Paint Fight!!

This past week I was asked to photograph a friends 14th birthday party...and there would be paint included. I immediately said yes...because who doesn't want to be a part of a paint fight? It was so much fun and the girls had a great time! We fought the humidity and the bugs, and this is what came of it..... It was a blast and these girls are AWESOME!! Take a look at some of the pictures from the day...

Birthday Girl!!

Seriously...could they be more adorable?

Hands in....

Be on the lookout for more posted on my website or facebook page! Let me know what you think of this shoot! I would LOVE to do another one, it was a ton of fun!

Look out for posts from my trip to Europe coming soon also!

Top 10 Tips... Escaping the Cubicle.

I just got back from this workshop at MPLS Photo Center titled "Escaping the Cubicle." It was SO helpful. We were fed a plethora of helpful information, my mind is on overload trying to process everything and figure out where to start. I mean, I took 15 pages of notes...

Natalie Champa Jennings was the instructor, and let me tell you, she did an AMAZING job. A lot of instructors try to put way to much information into their classes, that the students start to just feel useless and feel they have to take on a mountain just to start. That is not how it was with Natalie. I left feeling empowered. I left feeling like I could take on this task of being a photographer. Although there is a lot of work to be done, and the road will be long, I felt as if I could do it. I could start.

Here are the TOP 10 FACTS I took out of the class, most of them can even be put forth in any small business plan.

1. Figure out your goal...WRITE it down- hold yourself accountable.
2. Figure out how hard you are willing to work.
3. Learn to shoot manually, then experiment with other settings.
4. Create a work flow that works for you and stick with it.
5. STAY ORGANIZED
6. Shoot well! everything will become easier and faster if you have a great photo to start with.
7. Create a business AND marketing plan- you need to know where you want to go before you begin.
8. Get on social media and blog/ update often.
9. Get an accountant and insurance.
10. Save 25% of every dollar you make.

Natalie also shared with us two quotes that I thought were spot on...I don't think I will ever forget them.

"Where focus goes, energy flows"

"There is no reason for a plan b...it will only distract from a plan a." - Will Smith

Stay curious my friends...

-M

And the winner is.....

So this year I made it a goal of mine to try new things and branch out as a photographer. This month I launched my monthly photo contests! Literally anyone can enter. These contests are meant to be fun and get people to share photographs, whether they are edited, been taken on a phone or on a professional dslr, won a professional contest, or just a favorite picture of yours. Each month hosts a different theme and a different hashtag.

For the month of April, the theme was of course, April Showers!
Here are some of the entries from this month...



yes, I did enter some photos... I didn't want to be left out of the fun!

And the winner of the FREE print is....
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REBECCA KEATON!! this is the winning Photo.. It is SO GREAT! so much going on in this photo, it is breathtaking.



That wraps up the April Contest! Thank you all for entering your pictures and stay tuned for the next contest in May! There will be a brand new theme, new hashtag, AND a new prize! There will be some updates to the may contest to make it a little easier to enter and follow the contest, so stay tuned for that! To see all entries to the contests throughout the year, follow me on instagram, twitter or facebook...or even my website. Yes, I am all over the place... it's great.

Keep it real,
-M

Young Life

Woah, it has been a long time since I have wrote an entry!

Recently, I have had the opportunity to do a photoshoot for two of the most adorable girls, Natalie and Bella. We went to a small park and they loved playing on the swings and being in the sun. Take a look at the pictures below...let me know what you think!!

Have a great day everyone!
-M

We Got a Face Lift!

As you can tell, I have updated the blog! Check it out and let me know what you think. Test out the new QR Code on the right. Just download a QR Scanner App (I suggest QR Droid for Android users... Sorry IPhone users, your on your own to find one) and it will take you to my website right on your smarphone! Pretty cool huh? Now, you never have to be without Meagan Dallas Photography. I am in the palm of your hand...literally!

I am currently trying to update my website as well, so keep in touch in the coming weeks to see what is going on there. Also, stay tuned for upcoming promotions and announcements this week, it is going to be great!!

Have a good week!
Peace out River Trout :)

-M

Tulips, Tulips, and No Tulips

SOOOO today I had the great idea to go to the great city of Mt. Vernon for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival (you can check it out here... ). I was told there was going to be rows and rows of tulips and you can see nothing but tulips. Naturally, I was super excited about this and was dreaming of pictures I could take...

This all sound great doesn't it? Wrong...I drove there (30 minutes away) and printed off a small black and white map hoping to experience this greatness. I get there and I can't find the tulips!! They are no where to be found. I follow the map and the signs, but I do not see any beautiful colorful flowers. Luckily the drive isn't a TOTAL bust, there were daffodils blooming, but they are just daffodils... nothing too special. Anyway, I was able to drive around the cute little town and countryside. Here are some pictures from the day...hopefully I can go down later in the month (the fesitval lasts all month) and get some tulip pictures! That is if its not raining.... chances aren't very high...

The farms would let people pull over on the side of the road and walk through the rows and rows of flowers...

Happy Easter!!

-M

Too Long....

WOW it has been a while....
not much has happened in the world of Meagan the Photographer, except I just finished playing host for the past month. Visitors included a good friend from college, my sister,and my mom! Although it is nice having my small 1 bedroom place to myself again, it is strange not knowing when I will see them again. Tucker does not know what to do with himself since all the visitors have left, he is back to being stuck in a pen all day :(

Throughout the many times travelled to the Seattle International Airport and back, I was able to get some photography in... even made it to Portland and Mt. Baker! Here are some of my favorite photos from these travel extravaganzas!!

Inside the VERY FIRST starbucks...downtown seattle

The Seattle Library is so cool. The geometry and textures the facade creates is amazing and you can't help but stare at it.

The city is literally RIGHT on the water....one of the reasons why I love it here...

Mt. Baker is truly one of the coolest places I have ever seen. The drive up isn't that pleasing.. the snow was EASILY 5 times the height of myself....I guess it isn't hard to believe that it holds the world record for snow fall in the whole entire country!

I have made it the whole length of lent without any pasta!! which is a HUGE accomplishment for me seeing how prior to lent I was having pasta a good 5 times a week probably. I have definitely become creative in cooking with vegetables and rice. I suppose I should learn how to cook more kinds of meat besides chicken and ground turkey.... On the menu this week is blackberry cheesecake and cauliflower tator tots (not together, just want to try both this weekend)

SPEAKING of the weekend, it is Easter and I am super sad that I will not be at home for this holiday, although it is not the first time I have been away from my family for Easter. Maybe I will sit and go through my pictures from 2 years ago at Easter where I spent time with THE POPE IN ROME. Maybe I will set up a Easter egg hunt for Tucker in my apartment?? I need more friends... BUT a fellow coworker and I are going to meet up for Easter Lunch/ Dinner!! Here is the Pope on Easter two years ago!

Stay tuned for more updates from this weekend...there will be tulips involved hopefully :) maybe even a new bike :) :)

Quote from my past month of life..."may the odds be ever in your favor..."

-M

Baby Baby Baby!

It has been a while since I have posted new photos, but a little while back I had the opportunity to take some maternity photos of my friends! It was fun to see Carrie and Sean so excited to meet their little girl. I hope you enjoy the images...feel free to leave a comment if you want!

For more pictures go to my site!

Peace and love friends!!
-M