Announcements!

I am so excited it is finally the "Holiday" season again!  I have already started shooting Holiday photos and love it!  Just a reminder that my Holiday season is from September 1st til November 30th.  Any sessions from December 1-10th will be considered RUSH and will be double the cost for the session fee and minimum purchase requirement.  I am filling up and only have a few sessions left for October and November, and all of the December sessions (which I expect to be available until I am fully booked through November)

Don't forget to get on my SNOW SESSION waiting list if you would like to do a snow session for the 2012-2013 season.  I no longer require a deposit, but it is still on a first come, first served basis for when it snows, so the sooner you get on, the higher on the list you will be, and the best chance of getting a snow session!

You can find info for this here:

Snow Sessions

As posted a few days ago, I will not be offering Halloween Mini Sessions this year. Instead anyone who has a session between Now and October 31st, will get a free 5x7 print of each child in their costume if they bring it to their session!  Your child must be in  Halloween costume (babies are okay in some sort of "my 1st halloween shirt) and you will get 1 free 5x7 per child in costume.  I am booked for September, and I only have maybe 2-3 spots left for October.

Also, as of October 1st, I will no longer be including proofbooks with my sessions.  Since I started doing in person ordering sessions, I order a set of 4x6 proofs from your session, which are free if you spend at least $500 at your ordering session, or you have the option to purchase them.  If you choose to not purchase your proof set, I keep them until the end of each year in case you change your mind.  Any sessions already booked with me as of today (September 18th, 2012) will still receive their proofbook with their session.  Any sessions booked with me after today will no longer receive one.  If you would still like to have a proofbook (8x11 4-6 page spiral bound book)  you may purchase one for $50 with your print order.  Repeat clients will still receive a complimentary 4x6 flipbook with your print order!

Holiday 2012 Info Part 2

***As of 8/12/12 I have canceled the Holiday Mini sessions due to lack of interest***



Anyone who has been following my work for at least the past year knows 2 things I love when it comes to my job.  Babies and CHRISTMAS.  I absolutely LOVE my Christmas sessions.  I have so much fun planning out what we are going to use, what clothes you should wear and what I can come up with that is completely unique.  I am hoping that holding a couple of mini session events will help give everyone the chance to get some fun and completely personalized Christmas photos.  If Christmas photos are not your thing, that is fine, they do not have to be Holiday themed.  Some choose not to have holiday themed because they want to be able to display them all year (which I know lots of people who display Christmas family photos all year, and that is awesome!).  

Mini Sessions!!!

I normally do not offer mini sessions, but I decided I would give them a try again.   This time they are a little bit different because they are priced higher, but include tons of stuff, adding up to a better value for those wanting just a few photos and not wanting to commit to a full 2 hour session.  Please keep in mind "mini session" does not necessarily mean "mini price", but they do mean shorter sessions, and better value because I am able to do several sessions in one day rather than my normal 1-2 sessions per day.  Regular studio sessions cost $100, plus you have a minimum print requirement of $150....but for this mini session price your money will go a lot farther, so I promise, it's a very good deal.  I do not have a date for these quite yet, and I am still trying to decide if I should do studio, on location or two different days so I can do one of each.  These will be very limited, and I will only be opening about 5 slots.

Holiday Mini Sessions $350

Valued at over $500

20-30 minute mini session

Upto 5 people

16x20 wall print 

Your choice of 5 gift prints (8x10 and below) 

4x6 proof set of 5-10 edited images 

25 custom holiday cards or a digital image to make your own holiday cards 

25% off Al a carte prints, collections, and wraps

Purchase your entire mini session’s digital images for only $200 extra

(due to the amount of time, no Santa photos can be done during these sessions)

 Repeat clients get $50 off the mini session fee and a Free 8x10
(You will also have the choice to trade out all of the prints and cards for just your digital images if you prefer)

Last year I started a fun tradition of Santa photos.  I call them "glimpse of Santa" because we just used bits and pieces of the Santa suit to keep it a little more magical.  Clients were able to "add" on Santa photos to their session at no additional cost.  I had lots of clients who LOVED this idea and we had a blast with it.  Santa could be Dad, Mom, or my amazing husband who volunteered to be Santa for anyone who had a deployed (or absent) spouse.  

This year I thought I would try offering Santa Mini Sessions.  These are perfect for those who just want a few photos of their kids with Santa, but hate the idea of the horrible mall photos that all look exactly the same.  Every Santa photo is unique.  These sessions will include digital images, rather than prints...which is perfect for printing off your own cards, posting to facebook, and printing just how many you want.  There will be approx. 10 slots open for these Mini Sessions, and Santa will be played by my husband so we do not have to worry about costume switching in a short time frame. If you would like Dad to play Santa, please let me know a head of time, and we can work something out.  Also, if I can find the perfect spot, I think it would be fun to do these as an on location rather than studio.

Santa Mini Sessions  $250

 (valued at over. $400)

Upto 4 children

20 minute session and time with Santa

All edited images on a custom printed DVD (5-10) 

25% off any prints, collections, and wraps.

Repeat clients get $50 off and a FREE 5x7 print

***for mini session events, repeat clients will not receive the regular 4x6 flipbook they normally get from me for being a repeat client, as there are not enough photos to make a book***

A repeat client is anyone who has had a FULL session with me...you all know who you are, and you are AWESOME!

 (past mini sessions or free modeling sessions are excluded...I do have a few model sessions that will receive the discount, email me if you are unsure if you qualifty)

Both mini sessions will need to fill up in order to take place

Holiday Mini sessions: Need at least 5 commitments per location (studio/on location)

Santa Mini Session: Need at least 7 commitments.  If I end up filling up fast, I can add on more days.

Regular Holiday sessions

If you are wanting a full session for your holiday photos, then you want to schedule a regular Holiday session.  All sessions scheduled during this time frame will be considered holiday sessions, but they do NOT have to be holiday themed.  Regular holiday sessions are being scheduled starting now.  They run from September 1st-November 30th.  I am working less this year so I can enjoy my last Christmas in Minot with family and friends, so I will have an even more limited number of sessions available than last year.  I really hate turning people away and feel horrible doing it, so please schedule as soon as possible.  I am leaving December 1-10th available for RUSH sessions.  These sessions will be double session fee ($200-$300) and double print requirement ($300) in order to be scheduled.  There is going to be no exceptions.  If I am booked up, you will have to pay the rush fees if you want a session. The turn around on these will be less than a week rather than my average of 10 days.  Please follow the link at the bottom of this post for more information on Holiday Sessions.

Snowy Sessions

Snow sessions are being booked by a sign up system. Please check out the link below for information on how to get on the list.

Here is a link to my post from a few weeks ago with all of the additional information on holiday sessions.

http://stacyvandyckphotography.blogspot.com/2012/06/holiday-sessions-beginning-september.html

Please email stacy@stacyvandyckphotography.com or call (210)722-3961 for more info or to set up any type of holiday session!

Lake Metigoshe Lifestyle Sessions

If I can get enough interest, I am going to be holding some fun sessions up at Lake Metigoshe sometime in Late July, or Early August.  If I get at least 3 sessions committed, there will be no travel fees at all, just your regular on location session fees.

I am not wanting these to be your regular, photos at the lake, posed session.  I want to capture your family making memories this summer...camping, hanging out around the campfire, fishing, laughing together, playing, hanging out at the lake at sunset.  I think this type of session sounds seriously fun and a great way to capture the memories of summer!

Regular session fee: $125 Session fee and $150 print commitment.

Sessions will include:

1-2 hour Session and creative fee

2 locations around Lake Metigoshe (campsite, lake, park, trail, etc)

Personalized ordering session with printed proofs (proofs available for purchase at extra cost)

8x11 proofing book

***Repeat clients all receive a FREE 4x6 flipbook ($80 value!)***

All of my current specials may be applied to this session as well!

These sessions will most likely take place around 6-8pm, depending on where your session will take place.  Hanging out around the campsite we can probably start around dinner time, if your spot is shaded nicely.  If you are wanting photos at the lake, it will need to be at least after 7pm for best lighting, probably even later.

These sessions will require the full session fee at booking.  I need at least 3, but no more than 5 sessions for this to take place.  I am hoping to get these on weekdays, as it's less crowded...but it will probably end up being on a weekend because of my husband's schedule.  The date will remain up in the air until I can get feedback from those for sure wanting to book a session.

I do not have any sample photos for this style of session since I have never done a session like this before, but I do have a few photos from a little camping trip we took with friends a couple of weeks ago...nothing special and these are barely even edited...I think I just brightened them up a bit since it was a very cloudy evening :)

Holiday Sessions, Beginning September 1st!

I promise I am not crazy....It's never too early to schedule your holiday session.  Some photographers start scheduling them right after Christmas!  Every year I fill up completely...usually by Halloween I have just a small handful of weekday sessions left.  Weekends fill up first.  Each year I am booked up faster and faster.  Because of this I have to turn lots of people away who were really hoping to get one of my awesome Christmas sessions (I have more Christmas props/backdrops then I know what to do with!)   The earlier you set up a session, the best chance you have of getting your preferred date.  I typically start shooting "Holiday" sessions September 1st (that is when I pull out at the Holiday props, outfits, etc).  I open up my schedule more from September-December, pretty much tripling the normal amount of sessions I shoot the rest of the year.

I will not have special holiday packages this year, but as some of you know, I added back on portrait collections year round now.  But if you know for sure you want to schedule a session with me, please do not wait!  

Also if you are considering a snowy session, please contact me to get on my waiting list for that as well.  Snow sessions will no longer be booked as normal sessions.  I now have a waiting list that you must get on.  When we get a good snow, and I am available for a session, I will start making contact, going down the list. These are on a first come, first served basis.  I decided this will work best for our crazy, unpredictable weather up here.  Please call or email to sign up for my 2012-2013 snow session list! (this is due to the lack of snow we got last winter, and actually only being able to shoot about 4 snow sessions all winter!)  If it happens to snow for your on location session, then you luck out and do not have to be on the waiting list, as I am always willing to shoot in the snow!

My normal holiday season will go from September 1st-November 30th 2012.  That is THREE full months of holiday sessions.  After November 30th, I will be doing "Extended Holiday Pricing". This will go from Dec 1-10th.  Basically these sessions are going to be put into "rush mode", and so there will be an extra charge, and will still be completed and prints returned before Christmas.  Once I am filled up through November, if you want to book a session you will have to book one of these and pay the extra cost.

Holiday Sessions are September 1-November 30th.

Extended Holiday Pricing is December 1st-December 10th

 (double session fee, and double minimum print order required, no exceptions)

If you are an expecting mom due anytime in November or December, please contact me ASAP to get on my schedule.  I do everything I can to get newborns in within the first 10 days, and it is much easier and likely if I have your due date on my calender so I know how many newborns I should expect those months.

Please call or email ASAP to get on my Holiday Schedule!

New Policies, effective June 1st 2012

New Policies will be in effect beginning June 1st, 2012.


Sessions:  As of right now, session fees will remain the same.  The only change will be slightly with my newborn sessions...the prices will be staying the same but the packages will be different.  All sessions will require a non refundable $50 deposit.  If you need to reschedule, please do so ASAP, and your deposit can be transferred to a new session time.  No shows will not be able to transfer their deposit and in order to book a session your full session fee will be required upon booking your session.  If you are more than 15 minutes past your scheduled session time and you have not made contact to let me know you are on your way, you will be considered a no show.

Pricing:  Due to MUCH request I have decided to add back on the option to purchase custom digital image discs at an increased price.  No print purchase is required in order to purchase just your image disc.  I have also added back on collection pricing available through out the year rather than just the holidays.  Al a carte pricing starts at $10 for gift prints.  Collections start at $250.  The larger the collection, the more you save.

Ordering:  At the time of your session we will book clients with a custom viewing session.  You will have the choice to do this here at the studio, or in your own home.  This will be scheduled for approx. one week after your session.  This is to make your experience more personalized.  Any orders placed during your custom viewing session will receive 10% off your total (subject to minimum print requirement of $150) for the first few months of my ordering sessions.  I will be allowing a 50/50 payment plan.  50% will be due at the time of your order, and the other 50% will be due upon delivery of your order.  Once an order is placed, you will have the option to have an online gallery posted for one week for viewing of family members.  There will be no discounts available through your online gallery.


Specials:

Canvas- If you spend $500 or more on al a carte prints, you will receive a FREE 16x20 canvas! ($175 retail)

Vintage Photo lines are on sale for $200 (retail $300)


These prices will be effective from June 1st 2012-December 31st 2012.  I may put together some sort of "mini session" type event that will include your session fee, prints, and cards some time around November for the holidays.

Free Gallery Wraps???

I love gallery wraps....gallery wraps and large prints.   As much as I love selling loads of prints, I would love if more clients would buy a gallery wrap, so they can see just how awesome they are.  You know you have all drooled over the ones all over my studio (it's okay, I do too).  In fact, I love gallery wraps so much I am going to do something totally crazy. I am going to give them away to my best clients!  From now until July, I am going to offer a free 16x20 gallery wrap on any print order $500 or more.  That's a $175 gallery wrap, for FREE.  I will even take care of the sales tax for you!  

Any past, present, or future sessions can take advantage of this.  It can be an old session, but it must be a NEW order.  It also must be one single order (I can not combine old orders, or orders from other family members, it must be one new, single order).  I will even allow for you to mix and match sessions for the print orders (which means you can put in an order that contains some newborn photos, sibling photos, etc, as long as the order is $500!)  You may also opt to "upgrade" your gallery wrap to a bigger size!  Just pay the difference from the size you wish to a 16x20.

Please keep in mind, these gallery wraps are not free for me...the cost will be coming out of my own profit.  That is how much I want all of my clients to give them a shot.  I know a few of you already have, and are now addicted to them :)

I plan on doing a studio update photo blog here soon, but until then I just have this semi-crappy photo of my half done gallery wrap wall....but you get the idea :)

Offer will end July 1st 2012

You can do as many orders/free gallery wraps as you wish, there are no limits!

Sale/Specials reminders!

Now that I am back from our little family vacation, I have just a few reminders about sales and specials I wanted to remind everyone of!

I am still offering the Vintage Photo lines for only $200 (33% off)

Vintage Photo lines!

All gallery wrap Canvas are on sale for almost 50% off.  A 16x20 is only $100!

Gallery wrap sale!

Lifestyle sessions are still a special price of only $300.  This price includes a good amount of prints as well.  I am going to be offering just a few more lifestyle sessions at this price before it goes to regular pricing.

Lifestyle Special Pricing!

Please check out the blog posts that are related to these sales.  

Gallery Wrap Sale!

It's here!

I will be having a sale on Gallery wraps for the next 2 weeks!!!  (For those of you wanting these for future sessions, I might do another sale later if this one has good repsonse).  And yes, this is an awesome sale!  These are almost half off regular pricing!  This is the perfect time to build your own gallery wrap or wall collection you have been waiting for!

Here is a list of my most common sizes:

16x20  $100 (regular price $180)

16x24  $125 (regular price $225)

20x24  $150 (regular price $275)

24x36  $200 (regular price $350)

Buy 2 or more, and get 10% off your order!

Go crazy people!

(here is a not so great photo of some gallery wrap samples in my studio)

Now all the boring stuff (that you still have to read!)

Price does not include tax.  Other sizes available on request, please email for price quote.

To take advantage of this sale:

Please send me an email to stacy@stacyvandyckphotography.com with the subject "Gallery Wrap Sale".

Refer to your proofing book for the photo number of the photo you wish to order.  

If you do not have a proofing book (older sessions, or lost books) but you know what photo you want just let me know.  If you are not sure, please schedule an in studio viewing to pick out which canvas(s) you would like, or your session can be republished for $25.

In your email please include:

Your first and last name

Photo number

Size(s) of canvas(s) desired.

Please keep in mind the size when you chose your photos.  Gallery wraps already crop into photos part way to allow for the wrapping around the edge.  16x20s and 20x24s are cut into even more because they are more of a square like crop.  I am happy to check to see if a specific photo would work in a specific size for you, just let me know!

Payment:

Payment can be made by dropping/sending off cash or check, or you can send payment via paypal (I will send you an invoice) or stop by the studio to run your card (or call, I can put it in manually too).

These are for local pick up only this time, no shipping.  If you are a grandparent/family member that would like to order from out of town, please have someone local pick up your canvas.

Orders will not be processed until payment is made in full.
Sale ends April 13th 2012.

Please send any questions to stacy@stacyvandyckphotography.com

Vintage Photo Lines

*One has been claimed, 2 more left at the sale price!*

Many of you know I completely re-did my entire studio last summer.  I pretty much tripled my prop stash, which required me to re organize, and re-decorate my the entire studio.  One of the things I get the most comments on is my "Vintage Photo Line" that runs across the length of my studio.  Lots of people ask if I am going to start selling them, so I decided to offer them for a limited time, as a trial, and if there continues to be interest in them I will add them onto my line of products available for purchase with your photo session.  I try to keep things simple when it comes to what I offer.  I find that when there are too many options, people get overwhelmed, so sometimes I will try out a new product and if there is not a whole lot of interest, I just will stop offering it, to keep clutter down when it comes to my products.

This is a super fun way to display your entire session!

Details!

Regular Price:

$300

(plus tax)

Includes

All hardware to hang up to 16 feet of the line.

1 clip per photo (20+)

 Prints on vintage style polaroid prints....

Your entire session as is (mix of color and black and white)

OR

Your entire session in Black and White prints

(you choose which set you would like for your images)

A typical session has an average of 25-30 images, but I have been known to have close to 50 images in a single session :)  It's the same price, no matter how many images were in your session.

Sale!!!

For a limited time, my first 3 sold will be on sale for $199! (plus tax)

After that there will be a short waiting list, and they will go to the normal price of $300 each.

Anyone who has had a session or will have a session is applicable to purchase these at any time.

These will take 1-2 weeks for me to design, send off to my lab, and ready for pick up at my studio, and must be paid in full at time of purchase.

Legault Clan!

Schrader Fam

Snow Session Info.

Update: I am no longer requiring a deposit to get on the list. But if you are wanting a snow session, you MUST be on the list. The list will still go in order of sign up date.

I get quite a bit of interest in snow sessions every fall/winter.  Because I do a lot of military family sessions, a lot of you want to have some really fun snow themed photos to represent your time you spent in Minot....since let's face it...If you are from anywhere besides the Northern states, Minot is a completely different experience from anywhere else.

The only problem with snow sessions is that they can be VERY unpredictable....especially this particular year.  I think by this point most of my clients wanting snow sessions have pretty much given up for the year!  There are a few factors that go into determining when and where a snow session can take place.  This year we have not had constant snow every few days so it has made it much harder to try and schedule them. So from now on I have decided to do a "Snow Session Waiting List".  This will go into affect starting now and anytime you are wanting any type of snow session.  If you are just wanting a regular outdoor session, the waiting list does not apply to you...but if you are specifically wanting a session with snow you will need to get on the waiting list.

How to sign up for a snow session:

If you are wanting a snow session please email me at stacy@stacyvandyckphotography.com.  

I will now have a list that your name will go on.  The order of the list will be the order I receive the requests, so if you are interested, please get your name on the list right away as we probably don't have many more snow days until next fall.  When I have an opening (just after a snow, or another cancelation, etc) I will start contacting clients in the order the names appear on the list.  If the first person is not available, I will move on to the next, and so on.  Usually these sessions will have very short notice, so it will require some flexibility on your side as well as mine.  I will also let you know where on the list you are.  Please keep in mind, that I will not be able to do a snow session every time it snows.  I have other regular scheduled sessions as well as a personal life that involves taking my kids to practices, family activities, and personal commitments.  If I am able to squeeze in a session I will start contacting clients.  Sometimes I might be able to do more than one a day or a few over the span of a couple of days.

I think this is the best way to make sure everyone who is interested in this type of session gets the best chance.  In the past few months  I have probably had 30 people call me saying they want a session but they want it in the snow.  The problem is they do not book a session, and then when we finally get snow, I am booked up.  This allows me to use time that I have available to be flexible and squeeze last minute sessions in.

Sessions can take place anywhere you wish and will last 30 minutes to an hour at most.  I am even able to do them on base, there are plenty of places where you will not see cars, houses, buildings, etc.  The pricing on these sessions is the same as a regular on location session, the only difference is they will most likely be a shorter session due to the colder temps.

Snow Session Requirements:

Must be a fresh snow fall.  You don't want brown ugly snow in your photos, so it needs to be within a few days and not have been too warm.

Day sessions must have an overcast sky.  Sun and snow do not mix. The snow reflects the sun and makes it so bright you can't even open your eyes.  They can also be done in the evenings most days, right around sunset when the sun isn't so harsh.

If you are not able to the session when I call you, I will move on to the next person on the list, but your name will remain at the top for the next time.

What to wear:

Try not to wear clothing that is too bulky.  Snow suits are warm, but they are not cute in photos.  I suggest lots of thin layers.  Thermals/leggings (2 pairs if its really cold) and then jeans.  Thermal shirts with a cute sweater and/or a pea coat looks great too.  Find some fun hats, scarves and gloves to accessorize and bring in fun colors.  Try to wear boots that will keep your feet warm with nice thick socks.  Uggs, BearPaws, etc. are cute and do a good job keeping warm.  For kids get the little hand and foot warmers to put in their gloves and boots.  Lots of color makes the photos stand out and more fun.  I usually do not suggest all wearing the same exact color.  You can always email, call, or come by and chat with me about clothing choices if you are unsure!

I will be doing the same thing (the waiting list) for Holiday Snow Sessions this fall/winter.  If you are planning on having one, please let me know ASAP as well.  I will have a list for immediate snow sessions, and another for Fall/Winter 2012/13 so please let me know which one you would like to be added to.

Newborn Love

I think Minot is having a baby boom right now, because I have done more newborn sessions in the past few months than ever before...which is fine by me.  Newborn and baby photography has always been my passion.  Anyone who has experienced a newborn session with me, knows how much work goes into them.  But they are totally worth it in every way.  There are sooooooo many things I love about newborns and newborn sessions....so just for fun, I thought I would put together a little list! (okay not so little, but this is narrowed down!)

My favorite things about newborns & newborn sessions:

The way they smell...honestly, there is nothing better in my book.

How they don't even fit in their own skin yet.

The tiny little blisters that form on their lips from nursing.

Snuggles.  I seriously can't get enough of this every time I have a newborn session.

The way their skin is perfectly imperfect

Peach fuzz all over their backs, ears, necks and arms

Sleepy smiles

Getting a call from the hospital (sometimes before Grandma...shhh!) that the baby is here!

Seeing how their mama is in complete awe of the tiny miracle she brought into the world

Milky bubbles on their lips once they are in the "milk coma"

Watching how the daddies who were once big tough guys, are head over heels in love with their new princess within hours of birth.

How newborn clothes are too big on babies under 8lbs.

Wrinkly and flaky feeties and fingers.

Watching mom and dad's look of embarrassment after their baby poops all over my setup, me, and anything else near them.   Honestly, every baby does it, and it does not gross me out...AT ALL...I promise. (and all the stains always come out!)

Umbilical cord stumps.  I know they are disgusting to most people, but I love how it's proof of just how new they are to the world.

Another Lifestyle Session: Twin Style!

I was pretty excited when Chelsea told me she wanted to do a lifestyle session for her upcoming newborn photos (in addition to her studio session). This was only my 2nd true lifestyle session, so I still need lots more practice....good thing I LOVE them! Both of my lifestyle sessions now have told me how much less stressful and relaxing it is to do them in their own home. There are no worries about forgetting certain outfits...and it's a lot easier for your child to be in their own home. Big brother did an amazing job of course!