Juliana's Bridal Session!!!

Wow! I was so worried that since we were doing them on location that they wouldn't turn out very well. The weather was beautiful, the sky was blue, and Juliana was stunning! Of course the wedding isn't for 2 more weeks. Sooo... you'll have to wait a couple weeks to see them. And I can't wait to show you!

Congrats GC Blue!!!

I just wanted to congratulate my son's football team, the Grayson County Blue, on a fantastic 2008 football season! Chase is number 54, can't miss him there in the middle! I would also like to congratulate all the rest of the recreation department teams from Fries, Galax, and Carroll County who all played fair games and displayed good sportsmanship throughout this season! All of you played some awesome games and all of us are very proud of you!

Happy Halloween!!!

Here's hoping everyone has a safe and Happy Halloween!

Wedding Pricing effective November 1, 2008

The following is our new wedding pricing which will begin effective November 1, 2008 unless you are previously under contract. All contracts currently out and not returned with a postmark of October 31, will be subject to the new pricing.

Basic Coverage... $600

1 photographer

up to 5 hours of wedding day coverage

200 4x6 prints in a proof album or CD of images

Package A... $1000

Engagement or Bridal session on location with folio

1 16x20 wall portrait

1 photographerup to 5 hours of wedding day coverage

1 10 page leather album or 1 20 page coffee table book

CD of images

Package B... $1500

Engagement session with folio

Bridal session with folio

2 16x20 wall portraits

2 photographers

unlimited wedding day coverage

1 10 page leather album or 1 20 page coffee table book

CD of images

Package C... $2000

Engagement session with folio

Bridal session with folio

2 16x20 wall portraits

1 16x20 signature board

2 photographers

unlimited wedding day coverage

1 15 page leather album or 1 30 page coffee table book

2 5x5 parent albums

3 DVD slideshows

CD of images

Package D... $2750

Engagement session with folio

Bridal session with folio

2 16x20 wall portraits, 1 20x24 wall portrait

1 16x20 signature board

wedding rehearsal and dinner coverage

2-3 photographers

unlimited wedding day coverage

1 20 page leather album or 1 40 page coffee table book

photo tote bag

2 5x5 parent albums

6 DVD slideshows

CD of images and copyright release

Absolute Package... $6000

Engagement session with hardcover coffee table book and folio

Bridal session with hardcover coffee table book and folio

Choice of "For Your Eyes Only" or "Trash the Dress" session with hardcovercoffee table book or 5x5 leather album

2 16x20 wall portraits, 1 20x24 wall portrait

hardcover guest book featuring engagement portraits

1 16x20 signature board

*complete wedding weekend coverage for your wedding anywhere in the continental US, Mexico, or the Caribbean

1 30 page leather album or 60 page coffee table book

2 15 page 8x10 leather parent albums or 2 30 page coffee table books

10 DVD slideshows

CD of all images taken

video mp3 player with wedding images and music

*travel expenses are included in package, however hotel stay is provided by bride and

groom. Additional locations (Europe, etc) are available, but additional travel expenses will be required dependent on current airfare rates

To book your wedding or to request a sample DVD of our work, call 276-233-4797 or email me at angie@thompsonsportraitphotography.com

Conservatory of Dance & Theatre...

Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to shoot the class portraits for the Conservatory's Mommy and Me class and the Creative Movement classes. These little girls were soooo precious! I love the twins that are in my daughter Stephanie's class! You just want to grab their cheeks and squeeze! And Miss Katie's daughter Gracie is such a doll! I had such a fun time!

Bill & Maggie Anderson!!!

I had the good fortune to shoot another CD cover for local bluegrass duet, Bill and Maggie Anderson. I got to shoot the cover for their last CD, Going Home To The Fold, and let me tell you, they are wonderful! Bill and Maggie create custom guitars, resonator guitars, and straps, as well as teaching lessons and workshops! Thank you both so much for trusting me with something so important to you!

Colors, colors, colors!!!

Hey all! Wow, look outside at those colors! Now is the perfect time to schedule your fall portrait session! I'm free this week, except for the first part of Saturday, for outdoor portraits! Call me at 276-233-4797 to schedule yours now!

Oh, if you have sent me an email in the last 2 weeks and didn't get a reply, post a comment on here and shoot me another email, firey_cowgirl@yahoo.com, as some emails have been going to my bulk!

Angie

Portraits at Steiff on the Mountain!!!

We are very fortunate to be offering portraits at Steiff on the Mountain Teddy Bear Festival at the Galax Recreation Center this weekend! With an amazing background provided Bearly a Memory, these will be keepsakes your family will love!

Also, see the 2008 Steiff Product Line, Meet Claire Steiff Meisel, granddaughter of Richard Steiff. Antique & Vintage Steiff dealers from around the globe. Teddy Bear & Animal Artists. John Lamb-Teddy bear Mystery writer with his new book. Good Bears of the World-Auction & Steiff Charity Raffle. Display of Rare & Unique Vintage Steiff items from private collectors, Steiff Videos, Gifts & door prizes, Steiff 125 Karat Bear, SPECIAL EVENT BEARS AVAILABLE. Friday night reception & Saturday night dinner with live music by No Speed Limit. (Reservations required for both evenings)

Portrait Packages:

A $20 - 2 5x7's, 8 wallets

B $40 - 1 8x10, 2 5x7, 16 wallets

C $75 - 2 8x10, 2 5x7, 4 3x5, 24 wallets

D $100 - 1 11x14, 2 8x10, 4 5x7, 4 3x5, 24 wallets

Hours for Steiff on the Mountain:
Saturday, October 11, 2008 (9:00 AM-4:00 PM)
Sunday, October 12, 2008 (11:00 PM-3:00 PM)

Admission Fee: $3.00

Fun wedding reception games...

Since I'm not doing much this time of year, I thought I would do some research into something not many people think about... games for your wedding reception. I found some cute ideas to involve the bride and groom or your guests.

The Anniversary Dance - Well, not really a game, this is a neat little dance that the DJ announces before hand. All married couples come onto the dance floor for a slow dance. The DJ starts of by asking anyone married less than 24 hours, please leave the floor. Well who gets to leave first? You guessed it, the bride and groom. Then a few months, then a year, then a few year, then a decade, then 15 years, and so on till the last remaining couple is on the dance floor, usually the great grandparents of the bride or groom. And their names are announced, congratulating them on a long marriage and a well wish to the bride and groom for a marriage as happy as these two.

When is Your Birthday? - Don't know what to do with those centerpieces you paid a fortune for? Have your DJ announce the person with the birthday closest to the bride or groom's birthday at each table gets to take it home!

Bride or Groom? - This game is played by the wedding party, with the women forming one team and the men forming another. Each receives two signs, one with "BRIDE" and one with "GROOM" written on them. Ensure the signs are large enough for your guests to see clearly.
Have a list of "who" questions such as, "Who do you think will snore the loudest?" or "Who is he neatest?" or "Who will hog the bed?" The entire wedding party raises the applicable sign in answer to the question. Imagine the varying answers you may get! Choose modest questions that will not embarrass the newly married couple too much in front of close family, co-workers, and young children (especially if they are relatively private people). You know them best!

Can't Touch This - Inspired by the classic children's game of musical chairs, this wedding game requires guests with quick hands and a rhythm for juggling! You will need to create small bags of candy using cellophane and ribbon (or any other trinket) and an energetic song to mimic the up-tempo pace of this game (our title may give hints to a possible song choice).
Have all the participating guests stand in a circle. The objective: at the sound of the music, guests will have to quickly pass the candy around the circle. When the music stops, everyone stops moving. The person with the candy is eliminated and returns to their seat. Let him/her keep the candy as a sweet token for playing the game. This continues and the last person left receives a prize!

Marriage Advice 101 - This is a great game to play at a small wedding reception with close friends and family. Raise the laughometer with this simple yet fun game of "Marriage Advice 101". Provide guests at each reception table with index cards and pens. Their task: to come up with the best marriage advice they can give for the newlyweds. Read out some of the highlights during the night. Award gifts for "The funniest advice given", "The best advice given", and any other category you can think of.

The Guessing Game - This game is fun for the guests as they get insight into how the bride and groom think of each other. The bride and groom sit back to back with one of each others shoes. The DJ or friend of the family asks a question, like "Who does the housework" or "Who wears the pants in the household" and the bride and groom raise the shoe of the person they think does this.

Temporary email...

Due to the cancellation of our current website, my studio email is down temporarily. If you need to contact me, please feel free to use my personal email, firey_cowgirl@yahoo.com.

The Wedding of Eric & Karen!!!

Saturday, we had the pleasure of shooting the wedding of Eric and Karen. This down to earth couple had a simple, yet elegant ceremony in Independence, attended by friends and family. After finishing the wedding party's formals, we went to the reception and did all the important stuff, then I ran off with the bride and groom to get some more formals of just the two of them. I love the ceremony shot with the groomsman having the lapse in protocol (I had to laugh at him)!

A tip for brides...

It's kind of become a little thing for me to occasionally post tips that I think are helpful. I found out one at Karen and Eric's wedding yesterday.

*Let the person who is making your cake know, see, or have your cake topper. That way there isn't a problem with it when they put it on the cake before your wedding.

There was a little glitch yesterday when the cake topper, a beautiful glass heart etched with the bride and groom's names, just would not sit up straight! It kept wanting to fall over. Well, the problem was remedied, but... to avoid this, make sure the person who makes your cake knows what kind of topper it is.

Problem solved!

Website closing and change in wedding prices...

Just a note to let everyone know our studio website will be closing. This will be in preparation for the launch of our new website in November. Also, our wedding packages will be changing at the launch of our new site. Anyone currently under contract or who signs a contract by the end of October will not be affected by this change. However, if you have not contracted, or you need to send me your contract, please do so. Your package and price will remain the same. Here is a list of our current wedding packages:

Basic Package... $500
*Wedding coverage begins 2 hours prior to ceremony, covering bridal preparations, ceremony, formals, and reception
*1 15 page 5x5 album holding 30 images or 100 4x6 images of your choice

Deluxe Package... $750
*Engagement or Bridal session is included, a tri-fold folio with 8 4x5 prints and a color or BW imagefor your newspaper announcement and 1 11x14 enlargement
*Complete wedding coverage beginning 3 hours prior
*1 10 page 8x10 album holding up to 50 images or 200 4x6 image of your choice

Premiere Package... $1200
*Engagement sitting in our studio is included, a tri-fold folio with 8 4x5 prints and a color or BW imagefor your announcement in the newspaper and 1 11x14 enlargement
*Bridal sitting in our studio or on location is included, a tri-fold folio with 8 4x5 prints and 1 11x14 enlargement
*Complete wedding coverage beginning when you do
*1 DVD slideshow of your wedding portraits playable on your computer and DVD player
*1 15 page digital montage wedding album in black or chocolate

Elite Package... $1750
*Engagement and Bridal sittings in studio or on location, tri-fold folio with 8 4x5's of both sittingsand your favorite image for your newspaper announcement
*1 16x20 signature board for reception
*2 11x14 enlargements*Complete wedding coverage beginning when you do
*1 15 page digital montage wedding album in black or chocolate
*2 5x5 10 page parent albums in black or chocolate
*3 DVD slideshows of your wedding day images playable on your computer and DVD player

Platinum Package... $2500
*Engagement and Bridal sittings in studio or on location, tri-fold folio with 8 4x5's of both sittings and your favorite image for your newspaper announcement
*1 16x20 signature board for reception
*2 11x14 enlargements, 1 20x24 wall portrait or 1 16x20 canvas portrait
*Wedding rehearsal and dinner coverage
*Complete wedding coverage beginning when you do
*1 20 page digital montage album with a tote bag for carrying
*2 5x5 15 page parent albums in black or chocolate
*6 DVD slideshows of wedding day images*Digital negatives and copyright release
*Picture MP3 with wedding images and music

I've been tagged!!!

I've been tagged
Katy tagged me...

so these are the rules...
1. Post the rules on your blog (or email).
2. Write 6 random things about yourself.
3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post.
4. If you are tagged, just do it, and pass the tag along.

1. I am deathly afraid of spiders. No, it's really ridiculous! I've screamed so much because of those tiny little ones that you can barely see, that my 4 year old now does the same thing!

2. My goal for 10 years after high school was to be standing in the winner's circle at the Kentucky Derby with a horse I owned.

3. As much disarray as my house is in, I know where everything is and I'm still a perfectionist.

4. Not a day goes by when I don't research something about photography. I'm obsessed, what can I say!

5. I have a ton of workout videos and I hate every one and have only used them once each! Anyone want some?

6. I can't stand the term Yankee in reference to myself! I'm not a Yankee, I'm from the west coast! We are something completely different! GRRRR!

Now to tag 6 people:
Quinn Newton
Melinda
Kelly Hamm
Corey
Heather Pritchard
Misty
Anyone else who thinks it will be fun!

The Wedding of Diana and Michael!!!

Last weekend was the wedding of Diana and Michael. Through mishaps with the wedding dress and a overly friendly lizard, and the wedding cake, these little trials didn't ruin the beautiful wedding of this wonderful young couple! We went to Cumberland Knob for the formals and back to the reception hall for a fun time! Congratulations Diana and Michael!

Update to Model Search...

I'm also looking for families with expectant mothers and newborn babies to have casual portraits taken in their home!

Again:
*free session
*discounts on prints ordered
*free CD to share with family and friends!

Model Search!!!

I am currently looking for:
*fun, funky couples willing to try something new and have fun
*former brides, preferably within the last 5 years, willing to trash their dress (are you serious? Oh yeah!)

I'm in the process of creating our new website and need some new portraits to showcase! I have some new work, but need some more! Here is what you get:
*complimentary portrait session
*discount on images purchased
*CD of images to show friends and family

If this sounds like something you would be interested in, email me at angie@thompsonsportraitphotography.com

Update on closing...

Okay, so I announced our closing for the end of the year. Well, it hit us alot sooner than we had anticipated. We are officially without a studio.

BUT... I am working from home right now! So have no fear! I am still doing everything that needs to be done, only from home. I am still taking portrait sessions, but I'm only doing location shoots right now. I will be posting some of my work on these location shoots very soon! I've had a couple of shoots that I've done, but I'm waiting for my new website to be up and running before I go crazy showing everyone what I've been up to right now! So if you will all please bear with me... I really think you're going to love it!

Oh!!! One more thing. If you need to get ahold of me, my studio line will be out of order for a couple of weeks! Drop me an email at angie@thompsonsportraitphotography.com and I will get back to you!

My apologies...

Of all the days to make this post, I feel I have to. I've apparently offended some former military with the portraits I took a few months ago of my daughter with the American Flag. To those who I have offended, I am very sorry. The photographer who made it clear to me that I used it as a cheap prop made me see the error of my ways. I will say to him and anyone else though, that it was never my intention to do this and I suggest to this person that while you made these comments to me, you need to go after every other person who has burned a flag, used one as a diaper (Larry Flynt), or so disrespected our flag! To other photographers thinking to use it as a prop, please do not. I know I'm sounding a bit petty, but this persons comments so enraged me, that it took me a half hour to type a reply to him. I come from a military family on both my mom and dad, as well as my biological father's, sides. I have had members in every branch of the military and I fully support our troups! While I completely despise our government for allowing this false war to continue after all these years, I do honor and care for our service men and women! Noone can say I don't. I will not take down the portraits of my daughter, not because of my political views, but because I love my daughter and she had such a good time taking these! And, as I told the photographer/combat vet, I don't make it a habit of using the flag this way. This was a sitting I've done once. And one I will never do again. So to all I have offended by my thoughtless and "self serving" actions, I am very sorry.

Announcing the closing of our studio...

Due to the failing economy in our area, and the increase in competition, we have decided to close our studio on West Grayson in January of 2009. I know this is going to be a suprise to alot of my loyal customers.

However... due to the fact that most of our photography is engagement, bridal, and weddings, this is going to be our focus. Our decision was based on how much location time versus actual studio time. Hence our decision to close our studio.

To our dear brides, have no fear! We are still shooting engagement, bridal, and weddings! Our new changes are going to allow us to offer much more to our contemporary brides and grooms than before! And to our former brides, keep sending those referrals our way! For every person who signs with us that you referred, you are going to get a great gift!

To our loyal customers who have kept us going and been our backbone for so long, I haven't forgotten about you. I'm working on something that I think you will love! I'm going to continue to do portrait photography, but I'm going to change the focus into location photography! This is going to make your portraits more personal!

So everyone, check back towards the end of the year when we will be announcing all of the new changes we are making! I really think everyone is going to love what we are doing!