NEW WEBSITE: WWW.SCHAFERPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

As much as we loved our old website, we’ve been looking for a change.  The folks over at IntoTheDarkroom were super helpful in getting things set up and getting some of the kinks worked out.  I had a million questions for them as we built it, and they were very quick to get back to me and answer everything.  Over the past few weeks I’ve been working to update all of the galleries and information.  If you haven’t seen the new site, please take a minute to go check it out.  We’d love to hear what you think.  Also, there’s a cool SHARE option on the toolbar that allows  you to share the site with friends on facebook or twitter.

People often ask us how we make the photo collages you see often on our blog and facebook fan page.  We used to create each one in photoshop from scratch until we found MCP blog and the MCP photoshop actions.  If you have photoshop, these actions make it incredibly easy to make collages of your own. She even has a few free photoshop action samples to try if you are interested.

Since no post is complete without a photo…here’s a collage of our son making a school project. He read a biography on the Wright Brothers and made a 1903 flyer out of toothpicks, butcher meat styrofoam trays, and a gluegun (with a little supervision from mom).

Giving is Awesome

In our email that went out earlier this week, I mentioned that I would tell you how you can help give family portraits to another family. Last year over 500 photographers participated in the Giving is Awesome project and donated over a half million dollars in donated portraits. This year Schafer Photography gets to participate as well. Please read below to see how you can help and what you get.
You know someone. You know someone who’s experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can’t afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family’s spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

We want to know who they are, and we want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography — $1000 worth, to be exact. It’s in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season. The winner will receive
• full photo session
• complete gallery of full size images on CD
• five 5×7 prints
• three 8×10 prints
• one 11×14 print
• one 16×20 print mounted on foam board
Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a $100 print credit. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be?

The rules:
* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be unable to purchase our services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)

Summer seems to go by so quickly.  This year we decided to document the fun by doing a little photo project called “56 Days of Summer”.  Just a way to record something from everyday.  We didn’t take a photo each day, but here’s some of my favorites.

Here’s a few random images from the 56 days of summer project

After I picked them up from the airport on Tuesday, I had to drop Julia off at USD for a party she planned for the research students. On the way home, both kids were clearly wiped out from a fun time visiting their aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents in Colorado.  We weren’t in the house for more than 2 min when I found her crashed out on the couch.

I’m hoping to get back into shape again this summer. Well,, I guess “round” is a shape. In all honesty, I just want to feel a bit more fit and a bit healthier. Running has always helped. Julia will attest that it helps as much, if not more, for my mental health that my physical health. I feel better when I run. I think clearer. I have come up with some great ideas.  It’s a time for me to spend time with myself (and God).  And most of the time, I come back with a better attitude.  Lately, though, running hurts.  I’ve run several marathons and even finished a half-ironman (1.4mi swim, 56mi bike, 13.1mi run – in under 5hrs30min!)…but that feels like a long time ago.  This summer I’m hoping to get out and run, and bike more regularly. While I’m not a huge Greg Lemond fan (I like Armstrong and Landis…and it’s hard to be a fan of Greg when I believe in those guys), he has a point when he says, ” It doesn’t get easier, you go go faster.”    I want to go faster.

Sunday I drove up to Escondido for the first “Celebrate Summer” photo shoots. I’ll post some sneak-peaks from that shoot tomorrow. Behind their beautiful 100 year old home, Garrett kept this 1967 (i think) Volvo 1800.  I don’t think his wife, Melissa likes the car near as much as he does, but I’m a bit of a sucker for a classic car.

A photographer friend and I were talking about our plans for the summer. We both also work at a school site, and so we came up with the idea of posting at least one photo per day during the summer. A quick look at the calendar came up with about 56 days before we go back to meetings and classes.  Day 1 was supposed to be Saturday, June 13.  It’s not looking good when I start out 3 days behind. I’ll do what I can to catch up. Here’s photo#1. I thought it was fitting. This weed has many friends in my yard.  Looks like some part of the summer will be spent doing yard work.

AARP had a video contest with the theme U@50.  The link to the full press release can be found on the AARP website. As a parent and someone who works with kids all day, I was touched by these videos. Empowering young people and encouraging them to dream, teaching them to think critically and fostering their belief that they can change the world are goals that most parents and educators share.  These videos seem to reflect that.  These have been around the web many many times, but I watched them again today.  The first video did not win, but is my favorite.

Lost Generation

here’s the grand prize winning video.

When I’m 50…