Okay friends and fans with children, this is that long awaited follow up to my last post about my new adventures with Kid N Play. Sunday afternoon we conducted our first booked shoot for a Kid N Play customer/resident. One year old Shania (seen in the photo). Isn't she adorable? This is of course a photo which she will never outgrow, and my knees will never forget. Keeping in mind that this little girl had a range of well wisher friends from the age of a few months through about 7 years old, there was no end of what could or needed to be shot. my business partner Emerson and I (remember in most cases you, will get two photographers. Not always the case, depending on schedules, but it is one heck of a bargain when it happens because nothing is ever missed with two professional and courteous photographers roaming the arena) we shot over 1100 photos during this 3 hour event. That ended up being not one but 2 DVDs stuffed with amazing photos that the parents will enjoy viewing again and again and again. This was a large gathering so there was quite a few people to shoot resulting in a good bracket for what a large party might consist of. On behalf of Bluestill Photography and Belles Lumieres I thanked the family for hiring us and letting us become a part of their special occassion with of course, an extended thank you to the entire staff of wonderful people and kids that makes Kid N Play such a great place to celebrate.

Bringing out the big kid in me

Jet streaming into 2011, I encountered something that will definitely bring out the big kid in every photographer. I have a friend who is a hobbyist photographer name Green Mile. Honestly, he looks just like the character; huge, muscular and the kindest heart you can ever come to know. But he has this annoying problem of constantly reminding me that I don't have kids so I don't understand things. According to Green Mile "You need some kids in your life". Well, all of that has changed suddenly do to my new friends at Kid N Play (http://www.kidnplayinc.com/) located at 406 Baker Blvd. Suite 160, Tukwila, Wa 98188, where I am contracted to shoot their family & special events. It was an amazing time, and I had no problem falling to sleep at the end of that day. This place is huge, and inviting, and just what every parent need. I recall sometime last year at another family center, whom name I will not mention, where the child celebrating his birthday went into an area where only the parent and the child was allowed in, and were suppose to exit in that same fashion. However, the child had gotten off the ride and exited with a completely different family. Someone who had attended the birthday party and was departing early happened to notice the little boy about to exit the building all the way on the other side of the premises from where his parents were, thinking he was still inside the gated area where they were seated. The father, outraged asked for a manager, was met by a young man not much older than the young teenaged girl who was in charge of the gate where the boy had exited with the wrong family. What came out of this young man's mouth only made matters worst. The young manager told the father "this sort of thing happens from time to time here". The father was speechless and gathered his family and guest, and exited the establishment, vowing "never again". This could never happen at Kid N Play and what really makes it great is that when you book it for your child's event and elect to have the occassion photographed, you are not going to see strangers or other people you don't know in your photos because the entire place is booked to only one family at at a time for a very reasonable rate. Why do I blog this, you ask? Because this makes life extremely easy for the photographer and puts the parents mind at ease, and the kids.... They love it, because their only limitation is their imagination and I have the honor of capturing it one frame at a time. Kid N Play is simply good, safe, family fun. Now that's Bluestilling 101.

Streaming into 2011

Okay friends as I prepare for a gear up landing into the new year 2011, I have a check list which must be completed before year end. My mission statement will remain clear and concise: Taking the art of Photography to new heights and new places. Looking over my equipment, I am quite content with what I see in my bag. However I need to log on and make a daily entry to assure my goals are being accomplished. My objective is to go places I have never been, and stop talking about it and just shooting it. This year in 2011, I plan to create the sickest art my city will ever see, and people will come from all around to own a piece of it. The only way I can accomplish this goal is to push away from the chains that bind me, and do exactly what I want to do. I can accomplish this with hints and help from all of my blog friends, family and cohorts. If you own a camera, talk to me. Tell me what you have seen, show me what you have shot, and post it up for the world to see. I want to travel to other countries this year, and I want to complete this travel from funds earned solely through photography. Any takers? Anyone else willing to help me do this? Make no misconceptions. I am going to do it, but I would love to enjoy some company along the way so we can chop it up together and talk shop until we reach our destination. This is going to be exciting, fun and so 2011!!!