Photos by Liz

Last minute senior sale! {Tulsa area senior portraits}

2012-02-02T10:32:00.003-06:00

Are you a 2012 senior who still hasn't scheduled your senior portrait session? Don't wait till the pre-graduation rush, schedule your photo shoot for February and save some money, plus have plenty of time to show off and hand out your senior pictures before you graduate high school! I'm offering a 50% discount off of session fees for all 2012 seniors who schedule their appointment in the month of February. That's 50% off of ALL of my session fees, including the glamour session that includes hair and makeup! Dates in February are already booking quickly, so hurry and call me at (918)521-5975 or email liz@photosbyliz.com to book your senior portrait session!

Planning a wedding? {Northeast Oklahoma Wedding Photographer}

2012-01-31T21:41:00.002-06:00

This must be wedding planning season! In the last couple of weeks alone I've booked 3 weddings for 2012 with very awesome couples! One will take place in Eureka Springs, AR (woohoo! I LOVE travelling for weddings!), another in Wagoner, OK at a beautiful wedding chapel and another in Catoosa, OK at yet another adorable chapel. So, just in case you still happen to be shopping for a wedding photographer for your 2012 or 2013 wedding, what are you waiting for? Give me at call at (918)521-5975 or email me at liz@photosbyliz.com to schedule your complimentary wedding consultation and talk about all of the awesome wedding photography options I can offer you! I shoot weddings anywhere within an hour of Adair, OK, which includes Tulsa, Muskogee, Grove, Bartlesville, and all other surrounding areas. I'm also happy to travel further (within a few hours) for a small fee, to places like Eureka Springs, Wichita, Dallas, Oklahoma City, and beyond! I'm also available for destination weddings, just ask! Aside from Oklahoma, I've shot weddings in Kansas, Arkansas, and Texas! Hurry up and contact me to book your wedding date! Here's an awesome video sampler of some of my engagement and wedding work!

What is a Rockstar Model Team Member? {Tulsa area senior photography}

2012-01-26T22:25:00.004-06:00

It's that time again! I'm taking applications for my Rockstar Model Team! Are you wondering exactly what a Rockstar Team member does? Here's a little info for you!

My team members are "spoiled clients!" When you sign up to be a Rockstar Model Team member, you agree to have your senior portraits done by me, but you get so much more than the regular client! Team members receive:

A free mini session

Rep cards with images from the mini session

Discounts on session fees and photo packages

Cash and awesome prizes for referrals

The chance to participate in other cool photo shoots that I hold (remember my Alice shoot from last year? Cool stuff like that.)

Your images used in my advertising materials

An awesome Photos by Liz t-shirt

Cool little extras I do for my reps...you'll just have to join and see!

And all you have to do in return is to tell people about me! If you'd like to be a member of this awesome team, click here to apply! Applications will only be open for a few more weeks!
Above are members from my 2012 Seniors team, Lesley and Brittney! These girls have been so great to have on my team and we had a lot of fun with all of the different shoots we did!

Never mind! {Tulsa area baby photographer}

2012-01-21T20:20:00.012-06:00

Well I feel a little silly. I prematurely announced that I was going to change blogs, but after months of searching for "the perfect blog" I think I've realized that for now I'm happy right here, and I need to put my energy into other things than wandering the internet looking at all the different options there are out there for blogs. I may do some updating to the looks of the blog in the near future, but for now I'm staying right where I am.

So now I have some catching up to do! First of all, happy 2012! I think I'll start out the year by sharing some of my favorites from 2011 that never got blogged. First, here are a few of the beautiful babies that I had sessions with in 2011. Most of these sessions took place at my studio in downtown Tulsa, but I'm also happy to come to client's homes or other awesome outdoor locations for a photo shoot!

To book your baby or child session, email me at liz@photosbyliz.com, or call me at 918-521-5975!

Black Friday Sale!!!

2011-11-23T14:11:00.006-06:00

As promised/threatened in my last blog post, I'm still working on setting up a new blog. In the meantime though, I'm giving this old blog one more use....to advertise my Black Friday Special! Here's the deal: from right now through 11:59 pm on November 28th (Cyber Monday) you can purchase a Photos by Liz $100 gift certificate for $50. You can purchase as many as you like and gift them to friends and family, or use them for yourself! Here's the fine print: no more than 2 may be used per session, the gift certificates may not be combined with any other sale or coupon, and they can only be used towards new sessions, and not for paying off existing balances. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at liz@photosbyliz.com before you purchase. If you're ready to purchase, I've created a handy dandy Paypal button so that you can do so without having to contact me beforehand! Just go ahead and purchase your gift certificates, and after the holiday weekend you'll receive an email from me confirming everything and with all the details.

***UPDATE*** The sale has ended and the Paypal button has been removed. Thank you so much to all who participated in the sale!!!

Dia De Los Muertos

2011-11-01T22:46:00.003-05:00

Happy Day of the Dead! I found these cute little marshmallow suckers at Wal Mart today of all places.

Speaking of things of the past...this blog may very well soon be one. I'm working on transitioning over to a new blog. I'll update when it's done!

Doug and Paige {Tulsa Senior Portraits}

2011-09-19T21:42:00.005-05:00

I just realized that I never blogged Doug and Paige! So here we go!

Doug and Paige are step brother and sister. They seem to be pretty good friends too, and they both graduated from Claremore High School last May. To make things easier on their parents, we did their senior session at the same time, and it was so fun! First we went to Woodward Park, and then we headed to Downtown Tulsa for some cool pictures in the Blue Dome district.

Ladies first of course: here's Paige: She has such a very sweet, easygoing personality and she loves her dog, Rocket, so much that she brought him along for the shoot!

And Doug is a really cool and quiet guy. His favorite picture was this one of him in front of Joe Bot outside of Dwelling Spaces. I think he loves cool public art as much as I do!

So there you have it! Thanks so much guys for an awesome session!

Persian Wedding in Wichita, KS {Oklahoma and Surrounding wedding photography}

2011-09-09T20:34:00.002-05:00

Early in the spring I drove up from Adair to Kansas to second shoot this beautiful wedding with my friend Angie from New Traditions Photography in Wichita. I was happy for the opportunity to add another state to the list of states I've shot weddings in. (You can also count Oklahoma, of course, as well as Arkansas and Texas. And I'm willing to travel further! Just ask!) The wedding was a traditional Persian ceremony, and seeing all of the rituals that I don't usually get to see in wedding ceremonies was very interesting. It was a beautiful wedding with a beautiful couple and I'm so happy that I had the chance to help document their big day!

Studio Maternity Session {Tulsa maternity photographer}

2011-08-31T23:51:00.003-05:00

Whew! Just realized that with this busy summer I've missed out on blogging a few newer sessions! Time to change that! Here's a great maternity session that we shot at the downtown Tulsa studio recently. The mom had so many great ideas, and little sister came along and we got some great belly pictures! Daddy is away in the military, I was glad we were able to represent him a little in the photos. Military families always get a 10% discount with me!

Frequently Asked Questions {Tulsa Area Portrait Photographer}

2011-08-28T17:46:00.003-05:00

I often get the same questions regarding portrait sessions. I thought I'd take the time today to sit down and try to answer them all in one nice little blog post. I'm making a few changes on how I book my sessions that will be more convenient for everyone. I might even copy this to my web site so that it has a nice permanent home. If you still have questions, feel free to leave them in the comments, and I may end up putting them on the website version as well!

How do I book a portrait session?

You can initially contact me by phone by texting or calling me at (918)521-5975, or by email at liz@photosbyliz.com. You can also feel free to contact me on my facebook page or twitter. Once we decide on a date and time, I'll email you a welcome packet with details about your session, a link to a pre-session survey, and instructions on how to pay your session fee. View my website here to see what types of sessions I offer. Your session date and time is not reserved until the session fee is paid. Once I get your survey and your session fee back, we'll schedule a time for me to call you so that we can plan out all of the details of how we'll go about shooting your session.

Where can we do my photo shoot?

We have a lot of great options here in beautiful Northeast Oklahoma. I have a fully equipped professional portrait studio in downtown Tulsa, by appointment only, at 1209 S. Frankfort. There we have a variety of background options and my studio has a giant freight elevator so the options of what you can bring along to your session are limitless. I actually live in Adair, Oklahoma, and I will drive to meet you at any outdoor location that you wish that is within about an hour of Adair. This includes downtown and metro Tulsa, the beautiful parks and lakes of Northeast, OK, and just about anywhere you'd like! The Main Street area of most smaller Oklahoma towns usually have some great old buildings that make for wonderful backdrops. I also have portable studio equipment like lights and backdrops that I'll bring to your home for certain situations. Maybe you have a newborn baby and you're not quite ready to venture out of the house, or may you want your family holiday portraits done in front of your own decorated fireplace this year.

What can I bring to my session?

I want your portraits as custom and personalized for you as possible! Pets, outfit changes, and special items from home are always welcome at your portrait session!

How do I order my photos?

About a week after your session, we'll meet again for a Proofing and Ordering Session. We will meet either at my studio, your home, or a local public place that we decide on, like a coffee shop. We'll go through all of your proofs and you will place your order at that time. A Proofing and Ordering session usually takes about half an hour.

Do you offer payment plans?

Yes! I offer no-interest payment plans to all of my clients for their print and product orders! Just ask at your Proofing and Ordering Session.

How soon will I get my photos?

Once your order is paid in full, your order is usually ready for delivery in a week and a half. I always deliver your order in-person!

Do you have a referral rewards program?

Yes! I just introduced it and all new and returning clients are included in it. When you receive your print order from me, you will receive special wallets with your photo and my contact info. If a new client books a paid portrait session and either returns a referral wallet or writes on their contract that you referred them, you will receive a $25 gift card to a local restaurant! If a wedding client books and says that you referred them, you will receive a gift card, AND the couple will receive a gift card on their wedding day!

Oklahoma Sunset Timelapse {OK Art Photographer}

2011-08-20T23:11:00.004-05:00

Welcome to my first YouTube video! I got together my equipment to film a time lapse of an event this weekend (more on that later) and tested everything by shooting a time lapse of the sunset as seen from my porch. I love the way the clouds look, and if you watch closely, you see a plane fly by. Time lapse photography is very fun to play with and hopefully I can continue to have fun with it in the future!

Baby Nicole's 1 year portraits {Tulsa Baby Photographer}

2011-08-15T15:18:00.003-05:00

I photographed Nicole at my downtown Tulsa studio for her one year birthday portraits. Isn't she beautiful? First we did pictures in her nice, clean, birthday clothes, and then we got messy and did a cake smash! We had the best time at this photo shoot! If you would like to do a one year session with a cake smash, contact me for booking! Call or text me at (918)521-5975 or email liz@photosbyliz.com

Project Instamatic - bummer

2011-08-10T22:19:00.004-05:00

Well, I finally dropped by KC Color in Tulsa today to see how the film I dropped off a few weeks ago from this project turned out. From my limited research, I think KC Color is about the only place left in Tulsa that still develops and prints film. I love the smell of the place as soon as I walk in there. It reminds me of my high school dark room days, and later my high school job in a 1 hr film lab. Do those still exist anywhere? Anyway, I was disappointed to realize that my film didn't turn out. You can't even make out frames on it, much less the pictures. The pictures I took were awesome. I took that camera everywhere with me, making sure each of the 12 frames mattered. I had some cool stuff: a picture of the downtown Tulsa skyline, a picture of Catoosa's Blue Whale, a picture of the cool old water tower in Adair, and other cool stuff. But none of that matters because none of those photos exist. Hummmph. The moral of this story? Don't trust garage sale film. It was a fun experiment though. 126 film is no longer manufactured, but I think I'll try and get another roll online somewhre and try one more time. Using that little Instamatic is so fun! I did lay the negatives on my scanner, just for fun. That kind of turned out artistic, right?

Alice in Wonderland Inspired Model Shoot {Tulsa area portrait photographer}

2011-08-01T10:56:00.003-05:00

Last month I got together with 5 awesome local girls and had a very fun concept shoot, inspired by Alice in Wonderland. The really cool, giant mushrooms that you see in the background were what really got this whole thing going in my head. They are on the property of the Blue Whale on Route 66 in Catoosa, OK. These 'shrooms are still on private property, and we had special permission to shoot there, so you can't visit them, but the whale himself is just as awesome to visit if you're ever in Catoosa. Hair was done on 3 of the models by Heather Chapman of Tulsa and 2 of the models by Inspired Hair Salon of Claremore. We had a great time! Thanks to everyone who came together to make this shoot possible!

Celebration time! {Tulsa area portrait photographer}

2011-07-18T23:44:00.003-05:00

Photos by Liz has been in existence since 2005. During that time I've always worked some kind of job...usually part time. I've held positions such as call center customer service representative, bank bookkeeper, and most recently, medical secretary. I'm proud to announce that I'm walking away from the office and going full time! This means more time to throw myself into improving my business even more, and more time to spend on my clients! I'm so excited about this new chapter in my photography business that I'm throwing a sale for my first full time month! This is a giant savings for you, and can be applied to any session booked in August: families, children, couples, babies, seniors, boudior....everything! Offer available for studio or on-location sessions! Call or email me today to book your session!

Instamatic Project {Tulsa art photography}

2011-07-15T22:43:00.005-05:00

I love garage sales and thrift stores and all things vintage. And of course I love photography, so when I'm spending early Saturday mornings digging through other people's old stuff, I always love finding vintage cameras. I found this Kodak Instamatic at a garage sale with an unopened roll of 126 film, all just for $5. I immediately purchased it and brought it home. It sat untouched in the case for awhile, but July 4th weekend I finally pulled it out and for the first time in about 5 years I loaded film into a camera. Kodak Instamatic film is no longer produced, so I knew my 12 frames were precious. I've taken the camera with me on a few outings and as of yesterday I finally clicked the final frame. It's a nice feeling, to manually advance the film, press the shutter and have no idea how the photo turned out. I don't know how this film was kept over the years, so the pictures might not turn out so great. There's only one place in Tulsa that develops 126 film on site, hopefully I'll be dropping the film off to be developed next week. How did we manage before digital??? Once I get the film developed, I'll post the results here....no matter how they turn out!

Brothers! {Claremore child photographer}

2011-07-07T22:12:00.002-05:00

Aren't these boys handsome? The oldest brother, Nathaniel, was the winner of my "Photos by Liz Cutest Kiddos" contest! He received the most votes on a contest I held on my facebook fan page and won a free mini session at my studio in Tulsa! His adorable little brother also tagged along to the shoot so he got some pictures taken as well! These boys were so well-mannered inside my studio at all times! They even offered to help me move my lights and equipment as we moved to the different areas of the studio! I had the best time and we got some great photos!

July Sale for 2012 Seniors! {Tulsa area senior pictures}

2011-07-05T12:02:00.005-05:00

Are you a 2012 senior? Ready to have your senior portrait session? Then I have a great sale for you! Book your session in the month of July and receive $75 off your session fee! That's a HUGE savings! A one location (your choice of my downtown Tulsa studio or outdoor an on-location session anywhere you wish) session is usually $100, so this makes it just $25 if you book in July! Or a studio + outdoor location session is usually $150, which makes it $75 in July, OR an extended, multi-location session with professional hair and makeup is usually $250, so this makes it $175! This is a huge savings, no matter what session you choose! Contact me today at liz@photosbyliz.com or (918)521-5975 so we can start planning your awesome senior photo shoot!

Morgan - 2011 Senior portraits {Claremore Senior Photographer}

2011-07-04T12:14:00.004-05:00

Here's Morgan, a 2011 Claremore High School senior that I never got around to blogging. We had a great time at her senior portrait session in my studio in downtown Tulsa. Thanks so much for using Photos by Liz for your senior pictures!

It was soooo cold in the stairwell, but you wouldn't know it. Morgan is a pro!

I love this one! I was so glad she brought that awesome dress with her!

Love her gorgeous eyes!

Want boudoir portraits? {Tulsa area boudoir photography}

2011-07-03T10:32:00.003-05:00

Just a reminder that I do boudoir photography! Summer is a great time to get your boudior portraits because you're usually at the peak of fitness and the most tan you'll be all year. I offer packages that include professional hair and makeup, as well as group packages that are great for bachelorette parties! Shoots can be done in my studio or at your home. If you get at least 4 girls together for a picture party, I'll even spring for a hotel room, champagne, and light snacks! This year, don't give your man a shirt or some lame tools for your anniversary or Christmas gift. Give him an album full of photos of you looking hot! This is also a great gift for a bride to give a new husband on her wedding day! Want more info? Contact me at liz@photosbyliz.com or (918)521-5975!

June 2012 Senior Sale {Tulsa Area Senior Pictures}

2011-06-13T21:39:00.003-05:00

It's been a few weeks since I posted...I had a beautiful vacation down to Galveston, TX with my family but I'm back at work and ready to book more sessions! Here's my June sale, which is $100 off any 2012 senior session! This is available for studio or outdoor sessions. My one location, unlimited outfit session is $100, so this makes that session FREE and an session with a hair and makeup artist is $250...this is a great time to take advantage of a huge discount on those sessions! At these prices sessions will fill up fast, so contact me asap to book! Email me at liz@photosbyliz.com and we'll get your session booked!

Blake and Jenny's Wedding {Northeast OK Wedding photographer}

2011-05-15T20:19:00.006-05:00

I had the best time photographing Blake and Jenny's wedding! They were my first wedding for the 2011 wedding season and I was ready to jump back into the game. The cool part was that the ceremony was at a church in Adair just a couple of miles from my home. I'm used to driving up to an hour to shoot a wedding, so having a next to nothing drive time was awesome! They also opted for a "first look" session, where we did a private photo session of the two of them before the ceremony. It was so much fun, and such a tender moment for them! Thanks so much, Blake and Jenny, for choosing Photos by Liz for your wedding photography needs!

Flaming Lips NYE Freakout 2010/2011

2011-05-07T00:48:00.005-05:00

I'm very late in posting these, (just what, a little over 5 months?) but I've been meaning to put up a few of my photos from the Flaming Lips New Year's Eve Freakout show in OKC that I attended. We were in Level 3 seating, so I was pretty far back, but still got some shots that I love. Maybe next year I can figure out how to get into the photographer pit. These shows are pure energy! If you ever get the chance to see a Flaming Lips show, GO!

Rozlyn - Broken Arrow Senior 2011 {Tulsa Area Senior Portraits}

2011-05-05T23:05:00.003-05:00

I had the best time at Rozlyn's senior picture photo shoot! She is very talented and plays the guitar and has a beautiful voice. After the session she was nice enough to play one of her original songs for me and I was blown away by her talent. She plays locally, so if you ever see that she's playing somewhere, make sure to catch her show. She's amazing! We did the photo shoot at the studio in downtown Tulsa and she brought her guitars and speakers and stuff and doing a rock star inspired senior portrait session was very fun for me!

Mai's Maternity Portraits {Tulsa Maternity Photographer}

2011-04-24T18:04:00.007-05:00

I had the best time at Mai's maternity session at the Tulsa studio! As such a beautiful expectant momma, her session was a breeze to shoot! We got some beautiful belly pictures, and also got in a few family photos as well! Thank you so much Mai for choosing Photos by Liz for your maternity portraits!!

Blake and Jenny's Engagement Session {Adair Engagement Portraits}

2011-04-17T15:33:00.005-05:00

Here's another unblogged 2010 session. This was Blake and Jenny's engagement photo session. Even though it was freezing, we had such a great time! We did some of their session in downtown Adair,OK at the fire station and on Main Street, then we moved to Blake's family's beautiful farm for even more awesome portraits! I had the best time capturing their engagement pictures!

Unblogged 2010 Session - Foyil Senior Kasi {Foyil Senior Portrait Photography}

2011-04-15T00:07:00.004-05:00

Here's a great session from late 2010 that I never blogged. This was in December to be exact, and if memory serves me right I think the high temperature that day was about 22 degrees. It was freeeeezing! We held Kasi's session at Will Roger's Memorial and got some pretty cool pictures! We even braved the cold for a few shots! Kasi is a senior at Foyil High School and we had the best time during her senior portrait shoot! Thanks Kasi for choosing Photos by Liz for your senior pictures!

365: Days 126-130

2011-04-12T00:05:00.003-05:00

Confession time. I kind of went all flaky on the 365 project around day 136, so I'm almost out of photos to upload. I'm going to try to pick back up on it, but I kind of feel like a fraud since it's not 365 consecutive days. But here are some of the last days, which, by the birdy feet snow tracks, were obviously taken awhile ago. Oh and that redhead up there? That's me! Enjoy!

April is Autism Awareness Month {Tulsa area special needs photography}

2011-04-03T21:59:00.004-05:00

April is Autism Awareness Month. I'm running the same special that I ran last year, which is to offer free portrait sessions to as many children of families affected by autism that I can.

My 7 year old son has a diagnosis of PDD-NOS, and I know how he would react in a photo studio. Heck, I took him to my own studio after I moved in last fall just to show it off to him and *possibly* get a few pictures and I know how he reacted. He ran, and ran, and ran, and ran. And then had a meltdown. The new place with all the sights and sounds, the flashes, the props, it's all just too much. Sensory overload sets in and what else can he do? There's no chance of getting a photo of him sitting still and smiling!

That's why I'm offering this special. I know how hard it is to get a photo of a child on the autism spectrum, but I also know what to do, or more importantly, what not to do. I won't bring my flash or overbearing props, I won't yell "smile!", I won't have a negative reaction if they get all stimmy. I want to meet you in a place where your child is comfortable, and take the time to let them get comfortable with me, and hopefully get a few portraits. And if they do have a meltdown, no big deal. I've been there.

The session free is fee, and I'll have special discounts on packages. And if we don't end up getting any pictures, no big deal. You have no obligation to buy.

This is my son's fall portrait from last year. As he gets older and more used to my camera, portraits get easier to take. But he still yells "no flash!" and I know I have to move fast. It's hard to get him to make steady eye contact with the camera. And I can't pose him. The nanosecond after the shutter clicked on this photo he was already walking away.

Click on the 'autism' tag on the right labels sidebar to see my posts from the Autism Awareness special last year.

Want to book? Only sessions that take place in April will be free, and the number of sessions I'll be able to book is limited.

Contact me by email at liz@photosbyliz.com or by calling or texting me at (918)521-5975

Bridal and New Baby Gift Registry {Tulsa area wedding and baby photography}

2011-03-24T22:10:00.003-05:00

Want awesome photography for your wedding or new baby? Of course, everyone does. Want a discreet way to ask your friends and family to help pay for it? Check out my gift registry!

Let's face it, these days many people are marrying older. And when that happens, they usually already have toasters and crock pots and flatware and all that stuff. So the typical gift registry isn't necessary. But capturing the memories of your wedding day is still high on your priority list. So why not register for your wedding photography package?

And if you're having a baby, you really only need so many onesies. Especially if this is baby number 2 or 3 or more! But what you really could use is a Baby's 1st Year photography plan to capture your new little one during their first year of life.

This is where the Photos by Liz Gift Registry works perfectly for you! Let me know that you're interested in signing up for it, and I'll send you cards that you can insert in your shower invitations that direct your guests to my site and tell them how to donate money towards your photography package. Your guest will then receive a gift certificate to give you.

If you want to sign up for a registry of your own, contact me today! liz@photosbyliz.com or 918 521 5975!

Unblogged 2010 Session - Katie - OKVA Senior {Tulsa Area Homeschool Senior Portraits}

2011-03-12T09:44:00.003-06:00

Here's another session full of gorgeous photos that I never blogged last year. Katie is receiving her education from Oklahoma Virtual Academy, which is the same curriculim I'm using to homeschool my son. We did Katie's session on a beautiful fall day at Woodward Park in Tulsa and got some beautiful images for her senior portraits! Thanks Katie for letting me take your senior portraits!

Unblogged 2010 Session - Wirth Family {Catoosa Family Portraits}

2011-03-10T21:19:00.003-06:00

I have a few sessions from last year that never got their time to shine on the blog. Here is one in particular that I loved. I love this family. And I'm not just saying that. I was best friends with this mommy alllll through school, and I watched these two fall in love in high school. The fact that they are happily married and have a family now is fantastic and I'm glad I got to capture their cute family on camera! They chose The Blue Whale in Catoosa, OK as the location for their family shoot, and the session was right before Halloween, so they brought their adorable son's Elvis costume with them. Everything about this session was so perfectly cute that it deserved to be blogged long, long ago. Sorry that I'm only now posting the photos!

I just love those big blue eyes!

One of my favorite photos from the session because
the joy on his face is amazing here. Someone loves momma and daddy.

Gorgeous family + Elmo.

Is this not the BEST COSTUME EVER? I couldn't get over it. Especially the little glasses with sideburns. So darn cute!

365: Days 121-125

2011-03-09T22:54:00.003-06:00

This was the first snow of the season. And to think I was so excited about it.

The Twin Bridges on Route 66. One is falling apart and they're going to be torn down and replaced in a year or so. I love how the moon joined us in this photo.

This is the arm of my office chair.

A little herb garden. The herbs have since sprouted and then died. I thought it looked adorable on my kitchen counter but unfortunately there wasn't enough sunlight.

My water cup.

Baby Chicks!

2011-03-06T23:40:00.002-06:00

I don't know what's happened to me. When I first started dating my husband, I had grown up in a regular neighborhood and wasn't used to farm type things. I thought his family was so country because they owned goats. I still have a fear of large livestock. I've been on a horse exactly 3 times in my life, and I was terrified each time. And now look at me. Here I am with 5 baby chicks that I'm absolutely smitten with! I've been poring over coop plans to figure out what type of coop will make them the happiest chickens, spending tons of time just sitting in front of their cage petting them, and already dreaming about all of the lovely omlettes I'll be making by the end of the summer with their eggs! The kids love them, and the cats want to eat them. Poor little things, they have 2 pairs of kitty eyes watching their every move all day long!

Note kitty sitting to the right.

365: Days 116 - 120

2011-03-06T15:18:00.002-06:00

Even though you can't see my son's face, I really like this picture of him.

Tiny buddha that I came across and photographed. The closed eyes in the photo actually kind of creep me out.

New Year's Eve beer.

This was at midnight at the Flaming Lip's New Years Eve Freakout. Despite the fact that our seats were way towards the back, I got some great pictures that night. I think I'll do a blog post on the entire concert.

Historic Route 66 Round barn. This was a neat little place to stop.

More from the 365 series! New Year's Eve week!

365: Days 111- 115

2011-02-27T20:31:00.002-06:00

Silly image, it's just a close up of a paper towel. But it occurred to me that night that it's probably somebody's job just to decide what designs go on paper towels.

Yes, this is how behind I am on blogging Project 365. It's almost March and I'm posting Christmas. Sorry there. But this was a nice little stack of freshly wrapped gifts.

Merry Christmas! I took this on Dec 25th. Nothing easier to play with bokeh with than Christmas lights.

This was the day after Christmas...Boxing Day in Canada according to the calendars. So I photographed a box.

Sunlight on a wood rack.

Well, here I am. I haven't posted to my own blog in a little while. Quite honestly I got away from the 365 Project for quite awhile. We had alot of snow here a couple of weeks ago. ALOT. Record breaking for Oklahoma. Winter is always good at giving me a case of the frumpies, where I kind of give up at everything for a little while. We'll just say that the 365 project "went into hibernation." Sounds good, right? Actually, I've stayed fairly busy with clients this winter, which is FANTASTIC because this is the slow season. I just haven't taken pictures of "artsy stuff." Anyway, today I took some photos. Of "artsy stuff." I was happy, it was magical. All that fluff. I think Spring is going to pick me back up. Thank God, because I need it.

365: Days 106 - 110

2011-02-05T23:31:00.004-06:00

As I've mentioned before, I homeschool. We follow the K12 online curriculim, but I like to throw additional projects in there from time to time just because they're fun. This was at the beginning of winter, so we made some things for the birdies to eat. Unfortunately the lesson I learned from this project was that black labs love popcorn and peanut butter laden pinecones and will eat all low hanging items as soon as you're not looking.

I love how plants can still be pretty even when they're dead.

Nothing like the warmth of a real fire.

I've been using my crock pot to cook alot lately. My newest favorite? Loaded backed potato soup. I used the recipe found here and it really is amazing. My hubby "isn't a fan of " soup OR baked potatoes, yet he loved this one. (Or maybe he just said that so I'll keep cooking for him.)

Getting closer and closer to caught up. In reality I shot day 134 today. We're getting there. In the meantime, enjoy. I'm enjoying blogging daily. Why did I stop in the first place? This is fun.

What does a 2012 Rockstar Team Member do?

2011-02-05T12:44:00.003-06:00

Calling all local high school juniors! I'm looking for some awesome Class of 2012 seniors to represent Photos by Liz throughout your senior year. I'm accepting applications from all the local schools. Shown above are just a few of my 2011 Senior Reps. To apply, click on the application link on my website or to go straight to the application, click here to apply. All you have to do is have your senior portraits done through me, and tell your friends about me. Why should you be a Rockstar Team Member?

Receive a FREE mini-session
Get images to use on facebook
Have your photos used in Photos by Liz advertising materials
Receive FREE Rep Cards personalized with your photos
Receive 50% off your full Senior Session fee
Just for signing up and being accepted, receive 10% off any print package
Earn bigger DISCOUNTS on your senior print packages
Earn CASH for each client that you refer that books with Photos by Liz
Earn bigger PRIZES with more referrals!

After you apply, I'll get in touch with you within a few days. I'll have a few meetups scheduled where you and your parents can come and meet me and hear all the details of the program.

What are you waiting for? Click here to apply now!

365: Days 101-105

2011-02-04T17:23:00.004-06:00

The most recognizeable statue shoes in Claremore: Will Rogers. I took this during a senior session that took place at the Will Rogers Museum.

This was on the side of a highway. I'm pretty bad about seeing something pretty, and if I have my camera, pulling over and photographing it. Makes for some great photos though.

Have I mentioned I homeschool?

Gingerbread house!

I love glitter.

Days 101-105 on the slowly-getting-caught-up-on-posting 365 project.

365: Days 96 - 100

2011-02-03T14:30:00.003-06:00

I loved these berries! I saw this on the side of the road and just had to pull over to get the shot. This tree was covered in them, although I was so interested in the detail shots that I didn't even get a pullback shot of the tree.

This was actually taken with my iPhone and the Hipstamatic app. This week I found myself using my phone a few times to capture photos for my 365 project.

Our Christmas tree from the very bottom. (Even though I'm just blogging these, they were taken in mid-December.) I liked this angle on it.

I took this one in Tulsa traffic, again with the phone. Sadly, we're country people who apparently don't get out too much, because my kids were fascinated by the cab.

PSO from the Oologah Lake dam. I grew up not far from here and still drive by here at least 3 times a week.

Days 96 through 100. Playing catchup and getting these things posted!

Product Spotlight: Custom Image Disc {Northeast OK Portrait Photographer}

2011-02-01T13:33:00.003-06:00

With the way everything is converting to digital these days, most clients aren't interested in only purchasing paper prints of their photos, they also want digital images. In response to that demand, I have a couple of packages that include the digital images, plus I sell the disc of images. And look how beautiful that disc is! Every time I order one of these for a client, I'm always impressed at how great the quality of the photo on the front of the disc is. I still like to stress the importance of purchasing your large prints through me. When it comes to albums and the prints that you hang on your walls you don't want to take risks. I use a fantastic professional photo lab that I have personally taken a tour of. All of their very high tech machinery is expertly calibrated and photos are printed on professional quality paper. I cannot promise color consistency or photo quality if you take this disc to your local drugstore, but these discs are a fantastic way to have the images from your session available for things like scrapbooking, posting online, and putting in digital frames. Clients love them!

Megan, Sequoyah High School Senior 2011 {Claremore Area Senior Portraits}

2011-01-30T22:27:00.003-06:00

I'm a little behind on blogging. As I catch up on past posts, I'll also try to post my more recent stuff. I don't think that I've blogged any senior sessions that have taken place in the studio since I moved in there in November, so I thought I'd do that today. Megan is one of my most recent seniors. She's graduating from Claremore Sequoyah (which is where I graduated from too!) and is just the sweetest girl ever! I had a great time working with her, and also meeting her sister, her mom, and her brand new niece!

365: Days 91 - 95

2011-01-30T21:56:00.002-06:00

365: Days 86-90

2011-01-27T23:00:00.005-06:00

Thanksgiving? Really? I'm this far behind? These are the Thanksgiving dessert/art project I made with my kiddos. Pilgrim hats! Easy, adorable, and tasty.

Love me some Starbucks. Especially peppermint mochas. They fueled my Christmas shopping season.

Rain on windshield on sunset.

These are adorable bracelets my hubby got me from Photojojo.com. They're camera focusing rings from my two most loved lenses!

My hubby (the one with the chops) and two of our close guy friends out on the town for my 30th birthday.

I've neglected my blog for a little while. I thought I was changing to a new server, but for now I'm staying put. I plan on prettying things up and updating more often, so if you're reading now...make sure to come back! I haven't been the most dilligent on the 365 project. It's kind of become a "whenever I feel like taking a picture" project. I'll get better though. I'm currently at about day 120 (obviously I'm behind on posting) and it's just hard to keep that momentum up with the winter blahs in full swing. I'll get better. I promise.

New website!

2011-01-14T23:09:00.001-06:00

My email and everything else should be working properly now. Go check out my new website! I love it! Feel free to tell me what you think!

www.photosbyliz.com

Email Drama

2011-01-07T22:44:00.003-06:00

My email is down! I'm switching to a new website and I thought I was following instructions to a T but apparently I "pointed" the servers a little too early, and now because of some type of technical jargon I really don't understand I can't access my email for a little while. Hopefully sometime mid-Saturday it will be back up. So if you're trying to reach me, you can still message me via facebook or call me at 918.521.5975. Otherwise, my email should be working by the end of the weekend. Darn technology!

Edited to add: the website appears to be having some issues too. Bear with me!

In other news, keep an eye out for a fabulous new website! After that, the blog will be changing!

365: Days 81 - 85

2010-12-05T01:25:00.001-06:00

Catching up, catching up, catching up!

Amanda - Adair High School Senior Portraits {Adair, OK Senior Photographer}

2010-12-04T20:14:00.007-06:00

This is my Adair Class of '11 senior rep, Amanda! We did her full session in late summer, but I never blogged it. Amanda is from Adair, and although I love shooting all over Northeast Oklahoma, I especially love it when I get clients from Adair! We did her session in Pryor. She had a multiple location package so we had a really great time running all over town! We even shot a portion of her session inside Classic Beauty Hair Salon, which was so cool since Amanda is currently training to be a hairstylist.

365: 76 - 80

2010-12-04T20:09:00.004-06:00

I'm behind! I've been taking pictures, but haven't been posting them anywhere online! But I'm in the process of playing catchup! Enjoy!

Cyber Monday Sale! {Tulsa portrait photographer}

2010-11-28T20:32:00.004-06:00

My Black Friday sale was successful, so I thought I'd stay in the spirit of the season and offer a Cyber Monday sale! New clients can purchase a $100 gift certificate for $75, and existing clients can receive a free gallery re-upload and 10% off all print and product re-orders. This is a great opportunity to get a discount on photo Christmas cards or gift items! Email liz!@photosbyliz.com to take part in the sale!

Black Friday Sale!!

2010-11-25T20:34:00.000-06:00

Photos by Liz Black Friday Sale! Purchase a $100 gift certificate for $50! This can be purchased by new or existing clients, to use for yourself or to give as a gift, and can be used towards session fees or towards print and product purchases. To purchase, just send an email anytime on Friday the 26th to liz@photosbyliz.com telling me how many certificates you'd like to purchase. I'll email you back an invoice!

365: Days 71-75

2010-11-12T23:42:00.003-06:00

I'm a little behind in posting! Can you tell that days 71 through 75 were during Halloween by the Halloween themed post? That's a holiday we take pretty seriously around here!

Have I mentioned I have a studio now? {Tulsa Area Portrait Photographer}

2010-11-08T21:42:00.005-06:00

I'm really excited to announce that Photos by Liz is now booking appointments in an awesome 8,000 square foot studio space located in downtown Tulsa. The weather is starting to turn cold, and the studio has so many neat areas to shoot in, including large windows with a gorgeous view of downtown Tulsa, a high key wall, exposed brick, and tons of other cool stuff! It's the perfect place to shoot all types of portraits...babies, children, families, seniors....everything! I'm even holding a boudior day there November 20th! Studio sessions are by appointment only, so call me at 918 521 5975 or email me at liz@photosbyliz.com to book your session!

Tulsa Boudoir Mini Sessions - Important UPDATE

2010-11-07T22:34:00.002-06:00

I just wanted to let anyone interested in the boudoir session day on November 20th know that I'm moving it from the Hard Rock to my studio space. I found out that a certain rock star who shall remain unnamed is playing the Hard Rock that night and has the hotel booked to capacity. They expect it to be a little crazy around there that day, so I'm moving the event to my studio space in downtown Tulsa. Not only will we have more privacy, we'll also have more space that we wouldn't have had in a hotel room. I'm really excited about this change and I'm already thinking of the sets I can create for the shoot! I only have a few slots left on the boudoir mini session day, if you'd like to book call me at 918.521.5975 or email liz@photosbyliz.com

Boudoir Mini-Sessions at Tulsa's Hard Rock Hotel! {Tulsa Boudoir Photographer}

2010-11-02T22:17:00.006-05:00

Looking for the perfect holiday gift for that special someone, or do you just want to treat yourself? Here's a GREAT opportunity! On November 20th I'm having a boudoir day at the Hard Rock Hotel in Tulsa. Come and be pampered and made to look your best by professional hair and makeup artists, then have a 45 minute private photo shoot. You'll receive a 4x8 accordion book, gift packaged in a lovely box with a ribbon. I'm only taking a limited number of reservations for this exciting day, so book fast to reserve your spot! Call (918)521-5975 or email liz@photosbyliz.com to book!

Also, if you would prefer to do your hair and makeup yourself before you arrive, you can get a session with everything listed above minus the hair and makeup artists for $115!

You'll receive a beautiful custom designed accordion album.

Just a few images from my last boudior day.

365: Days 66 - 70

2010-11-01T20:56:00.002-05:00

365 - Days 61 - 65

2010-11-01T20:50:00.002-05:00

There's definitely a fall theme going on in this group. I love the colors of this time of year!

365 - Days 56 - 60

2010-10-27T21:46:00.003-05:00

Woah! I fell a little behind on blogging! I have a few great sessions and I have to play catchup on the 365 project. Enjoy while I put up a truckload of posts over the next few days!

Project 365 - Days 51 - 55

2010-10-09T22:33:00.003-05:00

Still having an awesome time with the project!

Project 365 - Made it to day 50!

2010-09-28T21:45:00.002-05:00

50 days is a drop in the bucket when I'm shooting daily for 365 days. And I'll admit that I've missed a day here and there, but for the most part, I've kept up with this project and had a great time doing it. Enjoy days 46 through 50!

The Protzman Family {Claremore, OK Family Photographer}

2010-09-25T20:06:00.005-05:00

Meet the Protzman family! We've actually known the Protzmans for a long time, because early in our marriage, my hubby and I worked at the same company as them. It had been awhile since I've seen their family and I just about fell over when we all showed up at the lake for the session and their kids got out of the car. They're so grown up! But it was great seeing them, and we had a fantastic session at Claremore Lake.

365 - Days 41 - 45

2010-09-19T22:46:00.002-05:00

I'm starting to realize how much I truly love taking photos at sunset time. There's something so beautiful about the colors and the light at that time. There just so happen to be 2 sunset time photos in this set. (The one with the tree I entered into the fair's photography competition. Wish me luck!)

365 - Days 36 through 40

2010-09-12T21:41:00.002-05:00

This week we had a few adventures. We went to a car show in Claremore and we also visited the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa. I love that Philbrook photo but I think my favorite photo from this set is that spider. Watching her build that web was fascinating, and the light was just beautiful.

New Photo Package - Baby's First Year! {Northeast OK Baby Portraits}

2010-09-12T01:35:00.004-05:00

Today I'm unveiling the first of a few new packages that I'm going to begin offering. Up until now I've been operating on a very simple pricing scheme: pay a session fee and buy whatever you want. But experience has taught me that people sometimes want packages, and I've developed an awesome one: The Tummies to Tots Package. The photo says it all, have professional portraits of your baby at newborn (preferably within the first 10 days of life), 3 months, your choice of 6 or 9 months, and 1 year. For $400 you receive 4 portrait sessions and an 8x10 of your choice from each session, 20 custom designed birth announcements after the newborn session, 10% off additional print and product purchases from each session, and a beautiful custom designed hardcover book showcasing portraits from all of the sessions at completion of the program. Plus you can add a maternity session to the whole thing for $50. All of this purchased seperately would equal over $700, but by signing up for the package and paying up front you receive all this for only $400! I can't wait to start enrolling babies into the program! If you're reading this and think it would make a great gift for some new parents to be, contact me about a beautiful gift certificate to give the new mom at the baby shower!

Meet Jamie Koppi - Texas Photographer - Interview Series

2010-09-09T21:39:00.006-05:00

I recently had the opportunity to interview a fellow professional photographer I've known for a few years now. It's always so fun to make friends with other photographers and get together to talk shop every now and then. Jamie Koppi is owner and photographer of Koppi Write Photography in The Woodlands, TX. In addition to having just about the cutest photography business name I've seen, I've watched her business grow by leaps and bounds over the last few years and I'm looking forward to attending a boudior photography class that Jamie will be teaching next Spring.

Hopefully this will be the first in a series of interviews of other photographers from across the country. Enjoy Jamie's beautiful photography and business insights!

What is your name/location/business name/specialty?

Jamie Koppi, owner & principal photographer of Koppi Write Photography. I started out specializing in Weddings & High School Seniors and have recently added Boudoir to my specialties.

How do you describe your photographic style?

Super Simplistic. I don't use a lot of props and typically prefer the images where my subject is NOT looking at the camera smiling.

Did you have a moment where you knew you had what it took to be a professional photographer?

It's funny actually. My birthday came around and I THOUGHT I had what it took... a nice DSLR camera! I soon found out I needed a lot more than just my camera!

Do you have a particular favorite photo that you've taken so far? Describe.

I am my own worst critic (as I think we all are). But my all-time favorite image was a photo that I took my senior year in high school. It was an awesome football shot. You could see dirt flying, the running back was holding on the ball as he was being tackled and you could see the intensity in all of their faces. The best part was that I took that with my Canon Rebel film camera, and developed the negatives and prints myself!

What subject matter do you most enjoy working with?

Boudoir. Women of all shapes, sizes and walks of life all have one thing in common. They want to feel and look beautiful. My approach to boudoir photography is to figure out what they think is their best feature and highlight that. In the end I just want to show them how beautiful they are.
Other than portrait photography, are there any other photography related projects that you have?

I design and sell templates for photographers. I also have a few new photographers that I mentor. I show them how to use their cameras, and we talk shop and business stuff all the time. I have a nice network of photography friends both local and nationwide due to several forums I am on. It is amazing all of the people are out there that are willing to help a newbie out for free, and I just want to return the favor. Thanks Mpix!

What did your photography training consist of?

Not to sound cliche... but I have always had a camera. I have 110 film cameras, polaroids, 35 mm SLR cameras. I took a photojournalism class in high school in 1998. Because they didn't have a PJ2 class, I was the office aide in that class for the next 2 years, yearbook photo editor etc. I was reluctant to go digital and when I finally did, I attended class, seminars, worked with mentors etc, but my most valuable learning tool was the mpix community.

Why is photography important to you?

I have a very chaotic, messy, creative mind. Photography helps me reign that in and give me something to focus on. As a wife, and mother of 3 kiddos, photography helps me keep a part of me that is mine alone. No one else shares the vision that I have, and no one else can capture it like me. I guess you could say it makes me "special" :)

Are there any photographers that inspire you? If so, who?

Gosh... there are several photographers that inspire me for different reasons. Rod Evans senior work is absolutely AMAZING! Jerry Ghionis has breathtaking wedding images. Sandy Puc does awesome child & family work and has a great business mind.
However; locally, Christine Tremoulet is freaking awesome! Boudoir & Wedding... amazing!

What's the best business advice you've been given during your career?
Charge what you are worth. I believe the exact phrase was "for the love of all that is good.... raise your prices". This was when I was charge $50 for a session AND the CD of all the images. Thanks goodness for my mentor or I would NOT be where I am today!

Portrait photography is a very competitive market, why should a prospective client choose you over your competitors?

You are so right! Portrait photography is VERY competitive. I have a really hard time with the question. But in all honesty... I like my work. No, I LOVE my work. Photography is my passion. I work to make myself better for my clients, provide them with a custom, unique photography experience from start to finish. I have found my target market, and I would hope that my clients come to me for ME! While the industry is competitive, I am the only ME. My clients leave feeling like friends, I receive hugs and smiles from my clients. I put a lot of time, effort and love into each session. From the consultation, to the actual session, to the proofing & ordering all the way to the pick up and delivery. I realized long ago that I can't compete on price alone, but I can be me. Either they like me, or they don't and I am ok either way because I was true to myself.

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions Jamie! Make sure to check out her site at http://www.koppiphotos.com/!

365. Days 31 - 35.

2010-09-08T21:01:00.002-05:00

Here ya go. This final photo, which was day 31, wasn't actually taken on Day 31. It was taken earlier this summer at my family's first outing to The Admiral Twin Drive In. I was hoping for many more of these, but Day 31 of my 365 journey was the day the Admiral Twin burnt to the ground, so I thought it was fitting to post the photo for that day. To follow the series day by day, fan me on facebook! www.facebook.com/photosbyliz

Sheila and Hannah {Claremore area family photographer}

2010-09-07T20:57:00.004-05:00

I had the most fun shooting this sweet mother/daughter pair in Downtown Tulsa. I knew Sheila "back in the day" and it was so neat to meet Grownup Sheila and her beautiful daughter Hannah! Hannah thinks Justin Bieber is weird, and loves being barefoot, and she thought that The Center of the Universe was the coolest place ever. We got along just fine!

They had a really close relationship and it showed through in the photos.

Downtown Tulsa {Tulsa area Art Photography}

2010-09-06T21:39:00.005-05:00

A few weeks ago an out of state friend needed some images of Tulsa to use on a poster for an upcoming event. I contacted a local friend to come with me and we went to the steps of the BOK center to get this view of downtown. It was a hot, hot, 106 degree day, but we still had a great time! Here are some of the photos I took to possibly use on the poster. I can't wait to see what comes of these pictures!

365 - Days 26 through 30

2010-09-06T01:48:00.002-05:00

Days 26 through 30.

The Hinds Family {Tulsa area family photographer}

2010-08-31T22:58:00.003-05:00

I couldn't help but giggle a little with this family because there are many similarities to my own family. A dad named Brandon, a mom with red-hair, and two energetic boys, the oldest of which is 7. We had tons of fun at their early morning family portrait session at the blue dome district in downtown Tulsa! This was a really great session, and these photos are just a few of my favorites.

Like the "Together" pic? They loved it too and ordered it HUGE for their wall! Don't forget how great large prints will look on your walls. If you think something would look good as an 8x10, chances are it will look alot better as a 16x20 or larger! I offer really great canvas and mounting options for all large prints.

365 - Days 21 - 25

2010-08-26T21:54:00.004-05:00

Really I should call this "365 days in the life of Liz" or something like that, because really I'm just snapping a photo each day from wherever I am, whatever catches my eye and seems worth sharing with the world. Hope somebody is enjoying this, feel free to comment and tell me what you like and why!

Miss Sophie {Adair Area Child Photographer}

2010-08-25T00:02:00.003-05:00

Sweet Miss Sophie came to visit me and we just had to play in the field with one of my tutus. What a cutie pie! Like all little girls her age, she is definitely a princess!

365 Project - Days 16 - 20

2010-08-22T02:12:00.004-05:00

It's pretty much become routine now for me to take a photo for each day. Some days I wake up and already know what I'll photograph for my photo that day, some days I just wait and let it find me.

365 Project - Days 11-15

2010-08-17T23:43:00.003-05:00

Still having a great time with this project!

365 - Days 6-10

2010-08-10T22:22:00.002-05:00

So far I'm plugging away shooting a photo a day. To be honest, yes, some days I come home and say "oh crud, I still have to take my photo!" and run out in the front yard and find something really quick. But I kind of like having to force creativity out of an otherwise mundane evening.

Katie - OKVA 2011 Senior Rep {Claremore Area Senior Portraits}

2010-08-08T22:43:00.004-05:00

Meet Katie! I was really excited when she applied to be a Senior Rep for me because she is graduating from Oklahoma Virtual Academy this year, which is the same homeschool program that my son is enrolled in, so it's neat to have that in common! Katie is a beautiful girl and I can't wait for her full senior session! I know we'll get some great photos!

2nd Annual Photos by Liz Park Portrait Day

2010-08-07T22:23:00.002-05:00

Come join me at Claremore Lake Park for a day of mini sessions! Save $75 off the regular session fee! This applies to all types of portraits: babies, children, families, engagement, maternity, individuals and seniors!

365 Days of photos

2010-08-06T01:10:00.004-05:00

If you checked in on my blog anytime during fall and winter last year, you may have caught some of my 50/50/50 project. I had alot of fun doing it, and it was nice to make myself get my camera out every single day and shoot something, whether I was getting paid for it or not. What got me into photography in the first place was the artistic aspect of finding beauty in simple things and capturing it forever, and having a project like this forces me to keep an eye out for inspiring things to shoot every single day.

So, here I go with the 365 project! Here are the first 5 days. I had been planning for awhile on starting this on January 1st and documenting all of 2011, but I'm impatient. I really didn't feel like waiting 4 more months to start, so I chose August 1st instead. I'm having tons of fun so far, and hopefully at least a few people will enjoy following along for the next year. I'll try and post every five days or so here on the blog, but if you want your fix every single day along with a commentary check out my facebook page, where I'll add a new picture every day.

Pryor 2011 Senior Rep - Wesley {Tulsa Area Senior Portraits}

2010-08-03T21:33:00.003-05:00

Welcome the only male on my rep team, Wes! I was really glad to get a guy to sign up to represent my studio in the Pryor area. His rep shoot went great, he was really easy to work with, I can't wait for his full senior session!

Vo-Tech 2011 Senior Rep - Jesyca {Tulsa Area Senior Photographer}

2010-07-27T22:41:00.004-05:00

Meet Jesyca! This sweet girl is attending Pryor Vo-Tech and will be representing me there. She doesn't live very far from me, so when we scheduled her rep shoot I was excited to shoot in this field. I jog by it sometimes and have always thought "gee, I need to do a shoot there sometime!" But Adair is such a small town I don't get alot of local clients, so I was jumping with joy when Jesyca applied to be a senior rep! When you see her, make sure to ask her for a rep card, it's a coupon for 16 free wallets when you give it back to me at your own session!

Claremore HS 2011 Senior Rep - Evi R. {Tulsa Area Senior Portraits}

2010-07-16T02:20:00.004-05:00

Here is my Claremore High School senior representative, Evi! She and my Sequoyah rep, Megan, are close friends and came together for their rep shoots. It was a really fun session. Evi has an AWESOME truck that I hope she decides to include in her full senior portrait session.

Evi will be receiving her rep cards very soon, so make sure to ask her for one because it is also a coupon for 16 free wallets when you book a session with me!

Sequoyah HS 2011 Senior Rep - Megan C {Northeast OK Senior Portraits}

2010-07-12T21:50:00.003-05:00

Introducing my Sequoyah High school senior rep, Megan! I'm happy to have representation at Claremore Sequoyah since it's where I graduated from way back when! Megan already has some pretty cool ideas for her full senior session, so I can't wait to shoot it!

If you see Megan, make sure to ask her for a rep card, since it's also a coupon for free wallets for you, and gets her some cool bonuses when you give it back to me with your paid session!

Want cool art prints? Check out my Etsy Shop!

2010-07-08T03:09:00.002-05:00

When I did my 50 Days 50 Photos With a 50mm Lens series I got alot of shots that I was told were art print worthy. Here I am nearly a year later and finally making a few of them available for purchase! When you purchase a fine art print by me, it is printed by a professional lab and matted and mounted with 1/8" foamcore on back. Go check out my shop!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrettiesbyLiz

Chelsea HS 2011 Rep - Kaitlyn M {Oklahoma Senior Photographer}

2010-07-03T13:18:00.002-05:00

Kaitlyn's rep session was slightly scary! It was storming BIG TIME! Thunder and lightning, pouring rain, the whole bit. So we worked fast, but still got some amazing photos to use on her rep cards! I can't wait to do her full senior session on a day with some good weather! She'll be receiving her rep cards in a few days, so if you see her around Chelsea, make sure to ask her for a rep card, because when you book any type of portrait session and give that rep card back to me, you get 16 free wallets!

Applications for my senior rep team have closed, but keep an eye on the blog, I'll be introducing the entire team over the next couple of weeks!

Exisiting Client Sale!!!

2010-07-02T08:56:00.002-05:00

If you're a past client who never quite ordered everything you wanted, this weekend is for you! I'm having a sale on July 3rd and 4th for all online orders only. 10% off all prints and products! Just go to my website and click on 'client login.' If your gallery is not there, be sure to email me at liz@photosbyliz.com so that I can re-upload it for you to place your order.

Happy Independence Day and enjoy the savings!

Adair HS 2011 Senior Rep - Amanda T {Senior Portrait Photographer}

2010-06-24T23:51:00.005-05:00

Introducing my 2011 Senior Representative for Adair High School, Amanda! She's a very creative and sweet girl, not to mention very photogenic! We had so much fun shooting her Rep session, I can't wait to shoot her full senior session in September! If you see Amanda, ask her for a rep card because not only does it help her earn cash for the referral, but it gets you 16 free wallets with a paid session!

I'm still seeking senior reps for many local high schools. The application is on my website under "Senior Rep Application" and it only takes about 2 minutes to fill out. My reps get a free mini session, rep cards with your photos to hand out, 50% off any senior portrait package, your awesome images used in advertising and $20 cash per booked referral! The deadline for applications is June 30th so if you're interested in being a senior rep for me go apply right now!

Mpix/Miller's Lab Meetup {Tulsa Portrait Photographer}

2010-06-18T00:18:00.004-05:00

This was my second year to attend a meetup for the family of pro labs that I print through, Millers, MpixPro, and Mpix. The meetup was held in Pittsburg, Kansas and photographers came from all over the country to attend. I had a crazy fun time and learned so much. I attended 2-3 classes each day and learned about things like lighting, wedding photgraphy, and posing all to better myself as a photographer. Here are some of the photos I took of the models during the event. I can't wait till the 2011 meetup!

Allen Michael {Tulsa Child Photographer}

2010-06-11T14:36:00.005-05:00

As I spoke about in this post, April was Autism Awareness month, and doing this offer was very rewarding to me because I was able to meet other parents of autistic children, and I was able to make friends with this special guy, Allen Michael. Although he is non-verbal, he doesn't let that stop his charm. For our session, we played in his backyard while I snapped his photos. He loves his trampoline! His parents told me that last time they had his photos taken professionally was when he was about 3...since then they tried once and walked out of the place frustrated and without purchasing anything because the experience was just too much for him, and he reacted accordingly. I was so happy to be able to provide these parents with a calm portrait session and with photos to hang in their home of their handsome son!

2011 Senior Rep Application Deadline Extended!!!

2010-06-08T22:15:00.002-05:00

I realized that I kind of made my Senior Rep application process tedious. Print this, sign this, scan this, yada yada yada. So I've made it easier...AND I've extended the deadline....AND I made the discount for all senior reps BIGGER! So go to my website, www.photosbyliz.com, click on "Senior Rep Application" and fill out the form and hit submit! That's it! It takes less than 2 minutes! You'll hear back from me within 2 weeks on if you've been accepted.

Remember, the senior rep program includes:

Free 15 minute mini session
Custom designed rep cards to hand out to everyone you know
50% discount on your regular session fee
$20 cash for every referral that comes from you until you graduate!

So hurry, go apply before it's too late!

Zoe's Rock the Prom Dress Shoot! {Claremore Portrait Photographer}

2010-05-25T23:55:00.003-05:00

I had an awesome, adorable girl take advantage of my Rock the Prom Dress special, and we got some really great images in Downtown Claremore! We had so much fun during this shoot. And if you're wondering, this special is still available! For $75, you get a mini-shoot and a really cool custom designed 3x3 mini-accordion album!

Jean's headshots {Tulsa area promotional photographer}

2010-05-15T00:10:00.005-05:00

This is my big sister, Jean. Last year she helped me pretty up my blog, so I finally got around to repaying her by doing headshots for her to use for promoting her virtual assistant business. We shot all of these in the area behind Fuji in Brookside (mmm....sushi....) and it turned out to be a great area!

Beautiful Spring family portraits! {Tulsa area family photographer}

2010-05-13T13:32:00.005-05:00

Isn't this family just adorable? We shot this on a beautiful sunny day a few weeks ago. I just love how they turned out!

Searching for Class of 2011 Senior Reps!

2010-04-30T21:49:00.005-05:00

Photos by Liz is now searching for Class of 2011 senior reps! If you're interested, send an email to liz@photosbyliz.com with "Senior Rep" in the subject line and I'll send you an application.

Head Shots {Tulsa area promotional photographer}

2010-04-24T00:22:00.005-05:00

Eeek! I've barely blogged all month! I've been insanely busy, including an awesome 4 day weekend in Pittsburg, KS for a photography conference where I learned tons of cool stuff! More on that later, I promise!

Today I want to share some recent head shots, and to let it be known that this is just another type of photography that I offer. A few weeks ago I met up with a fellow photographer, Fred Francis of Nativeview Photography, at Honor Heights Park in Muskogee, and did some shots for him. If you're an aspiring actor, photographer, musician, or need some promotional shots for your business or website, let me know, we can come up with something creative to help you advertise!

April is Autism Awareness Month

2010-04-01T22:09:00.003-05:00

Last year we received a diagnosis of PDD-NOS for my oldest son. As a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, I cannot imagine trying to get my child into a portrait studio for a professional portrait. Just the steps leading up to it....a haircut, putting on a "nice" shirt, and then getting to the unfamiliar studio with flashing lights and bright colors, people making loud noises trying to get him to make eye contact with the camera. I shudder at the thought because I know how it would end up...he would be under a table screaming at people, and I would be very very stressed, and who knows what the people at the studio would think? I have a feeling that many parents of children on the autism spectrum don't bother with trying to get professional portraits of their child. Even as a photographer, I don't have a "traditional" portrait of my child, but I'm so happy with the great ones that I've gotten. My son NEVER sits still, hands folded sweetly, smiling, and the pictures I have hanging in my home reflect that, and I love that. These pictures are who Ash is.

For April I am offering FREE portrait sessions for children on the autism spectrum. Capture your child as they are. No forcing them into a studio full of people yelling at them to smile, no flashing lights, no overstimulation, and no embarassment from meltdowns because your photographer is a mom who understands all too well. Best of all, no obligation to buy! If we don't end up getting anything, you're not out any money.

What I would like to do is meet for our portrait session at a comfortable location for your child. This could be a park, a restauraunt, Grandma's back yard, or even your home. I won't set up any overbearing equipment, I won't use my flash, we'll just play a little and I'll get some photos. Sure, your child may end up hanging upside down from a tree because he gets so overstimulated he just climbs up there and won't come down (like in our own family portrait session last year), but that's not a bad thing. That's just who your child is. And if they end up under a table screaming at me? No problem, I 100% have been there!

Contact me for details! Session space is limited for this offer, but I want to help as many families affected by autism as possible. To book, email me at liz@photosbyliz.com

New product spotlight - Custom designed CD case

2010-03-29T23:39:00.002-05:00

I love this product! It's difficult to find a stylish way to present a clients digital files to them. I'll admit...my very early wedding clients who purchased CD's received theirs in a paper sleeve, with the information written on the front in marker. But take a look at this. Isn't it cool? Purchasing digital files along with the rights to print is important to many clients these days, and I'm happy to present this beautiful custom designed disc and case to my clients.

Want a CD of your portraits in one of these beautiful cases? All of my wedding packages now include a disc of all images with print release, and portrait session discs are $250!

Spring is here!

2010-03-28T23:14:00.004-05:00

Just sharing a few photos I took of the beautiful daffodils in my yard. I'm so happy the weather is warming up, I'm sick and tired of the cold! The third image is so sad...on the first day of spring most of Northeast Oklahoma got LOTS of snow! It snowed all weekend!

Of course, warm weather means portrait time! Spring is the ideal time to have your portraits taken. Sessions are just $125, and that includes a $50 print and product credit. Call me to book at 918.521.5975 or email me at liz@photosbyliz.com!

Rock the Prom Dress!!

2010-03-17T22:16:00.005-05:00

I have a confession to make.

My junior year prom dress is still hanging in the back of my closet. It's moved with me twice. I have some posed photos of myself wearing that prom dress standing next to a guy I haven't spoken to in more than 10 years who is not my husband. I don't even know where those photos are! I looked gooood in that dress, and I really don't have any photos to show of it, yet I still have the dress!

So what are you going to do with your prom dress? Don't stuff it in your closet. Rock it!

A Rock the Prom Dress shoot is a fun, on-location mini-shoot featuring you in your prom dress in unique outdoor locations....think high-fashion style. For $75 you get a mini session lasting around 30 minutes and an awesome custom designed mini accordion album. Love the photos? Want enlargements? If you order within the first 3 days of proofing, you receive an additional 10% off of print prices. What's more, if you and your friend book and share a session, the session fee is only $100 (which you can split) and you BOTH receive an accordion wallet album to keep!

Session times are limited, contact me to book your session now!

Baby Nicole {Tulsa area newborn photography}

2010-03-14T01:20:00.004-06:00

This one is my favorite of the whole shoot! She looks so snuggly!

I made this hat and cocoon especially for the shoot...photographers, watch soon for an update, I think I'm going to start selling these on etsy!

I got to do baby Nicole's newborn portraits at 14 days old. Usually I suggest getting newborn portraits done before 10 days old to ensure a sleepy newborn, so I was a little worried that she might not cooperate for her session. Boy was I wrong! She was such a calm little baby who stayed perfectly content through multiple superstar outfit changes and poses!

Wedding Highlights - Ring Shots {Tulsa Area Wedding Photographer}

2010-02-27T14:37:00.006-06:00

I've had wedding advertising on the brain lately and just finished designing a beautiful new wedding brochure to place in businesses and give to brides, so I've been going through some of my past wedding photos and thought I might highlight some of my favorites.

Today's post is all about the rings. Ring shots are popular in modern wedding photography, and they should be. Alot of time and energy is put into shopping for the rings, especially the engagement ring...they deserve their own portrait on the wedding day. Don't be surprised if....no, when... I come up to you at some point during your wedding, ask for your rings, and walk away, rings and camera in hand. Then your guests will stare at me as I "pose" your wedding rings on your boquet, or your centerpiece, or anything else I think will look great. Here are some of my favorite ring shots from past weddings.