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First snow!

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:17:06 GMT

How can this be? 48 hours ago it was 67 degrees! And now, it is snowing? This is weird! This is the view from my studio window.

Watching people is the best sport! Pssss... don't tell my boss!

Oh Martha..... its really you!

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:03:05 GMT

When my daughter called and said she got tickets to Martha Stewarts book signing in King of Prussia two things entered my mind. 1. Ashley was fighting a severe case of laringitis and 2. I was swamped with work. Throwing caution to the wind, we took a few hours off and headed out to see her. We were #28 and #29 in line. The older woman in front of us had 4 books for Martha to sign. I brought my Canon G-9 point and shoot.
Seeing Martha arrive with her "peeps" was like watching a rock star enter the building. We waited until the divine Ms. M was seated and the line began to move. During this time, a man was making his way along the line with a video camera. Almost to the point of annoying, he kept focusing on us! Since I had a wedding the night before, this early morning appearance on any video was not making me feel too comfortable! I asked him who he was shooting for (thinking it was the King of Prussia Mall) and he said a future episode of Dateline! Yikes, I had better re-apply my lipgloss for this!

Okay, back to the line story. So, Martha asks this older woman "why all the books"? She said they were for her children for Christmas. Then the woman says "I don't cook, I eat TV dinners.". I thought Martha was going to have a heart attack. Martha asked her to try one of the recipes in the book. The woman then responded that they were too hard! OH NO! You have insulted Martha Stewart! At that time, my daughter Ashley was next in line and Martha asked Ashley if she had ever eaten a TV dinner. Martha replied that she had not even tasted one in over twenty years! (I guess not even in prison.) Ashley mentions in her scratchy voice that the desserts are usually good, which gets a warm reaction from her peeps. Meanwhile, I shot a few pictures of Ashley getting her book signed with my G-9. After I got my book signed, her assistant came over to us and asked us if he could take our photo. Apparently Ms. Martha uses the G-10 Canon and loves it and wants to put us on her blog!
So, here we are at on her blog and also getting Ashley's book signed by Martha!
You just never know what will happen in Lere land!

Ashley telling the divine Ms. M about the yummy desserts included in TV dinners!

Oh Martha! If you only knew I buy box brownies!

What is expected in life.

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:06:53 GMT

I have a few few short rules in life. Mostly though, they have to do with doing the right thing, following the rules, being honest and being kind to people. It sort of my "Golden Rule". I love photography and donate my time endlessly to organizations. For me, it's not what you end up money wise, but how one has helped along the way. I always laugh and think that when my time comes, and I am standing at the front of the pearly gates in heaven, I will have a list when asked what have I personally given back. Honestly, though, I love to donate my services to organizations to raise needy dollars for things I believe in. Usually in exchange, the client will get my services for free and a portrait in return. In 2009 so far, I have donated my services for close to 210 portrait sessions. Yes, that number is correct. I do fundraisers for schools that why the number is that high.
When the fundraiser is completed and the clients have ordered their portraits, almost most of the time, a wonderful thankyou is followed by the clients. They are so grateful and appreciative that it warms my heart. But of late, I have noticed a pretty good percentage of those who feel that they are "owed' more than the average folk. These are the people who tend to want an extra appointment to view, to change things around in a package, to sit for an hour and a half deciding and then leave and want to come back at a later time, to want massive retouching and in general, step over the line. At this time, I have to step back and and take a huge breath and remember the pearly gate thing.
But what I really want to say is this these people who think they deserve more is this: "We are at war. Our sons and daughter's are dying for us so that we can live comfortably here. Just before you came in, I had a mom who was crying because she could not afford her house anymore because of the massive strain her handicapped daughter has put their finances. So, I'm sorry you are upset that I photographed some of the photos in a vertical format instead of horizontal, or that we cropped the photo in the proof a little tight. But in the overall picture, is it worth screaming at us for something so trivial?"
Thats right, I said "overall picture". So, when life gets you down, you have to step outside and look at what God has given you and realize that yes, indeed there are some out there who want more than others and not to let it get to you.
Right now though, on this Sunday morning, my plan is to take a giant breath, refill my coffee, and enjoy a few minutes of fall.

The things you see.

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:13:04 GMT

Today I did one of my family portrait days. For those who are unfamiliar with this, I offer my services and the services of my staff to a school for a day of shooting families. There is a small fee that is given to the school in turn for an 8 x 10. I donate my services and my staff as well. The school gets a hefty amount of money and a portion of the reprints ordered are given back to the school.
So, how does my studio benefit? Well, it is great exposure for us and it gives those who normally could not afford the services of a professional photographer a chance to experience some fun great portraits.

Today however, I as I was my assistant Megan had just put the finishing touches on a great kids pose, I almost was knocked over by the dad taking the photos of his kids with is Blackberry. So, not only am I donating my time, but paying for my assistant Megan, Elizabeth and Gary to work with me the entire day to raise funds for this very large school district. This dad felt the need to sneak some photos of the kids behind (literally) my back!

I have been a photographer for close to 30 years now and are always amazed as the things you see.
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What's my camera?

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:33:44 GMT

Every few weeks I get asked the same question. "What camera are you using?" This same question has been coming my way for close to thirty years now. Each time, I give the answer the person who asks the questions says something like... "Uh huh." Here's the secret folks......... THERE IS NO SECRET! Do they ask football players what kind of football they use? Do they ask plastic surgeons what type of knife they use? By buying the same football, does that make you a better athlete? Yes, it is years and years of training, education and more education. But there is something else. A very good photographer (Darton Drake) that I draw inspiration from says this: "Its not whats in your hand that makes the image, but whats in your heart and soul!"

You have to love what you do. Heart and soul.

Fishin, fishin and more fishin!

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:34:01 GMT

As I mentioned in a previous post, husband and I drove down to North Carolina to visit my son for a few days before the start of both of our crazy business season. The weather was just beautiful! My husband loves to fish and being down the shore is his perfect fishing scenario. I just brought my Canon point and shoot and captured some of these. Enjoy!

Jason

Do you think they look alike?

This is so cool. You throw this net out and catch these little fish to be used as bait!

Here is the three of us. I am looking hot in a string bikini! (Okay, thats a lie, but I think I am on to a new form of portraiture!)

Jason's new tattoo. Am I happy about this? Don't ask.

Jason showing off his guns!

What a super testimonal!

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:45:04 GMT

With every portrait session, we always ask for feedback from our clients. Criticism is always hard, but in the long run, it makes you better in so many ways.
Here is a recent note from a long time client. I posted her Holy Communion image last month and received this testimonial. Thanks Sandy! Love you guys!

June 19, 2009

I can’t say enough about Donna Lere. Our family first discovered her about 5 years ago. We were searching for a photographer to record a moment in time for our children. We wanted the images to be timeless and unique. My husband saw Donna’s work at an exhibit in Newtown and knew he had found the right person for this task.

Our first set of pictures has that timeless feel and we never get tired of looking at them. Just recently we went back to Donna to capture the importance of our daughter’s first Holy Communion. We didn’t want the typical posed looking shots commonly seen. Donna once again exceeded our expectations. The photos we have of our daughter really reflect the reverence and beauty of this special occasion.

Donna is a true artist. She not only captures the essence of the person she is shooting, but her eye for detail, lighting, setting, and mood is evident in every image she creates. She has a way of putting you at ease and bringing out the best in her subjects. I know we will continue to rely on Donna to record all of the important moments in our lives.

Sandy McGuigan

Newtown, PA

Beautiful Tara!

Sunday Mornings

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:28:57 GMT

My favorite time of the week is Sunday morning. I love to get up early when the neighborhood is still quiet, perk up the coffee and read the Sunday paper. My house has two large rooms of which you could call "living rooms". Sunday paper reading is reserved for the room that faces the backyard and the morning sun.

As I sit with my hot coffee in one hand and my local paper in the other, I occasionally look out the back sliding glass door and watch the birds saying good morning to each other. Okay, I am really wishing that I was looking out at the beach, but my garden works for now! Reading the paper, I listen to the neighborhood come alive as the kids come out, the mowers start and the bird chirping gives away to the sound of weed wackers. Aahhhhh...... Some people love to meditate. I love the calmness of a few hours on a weekend.

Whatever it takes for you to get your head together is priceless. My dream is one day having my Sunday morning coffee on a patio facing the beach. I can visualize the ocean and hear the sound clearly in my head even though the beach is an hour away. One day I will live my dream and life will be complete. It's hard to think that Sunday mornings can get any better..... but it will! What is your dream Sunday morning?

Market Day today in Newtown

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 10:09:33 GMT

Hi Friends!
Crazy September so far and it looks like it is not going to get any calmer! As always, we expect it and plan for it.
Today is "Market Day" in Newtown. A time where stores have sidewalk sales, vendors set up booths and in general, fun, fun, fun!
If you are Jewish, I am sorry that this day was planned on your holiday. The Market Day committee sent out a sincere apology not thinking when they pinned the date a year ago. So, don't email me and rant! I do respect your hurt feelings and I am sure that the committee has heard an earful.
On to more fun stuff! Anyone who drops the studio today will get a complimentary 4 x 6 fun photograph. Of course you have to be with a parent or perhaps 18! No, this is not a portrait, just a fun picture!
So, stop on in! From 10:00 to 2:00!

Look! They look like party animals don't they!

Close your eyes and remember.....

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:24:20 GMT

Today is the first day of school in my district. Call me weird, but it is both a sad and happy time. A new chapter is opening and the summer has come to an end. My elementary school is only about 1/4 mile away (about 8 streets as the crow flies). I didn't move far from the house that I grew up in. As a matter of fact, my husband Dan and I are living in the house he grew up in. (We bought it years later from his Dad.) He also went to the very same elementary school as I. When our kids were born, they too went to the same elementary school. As a matter of fact, my son Jason had the same 3rd grade teacher as my husband did when he was there!! (Yea, kinda weird I know.) She was a great teacher and soon retired.

Anyway, as I watch the neighbors kids head off with parent's hand in tow, it brings back a ton of memories. My mother always took a photo of my two brothers and I on the first day and I continued to do so with my kids. I also volunteered my time to go to the elementary school to take every single kids photograph on the first day. Crazy isn't it? The teachers all then put the photos either in the kids journal or outside on the wall for back to school night. (That volunteer job of course stopped when they went to middle school.) I just thought that it was important to remember the 'firsts" in life.

As I sit on the sofa with my laptop, the front door is slightly ajar and for some strange reason it is cooler than normal. A sign of things to come. The summer birds are not chirping. My kids have moved on and it's just the hub and me with of course two very sexy Chihuahuas. In the background, I hear the familiar sound of a school bus come to a halt down the street. Silence for a second and then I hear a small voice yell "Bye Mom!"
Another first..... another last.