A week after doing Santa portraits it finally clicked with me that Christmas is just around the corner and we have to start Christmas shopping.  It was funny how it happened, we were at lunch at Firehouse Subs and Chance said we need to start making a list so we can start shopping.  Last night we even got an email with a list of things that Leslie wanted for Christmas.  All of that happened in the same day!  So now I am wondering just how many people are already getting there shopping done or already have a list of things you want?  I can always come up with a list, but I am usually pretty conservative on my want list – you know like socks, shirts a sweater.  What would I really want for Christmas?  What would you want?  What are the popular things this year? 

A dream list for me – an iPad would be nice, a new MacBook Pro, a new boat (dream on), a Gary Fisher mountain bike, a new car (dream car since I was 15) or how about this car 🙂 (guess I'll keep the 12 year old Suburban and 8 year old Mini) and of course new clothes.  I guess I will stick with the same old list again this year, or I will let you know what else I can come up with.

These are just a few images from a session yesterday afternoon.  We got a couple new backgrounds a few weeks ago and I have 3 more on the way.  If you are in the class of '11 give us a call so we can get you in!  If you are in the class of '12 be sure and keep checking back!  We will start looking for Senior Models after Christmas for the class of '12!

What does that mean?  What I want to do is experiment with some new locations, poses and lighting techniques.  Another thing I want to do is get some new samples for our next senior catalog.  Since this is an experimental thing we don't want to charge you for it, because you never know how an experiment will turn out.  We will do the session at no charge and you will also get a gift portrait in return, and of course if you want to purchase anything you are free to do that too.  Hopefully we will get some great images you just have to have!  This isn't an ongoing thing I only want to do one here and there when I have a new idea, so if you are interested in trying something new let us know and we will give you a call when we have something we want to try.  This is for anyone in the class of 2011, so if you have already been to us for your senior portraits you are welcome to participate too.  We will need to talk about what to wear and bring for some of these sessions because the ideas we want to work with might call for something specific.  The biggest thing is that we will be doing something different and having FUN while we are doing it. 

Give us a call and let us put you on a list of people to call!  Not everyone will be called, because I am not sure how many I will be doing.

And if you haven't already been to us for your senior portrait or you didn't like the ones you got somewhere else now is a great time to come in for a studio, road trip or downtown session!  And we can add you to the list if you are interested in doing something different later too.

Every January I go to a couple conventions and seminars to hear speakers from all over the country and get ideas.  This year I am kicking it off a little earlier, I just got back from a meeting in Tennessee, and I am so excited and ready to try some new things!  Over the past weekend I spent several days with some of the top senior photographers in the country and shared ideas, techniques and some images we liked.  While driving home I couldn't stop thinking about some of the new things I want to try for the class of 2012, but why wait till next year?  If anyone wants to try some new things and get something a little different give me a call and lets go out and see what we can find to do.  We also looked over some of the great new items that are available now that were not even available a few months ago and I am really excited about adding some of them to our product line.

Oh, and I found myself on the other end of a camera this weekend for a change!

Now I have a little catching up to do in the office.

Now that school has started I seem to be running around more than ever so the blog has unfortunately taken a severe hit!  So today I wanted to do an update on a few things.  One question is – are we still doing senior portraits, and the answer is yes!  We are doing senior portraits almost every afternoon.  Do you have any specials – yes again, we are still running our $20.11 special on our studio or outdoor sessions.  One session that is really good this time of year is our "Road Trip" session where we will take you to a location somewhere in Barrow county to make your session truly unique, and fall is a beautiful time for this.   How long will you be doing senior portraits – all year, but if you want anything outdoors you really need to try and do it soon!

We have also been really busy photographing teams this fall, and that is what has kept me from the blog more than anything.  So far we have been doing cheerleading, softball and gymnastics teams, and they have kept us pretty busy.  Be sure and check out our banner special if you are involved in a winter sport. 

You read correctly!  Come let us photograph your team, cheer, football, softball, volleyball, baseball, wrestling, tennis – you get the idea, and we will give your team a banner, FREE.  There is a catch, you have to do the photography before your season starts.  So for all of those winter sports, start planning now and give us a call!  Talk to your coaches or team moms and get on the books soon so we can be ready before your season starts!  If you are a fall sport start planning now for next year!