Dear Friends:
I am not a prude.  I just haven't had time to send out holiday cards this year.  Please don't be mad!  I wish everyone the best health and happiness.  I love to receive cards in the mail, but with moving the studio and keeping up with all the orders, I have no life this holiday season!  Please be forgiving! 
d

She tried......

I just answered this Featured Question; you can answer it too!

A beach house, a housekeeper, a part time chef, a personal trainer and a vacation

I just answered this Featured Question; you can answer it too!

Hey Friends!
Thanks to all my friends, family, business friends and clients who stopped by to wish me well in my new digs Friday night!  We had a wonderful turn out!  Newtown was buzzing with their December "AHA!" Friday.  It was truly great to see everyone and share a little holiday spirit with friends.  Here are some candids taken!  Enjoy!

My husband Dan, daughter Ashley and Corine, my assistant par-taking in some holiday spirit and great music.

Okay, okay, maybe too much spirits!

Leslie Dunleavy, Newtown Corporation, Mick Petrucci, Newtown Business and Professional Association, Bill Sheffer, First National Bank of Newtown, Chris Ortwein, Newtown Corporation

My brother Richard and I

Abelardo Conesa, Corine, and Ron Savoie

Dan and friend Roni McGuire.  Roni is in real estate and help me find this great space!

President of Newtown Business and Professional Association Paul Salvatore and Newtown Borough Dennis O'Brien.  Don't ask!

Rich and Miguel Martinez

Mayor Dennis O'Brien

Ribbon cutting ceremony, Chris Ortwein, Dennis O'Brien and me. (I look better in person!)

It was a real scissor!

Chris presented me with a wonderful welcome plaque! (A grip and grin)

   
 A really nice presentation by Chris and Dennis. 

Thank you to all who helped me during this extremely stressful time.  Moving the studio from Washington Crossing was a decision that I choose to do because I felt the exposure would be better for my business.  I totally loved the spot I was at previously.  However, since my opening there ten years ago, clients always had trouble finding my location.  Leaving the studio late at night was a little uneasy for me since I was out in the middle of a very dimly lit area.  I will continue to photograph in my usual style so need not worry. 

I encourage anyone in the area to pop in to say hello!  If you want, call in advance and I will have the coffee on!

all the best,
donna

HI FRIENDS!

 The move is complete!!!  Whew!  What a job!  We have been working every day since October 15th to complete all the holiday orders as well as prepare the new space.  I would never do this again during the holiday season!

Tomorrow night (Friday, December 5th), Newtown Borough is having it's once a month "AHA!" night.  This is where the vendors stay open just a little later so that folks can stroll around town.  So, guess what?  We are too!  Please feel free to stop by and say "hey"!  Sort of a soft opening one might say!  But, the Mayor is supposed to drop by and say hello as well! If you are out and about from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00, please feel free to stop by!  I may look a little frizzed, but I am sure you understand!  I would love to see you stop by even if you just peek your head in and see the new space!

Remember, the new studio number is 215 968-5220!  Jot it down!

See you tomorrow!

donna

Hi Friends!
I have been hounded to post new stuff but can honestly say that I have been super busy with the "move".  Our official move date is December 1st.  This time of year for my studio is the worst possible time to make a move, but I basically had no choice in the matter.  So, along with all the fundraiser stuff we do and all my regular fall and holiday madness, I am meeting with cable guys, Verizon people, electricians, painters, carpenters, Borough officials for occupancy permits, Historical sign permit people, locksmiths, security installation!  Okay, call me crazy!  We are frantically working to get the work to the lab out earlier so that we don't have to worry about things getting delivered to the wrong place!

Anyway, get your pencils out.  Verizon tells me that I needed to get a new phone number which makes me unhappy.  So, here it is:
215-968-5220

The old number will still remain active for six months.  All calls will be forwarded to this new number. 

I am sad to move to say the least.  I loved the location bordering the park.  Totally ideal for photographing.  The new space is way smaller, but in a great spot.  Most of my work now is done on location whether at client's homes or outside.  Change is good.  I realized a few  years ago just how little shooting I actually do in my studio space.  Many of my photographer friends do a lot of their shooting in their studio.  Basically, it all depends on style of photography. 

So, more details will be forthcoming.  Hang in their friends.  Please be patient.  I am squeezing in a few hours of sleep every night and will be back to warp speed very soon.
Talk soon!
donna

Friends:
Indeed I have been letting the blog thing go, but I have a really good reason!  I have decided that after close to ten years in the same location, the studio is moving to Newtown!  The location will be 10 South State Street in the Newtown Borough above the Velvet Slipper store (across from the restaurant Issac Newtons). 
Honestly though, I have been looking to re-locate since June of this past year when my studio sustained the third flood.  The river was not at fault on any of these floods, but I will reserve my comments for another time!

Official moving in date will be December 1, 2008. 

So, I have let the blogging thing go because not only has it been crazy with permits, sign stuff, etc, I have been trying to keep the holiday orders flowing.  We did a wonderful Family Portrait Fundraiser Day with the Council Rock Education Foundation two weeks ago that brought out over 130 families!  WOW!  Don't forget that we also are always proud of one of our local pre-school fundraiser family (Crossing Cooperative Nursery School) here in Washington Crossing.  This wonderful school always brings in close to 40 families every year alone!

I am attaching a photograph of the front of the building with the graphic designed sign.  More news will be forthcoming so check back frequently!

Friends:

When I meet people for the first time, they always ask "What kind of photography do you do?"  Of course I answer "Portrait".  Somehow that never seems to be the right answer.  So, of course they ask if I do weddings, event, children, dogs, business headshots, etc, etc, etc.  Another words, do I specialize?  Well the answer I suppose would be "yes", I do.  I specialize in people.

People hire me because they like the work that I do.  They like the way their images appear.  Occasionally, I get someone who says, "Wow, that camera must take some really nice photos!".  No, it isn't the camera.   Afraid not.  

So, I have added a gallery page on my website with business headshots.  They have their place in the workfield and every business person should have one.   So, we pulled a few off the hard drives.

Although I try not to do the "stiff" rigid formal poses, I will if you desire.  Head shots should be warm and inviting.

So, yes, I do photograph people for business headshots.  I don't however do snakes or gerbils.

d

  Hey Friends!
Now that the weather is changing, I find myself wanting to get out in my weed garden and poke around dreaming of what could have been.  Unfortunately, this scenario is all too familar this time of year.  My favorite season is spring with fall coming in at a close second.  I love the beginning of fall but not the end of fall.  It just reminds me of the "end".  The end of the year, the end of summer, the end of cook outs, the end of yummy food on the grill.  The "end".
Yesterday, while heading to a 7:30 a.m. networking meeting, I sat at a light and admired acres and acres of pumpkins ready to be picked.  The air outside was a bit cool and refreshing as I had my window down a few inches.  I didn't see many really huge pumpkins in the field which made me thing of those folks who LIVE for the biggest pumpkin.  Yep, like most things, there are contests every year.  So, I hit the internet and found last year's winner.
I am sure that growing a pumpkin to win the biggest pumpkin contest takes a lot of work all season long.  Last year's winner for the biggest pumpkin was Joe Jutras with his 1689 pound WORLD RECORD PUMPKIN!  (Indeed, I did say 1689 pounds)  I guess in Topsfield, Massachusetts, they have excellent weather for growing asteriod looking pumpkins!

So, I have a few stupid questions if anyone can answer.
1.  How many to you have to grow to get one of this size?
2.  How many people does it take to get it to the fair?
3.  What do you do with it after the fair?
4.  How long until it rots?
5.  How many pounds of pumpkin seeds (yum) do you get from this baby?

Okay, so sometimes my blog isn't about photography.  It's about life in general.  The things that make you wonder sometimes I guess! 
donna

Photo 101:  Where do I begin?
Indeed this is a topic that I get asked with all the time.  Last year I held a small intimate class on three nights on some of the basics about using your digital camera.  Well, the requests still come in to hold another class for those who tried to sign up after the class was filled.  So, here it is!  Get your pencils out!

Stuff to know:
Dates:  Three Mondays in January from 6:30 to 9:00
January 5th, 12th, and 26.
Cost: $125 per person
What you will learn:  From taking the photo to getting it to a lab.  From downloading it to your computer to storing it.  The best methods for archiving your photos.  The best labs in the areas.  The difference between your camera and the next guy's.  How to better use your digital camera to it's fullest potential.  What is a pixel?  What is resolution?  Why do you get red eye?  Should you burn your pictures to a DVD or a CD?  What backup should you use to store your photographs?
What this class is not:  You will be taught some very basic photography principals.  This class is not a class that will teach you how to be a "photographer".  There are no short cuts for that.  It is a class to clear up the digital fog that you may be experiencing since we entered the "digital age".  I will also teach you what limitations your camera has and why you may or may not be able to take action photographs of your child's soccer game with your camera.
I will however personally sit with you and with your camera and explain the ins and outs with you.  (Learn surprisingly more than what the camera geek told you at the store you purchased it!)

Class size is limited to 8 and no more.  Why?  Because I want to talk to each one of you and address your concerns!
Email if interested. (Lerephoto@comcast.net)    A check in my studio made out to Donna Lere for $125 holds your spot.

WHAT A GREAT GIFT CERTIFICATE TO GIVE A LOVED ONE!

Think about it!
donna