December Special!!!!!!!

I am completely booked for the month of November!!***


Now it’s time to start thinking about December. Check out the promotion I am running for all of you procrastinators. The promotion is for sessions scheduled during the month of December ONLY!



P.S. I might be able to squeeze in a session locally during Thanksgiving weekend. Email me for more info. rachelrussophotography@gmail.com

P.P.S. Yes, I know about the "late minute" typo above. I had already saved it as a pdf and, lets be honest, I'm too lazy to go back and change it. I'd rather just be known as a misspeller:)

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Scarlett and Family

Not a lot of words in this post, but I will make up for it with pictures. The last time I saw Scarlett was for her newborn session 8 months ago. Boy has she grown into the sweetest little girl. She gave me nothing but smiles for an hour and a half. That's longer than most adults last.

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F.A.Q: Workflow for Portrait Sessions

When I first started thinking about becoming a photographer, I couldn’t believe what other photographers charged for portrait sessions. How could I charge someone $150 just to snap a few pictures of them and their family? What I didn’t realize, and what most people don’t know about photography, is that there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes after we do a session together.

A lot of people have questions about the CD of Digital Negatives and I hope that after I walk you through my post processing workflow, you will have a better understanding of what you get when you purchase the CD.

Here is what a session looks like for me from start to finish.

1. Take pictures of my fabulous clients!!! (that’s you!) (1 - 2 hours)

2. Upload the pictures to my computer (20-30 minutes)

3. Back up the pictures (20-30 minutes)

4. Choose my favorites by starring them! *trash, **keep, ***favorites (30 min - 1 hour)

5. Open all the keepers in Lightroomand fix the exposure, temperature, etc. (1 hour)

6. Fully edit my favorites and blog a sneak peek (1 - 2 hours)

7. Resize proofs for the web and upload to your online photo gallery (30 minutes - 1 hour)

8. Edit the images my clients choose (varies depending on how many images are ordered (usually between 2 - 4 hours)

9. Burn disc of digital negatives for client (30 minutes)

So that’s typical for EVERY client’s session. The time varies, but I spend usually between 8 and 12 hours on one session from start to finish. We are talking about portrait sessions here, not weddings. You don’t even want to get me started on my workflow for a wedding;)

I do not fully edit every photo I take is because it would take entirely too long and NO ONE would be able to afford me if I charged you for all of that time.

When you purchase the CD you get the fully edited images (usually 15-20 pics) and all of the digital negatives. What is the difference you ask? Let me ‘splain.

There is a big difference between SOOC (Straight Out Of Camera), the digital negative, and a fully edited photo. SOOC - no corrections. Digital Negative - Improved exposure and temperature. Edited – retouched, cleaned up backgrounds (notice the street lights and cars are removed from the picture of the bride), cropped, sharpened, all around BETTER!





I hope that was helpful. Feel free to comment and ask me questions (be sure to leave your email address in the comment) You just might inspire me to blog about your question

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Bryan + Brityn {Engagement}

I will be photographing Bryan and Brityn's wedding in July 2010 (seems so far away). They picked out a lot of great locations that really suited their personalities. We drove around town for a bit and then headed out to Bryan's family ranch, where we got some really fun shots! I think my favorite is the one of them dancing. There was no music, but these two rocked it!!

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Oats {Family}

I just happened to be passing thorugh Waco last week and it worked out perfectly for me to have a session with the Oats family. I am in love with Clary's outfit! This is a great example of how you start with one item of clothing and arrange the whole families outfits to compliment the one pattern/print. Well, done Elizabeth!




When we were done taking the family pictures, the parents and I snuck off with Campbell to get his newborn shots. What a precious little one.



Brandon and Elizabeth have a ministry called Project Restoration. Hop on over to their website and read all about the passions that the Lord has given to them. I believe God is using and will use them to reach the hearts of so many hurting people and families.

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Mikeska {Family}

Kari contacted me a couple of weeks ago about taking her family photos. I guess she started talking about it around her workplace and I have booked multiple other sessions because she spread the word! I was glad to finally meet her and her family. Her son was hilarious and full of energy! Kari, I hope you like what you see:)







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A lot can happen in a year....

On October 22, 2008 I took the pictures you will see below. I remember that week, I decided to pull out my old 35mm SLR and snap a few pictures. I was not trying to start a business. I had some time on my hands because I had just moved to San Angelo, so I thought I would pursue a hobby. I had no idea that a year later I would be pursuing this "hobby" as my full-time career. So take a look.....can you tell I've improved? Haha!

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