Robin Allen Photography

BEST KID EVER

2011-03-05T18:50:00.004-05:00

Today we launched our first ever Facebook contest. The contest is searching for the "best kid ever." Yes, its a photo contest, but unlike many many photo contests. A short and sweet word-portrait of the kiddo is submitted along with mom's favorite image that I photographed.

I'm not after the little models, or perfect little barbie dolls (or bratz I guess is more current). I want moms to show off the shining character of their little ones. I want to hear what makes their kid interesting, and special, how they make their parents laugh and how much the entertain grandma and grandpa.

In a Facebook world of APPEARANCE IS EVERYTHING, I am rebelling against just that. Appearance is virtually NOTHING. I know the term "appearance is just skin deep" is a bit cliche, but is is so true... Looks are merely a shallow veneer on top of the masterpiece that God created. Lets show THAT off!

Woodworking at its finest

2010-10-14T18:44:00.006-04:00

I am thrilled to my core to have this art piece in my collection...

This platter is a cross-section through the root-ball of a California redwood tree. Anywhere in a tree where a branch splits off from its trunk, or where roots join to form the trunk, the wood grain is curly and curvy and irregular and flat-out BEAUTIFUL. The grain is a rich, saturated, red, and appears almost pearlescent as the grain turns around itself.

The artist created the piece to be subtly concave on the top, while maintaining a flat side on the reverse for variety. The concavity prevents the subjects of this photograph (the babies) from "competing" with the wood for the focal-point of the finished photograph. The light from the left side will fall only on the small, irregular wood edge, then the babies' faces, which are the highlight of the photograph.

The finish was chosen to be glossy enough that the deep colors of the grain would not be muted, yet not mirror-like so that I don't labor over avoiding uninvited reflections in the piece.

All-in-all, it's wonderful.

The piece was crafted by the one and only, Ed Brown, MY DAD!
Thanks, Dad, for your time and energy you poured into this platter. I love it love it love it! And I know my clients already do too. I also can't wait to enter this in competition! It's perfect. Thank you!

ROBIN ALLEN PHOTOGRAPHY BABY REGISTRY

2010-09-15T19:12:00.002-04:00

Well it's about time, right!?

You can now register with Robin Allen Photography for family and friends to purchase credit toward your newborn photographs! Moms who have already scheduled their newborn session are automatically enrolled in the Baby Registry Program.

HOW DOES IT WORK? The mother to be doesn’t need to trek around a store and scan her desired items; instead, a credit is build up with Robin Allen Photography and will be used toward the newborn session’s prints or products. It’s as if Mom is given lots of gift certificates to spend.

Family and Friends choose their gift amount in increments of $50. They simply call us at 859-685-8516 and let us know their gift amount. We can accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover Card over the phone, or they are welcome to drop a check in the mail to us.

TO THE GENEROUS GIVER… If there is at least a week until the baby shower you may wish to order a personalized gift certificate for the mom-to-be to open! This works beautifully if you are planning on giving her a picture frame along with her gift certificate! Just let me know what size frame you have chosen and we’ll order that size. These photographic gift certificates are $10 and include shipping or delivery to you.

branching out

2010-04-19T15:03:00.007-04:00

Every so often I leave the studio and branch out in to the rest of the clients home. (By studio, I mean where the lights are set up) This was particularly awesome last Tuesday because of how awesome Joy and Kurt's house is! It felt so warm and eclectic. So it only made sense to pick up the couple's colors in the photographs. Art FITS when is looks as though the room was decorated around the piece of art. This was definitely a success. I can't wait to see what the finished products look like on the walls!

This blog has moved

2010-04-03T10:39:00.001-04:00

This blog is now located at http://blog.robinallen-photography.com/. You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here. For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to http://blog.robinallen-photography.com/feeds/posts/default.

Simply Love Studio!

2010-03-02T14:13:00.005-05:00

I am so excited about this endeavor David and I have happened upon... Robin Allen Photography is now a preferred vendor at the new Simply Love Studio opening later this month!

Simply Love is best described as a "bridal fair slowed waaaay down." I'm sure every bride out there knows that bridal fairs can be great places to collect information, but they're also very overwhelming and busy and confusing! I remember when I was engaged, we paid to attend a bridal fair in Louisville. We migrated from booth to booth receiving fliers and doing our best to avoid the small talk with the hopeful vendors. For my mom it was an endless line of telemarketers-in-person. At the end of the day I honestly couldn't remember a single vendor. They all ran together.

Simply Love is exactly what every bride needs. Over the past several months they have really been doing their homework. They have scoured Lexington looking for the best caterers, videographers, florists, hotels, djs, musicians, and photographers, and the list goes on and on. Each vendor is pre-selected, interviewed, and must be approved. Simply Love makes their selections based on overall style, experience and their ability to go above and beyond for their clients.

Once the store opens March 25, brides will be able to sit down with a friendly guide to help you muddle through many choices brides have to make when they're planning a wedding. They will listen to what you and your family wants for the wedding, your budget and help educate you! In my opinion, this is grrreat for brides because the Simply Love Studio is not compensated by the vendor if a bride chooses one of the preferred vendor. The staff at Simply Love really are the bride's advocates! The staff are not salespeople! oh and one more thing... ITS FREE TO BRIDES. She and her family wont pay a cent for this awesome service!

One of the best things about this (for us anyway) is that we wont have to meet at places like Starbucks anymore. We'll meet downtown at the Studio! Just think - quiet, relaxed, my albums and information will already be there waiting for me! No more carting around my luggage! We can also talk more intelligently with our brides about the photography. She can go up to an image on their wall and say, "Please don't do this kind of thing," or "I LOVE this. Can you do this!?"

I invite you to come out to the Stuido on March 25th from 6-9pm for a glamorous grand opening. And brides - you should definitely book a complimentary appointment if you're planning a wedding. Say goodbye to planning stresses! It's a thing of the past! For more information about Simply Love Studio, visit their website at http://www.simplylovestudio.com/

2010-02-23T11:47:00.003-05:00

I love this kid.

Photography Bridal Registry

2010-02-10T21:03:00.007-05:00

I am so excited to let this cat out of the bag! In stead of registering for more bath towels and silverware, brides now can register for their photography!

How often have you received a wedding invitation from a friend or relative and didn't know what to get as a wedding gift? Many people struggle to select a gift that they feel the bride and groom will enjoy. That's the reason Bridal Registries were invented in the first place. Typically, couples "register" and wedding guests are able to choose from the list of gifts, thereby getting something they know the couple would like to receive.

Today's brides and grooms have often been out on their own for a number of years, so they may not have the need for many of the household items newly married couples needed in years past. The Photography Gift Registry allows friends and relatives to purchase additional wedding photography credit in any amount for the wedding couple - a wonderful gift idea for those out-of-town guests that really don't know what the couple may desire. Other than the new husband or wife and the wedding dress, photographs are often the thing most treasured after the wedding.

This is a gift that will not be returned! - It's like a super-gift card... The couple can choose to add lots of extra pages to their wedding album when they see how much they really will cherish those memories, they can order a customized guest book so wedding guests can write love notes in a book of their engagement images, or choose a certain wall portrait for their home that they might not have afforded without the registry's help! The list goes on and on!

All brides are automatically entered in to the registry when they reserve Robin Allen Photography! The gift buyer can simply fill out a simple form on our website... After the giver has filled in all the necessary information, we'll send a special card to them which acknowledges their generosity. They can write a love note to the happy couple and watch them open this gift just like any other great gift!

Any questions - never hesitate!

Ordering Consulations

2010-01-15T16:08:00.005-05:00

PPA (Professional Photographers of America) is AWESOME! David and I just returned from a great 4 days of classes. One of the things I picked up is sure to make all of my client's very happy!!

Have you ever had tons of trouble VISUALIZING?

Would a 16x20 or 20x24 look better beside my window?
Would these three images even look okay together?
Would that frame look good with this image and in that spot?

Well the mystery ends here, my friend. I will soon be implementing a new system of projecting your images right on your wall.... Want to see this image in a 16x20?, an 11x14?... the software will cause the projected sizes to be ACCURATE!!! hallelujah right! What about that frame? will that look good? Can you show my in black and white? ... yes !

I am just sorry I haven't been using this for all my faithful past clients.

You'll still have your online gallery for two weeks. Sometime during the two weeks, I'll come to your home to help you make your final selections. We'll be able to compare 2 images, 3 images, up to 6 onscreen so you are confident you are making the right decisions. After the two weeks, when your gallery is no longer live, you will have the contact sheet I emailed you to make re-orders. If that contact sheet isn't satisfactory, you can certainly order a lager proof book (on photographic paper) for quality, clarity and longevity.

Any questions.... don't hesitate.

Baby Belly Pregnancy Spa & Imaging Center

2009-12-31T12:49:00.005-05:00

I am so excited to finally announce my partnership with Baby Belly Pregnancy Spa & Imaging Center!

A highly esteemed colleague of mine and I now have a gallery of images throughout the spa featuring our maternity and newborn photography. Adeline Dickman, owner of AAImaging, is a colleague who also specializes in fine art portraiture for families, newborns, children, pregnant women and much more. She is very talented and her work always seems to push my work! Not only do we sharpen one another, but we are dear friends. It is an honor for my work to be displayed in Baby Belly alongside hers.

If you have a lady in your life who is expecting a new addition to her family I invite you to visit Baby Belly in Hamburg Pavilion! This is a beautiful, serene spa that will pamper her and treat her like a queen! Baby Belly is famous for their friendly medical stenographers who perform special 4D Ultrasounds. This new technology represents the difference between video and still photography. Through this new medical advancement, the baby's three-dimensional image is continuously updated onscreen. This gives their clients a "live action" view of their baby! Baby Belly also offers preconception, prenatal, and postnatal massage therapy. Couples can also enjoy massages together! Also, in the long line of services are manicures and pedicures... the list goes on and on!

And oh by the way, check out the stunning fine-art on the walls!
For more information about Baby Belly, please visit their website. BabyBellySpa.com

Lots of changes on the horizon

2009-12-20T18:44:00.005-05:00

The new website is almost here! It will look very different, but you're sure to recognize many of the same images floating around.

Many of you have asked for packages, rather than just a la carte ordering... well, you'll get your wish! There are now 7 different Collections to choose from for Portrait Photography. Collections start at $299. Several of you have also asked for albums... and choices you shall have! You will have Full, leather albums, coffee table books and smaller gift and brag books to choose from! I am very excited about the level of sophistication they will bring to our product line.

The new site will go live towards the beginning of January. I must extend a public THANK YOU to my wonderful husband (yet again) for the brilliant work he is doing on creating this new website!... Thanks, babe!

As always, if you have questions about anything at all, (well related to my photography, not astrophysics or something) Call us! 859-685-8516 or shoot an email to us robin@robinallen-photography.com

Kellyn & Jeff

2009-11-21T11:27:00.002-05:00

These two are a wee bit special to me. And by “wee bit” I mean, “a HUGE amount.” This is my best girl friend in the world and she’s about to run off to be married to her best friend in the whole world. I couldn’t be happier about her engagement, but I have to admit, it’s got me secretly blue inside. I can’t quite articulate it… Yes, I’m married, but that doesn’t mean any one else is allowed to change! Silly, I know. In the end, when I remember how happy Jeff makes her, and how “at home” she is when she’s with him, somehow ‘blue’ turns to tickled pink! I know that they need no well-wishing or good luck. They have Jesus in their heart, commitment in their will, and nothing but unconditional love for one another. They’re going to have a great life together!

My latest model...

2009-11-16T19:28:00.002-05:00

I only have met her once, but it’s obvious this one is going places. And I don’t jus mean a career in modeling!... though you know she would do well in that realm… her legs stretched ALL THE WAY down to her shoes! A very long journey! HA!

Beautimous!

2009-11-16T13:51:00.003-05:00

A marathon may be a lot of work, but it's always WELL WORTH EVERY MINUTE! I love these shots… you’ll soon see them on my site! Hats of to you guys for being SO well-coordinated!!

another great family

2009-11-16T10:33:00.003-05:00

Talk about a fun family! Whew! They KNOW how to have fun with each other! I would guess the tv is never on at their house… if they even own one! They seemed delightfully content to find their entertainment in the hustle and bustle of their own family! -Hats off, Corbins!

I looooove fall color

2009-11-07T11:58:00.003-05:00

This time of year is always short-lived, but guaranteed to be a perfect time of year for awesome photographs! Fall is just such a great time for family pictures. I love these little munchkins... It was so much fun watching THEM have so much fun.

An other newby!

2009-11-06T21:16:00.003-05:00

You know, I'm learning more about photography every session I shoot... Some of my favorite images I shot this time around were completely unplanned, or not quite what I was going for. More and more I think successful newborn photography comes when I roll with the punches and step back and open my eyes.

Shaaame on me! I haven't blogged since JUNE! AHH!

2009-10-16T09:45:00.003-04:00

So sorry to the thousands of you who have been waiting with baited breath to find a fresh new post! ... HA! Did I say thousands? I meant "Dad"! Anyway the fall has been SOOOO hectic for me! The summer sessions have been so much fun, I am just glad fall is here to start working on FALL COLOR FAMILY SESSIONS!! Anyway, here are a few favorite shots of my most recent session. Keeneland is a great place to shoot! -lots of different color, and architecture to add interest! Due to Keeneland's Fall Meet, we can only shoot out there Mondays and Tuesdays!... so grab them when you can!

This kid-

2009-06-09T16:18:00.012-04:00

This kid was a delight! Such a privilege to kick back and PLAY with him! Once again, I love my job!

beautiful blond boys

2009-06-03T17:22:00.002-04:00

my sweeties from yesterday

2009-06-03T17:17:00.002-04:00

At Keenland...

2009-06-02T19:12:00.005-04:00

Weeeee!

2009-05-28T08:36:00.003-04:00

Stephanie

2009-05-28T08:04:00.009-04:00

I reeeally love this one. (below.) (no, above.) (well both.)

Daa Da D'Daa...

2009-05-27T19:27:00.003-04:00

Kudos if you understood the title (without the photographs as a hint!)