reaching a facebook milestone ...

So i hit 2,000 "likes" on facebook ... yeah i am pretty excited. These are the moments where we giggle a little & act like a 15 year old again. But seriously it's amazing to think that many people love my work. So to say thank you to all those followers, the people who have left me comments, shared ideas & just generally been awesome i have put together a little giveaway. Ok so it's a little bigger than little & there are some seriously awesome items available (thank you to all the wonderful wonderful people who are donating). Anyways some of the prizes are so awesome i want to enter myself ... But i can't so one lucky lucky person could walk away with all of the items below!

So before we check out the goodies here are the rules ... You must leave me a comment here on the blog post (if you are having difficulties let me know. You must also head over to the various facebook pages of those sharing their pretties with you & give them a little love! 

For an extra entree ... share this giveaway on your facebook page & leave me a comment letting me know you've done so. 

For another extra entree ... share on your blog & leave me a comment letting me know you've done so.

For another extra entree ... tweet the giveaway. 

& lastly for 5 extra entree's head over to my etsy shop & purchase an item. 

Phew ok now that's over & done with there's one last thing ... If the winner (who will be chosen at random) isn't local & unable to collect on either of the photo shoot prizes i will draw another winner who is local to receive those. 

& lastly the giveaway will run for 2 weeks ... yeah baby ... that's 2 weeks of chances to win!! 

1 ... a mini shoot with moi (that would be me ... love.laugh.believe) ... the shoot is worth a whopping $250 & the winner gets a 30 minute shoot with a minimum of 10 editing images on a disc. The shoot must take place by August 31st 2012 & cannot be credited towards other products. 

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2. Your choice of either a 10x8" or 8x8" fine art photographic print from either of my 2 etsy shops ... ooh pretty shiny or levansphotography. 

ooh pretty shiny

levansphotography

3. A gorgeous 5x5" fine art photographic print titled "i'm sorry i'm leaving" from the stunning photography shop of Violet Bella. 

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4. A $100 gift certificate with TLC Photography ... her newborn photography blows my mind!

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5. A stunning watercolour painted especially for the giveaway by Jody Edwards ...

This little feather is from a Roughed Grouse - - similar to a wild pheasant.

Feathers mean so many different things to different people, whether it be spiritual or decorative, these little studies look great anywhere. 

It is 4"x6", painted on 140lb Cold Pressed Arches watercolor paper. Ready to frame. This is a detailed, delicate original, by Artist Jody Edwards. 

You can see some of her paintings in Ted Danson's character's office on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Jody's art is collected worldwide. 

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6. A wonderful action created for this giveaway by Kristybee Photography (an amazing photographer) called peace ... it's so so pretty. It can be used in both Photoshop & Elements.

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7. A "define me tee" by Oh So Chichi ...

Define Me Tee's are completely custom, personalized, and unique.  Define yourself, your children, spouse, family, hobby, group, bride, groom, mom, dad, anything ... I'll create it!  They make a great addition to a family photo shoot, reunion, or special event.

(& yes that is Jacob wearing his ...)

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8. A set of 10 wonderful textures designed by Joel Olives (another amazing photographer) & yet to be released for sale to the public ... perfect for enhancing your photography.

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9. A gorgeous newborn headband designed & made by Christina Beckett Photography ... a wonderful gift for a pregnant lady, a little diva's first headband or a wonderful addition to your photography props.

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10. A stunning Ella Woolner original mini ribbon drawing from 'Ribbon and Bows series'. Paper size is 8x11cm and and drawn on 150 gsm cotton handmade paper, with rough edges. Drawn in blue crayon and signed by the artist.

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11. 1lb of Double Mint Cookies-n-Cream fudge from Ladybird Fudge (yes i know you're drooling) ... 

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12. A stunning photographic print from Blue Oiseau Photography matted to fit a 7x5" frame ... 

This little butterfly (le p'tit papillon) loves to visit my lavender.

Title: Le p'tit papillon
Size: matted to 5x7
Finish: metallic

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13. One of my favourite etsy stores Xenotees kindly donated one of her gorgeous items (i actually own this) ...

Womens Pullover/Animal group Nouns

This is a list of over 100 animals & their collective nouns - some you may have heard, but most of these will be new to you, and really fun to learn. 

An "unkindness of ravens", a "knot of toads", a "romp of otters", a "warren of rabbits", a "sleuth of bears", a "tower of giraffes" or a "business of ferrets"? You Bet, and many MANY more... They are a blast to read & memorize

ABOUT THIS TOP:This is a lightweight Raglan Pullover made of a Tri-Blend (50% Polyester / 25% Cotton / 25% Naturally occurring Rayon) fabric. Polyester retains shape and elasticity; Cotton lends both comfort and durability; addition of Rayon makes for a unique texture and drapes against the body for a slimming look. Raglan sleeves, Loose-fitting on top & snug around waist.

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Hope you like everything you see & thanks again for sharing in my love of all things photographic. Be sure to stop by my facebook page, love to hear your thoughts. & there will be a cheat sheet of facebook pages from the giveaway for you. 

Good luck the winner(s) will be picked from random on March 8th!!

inspired by ... part I

So i want to share some people with you ... not that they're my own secret people or anything but people who inspire me photographically & to be the best that i can. People who support me, who i can turn to for advice & well putting it mildly give a whole new meaning to the word talent. 

Part I is dedicated to an incredible talented artist ... she's one of those ladies who can rock all photographic genres. In the beginning i knew her solely for her portraits, amazing surreal (sometimes self) portraits. I can't even begin to understand how she sees the things she does, it astounds me when i see new work appearing. Her ideas would seem so out there on paper, but she puts them together in a way that everything works like it's meant to be. Ok yes you've guessed who this fabulous lady is ... the exceptionally talented Elle Moss Photography. 

I admit it, I'm going to town on the adjectives, delving deep into the depths of my vocabulary to come up with new words worthy of such a wonderful lady. & maybe i am gushing a little but i can't help myself. You see the thing about Elle isn't just that she knows how to take pretty pictures but the time she's willing to put back into helping others. I am incredible lucky to have gotten to know the lady behind Elle Moss over the past couple of years, through Etsy & the internet. She has become someone i can turn to for advice with my photography, pushing me to achieve my dreams. 

& her photography doesn't stop at portraits, the whimsical & dream like feel continues into other genres such as her portrayal of nature & her incredible still life's. It's no surprise that her work has been featured in a large number of publications, exhibitions across the globe & is displayed in the homes of various celebrities. Her dreamy, whimsical, breath taking photography & her own fabulous self inspire me daily in my quest (yes i said quest) to sell my fine art full time. She is where i home to be one day & i thank her for being someone i can turn to for help through my own photographic journey. 

You can view more work by Elle Moss Photography in her Etsy shops:

Elle Moss 

Alice B. Gardens

play time ...

The one advantage to have some down time is that i'm getting to play around with old work, images that whilst i love composition wise i'm not totally happy with the edit. In the past year i have grown tremendously (& yes yes i do believe modest is such an over rated quality) & my style i feel is really coming into it's own. I'm finding much more of myself in my work & i love it. So i'm going back over old work, experimenting, trying new things & walking away happier because of it. Do you ever do that, revisit your old work? Anyway i wanted to share a few of those with you from my trip to Provence in July of 2010. & hopefully soon you'll see some of these available for sale on etsy or possible my society 6 shop which i really must tell you all about later this week ... don't let me forget! 

the nelou & laura show + week 21 = "holiday cheer"

It maybe a little late but here's some holiday cheer for you!

nelou . me

around the world with fPOE ... this week it's Gothenburg, Sweden

So i know this is called around the "world" with fPOE but right now it's feeling much more like around "Europe" with fPOE ... & i can't lie i kinda like. Being english, & living in Germany i love to see the many creative & talented photographers we have in Europe & in my mind it seems as if we've had them flocking (don't you love my choice of words) to fPOE in recent months. It brings fresh inspiration & a new perspective to everyone's work & i for one love it! Anyways so our whirlwind tour of Europe has taken in the sights of England, (not so sunny) Germany, & Latvia in recent weeks & now we're heading up to Scandinavia to check out the gorgeous photography of Karin Andersson. & no that's not Gothenburg in the photograph!  

When i think Sweden i can't lie i think IKEA & thank fully i don't get that with Karin's work. There's nothing "mass produced" in her style, it's not something you would find hanging on the walls over every tom, dick & harry (although it would be wonderful it you could) because it is a little more unique. To me Karin's work is incredible pretty, her use of pastels & subdued tones, & small details such as the incorporation of textures bring something seemingly boring to life. I find myself at peace looking at her work, infused with calm & quiet moments. & i love her wonderful composition especially within her fruit pictures. It's as if she found them just sitting there patiently waiting for the right person to come along & photograph them. 

a plate strawberries in the grass ...

... a lonely bicycle ...

& a pair of cherries all waiting for Karin's magic touch!

As usual you can view more or Karin's stunning photography in her Etsy shop (where all these gorgeous images are available for purchase), on her website, her blog or flickr. 

it's the simple thing's in life that make me happy ...

my munchkin's first Christmas ...

santa went crazy nuts in photojojo ...

messing with old photographs ...

i want this ...

new ideas, plans & all the rest for 2012!

around the world with fPOE ... this week it's North-Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

This week i have a whole new level of excitement going on. After our quick trip to canada, & england, we then spent 2 weeks in the deep south checking out the stunning photography of Amy Tyler & Sarah Montigue Miller we are heading back to Europe & a country we have yet to visit ... (the country i currently reside in) Germany, & more specifically North-Rhine-Westphalia close to Dortmund. After a week of primary colours, vivid & bright we are hear to check out the more subdued tones of Sofia Olejnik & Detail Loving. Sofie's work is exactly as the name describes, all about the details & she captures them wonderfully. Quirky & incredible unique there is nothing obvious in the angles she chooses, the composition or the way she goes about showcasing her subject matter. 

& here again we have a photographer whose art doesn't stop at the photography itself, she incorporates all kinds of outside elements into creating the final product. There's a simplicity to Sofia's work, & whilst the elements may seem strange together of the outside they work creating incredible unique interesting pieces. When you look at a photography there seems to be more to the image,  nothing appears quite as it seems. Here again we have an artist who enjoys stepping outside the conventional photography box, using a variety of techniques, different subject matters & experimentation in creating something new & different. I have never had the talent for putting the seemingly random together & always admire it in others. 

A camera playing dress up ...

... spring in full bloom ...

... elegance in simplicity!

All the images here are for sale in Sofie's etsy shop Detail Loving. Be sure to check out more of her stunning photography on facebook & on flickr.

newborn photography & me ...

So with the impending arrival of Jacob i had this plan ... some newborn props, experiment in the studio ... well it hasn't happened. I mean it's not like i haven't taken a million & one photos of him because we all know i can't get enough of him. Every time i tried to photograph him sleeping, put him in one of those cute little poses you see everywhere he would wake up. When this boy is asleep he does not like to be moved. & over time he grew & i just carried on photographing him around the house, on a blanket, in the yard & on our bed & i've come to realize this is what i like. I have nothing against the props, i use them occasionally & i still have ideas for more stylised portraits of him as he grows but what i really love is the natural stuff. He doesn't need a funny hat or to be squished in a container, he can be awake or asleep because this is him at his most natural whether he's crying, yawning, or simply making faces at me. & it suits my photography, its what i'm good at, it's what i enjoy & what i want to continue. If you come to me for your newborn shots they're going to be natural, around the home, in the garden & in my mind a little more personal because of it. 

This is my son!

being a working mum ...

When Jacob was born my life was thrown upside down ... not in a bad way by any means but his arrival forced me to do something i had been wanting to do for a long time. Since our arrival here in Germany i had been employed at Chilis on base as a server & a bartender. Not the career i had in mind as a twenty something photographer with a degree but it was the best i could do. On the plus side it paid for my equipment, workshops & the studio. But photography is my love, my passion & what i want to do with my life i just wasn't ready to take the leap. & then we throw Jacob in the mix, the realization that i didn't have day care, that it was time to really be a family & that i wanted to see my son grow up. So here i am, a stay-at-home-mum following my dreams.


I asked what people wanted to read about on my blog & one of the responses was for me to talk about being a working mum. I admit i've only been doing this for a couple of months but this is what i know ...


... it's not easy but it's incredible rewarding! I've learnt to edit with one hand & a sleeping baby on my shoulder. There are times when i will put him down (thank god for the car seat, the bouncer & more recently the bumbo) but nothing beats a sleeping baby for precious moments.


... i'm learning to work around his schedule. Thankfully i was blessed with an incredible chilled out baby, he's so happy & content. When i was 5 months pregnant i made the decision to set up a studio in my home o i can shoot boudoir & the occasional child at home without worrying about a sitter. My little munchkin has sat happily in the corner whilst i photograph women in their underwear. Such a lucky little boy right?


... i only schedule shoots every other weekend. One of the things i missed out on when working at chilis is time with my husband, weekends away & more travel opportunities. I can now set my schedule (to an extent you know uncle sam is always going to get in the way), i can work one weekend & spend time with family & friends the next.


... i've had to take my son on a location shoot with me ... the downside to being out & about is that i either have to schedule these shoots when my husband is off work or when i can get a sitter. Now it's not hard for me to get a sitter because i have some wonderful friends who love my son i just hate imposing on people. But occasionally my son is going to have to come with me & i can only hope the client is as wonderful about it as this one was. Plus the fact my son loves being outdoors & it's summer makes it easier though i can't lie i'm not 100% focused on the client (the down side). 


I know as time goes on my thoughts will change & practices will increase. As Jacob grows i may get to a point where i need to hire a sitter to take care of him for a few hours so i can focus on my work. The thing about working from home is that as nice as it is to set your own schedule, be able to work all hours & not worry about office politics we don't always focus the way we should, like editing one handed because i have a sleeping son. Before he arrived i could sit down & work my way through a shoot, not worrying if i didn't finish the editing process until the wee hours of the morning. Now I need to make sure i'm in bed at a decent hour as is Jacob. 


But i'm not fitting everything in around my chili's schedule & i have noticed that i am more focused on my photography. I'm loving what i am doing, & not tired from dealing with the stress that came from chili's. I can work at my own pace, spend time with my son & i feel (for lack of a better word) more fulfilled as a result. This is the life i want, the dream i had & my happy ending. 

around the world with fPOE ... this week it's Spring Hill, Tennessee

Since we started our travels back up we've visited Toronto, Canada & the gorgeous photography of Charlene Precious & then on to blighty & the equally stunning work of PipiPhotography. This is why i started this series, the chance to explore the world of fPOE, to share with you the amazing talent out there & of course to help inspire you & me. & this week we're heading back to the US of A, & Spring Hill, Tennessee. For some reason the name Spring Hill seems appropriate here, it fits the artist i am about to showcase. Amy Tyler is the lady behind Dandelion Studio (another name i love) & some gorgeous whimsical, dreamy photography. 

Amy's photography doesn't stop at the click of the shutter, it's as much about the post production process, the creation of a work of art. She incorporates different elements & wonderful textures that leave her images standing out from the crowd. Another photographer who asks questions of the viewer, who creates a story for which the viewer must guess at what happens next.  I admire everything about Amy's images, from the simplicity of the composition, the details she showcases in her images & of course the wonderful tones she blends with her textures. & her subject matter is a eclectic mix (a girl after my own heart), she sees art all around her & leaves us gasping for more. 

growing up on the farm ... 

... soaring above the clouds ... 

... & yes another pretty kitty (i can't help myself)!

All these images are available for sale on etsy along with many other equally gorgeous images. You can also check out more of Dandelion Studio on facebook & flickr. 

it's the simple thing's in life that make me happy ...

more wildflowers ...

avoiding high school drama ...

this shop (it may have its own blog post i love it that much) ...

starting my 52 week project with nelou ... 

a relaxing week of doing things for me!

the nelou & laura show ...

So my wonderful friend & fabulously talented fellow photographer Nelou have to decided to embark on a joint project for the next 52 weeks! Yes i believe we are a little crazy but we're both in search of some inspiration, & a push & this is it. 

Every week we will be choosing a topic or asking you our wonderful readers to choose a topic (you never know there may also be some giveaways in it) which we will then photograph. Some weeks there with be one photo, some weeks a series & other weeks we'd love to see your interpretation. & at the end we want to make a book. It's going to be hard work, it's going to be creativity & i imagine it will drive us a little crazy at times. But most of all its going to be fun!!

To get us started we're asking you for our first topic ... it could be a feeling, a colour, a time of day or your favourite food. Just leave us a comment on either my blog (as in below this post) or Nelou's blog with your idea. So put those thinking caps on (metaphoric or literal) & share your ideas with us. We're excited to see where this journey takes us!

ps. the picture of jacob has nothing to do with the project its just that he's so darn cute ... not that i'm biased or anything!

around the world with fPOE ... this week it's Lincolnshire, England

Having started our adventures back up last week i'm excited by the new talent i'm seeing here in fPOE. Our numbers have soared in recent months, & the group really has so much to offer. Last week we visited Toronto where i showed you the "wonder" that was Charlene Precious (here work really lived up to the name of Precious) & this week i'm a little giddy because we get to travel back to my homeland, little old England & Lincolnshire a county i have driven through more than i care to remember (I know the A1 a little too well). Anyways because i go completely off on a tangent i want to introduce you to another talented lady, Deb Scudder & her gorgeous shop PipiPhotography.

Deb is one of those photographers who has the unique ability to turn there hand to all genres ... maybe it comes from having an over active imagination, maybe it's just a gift but it's wonderful seeing her move from landscape to conceptural photography, encompassing everything in between. But you can still see a distinct style despite the subject matter, soft & dreamy & she's never afraid of experimenting & stepping out of the box. To me Deb is the kind of photography who will never stop learning, discovering & evolving through her photography, there is no limit to what she can do as far as sharing new & exciting work with us. It's exciting to see her work develop & honestly i can't wait to see where she goes with it. 

Oh how i love England's green & pleasent land's ...

... vintage cameras (yes once again a theme is starting to emerge ... & i actually own a minister as well) ...

... & anyone who has read my blog for a while knows i can't resist a picture of a cat!

As usual all the images in this post can be purchased on etsy. You can also check out more of PipiPhotography at Deb's website, on her blog & over on flickr.

bad reputation ...

Reputation is everything ... period ... when it comes to the photography industry. & we all know that word of mouth is not only our best source of advertisement but also the sure fire way of clearing our calender. You may be wondering why i'm writing this ... partly because it needs to be said, especially since it can have a knock on effect & cause trouble for others but also because i've seen a disturbing trend of bad work out there. 

The quality of your work is vital ... whilst we all have images that stand out as "the best of the best" (yes i did in fact quote topgun) they should be representative of all our work. Take portrait photography, when i edit a shoot i spend my time on every single image not just editing a couple & not bothering with the rest. People come to me for the because i take the time to create that perfect image or in this case 50 of them, i give it the unique "laura touch" (please no dirty thoughts) & my client walks away more than happy with the product they've received. In fact clients are often surprised with what they get simple because of bad experiences. In this instance the old adage is true ... "quality over quantity" every time. 

Another thing i've come across recently is bad communication from photographers or simply them dropping off the radar. I had a client come to me recently because the photographer she thought she'd booked stopped responding to messages. In what world is that considered an acceptable way to run a business ... reminds me a little too much of high school. 

Finally it's not just about the photography itself ... i am a great one for not proof reading (thank you to my wonderful friends for pointing out my various mistakes) but this is another area that can get you into trouble. If you don't make the time to check something over you could both put off potential clients as well as loose the ones you already have. I guess what i'm trying to say is that it's not just about a pretty picture but the whole package ... how my blog looks or the way a write my etsy store descriptions says as much about me to a potential client as the image itself. All too often we don't take the time in getting these seemingly unimportant details right when these are the things we have the most control over.

Being the popular kid in the class, choosing quantity over quality & skimping on the details may make you money now but in the long run will leave you hurting. So take the time to be the best & set the standard for those around you.