Drumroll please...

Hearing about people in need, especially around the holidays, turns me into a complete sap... so it's no surprise that when I read the submissions I received for the Giving is Awesome project, I cried at each one. I wish I could offer everyone who e-mailed me a free session and products but after a lot of deliberation, I finally decided on a winner!

Congratulations Roberts Family!

And just because the message pulled my heart strings, here's a blurb from the e-mail I received: "Please accept this as a nomination for my brother and his family… it is excruciating to watch your family member or loved one go through circumstances that seem impossible and that are out of your control to change in any way… I want him to never forget that people love them, people care about them, and that God has not forgotten them.”

I can't wait to get our session scheduled and share the images!! Stayed tuned within the next few months.

One photographer + robot perched on said photographer's head = smiling family

It's amazing what one person will do in order to hear giggles and see smiles from children. Real smiles... not stuffy ones.
This afternoon I met up with the Norris Family for their second annual holiday session with me. I love being able to see my clients grow up and find out what has been going on in their lives since we last met. Today's session was held at Valdosta State University. There's a gorgeous stone path that is flanked with camilla bushes and we took advantage of the quiet areas of campus.







A holiday card option:

Saying good-bye to an old friend

I can remember it like it was yesterday. The package arrived... and I tore that sucker open as fast as I could and embraced my first dSLR like it was a child. Since March 2007 I've shared many memories with my Olympus e-500 dSLR camera, both personally and professionally. In March of 2008, however, my Oly took the back burner to my new pride and job -- my Canon 20d. I always kept it close though, just in case.
After much thought and deliberation, I've decided to sell my Olympus. Here are the details. If you would like to purchase it, or know someone who would, please e-mail me. It'd be a great Christmas present... I'm just sayin'. :)

- Original box and manual
- Olympus e-500 body
- 14-45mm (1:3.5-5.6) kit lens
- 40-150mm (1:3.5-4.5)
- Olympus flash FL-36
- Flash diffuser
- Olympus battery and charger
- 2GB xd photo card
- Lowepro Slingshot 300

Selling Price: $600 (Paypal preferred)

Great for someone just entering the photography scene. I loved this camera and it served me well. And to break it down for you a bit, I priced everything on Amazon -- it amounted to around $950 brand-new.

Giving Is Awesome!

With the holidays rapidly approaching (13 days until Christmas!) I wanted to think of a way to give back. When I discovered Giving is Awesome , I knew I had to participate!!

Here is how it works -

You know someone. You know someone who’s experienced a tragedy or illness, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone might not be thinking of themselves, but who would cherish the moment this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family’s spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography – $400 worth, to be exact. The winner will receive a photo session along with a CD of all edited digital files to fully decorate their home and be able to share with friends and family, a 12x12 storyboard of their favorite session image. It’s in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season.

Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a FREE photo session too! What better reason to show some love could there possibly be, people?

The rules:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be worthy of this gift. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)
* The nominee must reside in the Valdosta area. Tell me who you know, what they’re experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.
* You must e-mail me the full story : thebondbetweenus@gmail.com The deadline for submitting entries will be midnight on December 22nd, with the winner being announced on December 23rd. Get nominating... I can’t wait to read all of your entries!

Open your heart to someone this holiday season — and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

Last Minute Holiday Session

This afternoon (that was cold and windy, I might add) I met up with Erin and Trip for their holiday session. I've been attempting to get together for a shoot for the past few weeks, but between the nasty weather and Trip getting a cold, today was the first available time.
We met up at VSU's front lawn which provided a beautiful backdrop to our shoot. I haven't edited any pictures from the session, but I wanted to get this holiday card up for Erin to see. We're in a pickle trying to get cards ordered and delivered in time for her to send out to family and friends...

As with all of my holiday and special occasion cards, these are double-sided 5x7 flat panel cards.

Happy December!

It's hard to believe that the holidays are here. Christmas is only 20 days away!
With the winter days, however, comes yucky weather. And as an on-location photographer, good weather is kinda important to my job. :) With all of the nastiness that we had in town, there haven't been many opportunities to do photo shoots. Hopefully this weekend and next will offer good weather... because the shoots I had to cancel for last weekend are re-scheduled for then!
Stay tuned to the blog for lots of cuteness. I just wanted to write to make sure you didn't think I had forgotten about this 'ole thing.