sign up for the TEA PARTY mini-session!

Kids are magical creatures. There's something about the simplicity of watching them play that touches my heart every time. Those moments are filled with pure creativity, where there are no strict rules or regulations. It's not a performance... it's simply PLAY. And so, I invite you to join me on Sunday, April 22 for a day of mini-portrait sessions where we're having a make-believe tea party! But this isn't just any ordinary tea party... our table is a tree stump and our tea room is a field of yellow flowers.

There will be plenty of props on hand for your child (or YOU) to play with... including a tea set, mini-treats, teddy bears to use as extra guests, flowered hats & pearls for the girls and hats & ties for the boys. (Please note... no actual tea or food will be served... we're using the power of make-believe.)

And... hint, hint... the resulting images will make for some FABULOUS Mother's Day gifts!!!

CLICK HERE to sign up for your very own Tea Party Mini-Session!

CLICK HERE to sign up for your very own Tea Party Mini-Session!

Announcing the TEA PARTY Mini-Portrait Session

Announcing an extra-special day of Mini-Sessions!

TEA PARTY themed mini portrait sessions.

(Hint, hint...) these photos will make FABULOUS Mother's Day gifts...

CLICK HERE to book your TEA PARTY Mini-Portrait Session!

In the name of PLAY I have fully embraced the "stylized" session... because it's FUN to play dress-up and make-believe.

This unbelievably CUTE set-up will be tea-party themed, and will include lots of props for your kids to play with and make the magic happen. Teacups, floppy flowered hats & pearls for the girls, hats and ties for the boys, and lots more. (Sample pictures will be posted by early next week... but I recommend not waiting till then to reserve your spot!)

For only $75, you will receive:

     - 15 minute photo session

     - 15 creatively edited images to select from

     - 8x10 print

And, as an added bonus, you will also receive a $25 credit towards a future signature portrait session or day-in-the life portrait session, or a $50 credit towards a custom stylized portrait session!

Additional prints and products will be available for purchase. The mini-digital playground package (including all digital images) will also be available for the mini-price of $250. Contact me at michelle@theSuitcaseStudio.com for detailed pricing information.

Mini-Session Details:

Mini-Sessions will take place on Sunday, April 22 in a field located in Irvine (specific location to be shared with participants only)

Full payment of $75 will be required to hold your spot. In the "notes" section of the payment page, please indicate the time slot you prefer. (Available time slots are listed here on the event page.)

Each mini-session can include up to 5 people; there is a $10 fee for each additional person. Your final images will be ready for viewing within one week. Images will be hosted online for 2 weeks, where you will have the ability to purchase additional items directly from the online gallery/shopping cart. *Please note: if you require your item in time for Mothers Day, your order must be placed within 24 hours once your gallery goes live.*

IN CASE OF RAIN: These portrait sessions are scheduled to take place OUTDOORS. If it rains on the day of the mini-sessions, you can either: (1) take your chances and play in the rain, (2) put your session fee towards the cost of a full session to take place at a later date, or (3) receive a full refund of your session fee.

CLICK HERE to BOOK your TEA PARTY Mini-Portrait Session!

Greetings from Sin City

That's right... as you read this, I'm in VEGAS, baby! And hopefully I'm not nursing a hangover...

Here's the scoop: this is my 4th year attending the ginormous WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) event that happens annually in Vegas. And what a place to have 16,000+ people with cameras, right?

I'm busy attending classes to improve my business/marketing skills, classes to improve my camera technique, and classes to simply INSPIRE me as an artist. I'm busy walking the massive tradeshow floor (that in past years has taken me TWO days to get through since there is so much to see). I'm busy visiting with current vendors and searching out new ones to make sure I'm offering you the BEST I possibly can. I'm busy networking and swapping stories with other photographers.

And I'm loving every minute of it.

How can I be so sure, since this post was actually written/scheduled ahead of time? Just check out my WPPI experiences from 2010 and 2011. Based on these past experiences, you can be sure that I'm having a BLAST.

You can also bet that I'm taking lots of pictures, so I'll be sharing lost more when I get back. In the meantime, be sure to like my facebook page and/or follow me on twitter so you can see pieces of my adventure as it happens.

Feel the LOVE mini-portrait-sessions

 

Mini-Sessions are BACK, and just in time for Valentine's Day!

Whether you'd like a fabulous gift for your loved ones, a new image for your social networking sites, or simply missed out on taking family photos for the holiday, NOW is the PERFECT time to take some new portraits...

For only $50, you will receive:

     - 15 minute photo session

     - 15 fully-edited images hosted in an online gallery for 2 weeks

     - framed 5x7 print

And, as an added bonus, you will also receive a $25 credit towards a future FULL portrait session!!! 

Additional prints and products will also be available for purchase.

CLICK HERE for full details and to BOOK your mini-session NOW.

epic.

2012 is gonna ROCK. I've got so many new things planned, and I am hitting the ground running. I've got backup, too... my own personal cheer squad is standing by to make sure that my big ideas actually HAPPEN this year. Picture this commercial, but they're all shouting "CHEL" and that's MY mascot doing the "worm."  Ahhhh, yeahhhh... I'm working out some final details, and will let you know as soon as things are ready to launch... but here's some of the FUN-ness you can expect SOON:

* brand new, pretty and easy-to-maneuver website & blog, all in one!

* brand new client image galleries and shopping carts... much more  user-friendly and with BIG images to view

* super-cool "studio look-book" filled with LOTS of detailed info and images... including session details, how to prepare, FAQs, suggested photo displays, and details & pictures of each of my product offerings. Like a magazine and catalog rolled into one, and waaaay more fun than a simple pricing sheet.

AND, perhaps my FAVORITE new item...

* I'll be offering an all-new DIGITAL package. This will include a DVD of ALL images from your session (high-resolution digital images for printing AS WELL AS low-resolution digital images for posting & sharing online), a fun slideshow video set to music, and even a DIGITAL ALBUM (.pdf format) ready to show off & share using your favorite electronic devices! (It's kinda cool, if I do say so myself...)

So yeah, 2012 is gonna be epic. Or, as Barney Stinson (of How I Met Your Mother) would say... this year is gonna be LEGEND-(wait for it)-ARY. Legendary, people!

Who's with me?! Let's PLAY!!!

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And don't forget... book a portrait session with me before January 31st and receive a custom accordion calendar personalized with your images.

2011 holiday mini-sessions!

Ready or not... here comes the holiday season...

I walked into a Target store the afternoon of Halloween, and my jaw dropped to the floor when I saw that the Christmas trees were already up on display. Are you kidding me?

But, ready it or not, here we go... the days will start slipping by, and before you know it we'll be singing carols, swapping gifts and sipping cocoa by the fire. OoooOOORRRrrr, if you're anything like me, you'll be running through the malls like crazy looking for the PER-FECT last-minute holiday gift.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Repeat. We'll get through this together. I'm here to help.

Spare me 15 minutes, and we'll snap some pictures for your holiday cards. Another 15 minutes of placing your order, and you'll have your cards done and gifts galore for friends and family. Easy-peasy, right? Let's DO it! Here's how...

Holiday mini portrait sessions are HERE!

Small on price. Big on SMILES. A mini-session offers you just what you need for your busy schedule and stretched budget.

Mini-Sessions are taking place on Sunday, November 20 at a park in Irvine (specific location to be shared at a later date with those who sign up).

For just $75 (plus tax), you will receive:

-15 minute portrait session -15 fully-edited photos hosted on an online gallery for 2 weeks -25 flat holiday cards (click here to see this year's designs) -OR- one digital image

Additional cards, prints and products are available for purchase, and special "mini-collections" will also be available.

the nitty-gritty: A deposit of $40 will be required to hold your spot. Each mini-session can include up to 5 people; there is a $10 fee for each additional person. Remainder of session fee ($40) is due at time of session. Your final images will be ready for viewing within one week. Images will be hosted online for 2 weeks and you will have the ability to purchase additional items, including special "mini-collections."

This is your last chance to squeeze in a mini-session before the end of the year.

Space is limited (5 slots only!!!), so make sure to snag your spot before they're gone.

Click here to reserve your mini-session!

fall mini-sessions are here!

Can you believe it's the beginning of October... already???!!! (gasp!)

The kids are back in school and the temperature is dropping. Pumpkin lattes are back in season and the stores are packed with Halloween goodies. And we are quickly approaching... dare I say it... the holiday season!!! (eep!) The next thing you know, carolers will be "decking the halls," you'll be hanging lights and decking your walls, and the hustle and bustle of the holidays will be upon us.

And if you're anything like me, each year you promise yourself that this year WILL be different! This year, you WILL be ready. You WILL get your shopping done early. You WILL get your holiday cards mailed out. You WILL be able to relax and ENJOY the season. And then that time rolls around... and you find yourself racing around like crazy, doing a mad dash through the mall, and promising yourself that NEXT year will be different...

Breathe in. Breathe out. Repeat. We'll get through this together. I'm here to help.

Spare me 15 minutes, and we'll snap some pictures for your holiday cards. Another 15 minutes of placing your order, and you'll have your cards done and gifts galore for friends and family. Easy-peasy, right? Let's DO it! Here's how...

Fall mini portrait sessions are HERE!

Small on price. Big on SMILES. A mini-session offers you just what you need for your busy schedule and stretched budget.

Mini-Sessions are taking place on Saturday, October 15 at a park in Irvine (specific location to be shared at a later date with those who sign up).

For just $65 (plus tax), you will receive:

-15 minute portrait session -15 fully-edited photos hosted on an online gallery for 2 weeks -25 holiday cards (click here to see this year's designs) -OR- one digital image

Additional cards, prints and products are available for purchase, and special "mini-collections" will also be available.

the nitty-gritty: A deposit of $40 will be required to hold your spot. Each mini-session can include up to 5 people; there is a $10 fee for each additional person. Remainder of session fee ($30) is due at time of session. Your final images will be ready for viewing within one week. Images will be hosted online for 2 weeks, where you will have the ability to purchase additional items directly from the online gallery, including special "mini-collections."

These just might be the last mini-sessions offered for the year! And time permitting, If I DO offer another day of mini-sessions, those will be at the rate of $75 + tax.

Space is limited (10 slots only), so make sure to snag your spot before they're gone.

Click here to reserve your mini-session.

holiday cards are HERE!

Cute and modern, my holiday card designs are all new this year. And it might only be the end of August, but now is actually a fantastic time to start thinking about this year's Christmas Card. Beat the rush of the holiday season, and check this off your "to-do" list waaaay ahead of schedule. This year, I'm doing something a little bit different. I'm offering  a completely custom card set... where YOU choose the front, back, interior, and even the color scheme of your card! Available as a flat (2-sided) card or as a traditional folding (4-sided) card. Click on the thumbnails below to see the details:

And as a special incentive to help the early bird... those who book their holiday portrait session by September 30 (and hold their session before October 31) will receive a COMPLIMENTARY 8x10 print.* It's the perfect gift for a loved one... or even for yourself.  Contact me to set up your session by emailing me at michelle@theSuitcaseStudio.com or by clicking on "contact me" at the top of this blog.

*note: complimentary 8x10 applies to the booking of a full portrait session only; does not apply to mini-sessions.