March Contest {Nominate A Deserving Family or Couple}

March Contest

Prize: Heritage Studio & Gallery Photo Session with $200 worth of prints! {$350 value!}

Nominate a Couple or Family who you think deserves this Prize by doing the following:

• Writing an essay, in 800 words or less, explaining who you think should win the free photo session and prints. Tell us a little about the family or couple you are nominating and what makes them deserving.
• You may not nominate yourself or your own immediate family, but the person who nominates the winner will also win a prize {a 16×20 gallery wrapped canvas–$299 value!}
• Send your essay to amy@heritagestudioandgallery.com with the subject “march contest.”
• Please tell others about this contest by posting it on Facebook or twittering about it. We’d really like to help a family that would benefit from this gift. Enter by: April 2nd Winner will be announced: April 5th

And because a blog post without a picture is like shopping without someone else’s credit card, meet little {I}.  Isn’t she darling?!

Stay Tuned

This week is going to be a good one.  So many fun things going on.

• I will be shooting kids {Wow–that sounds bad–but you know what I mean} at a Legacy Village store on Tuesday and Wednesday.  I am hoping for lots of fun images to share.
• Aaron and Rachel’s engagement photos…coming to a blog near you.
• A “What-to-Wear” that will inspire any couple to schedule an engagement session. {Covered briefly in the newsletter…and, uh…speaking of the newsletter, are you signed up?  …And why not?  Sign ups are below and I promise not to flood your inbox.}
• A three month old with the sweetest little disposition you’ve ever seen.
• Our March contest–nominate a deserving family or couple {details to come}
• A wedding vendor interview

On second thought, that’s going to take more than a week but it’s such good stuff.  Don’t miss it!

And, because a post without a photograph is like March without sunshine, here is a shot of a booth Dave set up at Westfield Mall in North Canton this past weekend.  Did anyone see it?

Stomach Bugs & an Engagement Photo

I’ve learned three things in the last week…

1. Lying in bed for days isn’t as fun as it sounds
2. Cherry slushies might be the yummiest drink in the world when nothing else sounds good
3. The stomach flu should die a long and horrible death

I have lots more to blog in the next few days, but I just wanted to check in and say hello…oh and share this favorite image Dave took of his son and his fiancée.  {More coming soon!}

Akron Infant Photography {V Sneak Peek}

There is something about a baby that just melts your heart…

and {Baby V} is no different.

Ten tiny fingers…

…and ten tiny toes…

…one pouty mouth and an adorable nose.

Check out that hair…

And his smile…so sweet…

…good night and sleep tight {Baby V}.

Thanks {S} & {M}.  I loved meeting your little guy and look forward to watching him grow up.

Hands {Photography Contest}

For a long time now I’ve had a project in mind.  I’ve wanted to photograph people’s hands holding mugs–mugs of tea, coffee, hot chocolate.  The drink isn’t important.  It’s the hands. …elderly arthritic hands, young chubby hands, worker hands…you get the idea.

When I Heart Faces shared their weekly contest theme of “hands”…I wanted to participate since I too love them.  {Hands that is.}  Unfortunately my project exists only in my mind so I had to settle for the models that I know and love.  {And, frankly, the only ones I can afford.}  I took about 20 shots of our little art time yesterday.  I think this one is my favorite.

I enjoy the contests because they present a new challenge for me each week.  It’s nice to be creative in a different way than just in the studio.  I love photography but sometimes the last thing I want to do is pick up the camera at home.  I Heart Faces gives me a fun reason to do just that.

Hugs

Sometimes there are events that just make us smile.

On Valentine’s Day, one man made almost 8,000 people feel a little more loved while working to raise money for the American Heart Association. Jeff Ondash, otherwise known as “Teddy McHuggin,” stood in Vegas and hugged exactly 7,777 people, breaking the Guinness Book of World Record for the most hugs in one day.

Jeff is the creator of “What a Great Gift” Letter Frames (sold here in the frame shop and all over the nation starting this year) and a good friend of Dave’s.  Watch here as Jeff worked to break the record.  His hugging adventure was even featured on the Today Show, and articles can be found worldwide.  His next endeavor is an attempt to break the record for the longest single hug.

Good luck Jeff, I mean Teddy.

(Passer)

Here is one of the Letter Frames Jeff created (pictured with the upgrade options of sepia and a wood frame).

Happy Valentine’s Day

I’m off to second shoot a wedding, but wanted to wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day.  Hope it’s a great one with lots of love from friends and family.

{For a fun project–Crayon Hearts…check out this page.  We made them for Zeke’s class last week.}

Older But Maybe a Little Wiser

The thing I have been dreading for the past ten years happened yesterday. Each day it grew closer and closer.  I knew I couldn’t avoid it, but I sure tried.  Despite all my efforts, it’s official…I am thirty.

I’m not really sure how it happened since I am still so super hip, (right?!).  :)  But, hey, overall it’s not too bad. I think I might have learned a little.

Ten years ago I didn’t know how to forgive.

Ten years ago I didn’t know I could miss someone with all my heart.

Ten years ago I didn’t know that marriage is HARD but worth it.

Ten years ago I didn’t know that wedding and portrait photography would make me happy.

Ten years ago I didn’t know that life is not a fairytale but a journey.

Ten years ago I didn’t know that I could ever love anyone as much as I love my babies.

It might not be what I ever imagined it to be, but it’s my life and I love it.

All the photos above were taken by Dave.  Beautiful, huh?  Dave’s birthday is actually today.  {Yes, ironically, our birthdays are only a day apart.}  Stop over on his Facebook page and wish him a good day.

Three Things I Love and One I Hate

Guess which one I hate?

I try not to but in truth I hate the snow.  This is what my street looks like for goodness sake:

But as much as I hate snow and coats and gloves and scarves and cold…these two sure look cute in it, don’t ya think?

I love capturing the kids as they are. Lifestyle photography at its best!

Bringing People Together All Over the World

There are some things that just naturally bring people together.  Things like holidays…reunions….weddings…and, of course…LOST.

Don’t judge.  If you haven’t seen it, you just don’t understand.  (And, frankly, if you have watched it, you probably don’t get it either.)

Despite the absurdity, every week, I put everything aside and stayed glued to the TV for 60 minutes.  Last week a group of LOST addicts and myself got together for the season premiere.  I had to laugh when a friend sent this picture she took at the party:

And the close-up:

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