The sweet deal:

I’d really like to round out my snowy photos gallery with some cute little bundles so I need one model family to be the subjects of my first winter session. If you want to be chosen there are a few guidelines you’ll need to follow:

-Your kiddos need to be between 18 months and 6 years old (if you have a couple in that range plus one more above or below, that works, too) and you need to have at least two (or a small group of cousins, must be related)

-You need to have cute, bright, happy winter gear. Include a photo in your inquiry.

-New clients only, because we love new clients. (previous clients are eligible for the 50% discount sessions, because we love you, too)

-You need to live in the Milwaukee metro area.

-You will need to sign a full model release so we can use the finished images to show off this type of session.

Please submit your request for consideration to info@annamayer.com or use our contact form to apply. One winner will be chosen and announced here soon.

What you will receive: A 1 hour photo session with Anna at a date/time that is flexible, due to unpredictable snow, wind and sun. During this session we can play out in the snow, build a snowman, go sledding, go ice skating etc followed by some hot cocoa at home or at your favorite coffee house.  A 10×20 storyboard of 4-5 images from the session, chosen by Anna. A personal ordering session to review your images with Brian, at which, no purchase is required, but you will receive 20% off anything you chose to purchase that day.

This offer is worth over $550!

The Discount:

Not everyone will win the Sweet Deal, but you don’t have to miss out. We are offering just three sessions for our new and returning clients for 50% off the sitting fee. Sweet, right? Book today, because these will be gone in a flash. (the only requirement for these sessions is a signed model release)

Anna Mayer is a professional child and baby photographer in the San Francisco Bay Area. She conducts photo sessions in the Los Gatos, San Jose, Willow Glen, Atherton, San Francisco, Palo Alto,  Mountain View, Los Altos, Campbell, Saratoga, Silicon Valley and other bay area cities. Her design studio is located in Los Gatos, California. Her unmistakable, fun and happy style reflects the joys and delights of family life.

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. And a little bonus tip: Read the manual!

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!!  

What can you do to fill this time? Well, I can tell you how we do it. First, everyone has a turn sharing their high and low for the day. Even though the kids all struggle now and then to listen and respect their siblings when its their turn, they are learning. And you can just see how good it makes them feel to have their turn to be in the spotlight. Who doesn’t like to be heard? This can take us as much as 30 minutes, depending on how many stories get thrown into it. Then, we all just sort of lean back in our chairs and visit. Its fantastic.

Kids visiting our home for the first time remind me how unusual this ritual is. They will often jump up, after just a few minutes, ready to run off to the next activity. But over time kids who know our family and who eat with us regularly come to love this ritual and wait with anticipation to share their “highs and lows” for the day. How cool is that?

Here is a video of Isaiah’s friends in California, at our dinner table one night. This was a reenactment, as you can tell by the over zealous acting, LOL, but it had just unfolded in pretty much the same way. It warmed my heart.

Photo Goodness: I had the privilege of photographing my sister and her beautiful family in September at the lake. If you’d have been there, you would not believe how great these turned out. Mr. Noah did everything he could be put an end to this photos stuff. Somehow, though, we pulled it off. Aren’t they a beautiful family?

You can see them all here: The Tonnesons

This shot is one of those that was born of a great idea, fun fun fun clients who let me “do my thing” and this image is one of those that gives my heart a flutter when I open it on my computer and see that my vision is a reality. Doncha’ just love it? Mind you, Dad and I just about tossed our cookies, ha ha! But it was worth it.