Getting to Know Holly McCaig

This week’s getting to know you blog post is all about Holly McCaig!!

Describe your family life: I’m a 30-something single creative type that lives in St. Louis Missouri with my two dogs, Jack & Daisy.

Describe your design style (traditional, modern, shabby, etc.): I’m obsessed with a shabby, weathered and vintage look when it comes to my studio style. But, I also really love clean, graphic and modern feels to designs in paper products.

Mac or PC? Mac – don’t ask how many Apple products I own. My latest love is my iPad.

Song that best describes you: Lately, the song that resonates with me is Brand New Day by Joshua Radin. It’s a tough time in business with the economy, so going through this song I think about what I’m facing. It helps and inspires.

If you had just 1 day left to live, what would you do? I’d have the best dinner ever with my closest friends and my family. Then, we’d sing karaoke!
Favorite product at Pink Ink Studios: I love Tisha’s Wallet Templates!
Favorite product of my own: I love my What’s Next Postcard because it is something I use with every session and my clients appreciate it!

You can find Holly at:

• Twitter
• Holly McCaig Seniors Facebook Fan Page
• Holly McCaig Facebook Fan Page
• Websites: hollymccaigdesigns.com and hollymccaig.com

Designer Process: An Inside Look

Ever wonder how the designers came up with a certain design or idea here at Pink Ink Studios? Well each month one of us is going to give you a behind the scenes look into our design process and explain how we created a certain product. Today I’m giving you an inside look into my process behind the Sweet Hanukkah Card I have in the store.
Earlier this year I came across a great tutorial in Photoshop User magazine to create a sugar cookie effect in Photoshop. I loved the tutorial and how realistic the cookies came out that I couldn’t wait to try it. Once I played around in Photoshop and had a go at the tutorial I wanted to make everything into a cookie! Who doesn’t like cookies, right?? Photoshop cookies are even better and less fatty too!
So when I decided to make a Hanukkah card (I usually only do Christmas cards but wanted to broaden my designs) I thought some sweet elements would be a nice different touch. I love dots and I thought it was a playful design element to compliments the blue color which is normally associated with Hanukkah. So there you have it – inside my head when I was designing this card.

What designs are you curious to know the origins of? Let us know and we can possibly feature them in the next upcoming months.

Getting to Know Tara Sroka

Get to know designer Tara Sroka this week!

Describe your family life: I live in NYC with my husband, John and we will be celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary in a few weeks.

Describe your design style (traditional, modern, shabby, etc.): My designs are more modern, clean and simple. I’m a minimalist type of designer.

Mac or PC? Mac all the way!

Song that best describes you: Smoke & Mirrors by Lifehouse & Making Love At a Nothing At All by Air Supply

If you had just 1 day left to live, what would you do? Have a crazy party with family and friends, drink and DANCE a lot! =)

Favorite product at Pink Ink Studios: I’m really digging Holly’s Studio Thank You Tag which is very graphic. Love it!
Favorite product of mine is my Mod Baby Announcement Bundle. I love circles and dots – it’s so fun and playful!

You can find Tara at:

• Twitter
• Facebook Fan Page
• Website

Customer Show and Tell

Designers love to see their designs being used by customers so I was thrilled to get an email from photographer, Jenn Smith showing me how she used paper from my Holly Days Album Backs collection. Jenn’s email was super sweet and the photographs she sent show how she used paper from my Holly Days Album Backs collection in her business cards. She went on to say that she has had many compliments on these cards and my paper made the look!!  Awww, thanks Jenn for your kind words and taking the time to share with me your wonderful creation! Check out Jenn’s work at her website.

If you have some great photos of our designs in use for your business please email that Pink Ink Studios designer. We all would love to see your work and how our designs have helped your business.

Photographer Spotlight: Kellie Penn

Tell us your name. Kellie Penn

Where do you live? Decatur, IL

Please link us to your website. http://www.acrossthemilesphotography.com

How long have you been a photographer? I’ve had a camera around me for as long as I can remember, but professionally two years!

Describe your area of expertise. I do a bit of everything!  The majority of my business comes through weddings, families, and seniors.  I can see my business trending more towards weddings as the dominant area in the next year or two.  I also photograph babies, children, have done commercial work, and concert photography.

How did you come to specialize in this area? I was terrified of weddings and swore I would never do them.  But, I kept getting asked and decided to give it a try.  I am so glad I did!  There are so many magical moments during a wedding day to capture & I love, love, love them now!  I also love how each wedding is so different…you never know what you’re going to get from one week to the next.

Please share with us your absolute favorite photograph you’ve ever taken and tell us the story behind it, why it speaks to you, etc.
I had my DSLR for a couple of weeks and was playing around with it one day.  I wanted to experiment with the light in the room & I followed Mason around as he played.  He stopped near the window & I snapped the shutter.  It took my breath away to see how sweet he looked & how it captured the innocence of his age.  It is hands down my very favorite photo…and it inspired me to keep progressing in my photography!

How would you describe your style? Hmm…that’s a toughie!  I hope my style of shooting is one that just “captures life.”  I love lifestyle photography & hope that I capture my subjects as they are & not just give them a bunch of stiff, posed photos.

What is your standby pose (the one that everyone tends to want from you)? Everyone wants the shot where they are walking away holding hands in the field.  I have so many families choose the same location so they can get that shot!

What gear is in your bag? Canon 5d Mark II and a Canon 40d as a back up.  70-200L 2.8 IS, 24-70L, 50 1.4, 100mm macro, 85mm 1.8, 580 ex II, (and my bags are a shootsac & a Kelly Moore camera bag.  I like my gear to look good! Haha!!)

If you could only use one lens what would it be? I love my 70-200L.  The bokeh and colors I get from this lens are unbelievable!

Are you considering any new gear purchases this year? If so, please describe.  Yes!  I am drooling over the 50 1.2L.   Hopefully it will be mine soon!

What is your go-to camera shop? I’ve purchased most of my gear from Amazon.  I also love B&H Photo!

Which album company do you recommend? I love KISS and Finao.

How do you stay motivated? My clients keep me motivated.  I love when they are so excited about their sessions & refer their friends and family my way.  Their love of their photos just makes my day & helps keep me inspired to keep going!

What makes your job easy? I swear I have the world’s cutest clients!!  It’s not hard to make them look good!   The biggest thing that makes my job easy though is that my husband is so flexible and provides huge help of taking care of our children when I go on sessions or photograph a wedding.

Do you prefer to work in the studio, on-location, or both and why? I love on-location the best.  It is easier to capture people as they are…I find that people seem more stiff in the studio & I want more relaxed photographs.  Plus, kids don’t like sitting still in one spot…it’s much easier to just chase them around!

What sets you and your work apart from other photographers in your area? A lot of photographers in my area are more traditional and provide beautiful work, especially in studio.  My work offers something different from theirs in that I go out to locations my client choose & capture them as they are!

Do you use a Mac or PC? PC…someday (hopefully soon) I’ll be a Mac girl!

Tell us about your image processing style and the software you use. I prefer clean, consistent edits in my processing.  I used to do lots of crazy color pops and grungy edits.  Then, as I studied other photographers that I love, I realized that I leaned towards those that used a clean edit.  I love when colors are vibrant, but not over processed!

Have you attended any workshops that you found to be helpful in your work? Yes!  Going to PPA’s Imaging USA this winter was wonderful!  I was able to sit and listen to photographers that I admire & hear how they approach their photography.  I’ve attended Sandy Puc’s tots to teens and loved hearing her speak.

Which professional organizations do you belong to? Professional Photographer’s of America

Tell us about your long-term goals. To transition more to just weddings.  We are currently in the adoption process and once our child comes home from South Korea next year, I need to slow down a bit & focus on helping him transition.  Photographing just on Saturdays seem like a great way to cut back!  Then, I can work from home processing the weddings & consulting with clients.

Best advice for new photographers breaking into the business? Spend a lot of time portfolio building.  Push yourself to keep trying things that seem hard & study photographers that inspire you!

If you could choose anyone to do a photo shoot of you and your family, who would your choose? Hands down Bobbi & Mike!!

If you were not a photographer, then…I’d probably go back to teaching. There are some days I truly do miss the classroom!

What does photography mean to you? Photography offers such an ability to capture moments in time.  I’ve learned through my life that moments happen so quickly.  My son, Miles, passed away when he was just 3 months old.  He was such a sick little baby & those photographs of us snuggling and spending quiet moments together mean the world to me.  They are all that I have left of him.  I am so very thankful that we took so many photos while he was with us.  My business, Across the Miles Photography, is named after my sweet little boy.  I hope that I can leave families with sweet memories after a session with me…I know how truly precious those memories are!

Magazine must have? Professional Photographer Magazine from PPA.  It’s wonderful & full of inspiration!

What’s your guilty pleasure? Real Housewives on Bravo.

My weakness is…food!  I’m such a food junkie & love to eat..especially anything fried!   Fried twinkies, fried cauliflower, French fries…etc!

My strength is…being a mommy!  My kids keep me going and constantly cover me in hugs and kisses.  Their unconditional love just amazes me!

What do you do when you first wake up? Snuggle with my family.  Usually the kids climb into bed with us & we all just snuggle & cuddle for awhile.  I hate how quickly they are growing up and want to savor each little moment!

Finish this quote: When it rains…go splash in puddles!  (with cute boots, bright umbrellas, and make sure you bring your camera!)

Who do you love? God first & my husband & my children!  God has blessed this business in more ways than I can describe.  If you ever would’ve told me that my business would have grown so fast in the past two years I would have laughed in your face!  I can’t put into words how good He has been to me!  My husband, Tyler, has been so supportive of me and my crazy dreams!  He tells me how proud he is of me & offers so much help in taking care of the kids so I can pursue this dream of mine!  My children…they truly make my heart so happy!  I am the world’s luckiest mom & have the most beautiful children!

Do you read your horoscope? Nope!

Blog addiction… Bobbi & Mike, Clary Photo

Tattoos…none!  My dad always swore that he would quit paying for college if I ever got one, so I never did!

MAC or PC…PC

80’s Music…I’m honestly not a huge fan! But, I wasn’t that old during the 80’s and had to listen to whatever my parents were listening to!  I like the 90’s music more!

What’s on your iPod? Needtobreathe, MercyMe, Kutless, TobyMac, Tenth Avenue North

Morning or night? Night.  I’m definitely a night owl & stay up crazy late working.  I need to change that!

My friends say…“How do you do it all? You are so busy!!”

Travel dreams…My biggest dream is to travel to South Korea to pick up our little guy!  Can’t wait until that is a reality next year!

On my day off…day off?  What’s that?!?

One of your top 100 to do before you die? What isn’t? Hmmm…I would love to travel with a missions organization & photograph our journey & their work in the countries.  What’s not on my list?  Owning a snake.  They terrify me!

Thank you, Kellie, for sharing a little bit about yourself.  It was great to learn more about you and see your beautiful work.

Getting to Know Amy Kant

Getting to Know Kimberly Drury

This week’s getting to know you blog post is all about Kimberly Drury a.k.a MadiLu Designs

Family Life: I design full-time and then some. I’ve been married to my husband practically forever and we have four children … two boys and two girls ranging from 3 to 12 so we’re busy with big kids and little kids. We just got our first puppy this year so that’s been an interesting experience. His name is Fender, like the guitar … because we’re all coming back rockstars in our next life. Things are usually kind of crazy around our house but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Design Style: If you’d walk into my house you’d find a mix of browns, creams, reds, golds and antiques and old furniture that once belonged to someone’s grandmother. If you look at my design portfolio, it tends to gravitate towards whimsical with a touch of shabby. I love polka dots, doodles and patterns. I’m up for whatever!

Mac or PC? Always a Mac

Song that best describes you: Struggling with this one … I listen to such a variety of music. I could joke around and say “Crazy” or something to that effect, but if I had to pick a song to define where I’m at right now, I’d have to say “The Lovely Years” by Fisher. My life is about growing and discovering with my family.

If you had just 1 day left to live, what would you do? I’m kind of a sap so this makes me all teary just thinking about it! I’ve been blessed to know so many awesome people in my life. I’d take that day and share it with as many of those people as possible … preferably somewhere warm and sunny! Obviously I’d spend the bulk of my time making memories with my family. Sniff!!

Favorite Pink Ink Studios product: In love with Carrie’s A Touch of Whimsy Doodles

Favorite Pink Ink Studios of mine: Through the Years Birthday Card

I think it would be cool to have a collection of 5×7 frames with one of these from each year. You just bump up the opacity of the age and can change colors of the overall template if you’d like. It’s fun to see how your kids change each year and it sure beats the cheesy Grade K through 12 frame my parents had!!

You can find Kimberly at:

• Twitter
• Facebook Fan Page
• Website

Getting to Know Carrie Bombria

We are adding a new feature to our blog for the next few months to give you an opportunity to get to know the designers here at Pink Ink Studios better and to learn more about us all.

This week’s featured designer is Carrie Bombria!

Family Life: I’m a stay at home mom to my beautiful daughter Lillian and wife to my college sweetheart Dan. We live in Southern Vermont along a beautiful river in the Green Mountains.

Design Style: More modern for sure! My eye tends to go towards sleek and simple designs which is the complete opposite of how my house is decorated (antique and vintage- but I do live in Vermont so having a modern house wouldn’t fit in very well!)

Mac or PC: Mac for the rest of my life! I was so confused the last time I got on my PC laptop!

Song that best describes you: You and Me by Dave Matthews Band- Each time I listen to it, it reminds me of the discussions I’ve had with my husband about how we’ll travel the world once our kid(s) leave the nest!

If you had one day left, what would you do? Gather all of my family together and laugh. I love to laugh so I’d rather spend my last day laughing than crying!!
Favorite Pink Ink Studios product of mine: Probably my Senior Marketing Pack because of the actual business that it’s brought me in my area!

You can find Carrie at:

• Twitter (my account is protected but just request and I’ll add ya!)
• Facebook Fanpage
• Website

Photographer Spotlight: Laura Brett

Tell us your name. Laura Brett

Where do you live? We just moved to Atlanta, GA from NC a little over four months ago.

Please link us to your website. http://www.laurabrettphotography.com

How long have you been a photographer? We launched our full-time photography business in 2008.

Describe your area of expertise. We shoot mostly newborns, but we also have a passion for maternity and children.

How did you come to specialize in newborns? There’s nothing like them and I love them!  Need I say more?

Please share with us your absolute favorite photograph you’ve ever taken and tell us the story behind it, why it speaks to you, etc.
It is a picture of my children, nothing technically correct about it.  They are laying on the floor looking at old albums of my husband and I. It just reminded me how fast time goes and how important it is to capture ‘snaps’ daily!

How would you describe your style? Our style with newborns is simplistic, organic and pure.

What is your standby pose (the one that everyone tends to want from you)? I get a ton of requests for my maternity sessions. The pose is the one with the dad crossing his arms across the mom showing off that beautiful belly. It is my number one requested pose, but most are very shy when it comes to trying it.

What gear is in your bag? Nikon, Nikon, Nikon 

If you could only use one lens what would it be? Just one?  I would have to say a prime lens, my 85mm hands down.

Are you considering any new gear purchases this year? I’m always on the lookout for Nikon’s newest releases – just don’t tell my husband I told you that.

What is your go-to camera shop? B&H Photo and Video

Which album company do you recommend? Right now I’m loving The Dream Album Company.

How do you stay motivated? It’s easy to stay motivated, waking up in the morning knowing you will get to capture a new love – doesn’t get any better than that.

Do you prefer to work in the studio, on-location, or both and why? A mix of both. I do love on-location though, it pushes me to think outside the box.

What sets you and your work apart from other photographers in your area? We pay close attention to the details and focus mostly on newborns. When you come to our site you know it’s what we love and specialize in.

Do you use a Mac or PC? Mac Baby!

Tell us about your image processing style and the software you use. My processing style ( goal)  is very clear, tack sharp images right out of the camera.  Photoshop helps give you that added touch, but if you can get it almost perfect in camera it’s that much easier.

Which professional organizations do you belong to? PPA

Tell us about your long-term goals. To continue growing my business and improve daily!

Best advice for new photographers breaking into the business? Take things slow, learn the basics. Photography is ever evolving and you learn something new everyday.

If you could choose anyone to do a photoshoot of you and your family, who would your choose? Oh gosh…my list keeps growing.  Right now I would say Pastel Photography, she is rocking it!

If you were not a photographer, then: I really couldn’t imagine doing anything else, but if that were the case I’ve always been intrigued with midwifery/labor and delivery.

What does photography mean to you? It means everything! I eat, sleep and dream photography.  Through my lens and my children, I get to experience the world in a whole new way.

Magazine must have? Us Weekly

What is your guilty pleasure? Diet Coke

My weakness is…..I always have too much on my plate.

My strength is…..I’m always on time, come rain or shine.

What do you do when you first wake up? Snuggle with my two children

Finish this quote: When it rains…..it pours.  No, how about the old man is snoring? Wait, that is a nursery rhyme I just messed up?

Who do you love? My high school sweetheart turned husband, my two beautiful children, and Sady (our basset).

Do you read your horoscope? Nope

Do you have a blog addiction? Hmmm…not really, but I do love cruising photographer blogs to follow their daily captures.

Do you have any tattoos? Yes, just one – it actually means ambition.

What are your thoughts on 80′s Music? Well, I was born in the 80′s so anything music/movies 80′s related – I’m there.

What is on your iPod? Don’t have one – that’s bad, right?

Morning or night? Morning

Do you have any travel dreams? Not at the moment, we did just get back from vacation and I need another vacation from unpacking.

On my day off…..When that happens, the kids and I plan a day just for us.

One of your top 100 to do before you die? What isn’t?

Special thanks to Rebecca Knowles Photography for the portrait of Laura and her son at the top of this post.

Thank you so much, Laura, for sharing a little about yourself.  We all have enjoyed your gorgeous baby and maternity portraits.

WHCC’s Summer Sale & Pink Ink!

It’s Summer Sale time at WHCC which is a perfect reason to stock up on designs at Pink Ink Studios!!  Whether it’s for your clients orders or for your business, this sale will surely be a hit amongst photographers!  The current sale is on press printed cards and here at Pink Ink we have some wonderful designs to help you take advantage of this sale!  Check out some of the great designs in our store (click on each photo to bring you to that particular item in the store!)

Next Page »