If you were one of my clients before, you’re one of my clients now.  The pricing and basic structure of my services hasn’t changed, and your photos are still safe if you need them.  But now we’ll be better organized, better able to shoot on short notice, and hey… it’s always nice to work with a buddy.  Meet us at the new site, and enjoy your Carolina (or elsewhere) spring – everything’s growing, including us!

I wish it had been warmer two weeks ago when I met this family: a princess of a four-year-old and her parents, and BOTH sets of grandparents.  Central Park was a great location, since there isn’t much green in the world yet; the textures and general funkiness of downtown Durham make a great winter venue for a colorful shoot.  After about an hour of running around, climbing on benches, and jumping off of anything we could stand on, the princess was still going strong… but the rest of the gang was ready to pack into the car and get thawed.  I salute you all for your bravery, and I have a new little pal in Isabella, who rocked it like a champ:

Nice work, gorgeous – you make my job easier (even when it’s only 50 degrees or so)!

I’ve been making some big changes lately, namely updating my web presence – my Facebook fan page is up and running, and I’m making a deal with myself to update this blog more frequently.  (If I actually get that accomplished, I’ve agreed to give myself Reese’s Pieces during processing time, instead of boring old grapes, once or twice a week.  It’s going to wreak havoc on the diet, but dude – REESE’S PIECES.  Mmm.)  I don’t know why I haven’t done more updating, as I’ve had more fantastic sessions than ever over the past several months.  Babies, weddings, children, pets, for pete’s sake – I have so much to share!

Forgive me if you’ve seen these on your Facebook feed already, those of you who are fans (and if you’re not – why not become one?  Is free, after all.)  But they’re just too good not to share.  Right now, my plan is to spotlight one recent session every day - first of all, let’s introduce “Diva Eva” and her sisters, who worked with me on two studio sessions:

You see?  You see what I’m saying?  They’re lovely!  How could I not have done this before?  Updates for everyone – and Reese’s pieces for me.  I promise.

The Disclaimer:  As with most products I’ll mention here, I am not a paid endorser, nor am I saying that I personally have experience with these products.  I am, however, a fan of good deals, and I am happy to share those with folks who are willing to try them out for themselves.  Also, please consider buying nice, wall-hanging prints from a professional (ahem).  Their quality is miles ahead of what you’ll get at a quickie lab, or even by mail from places like this.  If you’re on a budget and think you can’t afford it, ask for details… Everyone deserves pretty prints, and I’m here to help you get them!

Time to branch out!  New for 2011, we’re offering the Mamarazzi Sessions, two-hour classes designed to teach you how to go beyond Auto, learn your equipment, and take better photos of your family and friends.  Each class includes a workbook, an hour of instruction, and an hour of practice time, either with a volunteer model or your own child (plan to have childcare while we’re doing class – sessions at my home will include a babysitter to play with your child in our upstairs playroom).  Here are the details on types of class:

Private Sessions – $175 per person

• Your choice of location, on your preferred date in January or February
• Includes workbook and a $15 print credit through my pro lab

Semi-Private – $85 per person

• Your choice of location, on your preferred date in January or February
• Also includes workbook and $10 print credit through my pro lab
• Share this class with your friends; any client who signs up three or more friends for her class gets free tuition!

Group – $65 per person

• At my home in Durham, near Duke Hospital
• Includes workbook and childcare in our playroom; practice photo time will take place at the American Village playground, approximately 0.25 miles from our house
• Group times are available on January 17 from 10AM-12PM, January 22 from 10 AM-12PM, and February dates TBD
• Meet new friends, and bring your own!

Just to sweeten the deal a little, I’m offering some door prizes – register before January 15th and enter to win one of these fun gifts!

• A custom-printed accordion minibook, using your post-class photos
• A $50 gift card to Nations Photo Lab (www.nationsphotolab.com)
• A $25 gift certificate to pictureframes.com

To register, please email or call me with the following information: your name, phone number, and email address; your preferred session, and a date/time if you’re going with Private or Semi-Private; the make and model of your camera; and the age, gender, and name of any child you plan to have with you for photo practice time.  (They get special prizes for being Big Helpers.)  Your tuition payment is due within five days of your class date.  If you’re receiving free tuition because you have three or more friends signed up for the Semi-Private class, your friends must have paid their tuition by the day before class.

A special note: you do NOT have to have a DSLR camera to take this class.  Although most of the topics we’ll cover are applicable to DSLRs, many newer point-and-shoots also have similar capabilities, and you’ll still be able to learn some new tricks.  Email me your camera’s make and model, and I’ll check out your user manual online and make sure that you’d benefit from the class.  You also do not have to be a woman, even though these are called Mamarazzi Sessions.  But you do have to wear a dress and heels.  (I kid!  OR DO I?)  See you in class!

The cover of your workbook - what a labor of love this has been! All content by yours truly, except for one really awesome photo that my husband took. Well done, Rob.

But oh, how changes can be made when you have some free time to make them.  I haven’t done any sessions since the day before Christmas, and in that time I’ve revamped a huge portion of my photography.  New price lists, spankin’ new, streamlined brochures (you know you want one – just ask); new studio management software; and an all-new idea to get the year jumpstarted – what a kick-butt vacation this has been!

May 2010 be the year of new things for you, too.  Whether it’s reorganization in your work or home, a major life change, or just a promise to do a few things for yourself now and then, go do it and be happy.  And, you know, call me if you need photos of it.

50% Off 8×10 Prints!

This week save 50% on your 8×10 prints! 8×10 E-surface prints are just 99¢ each. 8×10 Metallic and True B&W prints are just $1.24 each! Simply enter promo code 8x10sale at checkout. The promotion runs from now until Saturday at midnight CST, February 27th.

IMPORTANT
• Promo code 8x10sale must be entered at checkout to receive the 50% discount.

As usual with the DIY posts, I have to shill for myself for a minute here… Honestly, you can’t beat Mpix for informal family prints.   You know what I mean: the 85 4×6″s you have to send to the parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. every week. But if you’re going big, like a print or canvas you want to display in your living room, there’s nothing like a pro print!  Heavyweight paper, beautiful finishes – and not as expensive as you might think.   Talk to me about deluxe prints – and go ahead and order those 4×6″s from Mpix. You know your grandma’s waiting on ‘em.

I honestly had a really hard time with these guys.  They just would NOT look at the camera… because they were so busy looking at each other.  Just kidding, you guys – I had a great time, and hope you did too!

More events to come in future posts – for now, I’m up to my eyeballs in processing.  Bring on the spring!