Effective Immediately......

In-home ordering sessions will be scheduled for EVERYBODY. So, unless you live on the moon and there's no possible way that you can make it back to earth in time, your ordering session will be scheduled at the time of booking your session.

Why? I thought you'd never ask...

Because it makes things so much easier...no, really - it does. I know, I know - we're all busy women (and men - I love the dads that are into this as well) trying to juggle families and careers and a little bit of "me" time. And we think - "This would be so much easier to do online after the kids go to bed.

But what I've found is this:

1. Clients don't know where to start. They are overwhelmed at the thought of deciding on what images to use where in their home (I'll take that as a compliment that there were just so many good images to pick from- but I digress(;

2. Clients don't know what a gallery wrap is, what ARTbooks are, how incredibly small an 8x10 really looks on a wall, the benefits of buying the cd of images, and how incredibly timeless a good wall display is. I can bring all of these goodies with me to the ordering session so that you can decide what is best for you.

3. I really, really, really (did I say 'really') want to see my clients again and provide them with a full-service ordering experience that takes into account their needs, their space, and their vision for their photos. So, give me an order for your favorite BreadCo entree and let's do lunch at your house ...or dinner..... or margaritas - whatever you want.

4. This will severely cut-down on the amount of time between seeing your images and getting the goods in your hands. Emailing back and forth with a zillion questions (that are completely understandable) is proving to seriously delay getting my clients with the entire goal of the session - images of their beautiful offspring up on their walls.

Just to give you an example - my clients that have opted for an in-home ordering session usually have their order in their hands no later than 4 weeks from that date (except albums, which should change soon). My clients that decide to email the order average 8 weeks from the time that they see their slideshow. Two weeks for the ordering period, 3 weeks for the question and answers, and then another 3 weeks to rush their order to them in time for the next family celebration. Trust me when I say that this will be so much easier on you and me both.

"But what about prints for Grandma?"
Don't worry - your slideshow will still be emailed to you before the ordering session so that you have time to look it over before the session. Grandma will have a few days to call you with what she needs.

So, here's how it works. When you reserve your session, we will also determine a time that is best to do the ordering session (approximately 3 weeks after the session). 3-4 days before the ordering session, your slideshow will be put online for your viewing. At the ordering session, I will bring with me my laptop that will have all of your images on it (along with a program that makes selecting the images you like so much easier) examples of the prints, birth announcements, gallery wraps, albums, proofbooks and other new products. You get to decide what suits you best. You pay for the order then and I get started on fulfilling your order so that you get it 4 weeks later.

Can't wait to see all my fall clients not only once, but twice - yay! Let me know if you have any questions:)
~karen

St Louis Child Portraits: Chloe

I had the chance to meet Chloe a few weeks ago. Our session was fabulous - just overcast enough to cool it down for us.

Chloe was such a free spirit - not the giggly, girly type of kid that you might expect - but the kind of girl who skips everywhere she goes and whose blue eyes show her soul.

Her mother warned me that she was a poser - I had to laugh, because that made her so much fun to work with. She was even coming up with her own ideas, like "How about if I sit in this brick window sill?" I was like, "Why didn't I think of that?" It was too funny to watch her in action. About half of my job during a shoot is finding the right way to direct people and make them feel comfortable. Well, with Chloe I felt like a glorified button-pusher because she was just so easy.



Here is a fun series from our session. I had a great time Chloe. Sorry your mom is going to have a hard time deciding what to order:)

Random Facts About Me:)

1. I love cheap red wine and expensive dark chocolate.
2. I've taken so many pictures in the past years that when I'm watching a movie, I mentally crop the view to something I think looks better.
3. I never woke up a minute before 10am on my own before college, and then joined the rowing team and woke up at 4am almost every day of my college years.
4. I used to be a structural engineer and still have an absurd love of angles, calculations and spreadsheets.
5. My parents never, ever encouraged me to be an artist and never, ever thought I would be - I think my dad still cries about it:)
6. My husband is about as small-town and basic as they come, while I am big-city and complex. We still shake our heads in wonder about how we have as good of a marriage as we do.
7. I have never been able to figure out what my favorite movie, favorite color, favorite song or any favorite is - my tastes are complex and change often.
8. As much as I enjoy good conversation, I really enjoy being by myself.
9. I don't like the taste of fake sugar and could eat QT ice all day long.
10. As much as I like adventure, nature kind of scares me.

Fall Sessions

I know, I know - it's not even half-way through the summer and I'm already talking about fall sessions. But it is that time of the year to start booking fall sessions. The fall season is always the craziest and books up every year, so now is the time to think about it. So, while you're out on the boat and swimming at the pool, try to make time to schedule your fall portraits so that you can make sure to get a time and date that is best for your family.

FireFly Images
Fall Sessions
September 2nd - November 2nd
*Available for reservation starting 7/1*

In order to reserve your session, both the session fee and portrait agreement must be received by me. Please note that the last sessions will occur on November 2nd. Unless I have make-up sessions ( like I had a ton of this spring due to the rain), there will be no sessions after November 2nd. All proofs will be posted by November 16th and all orders must be placed by November 30th. Albums must be ordered before 10/15 to guarantee Christmas delivery.

***To encourage early bookings, all sessions that are booked before August 1st will receive 25 custom-designed complimentary christmas cards***

Newborn sessions will still be offered after November 2nd, but on a very limited basis.

I hope everyone is having as good of a summer as my kids are:) Here's Nolan being goofy as always - ha ha - he's always good at getting me to laugh.

St Louis Children Portraits - William & Olivia

Here's the storyboard from another recent session. Although the session started a little rough (it was really cold when we began the session), we were soon onto the usual jumping/running/skipping/craziness that I love. Thanks you two for a wonderful & playful look into your lives. I hope your dad loves the images.

I really wish I could blog every single session, but it's proving to be sooo hard. I will get everyone's sneakpeaks up as soon as I can.
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St Louis Child Photographer
FireFly Images - Karen Hendrix

St Louis Newborn Portraits - Baby Grant

I've been trying to catch up on my blogging, but it seems like I'm having a hard time keeping my head above water. But I did want to share this recent newborn portrait session with baby Grant. He was so cute - and BIG! I couldn't believe that he was only 13 days old. Welcome to the world Grant - I'm so glad I was able to document your not-so-tiny newborn days:)

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St Louis Newborn, Baby and Child Photographer
FireFly Images - Karen Hendrix

St Louis Child Portraits - Abby & Ella

What can I say about this session - their mom is a friend of mine. We used to live in the same neighborhood and would get the kids together for playdates. Abby & Ella are two of the cutest little girls I know - they take after their mom who's also supercute:) So, I was so glad when Heather called to schedule a session. After some signature bed-jumping and goofing around on the dining room table, we took the girls out on a trail that I must have walked 100s of miles on with my own kids. I can't believe that they, like my little Emma, are going into Kindergarten next year. It is just breaking my heart that Emma's that old already. Anyhow, before I get all weepy-eyed about it, I'll end this post with the inspiration board from their session.

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St Louis Baby & Child Photographer
FireFly Images - Karen Hendrix

St Louis Child Portraits - Ava & Max

I had another great session with Ava & Max. I've been photographing Ava since she was still an infant and now look at her - I almost can't keep up with her now. And Max is the same age as Nolan, so I'm so used to the "I'm a toddler and I can do what I want, do what I want..." *which I sing to the tune of "It's my party"* - the song that all toddlers seem to want to sing when they know their parents want them to do something specific. But Max couldn't resist having a little bit of fun during the session.

Another new thing I've been doing - inspiration boards for all of my portrait sessions to help ease the pain of blogging all of my favorites. Now I can put up to 16 images on the blog without going through the tediousness of stamping and linking to every single one. And besides, it just makes blogging so much more fun when I get to design something while doing it:) So - ENJOY!


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St Louis Child Photographer
FireFly Images - Karen Hendrix

Cameras & Lenses FAQs

So, I've gotten so many emails lately from other photographers asking me what equipment I use, which is incredibly flattering. So, I just thought I would answer that question here, because as much as I like to hear from other photographers, I just don't always have the time to respond.

What camera do you use?
I currently use the Canon 5d as my main body and have a 20d that I use as a back-up camera.

What lens do you use?
I own 6 professional canon lenses including 24-70/2.8L, 50/1.2L, 70-200/2.8L, 100/2.8macro, 16-35/2.8L and 15/2.8 fisheye. I use the 24-70/2.8 90% of the time and rarely take it off for portraits. Which lenses I use depends on the type of session or wedding, the lighting conditions, the subject, and the overall "look" that I'm after.

I will say that although professional level equipment is a must for a professional, it will not guarantee good results. You must know how to use your camera - how to focus, how to compose and how to expose. I've seen excellent work from photographers with low-level equipment and not-so-great work from photographers who own the best of the best. Besides technical equipment and know-how, so much more goes into a great portrait that I wouldn't even know where to begin. And taking pictures is just about 10% of running this business - I won't even go into that side of it!:)

I also have current and past clients who will ask me for buying recommendations for their own personal use. I recommend starting with the Canon Digital Rebel (body only - their kit lens is only useful as a paperweight:). For lenses, I recommend the 50/1.8 for indoor pictures and a tamron 28-75/2.8 for indoor/outdoor use.

I hope that answers most of the basic questions that I've gotten. Sorry I don't have more time to help others out - but with 3 young kids and this growing business to run, I barely have time to sleep these days.