I am tickled pink * and blue * to announce that Birdy will be at Pink & Blue of Cabot's Play Date on Apr. 18th! Pink & Blue is Cabot's first and only Children's Consignment Shop! In addition to hosting the Play Date and providing snack and drinks, Pink & Blue will also be handing out $5 coupons!!!!
 I will be taking pictures of the event for Pink & Blue but will also make sure and take individual shots of your children to offer a special print package! Images will be loaded onto a password protected online gallery and you can purchase your package straight from there! All orders will be taken to Pink & Blue for pick up and you will be notified of a pick up date.

Play Date Package

(1) 8x10

(1) sheet of wallets

..........$15.00 + tax

Swing by Pink & Blue's Facebook page and become a "liker" and check out the event!

If you are not interested in your child being photographed, please let me know at the event and I will make sure he/she will not be in my photos.

maternity models 6-9months pregnant for lifestyle session

• must be 6-9 months pregnant by march 1st
• session may include up to 3 other family members
• i will need one model for outdoors and one for indoors

how to enter

• you must swing by birdy on facebook and become a 'liker' if you already are... great!
• click on events and click 'attending'
• upload an image of yourself ( showing your baby bump! ) to the event wall and a short description of why you would like to become birdy's maternity model
• let all your friends know to go by birdy on facebook and become a liker and then click on events to vote for your image!

it gets better.....

• when you enter, you will automatically receive a 25% discount on your newborn lifestyle session print order ( this includes announcements! )
• when you enter your family will be entered in a drawing for a FREE family lifestyle session!

hurry hurry! the contest ends March 1st!!! the winner will be contacted for scheduling her session for the month of March/April

*click on image to view larger*

as some of you already know, i have mentioned that i will be teaming up with Little Rock Mommies of the Mommies Network on March 26th for a special fundraiser! Here are the details as promised... please note that all scheduling/payment will go through the email addy listed ( not through me! ). I sure hope you take advantage of this amazing opportunity and I cannot wait to snap those shots of you and your lovelies!!!

some ideas for a lifestyle session at Peabody Park - just contact me after you schedule your session to let me know if you would like to do one or two of the activities below so i have items on hand :)

• family picnic ( you bring the picnic; blanket provided )
• ♫ musical family ♪ ( play the guitar or another portable instrument? bring it on! )
• go fly a kite ( kite provided )
• bubble blowing fun ( bubbles provided )
• up!up! and away ( balloons provided )
• read a book ( books provided )
• let's catch some bugs ( bug catchers provided )
• bring your pets! ( still checking on this one/pets may not be allowed )
• go fish - not real fishing BUT your kids will have a blast with a big bowl of goldfish ( yes i am serious a REAL goldfish! ) can you imagine the wonder and excitement?! ( bowl of goldfish provided )

*inspiration for above ideas acquired via JinkyArt - check out this amazing photographers website!*

if you will be in the little rock area march 26th and are looking for some amazingly priced family portraits look no further! i am teaming up with our local Little Rock Mommies of the Mommies Network to help with a fundraiser. sessions are 30 minutes at the Peabody Park in the River Market District and you receive 25 high resolution digital image files on a CD-R with a print release from Birdy for get this.... ONLY $40.00!!! 
if you are interested in scheduling a lifestyle session with Birdy for this awesome fundraiser, check back February 18th for session times and how to sign up!

receive a storyboard print like this from your past or next lifestory session when you refer someone to birdy!

your referral must book a session in order for you to be valid to receive this offer. simply have the person booking a session mention your name at the time of contact. i will contact you for your free 10x10 storyboard!

♥pssst...did you know that if you combine this offer with this offer... you could possibly get TWO FREE 10x10 storyboards!!!!???? what? that.is.crazy!

click here to view the new price list

just click on details/investment

CASTING CALL: I need the following to build my new "lifestory" portfolio.
The sessions will take place Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday and Saturday ( two sessions are available for Sat. ) the week of  01/24/11 and you must have at least 1 room/area in your house that receives a sufficient amount of natural light or able to meet at the public library/laundry mat or other location of my choice.
Times available are from 9am-1pm  and 10am - 1pm on Saturday ( sessions will only last about 30 min ). Saturday sessions will go very quickly, I am only doing 3 sessions that day, so contact me asap if you would like a Sat. session.
These sessions are "lifestory" sessions, which means I need photos of your child working on an art project, playing in his/her room, you reading your child a story at the library, your family at the laundry mat, your children jumping on the bed, cooking in the kitchen with the family etc... things that you already do!
Choose one of the following lifestyle sessions or suggest your own:
Child playing in room/playroom
Art work and crafts
Jumping on bed
Family cooking/baking in kitchen
Family fun at the laundry mat
Fun at the Library
Walking the family dog
Musical Family ( does dad or mom play guitar? )

I will be accepting 4 different lifestyle sessions, each one not to last longer than 30 minutes. These sessions are free and you will receive a special discount on a CD-R with all images, including a 10x10 storyboard to print for just $50.00. Payment for the CD-R must be paid in full when you book your session and you will receive the CD-R 1 week from the time of your session. If you opt not to take advantage of the special CD-R offer, you can still book your session for free and regular prices will be applied for your order.
* If you have recently won a free lifestory session and would like to take advantage of this special offer ( the $50.00 CD-R ) simply let me know via email.

I have found over the past few years that my favorite photos of each session are the ones that I catch in between posed smiles and the shots that I take when you are not aware I am taking them. Those are generally the pictures that you fall in love with when you view your session. I want to take a different approach to family

photography and try something out....."lifestyle" portraits.

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What is a "lifestyle" session?

This type of session is in a relaxed environment ie. your home, a field, your favorite family outing.

The photographer captures the essence of your family, the shared laughs, the foot stomping fit of your 2 year

old, the roll of the eyes from your preteen, the "life" in your nest, all those "little" things that make you a family. Because this is a lifestyle session, you would basically carry on how you normally would in your daily life. Don't worry about matching outfits or if everyone is looking at the camera. Seriously, your children may be in their jammies still b/c they just refuse to get dressed that morning, I think we have all been there!

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How will the session go? Do we look at you and smile? Will you tell us what to do?

Each member of your family is unique and that is what makes you a family, your family.

I will be like a family friend coming to visit, I will be there but I will not be in your way. I will interact with the kids so that they are comfortable with me but I won't direct them or you. Because children are naturally curious they will want to know why I am following them around with a camera, so when I arrive I will tell them who I am and show them my camera, even let them take a few pictures, ask them to show me their favorite toy or activity that they like to do etc... When booking a lifestyle session, it is a good idea to have a special activity planned for your family or children ahead of time.

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How long would a session be?

This will depend on the activity you choose for your family. You may only want me to capture your family baking cookies or maybe you want to all go out to the county fair... each lifestyle session is totally different so a session can be anywhere from 1 - 2 hours ( does not include traveling time )

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Where would we do this session?

You can choose to have your lifestyle session in your home... maybe your family likes to play board games or you decide to bake cookies during your session. Maybe you don't need family portraits and you would like to capture craft time with your kids or a special outing for a walk downtown

You can have your session outdoors, maybe you have a special place that your family likes to visit?

Spring session? Perhaps the carnival is in town and your family would like to go or your family wants to start a garden or maybe you have a musical family... let's find a field and sing some songs!

If you have a Summer session, you could have a tea party in the yard with your little girls or a picnic if you have boys or set the pool up for some Summer fun!

Fall session? Let's go play in the leaves or find an apple orchard! 

Winter? Take your family to pick out the Christmas tree or maybe we get snow... SNOWBALL FIGHT!

These lifestyle sessions will be photographs that capture you! Your family. Your nest. Your life. No rules, no fuss, no stress!

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How much is a lifestyle session? 

sessions are 40.00 for up to 4 people
20.00 for each additional lovely ( pets are free )

Your lifestyle session includes:

•  1 to 2 hour session
• photographers time/talent
• online password protected proof gallery of 25-35 images

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Does a Birthday/Graduation/Wedding count as a lifestyle session?

No. A lifestyle session is an activity that you and your immediate family only participate in. It is a personal session between those that live in your home. If you are interested in Birdy Photography for your other events, please contact me to discuss pricing.

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I am ready to schedule our lifestyle session! What do I do?

Great! I am excited to capture your family at their best! Please contact me via my website to schedule your session.  You have the option of meeting with me at least 1 week prior to your session to discuss details about your session. Your session fee is due 5 days post scheduling your session. The session fee reserves your session date. If you decide to cancel your session you must do so at least 2 weeks in advance to receive your deposit, otherwise you will not be refunded. If there is a sickness or circumstances you cannot control, we can reschedule your session. The deposit will not be refunded in this case.

Birdy is running a contest to gain back all those fans we lost from our last page!
How to play: It is simple, if you are interested in winning a FREE camera strap from the Strap Happy collection, simply send out a suggestion to all your friends to "like" the Birdy page and post a comment that @YOU ( your name ) is Strap Happy!

If you want to win a FREE minii photo session, send out a suggestion to all your friends to "like" the Birdy page and post a comment that @YOU ( your name ) is a Happy Bird! The more friends you get to "like" Birdy and post your name, the better your chances are at winning! I will be running this contest until Dec. 15th.
Make sure that your friends post YOUR name ie. @jane doe is a happy bird  OR you won't get counted for that entry!

¹⁶ But I will sing of your strength,  in the morning I will sing of your love;

for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

 ¹⁷ You are my strength, I sing praise to you;   you, God, are my fortress, 

my God on whom I can rely.

                                                     Psalm 59:16-17 

I am typing this post to inform all my Birdy watchers that I will not be able to offer my photography services at this point. I have injured my knee and will most likely have to have surgery. I hear that it could be up to 2 months before I can get back to doing what I love :(. Unfortunately, it is the most wonderful time of year for picture taking and I know a lot of you were planning on having photos done for Christmas cards.
I truly apologize but this is something beyond my control. I am hoping to be back in business by the New Year and hopefully will see your smiling faces again! I have a lot of cool ideas for Winter sessions and I am sure I will come up with more while I wait. I will keep you updated on my status! Thank you for understanding :).
*UPDATE* The MRI showed no severe damage so I will not need surgery! PRAISE GOD! I will have to go to physical therapy for a bit and hopefully will be back on my feet in a few short weeks if not sooner :). I just want to thank everyone for their prayers and I hope to schedule a session with you soon!

*If you have had a recent photo session done and are interested in Holiday gifts ie. ornaments, cards, coffee mugs etc... I do offer those items with your images on them, please contact me with what you have in mind and I will send you a price list :).