On the 12th, and final day, of Christmas....

For today's giveaway:

Pick what you want from all the days of giveaways! :)

I will hold this through SATURDAY July 31. I have a wedding today, so if I don't get back to you today, I will by Saturday.

For those that need a reminder of all the fun we've been having, check out the following links, and then let me know which one YOU want for your custom session!

-Set of THREE mini brag books
-Complimentary 11x14
-FIVE extra digital files
-THREE sets of wallets (for a total of 24)
-Custom CD cover
-Pay what you can!!! (within reason, I still reserve the right to turn down an offer)
-Giving back
-Set of THREE mini brag books (again)
-One set of 24 custom holiday cards
-10x10 2011 wall calendar
-50 custom gift tags

Remember that if you book your custom session, you will be entered in a drawing to win a $150 gift certificate from Joanna Taylor Photography. Refer a friend that books a custom session as well, and you will receive two entries!

The dates I have left are as follows (sessions are generally held in the evenings outdoors, unless otherwise discussed):

August: completely booked
September: 6, 14, 23
October: 7, 12, 19
November: 2, 10, 16
December: closed

That's it. 9 days left for the rest of 2010. I will not be opening new dates. If you do find that you don't need a custom session, check out my mini sessions! I am offering three different mini sessions this fall.

Email me at joannataylorphotography at gmail dot com

And I'll leave you with an image of my sweet little dream of a daughter. ;) And please pardon the new © sign. Unfortunately I've had a few dishonest people stealing images and removing my watermarks. Silly kids must have forgotten that I'm working hard for the money!

Come back next week. I'm playing catch up!

ATTN Photographers!!

As part of my ongoing education, I have been using Photovision DVDs for the past couple of years. I get them every other month and pour over hours of education, as time allows. Sometimes I go back and watch a segment over again when I need ideas and inspiration. There are many photographers that contribute to the education on these DVDs, and many different styles and genres of shooting, as well as information on best practices, studio management, and sales.

I've been so happy with my experience, that I want to pass along a promotion for YOU to get them for a great deal through ME!

Normally they cost $149 for a year, but use THIS LINK and enter code: PVFAN at checkout and you will receive and entire year for a mere $39. People, this is a spectacular deal and you will learn so much!

Let me know if you have any questions, and I'm happy to answer! I've had such an great experience with them the last two years, I know you won't be disappointed.

On the 11 Day of Christmas...

Short and sweet: Let everyone know where those gifts came from this year with a set of 50 customized gift tags (can be customized with a holiday theme and saying). Choose between flat or folded.

Contact me at joannataylorphotography at gmail dot com to set up your session!
image source: whcc

On the 10th Day of Christmas...

Can you believe that there are only two days left of our fun game??!! I've had such a great time playing the game with all of you, and have loved seeing what YOU love. Thanks to all of you that have booked a session. Don't forget that everyone that books a full custom session with Joanna Taylor Photography is also entered to win a $150 gift certificate from me, AND if you get one of your friends or family members to book, you'll be entered twice!

So for today's giveaway, you'll get to ooh and awe over different images from your session for a full twelve months, you lucky ducks! Because for any one that books their custom session today (10% off), you'll receive a full 12 month 2011 10x10 wall calendar featuring the images from your session. How awesome, is that? Contact me at joannataylorphotography at gmail dot com

(image courtesy Millers)

For those that don't need a full custom session, don't forget that you can always book one of my 45 minute mini sessions (see this post for all the details).

On the 9th Day of Christmas...

For today's giveaway, I've decided on a fun little treat: a set of 24 custom holiday cards. Each set of holiday cards comes in 5x7 or 5x5 (trifolds and accordion folds extra). They are press printed and show off images from your session both front and back. Here are just a few samples, but I have many more from you to choose from! Currently I'm down to 3 more October days, 4 more November days, and a handful of September days. If you want a fall session, for whatever reason, contact me soon! These deals will go away, along with my dates by the end of the week.

joannataylorphotography at gmail dot com

On the 8th Day of Christmas...

This weekend was great. Great, great, great! I got to spend it with my family just hanging out and doing whatever we wanted, and I honestly can't think back to when I haven't had a session, a wedding, or something major going on that we've needed to participate in. To be honest, at first I didn't know what to do with myself. But it came pretty quickly and we made some great memories as a family this weekend. I'll be carrying them in my heart for the rest of my life. I also brought out my camera. I get so busy with work that often the last thing I want to do is bring out my camera at home. Which is too bad, since I don't have many recent pictures of my kids, other than my cell phone snap shots. So...I'm looking forward to printing up some of those images and displaying them in my home. I might even put a few into one of these mini brag books. Yep, back by popular demand, today's giveaway once again is THREE mini brag books. They are sooo adorable and easily fit into your purse. Or, display on a shelf. They are two sided and filled with lots of pictures.
Book today to receive this giveaway and 10% off your session price.
Contact me to book, days are going, and I will not be opening any additional days for the rest of the year! joannataylorphotography at gmail dot com


(image courtesy of my lab)

On the 7th Day of Christmas...

Last night was possibly the worst night of "sleep" ever. It started with the waking up of my one year old. My husband brought him to bed. He (the one year old) thought that was funny. He stayed awake. So did we. Just as I was finally drifting to sleep I randomly got a bloody nose. I had to get out of bed to take care of it, which woke the baby back up. He cried. My head pounded. He tossed and turned and finally my husband took him back to his bed. Just as I was drifting to sleep, my four year old came into my room. "I can't sleep, Mommy!" So I got out of bed, put her back to bed with a drink of water, and tried once again to drift off (which is hard for me). Just as I was, another noise woke us up. I think we finally fell asleep for about an hour, and then the baby woke up again. My husband put him back in bed with us, where he rolled around and whined. So I'm up, but not feeling particularly fabulous today. So today's giveaway needs to make my heart feel better.

Today's giveaway is giving back. $15 from each session booked today will go to a charity of your choice. If you don't have a choice, I have many options I can already think of.

Yesterday proved to be an interesting exercise. I also had several last minute requests, so for those waiting on a response, I will be in touch today. As a reminder, you are required to pay the total the day of your booking in order to get the giveaway, and to get a spot on my calendar. If you are interested in receiving 10% off your session price, possibly qualifying for stocking stuffers, being entered into a drawing for $150 gift certificate from me, email at joannataylorphotography at gmail dot com to check availability!

And I'll leave you with some more heartshop pictures. :) Loved these.


And I can't decide if I like the following one better in color or black and white, so you get both!

On the 6th Day of Christmas (in July),,,

We are half way through and fall dates are starting to go! If you want a fall session, for whatever reason (weddings and large (extended) family groups don't apply), you need to book now to get a smoking deal. And for today only I've upped the ante. Deep breath. I might totally regret this giveaway, but I'm doing it anyway. For one day only it is...bum. bum. bum...

Pay what you can day!!!

Yes, you read that right. It's Pay What You CAN Day!!

Now, a few things I need to say about this. First, I reserve the right to refuse any offer. There is a lot of work that goes into what I do. I am a legitimate business and take time away from my family not only during your session, but before and after too. There are many hobbyist photographers in Utah, and each person has their own theories, styling, and goals that do this. I believe that I provide something unique and valuable. Please respect that. For a custom session, you get a pre-consultation where we talk (in person, email or over the phone) about what it is that you want to celebrate. We brainstorm ideas together and come up with something unique and meaningful to you. I work hard during your 90 minute session to provide opportunity to realize your goals. You'll receive images that you treasure for the rest of your lives. A typical family session runs $325 and includes all the things listed above, 30-40 proofs online, 5 high resolution digital images (with a print release), plus all of your watermarked proofs in low resolution for sharing on your blog or social networking site.

Interested in today's offer? Contact me at joannataylorphotography at gmail dot com for dates and your offer.

And I'll leave you with a sneak peek from a recent engagement session that I'll be featuring soon!

On the 5th Day of Christmas (in July)...

Today's giveaway is a fun treat! With some of my higher end weddings I offer my clients these gorgeous CD covers so that instead of throwing the CD in the drawer, they have a beautiful way to display them and a sweet reminder of their day. They are thick and have a magnetic closure and feel just like a nice heavy book. For today's giveaway, you will be getting one!

Dates are going. For those that are interested, the leaves generally begin turning the beginning of October, so if you are wanting a session with fall leaves, let me know. Two of my October dates are already taken, so get in quick!

She felt...Loved | Beloved | Utah Relationship Photographer

I love relationship photography. I feel it is what fulfills me most, and what I do best. I love when emotion seeps out of people. But not everyone feels easy in front of a camera. Not everyone feels comfortable, or knows what to do. That is part of my job. Helping people find and embrace it.

I recently had the opportunity to photograph Kelli and David. Kelli is a great photographer who works with Sprout Photo. Kelli told her husband that for her birthday she wanted a 'feelings' session with me, and didn't really tell him much else (but to be fair, saying 'feelings' session had to give him a clue, right?). Well, a clue it did give him, and he promised me he'd do his best to be open. We even placed a bet on who would cry first, David or Kelli.

I loved Beloved sessions because they are not the typical 'look at the camera and smile' sessions. Although those are nice, I like getting into the nitty gritty of what makes us human, and what makes us love. The fact of the matter is that relationships can be hard. Really hard. Sometimes we fall in love and we get our hearts broken. Sometimes we struggle to find our flow in a relationship. There are so many ups and downs that come with love and negotiating our identities within it, that we end up taking the 'easy' road because we don't feel like we have the energy to do more. But for those that work, truly work, at their relationship, the rewards far outweigh the hardships. And every relationship has hardship. It's life. It's different for all of us. Love can make us hurt, it can make our hearts sing; we roll around in the dirt of life to find what works for us. You'll notice in these images that Kelli and David got terribly dirty during their session, yet felt so much joy in each other. I love the symbolism in that.

They are coming up on ten years of marriage, and this was the first session they have had with each other. Kelli said, "...We ended up laughing, crying, reminiscing and connecting in ways that we haven't for a long time. A huge thanks to Joanna for capturing us as we really are...these pictures are priceless to me." But more than that, she said she felt "loved." Is there anything better than reconnecting with each other and feeling that same intense love you felt when you first realized how amazing that this person is? How they make life better? And feeling it ten times deeper because of the life you've shared so far? I don't think so.

If you are interested in booking a Beloved session, please contact me. Sign up in the next 8 business days and you can get in on the 12 Days of Christmas (in July) deals!

(It's come to my attention that some of these images cut off because of my formatting. I am working on a new website and blog, to be released soon, but in the meantime, feel free to wander over to my Facebook fanpage and find their album there.)

On the 4th Day of Christmas (in July)...

Only 8 days left to get in on some awesome fall specials! I will NOT be holding another sale for Fall sessions, so get in while the getting is good. (Contact me for available dates at joannataylorphotography at gmail dot com.)

Today's giveaway is extra fun. You get one...two...three sets of wallets (that's 24 wallet pictures)!! And I'll even let you choose three different images for your wallets. These are perfect to put in Holiday cards or to give to family members, or keep for yourself! Contact me for pricing or questions.

Don't forget that all those that book a custom session will be entered into a contest to win a $150 gift certificate from me.

And I will leave with some images from the recent HEARTshop I attended. But, be sure to come back later today for a blog post from a recent session!

On the 3rd day of Christams (in July)...

August dates are gone. Mini sessions are still available, BUT today's giveaway is fabulous...an EXTRA 5 (yes, FIVE) digital files with your full custom session. That gives you a total of 10 digital files with the rights to reprint, plus ALL of your images in a low res copy as well. I must be crazy since that means you probably won't be upgrading to a package, BUT, I'm feeling generous. I had a wonderful weekend and I'm in a fabulous mood. :)Don't forget if you are a returning client, not only do you get 10% off the session price, but you also get a $25 returning client discount! And I will leave you with a sneak peek of a recent newborn session. I ♥ it.
Contact me for available dates, questions, and to book! joannataylorphotography at gmail dot com.


See more of this babe on my Facebook Fanpage! Become a fan here.

On the second day of Christmas (in July)...

Thanks to those that contacted me yesterday! Don't forget that for the 12 Days of Christmas (in July) giveaways, that you need to book that day or you lose that giveaway, but you can hold your session on any of my available times. Also, the giveaway only applies to full sessions (but they are a great deal) and not to mini sessions. And, you don't have to book a family session....it can be a Beloved session, or a High School Senior session, etc. (weddings do not apply).

That said, today's giveaway is a complimentary 11x14! Contact me today if you want one!

And I will leave you with an image from a recent Beloved session.


Or, let me know if you want a spot with one of the mini sessions! I will hold this deal available through the weekend, and I'll be back on Monday with a NEW giveaway!

On the first day of Christmas....

I'm so excited to start my giveaways! See this post for all the details on how this works. In short, you have the option to book a mini session at a spectacular deal, OR book a full session (at a discount) and receive a complimentary gift from me to you, plus qualify for lots of extra goodies (don't forget that if you book a custom session, you'll be entered in the drawing for a $150 gift certificate).

Book your session today (to be held sometime in August to November), and receive three accordion mini books. Yes, I said THREE! These are amazing little treasures. you can pop one in your purse and give one to a grandparent or two as a gift. It's a wonderful little Christmas present. In the past I've only given these to those that have ordered a nice package, as a little extra thank you. People have gone just wild over them, and now I have even more options for printing them. Just look for yourself how adorable they are.


Tomorrow will be a new giveaway, so if you've gotta have these, contact me today. joannataylorphotography@gmail.com

The dates I have available for custom sessions are as follows.

August: 23, 31
September: 6, 9, 14, 16, 20, 23, 28, 30
October: 1, 4, 7, 12, 15, 18, 19, 26, 29
November: 2, 10, 16, 26
December: closed, except for a few select appointments.

Remember that each session fee includes 5 high resolution digital files (with a print release) plus ALL your images in low-res for archiving and sharing on your blog or social networking sites.

Remember to get your friends to book for an extra entry for that gift certificate!

12 Days of Christmas (in July) | Utah Relationship Photographer

I am so excited about what I have to offer you this fall. Every fall is busy, and it's always a little chaotic. We are all trying to get back to school, settle down from summer, get back in routine. We change out our wardrobes, we change the way we cook (mmm...good soups and chili and breads), and we start preparing for the holidays, as they seem to come one after another. What I love about the fall and winter holidays is that they are all about celebrating love, life, laughter, and family. Things that are close to my heart. And I want to celebrate those with you!

I'm already starting to book fall portrait sessions, and instead of the last minute chaos, I want to make things a little easier on both of us. So check out the options below detailing all of my offerings this year:

Family Mini Session #1*
Held 9/11/10, 6 spots available.
Central Salt Lake Valley
I will have a small Charlie Brown tree for use in some of the images.
Details:
$150
45 minute family session (up to 6 people; $15 each additional)
48 custom holiday cards (value $130) OR one digital file & one 8x10
10% off any additional purchases
*This sale is for immediate families only, not for extended families.

Family Mini Session #2*
Held 10/09/10, 6 spots available
Central or South Davis County
I will have ornaments available to decorate a tree in some of the images.
Details:
$150
45 minute family session (up to 6 people; $15 each additional)
48 custom holiday cards (value $130) OR one digital file & one 8x10
10% off any additional purchases
*This sale is for immediate families only, not for extended families.

Child Only Mini Session*
Held 11/6/10, 12 spots available
Held in my home studio
Theme: White Christmas
Details:
$95
20 minute child session (*no more than three children, no families)
1 digital file
10% off any additional purchases

Whew...but that's not all!

For those of you interested in a full custom portrait session, I am opening up the following dates for evening sessions:

August: 23, 31
September: 6, 9, 14, 16, 20, 23, 28, 30
October: 1, 4, 7, 12, 15, 18, 19, 26, 29
November: 2, 10, 16, 26
December: closed, except for a few select appointments.

Book your full custom portrait session (to be held from August through November)
BY JULY 31
and qualify for the following incentives:

-10% off your session fee
-A complimentary goody will be presented each day for the next 12 business days (starting tomorrow), book on that day and get that goody! (Goodies cannot be exchanged for goodies shown on subsequent days, so contact me if you like what you see!).
-20% off your al-a-carte purchases
-Purchase a package upfront and you'll receive a $50 discount off your upgrade!
-Purchase a package and take as many of the stocking stuffers as you'd like:
|BOGO custom holiday cards
|(100) 4x6 prints of same image for only $75
|(1) mini storyboard to match your purchase, only $15
|(3) complimentary accordion books to keep in your purse and gift to grandparents
| 75% off one al-a-carte item
|Complimentary digital image of a holiday card, prepared and ready to print.

PLUS, every person to book a custom portrait session will be entered into a drawing for a $150 gift card from Joanna Taylor Photography. Have a friend interested in booking? Refer them after you book, and you'll get two chances to win that gift card!

Don't forget, you must book your custom portrait session by July 31 to qualify for these goodies!

Don't book your session today.

That's right. I've got a whole lot of goodness up my sleeve for you! I'm doing a combination of both mini sessions (so many of you asked about them that missed last time that I'm going to be holding a few!) and full sessions (with lots of extra goodies for full sessions). So come back tomorrow for all the details!

New

Be sure to come back tomorrow. Some fun stuff coming your way!

In the meantime, enjoy a few of this little sweetie. Love getting to snuggle with all these babes!