Recap 2008

Ok what a year. The motto for 08: LIFE HAPPENS!

I wrote a short book to summarize the year. When I realized it was a book I decided to start over and try to cut it short.

Now:
The tree is down, the weddings are all delivered, the portraits are all delivered, I'm starting goals for 2009, The office is almost done, workshops start soon, I'm finally feeling a bit more relaxed...

Summary:
Traveled to 9 different states, 2 countries, basement flooded, death in the family, learned some valuable lessons, photographed 7x more intimates than the previous year, worked many late nights, made many new friends, transfered to paperless order tracking, launched AC Ellis Ed...

2009:
Launch a new business, finish office/basement, use less than one ream of new paper, learn how to print my own prints, take Ayden to The Vineyard, Help others to love photography, have a more relaxed year than 2008. My list last year had about 80 items on it. This year I'm going to be happy keeping it small.

To everyone who has reached out this year. Thank you. I am very thankful to have all of you care. I hope your year was great and that 2009 is fulfilling for you!
CA


PS. I am currently accepting bookings for 2010 graduates. I will only be accepting 10 grads for full sessions. There are currently 9 spaces open.

Fall Wedding Gala at Envision Wedding Studio

We'll have some information and samples there for you to look at. Unfortunately we will be unable to attend as we made prior commitments. But please go and see Leah and all she has to offer.
CA

Holiday Pet Portraits

Ok one last fundraiser for the year. Let's see what we can do with this one. AC Ellis has agreed to partner with the Brookings Regional Humane Society for the Holiday Pet Portraits. Pets and their humans will be taking over the studio and we will be capturing it.

Session Fee: $45
Includes 20 minute studio session and one digital file for personal reproduction. Additional images may be made available on-line at a later date.
Open to pets and their humans, pets must be in the image.
Dates: Times are available, 18-20 from 4-7pm
Appointments and payment will be taken at the Humane Society: 697-7387 MWF 12-6 and Sat. 11-3
Brookings Humane Society Website

Here are Guinness and Ayden who let me practice on them. Aren't they the cutest models, just say yes and let me live in lala land.

Celebrate with CASA

The Holidays are upon us and it's time to think of your cards and gifts, or just another reason to get images. We have partnered with East Central CASA for our Holiday Special this year. Please read below for the specifics and let's get together this time of year to Celebrate our family and loved ones with CASA.
Thank you for your support.
AC Ellis
CA

$50 Session Fee: includes session and one digital image file for personal reproduction. $25 off the session fee along with 15% of any additional purchases will go towards East Central CASA
In-Studio session with Holiday Themed Set. This years set will feature a vintage tiled background with hanging ornaments. As always simple and classy.

Open to families, children, pets and individuals
Dates: November 13-14 and 17-21
Call or e-mail to schedule your session: 605.212.1617 or coryann@acellis.com
Book your session by clicking here.

East Central CASA is: Court Appointed Special Advocates for children. Which seeks to ensure safe, permanent burturing homes for abused and neglected children involved in State and Tribal proceedings in South Dakota through development, growth and support of local Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs.

Below is an image from last years set.

Select Intimate™ Sports

November 10-13 Select Intimate Sports Theme. Book your session by clicking here.

We've got the props for many teams but you are welcome to bring in your own stuff as well.

South Dakota Intimate / Boudoir Photography, Boudoir Workshops

Funky Pumpkin Patch Preliminary

A lot of you have told us that your coming, we are looking forward to a busy night with lots to gather and donate.

Don't forget tomorrow from 5-8 is funky pumpkin patch time. Are these not totally cool. Almost ready to go, tried to get Guinness to model for me as everyone says I need a new image of him since he's grown so much.

Halloween - Funky Pumpkin Patch

Each year for the past two years I have opened the studio on Halloween for free portraits. It's fun for me to see the kids and adults in costume and this year we are stepping it up a notch.

You know I can't do anything normal right? Well the studio will be open with our funky pumpkin patch for you to come and visit.

And to make it even better we are working with the local Domestic Abuse Shelter to help them during Domestic Abuse Awareness Month. They provide a safe place for women and children to go and they need food to put on the shelves. So...

Funky Halloween at AC Ellis Studio 5-8pm Friday October 31, 2008
Cost for your session: One boxed food item (stove top, hamburger helper type of stuff)
Cost for your file: Same as above. For a total of 2.
Who: Anyone. People and Pets. 1-3 subjects per image max.
Where: AC Ellis Studio, 1215 Trail Ridge Road Suite C, across from the new construction.

That's right two boxed food items gets your image taken and your file so you can get as many prints as you want made.

Here is Kirby who came in last year.

Portraits for Pink™

All new posts will go below this for the month of October. Originally posted on 10.10.08, but brought to the top of the blog each day by changing the date.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we want to do our part. There are many ways to do your part. You could purchase products that donate proceeds or like us create your own little fundraiser. Portraits for Pink™ is us giving you another reason to contribute.

We are proud to offer our Portraits for Pink™ campaign. For the entire month of October we will be selling certificates for $25. All of the proceeds (all $25) go to Breast Cancer Awareness.

You may redeem your certificate from October 2008 - February 2009 for one of the following 20 min. sessions and one image digital file from the session for personal reproduction:
- Pink Pearls Select Intimate™ : Only available with a Portraits for Pink™ certificate
- Individual Studio Portrait Session: For one person or pet.
- Couple Studio Portrait Session: Speaks for itself.

Click Here to Purchase.

This is S modeling our Pink Pearl Select Intimate™, While she is wearing little you of course are welcome to wear more. White or pale pink pantie and bra combo would be nice.

Here are a few things we purchased. Tough Enough to Wear Pink tees, Pink Kitchen Aid Scissors, Bialetti Pink Bag Clips, Pink Energizer Batteries, Quilted Northern with the Pink Ribbon, and last but definitely the coolest... I purchased the girls and myself a cute little Coach Pink Keychain.

Notice the nice low rate? That is because we want to get a bunch of you in here to raise some money. Also notice that your file is included so we aren't trying to make more money off you for us after the fact. This is how we give.

Ok one last image of S who was kind enough to come in and model this shoot for me.

South Dakota Intimate / Boudoir Photography, Boudoir Workshops

Select Intimates™ Retro Housewife

Four new Select Intimates™ announced. One new sample to share. More to come later.

In October we have the much anticipated Retro Housewife. The backdrop is done, the props are purchased and S already showed us how to rock it. We have the props and the aprons, you can brings some strappy shoes and some knickers. O and flip that hair out, think June Clever, but sexy.

November brings in the sports. You know you guys would love to see you barely covered in his favorites teams colors. Stay tuned samples to come next week.

December and January samples to come in the future. Gotta leave something for you to think about. But you know it's good.

October 22-24: Retro Housewife
November 10-13: Sports
December 1-4: All Wrapped Up
January 5-7: Goddess

Click Here to Purchase.

Some Samples of the Retro Housewife for you all, you'll have to wait a couple of days for the Sports:

South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraske Intimate / Boudoir Photography, Intimate / Boudoir Workshops

Get Ready

For some major announcements and samples to show up between now and Monday. I'm going to try to post one each day instead of bombarding you with them all on Monday.

Keep a look out.
CA

Working Hard

Every once in a while I get sent some prints or digital images that make me laugh. I have to laugh at myself and the way I look while working. For Kristina and Damien's wedding I had to get a little wet to get a few of the images and someone managed to capture them. Kristina sent these to me and said they should make the blog. I think she's right.

Thank you for sending these on Kristina.
CA

AC Ellis Education

Well some of you may know that this has been a long time coming. Recent events and a bit of anal retentiveness have put this project on hold over and again.

Finally it's live.

AC Ellis Education is a new division of AC Ellis Inc. for me to get back to teaching. There are currently three basic offering...

Amateur Education:
For all you novices out there who have a nice entry level Digital SLR and want to take better everyday images of your family and friends. I will cover multiple topics over time, the first class for now will be intro to Digital SLR (that would be your rebel and nikon D80 type of cameras). Let's get it off of P mode and get you running the camera. Great portraits and action images will be an ease to take after this course.

One on One:
Just what it says. You can buy some one on one time with me. Cover any topics you like. Shooting, marketing, pricing, branding, editing, proofing etc. I'll be an open book and all yours. One hour, half day and full day opportunities available.

And the big one...

Intimate Workshop:
Intimate or Boudoir Photography as it is otherwise known is taking off and I want to help other photographers learn lighting, posing and techniques to better their clients images and their business. This workshop is multiple days including shooting and lots of information to get you started or take you to the next level.

I'm excited to start this new branch of the business. If your interested please fill out the contact form and we'll send some info your way. Depending on interest more dates may be added soon. If you have a group and would like a specific date for the amateur ed course let me know and we'll set something up just for you.

Head on over to AC Ellis Education at www.acellised.com.
A special thank you to Livebooks. I love my Livebooks sites and was excited when they decided to sponsor me!
Have a great day!
Cory Ann

Alive and well

Hello everyone,
Just thought I come on here and drop you all a note. We are alive and well. I just haven't been blogging as I've been trying to buckle down and get some much needed editing and admin done.

We have a new addition in the office that is helping to get us re-organized and doing some admin for me. Andy finally did some more work on the "office" (aka the room that is still recovering from flooding which was not covered by insurance), Ayden is getting ready for pre-school. Guinness is getting huge and finally not peeing on the floor as much. Maria and I are shooting a ton of weddings and well we are just keeping busy.

With Sept comes less weddings for me and I should be bombarding you soon with all kinds of posts, sessions and personal images. I can't wait to share some of the amazing images we've made recently.

Galleries will be going up soon for a number of customers so check your e-mail for your activation info. If you don't get it drop me an e-mail.

Thank you to my friends and fellow photogs who have recently e-mailed checking that I'm still kickin'. I am and will be back soon to share lots with you. I promise, hang in there.
CA

Cause we always need a image in the post and graffiti can be cool.

Hello

Hello,
Yes I am back in the office today. We arrived last night around 10:30pm. I will be spending the rest of the next couple of days answering e-mails, sending out orders, proofing images, and the like. Please do not continue to send e-mails asking on the status of your order. The more time I take to answer those is that much longer that it takes me to prepare, package and ship them. If you get a status update of "at lab" this is merely a courtesy so that you know your order is progressing, depending on your order it may take anywhere for 2-10 weeks after this e-mail for your order to be ready. Please refer to your Agreements for a timeline of delivery. If you would like your proofs or your products rushed you may request this at an additional fee upon availability. Remember there is no such thing as a photography emergency.

It has been a crazy few weeks here with lots happening beyond our control (basement flooding and death of family). For all of you who have been patient and understanding thank you very much! I hope that in times of unforseen circumstances you will be granted the same.

The office was completely closed as Ayden and I traveled to my hometown of Fort Bragg, CA to be with family after the unexpected death of my mother. Our primary concern while there was to spend time with my dad and other family to help get through tough times. Family first. Once caught up I'll post lots of blog posts for customers as well as some of the stuff we did, until then the blog will be still.

Here is Ayden and my dad. Ayden was a great distraction for him.
CA

Office Closed

Due to a death in the family the office will be closed until July 8 so that we may spend time with family. We ask for your patience and understanding during this time and will make every effort to respond quickly upon our return.
Thank you,
Cory Ann

PS. In the meantime read this incredibly funny blog: Mammoth Men

No new family clients and e-mail

Hello all,

Just a minor announcement.

We have a full summer schedule and in an effort to better serve our current clients we will not be accepting any new family or portrait clients for some time. The timeline is not definite, but I am thinking 2009 we will open this up again to a select few. We are still accepting intimate, wedding and graduate clients. Although for graduates there is a very limited number of openings left.

If you are looking for a fabulous portrait artist in the Eastern South Dakota area I recommend Rod Evans out of Sioux Falls and Heather Kallhoff in Watertown.

Current/Previous clients of AC Ellis are of course still welcome to schedule sessions we love to have you back.

Also I tried something new with my e-mail and phone and seem to have encountered many technical difficulties. So if you have called or e-mailed in the last couple of weeks and you don't here back from me by the end of today please get ahold of me again. I apologize for the inconvenience.

Have a great day!
Cory Ann

Hiatus

I apologize for the blogging hiatus, but I'm busy working on client images and products. Upon returning home from the vineyard last wednesday I just missed Andy before he headed out for Army training. Thursday I cuddled with Ayden and prepared for the weekend weddings. Friday I woke up to a flooded basement and called in the team of Total Maintenance. Lucky for me they know what they are doing and I was able to stay on track and focus on a fab wedding.

So anyway, that's why I'm not blogging. It will resume probably next week with more images from travels, clients and stuff. In the meantime here are a couple of images of what the office now looks like relocated to the kitchen table. I like the light much better, but am having trouble focusing in chaos.

This is what it normally looks like, clean and with out the ball (remember I got a new chair).

SWB Behind the Scenes

On Sunday prior to the workshop we had a get together at our house. It was great to hang out around the fire pit and relax.

Eric

Tracey

Michelle

And David. Such a fun person! And he appreciated my hot dog selection.

Some class images

And David at the end of day one goofing off.

Shoot with Beckstead in SD

On Monday and Tuesday we were fortunate enough to have David Beckstead here for one of his Shoot with Beckstead workshops. The workshop went very smoothly and I think all participants including myself took a lot from it.

Monday was full of shooting our two wonderful models Amanda and Maria. Tuesday was reserved for talking, critique and basically looking over the images.

Thank you to all of the photographers that came. It was great to see some of you again and to meet some of you for the first time. If anyone would like to get on a list to be notified of up coming workshops just drop me an e-mail. I hope to see everyone again soon. And a big thank you to David for making all the way out to SD we really do appreciate it!
Tim Larsen
Michelle Rudland
Eric Merrill
Tracey Vogel
David Bracho
Maria Lavallee
Raquel Leeper

Here are some image from me, check the links above for more from those photogs and Maria's in a few days. I'll try to get some behind the scenes images up with in the next few days.
CA

Amanda

Maria

eSATA

I'm a nerd, it's official. I think my new eSATA drives are super sexy in their sleek silver case. With their JBOD mounting and hot swappable drives....

Anyway. This is what I spent most of Wed doing. Downloading my files from my regular Firewire external drives to these eSATA drives. Much better way for me to store all of the amazing images I take each year. The firewire drives are now allocated to other computers and jobs, while these little guys are in charge of all client files, business documents and such. This is a quicker more user friendly method for me to store my files. The ability to hot swap my drives into the same case allows me to store multiple drives in other areas and not be daisy chaining all those externals together. Hopefully I'll also be able to use this new system to eliminate all of the dvd's I use as the second back-up (instead using extra drives).

I got my eSATA PCIx card from the wonderfully helpful people at Mac Gurus (who's eSATA burly units are also nice)
and the eSATA drives and unit are purchased from G-Technology. They are the same company I have used for a few years for my firewire drives.

1001 Contest Amended/Extended

So it seems that a few of you can't tell time and thought the deadline was tonight. So here's what I'm gonna do. Since I leave for NY very very soon (have a huge list of stuff to do) and don't have time to judge and post I'm going to give everyone an extra week. That would be the 12th. The evening of the 12th, when the clock strikes 12 on the 13th the contest is over. Hope that's clear for everyone. For those of you who did it in time - good job, I'm loving the entries.

In celebration of 1000 posts I'm going to hold a little contest for all you blog readers out there in cyberland. The prize is good so I'm going to make you all work for it....

What you can win:
First prize: 4GB silver iPod nano
Second prize: 1GB red iPod shuffle

How to enter:
Send me an e-mail containing your name, mailing address, e-mail address and a picture containing the following three items in the same image. Toaster, the words "AC Ellis", and a rock. E-mail to: acellis@mac.com Other items may be in the image.

Who may enter:
Anyone who is not an employee, affiliate or family of an employee of AC Ellis Inc. However, I do expect to see something from Maria and anyone else who wants to submit for the fun or it! You may enter up to two images each. Send in an image of any size you want, but at least 760px on it's widest side.

How the winner is selected:
In a completely biased process by me (cory ann). I'll pick my favorite image. There are no standards on composition, focus, color, lighting or camera. Photoshop is ok. It will simply be what I like. Creativity is key.

Deadline:
All e-mail submissions must be submitted by 12:00am, May 12, 2008, winner announced soon after on the blog.
Changed

What if I already have an iPod?
Photographer Option: You may select to trade out your prize value for some AC Ellis Templates.
Client Option: You may select to trade out your iPod for a standard session and an 12x8 print
Random Option: select from a variety of my personal random images to be printed and signed and delivered to you.

Release:
By submitting your image for the contest you and giving permission to AC Ellis to post your image and name.

and because no post is complete without an image.

Project Childhood

Project Childhood is a new organization to help unify photographers and help celebrate childhood.

It has just recently been launched in conjunction with April being National Child Abuse Prevention Month and is starting off by holding a contest. The contest is to help motivate photographers across the country to go out and donate their talents to photograph a family or child that otherwise cannot afford a portrait session and to also donate prints to them. The images created will be posted on the site along with the charity of their choice.

Many photographers across the country are already doing this and I think this is a great opportunity to encourage more. I recently wrote Chris (the founder) an e-mail to let some of the other ways that photographers could contribute and he surprised my by making me the first featured photographer.

I haven't entered the contest myself, may be doing that soon, but in the meantime I have donated 6 sets of templates for the winners of the contest. I'm excited to see the featured photographer listing because it also highlights an organization I've been helping for about a year now, East Central CASA. CASA and I are close neighbors and it is a pleasure to work with the staff. This year I contributed with donations for their largest fundraiser the Fire and Ice Gala. It is a wonderful event that highlights the children and raises money through ticket sales and a live and silent auction to fund the organizations efforts to support and promote court-appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children so they can thrive.

This years gala was Saturday night and it was a success. In case any photogs out there are wondering how to help other than offering their photography talents you can do many things. Purchase tickets and bring people who will contribute, donate items for live and silent auctions, donate art prints for auctions, create experience or educational packages that can be donated. Things we also did this year included donating our new Party Shots (photo booth) as a form of entertainment, I laid out the program for the event, donated supplies to decorate the event, time to help decorate the event, images from past sessions were used in a slideshow during the event to highlight happy healthy children and families and last for each ticket that was sold for the event we donated a studio portrait session and a 7x5 print. This was over 200 gift certificates totally more than $14K worth of services and was a great opportunity to make the low ticket price of $55 dollars seem like a good investment as each certificate is worth $70. There will be another post coming up with images from the event...

So anyway check out project childhood, CASA and other local charities and see what you can do to help abused and neglected children. Sorry for the long read, hopefully it was worth it.
CA

Intimate Tour

Finally AC Ellis Intimates are hittin' the road and traveling to a city near you. Four 2008 dates are announced and we are taking bookings now. Sessions are limited so don't wait.

So what's so darn special... well you are of course. But your are going to have the opportunity to get intimate portraits done by one of the industry leaders in intimate photography. Yep I'm talking myself up. Pretty good at making up hype aren't I. Anyway you get me photographing you, with out the travel in some of the best hotels I can find. It will be an experience to remember!

I'm super pumped for our first tour stop in Minneapolis at the lovely Chambers Hotel. I have reserved a suite and plan on treating you to a wonderful experience. I think we'll start the weekend off right with an AC Ellis GTG. So all you past clients living in the city. I say we have some fun. I'll post more about that later. Anyway. Sessions have already been booking, but there are openings, and if need be I can add days.

I'll add this listing to the right of the blog for future reference and I'll be sure to post more info as more dates and such become available.

MN ladies here I come.
CA

The Chambers

South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Iowa Boudoir / Intimate Photographer

Hmmm what could this be?

Guess what is coming very very soon?

SDPPA

Sunday my posse and I headed out to the SDPPA Winter Convention to learn from some other pros. While we were there some labs had booths and samples set up. While I went over to the ACI booth I found all kinds of my work being used. Below you can see the B Family in a canvas. Then in the other image you can see the ABC Book, Amanda's Senior Signature Book and the G kids on a sample linen postcard.

So humbling to see my work out on all these samples.
CA

As seen on Keloland

Here is the video for all to watch, I'm sure I'll regret putting myself out there. I need to take classes on being interviewed. But it is fun to see Rabeka swish her hair and my other girls make it on tv. And the written news story.
CA


Embedded Object.

Creative License Sessions

New fun announcement! March will be Creative License Month and portrait sessions will be offered free of charge.

There is of course a catch. You get to make two decisions only. What you wear into the session and what you order. All other decisions are up to the photographer. We get to decide poses, backgrounds, lighting everything. You are leaving it all up to us.... the way it should be of course.

This blog posts marks the opening of bookings.
February 11-17 bookings are open to past AC Ellis Clients only. So if you have done a full priced studio or standard session or had your wedding booked with us you are eligible during this first week.
February 18-24 bookings are open to all who call, but on the 25th radio and print ads will start so if your a blog reader the 18-24 is your chance.

Call or e-mail Cory Ann to set up your session times.
CA

The images taken during these session are not available for commercial use unless additional fees are paid at full-price. High School graduates and intimate sessions are also exempt from these session. Families, individuals, pets, couples, etc are all eligible. Sessions will typically be in studio and area sessions. Maria's sessions will be on-location of our choice in Sioux Falls. Weather will not cause a reschedule, just something for us to work around. Cancellations are final, no rescheduling is not allowed. Only one session per immediate family.

Guess what...

It's been boring around here..... NOT! Guess what's coming up for us? No really take a guess. More later.

Edited to Add:
Thursday night watch EYE on KELOland at 10pm as we are the feature! I'll try to link the video after the fact. So cool that they found us and are featuring our intimates!
CA

Kristina's Chat Cards

These just came in on our pretty pretty paper. It just sparkles. You can see it a bit in the image, but in person is so much better!
CA

Chat Cards - New Product

Introducing our newest product: Chat Cards. They are great for everyone, better than stuffy business cards. Below we are showing them used for teens, they are great for seniors and everyone else as well. I think it would be super cute if Kristina and E did their leg images from a few posts ago.

Anyway, we design each one individually and include your name, phone, and e-mail address. Great to exchange when your traveling or just out and about meeting new people. For seniors they are great to hand out to all your friends before going off to college.

Hope you like.
CA

MS Show all done

The MS Bridal Show is over. Most of the stuff is unloaded and some little things just need to be put away. It was a long day and I was wiped out, but it was fun.

Here are some images of our booth. We like to step it up a notch each time we go. Hopefully you all like.

I will be e-mailing and/or calling the winner of our select intimate session in the next couple of days. I still haven't even opened the box yet.

For all you SD Vendors looking for winter show to do I must say the MS is my favorite. The aisles were good and wide, it wasn't overrun by vendors from a particular group. It was large enough to have a variety and small enough to not be a burden. The management was kind and didn't nit pick and be rude during set up or anything. The venue is the best in town for a show of this kind. They didn't get rid of the fashion show. A lot of the better vendors I've worked with were there that weren't at others. Plus as always the proceeds go to MS.

Something to think about for the future.

MS Show and US

Tomorrow Sunday, January 27 from 1 - 5pm we will have our stellar booth up at the MS Bridal Show.

Being introduced at this show in full force are our intimate sessions. We will have large intimate canvases to show along side our wedding images, a book and drum roll please.....

... A giveaway for select intimate sessions. An extra special treat for you blog readers. If you introduce yourself to me and mention this blog post we'll star your name so if you win a session then you get a special treat! Plus you could get one of our 2008 AC Ellis Calendars. The calendars are first come, first serve and we don't have many left so be sure to not be shy. Introduce yourself and get some goodies.

All you wedding vendors, I thought it would be great if we could actually get some time to chat and see what each other do. So I've teamed up with Envision Wedding Studio and we are going to host a vendor get together on Thursday January 31 from 6-8pm at Envision Wedding Studio. We will have drinks and hors' d oeuvres and ask that you bring any portfolio material or cards to exchange with other vendors.

Leah and I hope to see you there. 5020 South Tennis Lane, Sioux Falls. ( 1 block east of 57th and Louise)
CA