Sessions are marked for the 8th, by appointment, but we will take sessions on the 9th once the 8th is full.  We will have bunnies AND ducklings (so cute) hopping and waddling around the studio…and kids chasing them too.  Appointments are $95 and include 1 gift print (size of your choice) 8×10 or smaller.  Additional prints will be at regular pricing with some holiday items showcased with special pricing.  But, you’re going to love ALL of the portraits…it’s hard not too when ALL of the subjects are this cute.

Oh!  I almost forgot the MOST important (and cool) part!  This year part of the session fees are going to benefit Reins of Life.  If you haven’t heard about them, chances are someone you know HAS…or has even used their facilities!  They are a fabulous group of people (staff and volunteers) who help disabled people through therapeutic horseback riding.  Amazing what they are doing on an every day basis!  Check them out HERE!  Also a shout out to Pat’s Pets at the mall for lending us their ears!  All of the bunnies (and duckies) will be up for adoption!

P.S.  Mark my words…in “bunny” terms, there are three types when they are being photographed.  There is one “showoff”.  You know.  The one who will snuggle up close, sit up on his back legs and sniff the baby’s nose.  Yup.  That’s the “showoff”.  He’ll even look at me occasionally as if to say, “THIS is my better side. Thank you.”   Then you have the “run away”.  He’s the one that, no matter what, really has NO interest in being shown off like a prize in the portrait.  He’s much too interested in seeing what’s going on in the corner…behind all the stuff we have to move to get to him.  Then there’s “the pleaser”.  Most of them fall into this category…”Oh, you want my paws here.  Got it.  I won’t move a muscle.  And I’ll look cute, too.”  Guaranteed.  In every group of bunnies I’ve had, this is the mixup!  Can’t wait to see how cute  this year’s group is!

It’s that time of year again…the time that I think I should be blogging more!  Oh, yeah, and it’s bunny portrait time again too!  This year we’re probably going to stick to bunnies, but we’ll see what other animals decide to be brave and show their cute little faces.

Sessions are being scheduled for Thursday March 8th from 9:30 to 4pm, are $95 and include (1) gift print (size of your choice) with the session fee.  Other items will be available for purchase including holiday cards, digital images for web and printing purposes, framed collections and lots of other goodies.

Here are some of my favorite from a couple of years ago…this year I’d like to do them in this style again.  No “set” scene.  Nothing cheesy!  Just pure kid + bunny!  I’ve found this to be the cutest and most real…and really, the most fun!  So, dress formal.  Dress casual.  Whatever your kiddos wear, we’ll come up with a personal portrait that will be sure to say “BUNNIES!”.  Trust us.  We’re professionals, folks.

This is just the “in the works” pic…you’ll have to stop by to see the real thing!  And special thanks goes to Alicia for ALL the painting she’s been doing this year.  My studio walls have awesome paint on them thanks to her!  (She is a woman of many talents…photographer AND painter.)

View Video Here!

First, the details of our portraits…this year is a bit different.  First, we’ll do our traditional Santa portraits at the studio in the morning on Saturday November 19th.  Sessions are $95 and include 30-minutes of Santa love for your kiddos at the studio.  Bring pajamas.  Bring formal outfits.  Bring it all!  Whatever you bring, make sure you bring your wish list!  Santa will be taking orders…although, he’ll ask mom and dad’s permission before he promises to fill them!  Sessions are as usual…we do the portraits, in about a week you’ll come to the studio to view your portraits, and we take care of the rest.  Our Santa portraits have really become a tradition that I, personally, LOVE to do.  And the fact that we use a more “classic” Santa makes it even more timeless for me.  The magic still twinkles in Santa’s eyes.  Love it!

So, that’s the first part of our day.  The second part of our day will be spent at Lanser’s The Natural Way raising money for the March of Dimes.  This will be SO much fun!  Sessions will be just about 5 minutes long per child, first come/first serve.  Sessions are $20 with the entire fee going straight to March of Dimes.  You will get your mini-session with Santa and (1) 5×7 print to commemorate the moment.  You will view your portraits (and select your complimentary 5×7) online and will be able to purchase more directly on our website or, if you prefer, in studio with our staff at a pre-determined appointment.

If you need help in selecting which session best suits your needs, please give us a call and we can go over the details.  However, our in-studio sessions are very limited as we only have so many 30-minute time slots before we’ll have to do our afternoon fundraiser.  If you choose our in-studio sessions, we’ll happily donate $20 of your session back to March of Dimes and still give you a complimentary 5×7 print.  Print pricing will be the same for both sessions.

Tips for a *hopefully* successful Santa picture:

*Don’t pressure your child.  If they aren’t comfortable with Santa they’ll need some time to warm up.  The great thing about OUR Santa is that he’s quite sensitive to this and has even been known to sit on the ground and play with your kiddo while they get used to his crazy white beard and cool suit.

*Relax.  Go with the flow and don’t make a big deal about it.  If you point out that Santa is SANTA, then your child will obviously pick up on the fact that this guy’s not usually around and there is something he or she should be focusing on regarding this white bearded “Ho Ho Ho”-er.  Relax and act as if it’s totally normal.  If you make it relaxed, your child will *hopefully* relax too.

*Don’t expect perfection.  These are kids we’re talking about!  Not paid models!  And, they might freak out a bit.  It’s OK!  One of the greatest pictures I have seen is a screaming kid on Santa’s lap.  I know, not what you would usually call “great”, but think about the story that goes with that picture.  “And here’s when you were 3 and thought Santa was really a big monster.  Yup.  You screamed.  So loud you frighted the next three kids in line!”  Ok, so maybe it wouldn’t be funny at the time, but you have to remember that there is a lot of pressure on EVERYONE involved to make this a success.  And sometimes, no matter what, it just isn’t.  Take the tears with the smiles and chalk it up to the fact that your child feels uber loved by you and can’t fathom sitting in a stranger’s arms unless out of desperation.  And if you happen to get a screaming picture, just know that this was how it was at that moment in time.  Ages 9 months-3.5 years are prime “freaking out about Santa” time.  Just sayin’.

*It’s ok to tell them it’s not REALLY Santa.  At Traditions, I try to ask parents if the child thinks this is THE Santa, or just ONE of the Santa’s.  And, we kinda talk about how our Santa is just a stand-in while the REAL Santa is busy at the North Pole.  We even talk about the fact that it’s “just my husband”.  (Yes, side note, it IS really my  husband that plays Santa for me.  And yes, he’s brilliant at it…and he looks AMAZING as a 70-yr old guy.  A bit freakish, I know, considering he’s just in his early 30′s.  But somehow, he’s got the perfect look!  I think it’s the rosy cheeks and the twinkle in his eye…hey, maybe he IS Santa….hmmm…)  Anyway…we talk to the kids about how he isn’t the REAL Santa, how he’s just here for pictures, but how he DOES have connections to the North Pole.  I mean hey, he might just be a helper for Santa, standing in for him in pictures, but he really DOES report back to him at the end of the day…with wish lists and all.  So, just have a plan before you go see the big guy and be sure to communicate that plan to your spouse, grandparents, and, of course, the photographer.

So, now that you’re ready for Santa portraits…check these past cuties out.  Success stories to say the least….

We have a few session spots still open.  Sessions are $95 and include a 30-minute on location session.  These portraits were definitely favorites of last year…so don’t miss out if you want it!  Here are a few of our favs from last year…

Sessions are on Friday October 28th at our studio.  There is no session fee and for every package of new, unopened diapers you bring (as a donation for the Diaper Bank of Northern Indiana – DBNI) you will get (1) 4×6 print of your cutie all dressed up for Halloween – free of charge!  Guidelines for what qualifies as a “package” and what sizes are being requested by the DBNI are listed below.  Sessions will run late afternoon into early evening.  Call us and we’ll get your little ones on our schedule for these fun, cute, and not-so-scary Halloween portraits!  Some cuties from last year are below!  (574) 271-7751

Diaper size and number of diapers in each package to qualify as a “new, unopened package of diapers”:

Newborn – at least 88 diapers
Size 1 – at least 130 diapers
Size 2 – at least 110 diapers
Size 5 – at least 85 diapers
Size 6 – at least 65 diapers

First, as the previous post says, we are hiring!  Read details below!  And, as you think about what an awesome job it would be (or know someone who might think that), you can meander through our photographers’ images on facebook for our next hospital photographer facebook contest.  “LIKE”  your favorite images from the OCTOBER contest.  Whatever image has the most “likes” will be the winner.  The photographer who took the image will have all of their images showcased on our NEW hospital photography website.  Yes, another NEW site!  Coming soon!!!!  Click HERE to vote/like!