If you’re looking for an incredible deal this spring, I’ve got great news for you! Today I had one [previously booked] March Madness session open up due to rescheduling. Email me or call me at 803-6750 asap to snap this last date up. Free sessions don’t stick around long! ;-)

Also, if you’re like me, you’re seeing little signs of spring popping up here and there outside. Nothing excites me like seeing the first glimpse of tulips and lillies peeking through the mulch in the yard. I can’t wait to start shooting outdoors again in bare feet! Parks and beaches, look out!

Talk to you soon.

Leslie

Just to let you know… check back on the Leslie du Mont Photography website and blog frequently as big changes are coming in 2009! You’ll already notice some disarray with the blog layout as we get the basics set up here. So, please pardon the mess, but the end product is going to be exciting! How exciting? Well, look for the first clue soon!

FYI, I’m currently booking photography sessions for March. Usually I’m booked 4-6 weeks out. (Please plan accordingly and contact me to reserve your date early.)

Leslie

I’ve had a flurry of last minute calls requesting photo sessions before the end of the year. Leslie du Mont Photography will be open for business January 8, 2009.

May you and your families have a very blessed holiday season!

Merry Christmas!

Leslie

This year has been a roller coaster for the du Mont family and for my business - Leslie du Mont Photography. Despite all of the setbacks, the year is ending on a positive note. After dealing with my cancer and related medical complications for the past 18 months, we’ve had some great news. My last PET CT scan was negative for cancer and some of my issues seem to finally be resolving themselves. While I’m not out of the woods yet, I’m closer! Just over the past two weeks I’ve felt better than I’ve felt in almost two years. I’m even walking without a cane - virtually limp free! I’m taking this positive turn of events as a sign that I’ll be able to get back to doing what I love /full time/ in the upcoming year.

With that said, I’m proud to announce that Leslie du Mont Photography will re-open after the holidays on January 8. Business hours are between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. 757.803.6750

[Can you tell how big my smile is right now?]

Peace, Leslie

Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to meet up with two of the best -or should I say- the grandest Grandparents in Chesapeake, VA! They introduced me to their charming grandchildren that were visiting. We had an action packed session filled with running, skipping rocks on the lake, kartwheels and spectacular handstands. How cool was that?

Here is your sneak peak, R family! Thank you for letting me capture your memories!

Leslie

Okay, so, I’m guilty of not updating my blog as often as I’d like, but I hope this makes up for it. Every once in a while you come across someone that makes your job SO easy you just have to blog about it!

Meet H!

This young lady from Norfolk has it all going on. She’s smart, down-to-earth, talented and beautiful beyond belief… inside and out! She was also so modest about setting multiple state track records that I had to pull it out of her. Her Italian is impeccable. This girl is the total package!

H is such a trooper that she even let me and another photographer practice some experimental lighting techniques…which is not for the faint hearted as she was contantly asked to perform tasks that would give most of us whiplash! ;-) What a joy to photograph/play with her.

Can I just adopt her? Would that be bad?

[Rats, I'll bet her proud parents would complain!]

Tah, tah for now.

Leslie

Okay. So far, it has been a summer full of smoke from the Great Dismal Swamp fire.

Every day in Virginia Beach and Norfolk we wonder if the smoke is going to have blown off enough to go outside. Can today’s photo session happen or not? Is the smoke too bad to breathe at the location? [Which changes from hour to hour] It is getting kind of depressing not only for myself, but for other photographers across the Hampton Roads area as well. A real rescheduling nightmare! Can you say “studio,” anyone?

But, finally there is something burning that I’m anxiously awaiting! July 10th is the date of the Burn Notice premiere.

Honestly, I never watched an entire episode of Magnum PI back in the day. In fact, I never really got into the action genre on TV or even in movies before, but the superb, smart writing and acting on this show has really reeled me in. Heck, my whole family can’t wait for the first episode this season. July 10th can’t come soon enough for us!

Generally, summer tv is boring. Treat yourself to something good: Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar and Bruce Campbell as Michael Westen, Fiona and Sam.

Rent the entire first season or download it onto your Tivo from Amazon. You have time to catch up and watch the incredible finale before July 10th. You won’t regret it.

Forgive me if you’ve heard me say this before, but custom photography is not for everyone.

For some people, leaning up against a carpet covered stand at a bargain photo chain and saying “Cheese” is great. The price is right. Everyone is managing to show their best forced grimace smile. Done.

For other people, average just isn’t good enough. They want more. They want something special. Something that spotlights the individuality of their family. They know that hiring the best photographer to capture the images of their family is tantamount to getting timeless, one-of-a-kind portraits that will be passed down and treasured from generation to generation. These are the people that choose to go with a custom portrait photographer.

A custom photographer that will take the time to help show different sides of your family’s personalities in your favorite surroundings. A custom photographer isn’t rushed. That means they are 100% invested in giving the clients what they really want to remember. They want to capture memories that show who their clients are.

As for the parents, they want to show Sally’s first tooth and how shy she was when she was that age. Or how adorable Baby Lucas’ tiny foot was when he was just 5 days old. Or they want their teenaged daughter to see the beautiful woman that she has become. Or they want to see how in love Mom and Dad looked during their vacation in Virginia Beach. There are as many possibilites and/or reasons for doing custom photography sessions as there are people that want them.

A while back a friend of mine passed along an article that was published in Real Simple magazine about professional custom photography. [Click on that green text to visit the link.] This article asks you to think of what is really important to you. I think most of my clients will agree with several (if not all) of the points made in it as they have already made capturing their families and their personalities a priority in their lives. They are my only session for the day. They get my full attention. They can take as many breaks as they need to rest, change clothes or diapers, snack, nurse, etc. Your child can hold their treasured “lovey” or you can sit on your quilt that Grandma lovingly made for you. Whatever you want. That is why they call it custom. …And it will be unlike any photo session that you’ve had before!

Hiring a custom portrait photographer means never having to hear:

“Sit here.”
“Chin up.”
“Say cheese.”
[Flash, flash]
“Okay, we’re all done here. …Next!”

Never!

Leslie