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!!!