Slideshow from weekend get away

For our anniversary, we rented a cabin in the Hocking Hills area of Ohio. Even in the winter, the area is amazing.

Enjoy the slideshow.

2008 price changes

Just want everyone to be aware that my prices will change on Feb. 1, 2008. If you have not ordered prints from 2007, now is the time to do so. After Feb 1, the new price structure is in place regardless of when you had your pictures taken.

Also, due to the growth of the studio...Yeah!!...I can no longer keep images past 90days once you have placed your order. Only the negative of the picture ordered will be kept on file for 90 days. All other negatives will be purged.

Another big change will be in how long images are kept after a session. If you have not order after 30 days from viewing your images online, I have to assume that you will not be ordering and the images will be purged. This is to save space and keep my system current.

Another biggie is viewing the previews. As of Jan 1, 2008, all sessions will be veiwed online. Paper previews will be available, but you must order a preview booklet at your session. There is a 3 week turn around for preveiw booklets. If you do not order at that time, you have the option of ordering a session album with your print order. There is a big difference between preview books and session albums. A preview book is 4x5 spiral bound, watermarked and contains the studio information. The previews are straight from the camera. It is yours to keep once you purchase it at your session. A session album contains your favorite prints from the session or all of them and will be available in differeant formats and sizes. These are the high quality images you will recieve from your finished prints. Session albums are perfect gifts and coffee table albums.

All the studio policies will be available online in my main site as well as the senior site and future wedding site. Please watch for these as they will include policies on print discounts also.

I am pleased to offer creative high quality portaits to my customers and want to make your session and relationship with the studio as pleasent and comfortable as possible. Hopefully my new policy page will help with that.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas! I look forward to hearing from you in 2008!!

10 year wedding anniversary

Just wanted to share that today is my ten year wedding anniversary. Not only is today a special anniversary (although all anniversaries are special) mine is especially so. I met my husband 13 years ago. At that time I was widowed with a 3 year old son. I was putting myself through photography school and very self sufficient. Those years of being on my own made me a stronger person. I don't play on the tragedy that effected my life, it did make me who I am today. I am forever grateful for my son from my first marriage. I am also very blessed with the life I now have and the 3 beautiful daughters I have. My husband is a wonderful man and my life is very full and blessed. So, with the firm belief God has total control and everthing happens for a reason, I know I am truly blessed on my 10th anniversary.

Happy Holidays

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I got to spend time with my sister who has moved closer to Ohio. This was a very thankful time for me. I see her maybe once a year and she had to come to Ohio for this to happen. Now she's driving distance and I'll get to go visit her instead!!

My youngest daughter and I picked out the Christmas music you're listening too. I hope it puts you in the mood for the Holiday season.

Last minute gifts can still be ordered until Dec. 5. I won't be available after the 5th so order soon! Gift ideas, portrait purses, dry erase boards, canvas prints, and Christmas cards.

I also am throwing a thank you out to my friend Lori. With her ever so gentle nudging, I am decorating for Christmas in Novemeber instead of December. Next year I will be using my decorations as portrait backgrounds. So something to look forward to next Christmas.

2008 graduating seniors

Check out the links for featured 2008 seniors. Watch for Jan specials!!

Kiel

and

Claire

Hey brides...trash that dress!!

You heard me, now that the wedding is over, contact me for a Trash the Dress Session. A fun, creative, artful way to wear your wedding dress one more time. It's not about destroying the dress you searched and searched for, it's about creating fun memories of wearing your dress of a lifetime! No prim and proper here, this is about out fun and creativity. Since this is a new area for my portfolio, there's an incentive here! 50% off the session and 25% off your order if over $100. Oh, and I'll throw in a free 8x10 for signing a model release so I can add your session to my portfolio and advertising.

Don't know what trash the dress is about? Just watch the clips below.

And high school seniors, I'm offering a very similiar session for your formal dress. Still fun, artful and creative, but geared toward a high school student.

Thanks for stopping by...

A big thank you to everyone who stopped by me booth during the Miami County Fair. I wasn't able to be there all day, but tried to stop in whenever possible.



The winner from the free session drawing will be notified by mail since a place for phone number where left off the entry forms. And the winner for that is Erin Taylor. Thanks to everyone who entered.



Anyone who picked up information on my new faces sessins or found the link on my splash page; Sept 30 is the dead line for this. Time slots are filling quickly.



Also, the deadline for Christmas pictures this year is October 31. The studio will be closed to sessions during November and December to ensure everyone who had Christmas sessions scheduled recieves there prints before the holidays.



Once again I am having Costume Cuties mini sessions on October 27th. I know it seems early to be thinking about Halloween, but with school starting up again, times just going to fly!! This is one day only and like last year includes a 5x7 and 8 wallets for $15. These 15 minute sessions are a great way to get fun memories of the children in their costumes.

New name, new start.

It's been a while since I posted. I've been learning some new skills (portrait painting) and putting together a new look and name for the studio. Years ago when I decided I wanted to own my own studio and take photography as a career, I fell in love witht the idea of first impressions. It says so much and gave me a lot to work towards. Well sometimes success is as scary as failure. I've reached a point in my work, where I am no longer afraid of either. Hence the changes.

Cook Photograpy is now First Impressions Photography. I hope you follow me through all the changes and growth. You can subcribe to my blog by filling in the box to the left. Also, don't forget to check out any other links I have posted.

My new website www.f1rstimpressions.net is still a work in progress. It's definately work of the heart since this is my best way of showing off my portraits and reaching my clients. I will be adding a link for my newsletter, please sign up for that also. I need a certain number of clients before I can go forward with this. My first newsletter was sent out in April, but I am short on names for any other newsletters at this time. Sign up and get in on any coupons or specials. The first one featured a special on the gorgeous photo purses I carry in my boutique line. But, please don't ask me to use a photo not taken at the studio for your spcecialty items. These are for customers of First Imressions Photograpy featuring their favorite pose from their session.

I will try to do better with my blogging. With over 1000 senior mailers going out, I am looking forward to posting some exciting senior sessions over the summer. I also have a couple fundraisers in the works. One is for the Miami County Humane society. So, keep checking back!!

Something special for Valentine's Day!!

Valentine's Mini Session

Location:
Cook Photography

When:
Saturday, January 20, 9:00am to 5:00pm

Phone:
937-368-3809

• Mini Portrait session just in time for Valentine's Day.


• Each session is by appointment. Call to schedule your time.


• Each session is approximately 15 minutes.


• Previews will be presented online. The Valentine's day frame shown above (8x10) is also being offered at the same price as a regular 8x10


• No session fee!! (With signed model release)
  
• Lots of fun!


• Sessions are available for children, but this is a good time to leave the kids at home and come for a session of your own to surprise that special someone.


• Pass your invite on to a friend and schedule back to back sessions!