Whether you like sweet smiles, gummy grins, or big laughs, we photographed them all over this past year.  So vote for your favorite!  Review the following portraits and click on the Survey button to cast your vote.

Participation rules:
Contestants were taken from children’s sessions only (no portraits from newborn or family sessions were eligible).  Only sessions taken within the past year were used.  No family of Amy’s or Alice’s were able to participate.

Voting rules:
You may vote just once for your favorite overall.  Or you may vote up to three times (one vote in each separated section).  One voting opportunity per e-mail address.  All extra votes will be dismissed.  By submitting your e-mail to vote, you are agreeing to be added to our e-newsletter list, but you may unsubscribe at any time if you are not happy with our services.  Voting begins on September 1st and will run through September 30th.

What a fun morning!  We got up, got dressed, and headed to the parade line-up on Main Street.  We decorated for a good hour and then proceeded to work the crowds.  The theme was backyard bbq.  So on the trailer was our picnic table, our big umbrella, a picnic basket, ice chests, and Nathan standing at the grill.  The kids riding on the trailer threw out candy while Myk, Alice, and I walked alongside to hand out cascarones, pamphlets, and t-shirts.  It was hot, we got tuckered out, but it was a blast.  And Cheesy Jane’s for lunch was just perfect for the tired crew.

THANKS so much to everyone who helped today- you have no idea how much I appreciate your support!

Trailer rental- $40
30 dozen cascarones- $55
T-shirts- $200
Candy- $60
Lunch at Cheesy Jane’s- $100
A fun morning and a great marketing opportunity- Priceless

PS- If you’re ever needing a trailer to rent, give Eagle Trailer Sales a ring.  Between the fantastic price and their friendly service, we were very happy with our decision to do business with them.

It’s almost time once again for our girliest, our most magical portrait sessions of all- our Limited Edition Fairytale Sessions.  Let your little girl become a magical fairy and play in our wonderland; let her have one hour of mystical delight!

With the studio filled with all the right decor and lots of costumes for your little one to wear, all you have to do is show up.  Or why not come by to choose clothing and wings and head out with me to the nature center for an outdoor session?  Your choice!

But remember, these are only for a limited time.  Dates that we’ve chosen for these special sessions are September 15th-22nd.

*Accompanying portrait is “Lovely” (a favorite from Abby’s session).

With the addition of our son in June, we were due for new portraits.  First we took individuals- one of me to be used on the website, one of Nathan to use as he pleases, and the boys together and alone for albums and for the grandparents.  And then we had the task of putting all of us together, having all of us looking at the camera, and trying to have all of us smiling.  With my dad behind the lens, my mom making funny noises next to him, and my ability to do a headswap on Ben, attached is my favorite…

I’m always finding cool things on the internet.  Here’s another- Wordle.  Type in words, choose colors, pick a layout, and wait for a “wordle” to be created…

Trustworthy, reliable, caring, loving babysitter needed for Evan (currently two months old) possibly one morning a week while I take a session or print consult, help at Curington, or run errands.  Pay depends on experience.  References a must.  Please e-mail your name and phone number to amy@shutter-happy.com so we may then speak over the phone (as I do not want to give our home phone number out over the blog).

*Attached to article is “Night’s Slumber” (one of the oh-so-MANY favorites from baby Carter’s newborn session last week).

Are you keeping up with what’s going on around town?  Heard about this new website?  It’s Boerne Today.  I’m not only checking up on happenings on the site, but I’m also busy taking part in their surveys and submitting our events to their calendar.  Great place for the community!

*Portrait with blog is “Family” (a favorite from Andy, Leigh Ann, Kayla, and Peyton’s family portrait session last week).

I want to tell you about a new preschool in Boerne I heard about recently that may be just what some of you parents of preschoolers are looking for.  When my three oldest daughters were preschoolers in the community we lived in most preschools were small businesses run in the homes of the preschool teachers.  The advantages over the bigger programs were smaller classes, lower cost and a familiar environment. 

The school I just found, Little Learners Preschool, will be run by Laura Serratos, a mother of a kindergartener and a preschooler herself.  There will be hands on learning, local field trips, and the curriculum will include letters, numbers, colors, shapes, letter sounds, math, science, music, etc.  There will be about six children in each class.

The classes are divided by age and there will be two options for each age:

3 year old classes: T & Th 8:30 to 11:30am  & 12:15 to 3:15pm with the option to stay through lunch and both classes (talk to Laura for details).  $60/mon

4 year old classes: MWF 8:30 to 11:30am and 12:15 to 3:15pm with the same option as above.  $70/mon

Classes start at the end of August and are located at 32127 IH10 West in Boerne.

To enroll or get more information call (210)296-7335.

Every one of our children are different and some of them do better in smaller groups and a more home-like environment.  If you know someone else who might benefit from this information please pass this on. 

Have a great new school year!!

*Portrait sketch attached is “Bath Time!” (a favorite from Morgan and Landon’s session with their new puppy Bella).

Blog Special- Place a $100+ qualifying print order from now until November 15th and mention this special to receive a FREE pewter snowflake Christmas ornament as a gift from us!

I just got back from a Children and Family Photographers of America’s conference.  It was a four-day conference, jam-packed with information on working with children, photography workflow, controlling and experimenting with light, and marketing.  I took pages of notes and can’t wait to implement some of the ideas.

I also participated in the print competition they held.  “Flower Girl” received an above average rating from the judges; “Expectant Beauty” got an above average rating from the judges and received first place in the maternity category of the people’s choice awards (from my peers); and from the judges, “Darling Doll” received merit!  I was thrilled!

*Attached are “Flower Girl,” “Expectant Beauty,” and “Darling Doll.”

I want to tell you about this wonderful book club that my daughters have loved being part of for the past two years.  It is Etta’s Book Club and it is especially for girls around 8 to 12 yrs old.  Heather Bohman of Boerne started this club to encourage girls to read more by making it a fun experience and a parents/child experience.  Every other month the girls receive a box in the mail that includes the book selection AND a craft or activity that ties into the book AND a charm to go on the bracelet they receive upon joining AND a scrapbook page to add to their scrapbook on which they write their own review of the book AND a newsletter with a letter from Etta, tips for parents to help them discuss the book with their daughter and much more. 

More information can be found at  ettasbookclub.com and by watching SA Living on WOAI (ch.4) on Wed, July 30th at 10am when Etta’s will be a feature story. 

Ms Bohman was honored to be part of the Christamore Guild of Indianapolis, IN, annual extravaganza along with five award-winning authors, including Cokie Roberts. 

I have been so impressed with the outstanding quality of every kit we have received.  I am hoping that many more girls can find this fun club and either learn to love reading or just enjoy interaction with other girls like themselves at the semi-monthly optional meetings.

*Portrait is “still untitled” (one of the many favorites from Marlin and Michelle’s maternity session taken during our maternity model search).

THANKS to everyone for voting for us as your favorite photographer in The Boerne Star’s Best of the Best contest!  We won silver again this year!  It’s an honor to be recognized the last four years in a row.

*Attached portrait is “Expectant Beauty” (my favorite portrait of Hillary from her maternity session during our maternity model search).

We wanted to extend a big “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” to one of our Watch Me Grow portrait club members- Madison Seamans.  Madison celebrates her sixth birthday this month, and we hope she has a wonderful day filled with lots of fun and laughter!  Happy birthday, Madison!

*We’re awaiting her session.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT THE BENEFITS OF OUR PORTRAITS CLUBS, PLEASE VISIT THE SAVINGS PAGE OF THE WEBSITE!

I got my haircut this morning.  Not just any haircut- oh no!  I got ten inches trimmed off.  The summer’s too hot, I was pulling it back too much, Evan had begun tugging at it, so it was time.

So I made the quick trip over to Tim Barefoot at Main Hair Studio, and I let him work his magic.  Just as he did for me five years ago after Ben was born, I was again thrilled with the results.

And the icing on the cake is that I had enough length to donate to Locks of Love.  If you have not heard of this cause or if you’d like more information about what they do, please check out their website.  What a beautiful way to help a child dealing with cancer- to give them the gift of their hair back.

Are you a business owner that is also a Chamber member?  If so, we want to let you know that we’re participating in the new member-to-member discount program.

Why not take advantage of the program and set up a session with us?  With every paid session you’ll receive a FREE gift print (an 8×8, 8×10, 8×12, or 10×10), which are each valued at $37.  As always, no minimum print purchase is required.

*Portrait is “Family Fun” (my favorite portrait from Dale, Deelaina, and Garrett’s session earlier this summer).