Portrait fundraiser for a good cause

I don't offer mini-sessions very often anymore. Things are busy. You know. But sometimes there is a cause that I'd really like to support, and a big day of portraits is a way for my whole family to get involved. This is one of those times!

 

Portrait Mini-Sessions - April 14th and 15th 2017

Session fee is $150, paid in advance to reserve your timeslot. Sessions all day, afternoon, and evening on Friday (it's a school holiday, hooray!), also Saturday morning and mayyyyybe we can squeeze one or two sessions in on Saturday evening.

• Quick and easy, 15 minute appointments
• Great for birthday portraits, professional headshots, a quick family portrait; how about a couple's portrait with your significant other, or spring portraits for your kids. Anything we can do in 15 minutes.
• You will view and choose your portraits after we take them (this is where the rest of my family steps up) and babysitting will be provided for your children while you enjoy looking at happy smiling faces.
• Treats will be provided!

What's included?

• One beautiful print, 11x14" or smaller, your choice of size.
• One full-size digital file with permission to print it where ever you'd like: gift prints for your parents, t-shirts, phone cases, whatever.
• I have additional packages if you'd like more prints or products. Email me for a price list.

If you are interested in a session, or would just like a little more information, please call or email me! And thank you.
 

*** We are donating 100% of the profits of this fundraiser. ***

A little information about our cause: our friends the Valdez family lost their husband and father in January to a terrible heart attack. He leaves behind a wife and four amazing kids 13 years old and younger. As much as we would like to, we can't help with their pain - but we would love to try to ease their path a little bit in the coming months as they transition to a whole new life. There is more info on their gofundme page, if that's something you'd instead be interested in donating to.



There is also a fundraising benefit for the Valdez family planned for April 1st at Tierra Antigua Elementary, with LuLaRoe, Younique, Thirty-One, and other vendors also donating proceeds to the family - more info here. I will have a display with a sign-up there for mini-sessions, but I'm not doing any photography at the event on April 1st. If you have time this Saturday, it's another great way to support this awesome family.
 

---

If you're not interested in a 15 minute mini-session, but you would like to update your family portraits, or you have a new baby and want a professional collage of his/her cuteness, or a high school senior, I'd love to talk with you about how I can help!

Marching band!

I was asked if I'd like to help with a fundraiser for the Volcano Vista High School marching band. Yes! I certainly would. What a fun experience for me - I got to meet some really great high school kids, enjoyed the cool uniforms, and I loved the instruments.

I don't know how they wear those hats, that would be tricky for me. But then my only marching band experience was in middle school, where funnily enough my husband and I marched in the same band at the same time (but did not know each other for many more years) to a rousing version of "Party All the Time". I bet you didn't know that that song had been arranged for marching band. It's a real shame that there was no youtube back then... or is it???

Anyway - here are some awesome kids and some great instrument pictures:








It was a fun challenge for me to come up with ideas for posing that would be interesting and artistic.


I wanted to get all the students a decent variety of proofs to choose from, including a good straight shot,


and I also wanted to show their love of music if I could.












The tuba players were especially impressive. That is a lot of instrument to haul around!








Although I went to a regular public high school, somehow I got through the whole thing without ever really knowing about the color guard. I guess I did not pay attention at half time or something. So it was a fun surprise to me that they toss and catch rifles.




I also really love to incorporate instruments and hobbies into my senior portrait sessions! You can get more information about my senior photography at my website here. If you're interested in a senior session, give me a call or email for more information - I'd love to chat with you about it!

What do you get from my birthday mini-sessions?

This morning I realized that I have done a very poor job of following through with my birthday portrait party blog posts! I tend to announce them but I don't usually post the results.



So! I have collected a few examples from this summer's mini-sessions to post and I'll fill you in on a few details. These sessions are very quick and easy. Weather permitting, I love to do them outside!

Sometimes I put up sets or props (like the teepee above) and sometimes I work extra hard on my garden and enjoy using that. Here's an example of a set that I had a lot of fun with.


Sometimes it is stormy and then we move inside for studion portraits instead. One of my summer mini-sessions ended up with all the afternoon pictures inside, but I loved them too! A couple of examples:


Can't resist all the cute expressions!


The glam backdrop I got out worked so well with the girls that I saw. (If a boy had come, I would have had to swap it out!)


And how about an award-winning gymnast??? I love it.


I also love it when parents bring a favorite prop. This darling little boy's mom says he sleeps with this ball. And each evening he brushes it's "teeth".


I don't necessarily care if it's really your child's birthday, either. When I started doing these mini-sessions, they were more specifically for birthdays, because that's when I tend to remember to do portraits of my own kids. But back to school is another great occasion, or just really any time is fine with me.


We try to have a lot of fun with these sessions. They are usually VERY quick and easy - generally it takes longer for you to get here than it will take to get some great portraits of your child.


I do schedule a little longer if you tell me that your child has a hard time getting comfortable for photographers, or for a baby or toddler. Although this little guy didn't need it - we were done in less than 5 minutes, not including some mom chat time afterwords.




For these mini-sessions I don't charge a session fee, and I have some special packages that are discounted from my normal rates. You don't pay for anything until you see your pictures later (usually within a week).


Many of my clients end up purchasing the digital files, but I also have print packages and a la carte ordering if you'd like something specific. I always include one print with the files because I have this horror of clients purchasing digital images and never getting them printed.


My next mini-sessions will be September 5th. I have a lot of the timeslots full already, but I still have some times open throughout that day. If you don't love your kids' school portraits or you would like something custom of higher quality, give me a call! I would love to meet you and your children.


And I offer a bonus if you bring a friend! I'd love to answer any questions that you may have, or set you up with a timeslot on September 5th. Just call or email me.

Minisessions for birthdays or back to school portraits

It's time for birthday and back to school minisessions! These are super quick and easy - a great way to get beautiful portraits at a discounted price. I don't charge a session fee for these and I do them throughout the day, so hopefully there is a time that will work for you. Plan on 6-8 great portraits to choose from. You can call or email me if you'd like more information, if you'd like to see a price list, or if you'd like to sign up for a timeslot.




It doesn't really need to be your child's birthday, but if you have a summer birthday, this is a great opportunity for individual portraits at a great price. Or if your child's school portraits tend to leave something to be desired, this is a great opportunity to get a choice of much nicer portraits and gorgeous quality prints, or even digital files.


And I offer a bonus if you bring a friend! I'd love to answer any questions that you may have, or set you up with a timeslot on August 8th or September 5th. Just call or email me.

Summer birthday minisessions - Friday 6/13

It's time for birthday minisessions! These are super quick and easy - a great way to get beautiful portraits at a discounted price. I don't charge a session fee for these and I do them throughout the day, so hopefully there is a time that will work for you. Plan on 6-8 great portraits to choose from. You can call or email me if you'd like more information, if you'd like to see a price list, or if you'd like to sign up for a timeslot.

I have a fun tent to use outside this time - my kids vouch that it's a good place to play.


It doesn't really need to be your child's birthday, but if you have a summer birthday, this is a great opportunity for individual portraits at a great price.


Reading "Little House in the Big Woods"... growing up!


And I offer a bonus if you bring a friend! I'd love to answer any questions that you may have.

Spring birthday portrait party mini-sessions - Friday April 4th

It's time for spring birthday minisessions!





These are super quick and easy - a great way to get beautiful portraits at a discounted price. I don't charge a session fee for these and I do them throughout the day, so hopefully there is a time that will work for you. Plan on 6-8 great portraits to choose from. You can call or email me if you'd like more information, if you'd like to see a price list, or if you'd like to sign up for a timeslot.

Birthday portrait party - Friday May 10th

It's birthday portrait party time!

Friday, May 10th, on and off all day, I will host a birthday portrait party for anyone who's having a birthday... around now. :) I'm not always as organized as I should be about promoting these, so if you have a spring birthday, or early summer, you're welcome to come!  This month I am really, really, planning to do these outside! (Last month our cold & breezy spring weather got to me and we just stayed in.)



Here's how the birthday portrait party works. There is no session fee. The whole thing usually takes maybe 5 minutes per person, and you will end up with 10-15 fun and happy proofs. This is one of the only times that I post galleries online, so you'll receive a login/password and view your proofs on my website.



If you are interested but not for this month, please email me your children's names and birthdays. I will let you know when and where each portrait party will be held.

 I'd love it if you pass this info on to your friends! I will include an extra full-size digital file with your next birthday portrait party order if one of your friends brings one of their kids.