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.

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.]

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

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!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

]]> http://www.solaisphoto.net/2008/08/products-folded-cards/feed/ 0 http://www.solaisphoto.net/2008/04/welcome/ http://www.solaisphoto.net/2008/04/welcome/#comments Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:25:26 +0000 Kara http://www.solaisphoto.net/?p=4

Welcome to the new blog of Solais Photography. Solais means “light” in Irish and so I think is a very appropriate name for a photography business – as well as being a nod to my family’s heritage and history.

I’ll be adding a lot more images and information to the blog in the upcoming weeks, so please come back and visit frequently. Feel free to comment on any post – I love comments! Or if you want to send me an email instead, you can do so at info@solaisphoto.com!