A thousand words--Anne Companion Photography blog

New blog!

2009-07-07T20:53:00.002-04:00

I'm debuting a brand-new blog! From now on you can follow me at http://annecompanion.typepad.com/. Thank you!

July specials from Anne Companion Photography

2009-07-05T13:33:00.002-04:00

Hope you're staying cool in the July heat! This month I'm having a referral contest, if you refer someone new to Anne Companion Photography not only will you still receive a $50 print credit, but the person who refers the most people to me this month will get to choose one of the following prizes:

-One portrait purse up to $125 in value
-50% off a gallery wrap canvas 11x14 or larger
-50% off your next ala carte print order (must be from a future session)

The other special for July is for high school seniors, book a session with me and receive a complimentary 8x10 print!

Any questions, send me an e-mail at info@annecompanionphotography.com. Happy July!

Expecting in August...and her little dog, too. :)

2009-07-02T14:04:00.007-04:00

The dog is going to be a big brother, after all! She is absolutely glowing and I can't wait to meet their little one!

Another family, same park!

2009-06-30T20:44:00.006-04:00

I'm really liking this location these days!

I've been photographing this family since the little guy was a newborn and now he's 18 months old! I do love documenting kids and their families as they grow and capturing their personalities. Sometimes I get my workout for the day in, too, and that's just another bonus! :)

Family session at Sandy Bottom Park

2009-06-29T07:38:00.005-04:00

Thunderstorms were playing cat-and-mouse with us that night, but we won! :D

Maternity and newborn!

2009-06-24T13:10:00.014-04:00

I thought I'd put these together this time; it's fun to see the flow from one to the other! The big sister here was shy about getting in front of the camera, so we had to find some creative ways to get her in on the action. And isn't her brother just a little love? :)

Maternity session with two big brothers

2009-06-17T12:28:00.007-04:00

And #3 is a boy, too! I love lively sessions like these; there's never a dull moment and I'm always laughing! Can't wait to meet the newest brother!

Senior portraits in the studio

2009-06-15T14:36:00.007-04:00

Same young lady from a few weeks ago; I brought her back for some studio portraits in two of her sports uniforms!

Gorgeous natural area with rapids

2009-06-07T18:44:00.003-04:00

I took these in Maryland last weekend at Great Falls Park. Beautiful area and a nice easy hike for the whole family if you're up that way!

June specials from Anne Companion Photography

2009-06-01T15:00:00.004-04:00

Summer is (just about) here! One type of session that I always see in the summertime is the big family session, where grandparents get together their adult children and all of THEIR children for a big family portrait and lots of sub-family unit portraits as well. :) I know how hard it can be to get everyone together for these, so I'm making the portrait aspect a little easier this month--book "The Big Family Session" with me this month (it can take place in June, July or August!) and my Gold Digital Package will be available to you for just $1000, a $200 savings! I've re-vamped the digital packages some since they were first announced, so here's what that includes: A CD with ALL finished proofs from the session for you to print at the lab of your choice (I recommend mpix.com!), a 5x7 print of each finished proof, and a 16x20 or 20x24 wall portrait of the whole group. So you order the Gold Digital Package, everyone gets to then order their own reprints at their convenience and you have the CD to make more copies as needed whenever you want! I just require a $300 deposit when you book the session and it will be entirely applied to your digital package. And of course as always the session will be at the location of your choice! (Maximum of 25 people)

And as for my other special this month, spend $500 on a print or digital order this month and you will receive a complimentary mini-session to use later this year for holiday card portraits, AND a $10 coupon towards those cards!

(These specials cannot be combined with other specials or coupons)

Boys on the beach

2009-05-29T12:45:00.009-04:00

These guys are such sweethearts and it's always a pleasure to photograph them! Tried something a little different this time at the end, used the fishing the poles and sailor hats for a different feel. And I'm very happy with the result! :)

Newborn Celebrating Adoption session

2009-05-20T07:56:00.009-04:00

This is the first time I've had a Celebrating Adoption session with a newborn! And what a sweet, beautiful baby he is and such a happy family, too.

If you're not familiar with Celebrating Adoption, it's a program provided by photographers to families who have adopted in the past 12 months, they receive a complimentary session and a set of 4x6" prints of all of the finished proofs from the session. :)

Check out my display at the Center for Women's Health!

2009-05-07T14:27:00.001-04:00

I'm so excited about this! The Center for Women's Health in Newport News now has a number of my maternity and newborn photos adorning the walls of their waiting rooms, hallways, and examining rooms! If you're not a patient there, here are a few images from around the office!

Class of 2009 and 2010! Senior portraits hampton roads

2009-05-06T07:22:00.009-04:00

Fun shared session, in one of my favorite locations--love that wall! It was touch-and-go with the weather, but we won out in the end!

May specials from Anne Companion Photography

2009-05-01T16:19:00.003-04:00

Welcome to May, the month of flowers, Mother's Day, and the unofficial kick-off to summer! It's a great time for an outdoor photo session, too! Book an outdoor session with a friend this month and you can split the session fee! This can be a session for kids, families, or high school seniors. You'll each get 45 minutes of session time for $50! (Prints will be a separate purchase)

And my other special for the month, exclusively for families with newborns, the brand-new 10x10" "kissables" collage will be a gift to you with your $300 order! Isn't it sweet?

Have a great month and keep an eye out here for images from the latest sessions!

4 years old

2009-04-29T14:06:00.010-04:00

And many shots with one of her beloved stuffed dogs! Plus, a little vintage feel to the first one. :)

My nieces and nephews

2009-04-19T14:43:00.010-04:00

Taken over Easter weekend at my parents' house, I always love an opportunity to photograph my good-looking nieces and nephews! By the way, my oldest niece decided to dye her hair that day, so you're not seeing things, she's sporting a different hair color in the last picture!

Looky-loo newborn

2009-04-17T12:58:00.007-04:00

I don't think I've ever had such eye contact from a newborn! He just looked and looked at me. And I'm thrilled with the wonderful Daddy shot. :)

Recent wedding

2009-04-14T06:50:00.012-04:00

The bride and groom already got a sneak peak on Facebook (if you're on Facebook, look me up!) and here they are for everyone else! We had a beautiful day and the wedding was lovely. :)

Recent session---and Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T07:52:00.009-04:00

I've fallen behind; time to play a little catch-up! Here are some images from a recent session with a 2-year old and a 9-month old--very busy, as you can imagine! And of course, totally adorable. :)

April specials from Anne Companion Photography

2009-04-01T14:36:00.003-04:00

Now that the weather is getting warmer, it's time to start thinking about outdoor sessions again! April is a perfect time for a family session at the beach or the park, it's not too hot, not too cold, and it we're lucky, the wind and rain are at a minimum. ;) I'm happy to announce a couple of fabulous incentives for the month of April and they're just in time for Mother's Day, too: Spend $500 on your April session and receive at no additional cost the beautiful Portrait Bucket Bag, a $90 value! (Pictured on the left).

OR, spend $750 on your April session and choose either the Bucket Bag, or the Portrait Diaper Bag, a $120 value!

E-mail now to book your session, info@annecompanionphotography.com. :)

Petite princess (yet another newborn!)

2009-03-30T07:29:00.009-04:00

Such a sweet little girl, and she just loved to be all curled up! I loved that she could be all mad one minute, and the next minute she was sound asleep again. Enjoy!

New look to my website!

2009-03-27T15:13:00.003-04:00

Check it out! :D http://www.annecompanionphotography.com.

Mom, it's cold!

2009-03-24T07:39:00.003-04:00

A few days ago, when it was sunny and warm, I was struck with the idea that I needed a "Springy" portrait of my kids, so I picked out some outfits and herded them outside, only to find the temperature had dropped about 20 degrees, clouds had moved in, and the wind had started to blow. Oh well, still got a pretty cute one of them. ;)

Another newborn, 7 days old and a chunk!

2009-03-21T14:04:00.007-04:00

This little guy was a big one! And I'm guessing that because he was overdue when he finally arrived he wasn't about to curl up again, he resisted the "in the womb" poses! Slept like a champ, though, as you can see!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-17T11:25:00.003-04:00

Are you wearing your green? How about I save you some green? Book a session with me TODAY, and the session fee will be just $50, that's half off! I'm spreadin' some Luck O' the Irish today!

(Session can take place anytime this year)

Supersized family session

2009-03-15T20:07:00.009-04:00

We had one of those amazingly beautiful March days for this session, a good thing considering the weather the past few days! Add that to the fact that this was one of those sessions that require all of the stars and schedules to align, and you get a fabulously lucky afternoon!

Sweet newborn, 8 days old!

2009-03-05T21:02:00.010-05:00

Loved this little girl, she liked being swaddled up tightly and snuggled close, just like a newborn should be! We had to lure her to sleep to get the nakee shots. ;)

So you're getting married!

2009-03-04T07:20:00.004-05:00

I saw this post on Willow Dawn Photography's blog today and thought it was so good I had to share it here (with permission!). All about wedding photography costs and the benefits of hiring a professional photographer:

so you’re getting married!

Are you happy with your wedding photographs?

April 25, 2008

I asked that simple question on a forum I frequent (not photography related) with a diverse membership. Women from all walks of life, every socio-economic bracket and from every corner of the country. Even a few from other countries. The results?

42% replied - No, they were not happy with their wedding photos.

58% replied - Yes, or Other.

I found the results interesting and posted a follow-up poll…

… if you could do it over again, where do you wish you had spent more money?

46% responded with photography

28% said they wish they had spent more money on their rings, and

the cake, hall (location) and dress filled out the remainder with 8, 9 and 10% respectively.

It seems fitting that the photos are the one thing most wished they had budgeted a greater deal of their budget for. After all, once the cake is cut, the food is eaten, the songs are danced to, your dress is cleaned and preserved, the only thing you have daily are your rings… and your photos. I was amazed to find out that photography is usually only 10% of a bride and grooms budget. Really, for one of the two things that will last past the actual wedding day? And the number of “experts”, wedding guides and websites that are recommending that to save money, hire a “new photographer”, a family friend, a relative. OK, I’m the first to admit that there are some amazing cameras that make taking a nice photo much much easier than in years past. But the camera is really only one part of the equation. I had a friend just last week ask me why she always got red-eye in her pics still? After all, she had a fancy DSLR. Or why all the pics of her kids were blurry. She paid a lot of money for a “nice” camera. Why oh why would you want to trust one of your most important days to just anyone. Even if they can show you some nice pics. Do you really want to bank on them getting lucky on your special day?

Part 2 of “… are you happy?”

I had asked the simple question in the format of a poll, and many of the respondents left comments as well. Thought I’d share some of them.

- I didn’t put much thought into our wedding photos at the time and I was disappointed with the results.

- I cut back my budget on some other areas so I could get the photographer I wanted… So glad I spent the little extra money to get who I wanted!!!

- I figured I’d hire a friend of a friend to take pictures so that I could save some money. Big mistake! We don’t have one good shot of DH and I together. We have some nice ones of the entire wedding party but I don’t have any of just us. I should have come up with more money for better photos… but I was naive about weddings and stuff.

- YES! We spent over 1/3 of our budget on photos and it was worth it. We had decided before much else was planned that the photos would be our top priority. Our amazing photographers didn’t disappoint!

- Yes, we were thrilled. We paid a lot of $$ for a very highly recommended photographer, since pictures were very important to us. Besides awesome photos, he was just a great person to have around that day…he kind of became our “buddy” for the day and helped relieve a lot of the stress.

I saw an article from theknot.com breaking down the average wedding costs:

– The bulk of the average wedding budget is dedicated to the reception venue ($12,722, or 45%); followed by the reception band ($4,105 on average, or 15%); and photographer ($2,651 on average, or 9.5% of the total average wedding budget).

Let’s take the national average for photography, $2651. That sound like a LOT of money, right? And it is, if your wedding photographer simply showed up for a couple of hours and then hands you the memory card from their camera. Don’t laugh, I’ve seen that offered. But the reality is that for a small, simple wedding with 4 hours of coverage the day of the wedding, the photographer works at LEAST 40 hours! That’s an average rate of $66 per hour. But Uncle Sam wants his cut off the top… Leaving the photographer with an hourly wage of $47.71. BUT WAIT! Did the B&G order any prints? An album? Announcements? Thank you notes? Mother’s Albums? A custom guest album (which are way cooler than a traditional silk guest book, btw!)? ALL of those things must be paid for out of the photographer’s fee! What about purchasing and maintaining their equipment? Have you seen the cost of a new high end, professional camera lately? Be sure you are sitting down! And what about things like insurance? Never hire a professional without insurance! Most halls and churches require all professionals working on their premises to maintain insurance. And the photographer has to pay for that. How about continuing education? Good golly, Miss Molly. Technology changes faster than the weather. There is always something new to learn and discover. Oh, and when you work for yourself, there’s no 401k with matching funds from an employer. So a wise photographer is taking a large chunk of their income and saving for the future.

My point in all of this rambling is that photography is an art. An expensive art. When you are looking to hire a photographer, for any important event in your life… you are hiring a person to create art. For you. The items that you reach for in the event of a fire. The preservation of memories that can’t be replaced. Isn’t that worth splurging on?

March specials from Anne Companion Photography

2009-03-03T11:42:00.001-05:00

Hope everyone is staying warm in this little cold snap and I hope you enjoyed the snow! :) I have a couple of specials to tell you all about, one just for March and one that will last until the end of June. First the one for March: I usually waive the session fee with pre-payment of a $300 retainer towards your order when booking a session, but this month the retainer will only be $250. So, book before the end of March and there is no session fee, just a $250 retainer which is entirely applied to your print or digital order! And for the special that lasts through the end of June, I have lowered print prices on the most popular sizes, 5x7's are now $20 (regularly $25) and 8x10's are now $35 (regularly $40).

Finally, I'm still on the lookout for newborn twins! I am giving away a session for newborn twins and I will include an 8x10 portrait, so if you know someone expecting twins, let them know!

In search of newborn twins!

2009-02-25T13:53:00.002-05:00

If you are a faithful reader of this blog, you know how much I love photographing newborns, but I have yet to photograph twin newborns! So I'm putting out a call, if you or someone you know is expecting twins, I am offering a complimentary newborn session and a 8x10 print, no further purchase necessary. E-mail me if you are interested! info@annecompanionphotography.com.

Class of 2009 senior girl

2009-02-18T15:52:00.010-05:00

One more for the Class of '09, this lovely young woman of many interests and talents! She's a big reader and we incorporated some of her favorite books into the session We had a lot of fun!

3, 6, 9 months!

2009-02-11T13:47:00.011-05:00

Something a little different for me, a maternity timeline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months! I really enjoyed being a part of this lovely and fun gal's pregnancy and helping to document it. Now I can't wait for the newborn!

A note about maternity and newborn portraits

2009-02-08T14:15:00.002-05:00

If I haven't said it before, let me say it now--I love doing maternity portraits! I know a lot of women feel self-conscious about their pregnant bodies, but I'm out to change that. Growing a new life--what could be more beautiful? I have photographed pregnant women in all shapes and sizes and the comments I've gotten afterwards ranged from "I wasn't sure about this, but I'm so glad I did it!" to "I didn't know I could look so good!" Ladies, how many times in your life will you look like that? (If your last name is Duggar, you can't answer that). Capture this fleeting time in your life. I promise you won't regret it!

Now, newborn portraits--I know I've mentioned that I love those! What can be sweeter than a tiny, curled-up baby? Again, here is a fleeting time, that brand-new baby of your's, so tiny and angelic. They'll never be that small again! Let me capture this moment in time for you.

Economic stimulus package from Anne Companion Photography!

2009-02-01T14:50:00.003-05:00

Economy, schmeconomy (that was a hard one). Yes, it's all over the news, and what can you do? Well, I had an idea, an economic stimulus package of my own! Very straightforward, everyone who books a session in February (to take place by the end of March) will receive 15% off their ala carte print order, and this can be combined with the 10% early bird discount, for a total of 25% off your order! This will not apply to print packages, as they are already discounted, but this will give you an opportunity to build your own package and save. AND, digital packages will be discounted 10% during February and March for everyone as well! Remember, you must make the booking for the session in February and it must take place by the end of March. So what are you waiting for? :D

Doggies!

2009-01-25T13:18:00.005-05:00

These labs belong to my in-laws and my MIL asked recently if I'd get a few shots of them. It was a challenge, but ultimately I succeeded! ;)

Lovely cellist

2009-01-21T15:21:00.008-05:00

I attended a get-together this past weekend of photographers from Virginia, NC, and SC, and had the opportunity to photograph the lovely and talented Shana Tucker-Williams, who was a blast to work with! Check out her website!

More family portraits on the beach

2009-01-19T13:22:00.007-05:00

From the lovely Grandview Beach area of Hampton; we had probably the best weather we're going to have in January! And isn't this little girl adorable?!

Maternity with a Navy flair

2009-01-08T15:12:00.010-05:00

Very fun couple from a recent maternity session; he's in the Navy and they asked if we could incorporate that into the session. Of course I'm always glad to customize! :D

Valentine's Day cards

2009-01-06T10:54:00.004-05:00

As I mentioned previously, one of my specials this month is a Valentine's Day mini-special, where you can get 25 Valentine's cards and 1 5x7 for $99. And here are some card samples! These cards will be 4x5.5" and printed on cardstock. Give the cutest cards in the class this year!

Happy New Year! New digital packages and January specials

2009-01-01T13:33:00.004-05:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I am now offering digital packages to allow my clients more flexibility in printing and keeping copies of their images. So without further ado, here are the new digital packages from Anne Companion Photography!

Gold:
1 16x20 or 1 20x24 gallery wrap canvas or one 10x10" coffee table book
Full-resolution digital images of all finished proofs from session and 5x7 prints of all finished proofs $1500

Silver
1 11x14 or 1 16x20 wall portrait
20 full-resolution digital images + 5x7 prints of selected digital files $850
(upgrade 16x20 to canvas + $200)

Bronze
1 11x14 wall portrait + 10 full-resolution digital images + 5x7 prints of selected digital files $550
(upgrade 11x14 to canvas + $200)

Wait, there's more! I have specials for January as well!

Maternity/newborn package, another relatively new offering from Anne Companion Photography, this includes two sessions and the entire retainer is credited towards your orders from both sessions. Spend as little or as much of the retainer as you want on the maternity portraits and spend the rest on newborn portraits! Regularly $500, the maternity/newborn package retainer will be $400 for month of January.
Weddings--Take 20% off any package if your wedding is booked in January.
Valentine's Day mini-sessions--One 30-minute mini-session, 25 4x5.5" Valentine's cards with envelopes and 1 5x7 portrait--$99. (Look for examples here soon!)

New in 2009

2008-12-30T16:30:00.002-05:00

As 2008 draws to an end I wanted to give a little heads-up to my blog readers about some new offerings in 2009 from Anne Companion Photography!

First, there will be very little in the way of pricing changes; nearly everything that I offer will stay the same. The big "new(s)" is the introduction of digital packages to my offerings. I've been considering this option for awhile and held off in part because I strongly believe in presenting a finished product to my clients and I really enjoy handing them their beautiful images and seeing their reaction. I've also found that different photo labs can produce very different prints and I shudder at the thought of my carefully produced images floating around out there with poorly reproduced colors! However, a business that doesn't keep up with the times and offer the products that their clients want will eventually be in danger of being an ex-business in this economy. So after much consideration of how to offer digital files in a way that I was comfortable with, I have come up with a plan and several packages for clients to choose from. I will officially debut these packages New Year's Day, but here's a sneak peak: All of the packages will include a wall portrait (11x14 or larger) and 5x7 prints of all of the digital images that are purchased. Then I will be uploading the purchased images to mpix.com, a consumer lab that I have the utmost confidence in to produce high-quality prints. The prints included in the package will be partly for reference to ensure that the prints my clients order for themselves look as they should. And a CD will be included as well, with the purchased images.

So keep an eye out for the new offerings and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

On the beach, again and again!

2008-12-28T15:07:00.021-05:00

I had a run on family portrait beach sessions at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach in the past few weeks and I thought I'd combine them all into one post here on the blog! As you can see, the weather was as varied as only the weather can be!

Twin babies + 2 year old

2008-12-22T16:02:00.008-05:00

Sounds like it could a challenging one, but they were a breeze! Aren't they adorable?

This was all done in the family's home; I can bring the studio to you!

If you contacted me about a Celebrating Adoption session yesteday (12/17)...

2008-12-18T08:27:00.001-05:00

...please e-mail me again! Your first initial is E. I tried to reply but the e-mail came back to me. I hope you see this!

This is like a "missed connections" posting on Craigslist, lol...

Family portraits in the park

2008-12-07T21:47:00.007-05:00

Guess what, no wind this time! A bit cloudy, but otherwise a nice day. We stayed on the move a lot, no sedate posing for them! That's the beauty of taking a session like this to a park, though, lots of space to move around and get the best shots. :)

Sessions around Christmas + a special

2008-12-05T15:02:00.005-05:00

It's December and baby, it's cold outside! I wanted to let everyone know that I am available around Christmas for sessions if you have family coming into town and want to plan a big family session, but I am NOT available December 24th, 25th, and 26th. Otherwise, just let me know what you'd like to set up!

The special is for my maternity/newborn package, the retainer for this package is regularly $500, which applies entirely to BOTH sessions, but in December it's only $400! There is no additional session fee, this is a retainer which becomes a print credit that you can use as little or as much as you want on the maternity session and then the rest goes towards the newborn session. Use it towards prints, birth announcements, or coffee table books!

I've got more pre-Christmas sessions to share soon!

Another windy session!

2008-12-01T17:47:00.008-05:00

If I could just figure out a way to harness this wind I bring with me everywhere I could solve global warming. ;) Fortunately these two cuties didn't seem to mind the wind too much, and we found some sheltered spots for shots. Check out their hair in this first one, though!

Black Friday special from Anne Companion Photography!

2008-11-28T09:26:00.004-05:00

Yes, I've got a special, too, and you don't have to get up at 4am to take advantage of it! Contact me any time this weekend at info@annecompanionphotography.com for a session to take place Saturday, Sunday, or Monday afternoon, and the session fee will be just $75 (regularly $100) for my time only, or you can choose to pay a $225 retainer, (regularly $300) which will go entirely towards your portrait and card order! Happy shopping! :D

Another newborn!

2008-11-26T14:42:00.007-05:00

This little lady was born the same day as the previous newborn and we did these just one day after his. Look at that hair on her!

10-day old newborn

2008-11-23T14:18:00.010-05:00

I love newborns! Sometimes they sleep, sometimes they don't, I try to get shots of both, and sometimes I'm there for 3 hours waiting them out! This little guy did some of both. A chunk of sweetness!

Portrait purses and Coffee Table Books on sale!

2008-11-18T15:10:00.007-05:00

Just in time for Christmas shopping, I'm placing several of the fabulous portrait purses and the 5x5" coffee table books on sale! First, the purses:

The Bucket Bag

This is the bag that I carry! The features on the Bucket Bag include:
-Top zipper closure
-Elegant and durable microfiber material
-Dimensions are 12"W x 10"H x 5"D
-Interior zipper pocket, cell phone pocket, and mirror pocket
-24" Handles are stitched to sides
-Interior attached key fob
-Metal feet
Regularly $90, the Bucket Bag is on sale for $75.00!

The Backpack

The features on the Backpack include:

-Snap Closure
-Elegant and durable microfiber material
-Dimensions are 9.5"W x 11"H x 3.5"D
-Full length front zipper pocket with mesh zipper card pocket and pen/pencil holders
-Adjustable shoulder straps with snap-hook attachments

Regularly $105, the Backpack is on sale for $85.00!
The Diaper Bag

Show of your cuties while you tote around their supplies! The features on the Diaper Bag include:

-Your favorite photo
-Zipper Closure
-Elegant and durable microfiber material
-Dimensions are 15.5"W x 11"H x 5"D
-2 Elastic side bottle pockets
-Interior zipper pocket
-Metal feet
-1" x 24" handles with nickel loopers

Regularly $120, the Diaper Bag is on sale for $95!

The 5x5" Coffee Table Book is a beautiful keepsake for grandparents or for yourself, featuring UV-coated pages for protection from little fingers, a hinged cover so that the book can lie open flat, and a leather cover. The book can contain approximately 25-30 images from your most recent session. Regularly $275, this book is on sale for $225! (Book in the attached images is 10x10"). Regularly $275, the 5x5" Coffee Table Book is on sale for $225.

Orders must be received by December 1st for Christmas delivery, so schedule your session now!

Celebrating Adoption session in the park

2008-11-13T14:27:00.009-05:00

The weather continues to be uncooperative with me of late, this was another cloudy and windy session, but this little sweetie-pie didn't seem to mind at all! If you're not familiar with Celebrating Adoption, it's an organization that I participate in that provides a complimentary portrait session to families who have adopted within the past year. :)

Portrait Party pics!

2008-11-07T08:32:00.010-05:00

From a portrait party I did last weekend, lots of fun and lots of cuteness! If you would like to host a portrait party, please let me know! You just invite friends to come over for their own mini-session with me and you automatically receive a $50 print credit just for hosting and 20% of sales as print credit as well!

Get out and vote today!

2008-11-04T16:30:00.001-05:00

If you haven't done so already! :D

I'm a little behind updating the blog, but I hope to get caught up in the next couple of days. The specials for November are the same for October, with a $300 portrait purchase you will receive 25 complimentary holiday cards, and with a $500 purchase you will receive 50 cards or one digital file. And yes, I can still fit in some more sessions this month!

Family session, wind and clouds won't stop us!

2008-10-28T21:36:00.010-04:00

Oh, the photographer's lament, to wish for golden late-day light and light breezes but instead get dark clouds and gusty winds. But even adverse weather conditions didn't stop this family and we had a blast playing around Huntington Park and the rose gardens! (I'm also lamenting this weird formatting that I can't seem to fix!)

Pumpkin fun

2008-10-22T15:27:00.008-04:00

I did some playin' around with my camera and the pumpkins at my church's pumpkin patch this past weekend--Fall is definitely here!

Don't forget about the chance for a mini-session this weekend!

Want a mini-session this weekend?

2008-10-21T15:23:00.007-04:00

As I have spaces available in my schedule I will be offering a limited number of mini-sessions for the holiday sesason. While my usual sessions are at least an hour long, the mini-sessions will be 30 minutes long and will either be a $50 session fee with all products purchased separately, or (SAVINGS ALERT!), a $125 retainer, with the entire retainer going towards portrait prints, Christmas cards, purses, any of my products! I have either Saturday afternoon the 25th after 4pm available or Sunday afternoon the 26th after 4:30pm available this weekend. Drop me an e-mail if you're interested! info@annecompanionphotography.com .

3 generations, 9 family members

2008-10-18T14:15:00.013-04:00

There's nothing as priceless as a classic family portrait, grandparents to grandkids, especially when's there a brand new member of the family! As always I aim to capture the spontaneous, the unposed, along the traditional portraits.

Lollipops are a great way to bribe a 2-year old! :D

Give me candy and I'll smile all day!

Full moon

2008-10-15T22:09:00.003-04:00

I haven't done any moon pictures in awhile; took this tonight with my 200mm lens for a nice close-up. If I'd caught it a little earlier as it was rising it probably would've been a nice "Harvest Moon!"

More maternity beauty

2008-10-08T22:10:00.010-04:00

I think there was something in the water earlier this year, I'm seeing a lot of maternities lately! And this was a maternity session that I had been looking forward to for a long time. The sweet little girl you've seen on my blog before and soon she'll be a big sister! Congratulations y'all and I can't wait to meet the little guy!

October special

2008-10-03T13:32:00.002-04:00

With Christmas just around the corner (hey, the stores have the decorations out!), I'm going full force with the Christmas and holiday promotions over the next couple of months. I noted earlier that sessions for Christmas cards and portrait gifts need to take place by November 29th. If you're not mailing your portrait gifts they can take place as late as December 6th. With a $300 purchase you will receive 25 complimentary portrait Christmas cards, and with a $500 order you will receive 50 complimentary cards! I'm already scheduling in late October for weekend sessions, so if you need a Saturday you'll need to book your session soon! And remember, I not only offer portrait prints, but purses and coffee table books as well!

And come by Wesley United Methodist church in Hampton at the corner of Tide Mill and Arminstead Ave this Saturday and next to see me at their annual rummage sale! I'll have some great offers available there!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2008-10-02T07:37:00.002-04:00

And in light of that I want to remind everyone that I am a participating photographer in the Think Pink Photography program, which provides complimentary portrait sessions to individuals and their families who are undergoing or who have undergone breast cancer treatment in the past year. If you or someone you know qualify for this special offer (not just in October, but all year around), please contact me!

Next, a special offer for October: I will be conducting a silent auction here on my blog for a portrait session and 25 portrait Christmas cards, with a total value of $140. I will donate the entire proceeds to the Susan B. Koman foundation for breast cancer research. The bidding will begin at $50. If you would like to make a bid, e-mail me at info@annecompanionphotography.com. I will post updates on the bidding here on my blog as the bids come in!

More to come tomorrow!

Fresh Faces winner! And October madness...

2008-10-01T13:20:00.007-04:00

Soooo cute! Look at those eyes and that smile! He's almost a year old and just as precious as he can be. :)

Why October madness? Well, there is lots going on with Anne Companion Photography this month and I want to tell all about it, but this guy deserves a post all to himself, so watch closely in the next couple of days for updates from me!

A young man you might recognize...

2008-09-26T15:21:00.007-04:00

This little guy is 6 years old now and he's all boy!

The Blue Angels

2008-09-22T08:54:00.010-04:00

We went to the Oceana Air Show this weekend and enjoyed seeing the fabulous Blue Angels perform! The skies were cloudy most of the time, but some peeks of sun and blue sky appeared towards the end. :)

Beautiful maternity mama

2008-09-17T13:36:00.008-04:00

This nice family is getting ready to welcome their second child and I enjoyed being part of the anticipation with them!

A note about sessions for holiday gifts and cards

2008-09-16T15:26:00.003-04:00

(EDITED! Changed the dates)
As I'm starting to get more inquiries about sessions for holiday/Christmas presents and cards I wanted to let everyone know about the deadlines for scheduling these sessions so you can plan accordingly! If you want portrait Christmas cards OR if you are purchasing portraits for gifts that need to be mailed, your session will need to be scheduled by Saturday, November 29nd. For Christmas portrait gifts only that don't need to be mailed for Christmas arrival, your session will need to be scheduled by Saturday, December 6th. Any questions, please let me know!

www.annecompanionphotography.com

Wedding sneak peek

2008-09-13T14:03:00.010-04:00

From a recent wedding that I photographed on the beautiful Yorktown waterfront,

a little sneak peek for everyone! If you are interested in retaining me to photograph your wedding, my wedding website is www.annecompanionphotography.com/Weddings/index.html. :)

Portrait Parties from Anne Companion Photography

2008-09-11T12:55:00.001-04:00

Brand new from Anne Companion Photography, Portrait Parties in your home for you and your friends! With a Portrait Party, the hostess invites friends to her home and we schedule them for a 30-minute mini portrait session. I will bring my lights and your choice of a backdrop and some props to customize their sessions. You can also choose to host the party at a local park. Your guests will be able to view their portraits in a private on-line album about 10 days later and then 20% of the total sales will be given as print credit towards the hostess's portrait order! I will also give the hostess a $50 print credit just for hosting a party! Guests will receive 10% off my regular portrait prices and can save an additional 10% if they take advantage of my early ordering discount. This is a great opportunity to have portraits made for Christmas cards and presents. If you're interested in hosting a Portrait Party, please e-mail me at info@annecompanionphotography.com!

www.annecompanionphotography.com

September special from Anne Companion Photography

2008-09-01T13:09:00.004-04:00

As promised, the September special and a note about packages. First, the special offer for this month: Book a portrait session for September or October and receive 25 complimentary holiday cards with your order, a $40 value! I have many custom designs available for cards and here is a sample! More are in the Christmas card gallery on my web page, www.annecompanionphotography.com

And, I have made some changes to my packages and additional savings are to be had! Check out the revised packages at www.annecompanionphotography.com/packages.html.

Look what I grew!

2008-09-01T07:17:00.002-04:00

I've been gardening for a few years now and figuring out what works well in my yard and what's the most feasible for me to grow. ;) This is the first year I've grown canteloupes and I'm ridiculously pleased with how well they've turned out. They're so juicy and sweet!

Back on photography, as it is the first day of the month that means new specials and I'll announce those a little later today!

One of my Fresh Faces winners!

2008-08-27T08:10:00.007-04:00

Photographing a 1-year old is anything but predictable--you can try to put them where you want them, but they have their own agendas and will go where they want to go! This little guy is so cute, and boy, does he love rocks! I'd ask him if he wanted to smell some flowers and he'd give me a look that said "Silly woman, there are ROCKS all around me and you want me to smell flowers??" Hee! Enjoy!

Little beauty, one year later

2008-08-19T09:07:00.010-04:00

If you've seen my business cards, or even just been to my website (as I hope you have!), then you know that I use this portrait, from a session last August, a lot! I absolutely love it. And now I was fortunate enough to photograph her and her family again this year, and look at her now! She and her sister have such a sweet relationship and the whole family was great to spend some time with. :)

Fresh Faces contest winners!

2008-08-18T06:53:00.006-04:00

Thank you to everyone who entered and voted! We had over 600 votes! And now here they are, the first, second, and third place finishers in the Anne Companion Photography Fresh Faces contest!

First Place:

Second place:

Third place:

Fresh Faces poll!

2008-08-11T07:15:00.007-04:00

Here they are, vote for who you think should be the Fresh Face of Anne Companion Photography! (larger pics below)

Online Surveys & Market Research

Fresh Faces contest entries

2008-08-11T07:11:00.012-04:00

I'm putting these here slightly enlarged so you can get a good look at them!

Recent newborn beauty

2008-08-10T20:24:00.008-04:00

Lots of posts in the past few days, I know! I wanted to share this one before the voting starts tomorrow in the Fresh Faces contest. These were done with studio lighting, right in the family's home, as usual!

Doe! A deer!

2008-08-10T13:45:00.002-04:00

Last couple of pictures from my vacation; these were taken at my parents' house. They have an apple tree that the deer love and I managed to get these shots one afternoon of this deer coming down for a snack.

I love this one--"hey, stop taking my picture!"

And on another note, voting in the Fresh Faces contest begins tomorrow! Entries can be submitted through midnight tonight!

What I did on my summer vacation--Part 2

2008-08-09T14:07:00.009-04:00

My hubby and I spent some time, sans kids, wine tasting in Central Virginia! Virginia has some wonderful wineries and here are a few of the ones we visited. The first two are from Veritas Winery and they definitely had the fanciest tasting room!

I can't remember who had the suit of armour, but I couldn't resist a picture of it!

Again, my affinity for signs that make me laugh. Somehow "the inherent risks of agritourism" gave me the giggles. Death by wine tasting!

A neat effect at the Jefferson Vineyards with the light behind the bottles.

And the vineyards!

What I did on my summer vacation--Part 1

2008-08-07T22:48:00.008-04:00

Last week we spent some time with my parents in western Virginia and one day we drove over to West Virginia, to the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. There are several train rides of varying lengths there, the old company town and store, and a restaurant for the modern visitor. ;) Our train ride stopped at an old station up on the mountain and there were some old cars for the kids to climb on, and one car where the workers used to eat. That car gave me some great pictures!

Sometimes I'd like to have this one at my table!

Mmmm, I miss all of those hydrogenated oils!

When was the last time you gave your Dad a gift box of cigarettes for Father's Day? ;)

More tomorrow!

Fresh Faces contest from Anne Companion Photography!

2008-08-02T22:59:00.006-04:00

Yes, it's time once again for the Anne Companion Photography annual Fresh Faces contest! I'm looking for some wonderful new fresh faces to add to my portfolio and those new faces will in turn win portraits and other prizes!

The Details:

To enter, submit one non-professional snapshot of your child, age 0-17 (a close-up is preferred) to info@annecompanionphotography.com (please include your child's age).
Entries will be accepted from now until midnight, August 10th, 2008.
Submissions will be posted here on my blog August 11th, 2008, a poll will be set for votes (tell everyone you know to come vote!)
The winner will receive a complimentary session and an 8x10 portrait; I will also purchase an outfit for your child to wear at the session and you will get to keep it!
The second-place finisher will receive a complimentary session and a 5x7 portrait.
The third-place finisher will receive a complimentary session.

The Rules:

Contest is open to my current clients as well as entrants who are new to Anne Companion Photography
One entry per family (so pick a kid!)
Child must be entered by their parent or legal guardian
Winners' sessions must take place by October 31st.
Only the subject in the entered snapshot will be photographed during the complimentary session, however additional family members may be photographed the same day with payment of the standard session fee.

So get those entries in and then tune in to the blog next week to vote!

Just a quick note; a new Fresh Faces contest is on the way!

2008-07-29T13:52:00.002-04:00

Keep an eye out at the end of this week for details on a brand new Fresh Faces contest! Hope everyone is staying cool!

New red backdrop, and my kids!

2008-07-21T14:45:00.007-04:00

I just got this beautiful new backdrop and I wanted to show it off! This will be great for Fall and Christmas sessions, for those who want a studio session (on-location at your home, as always!) for their portraits. And aren't they little hams? ;)

Family session, 4 generations

2008-07-16T13:54:00.008-04:00

It's always fun to photograph multiple generations and give them that classic family portrait! The day we did these portraits was one of those smokey days we've had in this area recently due to the Dismal Swamp wildfires and then rumbles of thunder started after we'd been going for awhile, too, but we managed to beat the weather for most of the session, then went inside for the last few. And isn't this little girl adorable? :)

6 months old!

2008-07-08T13:01:00.006-04:00

Remember this little guy? http://photographymom.blogspot.com/2007_12_01_archive.html (Christmas baby). He's 6 months old now and so adorable! I had the pleasure of photographing him and his family again recently. Love those smiles!

Christmas in July from Anne Companion Photography plus Senior Portrait specials

2008-07-02T14:06:00.004-04:00

Merry Christmas! Okay, I know it's a little early, but how many people start their Christmas shopping in the summer? Why not plan for your holiday cards in the summer, too? Book a session with me by the end of August and you will be eligible for the following specials:

Invest $225 in portraits and receive 25 complimentary holiday cards, choosing from one of my many beautiful card templates.
Invest $450 in portraits and receive 50 complimentary holiday cards, OR you may choose to select one portrait to receive as a full-resolution digital file and have a holiday card printed at the lab of your choice.

Get those cards done early this year!

And, I am still running the Senior Portrait special, $35 off the session fee for sessions booked during July (session must take place by the end of August).

Try out these cool deals during the hot days of Summer!

Pool fun!

2008-07-02T13:34:00.010-04:00

My son just started jumping off the diving board recently and he LOVES it!

My daughter loves jumping, too!

Cannonball!!

Celebrating Adoption session with a wonderful family

2008-06-25T08:16:00.011-04:00

They adopted these two sweet little boys in the past year (families who have adopted in the past year are eligible for a Celebrating Adoption session), making them a family of 7 now! They were all fantastic to work with and I had a great time with them.

More maternity from Anne Companion Photography

2008-06-24T06:48:00.006-04:00

And a very excited big sister!

Contact form is working again on Anne Companion Seniors & Weddings!

2008-06-23T14:54:00.000-04:00

The problem has been resolved. :)
www.annecompanionphotography.com
www.annecompanionphotography.com/Seniors/index.html
www.annecompanionphotography.com/Weddings/index.html

Navy maternity, with studio lights

2008-06-16T07:38:00.004-04:00

As promised, a maternity session with the new studio lights. The Father-to-be is in the Navy and they wanted to incorporate that into their session. :)

www.annecompanionphotography.com

Contact form issues

2008-06-11T07:04:00.001-04:00

If you e-mailed me recently from the Senior site or the Wedding site, I did not receive the e-mail, please contact me again! Either e-mail me directly at info@annecompanionphotography.com or call me 325-2967. My apologies, I'm trying to get the problem fixed! The contact form is working on the main site.

Studio lighting from Anne Companion Photography

2008-06-04T13:30:00.007-04:00

I'm now going to be offering a "studio on the go" to my clients when the weather doesn't cooperate and for maternity and newborn sessions. These images are of my best friend and her family when they came recently for a visit, and they graciously let me try out my new lighting on them!

June specials for Anne Companion Photography, Hampton/Newport News

2008-06-02T14:23:00.004-04:00

June specials time! This first special will actually extend through July, for Senior Portraits! Mention that you saw the special on this blog and receive $35 off the session fee. The second special is for maternity clients; I have some brand-new studio lights and would like to start offering studio lighting for maternity clients; book a session with me this month (to take place in June or July) and receive a complimentary 5x7 portrait!

www.annecompanionphotography.com
www.annecompanionphotography.com/Seniors/index.html

Senior guy from the Class of 2009 and NEW SENIOR SITE

2008-05-25T13:11:00.005-04:00

The guys are usually more stoic! This young man is another one of my senior reps and I'm glad to have a male rep this year, too!

By the way, that new senior site that I mentioned is now live! www.annecompanionphotography.com/Seniors/index.html is where to go to view my new expanded Senior Portrait portfolio and packages just for Seniors (heavy on the wallet-size!). Check it out!

And now, Senior Portraits for the Class of 2009!

2008-05-20T20:39:00.008-04:00

School will be out soon and it's time for the Class of 2009 to start coming in for their Senior Portraits! This beautiful young woman is one of my Senior Reps; she's helping me get the word out at her school about Anne Companion Photography Seniors. I'm going to be launching a new branch of my web site soon, devoted solely to Senior Portraits, stay tuned for the link!

Another red-headed cutie

2008-05-16T13:59:00.007-04:00

And his brother!

Living dolls

2008-05-06T13:17:00.004-04:00

This brother and sister look like a pair of beautiful china dolls to me--gorgeous!

Family fun

2008-05-04T13:08:00.008-04:00

I always love to capture kids just playing and being themselves; this little boy was so thrilled with the buttercups and favored me with a big smile after he picked one. I also love to get the shots of families playing together and having a good time. :)