jklaasmeyer blog

Last weekend I had the pleasure of traveling to Tulsa to work with a fabulous group of aspiring photographers at the Elite Photo Institute.  While I was there, Josh and Kristin Atkinson, from EPI were the most amazing hosts to Emma & I.  We were treated like royalty, referred to as “rockstars” (we even had our own dressing room complete with a goodie basket) and scored tickets to a concert being held at the event center that weekend.  Just wanted to share a few images and then some images that we shot, on stage of two lovely little models…Thank you to everyone that attended.

Driving in a BLIZZARD, our 3 hour drive ONLY took 8.5 hours…and a few scary tears.

Emma and I with the lovely, Kristin.  Yes, we are photographers, yes we know it’s bad lighting;-)

Doin’ what we do best…Goofing off!

meeting and greeting a few friends…

watched country music star, BRANTLEY GILBERT, do his sound check…ON MY STAGE, ha!

met and got autographs from KIP MOORE!  My 15 yr. old daughter was not happy that she didn’t get to come;-)

and met the super friendly, down to earth, country singer, Brian Davis.  If you don’t know these guys OR their music…check them out.

Love this shot of Emma and I on stage shooting…snagged this off of Facebook from an attendee, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

AND FINALLY, the BABIES!

We just returned from an amazing show at this years Imaging USA.  A professional photographers convention with one 12,000 in attendance.  As co-owner of a set design company www.designrevolutiononline.com I had a 20×20 booth overflowing with props and fun items for professional photographers.  I’d like to share a few images…

One of the industries greatest photographers, Audrey wouldard~  www.alwphotography.com, this woman has done it all!  She has worked with Ford modeling agency and  pottery barn kids catalog just to name a couple.

A quick jaunt out for pizza one evening with the entire crew.  From left…Emma Dixon, Kelly Hood, myself, Lesley Bragg and my mother & father in law who generously drive our truckload when we travel.

We always try to find a “must go to place” while we travel.  Antico pizza~ www.anticoatl.com  This was incredible, wood fired pizza, so rustic and delicious.  But i didn’t get the memo that you can bring your own wine or beer:-(

Our booth before the rampage;-)  You have to understand…our booth is mobbed from the second we open until the last moment of closing.  We have so many exciting new products that people literally rush to our booth before we sell out!  If it weren’t mine, i’d be running there too!

This year we decided that it would be fun to add a different tag line to our name, Design Revolution.  So we wore trench coats and had stickers on our back with our logo, booth number and the tag line “we’ve got you covered”  Where else am i going to get away with pink hair, cheetah trench coat, pink tights, funky jewels while in my forties?

some elevator fun!

So this beautiful woman traveled all the way from Iceland just to meet me and the girls from Design Revolution.  She was such a sweet girl and she also got to who a bit;-)

no, we really aren’t upside down but thats how it loaded so we will just have fun with it!  This night PPA had an incredible party at the www.georgiaaquarium.org  this was honestly one of the best events i’ve ever been to.  If you ever are in Atlanta, you have to take your family here.

Another important friend.  I met Lori Grice at one of the first conventions that i ever attended.  She had such an impact on me and my career.  Love this girl and hands together for a cancer survivor!

and meet Kerri, from www.wildsorbet.com  she and Tana have this crazy cool frame company.

More great friends, Beth Forrester, a crazy brilliant photographer and designer of www.photoduds.com a template company.

My sweet friend Chanel and her little beauty that i finally got to meet;-)  She stole my phone, my heart and my shiny purse the first three seconds i held her.

and finally…I SIGNED AN AUTOGRAPH!!!  i think i can count on one hand how many i have signed and they are usually for a charity book give away or something like that.  Just thought i’d share as this is the closest i’ll ever come to fame and fortune;-)

Once again After Dark has blown us away!  The people we met were all wonderful, the resort was BREATHTAKING and the experiences we had and things we learned are like nothing else!

We had so much fun working with ALL of the models and will post more when the images are done.. but I just had to share these!  This little guy was born on Halloween…

 And of course we had to get a few shots of his cousin for grandma!  What a happy little boy :0)

Thanks so much to everyone that made this After Dark so amazing!

Thanks SO much to everyone that came out to listen to me speak and hang out at Texas PPA a few weeks ago!  A SPECIAL thanks to our newborn model and mommy!  She is absolutely beautiful :0)

Last week we got to spend three amazing days with some extremely artistic, high-energy, inspiring people!  We eagerly traveled to attend and mentor alongside some of the industries best at After Dark- what some people call an “un-conference”, for photographers.

After Dark isn’t your average learning experience.. and it’s hard to call it a workshop, convention or conference.  There were numerous times during the trip that we’d wander around in the wee hours of the morning and find groups of people laying on the floor of the lobby getting a shot of a model.. or outside in the rain photographing and testing out new techniques.  Late one night they even sent out a mass text asking for “anyone in formal wear willing to jump in the pool!”  I think if you check out their facebook page there’s even a video :0)  A creative mind has no limits.. and it never sleeps!  The amazing people After Dark know that photographers (and artists in general) learn in a different way.  And that’s why we love being apart of it so much!

As a mentor, Julie got to talk about business and marketing techniques in small, intimate group discussions as well as work hands on demonstrating with fresh little newborn models.  Here are a few of our favorite images from the shoots

We’re already getting excited for the next After Dark event in Tuscon.. it’s less than a month away!

Check out their website afterdarkedu.com for more info on upcoming events!

Remember the sweet, patient newborn model from our workshop a few weeks ago?

Well here she is!

It’s so cool being able to see the pullbacks and final images side by side!

And how cute is she??  Thanks again to mama for letting her model for us :0)

Want to make more $$ in your photography business?

I’m part of an awesome FREE online marketing event that’s hosted by my friends at the Joy of Marketing and whcc created to help you do just that!

Here’s the low down:

On Monday, September 26, 2011 ONLY, 10 fabulous photography pros and I will be sharing ways to improve your business while giving you more time to do what you love.

Pick up tips on how to:

• Make it this holiday season more profitable then it’s ever been
• Sell to triple your average sales, and love doing it
• Turn your Baby First Year program into a HUGE money-maker
• And much more!

 Register for FREE for this event, and you’ll have access from 10 am CST – 10 pm CST on September 26, 2011 to tons of great marketing ideas!

AND if you register now you’ll have a chance to win THOUSANDS in free swag from our sponsors!

You won’t want to miss this fun event!

I just can never get enough!  Mwah!

The little nugget below belongs to this beautiful mama who also had a session with Julie, what a great addition for the baby’s nursery!

Wow!  Where do I even begin?  WHAT an incredible weekend!  Photographers traveled from ALL over to attend the workshop this past weekend.. from places as far as Boston, Canada and even Alaska!  Everyone I met was friendly, eager to learn and explore new things.. something that ended up being contagious!  I had no idea what to expect, as I’ve never been to a workshop with Julie nor am I a photographer… as you’ll probably see in the pictures I have posted below ;0)  But even I was intrigued listening to Julie speak!  I’ve seen her photograph newborns, babies and toddlers many times, but I had NO idea how much thought and detail went into every aspect of taking the perfect photo.  I found myself lingering around the demos a lot longer than I intended ;0)

Day 1 of workshop!  Getting ready for “class” on marketing, studio management & sales!

Katrine talking about ProShow Gold & sales

Demonstrating a newborn setup & prep while waiting for our sleepy model :0)

There she is!

Everyone got a chance to play!

Showing how to switch poses easily.  Sometimes you have to “gently ‘shake’ the baby back to sleep” as Julie says.  Umm.. I think you mean “rock”! ;0)

Sweet newborn model #2 wasn’t as sleepy & needed the baby whisperer’s attention.  I’m sure she just HATED rocking this cutie back to sleep ;0)

Sidney holding an adorable pose & demonstrating the hard (and important) work that goes into assisting!

“The higher the butt, the bigger the sale.”  Another Julie Klaasmeyer original quote ;0)

And by day 2 we mastered the art of a single file line!  Juuust kidding ;0) They were awesome at taking turns!

Twins!  These girls were sugar sweet!

I wish I could describe the adorable giggle that came out of this gal!

The tickle stick never fails ;0)

Baby in a bucket!

Shoes, coats, cameras, props.. everywhere after a long & exciting day!

Thank you so so much to everyone that attended.. we loved getting to hang out with you!  And a special thanks goes to our awesome models & mommas!  We are already getting so excited for the next workshop in October.  There are only a handful of spots left so if you’d like to nab one give us a call at the studio (913)783-4610.  And dont forget to ‘like’ the workshop page on facebook for updated info!

I spent last week with a group of wonderful, eager and talented photographers. They came to my class from all over the midwest to grow and polish their skills. I love seeing, teaching and watching “the a-ha moment” in a willing individuals eyes! It takes a lot of experience to become a true “professional photographer”. Even thought it seems everyone is a photographer these days, there is actually a lot more to it than owning a camera and giving yourself a business name. So before you invest your hard earned money in a portrait session…think about it, would you go to anybody that owned a pair of scissors (and looked at pictures on the internet) to cut your hair? As i like to say…INVEST IN AN ARTIST, PHOTOGRAPHY IS FOREVER! How will you remember?
here are a few of our fabulous class models…