What's in a name?

Last week Sheena and I came upon quite the conundrum (yeah I know, big word). We needed to order some business cards and decided that we needed a slogan to put on them. The ensuing debate was nothing short of a classic Perry Mason show. We couldn't decide on anything and everything we came up with sounded 'cheesy' and just didn't represent the message we wanted to get out about who we are. Then we figured out we didn't really know who we are. (Of course I've been trying to figure Sheena out for almost 7 years now. It's mostly like working a million piece jigsaw puzzle without knowing what the end result is supposed to look like. But I digress...)

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So anyway we decided to analyze our business, what we have to offer, and the image we want our actions to portray. Here is the results of our 'self-analysis':

• We offer high-end photography at exceptional value (but lots of people do that)
• We are very flexible with our shooting location. In addition to the numerous locations we already have picked out, we will go to any place of your choosing for your session (within reason). Or we will welcome you into our studio (aka home for now) to shoot with backdrops and/or props. We will even come into your home to shoot you in your most familiar of environments. Basically you can come to us or we will come to you at no extra charge.
• We strive to make sure that you get exactly what you want. If none of our standard print packages meet your needs, we will work with you to come up with a solution. If your child is having a bad day and just won't cooperate or if we're shooting outside and the sun just won't play along to make the perfect lighting or if you're just having a bad hair day...whatever the reason, if we can't get at least twenty good shots that we are happy with in the time allotted, we will schedule a re-shoot at no additional cost. We will not stop until you're happy!
• If you're at all not satisfied with any of your finished prints we will either re-order them or provide you with a full refund.
• Every session includes a custom DVD slide show set to music for you to keep and enjoy forever. No two slide shows are ever the same as each is custom crafted and formatted just for you.
• Every picture that is included in the slide show and that is available for you to order is meticulously studied and retouched using the latest in digital technology to ensure that every aspect of the final image captures the character and mood of the moment. After each picture has been retouched we go back through them and pick out some of our favorites to 'play' with. This is where the experience gets personal. The original picture is further modified to either enhance or alter the mood of the moment. This might be via black and white conversion, sepia conversion, selective color painting, or any combination of many other methods to provide a true piece of art. We will also create some custom presentations straight from our unique and crazy minds :)
• No one sees any of your photos until you do. When everything has been retouched and the slide show created, we will invite you into our home to view your custom slide show, look through your digital proofs, and place your order. This is the best part for us as we love to share in the moment and watch your reactions to the images. There's generally a little laughter, maybe a few tears, but a good time is guaranteed.
• After you have seen your photos and had a chance to place your order, we will post the pictures on our Facebook page (and maybe this blog) for you to share with all of your friends and family.
• Your finished photos are printed by a professional photo lab on the highest quality papers using archival quality ink. Translated...this means that, with the proper care, in 100 years your photos will look just like they do today. If you have ever printed photos yourself at home or gotten some from (with all due respect) a bargain photo shop, you will notice that, after around 5-7 years, they start to slightly fade. After about 10-15 years they are really fading and they start to take on a 'funny' color. Your prints will not do this....guaranteed.

We reviewed all of this and then it hit us. We capture memories. But it's more than that. We capture memories and then pour our hearts into them until they are nothing less than perfect. These memories are then taken to your home to be proudly displayed and enjoyed for many years to come. Out of all of this came a single sentence that we believe sums up who we are, what we do, and what we have to offer...Sheena Brown Photography - Memories...From Our Heart to Your Home. So tell us what you think. We love criticism both good and bad. Until next time...

God Bless,
Michael & Sheena