2013 is here!!!

Hey Everyone!!  

I hope you all had a great holiday and spent some time enjoying your families!!  Lots of stuff to cover today, so let's get on it!!

Studio resolution #1 is to be better with blogging, so lets stay positive!!  Over the next few weeks I will be updating the website and the facebook page.  Nothing big this year just updating pictures and slideshows to show off the best of 2012 with everything else!!

As many of you saw just before the holidays we are expecting our third little one!

Well we found out this week that we are having a little boy!!!

Obviously both kids are very excited as are we!  They are also excited about the return of the NHL season and all the Carolina Hurricanes games we will be going to this year!!  GO CANES!!

But this has other implications as well, the studio will be shut down for a while and I will be taking limited sessions until that point.  

Because I will be honest, this cute little boy is kicking my butt!!

From now throughApril 13 I will be taking only two sessions a month, so availability will be very limited!! 

After that I will closing down the studio until August 10.  I hate to take out all that pretty summer shooting time but a new baby is so worth it!!   It will probably impact the amount of shoots I take through the end of the year as well, but we will see how that goes and deal with that when we come to it!

I'm excited about the things Stolen Moments Studios is doing to give back so far this year.  I have my Olivia Act selection decisions to make this weekend, to give a session to a family who might not otherwise have one in honor of all the people killed in Newtown, CT.   I will also be donating a session and full session print release disc to the Mercy for America's Children Black Tie Gala.  This is a great organization a friend feels strongly about and I love to support organization that helps children in need!!

Just a note to remember for all of you, all sessions now include a presession consult and a viewing session.  Both usually involve coffee and snacks, so its a good thing I promise!!  This gives me a chance to get an idea of exactly what you want from the session we are planning and lets me give you ideas for clothes and props and lets you actually see a few locations I have used to make your decisions easier!!  The viewing session is great because I know all of those pictures get overwhelming, and all the options in sizes and products is enough to make your head spin.  This lets me walk you through your pictures and all the choices to make it a bit easier to choose!  You still get your online gallery and now if you place a print order at your viewing session there is a little present involved!!  And everyone likes presents!!

That is it for now!!  I will be back next week (I hope, LOL) with a favorites of 2012 post for you!!  

Your Session: Getting to know SMS and your Pre-Session Consult

I am going to do a series of posts this week filling you all in on how a Stolen Moments Studios photo shoot works from start to finish!  I find it helpful when I am looking to do something to know how things run and what I am getting for my money, so that is what these posts are for!

In doing your research into hiring a professional photographer you have found us!  Awesome, I love meeting new people!  So you email me at photography@stolenmomentsstudios.com or call (919) 261-7400.  I'm sure you have a ton of questions and I know I have a few for you too!  So we talk for a bit and I ask about setting up a pre-session consultation.  I am going to spell out exactly what that is for you in a minute, but most importantly I want you all to know that you do not have to be set on having a session to have a consult!!  This is a chance for me to better get to know you and your family and for you to see if my style and my sessions are right for you!  

Now that we have gotten that out of the way, more about the actual consult!

Binder with session info, price lists and product examples, your take home folder and a slideshow!

We will meet either at your home or at a local coffee place or restaurant where I will get you a snack or a drink.  I will have my laptop and an information packet for you to bring home as well as items for you to look through and learn more about the studio and our sessions.

You will have time to look through the info binder which has a full price list, product examples and a full walk through of your session!

We will talk about you, your kids, your family’s interests and your expectations for your session.

We will talk about location, clothes, props and what your ideas for your pictures are.  We will also look through a slideshow that I’ve made for your consult based on your family, to help you see what we can do with your session.

I will walk you through a typical session as well as wait times for sneak peeks, online viewing and     explaining how our ordering session and accompanying process works as well as looking through the price list.  This will help you be aware of your options for ordering and lets you start thinking about what options you would like for your home, family and friends!

Your take home folder has a price list, my business card and the information we decided on for your session (date/time/location) as well as some tips for getting ready!

This is also when we will set a date, time and  location for your session.  Don't worry about knowing exactly where and when you would want to have a session, I can show you examples of different locations in the area and talk about what days and times are best for the kind of shoot you are looking for.   

Keep an eye out over the next few days for two more posts, one covering the photo shoot itself and one about ordering and delivery!!  

A special thanks to my kids, Tyler and Katie, for taking a few minutes to be stock photo kids today!! 

My stock photo kids!  Katie's dress was made by the amazing and fabulous LilyM Boutique

2013 Senior Reps

With the school year closing in all too quickly (and already started for some of the kids I know!!)  I am looking for some of this year's seniors to do a discounted senior session in exchange for being a "senior rep" for Stolen Moments Studios!   You will get Senior Rep Cards to distribute to your friends and a full disc of web sized images to share on facebook, google +, etc.  In addition to these promotional materials you will also get extra images on your print release disc!   And THREE free prints for every person who signs up for a senior session using your name!

Here is a breakdown of a what a senior shoot involves.

Senior Sessions are $275 + tax.  But remember my senior reps get a discount!

First you have your pre-session consultation.  This is where I sit down with you and your parents and get to know you, talk about your interests and what you would like from your session.  We will talk dates, locations, clothing, stuff to bring and much much more!    And we usually meet some place where I can get you a drink and a snack, and that is always a plus!

Senior Sessions last up to 3 hours.  In that 3 hours we can do as many as 3 locations and as many outfit changes as you would like!  This is meant to be all about you, who you are and who you are becoming, it will be relaxed and fun!

About a week after your session I will have a sneak peak of some of your images on the facebook page.  About a week later, shortly before your full session is ready for online viewing, I will be doing a post here on the blog about your session and some additional pictures!  A few days later you will get a link to your online viewing album and we will set up your order session.

At your order session we go through all of your pictures and get your print order placed and select the pictures for your print release CD.  This is also when my senior reps will receive their rep cards.

Each Senior Session includes a 15% discount on your print order and a print release CD with 3 picture from your session.  Prints will be at my normal prices, starting at just $15.   

Senior Sessions also include a cap and gown session at the end of the year for another $30 (+ tax)  which also includes a web sized proof disc of that session and 2 pictures on a print release disc!

If you are interested in being a Class of 2013 Senior Rep email photography@stolenmomentsstudios.com or call (919) 261-7400!  I will give you all the information on all the bonuses and fun involved!!!