wearing her new hat. She was so patient and let me get plenty of shots - but when she was ready - that hat came off! Thank you Carrie and Avery so much for coming all the way out to Collierville! I had a great time this morning.

Creative Headshots

2008-10-12T07:37:00.000-07:00

So what do photographers do for fun ...... they get together and play with their cameras and studio lights. That's just what we did yesterday here at my house. We had 10 photographers and 2 studios set up and 10 lighting challenges to work out. It was so much fun and I was able to try some new lighting techniques. One of my challenges was to try halo lighting - fellow photographer friend Colette has the best curly hair for a shot like this. Her hair just glowed! Then my other challenge was to light a subject with the main light behind them. Jason was great for this shot - it's more edgy than what I might use for woman - but it really works well for him. And Ronnie has the best face ever for low-key drama. The challenge on that one was to do a location shot and use a strobe but balance it with ambient lighting - Brian did a great job thinking outside the box on this one with how he set it up.

I just had a blast with everyone and learned so much. I can't wait to do something like this again!

Beach Portraits at Hilton Head

2008-10-10T07:49:00.001-07:00

What a great little getaway I just had to Hilton Head with my sister Kathy and her extended family. I was able to meet my new grand-niece Genesis - just the happiest little baby girl I've ever met. Not to mention just the perfect little cutie who got photographed all the time on this trip.

We stayed at the beautiful beachside Marriott Grande Ocean. From the room we could see the pools and the beach and hear the live music being played around the pool. The second night there we decided to do family beach portraits. Kathy and I both packed up our gear and headed towards the beach. Having two photographers for the session was great and we were able to move quickly as the light was going down very fast. Not to mention I could take pictures of her and she could take them of me. Yes, it is very nice having a sister who is also a photographer :)

Pictured with little Genny is her very proud mom and dad, Patrick and Kelley. Patrick is Kathy and Robert's son. Kathy and Robert are in the blue shirts and blue jeans. And Robert's sister Becky and her husband Steve posed with little Genny as well.

We had such fun and I have to thank Kathy and Robert for inviting me to share their vacation with them. Next I'll post up some pictures from Harbour Town and the beautiful historic city of Savannah. Yes I made great use of all that photo equip that I packed for the trip! Now I have some new great photos to work on.

Packing the Gear

2008-10-03T09:52:00.000-07:00

I don't go on many vacations overall - but this trip to Hilton Head tomorrow will be the 3rd vacation for me this year after Cancun and Jamaica - I feel very lucky. I love my travel trips with gorgeous scenery and plenty to photograph. My sister Kathy and I are both photographers - she lives in Texas though. So we are sharing a vacation in the very scenic Hilton Head, South Carolina along with other members of her Norwood family. I can't wait to get there and see the beach! We are going to do some portraits on the beach which should be a lot of fun. We are headed to a beautiful church ruin that Kathy has photographed before and it looks incredible. And then when I'm not out taking pictures - I brought plenty of photo magazines and some good books and of course all my photo gear!

I just had to share what it looks like when a photographer goes on vacation to play at photography. I have to have all my favorite lenses, my laptop for working on my pics and so I can upload them to share while I'm gone - several camera bags, battery chargers, flashes, batteries, lens hoods - It's like I better at least take everything - I might need it. Now I need to see if it will fit in the bag :)

Sneak Peek

2008-10-01T13:05:00.000-07:00

I have been so motivated about getting back to work with my photography - like being infused with a new energy and creative spirit - getting my second wind as they say. I'm starting to get used to blogging - it's sort of a diary - and I get to share a little bit about me - and I get to share with you some of the new stuff I have been working on. This week I have really focused on the studio decor and gallery. I've made several trips to Hobby Lobby and back - they really do have some of the coolest new things for photo display and thank goodness their ready-made frames were on sale half off. I added some new furniture and lighting and I'm framing my favorite pieces. They just make me smile :) I hope the next time you are in the neighborhood you will give me a call and let me show off the new digs. This is just a sneak peek because I have many prints and frames yet to be delivered but just had to share how it's shaping up.

Are you Ready for Fall?

2008-09-29T17:51:00.000-07:00

There is something new in the air recently. Can you feel it? It's the hint of cooler weather and the colors of leaves changing and the sounds of football games. I love this time of year because it is the official start of the home decoration season for me. It's the first time of the year that boxes upon boxes come down from the attic for me to open and unwrap my fall decorations and place them in just the right spot around the house. I know I must not be the only one who is trying to find the right weekend to get everything in place.

Fall is also Portrait Season and the busiest time of the year for most photographers. It is a great time for outdoor family portraits and the new Christmas card photo for the year. I will be booking sessions up through the first week of December and then I focus on family and getting ready for the holidays. Be sure to call now if you would like to book a session for your Christmas card photos or a Family Session. Limited weekends available.

My favorite time to get my spook on is Halloween. I am just a big kid at heart and there haven't been very many years when I haven't greeted my little trick-or-treaters in costume. The whole family loves Halloween and I love seeing all the kids in their costumes. This year I've decided to run a Trick or Treat Special. October 30th or 31st just bring your child in costume to the studio for a mini-session for only $20 - per person. I'll email the best photo from the session for you to print. I'll post up more information on the session soon.

So get excited about fall and give me a call. 901-850-1757

The Sewing Basket

2008-09-28T15:22:00.000-07:00

I made my way to Louisville this past weekend to visit my daughter Jessica. On my way I got the phone call that she had to go in for an emergency root canal so I was glad at least that I was on my way there to be able to pamper her and give her some extra TLC. Tom's mom and dad were also stopping through on their way home to Texas from Ohio so it was a great chance to be able to see them again. Carolyn brought with her - her mom's sewing basket to give to me. Grandma Yerkey must have hand-sewn at least 50 to 60 quilts for her family members alone. I know I still have the beautiful quilt she gave to me as a wedding present 25 years ago. It means a lot to me to have this wonderful reminder from my Grandmother Yerkey of a patient talent and many hours of dedication to a beautiful piece of artwork.

Senior Albums

2008-09-23T14:20:00.000-07:00

I would love to start working with more teenagers! I love this age because they are willing to let loose and have a little fun. Seniors today are fashion savvy and looking for their photos to stand apart from the rest. And what they want for the end result of their session has to stand apart from the rest as well.

So I have been working hard to create senior albums that I think will be very popular among seniors. They are available as either 10x10 Senior Extreme Albums or the popular 5x5 Brag Book size - both of these are hard-cover book style flush-mount albums.

I'm also working on 5x7 Composite cards for seniors - an excellent way to announce your graduate to family and friends with a composite of images from the session. Photo book markers are popular among seniors as well.

I can't wait for you to see these albums up close - here is a sneak peek from some of the pages.

By the way this is my beautiful daughter Jessica now attending graduate school in Louisville, KY.

Mary DeGreve
Candid Creations

High School Reunion

2008-09-23T14:09:00.001-07:00

Well my husband and I just returned from our 30th High School Reunion in Burkburnett, TX. It was like old home week for us with all of our friends so excited to see everyone. We partied like we were teenagers again - and the next day realizing we are not! We poured over yearbooks and scrapbooks and it once again reminded me of how important photos are to us. They remind us of days long gone. They remind us of our youth and of our children's youth. Here are some of my favorite friends from High School - 30 years later.

Welcome to My Blog

2008-09-14T10:58:00.000-07:00

Well I am new to blogging but I'm willing to give it the old college try. Welcome to my first official blogging post. I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce myself a little bit. My name is Mary DeGreve and I have a home photography studio in Collierville. I've been in the business for 5 years now. I've earned a reputation for photographing newborns in the timeless black and white presentation. I love working with my little babies! My studio really caters to moms and I have a changing table and comfy chairs for feeding time. I am currently working to add more natural light poses during the session. Just need to finish up a few more projects in the studio to get there.

I just finished working with the Crosslin family and their new little two week old Tyler. He did so well during the session and except for a little accident on mom - it turned out to be a wonderful session.
Here is the Itty Bitty Collage I created for Tyler.