d-Squared Designs

Introducing Baby’s First Year Package Options

d-Squared Designs — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 03:40:44 +0000

Because they change so much faster than we realize!

All Baby’s First Year session series include the Baby’s First Year Package listed below, plus any a-la-carte items you may wish to add.

Baby’s First Year Package Options

The Highlights – $200
- Three one hour mini sessions: newborn, 6 months and 1 year
- Online proofing for friends and family to view and purchase prints
- With each session you will receive a FREE 5×7 of your favorite image
-11×14 of your favorite photo taken during the year

Every Step of the Way – $825
- Six one-hour mini sessions: maternity (optional), newborn, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 1 year
- Online proofing for friends and family to view and purchase prints
- With each session you will receive a FREE 8×10 of your favorite image
-16×20 of your favorite photo taken during the year
- Low resolution CD of all session images for web use (not suitable for print)
-DVD of images played to music (will receive after all sessions)
-After your child’s 1 year session, you will receive a custom designed hardcover photo book, which will include photos of your choice from throughout your child’s first year.

Payment Plan: A non-refundable deposit in the amount of half of the total package. This deposit will guarantee the dates that we book in advance for your child’s photo sessions. All clients are responsible for booking session dates with d-Squared Designs throughout the year. At the time of each session, we require the remaining balance to be paid throughout the year as your sessions take place. We will sit down with you and come up with a payment plan to suite your needs.

When should I schedule a session at d-Squared Designs?
	Newborn - as small as possible. Tiny fingers, tiny toes, wrapped in a blanket…
	Three months – Smiles appear. Babies start to hold their head up and interact with other people.
	Six months – Learning to sit up and look around. Might not be stable yet, but getting there!
	Nine months – standing on two feet! If they have a bench to hold on to, babies are proud to show how tall they are.
	One year - bring out the cake; it’s time to celebrate! And make a mess…
The development stages of babies will vary. It’s more important to photograph them as they reach these milestones; ages are approximate.

Survey to Bring in New Year!!

d-Squared Designs — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 19:01:44 +0000

Happy New Year everybody!! Thank you so much for all of your support during 2010. We look forward to 2011 with anticipation and much optimism. We’re anxious to renew old friendships and also look forward to meeting new clients, young and old alike!

As we prepare to embark on new adventures this year, we would love to hear your thoughts and opinions from this past year. So…we’ve created a short survey that we would REALLY appreciate if you would take the time to complete.

The link to the short survey is: http://www.tinyurl.com/dsqsurvey

Thank you very much and we look forward to hearing from you!

2012 Senior Reps!

d-Squared Designs — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 22:24:53 +0000

Use this link to access our senior rep application: Click here to apply NOW!

Are you ready for it. . . yep, it’s true, we are now taking applications for our 2012 senior reps! Crazy to think about 2012 already, right? Well, if you’re curious or are ready to be a rep for d-Squared read the info below!

A few questions you may have:

What is a Senior Rep?

A Senior Rep (rep stands for representative!) is a current high school junior, who will be graduating in 2012, that is going to help promote d-Squared Designs to all their friends and classmates. Our hope is that once your friends see what we can do – they are going to come to us for their pictures! Only three students from each Columbia, MO high school will be selected to be senior reps for d-Squared Designs.

What are the advantages of being a d-Squared Senior Rep?

Thanks for asking! Here is what we are offering our 2011 Senior Reps:

One free photo session that will last no longer than two hours (including travel time). Bring as many changes of clothes as you like.
One DVD containing a web version of the BEST photos from your shoot. You can post these on MySpace or FaceBook. They will be stamped with our logo.
Two 8×10 photos.
Photographs featured on our website, FaceBook page and blog.
25-50 Senior Rep cards (business card size) with your picture on it – and our contact information. This is what you will pass out to your friends when they say, “I LOVE your photos – who took them?” Each senior that comes in with one of your cards receives free wallets! Each card of yours that is brought in also gets YOU a discount on future purchases.

And what about the rules?

We will need your parent’s permission.
You will also need to sign a model release so that we can use your picture in advertising.
You will pinky swear to promote us, and ONLY us, positively and all of the awesomeness that we are. You can’t be a rep for us if you are a rep for another studio.
You must be a senior graduating in 2012.

What do I need to do to become a Senior Rep?

Just fill out the application below – and if you’ve made the cut, we will contact you!

How does d-Squared choose their Senior Reps?

It depends on what students we believe will whole-heartedly represent d-Squared. Please don’t be upset if you’re not chosen. It’s nothing personal – we still love you!

So what are you waiting for? Fill out the application below. Be sure to have a picture of yourself on your computer!

Use this link to access our senior rep application: Click here to apply NOW!

Please only submit if you are serious about being a senior rep.

“Snapshot” of the Future

d-Squared Designs — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:23:03 +0000

Despite the play on words for this post title, the photos in this Blog are quite special to us. Why, you ask? Great segue and thank you for asking ! The beautiful young woman in these photos is the co-owner of d-Squared Designs; Casey and her Fiancé Jesse, for one of their Engagement Sessions (yes I said one, because when you photograph, design and create, that means you enjoy doing it…so there will be more sessions!). These two people are just like family…wait, they are family!

Obviously their magazine cover good looks helped to pull off a spectacular photo shoot, but it also drew a great deal of attention during the shoot. Yes, we chose a public place for the Engagement shoot…where you ask? Just a small venue with a few “extras” already in place….The Missouri State Fair! We had a great time, with quality shots, as a result.

One of the most fun parts of the photo shoot was listening to everyone clamor, “Who are those people?”; “I don’t know but they must be someone famous!”; “I think they are actors from the Grandstand Show!” !!! As a proud Dad…I just smiled and fired the shutter!

Regardless of my bias, Casey and Jesse are very special people in so many ways. Their outer beauty is dwarfed in comparison to the inner beauty that they both possess! This family and d-Squared Designs looks forward to seeing what God has planned for the two of them as husband and wife.

Jesse, welcome to the family, son! and Casey…time to get back to work – we have photos to shoot, design and edit!

Dog Days….now what?

d-Squared Designs — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 21:58:56 +0000

So what do location photographers do in the dog days of Summer when the heat index drives up over 100 degrees every day and just thinking about going outside makes people sweat? Well, it seems to us that the answer is quite simple…. take pictures!

This past Saturday was no exception to that rule. Even though temperatures have been in the upper 90′s and heat indexes have risen above 100+ degrees with frequency the past few weeks, a sesh with a two-year old and his baby brother seemed like a perfectly logical thing to do! Not only a decision to take pictures, but to take them outside! That’s right, the boys and their parents, outside….a perfectly good thing to do, right. RIGHT!

Joni, Jonathon, Spencer and Parker joined d-Squared Designs outside, on location, for a family shoot and individual shots of the boys. Never a thought given to temperatures or the issues associated with an outdoor shoot….the meeting went and session went without a hitch.

A shot or two of the boys included in this post to give you an idea of how handsome the boys were and how great the shots turned out! We love shooting children in a more natural setting….just letting, in this case, boys be boys! Judge for yourself if they seemed impacted by the heat….we tend to think they weren’t the least bit bothered…evidenced by the pics!

One final note to this post….we have launched our very own website in the past week so if you have the chance swing by our website and take a look around. www.dsqdesigns.com

Seever Wedding

d-Squared Designs — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 02:58:23 +0000

July 10, 2010 will go down in memory and in history…at least for a few hundred people in Central Missouri. It was the day in history that Kyla Turner and Ryan Seever chose to exchange wedding vows and publically proclaim their love and committment to each other. It was also a day that we, at d-Squared designs will have many memories of for sometime to come. We knew from the engagement photo session with Ryan and Kyla that their wedding day would be entertaining and provide ample opportunities for some great shots.

Well, we certainly weren’t disappointed. A wedding held in the vineyards overlooking the Missouri River provided some spectacular shots with enough variety to keep both photographers happy and eager to keep shooting. Kyla and Ryan’s wedding was a great time and we’re anxious to work our way through all the images of the entire day. Here are a few of the pictures to whet your appetite and don’t forget to check back for other shots.

Click to view slideshow.

A glimpse of some beautiful senior models!

d-Squared Designs — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:43:35 +0000

We have been so grateful for the overwhelming response of applicants who have applied to be a spokesmodel with d-Squared Designs! We have a few more ambassador shoots left. . . but in the meantime, take a look at some of our senior ambassador models for 2011!

Click to view slideshow.

d-Squared Designs Senior Ambassador

d-Squared Designs — Sun, 30 May 2010 22:31:00 +0000

Recruiting for Senior Ambassadors has been going well for us at d-Squared and we thought we’d share a few pics. Our first photo shoot of Sarah went very well as she was a joy to work with.

Our next shot reveals her true personality. She has such a beautiful smile!

Our final shots taken downtown with a touch of urban flair. Once again she pulled it off with ease!

Stay tuned for more Ambassador shots in the near future!!

Humbled to Design

d-Squared Designs — Thu, 13 May 2010 04:34:51 +0000

Anytime we are blessed to work with one of our customers, we end up humbled and sometimes on our knees thanking our dear Lord in heaven for letting us be a part of our client’s lives. Being a design business, we always do a little bit of everything. . .

The past few weeks have been extremely busy with photography AND design! It all started off with the Rock Bridge Dance Team memory book. We have custom designed a softbound book for the dance team capturing all the special memories over the past year. The book arrives this week and after delivery to the dance team, we will definitely be showing it off!

With graduation only a month away, we were blessed to design two special lady’s graduation invitations. Hayley and Grace!

On top of these few projects, throw in a few engagement sessions (which were a total blast!). Once these few projects were over, we started on Dana Purkey’s wedding album. She provided us with the pictures, we are providing her with a custom designed album for her to cherish forever.

In the midst of working on Dana’s album. . . an unexpected client came into our lives. Christina, a co-worker of Casey’s, called one evening and asked if we could help. Immediately, the answer was “yes,” Casey rarely says “no.” Christina explained that a friend’s baby had recently passed and the parents were in the middle of planning the funeral when they realized the church didn’t help with programs or slide shows. Of course, Christina being the friend we know her to be, thought of our business and told the parents about our work. Casey rushed over to the couple’s home to gather all information we would need (pictures, wording, songs, etc). The next day Millers Professional Imaging Lab in Columbia, MO was contacted to help out. They were able to print the programs that afternoon (one-day turn around folks!). The slide show was complete. . . the programs were printed. . . everything was on time and ready for the funeral. I tell you this story for two reasons:

1. God is so good. He truly is. After having the chance to help this unexpected couple during their very hard/difficult situation, His love never ceases to amaze us. Of course, we can’t imagine or even understand losing a child but even in the midst of sorrow, He helps us find one another in comfort and grace. Christina’s mother is a realtor in town and actually sold us our home 8 years ago. A year ago, Casey began working with her and as a result of that relationship, d-Squared Designs got to meet this wonderful couple and be a part of their lives to help them in time of need. God has a plan… I’m sure you are thinking, “Well, yes, I already know this,” but it’s amazing to see His work play out in front of you. Doing this baby’s funeral program for this family was NOT an easy task! It pulled on heart-strings and brought emotions to us that were completely unexpected. In the end, we met some outstanding people whom we never would have come in contact with before and became stronger people in the process. If you have a moment, please say a prayer for this family for comfort and guidance in this deeply troubling time.

2. If you are a photographer and don’t use Millers/MPIX. . . get on board immediately! They are a fantastic publishing company and our recent experience with them on this project just demonstrates that their customer service far exceeds any other company we have worked with!

We are so glad God has a plan for our business and is showing us everyday what He has in store!

The Legend of the Shamrock

d-Squared Designs — Tue, 11 May 2010 03:24:10 +0000

In 1903, the industrious engineers of MU became the first in the nation to “discover” that St. Patrick was an engineer and set a trend among engineering schools with the first St. Pat’s Day Parade and Kowtow in 1905. To this day there is a Shamrock outside the Engineering school. Legend has it that if you walk across the Shamrock, you are destined to fall in love with an Engineer.

Not sure you believe this??? Well, perhaps you should visit with Amy and Chris then! Our recent engagement photo shoot on the MU campus featured Amy and Chris…and Amy tells us she spent many a day strolling across that Shamrock…hoping that the man of her dreams would appear.

Well folks, we’re here to tell you that Amy found him! Chris is a doctoral student at the Engineering School at MU! This cute and engaging couple asked us last winter to provide photography services for their upcoming wedding this September. They decided they wanted their engagement photos taken in a place where they’ve spent a great deal of recent history….the MU campus.

We had a great time on Saturday with Amy and Chris learning about their past and future plans while taking their pictures. Both were eager to pose for us as we positioned them, made them walk, sit, stand, twist….all to get that shot that would make them proud. We’ve posted a few of the shots we took that day to allow you to experience some of the fun we had that day. We hope you enjoy our shots.