Represent! {senior portraits}

I've never liked my own high school senior pictures. I forgot about having to take my yearbook photo till the last minute, and as a result, I was photographed with my face being completely sunburnt while wearing a shirt that I borrowed from my mom. yech. Then my mom decided to treat me to a "real" portrait session, and took me to the GlamourShots in the local mall... where my hair was fluffed & curled, and my makeup was done with such a heavy hand that I felt like my face would crack. For the finishing touch, I played dress-up with the random outfits they had on hand. Sweet, flowery hat? check. Tough, biker chick look? double check.

The pictures came back and my mom was thrilled. She couldn't get over how "adorable" I looked. As for myself... I thought a few of the pictures looked okay, but none of them looked like ME.

So, flash forward to now... I want to help high school seniors so that they don't repeat my own scenario.  I'm all about capturing the REAL YOU. No black backdrops or cheesy outfits. This is ALL YOU... showcasing who you really are at this very moment in your own lives.

And I'm looking for some volunteers to help me get started.

I will soon be entering the realm of High School Senior Portraits, and am looking for the help in spreading the word. What better place to start than with high school students, themselves? I'm currently looking to enroll a few students in my new Senior Street Team.

the Details:

You take your senior portraits with me. You spread the word by posting your images and slideshow on your social networking sites, and also by handing out referral cards to your friends. You earn a $25 gift card to your favorite place (iTunes, Starbucks, etc.) for each referral* that you send my way. For real. And yes, it's just that simple.

Senior Street Team Members will receive:

• free senior portrait session ($99 value)
• 10% discount on all prints & products purchased
• 5 low-res digital files, for use on your social networking sites
• slideshow, for use on your social networking sites
• personalized referral cards to hand out to friends
• $25 gift card (iTunes, Starbucks, etc.) for each referral* you send to the Suitcase Studio

*a referral is counted as someone who books & completes a paid session with the Suitcase Studio and returns one of your referral cards to me. Note: a referral is not limited to someone who books a senior portrait session only; referrals could be sessions for seniors, family, maternity, wedding, etc.

Nitty-Gritty:

• you must be a current high school junior who will be graduating in the year 2011
• you must agree to exclusively promote the Suitcase Studio as the photographer of choice for senior portraits
• your senior portrait session must be completed no later than July 31
• senior portrait sessions last approximately one hour, and are held at the location of your choice. Time is allotted for one outfit change.
• your parent/guardian must be present at the client consultation, as their signature is required on the client contract.
• gift cards for referrals can be earned up until the day of your graduation!

Interested in Signing Up?

Contact me and let me know!  Send an email to michelle@theSuitcaseStudio.com, or simply visit my website (www.theSuitcaseStudio.com) and fill out the form on my “contact me” page.  Be sure to let me know what school you attend, as I’m taking a limited number of Senior Street Team Members per school.  I’ll get back to you ASAP, to schedule a client consultation for you to come in and meet me so we can get started.

I'm looking forward to meeting the REAL YOU!

Client Referral Program

You like me... you really LIKE me... And, you know what? I like you, too!

As my business relies almost completely on word-of-mouth advertising, I am incredibly thankful to those that have told their friends and family about the Suitcase Studio.  I now have a referral program in place to help say thank you for being a client of mine.

How it works:

Once you are a client (and your session & order is complete), you are automatically enrolled in this program. For every new client that notes you as their referral source, you will receive a $50.00 print certificate to use on your next order.  The print certificate will be mailed to you after they have completed their own photography session.

Check out the details below:

What do your pictures say about YOU?

Just wanted to share my newest promo card with you all:

Update-Your-Profile-Pic PARTY! {contest}

SPEAK UP with a new profile pic & let your image speak for itself.

If you've been using that same boring profile pic for your Facebook or Twitter account, or even on your blog, it's time for an update.

Express yourSELF! Change that profile pic of yours and show the world who you really are.

In conjunction with the SPEAK UP! exhibit (at CSU Pomona from April 1-30), I am giving away a FREE "update-your-profile-pic party" to one lucky winner.

Here's how it works:

• One lucky WINNER will host the party at their pad, where I show up with a background, lights, & props.
• The host can invite as many guests as they think I can take pics of in a 2-hour period.
• Some props will be provided, but guests should feel free to personalize the pictures even more & bring their own! (Or hosts can even designate a party THEME!)
• Within a couple of days after the party, I will post the party images to the Suitcase Studio's Facebook page. Each guest will appear in a minimum of one photo, and that photo will be tagged with their name so it can easily be found.
• Guests can keep & use those images that I post.
• The host will receive a mini-book with all of the final images included.
• Additional images & products may also be purchased from my online gallery, which will be linked to my website after your party.

Nitty-Gritty Stuff:

• Open to local southern-California residents only (sorry... no long-distance traveling for this).
• Each guest must provide me with their email address & facebook profile name.
• Each person must sign a model release so that I am able to post their pictures up on Facebook.  They must also become a "fan" of the Suitcase Studio's facebook page so that I can "tag" the photos appropriately.
• Please keep the props and images rated PG, as I run a family-friendly business. Any image deemed questionable will not be posted.
• For the safety of all guests involved, please do NOT bring your pets to be used as props.
• Images may not be modified in any way, and my logo must remain visible.

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:

Go to your blog, Facebook account or Twitter account and post the following (exactly as shown below):

RT @suitcasestudio: WIN an "update-your-profile-pic party" with the Suitcase Studio. Go to www.SpeakUp.theSuitcaseStudio.com for details.

Please note: The link you post must be on a public account. I can't verify links on private, friends & family only, or passworded accounts & they will not be eligible to win. You can enter up to three times total – one entry each per blog, Facebook and Twitter account. Post the URL to your link(s) in the comment section for THIS BLOG ENTRY. Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. PST on Friday, April 30. Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by Random.org when the contest has closed, and the winner will be contacted within 24 hours of contest’s end to claim their prize & set up the session.

Good luck everyone!

NEW slideshows

I fell in LOVE with these slideshows from Animoto, and will now be using them as samples on my website, as well as offering them to my clients. Here are a few samples of what's to come:

Vegas, baby, YEAH!!! {WPPI 2010}

What happens in Vegas, doesn't necessarily stay in Vegas... not when you've got thousands of photographers on site, ready to show their photographic proof of the events. But it's all good...

WPPI stands for "Wedding and Portrait Photographers International," and they certainly live up to their name. They hold an annual event in Las Vegas (which will be at the MGM Grand once again this year). There were well over 12,000 attendees at last year's event. And there were over 365 exhibitors at their trade show.

I will be amongst the attendees again this year, and will be in Vegas from Sunday through Wednesday. And I won't be alone, either... my sister-in-law, Maria, will be coming along for the ride. (You'll get a full introduction to Maria soon enough, as she will be operating as my second shooter for various events.)

The WPPI event is awesome for many different reasons. It offers a chance to network with my peers and mentors. The tradeshow allows me to see all the various vendors and products at my disposal. And the seminars/classes give me the opportunity to learn new things and brush up on my skill set.

All of this just adds to the package deal of the Suitcase Studio.  I feel that it's important to stay on top of things, be it trends in shooting techniques, software or simply being able to offer the best products for my clients. WPPI offers a great way to make myself into a better photographer and a better business woman.

I am leaving my laptop at home, so there won't be any big posts here till my return. But if you would like to "join in" with our adventures along the way and get a sneak peek of some possible new products I might discover there, please follow me on my twitter account or facebook page, where I will be posting updates from my iPhone.

Wish Upon a Wedding

Wish Upon a Wedding is a new organization, dedicated to granting weddings and civil union ceremonies at destinations across the United States to couples facing life-threatening illnesses. It was recently founded by wedding planner Liz Guthrie of San Jose Wedding Consultants, with the hope that no couple should ever be denied the chance to marry the one they love.  Wish Upon a Wedding is the only organization of its kind in existence today.

By calling on a regional database of wedding vendors known as "Wish Granters," the organization will be able to grant three types of weddings. How quickly the services are granted, and how detailed the weddings are, depends upon the Wish Recipient's health condition.

"Many couples cannot afford to get married, due to overwhelming medical bills, particularly those who have been battling life threatening conditions, sometimes for many years," says Guthrie. "Often a person is too sick to even leave their hospital bed, or they may be in hospice care," explains Guthrie, "If their last wishes include marrying their partner who stood by them through their most difficult times, we want to help make that dream come true. What better way to celebrate love than with their closest friends and family, in one of life's most significant ceremonies?"

-------------------

I am pleased to announce that I have offered my photography services to Wish Upon a Wedding for the Los Angeles/Orange County Chapter, should the need arise.

There are ways that YOU can get involved, too... visit their website to see the many different ways that you can help. From donating your time, money or even your skills, there are many different ways to show your support for such a wonderful cause. If nothing else, you can simply spread the word of this wonderful organization.

2010 Baby & Child Portrait Contest

I am excited to announce my participation in this year's Baby & Child Portrait Contest, hosted by Miller's Professional Imaging.

Here’s how it works:

Schedule & complete a session with me before June 21, 2010.  This can be a newborn session, family session, child session, etc. (sorry... maternity sessions don't count).  As long as you've got a kid involved who is 12 years old or younger, you are eligible to participate!  I pick the best image of your kiddo, and enter it into the contest (one image per child). That's it. Simple, huh?

Prizes/How to WIN:

There are 4 categories:  humorous, color, black & white/sepia, and special needs. Each month the top 5 images in each category (as voted by Miller's Imaging customers) will make it to the final round in July.  These images (20 in each category) will be  judged by a separate panel of esteemed photographers.  The 3rd place winners will win $750, 2nd place winners $1,000 and the first place winners in each category will win $2,000!!!  There will also be a GRAND PRIZE WINNER of the whole contest who will win $5,000 CASH!!!  (click here for official rules)

THE FAMILY OF THE WINNING CHILD'S PORTRAIT GET THE CASH PRIZE!!!

So... what are you waiting for???! Book your winning portrait session with me now!