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! :)

Photographers: 16 free hours!

For the photographers reading this, I am SO excited about this educational event coming up on September 28-29. Sixteen of the biggest names in photography (Dane Sanders, Sarah Petty, Kevin Kubota, Lori Nordstrom, & more!) are coming together to provide 2 full days of FREE teleseminars! The teleseminars are about the FUN business side of photography: marketing, branding, client experince, etc.

Click here for for more details & to register for this FREE teleseminar!
(If you can't find the time on the 28th & 29th to listen live, you can also buy MP3 recordings of all 16 hours for a super-reasonable price!)

Lets dive in! We're going to learn a lot together! :)

Social media ... here to stay!

I don't know about you, but I spend a lot of time on Facebook. A lot. I love it because I can keep in touch with friends, family, photographers, clients, and wedding vendors. Facebook has been an absolutely crucial part of my business, and I can't imagine not using it. Sometimes I imagine how I will look back at the time I spent on Facebook. Will it be this decade's "pet rock"? After happening across this video tonight, I think that social media is here to stay!



Are you with me on social media? Are we friends yet?

Tracy Norred | Create Your Badge

Two Years

Late this afternoon, I sat on the couch with my husband, spending a few minutes together before he left for work. There was a segment on tv about the Walkman, which launched on today's date in 1979. "Wow," I told him, "the Walkman was launched the day after I was born!" He corrected me, saying that my birthday was 2 days ago, not yesterday (oops!). My train of thought went something like "Huh.. I guess it is. I can't believe I don't know that day it is today. Yesterday was the 30th, so it's July 1st ... yadda yadda yadda ..." and then I remembered, today is the 2nd anniversary of Serendipity Images!

The birth of Serendipity Images was a major turning point in my life. Pre-Serendipity Images I worked for a federal contractor, and made my husband crazy because I was so unhappy there. Serendipity Images was born on 7/1/2007, and everything changed. I take ownership of my decisions. I love my life, and love what I do. I love making connections with the couples I work with, and I love the priviledge of being with them, all day, on their wedding day. I love that I have the opportunity to document the lives of people around me. I love being my own boss, and I love being accountable only to myself for the decisions I make in my business.

I am so grateful for the support of my friends and family, and for the clients (now friends) who booked me to shoot your weddings when I had never shot one before. Your trust allowed me to jump headlong into wedding photography, at exactly the right time, and I will never be able to thank you enough for that.

Here is one of my early favorites, and one of the first images I ever sold...
... compared to one of my most recent shots. The sunset at Sarah & Nate's wedding was incredible!
Here's another from Sarah & Nate's wedding (I can't resist!):
Happy Anniversary to everyone who has been a part of Serendipity Images. And to the Walkman. =)

Serendipity Images has entered the ring!

Wedding Photography!

It's been a while since I've posted a blog. I have a good excuse, though ... I've been doing a lot of work on the newest branch of my business: Wedding Photography! Over the last few weeks, I have had a number of wonderful bride meetings! So far, 2009 holds 4 definite weddings & many other potential weddings. During your wedding day, you spend a lot of time with your wedding photographer, and you'll want it be someone fun, relaxed, and happy. I am so thrilled to be able to offer couples beautiful photojournalistic wedding photography, paired with the fun of working with me!

If you had a ring waiting for you under the Christmas tree ... you'll need a good photographer! Call me! =) 714.300.5348

Christmas Card Samples

This is the first year that I have offered Christmas cards, and I am SO excited!! My Christmas card designs are chic, contemporary, and downright beautiful! You can order cards in sets of 25. Your cards will be professional press-printed by White House Custom Color, an industry leader who I use almost exclusively for both photographs and printed products.

Your cards will be enhanced with your Serendipity Images photographs and a custom greeting. I can modify the color scheme of each design to make it more -- or less -- traditional. These beautiful cards can also be sent to celebrate Hanukkah or offer a non-denominational Season's Greeting.

The Limited Edition Christmas Special includes 25 cards and a gallery wrap (great to keep or give!). You can also schedule any other photography session with me, and order cards. Even though it's only the 2nd week in October, the window to order Christmas cards will be shutting quickly. I want to make sure that you get your cards with ample time to mail them out! All Christmas cards should be ordered no later than Thanksgiving.

Contact me today to book your Christmas photography session! (Tracy@SerendipityImages.net or by phone at 714.300.5348)

Isn't this the year to send your friends, family, and clients something special?

Here is a taste of what I'm offering:

Limited Edition Christmas Special

Coming Soon...

Album Sample

My sample Session Album & cover samples arrived this week! This is my first order from Finao, and I am thoroughly impressed. Not only is the album gorgeous, it feels fabulous to the touch and arrived beautifully boxed.

I offer two kinds of albums, Session Albums and Designer Albums. Session Albums allow me to hand mount each print myself. I haven't created the album pages for the sample book yet ... for the meantime, just imagine your image there! (The photographs in my Designer Albums are flush mounted during the book's assembly.)
There are over 50 cover options for Session Albums. The cover material ranges from brocade to nature friendly faux ostrich leather. Really, how could you resist cover material like Platinum Blond, Envy, Green-Eyed Girl, Geisha, or Mimosa?

I was ticked about the toy that Finao included! I just love when vendors include a little special 'something' with the shipment. Finao includes a small plastic toy, and White House Custom Color includes a Tootsie Pop! Such a cute idea! =)

Graphic Design: Monogram

As a photographer, I have been dabbling more & more with graphic design. I have created my own business cards, printed material, and newest logo. A few weeks ago, I was at my parents' house, and the topic of my mom's business card came up. She needed a simple, classy card with a hint of Film Noir. I created the monogram below, the highlight of her beautiful new linen buiness cards!

I use an industry leader in press printed products, and am available for small design projects as well as phototography!

(The dots are part of the monogram.. love it!)

Ordering samples

I am pretty darn excited because I just ordered my first sample album and cover swatches. I am using Finao, a young but fabulous company based right here in the United States. I think albums are important heirlooms, and I am so excited to offer Finao's gorgeous & high quality products. Watch for pictures when the album and swatches arrive in a few weeks!

On a side note, I just love that Finao has a quote on the top of each page, which changes as you navigate through the site. Here are a few that caught my eye:

"Only those who attempt the absurd will achieve the impossible. I think it's in my basement ... let me go upstairs and check." -M.C. Escher

"About half my ideas are controlled fantasies, 15% are total madness, and the rest are bread-and-butter designs." -Manolo Blahnik

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." -Albert Einstein

"Be who you are and say what you mean because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -Dr Seuss

"Chocolate makes your clothes shrink." (This one is my favorite!)

New Business Cards

Along with the new website and logo come my new business cards! I've been so excited to get my hands on these babies! My favorite thing about them is the rounded corners. When I started thinking about re-designing my business cards, rounded corners just called to me. I think rounded corners are so classy, and they hint that something special is on its way. I can't wait to start passing them out!

Now I'm on the hunt for the perfect business card case. I found one I liked through a business gift website, but I would prefer to buy a well-made handmade one to support another artist. I've been lurking on Etsy all morning, but haven't found the right one yet. I know it's out there, waiting for me!

It's time ... the NEW Serendipity Images!

The time has finally come to announce my new website SerendipityImages.net. I have been working like a madwoman since Friday to get this new site up. I think it's a fabulous representation of my new work, lifestyle portraiture.

I always loved my old website, and used an absolutely wonderful designer, Galleria di Luce. I give Maria at Galleria di Luce major props to for creating the identity and website that I've used for the last year. I haven't decided yet whether I'm going to maintain my old website, or just forward it to my new & improved website. It seems like a shame to let Maria's beautiful work go, but it's time that I move forward into the new & improved Serendipity Images! And, as I pat myself on the back, I'll tell you that I designed the website myself (well, not totally by myself, I used PhotoBiz templates).

So, please, visit SerendipityImages.net. Look around and enjoy. The site will be continually growing while my business does.

Thank you to all of my friends, family, and supporters. I am continually uplifted by the kind words I receive from you. Thank you so much! =)

The most amazing song!

I am bursting at the seams right now because I just picked the most AMAZING royalty free song for my new website! When I listen to it, my heart swells with emotion. Here's a sneak preview of the chorus:

"Touch me while I sleep
Hold me in your dreams
Breath the air I breathe
And let your heart run free"

My new website & theme launch within the next week.

Stay tuned! =)

Changes changes everywhere!

I haven't posted much over the last week, but there has been a lot going on behind the scenes. My business is in transition from art photography to lifestyle and wedding photography. I am SO excited about this transition! I resisted doing weddings for a long time. When I started my business, I considered weddings, but what afraid that I might miss "the" shot. Weddings seemed too high pressure and I was worried about bridezillas. Not anymore. I have absolute confidence in my work, and, oh boy, am I excited to start photographing weddings and doing more lifestyle photography!

So what changed? A few months back, I was at an event for my sorority. One of the girls told me that she was engaged, and asked if I do weddings. I cringed as I heard myself tell her "I don't do weddings." That used to be my default line, but it felt wrong as I said it. A little while later, I went back up to her and told her that while I hadn't photographed any weddings in the past, it was something that I was open to. During my drive home from Redlands, all I could think about was wedding photography. I wanted to start shooting weddings, but didn't know where to start. I believe that I create my own destiny, and that the universe brings everything I need & want to me. Fast forward a month. I was floating along in the lazy river at Casino Morongo, and recognized four of my sorority sisters about 20 feet ahead of me! Serendipitous, right? =) We started talking about wedding photography, and I was so pleased that my default line had changed! After that day and that conversation, I knew that I wanted to be a full service wedding photographer.

My first two weddings are scheduled for late September and early October. I'm definitely on my way! If anyone knows a bride who is looking for a wedding photographer, especially if the wedding is in the next few months, please let me know! My price for the first few weddings is low, but once I photographed a few weddings, the price tag will increase to match.

This week, I've also spent a lot of time in Photoshop creating a new look for my business. Nothing is official yet. Once it launches, you'll know! ;-)

Thank you so so much for your support!