Mama & Me Mini Sessions to Benefit Moments House

Cancer can be a very scary word but cancer is just a word. However, the disease and what it does to people who have it, and how it effects them, is very real. Moments House is a organization that was formed to help those who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Some of you may know and some may not. In October of 2015 I was diagnosed with Non-
Hodgkin’s Aggressive B Cell Lymphoma. The lymphoma was in my chest and had grown so large that my life was being immediately threatened. After a few months of treatment I  found out that I was and still am in remission. During that time of treatment life changed in many ways. Moments House was there to help me, along with a few other organizations including my church. Moments House helped me pay my car insurance and bought Christmas presents for my kids. (That is something that is hard to admit as a very independent person.) They have also helped so many others in Berkshire County in so many ways.

I am forever grateful and I want to give back to them.

The things I have always known, but feel even more now, is that you need to never take the moments in your life for granted, never stop making memories and cherish the moments that have shaped who you are today. So as we approach Mother’s Day,  I thought of a way that we can all help Moments House and capture a few moments with the people that we love.

Often moms are the ones taking the pictures of their kids and the only images they have with their kids are selfies. Other times moms are too self conscious to get in front of a camera. I am here to say that I can help with all of that. I know how to make everyone look and feel their best in order to capture the best portraits for you to cherish for years and years to come.

 

 

I will be hosting Mama & Me Mini Sessions this month with 65% of the proceeds going directly to Moments House to help them secure their forever home. One of their members, who recently passed, had a lovely home that would fit their needs as their current lease ends in December. They need help to purchase this house and eliminate their biggest expense, so they can continue to do even more in our community.

We are booking session for April 29th & 30th. Click her to book your session or contact us at info@hcachat.com to get a certificate to give to your mom for Mother’s Day. (Certificates must be used in May or June only.)

All sessions will be held at 128 Fenn St. Pittsfield, MA. You can schedule your in person viewing and ordering session on the day of your session or by calling or emailing us. Images will only be available online in your gallery after your in person viewing session.

Thank You all for your Help!

Love & Admiration, Heather

P.S. Packages available are below.

What’s In My Bag…

As photographers we often get questions from both our clients and our fellow photographers like the question “What do you shoot with?” This question is often heard by my ears. For that reason I wanted to take a moment to put it all into this one blog post.

Let me just start by saying that I am a Canon Girl! I love the Canons that I have owned and currently own. (I have used Nikon and I don’t think there is anything wrong with them, I just prefer the way that the Canon DSLRs are set up. I have used these two and would recommend them if you prefer Nikon. [It’s the Yankees vs. the Red Sox of the photography world.] Nikon D3200 and for a much higher price point Nikon D7200.)

I currently have 2 camera bodies that I use and I am very happy with. They are not the highest level nor are they the bottom of the barrel. The first camera I own is the Canon EOS Rebel T3 which is discontinued but still available on places like Amazon. The second camera I own is my every day camera. The Canon EOS Rebel T3i  is also currently discontinued but still available. I really love this camera! Seriously! The screen is large and swivels, which is great for video work which I don’t do a lot of but do on occasion. (The newer version of this camera, since they come out with a new one about twice a year it seems like, is the WiFi enabled Canon EOS Rebel T6i . Seriously! WiFi! I want this one!) The Rebel Series is what is considered to be the PROSUMER level. It is the step above the average consumer but a step below the ultimate high end professional cameras. That being said… many professionals use the Rebels.

I have a few different lenses but I will just let you know about the 50 fixed that I own and my telephoto that I LOVE!  So the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens was a recent purchase that I made and am very upset that I hadn’t done it sooner. When it comes to portraits, this lens is my favorite. (FYI I would not use this lens in studio for a family portrait of more than 3 people.) I was originally afraid of it being a fixed lens but so happy that I faced my fears and bought this. It was money well spent. The images are crisp and clear in almost every lighting scenario. My other favorite lens is my Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens. I
have had this for a while now and use it for Weddings, Sports and just about anything else I need to zoom in on. When I sit in the stands at a baseball game, this lens makes me feel like I am on the field. Yup! Put me in coach!

Believe it our not the SD card that you use has a very high impact on the way that your camera operates. You need a quick card with good storage that can handle whatever you throw at it. For that reason I use the PNY Elite Performance 64 GB High Speed Flash Card. I have used other brands, and other PNY cards as well, but much prefer the speed of this card. It allows me to be able to rapid shoot without any lag time. BIG PLUS!

So wow… I think I have covered most of what’s in my bag…. I left out my lighting and flashes… I’ll put those in a separate post to not overwhelm you all.

Happy Shooting!!!

Heather

 

P.S.  legal disclaimer … this site uses affiliate links at times on our blog that we may earn a commission from based upon products that we feature or recommend.

 

Photobooth!!!!

I was having fun “testing out” the photobooth and making sure I have the kinks worked out for the Hair and Spa Bridal Show I am attending this weekend.

Love Is In the Details

Back in February I was part of the local Artwalk. The theme for the month was Love and I choose a collection of images from weddings that I call “Love is in the details.”

I wanted to take a moment and share a few images with you from a wedding I just photographed that represents the same idea. I truly feel that the details of your wedding day are important. Each little detail says something about you. There is a reason behind every choice you made. Behind every choice there is a story. In that story is where you find the love.

 

 

A Connection with the Photographer

I love reading other Photographer’s websites and blogs. It inspires me and give me insight into my fellow man. I was reading this one blog about why it is so important for photographs to blog. Are you ready for the number one reason?

It allows your clients to get to know you on a personal level.

So here are a few things I think my clients should know about me.
1. I have been photographing weddings for 10 years now. My first wedding I was hired to photography is Black & White only. The main photographer left all of her film on the seat of her car on a hot July day and my photos were the only ones that the Bride and Groom had of their special day.
2. I have a 3 year son that takes after me in every way. He is artistic, creative, imaginative, independent, emotional and stubborn. Did I say cute?

3. I have a very large family that I have always enjoyed being around. With 40 or so Aunts and Uncles we never run out of little ones. I love that. I think it keeps us all young.
4. I have worked as a travelling pre-school photographer for a national company. I left the company because I was travelling too much and I was missing my son growing up. Within the 13 months I spent at the national company I was recognized as one of the top photographers in my region in 3 categories.
5. Flowers make me sneeze.
6. I love the colors sea-foam blue and yellow because they make me think of the sun setting on top of the ocean.
7. Photography is my passion. I strive to better myself every day.

Finding My Love Again!

Sometimes you forget the important things in life until something or someone reminds you of them. I am happy to say that I now remember how talented I am.

I don’t want this to sound egotistical or far to sure of my self, but I know I have talent and I am so happy to be reminded of that today. My talent is a gift. Correction. My talents are a gift. I am very excited to be re-energized about this in the New Year. This old found again energy and love for photography and design will benefit everyone that comes in contact with me at H. Cachat Photography!