1. Blog!
I used to be an awesome writer but some where over the past 5 years I lost it. I’ve been really bad (shame on me!) and have kept blog posts super short – sometimes I don’t include any text at all. I want to keep this blog personal and work harder at opening myself up to you so not only do you know my work, but you know who I am and what I’m about, as well.

2. More personal photos!
Since I’ve been getting busier with my business, I’ve been taking less and less images of my personal life. Note to self: BRING CAMERA WITH YOU MORE OFTEN. I have recently purchased a few small(er) film cameras that I plan to use frequently for personal projects – maybe that’s what I need. Convenience. Either way, I’m pushing myself to do it!

3. Work smarter, not harder.
I feel like a big chunk of my life is consumed by work. Like… 80% of it. Sadly, I’m probably pretty accurate in that figure. I work ALOT. By the time I get home each day, dinner isn’t served until around 7:30pm (IF I have time to cook at all!) and shortly after we’re all crawling in bed. I need more time with my family.. more personal time. I love what I do, don’t get me wrong. I just feel that I need to (somehow) free up more time for personal things, like family.

4. Revamp!
All these ideas are racing through my head about session set-ups, stylizing, expanding my personal walls and opening up my creativity! A 2012 change to Visual Poetry is going to be an added feature to YOUR sessions. Wait and see!
That’s not all. 2012 will be a GREAT year to revamp my branding and business in full. I really want to reach out to the boudoir market more! Weddings, boudoir and fashion are my (hands-down) favorite sessions to photograph. JEN, DO MORE OF THEM.

5. Studio!
This kind of goes in line with my #4 mention.. but, I have some plans in changing the shooting space up in the studio. As most of you know, our size was cut in half when we changed suites back in August. It’s good and bad all at the same time. Its good because it pushes me to photograph more on location, in clients homes or other locations. Bad because… well… it’s not very big! I’ve been limiting myself to infants and boudoir in there but I think by restructuring a few things I can expand my shooting space.

What are your new years plans? I’d love to hear them!

Ready.. set.. go! Welcome, 2012! Boy-oh-boy do I have plans for you..

One of the most important ‘reminders’ that I took back from the conference is why we do what we do. Why we’re in the business of photography and why our work holds so much value to our clients. The first week of November I lost both my grandmother and my uncle. This was a big eye-opener for me. I spent hours flipping through old albums and sifting through my harddrive for special moments I had with these people. Our job, as photographers, is to create legacies (as one of the speakers had called it). The images we take of you and your family are the images your great, great grandchildren will be looking at to remember you. Photographs are the only tangible evidence that you ever existed. To me, that is an amazing reason to take photographs on a regular basis, both personally and professionally, of those you love.  The value of documenting someone’s legacy is priceless.

If you’re one of those people who hasn’t had your photo taken in years (or ever!) now is the time. Document the youth of your children.. the shared love between you and your spouse.. and revel in who you are, this very moment. Life some times happens so quickly – stop for a moment and create a tangible memory.

We supply model(s), wardrobe, make-up application, hair-styling, location planning… we basically put everything together for you in which you could review the theme of the shoot prior to commiting so you could determine whether it would be beneficial to your portfolio.

Our photographer contributors will be limited to 5 each session. We prefer to keep our numbers small to ensure a more personal shooting enviroment.

For those interested, the fee to join in on one of our stylized photoshoots is $100. We supply the compensation to our make-up artists, hair stylists and make the wardrobe purchases as well as all location permissions and necessary permits. All you have to do is show up!

This is NOT a mentor session and is not for educational purposes. The purpose of these photoshoots are to expand your portfolio and give you creative shooting experiences that will help your photos stand out!

For example, in my own instance, bride and grooms aren’t always creative or edgy. Many of them are traditional (and don’t get me wrong, being traditional is not a bad thing!). However, I was running into the scenerio of wanting more creative and edgy images to showcase. By creating my own photoshoots a few times a year, it allowed me to display the work that I wanted to shoot/book and hopefully inspired some brides in the mean time!

This isn’t only for bridals, however. I talking  senior sessions, infant shoots, family sessions, boudoir.. you name it!

If you’d like to be kept up to date with our upcoming stylized photoshoots, please subscribe to the Visual Poetry newsletters and stay tuned to our blog!

Subscribe Here

I am opening up my schedule to welcome some mentor sessions as well as offering a discount for those scheduled off-season!

What is a Mentor Session?
3 Hours one-on-one with Jen Kniivila, owner and primary photographer of Visual Poetry. During those 3 hours we will discuss any and all areas of concern ranging from camera how-tos, developing or enhancing your shooting style, branding and marketing and so much more! A complimentary mini-session is included so you’re able to get a few professional head shots to help promote yourself and your business. Sessions take place in our Fenton studio located at 12272 N. Fenton Rd. Suite 2 Fenton, MI 48430. We are happy to find models for you, should you decide a shooting mentor session would be most beneficial.

April – October
Mentor Session for ONE $350
Mentor Session for TWO $600

November – March
Mentor Session for ONE $250
Mentor Session for TWO $450

Schedule yours today!

Thanks!

This super rad chick right here will be helping us with marketing, post-processing, the general administrative duties here at the studio and occasionally assist on portraits and weddings.