It’s spring and I am loving the sunshine, happiness, and more importantly, all of my awesome fans!

This month I am giving something back to you: A free on-location (indoors or out) “new baby” photoshoot – including an 8×10” print portrait – to one lucky set of new parents!

To win, just follow these three steps:

1. “Like” HAL Photography facebook page and tell your friends to do the same. (If you haven’t already of course!)
2. Post a quick comment below this post about the funniest (“Wow, we are actually parents?!”) moment you’ve had so far about becoming new parents.
3. Submit your comments by Sunday, May 20th, 2012.

Guidelines:

• The winner must be located in the greater Portland/Southern Maine area (or would be willing to negotiate travel fees).
• A first time parent or set of parents with a baby under nine months old.
• This offer cannot be combined with any other HAL Photography offers or discounts.

Please drop me an email if you have any other questions.

Good luck and happy spring!

There is a fairly new magazine that was just created in Portland that a colleague of mine is helping to market. It’s a free local paper that has a 100% pickup rate within a week of most drop locations, which is amazing. She asked me to place an ad and there was only one image that came to mind when it came to this particular paper.

I am pretty particular when it comes to my advertising locations, and this photo just had to be out there. Even if not all people agree with gay marriage, love is love.

straight/gay/bi/happy/sad/laughing/crying/jumping/drooling/smiling

It’s all part of life, and I’m here to capture it.

Even in black and white, her fun personality shows right through. Don’t you just love the tongue?!

This past weekend, the NYC-based band Black Taxi played the Bayside Bowl venue in Portland.

Having only heard of the band through friends, but not being thoroughly acquainted with them, I showed up open-minded and excited to hear their sound. Going to live bands is usually pretty fun, most of them time not knowing their songs is fine if you enjoy the vibe they put out. Black Taxi was no exception. The lead singer rocks the stage switching between keyboard, trumpet, to cowbell (yes, I did yell “more cowbell, please!”).  His energy is palpable throughout the room. Behind him every step of the way is his rocking band keeping the momentum going.

I was having an off day, okay, not going to lie, an off weekend, and there are not too many things that can get me out of a funk in an hour in time for a social get together like a live band. Well, there is one thing – my camera. Yes, as cheesy as it sounds, and I’m aware it borderlines velveeta, when I have my camera in my hands sometimes the world disappears and I just focus on what I love. Capturing the shot in challenging low-light conditions with red/blue/yellow spotlights hitting at weird angles. Maintaining a high enough shutter speed to capture the movement of the guys bouncing around the stage, but yet low enough to capture enough light to make it pop. Dropping down to get the shots from the bottom of the stage and then changing lenses to get a wide of the crowd cheering on the band. Ah, heaven.

Despite the fact they only played one set, I was left wanting more, which I suppose means they achieved their goal. Great show, Black Taxi, I’ll be on the lookout for you the next time you are in town. Check out more of the photos from the evening at my facebook page: HAL Photography – Black Taxi.

Happy Holidays to all!

Thank you for a fantastic 2011 full of smiles, fun and laughter.

The simple answer is this: All of my latest, greatest, and awesome photoshoot samples are on my Facebook page. I know, not everyone is on the book. No worries! You don’t need to be a member to check out the group pages. Yes, exciting, right?

Don’t worry, I will be updating on my blog as well after the rush is over. At the moment, I like to make it easier for my clients to instantly see, tag, and share their photos with friends and family from facebook if they have it and choose to have them posted to the site.

So what are you waiting for? Check out my HAL Photography Facebook Page to see what photoshoots are happening now at HAL Photography!

HAL Photography Holiday Portrait Season is underway!

Check out our Holiday Portrait Special for December 2011:

- On-Location Family Portrait Session (backdrop and lighting included)
- Custom editing and posting to online proof website
- Print package including:
- 50 Custom Holiday Cards (Custom Templates to choose from)
- One 8×10″ professional print
- $10 gift credit to use toward any other prints on the proof website
($149)

Email heather at heather@halphotography to book a December Holiday Portrait Session today!

On November 5, 2011 over twenty students in the Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia program will be donning their black robes and caps (for real this time, not just for the photoshoot!) and taking those final steps to receive their degree.

I was honored to have been asked to photograph the headshots and formal group portraits of the program’s participants. A fabulous group of students who are on their way to taking on the Nurse Anesthesia world!

Congratulations to you all. You rock!