Each year we try and come up with a theme for my daughter and the twins for Boo @ Marie Q.  It is always a last minute decision.  Always a scramble to find what we need. And always a race to the printers.  So this year we decided to try and make “American Gothic” our own.  After all, we have twin boys we need to incorporate. In a few years I may have to adopt honorary studio children.  The bribes are becoming more elaborate, the shoots are becoming shorter, and we’d probably be nicer to other children than our own. I’m already stressing about what we’ll do next year.

Details about Boo @ Marie Q

When: Monday, October 31st 2:30-5:00 PM during Trick or Treat on the Square

Where: Marie Q Photography- 213 S. College St Waxahachie, TX 75165 – 972.937.9511

Why: Benefiting Local Charities Waxahachie Care and The Light of Gabriel Foundation

What: Bring your child/ children in costume along with two canned goods and $5 cash donation per child and receive a complimentary 5×7 (to be picked up on November 9th or 10th).

See you there – Be Good!

A new year always makes you nostalgic.  It makes you look back and reminisce.  While at the same time, you plan for the future.  This past year has been one of personal challenges.  My father has been gravely ill and everyone knows its a matter of time.  It’s hard for me to be optimistic about the year that I will most likely lose my father.  But I have started searching all things related to my father.  Letters, gifts and you got it… photographs.  I have so few photos with my dad.  In this digital age that we live in, I implore you to take more photos of your family and PRINT them.  I promise you those photos I do have of us together, I cherish.  I don’t look at them and criticize.  I look at them and remember.

I leave you with a montage of 2010.  Thanks to all of my clients for making 2010 a year to remember.  I’m not going promise to write everyday like I did last year.  But I promise to try harder

Be Good!

It was August 17th last year.  A day like any other,  I was spending that day out at the water park with my daughter and her friend.  As fate would have it, my daughter and friend couldn’t agree on what to do at the park and became frustrated and just called it a day.  When we arrived back to the house, messages were waiting for me.  My friend Amy had lost her baby in her final month of pregnancy.  That sucker punch feeling filled my stomach.  I belong to a group of volunteer photographers called Now I lay me Down to Sleep and you can read about them here.  My husband and I went to the hospital to photograph little Angel Gabriel that night.  It’s the hardest thing I have ever had to do with my husband, and its the hardest Now I lay me Down to Sleep session I have had to date.  So hard, because it was personal.  Every family who has to endure the pain of losing a child now what the Hollingsworths went through.  But from that pain emerged The Light of Gabriel Foundation.  I was so proud of Amy. She was doing something to help others in her situation.  I wanted to do something to help her start up charitable organization so together we organized Boo @ Marie Q.

DETAILS:

Boo @ Marie Q will be held today from 2:30-5:00 (Friday, October 29th).  We will be photographing kids in costumes for a $5 cash donation to the Light of Gabriel and two canned goods for Waxahachie Care per child.  You will receive a complimentary 5×7 per child and they will be available for pick up on November 11th and November 12th from 5:00 – 6:30 PM. Packages  will be available at discounted rates starting at $20 with a percentage of proceeds going to The Light of Gabriel.

At 5:00 pm today we will tell the last person in line that they are the end of the line and no other will be taken after that time.  Anyone who is in line at 5:00 will be photographed.

Call me today at the studio if you have any other questions.  We will not be answering the phone during event hours.

Hope to see you!

How it works…. the event is first come first serve and last year we had people camping out to be the first in line.  A $5 cash donation and two canned goods per child will be collected at the door (of course if you want to donate more you can).  I’ll be taking the photographs of the kids and displaying the photos on a computer screen.  You’ll make the selection and we will write it down and place the order for you.  We’ll have other packages available at special event prices.  Photographs will be available for pick up two weeks after , November 11th and 12th from 5:00 – 6:30.  If you didn’t pick up your photos from last years event, I still have some here at the studio.

We had fun taking the photos for the promo pieces yesterday.  I’ve never considered myself to have a darkside.   After viewing what came out of the session I have to say that I must have some darkness buried deep within. The kids did a fantastic job.  I think my daughter considered it her acting debut. My husband and I laughed and laughed at her video segments.  She took it very seriously.

I’ll be sending out a newsletter to my current clients for special VIP times for the event this week.  Be on the lookout for information in your email boxes this week.

Be Good! And don’t forget to watch the spooky video and check out how awesome the kids did.

Boo! at Marie Q is scheduled in conjunction with Trick or Treat on the Square in Downtown Waxahachie.  The date is set for Friday, October 29th  from 2 pm to 5 pm.  Like last year you will receive a complimentary 5×7 with your $5 cash donation AND two canned goods per child.  Cash donations are going to The Light of Gabriel Foundation.  You can read about the Light of Gabriel Foundation here.

We have cleared out the calendar for Fall Mini Sessions.  We are taking the furniture and fun stuff outdoors for two days of family and kids photography.  The mini session is a short 15-20 minute session out at the park and comes with one pack of Holiday Cards.  We’ll have 10 Card backgrounds for you to choose from.  Custom cards will be an additional $35.  Mini-Sessions will be on Saturday and Sunday, October 2nd and 3rd (Rain out make-up dates will be November 13th and 14th).  We only have a few hours allotted each day so call early and make your appointments.  I’ll be sending out a quick newsletter to all my clients with the details as well. The cost of the mini session will be $99 + tax for the session and one pack of cards (24) and as usual, it will be due at the time of booking.  The studio number is 972-937-9511.

Be Good!

Packages will be available starting at $20 and special event pricing will be made available for purchase on that day only.  The $20 package will include 2 5×7′s and 8 wallets (all same image) or 4 -4×6 prints all of the same image (great for grandparents).  A portion of the proceeds will go to The Light of Gabriel Foundation (click on the link to find out more).  Read Amy’s Story here on the blog. Due to the nature of the event, we will not be offering refunds.

I am CRAZY excited about this event tomorrow.  I hope to see you all here.  With a little luck and a lot of help, I hope to make this a yearly tradition.  I am blessed to do something that I LOVE.  Thank you for letting me share this with you

Be Good!

It’s official and I’m announcing it! 

Our First Annual Boo! at Marie Q Halloween Fundraiser benefiting local charities, Waxahachie Care and The Light of Gabriel Foundation.

On Friday, October 30th, during Waxahachie’s Trick or Treat on the Square (2:30-5:00pm)  I will be photographing children in costumes at the studio.  Bring 2 canned goods or a $5 donation per child and I will photograph your little one – spooky or cute.  A complimentary 5×7 print will be available for pick up on Friday , November 13th from 5pm- 7 pm and Saturday,  November 14th from 12 – 2 pm. If you are unavailable to pick up at those times a shipping option will be available for $5. Packages will be offered at greatly reduced prices starting at $20.  A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Light of Gabriel Foundation.

For two years on Halloween I have stood at the studio door handing out candy wishing I could do more.  Help make this something we can do every year!  Tell your friends…Be There or Be Square

Boo! at Marie Q

**please note that the date has changed from what was originally posted due a change in the Trick or Treat on Square Date.  The event date will be Friday, October 30th.**

The details are coming soon!!!

Be Good!