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Personal Project Challenge 2023

Spoiled Rotten Photography’s Personal Project Challenge

SRP encourages our franchise owners and photographers to grow their talent with our annual personal project challenge. One of our core values is excellence. One way to continually grow as a photographer is to continually look for inspiration you can incorporate into your own work through the work of artists of all mediums, nature, and other photographers. It takes getting outside of the style and comfort of the lighting, posing, and styling that you typically do to create a piece of art that speaks to you personally. We believe we are more than just a warm body behind a camera snapping pics of children, but rather artists who are trained to connect with the soul of a child and capture memories for parents with excellence.

This year’s body of work is amazing as usual! I hope you enjoy each of our projects and give some love to your favorite image by voting for your favorite on our Facebook and Instagram page.

Vote for your favorite project on our Facebook Post!

For FUN, the winning photographer will receive and a year’s worth of bragging rights. So without further ado, here are the projects. Please vote for your favorite by Monday, July 31st at 10pm!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

 

Presenting our 2023 Personal Projects…

Photographer: Melissa Guarino
Location: Birmingham, AL
Inspiration for this image: This portrait is of my niece. Her name is Rose! And she thinks she is the queen of our family! I knew I wanted to use her as my subject, so when I came across the image I used as my inspiration, I was immediately able to re-create it to match her spirit! She LOVES to have her picture taken at any time, so she made this session so much fun!
Title of Personal Project: Regal Rose

Photographer: Cessie Neufeld
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Inspiration for this image: I chose this image because I like how dreamy and whimsical the horse and rider look.
Title of Personal Project: Equine Dream

Photographer: Kat Hodges
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Inspiration for this image: Lighting the umbrella inspires a creative option to photos. I chose the little girl since my granddaughter is my summer model. Umbrellas add a dramatic and/or fun emotion to a photograph and lighting it is another impactful option.
Title of Personal Project: Umbrella

Photographer: Kara Kellner
Location: Birmingham, AL
Inspiration for this image: I have always wanted to create this image! I have seen several versions of a girl with an American flag, but this particular one I loved best. I used my niece on the dock of our family lake house during the July 4th gathering with my family! I thought it was the perfect timing for an image that has always inspired me!
Title of Personal Project: Let Freedom Ring

Photographer: Kristen Posey
Location: Birmingham, AL
Inspiration for this image: I am new to the industry of photography and I have always had a desire to photograph on the beach. My family always takes a summer trip to the Gulf Coast beaches, so I thought I would test my new photography skills. This portrait is of my pre-teen daughter. She is a natural red head with freckles and she loves the beach! The image that inspired me to create this portrait of my daughter is an image I have always loved. It makes me feel so peaceful. Now having my daughter as part of this image, makes it even more meaningful to me.
Title of Personal Project: Coastal Cutie

Photographer: Steve Haden
Location: St. Louis, MO
Inspiration for this image: On our family vacation to Paris, we went to the Musee d’Orsay & saw some of Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings, including one of his self portraits. My four year old daughter, Hannah, thought he should have smiled for his picture. We decided to make a brighter happier version using finger paints & a big smile.
Title of Personal Project: Vincent Van No!

Photographer: Morgan Adams
Location: Colorado Springs
Inspiration for this image: I just got my first camera and I originally wanted to photograph my daughter. Instead my kitten, DaVinci surprised us both by crawling from under my blanket. It was a spur of the moment and I didn’t think anything of it until later that evening when I was looking through what I had captured. I was in awe of the catch lights and his expression. I wanted to use this photo once this was mentioned to me. The photo I got my main inspiration from was also another B&W photo..
Title of Personal Project: Undercover

Photographer: Carrie Fischel
Location: San Antonio, TX
Inspiration for this image: I was looking up different water effects and photography when I came across this image. It was actually an image used in marketing for homeowners insurance but I thought it would be fun to recreate with my own playful spin on it.
Title of Personal Project: Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

Photographer: Amanda Day
Location: Kansas City, MO
Inspiration for this image: I love all of Allison Wolen’s work, as it’s light and airy and very minimalistic art, only focusing on the subjects.
Title of Personal Project: Atlas

Photographer: Christie Tamburello
Location: Birmingham, AL
Inspiration for this image: I saw this image online while searching for a new project to do over the summer. I thought this image reminded me of my youngest daughter! So I re-created it with her…and it turned out to truly reflect her personality! It was fun to be inspired and be able to emulate something with my own talents and skills.
Title of Personal Project: Gypsy Soul

Photographer: Jill Reese
Location: Huntsville, AL
Inspiration for this image: I, along with some others, have been following so photographers on social media who do a lot of creative things with lighting to invoke various moods and emotions. In researching poses and styles I came across a lot that use a play on silhouette. We had a dancer in the studio whose costume reminded me of one I had really liked so we played a little. I liked that it was a beautiful portrait but yet didn’t even show her face.
Title of Personal Project: Little Silhouetto of a Dancer

Photographer: Tracy Sisson
Location: Huntsville, AL
Inspiration for this image: When you think of NYC, typically the Statue of Liberty comes to mind. Several months ago my family had the chance to visit NYC. One of the most exciting new architectural landmarks that I saw is the Oculus (completed in 2016 by architect Santiago Calatrava). It is located in lower Manhattan and is the World Trade Center transportation hub and part of the 9/11 Memorial. The exterior ribs curve out and continue skyward to create asymmetric fins. Calatrava says “it is an image of a bird released from a child’s hands” and intends it to be “a witness of belief that we can overcome this tragedy.”
I believe a dancer’s movements and poses can create beautiful architectural elements. I was inspired to recreate the Oculus with the human body through dance. I chose a measure of dramatic lighting and not a full face with a smile of the subject to represent the feeling I experienced at the 9/11 Memorial and the awe and wonder of the creativity of the Oculus.
Title of Personal Project: Oculus

Photographer: Melissa Tash
Location: Huntsville, AL
Inspiration for this image: Floofy Studios!
Title of Personal Project: Pug Love

Photographer: Sarah Long
Location: Huntsville, AL
Inspiration for this image: The inspiration image I have selected, “Water in the Forest,” conveys a message about nature and its innocent beauty. It is a watercolor capturing a young girl immersed in light and independence. Like the subject within this painting, I also feel my inner child emerges when I am in the forest. I find that the overall impact of this image is uplifting, peaceful and colorful. My imagination led me to visualize the painting in different seasons and brought memories of places I’ve traveled throughout the years. There was a connection!
Title of Personal Project: Eden

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FIND OUT MORE

"I worked in the corporate world for 15 years, but never had my 'bucket' full."

“I was doing photography on the side, which I always loved, but if someone asked if I would ever do it full time, I'd respond with "I wish, but not sure how I could make that switch." Well, Spoiled Rotten Photography has allowed me to do that – to follow the dream I didn't know was possible. I love being silly with kids and sharing beautiful portraits with parents to document the moment in time, because we all know how fast they grow up! This career change has allowed me to spend more time with my family, be more available for my girls, and still contribute financially to our household...but most of all my 'bucket' is now full!”

Amanda Day, Kansas City, Kansas

"In a word … AMAZING!"

“The level of professionalism. The process detail. The training. And the welcoming nature of everyone within the organization is simply amazing! The path to ownership is so turn-key that it made our startup simple and easy. If we need additional support, they are there without hesitation to help us through any questions we may have. My husband and I have owned other franchises in the past, but Spoiled Rotten Photography is one of the best I’ve seen! I love my SRP family!”

Cindy Fadel, Columbia, SC

"SRP allows me a balance between owning a business and being a mom."

“I researched and met with other franchisees before making my way to Spoiled Rotten Photography. Immediately, the integrity and transparency within Spoiled Rotten Photography made this one stand out, and the more I learned, the more I loved. Now, Spoiled Rotten Photography allows me a balance between owning a business and being a mom. Best of all, I get to do something I love every day with unlimited potential..”

Kim Hoover, Charlotte, NC

"We were blown away with the quality and imagery"

“We looked at several photography franchise opportunities  and were blown away with the quality and imagery we consistently saw from each SRP location.  We know how important it is to capture these memories and SRP does it in such a beautiful way!  When we saw what SRP was offering & the beautiful portraits they were offering in preschools, we knew we wanted to bring this opportunity to Katy, TX.”

– One year later – “What a difference a year makes. Last July Sandi and I finished our Spoiled Rotten Photography new Franchisee training. We were very excited about all that we had just learned and we put our faith in God that this was his will for us. In August, I was “surplused” from ATT and had an empty planner that I needed to be filled. We were blessed with a great fall season and had about 25% of our spring season booked. The spring season got so busy we almost didn’t make it to the end. Now I am looking at a fall Calendar with 4 single days and one 2 day session available and we are completely booked!

God has completely blessed our business and given us great leaders like Melissa Russell Tash, Jamie Tash and Elizabeth Bailey and and a family of other owners who have always been ready to answer any questions we had. Thanks to all who have helped, purchased from, and booked us during our first 12 months. And a special thanks to God who has blessed us beyond our expectations.”

Joey and Sandi Fotheringham, Katy, TX

"Spoiled Rotten Photography has turned my passion for photography into a dream career."

“Photography has always been a passion, and Spoiled Rotten Photography has turned it into a dream career. The love and support all owners receive within the franchise is amazing. The combination of photographing little ones and being a part of this PURPLE family is a wonderful blessing, and I will be forever grateful.”

Dianna Harriet, Denver, CO

"Buying into a turnkey business took all the stress and worry out"

“My biggest strain in life was always trying to find “balance”. Making the decision to buy into a turnkey business that was ready and waiting for me took all the stress and worry out of failure and allowed me the opportunity to focus on the things that mattered most to me…being creative, contributing to my family’s income and being the wife and Mom I deserved to be. Buying into the Spoiled Rotten franchise has not only given me ongoing guidance, support and the experience of a proven business model, I have also found my balance by having the schedule I want and the time I need to be to live my life the way I choose. Having come from a corporate background where my schedule was dictated to me, I love the freedom and flexibility that being a part of Spoiled Rotten allows in my life. The icing on the cake is also being a partner in this business with my sister and best friend. Don’t believe the hype that you can’t work with family. Joining forces with someone who has the same goals, and values can make you an unstoppable team!”

Patricia Mesi, Alpharetta, GA

"SRP helped us achieve our dreams."

“My husband and I have always shared a passion for entrepreneurship. And I have always needed a creative outlet and photography provided that. I piddled with a custom business for a few years and had a little success. But I felt like it could be more profitable. Spoiled Rotten Photography came home in my sons cap & gown pictures and I could immediately see an opportunity. After much investigation, I realized that owning a franchise was the way to go. Spoiled Rotten Photography has given me the entrepreneurship opportunity I had always wanted, an outlet to express my creativity, and a profitable opportunity to provide for my family, all while not having to re-invent the wheel by going it alone. Spoiled Rotten Photography is something that I could have never created on my own. Spoiled Rotten Photography helped us achieve our dreams.”

Kara & Scott Kellner, Birmingham, AL

"This business model is tried and true."

“I am so grateful to be a part of the Spoiled Rotten Photography family! It was exactly what my career needed. I have been a professional photographer for 20 years. By joining SRP I have not only improved as a photographer but also a business person. This business model is tried and true. SRP is a huge blessing in my life and has affected my family in such wonderful ways. What I appreciate the most is the support I receive to achieve success. It is constant and genuine. The help is always there. I have never once felt like I had to figure anything out on my own. I love being an SRP owner and highly recommend if you are looking for a place to soar that you consider this dynamic company. You will be welcomed by a warm community of owners and can hit the ground running in a prosperous way.”

Heather Sams, Owner – SRP Colorado Springs

"The whole thing really is a breath of fresh air"

"Spoiled Rotten Photography has allowed me to earn enough money a couple days a week and still be home when my son gets out of school. That’s because Spoiled Rotten Photography is not only a proven financial profitable business model but as a franchise is a system that just works. The whole thing really is a breath of fresh air from taking pictures to getting money in my account. I truly enjoy what I do, bring joy to kids. I know parents cherish the art I make. And my family loves my job almost as much as I do."

Mark Treen, Charleston, SC