Our holiday cards are different than what we’ve offered in the past.  The cards are press printed on thick card stock paper.  We have two holiday card designs this year.  The first card has a “vintage” feel with an antiqued edge around the photo which is on a dark green background with swirl design, and the interior of the card is fancy.

The second card is more “modern” with a simple white border surrounding the photo, on a red and green background.  The interior of this card is plain white with any greeting you’d like.  

The cards can be personalized with your family’s names (so that you don’t even have to sign them!).  The cards are $75 per box of 24 cards.  Orders over 4 boxes of cards are discounted by 25%.  

As I mentioned, due to popular demand, we are also offering a digital file alternative to our press printed cards.  Through December 20, you may purchase one image from any gallery for the limited purpose of creating your own holiday cards.  The digital file is an edited image (without any boarder or holiday decoration) that you can upload to any photo or print lab to create your own cards.  The file is $85 and this option is only available through December 20.

If you are interested in purchasing printed cards or a digital file, just let me know and we’ll help you get “Send Out Holiday Cards” crossed off your holiday to do list.

Congratulations to Don E. whose guess in our contest was the closest to Jack’s birth date.

After removing the wallpaper border, taking down the odd towel rack, replacing the burned out light bulb and hanging some photos of a bathing Tanner, here’s the after:

The prints are sized 11 by 14 in 16 by 20 matted frames from Target.  I’m super excited about October’s Project of the Month, so keep checking back for more fun ideas.

As you know, Janet (my studio manager) is expecting her first baby in just a few short weeks.  We couldn’t let this milestone pass without creating a contest around it.  We’ve come up with a two part contest.  The first part:  Everyone who e-mails by midnight this Sunday (September 21) with a guess as to the date AND time that you think her little guy (yes, its a boy!) will arrive will be entered in the drawing for the portrait package we’ve been playing for all month.  The second part:  Then after the baby makes his big arrival, whoever’s guess is closest to his actual birth date and time will win a $100 gift certificate to Centerpiece Photography.  When making your guess, keep the following in mind:  Her due date is October 30 (so surely he won’t be born that day), October 31 is Halloween (which would be a pretty cool birthday), and November 4 is election day (and regardless of which party wins, it will be a historic day, which would also be a pretty cool birthday).   Here’s a couple of Janet’s maternity shots.

Update:  Thank you so much for all your guesses as to the date and time you think Janet’s baby will be born.  Of course, I’ll keep you all informed as to when the little guy makes his big arrival.  Congratulations to Lisa R. whose guess in the Porterfield’s frog contest was drawn from all our entries!  Thank you to all who participated in our contests!  I hope you had as much fun as I did.

September 20 - Kansas Museum of History (LIMITED AVAILABILITY)
September 26 - Downtown Topeka
September 27 - Centerpiece Photography Studio (studio session and/or outdoor session at Westboro Mart)
October 3 - Centerpiece Photography Studio (studio session and/or outdoor session at Westboro Mart)
October 4 - Kansas Museum of History
October 10 - Loose Park in Kansas City
October 23 - Shunga Park
October 24 - Shunga Park
November 1 - Centerpiece Photography Studio (studio session and/or outdoor session at Westboro Mart) (LIMITED AVAILABILITY)
November 8 - Shunga Park
November 14 - Shunga Park

(Please note that the weekday mini-session dates, with the exception of October 3 and 10, are no-school dates for USD 501 and Auburn Washburn, so kids attending those schools will be out of school and available to participate in the sessions.  October 10 is a no-school date for many Kansas City schools.)

Of course, we are also having our Santa sessions again this year and more information on those sessions is available here.

To give you an idea of the type of shots we could get at each of the locations, here are some samples.  The Kansas Museum of History features wonderful trees and a mulch lined path.

I’ll also be doing sessions in downtown Topeka at the building with my favorite black iron gate and lots of other neat architecture.  Here’s some samples:

Other sessions will be held at the Centerpiece Photography Studio, where you can have portraits taken using our white background, like this little cutie did a few days ago:

Plus, the architecture around the studio at Westboro Mart also makes the perfect setting for portraits.

Loose Park in Kansas City is an absolute favorite location of mine and here’s a shot that I took this summer on one of the bridges.

And, last but not least, here’s Shunga Park, which features a really neat iron bridge.  There’s usually lots of big colorful leaves and I think this is a great location for fall photos.  I’ll have a red wagon for the kids to have fun with.

The session fee is $50 for new customers (the session fee is waived for repeat customers) and there is a $100 deposit that is due at the time of booking to reserve your session (all of the deposit is applied toward the purchase of prints).  For a price list, please e-mail janet@centerpiecephotography.com  These sessions are already booking fast and there was a wait list last year for the fall mini-sessions.  Be sure to call Janet today at 232-4768 to reserve your session!

Thursday, November 20 (The Westboro Mart Plaza Glow) - 5:00 to 8:00 (WALK IN)

Wednesday, November 26 - By Appointment

Friday, November 28 - By Appointment

Saturday, November 29 - 10:00 to Noon; 1:00 to 3:00 (WALK IN)

Sunday, November 30 - By Appointment

The walk in visits with Santa will be shorter visits with “the big guy” which would be perfect for babies, children who might be a little scared of Santa, and even for the family pet.  There is no session fee for the walk in visits with Santa, but there is a minimum purchase requirement of the $35 portrait package for each child or pet that visits and which must be paid at the studio before the visit with Santa.  I’ll be taking lots of photos during these short visits, and there should be about 5 to 10 images of each child or pet from which to order.

The “By Appointment” sessions will be booked every 20 minutes and are perfect for older children (who tend to have lots to visit about with Santa).  The “By Appointment” sessions are also perfect for families with more than one child.  The session fee for the “By Appointment” sessions is $50 for new customers (the session fee is waived for repeat customers) and there is a $100 deposit that must be paid at the time of booking to hold your appointment.  Of course, I’ll be photographing this special visit with Santa and there should be about 20 to 40 images from each of the “By Appointment” sessions from which to order.

The $35 portrait package is available for all of our Santa sessions (whether walk in or by appointment, but is not available for any other type of session), and the package includes one 5 by 7 and two 4 by 6s of the same pose.  There is no limit to the number of these packages you may purchase.  Please e-mail janet@centerpiecephotography.com for a full price list.

As you know, our Santa is “the real deal.”  Here’s a photo of him and Tanner (be sure to check back soon for more information on our fantastic new card designs such as the one below).

To secure your Santa session please call 232-4768 ASAP.  These sessions book up quickly every year and there is always a wait list.

With that said, its time for today’s contest.  Continuing with our Santa theme, what are the names of his reindeer?  E-mail your guess to janet@centerpiecephotography.com (NOT to Melissa… Janet will be keeping track of all the entries) by midnight this Wednesday (September 17).  Each person who answers correctly will be entered in the drawing for the mini-session package.  Check back on Thursday for the correct answer (and another contest)!  Good luck!

Update:  About a dozen people correctly e-mailed in with the names of Santa’s reindeer.  The Santa sessions are booking up even more quickly now that I’ve sent out the newsletter.  If you are interested in a sessions, or have any questions about Santa’s visit, don’t wait to call!

E-mail your guess to janet@centerpiecephotography.com (NOT to Melissa… Janet will be keeping track of all the entries) by midnight this Monday (September 15).  Each person who answers correctly will be entered in the drawing for the mini-session package.  Check back on Tuesday for the correct answer (and another contest)!  Good luck!

Update:  Lots of you knew that Santa will be visiting us again this year at the studio for sessions.  We are so exicted for his big arrival. As many of you know, the Santa sessions fill up VERY, VERY quickly so if you are interested in a session, be sure to call us at 232-4768 ASAP to reserve your spot.  The sessions are already filling up fast!  We are doing our Santa sessions a little different this year to try to accomodate as many families as possible.  Some of the session dates are by reservation (Nov. 26, 28 and 30) while two of the dates (Nov 20 - the Westboro Mart Plaza Glow - and Nov 29) are walk-in visits with Santa with no reservations.  For more information on our Santa sessions, be sure to see the Sept 16 blog entry.

You’ll get one entry in the drawing if you know the holiday and a second entry if you know what town he’s in.

E-mail your guess to janet@centerpiecephotography.com (NOT to Melissa… Janet will be keeping track of all the entries) by midnight this Friday (September 12).  Check back on Saturday for the correct answer (and another contest)!  Good luck!

Update:  I know some of you got this one right:  Tanner was celebrating the Fourth of July in Fairbury, Nebraska (where we go every year for the annual flea market and to see all the flags in the town square).  Thanks so much for playing!