This morning an email went out with a link to the 2011 End-of-year Slideshow.  I’ve had so much fun putting this together that I’m going to make it an annual tradition.  This year’s slideshow features some of my clients that were photographed in 2011.  I wish I could have included everyone, but there are so limitations since the song is only so long.  As it is, the slideshow goes very quickly, so you should be ready to watch it as soon as it starts.

Speaking of the many clients who were in front of my camera this year, I actually went back and counted and I was shocked to see that in 2011 I photographed almost 650 people and their 4-legged friends!  wow.  And, that doesn’t count some of the commercial clients I worked with, such as the Bach Festival or the 2 weddings I photographed.  I was even surprised by that number.

Looking forward to 2012, I’m excited to continue offering both Premium and Mini sessions year round.  I’ll be offering special sessions around the time that the azaleas are in bloom (probably late-February -early March).  I’m going to continue to offer returning clients a price break on Premium Sessions (just ask!). And, finally I’m going to be offering a few new products, as well as expanding some of my current product lines.

Now, without further ado, to view the 2011 End of Year Slideshow, click on the following link:

2011 Slideshow

If you like what you see, I’d love for you to share it with family and friends.

Happy 2012.

And, can I point out that there’s not a matching outfit in any of those photos?    They all did so great coordinating (but not matching!) their outfits and looking amazing in the photos.

The last time these two were in front of my camera was 3 years ago.  They are truly wonderful kids!

Love this non-traditional family portrait.  Lots of love in this family.

These two make me laugh at their totally cheesy grins.  As a side note, we were reminding the older sister about the first time she was in front of my camera.  She had just turned 1, had just a little peach fuzz on the top of her head, and cried the entire session! ha   Its a fun memory to smile back on now.

Next Sunday is another set of Holiday Card Sessions (see below).  Or maybe a Mini Session or Premium Session would work better for you and your schedule? I do have availability, so email or call today.  Follow the link for more information about the sessions.

She is so full of life and love and hope.  I was introduced to Hannah by way of a client of mine who received a call from a friend saying they were looking for a photographer in Orlando to photograph Hannah and her family.  I was contacted and as soon as I heard Hannah’s story, I cleared a spot on my calendar for them.

Hannah is five years old and has cancer.  Hannah’s story can best be told here.

Hannah and her family were in town from Kansas to make one of her wishes come true: to swim with the dolphins.  A couple of days after I took these photos, her wish did come true and I heard that she had a fantastic time!  I was so glad that Hannah’s family made time in their busy Orlando visit to get some photos done.  I feel blessed by meeting Hannah and her family.  There is so much love there!

I’ve noticed that in the past few years, a new breed of photographer has popped up here in central Florida. Often these photographers have invested in a moderately priced camera, they’ve published a website splashed with their best images, and they offer enticingly low prices in an attempt to buy their way into the marketplace. I’ve found that many of these photographers are high in ambition, but with skills and talents that are not yet fully developed.

Sadly, I know this because I’ve received a fair amount of new business from families who were dissatisfied with their product, and came to me for a re-shoot.

As we embark upon what I like to call “Portrait Season” — the time of year when family photos for holiday cards or gifts are on a lot of people’s minds — I want to share with you a few best practices for choosing the right photographer for your family:

1. Ask how long they’ve been in business. Experience counts.
2. Ask if they’ve had any formal training or education for what they do. Do they really know what they’re doing, or do they just feel they have a “flair” for photography?
3. Ask if they do this full time or year round. Is their work a hobby or a full time profession?
4. Ask for referrals from at least three of their clients. Were others completely satisfied with their entire experience?
5. Ask to see some examples of their work that is not on their website.  Especially examples of an entire session.

The modern professional photographer is a talented artist, a skilled technician, and has an unwavering commitment to customer service and to your overall satisfaction.  Remember that with any product or service that you buy, you always get what you pay for. When you hire a family photographer, you trust them with capturing memories of your family that will last a lifetime. Choose wisely.

Why make the choice for KarenLeslie Photography?

• Experience. After receiving formal training in the art of photography, I opened my business here in Orlando over five years ago. In the years that have followed, I’ve developed a customer base of over 500 customers. Many of these customers trust me year in and year out with their capturing their family’s irreplaceable memories.
• Dedication. I’m a full time photographer. This is a serious business that helps put food on my table.  I’m available year round, usually 7 days a week, to serve your family’s needs.
• Talent. The quality of my product begins at your photo shoot. I’m very careful about the shots I take. Many photographers will take hundreds of shots on a shoot, hope for the best, and use the top 5%.  I take far less shots than most photographers, and this allows me to have a high number of quality images to start with.
• Technical Expertise. Early on, I decided to make time each month to receive ongoing training about the latest trends and techniques in photography. This ensures that my technical ability stays on par with my talent. This expertise has also allowed me to teach the art of digital photography at the University level once a week.
• Customer Satisfaction. There are a lot of choices out there. As a businesswoman, I know that I have to earn your business on every single level. I’m very good at doing this- just ask my customers.

And, because I hate to leave a post without any photographs, here’s a couple of ones I was editing today: