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 …

Want to receive CMP’s newsletters? Subscribe here!

Since its a toasty day out … I thought I’d launch the Christmas in July special this morning!

Book your holiday sessions before July 12, 2010 to take advantage of the stocking stuffer offers listed below!

For all the details on the Holiday PLUS sessions and the Holiday Deluxe Special, email me before all available August-November session dates/times are gone!

Part I:
Book a Holiday Mini PLUS session before July 12, 2010 (will be offered on three Saturdays in September and November in either Athens or Tyler) … and receive the following stocking stuffers upon completion of your portrait session: (1) set of 24 custom designed flat 5×7  Christmas cards and 140 matching return address labels ($85 value).

Part II:
Book the Holiday Deluxe Session Special before July 12, 2010 (and schedule it for no later than October 24, 2010) … and receive the following stocking stuffers upon completion of your portrait session: (1) set of 24 custom designed flat 5×7  Christmas cards, a set of (3) 3×3 Luxe Accordion Albums, and 140 matching return address labels ($185 value).

Please Note: To receive the bonus stocking stuffers with the Holiday Mini PLUS Session or the Holiday Deluxe Special, you must book your session between now and July 12, 2010. Session must be held on one of the three fall mini dates for the Holiday Mini PLUS Sessions or before October 24, 2010 for the Holiday Deluxe Session Special.

Additionally, only a very limited number of regular session appointments are available this holiday season — and the deadline for all holiday orders (to have orders in hand in mid December) is November 30th.

You will still be able to book a Holiday Mini or Mini PLUS session or a Holiday Deluxe Session Special until September 15th or when all available August – November session dates are full, but after July 12th, the stocking stuffer extras are not included!

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Thanks to all that stopped by … and for those that joined the email newsletter list and were eligible for the ‘mini’ door prizes, you should have an email from me by tomorrow at the very latest! If not, you’re probably one of four people whose inbox was full or came back as a closed account … contact me at christina@christinamccall.com ASAP so I can send you your email!

And if you were the winner of the Scavenger Hunt Door Prize (hosted by the Chamber) of a full portrait session + the 10×20 storyboard, contact me to get that scheduled! Unfortunately the Chamber didn’t tell me who won … so call or email as soon as possible!

Yup, that was me — and yes, I have two Santa hats on. The elf refused to wear one and was grumpy when I took his picture, so I’ll be kind and not post it

… for those curious about the new bio pic at the top of the page — not the one of me just above this paragraph (click here if you’re reading this in Google Reader or another RSS reader to see) … I figured I’d go ahead and explain the smirk. That was an impromptu ‘mini headshot session’ at sunset — I had to wait for a certain elf to show up after he got out of class. Meanwhile, a certain cat saw the camera, and well, he just had to be in the thick of it. Camera ham. Pay close attention to the direction of my eyes and right hand … between shutter clicks, I was pushing him aside so Robby could get one good shot of me alone! Thus the smirk as he was giving me a “I thought you loved me look”. Course, about 30 seconds later, that facial expression changed to “Hurry up and get a good shot” as I was balancing my weight on that left leg since that trailer wasn’t attached to anything!

The box containing the cards (also pictured here — the ribbon isn’t ‘washed out’ on that image). Just for the record, I am never making another box band before I put the cards in! I won’t tell you what feats I had to go to get it back on there after I packaged the cards inside (which were wrapped in tissue paper). I’m sure Tiffany can tell you it wasn’t easy to put back on At least her’s was the first one I made!

… the cards themselves. These are 5×7 flat cards printed on our eco friendly stipple paper option. Not only do I love the texture of this paper but how vivid colors print on it. I only wish I’d ordered my Christmas cards on this paper now that I’ve ordered several orders of this paper type!

If you didn’t book a holiday collection special (that included the card option), it would have been too late to place a holiday card order by the originally posted deadline. However, for those who wish they had ordered cards when they placed their print/collection orders (only available for 2009 clients/sessions), I will take card orders — with a RUSH handling fee included — from now through November 24th. That’s SEVEN days to get your order in. If interested, email me for updated access to the card gallery & ordering page.

Thanks so much to Tiffany for allowing me to feature her holiday cards here — once I know the other clients who ordered holiday cards have mailed their’s out, I’ll get the okay to share their’s as well.

To book a portraiture session with Christina, contact us via email at christina@christinamccall.com or call 903.477.9069 today.

We’ll be there, complete with samples ranging from our premium and luxe prints to our albums and canvases. In addition to the full session + 10×20 storyboard collage  ($260 value) that we’re contributing to the door prizes for the scavenger hunt, stop by our booth, sign up for the email newsletter list and be entered to win a few other mini doorprizes!

Even if you’re already on the email mailing list, stop by anyway — only those that sign up in person are eligible for the mini door prizes … and the first 100 people to stop by the booth will also get a promo card with a limited time discount code good for $25 off the creative fee … as well as a sneak peek at some of our 2010 promotions.

To book a portraiture session with Christina, contact us via email at christina@christinamccall.com or call 903.477.9069 today.

Secondly — but more importantly …

Next Tuesday evening, November 17th, from 4 pm – 7 pm, come out to the Cain Center in Athens for the Home for the Holidays Expo hosted by the Athens Chamber of Commerce. We’ll be there, complete with samples ranging from our premium and luxe prints to our albums and canvases. In addition to the full session + 10×20 storyboard collage ($260 value) that we’re contributing to the door prizes for the scavenger hunt, stop by our booth, sign up for the email newsletter list and be entered to win a few other mini door prizes!

Even if you’re already on the email mailing list, stop by anyway — only those that sign up in person are eligible for the mini door prizes … and the first 100 people to stop by the booth will also get a promo card with a limited time discount code good for $25 off the creative fee … as well as a sneak peek at some of our 2010 promotions.

In addition to all of that, we’re also planning to set up a corner of the booth for Holiday Headshots!

– complete with a black & white damask backdrop, a wingback chair, and a skinny Christmas tree decked out in our booth colors. Digital files & prints from the holiday headshots will be available for purchase online within a week or two of the expo!

Look for the pink & green booth … that’ll be us!

To book a portraiture session with Christina, contact us via email at christina@christinamccall.com or call 903.477.9069 today.

I know, I know, Halloween hasn’t even arrived and I’ve been talking about Christmas since July. You gotta start early for some things

Yesterday and today, several packages containing client orders arrived … as well as some accents I’m using for packaging holiday orders. So … for those of you who haven’t had your session yet … or who haven’t ordered yet, this is what you have to look forward to …

The tissue paper is actually teal, not green … and I typically alternate between chocolate brown and kraft brown gift sacks … tonight’s orders were all in kraft sacks since I don’t have time to dig out more chocolate sacks tonight!

This box pictured in the bottom left corner contains Christmas cards …  and you’re all in luck that the recipient has granted me the okay to feature them sometime in November rather than after she mails them out!

Just after packaging a small print order …

… and with the rest of the order — our digital collections come packaged in tin cases with our signature ribbon/button wrap.

The *great* part about the packaging materials I use is that they can all be recycled/reused. I rarely stamp my logo stamp on sacks, envelopes, or boxes so clients can reuse them, especially if part of their orders are intended to be gifted anyway. Although I love gorgeous packaging, I don’t want to contribute to the landfills any more than necessary!

Our Luxe photographic paper in black & white

… and in color … the saturation is unbelievable!

The top images are on the luxe photographic paper … the bottom three are on the premium paper option which is linen textured to give it a fine art look and feel.

Images pictured are some of our sample prints — with exception to bordered proofs in our digital collections, we don’t add borders to prints unless requested by a client.

However, you don’t have to be a painter to create a fine art canvas print or worth millions to afford one … just check out the two newest samples that have been hand delivered in the past few weeks:

The canvas of Savannah is 20×30; the canvas of Tracy & Lexi is 20×24. If you’re gonna splurge on canvas — I highly recommend to go big!

Check out the detail — love! I might just have to order a canvas of my lil ole Brownie now!

These come stretched on a 1.5″ wooden frame and ready to hang — either with a wire hanger or brackets pre-attached — and include a how to care for your canvas ‘guide’.

I took these outside too — easels not included (only used to keep from sitting these on the concrete!)

For perspective, I also photographed these in front of a fireplace — unfortunately the area above the mantel is already occupied with another canvas and it was a bit too much trouble to try and swap these out by myself!

The CMP Luxe Boutique offers these Luxe Canvas Art Prints from 16×20 all the way up to 24×36; they’re listed immediately under the Premium and Luxe Wall Print option in your proofing gallery. Want to go larger? We can custom order just about any image to be printed all the way up to 48×72! We also provide the option to have our 20×20 storyboard collages printed to canvas as well.

Our travel and fine art images (via 5 foot 4 Productions) are also available for purchase on canvas!

First up, our 10×20 and 10×10 storyboard collages … several other layouts and background colors/prints are available for selection.

Side-by-side for comparison

10×20 up close — this size storyboard collage comes mounted on double weight matboard and is ready for framing.

10×10 up close — this size storyboard collage comes mounted on single weight matboard and is ready for framing or displaying on a desktop with an easel

Next up, our Mona Lisa Collection Mini Masterpieces … who said you have to always go large with a great image, especially if you lack the wall space? These are perfect for displaying on coffee/end tables, credenzas, bookshelves, on your desk at work, or to gift to the grandparents. Mini Masterpieces are printed on our textured Luxe photographic paper, have gold or silver mounting, and come with a coordinating easel for display. These are available for purchase in 4×5, 5×7, 8×8, and 10×10 … these two are the 4×5 and 5×7 options that are available with the holiday specials: 

With the Sugar and Spice Holiday Collection, you can choose between the 10×10 storyboard collage or 24 5×7 custom Christmas Cards and a 4×5 Mini Masterpiece … or, with the T’was the Night Before Holiday Collection, if you choose the digital image route, a 5×7 Mini Masterpiece is included (along with both the Christmas Cards and a 10×20 storyboard collage) …

Here’s a close up of the silver mounting option and the texture … look at the tree and the back of the trailer on the left edge to see it.

A side by side comparison of the silver vs. gold mounting options

The 8×8 and 10×10 options … left has silver mounting, middle and right MM’s have gold mounting. I actually recommend gold mounting for warmer toned images and silver mounting for cooler toned images as well as black & white images.

Here’s another close up of the gold mounting …

If you’re interested in seeing these luxe boutique items — or any others available for purchase, let me know and I’ll load up the samples to bring to your session date. In two weeks, I’ll feature another custom item that FedEx just delivered last week …

Tomorrow night I’ll feature the next round of sneak peeks from half of Saturday’s double session — which included skateboards, railroads, vintage cameras, home appliances, and haybales to name a few of the props/backdrops that were utilized for Savannah’s portraits!

 These holiday bordered prints are sized 4×6 — in horizontal or vertical formats — and printed on our pearlized metallic luxe photo paper. There are a variety of designs to choose from — including white, black, and colored versions of nearly every design.

Until November 15th, will be specially priced lower than our regular bulk 4×6 prints are priced at. As a result, these designs are non-customizable and all sales are final. Once you’ve paid your retainer fee & returned your signed portraiture contract, you’ll receive access to the full list of designs …

Wait a minute.

As hot as it is, I know y’all have to be anticipating cooler weather – and around here, that doesn’t hit (much of the time) until November and December — but at the same time y’all are all avoiding thinking about the holidays until the cooler weather arrives.

So — a quick reminder — Christmas is only 134 days away! Thanksgiving is only 105 days away! And — most importantly — if you’re considering a portrait session in time for images to send out with holiday cards, you only have 94 days to schedule and capture them (less if you consider the fact 99% of CMP’s portrait sessions are held on weekends)! 

Our ‘re-grand opening’ special expires in 18 days — details are here! And remember, if you schedule your session before August 31st, you also receive 10% off your custom designed Christmas card order. A few of the gorgeous card samples + details are available here.

(for the VIP’s who’ve received an email about a week and a half ago with a really awesome offer — remember, you have only 18 more days to take advantage of it!)

Additionally, the deadline to enter the Christmas in August Giveaway is less than 12 days away! If you’re still working on your entry or trying to think of a family to nominate — do NOT delay! Enter today

The CMP Fall/Holiday 2009 special will be announced on September 1st — so keep an eye out here for the details.

Of course, I can’t end this post without an image — and while I’ve shared this one while on the road during The Roadtrip, I think we all need a nice cool-temperature image to help us cope with this heat, right? That white stuff — that was snowplowed onto the shoulder of the road at Yellowstone in mid-June.

Something about this tree makes me think of A Charlie Brown Christmas …