In case you missed it, be sure to read this post regarding my current Christmas Card/Family Portrait special!

Ready for it?  Here it is!!!

Book your 2010 Holiday portraits before November 1st, 2010 and receive 25% off print orders and 10% off custom holiday cards.

And… here’s the fine print in print not so fine: 

$150 print order (not including custom cards) minimum (before discount and tax is applied)
Can only be used on sessions scheduled between August 17, 2010 and November 1, 2010
You must mention this promotion to receive the discount.  I will not automatically apply this to sessions currently scheduled.

Keep checking back over the next few days because I’m going to be getting my 2010 Holiday Cards available for viewing on the web.  Thank you!!

For those of you that would like to get in before my pricing changes, contact me as soon as possible!  My schedule is really booked between now and June, but I can work you in through the week if your time allows.

I also wanted to announce that I’ve hired my beautiful niece Amanda as my part-time assistant.  I’m going to be training her on ordering, packaging orders, as well as tagging along with me to sessions to help with posing and reflectors.  So, you might see her at one of your sessions.  By training her on orders, this means that instead of placing orders as I receive them, I’m going to be placing them once or twice a week with a set day for them to be back to the studio.  With many sessions a week, my time is filled with sitting at the computer each day placing orders and packaging them.  I feel that by combining multiple orders that are received weekly, I can better streamline my schedule and personal time.

Meet my niece.  Picture taken yesterday for her prom:

I thought I’d get these out there so you can see what cards are available this year. You can view the available cards by going to my main website. Click on ‘Portrait Galleries’ and ’2009 Christmas Cards’ are at the bottom of that list.

MJ (my diva niece) came for her 6 month pictures. Of course – she still wasn’t FULLY cooperative for her pictures. She’s just not that fond of getting her picture taken! We just keep telling her that she needs to get over it because she’s too cute not to get pictures made!

First let me post a few pictures of my niece… then a few of the studio.

Now – on to the studio pictures!

This will be my shooting space. I can’t wait to get in there!

The outside

Pictures of my newly stained concrete floors! These turned out so great! I’m so proud of my husband for getting them to look so great.

Unless anything changes (like the doctor ordering bedrest), I plan to schedule into October for normal shoots. This does not count weddings as I’m no longer booking weddings for 2009. Family portraits can be rescheduled in case of an emergency… wedding portraits cannot.

And since no blog post is good without a picture… Here are several from my ultrasound taken on Friday.

I had to schedule my own son on my calendar as a photo session appointment! He’s even color coded like the rest of my appointments; how horrible is that?!?! Well, it’s not horrible, it’s well overdue. I’m just so busy to do ‘random’ sessions, even with my own child.

I just thought I’d post this as a reminder – I’m filling up very fast! My weekends are booked now for at least the next month to month and a half. So – book soon if you’d like to schedule some family sessions, or in my case, well overdue portraits of your children!

Another change is my pricing schema for family portraits and wedding packages.  I’m going to be changing up prices a bit.  The commonly ordered portrait sizes (5×7 and 8×10) will remain the same price.  However, I’m going to be changing my gift program associated with my ala carte pricing arrangement.  It will operate in a similar fashion – but – hopefully in a much easier to understand format.  I’ll be working on that over Christmas break next week.  You’ll see these changes go into effect January 1st!

I have also begun the mind-boggling task of gathering quotes and ideas for a much needed studio.  I’m currently planning to build a 40×40 building near my current location (home).  I have this IDEA in my head and I can literally walk through my studio by just thinking about it.  I cannot wait to share this experience with everyone – as well as reap the benefits when it is complete!

Since no blog post is complete without a picture – here’s a very good idea of what my building will look like (replacing the black with blue):

I really want to take the time to really thank all of my current clients and family.  As I continue to grow (business wise), everyone has been so very understanding.  It means so much to me how my family, friends, and clients have been so helpful and encouraging.  I cannot wait to begin 2009 as I have so many great ideas in store!

I hope everyone has a very joyous Christmas holiday and a splendid New Years!