2000 likes on FACEBOOK for barden photography!!!!

SO EXCITED!!!!

Here’s the deal – for the rest of December you can take advantage of this special! (since Christmas is just around the corner and funds might be tied up – the deposits won’t have to be in till 1.31.2012)

You cannot apply this deal to any sessions already booked or scheduled – has to be NEW sessions NOT on my books as of this moment.

The FIRST person to email me with a concrete date and time for a session will get the session for $50 (the deposit MUST be in my hand by 1.31.2012)

The next FIVE people to email me with a concrete date and time for a session will get the session for $100 (the deposit MUST be in my hand by 1.31.2012)

The next FIVE people to email me with a concrete date and time for a session will get the session for $150 (the deposit MUST be in my hand by 1.31.2012)

Anyone after the first 11 people to email me by 12.31.2011 will get $25 off a session – when booked with a concrete date and time and the deposit by 1.31.2012

This does not apply to weddings or package deals. You MUST email me at dcbarden@gmail.com – no facebook messages allowed.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND LOVE!! MUAH!!

Sometimes I’m a jerk. Sometimes I talk about people and get mad about things that never really happened – I just like to think they did. Sometimes I get jealous – really really jealous. Sometimes I state my opinion when in fact it would have been better in the long (and short) run if I had kept it to myself. Sometimes I’m selfish.

I want to be the hands & feet of Jesus – to go where He sends me. But I don’t want to be a jerk doing it.

Since starting barden photography – I’ve had the opportunity to mentor a few aspiring photographers – and it always seemed to burn me in the end. I’ve lost clients because bringing on an assistant didn’t work. I’ve lost clients to the people that were starting a business. I’ve been very VERY upset about this. I’ve felt cheated and hurt and in some ways betrayed. It’s been about MY feelings. I forget that I once was an aspiring photographer whose friends supported me. I started out at lower prices and clients came to me instead of “better – more established” photographers. I didn’t think of any of this then – because I wasn’t getting hurt. I’ve apologized and asked for forgiveness. I’m sure I’ve missed people. So – if I’ve been short when you asked for advice, if I’ve written a status on facebook that hurt you (which is a WHOLE other blog in itself) – if I haven’t encouraged you and supported you – I apologize.

When I decided to become a “photographer” and start my own business – I didn’t even think about having babies in the picture. Photography was my identity. Everything depended on the amount of clients and what clients stayed “loyal” to me. I’m having a VERY hard time with facebook lately. There are LOTS of photographers popping up all over – and I see my beautiful clients in their photos – and I think “why aren’t they in mine?” It shouldn’t matter – it doesn’t matter – in the long run. Why? Because it’s not why I’m here. It’s been an added bonus – but it’s not why I live and breathe. I live and breathe to share the love of Jesus. To be His hands and feet. To be a daughter – a sister – a niece – a friend – a wife – a mother. It’s awesome that God has given me this gift and vision to capture people. I’m thankful for that – and for all of you that I’ve met.

I’m not booking as quickly as I used to – and sometimes I freak out about that. I know that I am not the best – I know that I’m not the cheapest – I know that I am not that friend you are supporting with their new business. It still hurts. It still sucks. BUT – I am a momma now. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE spending time with this little boy. He is growing faster than I could have ever imagined and I feel like I am missing out – even though I am home with him. I have friends I’ve been praying for that are having babies. I have 20+ more friends that I am praying for to be blessed with babies. And I know that God is nudging me to focus on being a momma and a wife and a child of God – and a sister and a niece and a daughter and a friend.

And His hands and feet.

Today is Fitzy’s 7 month birthday!

Starting last night at 6 and ending at midnight tonight – I am running a special!

EMAIL me at dcbarden@gmail.com to schedule your session or SESSIONS for 2012 and get $50 off per session!

I will need your deposit of $100 in my mailbox by Saturday – December 10th!

In your EMAIL give me some dates that you would like to schedule – we MUST book the session today with a concrete date. Emails that are received tonight till midnight will be locked in as long as the deposit is received by December 10th!

In 2012 I will be taking sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays – you can check out my schedule to see what is open!

This special WILL NOT apply to mini-sessions if I decide to hold them or currently scheduled/booked appointments.

HAPPY SHOPPING!

And because a post from a photographer isn’t a post without a photo – check out my sweetness – happy 7 months my love!

Sarah submitted Kimarie and her family for the beautiful contest – and they won! We met at Waverly Glen for their session in August!

Kimarie’s littlest guy is only 10 days older than our Fitzy!

LOOK AT THAT FACE!

Sarah is now a freshman in college! She needed a picture of this wonderful family to take with her!

Kimarie – thank you for being a BEAUTIFUL family – inside and out!

On Saturday the 28th of May I held the mini-mini sessions to benefit Nicholas and his heart surgery!

We only had 4 families come – but considering that most of the town didn’t even have power yet – it was probably easily forgotten.

Thank you so much Sarah, Stephanie, Angie & Peggy for coming down and supporting Nicholas!

REMINDER – MINI-MINI SESSIONS!

Saturday – May 28th – from 10 am to 2 pm – at the VFW pavilion in Mansfield! There is a limit to 4 people in the photographs – although individual shots will be taken too! There is no need for an appointment – but you may have to wait to get your photos taken! You will get 15 to 20 photos in the session – they will be emailed to you via SHUTTERFLY to order online! You can get a CD of the photos to reproduce for an extra charge of $10. Actual PRINTS will not be given out. Remember that this is to benefit Nicholas and his FOURTH heart surgery this summer! There is a minimum donation of $50 – ALL PROCEEDS will benefit Nicholas and his trip to Oklahoma City!

I have a number in my head that I would love to meet – but I’m not going to share it – just in case!

“We rode into town the other day
Just me and my Daddy
He said I’d finally reached that age
And I could ride next to him on a horse
That of course was not quite as wide

We heard a crowd of people shouting
And so we stopped to find out why
And there was that man
That my dad said he loved
But today there was fear in his eyes

So I said “Daddy, why are they screaming?
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why is He dressed in that bright purple robe?
I’ll bet that crown hurts Him more than He shows
Daddy, please can’t you do something?
He looks as though He’s gonna cry
you said he was stronger than all of those guys
addy, please tell me why
Why does everyone want him to die?”

Later that day the sky grew cloudy
And Daddy said I should go inside
Somehow he knew things would get stormy
Boy was he right
But I could not keep from wondering
If there was something he had to hide

So after he left I had to find out
I was not afraid of getting lost
So I followed the crowds
To a hill where I knew men had been killed
And I heard a voice come from the cross

And it said, “Father, why are they screaming?
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why are they casting their lots for My robe?
This crown of thorns hurts Me more than it shows
Father, please can’t You do something?
I know that You must hear My cry
I thought I could handle the cross of this size
Father, remind Me why
Why does everyone want Me to die?
When will I understand why?”

“My precious Son, I hear them screaming
I’m watching the face of the enemy beaming
But soon I will clothe You in robes of My own
Jesus, this hurts Me much more than You know
But this dark hour I must do nothing
Though I’ve heard Your unbearable cry
The power in Your blood destroys all of the lies
Soon You’ll see past their unmerciful eyes
Look there below, see the child
Trembling by her father’s side
Now I can tell You why
She is why You must die”

Nicole Nordeman sings this song – powerfully!

if you are lost today – YOU CAN FIND PEACE!

if you are wondering if you are worth it – YOU ARE!

Jesus died for YOU! You are that little girl trembling – afraid – lost – and God LOVES YOU!

I pray that this Good Friday would be YOUR Good Friday!

. BE YOURSELF .

It’s something I have always tried to remain true to. It wasn’t always easy! Thankfully I had several influences in my life that encouraged me to be myself.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately and how to reach those kids that are in that crucial stage of their lives! I remember all too well what it was like to be in that stage! It’s awkward and painful and confusing and stressful. You want all the attention in the world but you don’t want anyone to notice you. You feel stuck.

I want to document this stage – this important phase of life that we seem to wish away so quickly. As parents you wish your little guy or girl would just come back to you and this stage would pass. When you are going through it you can’t wait to grow up – to not be a kid anymore!

You are becoming who you are during these moments! I want to capture those faces – show the beauty in them!

. BECOMING WHO YOU ARE .

When you book a session for your 9 to 14 y/o during the month of February – you get $50 off your session!

(the session doesn’t have to take place in February – just the deposit down)

On a side note – I was struggling with the decision to focus on only seniors, babies & maternity, and brides with weddings with Fitzy coming. Are you kidding me? I can’t give up the rest of you! I will still be doing all sorts of photography sessions – families, babies, kiddos, maternity, pets, seniors, just because, pretty much anything! I will only be taking appointments 3 days a week this year so make sure to get your appointment on the calendar!

Thank you again to all of you that support me. pray for me. encourage me. love me.

. BE YOURSELF .

I had an email from a friend the other day telling me that she overheard some women in a local bridal shop talking about barden photography. The women said that my work was beautiful but just way too expensive for this region. My friend said she spoke up and said – next year you have your memories and your photography left from your wedding. Danielle is the best there is – and totally worth every cent.

This meant so much to me. 1. She spoke up. 2. I DO NOT think that I am the best there is – I would love to approach greatness but never want to get to the point where I sit back and look at my work and say – well – I’ve learned everything there is to learn and can’t get any better. So to hear her say that – means so much! 3. It has taken me quite a while to get here – since 2004 – and I have worked hard to get here. To hear that I am worth every cent – is humbling!

When I have a session with you – it’s not an appointment in a studio. I take the time to get to know what YOU want from the session. You get what I see in your family – the interactions between everyone. I make sure to get all the combinations of your family – any shots that you specifically requested – let your kids be kids and just run around and capture them in their own environment. I adore newborn sessions – I come to your house and we work in your environment. If your baby needs to be fed or changed or cuddled – take that time. We don’t rush through any session – especially a newborn. I don’t just go home and put your pictures on a CD and then send them out to you. I go through and pick out my quick favorites – editing them and putting them on FACEBOOK (or not if you prefer) for you to see as a sneak peek – usually within 2 days of our session. I then go through and look through each photo and edit them. I usually spend about 3 hours total on each portrait session. I then upload them to a photo sharing website and email you the link – and send every image to you – with the rights to reproduce them – on a CD.

Engagement sessions and senior sessions are slightly more – they usually take longer to shoot and longer to edit. If you are a volunteer fire fighter and want a session engineered to that style – we can do that. If you want your car incorporated into your senior session – we can do that. You all know how much I love my dog – so if you are a fellow dog lover and you just have to include your pet – let’s do it. I have to warn you that they might steal the show though! You get the same quality and attention to detail as any portrait session – with your images on a CD to reproduce.

Weddings – oh weddings! I chose this job knowing that weddings happen on Saturdays – normally. In 2010 I had 30 weddings – out of 52 Saturdays – that’s a lot – but I love it! I’m passionate about weddings whenever they occur! For me – communication is the key. We talk before the wedding – you share details – the shot list – the expectations – your feel for your family. At your wedding (I usually arrive 20 minutes early), I go over the layout and chat with the other vendors that are there already. Many times I meet you at a parent’s house or wherever you are getting ready – then travel to the church and then the reception. Wedding schedules are often similar for photographers, but your wedding is perfectly unique – to YOU! I make sure to capture details – those moments that are meaningful to you – the details you have spent hours creating. Whether you purchase a 6 hour – 8 hour – full day package – or something in between – I pour everything into your wedding – and I love every minute!!

I approach your wedding this way – think of me as a guest with a camera. Yes – I will be there for your every moment and need – but I don’t want you to notice me. I will not be in the way – I will not make the day about me – I will not stand in the center of your wedding aisle in front of your parents. I want you to look at your wedding photos and experience such an overwhelming feeling of emotion at the moments captured.

Again – I don’t just come home and put your images on a CD and send them out. I go through each image and edit it – usually spending about 20 hours on each wedding – editing. Custom creating each image to fit YOU! You get all the images on a CD – quality images – and they are yours to keep forever.

You won’t find another photographer that does what I do. We are all UNIQUE – or should be. I love capturing your moments and even more – I love hearing your response to your images.

I can promise that when you book barden photography for ANY session – you will get unique photography that shows who YOU are!

. BE YOURSELF . ALWAYS .