Anna Mayermilwaukee family photography | Anna Mayer

Photo of the Day: A growing & busy, family. Milwaukee, WI

Anna — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 16:44:00 +0000

Black Friday Deal: 2011 Custom Session for just $150

Brian — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 15:18:40 +0000

You missed the…

Crazy Four-Day deal!

Buy it now – book it later! JUST $150!

Before midnight on Monday Nov 29, buy a 2011 Winter/Spring Photography Session for only $150! Weekday, Evening, or Weekend doesn’t matter! Whether it’s a milestone birthday, a newborn, belly photos, or a family photo session, you can’t go wrong. This offer is only available online through Monday, so don’t delay!

… but read the terms below

San Jose/San Francisco

Available dates during this period:
1/28-31
3/11-14
4/22-25

Zoiks! You missed it!

Milwaukee/Chicago

Available dates during this period vary. Please inquire for specifics.

Aw shucks! You’re too late

This promotional certificate must be purchased through this link between 11/26-29/2010. The session does not need to be booked at the time of purchase, but must be booked by 3/31/11 and must take place between 1/1/11 and 4/30/11. If the session does not take place before 4/30/2011, the purchase will convert to a gift certificate for the amount of purchase. If you would like an actual certificate to present this session as a gift, just let us know; otherwise, we will simply note the purchase in your file. Upgrades for beach, San Francisco, and Chicago are available for the usual difference. Travel charges of $2.50 per mile (one way) still apply beyond 20 miles from our Los Gatos Studio in CA and outside the Racine, Delafield, Port Washington triangle in WI. Not valid on prior sales and cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer expires at midnight PST on 11/29/10. All sales final. By purchasing this certificate you are agreeing to these terms.

From crazy-fun Milwaukee family session to awesome Collage Gallery.

Anna — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:43:00 +0000

Some photo shoots are easy. Some shoots are tough. Some shoots are both. This was one of those “both” sessions. When you’ve been a children’s photographer for over 7 years, you get to experience it all. First of all, it was like 800 degrees. It was one of Milwaukee’s hottest days of the summer! Even at 9 in the morning, the heat certainly took its toll. To make things more challenging, the little guy was having a hard time warming up to me. Fortunately, while he was “warming up,” his big brother was “hamming it up.” Once the little guy started to warm up to me, things got crazy fun. We were running all around the Third Ward, the Riverwalk, and inside and outside of the Milwaukee Public Market. I nearly got hit by a car getting the family shot!

One of the really cool things that came as a result of this session was this wicked awesome Masonite Collage Gallery. All of the prints are mounted on Masonite and hung in such a way as to give it a 3D layered effect on the wall. When Brian showed them a photo of one he installed at one of our San Jose clients’ houses, they fell in love with the idea. First, they picked a location: a blank wall in their living room—a place they would be able to enjoy it everyday. Second, they chose their favorite photos from the session. Next, Brian worked on a design with them that would incorporate all of their favorites at sizes that would be optimal for each image as well as the gallery as a whole. During the ordering appointment, they decided to try to tackle doing the installation themselves, but once the prints were ready Dawn decided to hire Brian to do the installation as a surprise for Matt. When he came home from work and saw it in their living room, his response was, “Wow! That looks Great! You surprised me!” Not only that, but that same little guy that had a hard time warming up at the shoot absolutely loves it!

And here’s some photos from the shoot…

Being a photographer in Milwaukee is so much fun! Let me know what you think with a quick comment below!

Ooooh, pretty! Rolling out some awesome holiday cards.

Anna — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 08:30:00 +0000

One thing I really really love about my job is the Christmas card creation process. I plan and think and dream and just really put myself fully into the process of making my family’s card the best it can be. Just as fun (and not nearly as stressful) is the process of helping my wonderful clients create amazing holiday cards to amaze their family and friends. These will do that!! Not only do we have awesome new designs but we have sweet new die-cut papers, too. It’s going to be an awesome year for holiday cards for my lucky clients. Fun fun!!

The round cards are actually circles. So cool. And they come with a hole in the top (optional) so you can embellish with a pretty ribbon to create an ornament. Haven’t seen that before, right?

Imperfect Project: Lake Superior, Bayfield Wisconsin

Anna — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 08:48:00 +0000

I’ve been vacationing in Bayfield, WI since I was a little girl. My family would sail around the beautiful Apostle Islands, explore the lighthouses and islands, just generally enjoy the breathtaking wonder of the largest fresh water lake in the world. This summer I had the joy of sailing on my Dad’s boat with my kids and taking in a sunset that would take your breath away. My image may not have captured it quite like it was in real life, but it is still an indelible record of the moment to keep forever.

A whole lotta’ good stuff. Bay Area baby photographer.

Anna — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:41:03 +0000

Welcome 2010

Like most of you, we are looking forward to what a wonderful 2010 has to offer. Speaking of offers . . . we’d like to make you one!

New Year. New Clients. New Bonus!

Since we know that all of you made a New Year’s resolution to get your friends to use Images by Anna, we wanted to make it a little, well, a LOT, more rewarding. I know, seeing your friends’ kids being captured by Anna is reward enough for most, but we’re going to kick in a little extra anyway!
For each referral that books a custom session you are going to get a BIGGER than usual return.

Your friend books a session for a date:

-Between February 5-7 receive a $150 referral credit & your friend will receive a $150 discount! Crazy, right?

-Between March 24-28 $100 each,

-Between April 20-24 $75 each

-Between June 3-6 $50 each.

And it just got even sweeter:
If you book YOUR session in the same month as your friend, you both receive a set of 25 adorable note cards featuring your favorite image!

Note: In order to earn your referral credit your friend MUST give us your name at the time of booking. The only restriction on the bonus referral credit is that you will need to use it in 2010.

Contact Brian or call 408.221.4570 to get booked!

Upcoming Short & Sweet Session Availability

A Special offering in partnership with Willow Glen’s adorable Baby Buzz. click here to snap one up!

Oak Meadow Park: February 6: 4:30, 4:50, 5:10 (Half Off, only $100!)
Molly’s Porch: March 26: 8:20, 8:40, 9:00 am
Capitola Beach: April 24: 6:30, 6:50, 7:10, 7:30 pm
Crissy Field: June 5: 7:00, 7:20, 7:40, 8:00 pm

Book One Now

If you have done Short & Sweet Sessions in that past, and plan on booking one in the near future, be sure to visit the Short & Sweet page of annamayer.com to review some of the changes to the program.

New Camera for Christmas?

I’m sure many of you received one of the latest and greatest cameras this year, and now you’re thinking . . . cool! Now . . . how do I use this thing? Digital cameras are getting easier to use all the time, but here a few tips to get the most out of your camera.

Keep your new camera close by. If you want to catch your kids “in the moment,” the camera can’t be very far away. Find a secure place in your main living space that is easily accessible at a moment’s notice.
Get close. If you want to capture the emotion on their faces, get close. If you’re too close, your camera will let you know by not allowing you take the picture.
Limit distractions. I can’t tell you how many snapshots I’ve seen in which the subject, a tiny little child in the middle of a room full of distractions, is completely lost in a sea of other “subjects”. Again, get closer . . . can’t say this enough.
And a little bonus tip: Read the manual!

Day Eighteen. Picking up where I left off.

Anna — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:31:00 +0000

My life: Have you ever heard the phrase “If you want something done, ask a busy woman to do it.”? Well, it is true . . . usually. I have a gift, though, of asking myself to do things, crazy things, when I am the most busy. Things like posting every day for a month in the middle of my busiest time of year!! Hello . . . So I have gotten just a bit behind and now I must pick up the ball. I am going to modify my commitment just a bit. I will do my best to post every OTHER day, for the rest of the year. I think I can do that . . . we shall see.

Your images: Up there in my favorite client hall of fame . . . This family is so much fun! Every session with them ends with a gallery of life-infused images that just shout out to you from the walls. Next time I am in San Jose (that’s next week already!!) I need to get over to their house and take a photo of their amazing wall display for you. They have two years worth of fantastic sessions gracing an entire wall in their home. It is spectacular!!

Day Seventeen. My lovely assistant’s family & some busy-work.

Anna — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:40:00 +0000

My life: Well, ’tis the season of chaos and late-nights. As a portrait photographer, I find myself doing about 50% of my year’s work in just two and a half months. It can be exhausting!! But somehow we always come through for our clients and we always get it all done, with time to spare. I may have a sore tush and a hand that is begging for me to step away from the mouse, but it will all be done, none-the-less!!

Your images: This lovely little family belongs to my wonderful assistant, Rachel. This was a sort of “farewell” session for her, as she has moved on to other pursuits and is heading back to school. I miss the companionship of working with her but enjoy our coffee dates when I come to San Jose for shoots. Now, if I could just get her to visit Milwuakee in January, that would be fun!!

Day Thirteen. A beautiful story of triumph in San Jose.

Anna — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:07:00 +0000

My Life: I am in San Jose this week, capturing 20 families and meeting with 11 more to share their images from October. Its a busy trip! I am so happy to be enjoying my lovely hotel room at the Pruneyard in Campbell. Its heavenly. The best part of my trip is my little assistant, Alayna. After whining to my friends for the last 5 months about how hard it has been to leave my children behind, someone said to me, “Why not take them with you?” After checking with the school and discovering that taking time off is not a big deal, I booked her a flight, and Isaiah for next month. Its so much fun! A girls week! On Saturday Alayna and her friends are all staying at the hotel with me for a girls’ night. We are going out for dinner, then to “Miracle Worker”, the story of Helen Keller, at Del Mar (Alayna’s old babysitter, Abby, has the leading roll!) and then to the jacuzzi tub in our room! Sounds like fun to me!

My Clients: Many of you remember little Audrey from my post about a year ago. Little Audrey was born with a heart condition and also without eyes. I photographed her through a local photography organization, Moment by Moment, a non-profit that connects photographers with families facing a grave prognosis. I think I get as much from these sessions as the families do. Their strength and joy is contagious and inspiring. Sweet little honey underwent major heart surgery last year and came through with flying colors! Praise God. She is a vibrant, happy little girl today. It was a pleasure to photographer her again in all of her joy and glory.

Day Twelve. A new beginning in San Jose.

Anna — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:27:00 +0000

This family is among my favorite families. They are so fun and full of life. This photo shoot was especially wonderful because it came at a time of new beginning for this family. Just over a year ago their home was lost in a fire. They lost most of their worldly possessions and tragically, the family dog, as well. Over the past year they have worked hard to rebuild their home and their lives. I was honored to be a part of their grand “Thank you” party in their new home in September. What a wonderful reason to celebrate! I am so happy for you guys. Enjoy your new home (and your new puppy, too).