Warning! This is only going to be interesting to other photographers! I want to share with you my system for keeping my CF cards organized and safe. I have told lots of my friends about how I do this and I have two friends in particular who have asked several times to tell them again. So I decided to take pictures and write it all out. I figure this could help everyone. I created this system for peace of mind. I function better when everything is organized and in it's own place. When I am shooting a wedding or traveling I didn't want to have to think about which cards were which and where they all were. So here is how I do it. I hope this helps you to be organized and to never loose a card or format one that has not been backed up. I know this may seem a little much but trust me it feels good to never have to worry about your cards.  xo, Laura

1. Buy as many Think Tank CF cards cases as you need. I use three. One for me, one for my second shooter and one for if I have a third shooter. OR if I am traveling I use one for me for the wedding, one for my second shooter for the wedding and the third for any portrait sessions I do that weekend. This way I can leave all of the images on the cards, back them up on my laptop and a portable hard drive before I travel home just to be safe.  
2. Get a different colored Sharpie for each and label them as shown below. Colors are better than names in case you use them for different things.
3. Label each cf card with each corresponding pack. The sharpie will wear off after a while so you may need to redo this from time to time.
4. Fill them with your business cards. Three reasons. One so you have them on hand for when you are shooting a wedding and you have a guest ask you for a card. Secondly you want to have some in your second shooter's pack so when they get asked they can hand out YOUR card and not their own. They are working for your company and should not promote themselves or their business in anyway. That would look unprofessional and confusing for you to be hired and another company's business card being passed out. And lastly your business card has your contact info on it just in case you loose it. I always keep mine on my Kelly Moore Bag for Portraits or on my Shoot Sac for Weddings, but if you don't and loose it maybe someone will find you and return it to you.
5. Make sure to open the velcro and tuck in the flap before you start shooting in a church. Trust me you don't want to be that annoying photographer ripping open velcro during a quiet ceremony.
6. Before you start shooting format all of your cards and having them facing FRONT in each of their own pockets. This means they are all empty. Start with card 1 and when it is full put it back in card 1's pocket BACKWARDS. This way you know that card is full and you won't have to put it back in the camera to find out. Move on to card 2 and so on. This way you can always get a quick glace of how much you have shot and how much more you have. At the end of the night take the last cards out of the cameras and they should all be back in the packs. You can see with out a doubt that you have every card and it is where it should be. This will eliminate random cards in pockets, in the bottom of your bag or who knows where.
7. When you are all done and packing up, collect all of the packs after you have checked the cards. Hook them all together and go home feeling at ease that you know where everything is.
8. When you are uploading your cards you can do it by event and by card to make sure you didn't skip a card. If you ever have a card or image corrupt you can easily see which card it came from to run recovery software on just that one instead of every card you own.
 

 

I am loving this spring weather and all of the outdoor sessions. I know many of you have commented to me and loved seeing my what to wear guide on the blog. I have added two new sets today for Spring! I added a Spring Family and a Spring Mother Daughter. Remember the most important thing about what to wear for a session is to be yourself. You are beautiful just the way you are. Have a great day!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered for the session and frame giveaway. Congratulations Suzie and Rebecca! I am loving the new Organic Bloom frames so much! I have decided to give a free 10X10 (or smaller) frame to everyone else who entered the contest if you contact me this week and book a session with me. Why? Because my birthday was on Saturday and I am in a giving mood! So email me if you want in on this deal! Thanks again, I am grateful to each and everyone one of you that read my blog and look at my photography. xo Laura

I shot Sarah and Eric's Engagement Session while I was in Texas. Sarah's grandma is my great aunt, so we are cousins I think. Even though we did not grow up together I remember how Aunt Chris would always refer to Sarah and her sister "Little Laura and Lisa". My grandma was always sick when I was growing up and Aunt Chris was often coming in town and we sat around the ICU waiting room. I am sure it wasn't really all the time but as a kid it felt like ALL the time. I actually just got an old clock from my parents that was from an old hospital waiting room. I wanted it because it reminds me sitting in a waiting room bored to tears just waiting for either Aunt Chris or Aunt Katherine to show up so there was something to do. She always brightened up the day. She was always dressed so pretty and she treated Lisa and I like her own grand-kids. We would always get $1 if our room was clean. Now she sends Kate and Will $5 in the mail from time to time and writes for them to clean their room. So all of that to say I adore Sarah and her Grandma. I can't wait for their wedding this summer. I am excited to photograph Sarah and Eric get married but also Aunt Chris and Sarah's Uncle (my mom's cousin) Pat. He was in a motorcycle accident many years ago and lives at Brookwood Community. The wedding will be there and that is so sweet to me.
 

I am so excited to finally show you guys what I have been working on. Clarksville Brides asked me to do a gown shoot with the Bride's Boutique and Elements Design. I was of course excited to get to work with all of them and have models and dresses for me to play with. My brain started working on ideas. The week before the location I was hoping to use fell thru so I decided to do it in my back yard with my Airstream. Crazy last minute decision but super fun. Edith, Terri, Mary Beth and myself had a design pow wow and started planning. I wanted it to feel a laid back, happy back yard wedding. Elements set up a Lemonade table, and we hung their big paper lanterns from the magnolia tree. They also brought their old Schwinn bike. I had a little fun with arts and crafts. I made a ribbon backdrop with colored satin ribbon, I cut an entire roll of crate paper into little rectangles for our exit scene, and I made a just married sign on a piece of old wood. We used my fun orange retro office chairs and our Airstream camper. I asked Edith if she could find a few guy models because I thought that would be fun. When Edith told me one of the guys had a black Great Dane that could come I was super happy. Edith made Aiden the dog cute bow ties to wear. We had hair and makeup in my kitchen and we had a house full of 16 people. 6 models, Aiden the dog, Edith, Michelle and Khandi, one of the models girlfriends, Danielle doing video, Terri and Mary Beth, my 2 kids and myself. It was a fun day. Thanks to the models and Michelle for giving your time, we had fun and we couldn't have done it with out you.  

Clarksville Brides
Gowns and Tuxes: Brides Boutique
Elements Event Planning and Design
Photography: Laura Kay Photography
Video: Turning Point Productions
Makeup: Khandi Khandi



I am teaming up with Clarksville Brides to do a giveaway for their feature of this shoot. I am giving away 2 Photo Sessions in Clarksville (engagement, bridal, newborn, maternity, family, kids, or pets) and an Organic Bloom frame to go with it!  

To be entered to win you must:
1.  Leave a blog comment here telling me what kind of session you would do and which frame you like best. Make sure to leave your name and email address. One entry per person.
 
2. Then go on ClarksvilleBrides.com and vote for your favorite dress.

Blog comment entries will be accepted until Sunday April 10th at 11:59pm. Of the qualifying entries 2 winners will be selected at random. I will announce the 2 winners on Monday April 11th.