I can't believe it...

Fall is upon us and, believe it or not, the year is winding down to an end! With that, I was amazed to find in my planner that I have TWO session dates left available for the remainder of the year. I know - my mouth dropped open, too!!! :-)

If you are thinking about booking this year - do so now. The only session availability I have left is November 18th & 19th. I will be taking the entire month of December to get business things in order and get refreshed for the new year. I will be accepting a limited number of maternity and newborn sessions during this time. For those of you that are currently in my "As They Grow" collection, the time off in December does not apply to you and your sessions will still be made available.

Finally, I just want to thank you all, again, for being so wonderful in your referrals. I literally would not be here if it weren't for them. It is such a wonderful compliment for you all to have enjoyed your portraits so much, that you've wanted to share that experience with your family and friends. So, again...and always...thank you.

Just my luck...

So, I'm in the final stage of moving my website to a new server/hosting company to help alleviate the e-mail problems I have been having, along with the many (MANY) outages of my website. Well, in the middle of the transfer something happened and they were not able to finish and lost several of my files. They (the new company) have reverted to an old version of my site, which means when you see it, you may see old pictures and my old logo, as well as old information regarding FAQ's, appointment bookings, and possibly pricing.

If you have any questions regarding information on my website, PLEASE CONTACT ME FIRST. The information may and probably will be outdated.

Again...thank you for your continued patience and understanding - hopefully I will be up and running smoothly very soon (knock on wood...).

Love is in the air....final tribute...

I promised you all pictures of the beautiful bellies, which I showcased, but also of those loving daddies...

When you are expecting your first child, there is a spark that can be seen a mile away. It might be a glance to each other... a soft touch or kiss... or just in your tone when you speak. There is a gentleness that comes when a couple is so in love that they want to share that with a new little person.

Here is my tribute to all those quick glances...soft smiles...and loving touches...

...a little update...

I know I've been talking about the new "changes" that are to be coming in October, but haven't really given you much to go on! Well, we are getting closer and closer to the launch of all these new things and I wanted to give you all a brief update on what to look for.

First and foremost, my focus group is moving along very well. The group has contributed many good ideas and opinions on what will launch, different procedures that will be put in place and a fun new contest that I will run.

Which brings me to the sneak peek at one of the new changes. Effective the second week in October, the Essence Website will have a new front page, also known as a "splash page". You all, I'm sure, have seen these around before - it's the page that you have to click to enter a site. On that splash page, there will be useful links to the blog, the site and the client slideshows. Also on this page will be a featured picture. And, thus brings me to my contest...

Brief info:
The contest will be run once per month with a vote held one week before the next picture is set to debut. Voting will be held on my blog and is open to anyone that stops by. Only one vote per person, though. The images included in the poll will be selected by me and are open to any past sessions, not just the current month's sessions. The participants of the winning image of the contest will receive a gift that will be determined each month. We're gonna spice things up a bit and change them from time to time. I will post to my blog when the new contest has started and you will be able to start voting at that time. As I said, voting is open to anyone at all, so if you are included in the contest, be sure to tell your friends and family to stop by and vote!

Voting for the initial contest (and the first person to grace the splash page of Essence!) will begin shortly. I am in the midst of narrowing down my selected pictures for the contest and will give everyone an update when I am set to start!

Work of the Heart

This morning, I was browsing through posts on one of the photography forums I belong to. The particular area I was looking at was for photographers to post their recent sessions. As I'm browsing through, a couple caught my eye. I noticed that on the first two pages of posts there were at least two that were photo sessions done for families of ill children, or for grieving parents. As I'm reading these horribly heart-warming (yet heart-wrenching) stories, I am amazed at the courage these families must have. I cannot begin to imagine (nor do I ever want to) what life must be like during that time. Most of us have been blessed with happy, healthy children and spouses, yet that's not the case for everyone. As those posts showed me, it is happening all the time, right around us.

I have been a proud member of The American Child Photographers Charity Guild for a little over a year. Yet, I have never once been called on to offer my services for any family. While that gives me a slight sense of relief, it also deeply saddens me. Just because I'm not getting the calls doesn't mean that children and/or their parents aren't being diagnosed with serious, sometimes critical, illnesses. It just means that I didn't get a call. Maybe they were unaware of these types of charities....maybe they thought it would be silly to do....maybe they thought it would be too difficult.......

With seeing those few sessions this morning and thinking about the calls that I have never received, I wanted to post to ask all of you...Please. If you know of anyone who is need of this service, have them get in contact with a photographer that belongs to an organization such as the one listed above. While I can't imagine how difficult a session of this type would be, I also can't imagine what it would be like to have no pictures at all...

If you'd like more information on the charity I mentioned above, or the "Now I lay me down to sleep" foundation, please visit their websites below. And, please...spread the word.

www.acpcg.com (American Child Photographers Charity Guild - seriously and critically ill children and parents)
www.nilmdts.com (Now I lay me down to sleep - early infant loss)

Love is in the air....still....

Well, I'm sitting here at 9:15 Thursday morning just working away. I was supposed to be on my way to do another Maternity Session (I know...you're shocked, aren't you?!?!?), but I got a voicemail early this morning that my client's water had broke! While that's, of course, good news for her and she's excited, we are both bummed cause the session - well, it just couldn't happen!!

I'm tellin' ya...I've got good vibes for those pregnant women. I've got an EXCELLENT "success rate", if you will, on my clients going into labor shortly after (and some even before!) my belly sessions. So, spread the word - BRIANNE CAN MAKE YOU GO INTO LABOR! Man alive...I can just imagine the swarm of calls I'd get!!!

Since I was supposed to be seeing a nice pregnant belly today, I thought I'd share with you all some nice pregnant bellies instead! Here is the "follow-up" to my last post....The Belly Spotlight... Enjoy! And, good luck Laura - I hope all goes well and can't wait to see that new healthy little baby!

Love is in the air........

I don't know what was going on about 8 months ago, but it was something, let me tell ya!! Must have been the water! I have been bombarded with maternity clients in the last six weeks. I have done more maternity sessions in that time frame than I did the prior four entire months!!

So, I don't know if it's pure luck or what, but I somehow manage to get the most gorgeous pregnant women known to man. Seriously. And, I always have to laugh cause you KNOW how you feel at 8 months pregnant - about as pretty as a beached whale. So, it's wonderful to see something in these women that they probably don't see in themselves. But, I kid you not...these women are breathtaking. Don't believe me? Have a peek for yourself... Hmmm...well, I wanted to show more of these but my blog won't let me upload any more pics!! Guess I'll have to save the Proud Papa's and the Belly Spotlights for another entry...

Have a wonderfully fabulous weekend everyone!!