I know it’s still cold out there and it’s only March but, like a lot of people right now, I’m looking forward to summer 2010! Hopefully, spring is just around the corner and we can finally see the back of the frost and the cold!

Here’s a portrait of Amy that we created last summer on vacation in Florida, but could just as easily have been made here in Oakland or Somerville. Spring is coming and we’re ready for it!

On Saturday Feb. 27th 2010, I had the pleasure of attending another wonderful concert by the Wolf River Chamber Orchestra at the First Congregational Church on S. Cooper.  As with all their concerts, I aim to capture a little of the spirit of the occasion, although I know my camera doesn’t do full justice to the talent of both Mr. Langley and the members of the orchestra, all of whom put their hearts and souls into their performance.

The music was so amazing, in fact, that I almost forgot to take photographs at one point because I was so engrossed in the energy of the performance!

I strongly urge anyone who has yet to attend one of these concerts to go to the next one! Mr. Langley is an amazing conductor, and the musicians are all, without any doubt, real professionals at their art. For me, it was most certainly worth the effort of driving from Oakland TN to see it! Perhaps we can persuade them to perform in Somerville TN sometime too.

For more information about the orchestra, you can visit their web site here: http://sites.google.com/site/wolfriverchamberorchestra/

It’s CONTEST time again!! I just love these contests, they’re so much fun!

This time, we’re giving you the opportunity to share your funny and romantic engagement stories with us on our Facebook fan page. The most popular story by the time the contest closes at midnight on 12th March 2010 will win the lucky couple a free engagement portrait session on location – a $250 value!

Your story must be your actual engagement story and must be true – the story with the most “likes” on Faccebook will win the prize, so this is a great chance to get your friends and family in on the act as well. Obviously, the sooner you can get your story on there the better your chances, so put mouse to screen or pen to paper and start writing!!

Not a Facebook fan already? No problem – you can join in the fun by clicking the link in the Facebook app at the top of this page.

Good luck and I can’t wait to see who wins!!

With all the cold weather, rain, snow and ice we’ve had lately, it was a great feeling to be able to get out and about again with the camera for an hour or two (at least before the thunder and rain returned!). This time I wandered from Oakland TN to Somerville TN and back again.

Roaming around with a camera, simply discovering things that catch my eye, is one of my favourite ways to keep my photography fresh. Yesterday, I found some great subjects as diverse as the Grocery Store on highway 194 and graffiti on an abandoned home. Heaven only knows how long that house had been left unoccupied, but it must have been a number of years – it sounded as though the wind itself was about to blow it down!

A rusty drain cover, with some great texture and an old barn also captured my imagination.

This is a great exercise for anyone with an interest in photography – just go out with no particular purpose in mind and allow your inner eye to see the things your “looking” eye might easily miss…

“I Love You…”

Nothing is more cherished or treasured than a child who says to you, “I love you…” and Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse for them to do just that!

Kids love to make things and helping to create their very own Valentine’s Day card has to be up there at the top of the list!

30 Minute Portrait Sessions

For a limited time only (2/2/10 to 2/5/10) we’re offering our “Hugs & Kisses” afternoon sessions for Valentine’s Day. There are only a few 30 minute sessions available each of the four days and once they’re booked, that’s it, they’re gone!

The kids are going to have so much fun creating these photographs, to produce a beautiful set of lasting portraits that you’ll treasure for a lifetime. These sessions are ideal for kids of all ages and everyone is welcome, but they’re particularly suited to those aged around 5-10.

Custom-Designed Art Valentine’s Cards

Not only do they get three truly awesome concertina cards with up to 12 poses, but the cards are sure to be something you’re going to want to keep forever. Printed on archival watercolor paper with a custom cover, the finished cards are a unique item indeed.

Free $20 Build-A-Bear Gift Card

As if that’s not enough for them, what young child doesn’t adore the “Build-A-Bear” store? I’ve never met one yet that doesn’t go nuts over the place. Now, for a limited time, we’re including a complimentary $20 gift card to the Build-A-Bear Workshop with any portrait package purchased from the “Hugs and Kisses” sessions.

Be A Music Video Star!

How would they like to star in their very own music video? Now, they can! Imagine how excited they’ll be when they see their photographs in a really cool slideshow, all set to music? You can share the video with friends, post it on Facebook or just watch it on your TV. Either way, these cool music videos have been a great hit.

How Do I Book?

The portrait creation fee is normally $75 but, for the “Hugs and Kisses” sessions, the price is only $45, a saving of $30. But, you must act soon. These sessions are going to sell out fast, and I can only fit in a certain number in the four days that the special is running and guarantee to have the cards here in time for Valentine’s Day.

Act NOW!!

If you like what you’ve seen and read here, call me TODAY at (901) 606-9105 and we can have a chat about the sessions and what to expect. There’s no obligation and I can let you know if I have any session slots remaining. But hurry… you can never call too early, but you can call too late…

Arguably the most romantic day of the year is fast approaching – Valentine’s Day! This is the exciting time of year when we celebrate our love and our everlasting relationships, although I would advocate celebrating such things every day!

What will you do for Valentine’s Day this year? Send a card? Go out for a romantic meal? Give a beautiful gift? Send flowers?

But how much of that will actually last more than a few days?

How about a gift that will last a lifetime? If you could have something that would capture the beauty of your love for each other and preserve it forever, so that you could reflect on it and enjoy it for the rest of your lives, wouldn’t that be the most amazing gift you could possibly give?

That’s precisely what a beautifully crafted portrait of the two of you can do…

For a limited time only, you can have a “romance” portrait session that will truly capture your wonderful relationship and the love you share with each other.

No other gift will say, “I love you” so clearly and for so long…

For more information, simply call me TODAY at (901) 606-9105 and I’ll be happy to chat with you.

What’s more, the first 9 couples to make their booking before 2/13/2010 will receive 50% off their session fee and 15% off portrait packages. The actual session can be held at any time, at a location of your choice, but you must book before 2/13/2010.

These romantic sessions can be held anywhere that’s meaningful to you, or in the comfort of your own home, but you must hurry to qualify for the special promotional discount.

We’ve been so busy lately, it’s hard to keep up with everything, but I just had to post some of the adorable photographs we created of Margaret during her 1yr old portrait session this week!

This is one of the first sessions we’ve done in the new studio, and with our new backdrop, and the results are amazing. It’s great to finally have the space to be able to hold indoor sessions, especially at this time of year when the weather outside is a little on the chilly side!

Margaret was the perfect model during her portrait session, and we couldn’t have asked for anyone better or cuter for these photographs! She was a bundle of joy to work with and, as you can see, she made some wonderful images.

There’s only a short window of opportunity to capture children at this time of their lives – it’s truly incredible how quickly they change. I photographed Margaret only 3 months ago, and was amazed at how much she’s grown and changed in just that short amount of time.

Portrait sessions like this are now available by appointment Monday through Wednesday each week, and also on Fridays.

For me, I had a truly great time, and enjoyed creating every one of these photographs – one of the amazing things that makes being a photographer so rewarding.

The fall colors are still here, so call today to schedule your own fun portraits in the park session!

The competition is open to all young photographers, aged through 15 – so get those cameras out, have fun, be creative and start shooting!

The exhibition will feature the work of approximately 100 young photographers, selected by our two jurors from the entries received, and will be on display at Merrick Photography’s new Angel Hill Studio from 21^st November 2009 to 20^th December 2009.

The opening reception and awards presentation will be held in conjunction with Merrick Photography’s Grand Opening for the new studio on Saturday 21^st November 2009 from 5-9pm.

The theme for this year’s competition and exhibition is: “What I Am Thankful For…”

For more details about the competition, rules and entry forms, please see the web site at:

http://www.merrickphoto.com/junior-photographer-2009/

Today turned out to be a beautiful day here in Memphis, which is a great relief after all the rain we’ve had over the last few weeks!

This was a perfect day for the first annual AIA Memphis Chalk Art Festival, held outside the Brooks Museum in mid-town Memphis.

Over 30 teams took part in the competition and I was honored to be asked by AIA Memphis to photograph the event for them.

The standard of artwork was excellent, and everyone had a lot of fun. Congratulations to the winners and to everyone who took part today!