Precious Ponderings From Our Photographer

NEW NUMBER!

2011-09-13T11:13:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! Due to really bad service, where we're missing client phone calls, so we've changed our service provider and our number! The new number is 270-348-2813!

RMP's CUTEST KID CONTEST!

2011-07-25T10:58:00.002-04:00

RMP’s Cutest Kid Contest!

Over $600 in prizes!!

Do you have a cute kiddo? An adorable newborn or a knock out teenager? Real Moments Photography is hosting a cutest kid contest! Children may be still in the belly (just send us a shot of that adorable baby bump) all the way to age 18! Simply send us a snapshot and we’ll post it on our facebook page!

Its that easy!

EVERYONE can vote and the grand prize is $400 in photographic prizes! Second place is $75, Third is $50! We’ll even have a special category for FURRY KIDS! So send us a shot of that adorable furry family member and they could win $100 in photographic prizes!

ALSO let us know WHERE you saw this flyer and that business will get rocked out with some free

stuff too just for being so awesome!

This is a great opportunity for your cute kid to shine and maybe later model for us in our

special projects we do a few times a year! It’s so easy how can you not do it?

Email your photo to the email below!
specialevents@realmomentsphotography.com

HERE ARE THE RULES!
Yeah we know they are boring, but the legal people say we have to note em down!

1. One photo per child, although your welcome to enter each of your children. This includes entering your kiddos and your furry kiddos. You may however, only win one package. If you win multiple packages, well you've got a super adorable family.. but we will have to give you the most expensive package and allow the runner up to take the other. Children may be 0 to 18. (Yup we said 0.. just send us a pic of that baby belly!)

2. Snapshots only please, although you MAY use professional shots taken by Real Moments Photography. To respect other photographers copyrights we will not use other professional shots.

3. Email your photo to specialevents@realmomentsphotography.com to make sure your image is processed asap please put "Cutest Kid Contest" in the subject line. Please include the name you'd like listed with your photo. You can use your child's first name, initials, ect. Remember this is what we'll list your child by in the contest. WE NEVER list your child's whole name, or your contact information. EVER.

4. By emailing us your child's photo you understand that it will be posted on our facebook, and that the public gets to vote. Sooo that means forward the information on to all your family and friends. Everyone can vote and help you win!

5. Unless requested otherwise we will keep your information on file for 6 months after the contest. We use these images to help us choose models for our prop modeling shoots. These shoots are free, and models receive free images in payment for their work.

6. Real Moments Photography is located in Clarksville, Tn. We travel for free within 45 miles. If you are entering and are out of this area please remember should you win you will be required to make arrangements with the photographer for travel to our studio. We do often travel to Newport News, VA and have many clients there. If you are entering from the Newport News area we will be happy to photograph you the next time we visit.

7. PLEASE make sure you send your photo to the email above. We have a bit of a problem with some pretty unscrupulous characters watching our photography pages and blogs. The moment we announce a sale or awesome contest they copy it. Yeah we know kinda sad.. but they do it.. and often set up emails or use wording very similar to ours to confuse clients. Real Moments Photography is a PROFESSIONAL photography company and we never want our clients to get duped. You will always receive a return email that ends in @realmomentsphotography.com

8. Images are posted at least once a day in the evening, although we do try to upload them several times a day. Do don't worry if it takes 24 hours for your little one to start dominating the judging!

9. If you have ANY questions feel free to let us know! You can reach us via email or by phone! 580-583-2492!

10. THE CONTEST RUNS FROM DATE OF ANNOUNCEMENT TO AUGUST 31th! Winners will be announced September 1!

PLEASE NOTE! IF YOU SAW THIS ON A FLYER PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TELL US WHAT BUSINESS YOU PICKED IT UP AT! THIS ALLOWS US TO SAY THANK YOU TO THAT BUSINESS FOR HELPING US OUT!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!

http://www.realmomentsphotography.com/

We're just a traveling!

2011-07-16T13:56:00.000-04:00

Okay, there really is no bigger honor for a photographer than when a client arranges for their travel to photograph their family. Because, lets face it there are great photographers everywhere. So when a client says "No.. it really must be you." your heart just fills. In the past few months I've had one client drive from Ohio, and then this month one who arranged for me to be in Florida to meet their new baby daughter.

The Reeders moved to Florida last year, but prior to that I was blessed to photograph Kate during her pregnancy and then their precious twins. Now to get to meet their newest daughter Rachel in their new home, was a huge honor. She was a doll the whole time and it was so amazing to see the Reeder family again.

Shortly before I left for Florida a good friend of mine called me from Virginia. "You have to come back! I need senior pictures!" When later that week a good client called saying very much the same thing I knew I just had to come back. I miss everyone so much & I'm missing those ocean waves! When our old friends and landlords told us the studio was ours to use we couldn't help it! We knew it was time for a return visit! So we will be in Newport News from the 4th to the 13th booking full sessions, studio, beach, and outdoors!

We'll be breaking out the old appointment book and giving our clients a call but if you really want a session send us an email at information@realmomentsphotography.com. We're going to be doing some very cool pricing options and I know you won't want to miss it! I can't wait to see you all!!

Keesha

Moments from a maternity shoot..

2011-06-17T17:50:00.005-04:00

Every expecting mother is different, and so it stands to reason that every maternity shoot has its own personality and pace. I've had moms of all shapes and sizes, colors and creeds. Each is unique and special. But... sometimes theres a shoot that sticks with you.. that you just can't help but feel a little closer to. Elida visted me to have maternity shots done with her 18 month old little boy. Daddy is deployed and she wanted something to show him how her belly was growing with his newest son.

I wish I could say the reason why this shoot was so special was straight forward but it wasn't, magic I suppose rarely is. Elida is quiet. Not shy but just quiet. More poised than anything. She had the usual concerns all moms do about touching up this or that, but for the most part she just gave me the wheel. Her son was by far the best behaved 18 month old I've ever seen bar none. He adored the camera, loved all over his mommy, and watched patiently, (with some assistance from cartoons on my ipad) during the entire shoot.

While I was shooting I knew I was getting solid shots. Mom was working with me, she was so pretty all belly, and warm latin skin. But it was later when I was editing that I found the magic. One shot was so perfect and I almost didn't press the shutter. I had her standing in my "wraps" and she was a little stiff so I told her to close her eyes and think of her boys. Usually I then tell my moms to open their eyes and look at the camera and I get this dreamly loving look. But this time Elida took a deep breath and got the sweetest smile, I snapped a quick shot.

The image turned out to be not only one of my favorites from the shoot but one of my personal favorite maternity images. The look of love and relaxation in her face just spills over and she totally glows. It was such an honor to capture that for this family.

Later on I got what every photographer deeply wants. A client who loves her images so much shes brought to tears. "I look so pretty." she whispered. And I'm so lucky to do what I do I thought.

A busy & emotional few weeks!

2011-06-13T16:03:00.012-04:00

Sometimes in my line of work you really sit back and take stock of just how totally fully and completely lucky you really are. The last few very busy weeks have had me do just that.

One of my best friends Martha (finally, he was a week overdue) gave birth to her son, David. I was there not only as a photographer but also as "baby daddy", and her husband is deployed to Iraq. Jokingly the nurses told us they supported our "life choice", and as amazing as the staff at BACH is I think if it had been true they actually would have. Watching David be born, holding his moms hand and shooting like crazy was in a word hectic, but totally humbling. Watching Lee, David's dad meet him for the first time an hour after his birth via web cam drove me and the nurses to tears. Hearing Lee say to his son "I wish I could hold you buddy. I'll be home soon. I love you." Yeah that one gets you. Since his birth daddy did get to come home on R&R, and I'm pretty sure he only put little David down long enough to pick up his older sister, Madalyn.

Like his big sister, I of course HAD to do David's newborn pictures. The best part of the baby belonging to your best friend is that she pretty much hands him to you and says "whatever you think will be cute". YIPPEE. The shot I got of David is one I've tried to get for a long time. However, it takes perfect timing, and lots of tries. In a typical newborn shoot there are several shots you need to get before the baby has had enough. In this case I was able to focus on just one or two poses. In short, I got what I was looking for. :) I think you'll agree it's pretty darn cute.

Then a few weeks ago I got a phone call from a client from Virginia. They had relocated to Ohio and had just given birth to their second son and wanted me to take his newborn images. I was flattered but felt bad them driving all the way from Ohio. "There are great photographers there you know. I'll even help find you one if you want." I suggested "No" said mom Mary. "It has to be you Keesha." Can you say big honor? I was thrilled and totally flattered. Mary and Travis Burge are both insanely attractive people, and their first little boy was such a sweetie it was no shock baby brother, Noah was just as cute. The Burges are so much more than clients and we were honored that you were willing to drive to come see us.

Then there was little Miss Alexis. Alexis decided to arrive a month early, so when she visited by studio she hadn't even hit her due date yet! A precious little bundle with adoring parents Alexis reminded me of my youngest who was tiny as well. A head full of hair and a sweet temperament I fell head over heels in love with her. I could have photographed her all day she was so tiny. Mom and Dad were really great and Dad even got in on the fun towards in end sporting what I think he feels will be the newest fashion accessory this fall. LOL

Lastly I'd like to tell everyone that I won't be available for the second weekend in July. One of my all time favorite clients, The Reeders will be delivering their third little girl in Florida and I've been asked to fly out to shoot her newborn images. If you've ever been to our facebook or our website you would know this family. The image of the dad arms above his head with the twins snuggled in, yep that one. They are remarkable people who after the birth of their twin daughters just fell hopelessly in love with being their mom and dad. I can think of no more better parents than these two and its a honor to be asked to photograph this family as they bring one more precious one into their lives.

Thank you all for your love and for allowing us to part of your family, to capture these memories and this time in your lives forever. We have many more new babies due this month and in the future. We'll keep you updated!

K. Hervey
Head Photographer
Real Moments Photography
www.realmomentsphotography.com

Did you know?

2011-05-01T19:36:00.001-04:00

Did you know Real Moments Photography offers birth coverage for select clients? If your interested just give us a call or shoot us an email at information@realmomentsphotography.com Space is VERY limited each month!

Kinda cool.. kinda ewww...

2011-05-01T19:15:00.004-04:00

Depending on where you fall on the "cool" scale this mini shoot I did today is either rockin or down right scary. Lucky for me I lean toward the cool side, but I will mention when little "Cola" wandered my direction I was happy my camera was well in front of me.

While I'm called on to photograph babies of all shapes and sizes my experience with today's baby was unique to say the least. So although this spider certainly is a little different than most of little ones I photograph she is no less the apple of her father's eye.

Undoubtedly after spending an afternoon with this little girl, I won't ever complain about a yippy Yorkie or a massive Great Dane again!

K. Hervey

Isn't she precious?

2011-05-01T19:08:00.002-04:00

Its been a crazy few days! After several changes my husband finally found his way home from Afghanistan! We're so happy & it certainly makes shooting and editing easier!

In the mist of all this craziness we had the direct pleasure of meeting Miss Sophia. She is a sweet sweet little angel, and I adored playing with her, and her sweet big brother.

I look forward to photographing this family for many years to come!

K. Hervey
Head Photographer

Our Photography

2011-03-09T12:58:00.001-05:00

Free Photography Canvas!

2011-01-08T14:09:00.001-05:00

FREE CANVAS!

Photographers are very blessed with companies who often go above and beyond for our clients. One of those companies is the sister site of my professional canvas company. They offer very nice photographic canvas images for customers to purchase. Although not as perfect as a canvas purchased from your photographer, they are still WONDERFUL quality.

In a effort to support our men and woman overseas they developed a program called HI MOM, HI HONEY that offers FREE OF CHARGE large canvas prints for service members to send to their mother or wife on their birthday or anniversary.

Before I shared it with my clients I had my husband, who is deployed right now, register. A few days before our anniversary a massive canvas arrived at our door. Our wedding picture printed on it. It was amazing, and something that would easily cost you $300 in a studio. Fully impressed I decided to share this program with all you.

So if your spouse is deployed send them the link below. They can upload whatever image they want, and let these amazing artists do their magic. When you receive your canvas PLEASE take the time to shoot this great company an email thanking them. I’ve worked with the people who own both companies for a long time.

They are based in North Carolina, family owned and operated, and are just really really great people. Even in this time when the economy is not great, they are reaching deep and donating everything INCLUDING SHIPPING, for military families. So please take a moment to thank them!

If you are one of our clients and need a high res image emailed to your spouse just let me know. I’ll be happy to send it along.

Happy Memories!

Keesha Hervey

Head Photographer

Real Moments Photography

　

Just click the link below!

http://cool.canvasondemand.com/category/operation-hi-mom-honey/operation-hi-honey/

Please take a moment to visit our website and view our work!

www.realmomentsphotography.com

Worth Publishing Again

2010-09-13T14:08:00.004-04:00

This is something we like to repost a few times a year, especially after we meet a client who has been taken advantage of by a wanna be photographer. Even if you don't choose to use our company PLEASE take the time to use a true professional. We know these days it's VERY hard to tell the difference. We hope this article helps. You can also email us even if you arn't one of our clients and ask us to look over the website of someone your considering. We will be happy to tell HONESTLY what we think, no charge, no strings! Best Wishes!

K. Hervey
Head Photographer
Real Moments Photography

P.S. One word on the big box stores like Sears or Glamour Shots. They DO NOT hire pros usually and are out to get the most money they can from you. Many a client has come to me after spending a few hundred dollars at one of those places and been shocked to realize they could have gotten much more, and much better quality from me for exactly the same price. Something to consider before you subject yourself to those places!

Why Hire A Professional Photographer?

I have had many a client ask me in all honesty “I love your work! It’s so touching and wonderful! If I buy a camera like yours can I get images kinda like this?” Of course they mean this completely out of curiosity and don’t really realize how completely it doesn’t make sense and borders a bit on rudeness.

This is because the digital age has allowed so many people to step into photography and capture much better pictures than they ever would have with a film camera? Why? Well the main reason is the cameras, even point and shoots ARE great. They help the person operating it with great things like facial recognition, awesome focus abilities and color that grabs the eye. They also allow people to see right away if their little ones eyes were open, or if the shot was blurry. Simply hit delete and try again. So unlike the years of film where they would anxiously drop your film off, and later find out that they only had 4 good shots out of 24. The ease of deleting those bad shots and better cameras over all have allowed the public to get much better images.

So why hire a pro? If a digital camera can get you good images why bother with a professional photographer? For the same reason that a person can go buy a paints and brushes but that doesn’t mean they’ve become Picasso. For the same reason you can go buy great scissors but you sure as heck wouldn't let your uncle Fred cut your hair.

Photography is an art, and every professional photographer is different. They have a unique style that makes their work stand out against another photographers. Two photographers may be good friends and shoot the same event, but their images will be completely different.

True professional photographers have years of training and experience in posing, lighting, gear handing, and especially now with digital photography, professional editing. Professional editing and good posing is by far the difference between a real pro and an amateur or hobbyist. Remember that when your hiring a photographer your hiring an artist who paints with digital medium.

So what about those chain stores, they aren’t artists. Your very right! The person taking your picture at a chain store ISN’T a professional photographer. In fact most have no training except they store may offer which is usually a tad bit of on the job training and a posing book. Does that mean they can’t give you a “nice” picture?

Nope, but think of it like a paint by number. Just about anyone can handle a paint by number painting. That doesn’t mean it’s not fun, but it tends to look just like your sisters who did the same one last year doesn’t it? Not much room for creativity, and not something you would pay big money for at a gallery.

Another quick note about these chain stores. Many times their employees either get paid horribly or by commission. Thus they really are focused on the sale, not the art of the shot. So they find good ways to get you to buy these things. Many people come in for the $19.99 package and then simply can’t not buy the rest. Why? The images are of your family, something you already love. Its not hard to push you, and they are sneaky about it.

In the end you’ll pay pretty much the same as you would for a real professional but have less than professional images. Don’t settle for drive through photography when you can get a full stake dinner for the same price! Oh and the pictures on the wall at those stores. The people working their didn’t take those. Real professionals, using models at their corporate offices did. I told you they were sneaky!

In reality most of these places don’t even allow their employees to take the camera off the tripod and never let them move a light. Go ahead ask them to move a light, or better yet switch out a lens. Just be prepared with the smelling salts.

Professional photographers do not have you pay for your images up front. You wouldn’t buy a car unless you’d seen it. Personally I don’t even like to buy shoes on the net because I want to make sure they fit since returning them is a hassle.

Which is why it really shocks me that people will pay someone posing as a “professional” a few hundred dollars with the promise of a “disk” without ever seeing the images.

Now most professionals do charge a sitting fee or some type. You’ll see why later when you read all that sitting fee actually covers, but rarely do true professionals ask you to pay for something before you’ve seen the finished product. Why? Honestly it’s pure business sense.

We know your going to love the images when you see them, so we don’t worry about collecting the entire amount or any package before. (There are some exceptions on special promos and such) In fact we know your going to love them so much you’ll probably want to wallpaper your house with them. An amateur posing as a professional wants that money up front, counting on you saying “Well I already paid for them, I better make due.”

A quick note on this part. Professional photographers feed their families off of their work, and invest the money made back in their business. You can tell a wanna be a mile away because they say things like "Oh it's $60 and then I'll give you a disk of your pictures too." If you were looking at a $60 car you'd be hesitant if it's really gonna last. Same here. You get what you pay for. A real bargain usually is just a real scam.

Many many many people have bought digital cameras and think this is a way to get rich quick. Its' VERY bad in military towns becasue we move around so much a photography is toted as an easy to move career. Every third wife swears to be a photographer. Some, like myself, really are. Most not so much.

So you might just be thinking well now hold on here!

Hasn't digital made photography less expensive for photographers? Honestly it’s been a trade off. Photographers have been able to largely get rid of the film costs and the costs of processing. However, the technology surrounding digital photography is always changing making a yearly update of gear an important part of business. A camera that used to last half a decade easy, maybe even a whole now is crap at the bottom of the technology death pool in two years.

Not to mention the computers, and image processing software that we update on an almost monthly basis. Because digital has seen many GWC’s (guys/girls with cameras, aka people posing as real photographers) true pros now have to spend more money on advertising to show potential clients the quality of their work.

Many hours are spent showing clients that while they might have to pay a little more for a professional photographer the cost is worth it when you see the quality of the images. There are also the costs that have always been there, the usual costs of doing business, gas, paying an assistant, memory cards, flash bulbs that sort of things. Yearly all those costs add up, but most photographers know that these costs are just a part of doing the business we love and are honored to do.

So what does a professional photographer really do? This is a really important question, because digital photography has changed what photographers do. With film photographers used to shoot and many simply dropped their film off at labs to be developed and retouched. Now photographers take the place of labs.

First the photographer is available to their clients to talk about their shoot, many like myself are on call 24-7. Don’t think you’ll need your photographer at 4 a.m.? Try again. Many a bride has called their photographer in the middle of night panicked about one thing or another. “The navy flowers didn’t come in so now we have to go with purple ones. Can you make sure they look dark purple and not violet in the pictures?” Well the answer is of course, and the bride can rest easy.

Newborn and maternity photographers like myself are also very skilled in working with babies and expecting mothers. Posing a mother or keeping a baby calm and sleepy not only takes talent but a great deal of time. We also do a great deal of time swapping as often a baby can bring unexpected challenges that cause mom and dad to have to move a shoot. A average newborn shoot runs several hours and requires buckets of specialized props, ones you see and ones we use behind the scenes.

Maternity photography which is starting to grow takes a great deal of professional posing. It's very easy to make even the cutest mom look fat if your a GWC and don't pose her professionally. I've had many a mom crying in my studio after a GWC messed up her maternity images and now she feels crappy about her body, which in reality is gorgeous. I spend time every single day looking at new and refining old posing techniques to work with expecting mothers and babies.

So first is the huge level of the customer service we offer to the client and our training and research.
Photographers then actually do the shoot, which can take anywhere from just a few hours to several hours, and that’s just the start of the work.

Photographers then spend hours upon hours editing your images so you and your family look their very best. Hours are spent touching up skin and hair, removing stray objects out of images, applying filters and special editing techniques ect ect ect… as well as creating pieces of artwork for the client to review.

A quick note on editing: Professional editing is NOT easy. Because many people own basic editing software they are lead to be believe that editing is easy, and let me assure you in this day and age a professional edit is the difference between being happy with the image given to you and being overjoyed.

As easy example is a black and white portrait. Many people mistaking believe a photographer just presses “change to black and white”. This however isn’t the case. A pro can spend a great deal of time moving and adjusting the many levels within an image to make a image a timeless portrait, not just a generic black and white. A single image can take upwards of a half hour, and that’s just to move it from color to black and white.

It is not at all uncommon for a photographer to spend over two hours on each edited image. A friend of mine who does very detailed photographic artwork often spends an entire day or more on a single edit. Although sometimes speed comes with doing it over and over many times you simply can’t rush the artistic touch your client deserves, so we don’t. That is what makes a professional a professional.

Up until this next point everything you’ve read is all covered by your sitting fee, or in my case I call it a creative fee. Now you see why the photographer asks for that money, we work hard for it!

The photographer then presents their hard work to the client to look over and for many photographers there is some nail biting. After all the one thing a great photographer wants more than anything is for the client to love their work.

Nothing makes a photographer happier than bringing a client to happy tears at the presentation of their images. People think photographers are in it for the money. As a shooter for 10 years let me assure you don’t get rich as a photographer, it simply costs too much to be a good one. The riches come in the clients loving their images, and knowing you gave them that joy to keep forever.

Then the photographer finishes up the final products. For clients who want digital images, the copyright releases are typed up, then explained how to use them, the images given another once over, the disks burned, and the clients presented with their digital images.

Many times if the client isn’t tech savvy the photographer will help the client load them on their computer. I get this often with grandparents of my newborns. I’ve talked many a nanna through uploading images to email to her friends.

For prints the photographer does a final check over, contacts their lab via phone or email, orders the prints, insures the lab received the order, checks the order when it arrives, reorder the images if they are not up to the photographers standards (hey we have good labs but everyone messes up sometimes) and finally presents the images to the client.

This is a good time to mention another reason why to use a professional. Professional photographers use professional labs for their prints and books. Not snapfish or the local mega mart. Why? Professional papers and inks are the best. They don’t bleed or fade. They last forever if taken care even remotely properly, and our labs stand behind their work.

In other words if something goes wrong with a print they don’t shrug and say oh well. My canvas company is so amazing that a year after I purchased a canvas for my studio the front of it chipped, just a tiny bit on one corner, when I called to ask how to repair it they were horrified it had happened and sent me another one. For free, no questions asked. (By the way in all my years of shooting I’ve never see a canvas of mine chip before nor since.)

Last and perhaps the most time consuming and a complete labor of love is when a client orders an album or personalized book. The photographer may spend hours sorting through images and building each page. For many photographers each page is a labor of love and art for their client.

Images are selected not only for their quality but in many cases for the ability to tell the whole story. Unlike with digital images or prints when a client chooses all of the images in the case of books or albums the photographer is trusted by the client (with much guidance) to create an art piece.

After the many hours of hard work creating the book or album are finished the photographer then carefully checks for any missed details, contacts their lab or book binder, places the order and when it arrives carefully checks it over before finally presenting it with pride to their client.

So a great deal of work goes into every image that a photographer provides a client, as it should be. The photographer often also provides digital galleries for the clients to show off their images to family and friends. They also insure proper back up and storage so that even if the client has a disaster they can simply contact the photographer and their families memories are restored. Many photographers keep images for years, if not forever, always allowing for reprints or additional disks to be made.

So while I understand how people wonder why they should hire a professional I hope I’ve answered those questions. In all honestly pictures are the one thing people keep forever. They SHOULD be invested in, and in the long run if you don’t hire a pro you’ll end up paying more anyway. First you’ll pay the GWC then either suffer with crappy images or have to go ahead and hire a professional. The same with a drive through chain store.

Unlike GWC’s who are too arrogant to admit they aren’t true professionals, just someone who purchased an expensive camera or chain stores that just want your money, the most important thing to all true professional photographers is getting the best images for our clients in a form that makes them sigh, cry, and love to have that image in their home for generations to come.

_______________________________________

What is a GWC?

Recently a fellow photographer and good friend of mine mentioned the difficulty she was having with a GWC. Confused I asked just what was a GWC? With a smile she said “Guy (Girl) With Camera.” Loving this so much I decided to use it in this information to you.

A GWC or is just a great way of staying “Someone who bought a professional digital camera and now thinks they are a photographer.” With the influx of great digitals this is becoming a huge problem not only for the real professionals but also their clients. The even larger problem is that for clients it’s often hard to tell between a GWC and a genuine professional photographer.

The professional photographer of old is a whole new animal, not always sitting behind a large camera in a studio. What used to be a sure sign of a GWC, a offer of a photo disk with a copyright release, is no longer the case. In the age of scanners many photographers have started offering photo disks as a way to allow their clients to print high quality images legally.

I myself have a huge part of my business in our portrait disk. As a photographer I decided that it was better to allow my clients to purchase the disk then to have them try to scan an 8x10 and not get a good copy.

The other old sign was that professional portrait photographers have studios and GWC’s don’t. However with the overhead costs soaring and digital making equipment so easy to move around many professionals now don’t keep a studio location. So how do you tell a GWC from a pro? Ask the following questions:

1. How long have you been in photography? Every photographer is a GWC at one time, usually when they first start out. The good GWC’s though don’t charge people anything, and are just trying to learn the art. Be cautious if they have been a off then on photographer. You can almost always tell at GWC from a pro by asking how long they’ve been in the business. Don’t use this as a tell all though. I’ve met some awesome photographers who have only been shooting for a few years.

2. Can I see your portfolio? Many great photographers never go to college for photography. Just like painting photography is an art and although you can hone your skills in a great school there are other ways. So instead of asking where a photographer went to school ask to see their portfolio. This is the best of the best of the best of their work. If you don’t like it, walk. Maybe your style isn’t gelling with the photographers or they really aren’t that good. If they say they don’t have one that’s a big warning sign. All pros do have a portfolio of some sort. Even student photographers do, so use care if the photographer your talking to hasn’t made the effort to make one.

3. Do you offer prints? Where are processed? This is a big big big thing. If the person your talking to doesn’t offer prints they are probably a GWC. If they say they do ask where they have them printed. Most professional photographers have their prints processed at a professional lab. Some big names are Millers and Bay Photo. Do a google search for a lab they say they use. Pro labs will come up. There are small labs though that do great work. Ask to see an example print. The paper should be a good weight and look clean. Flip it over, is there an order number on the back. Does it look professional? Ask if you have paper choices (linen, metallic ect.) professional labs offer those. If they say they use a chain store like Walmart or Walgreens this should worry you. Especially if your ordering portraits which need high quality printing to last a long time. If they say they print themselves (some large studios do) ask to see an example and then ask if your printer could do the same. Professional photographers will never sell their client something that isn’t professional quality.

4. What do you use to shoot with? A GWC will catch on this question. The pros answer will vary based on where you’ll be shooting. Most pros now use digital SLR’s. A few die hards still use film, but they few and far between. The big word to look for is SLR. If your photographers camera isn’t an SLR you need to wonder. A professional also has studio lights if they will be shooting indoors, good flashes, reflectors, background stands, backgrounds, props ect. The list of needed equipment changes with location and shoot type but a pro has plenty of options a GWC usually only has a camera and maybe a background or two. If the photographer can’t remove their lens that’s not a good sign. Again not having tons of equipment or even a great camera doesn’t mean they aren’t a photographer, it just should make you wonder.

5. Is this your main profession? If say “Well this is something on the side after I’m done with my plumbing job.” Your dealing with a GWC. Maybe a good GWC, but a GWC. Many photographers are starving artists, but they consider photography their profession. The other job is just to pay for the “toys” that photographers love to have. Like full time photographers some GWC’s have decided they are are pros and this is the only job they have so make sure you ask all the other questions too. Jobs like PCA, Walmart, Olan Mills, Sears, they don’t make someone a pro. Now many pros have worked at those places to pay the bills, but in truth those jobs offer little to no training and if that’s what your photographer is basing their ability on run away.

6. I have some ideas on what I want, are you okay with that? A professional will never turn away a clients ideas. Its our job to get you just what you want and what looks great. While a pro might add to your idea in the end they want you to be happy. A GWC might not take it so well, and if a true pro gets crabby because you have ideas you don’t want then taking your photos anyway.

7. Ask yourself “Does this person act like a professional?” A true photographer is proud of their work, is confident in their ability and acts like a business person. If they don’t that could be red flag.

8. Do you have a website? Pros have one. They aren’t always pretty (hey we can only be so creative and we are busy!) but they have one. GWC’s usually don’t.

9. Ask them about their posing training, their light knowledge, and who they consider to be the great photographers of their field. If you get to the shoot and THEY are asking YOU to pose yourself that’s a bad sign.

10. Lastly ask yourself if this is a person you trust with your families memories. Sometimes you have to pay a little more to a professional than you would a GWC, but not always. The important thing is that you are comfortable that the photographer is going to make you happy, and that if you aren’t they will do everything they can to make it right. There is nothing I won’t do to make a client happy, and most professionals are the same.

Fort Campbell Ice Queens!

2010-09-13T14:06:00.002-04:00

We had a blast hanging out and photographing the Fort Campbell Ice Queens cheerleading squad yesterday! What a great group of girls and really sweet parents! We will have images posted soon!

Website updates..

2010-08-22T09:35:00.002-04:00

Again! Sorry about this all! We have it off line to resize some things to make it load faster! Please excuse our mess! In the mean time meet Doc. He's a true doll. Mom and big sis brought him to us for some Anne Geddes style images. He was a real sweetie pie! We are going to be introducing you to many new babies super soon!

Keesha

Amazing find for lovers of photography!

2010-07-27T13:51:00.003-04:00

I know that many of my clients are also lovers of great art photography. So when I saw this on CNN I just had to share. Its amazing to see that after all these years the masters of photography are still giving us inspiration!

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/07/27/ansel.adams.discovery/index.html

We like you.. do you LIKE us?

2010-07-13T20:06:00.003-04:00

LOL Sorry shameless title. Go check out our business facebook page and click "like". Once a month we pick a person on our "like" list for freebies! Just paste the link below in your browser. OH and if you are one of our FB fans we always give you a free 8x10!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fort-Campbell-KY/Real-Moments-Photography/157420714688?ref=ts

Forgive our construction please..

2010-07-13T18:18:00.002-04:00

If you ever talk to someone who says their home improvement or construction project went exactly as planned they are either lying or very very lucky. If they are not one of those two bow at their feet and find out just how they did and publish a book. You'll be millionaire in under a week.

As for our little renovation project on our website its going well, with the exception of a few bumps. The biggest being slow at the open and the music sounding like a toddler trying to sing with the hiccups. In other words its a bit annoying. We are working to fix this problem.

The easiest fix so far is to please simply click on the website, enter, then go grab a cup of coffee, or tea.. I'm big on a some chocolate as well and when you get back it will be all uploaded and buffered nicely.

Sorry for the delay. I hope to have it all worked out soon.. in the mean time I'm going to remind myself that while we photographers may be amazing behind the camera we can't be wonderful at everything.

Hope you enjoy all the new images on the site!

Best Wishes!

Keesha

P.S. If you go to our facebook site you'll see the AMAZING images that Grant & Deb of grantdebphotographers took for us so new clients can see just who these crazy people with the cameras really are. I'm really pleased with them!

Angels of the Absent

2010-06-28T09:45:00.002-04:00

Many of you know that I was planning on taking some time off while my husband is deployed to do some projects near and dear to my heart. This is one of them. Thanks in advance for your love and support.

Keesha

Angels Of The Absent

When professional maternity/newborn photographer Keesha Hervey left her busy studio in Virginia to PCS with her husband to Fort Campbell, KY she planned on waiting a few months before starting to reopen her company Real Moments Photography, to get the family settled. Upon their arrival at Fort Campbell they discovered her husband would immediately be deploying to Afghanistan, and that many thousands of troops had already left.

During a trip to the PX they saw many fellow military wives, husbands deployed, and expecting little ones any day. This caused Keesha be very grateful that they had been together for the birth of each of their three children.

The desire to help these families, show her support, and tell their story motivated her to create the Angels Of The Absent program.

This program provides no cost newborn photography to babies with a parent deployed away for their family. Babies with parents deployed to war zones receive priority as do parents of multiples. (Twins, Triplets ect…) Keesha believes handling one baby is hard enough, handling multiples by oneself should get you a medal, or at least a complimentary photograph!

There is no creative fee, and the mother will receive a disk with full size, fully edited images and a copyright release. Approx. a $390 value. The number of poses will vary based on the shoot. The purpose of this program is to provide deployed family members with a priceless image of their new baby.

All ranks and branches are encouraged to apply. Mothers are encouraged to apply in their 8th or 9th month, or directly after their babies are born. If selected the mothers will be notified while they are still pregnant and should simply contact our photographer after their baby arrives to set up the shoot. The ideal time to photograph a newborn is when they are under two weeks old. Keesha will photograph as many Angels of the Absent applicants per month as she can.

There is a small application to fill out which you can receive by sending us an email at information@realmomentsphotography.com Simply request the Angels Of the Absent application. It’s very important to fill the application out honestly as families are chosen based on the information provided NOT on a first come basis.

Big changes for the RMP family..

2010-06-22T17:34:00.003-04:00

Well we have arrived in Fort Campbell, KY and are busy unpacking boxes. The wonderful news is that people here at Fort Campbell are really sweet. There are so many expecting moms!

The bad news is that we have been told that Rocky will be leaving in 30 days for a full year in Afganistan. Although this was something we knew could happen with PCSing to such a high speed base we were very hopeful we would avoid it.

So while we are taking the next 30 days to spend together, after the dust has settled we have some very cool new programs ready to announced. Everyone who knows me well knows I have three great loves in my life, my family, my friends, and of course my photography. While Rocky is gone I'll be using that time for some amazing photography programs that have been waiting patiently in the wings.

Thank you all for your love and support. Look for more information soon!

Best Wishes & Merry Memories,

Keesha

New video!

2010-05-30T18:47:00.002-04:00

Our newest video of our work. Feel free to share. I'm sure many of you will see your little ones featured here!

Looking back..

2010-04-26T09:49:00.001-04:00

I’m not big on regrets, not big on looking back and wondering “What if?” While I find great reward in learning from the past, I try very hard not to dwell on it. But every once in awhile I take a bit of a side trip, asking myself if I had chosen a different road, a slight detour, how would things really be?

I love my job, but many of you know that I for many years wanted to be an Apache Longbow pilot. I know odd. How exactly does one go from loving my job as an maternity and infant photographer to wanting to fly one of the deadliest helicopters in the United States military?

Aside from being downright deadly Apache’s are one of the biggest deterrents our military has. The enemy sees an Apache overhead they decide that particular convoy isn’t worth their lives. They provide the kind of deadly cover that no other helicopter can offer. Fast, graceful, and downright lethal they can come to rescue or remove danger in a an instant. Many a solider will tell you that in the heat of battle an Apache on the approach turned the tide. You simply can’t hide from a hell fire missile.

The first time I saw an Apache was right after I married my husband and moved to Fort Bragg, NC. In 2002 the base was still reeling from September 11th and helicopters were always in the air. The Apaches would buzz the roads, low and shockingly quiet for as large as they are. Their pilots and crew always watchful for anything out of the usual. It created a sense of safety in a world still a bit tilted from the terrorist attacks.

As our on post house was between their flight path and the airfield they flew over our house at all hours. As a girl from a tiny Kansas town where the planes we saw mostly were crop dusters, an Apache was down right amazing. I have since seen every kind of military aircraft and know most of them on sight. None are as graceful as the Apache.

Although I did a great deal of research into joining the Army as a pilot, in fact was downright begged by an ROTC official (there are very few (albeit very talented) female pilots) it came down to a very simple fact. I have a family and little ones. Three in fact that I adore, all though they drive me bonkers, and my hubby is in the Army. Having two parents in the military is really tough on kids and families. My children are not holding me back, I hate people who blame their life choices on their kids, but they were a huge part of my decision.

So I set those thoughts aside and persuaded my photography, a job that I really do enjoy. Sometimes though the thought would pop in my head. “This is great but as a pilot I could really be making a difference.”

Last week a good friend of ours got me into an Apache hanger. I seriously could have died. Although I did a very good job of not hyperventilating I felt very much like a kid a Disney world who just saw Mickey Mouse. Sliding into the pilots seat of a trainer I had this overwhelming feeling of “right”. Now just “how cool is this” but also “Yeah, I could do this.”

There is no feeling like walking out on a flight line and hearing the sound of helicopters taking off and landing. No greater rush that the feeling on the air hitting you from the take off of one of those amazing pieces of machinery.

It was an amazing experience, one that I’ll never be able to thank our friends enough for, and one I will never forget.

I wish I could say that I came back to my studio that day and thought very much of chucking it all to the wind and going to flight school. I didn’t really. Honestly I don’t know if I would have if I wasn’t so crazy busy getting ready for move the studio and our family to Fort Campbell. But I am, so I didn’t. Until last night.

Last night while everyone was sleeping I thought very hard about how amazing it would be to fly, to be that helicopter pilot close the action and making the difference. The snuggling of my youngest son, who was in bed with us caused me to set those feelings aside at least until this morning.

I walked into my studio now packed with boxes and set down at my desk where an image of me standing by huge Apache is my desktop picture and sighed ready for a full blown looking back with regret pity party. “Am I really making a difference, does this all really matter”. Then as I often do when I’m frustrated or need inspiration I looked up at my image board that hangs above my props. The board is full of my clients, albeit a few months behind as I’m so busy in here.

I saw smiling faces of expectant mothers, sweet faces of precious newborns only welcomed by their parents a few days before they met my camera. I know that these images will be treasured forever by these families and more than I few have been carried into war. I hope that looking at those images of home, of loving spouses, and children waiting to be hugged hope lift the spirits of those far from their loved ones.

Perhaps I thought with a small sigh and a smile that even though I’m not on the frontlines making a difference, the images that I shoot are. They mean so much to the families that I photograph, and that is such an overwhelming honor to me. So yeah, no ones life is in my hands, but what I do is important never the less and I’m grateful for it. Honestly and truly I do love my job.

The road we choose leads us to the future we are meant to have, and I wouldn’t trade mine for anything. I DO love what I do, and I know deep down its what I was meant to do. I’m grateful for my children and the life I lead, and I wouldn’t switch with anyone.

So while I’ll always probably wonder “What if” when I see an Apache I’ll remember to be grateful for the life I have and the difference I do make in the world. Although if they ever make it possible for a civilian to catch a ride in one of those helicopters I’m first in line. After all its great to be sensible, but perfectly okay to be crazy for a day.

Happy Birthday Blog..

2010-04-15T13:26:00.006-04:00

Tomorrow, April 16th is my 26th birthday, and the first birthday for my youngest son.

Last year early in the morning before dawn broke through the clouds Brennan was born, a tiny 5pounds 2 ozs and wonderfully healthy. I knew from that moment on that a day that was once going to be celebrated only by me was now something that was going to be shared. Perhaps a few times this year a pang of that loss of specialness surfaced, but a quick glace at that little blue eyed baby quickly smothered it.

How many mothers get to share something that special with their child? Especially their youngest and last baby? A gift to me on my birthday. And as that date fast approaches I only feel blessed to have him, to know that he and I will always have that bond. I love each of my children. My Kate is my only daughter, my Triston my oldest, and my Brennan my baby. Each of my little ones is so special.

So while I now share this very special day and he with me I will never be ungrateful for that moment and day he came into my life. While most mothers get their birthday gifts delivered via UPS mine came courtesy of a big white stork.

Happy birthday my Brennan. I love you so.

Mommy

Cool New Photo Use..

2010-04-07T17:30:00.001-04:00

Okay so you all know I LOVE finding new and fun ways to use photography. Skin it is an awesome company that lets you well skin anything you own. Seriously. From your laptop to your cell phone they make it all. AND you can use the images you get from us to. As a matter of fact. Click through our blogs and you get a cool shipping coupon. Hmmmm now I wonder if Rocky would be okay with me skinning our mini van....

LOL Best Wishes!

Keesha

Free Shipping on all orders over $40 at Skinit.com

Studio Relocating..

2010-03-30T20:35:00.001-04:00

The blessings in our life are not always a constant. They come sometimes gently into our lives, sometimes with a roar and they can leave in kind. It is our responsibility and greatest joy to welcome these wonderful things when they come and to realize and be grateful for the time we have had with them when they leave or change.

Opening my own photography studio was a huge fulfillment of many a dream and one of my greatest wishes. From the moment I saw the small building with huge glass doors I knew that I wanted to create memories there, and so I have.

I have shared the anticipation of many a mother during a maternity shoot, watched the little one inside them roll and kick, often times at the name blocks I was trying in vain to keep on moms tummy.

It has been my great honor to hold a precious newborn. Many just a few days old, full of sweet innocence and peaceful with the world around them. I am always humbled by the parents trust in me to capture those first portraits of the tiny thing that has forever changed their entire existence.

I have the joy of calling many of these clients my friends for I am very close with them.

I want to take a moment to thank all of you for your support and trust. I also want to thank Sandy and Erin at Fun Fetal Photos for being such wonderful friends and for being so dedicated and loyal to us. As well as my family for standing beside me as I work 15 hour days trying to get everything perfect.

Aside from being a photographer and a mother I am also married to a wonderful man. A man that many of you know happens to also be a member of the US Army.

So like many Army families recently we were recently told that due to many BRAC changes we would be receiving orders to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. We also last week were informed that instead of needing to be there in late summer we would instead need to leave our current home by the first part of May. Thus I will be closing the studio after the end of April.

Fort Campbell is a really nice base, but it deeply saddens me to have to leave my precious first studio and my devoted clients.

Thus it’s no surprise that one of my first worries was where my clients would turn to after we left. So we scoured the area for talented photographers to suggest our clients too.

Although we were unable to find someone in our low price bracket we were able to find a very talented husband and wife team, Grant & Deb Photographers who are just breaking into the maternity/newborn market.

Grant & Deb Photographers are already well known in the area for their amazing wedding photography. I chose them to suggest to clients not only for their talent but also their wonderful attitudes and dedication to each other. Married for 25 years this dynamic duo has three grown children and the kind of spark that makes people just want to be around them! Its no shock they are moving into the maternity/newborn market. If I had been a bride of theirs I couldn’t imagine anyone else photographing my pregnancy!

Photography of this caliber is an investment, and thus does cost a little bit more than you would expect to pay at studios of less quality, like Wal-mart or Sears,(can you really call those places photography studios??!) but Grant and Deb are right along with industry standards in regards to pricing. They offer a very competitive session fee of just $150 and digital packages starting at just $350. They also offer professional prints.

So while price is always an important factor, when you consider that this time of your life will only happen once and will forever change your life I think the investment is well worth it!

You can see examples of Grant and Deb’s work at www.grantdeb.com When you contact them please tell them that we sent you their way. They will be excited to meet all of you and those precious little ones of yours!

I want to reassure ANYONE who has had a recent session with us ALL IMAGES WILL BE EDITED and presented to clients before we leave. No exceptions. I assure you no one will not get their images.

In that spirit we are no longer taking any additional sessions not already on our books so that we have plenty of time to take care of those clients waiting on their images. We will still be taking a very limited number of newborn sessions for maternity clients with babies born in the early part of the month of April.

If you have any questions at all please feel free to contact me at my email, information@realmomentsphotography.com

It has been my greatest honor to be your families photographer, and like anyone in the military will tell you I have no doubt we will all see each other again. We will be opening the studio again in Kentucky where we are being offered several years of stabilization. We already have several clients who have transferred there waiting anxiously. If you are ever in that neck of the woods please stop by and say hello.

Please watch your email at the end of April for a very special video including all of my clients with a special message from me and my family.

Best Wishes & Lots of Love,

Keesha Hervey

Head Photographer
Real Moments Photography

What makes a photographer??

2010-03-23T09:14:00.002-04:00

There are so many talented shooters in this area, and in my profession. There a great many that I look to for inspiration when I'm tired, or overworked. Many that produce the kind of images that just pull your heartstrings.

Many of these same photographers worry that digital cameras are going to make the art of photography obsolete. That our services won't be needed as 2million megapixil cameras with face finders, hit the market for four bucks each.

So this morning as I waited for a new lens to be delivered I wondered just what makes a photographer? Honestly if you learn the technical points of a camera you can take solid images. However, they lack that emotional pull, that thing that brings mommys to tears and dads to puff their chests out in pride.

While watching Anne Geddes work on YouTube,(No great shock she's one of my favorites) I saw her look from her camera and just stop for a moment. She was taken for just a second into a place of pure joy and wonder at that little one in front of her camera.

Thats when I realized that I to do that. There are moments when I look at the babies I'm photographing or the glowing mothers and just marvel at how precious, how deeply innocent those moments are.

So while many photographers can get the shot technically right and the camera companies are doing a great job providing the gear to make every family be able to capture moments at home, I don't think the need for a photographer will ever be gone.

As long as we as artists provide high quality moments captured forever for these families our jobs will always be secure, because we don't just take a picture we capture a feeling. Isn't that the best job ever?

Easter 2010

2010-03-22T15:53:00.001-04:00

Canvas Sale!

2010-03-15T16:25:00.000-04:00

CANVAS SALE!

A framed print is wonderful but nothing says class like a custom canvas. People have been decorating their homes with these art pieces for decades. Image your home with your specially designed canvas print hanging on the wall. Can’t you just hear the compliments!

And now you can get them at an amazing price! Our canvas company is staffed by professionals in their craft and a few times a year they offer us amazing deals to boost our bottom line. Other studios might pocket these profits but not Real Moments Photography! We are passing these savings on to you!

Now through MARCH 18th (and not a minute past midnight) our amazing canvas’s are on sale, and we are sweetening the deal by further discounting our 8x10 canvas size. AS WELL as putting together a very special canvas bundle for you.

Canvas’s must be paid for at the time of ordering. As we have priority printing with our canvas artists we expect these canvas’s to be here the following week. In plenty of time for Easter gifts! In fact if you buy the same image, on the same size canvas you get an ADDITIONAL 20% off the sale price!!

Do NOT be fooled by Internet companies claiming to have professional canvases! Those are low quality and are often not UV coated. They do not stand the test of time. Investing in our canvas’s insure you beauty for many years to come!

We just delivered five of these amazing canvases in very large sizes to a client and they looked amazing in her home! Don’t miss out on this once a year sale!

CANVAS BUNDLE INCLUDES:

1- 8x10 Canvas of your image choice

1- 8x10 Canvas of your image choice

1- 16x20 Canvas of your image choice

Regular Price - $460

SALE PRICE- $325

Individual Canvases!

Size- 8x10 Regular Price $140 Sale Price $90

Size- 16x16 Regular Price $160 Sale Price $128

Size- 16x20 Regular Price $180 Sale Price $144

Size- 20x24 Regular Price $270 Sale Price $216

EASTER PICTURES!

2010-03-02T12:56:00.002-05:00

Our 2010 Easter Event Is Here!

Come have your child photographed in their Easter finest (or adorable play
clothes) with two REAL baby rabbits.

Teddy Bear and Sugar Pie are our easter bunnies this year and they are so sweet, and very ready for their close up with your little one(s).

The Easter event will be held March 20th and March 21st with appointments from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. by appointment only.

We will as always be offering a few different special Easter poses for you
to choose from. Like all our events the cost is just $74 and includes the
image of your choice on a disk with a copyright release.

All images will be edited and provided to you the same day. Ready to have
Easter cards or prints as Easter gifts!

ARE YOU EXPECTING? Don't worry new moms we haven't left you out! You can make an appointment as well for a very fun maternity Easter image.

PARENTS PLEASE BOOK EARLY! There has been a great deal of interest in these appointments with 9 families already requesting we hold them a slot.

Please do not wait and find out we are booked solid.

Due to the popularity of this event we will not be holding additional slots.

All appointments will be first come first serve.

No shows will not be allowed to make any further appointments with our studio.

CALL TODAY! 580-583-2492 or email us at
[mailto:information@realmomentsphotography.com]
information@realmomentsphotography.com

DISCOUNTS: Parents would you like $5 off your Easter pictures? Just bring
in a letter of reccomdation for our studio and we will take $5 off your
Easter shoot! One letter will be randomly chosen to receive a FREE 8x10 of
their childs image mailed directly to you!!!

Did you come to our Valentines Event? Many of you did, and I bet you found
the $5 coupon card in your envelope. Bring that in for $5 off. Have both?
Great save $10!

* Parents this is the LAST Event scheduled for 2010 at this special price.
This is a great deal, but it won't last. Schedule now!

One year later, babies & motorcycles

2010-02-28T17:02:00.004-05:00

This past week as been one of two really wonderful memories for me. Kendall, our first "hanging angel" (the baby in the cheese cloth) well known to many of you through our website and books turned one recently. Her mother came to see me to pick up her first year images.

I can hardly believe that little baby with whom I photographed as she came into this world and all these months after is now a precious one year old with a head full of dark curls. I followed her mothers pregnancy, was at her birth, and several times after, but it seems her one year birthday snuck up on me. It reminds me very much how time flies as my own little one was born only a few months after Kendall.

This week I also got a wonderful reminder of how important good friends, who own amazing props, really are. A good family friend, and former solider of my hubby's, is training here with the Navy at Norfolk. Zach has an amazing blue Honda motorcycle, the likes of which I've rarely seen before. It's a beauty, and aside from his wife and children his pride and joy.

Many of you have met Zach has he often stops into the studio to help me as he is very creative and a fair hand with cranky toddlers. Zach was visiting this weekend, I think very much wanting a better meal than the mess hall and since it was nice rode his bike.

Upon seeing it again a memory flashed into my mind of an image done by another photographer of a baby laying on a bike. In this image the baby was very young and was laying on his back. I loved the image but couldn't help but thinking when I saw it how I would love to have done it with a little one draped on his belly on a large bike.

So I mentioned it to Zach, and always helpful he offered to help me photograph the bike and baby. Well then I just needed a little one. Although I photograph at least one newborn a week I couldn't bring to mind a brand new one whose parents wouldn't mind dropping everything and popping into my studio.

Then I thought of little Frank, our cookie jar baby. Although Frank is a month and half now, he's tiny since he was a preemie and his parents are real gems. So I gave his mommy a quick call and she was all to willing to bring him in for another close up. Thank goodness for great clients.

When it came down to it getting the little one for the shot and the actual image was nothing in comparison to getting the massive bike into the studio. Lucky for me Zach has been riding since he could properly sit on a motorcycle and with some gentle pushing, and lifting, and a great deal of gentle maneuvers the big blue Honda made its way into the studio.

The image created today is nothing like the one I had seen, and I'm very happy of it. Like all photographers we are often are inspired by other great photographers work, but hardly want to copy it directly.

So while not like the masters work this image is all my own, and good reminder that sometimes you scour the country looking for just the right prop for an image, and sometimes it rides right up to you!

Best wishes all!
Keesha

P.S. The images attached are our precious Kendall, Rocky and Zach with the bike, and precious Frankie posing for us.

$8 8x10's!

2010-02-25T13:59:00.001-05:00

A Late Valentines
Day Gift!

$8 8x10's!
We are offering a late Valentines Day present to all our existing clients. Our printing company is offering us a great deal so we are passing it on to you!

For the next 48 hours our award winning 8x10's from our professional printing company are just $8! Yes $8!! Thats a savings of 7 bucks!

PLUS order 8 and get one free!

There is no limit to how many you can order, however they must be for completed shoots. Sorry no future shoots or shoots in progress.

All orders must be submitted to our photographers by Friday at 9 p.m. Payments can be processed over the phone.

Clients may pick up their images March 9th. If they arrive early (which we expect they will) clients will be contacted. This is the BEST 8x10 sale we will offer this year so stock up now for Mothers Day presents!

Call us now at 580-583-2492 or via email at information@realmomentsphotography.com

Can you say snow day???

2010-02-10T10:08:00.003-05:00

Well its another blizzard here in Virginia, too nasty to be out and about. Certainly too nasty to have my expecting moms and new babies out. THUS if you were scheduled for a pick up today I'll be giving you a call to reschedule.

For those who are waiting on that call that your images are done don't worry boys and girls I have my laptop here at home and am still editing like crazy!

Oh and we should also mention that we are having issues with our voicemail. Again. Sigh... so if you call and leave us a message please please please follow up with a call if you don't hear from us within 48 hours. The voicemail grimlan likes to eat messages despite me calling and speaking it his cage keeper several times already. You can also always email us at information@realmomentsphotography.com That is checked several times a day and usually will get you the fastest response.

Thanks all!
Keesha

What a cute little cookie bear!

2010-02-03T21:07:00.003-05:00

I have a very special cookie jar I picked up six months ago.. I've been looking and looking for just the right baby and not too long ago he finally arrived.

Little Frankie was even more tiny than my Brennan was when he was born and fit oh so perfect in the cookie jar! He was so precious I just had to share!

Best Wishes,
Keesha

Valentines Specials for Babies & Ladies!

2010-01-23T16:22:00.003-05:00

Valentines Day Special For Your Little Angel!

Bring your little cherub or precious expecting baby belly in Valentines Day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for a special portrait event ! Appointments are available every hour. These shoots will be approx. 30 minutes along at which time we will be having three very special Valentines Day photography sets.

Your baby/toddler can become a special Valentines angel, sweet cherub, and we’ll be cooking up some love! If your expecting we’ll have a VERY special prop set just for you!

Then while you wait in the comfort of our studio we will PROFESSIONALLY EDIT your images, and you pick your favorite. You can then leave THAT DAY with the image on a disk with a copyright release.

The cost is just $74 and includes the mini shoot, full editing, your images on a secure website, AND the image of your choice on a disk with a copyright release.

PETS WELCOME! Furry children are always welcome in our studio at no extra charge.

4 FREE WALLETS FOR MILITARY, POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS, EMT's, & TEACHERS! If you would like an appointment please contact us at 580-583-2492 as soon as possible. These appointments will go quickly!

Need An Amazing Gift For The Man Of Your Life?

Whether the love of your life is away on deployment or you just want to knock his socks off on Valentines Day we have the perfect gift for you! On Sunday February 7th Real Moments Photography will be hosting a very special semi-boudoir portrait event!

These private mini sessions will include a FUN, RELAXED, portrait with our experienced female photographer, full glamour editing, and the pose of your choice on a disk with a copyright release. These images are NOTHING like the chain stores do. They are fun, sexy, but in no way slutty.

These sessions are VERY private, held in the comfort of our studio, and your images will forever be kept private. Wear your favorite bra, his high school football jersey and those amazing blue jeans you love. Maybe a sexy black dress that you adore and those killer heels. Or don’t forget his military uniform! Want to really drive him crazy? We can do that to, all in a fun relaxed way! We can work with your special ideas!

No matter your body type our professional photographer knows how to pose your to show your assets! These images are FULLY GLAMOUR EDITED! You can pick them up 48 hours after your shoot.

The price is amazing at just $85. This INCLUDES your shoot, all your image editing, & your favorite image on a disk with a copyright release. Professional prints are available.

We only have 6 slots available, and these will FILL VERY FAST. This will be the ONLY event of this type we have this year! Our full boudoir sessions are over $400!

If you would like an appointment please contact us at 580-583-2492! Have questions?
Feel free to email us at information@realmomentsphotography.com

Newspaper Feature!

2010-01-21T08:42:00.003-05:00

We've been featured in The Wheel at Fort Eustis! Please check out the story below & feel free to leave a comment there! We appreciate your love and support!

http://www.forteustiswheel.com/articles/2010/01/21/news/top_stories/top02.txt

P.S. At the bottom you'll note it mentions we helped 300 families with free images. I was nervous (hey I'm used to being on the other side of an interview) when I talked to the reporter. Although we have certainly photographed that many and given free OR discounted images to that many I'm not sure if they were all free. She asked for a number and I just answered with how many we've photographed. LOL But you all know how quick I am to hand out freebies...lol so it might be that many after all! LOL I'll never be a millionaire but oh well I LOVE my job!

Isn't this fun!

2010-01-19T09:41:00.001-05:00

Little Fingerprints..

2009-12-23T16:49:00.000-05:00

In the very front of my studio are very large doors with floor to ceiling panes of thick glass. I love these doors as they make my studio feel airy and large. As a photographer of young children these doors are more often than not graced with little handprints, impressions of tiny noses, and once in a while a smudged drawing done using the end of a small finger.

These little bits of the children who visit me, often the leavings of my own little ones never bother me. Now again I get out the glass cleaner and wipe them away. If only so that the parents of the next children don’t think that we never clean, and to give those little ones a place to put their own masterpieces.

As an artist of sorts myself I can not help but enjoy this little gift the babies and toddlers that come through my studio leave me on the glass. And today as I sat here in the late afternoon watching the sun stream through those glass doors I realized that like those fingerprints left by the children I too get to leave my mark.

The families that walk through my door with round baby bellies and precious newborns are allowing me to ever so gently place a fingerprint on their lives. This is an unforgettable time for them, and I am allowed to capture it forever. The photographs I take, the emotion and the love that is seen in them will never be forgotten, never set aside. These images of newborns full of sweet innocence, wide eyed amazement, and sleepy peace, will be forever treasured by these families.

This is a great honor to me, and hugely humbling. So as we draw so near to the end of this year and take time to spend with those we love I wanted to take this moment to thank you all for including us in your lives. Each and everyone one you, and the babies you so gracefully trust me with, leave a tiny little fingerprint on my heart. Best Holiday Wishes.

Keesha Hervey
Head Photographer
Real Moments Photography

Exciting New Cards!

2009-12-02T21:45:00.003-05:00

Although we have a great company that we adore for military themed birth annoucements, we were THRILLED to find a really high class company that offers some additional designs that our other wholesalers do not.

Click on the link below to meet this new company and see their designs you can ONLY get through one of our links. These are reserved for clients coming to them from professional photographers. Our early Christmas gift to you!

See The Tiny Prints Professional Photographer Collection.

Perfect presents, a great sitter, and amazing photography prices!

2009-12-02T17:32:00.003-05:00

What more could you ask for! This months newsletter is full to the brim for all your holiday needs! So much in fact we had to post a copy of it on our blog! Come into the studio for some amazing holiday prices, and some adorable kiddo costumes. This year we have a snowman, penguin, and lots of other holiday fun! So much in fact I better get back to it! Enjoy the newsletter!

Amazing Christmas Canvas Special!

Pick your favorite image from any session here at Real Moments Photography and get an amazing 11x14 canvas for just $75! That is a savings of over $85! There is no better present for friends or family than a canvas artwork piece. Grandmothers love them!

Happy Holidays!

The holiday season is in full swing here at the studio, and its certainly put us in a festive mood. We are really enjoying seeing so many of our old clients bring their babies back for us to do their first, (or third lol) Christmas.

Although our first super busy holiday season is causing a few growing pains, we can not help but feel so grateful to have so many people who love our studio!

A Few Changes..

Our photography has always been based on giving our clients amazing customer service with images that express the emotion and relationship in their families. We are so very honored at the outpouring of excitement for our studio. However, we were unprepared for the number of people wanting an appointment.

We tried very hard to get as many people as possible in for appointments, ending up shooting three times what we had expected. Thus extending the time it takes for images to get edited, and not allowing us to do the special art pieces we so enjoy doing.

Just like any business it has taken us some time to find the right balance, and we’ve found that although we would love to be able to photograph everyone that wants an appointment right away we are having to limit our appointments with our maternity and newborn clients getting priority placement.

This is important to let you know for a few reasons. First if you desire an appointment please contact us as far out from the date your desire as possible. Second if you are accustomed to contacting us close to a date of appointment and we are able to accommodate you that might not be possible now.

HOWEVER, we will do our very best for special situations like a service member being home on mid tour leave. We will always do our very best to get you in.

PLEASE do not be concerned if you are expecting or have a newborn baby. We will still be able to work you in during those important timetables.

The most important thing for us is that our clients realize that we are limiting our appointments and giving maternity and newborn priority placement to go back to the quality and quick turn around time that our clients expect from us.

Thank you for your continued support. You honor us deeply by allowing us to capture your memories.

Our Gift To You, The Best One Of All, A Super Sitter!

Is there any better gift for parents than the name and number of an amazing babysitter? At our studio a great childcare provider is worth their weight in gold, and I’m blessed with a 24 carat one!

Our sitter Bret, is an amazing person with two adorable kiddos of her own. When she told me she has some openings I knew I had to share the news with my clients. If you are looking for weekly care she has an opening for one family, and she has a few openings for “date night” as well as overnight care.

Her rates are amazing, and I personally promise that you won’t find any better person to take care of your little ones. You can give her a call at 757-604-6998. You can also reach her via email at emmysmommy@cox.net. Just let her know you heard about her through Real Moments Photography!

And A Gift For That Special Someone!

Need the perfect gift for that special lady? Don’t go the box jewelry stores and get her something her friends will have too! Visit the home gallery showing of the stunning artistic jewelry work of Sandra Gardner.

With pieces in most price ranges Sandra’s work is the perfect gift for all the special ladies on your list. Her mix of classic and unique is wonderful for all ages from the youngest princess to the more mature grandmothers.

A portion of all profits go to charity.

The show starts at 10 a.m. Saturday December 5th at 875 Yorktown Road in Poquoson VA. For more information call 757-224-7522.

Did you know fuzzy babies are always welcome at our studio? Thats right all friendly pets may be included at no extra charge! Just let our photographer know
when you schedule your appointment so we can plan for your furry family member.

710 Denbigh Blvd Suite 4D

http://www.realmomentsphotography.com/

580-583-2492

Where do you get these ideas?

2009-11-30T22:37:00.002-05:00

I get this question a lot, and just like any artist the inspiration for my images come from several sources.

First is other photographers. If any photographer tells you they never look at other people's work and use that as inspiration they are probably telling you a little white one. Photographers love to admire other great shooters. Every single baby photographer in this country knows of Anne Geddes and well if they don't run, and I do mean run, out of their studio at full clip.

Anne taught us to look at children as more than just something to photograph but something to treasure, and she continues to do so. As the ranks of wonderful infant photographers continue to swell, there will be much comparing of artistic styles. I never mind to see my work repeated by another photographer, especially if they are just as talented or better than I am. What a huge compliment. Although I rarely directly copy another photographer, instead taking an idea and molding it to what best suites my client, I do find that even two photographers with the same idea, in the same room, heck with the same model wouldn't produce something that is exactly alike. Not if they are being true to themselves. Photography is just too much of an art for that.

Second has to be from my clients. I have the best clients any photographer could ask for. We tell everyone that walks through our door "These images are not for my portfolio, they are for your walls. Talk to us about whats important to you." I think the biggest mistake any photographer can make is under estimating their clients. Yes, some need more direction than others. After all they want the photographer to be the creative mind. Still many clients are greatly creative themselves and are just looking for me to find a way to bring their dreams to life. To create that perfect moment, that priceless image. In the end it's perhaps the greatest inspiration to take their idea and paint a masterpiece with it.

Third is just from daily life. As a mother of three little ones myself, and a wife to a military man I am surrounded by life in it's purest form. My kids are forever doing something new and different.. and often dangerous in the case of my oldest son.. (WHAT IS IT WITH BOYS AND NO FEAR ANYWAY? LOL)

Their wonderful spirits are forever giving me ideas. A chalk painting session out in the carport where they had splattered colorful feet inspired me to create "The Feet of Childhood." one of my most popular images. My son resting his hand on my belly to feel his baby sister kick was the inspiration behind the image of the hands on moms belly that sits in Fun Fetal Photos.

My husband gentle and loving is the inspiration behind the image that I do of many fathers, armed wrapped around moms belly in what we call the protection pose.

So you can see like all artists the photography at here at Real Moments Photography comes from many sources, but always with the heart and soul of our wonderful clients in mind.

Keesha Hervey

Happy Holidays and Merry Memories!

2009-11-06T13:57:00.002-05:00

Happy Holidays & Merry Memories!

No matter which holidays you celebrate this time of year is when we call
capture memories to last through the months apart. I personally have a
great deal to capture and be thankful for with two special "firsts" this
year.

First this is my first holiday season in our new studio, and more
important my youngest son, Brennan's first.. well EVERYTHING! We were blessed with his arrival this past April.

So I wanted to take just a moment to remember that the important things in our lives aren't things, instead they are the people that make up the goodness in our world. They are the doting grandparents, the wonderful sitters that help us at the last moment, the girl at the coffee place that never minds making that latte special, or the teacher who happily molds young minds.

At Real Moments Photography we have a great deal to be thankful for. Our studio has bloomed under the support of our friends, family and fellow businesses. We have the most devoted clients possible, and we are able to create art.

What more could we ask for? So from our family to yours, Happy Holidays and Merry Memories!

FAMILY PICTURE EVENT!

Due to the overwhelming request for family holiday portraits we will be hosting a family picture event on November, 21st from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for mini shoots. Appointments are available every hour.

These shoots will be approx. 30 minutes along at which time we will capture a special unique family photo for you, and if time allows a few additional poses.

Then while you wait in the comfort of our studio we will PROFESSIONALLY EDIT your image. You can then leave THAT DAY with the image on a disk with a copyright release.

This allows you to get your Christmas cards ready to go. The cost is just $74 and includes the mini shoot, full editing, your images on a secure website, AND the image of your choice on a disk with a copyright release.

PETS WELCOME! Furry children are always welcome in our studio at no extra charge.

4 FREE WALLETS FOR MILITARY, POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS, EMT's, & TEACHERS! If you would like an appointment please contact us at 580-583-2492 as soon as possible. These appointments will go quickly!

Need A Holiday Wreath?

ls there anything more perfect than a fresh holiday wreath? One of our most special client's children are selling fresh Maine wreaths for this holiday season. If you would like to order one just stop by the studio or give us a call for more information!

No coupons or free gift certificates can be used at the special event
due to the low prices.

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-02T19:23:00.003-05:00

Thank you everyone for making our first Halloween in our studio a huge success! We had many families come through and the kiddos were ADORABLE!

Before we get to the pictures let me remind you how to get your images. The link will take you to our normal proofing site.

As you scroll through you will see a number in dark black at the top left of the images. (Right below it says point to magnify)THIS is the number I need you to email me. Simply send an email to information@realmomentsphotography.com requesting that image file. Remember this is totally free. We already have the proofing site so we are just taking advantage of it.

If you would like a high quality print of your images you can order them directly from this site. They will be shipped directly to your home within 48 hours. These prints are wonderful quality. I love them.

If you have any questions feel free to send me an email or give me a call at 580-583-2492!

Keesha

The Halloween Link Is

http://www.millersalbums.com/?event=88896W1bc28f357f

P.S. If you are planning on Christmas images please contact us ASAP. I received 12 calls TODAY alone for appointments and they are filling VERY VERY fast. I would be heartbroken to have to turn away some of our long time clients! See you soon!

I'm so excited!

2009-10-24T13:19:00.005-04:00

Our new studio has proven to be the hottest place to be in Newport News for photography! We are so blessed to have so many wonderful people stopping by to make appointments and as always getting to meet those precious little bundles. I always feel a certain surge of joy every time a parent honors me with taking their child's first portraits. Sigh... such a wonderful time...

We have also had the great fun of photographing a wedding or two, many maternity sessions and a fair share of great families. How lucky can one company be? I haven't had a day off since we opened the studio, working 12 hour days, and LOVING every single moment of it. I'm working extra hard next week to get all the clients done from previous weeks to prepare for the holiday rush. We are ALREADY filling fast. Please please please if you want a holiday session call us right away. Its going to be so hard to turn people away and I know we are going to hit that point more sooner than later.

We will be running some AMAZING holiday specials..My hubby says that I remind him of that car dealership with the slogan "I'd give em away, but my wife won't let me." except with me it's the hubby! Too bad for him though I wrote the holiday specials BEFORE he knew. LOL So it's gonna be a great deal! But shhh don't tell my hubby!

I'm adding some of the images from shoots this month.. We have had SUCH pretty babies and great families through here. If you don't see your session don't worry! I plan to post more soon!

Hugs and Halloween Wishes!

Keesha

P.S. DON'T FORGET, free Halloween portraits this year! Just stop by the studio in costume from 1p.m. to 9 p.m.! Remember this images are 100% free with a copyright release. So you can send em to grandma! Our way of saying THANK YOU for you wonderful support of our studio!

Free Halloween Portraits!

2009-10-18T20:27:00.000-04:00

FREE HALLOWEEN PORTRAITS!

Join us for their grand opening celebration Halloween from 1 to 9 p.m.

We will have KID FRIENDLY decorations, lots of candy and ABSOLUTELY FREE PORTRAITS.

We are conveniently located at
710 Denbigh Blvd Suite 4D Newport News.Visit Us Online at www.realmomentsphotography.com

Need More Information? Call us 580-583-2492.

Directions: Take Jefferson to Denbigh, Turn Right on Denbigh. We are on the right hand side directly before the turn for Mary Immaculate Hospital in the Colony Square of Denbigh.

Busy as a baby bee!

2009-10-08T09:43:00.002-04:00

LOL Well maybe we've been busy as big bees but we have been seeing lots of precious babies walking through our doors. We are so blessed and happy with our new studio. I'm so sorry I haven't had a chance to post more. I promise I'll update soon! We have so many amazing little ones to show you!

Free Gift Certificate!

2009-09-25T12:28:00.001-04:00

OUR NEW STUDIO!!

It is my sincerest hope that everyone who reads this email sees their greatest dreams in life come true. Through the unwavering support of so many, including my beloved clients one of my greatest ambitions in life was realized this month with the opening of our brand new studio.

Located in the heart of Newport News near Mary Immaculate Hospital the studio is warm and inviting. It is a place where our clients can come and have a relaxed enjoyable time creating priceless memories. We are so very proud of it.

This roomy space has allowed us to finally branch out and create the kind of photographic art that our clients love without the limitations that location shooting posed. Although you will as always see us photographing expecting moms in the surf at the beach and families playing in the leaves at local parks this new studio has given us a wonderful new option for our clients.

We want to take a moment to thank our families and friends who have been so very supportive, Erin & Sandy at Fun Fetal Photos (www.funfetalphotos.com) for making our company their official photographers and showcasing our work, as well as all our amazing clients. You are the reason we are able to do what we love for a living, and that is the truest of American dreams.

To celebrate our new studio and to thank you all we are offering free of charge $20 gift certificate. Just send us an email at information@realmomentsphotography.com and ask for the complimentary gift certificate.

Thank you again for your ongoing support. We look forward to seeing each of you!

Keesha Hervey
Head Photographer
Real Moments Photography
580-583-2492
www.realmomentsphotography.com
P.S. Watch your email for information on our grand opening party this Halloween season!! We can’t wait to meet your ghouls and goblins, princesses and fairy queens! Expectant moms bring that belly in for a special Halloween image just for you!
　
　
　
*The certificates are valid just like cash on any studio purchase and new photography session. Sorry you can’t use them on any session or order already scheduled or completed. One certificate per family please. Copies of original certificates will not be honored.

OUR NEW STUDIO!

2009-09-12T23:17:00.002-04:00

Its official, we photographed our first baby in our brand new studio today!

I can not tell you how excited and truly happy I am with the studio. It's comfy and welcoming while being easy for our parents to find, and it's all thanks to our wonderful clients.

Stay tuned to our blog, as a thank you next week we will be announcing an amazing gift to all our clients!

Pretty Moms, Amazing Babies!

2009-09-08T10:39:00.003-04:00

Last weekend we photographed many newborns and the week before even more beautiful moms with perfect baby bumps. These precious babies, many of which we photographed while their moms were expecting, are amazing. We can't wait to watch them grow. We will be posting many images of these families very soon.

The image you see is of Presley. Isn't she gorgeous? Her baby boy was born last month and was one of the little ones we got to photograph this weekend! Watch the blog for more!

JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL EVENT!

2009-08-31T12:06:00.001-04:00

Join us for a very special event & a great deal!

Due to the very high demand for appointments and the boom of newborn babies (Happy Birthday little ones!) this weekend we have arranged for a temporary studio location!

These appointments will be the exact same as when we visit your home without you worrying about picking up the kids toys! We will still be providing plenty of time for each family, budgeting up to four hours if necessary for newborns! All the props, backgrounds and the usual fun stuff are still included.

Bring this coupon with you and get a two free 5x7's. These appointments are VERY VERY limited. If you would like an appointment please contact us right away. Half of the appointments are already filled! You can reach us via email at information@realmomentsphotography.com or by phone at 580-583-2492.

Oh and be on the look out for a great deal as we open our very own studio location in Newport News!

Facebook

2009-08-10T09:37:00.001-04:00

Many of you know you can visit us at our website at www.realmomentsphotography.com and at myspace at www.myspace.com/realmomentsphotography but you can now visit us on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/realmomentsphotography.

So come be our facebook friend!

Keesha

Baby Grayson

2009-08-05T12:36:00.003-04:00

Whew it has been a crazy few weeks here at Real Moments. Many of our mommys had their precious little bundles. You will slowly start to see them featured in our blog as I have time between photographing and editing them. One of our recent shoots was baby Grayson. He was soo adorable. Mommy had to have an emergency c-section so she and daddy were really tired, although as wonderful as ever.

Lucky for us Grandma, a RN came to rescue and was wonderful assistant. Grayson was a wonderful little model, even allowing us to adorn him in some pretty funny hats.
Grandma was even nice enough to snap a picture of me and the little guy. It was after the shoot so I might look a little frazzled. LOL Sometimes creativity does not always equal a perfect hairdo for the photographer!

Its a great shot though and I'm sure to treasure it. In fact it may just have to become a tradition so I can look back on all the sweet little ones I've had the honor of photographing!

So welcome to the world little Grayson and congrats to all our moms and dads! We adore you all.

Keesha

Celebrate with us!

2009-07-28T16:17:00.004-04:00

Becoming a member of your professions professional organizations are something that is very important. So it is our honor to announce that our head photographer has been accepted into Wedding & Portrait Photographers International. (WPPI) WPPI is a very prestigious organization that all of greatest photographers around the world are a part of, and we are deeply honored to be part of their family! Mention your celebrating with us when you book your next appointment for a free 5x7!

How do you know your images are loved?

2009-07-28T15:39:00.003-04:00

Why when your client has them tattooed on them of course! Okay, so perhaps the inking had more to do with WHAT the picture was of. In this case little Kendall's hand, but still its an honor either way! The image attached is a snapshot my client Mike took of his new tattoo, an image of his little girls hand we shot when she was only a few weeks old. It's a great tat & a wonderful family!

Keesha

Sarah Grace

2009-07-28T14:59:00.005-04:00

Sometimes a baby is born that is just a bit more precious than the ever so precious ones that we get to photograph because we know the family on a personal level. Sarah Grace is one of those angels. Born to Donnie and Staci, Sarah Grace is the granddaughter to our dear friend Sandy, the owner of Fun Fetal Photos. It has been our honor to photograph Staci's maternity images and now Sarah Grace. She is a wonder & we are so very in love with her. Both mom and dad are wonderful examples of great parents, expectantly entranced with her, and grandma is of course hopelessly proud. Welcome to the world Sarah Grace, you are so loved.

Keesha Hervey

Becks

2009-07-28T14:53:00.003-04:00

This post is a little late since the Beck's just welcomed their new son into the world this morning, but I still had to share. They are a wonderful family with an adorable daughter that got mom laughing in no time. I'm thinking of hiring the little princess! LOL Mom is one of the sweetest women I have ever met and well dad.. aside from being a great guy he is totally and utterly in love with the two ladies in life. I know that the images of this family with their new little guy will be just as precious!

Babies, Babies Everywhere!

2009-07-28T14:48:00.002-04:00

Has it been a full moon!?!? We have babies coming into the world for so many of our clients! We can not express how happy we are for our families. Amber and Daniel delivered a 10 pound baby boy last week and our darling friends the Becks, Mike and Melanie had a precious little boy as well! Count on pictures of both little guys soon! Both these ladies had long labors.. I have just one thing to say to both wonderful daddys... jewelry.. lots of it. LOL CONGRATS!!!!!

New Website!

2009-07-28T14:47:00.001-04:00

Our brand new flash website is finally up and running!! Please visit it and let us know what you think!

Best Wishes,
Keesha

Web Home Headaches

2009-07-26T01:40:00.002-04:00

Ahh technology. We love it, truly we do. However sometimes it makes us want to seriously bang our heads against the wall. We are launching our new website, complete with awesome flash slideshows. However we are having some issues. Please hang in there and contact us at 580-583-2492 with any questions during our site being temporarily off line. Thank you!

Laura & Ron

2009-07-07T10:40:00.005-04:00

Laura & Ron are very dear clients to us. They are a fellow military family and we photographed their maternity images on the beach. Laura was one of those mommy's that those of us with buckets of stretch marks look at wistfully. She didn't have a mark on her, and only a week after her little guy was born she looked wonderful.

Unfortunately Ron had to join a training session in North Carolina the morning before our photography session and their little guy did not like daddy being gone at all. It would appear from the very start their son was going to be a daddy's boy. Despite every trick in the book that me, mom, and yes even grandma could come up with he wasn't very happy for very long. It's a good thing we know how to work fast & had a great helper in both mom and grandma.

The image you see above is Laura, helping us get that perfect shot. Which I should mention we did. You can see one of them above.

Although every shoot is different & every baby unique its wonderful to know that even with a little guy who is so adorable, but misses daddy so we can still get great images. Thanks so much Laura! I know you and Ron will treasure the images for years to come!

Keesha

Summer is here!

2009-07-07T10:34:00.004-04:00

Summer is here and we are very busy photographers! In the past few weeks we have gotten to meet so many new clients, photographing many expectant moms and had the very precious honor of taking the first pictures for many a little newborn! See more information on all of them very soon!

We have also had the great luck to have some very very helpful parents along with way. One of our mommy's Laura was down in the photographic trenches with us to capture that perfect picture of her baby, and I would have been lost without SSG Beck to help out at his families maternity shoot. He got mom laughing so much she totally forgot about the camera!

Every day I get to wake up and do the job I love the most with amazing clients! Thank you all, and expect more news soon!

Keesha

2009-06-09T03:06:00.001-04:00

To our clients and friends; many of you may have noticed that our normally very fast customer response time is a little slow right now. Our newborn baby Brennan is in the hospital which is slowing our editing time. We appericiate your patience greatly. Please feel free to contact us at any time with your questions or concerns.
Keesha

Mr. & Mrs. Balajadia!

2009-05-28T20:35:00.002-04:00

Every wedding is a new adventure for us as photographers and our newest wedding was no exception. Yesterday I was honored to be the photographer at a small sweet wedding in this historic area of Williamsburg for two very special clients Amber and Daniel.

They were the kind of couple photographers just love. Amber was easy going, relaxed, and really ready to go with the flow(not easy to do when your expecting a little one soon might I add) Daniel was a wonderful mix of the perfect gentleman and fun loving class clown.

Its always a blast to photograph two people who are not only so obviously in love but willing to have fun with their wedding pictures. The day was a hot one, but nothing was warmer than the kindness I received from these happy two.

Thank you both for inviting me to be part of your wedding. We look forward to seeing your family grow (by one more soon!) :) and being the honor of your family photographer for many years to come!

Congratulations!

Keesha Hervey

The formal introduction of baby Brennan

2009-05-25T12:01:00.003-04:00

A very warm thank you goes out to all of our clients for their warm wishes after the birth of our son Brennan. He was born on my birthday, April 16th at Portsmouth Naval Medical Center. Our doctor was awesome. If you ever get a chance to be seen by Erin Watson jump on it. She's great.

Brennan is very healthy with gorgeous eyes and just enough hair for a mommy to rub. He was born at just 5.2 pounds but has since jumped up to 8.1.

We look forward to sharing lots of pictures with you all, starting of course with one right now! He was just a few days old when we shot this. The hands are his daddys.

Best Wishes & Happy Memories!

Keesha

Are you expecting? Want a picture of your baby now?

2009-05-25T11:29:00.003-04:00

Not too long ago you had to wait a long 9 months before you got to see if your baby had your nose or your hubby's chin. No longer! Thanks to the wonder of 3&4D Ultrasounds we are able to see our babies much sooner.

Many of you know I recently gave birth to my third baby, a little boy named Brennan. While I was pregnant with him I did an extensive search to find a really good 3D Ultrasound place to have images taken of him. What I found at first frustrated me. Insanely high prices, cold staff, and long drives to even get to them. Then I found Fun Fetal Photos.

Ran by Sandra Gardner and her trusty assistant Erin Fun Fetal Photos is so affordable. $80 bucks gets you prints, a disk, and so much more. Not to mention there is a discount for your next scan.

I had my little guys picture taken 5 times over the pregnancy and it was so much fun to watch him grow and change. Honestly it wasn't just the enjoyable part that made me treasure each scan, it was seeing that he was okay. I could watch Brennan move and see pictures of his little feet. It also made the many months of waiting go by so much faster.

Sandy and her office manager Erin are such dolls too. The moment you walk into Fun Fetal Photos are you treated like an honored guest, not some number like many of the other places. Sandy has decades of experience and its always a treat to see the images she finds of each baby. I have seen so many of these scans from my clients and every baby is so special and unique.

So many people ask me, can you really see the baby's features? Yes. Seriously. I watched Brennan grow and through that process I saw how much he looked like my daughter Kate. When he was born that's one of the first things my husband and I noticed. How true to life the scans really are.

We are so impressed with Sandy and her team they are the only 3D business we recommend to our clients!

If you'd like more information just visit their website at www.funfetalphotos.com

Happy Memories!

Keesha

P.S. Tell Sandy hello for us at your scan and we'll give you a free 8x10!

The Sanderson Girls

2009-05-25T11:16:00.004-04:00

I've photographed twins before, and they are always a joy. Our shoot yesterday with the Sanderson's new infant girls was no different. The two girls, Kyra and Shyla, only a handful of weeks old were precious little dolls.

Although I must admit they thought that lady with a camera was beyond crazy. Thus why they plotted to make sure that one of them was awake at all times to keep an eye on me. In the end they decided that crazy or not they were tired of that silly woman and finally fell asleep allowing us to get some precious images of them.

The girls have an adorable big sis Clarissa who is 5 months old. She was all about letting me take pictures of her in her new flower hat. She would get all excited and it would fall over her eyes where she would peek out at me like "Okay I've posed pretty. Now I must go play."

I was very lucky to have lots of extra hands to help out. Mom, Dad, and Grandma were all on hand to help and they were wonderful. These images would not have been possible without their patience and wisdom. Thank you all!

Keesha

Love our tutus and custom bows?

2009-05-25T11:02:00.004-04:00

They are precious aren't they? Many of you have noticed that recently the quality and the down right awesome colors of the tutus and bows we use have gone through the roof. You would be right!

We recently discovered an awesome brand new company, What a Cutie Patootie Boutique, that makes all these precious accessories at REALLY good prices. So we decided to try them out. All we can say is WOW. I can not tell you how great these products are, and the amount of love and detail go into each one.

You all know how protective we are of our clients, but I would happily recommend that you take a look at their products. Whether you have a two year old princess, or a 25 year old queen (yes they do custom sizes!) you'll love the quality and whimsy you find with What A Cutie Patootie. See even there name is adorable!

Check them out at the link below!
http://www.myspace.com/whatacutiepatootie

Keesha

Our Shoot w/ Miss Kendall!

2009-05-25T10:52:00.004-04:00

It's a dirty little secret in the photography world, yes we have our favorite clients. I know, I know, it's like having a favorite child, but it's true. And lucky for me I got the honor of photographing one of them last week!

Little Kendall is well known by our clients, even if you don't know her name. She's the little one hanging in the cloth, and whose daddy is the firefighter. Yup, you know those images don't you! They are some of our favorites too!

Kendall's family is one of our favorites to shoot, and have been so wonderful to us. We were honored to follow Kendall's mom Amber with her maternity images, we were at Kendall's birth, and we followed up with them shortly afterwards for a marathon family portrait session. Many of you have seen the album that we lovingly call The Story Of Kendall.

Last week we once again got to hang out with Kendall, this time at Newport News Park, for her 3 month pictures. As always it was wonderful to see Amber and her both her "babies" (big brother Dylan was on hand for a few shots and to help. He's great that way!). As always Kendall was a doll, and the images are adorable. Check back here soon to see some more finished proofs! It's off to the editing table for me!

Keesha

Welcome!

2009-05-25T10:16:00.003-04:00

Welcome to our new blog!

Real Moments Photography has a long history of building relationships with our clients, and we thought a blog would be a great way to continue that tradition!

Here you will find "ponderings" (I always liked that word..it sounds like something Pooh Bear would say. :) ) about our sessions as well as some personal tid bits here and there. After all many of your families are very close to our photographers and like to keep in touch. Count on me sneaking in a few pictures of my little munchkins. After all I'm a proud mom too!

If you'd had a recent session with us check back here often. You will probably be the star of your very own "Precious Ponderings"!

Don't forget to visit our website at www.realmomentsphotography.com and our myspace at www.myspace.com/realmomentsphotography

We look forward to seeing you and yours very soon!

Happy Memories Always,

Keesha Hervey
Head Photographer
Real Moments Photography