Colorado Springs Wedding and Family Photographers: Real Photography

Halloween Photo Contest

This will be a reminder for the newsletter subscribers, but if you're not on my newsletter list, it's time for our October contest, and this time it's open to everyone in the US!

GRAND PRIZE:  An 8x10 print of your choice, photoshopped to perfection by me.

DETAILS: Any holiday that involves candy is okay by me, so this month we're celebrating Halloween with a costume contest.  Send in a photo, and you could win an 8x10 print of your choice. 

Send in your favorite Halloween costume photo by midnight 3 November, and I'll post the top four on my blog.  (Send to traci@traciturchinphotography.com)  Everyone will vote, and the winner will be announced in my November newsletter.

To collect your prize, pick out an image that you'd like to have in an 8x10 and email a full resolution copy to me (you must own the copyright or have a reproduction release for your chosen image).  I'll work some photoshop magic on it, and send it off to be printed!  (If you've had a session with me this year, you can choose an 8x10 from your session images.)

Since this prize doesn't require that you be local to Colorado Springs, it's open to anyone in the US!

THE FINE PRINT:
1.  Winner (or Traci Turchin Photography) must own the copyright to his/her 8x10.
2.  The contest is open to everyone within the US.
3.  By entering the competition, contestants automatically give Traci Turchin the right to use their image and name on her website traciturchin.typepad.com
4.  Deadline for entries is 3 November 2007 at midnight Central Time.
5.  If Traci Turchin receives fewer than five entries, the contest will be void and no prize will be awarded.

favorites from the pumpkin patch

I took the weekend off to enjoy Nic's birthday weekend, and so we finally had time to go to the pumpkin patch.  And TIME was important, since we got a tiny bit lost on the way there.

Imagine driving two and a half hours to a pumpkin patch only to find a field full of this when you got there:

The only pumpkins left in the field were smashed and/or rotting.  Major disappointment. 

But they had a pile of tiny pumpkins left, so we let the little one pick out his favorite:

But we made the most of it by going through the corn maze:

And making it out alive:

wanna see what else the man in brown brought?

The UPS man loves me.  Along with all the new camera stuff last week he also brought a new laptop.  Ahhh--nothing says happy like portable computing solutions.  Will seemed very happy to have another box to play with.

Although from the looks of things, he also enjoys surfin' the net...

Guess who is 28?

That would be Nic! 

We had friends over to celebrate last night.  Helping us celebrate?  Cheese, wine, chocolate, and more cheese!  We had cheese fondue, raclette, and chocolate fondue for dessert.  We watched Evan Almighty (super cute movie) and enjoyed the company of good friends and their good dog.  Happy 28, Nicolas!

Image 0001

Oh happy happy happy day!

Guess what the man in brown brought me today?

These three things (among others)...

I thought it was ever so appropriate that my new camera and one of the new lenses took this as its absolutely first photo ever:

I am in love with my new equipment.  Must get back to the business of petting and cooing over it.

long time, no post

This is turning into the kind of blog I hate--the rarely updated, no photo kinda blog.  Well, I just can't let that happen.

Here's what's going on around here:

- First snow of the season on Sunday.  "Woo-hoo!" as my son would say (Nic taught him to say that whenever it's cold.)

- I have some very exciting things coming in the mail that will ensure that this blog gets the attention it deserves.  I'd share the news, but that would ruin the surprise. 

- I am watching Chuck while I type.  Hence the spelling errors (if there are any).  I am loving the new fall tv line-up.  Chuck and Life are the absolute best.  Journeyman, Bionic Woman, and The Next Iron Chef also get my vote.  But if you aren't watching Chuck or Life, you need to start.

And last, but not least, new photos from a new session!

In the market for a printer?

I just listed this one on ebay.  It came free (after rebate) with the new camera I was ordering, but we already have way too many expensive printers in this house (and now that I use the professional lab for most of our personal photos it's even sillier), so this one's gotta go. 

sorry it's been quiet

I've got a sick baby in the house. 

It's the 15th...

...so a newsletter is on its way to your inbox.  (To join my mailing list, enter your email address into the box on the left).

Here are some images from the wedding I assisted Laura at this weekend.  It was a beautiful event--the grooms had put so much thought into the details.  The flowers were stunning--they were all lit from little pucks below the vases, and the cake was very unique--one of the grooms designed it himself!  My favorite part of the evening was the toasts.  One of the grooms' dad gave a toast that had even me crying...but also laughing pretty hard when he explained that up until last year, he was sure that the two grooms were just jogging partners!

 

camping favorites

Two more favorites from our trip:

I really wanted to see this view, and was thrilled to find just the right spot.  Of course, the view is just improved when my family is in it!  :)

And this one, which I love because it completely captures camping mornings for me--standing around in the early morning light, sipping hot drinks and listening to Will tell us about whatever it is that has captured his attention.

unfair

It is totally unfair that men get to look this good while camping.

Stupid boys and their lack of need for makeup and curling irons.

Contest Winner

Christine, Matthew, and Christopher Gray (and their two mini schnauzers) are the winners of my September contest for a free session!

I photographed Christopher in one of my very first portfolio building sessions, so it will be nice to get him in front of my camera again!

What I didn't know last time is his mom's amazing recovery story.  Four years ago she had multiple brain surgeries (following life-threatening seizures)  that left her completely paralyzed.  She had to learn to walk and talk all over again.  Her husband (who is in the Air Force) proposed to her while she was still in the hospital.  She was released after three months, but still had a year of rehab to complete.   

Even then, they weren't in the clear.  While Christine was pregnant with Christopher, the doctors expected him to have Down Syndrome because of her medication.  Luckily Christopher was born without Downs and he's a happy little guy who is almost walking!

They haven't had a portrait of their new family yet, so I'm excited to capture this happy time in their life as a way to celebrate all that Christine has conquered!

Jessica

I think I can safely say that Jessica is my last senior session this year.  The yearbook deadline is Friday, so this was as last minute as they get! 

I loved our session--I have so many favorites.  Jessica is beautiful and so much fun.  She was game for anything and a total natural in front of the camera!  And best of all, she lives in the Broadmoor area of Colorado Springs, just minutes away from the zoo...which endeared her to me instantly.  Gotta love anyone that lives near a zoo that lets you feed the giraffes! 

Here are a few from our session in Manitou Springs:

 

another world

You would be forgiven for thinking we visited another planet on our vacation...

.

But it was "just" Yellowstone, land of bison and geysers:

back from the wilderness a day early

It's good to be home.  The little one had a blast, but his happiness at returning home was unmistakable. 

I'll be catching up on phone calls, orders, and email tomorrow. 

I have lots of photos from the trip to share.  Here's my favorite of my tiny camper.

***Closed***

Traci Turchin Photography is closed until Monday, October 8th.  (we're back)

Any orders placed online won't be processed until the 8th.  I will be away from phones, email, and decent hygiene standards.  (That or I'll crack some time tomorrow morning, check into a motel, buy an iPhone, and be surfing the net by noon.)

I've scheduled posts to go live while I'm gone, though, so you can enjoy some new photos from older sessions.

If you need to reach me and it can't wait, I will do my best to check my voicemail once or twice this week.  Please call 757.513.3476 and leave a message.  But if you brag about your access to a hairdryer and curling iron, I'm not calling you back.

two little monkeys

These are from an old session--but I still love them!  Two little monkeys jumping on the bed...

giggles

Drew's older sister...

I had to be a little bit sneaky to get her onto the blanket.  I told her that all the big girls have their pictures taken on the blanket, but since she was pretty little, I wasn't sure that she was up to it.  I've never seen a toddler move faster.  :)

 

welcome to the world

Welcome, baby Drew!

I photographed this little guy when he was two weeks old.  His mom and dad had said that all he does is sleep...but of course, he chose my visit to have his longest stretch of consciousness in his whole life! I was bummed, because their house had thousands of opportunities for really neat sleeping baby poses...but I hope Drew's parents will like these!