Contest Winner!

NOW THIS is exciting! This is my 100th blog post and it just so happens to also be the Contest Winner announcement! I apologize for the delay in getting this posted today. Had some family things come up that required priority... I know you were all holding your breath right?!

So.... drumroll please..............................

And the WINNER IS:

LEIGH MORGAN (with what sounds like her adorable little girls)

Here is her email entry: (Tammie is a bride I am working with for next year, thank you for referring her Tammie)! I know she will appreciate it too!

Hi Kari,

I got your name from Tammie Cox. She just forwarded me the e-mail regarding your contest. I was going to book a session with you for family pictures and exclusively pictures of my kids but not until next summer. I have a 5 month old baby girl, Addison, and a 3 year girl, Gracie. I would love for you to practice with your new camera on them as I LOVE all pictures of my girls. I assure you they are quiet the set of cuties!
Leigh Morgan

I cannot wait to meet up with you sometime over the next week! Congratulations and be sure to check your email for further details!

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Greg Davis

I met Tamilyn @ Becca and Jason Fryt's wedding. She was one of the bridesmaids. She saw the video that Jason had me make for Becca's gift and asked if I could help her put together one for her fiance'. Tamilyn did an excellent job putting things together and picking out stuff and we got this done before their wedding! I can't wait to hear how things went for them this weekend. They were married on Lake Michigan!

Tamilyn gave me permission to publish this AFTER the wedding! So here it is! If any of you are trying to come up with a gift for that difficult to buy for person or just want to give a heartfelt thanks, be sure to contact me and I can help you get something together!

Again congratulations Tamilyn and Greg!!!

I understand more than you think!

So many of you that I have had the pleasure to photograph and who have children often apologize for the way the kids are "acting" during a shoot. You will often hear me say... "oh my gosh, don't worry about it one bit. Let them be "who they are". I completely understand and I promise we will get some pictures you will like!"

I took Carson out to do some pictures of him and to hopefully capture something that represented him. Well... here is what we got! NOT.SO.MUCH!!! See... I DO understand! We only lasted about 15 minutes and I took about 80 pictures of him and I like... ummm 2 of them! LOL Go figure!

I know that when I used to "take" my kids to have their pictures done I would always reschedule if they had a terrible bump er.... in this case scratch on his head.... I wanted to be sure that they looked just perfect! On the way to get their pictures done I always worried they would get their clothes dirty or something. Well... that can be fixed! Just so all of you know... I can edit out "flaws" in your photos. I even had to edit a bandaid off from an adults head (wink wink Joel)! I just wanted to make sure all of you know this is available in case you run into a problem like this.

BEFORE: (our puppy got him, OUCH)

AFTER:

CONTEST TIME BABY!!!

Ok... so here are the details for the contest!

I have a new camera and I would like to get some more experience with it! So if you have been waiting to schedule a shoot and just haven't made the time or just haven't done it... now is your chance to get a free session... if you win this contest!

What's in it for you if you win?

well.... how about a free session ($50 value), 1 free 8x10, 1 free 5x7 and 8 free wallets! Also, 20% off any other prints you order! What a deal!

Your shoot can include as many subjects as you choose, your choice of location, and pretty much anything goes!

Rules: the session must be complete by August 6th. Its wedding season and we must stay on track. Also, your order must be placed within 5 days after your gallery is posted and payment is due when the order is placed. Lastly, it must be within a 50 mile radius of my home in Brooklyn, Michigan.

All you have to do to enter the contest is; either leave a comment on the blog here, OR email me @ karicarpenter2002@yahoo.com

Here is how we will choose a winner. I will write everyone who either emails me or leaves a comment here on a piece of paper. Then I will have my kids draw 1 name out of a bowl. Whoever's name is chosen, I will contact and get your session scheduled right away!

The contest begins @ 9 pm Thurs. July 24, 2008 and ends @ midnight on Monday, July 28th, 2008! Good luck to all of you who enter!!! Tell all your friends about the contest and if we have a good turn out (at least 15 entrants), you all just might recieve a little bonus!

Jason & Becca... Married!

Whew... I barely made it thorough these few pictures without a few tears. If any of you know me, you will know that I have said over the past 6 months that I couldn't wait for this wedding to come. I have gotten the opportunity to work very closely with both Becca & Jason. This was just one of those meant to be working relationships. Jason and I met in the doctor's office I was working in at the time and he mentioned that he was getting married. I mentioned to him then, that I was doing photography if they were looking for a photographer.

The next time he came in for his appointment he just happened to bring his fiance' with him... and surprisingly... his fiance' was Becca... It was crazy because Becca and I had worked together about 10 years ago!

We met and had dinner and talked about their wedding plans and planned things from there! I just LOVE this couple and have had an absolute blast getting to know them more. I have called them my "favorite wedding couple" all year! I had a terrible time sleeping the night of the wedding because I was THAT excited.... weird I know! (I mean this is work right?!) I could hardly wait to get to the church the morning of the wedding!

You will likely recognize this couple and Jason's girls from their engagment session. I can't express enough how great they all were to work with. If any of you know me you will know that right now I am crazy about the colors blue and brown together. Im a dork like that... guess what their wedding colors were?! I had a terrible time turning any of these to black and white because I liked the colors so well! Bec, your taste is impeccable! Love it!!!

One of the bridesmaids gave a heartfelt toast and put the words of how she and everyone else in the room felt about Jason & Becca. I don't think there was a dry eye in the room. I LOVE a good toast and she NAILED IT!!!

I had to share this last image because it is just so emotional to look at. I really feel like we captured the moment in so many of these pictures, but this one.... takes my breath away. This is Jason and his oldest daughter Callie during "their" dance. Jason (and Becca too) have an incredible heart for both of his daughters and Jason is an amazing daddy. You don't have to know what was said during "their" dance to imagine what had both of them in tears in this picture... to me... it's priceless.

Fryt family, thank you very much for allowing us to be part of your special day. It was truly an honor. I wish both of you years of happiness and many memories (that of course I can come capture for you with my camera) :-)

Love you all!!!

My beautiful daughter...

I am TERRIBLE about taking pictures of my own kids. I just don't take the time to actually go out and do a photo shoot. Kenedey as you will see.. is stunning. I have the perfect girl to practice on! I am missing her SO so so so much. I haven't seen her in about 3 weeks. Yuck! But good thing is, I will see her very soon! So FINALLY here are some updated pictures. I am working on getting some of Carson... SOON! Enjoy

Pat & Karen.... MARRIED!!!

True girls... shopping even on her wedding day!

This couple has such a sweet story. Karen and Pat met at Karaoke of all places! I love when you can watch couples and see the love between them, these two are no exception. As you will see the flower girls were absolutely adorable and had handmade dresses that were incredible. The flowers were also all done by Karen's Maid of Honor. Karen is crazy about pink as you will see from the pictures! These two went on an Alaskan Cruise after their wedding... Im SO jealous!

Lindsey & Nick

Lindsey is my cousin! I finally got the chance to take some pictures of her and her beau Nick! They are such a fun loving couple... I think we captured some great shots! Lindsey & Nick thank you so much for being so patient with me getting these posted for you. I know it has been F.O.R.E.V.E.R. but I know the wait was worth it! Lindsey... how does it feel to be in good old Trufant Michigan again? Im loving silhouette pictures these days! Probably has something to do with I finally know how to capture it!