Announcing: Central AR Mini-Sessions!

Every year, I tell myself I’m going to make it to my old stompin’ grounds & photo all the gorgeous children that belong to my hometown peeps…  and every year, scheduling gets the best of me and by the time I blink, it’s Fall busy season and I still haven’t made it.

Not this year.  This year, I’m planning.  In advance.  I know you’re all shocked… gasp with me.

Session availability is VERY limited (4 mini-sessions are currently being booked) and the location is still up in the air (open to suggestions in Maumelle, if you have any!) but here they are…

As of right now, only one day of sessions is being offered. With enough interest, we may add additional mini’s for the following day.

In the event of inclement weather, dates will be rescheduled.

Ready to book your spot? Just click the “book it!” button below! :)


Surprise Session!

Did you hear?  There’s a SURPRISE SESSION going on this Friday!

When:  5:00 PM (or earlier, if you’re available)

Who:  One subject – you, your dog, your kid, your butler (do you have a butler?  If so, I’m totally jealous) Beth M, you’re it!

What:  A FREE mini-session (includes 20 minutes of shooting plus 3 files on disk)

HOW?:  Just be the FIRST person to comment on this blog post (NOT on the FB link – comment must be HERE on the blog) and the surprise session is ALL yours!

**note that in the event of inclement weather, Surprise Sessions will not be rescheduled**

Welcome, Baby Brey

Spent Sunday afternoon with this adorable little family…  here are just a few snaps from our time together.  :)

giveaway

I’m super excited to be a part of this giveaway from More Than Words Photography {by Tammi}!

Every single person reading this needs to head over to her blog & pick a package to enter and win!  There’s something in this giveaway for everyone – it’s not just for photographers – so GO now & check it out, be sure to go “like” all the amazing vendors on Facebook, as well!

Round 2 – Spring Mini-Sessions

After an insanely fast response to the first announcement of Spring mini-sessions, I’ve opted to add another weekend to the already busy Spring shooting schedule!

Several of these spots are already filled, as well, so contact me ASAP to scoop yours up!  To request a Spring Mini-Session, you will need to EMAIL me (melissa@preservedphoto.com) or use the contact me form on the website.  Email requests are processed before comments – don’t miss out!

2011 Spring Mini-Sessions Announced!

I said it was coming… and here it is!

Please email (melissa@preservedphoto.com) or use the contact me link on the site to book yours.  Space is limited, so get in early!

Mini-sessions generally result in 5-10 images.  Please note that if you are including more than one child/person in your mini-session, fewer individual photos will result of each child. Spring 2011 mini-sessions will include a disk of your photos, fully-edited by me, printable up to size 4×6.  Additional prints & products also available for purchase following the session.

Aftershock… and Appreciation

So, if you’re reading this, you probably know that I ran an INSANE sale all week last week on the Photographer’s Sample Pack photo blocks.

I completely was not anticipating the kind of response you guys gave – and I appreciate each & every one of you!  Since I’ll be tucked away all week (hopefully without that extra 4-8″ of snow they’re forecasting for Wednesday) working on orders, it’s going to be pretty quiet around here!

I know several of you have contacted me about missing the sale… so to show my appreciation for all my fellow photographers, I’m offering TEN of the sample packs at 35% off! To grab one up, just use this button:

Hope everyone gets to leave their houses this week… and a big thanks to ALL of you for your patience while I’m filling all your amazing orders! :)

Playing Catch Up

So… today, I visited my own website.  And it took me all of about 2.2 nanoseconds to realize that I did such a POOR job of sharing some amazing sessions with you guys during the busy Fall season.  Tsk, tsk.  Shame on me!

Since I don’t want these to skate by without being shared, here are a few of some of my favorite images you may have missed…

…there are tons more that I’d love to share, but I know that attention spans don’t last very long, so these are just a snippet of what I’ve been up to the last couple months. :)

Photo Block Sample Pack Sale!! ***UPDATED***

***IMPORTANT UPDATE***

Just wanted to mention that my area of the US is forecasted to receive a really nasty ice/snow storm starting tomorrow (Monday) evening.  Hopefully, it won’t cause any major issues, but I’m in Arkansas.  And in case you didn’t know, that means that there’s a likely chance for serious power outages…  that said, if you have already purchased PLEASE try to get your images to me tonight if at all possible, so that I can get as much done before the storm comes as I can! :)
Also, it might not be a bad idea to head over to my Facebook page & “like” it, I think that will be a better spot to post updates about the sale!
Thank you guys for the awesome support!

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Updated (yet again) to add – seems someone (maybe me) underestimated the shipping costs for the sample packs.  Oopsie.  I will be eating the difference for those of you who have already purchased, but have updated the button at the bottom of this post to reflect the new shipping/handling costs.

Also, have added a second button (at the very bottom) for all my International buyers – Canada & Australia buyers – please use the last button.  Thanks!

Today through Friday (2/4/2011), there’s a sale going on for all my fellow photographers!  :)

These new items make perfect desk collections, client gifts, and are an amazing alternative to framed prints.

The photographer’s sample pack includes one of EACH block type, as follows:

  • Newborn Birth Stats – 3 Block set
  • Small Single-Sided block (3.5×4)
  • Small Double-Sided Block
  • Large Single-Sided Block (5.5×7.5)
  • Large Double-Sided Block

To answer a few FAQ’S:

  • The images printed on your sample set are YOUR photos.  Following purchase, you’ll just email me your files (melissa@preservedphoto.com), indicating which photo(s) you’d like on each block.
  • Photographers who have purchased the sample pack will receive a 35% discount on all future orders (price list can be provided to you via email)
  • Regular orders can generally be shipped within 24-48 hours of receiving your images (this excludes the current sale – lead times may be a little longer when order volume is high… fingers crossed we don’t get that nasty ice/snow storm they’re calling for tomorrow night, too!)

Through Friday, you can pick up the entire sample pack for only $29.00 (that’s a 50% discount)!

In addition, the first 15 purchasers will also receive a freebie set of these adorable desk blocks to keep for themselves.  :)

**UPDATED** first 15 are SOLD!   The sale price is still active for additional photographers, through Friday!

Whatcha waiting for? Get ‘em now!  Just click the appropriate Buy Now button below….

US BUYERS CLICK HERE:


INTERNATIONAL BUYERS CLICK HERE:


Cultivating Confidence – Jacqueline’s Story

Several months ago, fellow photographer Jacqueline Childress (Tiny Impressions) casually posted on Facebook that she was thinking of starting a new blog series.  Something designed to showcase confidence… and to discuss the events that led to finding that strength for each person featured.  As SOON as I saw that post, I immediately jumped on the bandwagon and said I wanted IN on this game.

First, let me tell you WHY this is important to me.  When I was in college, I was determined that someday I would be the administrator of a camp, of sorts, for young girls with self-esteem issues.  I had it all mapped out in my brain.  I would win the lottery (this was a very important step, obviously) so that I could be financially independent, then I would buy a big piece of land (somewhere close to a mall) and I would invite all the little children of the world to come visit my camp and let me tell them how amazing they were for an entire week.  Surely that would open their eyes and let them all see that no matter how tall, thin, fat, short, red-headed, etc. they were… they were awesome.  Then, of course, life happened.  And Christina Aguilera released that “You Are Beautiful” song/video which basically took care of my entire plan.  Obviously, my feel-good camp just wasn’t in the cards.  (Plus, I never even bought a lottery ticket).

Instead, I was given another amazing opportunity.  To work with all of YOU, and your children, and now?  Now, I get to showcase how loving, happy, gorgeous, and full of life you all are.  Sure, it’s not a camp and we’re not usually close to the mall, but it kind of serves the same purpose.  And my hope is that when you leave a session, and see your images, you FEEL confident that you/your child/your family are what you wanted them to be all along.

Today, I’ll be posting about Jackie’s story and she, in turn, has posted my story on her blog.  So yes, you can go over there and read about me if you want. But first…  let’s read about her, shall we?

Jacqueline’s Story

I, like most women, can rattle off many things about myself that make me insecure. I wear a size 10 in shoes, which means I should be much taller than I am. I am a petite 5’4”, which means you can tell I have big feet! I used to have an overbite-a really bad overbite. I have a little bit of a lazy eye on one side. When I get tired you can really tell. The natural shape of my eyebrows is a triangle, kind of like Raggedy Ann. I am so thankful for tweezers! I was always jealous of my friends with a tiny waist. I have the “tomboy” figure which means I have no waist. I am officially almost half and half with white and black hair. I could keep going, but you get the point!

You might think after all that self loathing that I don’t have any self esteem, but I do. I would tell you that braces have made me love my smile now. I love that people who really know me associate me with being happy and always smiling. I may not be over all of my insecurities, but I am happy with the person I have become. Many of my successes in life were a result of other monumental failures. This has led me to adopt my favorite saying “it is what it is.” There are times that you can’t change what has happened but if you keep moving forward you may not want to look back.

My best advice is to surround yourself with people who are your real friends. You need friends who will tell you the truth, but who don’t bring you down. You need friends who will encourage you and challenge you to be better. At times there will be people who will say bad things about you. It is hard to see at the time, but it can be from their own insecurities. Make sure your “friends” aren’t doing that to you. It can be difficult to make new friends but it can be much better for your self-esteem in the long run.

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Jacqueline Childress is located in Texas, you can also find her on Facebook!