Aviva Photography Blog

So this past Saturday afternoon (the day of our OWN little 7.0 trembler, ironically enough) Alexis of Red Stone Photography and I held a mini-session day benefit. I knew a few of the folks coming, but most I didn’t. I like that. And EVERYone came to have FUN.

First up…Bambi and Rich with young T & O. I know Bambi. I’ve photographed Bambi once upon a time when I worked for Serena Nicole when I was just starting out. But it was a couples shoot with Bambi & Rich. Now I got my camera on ALL of them; and this bunch (as if you can’t tell by their amazing coordinated outfits) are photo PROS.

Even when they aren’t wearing blue, their eyes are amazingly bright blue…T is just the spitting image of her mama, and O – well he’s a handsome devil who insists he has no girlfriend. (mmmhmm….)

Their family extended here for 3 more years, and Bambi has started up a business of her own. (I’m so sorry I didn’t ask you about it last weekend, I hope it’s going great, Bambi!) These two STILL have that beautiful spark…I love seeing that in the moms & dads. Thanks, everyone!

Next up were Alexis’s kiddos, little S and older sister E. Alexis had one thing to ask, “PLEASE try to get anything you can of E smiling and looking at the camera! That’s all I want.” Well Papa Jason brought the girls (yes, this next photo turns me into goo if you were wondering…)

And though most of the session looked like THIS:

I got a fantastic handful of THIS!

So…JACKPOT! More to come, Alexis.

After that, Anna, Mike and her girls came to play. I haven’t seen Anna in MUCH too long…and little E is SO big now! These girls are outgoing, fun-loving, and I think I said it more than once – I should be paying THEM to be in my photos! It went so smoothly I couldn’t have asked for more!

(Their friend, Rikiko, came along and was a dream with flip-flops as bunny ears making the girls laugh hysterically…need a side job, Rikiko?)

Anna & Mike are gorgeous – inside and out. And darned smart too.

And L and little sister E…they had so much fun I wanted to stop my shoot day and play with them!

You’re so right, Anna – let’s not wait until the “next life” – I’ll get in touch about getting together VERY soon. Promise.

Next up – Tyler and Rebecca came along and I instantly was smiling and laughing with them, even though it was the first time we’d met. It took all of three seconds for 4-year-old C to grab my hand and tell me he’d be my boyfriend. You, my friend, melted my heart! Love this!

Well Miss L had been woken by our friend the earthquake at 5:30am, so Mom said she was cranky. She wouldn’t pose with big brother, but with Mom near by and me eating her arms and legs, I definitely got some smiles out of her!

I’m certain I laughed the whole time while photographing this fun-loving bunch. I really want us to be friends, Ok? Ok.

One more of Rebecca & Tyler…because the MINUTE my assistant took L, crying and all, and C took off, they sat on the lawn and did THIS!

Did every single one of you see that shot and at least smile if not giggle or laugh out loud??

Listen folks; when you show up for a photo session and are excited and willing to do whatever – THIS is the kind of timeless, happy, silly, fun-loving, wonderful stuff that will be on your walls. Forever and ever. I can’t stress enough how awesome I think this is and that up there? It’s visual proof of why I LOVE my job! Thanks, guys.

At this point in my day, the sky opened up. And I’m not kidding…not just a little drizzle but a full on Okinawa tropical downpour. It was dark. And it wasn’t letting up. SO…one family rescheduled for next weekend (so I’ll have that peek for you after Saturday!) and the other, Missy & Baylor, rescheduled for the following morning. (Thanks to all of you for your understanding; I can’t control the weather of course, but I still felt bad!)

SO – one more peek! Yay! Missy’s hubby is deployed at the moment, and she brought their awesome dog Baylor to do photos in the park. We had a glorious morning for it too! Baylor gets some SERIOUS love.

And see, Missy? I told you I was quick on the draw! I got a couple of Baylor looking at me! (with a piece of a treat in my other hand! MUHAHAHA)

And gorgeous Missy – who trudged through mud in high heels and sat in wet clover…I got some STUNNERS of you, girl. I know you’ll be happy! I had a blast chatting it up that morning, thanks for coming and it was wonderful to meet you both!

Special thanks to our volunteers, Tyeler, Michelle, and Cat. You girls are fabulous and I appreciate you SO MUCH! Thank you!

We raised over $3000 for Thirst Relief International. Final totals this month! Gotta go edit. Bye.

I’m SO excited to announce a mini portrait session day to benefit Thirst Relief International’s Haiti Water Project. I was so saddened by the devastation caused during the earthquake in Haiti. Like so many, I wanted to do something besides just donate, but wasn’t sure what that something could be! Then I read about the efforts of Photographers for Haiti. This amazing effort was pioneered by photographers Kelsey Bigelow and Kristi Crosson to unite photographers nation-wide in their efforts to donate proceeds from a mini-session day to benefit aid organizations targeting Haiti. I emailed Kelsey to ask about joining in – I thought, “I probably know some families who’d like a mini-shoot to benefit Haiti.” I even know another PHOTOGRAPHER that might want to help!

So…Aviva Photography is teaming up with Alexis of Red Stone Photography to offer a total of 12 mini-sessions on Saturday afternoon, February 27th. Here’s the skinny!

Who: Aviva of Aviva Photography and Alexis of Red Stone Photography, along with some fabulous volunteers to help our day go smoothly and provide you with at LEAST 10-15 edited fantastic family portraits to choose from!

When: February 27th, 2010. Each photographer has six 20-minute slots on the half-hour: first slot is at 3:30pm, last slot is at 6pm. RAIN DATE is Sunday, February 28th. If it rains both days, the photographers will work with the families individually to reschedule.

Why: In order to benefit Thirst Relief International, an organization that will help provide the suffering people in Haiti with the clean water they desperately need.

How Much: Sitting fee is $100+. (I say plus because clients will make out the sitting fee check DIRECTLY to Thirst Relief’s Haiti Water Project. This is tax-deductible and if you feel you’d like to give more, you can donate whatever you’d like to above and beyond $100 – that’s just the minimum.) Within 14 days of the shoot, your edited photos will be made available in an online gallery for order. 50% – FIFTY PERCENT – of the print proceeds will also be donated to Thirst Relief International by Alexis and Aviva! There are three collections available for you to choose from.

• Collection 1: $250 inlcludes (5) 4×6 prints, (2) 5×7 prints and (1) 8×10 print plus a 10% discount off any additional a-la-carte print purchases.
• Collection 2: $350 includes 1 copy of all (minimum 10-15) 4×6 prints, (2) 5×7 prints, (2) 8×10 prints, (2) sets of 8 wallet photos, and a 15% discount off any additional a-la-carte print purchases.
• Collection 3: $450 includes all (minimum 10-15) edited full-resolution files from your session on CD, plus a 20% discount on any additional a-la-carte print purchases.

Important information to know. If you’d like to book a session, email me. In that email, specify:

• Which photographer you’d like to schedule with (Aviva or Alexis)
• The size of your family (i.e. two parents + 2 children 8 and 12)
• A time preference if you have one (first-come, first served) – choices are 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30, 6 (all 20 minutes long) – if you do NOT have a time preference, then say so

Then you will be required to mail or deliver a check to Aviva or Alexis (whomever’s closer is fine if you want to deliver it) made out to “Thirst Relief International Haiti Water Project”. If we do not receive your check within a reasonable amount of time after requesting the session, it will be given away. I promise to make every effort to get the check from you as soon as possible!

After booking, I will email you a copy of the release/collection order form. On this form, you will be asked to designate which collection you will be purchasing. You MUST purchase a collection. This will be the minimum order you will place. (for example, if you’d like to commit to the $250 collection on shoot day but love the photos when you see them and want them all on CD, you may upgrade – however you must commit to at LEAST the $250 minimum.)

ON SESSION DAY: You will be asked to bring the signed release form (or we’ll also have one there for you to sign) and to have selected a print collection for minimum purchase.

Where – this is being determined as I type this – we hope to nail down a great location for this mini-session day and want it to be as unobtrusive as possible. Therefore we are being careful in our selection. Rest assured it will be well-planned and organized!

Is your hubby deployed? It’s a mini-session! Why not take photos of you or the kids or BOTH as a surprise for him? You only want photos of your kids? Perfect! We can do that.

Want to make a donation to this cause even though you aren’t in Okinawa (**WAVING at past clients and friends and blog stalkers! YES I mean YOU!**) or even though you don’t want do do photos at this time? I’d be delighted to include you in this fundraiser! Please contact me if that’s the case.

I can’t wait for a day of FUN with all of you, and I know that if we fill all 12 slots we’ll make a minimum of $2700 for Thirst Relief international. That right there is what it’s all about. Questions? Email me or leave them in the comments! Thanks everyone.GH

Like so many around the world, I’m devastated by the disaster in Haiti. We know some Marines who headed there to help (Godspeed to you all), and I know many who have donated (as our family has) but still feel like I can do more. Then I came across Photographers for Haiti recently on one of the blogs I read. Kelsey Bigelow and Kristi Crosson are the photographers behind this effort, and I jumped on board as soon as I read about it. I hope you’ll all help me show them that we want to contribute!

I’m in talks with Alexis of Red Stone Photography about putting together a mini shoot day in February to benefit organizations helping with the relief efforts in Haiti. At the moment it’s looking like it will be on a Saturday afternoon at around 3pm with 20-minute shoots on the half-hour. 100% of the sitting fee (amount TBD) will be donated DIRECTLY (as in, you will bring a check made out to one of the affiliated relief organizations) to the cause. Then at least 50% of the cost of prints purchased will also be donated to the same organizations.

Rally with me, folks – I’d love to have your support for this worthy cause. If you’re interested and want to be the first to know about the date & sign your family up, email me! I truly hope I have too many people to fit in one day.

Photo taken by Damon Winter, courtesy of the New York Times.