Over the summer I made a chart to help the kids remember what they needed to do to help around the house. Damian and I feel that along with free playtime, it’s very important that our kids learn to be a contributing member of the family. Whether that means simply helping me sort laundry or cleaning up after dinner or caring for the animals, we want them to help out. We also want them to know what is means to work hard and to appreciate their ability to accomplish tasks.

The chores on this chart are ones that (for the most part) I expect them to do daily during the summer. During the school year I ask them to do less because I do want them to have time to just be kids. We also assign larger chores about once a week such as clearing out dead plants in the garden, cleaning the van inside and out, cleaning out the stalls and so on. We typically pay them for these larger chores instead of giving them an allowance.

I had trouble finding an chart that I liked so I thought I would share the one I made here. I have boxes beside each chore that we fill in with a dry erase marker every week. Each child has a color; for example Garrett is blue, Chris is green and Bella is red. At first I let them pick chores, but after a while (and some arguing about who got which chore) figured out that it was better if I just assign them weekly and try to mix it up. It worked great this summer and for the school year I plan on just assigning 1-2 easy chores per day. The extras will just stay blank and Damian and I will pick up the slack. Although having the kids gone all day makes for less mess.

I had my chart printed as a 12×18 dry erase board at a professional photo lab. For those of you who aren’t photographers, I’m certain there are plenty of other places that will print a dry erase board as well.

I hope you like it!

Download Link

Please note that the file is a layered file (so you can change the chores) and you will need Photoshop to edit it.

The chart is free, but I would love a comment to hear how you handle chores at your house.

Bookmark to:

After months of perfecting I’m so happy to say that my newest set of Photoshop actions, the Lilly Set, is done! I’ll be releasing them within the next 24 hours. If you want to be the first to snag the set and hear about any discounts, please sign up for our newsletter below or like the MiaBella Fanpage.

Here’s my littlest cowgirl. Photo edited with Hushabye from the new Lilly Set.

Bookmark to:

I just added this free scalloped card template to my MiaBella Boutique’s fanpage on Facebook. All you have to do to get your copy is click on the link below and follow the instructions. I hope you enjoy the template!

All of the text is editable…I just showed the card being used as a Spring Fling invitation.

Bookmark to:

Like my MiaBella Boutique fanpage on facebook and when you comment on and share the Whimsy Album photo, you’ll be entered to win your own copy of the template. This is an 80.00 value and has been our most popular album yet. Get yours free!

Bookmark to:

I’m so excited to be heading out to San Luis Obispo, CA in just a few weeks to teach a workshop with Joy Vertz and a guest appearance from a dear friend of mine, Amanda Elkins.

Joy is going to be teaching you how to take your business to a whole new level of success and profitability. Which we all know is a huge issue in this economy. I’ve known Joy for years through the photography community and had the opportunity to meet with her last year when she helped me develop an incredible plan of action to take my business to the next level.  If you want to learn how to market more efficiently, increase your bottom line and stay on top in this competitive market, Joy is your lady.

While Joy covers the business side of running a photography business, I’ll be teaching you how to capture your subjects in a natural and creative manner. All the while using the gorgeous available light that I so adore working with. You’ll learn how to develop connections with the children you photograph so that your portraits show their true spirit. I’ll also talk about and demonstrate how I choose the locations that have become a signature look in my portfolio. I’ll be talking about creativity and composition, utilizing available light, gentle posing, the importance of client clothing and styling and much more. Not to mention we’ll be heading out into that stunning California countryside for some fun shoots.

I’ll also be teaching a class covering the basics of off camera flash and how to use this exciting style of photography in your work. My dear friend, the amazingly talented Amanda Elkins will be working with me at this class posing and prepping our beautiful teen models. Amanda has worked as a model herself and has a knack for posing and photographing teen models that an inspiration to many photographers. So come prepared to learn a lot about off camera flash and how to work with your teen clients.

We do still have a few openings for this February 5-7 workshop and if you’re interested, check out the information on my website.  Contact me for details on a discount.

And since a post isn’t a post without an image of course I have to include one of my favorite subjects, my children.

Which brings me to my big news….we’re having another baby! We’ll be welcoming another sweet Profancik into the world this summer (due date is August 1).  So if it seems like I’ve been neglecting the blog a bit it’s because the morning sickness wiped me off the map for a couple of months. But thankfully I’m feeling good again and ready to get back into the swing of things until this little one arrives.

Our posse of 3-about to be 4.

Bookmark to:

This sale will be for a limited time only so don’t miss your chance to snag one of our products free of charge or at a discounted price.You will be able to use the 25% and lower codes on a workshop seat or a mentorship so check out the dates at www.leahprofancik.com/workshops to see if one works for your schedule.
You may purchase a mentorship program at anytime, and then call or email to schedule your dates. I do still have a few openings for 2009 (June, late August, September, October dates are available) and then I will begin booking 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: The higher discounts do tend to go very quickly-within minutes. If you add an item to your cart, but do not complete the payment, the discount can still be used by another buyer. No discount is final until your order is submitted and the payment process is complete.***

No additional discounts will be issued once the codes are used up.

We’re giving away 4 sets of actions, plus discounts of all sizes. But you’ll have to move quickly before the discount codes are used up. Here’s the breakdown on the limited number of discounts we’re releasing and the corresponding codes. But don’t wait, there are a set number of orders per discount. Once they’re gone at a certain price, that discount can’t be used anymore. If one code doesn’t work, please try the next one.
Vist http://www.leahprofancik.com/cart/ to purchase.

The free codes may be used on ONE set only.
We’ll be giving away 4 sets of actions. Code is 2009junefree

The percentage off codes may be used on any size purchase.
4 orders may be placed at 50% off. Code is 2009june50
20 orders may be placed at 30% off. Code is 2009june30
40 orders may be placed at 25% off. Code is 2009june25
50 orders may be placed at 20% off. Code is 2009june20
55 orders may be placed at 15% off. Code is 2009june15

Don’t wait, these prices are first come first serve!!!

All of the images below were edited with my new action set, Summer Skies.

 New Albums

Bookmark to:

I love giving things away…it makes me just as happy as the person I give to! And hey, we all love to be happy! So, I’m going to be giving away one seat to my Lake Orion, Michigan workshop. The workshop takes place September 12-13, 2009. Of course you have to be willing and able to get to the workshop in Michigan! And while we’re on the topic, check out Suzi’s studio here! She owns Photo Art by Suzi and is our lovely host for the weekend. It’s going to a blast to shoot there!

Here’s the deal…in order to enter the contest I need you to take a photo outdoors. Your photo must have the sky in the shot (the prettier the better) and somewhere in the photo you need to have one word that describes why we should choose you. Creativity counts!
The winner will be chosen by our panel of judges. The judging panel will consist of: other artists from the building my studio is housed in, 2 local photographers, myself and Damian (my husband).

The winner will be featured on our blog. We’ll also choose 3 runner ups who will each receive a 45.00 gift certificate to the MiaBella Boutique.

So get out there and get creative!

All entries are due by June 15th at 12pm EST. One entry per person.  Images must be no larger than 750 pixels high and 880 pixels wide.

Send all entries to actions@leahprofancik.com

Bookmark to:

My new set of digital papers, Winter Wonderland, was inspired by the set we’re building for the studio. Created with the jewels toned blues of winter mixed with warmer browns and a touch of green, these papers are perfect for your winter designs.

And don’t forget our Fall Sale starts tonight!

We’re giving away 4 sets of actions, plus discounts of all sizes. But you’ll have to move quickly before the discount codes are used up. Here’s the breakdown on the limited number of discounts we’re releasing and the corresponding codes:

We’ll be giving away 4 sets of actions. Code is 567fde5994
4 orders may be placed at 50% off. Code is 7f1a4aa4e3 (any size purchase).
15 orders may be placed at 30% off. Code is 35e135297e (any size purchase).
30 orders may be placed at 25% off. Code is 555e7263c4 (any size purchase).
50 orders may be placed at 20% off. Code is 16695e478d (any size purchase).
60 orders may be placed at 15% off. Code is 2df8a90ee5 (any size purchase).

Once the codes are used up, that discount is gone.

Bookmark to:

My new digital paper set, the Autumn Whisper Collection, is available! These are great for album design, canvases and more. I’ve also been using them as layered textures along with my Texture Action with incredible results.

Here are a few images I’ve edited with the Autumn Whispers Papers either as a texture or as a background.

We’ll be running a sale with limited codes again! Here are the details;

We’re giving away 4 sets of actions, plus discounts of all sizes. But you’ll have to move quickly before the discount codes are used up. Here’s the breakdown on the limited number of discounts we’re releasing and the corresponding codes:

four free SET codes 3f66219ba8
four 50% off codes a881715700
fifteen 30% off codes d21273d155
thirty 25% off codes d649d1add8
fifty 20% off codes 92e25d43dc
sixty 15% off codes fa7ba056d9

Once the codes are used up, that discount is gone.

Visit http://www.leahprofancik.com/cart to purchase the papers and actions and the MiaBella Actions Website for more examples. 

Bookmark to:

The heat is here and so is our Super Summer Sale!
We’re giving away 4 sets of actions, plus discounts of all sizes. But you’ll have to move quickly before the discount codes are used up. Here’s the breakdown on the limited number of discounts we’re releasing and the corresponding codes;

four free SETS codes 9a81e28ff9
four 50% off codes 3e55679e35
ten 30% off codes 4ecd10d12b
thirty 25% off codes bcd5f7204c
forty 20% off codes 438fa89cb4
fifty 15% off codes e793ddbe1d
Once the codes are used up, that discount is gone!

Checkout Cart is located at http://www.leahprofancik.com/cart/

PLUS…I’m happy to announce that we have a hot new action Set…URBAN ROCK.

The new action set includes my new Soft Pop action that I’ve been using a lot lately. It’s a color pop action that also includes a skin softening layer and is quick and easy to use. Also included in the set are 4 Urban style Cross Processing actions, 2 filter type actions, a brightening action to save those underexposed images, plus one of my faves-the Bass action. The Bass adds gorgeous rich tones to your image and is great for all types of settings-urban or natural. Plus you get several other actions as well.
All of the images below were edited with the Urban Rock Set.

You can see more examples on my Actions Site…http://actions.leahprofancik.com

Bookmark to: