Contest Ends Tomorrow

Okay, so I know you all can be hot stuff with a camera. I can't believe I only have one entry so far. I've seen what some of you can do. Don't be shy. Enter an image! You never know!

All participants must email their entry by 10pm (CST) tomorrow the 28th. I will only hold the contest if I have at least 3 entries. Wow, with just 3 everyone will win something. Contest images will be posted sometime Sunday. I can't wait to see all the fun things you all come up with!

Now, hmmm... need to find a picture to post. My new goal is to always post a picture when I update my blog. Oh! I got it! How about new beginnings in my family. I created this simple collage so I could compare each of my children as newborns. The image of Lianna was taken by my good friend Heather Beadles. The other two, I took.

Contest of Creativity

Spring is a busy time of year for Thornton Photography. What better way to break into the new season than with a contest. This one will be a little different in that not only will we be voting for your pictures, but they will be ones you take specifically for this contest. I'm challenging all you moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas to get out your camera, dust if off a little and have some fun! Take a picture that symbolizes "New Beginnings" to you. Spring offers so many new beginnings for everyone and everything so use your imagination! You have until the end of February and voting will begin March 1 as soon as the entries are posted, and end March 7th at 10:00 p.m. CST. Here are the requirements:

Entry Rules:

1. Photos must be taken between February 17th and February 28th.
2. All entries must be emailed to me at allison@thornton-photography.com by 2/28/09 at 10:00p.m.
3. Only one photo entry per contestant. You must have taken the photo yourself.
4. All entries must fit the "New Beginnings" theme.
   

Voting Rules:

1. Only one vote per computer.
2. Your aunt, uncle, boy next door and neighbor you barely know can all vote for you and you can even tell them to.
3. In order to vote you must use the contact form at my website. Comments left on the blog will not be counted in the voting.
   

Here are some images for inspiration. Some were taken with my point and shoot, some my professional camera, and one even a friend did.

I will be awarding prizes for first, second and third place winners. All other entries will receive a little somethin' somethin' too.

The first place winner will receive a gift certificate for a full session (up to 6 people) and a 10 page brag book. ($300+ value)

The second place winner will receive a gift certificate for a 10x20 Storyboard and duplicate Desk Mini and easel from your next paid session. ($130 value)

The third place winner will receive a gift certificate for one box (25) of 5x7 flat cards from your next paid session. These cards will be custom designed for you and can be used as Thank You Cards, Birth Announcements, or Holiday Cards.

Good Luck!

Spring Portraits

I think the first day of spring isn't until March 20th officially, but we all know that down here in Texas it starts much earlier. I am already starting to book into March and April so please be sure and contact me soon if you had planned on some portraits for the spring.

I'm tickled pink (literally) to share with you a new location I'll be using this spring. Promise Land Peaches has a large orchard just west of Nacogdoches and the owner has given me permission to take clients out there for portraits. Have you ever seen a peach tree bloom? They are absolutely stunning. I look forward to having my own images to share with you next year, but until then, this is an image from a similar orchard in South Carolina.

The trees begin to bloom just before the azaleas so we're looking at bookings in early March for the orchard. I'm so excited about this that I plan on taking my own children out here!

Changes!

I'm so excited to announce that as of March 1, 2009 Thornton Photography is making some big changes for the better! From the beginning of my business I have always required my clients to order online using an Excel order form. This works well for those who are out of town, or have extended family, but there are some major down-falls in this strategy.

I've gone back and forth about this for a few years now, but over the last 6 months I've seen the need more and more to move to and In-Person Ordering system. Don't panic! Grandma and Grandpa will still get to see their grand babies online. I feel I've found a solution that solves all our problems.

Let me back up a little and explain. Economically, yes, online ordering is the way to go. My overhead stays low, and the process if fairly simple. Yet time and again I found myself calling clients to inform them, that they could have purchased a collection and saved themselves some money, then over the phone we alter the order and things straightened out. There have also been issues with being able to clearly view the images online. Plus, computer screens (unless properly calibrated) will not show you the true color of an image. Then there is always the issue with offering products like session albums that you don't see. If I put myself in your shoes, I would have a hard time visualizing my leather albums, or storyboards without ever seeing, or feeling them.

Beginning March 1, 2009 the ordering procedure will look more like this: After the actual photo session we will set a date for an ordering appointment. I will give you a small handout with some questions to help you organize your wants and needs and then 24 hours before our appointment I will put your images online. You and all your family can see them and choose favorites. When I arrive for your ordering appointment I will bring 5x7 photo proofs of your entire session. You can then, see and feel what your images will look like in print. I will also have sample sizes, and products for you use in deciding your order. I will walk you through the process step by step and I will make sure you get the most bang for your buck. We all have a budget (some larger or smaller than others) but everyone wants to receive the most product for their money spent. That's my goal here.

The other big change will be in my Portrait Collections. These will go live on the first of March as well and each one will include an album or box of images so that no matter which collection you decide is right for you, there will be a product that allows you to have several (if not all) of the images from your session. Here are some pictures of the New and Improved album that comes in the middle collection. Take a peek at my site on March 1st for more information.

Like my previous album this still has a small front window where I will include an image from your session. It too is available in either black or brown leather.

This one is different in that the pages do not 'slip in'. They are adhered to the stiff pages with an archival glue. This however, allows for a greater variety in display options. You see these images have a grunge/swirl border around them.

The smooth binding looks beautiful on a bookcase or on a mantel.
This album includes 20 images on 10 pages unlike the previous one that only included 12.