Why can’t there be a simple way for busy parents to give loving and meaningful gifts?
How many times have you planned to do everything just right for the holidays, and then ended up taking shortcuts to fit it all in? Perhaps you feel that family is all we can really count on, and the Holiday season is the time to show your love, affection, and appreciation. But how can you do that if you have a “to-do” list longer than Rapunzel’s hair? Things are already piling up, and it’s not even Thanksgiving yet!
Imagine if a few clicks of your mouse could make a box full of thoughtful gifts and holiday cards show up on your doorstep.
I’ve struggled with buying gifts every year since I can remember. Countless times, I’ve ventured off to the mall with the intent to complete all of my gift shopping that day. Inevitably I leave empty-handed, unable to find suitable gifts. Either I’m shopping for the person who has everything, or the things I find just aren’t very meaningful. It’s frustrating and time-consuming.
That’s why I’ve put together my 2011 Holiday Gift Store.
This fall, you can purchase personalized gifts and cards for the holidays using pictures that you’ve already had taken in 2011! Not only do you get to capitalize on work you’ve already done (no need to set up a fall portrait session), but you also get a serious print discount, and access to special gift items that aren’t normally offered. You will get:
· An online gallery of your 2011 portraits
· Discounted pricing of up to 40% off
· A rare opportunity to purchase several gift items
· Easy and safe shopping from your computer
· Meaningful gifts for your loved ones in time for your celebration
· Items delivered to your doorstep – or even right to the gift recipient’s home!
As a special bonus, if you purchase gifts from my store before December 1, 2011, you will receive a free DVD slideshow from your session!
Don’t want any photo gifts?
Of course, you don’t have to buy anything at all. You’re welcome to just log in and view your photos online again because you want to. Pictures are for looking at, after all!
A word about re-prints
The 2011 Holiday Gift Store will be your only opportunity to purchase prints from your 2011 session without a re-print fee. So if you’ve been wishing you had gotten one more 5×7 for your desk at work, or an extra 8×10 for Aunt Bessie, now is a great time to do it!
Get out from under the pressure
There’s no need for your “to-do” list to get out of control. You can get fun and thoughtful gifts without a single trip to the mall. Get your shopping done easily and early. Here’s what you need to do:
The 2011 Holiday Gift Store will expire at midnight on December 7, 2011. Wouldn’t it be great to avoid the feeling of overwhelm, and have so much of your Christmas shopping done with weeks to spare? Head over to your gallery now and start shopping.
Remember: if you make a purchase before December 1, 2011, you’ll receive a free DVD slideshow from your session!
Sometimes kids love me for no particular reason. Like the time last week when I went to the zoo, there was a cute little boy at the meerkat exhibit who couldn’t get enough of me. He pointed at countless pictures of meerkats, apparently just to hear me say they were meerkats. Then, when his mom took him away to look at the animals, he just kept smiling and staring at me instead!
Other times, kids don’t want anything to do with me. I had a session in April where the little boy was happy to be there, but every time he saw me he whined and fussed. He would give me nasty looks and run to mom or dad when he saw me coming. It was a challenging session, but it just meant we had to allow space and time for some good pictures to emerge.
I’ve found over the years that getting honest pictures of children has little to do with whether or not they like me. And the same is true for you.
When you photograph a child, look for things that interest them. Do they linger when they see animals? Do they run to smell the flowers? Maybe it’s mom or dad that they can’t get enough of – or running up and down a hill! Whatever it is, notice it. Then use it to engage them. That thing you’ve noticed is the key to the essence that glows inside. When you let a child lead the way, you see typical moments. There is truth in what’s typical.
When you photograph this way, those who see what you create will feel the sparkle of life in your images. There is an element of patience involved in creating portraits; especially with children. I’ve developed my skill for capturing honest moments through many years of practice. I started working with kids when I was still a kid myself. But that doesn’t mean you have to be a kid to learn to see the sparkle. I often know I’ve found it when I feel a wave of “cute” through my body and I can hardly keep from laughing. It’s joy in its purest form.
On Saturday, March 12th from 3:00-6:00 pm, come on out to Shoreline for some awesome kids’ portraits and a FUN time! I’ll be doing short sessions and offering a variety of portrait packages in exchange for a donation to Room Nine Community School. If you’re interested in purchasing prints in addition to your FUNdraiser package, you may do so. 10% of your purchase will benefit RNCS. Location details will be given to those who reserve a time. Don’t miss your chance to get some great photos and support a great cause! You can find more details on my events page.
As you may know, I’ve made it my mission to capture photos of your kids the way you see them. After all, who is the one who cherishes the photographic memories the most? It’s YOU! And you want to remember what it’s like to experience your kids, not just how quickly or slowly they grew. This is so important to me that I want to give you an opportunity to learn how to take better pictures when I’m not there. Of course I hope you’ll think of me when birthdays roll around, or when you have a new addition to your family, or when you have a really cool party or special occasion. But we all know I can’t be there to photograph your family all the time. So let me arm you with a few helpful hints.
To kick off my workshop series, I’ll be sharing some helpful hints abouthow to create a great photo for your holiday card. Here are the details.
When: Monday, December 13th 10-11 am
Where: Westside Church, 7758 Earl Avenue Northwest, Seattle, WA 98117
Who: You! If you’ve got a child in your life that you care about, then you belong at my workshops.
What: Bring your camera and yourself. Babes in arms are fine, but young kids might be bored if they don’t have a camera of their own (or something to do), as the class will be geared toward adults. We’ll spend the first 35-40 minutes learning and exchanging ideas, and the last 20 minutes practicing. And if we end up having kids there, they make great models, so it’s all good!
Why: Because holiday cards are a fun way to share your family’s personality with your loved ones. It’s like an unexpected visit!
How Much: This workshop is free for the first 10 responses, so be sure to RSVP right away to reserve your spot.
I love these kids to death. I got to hang out with them for a few hours last weekend in Iowa, and what a treat! They had loads of fun and Mom even dressed them up in their formal clothes from a wedding they were in last month, which means I had as much fun playing as they did! It’s amazing how much these two kids have changed – and stayed the same.
This little guy was dressed so well for portraits! He looks stylish, coordinated, and clean. But what I like most is that he’s comfortable so he can relax and focus on being himself. There’s enough distraction with a camera around; who needs uncomfortable clothes on top of it? I always aim to reflect the moment, and the subject for who/what it is. These parents knew that to have a comfortable portrait that reflects their son’s real essence, he needed to be relaxed and comfortable.
And while we’re here . . . there’s a lot to ponder about the composition in this photograph; especially the use of lines.
My artistic training is rooted in theatre. I am a thespian at heart; a three-dimensional storyteller. One of the things I love about theatre and photography is that they both dig in and truly explore the ins and outs that make a person who s/he is. Photography brings me in touch with so many real-life characters, and each portrait session is a chance to study them and deliver my interpretation.
Here is Cam, about 6 months old. If you look at these images closely enough, you’ll start to notice the soul that resides in his little growing body. He’s like an old friend: inquisitive, good natured, and full of humor.
We tend to think of babies as cute and cuddly, almost the way we see our pets. They are adorable – don’t get me wrong – but so often we’re taken aback by the human qualities within them. Why? They’re human, after all!
[singlepic id="198" w="320" h="252" mode="" float="left" ]Cam’s inquisitive nature has already emerged – it sparkles in his eyes. It’s obvious that his discoveries bring him joy, and energize his drive to learn more. This is human nature at its best!
In each of these photographs you see a flash of a cute baby boy. With the entire image collection, however, you know Cam without having to meet him. He’s had wonderful adventures in his young life, and he has loved every one of them. Yes, he will change over time. He’ll grow, he’ll learn, and he’ll flourish. But for now, this is his story. It has been told.
Yesterday was a big day in our house – Molly’s 6th birthday! It’s amazing how fast they grow, the things they can learn, and the wit that abounds at such a young age! We’ve been through Elmo, Dora, princesses, and now Pokemon.
We’ve been to many museums, beaches, parks, field trips, and parties. The adventure will continue and we look forward to many joys and challenges to come. I have loved watching her grow, and it’s through pictures that I am able to savor the memories.
You might recognize this cute face; I used to get a whole lot of personality from her, but things have changed. I love this expression – it’s very natural, and what I see in her. But it’s not so easy to get the variety and the exuberance that exploded from her as a toddler. We’ve reached the frozen grin stage. I knew it would come – and it will come to your family if it hasn’t already! It wouldn’t bother me much, except that it means she’s a big kid now!!! NOOOO!!!! I think one of my challenges for April will be to get a big expression from her and post it for all to see.
What I love so much about my job is that I’m going through the stages of parenting myself. I really relate to my clients because I know what it’s all about. I understand the joy and the frustrations. Most of all, I understand what a precious thing it is to capture that beautiful essence that we see in our children every day.
’09 is here, and with it comes a fabulous new web site! I have some lofty plans to make this a fun place to visit, as well as a good resource for information. January is a great time for those of us in the photo business to make plans for the coming year. Stay tuned for this year’s travel plans, SPPA updates, portrait events, and glimpses into my world of photography. Happy New Year! Thank you for a wonderful 2008!
Why can’t there be a simple way for busy parents to give loving and meaningful gifts?
This fall, you can purchase personalized gifts and cards for the holidays using pictures that you’ve already had taken in 2011! Not only do you get to capitalize on work you’ve already done (no need to set up a fall portrait session), but you also get a serious print discount, and access to special gift items that aren’t normally offered. You will get:
Don’t want any photo gifts?
