Be Inspired! Business Card Buzz

     Inspired by Skye Hardwick Edmond's Soultographers blog posting titled Snazzy Product Photography, I decided to set out to create my own little product shoot, using some of my child portrait business cards and stickers. In her blog, Skye promises that being a product photographer would be easy and she was right.  Not only was it easy, it was a lot of fun and the creative ideas were endless.  

    The first step in creating a Biz Shoot (that's what I am calling this business card shoot of mine) is to find a location.  I have loads and loads of memorable items around my own home that I wanted to pair up with my business card, so I began my search.  First stop, my ball of string that sits on top of my bedroom wardrobe. The simple ball of string is such an important item and a huge part of who I am.  When I was a child, my Gram would tell me that I could have the world on a string.  As an adult, this memory popped up often until one day I found a large spool of string and created my own little "world on a string."  I collected many items that meant the "world" to me and pinned them safely onto the string and viola, my world on a string!

    

     For the biz shoot, I removed many of the personalized items and kept only the button off of my Gram's favorite jacket and another large crochet button given to me by a dear friend. The music sheet features the Beatles song, Strawberry Fields, that is the featured song on my website and also has special meaning to me.  And of course, my little business card that my husband designed and surprised me with one day!  

    Mini Biz Shoot One-completed!  Another version that also features my business sticker is shown below.  

      

     The next shoot I decided to do took a different twist.  I was looking for some color, some pinks would be great!  I came across my new Giggleberry Creation bunting.  Their buntings come in so many beautiful colors, and the one I recently purchased had a variety of pastels and florals.   I chose the pink tones and created this little jewel shown below. Also present in this product portrait are my two special buttons to remind me of two special people that have loved me through the years. 

    

     As I glanced around my bedroom, I spotted one of my very favorite items, a small bird nest that cradles a tiny red heart.  I purchased this small token in the San Juan Islands last summer, on my 20th wedding anniversary trip with my husband.  The entire trip was a surprise, and I had no idea where we were going from one moment to the next.  I came across the small red heart first and found the bird nest later.  I paired them together to created a "love nest," the perfect remembrance and token to bring home of our trip together. When I placed the business card next to the nest, it was a cute, little scene that will always put a smile on my lips when I look at this portrait.

     

     Wow!  Three mini shoots and I haven't even made it out of one room yet.  Next stop, the living room where my all-time favorite nonliving thing lives...my old, upright!  This piano is so very special to me, and it's story alone could fill these blog pages.  But for now, the short story.  

     A TRUE STORY:  One Christmas Eve there was a little girl named Missy (I grew out of that name by fourth grade) who took piano lessons twice a week and loved every second of playing.  However, Missy could only play at her piano teacher's home because she didn't have a piano of her own.  Pianos were too expensive, so Missy only dreamed of having her own one day.   During the holiday break, Missy got the chance to sit on Santa's lap and requested only one thing for Christmas, a piano.  Santa told Missy that pianos were very big and heavy and he wasn't sure if he could fit a gift that large in his sleigh, but Missy knew his magical powers were strong, and she had no doubt that her dream of having a piano would come true.  Missy also told Santa that the piano didn't need to be new, she'd take anything, even a very old and worn out piano.  Christmas Eve arrived, along with a snow storm in rural Maryland.  Missy peaked out her bedroom window long into the night, waiting for Santa and hoping for her Christmas wish to come true.  Eyes getting heavy, Missy finally fell asleep, leaning on the windowsill, nose pressed against the freezing window.  A loud thumping noise from the backyard woke Missy up, and as she looked out the window, Santa and three of Santa's (rather large) elves were hauling an enormous upright piano through the small gate, up the brick path and into the back door.  Santa's bright red jacket was covered with snow as he pushed the piano into the house and disappeared out of sight.  Thumping and banging could be heard downstairs, but Missy fell asleep quickly, anticipating the exciting morning ahead of her.  Her dreams were filled with ivory keys and musical notes that night, not sugarplums.  

   The next portrait was taken on top of my beloved piano and posed with another favorite object, my great-grandfather's (my Gram's dad) original Kodak camera.   He purchased this camera the day he adopted my Gram.  I also have the very first portrait of her taken with this camera.  The portrait usually sits right next to the camera, but was temporarily replaced by the business card for this mini shoot.

    

     The last shoot I set up was taken right above the piano.  Leaning on the piano, I have an old, wooden window frame from the original farmer's house from the town where I currently live.  He grew Broom corn and the town was named Broomfield after this farmer.  Hanging loosing from an old ribbon, that was in a bouquet I carried at a friend's wedding, is a grapevine wreath entwined with tiny leaves...also a gift.  I carefully perched the card and sticker in the center of the wreath and started snapping.  Not expecting much of anything, I was pleasantly surprised by the quaintness of this shot.  I added a bit of texture, and created another happy result for me and my products.  

     

     So, Skye was right, product photography is fun AND easy!  Not only was I able to create some fun product photography, I was able to relive some wonderful memories, inspired by so many people who I have loved, and have loved me back.  Thank you Skye for the inspiration.  My hope is that perhaps I'll inspire someone out there too. If you would like some help with inspiration, contact me,  I'd love to chat with you!  In the meantime, keep your eyes (and mind) open.  You never know what little memory you might trigger when you start looking around at the things that belong to you and that you love.  

Pleasant surprises are everywhere...

                         you just have to be looking!

Peace and Love,

Melissa 

Credits:
*All frames and textures/overlays used in this posting are by Florabella Collection

*Business cards and stickers/designs printed by Black River Imaging

*Business card design by David Spencer 


Photo props:
*Music stars in piano shoot by Pottery Barn

*Plastic apples by Target

*Spool of String by Hobby Lobby

*Buntings by Giggleberry Creations


Ideas inspired by Skye Hardwick Edmonds of Work of Heart Photography (my photography muse and virtual FB friend) :)I truly thank you for your Workbook