This is it. The moment of truth. The giveaway turned out to be great ! Thank you for participating in the giveaway. Thank you to all the participants, and everyone that supported them. Now, drum roll please ………….. The winner is Nidia Becerra Tijerino from Los Angeles, CA ! Congratulations ! You are the winner of a free portrait session. You can schedule your session anytime in 2011. You will also get 5 edited copies on a CD.

The second place winner is… drum roll….Malena Miller Marley, from Phoenix, AZ ! Congratulations ! You will get 50% off on your next portrait session in 2011, and 5 edited copies on a CD.

Thank you again.

I found out about this workshop offered by Chris Leigh Studios a couple of weeks ago. I am glad I signed up for this workshop. I needed more help with exposire locking and sun flare shots. We were able to practice various types of shooting in different lights. I wish I had a flash. We learned more about flash too; however, while everyone was trying to understand their flashes and taking pictures with their flash, I challenged myself to accomplish same quality picture using natural light in the same situation.

It was great because I got to meet some wonderful people, and the intimate setting was wonderful. After shooting at Tempe Beach Park in the morning, we went to Chompies for breakfast. We discussed marketing, more technical sides of a camera, got to know each other and so on.

Here are a few pictures from the workshop.

 I was practicing sun flare but ended up getting this gorgeous rim light photo.

The world was supposed to end today, right? Well, obviously I am not blogging from heaven, and I was at work packing my first classroom and getting ready for next year. It’s official. I will be teaching 4th grade next year. Very excited. Love that age group, and the curriculum is great too, but not sure if I will ever be able to have such a great team like this. Yes, I had the best team ever. Mary, Ben and I worked very closely to make everything easier for us and the kids. I was there today to pack my classroom materials, and geez, I didn’t realize how much teaching materials I’ve collected in only 1 year. I’ve packed 10+ boxes today, and still not done. Only half way there. Well, the end of the world is a new beginning for me, my 4th grade journey.

Posting the rules for entering the portrait session giveaway again. Don’t be late ! Hurry ! This is a great opportunity to secure your free christmas portrait session, or a family photoshoot.

*Send an email to info@memoriesbyfaria.com with a picture of you/your family with your name, and city. It doesn’t have to be a professional picture.

*Go to www.facebook.com/memoriesbyfariaphotography and like my page.

*I will post all participants’ pictures on a folder on Facebook. I will start uploading photos in an album from May 15, 2011.

*Tell your family and friends to like my page www.facebook.com/memoriesbyfariaphotography

*Tell them to like your picture and the only way to do this is by liking www.facebook.com/memoriesbyfariaphotography

*The winner will be the picture with the highest likes

*The free session includes 1 hour session and 5 photos on a CD, and 25-30 photos will be uploaded on an online gallery for prints.

*Second place winner will receive 50% off of their portrait session with 5 photos on a CD, and 25-30 photos on an online gallery.

*The last day to enter the contest in May25, 2011.

*The contest ends on May 30, 2011 at midnight, and the winner will be announced on May 31, 2011.

* Offer expires on Dec. 31, 2011

Aesthetician, Skin-kissed, Scottsdale, AZ

Customized veils and head pieces, Veils By Jules , Phoenix, AZ

8 days left with the kiddos and 9 more days left of this school year. Wow. Where did the year go? I mean really, didn’t I just set up my first classroom a couple of months ago? Time sure flies. Looking forward to the summer because I’ve been ignoring the business side of photography. Those of you thinking of getting into photography business, let me tell you something. It’s not eveh half as easy as it might seem like. My business background is VERY limited. Coming up with a solid business plan requires a lot of planning and thinking for me. Don’t be surprised if you end up seeing more gray hair on me. Who thought a free portrait session giveaway could be so difficult? But always remember, every single obstacle only opens up a new door with a new hope. I always told my students, “Erase the phrase give up from the dictionary of your mind.” I have to remember this and feep looking forward to what’s coming ahead of me.

If you are interested in entering (and I hope you do), please check out Free Portrait Session Giveaway SoCal and Phoenix

And every blog becomes more interesting with a visual.

Jamie Las Vegas Wedding Photographer

Want to win a free portrait session? Memories By Faria Photography has decided to giveaway one portrait session for free, and one portrait session for 50% off in SoCal or in Phoenix. It can be a family portrait, a baby/children portrait, a senior portrait, a newborn, or an engagement session. If you are interested then here are the steps:

*Send an email to info@memoriesbyfaria.com with a picture of you/your family with your name, and city. It doesn’t have to be a professional picture.

*Go to www.facebook.com/memoriesbyfariaphotography and like my page.

*I will post all participants’ pictures on a folder on Facebook. I will start uploading photos in an album from May 15, 2011.

*Tell your family and friends to like my page www.facebook.com/memoriesbyfariaphotography

*Tell them to like your picture and the only way to do this is by liking www.facebook.com/memoriesbyfariaphotography

*The winner will be the picture with the highest likes

*The free session includes 1 hour session and 5 photos on a CD, and 25-30 photos will be uploaded on an online gallery for prints.

*Second place winner will receive 50% off of their portrait session with 5 photos on a CD, and 25-30 photos on an online gallery.

*The last day to enter the contest in May25, 2011.

*The contest ends on May 30, 2011 at midnight, and the winner will be announced on May 31, 2011.

* Offer expires on Dec. 31, 2011

And what can make a blog better than adding a picture?

This picture of my baby cousin was taken at the Griffith Park in Los Angeles last June after getting my first DSLR. She was the most difficult model I’ve every worked with

Don’t you want a bag that looks nice and holds a huge part of closet in the bag? Everytime I had a photoshoot, I had to bring my backpack looking camera bag that could barely hold 2 cameras and 2 lenses, and carrying the backpack made me feel like a little boy at times. Forget about being able to fit my wallet, and water. I’ve been on several missions for the a while. My handbag hunt is still on, but my camera bag hunt has ended, at least for now.

Kelly Moore bag is like a Prada for every female photographer. Same here. I was a little sad when I found out that I missed the free bag giveaway by Kelly Moore last month, not that I had a huge chance of winning. Then one day I found Jo Totes website. The bags looked ok to me. Not something that swept me off my feet, and made me feel like a lottery winner. I contemplated a lot, and finally I clicked the Place Order button.

After receiving my shipment and opening the box, I actually felt like a lottery winner. It looked 10 times better than it did online. Right away I wanted to check what it could fit in it, and how heavy it would get. I was able to fit one camera, my 50mm, 80-200mm, my wallet and water, and there was still a little more room for a few more small items. Then I walked around for a while to see it I felt like going to the emergency after carrying around my 80-200mm in a bag. The strap was surprisingly comfortable. I am a happy girl now I am glad I purchased this bag.