New Talent pix for Stafford-Croft clan!

Been shooting this family for a loooooong time (family portraits, theme portraits, talent heads, modeling ports, etc.).

Great kids. Amazing parents.

Always makes my day when mom (Traci) calls to book a shoot.

Madi is coming in soon for a beauty head; shouldn't take much to get something wonderful from this shoot. Madi is stunningly beautiful.

Can't wait to go shopping and see what we can dream up for this image...

 

 

 

Calendar Contest vote tally as of midnight, Sept. 2

* Hannah Udell (76 votes so far)

* Aubrey Scaggs (70 votes so far)

* Alexis Beebe (64 votes so far)

* Syd Bramlett (48 votes so far)

* Zach Lilly (41 votes so far)

 

Next tally posted after midnight on the 3rd.

So far, we've raised just over $400 in votes.

In just two days.

I am so excited at the prospect of not only reaching my goal of donating $1000 to DonorsChoose.org, but possibly even surpassing that amount.

Thank  you all so much for suporting the kids hoping to win a place in the calendar AND for supporting the calendar fundraiser with  your votes.

Those $1 votes really add up, especially when you consider the wonderful, vast network of people we have access to in our day-to-day lives.

Good luck, kids.

I can't wait to see who wins the Overall Prize!

 

Have a good one, everyone and thanks to all who voted (or are going to)!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our "Top 5" in the Calendar Contest as of 9 a.m. September 2!

Our current "Top 5"!!!

* Aubrey Scaggs (70 votes so far)

* Hannah Udell (40 votes so far)

* Alexis Beebe (31 votes so far)

* Gretchen Fancher (25 votes so far)

* Syd Bramlett (22 votes so far)

 

So far, we've raised about $300 for DonorsChoose.org.

Hoping to raise at least $1000 net or more.

With your help, I think that is easily doable!

If just our collective Facebook friends all donate/vote $1, think of the good we can do for this very worthy cause.

Go to http://deborahouellettephotography.nextproof.com to vote.

Thank you for your patience while we learn how to really make this type of fundraiser helpful to the nonprofits we work with.

 

And, of course, for voting.

 

Your votes mean a lot to the children hoping to be featured in the 2011 "Enchanted Moments' calendar (and the Overall Grand Prize is pretty sweet too, with a value of over $240!).

And to the chidren and teachers hoping for your help over at DonorsChoose.org.

 

Good luck, kids!

I can't wait to see who my final "Top 5" and "Overall Winner" will be!

 

 

PS

 

1) Will try to update the "Top 5" each morning, then again after midnight each day until the 7th.

Will announce final winners by the 10th of September (want time to double check the tally before announcing).

2) Will send moms of children in the contest a daily tally of votes (by email) placed each morning/evening (last tally will be the final one after the 7th; parents will have 48 hours to catch mistakes...once the final tally is announced, it will stand).

 

Have a good one!

 

 

 

 

The 2011 "Enchanted Moments" calendar contest is on!

 

     
 
The voting gallery is open!
 
 Be sure to let everyone you know that this is an important contest and to vote at least $1 to help your favorite child/image win a spot in the calendar AND to contribute to a worthy cause (100% of net votes/donations go to DonorsChoose.org)
 
 
IMPORTANT:
 
Instructions for voting:
 
1) Go to: http://deborahouellettephotography.nextproof.com
2) Click on "Calendar Contest" gallery
3) Register to vote (only takes a moment and it is how we know who voted and how many votes each person cast).
4) Vote
5) Go to checkout (to pay for your votes/donations)
6) Print a receipt for your records (your donation is tax deductible)
 
Congratulations! You have just voted in a contest that will help determine five (5) of the children who will be featured in the 2011 "Enchanted Moments" calendar! PLUS, you have donated to a worthy cause.
 
100% of net votes/donations from this contest goes to DonorsChoose.org to help fund teacher projects and help level the playing field for children from disadvantaged school districts.
 
Please ask everyone you know to vote at least once. Not only are you supporting our 22 entries (children who hope to be featured in the calendar), you are supporting a worthy cause.
 
$1 is not a lot of money (we welcome larger votes/donations, of course). If everyone you and I  (and the other 21 contestants' families) know votes just $1, we should be able to raise a significant amount of money for DonorsChoose.
 
 
Important:Tell people when they go to vote that they will not be able to see how many votes each image has (new contest and site -- we are working things out as we go and that option will not be available til next year's contest).
 
A bit of a bummer that the web designer could not get it done in time for this contest but know that I will periodically post the tally (I get a receipt duplicate every time someone votes so I know who has how many votes at any time during the contest).
 
Know that when the contest is over, I will announce the winners via my blog and FB -- and will include a copy of the check showing the final donation to DonorsChoose.org. Hoping next year to turn the project into a non-profit venture so that we can begin to approach major corporations for contributions to the project.
 
As for votes, this year will be posting updates as to how many votes each contestant has via FB and my blog. Next year, web designer will add a means of seeing the votes per image tallied in real time (we totally forgot to add that feature this year and it's too late to get it done in time to run the contest and make my printing deadlines).
 
However, I can add a 'star' on the 5 images getting the most votes (will do it at least once daily) to indicate the public's 'favorites' at the time I do the tally each day.
 
Will begin running tallies tonight (after midnight each day except for on the 7th, when I will try to run at noon, then at 9 or 10 p.m.).
 
 
Thanks for your patience as we learn and adjust the ways things on done for the contest each year. This is definitely a learning process...lol!
 
Hoping to raise at least $1000 for DonorsChoose.org (more would be sweet).
 
Even if everyone you and I know (plus the other contestants) vote $1, we should be able to raise that amount easily.
 
Really hoping to make the contest something that does some real good for kids from disadvantaged school districts.
 
 
Thanks for supporting the 2011 calendar project.
 
I can't wait to see which 5 children win automatic placement in the 2011 "Enchanted Moments" calendar!
 
 
 
Have a good one!
 
 
Deb Ouellette

 

Fox 2 Calendar interview

Hello!

Here's a link to the Fox 2 calendar interview:

 

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/morning_by_day/thursday/Local_Photographer_Creates_Calendar

Everyone needs a calendar -- Why not THIS one?

 

I am so excited to say the 2010 calendar, "Enchanted Moments" is available for purchase.

20% of net sales will be donated to help fund teacher projects at DonorsChoose.org.

If the calendar sells and is received well, going to make this an annual PR/Fundraiser event with special fundraiser calendar theme portrait sessions (at terrific rates), an online photo contest to select 3 of the images going into the 2011 calendar, then lots of extras for everyone who is involved in the 2011 calendar project.

I have only 30 days to sell 250 of the 300 calendars (once they are gone, the 2010 calendar project is officially over).*

Click on the Facebook link icon (right side of blog) to view an album holding all the calendar pages.

If you like what you see, please spread the word and show your support for the project (and DonorsChoose.org) by purchasing a calendar yourself!

 

Thank you so much for your support and for all the kind comments and encouragement throughout the process of making what is, for me, a dream come true. My own photography calendar!!!

 

To purchase your copy, simply send an email to ariesproductions@provide.net, telling me how many copies you want to purchase.

I'll then send you an invoice (by email).

You then call to confirm your order and arrange payment (Visa, MC, Discover, Paypal, and money orders accepted. Personal checks okay if an established client).

I hope you enjoy viewing the calendar as much as the crew and I enjoyed creating it.

 

Have a good one!

 

Deborah Ouellette

Aries Productions

 

* The remaining 50 calendars will either be, 1) sold (25) locally with 100% of gross sales going to help raise funds for Lapeer County's "Adopt a Family" program or 2) sent out (25) as holiday gifts for local businesses.

 

 

 

Who's Shooting YOUR Competition Headshots?!

Now booking individual and group headshot sessions…

 

Schools/agencies: Put a group of 10 or more together and we'll come to you! Ask about our $95 group/agency headshot special and I'll send you an info packet with everything you need to get your group signed up and ready to go at a price parents will love (almost half our normal headshot session fee).

Don't belong to a school or agency and want the same terrific group shoot rate? Put a group of 4 or more friends together, come to the studio in Belleville for the shoot and I'll give everyone in the group the same discounted ($95) session fee (plus stylist/assistant fee). Put a group of 6 together and YOUR session is free! (just pay the stylist/assistant fee).

PS Subscribe to the blog and mention that you subscribed in the subject line of an email to me at ariesproductions@provide.net and I'll give you an additional $20 off your next session fee whether you come as an individual OR as part of a group.

 

                                                                                                               *Offer expires December 31, 2009.

 

Looking forward to working with you to create YOUR next award-winning competition headshot!