Fall Fun Photo Shoot FUNdraiser & Contest!!!!!

One of my very best friends, who is basically all but superwoman in my eyes, is going to be adopting another little one!  Yes, you heard me right, ANOTHER child.  Lauren and Ken have one adopted daughter, and one birth daughter, who also happens to have special needs due to a rare chromosomal disorder, Wolfe -Hirschorn Syndrome.  In spite of all of this, they are faithfully answering their call to adopt again!  You can read all about this HERE on Lauren’s very own blog, Knowing Norrah.

So, because I love Lauren and her beautiful family with all of my heart, and because I also believe in using gifts and talents to bless others to the best of our ability, I am going to do just that...with a little help (hopefully!) from all of you!!

Here is how the “fun fundraiser photo shoot /costume contest” is going to work...

You find fun costumes/dress up clothes for your kiddos (newborn up until kindergarten age) and then you dress them up, and bring them to my “makeshift studio” (aka my house) to get their pictures taken!!  Whether you believe in, or celebrate Halloween is irrelevant for this fundraiser, because really, what child doesn’t love to dress up and have fun??  Then, I take a few photos of your adorable little munchkins, edit them and post them on a shutterfly site that you can buy them or do whatever you want with them, as well as facebook, so that everyone else can see your cute little ones (if you want, that is!)  All you have to do is make a donation towards Lauren & Ken’s adoption fund!  That’s right, no sitting fees, no purchase fees, nothing like that.  You give what you can, or feel like you should,  and ALL proceeds will go towards supporting another beautiful adoption experience!!

I only have a FEW “rules” if you will...

I will NOT under any circumstance, photograph any scary, ghouly, grim, bloody or demonic looking costume...sorry....those are just NOT cute, and this is all about being cute and having fun!   So, if you were planning on dressing up your 2 year old as a bleeding devil...then you will need to get them photographed elsewhere =)

And second - you will need to sign up for a time slot and be responsible to stick to that time, as it could get pretty hectic around my house with tons of little ones and costumes and small spaces....well not it could...it WOULD! So if you sign up for a time slot, then please be on time and ready to have your kiddos say cheese =)

Lastly - due to restricted space in my “studio” I can only do up to 3 small children in the same photo, and that is pushing it.  1 or 2 is ideal!!!

The DATES and TIMES for this fundraiser will be Friday OCT 29th from 9:30 -11:00 and SATURDAY OCT 30th from 9:30 - 12:00.  I am thinking it will be 15 minute time slots.  That means, if you do the math, that I can accommodate 16 different appointments...so it is first come, first serve!

To “reserve” your time slot please leave a comment here, or on my facebook link, or send me a facebook message with the date and  3 time slots you prefer and then I will create a schedule and post it and send it out!

AS FOR THE CONTEST PART - That will come AFTER the edited pictures are posted, probably sometime the following week.   Basically, everyone who donates at least $1 will be allowed to vote for their favorite photo - you can vote based on costume, photo, kiddos, whatever.  For taking the time to vote and for donating to a very super awesome cause, you will then be entered into a “contest” to win a $25 gift certificate to a really great store =)  AND - the person/family who receives the most “votes” for their costume photo will also receive a $25 gift certificate to a really great store as well =)  In order to vote you will need “proof” that you donated through Lauren and Ken’s paypal account, which is really really easy to do!  I will post more about the contest once it gets closer....but just keep that in mind for all of you who many not yet have kiddos, or who live far away and would still like to participate in this fun fundraiser in some way!! 

Please think about and consider helping out and having fun with this fundraiser!!!  

~Holly~

Making a Change

Hello to all =)  If you are reading this then you are probably interested in having me take pictures, or at least looking at my pictures in some capacity....I have an update. I have thought long and hard about this for several weeks and finally today felt like I had a peace about my decision...so here it is...

I am no longer going to be taking family pictures. It's nothing really earth shattering or huge, but it was a big decision and step for me to make.  Ok, now, let me say this...I MAY occasionally still do family stuff for my close friends or actual family...since that IS how all this got started anyways, but in general, I will not be taking "new clients" for family portrait sessions.

The reason - I just felt like I needed to decide what I am really passionate about when it comes to photography. This isn't my real job, so I can definitely pick and choose what I want to do, and honestly, I am just not passionate about family pictures anymore.  There are other aspects of photography that I just absolutely LOVE and want to pursue further and get better at, and in order to do that, there has to be a sacrifice somewhere.  So for all my friends who are so wonderful about recommending me for photos, you can still proceed to do so, but just not for family sessions =)  I have TONS of talented photographer friends...so if you ever need someone, you can still feel free to ask me and I will see what I can do about hooking you up with someone to do family sessions!

Now, for anyone reading this who currently already HAS a family session scheduled with me, don't worry, I am not backing out on you =)  Starting in October I will not be taking any "new" clients.  For friends (and most of you will know who you are) for whom I usually do fall photos, I think we will still be able to work something out...because, afterall, it is Photos For my Friends photography =)  So, for anyone else, please do NOT take this personal!

Also, Anthony and I are not shooting weddings anymore either (unless it is for some of our close close friends for when they one day decide to take the plunge!) Most of you probably already know this, but just throwing it out for anyone else!  I am still doing engagement sessions, because I truly enjoy them, so should you hire a photographer that doesn't include an E-session, then I can help you out with those!

You will also notice that I basically NEVER update this blog(although I did change a few things, including music tonight!)...mostly due to a lack of time...perhaps once winter rolls around I can get around to it...but THIS is the only "website" that I have.  I get lots of messages from people asking where our website went, well, we got rid of it =) I have this blog, and facebook, and that is basically all I need at this time!

Ok, I think that's about it. Have a super blessed weekend everyone!!!

~Holly~

Let them eat cake!

A few more projects...

I have been working on "odds and ends" projects the past few weeks...some are still yet to be completed, but here are a few pictures of the new additions and improvements!

This is now one wall of our entryway. I had been wanting to do SOMETHING there ever since we moved in, but it is an odd space because of door configurations and what not, so thanks to IKEA and some old frames I had not being used, I created this little space. The hooks are actually fairly low to the ground so it's perfect for the girls to hang up their coats or sweaters or eden's book bag when she comes home from school.  I use the canvas basket thing to hold keys, mail, flip flops, sunglasses, anything that clutters up my kitchen or entryway now gets thrown into those!  I am working on finding 2 pictures to fill the frames...

Notice a few new things??

I FINALLY found a dresser on craigslist for my other dining room wall and loved my luck in the situation that the dresser matches the style of my craiglist hutch...perfect! It, too, like the hutch was old dark wood....so a few sandings, priming, and paint jobs - good as new =)  **side note, it bugs me to no end that I didn't notice my lampshade was crooked until later looking at these pictures...oh well!

A closer look at the plaque hanging behind the dresser. I was thrilled that I found this, I had forgotten all about it and it basically works perfect in the space. It is from one of my favorite bible verses in Malachi.

I am working on a black and white photo frame wall!  The large white rectangular "thing" is actually a huge magnetic board and the basket hanging off it houses wonderful alphabet tiles that I turned into magnets so the girls can play with them. It, too, is at just their height.  I am still messing around with the frames and placement of them - which my husband just LOVES...he really appreciates it when I drill 20+ holes in one wall alone..hahah

Eventually this ultra cute fabric will become curtains for in my dining room windows. I have loved it since the day I saw it on Ikea's website...now I finally own it, I just need to sew them =)

Eden's room also got a magnetic board above her desk and we created the magnets together to hang on it.  The thing hanging on the left side is a really great bargain (also from Ikea) in which you can adjust the height of the hanging "strings" and then she can hang up her own pictures and artwork and it is very easy to change around!

So, those are about it for now.  I am pleased so far with how everything is coming together...slowly but surely, and one step at a time!

~holly~