girl Friday | Bloomington Normal Photographer

Its FRIDAY!!!  Yay!!!  And what better thing to do on a Friday than take your paycheck and go shopping.  And get a facial.  And get a hair cut.  Want to feel pretty?  Sign.  Me.  Up.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Stacy Winkler and the girls at girl Friday, you are missing out!  The spa-tique is such a cool idea and is completely one of a kind, especially in this area.  If you are from the city (either Chicago or St. Louis) or you just have a little bit of city girl in your blood, you must go to girl Friday. Like, right now.  You don’t even need a coat because its beautiful outside (which just makes a girl like me want to shop even more!). Go.  Now.

Alright, if you are still reading this, then it must mean you are either bedridden, tied down with kids, or stuck in work.  In that case, just make sure you get over there soon. :)

In that event, enjoy a little eye candy.  My most favorite thing in the shop is this Big Budda Bag.  I didn’t photograph it… because I want it too badly.  And then I would sit at home and drool over it.  And be miserable.  And dream about it.  Clearly to stop the obsession I should just purchase it.  Right?  Right.

So that is my favorite thing in the shop.  Well, after State Street Designs amazingly creative jewelry pieces (of which I own more than I care to admit).  Then there are the super fab Sir Alistair Rai scarves.  Oh.  Ma.  Gosh.  So cute.  Wanna see yet?  Kudos to you if you haven’t scrolled yet.  Ready?  Hold on to your pocketbooks ladies (or don’t… I mean, what’s the fun in that?)


mamas- you need one of these:

and a little taste of the fantastic atmosphere:

Visit the girl Friday shop at:  412 E. Front St in Bloomington.  Or give them a call at 309.828.5906

Happy shopping!  :)

Annmarie - Love it! I think I'm going to head down there on Monday when Sam is home so I can have a little time for myself. I have the necklace in the 5th pic with my boys' names on it. It's my favorite piece of jewelry! =)March 5, 2010 - 8:25 pm

Nichole Olsen - Very artistic fun photos! The shop looks awesome and what a fabulous job you did capturing it! We will for sure have to go next time we are in town!March 6, 2010 - 5:57 pm

Angela - These are all so amazingly beautiful!!! I simply adore all the wonderful macros and captures!March 8, 2010 - 1:14 am

Janice - These are fantastic Lindsay! I love the details you've captured here! Looks like a very fun place!March 8, 2010 - 1:33 am

Jessica - Gorgeous details, Lindsay! Wish I lived closer so I could check it out for real:).March 8, 2010 - 3:41 pm

Christine - L, these are perfect! Your processing is perfect! What an awesome place!March 8, 2010 - 6:18 pm

Laurie - What a cool place, a want to go shopping!March 8, 2010 - 8:47 pm

melissa - Ooh, this looks like such a fab place to shop!! love the detail shots - very nicely done!!March 9, 2010 - 1:11 am

Heather Latimer - A.) You are an AMAZING product photographer! Nordstroms, Sacs, Macys, someone needs to grab you up quick! B.) Does this store ship out of state??? I want to order something!March 9, 2010 - 1:43 am

Julia Wade - PERFECT detail shots. These are really just gorgeous.March 10, 2010 - 5:53 pm

julie - Great job on this product photography Lindsay!! You rocked it!! What a fun store!!March 12, 2010 - 7:52 am

In Focus | Bloomington Normal Baby Photographer

What is included in the 2010 One Year of Baby Moments plan?  A lot!  :)

All babies born in 2010 that are enrolled in our OYBM plan will receive:

4 sessions at exciting milestones:  pushing up, sitting up, standing up and walking!  (approx 3, 6, 9, 12 months)

1 5×7 from each session

1 10×10 or 10×20 storyboard including an image from each session

credit towards an album to be used at the end of the year!

What are some benefits?

* I know you are coming!  :)  If you called the week your baby sits up and you are *not* enrolled in the baby plan, there is a good chance we won’t be able to get you in for a few weeks.  If you are enrolled in the baby play I already have an idea you will need a session and can plan accordingly.

* You can combine sessions to create an album.  The *biggest* benefit, is that you are able to combine all of your first year sessions to create an album like no other.  This will be a time honored piece that will be passed from you, to your child, to your grandchildren.  And, they are gorgeous.  Non-baby plan clients do not have the option to combine sessions. More coming on album choices in the coming weeks.

*You can add on a newborn session for a discounted rate and receive 24 birth announcements!  Sweet!  :)

*You can give the coolest gift ever.  Every baby planner to receive this package as a gift from a loved one (or group of loved ones!) has been over the moon.  Its creative and its priceless!

The coolest part for me is watching your little one grow up and seeing your family truly become more than a baby and his parents.  Over the course of the year each family finds a special place in my heart, and its one of my favorite parts of my job!

Nichole Olsen - What an awesome way to showcase your Baby Planner program! LOVE LOVE LOVE that last picture. Simply gorgeous!!!March 3, 2010 - 6:09 pm

Cherron - *sigh* That last photo is almost too lovely.March 9, 2010 - 4:18 am

Canvas Sale! | Bloomington Normal Photographer

I’m officially calling it:  the “Is Winter Over Yet?” canvas sale is going on now through Thursday!  Big huge discounts on canvases from past OR future sessions!  In fact, if you pre-order a canvas from a booked future session you get an even bigger discount!  Email me for details!  :)

In Focus | Bloomington Normal Photographer

Each week I will be answering a FAQ on the blog.  If you have a question you’d like the answer to please email me through this blog!  Lets get started!

Lets start with a question that everyone wants the answer to:  Why does custom portraiture cost so much?

Whether you are buying a car or a jar of applesauce, everyone wants to know:  what am I paying for?  If you asked me 4 years ago “why do you think photographers cost so much?” I would have said “I have no idea…”  :) Here is a (not so quick) breakdown of what you are paying for when you hire a custom portrait photographer:

: time.  While (most) photographers love our jobs and feel incredibly lucky to have such a fun job, it is still a job.  It takes time away from our families, and away from our personal lives.  Even though I truly feel like I become friends with each of my clients, I still need to pay my bills and help support my family!  Brevity has never been a strong suit of mine, but I’ll try to be short winded in breaking down what goes into each session:

1) initial emails and phone calls

2) choosing a location and talking wardrobe

3) cleaning and prepping equipment, shopping for props, prepping props, packing the car.

4) driving to the session

5) session

6) driving home from session

7) uploading photos

8) choosing just the most perfect images that capture you and your loved ones

9) processing your images- it is a misconception that digital files do not need to be “processed”.  It isn’t done in a dark room anymore, but it is still around!  :)

10) retouching and enhancing images by hand.

11) blog preview written and posted

12) files prepped and ready for web viewing

13) gallery uploaded and sent to client

14) ordering session

15) order processed and files readied for printing

16) order placed

17) order received and packaged

18) order dropped off or shipped

All in all this can easily equal 30-40 hours of work, most of it behind the scenes.  That is a full week!  :)

: quality.  I pride myself on staying current with the best equipment, the best software, using the best labs and vendors and offering you the latest products available.  You can always rest assured that if it comes from Lindsay Taylor Photography, you are getting the best product that I can find.

:  experience.  When you hire a custom photographer you are not shopping for the same service you get at a chain studio.  Imagine the difference between shopping at a department store and a boutique:  your questions will be answered, your concerns regarded and you know that your session is unique and is capturing your children and who they are; not just what they look like.  To me, this is one of the most important parts of this whole equation.  When you purchase a piece from Lindsay Taylor Photography, you are purchasing a representation of your family and its dynamic.  You are preserving a piece of your history for generations to enjoy.  Do you ever look at your grandparents photo albums and imagine what it was like to live their life?  You are doing this for *your* children and grandchildren when you hire a photographer!  :)

I know that in this economy each of your family’s dollars is more precious than the next.  My own family has not been exempt from feeling its effects!  When you commission me to make portraits of your loved ones I take the task very seriously and you can be assured that the investment will be one you cherish for years to come.

Melissa - Great post Lindsay, and very well written!!February 18, 2010 - 8:43 pm

Nichole Olsen - Beautiful custom portrait! Love the smile looking down! Very well written and very well said! Family treasures for years to come is worth every penny spent! :-)February 19, 2010 - 8:47 pm

Annmarie - We always have to budget and plan for our photography sessions, but I have to say that we really feel we get value for money with you, Lindsay. We're looking forward to our session with you in a few months! =)February 19, 2010 - 9:03 pm

valentines | bloomington normal child photographer

my “big” little girl and her valentine this year: her bff, haley.  i don’t think i could ever have dreamed that two two year olds would get along so well (despite molly having some “sharing issues”).  ;)  to commemorate their sweetness, we (of course) had to take some pictures.

at this point, molly ran off (hopped up on candy heart bribes) and haley gave me some cuteness :)

Nichole Olsen - Flipping adorable LOVE them all!!!! What cute adorable little girls you guys have! LOVE my M and miss her DEARLY!!!!!!! Waaaaaah! Great pictures girlie...you are an amazing photographer! Love ya!February 14, 2010 - 11:35 pm

Heather Latimer - OMG - what two cuties!!! I love the headbands! And I love the first one of Haley alone - that one is precious!February 18, 2010 - 1:55 pm

my girl | bloomington normal photographer

…one of them, anyway.  :)

six months is the perfect age for a camera wielding momma- she can’t get away from me!  ;)  In just a few short months she won’t be so happy to indulge me: she will be wanting to crawl away and get into whatever her sister is playing with.  For now, she is totally enamored with me and everything I do, so I am taking advantage and soaking up all of her love and adoration- it will be gone too soon!

happy sweet six months to my little sugar pop.

amber - L these are Darling i just LOVE THEM!!! she is so sweet :)February 8, 2010 - 7:46 pm

keri - Beautiful! I can't believe she's already 6 months old!!!February 8, 2010 - 8:56 pm

Nichole Olsen - Linds she is too too too cute!!!!!! Man you guys make some adorable little girls!!!!! Love love love her! Cool mixing up the flooring. Great job always! I can NOT believe she is 6ms!!!! Love you guys!!!!February 8, 2010 - 9:07 pm

Heather Latimer - I can't believe it's been six months already!!! She is beautiful! All of these are just perfect, but I believe the last one is my favorite!February 8, 2010 - 9:20 pm

Jessica - Oh, she just makes me giggle! Love her big grin--she's just beautiful, Lindsay!February 9, 2010 - 4:29 am

Laurie - Oh my gosh, she's gorgeous!!!! Love them all!February 10, 2010 - 2:13 pm

Angela - She is too stinkin' cute!!! Love all the fun shots you got, great work!February 10, 2010 - 4:13 pm

Melissa - Adorable Lindsay!! I can't believe she's already sitting up - seems like just yesterday that she was born!!February 12, 2010 - 8:13 pm

Julie - She is toooo cute! She fits in the petti! I need to try this. I LOVE the one in the hat!!February 13, 2010 - 5:44 am

Cherron - She is simply too cute!!February 13, 2010 - 5:09 pm

Little Sweethearts | Bloomington Normal Photographer

From the Valentine’s Day Mini Sessions!

Nicole - Adorable children. what a cute idea!January 24, 2010 - 4:25 pm

Aimee - Super cute Lindsay! I'm loving that background in the first pic, very creative!January 24, 2010 - 4:46 pm

christine - these are super cute!! Love the first background!!January 25, 2010 - 3:08 pm

Nichole Olsen - Linds these are adorable! Love the fun Valentines Day suckers and the hearts on the white backdrop very very fun! Beautiful work as always!January 28, 2010 - 3:52 pm

Janice - Awww, they are adorable!!! So sweet!January 29, 2010 - 2:05 am

Valentine’s Day Mini Sessions!

Janice - She is just so darling!!January 29, 2010 - 2:06 am

tiny dancer part two | bloomington normal baby photographer

Sweet little miss L is back!  She is just *so* precious!  I love visiting with her, her momma and her nana.  Lovely group of ladies.  :)

i don’t do vintage-like processing very often, but every now and again, i feel like an image just *begs* for it.  :)

Angela - These are so beautiful! Love her eyes...wonderful clarity!!January 18, 2010 - 4:00 am

Rita Green - O M GJanuary 18, 2010 - 4:15 am

Rita Green - O M G !!!!!!!!!January 18, 2010 - 4:17 am

Tim Nenne - Well If that is not the sweetest thing I have ever seen. I really think that she is an angel on earth!!!!January 18, 2010 - 2:43 pm

Linda Fieser - She is just a beautiful baby girl!January 18, 2010 - 4:40 pm

Courtney - WOW Rickel! What a beauty you have here!! :) She's such a doll!!January 18, 2010 - 5:47 pm

Ricki - These are so amazing. Thank you!January 18, 2010 - 9:43 pm

Nichole Olsen - GORGEOUS!!!!!!!January 19, 2010 - 12:05 am

megan - So pink and fluffy! So pretty!January 19, 2010 - 4:34 am

Cherron - That first one is sooo sweet. These are lovely.January 19, 2010 - 5:30 am

Becky Pennington - Lucie is one of the cutist babys ever.I love her and her mommy.January 20, 2010 - 1:41 am

Kelly Simon - Amazing! So, sooo beautiful! I can't wait to meet little Lucie in person...What a blessing you have captured!January 20, 2010 - 9:01 pm

Nicole - Beautiful. I love the last picture. i love the bubbles and pout!January 21, 2010 - 1:15 am

Laurie - Wow, these are fantastic!!! What a beautiful girl and fantastic images.January 22, 2010 - 5:21 am

Heather Latimer - These are all so sweet (what a gorgeous baby!) but the first and last are definitely my faves! Those are stunning!January 22, 2010 - 3:03 pm

Tina Ramirez - Breathtaking! Utterly breathtaking!January 22, 2010 - 3:22 pm

Aimee - SO sweet, the last one is so beautiful!January 23, 2010 - 2:39 pm

kati - oh wow, lindsay these are perfect!!! absolutely adorable!January 28, 2010 - 1:18 am

Janice - She is so cute! I adore the bubbles! Such a precious time and you captured her beautifully!January 29, 2010 - 2:06 am

so new | bloomington normal newborn photographer

welcome to the world, baby boston!  you are so, so cute!!!

enjoy your preview, k and m (and auntie k)!  i am really looking forward to working with you and watching boston grow this year!


Kristen - Lindsay - They are adorable...we can't wait to see the rest!!!January 15, 2010 - 12:04 am

Keri - these are wonderful!!! beautiful work Lindsay!January 15, 2010 - 12:10 am

Angela - Beautiful job, wonderful tones...thoroughly enjoyed looking through this set...very light and airy!! Great job!January 15, 2010 - 12:18 am

kati - lindsay you did a great job. those last 2 are my favsJanuary 15, 2010 - 4:34 am

Leandra - These are all so sweet but I think that last one is my favorite. Great work.January 15, 2010 - 7:42 am

Heather Latimer - Man, I love all of these! I don't think I could pick a favorite! I just kept saying over and over, "ooh, i like that one. no, now that one's my fav . . ."January 16, 2010 - 9:41 pm

megan - The last one is perfection.January 17, 2010 - 4:26 am

Katy - These pictures are amazing, thank you so much! We can't wait to see the rest of them and look forward to the next photo shoot!January 17, 2010 - 11:07 pm

Grandpa & Nana L. - Adorable pictures of a precious baby boy.January 18, 2010 - 2:24 am

Nichole Olsen - Beautiful work girlie. What a little peanut and I LOVE that net wrap. Beautifully done!January 19, 2010 - 12:06 am

Nicole - I wanna be a baby! The pictures are amazing! So creative.January 21, 2010 - 1:17 am