Christmas in August SALE!!!

Woo hoo!  OH what fun it is to ride in this lovely open heat...er rain!  Oh my goodness, has this not been the most rain we have ever had?!?!  I'm sure the farmers have enjoyed it, but my poor fig tree needs some sunshine, and so do my cloth diapers <3

I know, everyone ALWAYS does a Christmas in July sale, but this year I want be running a sale for my birthday since I'll be on maternity leave, so I'm gonna start it right now!!

After long and hard thought, this is what the sale will consist of:
Christmas Cards, Birth Announcements, and Birthday Invites: These will be 20% off
Canvas: BOGO Half off
Photobooks: 30% off
Session Fees: Since Christmas is on the 25th, you can get a one hour session for only $25 :)  HAS to be redeemed within a year time frame!!
Newborn:$50
Bumps to Babies (maternity, newborn, 3, 6, 9, and 1 year) $150 AND you will get a set of 8 wallets at each sitting!!
Adventuring Toddler Plan (18 months, 2 years, 3 years, and 4 years), $75.00 and you will get a set of 8 wallets at each sitting!!

If you want to buy any session and gift it between now and Christmas, pay an additional $10.00 to have a beautiful printed welcome packet gift wrapped!!

THIS sale will last between now and August 31st!

If you need a gallery relisted, you can relist yours for a three hour block only once for free!  z


To add to all of that excitement, from now until this Sunday, you can buy any print 16x20 and bigger and receive 40% off!  This is the time to stock up on all of those images you wanted to gift or hang on your wall!!  So go and have fun, and get some early Christmas shopping done!

Fall Mini Session Dates {Dothan,AL Child Photographer}

Fall Minis will be done earlier this year!  Here are the dates with times:

September 3rd 2:00 2:30 3:00 3:30
September 7th 8:00 8:30 2:00 2:30 3:00 3:30
September 9th 9:30 10:00 10:30
September 10th 2:00 2:30 3:00

I MAY have some earlier times pop up!

PLEASE follow this link http://pinterest.com/pin/10203536628017513/ this is my inspiration, and the set up will be VERY similar to this!!

You can come dressed in a Halloween outfit, or Fall attire!

Session includes 20 minutes up to two children, $5 per extra after the first two, 3 high res digital images, and one Facebook sneak peek of your favorite images once your gallery is posted!  Investment for all above is only $50!  Pay half down to reserve your spot, or pay in full to receive an additional 15% off any extra purchases!

These will be super cute and right before I go on maternity leave so grab your spot!!

Sophia {1 Year Session/Smash Cake Dothan, Alabama Baby Photographer}

Little Miss Sophia came in almost two weeks ago full of pretty pretty smiles, a very cute wardrobe, and a blue cake!!  We had so much fun!!  I get smiley babies a lot, but some with a cake not so smiley, but she enjoyed it thoroughly!  Best believe she walked around with blue icing in her nose for a week more than likely!

I get questions all the time about what do bring to your 1 year session!  You can bring up to three outfits with me, I like to get 2-3 looks (depending on time), then we do the cake at the end!  I really enjoy theme sessions!  They are so much fun!  Sophia's was a "candy" theme hence the colors :)  She wore a tutu, and had a headband birthday hat, but that lasted for a lovely 5 seconds!!  I have a lady I can finally recommend to make tutu's and I'm looking for someone who can monogram, because that has been a huge request for my southern mama's!  For little boys, I recommend going on Etsy and just finding a diaper cover/tie set :)  they are super cute!!

When you come to your session, don't forget the towel, because we will get messy!!  I have baby wipes, a sink, and a lovely changing table to get some clean up done!

All babies react different with cake, some dive in, some need assistance, and some, they just do not like to be sticky!  We spend the first year of their life, as parents, trying to teach them not to make messes, that it isn't okay, so when we do the cake, it can go either way!  I love doing the cake though, it is always so much fun, but my son was one of the kids who did not like their cake!  He cried, and slung his hands, poor bud!!

So, here is some images from Sophia's session, we had a great time!!

I have had some request just for a cake smash mini, I'm going to start offering them!  It will be $30 for a 30 minute session, and we will do cake images only, so no outfit changes!  I recommend using Publix by Flowers Hospital for my Dothan folks, or Sweet and Sassy!!

New Product!!!

Today I spent time ordering some new product to come in and add!!  I think everyone will be blown away by this new little "black" book!  It is perfect, and the price will be amazing!  It is a 5x7 or a 7x5, up to 20 images, leather, and flush mounted!!  Yes how dreamy does that sound!!You can add extra images (minimum of 2 at a time), for .50 more each image.  The cost of one of these beauties will be for the low price of only $40!!  Yes, great price for so many images and a cute little keepsake!!  I ordered one for the studio to showcase my newborns from this year, and it is gorgeous!!  I can't wait to get it in, and sit it on the table next to my magazines :)

I will be adding more and more product, seeing what works, and what doesn't work.  Right now, what doesn't work is my CD's that I offer.  I have no answer to why, but they aren't working properly.  I am burning them just as I have for years, and all of a sudden they don't work in my clients computer.  They work fine in mine, so I'm not sure.  I will no longer offer the CD, you will receive a link with your images for you to download them for now on.  Also, most computers aren't coming with a disk drive anymore, so if you would like a custom USB drive, it will be an additional $20.  The turn around on me ordering the drive because I can't keep them in stock could be up to a week!  Just a little info!  The link where you can download your images though is beyond amazing!  You can even drag it onto your smartphone and have an instant forever app of your images!  LOVE!!  I'm trying to stay with the new age!

I am almost booked up for this month, and only a few slots left for September before I go on maternity leave.  I will be on maternity leave from September 15th-November 8th!  I expect everyone to be able to respect my time off with my new babe!  I will be in and out of course flooding everything with my little Ella!!

I just had to cancel my Grand Opening.  Currently, I still have butt loads of work to complete for it to be technically ready, and I have no time.  I am so busy being a full time mom, wife, and having a full time photography business as well.  On top of all that craziness, but sitter is returning to college, and I have to fill her spot with someone reliable, has their own transportation, and is a non smoker.  Still have to get the nursery in our room together for the new babe, my son starting school and soccer, daughter beginning gymnastics, whew, its just life!  So, I thought it would be best to post-pone it until I return from maternity leave and in time for Christmas goodies!!

I have been beyond blessed this month, and want to thank every single one of you!!  Thanks for walking in and bringing your sweet babes to see me, and for allowing me to be apart of your life!  Thank you for all the referrals, and the patience!  You are ALL the best!!  This Friday I will host a little customer appreciation day to give back to you!!  Thank you for all the support and growth and making my small little business move up in this world!

Remington {Newborn, Dothan, AL Photographer, Newborn Photographer, Baby Photographer, Wiregrass Area}

A few weeks back, I had announced I would have a contest.  It was not the normal contest, as I wanted something different, not a like, but based on someone's actual response.  Well this beautiful lady from the inside and out sent the most heartfelt story ever!  Such faith built, and overflowing with kindness, gratitude, and love!  I will not post her response as it may be private, but I will say, I was in tears while reading it, and felt an immediate connection, I knew she was my winner!

Her sweet little man made his way into my studio almost two weeks ago, and was a week old!  He was pure heaven!  I got to snuggle and just love on him while posing him!!  I tried to incorporate both parent's personality as I do with each session.  Mom was Boutique gal, and Dad was hunting/fishing man (very into since I didn't see he kept his Yeti hat on for family pictures LOL)!!  Oh we gotta love our Dad's :)

I got out the morning of Remington's newborn session and went "junkin" I found a nice minnow bucket and a cute wood basket!  Now go to lala land as you see some of his yummy images from his newborn session!

If you are interested in booking your newborn session make sure to do so while your pregnant!  I fill up so quickly, and beginning in November, I will be only taking X amount of sessions due to my daughter's arrival in September :)

Delivering Affordable Professional Photography

So, I was pretty much up to midnight last night trying to come up with a Policy Plan, and a Price List that was "more" budget friendly.  I was already the best priced Pro in Dothan, but I think this will take the icing on the cake!  However, let me state, this price list is both combined from 2012 pricing, and 2013 pricing, it is half way on the same level of the 2012 price list, and cheaper than some other prices.  For example.  My 16x20 use to be $100, and is now $60.  This is a TRIAL run pricing system as well.  I have to see how it will uphold and do for my business.  I have a good large size overhead, and I have to profit some to pay my own home bills aside from overhead.

A few more changes.  Purchase minimums are still at $100, and this is AFTER any discounts and ect.  For now on in your proof gallery cart, I will set a minimum, so when you checkout you must meet it.  I had signed contracts, but had people still not making the minimum.  If minimums are not met, I can't pay my overhead, meaning, I have to come out of my husbands pockets and pay it, and that isn't how you run a successful business, after all Walmart and Sears closed down.

Let me explain the proof gallery.  It seems some have misunderstood how it works.  It is 5 days.  In that 5 days you must view and ORDER.  I can't take it down and relist it for payday.  The reason I give you the choice to list it is because you know when you will be able to get paid to place your order.  I shoot X amount of sessions each month, and my site only allows me to host X amount of images, and I have to pay for those X amount of images, and I'm starting to go over that amount, and I need to set a structure.

Ordering from your cart is very simple.  I know mobile users have a hard time with it, but desktop/laptop users don't.  I advise you to order from your cart please!  I don't have employees, and it really takes a load off my shoulder, however, I will still take emailed orders if that is what is easy for you.  However, I will no longer take emailed orders without Payment.  It seems to be getting worse that some will email their order before it expires, and never make a payment.  Now, I don't even place an order until it is completely paid for, but that will no longer cut it.  If you can't pay before you gallery expires, you will have to pay the $50 relist fee like all of my other clients.  Also, when you send an email order, please leave your payment info, if paying by debit/credit, leave that info, or if PayPal, please leave your email.  Now, if your gallery expires on a Wednesday, but you don't get paid till Friday, send your order VIA email, with payment attached and I'll run Friday afternoon.

Updated Policies:

Sneak Peek Policy:

Beginning 7/14/2013, I will no longer post a sneak peek until a purchase has been made.  I LOVE posting my sneak peeks, but I feel that for my business, it would be better ran to be a “surprise” when you see your gallery, then once an order is placed, to simply choose a few of your favorites and upload that way!

Discount Policy:

Beginning 7/14/2013, I will no longer combine discounts.  I currently offer 15% off for Military, Firefighter, EMS, Police, Dothan Mom’s Meet Up Group and AFS employees.

Ordering Policy:

Your 5 day proof gallery is for you to order from.  If you can’t order from it, then there will be a $50 re-list fee.  If you don’t order from it the first time, any promised discounts will be done away with as well.    

Payment Plan Policy:

Affective 7/14/2013, if you decide to go with a payment plan then you must put down HALF of your order when you place your order.  The rest can be divided up into payments, but must be paid a month after your session.  Please email me or call if you need a little more time. 

Referral Reward Policy:

For every client you refer, you and the new client will receive a $25.00 print credit, or a high resolution downloadable file.  Refer up to 5 people, and your next session will be free.

I have NO Saturday's open for this month.  I am completely booked solid for my one Saturday a month, however August is filling up, so if you need a Saturday, claim that one!  My one Saturday a month in September will be September 7th.  

I am really excited about this new pricing system I have!  If you would like an updated print price list and digital (I was able to group the digitals into smaller options, and lower the individuals a tad bit), please comment with your email!

Now this pricing system will take place in the next day or two, I will have to shut down my proofing gallery while I get things together, and then update my blog and ect.  Loads of office work!  

SALE....ON SELECT SESSIONS AND PLANS

Woo hoo!  Who is gearing up for the 4th of July this weekend?!?!  We are staying in this year, the weather looks to be a little crazy here lately, so we may just have a little celebration with our kiddos inside, maybe set up the sprinkler, who knows :)

So, each month, I am starting a new tradition.  I will put something on sale, and a contest or giveaway will happen.  This month (July), my contest is for expectant mams.  All you have to do is submit an image and a paragraph (or two), of why you would love to win the biggest level of the Believe plan!  Very simple.  No like contest, so don't worry about worrying about getting all the likes, they are not needed :)

Part two.  After thinking and thinking about what to put on sale, it came to me.  Almost all of my babies are graduating my grow with me plan.  Very sad.  So, I would love to get some more new lovelies in!!  When you think about the Believe Plan (was known as the grow with me plan before), it has meaning to it.  Believe is a wonderful plan set up to watch your child grow into this amazing little person!  From birth to cooing, head lifting, pushing up, rolling over, sitting up, crawling, standing, first words, walking, running, and jumping!  Its about capturing the little things that mean the most.

I have to get on a stool real quick.  When you look back, at your child's first year, what do you have to show for it?  I know I have each milestone captured, I can remember what my baby was doing at that exact moment!  Like the time I took Sophia out for her 9 month pictures to Botanical Gardens, and that poor baby got ate up by gnats.  She was so mad at me that day lol!  But I did get her pretty smiles with her laughter, and that is what counts for me.  I'm the type of mom who puts my children first, I've never been too concerned with the nice name brand sunglasses, or Coach purses, and ect.  Now those things are quite awesome, but what I want to look back in 20,30, even 50 years from now, is on my memories.  You know, I still have the pictures of my great, great, great, grandparents and they are awesome!  Total black and white feel, and the clothing is ridiculous, but I cherish those, because it a sense, that is now apart of my history.  I have watched each of my children grow, and my husband always says, "Charlotte, you don't need a picture at each stage."  Oh men, they don't understand!  Yes I DO!  I will always hold a memory in my mind of them that small, but to have something to actually look at, now that is a true cherished memory!

What do you see for your child's first year?

So, here is the most wonderful news yet!  You can purchase the Believe Plan for only $39.99 PLUS tax (.09%).  That is right.  Even if your child is 6 months old, and you want to get in on this incredible deal, it is still a huge savings if you were to buy 6, 9, and 1 year sessions!  That is a value of $150, that you can get for $39.99!!!  NOW, what it does not include is your newborn session (we will get to that in a minute)!  Here is a link to go and purchase the plan!
http://ckingphoto.shootproof.com/event/225228

When checking out, the Believe Baby Plan will be the only purchase options!!  Very easy!

Now!  Onto the really good part!!  If you haven't yet booked your newborn session with me, the newborn session is also on sale!!  For only $50.00 (plus tax)!  You can purchase that at this link:
http://ckingphoto.shootproof.com/event/225235

Now, when trying to check out, of course there is an image up and you have to select (add to cart), then a price list will pop up, but the only option you will have will be for either the plan or the newborn session.  You can pay using PayPal of your debit/credit card.  You will receive a welcome packet no later than 24 hours after purchase!

I look forward to all the new little ones that come in!!  I'm so stinking excited!!

If you have any questions or comments, make sure to ask away!!