Free Session For Single Parents

If you are signed up for my email newsletters, you heard about this last night!!

It's no secret times are tough. Money is tight. Especially for us single parents, right? I can say honestly that I've had some tough times, but I know that there are others out there who are in greater need than I am. I want to help out, give back. I have been blessed with love & support of family and friends. I am longing to give blessings back.

I can also confess that as a single parent, it's often hard to accept help from others. You really get stubborn at times - wanting to do it all yourself. But, this is my Christmas gift to you. Even though I may not know who you are at this moment. I know that everyone needs photos - memories - of this moment with their families. I know that life is too short, and we spend way too much time worrying about money, and never enough time just loving the ones we're with.

This is my Christmas gift to all the single parents in Memphis. Saturday, December 12, I'm giving you a half hour portrait session. Just you and your kiddos. Plus, you'll get a $25 print credit so you can pick out the photos you love best to hang on your wall.

So, you have a month to figure it out. Work out your schedule. Make it happen. This is one day only.

If you're reading this and you know a single parent, send this to them now. Help them get there. If they need a ride, pick them up. Lend them a few bucks for gas. Or offer to treat their kids to McD's afterwards. You can be part of the blessing.




Just for kicks, here is a series of arms-length photos of myself and my son through the years. How many arms-length photos do you have? Don't you think it's time you let someone else take the photos of you?

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Sneak Peek: The "D" Family

Here's a sneak peek at this fun fall family portrait session. (Say that 10 times!)



And here is what the mom had to say:

Just placed my order. Loved the pics.... (can you tell) (ha!) You're right the hardest part was choosing what to get. Ended up ordering most of them. I know, I won't regret it. It will be part of our "Once upon a time" album.... I love to scrapbook, so I will make an album just for the pics you took. Thanks for everything!

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Holiday Sessions - Time is Running Out!

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DIY: Photo Collage Board

I'm always looking for creative ways to display photographs around the house. Sure we frame and display formal pictures, but what I love most are the candids. I don't like keeping them stored away on the computer or in a photo album. I've shown you before how I have the magnetic photo ropes hanging on one wall in my house. I love it. Now, here is something new and fun you can try yourself at home... A photo collage board.



Materials:
All I used was a 16x20 Art Canvas (canvas mounted on a wooden frame, not the flat ones, so I could hang it without any additional hardware), 1 yard of fabric (used about half of that), some batting to fill it in, and some ribbon. These materials all cost me about $20 total.



Details:
I laid the batting on the canvas (not letting it go over the sides), laid the fabric over that, and used a staple gun to secure it. Then place the ribbons, pulling them snugly, and stapled them as well. That's it! So simple, and so cute. Considering you have your choice of whatever fabrics your fabric store holds, the possibilities are endless.

Bonus:
Mom has a store bought version of this type of board, and it has buttons sewn in where the ribbons criss cross. That's an extra idea for anyone who knows how to sew. :) You could also use cork board over a canvas board (instead of batting) if you'd rather use thumbtacks than the ribbons.

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Happy Halloween!!

I wanted to give a HUGE thank you to everyone who came out this morning for their free Halloween session. Thank you for the canned good donations you brought with you for the Memphis Food Bank!

Check out these cutie pies!

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Halloween Par-tay!

I have a few family sessions in the works that I'm tickled to share. But for now, here are a few pictures from our little family-style Halloween party last night.


You know this guy.


Nephew #1


Nephew #2


Niece, the one and only. :)

We like to play this game at Halloween. We put mystery items in a bag, and let the kids feel it to try to freak them and see if they can guess what it is.











Then we let them paint pumpkins.



And then they ate lots of candy and lived happily ever after.

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Collage: Baby!

Warning: This collage is loaded with drool.

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I'm at a place right now where changes need to begin happening. I've been coasting along, allowing my business to grow slowly and allowing my photography to develop. It has been a good pace. Balancing a full time office job, full time parenting, and a photography business on the side can be a bit overwhelming at times. I love my photography, and I didn't want to rush it's development. I didn't want to be so overwhelmed with it all that I began to dread it. It has worked out perfectly so far, I think.

Now I'm getting antsy. I'm ready for the next level. To be honest, I've outgrown my camera. I need something that does more. I'll be honest, I feel a little twinge of jealousy when I look at other photographers and see what they're working with. It's not an option for me just yet. You know, putting food on the table comes before upgrading my equipment at the moment. So, in the meantime, I have to keep pushing myself with what I've got.

On the business side of things, I've got to do some major reorganizing. As my client base grows, I have to change the way I handle inquiries, and billing, and all that other fun stuff that goes along with running a business. Obviously, I'd love to just go out and shoot all the time. Nothing would make me happier. I told someone the other day, I'd love to just make enough money to hire someone to do the office stuff for me. :) One day.

After the holiday sessions wrap up, I can enjoy the holidays with my family. Then I can begin taking new steps. I am so excited to see what the next year brings for me.

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Greeting Cards

With my holiday sessions, I do give out digital proofs. I don't mind if my clients use those proofs to make holiday greeting cards. It's not yet something I've officially added to my menu of products. However, if you would like me to create your holiday greeting cards for you, here is what I currently have to offer:



Prices:

4x8 Greeting Card with 1, 2 or 3 Photos
Qty 25 - $25
Qty 50 - $45
Qty 100 - $70

If you'd like something a little more kitchsy, give these a try!






Lots of different styles to choose from with these fold out greeting cards.

Prices:
Choose any one style -
Qty 25 - $40
Qty 50 - $60
Qty 100 - $80

Choose two-four styles -
Qty 25 - $50
Qty 50 - $70
Qty 100 - $90

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Halloween Mini Sessions

Halloween mini sessions are here!!

Yesterday, I announced Halloween mini sessions. After that, I started looking to the future and thinking about what type of session I could do for charity this holiday season. Then it hit me - why not do the Halloween mini sessions for free? Like I said yesterday, you spent good money on those costumes, so you're probably not motivated to spend anymore!

Here's the deal: You'll get a 15 minute session for your child dressed in their costume. They'll get some Halloween treats from me. You'll get a free 5x7. All you need to do is bring a bag of canned goods to be donated to the Memphis Food Bank.

Here is a list of items they currently need at the food bank:

Food Items

• Canned meats, including tuna, stews, chicken and dumplings, chili, Spam, soups


• Peanut butter


• Canned fruits


• Canned veggies


• Canned fruit juice


• Any non-perishable item, but no glass containers, please.


Other Items

• Paper towels, plates, napkins, cups, plastic utensils


• Toilet paper


• Personal care items: toothpaste, shampoo, soap, deodorant


• Laundry and dish

I'll be doing the mini-sessions on Halloween Day at Shelby Farms, but I need you to email me to book your time slot. If 9a-1p fills up, I'll open up more time slots. This session is for all ages, as long as they have a Halloween costume! I'll photograph siblings together, or even you with your child if you have a costume too!! Please share this on your Facebook page, and email it to friends. Let's see how much food we can collect for the food bank and help someone else this holiday season.

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