Shutter-Happy Photography

Yesterday was so much fun!  Thanks to all who stopped by for trick-or-treating and portraits!

1- A big THANK YOU to all who brought items to donate to the Medina Children’s Home.  At the end of the day, my son Ben and I were able to drop off several heavy bags of clothing and shoes!  What a blessing your items will be to those in need! 

2- The collage digital file of everyone that stopped by will be e-mailed to you soon.  It’s FREE!  Enjoy… and share!

3- You may now view and purchase your images!  Watch for the e-mail with instructions on how to see all the proofs and the special coupon codes for up to 50% off our regular studio print prices.

I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween and fun trick-or-treating with your kiddos. 

:)

A fourth friend was spotted around town wearing one of our shirts.  Michelle was ”caught” as she waited to pick up her boys from school this week!!!

Be sure to be seen in your shirt around town (or take your picture at a recognizable location around town)… and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a FREE portrait purse or necklace!

School pics!  So much fun, so rewarding.

Two weeks ago I photographed at the Hill Country Montessori and this past week I was at the First United Methodist Church’s Mother’s Day Out.  Both of these schools have used me for years, and I so appreciate their continuous support and business.

Next week I’ll be at Messiah Lutheran Church’s preschool program.  They were a new account last year.  And I’m so glad they loved the experience, to use me again this year.

And I just got word this week that we have three new schools to work with in the next month.  Welcome, to The Little Lighthouse Christian Learning Center, Tarry Bank Montessori School, and Cross Mountain Church’s preschool!  I am so excited to work with all of these new kiddos.

And while these and Christmas portraits are going to keep me plenty busy through the end of the year… I would love to photograph organizations or dance schools in the spring.  Let me know if you know a school or team I can work with!

What a fun night, last weekend!

Emily, her husband Lewis, my husband Nathan, and I got all dressed up to enjoy an evening under the trees and stars at the nature center for their annual gala.

There was a live and silent auction.  (we had donated a gift certificate for a free session and any size art piece)

And all the best restaurants in the area served up delicious food as we got to eat, visit, and listen to the band.

It was a fun way to celebrate and support this beautiful spot that we use for sessions throughout the year.

If you have yet to visit, it’s a must!

For all those orders placed so far this year, the community thanks you.  Here’s what we’ve been doing with some of our hard-earned income…

* We supported Kendall Elementary…  bought an ad space in their PTO student directory and signed up to be a big donator for their Run the Gauntlet event.

* We supported Fabra Elementary… bought an ad space in their PTO student directory and signed up to be a big donator for their hay maze fundraiser.

* We supported Curington Elementary… bought an ad space in their PTO student directory, signed up to be a big donator for their Walk-a-Thon event, and I donated a few hours of photography time and hundreds of digital files from the Walk-a-Thon.

* We supported Cibolo Creek Elementary… bought an ad space in their PTO student directory.

* Cibolo Nature Center… we donated a gift certificate for one free session and art piece for their auction. 

* MOPS… we’re donating a dozen gift certificates for free purses to be given out at meetings throughout the year.

* Backpack Connection… we are continuously advertising, so that these magazines can keep going home in your children’s backpacks at no charge to you.

Thank you for supporting us so that we can give back to these local schools and organizations!

No joke, I started decorating for Christmas this morning.  I got our tree put together and decorated in the sun room.  And I found two great spots to hang our wreath outdoors off the old barn.  Call soon to schedule your session, before our calendar is filled!   888-311-5207

A few reasons for posting these…

1- It’s the Christmas portrait season!  We want you to start planning now so you’re not rushing at the last minute to create your beautiful images and Christmas cards.
2- To show you all kinds of color ideas.  You don’t have to wear white!
3- It’s fun to look back at these. 

Each year since Ben was born, we’ve been posing for Christmas portraits.  And each one of these is printed as an 8×10 canvas.  And they’re all hanging as a collage in our hallway.

2003- Was not a photographer yet.  Obviously didn’t know how to dress, light, or pose.  My dad took the pic.  Very end of Upper Cibolo Creek Rd.

2004- Still not a photographer.  Doing a little better with clothing?  My dad took the pic again.  Pipe Creek Christmas Tree Farm.

2005- Had started my business.  Looking much better.  Tripod was set up, with camera on self-timer.  Our living room.

2006- Good colors, close pose.  Tripod and self-timer.  Our living room.

2007- Great colors and pose.  Tripod and self-timer.  Lost Maples State Park.  (very tough day, feeling awful with morning sickness)

2008- Awesome colors, close pose.  We’re back to my dad taking the image.  Cibolo Nature Center.

2009- Cool colors, relaxed pose.  My dad took the image again.  Studio.

I just realized that when I introduced Emily originally, it was as our Director or Marketing.  And I never updated the huge change that came after Alice had to leave her job as my consultant and after we moved to a studio location.  And I haven’t updated with our newest partner after starting our portrait parties.  So here it goes, let me introduce the staff…

Let’s start with Amy Anderson (me)-
Photographer and Owner.  It’s my duty to make sure we stay in business by advertising, blogging, paying bills, striving and studying to be better every day, and keeping our clients happy (so that they keep talking about us around town and keep coming back).  I photograph each session, beautifully lighting and posing each subject in front of the camera.  I proof sessions and create the slideshows.  When orders are places, I fully edit each image and place the clients’ orders.  When prints and merchandise arrive, I’m in charge of reviewing the order and packaging for the client.

Emily Christian-
She is now our Studio Manager (she basically runs the place).  She makes and takes all phone calls, helps plan all sessions and parties, conducts the print ordering appointments, and delivers clients’ orders.  She is in charge of marketing- getting displays up in businesses, finding new places to advertise, and looking for auctions and events we can support or donate to.

Beth Archilla-
She is now our Party Coordinator.  She prepares for each portrait party by making the sandwiches and baking the desserts.  During the parties, she runs the show.  She’s in charge of helping me with the portraits, keeping watch on the clock and making sure things are flowing smoothly, serving the food and drinks, helping with the paints and supplies while the guests decorate their t-shirts, and helping me send out the thank you cards once the parties are over.

I love my job, I love these ladies.  I am incredibly blessed!

Well, employee… or just part of the team… or is he a prop?

Welcome Ferdinand (or “Ferdy”), named after the funny duck on the movie Babe.  He is a white’s tree frog that we purchased this morning.  We have made him a permanent home at the studio.  And he can be used for any of your children’s portrait sessions.

That’s right, along with all the beautiful portrait clothes you pack for your session, don’t forget the cute overalls or jeans and t-shirts.  Indoors our out, he is going to be a cute and unique addition to some of your images!

Thursday was SO much fun!!!

The day started with our ribbon-cutting.  Dozens of Chamber members came by to host the event and support us.  And BEN got to cut the ribbon as we posed for our picture for the newspaper.  He LOVED it! 

Then we played host to lots of family, friends, clients, and the community as they stopped by to tour the new studio, grab some snacks, enjoy their time in the photo booth, and visit.

THANK YOU to all who played a part in making this dream happen.  THANK YOU to all who have supported Shutter-Happy over the years.  I am so blessed.  “Do what you love; Love what you do.”

Click here for our You Tube video of my speech for the Chamber reception.

Wow!

A photographer friend raved about these, so I ordered my first sample… and, wow!

Image Blocks- beautiful metallic prints wrapped around heavy-duty wood frames.  And the main images are mounted on the background image, for a true 3-D effect.

Look at this —————>

(it’s four images; one background image is the base; three family images are mounted on top)

With a new studio comes more room.  With more room, we must have portrait parties!!!    And we’re going to offer them with several different options… for the mom on a tight budget to the mom who doesn’t want to lift a finger…

A- on location
photography time
thank you cards created from party images/stamps
proofing online
$30 portrait package
(you are responsible for the location, invites, activities, and all food and drinks)

B- studio
photography time
t-shirts and painting
thank you cards created from party images/stamps
proofing online
$50 portrait package
(you are responsible for invites and food and drinks)

C- studio
photography time
t-shirts and painting
snacks, desserts, and drinks
thank you cards created from party images/stamps
$70 portrait package
(you are only responsible for the invitations)

D- studio
portrait session
invitations created from the portrait session/stamps
photography time
t-shirts and painting
snacks, desserts, and drinks
thank you cards created from party images/stamps
$100 portrait package
(you don’t have to lift a finger!)

All parties will be priced for up to 2 hours of my time and for up to 8 children.  Extra charges will apply for additional children at parties at the studio.  All children who attend parties at the studio will be asked to wear one nice outfit for beautiful, formal portraits.  They will also be asked to bring jeans.  We will supply white t-shirts and tank tops to wear with the jeans.  With this outfit, we will create cute, candid portraits (as-is for the boys; with tutus for the girls!).  And the kids will get to paint the shirts to take home as a souvenir.    All thank you cards that we design will contain images from the party, will thank your guests for coming, and will give them instructions on how to view and order their images.  We will do all the work to mail these out for you.

CALL TODAY to schedule your portait party!!!   888-311-5207

Our lease for the 1920’s home began on the 4th of July.  We quickly had the fire marshall come out to inspect, had pest control start a regimen, had a cleaning crew out to scrub top to bottom, had our insurance agent over to assess, and hired a handyman to make some big improvements.  Moving in took all week long.  And then our real work began…

In the front, we removed trees that blocked the view of the building from the street, pulled weeds, planted flowers, cleaned and painted the front porch, hung bird houses and a bird feeder, installed our doorbell, put in a new porch light, hung a basket of flowers on the door, and replaced the latch and lock.  The biggest snag in this project… the actual front door.  We planned on sanding and painting.  I sanded for about 5 minutes, was eaten alive by mosquitos, and gave up.  Nathan sanded for about an hour, decided it was too much work, and gave up.  We had to give in and purchase a new door!

Entryway… we replaced the dated light with a gorgeous chandelier a friend gave us; we put in hooks and tables to display our purses.

The camera room/party room!!!  We replaced the ceiling fan, added our rug, installed a background track system, hung canvases, and hung fun paper lanterns.  This is where most of our sessions will take place; we will begin having portrait parties in this room; and our gallery-wrap canvases will be showcased here.

Camera room 2- we moved in our cute blue couch and an outdoor scene (our barn wall, hay bales, old doors, wagon wheel, and grass).  We’re also going to build a tin wall for another background option.

Hallway to the bathroom… we put in a table at the end and chose to use the space to highlight our framing options.

Bathroom- added curtains, a rug, and a bench; cleaned up the toilet.

Rest of the bathroom- changed the lighting; took down the old medicine cabinet and hung an antique mirror; completely replaced the cabinetry; replaced the towel hangers and faucet; bought a diaper changing pad for mommies and babies; and purchased a bubble machine for fun pics in the cute tub!

Mine and Emily’s office- removed the light and added a ceiling fan; moved in our desk, rug, chairs, ottoman, shelves, and products.  This is where we’ll conduct our print consultations/order appointments.  All we have to still do is move in the projector and projection screen.  Anyone notice our resident chicken? 

Playroom!!!  While parents are busy working with us to place print orders, the kiddos are welcomed to enjoy our playroom… train table, puzzles, play kitchen, shopping cart, TV and movies, Hot Wheels, puppets, books, play doh, and markers.  Fun!!!  We also have a bunch of our float wraps hung in this room, showing them off here.

Kitchen- moved in a table and chairs; highlighting our stretcher frame canvases here.  Camera room nook- great little built-in cabinets where we’ll be hosting partners’ business cards.  Props room- we also have a large props room, but it is still a little unorganized, so I’m not going to show it here yet.  Extra room- we also have an extra room that we still do not have plans for.

Want to see the new place?  Get a sneek peak as you drive past 11 Upper Balcones Dr!  Let’s schedule a tour or session!  Or watch for our ribbon cutting and open house announcement!

Want to at least see the big pictures?  Visit our main site (http://www.shutter-happy.com/); click on Enter Site; click on The Studio tab; click on Location.

Want to have your business’ information displayed?  Get your pamphlets or business cards to me and we’ll put them out for our clients!

Interested in renting out our extra room for your business?  Inquire any time!

Wow!  We completely missed the voting process, forgot to remind our friends, family, and clients to fill out ballots… and we’re still one of the top three photographers in Kendall County!

THANKS to everyone who did get out and vote in The Boerne Star’s Best of the Best contest!  Thanks to you, we won silver again this year!  It’s an honor to be recognized the last six years in a row.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had so much fun yesterday!!!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to help us celebrate, to John Moon Custom Homes who constructed our photo booth, and to all of our partners who donated wonderful gifts to give away to our clients…

Shutter-Happy Photography- business cards, stickers, balloons, t-shirts, and gift certificates for a free 16×20 or 16×24 print or canvas, free portrait purses, and a free session
Mary Kay Cosmetics- two pampering gifts with products
Partylite Candles and Gifts- candles
An Angel’s Touch Therapeutic Massage and Wellness- business cards and a gift certificate for a free massage
The Happiest Vacations on Earth by Lindsey- postcards with Disney vacation-planning specials
KM Designs- business cards and gift certificates for discounts on sewing services
SnoBiz- gift certificates for free snow cones
Bear Moon Bakery- gift cards for free cookies
Starbucks- $5 gift cards
Hill Country Montessori School- business cards, pencils, and a gift certificate for a free summer class
Premier Designs Jewelry- business cards, coupons, and a free set of earrings
Hill Country Kids Learning Center- business cards
Macaroni Kid- business cards, lollipops, and a pancake mold
KNR Paints- free gallon of paint gift certificates
Wackadoo’s- coupons and hair care products