To My Dear 2020 Brides

My goodness, what a time to be planning a wedding. I want you to know that my heart is with you. There is so much BIG stuff going on that I am sure you don’t want to share that you are upset that maybe you had to cancel your shower or reschedule your wedding or are thinking about it.

I am sorry, my beautiful brides. I know all of the time, effort and excitement you have and are putting into your big day.

I have had a few brides who have rescheduled who had spring/early summer weddings.

What I need YOU to know that on my end - remember your contract? LOL Probably not because we like talking about the FUN stuff in it not the “blah blah blah” stuff. But…there’s a part in there about needing to reschedule because of “Acts of God”. I didn’t include a pandemic in there because - like who the heck could have seen this coming…but I think this falls under “Acts of God” . I said that we would work together to find another date that works with you and your other vendors. So far it’s been beautifully easy.

All of the vendors in our area care about you and your big day. You need to know that. We will do what we can to accommodate whatever you need.

Just keep in touch with me. A bride emailed me yesterday after speaking with her venue with their available dates and it just so happened that there was one date in particular that her DJ and I still both had open. It was perfect. She sent me the Saturday dates to see if it would work with us before she explored the idea of a Friday or Sunday wedding - which is a great option too if you need to reschedule.

Hang in there!! If you are one with an early wedding - and are upset about having to reschedule - just imagine how extra special it will be when your big day arrives.

Andddd - it will be a great story later about how you had to reschedule your wedding because of a pandemic. Can you imagine talking to your grandchildren, “Back in my day Grandpa and I couldn’t get married when we wanted because of a flippin’ Pandemic!”

Hang in there and be in touch! This too shall pass!

Scheduling Improvements - Erie PA Photographer

As a business owner I love a new year. It’s a time to reflect on what went right and what went wrong the previous year and for me winter is slow and it allows me to reevaluate and make the changes necessary to improve the upcoming busy season.
This year it became abundantly clear that there was something that I need to work on - and that’s communicating with my clients. I am so blessed to be busy but my lack of getting back to my clients in a timely manner is rude and inconsiderate (definitely not intentional) but it certainly doesn’t reflect how I feel about my clients. I am nuts about them :) So, this year I want to make certain that I am better at this. I have some things in place including having people help me out and also I am implementing an online scheduling system which I hope will help alleviate frustration. I know for certain that I will run into glitches as this is new for me and I ask that you bear with me

HERE IT IS!

I am also going to be including online content that will help to guide clients to know what to expect on a shoot and before and after.. I will be making blog posts, videos etc.

So, thank you for being patient with me and showing me grace as I try to keep striving to be a better photographer, business owner and friend in general! :)

Happy Winter! Spring is coming!!

Senior Portraits: What to Expect: Erie, PA Senior Portrait Photographer

So, you have booked your senior portrait session.

Such a fun and exciting time in your life.

You might be asking yourself some questions: Where the heck are we going? What if it rains? What do I wear? Can I bring my cat? Will there be snacks?

Slow down, I gotchu.

Let’s start with clothing.

Choose 3 outfits. I like to tell my clients to choose two and let your mom choose one. She’s probably the one paying for the session and will be the one to display the ginormous print of you on her wall for all of eternity. Indulge her. Guys, if you are reading this you might want to let mom pick all of your outfits. I am just kidding…kinda.

By the way, seniors usually just change in their car. If you are not okay with that -let me know so I can strategically get you to a restroom.

Try to choose 3 different outfits rather than one style in just different colors.

When we meet up - we can review what you brought with you and decide which will be best for the locations we have chosen.

That brings me to my next topic.

Location, Location, Location.

We typically go to 3 places. Over the years I seem to have developed a recipe for location

1.water

2. woods

3. buildings

I like to make sure that we have a nice variation of backdrops.

I have plenty of places in mind. If you have a special place in mind please tell me. Or you can tell me “I like the beach, a field and a creek. I got it! I will take it from there. Over the years I have learned some great spots and more importantly - I know where and when the light is good at many places.

Weather

Grrr - weather is the bane of my existence. Let’s be in touch the day before your session - sometimes rescheduling is necessary. I keep dates open for such things so that we can get you in immediately. Please don’t fret. I will fret enough for all of us.

Side note: there’s nothing I detest more than when we make a decision to reschedule and it turns out to be nice out. Infuriating!

Ok, next topic!

Pets

Listen, if I find out that you have a dog and don’t let me meet it I might be a little upset. Seriously - if your dog or cat or snake or turtle or iguana means a lot to you - let’s include it! I can meet you at your home if need be for a few quick shots. Don’t worry about your dog being hyper or worry about it jumping on me. If I go down like that - so be it. I have 3 big dogs - I ain’t skeert. Snakes….maybe a little skeert.

(Skeert = scared)

What to Bring:

1. A Person: I recommend bringing a parent/parents. I do not recommend bringing the whole family. It can be a little much. This is your day - the more people that tag along - well it takes a way from YOU . You can come by yourself too.

2. Props - feel free to bring sports paraphernalia, instrument - whatever you like. Let me know ahead of time so I can get my creative juices flowin’!

YOUR IDEAS

YESSS I want to see your ideas. If you saw something on instagram or pinterest and you are all like “I want this” - please share it with me! If it’s a look, a pose etc… I want to know about it.

Send me a screen shot or a link - but please limit this to 5 samples. I definitely want to know your ideas but I can’t replicate 100 .

What to expect after our session:

I am excited to see your photos and I know you are too . I will post a sneak peek within a few days on facebook( Unless you would rather I not do that - I can send your photos to you privately - no big deal)

Then, it will take a few weeks (3-7 typically, depending on what time of year) all of your photos will be done. I will send an email containing a link to your photos, download instructions and copyright release, which will allow you to print your photos anywhere you like. You can create Grad announcements - anything you like.

One last thing

Get a good night’s sleep and eat a little something prior to your session. I don’t want you to be sleepy or hangry.

The Dreaded Post - ERIE PA Photographer

I AM FULLY BOOKED UNTIL NOVEMBER

Thanks to the “Memories” section on facebook I know that it is at this time each year that I have to write “I am so sorry but I am fully booked until November!” and today I am finding myself changing my auto response on my email to that. It’s sad because as summer winds down and parents start thinking about getting summer or fall photos of their senior or family - there’s no room left on my calendar and THAT makes me feel like a real jerk.

BUT THERE’S STILL HOPE!

I really, really, really, really want to offer fall mini sessions again this year. Last year’s were kind of a bust because it rained and rained and rained and rained and rained. Then it rained some more.

To learn more about the mini sessions and how to schedule - I have a dedicated facebook page to my season mini sessions which can be found right HERE .

Also - don’t be afraid to schedule a session in November - last year it seemed to me that November was prettier than October. :)

If you still want to set up a session email me at ktmihalak@gmail.com.

Mid-Summer Update - Erie PA Photographer

Hi Everyone! I hope that everyone is enjoying this beautiful summer! For me, summer is in full swing - weddings are underway, senior sessions and lots and lots of little ones.

One of the highlights of my summer has been my “Sweet Summer Mini Sessions”.

There’s just something about it - maybe I am just so thankful to be outside after the long winter and rainy spring we had - but I think it’s more than that - the purity of children playing by a creek, finding a tiny frog, blowing bubbles and showing your brother how to put on a mitt.

I hope that you are all enjoying your summer as well and that you are taking time to enjoy the simple things!