The Winner Is. . . .

Image number 7, sweet little Sofia! Congrats! You will be receiving an 11x14 mounted portrait of your winning photo. As I am sure you can also see - your little angel is gracing my blog banner too!

Thank you to everyone that entered the contest, it was a ton of fun! Be sure to check out the 2008 Promotions in the previous blog post!

2008 Promotions Are Here!!

Thanks everyone for participating the sessions are filled up!

I can't wait to get started working in the New Year. New clients, new locations, fun, hugs, kisses - oh it is all just so much fun for me.

I will be offering a special promotion series with limited availability and dates in January and February to kick start the year.

So here's the deal - there are going to be 4 "themes". Each theme has limited availability as well as other restrictions (like location, number of subjects, ages of children) so if you have any questions, be sure to contact me! All sessions must take place by the end of February.

Theme One - "In your face!": $100 for session fee and includes a mini session album. This session will focus on up close portraits of your children. Make sure to have lots of hats, scarves and silly faces ready to go! Also please be prepared to venture outside for a few portraits. There will not be any black and white portraits available for this session, only fun bold, bright color! Child must be old at least 6 months old and able to sit on their own through age 7. Only one child per session. Session must take place within 20 miles of Buffalo, NY.

Theme Two - "Little Monkeys": $100 for session fee and includes a mini session album. This session will focus on your children being children! No posed portraits. All I want is your little monkeys jumping on the bed, playing with their toys, making crafts, baking cookies. Anything but a posed portrait. Child must be at least 2 years old, through age 7. Only one or two children per session. Session must take place within 20 miles of Buffalo, NY

Theme Three - "On the Town": $100 for session fee and includes a mini session album. This session will be outdoors in East Aurora NY. I love the old town feel of East Aurora, Fisher Price, the fun fire hydrants, toy shops. There will be candid and posed portraits of your child, with a modern outdoor on the town feel to them. Child must be at least 18 months old, through age 7. Only one child for this session. Session must take place in East Aurora.

Theme Four - "Fine Art Window Portrait": $100 for session fee and includes a mini session album. This session will be all black and white, moody, window light portraits of your child. I will also include some fine art black and white closeups of your child. Child must be old at least 6 months old and able to sit on their own, through age 7. Only one child for this session.

All portraits must be purchased seperately, although there is no obligation to purchase anything other than the $100 session fee. Mini session album is a 10 image wallet sized leather album, the client may pick the images for the album. All sessions will have a minimum of 10 images to view in their gallery. Again, please email me at samara@shportraits.com if you have any questions! I can not wait to kick start my new year with your family!!

More Moms To Meet!

Sorry for the delay everyone! I was a little to caught up with the holidays, now that things are quieting down I am back to work.

This is Jill - we first me when Emily was just a newborn, she is very close in age to my Jude and it has been great watching her grow.

Here we go:
1. First name & city:Jill, Cheektowaga
2. How many children, first names and ages:1, Emily age 1yr
3. What's on the top of your Christmas list? Sony Cyber Shot
4. What's on the top of your children's wish lists? Any book with Elmo
5. The gift you are most excited to give: Emily's new chair
6. What is your favorite family holiday tradition? Going to my Parent's on xmas day
7. One store getting a lot of your business for gifts this Holiday season: Gap kids, Target
8. Favorite holiday food? Pierogi
9. How would you describe your holiday decorating style? Whimsicle, I am a Disney Nut
10. What was the last book you read to your children? 10 Little Ladybugs
11. Favorite activity to do with your children in the winter: Since this is the first winter we can take Emily outside, I am looking forward to taking her on a sled and havi ng her experiece the snow
12. What are your favorite websites or blogs to visit? Any thing Disney, including Allearsnet.com, and shportraits of course
13. What are your 3 favorite local restaurants:LaBella's The French Pub and Tolteca
14. What is your favorite girls night out spot? excuria day spa and salon
15. What local groups or causes are you involved with? (Do you belong to or support any volunteer organizations?)Work takes up most of my time, but usually try to get out snd support Children's Hospital when I can
16. Any business or fun stuff you want to share? (Give a link if you have one, or contact info!)
17. And last but not least, what do you *love* about SH Portraits? (I had to!) The way Samara captures Emily's true personality in every session is amazing; this is the way I want to remember my daughter as she grows up.

Baby N.

Another day with a newborn, ahhhh, they are so sweet aren't they! This is baby N, the beautiful son of a great friend of mine. How could I not be thrilled with a little guy who even smiles for me! I wish you guys the best!

Mr. J.

I was lucky enough to spend some time this afternoon with this new little guy and his family. Lord knows I love a newborn session and J. didn't disappoint! Here is a blog preview Mom & Dad to hold you over till after the holidays for your gallery. Enjoy your first Christmas as a family!

Blog Mom!

Meet Mindy! I must preface introducing Mindy by saying she was Justin's speech therapist turned friend. (Except for when Justin is yelling and talking back and then I'm not so sure how I feel about Mindy. . .Just Kidding!) I had the pleasure of photographing her little girl when she was born and she was perfect!

1. First name & city: Mindy, Amherst
2. How many children, first names and ages: Aubrey, 10 weeks 3. What's on the top of your Christmas list? I would love a nap...and a few hours to shop by myself.
4. What's on the top of your children's wish lists? She would probably love a nice warm blanket and a pacifier.
5. The gift you are most excited to give: I'm excited about something I bought for my dad, although I can't say what it is, just in case he reads this.
6. What is your favorite family holiday tradition? Every Christmas Eve we have a different theme. We eat, dress, and "play" according to the theme. This year is "rock 'n roll".
7. One store getting a lot of your business for gifts this Holiday season: I just got back from the mall, and got most of my shopping done there.
8. Favorite holiday food? My mom makes chocolate mint sandwich cookies every year that we all fight over.
9. How would you describe your holiday decorating style? I'm pretty simple and classic...candles in the windows, a wreath on the door, our tree, and stockings.
10. What was the last book you read to your children?
11. Favorite activity to do with your children in the winter: We will probably be spending a lot of time rocking in our favorite chair in front of the fire.
12. What are your favorite websites or blogs to visit? I check my email and my bank account everyday...that's about it for now.
13. What are your 3 favorite local restaurants: I love Brodo, EB Green's, and Ted's.
14. What is your favorite girls night out spot? I celebrate girls' night every Wednesday night with about 6 of my friends. We usually take turns hosting.
15. What local groups or causes are you involved with? (Do you belong to or support any volunteer organizations?) Nothing right now, but would love to find a local MOPS group.
16. Any business or fun stuff you want to share? (Give a link if you have one, or contact info!) I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and a safe, happy new year!!!
17. And last but not least, what do you *love* about SH Portraits? happy.png(I had to!) We love Samara!!! We love her talent!! The photos she took of our daughter are beautiful.

I met Nicole during my mini session event in October. Her daughter Sofia is just delightful, as is Nicole and her husband. Can you believe she waited a year to have Sofia's portraits done - I was proud and honored to be the first to take them!

1. First name & city: Nicole, Lake View
2. How many children, first names and ages: Sofia, 13 months
3. What's on the top of your Christmas list? Hopefully some baking stuff.
4. What's on the top of your children's wish lists? She's too young..but I'm sure she'll like the wiggles book I got her!
5. The gift you are most excited to give: for my husband...can't way what it is because he reads this site!!
6. What is your favorite family holiday tradition? Opening one gift on Christmas eve. Also, baking. It will be fun when Sofia gets to help me out!
7. One store getting a lot of your business for gifts this Holiday season: Amazon.com
8. Favorite holiday food? gingerbread men
9. How would you describe your holiday decorating style? Traditional, lots of poinsettias, cool lookin' tree and stockings from when I was a kid.
10. What was the last book you read to your children? Wide mouthed frog
11. Favorite activity to do with your children in the winter: Decorating the tree
12. What are your favorite websites or blogs to visit? http://www.buffalomommies.com/, http://www.facebook.com/, and of course www.shportraits.blogspot.com!
13. What are your 3 favorite local restaurants: Trattoria Aroma (williamsville), Chef's, Papaya.
14. What is your favorite girls night out spot? Season's Day Spa for pedicures, My Plates or Yours, Trattoria Aroma for drinks and dinner.
15. What local groups or causes are you involved with? (Do you belong to or support any volunteer organizations?) La Leche League, Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth
16. Any business or fun stuff you want to share? (Give a link if you have one, or contact info!)For moms in Buffalo...check out www.buffalomommies.com
17. And last but not least, what do you *love* about SH Portraits? happy.png(I had to!) I waited one year before having Sofia's pictures taken professionally. I didn't really like the mall photographers and was so happy when I saw Samara's site. Sofia had a great time taking her pictures and I love showing them off to my friends!!!

Vote for Me!

My favorite portrait of this past year is a finalist in a photography contest and I would love the votes of my dear friends and clients! I am portrait #1, the black and white photo of the little girl under the streetlamp.

Thank you!!

Only ONE vote per please! Multiple votes can disqualilfy me and that would stink! I'll post the results over the weekend!

http://www.411marketsource.com/artanddesign/cindex.asp?id=Contest

Another Mom to Meet!

Meet Jill - I began photographing her little guy as a newborn just one year ago. This summer we met up at Delaware Park for another session!

1. First name & city: Jill, N. Buffalo
2. How many children, first names and ages: Evan, 1yr
3. What's on the top of your Christmas list? a larger kitchen and yard (so, I guess that means a new house :>) )
4. What's on the top of your children's wish lists? since he's not talking yet- I would have to guess anything with balls, thatmakes noise, or that he can bang, or carry in his hands while walking/crawling
5. The gift you are most excited to give: haven't done much shopping yet- but universal remote to my stepfather so he can work his DVD player and TV without my or my husband's help
6. What is your favorite family holiday tradition? making cookies, being together
7. One store getting a lot of your business for gifts this Holiday season: Target, Circuit City
8. Favorite holiday food? the Cookies!
9. How would you describe your holiday decorating style? Traditional, who knows this year with a 1 yr old!
10. What was the last book you read to your children? My World
11. Favorite activity to do with your children in the winter: first winter we could do those type of activities. I'm looking forward to pulling him in a sled- he really likes doing tha inside the house already!
12. What are your favorite websites or blogs to visit? www.ridgebackrescue.org; home sites; anything with toys- I'm up for anything
13. What are your 3 favorite local restaurants: Amy's Place, Bullfeathers, Romeo and Juliets
14. What is your favorite girls night out spot? It's been a while, so dinner and wine pretty much anywhere
15. What local groups or causes are you involved with? (Do you belong to or support any volunteer organizations?) I'm the Western New York Coordinator for Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue
16. Any business or fun stuff you want to share? (www.ridgebackrescue.org They ahve some great things for sale or you can make an online donation- every cent helps with medical bills and taking care of the dogs while finding new homes!
17. And last but not least, what do you *love* about SH Portraits? #1 The pictures are amazing! #2 Flexibility- I love the diversity of the shoots and that not all the pictures on the website are the same. I like the props too! You'll pretty much take great photos anywhere!

Mr. D

Is he as sweet as could be or what! Call me lucky, because I got to spend sometime this afternoon with another gorgeous family. I love my job! Here's your blog preview Mom, I'm sure you are looking forward to it!

Getting to know Mom #4!

I started working with this Mom when her adorable Ireland was still in her Mommy's belly. This year I had the pleasure of photographing her at my mini session event and for her first birthday party!

1. First name & city: Suzanne, Kenmore
2. How many children, first names and ages: Ireland 16 mos.
3. What's on the top of your Christmas list? Running shoes
4. What's on the top of your children's wish lists? She'd settle for my sneaker box!
5. The gift you are most excited to give: Framed photos of Ireland for above my fireplace. They look fantastic!
6. What is your favorite family holiday tradition? Cutting down our tree.
7. One store getting a lot of your business for gifts this Holiday season: Old Navy
8. Favorite holiday food? Cookies, any kind
9. How would you describe your holiday decorating style? Simple, elegant (No blow up Santas in front of my house, please!)
10. What was the last book you read to your children? I Love You Stinky Face
11. Favorite activity to do with your children in the winter: Cuddle by the fire
12. What are your favorite websites or blogs to visit? MetroDad, Cry it Out, Piperlime (I'm addicted to shoes)
13. What are your 3 favorite local restaurants: Kostas (best Greek in town), Santasieros (so yummy and cheap), Fiamma
14. What is your favorite girls night out spot? Any good wine bar
15. What local groups or causes are you involved with? (Do you belong to or support any volunteer organizations?) I am a member of my high school's alumnae board. Go Holy Angels!
16. Any business or fun stuff you want to share? (Give a link if you have one, or contact info!)
17. And last but not least, what do you *love* about SH Portraits? (I had to!) I love that Samara is so easy to work with and Ireland is really comfortable with her. The photos are priceless and I get so many compliments on them from anyone who comes to my house.

Getting to know Mom #3!

When this family contacted me, their address seemed a bit familiar! We are practically neighbors! Cool huh, well at least I thought so!

1. First name & city: Jody, Kenmore

2. How many children, first names and ages: Isabella 5, Atticus 2

3. What's on the top of your Christmas list? Vacation!!!!!

4. What's on the top of your children's wish lists? Isabella- Nutcracker, Atticus-Elmo

5. The gift you are most excited to give: Sabres Tix

6. What is your favorite family holiday tradition? Decorating cookies Christmas Eve

7. One store getting a lot of your business for gifts this Holiday season: Target

8. Favorite holiday food? Cucidati Cookies

9. How would you describe your holiday decorating style? Fast, kid friendly

10. What was the last book you read to your children? Velveteen Rabbit

11. Favorite activity to do with your children in the winter: Nap
12. What are your favorite websites or blogs to visit? Ebay, Spoilerfix, boden.com

13. What are your 3 favorite local restaurants: Hutches, Toro, Left Bank

14. What is your favorite girls night out spot? The Chocolate Bar

15. What local groups or causes are you involved with? (Do you belong to or support any volunteer organizations?) Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation (Funds research for cancers affecting women and programs to end domestic violence)

16. Any business or fun stuff you want to share? (Give a link if you have one, or contact info!) www.marykay.com/jodywarner An awesome place to shop/cook is Delish on Elmwood....YUM

17. And last but not least, what do you *love* about SH Portraits? (I had to!) Samara!! She's such an awesome person, inside and out. Her talent is amazing.

Blog Banner Contest!

It's time for the Blog Banner Contest! The winning family will receive a complimentary mounted 11x14 of the photo and the photo will be featured as the blog banner for a few months beginning in January!



As a side note to my families, these images were chosen based on the portrait (from sessions with a release). They were not based on how cute the child was. I love everyone and everyone is gorgeous so how could we do that! I hope everyone understands and in the end it is all for fun.



Please only vote one time in the poll to the right of the blog. The winner will be announced on 12/30/2007! You can click on the photo to view the entries larger.

Getting to know Mom #2!

1. First name & city: Jenny, Williamsville

2. How many children, first names and ages: 1- Noah- 19months

3. What's on the top of your Christmas list? A Divorce

4. What's on the top of your children's wish lists? Up & Down Roller Coaster

5. The gift you are most excited to give: a finished basement that will be finished by Christmas!!6. What is your favorite family holiday tradition? Gathering at my house with whole family on Christmas Eve

7. One store getting a lot of your business for gifts this Holiday season: Toys R Us

8. Favorite holiday food? cookies

9. How would you describe your holiday decorating style? Bright and full of Elmo and Mickey

10. What was the last book you read to your children? A Christmas Tree Book

11. Favorite activity to do with your children in the winter: Rolly Pollies
12. What are your favorite websites or blogs to visit? Anything shopping

13. What are your 3 favorite local restaurants: Hutch's, Pizza Plant, Cheeburger Cheeburger

14. What is your favorite girls night out spot? Mother's

15. What local groups or causes are you involved with? (Do you belong to or support any volunteer organizations?) Most, its my job..To pick one, Meals on Wheels

16. Any business or fun stuff you want to share? (Give a link if you have one, or contact info!)

17. And last but not least, what do you *love* about SH Portraits? (I had to!) Everything!! MY child looks like a model when Samara shoots him! Not that Im partial or anything!!!

Getting to know MOM!

Well we all know that this time of year it is all about the kids right! Well the same goes at each of my sessions. So I thought a fun way to finish out the year would be to highlight some of the moms of the great families I have worked with this year. So some moms will be answering these questions for me! Every few days I will highlight a new mom along with a few pictures of their kids. (Didn't think I'd leave those out did you?!)

First up we have Jennifer! We met at my mini session event in October and had a wonderful time!

1. First name & city:
Jenn - Wheatfield

2. How many children, first names and ages:
1 child -- Katie, 2 and a half

3. What's on the top of your Christmas list?
If I could ask Santa for anything, (and it wasn't coming out of my personal bank account!!), I'd ask him for an iPod Touch or an iPhone.

4. What's on the top of your children's wish lists?
Katie would probably be happy with a giant pile of stickers this year. Next year I'm sure she'll make a list a mile long!

5. The gift you are most excited to give:
Any of Katie's gifts.

6. What is your favorite family holiday tradition?
Christmas at my house -- My entire life, Christmas has always been at my house, no getting dragged from house to house on Christmas Day. So, when we had a child, I wanted the same for her. So everyone in the family comes to our house for Christmas.
Second favorite tradition -- My mom's gift to me (and now Katie) on Christmas Eve: new jammies!

7. One store getting a lot of your business for gifts this Holiday season:
Oh, my, the internet in general :)

8. Favorite holiday food?
Do I have to list one??? OK, Starbucks Peppermint Mocha. Wait, that's not really food. Food would be my Prime Rib roast I serve at Christmas dinner.

9. How would you describe your holiday decorating style?
Festive, bright, yet tasteful. We have two trees, the Disney tree and the regular tree. (I worked at a Hallmark shop all through college, so I have a LOT of Christmas ornaments!) And there are lots of snowmen in the decor this year. I LOVE interior decorating!!!

10. What was the last book you read to your children?
"Dora's Book of Manners." Again.

11. Favorite activity to do with your children in the winter:
Uh, I am not really a winter person :) But I am looking forward to taking Katie sledding this year. And making a snowman, though my guess is after two minutes, she'll lose interest.

12. What are your favorite websites or blogs to visit?
I like news websites, that's how I get my news now. And I frequent a Weight Watchers support website where I have met a lot of great online mom friends.

13. What are your 3 favorite local restaurants:
Avacados (fresh-Mex food, in the plaza across from UB south), Fortuna's (Niagara Falls - actually ALL of the Italian restaurants in Niagara Falls are awesome), Fiamma's Steak House (Hertel Ave, Buffalo)

14. What is your favorite girls night out spot?
The mall. The mall has it all!

15. What local groups or causes are you involved with? (Do you belong to or support any volunteer organizations?)
Pregnant with Cancer Network -- A few years ago, my friend who works at Roswell Park asked me if I would be interested in doing design work for this group. I layout their newsletter. It is heartbreaking to think about being diagnosed with cancer at any time, but ESPECIALLY when pregnant. This group is wonderful, tons of support and hope and information for women who have cancer while pregnant.

16. Any business or fun stuff you want to share? (Give a link if you have one, or contact info!)
Shameless plug: I do freelance graphic design on the side. My specialty is invitation and special event design (weddings, parties, etc.), but I also do layout and design for business, marketing and advertising. And I also do calligraphy. I can be reached at jenn@jennpatersondesign.com or at 807-4613.

17. And last but not least, what do you *love* about SH Portraits? (I had to!)
I LOVE the artistic and candid poses. The way you photograph children captures their little souls -- look at the way their eyes are so reflective and bright!!!

Fine Art Notecards - Holiday Gift!

I have always loved this image and now I am offering it for sale as well on custom notecards. The image shows the front and back of the card, the inside is blank. Each set includes 12 notecards and comes wrapped in an organza bag, ready for gifting. They $20 per set, plus shipping. I can ship directly to the recipient if you wish! Please email samara@shportraits for more details or to place your order!

Gift Certificates

There is still plenty of time to order a gift certificate for the holidays! It is quick and easy to do too! Just go to http://www.shportraits.com/OnlineViewing
and choose "Gift Certificates" from the drop down menu. You do not need to enter a password, just leave that field blank and hit submit. You will find a drop down menu to the right of the gift certificate image. Choose your denomination, click add to cart and my shopping cart system will walk you through the rest! The gift certificate will be mailed the following business day. Any questions, please just let me know!

Whats ahead in '08!

In the midst of the busy holiday season, I have also been working on some new things for next year with SH Portraits.

I have new packages to offer and a new baby plan (if you are interested in seeing these please just email me!). I also will be doing a special in January to kick off the new year, which will be announced early next week!

By the end of the month I will be posting a blog contest for the new "blog banner baby" (or child!) the winner will receive a great prize and be on my blog banner for the next 6 months beginning in January.

You will soon hear a different tune on my website too. I have been feeling like it was time for a change and another local photographer and myself now have the same music (we must both have great taste!). So, this combined with the new year have finally given me the push to find music that I truly love and defines my unique style too. Keep those ears open!

Check out SH Portraits on GoCityKids!

http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com/browse/attraction.jsp?id=224330&area=179194

Stay warm and happy holidays to everyone!!

Awaiting An Arrival

I love maternity sessions for lots of reasons. But the two best are being able to show off your new curves and feel great about it, and of course what being pregnant means! I can't wait to meet this little one in a few short weeks (and my camera can't either!).

Cousins

It was a success! Grandma wanted portraits of her two grandbabies for her mantle and we did it. The day after Thanksgiving (I know I'm behind on posting!) I met up with these cuties, one fresh face and one familiar, but both as sweet as could be!