A Couple of Easter Card Samples

MARCH 2009 SPECIALS

BUSINESS PORTRAITS-How to Prepare

Preparing for your Business Portraits

The purpose of a business portrait is to visually remind people of who you are. It is why so many people use their portrait on their business cards and other marketing pieces.

The key is to be remembered by your expression and an over-all professional and approachable image. The following guidelines are helpful hints that I have gathered over the years.

Call me if you have any particular questions. If you would like to schedule a clothing consultation prior to your portrait session we can schedule something at the studio or I can come to your office or home to help you.

Get a good night’s sleep so that you feel fresh.

o Your eyes will show if you are tired.

Dress according to what is appropriate for your business.

o When someone sees your portrait you want to “look the part”.

Long sleeves are important.

o The most important part of your portrait is your expression. It should be the only skin that is shown.

o Short sleeves will sometimes make you look heavier in a portrait. (not always)

Solid colors for good results.

o Usually medium to dark colors are known for being strong business colors.

o They are slimming.

o Prints will steal the show, make you look heavier and date a portrait.

o Don’t shy away from color! A punch of color adds brightness and verve to the personality of your portrait.

Neckline (women)

o Do not wear exaggerated necklines.

o ‘V’ neck is most flattering. In addition to a traditional ‘V’ neck – a button-up blouse also gives you a ‘V’ neck.

Hair & Make-up

o Be yourself. You want to recognize the person in the portrait or you won’t like it.

o Stay away from shine & sparkle. Frosted eye shadow is taboo for portraits.

Please give me a call if you would like a more in-depth consultation. I am always happy to share my knowledge to help you prepare for your portrait.

Business Portraits Special

Let’s Get Down to Business with Business Portraits

February, March & April Special

Individual Business Portraits

Just $50/person includes:

The portrait session ~ Retouching ~ 300dpi 4x5

Regularly $110 each ~ Save $60/person

When 5 or more people are scheduled.

Additional Bonus:

Schedule by March 1^st and

Get one person FREE!

Save $50!

Individual portraits at your place of business or at the studio. If you have a small staff, help out a business acquaintance. Invite them to attend. All sessions must be scheduled 20 minutes apart.

Would you like to earn FREE portraits of your children?

A Children’s' Portrait Party is just like many in-home parties. Let me tell you about it.

· You invite family, friends and neighbors to your home for a Children’s' Portrait Party.

· I will arrive to your home with a background and props.

· Your friends will arrive every 20-30 minutes apart.

· We will photograph their children.

· I will post each person’s proofs on-line within 4 days.

· Your guests will place their order within 7 days of the time they are posted on-line.

As a hostess you will receive...

· 10% of the sales placed within the 7 days that proofs are on-line towards your own order.

· 15% of the sales over $1,200. For orders placed within the 7 days that proofs are posted on-line.

· HOSTESS SPECIAL! SCHEDULE YOUR PARTY BEFORE THE END OF MARCH: You will receive a $50 credit!

Your guests will receive...

· A free portrait session - NO SESSION FEES!

· A portrait session of their children at a location that is familiar and comfortable to them, resulting in expressions that are fun and natural.

· Professional portraits at a cost that is lower than an individual portrait session taken at a studio.

· FEBRUARY & MARCH SPECIAL! With a $100 order – Receive 50% off each ADD’L 8x10 from the poses you have already ordered from. Save $17.50 on each 8x10. Must order within the 7 days that proofs are on-line.

RESERVE YOUR PARTY DATE SOON.

Receive a custom 3-pose, 10x20 Storyboard with a $1995 party!

CHILDRENS' PORTRAIT PARTY PRICING

When ordered before Portrait Party deadline

$60 – 10 x 12

$35 – 8 x 10

$15 – 5 x 7

$25 – 2/5x7 same pose

$12 – 4 x 5

$20 – 2/4x5 same pose

$12 – 2 x 3 (8)

Laughing Club Party

I want to share this email that I got from Venus. It is actually a posting on her blog and I subscribe to her blog because she ----cracks me up---- so much. Getting one of her stories in my email box is always the highlight of my day.

I think this is a FANTASTIC, OUT-OF-THE-PARK, AWESOME idea. I love stories and have a small collection of doozies that I can share from my own life experience. I am thinking of doing something like this in February. Maybe you will want to come to my party to tell your story or maybe you will want to have your own party. If nothing else I am certain you will get a chuckle from Venus' story below.

HAVE A DAY FULL OF GIGGLES AND SIDE-SPLITTING LAUGHTER!

Denise

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Welcome to my Laughing Club Party.

I have decided that we all need a laugh. To that end, here is the note I have sent out to my family and various friends:

“Please come to THE WOMEN’S LAUGHING CLUB PARTY at Venus’ house, Jan 31st, 2009 at 11:30 AM.

“Let’s get together and laugh and laugh and laugh for our GOOD HEALTH and FRIENDSHIP!

“Please bring a dish (potluck) and something to drink. Wine would be nice but you can bring whatever moves you.

“THE PLAN: We will eat and drink and whoop it up. For those of you who aren’t shy, please have a STORY in mind; something that has happened in your life or someone else’s life that is really funny! You will tell the tale and we will laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh. We will roll on the floor and laugh some more. We will kick the furniture and spill the wine.

“And, then we will laugh some more for no reason at all.

“This is an all woman party, just to see how it goes. If we like it, let’s have more of them and often, hosted by whoever feels fit enough to host a bunch of crazy acting, loose laughing women!

“Please RSVP by Jan. 27th, so I know how many chairs and plates to set out that may get broken.

“I hope to see you!

Venus”

…………….

Well. I have had a tremendous response. People are calling me and saying, ‘Oh, my friend wants to come, she desperately wants to come, can I bring my friend?’

I say ’sure. What the hey.’

My brother Art with the leukemia, the one who’s car got smashed and who’s house burned down, says he wants to come, that he needs the laugh. I say “OK, you do need some laughs, but if you come you have to wear a dress and a lady’s wig. You can be our Honorary Woman.”

Maybe we will have Laughing Club Parties all over the world?? What fun.

I’m going to start my party with this story, which I admit is really juvenile humor, but that’s part of the fun, right?

I’ll be telling the ladies, “Awhile back a friend of mine named Billy came over to see me at my house. He’s about fifty. He called me to come out on the front lawn beside my pool.

“He sidled up next to me, leaned over and whispered, “Got something really funny here. It’s a fart machine.”

“He glanced over at my pool where Paul The Pool Man was busily scooping leaves. He was scooping slowly. He doesn’t like to rush. He’s a big man, maybe in his 60’s with a great ruff of gray beard and flying head hair and he wears faded overalls with a bib.

‘Got an idea,’ Billy said, grinning like a nine year old. ‘This is remote control.’

“He carefully held up some kind of small box and something that looked like a TV clicker.

“Paul had his back to us, scooping the pool and gazing up into the great pine tree, the tree he has come to hate, that hangs over the water.

“‘Watch this,’ Billy whispered.

“He ran over to the grouping of deck chairs just behind Paul, put the fart box under a cushion and skeedaddled back to me.

“‘Hehehehe…watch.’

“Paul The Pool Man bent to scoop some twigs from the water by hand.

“FARRRRRRT…OOOOOHEEEE…PTU!”

“Billy had pushed the remote.

“Paul didn’t blink. He didn’t even look our way.

“Billy and I broke into screeching laughter.

“Paul leaned to the side and put the pool pole down.

“BBAAAARRRPH!”

“Billy and I collapsed with howling glee.

“Actually, I’d hit the grass ‘first fart’ and couldn’t get up. Whenever I laugh, my legs go weak and I collapse wherever I am. I can’t get off the ground until I stop laughing.

Billy and I were choking with laughter, roaring with mirth and silly merriment but again, Paul The Pool Man never even looked our way.

“FAAARRRP! WHEEEEE!”

Every time Paul made an adjustment in his methods, he passed thunderous ‘gas.’

I was screaming with laughter, my nose face down in the dirt and muck, unable to even crawl to my knees. Billy was dragging me by an arm, across the lawn, trying to get me to stand up.

Paul looked skyward.

It went like this until Billy and I finally tired ourselves out, gave up and limped into the house.”

………

Well, OK, maybe it will be funnier when I tell it in person? Maybe I should wait until the general hilarity at the party has taken hold?

My sister, Candy, will be telling some Grandma Stories. These are true tales about my mother’s mother that just rip us to pieces with hysteria whenever she retells them at family parties.She does the voice, she does the mannerisms, she does the body movements of everyone in the stories and we absolutely almost choke ourselves laughing. Candy should be on stage.

I’ve been telling the ladies that are coming to the Laughing Party that if they have pee problems when they laugh that they had better make sure and wear their diaper pants. They have assured me that they will.

“You’re not ruining my furniture,” I tell them.

Gee! I wish YOU could come to my party!

Do you have any funny stories about yourself or your friends that you can tell us? If so, please put them in the ‘comments’ section (below) so we can all laugh together and have our own world-wide Laughing Party!

Thank you ...

Thank you to all my wonderful clients of 2008!

I got to hold your babies,

tickle your toddlers,

make you do silly things

and laugh as loud as possible.

….I even cried at your wedding.

It was truly a pleasure getting to

know all of you this past year.

I am so HAPPY to have been

a part of your family memories.

With a whole lot of gratitude,

Denise

Is your business portrait working for you?

First impressions matter! What is the first impression your potential clients get when they see your business card, website or direct marketing piece? Your business portrait is a sales tool. A fine business portrait can help broaden a successful public image and project your achievements. Every successful business person should maintain an up-to-date portrait for publicity purposes. A well-done portrait is not an ego-boosting luxury, but rather a powerful public relations and sales tool that can help you build your image in the community.

HOW MANY WAYS CAN YOUR BUSINESS PORTRAIT WORK FOR YOU?

Like a good book often times a potential client or new client may form their first judgments of your marketing material based on what it looks like and then go back to read the content. In addition to being used on a business card, brochure or website, your portrait is a valuable communications tool for your business. It’s a fact that people pay more attention to an ad or news article if it has a photograph with it. The impact is increased if the photograph is one of quality. Local newspapers are always looking for stories about people in the community. Wise use of your portrait can greatly benefit your business if you take advantage of every opportunity to submit photography-enhanced articles and press releases. Don’t forget to greet your clients with portraits of your staff hanging in the reception area. Portraits displayed in your reception area or office will make your clients feel at home. This comfort will make them more at ease to do business with you and your company.

SEND A MESSAGE OF CONFIDENCE

Don't be fooled by thinking that a potential client will give you the benefit of the doubt, and contact you in order to see how you look in the flesh. They are unlikely to. They will think if you cut corners on your professional image you may cut corners with them as well. They may doubt your credibility.

INCREASE YOUR AFFECT ON NEW & POTENTIAL CLIENTS

Let me help your company make a good first impression. My studio or your conference room, lounge or reception area can be a convenient portrait studio where I'll set up and take publicity portraits of anyone whose business portrait will be appearing in brochures, press kits, speaking announcements, annual reports, newsletters, your web site and business cards.

Denise Gagner – 320-202-0288 – www.portraitsbystudod.com – denise.studiod@gmail.com

Face Value

I just heard this ...


" A smile improves your face value."



One of my friends mom used to tell us ...

"A smile is the most important accessory that you wear."

I guarantee ...

I promise and I guarantee that the portraits you have taken today will go up in value and that they will never, never go down in value!

As you add chapters to the story of your life the pictures/portraits of your past become more and more valuable. Do you have a picture of yourself when you were 5 years old? When you look at that picture it brings a smile to your face and you silently run through the days and the memories that have occurred since then.

This, too, will happen with your son/daughter. Give them a gift that will only go up in value as they add chapters to their lives.

And speaking of gifts ... it is time to be thinking of holiday gifts. A portrait of your children or family is a great gift for your relatives. Or a gift certificate for a friend, relative or co-worker will be a gift that ... will always go up in value!

Call to schedule your family or children's portrait.

Have a magnificent day!
Denise

I'm baaaack ... with Children's Portrait Specials

Good Glorious Morning to you!

I have been away for a couple of months. Fortunately, the reason is because we were very busy at Studio D. We were photographing High School Seniors, a daycare center, I photographed the Radisson's 5th Avenue Grille and Bar. (That was a lot of work, but a blast.) And ... just many, many other sessions as well.

Now we are into the fall and we are photographing children and family sessions for holiday gift giving.

I am running a Children's Special that I would like to share with you ... Please pass it on!

Quick Takes

Children's Session

$75 Includes:

Session Fee/20 minute session

1 – 8x10

2 – 5x7

8 – wallets

$25 Gift Certificate!

All portraits are from the same pose.

Certain restrictions apply. See back for more information.

Next Dates:

Tuesdays in Oct. & Nov. – 9am-Noon & 4pm-6pm

320-202-0288

www.portraitsbystudiod.com

Additional Information:

S $75+ tax is due at the time that you schedule your session. ($80.25)

S All sessions will be photographed on the same background each day.

S Proofs will be posted on-line within 24 hours.

S Proofs will be on-line for 3 days after your session.

S Orders must be placed and paid for within those 3 days.

S Allow 3-4 weeks for orders to be delivered.

Gift Certificate Special:

S Good December 15^th – March 15^th .

S Not to be used in conjunction with any other promotion.

S Family and Children’s sessions only.

Additional Portraits:

Does not have to be from the same pose as your promotional package.

1 – 8x10 - $40 5x7 Holiday cards - $2/each

1 – 5x7 - $25 12x12 Scrapbook Page $95

1 – 4x5 - $18 11x14 - $105

8 – 2x3 - $15 (wallets) 16x20 - $135

320-202-0288

www.portraitsbystudiod.com

IT'S SENIOR SEASON!

I just read an article in today's paper that it is strawberry-picking season. And I am hearing different people talk about cabin season and grilling season and all those fun summer-time opportunities.

Well, for me one of my summer opportunities are the high school Seniors who will be graduating this next May - 2009.

I want to tell you about some of the sessions we have been photographing this past 10 days, but before I do I want to express what our Seniors are telling me right after we have finished their session... guys as well as girls... It is so cool to hear them tell me how much fun they had and how they are so excited to see their proofs. It is so cool to see the big smiles on their faces with their eyes dancing with excitement. It is so cool to see how pleased and happy they are. It is just so cool.

We have photographed a guy from Foley on a tree that was overhanging into the Mississippi River.

We photographed a girl from Monticello with her truck and with the rifle that her grandfather gave her.

We have photographed a girl from Sartell in the studio, downtown, at a park, in her home, with her grand piano and at St. John's.

We photographed a girl from Albany all around her home - with her horse, with an old Ford truck and we took an awesome chair outside when the sun was starting to get low and got some gorgeous evening light.

We photographed a guy from Holdingford with one of his closest friends, his dog, a boxer - TBone.

We photographed a girl from St. John's Prep in the woods of St. Johns - barefoot, with a sundress on and carrying her violin. THEN... we photographed her with her swimsuit at the beach. We got great shots of her jumping out of the water.

These stories are small synopsizes of their full sessions. These Seniors are not only going to have some phenomenal images, but they've had a darn good time, too.

Call to schedule your session!
320-202-0288

Have a MAGNIFICENT day!
Denise

FAMILY IN THE PARK

There are a couple of parks around town that I really, really enjoy taking my clients to. One of them in the Knights of Columbus Park on the Sauk River. I particularly enjoy that park at about 6:30 in the evening. The back lighting is so beautiful. There are many areas to photograph with the river as a backdrop. The portraits that I have here are from a family that I photographed last Saturday night... JUST before the crazy storm came through. I've often said that I get some of the best images just before, during and right after we have rain. This session was proof of that.

As I have often said ... June is a great month for outdoor portraits and we are surely getting some great images right now. I hope that the rains and moderate weather hold out through July.

Call me to schedule your portrait outdoor session.
It is sooo beautiful right now.

320-202-0288

Have a MAGNIFICENT day!
Denise

CREATIVE SENIOR SESSIONS!

Hello everyone!

I'm sooo excited. I've been visiting with many Class of 2009 Seniors and making plans with them to do some super cool things. Truly. The ideas that we have come up with just gets me all jazzed up. We've got great things planned.

--- One girl, from Cathedral, will do a shot in a prom-like dress, her long curly, wavy hair will be a bit damp to show off those curls. She will be holding either her basketball or volleyball.
--- A girl, from Albany, will be photographed on her family's 300 acres which include a lake, a cabin and a wheat field.
--- Another girl, from Sauk Rapids, will be photographed in a sunflower field by St. Stephen.
--- We have a girl, from Monticello, coming in for some portraits at Hester Park.
--- We have a girl, from St. John's Prep, who will be photographed in a 'twirly' dress, barefoot, with her violin, in the woods around St. John's.

There are other sessions that are percolating. I will keep you posted on them.

If you know of a Class of 2009 senior who would like a FUN portrait session with UNIQUE and CREATIVE portraits ... please send them to me.

320-202-0288

Thank you!
Denise

CLASS OF 2009 - SENIOR PORTRAITS

Everyone is talking about the graduation ceremonies and parties right now. And I am getting ready to photograph the Class of 2009. Yup, now is the time to schedule those appointments. I am super excited to be getting appointments scheduled in June. Most all of the Seniors are interested in outdoor portraits and as I have said before... June is the best month for the outdoor session.

I am very proud of the photographs that we take for Seniors as well as the quality service we give. Our sessions are two hours long and we will do as many outfits and locations as possible within those two hours. I know of a couple of sessions this summer which will take us out to a farm. I am really excited about these sessions. I am also looking forward to a session that will be a woodsy setting. Plus, we photograph the more urban/city kids within all the character of downtown St. Cloud. Man! As a creative person it is very exciting and will be such a blast. I can hardly wait.

Because I am so interested in the outdoor sessions being taken during the best month of the year (June) the session fees during the month of June are just $50. That is amazing. You will get sooo much for that $50. I promise. It's important to book your session soon. Our days are filling up FAST. Truly.

Call today - 202-0288

Prior to your session I will talk with both the parent and the Senior to see what your likes and dislikes are. We will talk about what to bring to your session; what to wear and what time of day would be best for your session. Plus, many more tips and ideas. As my tag line says "Portraits by Design".

If you now of someone who is a 2009 grad and who would like fabulous photos taken please have them give me a call. I will be happy to talk with them.

Thanks!

Have a super duper day,
Denise

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

Why God Made Moms

BRILLIANT answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions!!

Why did God make mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

2. Mostly to clean the house.

3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He Just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.

2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother & not some other mom?

1. We're related.

2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mom?

1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.

2 . She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?

3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.

2. She got too old to do anything else with him.

3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.

2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.

3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms & dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home & dads just go to work at work.

2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.

4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don't do spare time.

2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.

2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.

2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.

3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

Happy Mother's Day!

Denise

Q. & A.

Do you have a topic that you would like me to talk about??? If you do, email me with your suggestion. If I have not already discussed it I will give you a FREE FAMILY OR CHILDREN'S PORTRAIT SESSION. If I have already wrote about it, but you missed that blog ... I'll give you $25 off your next family or children's portrait session.

I have so much that I can talk about, but would love to hear from you.

Thanks!
Denise

WANTED: Props

Can you help me find a few things ... ?

• I am looking for one of those very colorful lollipops that looks like a long "rope" of lollipop that has been swirled into a circle... like a spiral. They are usually about 3-4 in diameter.
  
• I am looking for shrugs. You know the small little cropped tops. They cover your shoulders and then tie right under your chest. I'd prefer long sleeves. I definitely want a black one and a white one, but may consider other colors. I will use them for maternity sessions. I don't see them in stores. If you see them let me know what store to go to. If you have one (or more) that are still in good condition and you were planning to sent them to Goodwill - can I have them?
• One more thing... I am looking for swimsuit cover-ups. The kind that are completely sleeveless. They have a lot of elastic around the chest area and then they blousen out under the elastic. (I know that blousen is not a word, but do you know what I mean?) I used to have two of them, a white one and a black one. They were made of terry cloth and I found them in the swimsuit department at Target. I had a seamstress cut a slit up the front and then stitch the edges and I used them for maternity and newborn sessions. I can't find an image that I have permission to use to show them to you ... : ( darn)

I offer a free session to anyone who can help me find these items. I'm not a very good shopper so I really appreciate having shoppers out there helping me out.

The portrait proof that I have attached to this blog post is one that makes me giggle. I hope you giggle, too.

Have a fantastically fabulous day!
Denise