Sacramento Children's Photographer - The Cobbler's Kids Finally Have Some Shoes

You know what they say about the cobbler - his kids have no shoes.  So, we decided to get our kids some shoes - it was about time.  People always ask us if we have a lot of photographs of our kids and we do but we don't do an official shoot of them often enough.  And...we all actually had fun doing it.  I loved watching them be themselves in front of the camera - completely different from each other but completely themselves.

Enjoy!



I'm Back

After a wonderful Christmas and New Years with my family, a January completely MIA (due to the flu and other complications that seem to come up in life)...I'm back in action. I do have a little catching up to do so you should be seeing quite a few posts in the next couple of days showcasing some of life's wonderful moments - a wonderful wedding, a beautiful belly, an adorable newborn and more.

Also be looking for more newsletters and specials as well as a report from our annual photographers' conference in Vegas where we plan to search out new product options for your images.

Finally, it's not to early to be thinking about Mother's Day...book early to make sure you get a spot.

Looking forward to a great 2009!

What It's Like to Live with a Photographer

Many people ask us if we have tons of photos of our girls. The answer is yes and no. Since adding the residential gallery to our business plan, we do have framed photographs of our girls on our walls. However, we are often like the cobbler who's children go without shoes - there are days that we take a lot of pictures of our girls, however other times we leave the camera at home. Most of the time, though, the images make it to the computer never to be seen again.

Yesterday, when Jason brought me these images that had taken, I knew I had to do something with them. These photographs give a little bit of insight into what it is like to be the children of photographers. A little window light, some cheap makeup, a sequined costume and voila a mini fashion shoot.

The puckered lips...



She's even done her brows.

I love the juxtaposition of the tattoo and innocent dress and expression.

Red lips!

That's my sweet girl :)

Thoughtful and sweet.

And the photographer, my handsome husband taken by our 7 year old...

It's Official

It's official folks...I'm on vacation. Don't fear though, I'll be back on July 20 rested and rejuvenated. Unless of course I decide to be a beach bum...there are a lot of good photo opportunities on the beach.

Happy Summer!

Back to Where it All Started

Okay, this post requires some back story.

About 4 years ago I called my friend Michelle (the wonderful teacher in the white) who owns a preschool and told her about my brilliant idea for a photography business. The plan was to photograph children at preschool while they are playing, doing activities, etc. and then sell framed black and white 4x6's. I asked her if she thought it would be a good idea. She said that she had had difficulty getting a photographer to come to the school for a reasonable price and that what I was thinking might be a good idea. That was the end of that. Until she called a few weeks later and scheduled a shoot for her preschool. That's where it all started - a good friend and a couple dozen preschoolers.

Since then some of the preschoolers have gone on to elementary school (mine included), our businesses has grown from a stay-at-home mom project to a full-time full-service family photography business and I've learned how to photograph a dozen or so preschoolers at the same time.

I owe a lot to Michelle, Lisa and Alicia as well as the parents of the preschool who supported us in our infancy. THANK YOU!! I never imagined our business would grow as it has and feel truly blessed by our wonderful friends who have supported us as clients and with referrals and our wonderful clients who are more like friends.

These are the class photos and individual photos from this year. I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I've enjoyed making them!




My assistant/daughter - isn't she cute! She was a really big helper.

Sidley Studios is Live

While I do have a sentimental attachment to the name Kandid Kids, it's time to retire it. Our wedding business has really been growing, we've been doing some environmental business portraiture (examples coming soon) as well as high school seniors. So Kandid Kids just doesn't fit anymore.

So with new business cards, a new website and a new blog, we're off and running with Sidley Studios.

Where's your studio you might ask? Anywhere you want it to be as we specialize in location shooting and really, quite honestly, prefer it. There are plans for a daylight studio in our future but that's a ways off. Also, we've really enjoyed presenting our proofs in our "residential gallery" - we've had more than a few tears with the slideshows.

Vegas Report

Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind. ~Seneca

Well, Vegas was a whirlwind of education and inspiration. We were so busy we literally forgot to go outside for three days. We got to see some of our favorite photographers, learned a ton, made a few purchases (like a new website) and met some new friends. I've posted a few images below.




Joe Buissick is such an inspiration. His sincerity is so evident as a speaker and a photographer. He truly shoots from the heart. This was at the trade show - check out all the people!!






He is so dedicated to others that he spoke on our last evening there despite a fever of 102.





Denis Reggie is another of our favorite wedding photographers. He gave us a lot of good insight about what brides are looking for in their wedding photographer.

Though we've always admired his work, this was the first time that we had seen Jerry Ghionis speak. He is an Australian photographer and a great speaker - very funny and a master at taking the ordinary and making it extordinary. We learned a lot from him about creating beautiful images even when your surroundings aren't beautiful.

And then of course, what's Vegas without a couple of Grey Goose martinis :)

Vegas Baby!

We're off to Vegas for a whirlwind tour of inspiration, education and fun! We are so excited to leave today for the annual WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) conference. This will be our second time attending the conference and if this year is anything like last year we will return with a lot of new ideas to make our business "bigger, make it better, make it AWESOME!" - Anyone watch Ace of Cakes? I can't stop quoting Duff :)

Plans Change!

In a little over a month Jason and I will celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary. As the momentous day approaches I find myself thinking back to those early days in college when we had our life all planned out and then fast forwarding to today and realizing that plans have a way of changing. We were sure that we would have two sons (Jason is from a family of three boys – I’m not sure of the logic there?) but have been blessed with two beautiful girls. Jason was going to be a civil engineer for the County of Sacramento until he retired and my plan was to teach high school English. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined starting my own photography business. Jason’s career also changed dramatically when made the move to a private engineering firm. As we mark 10 years of married bliss, the picture is different than we expected but nonetheless wonderful.

And so it has been in our business as well. Plans change!

I planned to only photograph preschoolers at school and sell framed, black and white 4x6 prints. Plans change! I’ve photographed babies 10 hours old and high school seniors. I still love classic black and white prints but I’ve fallen in love the beauty and versatility of color. I still think framed 4x6’s make great gifts but also love the 25x40 gallery wrapped canvas over my fireplace.

I planned to never photograph a wedding. Plans change! When a good friend from high school asked me to photograph her wedding, I agreed and asked Jason to come along to help out. I have to admit that we were surprised at how good the images turned and what a great time we had working together. We later booked the maid of honor from that wedding and have developed the wedding side of our business over the last couple years.

And…I planned to never, ever write a blog. Plans change! I knew they were popular but I assumed that no one would want to read what I had to say. After many, many discussions with my husband, friends and fellow photographers, I am convinced – I need a blog. I have learned that it can be a wonderful way to keep all of our fantastic family and clients abreast of what is occurring in both our business and our life.

It has been an amazing journey to this point and we couldn’t have done it without our treasured clients who have become more like friends and our incredible family who have given their support, love and time unconditionally from watching our beautiful girls on countless occasions to helping frame 50 sports collages for a photo drop off

As we look forward over the next several months we have many things planned. We will be consolidating our two business names (Sidley Studios and Kandid Kids), launching a brand new website, hosting an open house to formally introduce our residential gallery and, of course, blogging. We have so many exciting things planned hope that you will all be a part of it.

As for the blog, here’s my plan – I plan to post to my blog as often as I can but not every day; I plan to share my favorite images from my sessions; I plan to post client slideshows on request; I plan to share thoughts and comments that I think my readers might enjoy. But then, as you know, plans change!