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?!

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.

Upcoming Sessions to Benefit Haiti {We need your help.}

I remember hearing in college that Haiti is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere.  My heart broke as I listened to some of the stories of extreme poverty.  When I heard of the earthquake I didn’t want to think about it at first.  I am ashamed to say that the older I get the more I want to shut out terrible things.  I want to close my ears and pretend that nothing’s happening.  But that’s not right.  It is happening and people desperately need help.  Desperately.  When I heard of Photographers for Haiti I felt led to participate.  Please join Heritage in helping these people in a time when they can’t help themselves.

On Saturday, February 27 we will be holding mini sessions for Haiti.  All session fees will be donated directly to Compassion International.  (You will make checks payable to Compassion so that your donation will be tax deductible.)

Family and Child Mini Sessions

• Cost: $75 (check written directly to Compassion International)
• When: Saturday, February 27
• Where: Heritage Studio (2381 Locust Street #3, Canal Fulton, Ohio 44614)
• What: a 20-25 minute session and 2-5×7s are included in the mini session price that will be donated
• What else: You will be able to choose from 10-15 retouched images.  50% of all sales from any other products purchased will be donated by Heritage.
• GOAL: $1000 for Haiti (Will you help us make it possible?)

The winner of our January contest prize (a 16×20 Gallery wrapped canvas) is…drumroll please….Brian.  Congratulations Brian.  We will be in touch to let you know the details.

And, since a blog post without a picture is like popcorn without butter, here’s one of my favorite landscapes that Dave has taken.

Heritage Happenings and Texture

January has been full of so many things…resolutions…cold…snow…but most of all for me it’s a break.  The photography and frame shop slowed down for the month and it was a wonderful chance to catch up and plan for the year.  And let me tell you that it’s going to be a good one.  Keep watching the blog to hear about some of our new ideas and offerings.

Also, our 2010 wedding season is booking up.  Please contact us right away if you are interested in wedding photography for this year.

This week on “I ♥ Faces” the theme is texture.  I haven’t worked much with texture overlays so I thought it might be fun to give it a shot.  This photo was taken about a year ago of one of our seniors.  I’ve always loved this image but I think I love it even more with the added texture.

Want to see the before?  Which one do you prefer?  I’d love to know.