Christmas Mini Session | Southeast Missouri Photographer

I'm just flabbergasted that I'm making a Christmas Mini-session announcement. It was about a year ago when I posted the 2009 Christmas announcement, still anticipating the arrival of my sweet baby boy. I never imagined that the time would fly like a Concorde. Seriously, I'm already stressin' over what Santa has to have on his list for the kiddos.

So, with that, are you thinking about what to get your family? You know, there are parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents(on both sides), sisters and brothers, a host of cousins, and friends, and then you. That's a lot of people on the list this year. Sometimes, makes me glad that I don't have a lot of family, but these days, they'd sure come in handy for babysitting four little munchkins.

Why not give them all something to remember you and your family by? Pictures! And you can print them out on your own, put them in a pretty frame, and Voila! A nice, thoughtful gift. Or you can create a host of other goodies using the images.

And you'll be done.

Here are the details:

• What: 10-15 minute session, up to 4 people. $25 for each additional person.


• When: Saturday, November 6, 2010. Sessions will begin at 7 a.m.
  

• Where: A beautiful, fall session in a location that I will announce closer to the date. You don't necessarily have to be dressed in Christmas attire.


• Price: $250, of which $100 is due upon booking to hold your spot. Includes custom-printed DVD, with 5-6 professionally edited hi-resolution images for you to print Christmas cards, prints as gifts, etc. Selected images will be chosen by me.

• Other specials: You will also receive 30% off any additional prints, including wall prints, gallery-wrapped canvas prints, gift prints, desk prints, storyboards, etc.

This session will have limited availability, so contact me as soon as possible. Since I first made the announcement on Facebook several weeks ago, there are now 8 clients that have booked for this session. If there are more people that want to book, I may open up a second date for shoots.

And since this is Christmas, if you would like to donate a gift to a needy child(i.e. toys, coats, shoes, clothing, etc.), you will receive a $75 print credit to be used on additional orders from this session.

Booked times are going fast, so email me or call me at (573) 724-9202 to get scheduled. And it wouldn't be right not to post this cute face that was still in my belly this time last year:

[Couples] The Beginning | Caruthersville Missouri Engagement Photographer

One word: Hot.

But with a double meaning. It's been some kind of hot here and the temps aren't looking to take a vacation anytime soon.

However, this couple is HOT! And they are just as beautiful inside, as they are out. When Allison contacted me about shooting her e-session, I felt honored and giddy. See, she and Blake are building a beautiful home and with that, I had an awesome idea.

I mentioned in our consultation about the prospect of incorporating their still-being-built home into the session. Kind of a beginning of their lives together as husband and wife. Although Allison took a few seconds to respond, she said, "Sure! You know what you're doing and you're the artist!"

(Oh, girl, you just made me feel even more special at what I do.)

When they showed up at their home-to-be, I could feel the excitement! I was so ready to make use of all of the lines and awesome natural light coming into the windowless house. And Allison and Blake brought their A-game, whipping out fantastic style and suave-ness.

We moved on to the streets of Caruthersville, where we managed to squeeze a little more light before setting behind the buildings. Then we moved to the field setting. Oh, how I love these too! So sweet, so perfect, so them.

Allison and Blake, thank you for being such awesome people! I seriously loved shooting this session with you and so happy that my ideas came to life! Congrats on your engagement and best wishes for a happy marriage, overflowing with many a child in that big, beautiful home of yours!

[Sneak Peek] Senior | Brighton Tennessee Senior Photographer

Smart never looked so fierce. Or beautiful...

[Family] Special | Kennett Missouri Photography

Grab a tissue. I mean it.

GRAB A TISSUE RIGHT NOW! I'll even give you a minute to do so.

Last year, before I had my precious baby boy, I decided to hold a contest for a deserving family. (Go read it and then come back here. And have your tissues handy.)

After receiving their nomination, I just knew that in my heart, I wanted them to win, but I kept my wishes to myself since I would be having some other folks decide on the winner.

And let me clarify, every nomination that I received touched my heart. Sometimes, as humans, we forget that so many in our community have such pain and tragedy in their lives. I have to admit that I lose sight of it, being busy with my own life, as we all are. Each of the nominations were completely worthy of winning the contest and maybe someday I can offer more of these sessions.

Through varying schedule conflicts and weather mishaps, my session with this family took place in July. I have to admit that I was nervous in meeting this family. Probably more nervous that they would think I'm just off my rocker and nuts!

We met at a nice field on the south side of Kennett, Missouri. (Yes, Sheryl Crow's hometown. And yes, I'd like to meet her someday.) The sun was glorious and when everyone got out of the van, I wanted to just cry. Not out of sadness, but just knowing that this family was meant to win this session.

These kids are totally awesome. Fun-loving, polite, full of personality, gracious, well-mannered, adorable, cute, sweet, well-mannered. Yeah, I said it again, because I can't stress how great these kids were. And the parents, well, you know God placed these special children with these parents for a reason. Patient, kind, loving, funny, oh Dad, you were a hoot and I bet there's a lot of fun to be had at your home!

After delivering their order, I received the following message from Michelle on my Facebook page:

"Ok so I'm so glad I didn't open my pictures in front of you! Girl you are AMAZING!!! Of course all of the pictures are just perfect but the one you did of my babies.....BEAUTIFUL!!!! It's just perfect, it made me cry. I know that's silly but it really did! I have to take about 100 pics of my little 2 year old to get one of her looking anywhere near me. Nobody can believe that you didn't have to ask her to look the way she was in that picture. The teenagers, well I hardly ever get a real smile from all three at once, YOU DID IT!!! We all just love all of them so much and want you to know how much we appreciate you! The contests you do are so neat and so sweet of you to do for people! Thank you so much!!!"

All the more confirmation that I love what I do. I love the feelings that are evoked when my clients view their images. And most of all, I love knowing that they are proudly displayed in their homes as a reminder of that special time in their lives.

To the J family, you left an impression on me, on my heart. When I have days of struggling in the parenting department, I've thought of you all and the daily challenges you face. I know it's not easy, but I know there's no greater reward than to see the smile on your children's faces and to hear their sweet words and to have their loving arms around you. You are in inspiration to parents everywhere.

And to the children, you can't imagine how much I was impressed with you. From your sweet, loving gestures to your kindness to one another to your constant laughter and smiles. So many lessons could be taken from each of you in this day and time. Kara, I hope you had a great first day of high school, and you know, you've got two older brothers to watch out for you! Keith and Kevin, you guys rock! I hope have a rockin' year in school! And Miss Alayna, don't give your siblings too much trouble! Thank you all for being so awesome!

[Babies] Pure Sweetness | Hayti Missouri Baby Photographer

She's a beauty. Plain and simple. And since she is only two weeks older than my beautiful baby boy, I'm already plotting an arranged marriage between the two. Dowry and all.

Oh, there I go again, planning my children's lives. Slap my hand right now!

Seriously, she was an absolute dream to photograph. She is just a go-with-the-flow type of gal and she let me (and mom) pose her in that pretty little pettiskirt. And let's not even mention those beautiful eyes, so very striking.

And even Mom got in on the session. Let me just say, most moms are behind the lens taking pictures of their children. I try to encourage moms at my sessions to join in on the fun, even if they never look at the camera.

Every mom needs images of her and her children interacting.

They grow up so fast and before you know it, you have thousands of images and pictures of your kids, but Mom is rarely in them. And this session is just my perfect example of capturing the emotion between mother and child. It's a priceless commodity and one you'll never regret.

Mom and baby S, I just adored your session and the images that were produced. She is such an adorable baby, exuding with pure sweetness. Thank you for choosing me to capture a very special time in your lives.

[Seniors] Super Senior | Southeast Missouri Senior Photograpy

Ok, I love doing special things, especially for deserving people. I just wish I had more time to devote, but as you all know, working and raising four spirited(read: highly energized, rambunctious, etc.) children is no small feat.

So, I do what I can do.

Last year, I offered a Family Mini-Session and a very special family was chosen. And I hope that I can do it again, but this year, I want to do a little something different. You know, because I'm a little different.

We have some very special teens in these parts. Wha??? Did I just say, these parts? Oh dear, lettin' the country bumpkin out on my blog is just too much. Kick me now.

Anyways, special seniors.

I would like, actually love, to offer a free Senior 2011 session to someone who is very much deserving of it. See, for me, I didn't have very much growing up and what I did have, I worked for it. And senior year comes with a sometimes hefty price tag from pictures to announcements, testing and college application fees, yearbook, that overdue library fee from 4th grade, and so forth and so forth.

Fortunately, my mom was able to afford for me a senior photography session, and I remember being so excited about having professional pictures! But I know there are many seniors who won't be able to have a senior photography session, for whatever reasons, so this is my way recognizing a special teen.

This special nominated senior must meet the following criteria:

• From the following school districts in Pemiscot County: Hayti, Caruthersville, Delta C-7, Cooter, N. Pemiscot, or S. Pemiscot


• Be a graduating senior in the Spring of 2011


• Have a GPA of 3.0 or higher


• Be in good standing with their respective school(and I will be checking!)


• Active in their school(i.e. clubs, sports, activities, etc.)
  

I would also prefer that the nominated senior show that, under normal circumstances, he or she would not be able to afford a custom 2011 Senior photography session. It's not a requirement, but I would like to encourage it. Also, this special senior will not be eligible for the 2011 Senior Contest. (On a sidenote, the prize is now up to the Apple iPod Nano! Keep those bookings coming in!)

All nominations will be accepted until October 31, 2010 and each nomination will be judged independently from Stephanie Greenwell Photography. Please include name, address, school attended, GPA, special interests, activities, and little bit about who they are and why they deserve to win the session. This senior session is valued at $500, which includes the session fee and prints only.

As a special incentive to those who nominate a special senior, the person who sends in the nomination of the winning senior will receive 50% off of their session fee, in addition to a $100 print credit.

I'm looking forward to hearing about all of the special seniors that we have here in Pemiscot County. You can mail nominations to P.O. Box 805, Caruthersville, MO 63830 or you can email them to stephaniegreenwell@sbcglobal.net.

And here's a shout-out to the 2010 Seniors of Stephanie Greenwell Photography: Best wishes to each of you as you start college, a new job or whatever your future holds!

Thank you for choosing Stephanie Greenwell Photography to capture such a special time in your life!

[Family] For the Love | Southeast Missouri Photographer

Meet this adorable little family.

Something tells me, though, that Dad may have to be giving the smack-down on a few boys in about 10 years. And Mom, well, I'm sure she'll be fielding a lot of calls from giddy girls calling past bed time.

We decided on shooting at the urban setting for this family's session. Mom and I discussed our session and made a quick collaboration of perfectly coordinated outfits. Perfect for them, perfect with the backdrop. And since this was their first session as a family, she couldn't have done a better job.

The little ones were a little shy with me at first. But you know, once kids get used to my jolly-good-time personality, it doesn't take much to start crackin' smiles for me. Oh, and have I ever mentioned my mad dance skills? You know, version of the throwback kind. That always gets a laugh or twenty. Even with seniors. Who me? Embarassed? Never.

You guys were too much fun and the kiddos were pure sweetness. Thank you for an awesome session! Enjoy your back to school days!

An Apple a Day | Southeast Missouri Senior Photographer

I love seniors. They are so cool these days.

And funny thing, my friends and I thought we were cool, too. And I guess we were back in 1996 but today, wow, there's just so much style. The clothes. The shoes. And the hair. I thought I was somethin' with my Jennifer Aniston look-a-like hair style, but these girls today totally hit it out of the park.

The guys aren't so bad themselves, with their Abercrombie & Fitch or Hollister attire, complete with rugged jeans that costs more than week's worth of groceries in my house.

This year, I'm able to give a little bit more focus to the senior market. I love all kinds of sessions, kids are my joy, babies make me want more(God help my husband!), but I think I live a little of the nostalgia of being young through my senior clients.

In an attempt to feel young and cool, I'd like to cater to the seniors by way of what's most important to them these days: technology. I swear, I never see a teen without some sort of technological device in their hands, thumbs racing to get out the latest message or Facebook update. They never seem to be out of the loop.

And the most popular brand of technology is Apple. (I'm sorry to admit that I don't even own an iPhone, much less an iPod. And I consider myself a technology junkie.) Someday, I'll get with it. By then, I'm sure the price will drop and I can substantiate the monthly data plan.

So here's the deal: All 2011 seniors that book with Stephanie Greenwell Photography will be in the running to win an Apple product. The selected product is based on the number of senior 2011 bookings I receive, and so far, I'm up to 7 senior 2011 bookings. The products range from an iPod Shuffle($55 value) to an iPod Touch($225 value). Each senior booked will also receive an Apple store gift card.
As an additional bonus, if you are a senior who has booked with Stephanie Greenwell Photography, you can earn additional Apple store gift cards for every 2011 senior you refer to me.
Of course, no contest is complete without guidelines:

• Sessions must be booked by October 31, 2010. This includes receipt of session fee to hold date. The session doesn't have to take place before then, just get it booked.
• All sessions must have taken place by April 1, 2010. No exceptions.
• If you book, but cancel your session, you entry will be disqualified.
• I will try to accomodate as many senior sessions as I can, but open dates are first come, first served.
• If my calendar for all sessions becomes full, then you may book an unopened date for an additional fee.
• Prize may be substituted for an Apple gift card of equal or lesser value of the winning prize.
• There will only be one winner for this contest.

I'm looking forward to being your chosen senior photographer. Call (573) 724-9202 or email me at stephaniegreenwell@sbcglobal.net to set up your appointment. Make sure do book it before the October 31, 2010 deadline to be eligible.

And keep your eyes peeled for another senior announcement. One lucky senior is going to be so very happy! For now, here's my first stunning senior of 2011: