Capturing
the moments of a child's first years of life are so important. It
rings true when the term "in the blink of an eye" is phrased. Finding
the right place, more importantly, the right people for this job takes a
stroke of luck. The opportunity knocked at our door, by word of mouth
at the right moment. The Connection
This story started one evening at a local restaurant, where by chance I had met a couple that was out to eat with their children. We engaged in small talk about our kids, which eventually led to the referral of Pink Elephant Photography. The birth of my first child recently has been such a wonderful whirlwind, that the idea of having professional photographs taken, had not yet entered my mind. The Universe was speaking to me.
Pink Elephant Photography is a Connecticut based small business ran by Staci Miller and Corley Fleming. Recently started in early 2013, they specialize in weddings, parties, and portrait photography. The duo put together their talents to offer a different style that stands out from the rest.
Our first connection was through email and a phone call. I approached Staci with a bit of hesitation as my daughter was only 4 months old. I was not confident she could handle the lighting and distractions associated with a photo shoot.
"My partner and I have 5 daughters between us," Staci told me during a recent phone conversation. "Infants can be a challenge, but I think that you will be surprised at how well she may do."
I made an early afternoon appointment with hopes that my little girl would be well fed and rested for the photo shoot.
Todd and I arrived at their studio to meet the ladies and discuss some ideas. I really wanted to capture her sweeter side, but that takes timing and skills.
The studio was well lit and had toys, books, blankets and a few distracting tools to get my daughter's attention. The impression I got from our conversation over the phone was spot on. These ladies are very much in tune with children. They work fast and efficient. It's easy to miss the mark with infants, but they shined during our 1 hour session.
In Their Own Words
Corley: I always loved photography. I got my first camera at a young age and was just fascinated by the creativity of it. I took my first black and white darkroom photography class during my freshman year of high school, continuing each year until I graduated college. After I graduated from UCONN, I worked for a wedding photographer, then moving on to a full time graphic design position. I have been in that field now for over 14 years.
Staci: My journey in photography began years earlier, when I picked my first camera in a small photography course at Quinnipiac University. I had taken the class as an elective to fill my requirements in Liberal Arts, but it turned into a surprise love. I felt a connection between the camera and lens, and suddenly found myself taking pictures of everything with confidence and love. After college I spent some years as a Pre-K teacher, while developing a portfolio of my student's.
Over the years I was encouraged by family, friends, and co-workers to take my work further.
2013 was the year I decided to do so after I was approached to shoot a wedding in Guilford. The experience helped me during a turning point in my career. Having my third daughter on the way, It was time to leave my career behind to stay home with my children and pursue my love for photography. I took my first photography job with a Real Estate Broker, which gave me the experience that I was looking for.
Our partnership has proven to be complimentary and our dynamic worked from the start. We captured the events of the wedding with confidence and produced stunning images all the while having fun. After very positive feedback we decided to form Pink Elephant Photography and begin our journey as small business owners doing what we love.
"Our
style is often photo-journalistic and we strive to capture those special moments
of pure love," Staci told us. "Both Corley and I enjoy getting to know our clients, getting them
to laugh, while letting us capture not just the posed moments, but the moments in-between,
when clients show their real selves."
The shoot went well above my expectations. It's not just the success of the photos but the style Staci and Corley delivered. I didn't feel pressured to make my child perform, nor did she act out of her normal character, which seemed to work well, especially when moving her into several different postures.
What's In Store
I
asked Corley about their future plans. She explained, "We have a few
wedding booked for 2014 and 2015, plus we are working on several studio
themed sessions during the winter months. We are also putting together a
changing room in the studio and adding additional backdrops."
"During
the warmer months we book on-site photo sessions, where we get to
capture people outside, having fun. The group sessions have worked out
well for us," Staci elaborated.
They
gave us a tour of their portfolio which is available on their website.
Everything is well organized and easily accessible.
Your Prints Are Available
Pink
Elephant Photography uses Smugmug.com as a cloud service for their
images. It's a site for photo sharing and ordering prints. Staci and
Corley make your photos available for viewing and ordering once they are
ready. You can purchase your custom prints right from Smugmug.com.
You can also purchase your images directly from Pink Elephant
Photography for a fee.
I am pleased to say that my experience was outstanding. I really felt at ease from start to finish. Staci and Corley get my recommendation hands down.
Photographs are a gateway to the past. They bring us peace and harmony as the memories live on trough our images and words.
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