Category Archives: news

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Digital Collections for Portraits

March 20, 2009 – 9:57 pm

I’m really excited to announce the addition of Digital Media Collections for portraits.  For many years we’ve offered the high resolution digital files to our wedding clients – either for purchase separately or part of a package.   This year we’re adding the option to purchase digital files to all of our portrait clients as well.

We’ve put together 3 different Digital Media Collections:  One allows you to choose 4 files, one allows you to choose 10 files, and one includes all of the files from your portrait session.  Each media collection is delivered on a USB drive and includes a bordered 5×7 “match print” of each image.  The prints are for you to use to match color quality when you have enlargements made; but they are also full quality prints that are suitable for framing or as gifts.

We’re excited to offer digital files to all of our clients so that they can control and archive their family memories. If you’re interested in scheduling a session, please [email], use the form on our [contact page], or call us.

By Kara | Also posted in portraits | Comments (0)

Wedding Insurance

March 18, 2009 – 7:41 pm

Just a quick break from image posting and fun stuff to strike a serious note.

I read wedding planning boards and magazines to keep current with the trends and what brides and grooms are looking for. I think any serious wedding vendor does. Recently I ran across a situation where a bride had to cancel her wedding for a very valid reason – the groom died. Some of her vendors wouldn’t return her deposit when she canceled the wedding. As you might imagine, feelings run high on this situation, with vendors trying to explain why they are not being totally heartless to not return the deposit (or only to return some of it) and brides and grooms being outraged that the deposits weren’t returned.

There is a solution here and I think one that more couples should be aware of. It used to be that a wedding cost a few thousand $$ and deposits were small tokens that didn’t amount to much. Nowadays weddings are big events and prior to the day a couple may have spent tens of thousands of dollars in deposits, booking fees, and retainers. In most cases those retainers are NON-REFUNDABLE for any reason.

With weddings costing so much and the amount of money a couple puts out prior to the event being so high, I STRONGLY recommend to my clients that they look into wedding insurance. I know most people have never heard of it … but there are several companies that offer event and wedding insurance in case of cancellation or postponement. The most popular one is WedSafe.

For around $150-$250 (depending on the level of coverage you choose), you can purchase insurance that will reimburse you for your vendor deposits if you have to cancel your wedding for any reason.

Now some people will think that it’s crazy to spend another $150 on your wedding for insurance for something that will probably never happen. Me? I think that if you’re going to spend $10,000 or $20,000 or more on a wedding, then it’s well worth $200 or so (around 10% of the total cost of your wedding) to make sure that you’re protected in case of a death, a natural disaster, or any other event that might cause you to have to cancel or postpone your wedding.

It’s not a fun subject to talk about – just like life insurance, making a will, and other serious things that you should discuss when you join your lives together – but I think it’s important. I really encourage you to look into wedding day insurance, either with WedSafe or another company. I truly believe it’s money well spent.

[Disclaimer:  I'm not affiliated with WedSafe, I haven't received any compensation for posting this, and I don't know anyone who works for them.  I just know their name and have heard good things about them.  They don't even know that I'm posting this.]

By Kara | Also posted in advice, weddings | Comments (0)

Moo!

February 15, 2009 – 6:31 pm

I love these new cards from Moo.com.  These cute little cards have become my new standard business card, not to mention what I use for promotions, wedding gallery announcements, little bitty note cards, and anything else I can think of.

I just had to share images of my latest batch that came in today!

By Kara | Also posted in for fun | Comments (2)

Winner!

February 5, 2009 – 10:22 am

Here it is – the very last winner of the Bloggie Giveaways. This one is for  Colin Cowie Wedding Chic: 1,001 Ideas for Every Moment of Your Celebration

The winner of this fabulous book is #27  Kim F. Kim – I’ve sent you an email. You just need to let me know your shipping address and I’ll get the book out to you today!

By Kara | Also posted in for fun, weddings | Comments (0)

Winners!

February 2, 2009 – 10:30 am

It’s time to announce the winners of the first two Bloggie Giveaways. :)

For Giveaway #1 – Portrait session and digital media package, the winner is #17. Jessie, I’ve sent you an email and we’ll get in touch to schedule your portrait session!

For Giveaway #2 – An 8×10 Fine Art Print, the winner is #55. Anam, I’ve sent you an email as well. It’ll take about 2 weeks to get your print to you!

It was so difficult to limit myself to one winner per contest. I really wanted to give something to everyone. So as a bonus I’m offering 25% off anything on my website except wedding coverage to anyone who commented on the posts – for the month of February only. Portrait sessions, fine art prints, albums, cards … whatever you’d like to purchase. If you want to take advantage of the discount, just let me know which giveaway you commented on and what you’d like to purchase or schedule.

And thanks so much everyone for participating!

By Kara | Comments (1)

Bloggy Giveaway #2: Art Print (Closed)

January 27, 2009 – 10:16 am

Here’s my 2nd giveaway for the Bloggy Giveaway Carnival:

An 8×10 Fine Art Print on Velvet Paper

I’ll ship your choice of image from my Art Gallery (click to see the selection of images) as a bordered 8×10 print fine art velvet paper. I’ll ship to anywhere in the US or Canada. (The print is a $250 value!)

To enter this giveaway, just comment on this post and let me know which image you want if you’re the winner.  Be sure to leave your email address so I can notify you if you win.  I’ll pick the winner by a random number drawing on Monday, February 2nd.

By Kara | Also posted in art, for fun | Tagged , | Comments (93)

Bloggy Giveaway #1: Portrait Session (Closed)

January 26, 2009 – 2:49 pm

This is my first time participating in the Bloggy Giveaway Carnival and I’m going to be completely over the top and offer 2 different giveaways (hence the #1 above, and #2 to follow tomorrow). Without further blather from me … the first Bloggy Giveaway is:

A Standard Portrait Session and a Basic Digital Media Package

Obviously this giveaway is for people in the Atlanta metro area only (unless you want to pay for travel).  You get a full standard portrait session (about an hour of time) for yourself, your family, or your children.  The images from the session will be posted in a private, password protected gallery for you to view.  You’ll then choose up to 8 of the images to receive as high resolution files, retouched and ready to print, along with a gorgeous 5×7 guide print of each of the images you chose (Basic Digital Media Package).   The total value of this giveaway is $750.

To enter this giveaway, just comment on this post.  Be sure to leave your email address so I can notify you if you win.  I’ll pick the winner by a random number drawing on Monday, February 2nd.

By Kara | Also posted in portraits | Tagged , | Comments (32)

2009 Schedule

January 18, 2009 – 12:05 pm

Solais Photography will be accepting a limited number of wedding commissions this year.  As of right now (unless someone makes us an offer we can’t refuse!), we will photograph only 20 weddings for 2009.  Currently we are booked for 3 dates – so that leaves 17 available.  If you are considering contracting with Solais for your wedding, please contact us as soon as possible.

Portrait sessions for families and children are available now.  We’re planning a few special sessions this year, as well as a few sessions to help support our favorite charities, and a handful of give-aways and gifts.

We’re looking forward to a great 2009 with our clients!

By Kara | Comments (0)

Catching Up

December 9, 2008 – 3:08 pm

Every blogger who has neglected her blog starts off a post with an apology and an excuse of “I’ve been busy”.  It’s lame, but true.  This year has been busy on so many levels, not just photographically speaking, but professionally, personally, and every other-ly.  I’m hoping that soon the insanely busy parts of my life will mellow out a little and I can get back to regular blogging.  I have a backlog of posts to get caught up on!

I leave for the desert Southwest tomorrow and will be gone the whole weekend.  I hope to return with some great images of one of my favorite parts of the country – and hopefully a spectacular image for my holiday card.

I have a few weddings and engagement sessions to blog and I’ll have those sessions blogged soon!

And finally, I’m getting to expand my photographic horizons and get some experience and training in food photography.  Food photography has always been an interest of mine – enthusiastic amateur cook that I am.  I have a new project in the works that will revolve around cooking and photography and I hope to reveal that in 2009.

Thanks to all my clients for your patience over the last few months.  Hang in there – 2009 is almost here and things will be off to a running start!

By Kara | Also posted in personal | Comments (0)

Products | Folded Cards

August 24, 2008 – 5:44 pm

I’m in love with the new folded cards I just got in!  These are honest-to-goodness press printed cards, complete with envelopes.  They can be printed on a standard luster finish, or on gorgeous watercolor or linen (my favorite) paper.  They also come in 2 sizes:  4.5 x 5 inches or 5 x 7 inches.

Gorgeous press printed notecards and postcards

These are perfect for thank you cards, and holiday cards (eep – I know – it’s almost that time again).

You can also get a flat / postcard version in the same sizes that would be perfect for save-the-date cards, new house or moving announcements, or new baby announcements.

Both types of cards, folded and flat, can be printed on all sides, so you can completely customize them.  We’re offering them with one image on the front – bordered or full bleed.  If you want more custom designs, we’ll be happy to work with you to create something unique!

By Kara | Also posted in albums + things | Tagged , , | Comments (0)