Packed And Ready - Well Almost

Hi everyone. Tonight’s blog is going to be short and sweet. I just got home a little bit ago and have spent the time eating supper while trying to fix the internet. I think I have it about half-way fixed.

One week from today I will be in Raleigh with some (actually a whole bunch) really wonderful photographers; who I am lucky enough to call friends. The Professional Photographers of North Carolina’s convention starts next Saturday and I am so excited to be going. I always enjoy going and getting to study with some of the most talented photographers from across the nation. This year is not going to be any different. I am so excited about getting to attend programs from one of the top high school senior photographers in the nation, a program on fine art photography (yes I am going to find time this year to get back to some of that), a special program on maternity sessions (her work is breath-taking) and so many more. I am not sure I can sleep this week waiting to get there. On top of all of the programs, I get to spend time and talk with many photographers from across our state. I get so energized and full of ideas while I am there.

PPNC has one of the best trade shows around as well. There are always so many vendors that I can spend hours in there looking around at what all of the vendors are offering now. I am going to be looking out for some new items that I want to introduce here at the studio. I want to actually touch and see some of the things in person to make sure the quality is worth having.

Want to help me out? Give me some ideas of things you would be interested in and I will see if I can find it there at the trade show and see if it is something we can start doing here.

Keep your eyes out on the blog next week. I will be blogging from the convention and I know I am going to get some great ideas for us to try at your next session.

I HAVE BEEN FRAMED I TELL YOU!!!

Yes I have been FRAMED!!!

Of course I have always sold frames, but I am really excited now that I have a frame corner display area. This has been a long time goal of mine, but it is finally a reality. Thanks to my sweet hubby! And I am so excited about it that till 10 pm Tuesday, February 24th, you can receive 14% (in honor of the 14 Days of Love event) off any frame that you order.

Do you have any of the portraits we have created over the years still in the box on the shelf? Or any other art piece you would like to have framed? This is the perfect opportunity to get those portraits you treasure or some other art piece properly framed so you can display it so you can truly enjoy them and show off your precious child or family to everyone that comes over.

There are many frame corners here to select from and I am getting more to add to the ones that are already on display. Plus, we have a whole catalog that we can go through to find the perfect frame for you. Just call me (828-397-6055) or email me by Tuesday night and you can be FRAMED too!

A Special Request

Tonight’s blog post is a little different than I have ever done before. But on my way home just now I really felt I needed to write it. I apologizes if it is a bit too down for some and I am sure this breaks some rule on blogging, but I promise tomorrow the blog will be back to it’s normal fun self.

The past couple of weeks I have learned of several people I know that have lost a close family member unexpectedly. Tonight I learned of another. On top of that my family is facing the loss of a loved one too. My aunt is loosing her battle with cancer. I guess all of this got me really thinking tonight on my drive home.

I want to take this opportunity to really let each of you know how I feel about you. How much I appreciate each of you being in my life and how much of an impact each of you have in helping me be the person I am. It does not matter if you are a family member of mine, a dear close friend, a client (in which many of you are dear friends now) or just some one that just happens to be reading this blog post; I want to let you know I truly care about and I am grateful for each of you. You are always in my thoughts and prayers during the good times and bad. I pray that God protects, blesses and gives you joy and happiness.

I ask only one thing of you tonight. Take the time to call, email, write a note and mail it, or simply go in the other room and give that person a hug and let them know how much you care about them. If there is someone you haven’t told that too lately, then do it. In today’s busy world it is so easy to put it off till another day, but I ask that this time you don’t.

May God Bless and I love ya,
Denise

Help Me Out & Become Famous

Today I need you to help me out. I am getting ready to start working on the next newsletter that will be mailed out in March and as you know we have a section called “Your Corner.” The section is where you get to share some knowledge about an area you are an expert on or share something that would be useful to everyone else.

What I need is for each of your to share something with everyone else. All you have to do is pick a subject and write a few paragraphs on it and email it to me. I’ll pick one and put it in the newsletter and you will be famous; well to me any way. If I get a whole bunch then I’ll save some for the rest of this year’s newsletters and will start using some in the e-newsletters and on the blog.

Not sure what you can write about? If you are a kindergarten teacher than send me a piece on how to prepare your kid for starting school Older grade teacher, how about how your kid and you can survive the EOGs (please someone do this one for me!!!!). If you are a chef, then how about something on low cost nutritional meals that taste good or something like quick meal tips. Are you a mechanic? Then send me tips on getting your car ready for the summer. Are you getting the idea?

I have a helpful gift for each of you today. It is a website that you can go to and print off coupons to use at the grocery store or other stores. www.coupons.com check it out. Oooh there is a coupon for Dr Pepper!!!!!

Thanks for helping me out.

Can't Help But Smile At This Cutie

This cutie is Lathan. His grandmother brought him in back right around Christmas, told you I was a bit behind on blogging about some sessions, for his first Christmas portraits. He is definitely a sweetie. Loves his trains just like his daddy.

We had a great time during his session. He was so cute in his Christmas outfit and we even managed to find some snow laying around the studio for him to play in. I sure hope he got the chance to get out in the little bit of the real stuff we have had. And if we all cross our fingers, maybe Lathan will have a chance to help make his first snowman either tomorrow or this weekend. Grandmother will have to send me some pictures of him out in the snow.

Don’t forget this is only day 3 of the “14 Days of Love.” Be sure to post your Valentine story on the post below. Cindy and Leonard, enjoy your date out without the kids this weekend. Remember everyone that posts their story will receive a $25 gift card to use at their next session. Also, be sure and become a fan of DCP on facebook to receive the special fan updates and to be entered into the DCP Fan drawing at the end of the month for a beautiful Portrait Art Glass.

Become A Fan

For today’s post of the “14 Days of Love,” I want to invite you to join me on facebook both as a friend and as a fan of DCP. If you are on facebook then you know it is loads of fun and a great way to stay in touch with others. If you are not, well then you are missing out on all the fun.

If you become a fan of DCP, then you can chat with others that are fans and with me about some of the cool things posted on the DCP page. Plus you will get occasional updates from me telling you about interesting things that are or will be occurring at DCP and some will contain special bonuses made available only for fans of DCP.

In fact, I will let you in on a special update that has just gone out to the fans of DCP. As one of the special events during the “14 Days of Love,” all fans of DCP on the last day of February will be entered into a drawing to win a custom Portrait Art Glass. The Portrait Art Glass is simply beautiful. It is so new to the studio that I am still waiting for the brown truck to drive up with the studio sample (I’ll post an image as soon as it gets here). To be eligible for the drawing of the beautiful Portrait Art Glass, just become a fan of DCP and you will be in the drawing. Simple as that. See you on facebook.

Be my Valentine…

Here is the first of the “14 Days of Love” blog posts and it is all about you. Actually it about you, by you.

What I want you to do is share how you and your sweetie celebrated your Valentine’s Day. Just click on the comment link below and type in your storybook story. And for taking the time for sharing your story, you will receive a $25 gift card to use at your next session. That is right; everyone that shares their story here on the blog will receive a $25 gift card.

I’ll start. It is a good thing that I am not eligible to win, because I am sure everyone had a much more romantic day than I did.

After Dwayne and I both finished working for most of the day, we just spent the afternoon celebrating Valentine’s Day with Sarah out by the fire watching the sunset and then staring at the stars in the sky. I know it was not the most romantic date, but with the schedule I have had lately – it was perfect.

Now what is your story? Remember just click on the comment link below and type in your story on how you celebrated the day of love. I look forward to reading your stories.

14 Days of Love

Okay so what is the deal with the “14 Days of Love”?

We all know the song “12 Days of Christmas.” You know the song, so sing it with me “on the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…” This famous song is just like most things dealing with a holiday; lots hype counting down to the holiday and then when the holiday gets here it is like someone flips a switch and it is all over but cleaning up the mess. I have never liked that.

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day; the day of love. So how about letting the love flow? That is just what we are going to do for the next 14 days. Why 14? Valentine’s Day is on the 14th and there are 14 days left in this month, plus it just sounded good.

For the rest of the month, I will be posting a new blog post each day. Some will be about interesting stuff and some helpful tips I have found and want to share. Plus there will be some posts on some recent sessions I have not had a chance to share with you, some updates on what is going on and coming up with the studio and some things that I am working on that I am really excited about. And there will be some special offers just for those that are reading the blog each day. I am even going to ask for your help with some of this. I think this is going to be a lot of fun. Join me; want you?

Now let’s get started letting the love flow….

My Little Girl

I really enjoy creating beautiful images for all of you, but once in a while I get to create one for me. The other day my little girl, yes I know she is not that little any more, allowed me a few minutes to do some images of her. This is one that we did. I just love it. It is after all, my little girl.