Here are some more pictures from our adventures this past weekend!  I feel as though I’ve been released from the strangulating grip of winter and  now the Probst Fam is takin’ the world by storm… or heading to the park for the afternoon!  I am also teaching my daughter how to shoot with my old D50 – she is picking up manual so quickly it’s almost scary!  I know professional photogs who don’t shoot in manual, so I am more than over-the-moon to say the least!

As a photographer, I am constantly considering other people’s images, “the light”, my business, marketing, etc., etc., etc…. but I so often forget to take a moment to capture my own kids!  Bringing a new camera into my life has caused me to take a step back and go back to using my camera on what is most important to me and why I became a photographer in the first place: my kids!  

Donnell Probst Photography is incredibly excited to announce our newest venture – Project Hope!  Project Hope and Donnell Probst Photography will sponsor a charitable calendar project, featuring local children from the autism community.  All of the proceeds from calendar sales will benefit a very worthy organization!

As some of you may or may not know, my oldest child Kyah received a diagnosis on the autism spectrum a few years ago.  It has been an incredibly difficult journey for our family, but we have been fortunate to have the support and resources of many individuals and organizations along the way.  Among those organizations is Missouri Families for Effective Autism Treatment, also known as MO-FEAT.  Without MO-FEAT, I am confident our journey would have taken much longer and we would not have been able to easily locate the resources and contacts we so desperately needed within the educational, medical, and support community.  As with any non-profit organization, the men and women at MO-FEAT work tirelessly and give themselves selflessly to the community to help other families navigate the otherwise inaccessible systems of care for families living with autism.  I will be eternally grateful for all that MO-FEAT has done for our community and can only hope that Project Hope will help carry on their charge!  For more information about Missouri Families for Effective Autism Treatment, visit there website HERE.  For more information on Project Hope, how you can apply to have your child featured or sponsor the calendar, visit the Project Hope blog.

I recently purchased a new speedlight for my camera and of course subjected my kids to the testing of my new gadget!  While the older two ran for the hills, my littlest man was more than happy to steal my hat and work his magic.  He is on the verge of no longer looking like a baby/toddler, and I know with great certainty that some day soon I will look back on pictures like this and wish for the days of diapers, tantrums, and runny noses!  

Here are some shots from a recent session in downtown St. Charles.  While it was still quite chilly, it was nothing compared to the 18 degrees it was the day of the original session (that was promptly rescheduled!).  This little dude stayed nice and warm in his super fuzzy hat and might just make a great photographer or art director someday!  He did a fab job of contributing to the session… even if he didn’t want to let mom and dad into too many of the shots!  

As a photographer, I am constantly in touch with other local photographers, artists, and service providers who specialize in creative arts.  Every once in a while, I find one that I absolutely love, so I want to start sharing some of those products and services with you so you can fall in love, too!

If you love unique, chic, and modern artistic accents for your home – especially those that feature precious subjects such as your children – then you will LOVE Primp Studio as much as I do!  My friend Bethre over at the studio creates amazing silhoutte prints and pop art of your loved ones… and the best part is that you don’t have to push, pull, or drag your children anywhere!  You simply email Bethre a silhouette picture of your child (she suggests taking the picture as if you are trying to photograph inside their ear) with your preferred final image size and your done!  She can customize the colors, backgrounds, and even add type (names, initials, dates, etc.).  Once you send her your image she will create your artwork and have it printed on professional quality photo paper and shipped directly to you or simply email the digital image to you so you can print with your preferred printer.  She asks for 2 weeks lead time, but says it rarely takes that long!   How amazing!  Quick, easy, and priced right!  You have to check out her Etsy shop here and contact her as soon as possible to have her start working on your very own unique images!  Tell her I sent you!  

I thought I would lighten the  mood a bit with a few pictures from the holidays of my nephew, Franklin… also known as: Frankles, Frank-il-in, and other names I can’t mention when he does things he’s not supposed to in my sister’s house!  Happy New Year, Frankles!  (and Wrigley… our own beloved beagle)

So I figured now that the holiday photo gifts have been distributed with care, it was about time I post a few pics of my own kiddos from 2009!  I hope to be more diligent in getting out to take pics of my own kids in the coming year, but we’ll see…  Happy New Year, Everyone!

I’m baaaaack!!!  Welcome to Donnell Probst Photography 2010!  I can’t believe another decade has come and gone.  Where does the time go?!

I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday with family and friends and has found a place for all of the new loot you (or more specifically your children) most certainly acquired.  After a very relaxing (ha ha ha) holiday break, I am back at the computer and gearing up for a VERY exciting 2010!  There are so many HUGE changes and projects coming our way this year I hardly know where to begin!

Pricing Change

The first order of business is the upcoming release of my 2010 pricing schedule!  When I first started out as a custom photographer, I did not fully understand the time and resources required to do what I do.  After many months of portfolio building, it is time for a change.  For more information on why custom photography costs so much, please see this wonderful article on custom photography!  I will be posting my new pricing menu as well as all of the new products and services I will be offering in 2010 very soon!  Stay tuned for more info…

Project HOPE

Secondly, I am very excited to announce the first annual Project Hope Calendar!  I will be working on the calendar throughout the year and all of the proceeds will benefit Missouri Families for Effective Autism Treatment (MO-FEAT).  As many of you know, my oldest child is affected by Autism and MO-FEAT has been an incredible resource for our family and SO many other families throughout Missouri.  The people working behind the scenes to keep MO-FEAT working for all of us are selfless and dedicated to serving their communities.  I cannot wait to provide MO-FEAT a nice big check next year at this time!  Stay tuned for more information coming VERY soon – we will be having “casting calls” for children and families to appear in the calendar and opportunities for the community to get involved so we can make this calendar a huge success!!

Photography Workshops

After the dust from the calendar project has settled next fall, Donnell Probst Photography will begin offering workshops to cover the basics of digital photography.  I have had soooo many inquiries from individuals looking to learn how to use their digital SLR cameras, improve their skills, etc.   What better way than to offer affordable mini-workshops that people like myself – moms, working individuals, etc. – can take at their leisure so their interest in photography doesn’t interfere with their busy schedules… and without having to sign-up for an entire college course.   I am very excited about this new venture and will be working on these courses throughout the year so they will be ready for release in the fall!

Like I said… busy, BUSY year ahead!  I am so thankful for all of my past and future clients and invite you to contact me with questions, comments, and the like!   I look forward to providing amazing photographs, products, and services for my clients to cherish for years to come.

Well, it is Christmas Eve in the Probst household… which mean it’s time to RELAX!  This is a word that has not been used frequently throughout 2009 in our household, and will likely continue to be a scarce commodity as we move into 2010!  Two years ago, with the impending birth of our third child, we decided transporting our entire Christmas (gifts, people, dog, etc.) to Chicago or Wisconsin to spend Christmas day with our families was just not practical anymore.   So last year we decided it was time to start our own family traditions and spend the holiday in our jammies at our own house with our own tree with our own little family.  It has to be one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.  The kids are able to spend the day relaxing and enjoying their gifts without my husband and I stressing about how messy they make someone else’s home – plus, even more importantly, my husband and I don’t have to spend hours trying to negotiate the puzzle of packing everyone’s gifts into the car!  Our Christmas Eve tradition has been to order out Chinese food and then get the kids cleaned up and to bed in anticipation of the arrival of Mr. Clause.  This year we are still partaking in our usual Chinese dinner, but then we will be heading over to the Carmichael’s for an evening of friends and libations!  What better way to spend the eve of Christmas than with great friends.  Hopefully this will be a shared tradition for years to come!

As you may have noticed, I have had very little time to photograph my own children these past few months.  Fortunately, I did manage to sneak in a session a month or two ago.  Despite my overwhelming urge to share the images from their session, I have been keeping it under wraps until all of the photo gifts, calendars, holiday cards, and the like are distributed over the coming week. I’m not usually one for restraint, but seeing as these images are incorporated into so many of our gifts, I will resist until we return from the holidays!  For now, here is a peek at my fam’s holiday card 2009 since it has been officially mailed and received by all on our list!  Enjoy and stay tuned as I will be back with some news, updates, and things to look forward to in 2010!  Happy holidays to you and your family!