hocus outta focus : the hocus focus blog

The .005 Second Photo Shoot

I typically tell clients to allow a couple of hours for a photo shoot.  But not these clients.  THEY tell ME to allow .005 seconds because they're totally not in the mood for my crap.


Okay, so my clients don't really talk to me like that and my kids don't really say the word "crap", but you get the point, right?  Good thing they're cute and I'm quick.  

30 Large!

WOW!  We just passed 30,000 hits today and I'm truly amazed.  Thanks for stopping by to see what's going on and for all the lovely comments you leave me.  It's always great to hear what y'all think.

The 30,000th visitor is from somewhere near Madison, Wisconsin and was online around 3:10pm.  I'd love to know who you are....just cuz I'm curious like that.  (Leave a comment here and I might even send you something special.  Be sure to include your email address.)

Don't forget you can subscribe to the blog and have posts delivered straight to your inbox.  You'll never receive more than one email a day...no matter how blog happy I get. 

Stay tuned for a BIG announcement next week and some images from a super special session I just shot.  You're gonna FLIP!

Edited to add:  No, Lindsay I'm not pregnant!  :o)

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend.
H

Way Too Much Fun on a Cloudy Day

I had a shoot scheduled this morning, but when I woke up it was way too dark to shoot.  I hopped on The Weather Channel's website to see what the rest of the day might bring when I found this.  And was completely distracted for FORTY FIVE MINUTES.  I'm such a dork.

 

So if you need a little break from your day and you love coffee as much as I do you'll get a kick out of it.  And now for the much needed disclaimer...NO, I DO NOT drink McLattes.  I'm kind of a coffee snob, but at least I own it, right? 

Have fun!
H

In Search of an Intern

Need a job?  Got mad skills?  (Or, at least some skills...) 

We're looking for a part-time intern for the summer (possibly longer).  Must be creative, have some photography/Photoshop/design skills and be willing to work hard at an incredibly fun job.

Download the application here.  Email it to jobs@hocusfocusphoto.com.  

Tell me who you are, what experience you have, what type of equipment/software you've worked with, why you're the one for the job.  Be sure to include a few of your favorite photographs and/or graphic design elements so we can check out those mad skills!  If you've got a flickr account or other online portfolio, please include the link.

Have a terrific day!
H

Quite Possibly

THE cutest, sweetest baby EVER!  Lola has the sweetest personality and bluest eyes.  Seriously, how will her daddy ever tell her no?  (If he does, you just call me, Lola.  i've got your back, little honey.)



How funny is this?  She's all...get out of my shot, sister!  This is MY photo shoot!

Ahhh, back to sweetness.




How cute are the apron shirt and the Baby Legs from Lillibelle?  I simply adore Baby Legs.  My kids are 4 and 5 and still wear them!  Hell, I'd probably wear them if they came in my size.


I guess I wore her out.  Told ya she was super sweet!  (And I'm a total sucker for thumb suckers.)

Worse than a butt head...

Did you really expect me to pass this up?  Not a chance in hell.  It's my new favorite word.  Move over butt head.  Don't be a butt joint!

Happy Wednesday!
H

If I Had a Fairy Godmother...

This is exactly how I would imagine her to be. 

Whimsical.
Eclectic.
Dreamy.
And draped in LUSCIOUS jewels from Tivol.

I recently had the honor of shooting Pam DiCapo, of Lauren Alexandra.  Pam's amazing home was the perfect backdrop for our shoot and I swear if she'd let me I'd move in tomorrow.  Talk about a photographer's dream.  Color, texture and style galore!  And the same goes for her stores.  There's one in Brookside and one in Briarcliff Village - both of which I could spend hours shopping in. 

And Pam...well, she's simply delightful.  And such a creative soul.  I thought I'd died and gone to heaven when I saw the dress she'd found for our shoot.  It had been sitting in a local vintage shop just waiting for the fairy godmother to come and take it home.  It was just perfect for our shoot, which was such a fantastic collaboration between the two of us.   

While I'd love to share more of our photos, I can't give away all the secrets so you'll have to check out the June issue of Her Life Magazine.       

Determined - Part II

Now that Lauren has seen her images I can share some (okay...a lot) of my faves with the rest of you.  I just loved this session.  One of my all time favorites for sure!

2009 Seniors - it's not too early to book your session.  Fall is actually a great time to shoot and come August the calendar will be filling up FAST!

SPEED?

My husband is a HUGE -  and I mean SERIOUSLY HUGE racing fan.  And I married him anyway.  (TOTALLY KIDDING!)  So Wednesday night he went to some race while I stayed home to edit.  YEE!  HAW!  This morning he emails me this picture of him and Clint Bowyer and below is the email conversation that transpired.

CHRIS:  Look, honey.  I'm even holding his beer so he could sign my shirt and take a picture with me.  Very cool guy.  It was fun.  Love you, baby.  Have a great day. 

ME:  Sweet!  The only thing that would have made this picture better would be if it were Jamie McMurray instead of Clint Bowyer.  WOO!  HOO!  Just kidding, baby!  You know I love you.  [And no offense if Clint Bowyer happens to read my blog. *wink*wink*]

CHRIS:   Very funny!  Jamie McMurray??  Oh, yeah.  He is cute (not to me), I forgot.  You are too funny.  Honey, there is one cardinal rule in racing, especially dirt track racing.  Pretty boys don't go fast!!!

ME:  Uhm, hello!  Do you really think I watch racing with you for the SPEED?  Here's a clue for you...uh, NO!

CHRIS:  Wow!  We have a lot of work to do with your racing etiquette.  Speed, compression ratios, tire pressures, etc.  "America is all about SPEED, hot, nasty, BASS ASS SPEED!" - Eleanor Roosevelt. 

ME:   Dude!   You've seen  Talladega Nights one too many times.  And no, if we have more kids we're not naming them Walker and Texas Ranger.  This conversation is soooo going on my blog.

CHRIS:  Good.  Post it, baby.  You dirty pirate blogger.

Now, THAT is why I married him!

Have a wonderful day, everyone!
H

 

 

My Kind of Girl

Last week I shot for the fashion section of Her Life Magazine and just adored our model.  She's more than just a model.  She's actually the owner of Bella B's Boutique.  And the reason I say she's my kind of girl is because Brooke is so down to earth.  It's hard to miss the fact that she's a total knockout (she's actually modeled for Maxim Magazine), but it's also hard to miss the fact that she loves what she's doing with her life. 

Like myself, Brooke didn't finish college.  While some might gasp and wonder how on earth one can go on to lead a successful career without a college degree, Brooke and I both disagree.  We've both had a variety of jobs in which we found success, but not necessarily that over the top happiness we get from doing what we do now.  Both Brooke and I started our businesses at a young age and we're very passionate about what we do - and they don't teach that in college.  Are there some things I might have learned in college that would have saved me a few headaches along the way?  Sure, but I wouldn't change a thing and I'll bet Brooke wouldn't either. 

Set one foot in the door at Bella B's and you'll see what I mean.  Thank you, Brooke, for spending an afternoon with us (dead rats and all - you'll forgive me, right?).  I really enjoyed getting to know you and can't wait for you to see the rest of the images in the June issue of Her Life.

Now for the rest of you, get your butts over to Bella B's and shop till you drop.  You might even see me there.  Mama needs a new pair of shoes!  And jeans.  And a few cute summer dresses, too.  :o}

In this shot she totally reminds me of Rebecca Romijn - Stamos - O'Connell (oh, hell...whatever her name is these days).  And I so want that dress!

Happy Thursday! 
H