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.

A photographer friend raved about these, so I ordered my first sample… and, wow!

Image Blocks- beautiful metallic prints wrapped around heavy-duty wood frames.  And the main images are mounted on the background image, for a true 3-D effect.

Look at this —————>

(it’s four images; one background image is the base; three family images are mounted on top)

Join us for a magical, beautiful, fun, girly time!

Place- studio or the Cibolo Nature Center
Clothing- dresses and fairy wings
Props- plants, bridge, mushrooms, rocks, flowers, swing, and “fireflies”

Dates will be August 28th to September 9th.
(This is one of our most popular sessions, and spaces will be limited.  So call TODAY!!!)

A- on location
photography time
thank you cards created from party images/stamps
proofing online
$30 portrait package
(you are responsible for the location, invites, activities, and all food and drinks)

B- studio
photography time
t-shirts and painting
thank you cards created from party images/stamps
proofing online
$50 portrait package
(you are responsible for invites and food and drinks)

C- studio
photography time
t-shirts and painting
snacks, desserts, and drinks
thank you cards created from party images/stamps
$70 portrait package
(you are only responsible for the invitations)

D- studio
portrait session
invitations created from the portrait session/stamps
photography time
t-shirts and painting
snacks, desserts, and drinks
thank you cards created from party images/stamps
$100 portrait package
(you don’t have to lift a finger!)

All parties will be priced for up to 2 hours of my time and for up to 8 children.  Extra charges will apply for additional children at parties at the studio.  All children who attend parties at the studio will be asked to wear one nice outfit for beautiful, formal portraits.  They will also be asked to bring jeans.  We will supply white t-shirts and tank tops to wear with the jeans.  With this outfit, we will create cute, candid portraits (as-is for the boys; with tutus for the girls!).  And the kids will get to paint the shirts to take home as a souvenir.    All thank you cards that we design will contain images from the party, will thank your guests for coming, and will give them instructions on how to view and order their images.  We will do all the work to mail these out for you.

CALL TODAY to schedule your portait party!!!   888-311-5207

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!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

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!

Be sure to be seen in your shirt around town… and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a FREE portrait purse or necklace!

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!!!!)