We Love Babies!

For about 3 years now, it has been my privilege to photograph several newborn babies for a program we offer called 1st Moments.

1st Moments is designed just for new parents and their brand new babies. We’ve photographed families still in the hospital as well as at home and have created some priceless memories in all environments.

Joseph’s portraits were created in the comfort of his home (which worked out really well since he needed two diaper changes so he was relaxed and we were able to use elements he is used to being around.

The next day, as I did the editing and workflow on the images, it occurred to me how important portraits like these really are to a family. This is the 3rd baby I’ve photographed for Joseph’s family and each time I realize more and more what I’m providing for them.

Here’s how the 1st Moments program works for a family.

• We prefer to come to your home right after you bring baby home. Within the first 10 days is best! But, if you want us to come to the hospital, we can do that too.
• Just call us about a week before your due date so we can be ready. When baby is born, give us another call and we’ll schedule a time to come over.
• We’ll shoot a combination of candids, photojournalistic, and formal portraits.
• You get a musical slideshow (see below) on DVD
• The cost is only $99
• Plus you get discounted prices on enlargements. All gift portraits (8×10 or smaller) are 50% off, and any wall portrait (11×14 or larger) are 33% off.

If you are expecting soon, or you know someone who is expecting soon, the 1st Moments photography session is a great gift.

Thanks for reading.

-Tracy
The Colorado Springs Newborn Baby Photographer

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Of course not. Nobody needs to know that, but if you have needed to know how to clean anything else, you may want to check out the website, How To Clean Stuff. Today there’s information on how to remove oil stains from a wool sweater and how to clean a stainless steel stove top. (Oh, and they actually do have articles about cleaning a Santa costume and a rabid monkey).

That’s just one of my top Useful Websites. There’s more below.

1. NatureSkills.com
   While this site won’t tell you how to wash a rabid monkey, it will tell you how to expand your enjoyment of the great outdoors with all kinds of informat ion about survival skills, identification of different plants, trees, animals, birds, and scat & tracks. Many of you know that I lead a class in wild, edibl e plants each year, so this kind of site is right up my alley.
2. RepairClinic.com
   This site is for the DIY’er who wants to repair his/her own appliances and other items. I’ve had to use this site several times and it’s always given me the correct advice on what the problem was and what part was needed. You can even buy the part you need from this site.
   A great site!
3. snopes.com
   

   snopes.com debunks urban legends

   This has, through the years, been one of the most useful sites I’ve used. You probably get bunches of Emails from well-meaning friends and family like I do. Many of these are forwarded from someone, who got it from someone, who got it from someone else, and so on and so on. Many times the ones I get are about some supposed scientific or archeological proof of something in the Bible, i.e. Joshua’s missing day, or Egyptian chariots found at the bottom of the Red Sea. I suppose the reason I get so many of these is because I’m a Christian and other Christians think that I’ll be interested in these things. Well, I am a Christian – a very serious one – but I’m not interested in Email hoaxes that gullible people believe without checking out.
   Snopes.com is a great place to check out the veracity of these kinds of rumors and old wives’ tales.

4. 10 Minute Mail
   Have you ever wanted to get some information from a website, but to get it you have to register on their site? Then before you can proceed you have to wait to get a confirmation Email from the site, and you KNOW that you’re just signing up for a bunch of junk Email. Here’s a great way to get around that. 10 Minute Mail will assign an Email address to you for 10 minutes – just long enough for you to get the Email and reply so you can gain access to the information you’re looking for. After 10 minutes, the Email address is deleted.
5. CriminalSearches.com
   Want to know how many, and what type of lawbreakers and criminals live in your neighborhood?
6. TypoBuddy.com
   I haven’t yet had the chance to use this site, but it seems worth checking into. Here’s the description from their website. “Typo Buddy is a search tool for misspelled eBay listings. You can find thousands misspelled words on eBay, and it is the secret to getting great deals!”
7. Calvin & Hobbes
   How could anyone not like Calvin & Hobbes?
8. realmilk.com
   This site is maintained, I believe, by the Weston A. Price Foundation and promotes the sale and use of raw milk.
9. BibleGateway.com
   This site contains tons of study and research tools for a Bible student, but I like it best for the ability to search for words, phrases, or verses in dozens of versions of the Bible.
10. 

    Tux Paint

    Tux Paint
    My 5 year-old begs me to let him do Tux Paint. Do you remember the old Paint program that’s been in Windows since version 2 (I think)? This is like that, but it’s geared for kids, so it’s interactive, has fun brushes and great noises. If you have young kids, they’ll love it.

Thanks for reading.

-Tracy

I’ll tell you what the contest is below, but first, check out this fun video which shows the experiment to encourage people to use actually use a trash can.

So what’s our contest?

We believe that to get the greatest portraits of someone, the process MUST be FUN! If you’re having fun, we’re having fun, and the portraits we produce for you will be great.

That’s our motivating philosophy behind how we approach your portrait session or wedding.

So we want to let people know that they will have fun when they have their portraits done so I’m announcing this contest:

Come up with the best “viral video” idea for our business.

Did you notice that The Fun Theory is an initiative of Volkswagen? That’s a FUN marketing idea. It reminds me of the Mentos and Diet Coke viral video from a few years ago.

The one condition is that the idea must have something to do with photography and it must be a clean suggestion. No naughtiness. Think family-friendly.

What’s the prize?

We’d like to give to the winner $1000 worth of Tracy Bookman Photography Gift Cards that you can use for yourself or give to others. If you know people who need senior pictures done, or any other photography, or if you need some photography work yourself, this is a great way to get TONS of it for FREE.

To submit your ideas, simply use our CONTACT FORM on our website and send us your suggestions.

Thanks for reading.

-Tracy

Homes For Our Troops, according to their website, is a “non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2004. (They) are strongly committed to helping those who have selflessly given to our country and have returned home with serious disabilities and injuries since September 11, 2001. It is (their) duty and our honor to assist severely injured Servicemen and Servicewomen and their immediate families by raising donations of money, building materials and professional labor and to coordinate the process of building a home that provides maximum freedom of movement and the ability to live more independently.

“The homes provided by Homes For Our Troops are given at NO COST to the veterans…”

Next month, on March 18, 19, and 20, HFOT will be constructing a new home for Sgt. Adams. It will be fully functional for him to use with his wheelchair. HFOT representative, Autumn Oster, contacted our office last week about being the photographer for the event in March, so we’ll be on site from 8:30 to 5:30 to capture all the important moments.

HFOT still needs volunteers in the construction industry to provide services for this event, as well as many others willing to step up and lend a hand with the building process. If you would like to get more information about this event, and possibly volunteer to help, you can visit the webpage set up for Sgt. Jeffery Adams.

Thanks for reading.

-Tracy
“Official Photographer for Homes For Our Troops, Sgt. Jeffery Adams Project”

In the fall of 2009, we originally rolled out our Springs Kid Models program and were able to provide great images to lots of families. Well, we’re rolling it out again and you can get in on these sessions for the rest of the month of February.

You can get all the details about our Springs Kid Modeling Program on the webpage I have set up specifically for this information.

Thanks for reading.

-Tracy

Colorado Springs Kid Models program by photographer Tracy Bookman

Recently, they held their annual company party at the Broadmoor, but this year there was a different feel to it as Dr. Nicolas DiBella, MD, the Center’s president, was retiring.

We were privileged to set up an onsite studio to photograph dozens of couples at the gala. It was a ton of fun for us and we heard, for the RMCC employees and their dates as well.

It was so fun that we’re hoping we’re invited back next year for the same event with them!

-Tracy