Los Angeles Wedding: Wendolyn + Dustin ... Sneak Peek!

Yesterday I had the chance to photograph the marriage Wendolyn and Dustin at St Timothy's Catholic Church.  It was such a joy to see them wed, and see the happiness of the family around them.  After the ceremony, we stopped by the historic Malaga Cove Library for some portraits of the bride and groom.  There will be many more images to come, but for now, here's a peek at one of the images I can't stop looking at! :)

Getting started as a photographer, crafter, or artist?

When I started Serendipity Images in 7/2007, I wanted to photograph flowers and nature.  I kept the bed of my husband's truck loaded up, and drove all over Southern California to sell my art at craft fairs and street festivals.  I spent more money than I care to admit purchasing my booth set-up, and hours figuring sketching different configurations of my tables so that customers could easily flow through my booth.  I thought about having "take-aways" for my customers, and found battery-operated fans to blow through my booth on hot days.  During the early days of Serendipity Images, you could find me in a booth like this:

Sometimes I got lucky and had a corner booth!

It was fun to meet new people and chat with my "neighbors," but both me and my business soon grew away from the craft shows.  Once I discovered that I LOVE photographing people, and specifically, couples, craft shows became a thing of the past for me.

I am cleaning out my office and have a TON of stuff that I don't need anymore.  I'd love to sell it to someone locally to a crafter, photographer, or artist.  Please contact me if you want to buy anything -- I'm no longer using it, and am sick of looking at it!  If you're in Orange County, we can meet up so there's no postage fee -- I accept PayPal or cash on delivery.  If you're not local, I accept PayPal and there will be reasonable shipping costs.

Here's what I'm selling:

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE) Strathmore Photo Mount Cards: Black with Embossed Frame, envelopes included, set of 10
These are beautiful, heavy cards by Strathmore, one of the leaders in paper products.  They are perfect to adhere photographs to or use for crafting.  The enclosed envelopes also have a deckled edge and feel very fancy.  (They're in slightly different packaging than shown below, 2 are NIB, 1 has been opened but not used)
*Retail price is $9 per set. I am selling 3 sets together for $12*  NOW $6

 (NO LONGER AVAILABLE) Strathmore Photo Mount Cards: White with Embossed Frame, acid free, envelopes included, set of 50
These are beautiful, heavy cards by Strathmore, one of the leaders in paper products.  They are perfect to adhere photographs to or use for crafting.  The enclosed envelopes also have a deckled edge and feel very fancy.  I used to make photo cards with this kind of set, and they sold well at craft shows. 
*Retail price is $36. I have 1 unopened set available for $18* NOW $9

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE) Strathmore Photo Frame Cards: White with Die Cut Window, acid free, envelopes included, set of 40
These are beautiful, heavy cards by Strathmore, one of the leaders in paper products.  They are perfect to insert your photograph or art into.  The enclosed envelopes also have a deckled edge and feel very fancy.  I used to make photo cards with this kind of set, and they sold well at craft shows. 
*Retail price is $33. I have 1 unopened set available for $15* NOW $7.50

Greeting Card Rack: I am selling the metal greeting card rack that you can see in the craft show pictures.  I have to double-check, but I believe it has 48 wire "pockets" that hold 5x7 greeting cards or brochures.  It disassembles easily for transport.  One of the "pockets" has been bent since I got it.  It comes in a cardboard box, but the box is very beat up from using it every weekend!
*This retails around $80, but I'll sell it for $30* (Free to anyone I personally know who will pick it up from me by the end of April!)

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE) Box of Cut Mats: I have a box filled with mattes that I am no longer using. The box weighs approximately 40 pounds and holds approximately 50 double-cut mats that hold a 4x6 print,  30 single-cut mats that hold a 5x7 print, 85 single-cut mats that hold an 8x10 print, and 60 single-cut mats that hold an 11x14 print.  Most of the mats are cream colored, but there are some black and assorted colors included.
*I paid over $200 for all these mats, and am selling them for $65 OBO (Free to anyone I personally know know who will pick it up from me by the end of April!)

Customer Bags with Die Cut Handle: I have 2 boxes of bags that I gave customers their matted prints in.  The bags are translucent "frosted" and have a die cut handle.  I have a box of 9x12 inch bags and a box of 12x15 inch bags.  Both boxes originally contained 500 bags and are practically full.
*I paid $35 for the 9x12 bags and $40 for the 12x15 bags. I'll sell them for $18/box* NOW $9/box

Woven Baskets: I used to use pretty oval woven baskets to hold my matted prints.  There are a total of 5 baskets.  1 large basket (approximately 18" long, 13" wide, 11" deep), 1 medium basket (approximately 20" long, 7" wide, and 7" deep), and 2 small baskets (approximately 17" long, 8" wide, 6" deep).  They're totally multi-purpose baskets that would be great for magazines, towels, shoes by the front door - whatever!

*I bought the set of 5 baskets for $65 at Marshalls, and am offering it for $25* NOW $12.50

IKEA Shoe Shelves: I used to use these galvanized steel shoe racks from IKEA as risers to hold my framed photographs at an angle.  Each is approximately 23 inches long, 12 inches deep, and 5 inches high.  These shelf are seriously heavy & heavy-duty. 
*Each shelf retails at $5; I'm selling the set of 8 for $15* NOW $7.50

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE) "Crafting for Dollars: Turn Your Hobby Into Serious Cash": This is how Amazon describes the book: Consultant and craft-based business owner Sylvia Landman takes readers step-by-step through every aspect of starting and managing their own craft-based business. Including interviews with all kinds of successful crafters, the book offers the solid advice you need to launch your own home-based business.
*Retails for $14.95; I'm selling it for $3*

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE) "How to Start a Home-Based Photography Business" (4th edition): This is how Amazon describes the book: From estimating start-up costs and outfitting a darkroom to staying profitable once in business, this completely updated and revised guide includes the author's experiences and advice on every aspect of setting up and running a thriving home-based photography business. His handy worksheets, quizzes, and checklists serve as practical steps toward achieving this dream.
*Retails for $17.95; I'm selling it for $3* NOW $1.50

Amertac Utility Lites:
When winter approached, I bought some battery-operated fluorescent lights for my booth.  I didn't need all of them, but never got around to returning them to Lowes!  I have 2 sealed packages each containing two 6" lights, and 3 sealed packages each containing one 12" light.  All are battery operated and have an on/off switch.  I don't think they'd be effective to light a bride, but they're great little multi-purpose lights for a closet, garage, pantry, etc!
*I paid about $40 for these, and will sell them for $20*

Thank you so much for looking. There is nothing wrong with anything that I am selling, I just no longer need it and am cleaning out my office!  Please email me if you are interested in making a purchase!

Haiti Relief Mini-Sessions

Hi everyone!  I am so excited to announce that I have teamed up with Thomas Frank and Karen Revelle to do Haiti benefit mini-sessions this Sunday!  Check out our video & the details below, then make your appointment to join us for this Sunday! :)

Please contact me or email our group to set up your mini-session!

A little help?

Hi guys!  I'm hoping for a little help.  I'm in the process of refining my business.  There are some major changes coming -- they're still in a conceptual stage, but I'm hoping to make them official sooner rather than later.  Serendipity Images is going to be honed and simplified to the essence of what it has always been -- me, Tracy Norred!  As part of this project, I think it's important to know how my images are perceived.  I can't take credit for this exercise -- I was just listending to a Dane Sanders interview where he talked about doing a process similar to this.  He put his favorite 7 images up on the wall and asked photographers for words that described them.

I've posted some of my favorite images below.  I would be forever grateful if you could scroll through then leave me a comment with the words that best describe these images!










Thank you in advance for your comments on the words that best describe these images.  I appreciate your help!  You are an important part of my business! :)

I Love A Rainy Day

The sound of rain falling on my roof this morning made me happy.  I love the rain, and it's rare that we actually have 6 consecutive days of rain in Southern California.  Rain came in on Sunday during our Shoot This event, and I learned (although it was no surprise) that the only time I don't love the rain is when I am photographing people!  As long as I'm not headed anywhere important, and am not carrying thousands of dollars in camera equipment, then BRING IT ON!

Bring on the patter of rain drops.
Bring on my thoughts of energy in the air.
Bring on damp, puffy hair.
Bring on my laughter as rain becomes torriential as I'm checking out at the grocery store.
Bring on the chance to sing in the rain.
Bring on the comfort of coming home, putting on warm, dry, comfy clothes and making tea.
Bring it on!

Of course, if there is a wedding or photoshoot scheduled, then please rain: go away and come again another day!

Shoot This!

One of the things I love about being a photographer is the community. I have made so many good friends in the last 7 months, and sometimes we get to go out and shoot together. Joelle Leder started up "Shoot This," a monthly group photoshoot complete with gorgeous and fully made up models, flowers, and fabulous locations! During the November shoot, we were at Jody Domingue's studio, and Sunday we shoot at the Disney Concert Hall!

It's pretty hard to believe that the Disney Concert Hall has been complete for more than 6 years, and I've never visited. The building is simply amazing in it's aches and peaks.  I see now why so many photographers shoot there.  Around every corner was a fabulous gem of a location.

Before I show you my favorite images, I'd like to applaud everyone involved in putting on the LA Shoot This 1-17-2010 event:  The event was sponsored by HotelReservations.com, and produced by the Los Angeles Photography Group and Joelle Leder Photography.  The official florist, Flour, created beautiful bouquets for our models.  The models' hair accessories were made by Rachel Larraine.  The Group Leader and Expert Photographer was Chris Diset.  Lead and Expert Photographers included Michelle Cunningham, Amber Fox, David Esquire, and Kerry Garrison.  Chris Diset and Mitch Rossi provided video for event.  The Lead Makeup Artist was Kimberly Bragalone.  The Makeup and Hair artists were Rozette Haymaker, Shannon Ely, Tiffany Lieu, Michelle Chen.  The event was styled by Lesley Danger Be.  The Lead Model was David Liggett (makeup/kim bragalone & hair/shannon ely).  Our other talented models were Chelsea Ratvich (makeup/rozette haymaker & hair/michelle cheng), Megan Bibbo (makeup/rozette haymaker & hair/shannon ely), Kaylie Wilson (makeup/kim bragalone & hair tiffany lieu), Lynnae Bothwell (makeup/kim bragalone & hair/shannon ely), Alex Oakley (makeup/rozette & hair/michelle cheng), Shannon Bratton (makeup/kim bragalone & hair/tiffany lieu), Johan Khalilian (makeup/hair - michelle cheng), Stephen Comp (makeup/hair - michelle cheng), and Matt Thomas (makeup/hair - michelle cheng).

PHEW!  That's a lot of people to thank!  The event was a success, even in the falling rain!  Every photosession I do is a new chance to learn and get better at my craft, and I am so grateful for the chance to participate in the Shoot This events!

Here are some of my favorites:



 

Rock the Dress

I love shooting Rock the Dress sessions. Sometimes you hear them called Trash the Dress, but I don't think your dress has to get "trashed," so I've re-named them. A Rock the Dress session is an awesome chance to put your wedding dress back on after your wedding, and just rock it.

Rock it like you're never going to wear it again.
Rock it like you're not afraid of getting it dirty.
Rock it with attitude.
Simply rock it.

I've seen brides rock it with scissors; brides rock it at the beach and in fields; brides rock it on the streets of LA.  A Rock the Dress session is about putting that wedding dress back on and HAVING FUN!

I want to start shooting more Rock the Dress sessions, so the next 3 Southern California couples that book me for their wedding photography will receive a FREE Rock the Dress session after the wedding!  Contact me soon to book your wedding and FREE Rock the Dress session! :)

Update: There are only TWO free Rock the Dress sessions left! 


 

Coming tomorrow...

Watch the blog at 9am tomorrow morning!  I'll be launching a special offer for the next 3 Southern California couples who book me for their wedding! 

Here's a hint:


See you tomorrow! :)

Orange County Anytime Session: Christy

I recently had the chance to photograph my good friend Christy in her new house.  It was such a cool chance to document her life right now, and a wonderful way to celebrate the house before it gets filled with the STUFF that we all collect in piles and junk drawers.  I love photographing milestones - and first house is definitely one to celebrate!  Congratulations Christy - I am so happy for you, and can't wait to see what else life has to hold! :)