Last night I got the chance to photograph a GORGEOUS family! when Brittany, of Love Stitched, asked me if I wanted to take her families pictures, I was stoked because…well look at them!! They are gorgeous, but not only that, they are a really nice family. The boys were so well behaved and the cutie in the gray shirt was so funny dancing around and being silly. I really had a fun time!
My good friend added a new little bundle to her family! We did a quick little shoot for her and got some cute ones!
Have you been wanting to get GORGEOUS pictures of your kid(s) or family?! Now is your chance!
I am giving away a FREE photo session, Digital CD and a 16×20 print [an $800 value] to ONE lucky winner and you DON’T want to miss out on this!
The RULES:
* This contest will be held on FACEBOOK on Melissa’s Fan page. Instructions on how to win will be sent via email
* For kids or families [limit 6 people]
* Entries MUST be from families living in Utah county
* Send ONE picture of the person(s) who you want to win the photo session to m@melissadavisphotography.com. Include the name(s) of the person(s) who will be photographed
* Entries are due July 29th August 7th, at 5:00 pm
Can’t wait to see who enters! If you want to become a fan of Melissa Davis Photography on Facebook, click HERE!
[the fine print: This contest is for new clients only. If you are a photographer or someone in your immediate family is a photographer, you are not eligible]
I got the chance (after much bribing) to have little session with my kids! I went with the expectation that I was going to be very stressed out because the history of my kids sitting nicely for pictures isn’t great! I wasn’t really in the mood for pictures, but I thought “ah, I guess we can do them today”, so I started the “bribing” process early in the day and surprisingly enough, all day the kids were nice to each other and even kept asking to go take pictures!! I found (well, not found more so just drove by) this field the other day on our way home to our new house. It’s less than a minute away and it worked out perfectly! I can’t wait to blow these up HUGE!
Mindy: So stinking cute Meliss!! I can't believe how many great pictures you got of them. They look so grown up. I was telling someone today how old they were and was surprised when I said Miss was going to be 6. Sheesh. So cute!! Love you guys.
Kari Hennefer: Melissa!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE these! That laughing one is my absolute fav! Lighting is just perfect and those expressions are some you'll cherish forever having on your walls. Can I blow that one up to put on my wall? lol. So gorgeous!
Audrey: These are amazing Melissa, LOVE the color shot!! Such a photogenic pair. :)
This is the third year I’ve photographed this little sassafass! We headed up to Cascade Springs and she was just too cute to watch. She called the water “bubbles” and just ran from spring to spring so excited! I love when clients come back every year and I get to see how big their kids are getting! Thanks M and R for a fun afternoon!!
jean smith: oh goodness...i am totally giggling at what has to be one of the cutest personalities ever! she is adorable...fabulous pics!
Kelli: Great pictures Melissa! Just like Jean I'm giggling...she is SO cute!
Shay Voorhees: LOL, I love that second one. She looks like she has the most fun personality! So awesome you captured it perfectly. :)
This is my friends little one. You’ve seen her before and you’ll see her again! She’s turning 2 soon and we went out for a quick fun little photo session for her birthday invites. We ended up with some really cute ones and she was so sweet!
Melanie Reyes: OMG she's cute! great shots, and love her dress!
Kelli Bramble: What a sweet little girl! Love these Melissa!
Wow, it’s been a while! HI to anyone out there who still visits my blog! This was my first session since February! I love it and I miss it. It’s hard being in Utah with the market so saturated with photographers and I was REALLY happy and excited to get a call from the mom of this sweet baby girl! First, I love babies, so to get to go photograph one is just so fun for me. Second, it is so fun to see families oodle over their new babies, grand babies and GREAT grand babies! Such a great thing all around. Thank you, Audrey, and your fun family for letting me come today and be apart of your day!
Kelli Bramble: What a sweetheart! I love your work Melissa, always gorgeous!
Rachel Rehart: Oh what precious images. I know the family will treasure these forever. Man, the time they are tiny just flies by. Great job capturing this adorable stage.
Cindy: How adorable is she! I love these, the color ones are so vibrant and the bw one is so classic! Great job!
Stephanie T: Melissa, I LOVE THESE!! She is beautiful and I love how awake and alert she is. These are awesome!
Heather: Awww, she's beautiful!!! That first one is so gorgeous- that sweet baby is adorable. Wonderful job on these!
Anna Cederholm: What a beautiful baby! You did fabulous, I love the photos!
Shannon Dodge: Beautiful little pumpkin! Gorgeous job Melissa! Love these...nice to see you "back"!
Mary Taylor: I love your work Melissa!!! She is just adorable and I love how you have captured her! I love your black and whites too. Well done!!!
Joanna Taylor: What a sweet little thing she is! Love your colors.
whitney mccoy: totally beautiful!! LOVE #2!!! soo cute!
Kristi Adams: Great pictures! Sweet little baby girl. I always check your blog. Cause I love your work!!!
Melanie Reyes: I would totally get that last one as a HUGE canvas on my wall if I was Mommy. WOW! great job!
This was my first session of 2010 and it was a GREAT one. I really really love these clients, they are just the nicest people you’d ever want to meet and I just felt like I was hanging out at a friends house taking pictures! It was so fun and it doesn’t hurt that these little ones are just the cutest ever!
Whitney: Oh... love the yumminess of these.. and all the pink makes me yearn for spring. *sigh* Great job!
Shay Voorhees: Aww, so precious. I love your newborn work!
Erin Cutts: They are all great but the 4th one makes me want to have another!! :)
Melanie Reyes: Your use of color is so refreshing and perfect. Love these!
So here he is…my cute, small, adorable, sweet little new nephew, Scooter. The other day I went to my sister’s to get pictures (a week + after he was born because I had sick kids) and I pulled out my camera to realize that I had forgotten my battery! man! So I went back today. He’s a dream. He’s happy with he’s awake and you can throw marshmallows at him when he’s asleep because he sleeps so soundly! I love new babies and I love them even more when they are my nephew and I get to hold him any time I want!!
Kelli: What a beautiful baby! You capture newborns so wonderfully...great job Melissa!
Shay Voorhees: Aww, what a darling lil guy. Awesome job Melissa!!
Kristi: I love the green wrap/cocoon. What a sweetie! The pictures are gorgeous.
Shannon Dodge: What a gorgeous newborn! I LOVE that second shot. These are perfection!
Brooke: These are so sweet, love them!! Nice work Melissa!
Cindy: Omgosh, he's so so cute! Love that 2nd one!You did a great job and he's adorable!
Stephanie T: Oh... I have no idea how I missed these but they are beautiful! I always marvel at your gorgeous use of light.
jean smith: LOVE these! what the heck...that green thing is the cutest thing!
Melanie: OMG how amazing!!! Love the green cocoon thing! Beautiful work!
Okay you guys…I am first going to pre apologize for run on sentences, skipping around and straight out bad writing! I am a photographer, not an English professor and English just so happened to be my worst subject (I like math…yep, that’s right!). I just wanted to share some thoughts about my photography, so don’t judge HA HA HA!!! So here we go…
When I first start photography, I wanted to do it because I wanted to capture my kids. I began reading, practicing, messing up, doing bad, reading some more, practicing some more and finally I was able to take a shot with out motion blur, bad exposure, horrible composition, etc. I admit that I was one of those moms with a camera who wanted to jump right into photography, but I soon realized it didn’t work like that. Photography is a LOT, and I mean A LOT, of work. Some people just have it and although some say I had it, I wasn’t quit sure. From as far back as I can remember, I never really believed in myself. So you can hear over and over that you are great, but until you BELIEVE it, you aren’t going to get it, if you know what I mean?! So I did what any other photographer starting out does…I didn’t charge much and I did a LOT of free sessions. This was good for one reason only…I needed to learn! So, some time goes by and I decided after too many people telling me that I MUST raise my prices, that I would do just it, but then I had no sessions coming in. In my mind, no sessions = I must suck. That little voice in my head told me I’m not good enough, but I’m now ignoring that little voice because I AM good enough!
So here we are going into 2010…I started in the summer of 2006 taking clients and I have met SO MANY nice people along the way! I have had my ups and have had downs. Have had past clients move on to other photographers and I have had clients who come back! I have days when I say “why am I doing this” and days I say “I LOVE doing this”!! I’ve been blessed to have a talent in photography and I think that is truly awesome!
So let me talk about what is new for 2010!
There will be a price increase. I struggled with this decision, but after many weeks of thought, I know I am worth it. There will always be a photographer cheaper than me willing to work for nothing. I realize that by raising my prices, I risk losing some clients and that makes me sad because I have met so many AWESOME people!! I put a lot of time into my photography from the start to finish trying to make my client’s sessions as enjoyable as they can possibly be. When you are paying for custom photography, you aren’t just paying for a piece of paper, you are paying for an image of your baby/child/family for you to have for the rest of your lives. I proof each image from your session individually to make sure you will get the best possible product. I print at a professional photo lab that sprays to protect and ensure the best quality print. I choose images that I, as a mom, would want on my walls and I make sure those images are shown to my clients. There is nothing better than getting to see images you LOVE every single day displayed in your home! In fact, I have a big (24×30) collage on my little living room wall and I can’t tell you how many hours I have just spent looking at it and remembering my kids when they were younger! I love it…just love it! Time will go on and our memories will fade, but having images all along the way is just such a great blessing! So with that said, remember that custom photography is a lot more than a quick photo session and a piece of paper. From the time you set up your session to the time you get your images (and even after) you are getting one on one attention!
And now to the fun stuff!
1. I have some fun new client rewards punch cards for 2010! These are like any other punch card, the more you come the more you get! Each session you have with Melissa Davis Photography you will get a free 8×10, then a mini storyboard, an 11×14 print, a 10×20 storyboard and then finally a free session. If you are interested in one of these cards, please let me know and I can mail one (or a few) out to you! m@melissadavisphotography.com
2. Each new client will receive a referral card to go in their file. For every 5 referrals (who book and have a session), they will get a free session and a 10 x 10 collage. If you aren’t a client, but would like to earn the same, just let me know! Anyone is welcome to play along! m@melissadavisphotography.com
2. Melissa Davis Photography will be offering three new products! Canvas, session albums and photo boxes!
CANVAS: Gorgeous fine art gallery wrapped canvases are a gorgeous way to display your images in your home. Starting at 16×20, they will make your friends and family say “wow” as a focal point in your room.
SESSION ALBUMS: 8×8 book album designed with your choice of layout to showcase your session images. Inside pages are printed on art watercolor paper and adhered to heavy black card stock. Carry it in your purse as a brag book, take it to work, or display in your home as fun and gorgeous way to show off the pictures from your session. These also make GREAT gifts for grandma and grandpa.
PHOTO BOXES: 5×7 image boxes provide a personal and upscale way to store and display all of the images from your session. Customize the cover with your favorite image, set it out for everyone to see and then show off your prints to family and friends when they come over.
so there you have it! Did you make it through?!! If so, thank you for reading! Melissa Davis Photography will be down until the new year (just a tad after actually) and all changes will be made and ready to go!
OH OH, I can’t believe I forgot something (well two things!). Also new for 2010, personal slide shows and a new shopping cart for orders. All proofs will be displayed in your own private slide show with music to match! No more gallery with boring thumb nails…You’ll get to show off and view your personal slide show to friends and family! Then your ordering process will be a lot easier with a shopping cart check out!
Wow, I can’t believe I forgot those two things! I’m so excited about the changes and additions for 2010! And I can’t wait to see who I meet this year!
Kelli: Best of luck to you in 2010! You are worth it, and I can't wait to see what you do with all of these fun things next year!
Heather: Melissa, you are awesome and such an amazing photographer. You will be worth every penny (and more) of your price increase!
Melissa: Wow! We should be friends! You sound just like me, only I have not gotten to the I am good enough spot yet! I am still learning! I have been shooting for about 3 years! I love your blog, you do awesome work! Just happened upon it today!! BTW I think you are from sprigville....so am I! Any, I will be checking back often!
Kristi: Cute punch cards. Great idea! Your work is amazing. You were my mentor, remember? Good luck in 2010! Your clients will continue to be 110%+ satisfied!
Tammy: Hi Melissa! I just wanted to say that you are an awesome photographer! I peek in at your blog and I love your work!
Kristi Adams: Yeah, gorgeous family! Great shots, Melissa! I loved the angles on so many of them!
Joy: Melissa, these are seriously gorgeous! This family is beautiful and I ADORE their outfits. Beautiful angles, images, everything.