Holiday Card Mini-Session Event

Many of you have asked about portraits for your holiday cards, so I will be having a mini-session event to help you with that.

Here's the scoop:
Dates: Sunday afternoon, Nov. 4 & Monday evening, Nov. 5
Place: My studio
Cost: $30 for the 20-minute mini-session; plus $50 for 25 cards; $95 for 50 cards; $140 for 75 cards; $185 for 100 cards.

Your proofs (about 5 to 7) will be ready about a week after your session. You will then need to tell me which proof you want me to use for your holiday cards -- 5x7 flat cards printed on high-quality paper, with envelopes. We offer a number of designs to choose from.

You will pay for your session and cards at your appointment (you may re-order more cards later if you need to). I will also create an online gallery for you so you may buy prints from your gallery at a discount (grandparents love getting portraits as Christmas gifts). You will need to choose the proof for your card by the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Nov. 21. Your proof gallery will stay online until Dec. 1 to give you extra time to order other prints.

Sessions are limited. To book an appointment,
please send me email at lori@centerstagephotos.net

Natural Beauty

Amanda came for senior portraits tonight. She is such a beautiful girl, and didn't have on a bit of make-up - no fair! She also seems to be as sweet and fun as they come. She wanted the outdoor portion of her session at a local sand volleyball place - what a fun and creative choice that really shows off her personality - the way senior portraits should be!

I hope you enjoy these, Amanda - choosing just a few for my blog was really hard! Look for your proofs later this week. Thank you for choosing me to document this important milestone in your life.

(Click on these photos to make them bigger).

No maternity portraits for Mommy!

Meet Jack, whose timing is a just a little bit off -- instead of coming to my studio last week for her maternity portraits (at 36 weeks), mom Sara was instead at the hospital, getting to know her hours-old baby boy. So much for maternity portraits! Sara and Jesse brought Jack tonight for his newborn session. I couldn't have asked for more - he slept the whole time, never got hungry, and didn't pee on my backdrop (a first for me!). Mom and Dad are obviously proud - and they should be -- he's a very cuddly little man.

Congratulations!

Little Miss Smiley gets serious

I have photographed this little gal many times, and love her so much. It helps, of course, that she looks very much like my own daughter. She smiles -- a lot! But I happened to catch her in a more serious moment. Such a beauty - smiley or serious.

Enjoy, Shelly - you will have your proofs shortly.


(click on photos to see them larger)

Grandpa Carl's Truck

Growing up, I always loved my Grandpa's old white truck. The smell of it. The way the side-view mirrors were designed. The steering wheel. What I loved the most was riding in the bed of the truck with my twin sister as my Grandpa drove it around the farm (obviously this was in the years before car seats and seatbelt usage!)

My grandfather has been gone for too many years now, but his truck is parked in the barn yard. Yesterday it made the neatest prop ever for a 1-year-old portrait. Somewhere I think Grandpa Carl is smiling.

Happy birthday to Krystin's baby boy!

Great Expectations

Katie came today for maternity portraits, and just confirmed that there really is something to that old "pregnant glow" thing. Katie -- best wishes for a safe delivery, and I'll see you in a few weeks for your newborn portraits!

.... And I think maybe expectant dads glow, too!

Patience pays off

Jessica brought her family today for portraits. Included in that family is a 2-year-old. That is a really tough age for studio portraits. I remember when we took our own son to a studio for his 2-year portraits. There were so many tears, cajoling, pleading (and that was just on the part of the photographer! LOL). My husband and I swore off portraits for a while after escaping that studio at the end of the session.

Just like my own son, Jessica's little boy really wasn't thrilled with having his portraits taken. But Jessica and I talked about how it only takes one -- one portrait in which everyone is looking at the camera and looking happy -- to make the session worthwhile. I think we've got a few she will be happy with. It just takes patience. Thank you for trusting me with your family portraits!

Sweet sweet baby

This little man is only seven days old -- but weighs nearly 10 pounds! Still, he was so sweet, and cuddly and small. His mom saw her brother's recent family portraits and liked what she saw -- so booked an appointment for her new baby boy. Thank you, Diane, for choosing Center Stage Photography to create custom portraits of your tiny little man.