You might recognize Lauren and Blake from last fall when I did a couple session with them.  At the time they talked about how they want to get married on a certain day that is special to them, but they weren’t engaged yet.  In the time since, they talked about having me photograph their wedding but still no engagement.  Then I got a call for another wedding on their date and I gave them the heads up so they booked me for their wedding.  And still no engagement   This was all still last fall…

Not long after, Blake contacted me and told me his plans to surprise Lauren with a proposal and have me photograph it all!  We went back and forth about how to lure her to the spot he chose without tipping her off…of course now it’s spring and their wedding date is inching closer and closer so Lauren has been expecting it soon.

Last week, I emailed Lauren to ask her if she could model for me while I train my new intern…we met last night at the Botanical Gardens and as we started walking to the right spot Lauren showed me her hand and told me still no ring!  Then she started chatting about how she really thinks it will happen in the next week or two and I had to really fight to keep a straight face!  We got the the right spot and had Lauren start posing for us and I said the code words for Blake to come out from the other side of the hedges.   Check out the first shot…Lauren was posing and didn’t notice Blake until he was right next to her:

She still didn’t know what was going on, and it made me smile to look at the whole sequence last night and see that he had the box in his hand as he walked up to her, but she had her eyes on his face the whole time.   Then he got down on one knee:

We were all crying…my hands were shaking…it was so beautiful!!

And WOW did he do a great job on the ring!!   Check her out blinding everyone on the news this morning here.

Jessica and I left them and I turned to get one last shot…Blake was still wiping her tears.  Lauren and Blake, you are such an amazing couple together, your love for each other is overwhelming!  I can not wait for your wedding!

I had a lot of images I loved…but didn’t want to over load the blog so go to my facebook page to see the rest!

Don’t forget to have your friends and family comment on your session blog posts…my first family to do this had their 25 comments within an hour and will have a surprise coming with their order!

So I don’t post without a picture, here is a sneak peak of what is included in the mini session package:

Happy 4th everyone!!  Have fun and be safe!  I will try to get more sneak peaks up this weekend if I can, I am working to get the last sets of proofs from before my vacation and some more albums done.

Edited to add…newsletter has been sent out!  Let me know if I forgot to add you, I had a lot of requests buried in emails. 

So because of everything I already have scheduled in the next month, the new date is February 21, 10 AM to 2 PM.  Let’s start thinking no snow storm thoughts now!  I will put some pictures up of the studio sometime this week because, it is the coolest studio you ever saw if I do saw so myself!  Complete with a wrought iron bed!  Yep…imagine that perfect family, newborn, or jumping on the bed shot without the hassle of cleaning up your room.  Bring your favorite comforter or quilt or use mine.  Wait til you see, it rocks!

Finally, the Grand Opening special was supposed to be $25 off the session fee for any session that takes place in the studio from now until March 31.  So just mention it when you email or call me to book!

Enjoy your weekends!

Next, I have had my mini sessions open to my newsletter families with great response!  There are a lot of slots booked, and several others who expressed interest…definitely contact me ASAP if you want to reserve a session!  Here are the details, copied from the newsletter:

We’re going to the WHITEHOUSE CHRISMAS TREE FARM

Located in Whitehouse, Ohio, my mini sessions will be held the morning of November 8 and the afternoon of November 9.  Sessions will last around 20 minutes and you will receive at least 10 images to choose from in an online gallery.  Choose to highlight just the kids or aim for a great family photo.  The farm won’t be open yet, so we will have it all to ourselves.  I am going to bring cut out cookies for fun shots at the end of each session.  (and if logistics allow, pretty mugs of hot chocolate…)  Dress in fun winter outfits, vests, scarfs, hats…

One price with two choices this year to make it simple!
$250 will get you either

2008 Holiday Card Collection

or

All additional prints or cards will be at my lower collection pricing!   I will have my card designs available online soon, my favorite designers are still releasing their collections and I want to show a variety for all tastes!

I also will have limited keepsake books available!  I just got mine in last night and I will take some pictures, it’s gorgeous!  It’s a 10 page, 5×7 mounted album with a beautiful red fabric cover, perfect for Christmas time!  The prints will be bordered in white with a simple holly accent.  I will have a limited amount of these books available for $200 with a collection purchase.  Because I will have them ahead of time, you will have them to show off throughout the holiday season!  Just be sure to let me know if you are interested so I can order enough books or it will be first come, first serve.  I will send out pictures of the books very soon so you can see them.

If Whitehouse is too far or you would rather have your pictures done in your home, let me know.  I will offer a few other mini sessions during the month of November only.

I will try to return all the emails in my inbox before I leave tomorrow!  Have a wonderful weekend!

And I have my computer set back up again and after a little head banging, back to normal.

Some news:

1 – The May child for the Emma Louise contest has been chosen and I will contact the family tomorrow. The rest of the families will be entered for June, that winner will be chosen April 30, if you weren’t in the May drawing, email me and I will sign you up for June. Don’t forget the drawings will be the end of each month now to allow more time to get the sessions scheduled in as I am “thisclose” to being fully booked until July.

2 – I am catching back up on sessions and email. I should be back on schedule with proofs and responded to all my emails tomorrow. If you are waiting for something from me please let me know!

3 – This has been in the works for a while, but I wanted to share with you all now that I have started ordering the displays… I am completely redecorating the Associates for Women’s Health lobby and all other rooms. Check out their web site: http://www.associnwomenshealth.com/
They are a wonderful group of midwives and an OB in Sylvania…I know there were several of my past babies that were delivered by this group

4 – I know I had a 4 and now have forgotten… I suppose I can talk about the weather! Thank goodness for this warmth and sun, yeah!!

5 – Oh yeah, I am “thisclose” to being fully booked until July. Contact me soon before I close sessions to newborns only.

6 – That reminds me about the maternity special, I’ve had questions from the moms who have booked so far. Your maternity and newborn sessions can be any time the rest of the year, you just need to contact me before April 30.

IF you read that all, thank you!! Pictures again tomorrow yeah!

I’ve got some great ideas for the shoot, but you’ll have to contact me for more information!

This will be one of the limited mini sessions I offer each year, so if you are interested definitely let me know as soon as possible!

I know the blooms might appeal more to parent of girls, so I am going to cook up one more mini session this spring geared toward boys. I got a few good ideas and will be making phone calls this week…stay tuned and email me to hear more!

The search is on! Apply now to be one of the limited Senior Spokesmodels from the class of ‘09

I know I have a lot of moms reading, do you know any juniors in high school? Your babysitters? nieces or nephews? My spokesmodels will get cool rewards and you’ll get a referral credit for your own maternity, family, baby, child, or engagement session.

More details finally!! I apologize for the delay, I had to finish proofing a few sessions, get some orders in, send out my newsletter (you did get it, right? If not sign up at the right!) and now I have a few new pages worth of email replies to the newsletter…so if you are waiting on an email from me, I am working through them and will get back to you soon!!

OK, what does a Senior Spokesmodel get?

• 2 Free Session Fees – 1 now and 1 in the summer or fall when you are tan and the grass is green!
• 50 spokesmodel cards to hand out to your friends
• Proof Book
• 10 web sized images with my watermark to post on your myspace and facebook
• Photographs on my website & blog.
• $30 print credit OR 8 wallets per booked referral.
• Optional gift certificates in place of print credit

Contact me for more information and an application!