Sales and Specials!!

Semi-Annual Reprint Sale!

20% off Large Prints (16x20 and larger)

20% off Canvas Prints (16x20 and larger)

15% off 20x10 collages

15% off all other print sizes

-This offer is ONLY good for reprint orders, orders that are taken after an initial order from the session has already been made and fulfilled.
-not applicable with any other offer or discount
-Minimum order requirement of $200
-Offer good through February 9th, 2007

February Session Special
Book a weekday session in the month of February, and get a complimentary session for a friend! (or split the price of the session) ($225 savings)

To qualify, sessions must both be booked on an available weekday in the month of February 2007. Not valid for gift certificates or with any other offer. Hurry, sessions are limited and will go quickly!!

Drawing for a $50 Target Gift Card!
Everyone subscribed to Devine Inspirations will automatically be entered to win a $50 gift card to Target! Click here to subscribe . Drawing will be held Saturday, February 17th, 2007 and winner will be notified by email.

NEWS:
After some consideration, we have decided to begin offering digital negatives. The files can be purchased outright or earned with a minimum print order. Please call for details.

Mother's Day Sessions- The most popular mini sessions of the year will be held on Saturday, March 17th. A fabulous chance to have the perfect gift for that special Mom in your life. Surprise her with pictures of just the kids, or bring her along to be in the pictures with her favorite little ones. These are already booking up so call soon if you are interested.

Please keep in mind that Spring Portraits book far in advance, so if you are considering a spring session you will want to make sure and book it as soon as you can.

Don' t forget to nominate someone in your life for a free session and photo package. Send your nominations to nominations@devine-memories.com

The curls, the eyes...

All I can say is...what a cyooooootie!!!!

Now I have a special place in my heart for this little gal because she is the daughter of the very best 2nd grade teacher in the world (and my son is a star student so I'm not just kissing up), and as soon as I laid my eyes on the blonde angelic curls and those ginormous blue eyes, I begged her Mommy to let me get a hold of her :) We had the best little playdate; oh to have half the energy of a one year old!!!

Mrs. F, you have made my son's life happy and fun this year and there aren't a million pictures in the world that could thank you enough for that.

A new family

I have to admit (and maybe I've admitted this once before)...I used to absolutely dread family sessions. Even after I had developed my own style, and steered away from the typical family photo, something wasn't right and I wasn't enjoying myself. I actually considered advertising that I only photographed children, no families. Man, I am so glad that I didn't go that path.

I vented my feelings to another wonderful photographer, who so generously advised me to keep trying until I found "it". Make it my goal to master the family portrait.

I was talking to one of my clients one day who so wisely commented on her picture, "I may cringe at the way I look, but my children love me and will someday be so glad that I loved them enough to take a picture with them." That, as Oprah would say, was my lightbulb moment!

I quit trying so hard. If you let them, a family will give you what you need for the perfect family photo all on their own. You just need to sit back and let it happen. The love will come searing through the camera lens without any hesitance. I can now say that family portraits are my absolute favorite thing to shoot, and relationship shots are my strength by far.

This is a wonderful new family that I just met, and their absolutely to-die-for new baby boy. I just can't tell you how sweet this little guy is. Newborn sessions normally take up to 2.5 hours, and I think we were done in 45 minutes (or maybe less!) He was expressive, calm, and just a joy to photograph. I hope you enjoy as much as I did.

I love twins!!

I recently had the pleasure of meeting the newest additions to a favorite client of mine's family. They went from being a family of 3 to a family of 5 with the arrival of these two lovely-as-can-be twin sisters, who could not be more different! One has brown hair and brown eyes, the other has blonde hair and blue eyes, one is serious and contemplative, the other is happy-go-lucky and smiley...isn't it amazing how at only 5 months old their personalities are so prominent (and different!)

Big brother Jack has grown up in front of my camera and I was excited to see him again. He is still a little charmer, as he was at 5 months!

I took well over 600 shots of this family. Mom was so patient with me :)

Enjoy!

January shopping rocks!!

Just wanted to make sure you guys knew about the penny sale going on at Aaron Brothers right now. I got almost $300 worth of frames today for $130. For every frame you buy you get one for a penny. I think this is the last weekend so go stock up!! I'll post pictures of my hallways display after the photos arrive Monday :) (I'm soooo excited)

D

Yep, I do that too!

I get asked all the time about the ages I will photograph. While I absolutely love and adore working with little ones, I have so much fun with teenagers and their families, too. I'm not going to pretend I am some awesome Senior Photographer who knows how to make you stand the perfect way and make you look like a total supermodel. But I can do the same with teens that I can do with little ones and their families: and that is show a little insight into your personality, and capture your relationships.

This absolutely gorgeous family was here visiting from waaaaay up north (and they thought they were getting away from the cold weather, ha!) I had forgotten how giggly you are when you are a teenage girl with other teenage girls. It was so fun!!!

I also had to share a couple from this session, and I've been dying to since early December when we actually did the session. However, Dad is like the greatest husband in the world and did these as a surprise for Mom for Christmas! (let me hear it ladies, "awwwwwwww, why can't my husband do that?") He framed the contact sheets and presented her those and the online slideshow as a gift. I thought that was pretty cool and my only regret was that I wasn't there to see her face :)

And...can I just brag for a moment....I did a big photoshoot with my three kiddos last week in between illnesses and got this one, that I ordered today as a giant 20x30 canvas to put over my fireplace. Can I get a WOOOO HOOOO!!!

Don't forget-send your nominations for a complimentary photosession/package (see post below) to nominations@devine-memories.com !

Also, be sure and subscribe to my blog and have your friends subscribe by clicking here so that you can be informed of sales, contests, and specials that are coming up in the next couple of weeks.

Giving Back

One of my *many* resolutions for this new year was to dedicate myself to giving back as much as I can.

One thing I'm trying to do and trying to get my kids to do is to try one random act of kindness everyday. Today was my first real shot at it. I was standing in line at Target and noticed that the lady behind me looked absolutely smashing in the color she was wearing. I remembered a few years ago, some stranger I never had met told me how amazing I looked in the pink suit I was wearing. I never forgot it. I decided to be uncomfortable (I'm pretty shy) for the moment and let her know how amazing she looked in that color. I can't tell you the look on her face...it wasn't a polite smile, or even an amused or "she must be crazy" look that I got, which I guess is what I expected...instead her eyes lit up, her entire face lit up, and she looked so sincerely flattered. I am hooked!

Now on the not-so-random note, I have come up with an idea that I'm ready to try out in the upcoming months. I realize that having professional, caring, and personal pictures made of your children is a big investment, and I know that there are plenty of great parents out there who would love to have those memories captured but just can't afford it, for whatever reason. I am setting up an application/nomination process to offer those families the chance to have the portraits that I feel everyone should have.

The nominees should apply or be nominated if they believe in the value of portraits but do not have the means to have them made on their own.

Apply if you believe it is important to capture your child now...apply if you love every face they make and want to remember them as they are...if you cringe at the thought of forgetting the way they grab your chin when they kiss you...but just can't afford the expense.

Even better, nominate someone whom you think deserves to have pictures made of their family or children. Maybe someone is having a tough year financially, or their health is failing...for whatever reason...I know you all will have someone special in mind. I am open to anything...teenagers, families, couples; the session does not just have to be children.

Send your email with the following things included:

1-who you are nominating (or your name if you are applying yourself)
2-tell me their story, including why they would want the portraits, and why they need or deserve them
3-contact information for you and the person you are nominating

I am setting up a separate email account for the applications to be sent: nominations@devine-memories.com , and will choose based on those emails.

The person chosen will get the session, a $500 print package, and the DVD of their slideshow, total value $920.

The first applicant will be chosen in February, so start sending the nominations in now!

Long overdue

Hi guys.

I am so embarrassed at how long this poor family has been waiting to see these pictures. They have been so understanding of the calamity that is my life with three children, who were all sick at the busiest point of the year. M&M, I really appreciate your patience with me!! Here's a sneak peak...I'll be calling you very soon!




Mirror, mirror on the wall...who's the sweetest baby boy of them all...

Happy New Year!

Just a quick note - my three kiddos have all been sick, sick, and more sick over my entire "break"...so I haven't gotten a thing done. They are all slowly but surely getting better and go back to school on Thursday and Friday. I'll return all your calls, emails, and keep all my promises to you then :)

Here's what midnight, 2007 looked like for us (bear with me, this was my camera phone so I could send it out to the family right at midnight )