Attention Athens, East Texas, and DFW area seniors (and their parents)!

Graduation is just around the corner and before you know it, it’ll be time to send out graduation announcements and to swap wallets of your awesome senior portraits with your friends and classmates. Don’t wait until the last minute to book & shoot your senior portraits … Christina McCall Photography has Class of 2011 special collection options (which include your session fee) available for booking right now!

As of today … only seven more full custom senior portrait appointment times are available this spring!

Want more details? Email CMP at christina [at] christinamccall [dot] com, call 903.477.9069, or use the contact form!

The last day to schedule a senior session this spring is April 22nd — all sessions held after this date aren’t guaranteed to have your print/custom portrait art order in your hands before your graduation date!

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Due to having to obtain the photography permit for the Riverwalk area (which I have to specify the date/times/areas to be used), the latest date to book one of these appointment times is by Tuesday, December 22, 2010 …

Because I’m not local to San Antonio to provide an in-person ordering session or hand deliver orders, an all-inclusive session fee + digital files + wall print deal is available …

30-45 minute session along the San Antonio Riverwalk (will meet in front of the Alamo)
1 outfit, up to four people (due to space constraints along the Riverwalk area!)
      — Great for seniors, couples, families, or maternity sessions — these slots are not available for infant/toddler sessions due to time and safety constraints.
Within 2-3 weeks, your 5 day ordering gallery will be launched with 15-20 photographer selected and basic color edited images …
     — you’ll receive an image credit to redeem for your favorite 10 5×7 sized digital files on disc (with a personal print reproduction release) + (1) 11×14 CMP Signature Line Wall Art Print.

Cost: $450 + tax
(a la carte value for session, products, and permit fee: $650-750)

Appointment times are … Sunday, 1/16/11 @ 8 am or 9:30 am

If both of these slots fill, I may have (depending on my schedule that weekend) the ability to add in one more session on Monday, January 17, 2010 in the New Braunfels/Gruene area …

To book … click the contact link below!

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From both myself and the elves behind the scenes that help me run CMP, hope all of you here in the USA have a wonderful Thanksgiving … and don’t get crushed in the Black Friday mobs tomorrow!

PS … Check back on Monday for details on a January 2011 destination session deal!

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Bit of background info for those that don’t know him in real life — he was a four year regional qualifier and two year state qualifier in powerlifting at Athens High School and received one of the Texas High School Powerlifting Association scholarships his senior year in addition to knocking out a 405 lb deadlift at that year’s state meet. Did I mention he was in the 114lb weight class? He’s currently attending an area university studying for his dream job …

(and yes, this post is a bit more image-heavy than normal …)

Since he had just gotten this shirt and tie (along with a suit) to wear for a recent presentation, I made him wear part of it again (he would have done more than throttle me if I’d made him change into the whole suit midway through the session!)

Oh dear … here come the goofy faces … at least he cooperated with me for half the session this time!

The Rock meets the Spock. Can you smell what the Spock is cooking?

… I’ve been wanting to use this spot for awhile and wouldn’t have had to resort to off-camera lighting (by way of car headlights) if a certain food establishment would have gotten our dinner we picked up on the way to here cooked a bit faster … so I was glad I got one good image since the sun was already below the horizon!

Since 21 hasn’t been the greatest year of his life, it would be great if you all would please make his birthday and leave Robby some comment love wishing him a much better year ahead! 

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Behind the scenes, aside from shooting sessions and editing them, the following has also been underway both photography/business ownership-wise and otherwise since the beginning of September:
… signed up for an online (non-credit) class in which I’m behind on, but I’m enjoying it! 
… launched a revamped version of my pet portraiture portfolio
… working on revamped portfolio sites (yes, sites) for the CMP portrait portfolio
… redesigned marketing materials for both sides of the portraiture business, which I ordered en-masse. That was a painful evening money-wise
… forgot to wish my best friend a happy birthday on her birthday at the end of September, at least I shipped her gift to her earlier in the month!
… sent my primary camera body off for repair due to focusing issues … and had to correct all the setting changes made by Canon when it came back (can we say major headache).
… read a lot of books
… had way too many headaches to keep track of, especially in September
… spent more hours staring at a computer screen than doing anything else, including sleep.
… and some other stuff that my brain is way too exhausted to remember at this point.

… and a photo from the archives …

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Almost full for 2010!

Wanting to have portraits made for holiday gifts or to enclose in Christmas cards (or to be printed as Christmas cards)? As of Tuesday, October 12th, CMP still had the remaining openings:

October 23 — The Bump Maternity Minis: 1 space left
November 6 — Holiday Minis: 1 space left
November 13 — Holiday Minis: 2 spaces left
December 4 — The Bump Maternity Minis: 2 spaces left
Full custom sessions: 2 openings (late October only)

Also, the appointment times set aside for the Early Bird Special still have 5 spaces left – in late October, early November, and on December 5th! These are only for school-aged children, tweens, and teens/seniors … perfect for the holidays or seniors on a budget for their senior portraits!

Twelve Days of Giving!

Beginning on December 13, CMP will be celebrating Christmas a bit early by giving out nearly $1900 worth of sessions, print credits, prints, and custom designed boutique photo products over a twelve day period.
All you have to do is stop by daily through December 24th and comment on the blog post of the prize(s) you desire to have a chance to win! And, yes, I’ll post a reminder a bit closer to the start date …

Top 12 of 2010

Last year was the first year I selected my absolute favorite images from that year and allowed clients, their families and friends, and other site visitors to pick their absolute favorite. Since it was a hit last year, I’m already narrowing down my favorite images (and will continue to do through the last sessions on December 5th) — on Monday, December 27th, I’ll launch the top 12 images and the poll to vote for your favorite. The deadline to vote is Friday, December 31st at midnight CST — the winner will be announced on Monday, January 3rd!

The winner will receive an 11×14 Signature Line Wall Art Print of their winning image ($100 value)!

Sit.Stay.Snap.’s new site …

In late September I launched a revamped Sit.Stay. Snap. portfolio site, which includes new images from pet sessions yet to be blogged … drop by and check out the new site – it’s iphone/ipad and smartphone friendly (or, if you have an
Android phone with Adobe Flash, you can view the site as-is from the web)!

Also, follow Sit.Stay.Snap. on Facebook (it finally has its own Facebook page!) and Twitter @sitstaysnap!

Need wardrobe inspiration?

For the next few weeks, visit the blog to find outfit inspiration for your session … so far I’ve debuted ideas for family, maternity, and engagement sessions. Next up, senior outfit ideas for both guys and girls! Here’s a peek at one of the inspiration ideas already posted …

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All storyboards now come ready to hang — no framing necessary! With two options to choose from (Premium Bevel Mounting (for 10×20, 16×20, and 20×20 sizes) or Chromaluxe Mounting (10×20 and 16×20 only at this time — pictured in this post), everyone that’ll see your collage adorning your home will want one for themselves!

However, if you are absolutely dead set on framing your storyboard collage (your own frame or one of our custom frames), masonite mounting is still available upon request.

Now for a few sample images I took of the Chromaluxe Mounting option … and no, the color isn’t messed up on this first image, the gorgeous glossy finish is just reflecting light from the yard (as I was on the front porch photographing it!)

Interested in a storyboard collage with your session images? This design layout and many others are available and are coordinated to fit your session’s style/color scheme. Email or call me for details!
(sorry, these are only available for CMP clients!)

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Interested in one with your session images? This design and many others are available and are coordinated to fit your session’s style/color scheme. Email or call me for details!
(sorry, these are only available for CMP clients!)

… and yes, the images on this album haven’t hit the blog yet but they’re in the queue for blogging behind several other recent sessions!

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According to the state comptroller’s office in Austin, CMP turned three years old today, September 15th! So … in celebration of another year in business, I’m extending the Mini PLUS Holiday Special until all remaining mini spots on November 6th & 13th are full!

Don’t forget, if you know someone that’s expecting later this fall or early next year, there are two Bump Mini Maternity session dates still open (October 23rd and December 4th). These sessions are set up as an all inclusive collection + session fee deal, no additional purchase required!

And … since its CMP’s third birthday, a third bonus — I’m opening up a limited number of session dates/times between now and mid November and the first weekend in December as Early Bird Specials (children, tweens, and senior sessions only)! Why an *early bird* special, you ask? Well, in 2011, those will be the only portraiture options that CMP will continue to offer, so get in while you can snag a great deal!

*the above image is now the profile image for the Christina McCall Photography Facebook page — I figured an actual image, not the front of my business card, was well overdue. These are just a few of my favorite client images captured since the spring … one of which will debut on the blog fairly soon! The refreshed watermarks will be explained in due time … I promise

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Are you a member of the Class of 2011 — and attend an area high school located in Henderson, Anderson, Kaufman, Navarro, Smith, or Van Zandt Counties or a soon to be college senior who graduated from high school in one of the above counties?

Interested in earning free prints, customized graduation announcements, and gift cards for working to make confirmed session referrals to CMP?

Apply to be a Senior Rep for CMP!

Among the perks for promoting and making confirmed session referrals for CMP (and only CMP) during your senior year of high school/college is a waived fee senior session, watermarked proofs for your social networking profiles, rep cards, as well as earning other custom photo products and gift cards to your favorite retailers/restaurants/itunes!

To apply — email me at christina {at} christinamccall {dot} com.

I will email you the application link upon receipt of your email — the deadline to apply is September 15, 2010!

The Fine Print: Applications must be completed by the senior themselves – not a parent or friend. A clear headshot of you is required as a part of the application. Serious applicants only. All seniors not 18 years or older will need their parents’ permission (as well as their signature on the model release – no exceptions).

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Its that time of year … the one that every kid dreads and every parent eagerly anticipates … back to school time!

So to commence the start of homework, recess, naptime (do they even give that to kindergartners anymore?), and library visits, here’s a recent schoolgirl themed portrait session with Miss TyAnne …

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And if you need a great hairstylist … their mom, Pam (she’s at Classy Cuts in Athens), is super awesome! She’s the only person I trust (and can get my unruly wavy/curly hair stick straight with only a flat iron and dryer, no styling products)!

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