We just participated in the yearly MOPS Shop event, where local moms at MOPS got to browse booths of other local moms’ businesses…
We set up a table for Shutter-Happy with our images and goodies.
We showcased our work; we gave away pamphlets and balloons; we sold cupcakes and petit fours.
And then we had a drawing for a gift certificate. Free session and portrait purse. Valued at over $150. Winner was Melissa Siller!
Yesterday was so much fun! Thanks to all who stopped by for trick-or-treating and portraits!
1- A big THANK YOU to all who brought items to donate to the Medina Children’s Home. At the end of the day, my son Ben and I were able to drop off several heavy bags of clothing and shoes! What a blessing your items will be to those in need!
2- The collage digital file of everyone that stopped by will be e-mailed to you soon. It’s FREE! Enjoy… and share!
3- You may now view and purchase your images! Watch for the e-mail with instructions on how to see all the proofs and the special coupon codes for up to 50% off our regular studio print prices.
I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween and fun trick-or-treating with your kiddos.
:)
School pics! So much fun, so rewarding.
Two weeks ago I photographed at the Hill Country Montessori and this past week I was at the First United Methodist Church’s Mother’s Day Out. Both of these schools have used me for years, and I so appreciate their continuous support and business.
Next week I’ll be at Messiah Lutheran Church’s preschool program. They were a new account last year. And I’m so glad they loved the experience, to use me again this year.
And I just got word this week that we have three new schools to work with in the next month. Welcome, to The Little Lighthouse Christian Learning Center, Tarry Bank Montessori School, and Cross Mountain Church’s preschool! I am so excited to work with all of these new kiddos.
And while these and Christmas portraits are going to keep me plenty busy through the end of the year… I would love to photograph organizations or dance schools in the spring. Let me know if you know a school or team I can work with!
What a fun night, last weekend!
Emily, her husband Lewis, my husband Nathan, and I got all dressed up to enjoy an evening under the trees and stars at the nature center for their annual gala.
There was a live and silent auction. (we had donated a gift certificate for a free session and any size art piece)
And all the best restaurants in the area served up delicious food as we got to eat, visit, and listen to the band.
It was a fun way to celebrate and support this beautiful spot that we use for sessions throughout the year.
If you have yet to visit, it’s a must!
For all those orders placed so far this year, the community thanks you. Here’s what we’ve been doing with some of our hard-earned income…
* We supported Kendall Elementary… bought an ad space in their PTO student directory and signed up to be a big donator for their Run the Gauntlet event.
* We supported Fabra Elementary… bought an ad space in their PTO student directory and signed up to be a big donator for their hay maze fundraiser.
* We supported Curington Elementary… bought an ad space in their PTO student directory, signed up to be a big donator for their Walk-a-Thon event, and I donated a few hours of photography time and hundreds of digital files from the Walk-a-Thon.
* We supported Cibolo Creek Elementary… bought an ad space in their PTO student directory.
* Cibolo Nature Center… we donated a gift certificate for one free session and art piece for their auction.
* MOPS… we’re donating a dozen gift certificates for free purses to be given out at meetings throughout the year.
* Backpack Connection… we are continuously advertising, so that these magazines can keep going home in your children’s backpacks at no charge to you.
Thank you for supporting us so that we can give back to these local schools and organizations!
A few reasons for posting these…
1- It’s the Christmas portrait season! We want you to start planning now so you’re not rushing at the last minute to create your beautiful images and Christmas cards.
2- To show you all kinds of color ideas. You don’t have to wear white!
3- It’s fun to look back at these. 
Each year since Ben was born, we’ve been posing for Christmas portraits. And each one of these is printed as an 8×10 canvas. And they’re all hanging as a collage in our hallway.
2003- Was not a photographer yet. Obviously didn’t know how to dress, light, or pose. My dad took the pic. Very end of Upper Cibolo Creek Rd.
2004- Still not a photographer. Doing a little better with clothing? My dad took the pic again. Pipe Creek Christmas Tree Farm.
2005- Had started my business. Looking much better. Tripod was set up, with camera on self-timer. Our living room.
2006- Good colors, close pose. Tripod and self-timer. Our living room.
2007- Great colors and pose. Tripod and self-timer. Lost Maples State Park. (very tough day, feeling awful with morning sickness)
2008- Awesome colors, close pose. We’re back to my dad taking the image. Cibolo Nature Center.
2009- Cool colors, relaxed pose. My dad took the image again. Studio.
Well, employee… or just part of the team… or is he a prop?
Welcome Ferdinand (or “Ferdy”), named after the funny duck on the movie Babe. He is a white’s tree frog that we purchased this morning. We have made him a permanent home at the studio. And he can be used for any of your children’s portrait sessions.
That’s right, along with all the beautiful portrait clothes you pack for your session, don’t forget the cute overalls or jeans and t-shirts. Indoors our out, he is going to be a cute and unique addition to some of your images!
Thursday was SO much fun!!!
The day started with our ribbon-cutting. Dozens of Chamber members came by to host the event and support us. And BEN got to cut the ribbon as we posed for our picture for the newspaper. He LOVED it! 
Then we played host to lots of family, friends, clients, and the community as they stopped by to tour the new studio, grab some snacks, enjoy their time in the photo booth, and visit.
THANK YOU to all who played a part in making this dream happen. THANK YOU to all who have supported Shutter-Happy over the years. I am so blessed. “Do what you love; Love what you do.”
Click here for our You Tube video of my speech for the Chamber reception.
Our lease for the 1920’s home began on the 4th of July. We quickly had the fire marshall come out to inspect, had pest control start a regimen, had a cleaning crew out to scrub top to bottom, had our insurance agent over to assess, and hired a handyman to make some big improvements. Moving in took all week long. And then our real work began…
In the front, we removed trees that blocked the view of the building from the street, pulled weeds, planted flowers, cleaned and painted the front porch, hung bird houses and a bird feeder, installed our doorbell, put in a new porch light, hung a basket of flowers on the door, and replaced the latch and lock. The biggest snag in this project… the actual front door. We planned on sanding and painting. I sanded for about 5 minutes, was eaten alive by mosquitos, and gave up. Nathan sanded for about an hour, decided it was too much work, and gave up. We had to give in and purchase a new door!
Entryway… we replaced the dated light with a gorgeous chandelier a friend gave us; we put in hooks and tables to display our purses.
The camera room/party room!!! We replaced the ceiling fan, added our rug, installed a background track system, hung canvases, and hung fun paper lanterns. This is where most of our sessions will take place; we will begin having portrait parties in this room; and our gallery-wrap canvases will be showcased here.
Camera room 2- we moved in our cute blue couch and an outdoor scene (our barn wall, hay bales, old doors, wagon wheel, and grass). We’re also going to build a tin wall for another background option.
Hallway to the bathroom… we put in a table at the end and chose to use the space to highlight our framing options.
Bathroom- added curtains, a rug, and a bench; cleaned up the toilet.
Rest of the bathroom- changed the lighting; took down the old medicine cabinet and hung an antique mirror; completely replaced the cabinetry; replaced the towel hangers and faucet; bought a diaper changing pad for mommies and babies; and purchased a bubble machine for fun pics in the cute tub!
Mine and Emily’s office- removed the light and added a ceiling fan; moved in our desk, rug, chairs, ottoman, shelves, and products. This is where we’ll conduct our print consultations/order appointments. All we have to still do is move in the projector and projection screen. Anyone notice our resident chicken?
Playroom!!! While parents are busy working with us to place print orders, the kiddos are welcomed to enjoy our playroom… train table, puzzles, play kitchen, shopping cart, TV and movies, Hot Wheels, puppets, books, play doh, and markers. Fun!!! We also have a bunch of our float wraps hung in this room, showing them off here.
Kitchen- moved in a table and chairs; highlighting our stretcher frame canvases here. Camera room nook- great little built-in cabinets where we’ll be hosting partners’ business cards. Props room- we also have a large props room, but it is still a little unorganized, so I’m not going to show it here yet. Extra room- we also have an extra room that we still do not have plans for.
Want to see the new place? Get a sneek peak as you drive past 11 Upper Balcones Dr! Let’s schedule a tour or session! Or watch for our ribbon cutting and open house announcement!
Want to at least see the big pictures? Visit our main site (http://www.shutter-happy.com/); click on Enter Site; click on The Studio tab; click on Location.
Want to have your business’ information displayed? Get your pamphlets or business cards to me and we’ll put them out for our clients!
Interested in renting out our extra room for your business? Inquire any time!
Wow! We completely missed the voting process, forgot to remind our friends, family, and clients to fill out ballots… and we’re still one of the top three photographers in Kendall County!
THANKS to everyone who did get out and vote in The Boerne Star’s Best of the Best contest! Thanks to you, we won silver again this year! It’s an honor to be recognized the last six years in a row.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!
We had so much fun yesterday!!!
Thanks to everyone who stopped by to help us celebrate, to John Moon Custom Homes who constructed our photo booth, and to all of our partners who donated wonderful gifts to give away to our clients…
Shutter-Happy Photography- business cards, stickers, balloons, t-shirts, and gift certificates for a free 16×20 or 16×24 print or canvas, free portrait purses, and a free session
Mary Kay Cosmetics- two pampering gifts with products
Partylite Candles and Gifts- candles
An Angel’s Touch Therapeutic Massage and Wellness- business cards and a gift certificate for a free massage
The Happiest Vacations on Earth by Lindsey- postcards with Disney vacation-planning specials
KM Designs- business cards and gift certificates for discounts on sewing services
SnoBiz- gift certificates for free snow cones
Bear Moon Bakery- gift cards for free cookies
Starbucks- $5 gift cards
Hill Country Montessori School- business cards, pencils, and a gift certificate for a free summer class
Premier Designs Jewelry- business cards, coupons, and a free set of earrings
Hill Country Kids Learning Center- business cards
Macaroni Kid- business cards, lollipops, and a pancake mold
KNR Paints- free gallon of paint gift certificates
Wackadoo’s- coupons and hair care products
The annual Texas Professional Photographers Association’s summer conference in Kerrville was great, once again!
Sunday’s topic was “How to be the Happiest Baby Photographer on the Block.” The photographer let us in on her workflow, the benefits of having a small staff, the secrets to her success, and her favorite merchandise item that almost every single one of her clients purchases (album). I walked away feeling confident in the fact that I follow all of her practices as far as dealing with clients, posing, and lighting. And she inspired me to find a studio space so that the business can grow, get help with sales (since I’m terrible at it), and to find a supplier of beautiful albums that we can begin to offer.
Yesterday’s topic was “Successful Marketing.” The photographers flooded Emily and I with tips on how to make a marketing plan and stick to it, how to create eye-catching advertisements, how to get a buzz going about the studio, and how to make a successful sale happen. Thanks to this full day of information, we may have our first one-day sale! Watch for it!
Then we headed out to The Farm with our families for dinner, swimming, tractor rides, and games. And then back to the hotel for the after-party, complete with wonderful desserts, loud music, and lots of laughter!
It was so much fun! I’m refreshed, energized, ready to look for a studio space, ready to make some changes!
The Boerne Cooking Cottage is having their grand opening on Saturday!!! With the cutest building, complete kitchen, and a wonderful instructor… you will not want to wait to take your kids for cooking classes!
Please support this business and Chef Lauren Moore who has taken this on. And watch for our images on their walls. (Tell them I sent ya!!!!)
Wackadoo’s (a family salon) is opening tomorrow!!!
Bright, colorful, full of fun things for the kids to do… it’s the perfect place for Mom to get her color done, Dad to get a fresh cut, and the kids to get a new style!
Please support this business and Audra Miller and family who have taken this on. And watch for our images on their walls. (Tell them I sent ya!!!!)
It’s taken over a week to realize that Alice is leaving Shutter-Happy. Tears have come and gone. Like she said to me, I had also pictured us growing old together. I actually saw us opening up a big studio in town together one day. I 
thought we’d always be partners in crime.
But with her other job at the library, her girls’ crazy schedules, and lack of computer time, she felt she wasn’t able to dedicate enough time to me and you, our clients.
So I say good-bye… and thank you.
Thank you for over two years of
service and friendship. You will be truly missed.
Her and her girls over the years…..
