Ashley Ward Photography - The Blog

Brand New Blog!

2009-03-02T09:01:00.001-05:00

Come and visit me on the brand new blog! And don't forget to update your bookmarks when you get there;-)
www.ashleywardphotography.com/blog

Columbia SC Child Photographer - C Family Preview

2009-02-01T22:58:00.006-05:00

Look what I was busy doing this weekend! I was so happy to be photographing this beautiful baby boy. He is just a couple of weeks old and just as sweet and adorable as he can be. The little hat with the bear ears was custom made by me for the shoot and we were all giggling about how precious he looked in it;-)

Mom and Dad (and Grandma, too!), thank you so much for allowing me to document this fantastic time in your lives and for your patience during the shoot! I hope you enjoy the preview and I can't wait to see you and baby again at the proofing session.

Have 25 unique visitors comment to this post on my blog and receive a 5x7 portrait;-)

Promotion! 2009 Early Booking Special!

2009-01-27T12:15:00.002-05:00

Thank you so much to my clients for making 2008 a wonderful year!

I am pleased to be offering some wonderful new products (and I hope to highlight them here on the blog soon). And although I specialize in children and families, I am thrilled to now be working with esthetician and professional make-up artist, Christie Stewart of Robin's Nest, and offering Women's Sessions. It has been a fantastic year of growth and change. I am so thankful to have met and worked with so many warm and wonderful families and individuals this last year. I can't wait to see what 2009 brings!

I will be offering a new promotion for February-June 2009 bookings confirmed by January 31st. Here is the way it works:
Book your family, child, or individual session by January 31, 2009 for any session date from February 1 - June 30 and you will receive 15% off any a la carte print or product order with a total of $400 or more! Receive 10% off package pricing, which is already a considerable savings!

Book your 2009 session in advance to reserve your preferred date. In 2008, my busiest months were mid March - July and September - November. If you are looking at dates during these months, don't wait to set your appointment:)

Smiles!
Ashley

Snow in Southtown

2009-01-23T08:33:00.006-05:00

I'm so late in posting this! Just a quick entry because I wanted to share a few images from our rare snow day this week;-)

We rarely see the white stuff. Sometimes we get ice. But Tuesday we got an honest-to-goodness, white, powdery snow! My daughter was so excited to see the snow (and to be off an extra day of school!). We quickly bundled her up and went outside to play. She had to try everything she knew to do with snow: build a snowman (small but sweet), make a snow angel, taste the flakes as they fell from the sky. But by far, her favorite thing was to pelt Mommy with some rather large snowballs!

By the way, we had a little warning that the snow was coming and I made the hat the night before. She LOVES the hat and apparently wore it during the whole school day on Wednesday;-)

Columbia SC Child Photographer - Headshots!

2009-01-15T13:19:00.008-05:00

I had the great pleasure of working with this handsome young man this weekend in Columbia. He is an actor and needed some new headshots. I was delighted when his mother contacted me to schedule the session. Working with him was great - what a pro in front of the camera! I had a wonderful time getting to know him a little and getting these shots and many more. I can't wait to see which ones will "make the cut".

Mom, have 25 unique friends make a comment here on this post and receive a 5x7 gift print of your choice on me;-)

Columbia SC Child Photographer - B Family Preview

2009-01-13T20:17:00.004-05:00

I fell head over heels for this little one the moment I saw her! What an absolute joy she is! So much personality and a little beauty too. It took no time for her to warm up to me, although I truly believe she never meets a stranger!

It looked to be a beautiful day for portraits - warm and sunny all morning. But by afternoon the clouds started rolling in. It rained on me as I drove to the session and stopped at about the time I arrived. The clouds loomed over us the entire session and although the conditions weren't ideal, we were able to capture Miss A in the beautiful green grass - in a tutu - in December! (Have I said lately how happy I am to live in the South with this kind of "winter" weather?) We did meet again this weekend to add more images to the session hoping for better weather conditions. I was so happy to see blue skies!

Mommy had adorable outfits and props picked out for the session and Daddy was so helpful and entertaining. They were a beautiful, happy family and I was so glad to meet them.

(Mom and Dad - have 25 unique visitors comment on this post to my blog and receive a 5x7 gift portrait on me;-)

Columbia SC Photographer - Women's Session

2009-01-07T10:55:00.007-05:00

Yes, I am still alive! I worked right up to the holidays this year and then took the holiday break to travel with my family to Folly Beach and to Texas. So my poor little blog has been sadly neglected. I'm ready to jump back into my January sessions now so I should be blogging more regularly from now on;-)

Here are just a few images from one of my women's sessions that took place in December. This was my second time to photograph this young woman and I am so sad that she is moving. She has been wonderful to photograph and is such a beautiful and interesting person. I will miss her and wish her all the best!

Florence SC Child Photographer - T Family Preview

2008-12-02T13:15:00.007-05:00

If you know the T family Daddy, don't tell him about these! Mom had these images taken as part of Dad's Christmas gift this year. The lovely young lady here is one of my daughter's classmates. And the handsome young man is her brother. GREAT kids! They love to laugh. And they did so well. Even the family dogs got in on the holiday images and did a great job....of course, the dog biscuits REALLY helped;-)

Mom, I hope you like the preview! Looking forward to seeing you again at our proofing session. Have 25 unique friends or family members leave a comment here and receive a free 5x7 of your choice from the session;-)

5-Day Post-Thanksgiving Day Sale!!!

2008-11-29T14:19:00.008-05:00

Book a photo session with Ashley Ward Photography today! All new weekend sessions booked during the next 5 days will receive a $100 gift certificate to use toward the purchase of prints and products! Sessions may be booked for any weekend from December 13, 2008 - May 30, 2009 on a "first-come, first-booked" basis.

Use this special to book your own photo session or purchase it for a loved one and give them a photo session and $100 print certificate as a holiday gift that will bring joy for a lifetime!

Contact Ashley Ward Photography for details at (843) 245-6190 or ashley@ashleywardphotography.com.
Offer expires Thursday, 12/4/08 at 5:00pm.

Florence SC Family Photography - G Family Preview

2008-11-18T17:19:00.009-05:00

Big families are beautiful! Especially this big family. Getting 4 children to sit long enough for just a few traditional type family portraits during a session isn't always easy. But these kids were awesome! They were so willing to follow instructions and participate. They are so obviously a very close group.

We went to Swan Lake for this session. It is still one of my favorite places for portraits. I could spend an entire day there. The kids had a great time playing in the leaves. And it is so funny to watch the "girl energy" and the "boy energy" manifest itself. The girls busied themselves by gathering the leaves into lovely fall bouquets, while little brother just wanted to scoop up as many as possible and throw them in the air;-) I also brought along some goodies for the swans and geese. We had fun feeding them at the end of our session.

Mom and Dad, I hope you enjoy the preview and I look forward to seeing you again at our proofing session!

Columbia SC Photographer for Women

2008-11-12T21:10:00.009-05:00

I just wanted to share a few images this evening. They are from a recent Women's Session I shot. The lovely lady here was surprising someone with these images and so I have kept them under wraps but thought they would be fun to share.

The make-up for the session was done by Christi Stewart of Robin's Nest and she did a fabulous job, as always! If you are interested in a Women's session, I will be running another promotion VERY soon!

I think she looks like a 40s movie star here;-)

Columbia Family Photographer - G Family Preview

2008-11-11T13:47:00.013-05:00

Well, this weekend I got to photograph one of my favorite families - and one of my favorite little girls! I last photographed this family in May at the beach when the little princess was having her first birthday. Now she is 18 months old, lovelier than ever, and definitely much harder to keep up with! But an absolute joy. We spent the afternoon by the river on a nature trail. And even the family pooch came along. It was a great afternoon of walking and exploring and playing with leaves and acorns. And I thoroughly enjoyed our adventure.

Here is a little preview of your session. And if 25 unique friends or family members comment here, receive a free 5x7 from your session!

Throwing leaves into the water. I love how busy they are at this age.

What an awesome dog! Even the little one can walk her!

I adore images that capture the sun's rays with beautiful flare.
I think these are my favorites ever! The flare even matches
mom's beautiful fall dress!

She does love to pose in the chairs. What a natural!

Great New Programming for Kids!

2008-11-06T18:05:00.014-05:00

UPDATE: CLICK THE LINK FOR LOMAX, THE HOUND OF MUSIC TO GO TO THE LOMAX PBSKIDS SITE. BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE VIDEOS!!!

Some time ago, I posted an entry about my sister and talked briefly about her role on a PBS music-oriented kids show coming in the fall. Well, the show has finally debuted and I just wanted to let everyone know about it. It's called Lomax, The Hound of Music and the show was developed to "increase the musical intelligence of children ages 3 - 7. Each half-hour episode uses research-based techniques to teach music to young kids, helping them to become better able to hold tunes in their heads and repeat them; better able to feel and sustain a beat; and more receptive to the ideas and feelings expressed in music." It's on the South Carolina PBS station, ETV, on Saturdays at 10:00am.

My daughter and I had the pleasure of watching 3 of the episodes with my sister a couple of weekends ago when she was visiting at the beach and it is really cute and funny! We both loved it, even though it is aimed at audiences just a bit younger than my daughter.

Programming for little girls my daughter's age (almost 9) is so difficult. Actually, toys, clothing, movies,...it seems so hard to find anything truly age appropriate for girls this age. I find it so discouraging sometimes. So I am thrilled to tell you about this smart and empowering web-based series targeting young girls, soon to debut on On Networks on November 17th! It's called "Smart Girls at the Party" and is a project my sister is very proud of. She worked with friends Amy Poehler, who is the host, and Meredith Walker, who is the producer. My sister, Amy, is the show musician. On each show they interview a girl(s) who is "changing the world just by being herself". I can't tell you how excited I am about this! You can read more by clicking on this link or to see a promo of the show, click on the video icon below.

Senior Photographer - Columbia, SC

2008-11-03T15:17:00.018-05:00

These images are long overdue. I just had to share them though! This is the daughter of one of my dearest friends, taken this summer in Texas. It's so hard to believe she is a senior this year! I still remember her spending nights at my house when we would munch on chocolate and strawberries and apples and giggle through Disney movies together! She has always been an absolute joy. She is so bright and talented and I know she has a wonderful future ahead of her. And she is so beautiful. I absolutely loved taking these images of her.

I'm so proud of you, C, and I know your mom is too! Love you!

And get 25 friends or family member to comment on this post and get a 5x7 portrait for free;-)

Took a few images of this sweet pooch too! Isn't she precious?!

Columbia SC Engagement Photographer - Preview

2008-10-29T23:54:00.024-04:00

OK.....these images were actually taken in Folly Beach but since this couple lives in Columbia.....

I adore this pair! They are beautiful inside and out. The groom-to-be is a former colleague and friend. And I couldn't be happier for him that he has truly found his soul mate. I wish them happiness and joy and lots and lots of laughter and love together.

These two were up for anything. They joined me in Folly Beach and we rode the golf cart around to all the different spots we visited for the shoot - the salt marsh, the pier (oh how I LURVE that pier!), a sandy crossover to the beach, and a couple of "downtown" (if you can call it that;-) locations. It was a full afternoon and I squeezed in every second of sunlight that I could!

I had a difficult time narrowing down the images for the preview. I hope you enjoy them and I can't wait to get together for the preview! And thank you so much for entrusting me with your engagement photos.

AND....get twenty-five unique friends and/or family members to post a comment to this entry and receive a 5x7 portrait on me;-)

(and hey to everyone at my old job! I love yall!)
;-)

Proof that they were willing to try anything! It's not so easy
getting two people into a hammock!One of my favorites from our session. I love how it looks as if they
were praying and giving thanks for having found one another.
I will have to ask them what they were thinking during this shot.Isn't she absolutely gorgeous!!!LOVED THESE WALLS!

I'm sure my former associates will get a kick out of this one. If I had to give
it a title, it would be "She Wears The Pants Now". I hope he likes it too!

Columbia Child Photography - S Family Preview

2008-10-21T12:02:00.013-04:00

This little man had the biggest, bluest eyes I think I have ever seen! Just gorgeous. He was full of energy and loved to throw rocks in the little pond at the park we visited and play in the willow trees. We also took some images at the train tracks because he loves trains. And just look at his sweet little overalls he wore for that portion of the session! Isn't he just too adorable?

Mom, he is one precious little boy. Thank you so much for the opportunity to photograph the two of you last week. I hope you enjoy this preview. I'll be seeing you soon!

Oh, and one more thing....have 25 different friends or family members post a comment here on the blog and get a free 5x7 from this session on me!
;-)

Had to post one of him with his beautiful Mommy!

And I never can refuse one of those silly faces;-)

Florence Child Photography - C Family Preview

2008-10-20T11:52:00.016-04:00

One of the wonderful benefits of my job is being witness to beautiful family bonds. Last week I had a session with these three beautiful children. The bond between them was so evident. This little one thought the absolute world of her big brother and sister and they obviously felt the same way about her. This was, I think, the first time that it was actually easier to photograph the little one WITH her brother and sister rather than by herself! Usually I have about 5-15 seconds to grab a great image when I group together a family with one of this age group before they scurry away to look for something else to do! But this precious little Miss actually wanted to be in the images with her siblings. You could just see how much she adored them.

Thank you so much for a wonderful session (and for braving the mosquitoes!). Looking forward to seeing all of you at the proofing session!

Maternity Photography - H Family Preview

2008-10-10T11:22:00.009-04:00

I am so glad I was asked to do this maternity session. Mom is so sweet (and beautiful!) and Dad was a such a great sport and so helpful. And this little boy - the soon-to-be big brother - is adorable! He was so fantastic with direction and LOVED being photographed. He actually pouted a little when it wasn't his turn to be in front of the camera. I got some of the best expressions from him. Too cute!

Here is a quick preview of the session. Hope you enjoy;-)

It's only hair!

2008-10-09T12:18:00.016-04:00

As we stood together in the lobby waiting for the hairdresser to call her name, she took my hand and placed it over her heart and smiled at me as if her insides were about to burst. I could feel her heart beating what seemed to be double-time and felt my own matching the pace.

"It's going to be great!", I whispered to her. "Don't be nervous."

My daughter has been wanting a haircut for a while now. What a simple thing - a haircut. When she was born she had amazingly beautiful golden-copper hair. When I was pregnant with her and imagined what she would look like, I pictured a brunette like me or perhaps a blond like her daddy. But it never occurred to me that my daughter would have gorgeous golden red hair. I don't know why. After all, my sister has a very similar radiant color. I have other relatives with red hair too. But it just never occurred to me that my daughter would as well.

In her toddler years that hair was truly magnificent. It curled like her daddy's and made the most adorable little golden ringlets all around her head. She was like a little cherub bathed in light. Everywhere we went, people would remark about her gorgeous hair. I loved playing with it and fixing it in cute little hairdos, but mostly just loved the look of it falling naturally all around her face. She loved it too and always wanted it to "be free", which became a little bit of an issue as it grew longer and she started school. I remember getting the note from the director of the school she was attending that informed me of the need to fix my daughter's hair away from her face. I hated that - but understood and complied.

As she entered grade school, most of the curl had left and in it's place were beautiful soft waves with just the tiniest hint of curl at the ends. We fixed it in ponytails and braids. For Halloween one year she dressed as Pippi Longstockings and we even braided it and put a coat hanger over the top of her head, down through the braids and then bent the hanger upwards on each end so that her braids would curve up and out! It was about the most adorable thing I had ever seen. That long hair also came in handy during the Thanksgiving pageant at her school last year when she played the part of a Native American. The long braids were perfect.

We did get her hair cut a little below shoulder length once, but it made her look so grown up and I couldn't wait for it to grow back out. And I haven't wanted her to cut it. I just love that hair. But she really wanted this change. And it's only hair after all, right?

So, here we are, with a sweet little golden bob and an unbelievably big smile. I have the locks to send to Wigs for Kids. We'll be sending that off tomorrow together. And mommy thinks she is just as adorable as ever. And please forgive a mommy's emotions over something so silly as a haircut!

Florence Child Photographer - K Family Preview

2008-10-01T13:53:00.009-04:00

Teens and preteens can be so much fun! I love photographing small children but sometimes it is really great to have subjects who can take a little direction! This beautiful young lady and her good-looking brothers were real troupers for their session last week. I visited them at their lovely family home for their sitting. Thanks to mom and dad's for the crazy antics when things got a little too serious! (I never did get the name of the dance they were doing that brought about all the laughter).

Here is a little preview of images taken that day. I'm looking forward to our proofing session!

Columbia Child Photography - M Family Preview

2008-09-25T17:57:00.015-04:00

I got to hang out with these two adorable little girls last weekend! Aren't they just too precious for words?! These girls had a really big day! Earlier that day they took a ride in a horse-drawn carriage with their mommy. At our photo shoot, they had a tea party, played in my princess chair in a pasture with horses, fed the horses some grass (and almost a couple of little fingers too!), and then ended the day with a horseback ride! Wow! A little girl's dream come true, right? And through it all they had the best dispositions, taking direction like little pros. I had a really tough time trying to figure out what to post here for mom's preview, so I finally gave up and this is as narrowed-down as I could get it!
A special thank you to mom's friends for the use of their beautiful property and four-legged "extras" for our shoot. You have a wonderful home and I really appreciate you allowing us to come and play!

Women's Photography - Beverly Arrington

2008-09-22T22:45:00.012-04:00

I recently had the great pleasure of meeting and working with Beverly Arrington, who booked one of the women's photography sessions with myself and the incredibly talented make-up artist and esthetician, Christi Stewart of Robin's Nest in Columbia. Beverly is a local residential and commercial real estate agent serving the Lake Murray, Lexington, Irmo, and Columbia areas. She and her husband Ron, who is also an agent, had a photo session at the gorgeous USC Horseshoe. They were in need of some new photos for their website and communications and I was so pleased they chose me for this session. Ron and Beverly are a wonderful couple and I enjoyed working with them so much.

Check out these images from their session. And if you are in the market for a real estate agent, visit Beverly's website at www.beverlyarrington.com or call her at 803.261.8846.

Clinging to Childhood

2008-09-19T00:43:00.013-04:00

This week I got a great new prop for shoots with little girls. It's a precious little bistro table and chairs with pink striped and floral cushions. (I just love watching little girls playing tea party.) When the shipment came, I took out the screw driver and set to work assembling it so it would be put together when my daughter came home from school. But when I was done, I realized that this sweet little table was probably too small for my little (or not so little anymore) princess. And it made me sad. And when she came home from school that day and saw the table and realized how small it was, I think it made her a little sad too.

Some of my daughter's schoolmates seem to be growing up so fast and I can see her struggling sometimes with wanting to be more grown-up like some of them and wanting to just be a kid. Luckily, the desire to be a kid is winning out right now, but I know that won't last forever. Because it seems just yesterday that I could sling that little thing up on to my hip to nestle her in for hugs. If I tried that now, I would break a hip!

Today, after school let out, my daughter snuggled into my arms for a hug and said, "Mommy, I always want to be your little girl." She hugged me so tightly and held on for so long. It was as if she were trying to cling to childhood. It was one of those moments when everything else becomes so unimportant and you have to stop and catch your breath and be so grateful for today.

And so we took that little table and chairs, and a little tin tea set, and Mr. Bear and we went out to an over-grown field and had a little tea party. And she poured the bear some "tea" and danced with him and hugged him as fiercely as she had hugged me. And I felt so happy to be capturing this moment and thought how fleeting this time would be. And I was, and am, so grateful for today.

Holiday Card Designs

2008-09-18T10:25:00.011-04:00

It's that time of year! I have been gearing up for holiday portrait season and have some fabulous new designs available for holiday cards this year. I had so much fun pouring over all the beautiful templates available and tried to pick a variety of designs. Cards can be flat or folded. I even have a few tri-fold designs this year! There are almost 30 different designs to choose from and they have been loaded into a gallery for client viewing. Here are just a few sample images!

If you are a client from this year, past or future, and you want to take a look at the full gallery, please email me for access;-)

P Family Preview

2008-08-25T21:33:00.011-04:00

Look at these two gorgeous little girls! The girls are 2 and 4 years old and really kept me on my toes. The 4 year-old met me on the driveway and immediately started telling me all about her favorite My Little Pony and favorite color and then wanted to show me all around her house! I loved it! She was ready to play right away - no warm up time needed at all;-)

And aren't their dresses adorable? They are from Tiny Treasures is Forest Acres. And one of the images from this session will soon be displayed there.

Thank you, little ladies, and the whole P family! I had a great time and look forward to seeing you at the proofing session!

A little texture on this one.
Don't you love the "silly faces"?

Mother-Daughter session

2008-08-22T16:53:00.010-04:00

These lovely ladies were too much fun! They both have a light that shines from within them and they are an absolute pleasure to work with.

This session, one of the women's promotional sessions offered earlier this year, was given by Robin to her mother as a Mother's Day gift. On Mother's Day she presented her mother with a lovely gift certificate in pretty packaging for a make-up application by Christi Stewart of Robin's Nest and a photo session with me! What a great gift! An experience of beauty and memories of a family bond captured forever.

I look forward to seeing you ladies at our proofing session tomorrow! Here is a quick little preview of the session.

I have so many exciting things to share with you so check the blog regularly as I try to update you on all the upcoming promotions, news, fantastic new products, and of course, the latest sessions!

Back from the Beach!

2008-08-05T01:06:00.009-04:00

Well, we're back from the beach. It was such a fantastic vacation! We had this trip planned for quite some time and were going to stay in my mom and step-dad's brand new home on Folly Beach. However, as they always do in the construction business, things happened and the house wasn't going to be ready for moving day until this week. My sister and her boyfriend were coming from New York and their schedules wouldn't allow for a delay. So my mom and step-dad rented a great house on the beach which we thought was so incredible of them! (We did get to see the new home though and it is truly AMAZING! Can't wait to document it and post some images.) Our vacation was filled with playtime, and eating great foods and taking lots of naps! We hunted for shells and explored the beach. My daughter learned to boogie board and couldn't get enough of it!

There was a pretty scary incident when we walked to the lighthouse and got caught in the rain - and me with my camera, of course, and no camera bag or any sort of protection for the camera at all! I walked back to the road, bent over at the waist with my camera under my shirt! I looked pretty ridiculous and was laughing so hard at myself I could hardly walk. Thank heavens for my husband, who had stayed behind and realized the situation. He was my knight on a shining golf cart, coming to the rescue!

We also celebrated my birthday with friends and karaoke! My daughter and my sister were the entertainers that evening and they were just too adorably funny!

Here are a few images from our vacation. I don't claim to be a landscape photographer but thought a couple turned out nicely.

The family shot was taken by me with my camera on remote. It's not so easy to compose a shot when your in it! But since an image of me is a rarity these days, I thought I should include it!

This is the beloved Aunt Amy - who hung the moon!

I just want to say thank you to all of those who have responded to my Christmas in July promotion! I am excited about all the sessions and am looking forward to a beautiful fall season. My November calendar for holiday delivery is now booked. My end of the year appointments are filling quickly. I have 12 appointments available for the rest of the year - 9 are available for holiday product delivery. This is what the schedule of available appointments looks like currently.

August - 2 (holiday product delivery available)
September - 4 (holiday product delivery available)
October - 3 (holiday product delivery available)
November - 1
December - 2

Christmas in July Promotion!

2008-07-25T00:34:00.008-04:00

Earlier this week I promised I would make an announcement about a promotion. Let's call it Christmas in July! This seems like an excellent time to announce the last session date for holiday delivery. The last available appointment date for holiday product delivery will be November 10th. You can still book a session after this date and purchase a gift certificate for your loved one to use. But if you want actual print delivery, your session must be held sometime before November 10th.

Are you ready for another promotion? Here is the deal: Book your 2008 photo session by confirming an appointment before the end of July. Place an order of at least $350 within 7 days of your proofing and you will receive 15% off your print and products purchase total! And here is a little more - if you book by the end of August and place the order within 7 days ($350 minimum), you will receive 10% off!

This would be a great time for those who want to book a holiday portrait session and for those who have been wanting to make a canvas purchase. 15% off your canvas gallery wrap! And the extra savings will make it fun to gift those you love with fine portraits and products. My Mini Accordion Albums are extremely popular with my clients and make excellent gifts and stocking stuffers! These little albums are so adorable. They measure 3"x3" and fold out to display 14 images, front and back, and have a window on the cover for 1 more image. And I package them with pink chiffon bags for girls or brown bags for boys. I also have some holiday bags for those who want a more festive holiday look.

8 is enough!

2008-07-24T02:14:00.015-04:00

OK. I am really dating myself with that title. My wonderful client, Cate, called me to do a photo session with 8 kids! Wow! 8 adults got into the picture every once in a while too. We all met at the park for a very informal photo session and the games began right away. We walked about checking out the fish in the ponds, the tiny little frogs, and exploring the rocks. We climbed the rocks. We climbed Uncle Michael. We played on the playground and ate giant lollipops. It was awesome! I wish I could have spent more time with everyone because they all seemed so nice. But I think everyone was a little pooped-out after this session!

I have to say it again - I have the best clients! The adults were so nice and the kids were just adorable and sweet. I really love me job;-)

Here are a few moments from our shoot!

Lorrie Rivers

2008-07-23T01:29:00.012-04:00

Lorrie Rivers loves her life! Lorrie is a local singer of jazz and original music, as well as an actress, and energy healer. She is a beautiful person.

I was thrilled when Lorrie called me and asked me to take her new headshots. She also wanted my friend Christie Stewart, from Robin's Nest, to do her make-up! So I knew this would be a fun and exciting shoot. I suggested we also do some edgier shots after finishing the headshots. And Lorrie was very willing. So we set our appointment and decided on a location on the river. The shoot was a great experience for all three of us and I hope that I'll be working with Lorrie again soon.

We drew the attention of quite a few river-goers that day!

G Family Preview

2008-07-21T22:58:00.008-04:00

What an awesome group this was! This family lives in a beautiful home on the lake and wanted some portraits while their extended family was visiting this summer. They seem like a very tight-knit group and were so warm and kind to me. The weather was a little frightening the weekend of this shoot, with storms all over, but it held out just long enough.

One of the most wonderful parts of my job is to witness the family bond. It is so beautiful to see strong, close families. I think being witness to other family relationships and viewing their beauty through my lens makes me appreciate mine so much more. I cannot wait to spend some quality time with my own next week!

T Family Preview

2008-07-21T20:36:00.013-04:00

You might remember this adorable family from a couple of months ago when I was fortunate enough to be able to capture some moments in the first few days of Baby C's life. They are so cute and full of life and love!

We visited Florence Marion University and what a beautiful campus it is! I just love the bridges and weeping willows - my favorite tree. Truly, I don't know of a more beautiful tree, in images or in person. And the little pond was so fun for big brother to "skip rocks". There wasn't a whole lot of skipping - except his feet;-) But he looked so gosh darn cute throwing those rocks across the pond with all his might!

I am running a little behind in previews, so expect to see a few in the next couple of days. I have had such a great time with my clients lately and am just so truly grateful to all of you for entrusting me with capturing these moments in your lives. To express my gratitude, I will be announcing a promotion later this week. So check back in! We are leaving for a much needed and long overdue family vacation this weekend so I have lots to do this week before we leave. And hopefully next week I can update with a few images from our vacation at the beach!

S Family Preview

2008-06-29T11:09:00.009-04:00

The USC Horseshoe is such a great place for little minds to explore! There are all kinds of paths to follow and discover where they lead. There are old doors and gates, porches and fountains, and benches and trees with low hanging branches. What a fun way to spend an afternoon.

How cute is this little boy! Just absolutely adorable and full of spunk. And soon to be a big brother too. We had tons of fun. And after a couple of failed attempts, we finally got the "kissing the belly" shot! Yeah!

Enjoy!

H Family Preview

2008-06-24T13:09:00.010-04:00

These boys are so adorable! What a precious family. Their older son was so sweet and affectionate. And the baby reminded me of my own daughter at that age. He was so serious and you could see him studying everything and taking it all in.

I loved the pier where we began our session. And finishing up at a park where everyone could just play was perfect. I'm looking forward to getting together with this family again soon for our proofing appointment!

Sweet Summertime

2008-06-18T01:21:00.014-04:00

Have you ever been to Tiny Treasures in Columbia? It's a fabulous children's boutique with adorable clothing and a fantastic staff! If you haven't been, you have to check them out. You'll be happy you did. And soon you'll see one of the images from this session displayed in the store.

These four beautiful, spirited children kept me on my toes! I was pretty beat at the end of this session. And I loved every minute of it! What a wonderful sense of family these kids had. I was so impressed with their care and gentleness with each other and their helpful attitudes. This session was spent exploring, climbing trees, throwing rocks in the water, and blowing bubbles. And of course, we wrapped it up by taking out the giant lollipops and enjoying the sticky sweetness. Everyone ended up with the bright colors all over their adorable faces. I think that's the way childhood should be.....sometimes exhausting, sometimes messy, but always sweet!

The Women of Robin's Nest

2008-06-13T03:31:00.009-04:00

I had the great pleasure of photographing the lovely ladies of Robin's Nest in Columbia recently - Robin Lee and Christi Stewart. You may have read in one of my earlier posts about Christi, who is working with me on a project of women's photography. These two fabulous women can help you look and feel your best with services such as Microdermabrasion, Light Therapy, Facials, Make-up Applications, and many, many other offerings.

Our session began in their wonderful work space, which is elegant and relaxing and welcoming. We wound up the session on the streets of Columbia. I loved working with Christi and Robin. They are women who are beautiful on the inside and out.

Beach Session

2008-06-03T10:51:00.012-04:00

I am so glad to have my system up and working again so I can start posting these previews! I will try to post one more this week before taking off for a nice long weekend to Texas. We are so excited to be traveling there again! We'll be visiting family and old friends and hopefully a few of our favorites places while there.

It was so difficult deciding which images to post in the preview for this session. This family was truly "in the moment" and allowed themselves to really have fun and enjoy themselves. I love working with people like this. I watch them through the camera and think how lucky I am to be seeing and photographing all the intimacy and love and beauty of family.

Sweet baby "R" turned one year old on their family vacation and we captured her first experience with birthday cake on the porch of the beach house. Then we went down to the beach for family portraits. What a great sport "R" was...even wearing a tutu and tiara. She was so precious!

I am looking forward to sharing all the images at our proofing session! Enjoy!

Technical Difficulties

2008-05-23T10:02:00.005-04:00

Well, if you have visited my site today, you may or may not have noticed that I am experiencing some technical difficulties. I'm not sure what the issue is exactly as I have not heard back from my hosting company but have been told by some of my colleagues that I am not alone. Hopefully the gurus in charge of the servers hosting our sites will have this issue corrected quickly.

As well as the issue with my website, I am experiencing editing withdrawal as my system is now in Charlotte for some pretty major repair. Ugh. Isn't it strange how attached we become to these systems? The little break I am getting is really not so bad but it is odd not to have my system in it's usual place, waiting for me to work on images, or check e-mail, or place orders, or update the blog or site. Thank goodness for this laptop! So forgive me for not posting any pretty images along with this entry but I don't trust the laptop with my editing. Maybe I'll pull something out of archive to post just for fun after my sessions this weekend;-)

Please don't forget that my new pricing is set to take effect on June 1, 2008. If you want to book one of my available mid-July or August sessions and take advantage of the current print pricing, you need to do so as soon as possible.

That's all the news for now. I hope to be posting some new images and previews soon. Have a great holiday weekend and be safe!

The Digital Darkroom

2008-05-13T12:53:00.006-04:00

In celebration of my new gorgeous canvas, I decided to do a post today to show you where I spend my working time when I am not out shooting or delivering packages. The room you see here is the digital darkroom/packaging center. This is where I customize, tweak, pop, tone, and otherwise beautify the images I take at your sessions. I have been very busy at my workstation lately with all the Spring bookings. Since I spend so much time here, it's important to me that it be comfortable and organized (although I have to admit that it gets pretty messy and cluttered sometimes;-). This is also where I do all my business related work and packaging. With such large pieces to wrap and prepare for delivery, I needed a dedicated space to do this. My very old and worn (and loved) breakfast table did the trick nicely!

My business has taken over two rooms in my home now. I have another room that houses all of my gear and props and display pieces. It's a smaller, cozier room and sometimes, when I need a breather, I curl up in my princess chair and read.

Welcome to my digital darkroom! And check out that beautiful canvas!

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T22:53:00.006-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to all you beautiful, strong, kind, loving, fun, free-spirited, courageous, and talented ladies out there! I hope you have been blessed with a day of love and laughter.

Today was a great day for me. My wonderful husband fixed a delicious breakfast for the three of us. My daughter and I visited my gorgeous mom for mother's day. My step-dad fixed us a scrumptious late lunch and even brought in a decadent chocolate cake for dessert. It was a chocoholic's dream come true. My daughter devoured her piece in about a minute flat!

My mom is one incredible lady. Her name is Toni Forrest and she is an interior decorator / feng shui consultant with her own business, Interior Visions, in which she assists people in co-creating an environment that reflects their deepest souls. She is fantastic. She has a real gift. My mom is a strong woman with a gentle and kind spirit. She is full of love and joy and is a truly wonderful mother and grandmother. She and my daughter are so close and have a beautiful relationship. I am so grateful for her love and support and for her unyielding faith in me. Thank you, mom. I love you!

I took a couple of quick images of Mom today. It's hard to believe when you look at this image that this woman could have two thirty-something daughters! The necklace she is wearing was a beautiful gift from my sister. I, of course, bestowed my mom with a portrait of my mother's favorite model, my daughter! I wonder if she will tire of the portrait gifts one day. Probably not!

C Family Preview

2008-05-08T11:14:00.011-04:00

I have been busy with 2 year-olds lately! I love it. What a precious (and very active!) age. This little girl is adorable. She has a sweet little spirit and so full of joy! We had a busy morning of throwing rocks in the pond, playing hide and seek, picking purple flowers (her absolute favorite!), and blowing bubbles. I got a hug and even a big smooch on the cheek when we finished up! I consider this one of the biggest compliments I can receive and it moves me every time! Thank you so much to her family. I enjoyed our session and am looking forward to the proofing;-)

E Family Preview

2008-05-06T01:28:00.010-04:00

I worked with Cate earlier last month and LOVED our session. Cate has such a beautiful spirit and is so fun. And I am so thrilled to have been able to capture her lovely family. We had a wonderful time this day and the kids were just terrific! I brought my portrait chair and antique goat cart for fun and and they brought some dress up clothes and were ready to play! I adore capturing children in their play clothes.

The kiddos were so sweet and I had a great time with them. I'm looking forward to spending time with this family again at the proofing session. Here are just a few images from the session. Enjoy!

Pricing Changes Effective June 1, 2008

2008-05-01T22:07:00.007-04:00

On June 1, 2008, there will be some print and product pricing changes. If you would like to book a session at the current pricing, please do so by May 31, 2008 5:00PM EST for any open appointment through August 31, 2008 . If you already have a confirmed June or July appointment, the current pricing is locked in and will be honored as long as you place your print order within 10 days of your proofing appointment.

If you have been considering additional prints from your session within the last year, purchase these by May 31, 2008 at current print pricing.

Thank you.

L Family Preview

2008-04-27T22:42:00.012-04:00

Thank you so much to the L Family for choosing me to provide you with family portraits! It was an honor to photograph the senior Mr. L - a photographer too! Your family was so kind and funny and warm. I had a wonderful time photographing you. Here's a quick peek at some fun shots from your session.

New babe

2008-04-25T15:32:00.006-04:00

I was so happy to photograph this beautiful new babe and his lovely family. And his big brother was just adorable! Loved the click of my shutter and would just laugh and laugh! What a doll.
Thank you so much for having me into your home during this wonderful (and totally exhausting;-) time!

Ladies - be good to yourself! And other moms this Mother's Day!

2008-04-15T12:36:00.009-04:00

I am extremely excited to be announcing a new promotion inspired, in part, by the lovely women I have had the great fortune to photograph lately. I wrote previously about women often forgetting or neglecting to honor themselves and their image with photography, especially as they get older and their responsibilities to others grow. Well, now is the time to be good to yourself, ladies!

I am joining forces with the lovely and talented Christi Stewart of Robin's Nest in the heart of Columbia, SC to provide you with an excellent opportunity to look your best and capture that image to treasure always.

So who is Christi?
"I am a licensed Esthetician specializing in makeup artistry. I love being a makeup artist in part because I get to work with color and be creative, but also because I love helping women figure out how to express themselves - in ways that really work for them. I hate seeing makeup that looks like it could never happen in nature. But I do love drama! Creating dramatic looks that are also natural is one of my favorite challenges I face as a makeup artist. I also love helping women get a soft day-to-day look. I love it all!
I've been using Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics for four years now. In my opinion, Iredale is the best makeup for photography because of its light reflecting qualities and the "soft" look it imparts.

I'm so excited to be working with Ashley. I love that she helps empower women through the art of self expression. I really believe there is healing in exploring ways to express ourselves. Not to mention, it's also a lot of fun!"

So, here is the deal: A custom make-up application by Christi at Robin's Nest and a photo session in a Columbia location of your choice by me for only $175! This is a $250 value! We will only be accepting 5 appointments at this price, so call to set up yours today! And since Mother's Day is just around the corner, you may purchase a session as a gift. I will provide you with a gift certificate to bestow upon one of your favorite "moms" - mom, sister, daughter, aunt, friend, etc. If she is a busy mom, she will love this gift. She will be able to redeem the certificate and set the appointment time herself.

Images from these sessions may appear in the portfolio for Ashley Ward Photography and/or Christi Stewart and require a signed model release.

Look and feel and be your most beautiful self and capture it to share with loved ones. You'll be so glad you took the time to document the fabulous YOU!

Happy Birthday, Sis!

2008-04-14T22:59:00.019-04:00

Many of you who read or subscribe to my blog may not know my sister, Amy Miles (here or here). Amy is the very talented singer, song-writer, performer extraordinaire who, along with her friend Michael Robertson (here), co-wrote, produced and performed the song on my website, "Don't Go Too Fast". Many people have told me how much they love the song and want to know where they can purchase it.

Hear that, Amy?! We need that one on iTunes, too!

Anyway, today is my beautiful, strong and very talented sister's birthday! (Happy Birthday, sweetie! I love you!) So I thought it only fitting to post about her tonight and tell you a little bit about our collaborative efforts and some of the exciting projects in the works for her. I've already told you about how I was lucky enough to have such great music for my website. First I'll tell you a little about her "grown-up" works and then tell you about her "kid-related" projects.

Amy has a hot new CD coming out called "King Of Girls", for which I was lucky enough to produce the photography and art work.

Be on the lookout for this CD. Also check out some of her other cd's at iTunes.

As well as an artist with her own band, Amy is also a performer with the popular Citizens Band in NYC. She also recently recorded a beautiful song on "The Ten" soundtrack with friend and writer, Craig Wedren and performed at an event for Senator Obama with a new girl group, "Birds". I couldn't begin to enumerate all the great projects she has been involved in but those are just a few.

And her kid-related projects are very exciting! She wrote and performs the theme song for a new Nickelodeon cartoon premeiring April 26th called "The Mighty B"!. This cartoon is co-created and executive produced by Amy Poehler of Saturday Night Live; Cynthia True, a recent staff writer for Nickelodeon's "The Fairly OddParents"; and Erik Wiese, an Emmy-nominated storyboard artist and writer who has worked on "SpongeBob". Amy Poehler is the voice of The Mighty B.

Also, my sister Amy (not Amy Poehler!) will be the star of a new PBS show debuting in September called "Lomax, The Hound of Music"! Amy was busy filming this fall's episodes last year and everyone at our house is anxiously awaiting the airings. I will, of course, be announcing more about this project as the d-day (debut day) approaches! But this will be a great show for families with children 3-7 years of age and is "designed to increase" their "musical intelligence". Plus, it will be fun and engaging to watch!

But Amy is so much more than just her accomplishments. My sister is just a wonderful, warm, loving, funny, spirited woman that I am so happy to call family. She inspires me and encourages me and loves me. You couldn't wish for more.

Love you, Amy!

Urban Session

2008-04-09T00:56:00.010-04:00

Last week it was my pleasure to meet this lovely woman. She is so sweet and interesting and I had a lot of fun on this shoot. I have her two children scheduled for a session in a couple of weeks but she needed a session of her own. I took some head shots for her business - Cate is an independent executive for Zrii, an ayurvedic drink that promotes well-being and balance and abundance (http://care.myzrii.com). Then we went to some of my favorite locations for some fun, urban photos. She was so wonderful to work with and looks amazing! Children's photography is my first love but WOW - I love photographing women too. And I have had fun today processing these images. Looking forward to capturing this beautiful lady and her children soon!

When this session was booked, I thought about how long it had been since I have had my own session. I won't even tell you. I am always on the other end of the camera. And so I am not in very many images from holidays or gatherings. I have been meaning to get some new images made but always put it off. I think so many women do this too. For lots of not very good reasons. "I don't have time" or "My hair is a mess right now" or "Just 15 more pounds" or "I don't need images of me - just my kids or my family". I know some of these excuses well myself. But, honestly, when was the last time you had a really fun photo session of just you? No kids, no husband....just you? Don't wait to do this. Embrace yourself and go out and have that beautiful spirit within you captured. It will make you feel great! Your loved ones will treasure those images, now and as time passes. So do it for them. And do it for you!
I think I will take my own good advice on this and call a friend and fellow photog for my own session;-)

Swans, firetrucks and raisins!

2008-03-29T23:43:00.011-04:00

What a gorgeous morning I had! I met a wonderful family at Swan Lake today for a Springtime photo session and we had a great time! Their son had just turned two years old and so we planned a morning full of activities - feeding swans and geese, spotting turtles and squirrels, playing on the playground. He was absolutely in love with feeding the birds some of the bread I brought along.

We were a little concerned about it being wet and cold this morning but the weather couldn't have been any better. And the cherry blossoms and azaleas were all in bloom, making it a great setting for pictures. I absolutely love this place and could spend an entire day there!

Here are a few quick images from our session this morning. Isn't he an absolute doll?!

And if your subject is having a bashful moment, nothing like a quick capture of those Sunmaid Raisins to make an excellent kitchen photo!

Best Friends!

2008-03-23T20:35:00.011-04:00

I had the opportunity to photograph two beautiful and sweet teenage girls this weekend. They have been best friends for a long time and it was so fun to be able to capture some images of them, together and individually. I also thought about my own best friend back in my high school days and how much I miss the bond we had. Friendship is such a beautiful relationship and I hope these girls will cherish each other their whole lives!

Here are few of my favorites so far from our shoot this weekend!

Canvases Rock!

2008-03-09T23:15:00.007-04:00

One of my favorite offerings, and a definite favorite of my clients as well, is a gallery wrap canvas. This week I delivered a beautiful 20x36 canvas gallery wrap to one of my newer clients. The art piece was intended as the focus of the family room with a place of honor above their fireplace mantle. The lady of the house created some beautiful flower arrangements for either side of the canvas and it looked wonderful! I was thrilled to see it on their wall before leaving. Just wanted to share some images with you. And thank you so much to my clients. I hope this piece brings you joy for years and years to come!

A Blustery Day

2008-03-06T16:23:00.006-05:00

A couple of days ago, as a storm was making it's way towards us, we experienced some incredible high winds and beautiful overcast skies. Perfect time for an impromptu photo shoot! My daughter indulged me after school this day and we quickly dressed her in a vintage dress, grabbed a couple of scarves and headed out the door for a field where I like to take images. The winds almost blew her down a couple of times but she was such a good sport - taking direction like a real pro! Just wanted to share some of these fun and dramatic images. I think it's time for a new canvas!

Spring Fever!

2008-02-27T13:07:00.016-05:00

As I drove around Columbia this weekend, wishing for warm weather, sunshine, and flip-flops, I realized that Spring is truly upon us! The trees are starting to bloom, the grass looks a little greener, and I expect to see the first buds of Spring poking their heads through the dirt and stretching up for the warmth of the sun any day now. And not a moment too soon for me! I feel as if I have been hibernating this winter, only venturing out on the warmest of days. How thankful I am this has been a mild winter for us.

I am pleased to say I have already started booking sessions for May. So if you are interested in May or June appointment times, don't wait long to book yours. However, there are still some March and April dates available. Since Spring is such a luscious time for photo shoots, I am offering a great Spring Photo Event! All sessions scheduled for March or April will receive a $50 print credit. Just book your session for March or April, order your prints within 10 days of your proofing appointment, and the first $50 of your print order is FREE! If you are one of the first 5 people to book a session using this promotion, I will increase your print credit to $75! How's that for some Spring madness?
Book your session early to allow enough times for processing special occasion gifting for Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Spring birthdays, and such. And remember this is a wonderful time of year for sessions at some of my favorite locations such as Swan Lake or the beach! These images were taken at Swan Lake on April 1st of last year - the best time to get all of the springtime blooms!

Ride a Bike!

2008-02-19T22:21:00.011-05:00

WOW! Today was a really great day. One of those days you remember for the rest of your life. One of those days that life is all about. Today my daughter learned to ride her bike.

My husband and I have been working with our sweetpea off and on for a couple of weeks now - letting her get her bearings and assuring her we won't let go until she is ready. We started by letting her ride on the street in our neighborhood. But this weekend we took the bike and the dog and went on a nice walk.

The neighborhood we live in is a new area where they are still building homes and there are still open areas of dirt and wild tall grasses. This is one of my favorite places to go walking with my daughter. We love looking at the animal footprints in the dirt and mud and the geese that fly in to land on the water in the little ponds. She loves to climb the dirt hills and walk along the water's edge.

On our walk this weekend, we ended up in this same area and realized what a perfect place it would be to practice on the bike. The ground is hard enough to be able to pedal easily and soft and silty enough to cause very little damage to little hands and knees when the falls occur. Daddy gave her big pushes and she took a few pedals but would put her feet down rather quickly most of the time. On a couple of occasions she braved it enough to get about 15 feet or so before putting her feet down. It was a great improvement. I could see her confidence and determination growing.

Today we ventured out yet again to the soft dirt to practice. Again, Daddy gave her some pretty big pushes to get her started and once she seemed to be gaining a better sense of balance, he patiently taught her to push off on her own. Oh my, she must have tried 50 times today. At one point she was teary-eyed from being tired and having a near spill that scared her and we urged her to take a break for the day, promising that we would return tomorrow. She wouldn't hear of it. She was so determined to keep trying until we were at our doorstep again.

Daddy walked ahead with Jovie, our sweet puppy, and I walked along side my daughter as she bravely sniffled her fear away and kept trying. A push and a couple of pedals and a walk off to the left....a push and a couple of pedals and a walk off to the right....a push and a few pedals and a walk off to the left. It was windy and a bit cold and I was getting hungry. But she seemed to need to squeeze every last minute of this time to practice. So I kept encouraging her and kept walking slowly beside her. And then she looked at me and said, "I can do this, Mommy." And I said, "I know you can." She pushed off and left me in the dust. She pedaled and pedaled a good 100 feet or more, even taking a turn and, wobbly as it was, she kept on pedaling and yelling, "I'm doing it! Look, I'm doing it! Look at me, Daddy!" And I was screaming and laughing behind her, "Look at her go!" She finally stopped and put down the kickstand and ran to her daddy, "Did you see me, Daddy! I did it! All by myself! I did it!" Then she raced back to me and the bike and jumped back on again. She rode right back to the house. When she got off she threw her arms around her dad and said, "Thank you, Daddy! Thank you for everything!" Then she hugged me and thanked me too. I choked back the tears.

This is a day I will always remember. These are moments so precious I want to preserve them forever. This is why I am a photographer.

Ladybug Love!

2008-02-12T22:34:00.006-05:00

This week my daughter was invited to a birthday party and Mommy tagged along. She had a wonderful time and played hard with her friends. After the party, we waited outside for one of the partygoers' mom to pick her up and as the girls were playing, they came across a ladybug. I have always loved ladybugs. I guess it's their vibrant red, polka-dot cloak that always makes me smile when I see one. I love bright red and polka-dots always feel happy to me. And while I love seeing ladybugs, I don't really have any desire to pick one up! I never have been a bug person. Luckily, my daughter has not acquired a distaste for bugs from me. She happily picked up the ladybug letting her walk all over her hands and arms and giggled as the little feet raced on her skin. I quickly grabbed my camera to get a few quick snaps of this sweet moment of childhood. And then I encouraged her to put the ladybug on her face. My daughter happily agreed and squealed with delight as the ladybug tickled her nose and forehead. We all giggled and squealed along with her. I had difficulty even holding my camera from laughing so hard. It was such an unexpected moment of pure joy...waiting for a friend's ride to arrive, waiting to go home and eat dinner and crawl into bed. I'm so glad that mom was late!

Contest Results!

2008-02-09T17:39:00.000-05:00

WOW! When I started the blog contest I had no idea so many people would be voting! There were 635 votes total! Amazing!

So I am sure you are all wondering about the results and here they are.
The 2nd and 3rd place winners will be receiving 8x10 prints of their images. Congratulations to you!

Image 9 - third place

Image 1 - second place

And the image with the most number of votes in the Best of 2007 contest and the winner of a 16x20 museum gallery wrap of their image is
Image 2!

Congratulations to you! This is sure to be a beautiful addition to your home's decor and an art piece to treasure always!

Thanks to everyone who participated and voted in the contest. Check the blog again soon for the latest news and promotions from Ashley Ward Photography!

Best of 2007 Contest!

2008-01-25T12:57:00.000-05:00

Everybody loves to win something, right? (Those new ebay commercials are great. I just love those!) And contests can be so much fun. So I am holding a little contest of my own. I want your help selecting my Best Image of 2007. I have selected some images from 2007 photo sessions that I really love. You get to vote on your favorite image. The client whose image receives the most votes will receive a 16x20 canvas gallery wrap of their image! That's right! A canvas! Second and third place winners will receive an 8x10 portrait of their images.
So start voting! But no cheating! Only one vote per computer. I will be checking the stats for duplicate voting and to keep this fair and fun for everyone, images with duplicate voting will be disqualified. Voting ends on February 9, 2008 at midnight EST.
Have fun and good luck to everyone!

Here are the images!

Image 1

Image 2

Image 3

Image 4

Image 5

Image 6

Image 7

Image 8

Image 9

Valentine's Day is coming!

2008-01-09T06:46:00.000-05:00

My first official posting to my blog! How exciting! It's nice to be starting this project at the beginning of the new year. Thinking of this blog as a new project for the new year has helped motivate me. I am looking forward to seeing what 2008 will bring!

Valentine's Day will be here before you know it. I love Valentine's Day. And it's not just for sweethearts. It's a celebration of love in all forms. Don't forget your mom, your brother, your best friend! Let them know how much they mean to you. A photo session would be a wonderful way to tell them you love them and want to document this time with portraits you can enjoy always. Or gift the ones you love with a photo session of their family or children!

To make it easy for you, I am offering gift certificates this Valentine's day. They can be purchased as a session or as a session plus print credit. Contact me today to purchase yours!