New kids on the block…

I love meeting new parents.  That excitement and joy they are holding inside is with a doubt the coolest thing ever.  There is this new life that is waiting to be met.  The anticipation is better than anything you will ever know.  It makes me want to go backwards and live it all over again and I know at that moment I am lucky I get to live it again with my sweet clients.

Jessica you are BEAUTIFUL and I can not wait to see you with your sweet Ethan.

See you soon

-Kristin

Welcome back

from a crazy hot summer, Whispers fans! Whispers is breathing in some fresh air over here and it’s just wonderful!
For me, this has been the craziest summer I can remember. It started with one of the most trying times my family has ever seen, followed by a chance to swim in the love and support I got from so many of you (for which I have an extraordinary amount of gratitude – truly, when I say my prayers of thanks, you all are at the top of my list), followed by a chance to expand the Whispers’ mission with the talent and creativity of two extraordinary women.

Ready to meet these two gems? Introducing…drum roll, please….Jeni Haas and Amy Douglass!

Many of you may know Jeni Haas already since she has been part of a mentor-for-lifesaver exchange program, wherein she’s been honing her photography and I’ve been leaning on her like a crutch because she makes Whispers a better place for both me and our clients. What’s most fascinating about Jeni is her eagle-like attention to detail. Her photography shows this, and I’m continually awed by how she can use her creativity to highlight new and fascinating aspects in the kids she works with – she particularly loves the 3-feet-from-the-street crowd and newborns. The families she’s worked with love Jeni…but I will always get to be president of her fan club. It’s in the contract.

Amy Douglass is a new gift at our party. She is quite simply one of the most gifted photographers I have ever seen, and I knew her by reputation long before I was lucky enough to get the chance to work with her. Although she is excellent with newborns and school-age kids, her high school senior photography is what made me fall out of my seat (don’t worry – I was totally fine once she agreed to work with me). What’s most interesting about Amy is her eye for combining up-to-the-minute trends that define a senior year with the timeless qualities that define the seniors themselves. It’s really a magical combination. When Amy and I finally met for lunch, it was like we’d known each other all our lives. I think our clients will also agree that she fits right in.

if you were wondering- YES they made me wear make up and yes I kept touching it… LOL

In addition to new people, we also have some new offerings. We’ve had a lot of requests for shorter, simpler, lower-cost sessions that we’ve answered with Spotlight Sessions. These are typically 30-minute sessions that give clients a chance to test something new. They’ll typically (but not always) have a theme that you can try without a huge commitment of time and money – angels, cowboys, or explorers might be some examples. Feel free to make suggestions – some of our best ideas come from our clients! Your session and images will have the same quality as a more expensive, expanded session but they’ll be offered less expensively because of a new, efficient, online-only ordering system.

Ordering for Spotlight Sessions is done entirely online with a limited menu (mostly standard-size Luster prints and single-image canvases – the most popular items). A special discount will be offered for orders completed within 48 hours of being posted and the entire ordering window will last two weeks. You can do your ordering with no pressure and have plenty of time to call all your relatives for their orders. We love trying new things!

We have some new products, too! For those who love texture and depth and lovely things to look at, we have some great new photo papers. Listen to these: German etching, fine linen, photo rag, pearl, bamboo, and sugar cane. There’s even one called torchon…it’s one of my personal favorites. We still offer some of the best canvases around and have been doing some great new designs that you might want to try.  Of course there are always the old faithful luster prints for those who can’t let the classics go (we understand). We just have so much to see – your ordering session will be a feast for the senses!

Ok, so that’s what new…

Before you get all worried that we’re going big time, let me assure you that Whispers will ALWAYS be a small boutique photography studio. The best images are created when the photographer knows a family well, and that just doesn’t happen with revolving door sessions.

Of course there will be lots of shops who give you 10 minutes of time and cut-rate service, barely do any work on the images, quickly show you 10 proofs, threaten you that they’ll be destroyed if you don’t order them, then wave you toward the door. Once upon a time, I was a customer of these places….Whispers will NEVER do that to our clients. We love getting to know the families who trust us enough to capture their special memories. Clients often become our friends. That just doesn’t happen in 30 seconds or less, which can be exactly how much useful time a photographer has to take pictures of a stressed-out kid in one of these shotgun sessions.

Plus, we’d miss out on some of the most magical moments that happen in our day. In almost every session there is a moment where the subjects, either the kids or their parents (maybe both), give a gift. They look at something or someone and BAM! We get a hearty laugh or smirky grin captured and saved forever. It’s something that anyone who knows them would recognize, but is so often missed in rushed or formal sessions. Ok, I’m getting a little sentimental…let’s just say that this job always gives us delightful moments when we take the time to let them happen. We’ll never stop doing that.

Now that we’ve had this time to recharge our batteries, let me just tell you how energized we are – we can’t wait to show you all the new things we have going on. Stop by the studio or give us a call to see!

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” OK, I didn’t say that myself, but Norman Vincent Peale was right. Some of the most powerful images we see in a year are those we see during the holidays…images that bring joy, comfort, and even bring back wonderful and cherished memories of holidays past.

On October 22, 23, and 24, Whispers is partnering with Posh Mommy and Baby Too in Madison to give you the chance to create those images for your family this year. We proudly bring you…

Christmas in Narnia! The scenery for these sessions is inspired by the snowy winter wonderland of Narnia, just perfect for capturing the sweetness of celebrations in your family’s world. These images will  be absolutely extraordinary!

For those who are wondering why we’re scheduling the sessions so far before the holidays, we want to make sure there’s plenty of time for ordering and delivery before the holidays.

Those who take advantage of these special sessions will be rewarded! Posh Mommy, the host and location of the sessions, will offer a special 25% discount on an entire purchase (excluding furniture and sale items) for those who book a session. Also, Whispers will offer huge discounted 2011 Spotlight Session to those who place an order from their Christmas in Narnia session. So the rewards stack up – some now and some later!

Details, anyone? Here ya go!

What: Christmas in Narnia
When: October 22, 23, and 24
Where: Posh Mommy and Baby Too; Hwy 72 W, Madison, AL
What Time: Call Posh Mommy( 256-722-3181, Mon-Sat 10am-5:30pm) to schedule your session
Booking Fee: $30 for the first child, $50 for two children, $10 for each additional child
Bonus Offers: 25% off an entire purchase at Posh Mommy (excluding furniture and sale items) for those who book; huge discounted 2011 Spotlight Session (see Whispers blog for details on what a Spotlight Session is) for paid orders from the Christmas in Narnia sessions

We can’t wait to see you in Narnia!

Whispers Photography – 256-325-2120 – Info@whispersphotography.com

I keep hearing that line in my head- Maybe cuz Mr. T here is wearing a helmet that is a little to big for his sweetness.  Or could it be the potato heads staring at me … making me want to go watch a marathon of star-wars or space balls.  Either way.. I love this image.

P-to the E- to The Y COOL

Before I had the third kid I didn’t really appreciate what a great age the 3-4 month age can be (correct me If I am wrong Peytons Mom) .

it is a Killer age.

1. They REALLY like you.

2. They can’t get away from you!  There should be stars next to that one.

3.  They still don’t know your really not that  funny and laugh all the time.

Peyton was a doll girl- she was darn sweet and cute as a button.  I really enjoyed meeting her and her crew.