JPSearcy Photography Blog

I know, it is still 90 degrees outside, and we haven’t hit September yet.  HOWEVER, it isn’t too early to start thinking about holiday photos.  Now, you don’t have to get your photos taken right now, but you do want to start thinking about when you want to have your session, and get on my calendar.  LOTS and LOTS of info in this post!

I have just released my fall availability calendar, and it is on my website now.  My deadlines this year are as follows: November 21 LAST session date to guarantee Christmas delivery; December 5 LAST day to place an order to guarantee Christmas delivery (not including canvas and/or purses, those need more time to come back).

Now, some fun news!  I am going to be offering mini sessions for the holidays! This is a one day only special, and as soon as the slots are all filled, the mini session special is over!  So, if getting just a few images for your cards, and maybe a gift or two, sounds just perfect for you, check the details below!

If you have ANY questions at all, please call or e-mail!  But if you prefer to have a full session at your choice in location, I am definitely booking those as well!  You will just need to let me know when you would like to have your session, and where you want it to be!  Fall dates tend to fill up quickly, so you will want to get on the calendar as soon as you know you want to have a session with me.

And last bit of fun info, this year’s holiday cards!  I am so excited about this years cards.  There are lots and lots of choices, so you are bound to find one design that you just love!  If you haven’t seen my cards in person, just ask, and I would be happy to show you a sample.  They are high quality, linen textured two sided flat cards (with envelopes, of course).  They are sold in packs of 25.  The pricing is: 25/$75, 50/$135, 75/$185, 100/$225.

Here are the cards that I will be offering this year!  Can’t wait to hear what you think of them!

Hi all!  I am back from vacation, and I am not gonna lie, I wish I was still there!  Alaska is such a beautiful place, and it was hard to come home.  But, of course, I did come home!  And now I am rested and recharged and ready to get shooting again!

For my seniors, I know you don’t want to hear this, but there is only 2 weeks until school starts.  I know some of you wanted to wait until the end of summer to get your senior photos taken.  Well, that time is now!  I still have several  dates open this month, so you want to get a jump on them.  Once school starts, there will be a million other things going on!  But, if you are wanting to wait a little longer, that is fine too.  Fall does tend to book up with family shoots, so you will want to at least get on the calendar soon, so you get the date that you want.

For my families, I know YOU don’t want to hear this, but we are getting close to the holidays!  I know, you are going to say that there is still 5 months, but if you have been with me for a while, you know that really isn’t true.  Yes, of course there is still 5 months until the holidays, BUT not 5 months until holiday photos!  My shooting deadline is usually the end of October, for you to get them back before the holidays.  That allows enough time for editing, proofing, ordering, and printing.  So, if you know you are going to want your family photos done, it is best to contact me now to set your date.  Weekends in the fall go pretty quickly!

And then a little more news.  Many of you have been hearing about my Africa trip.  Many of you have been so patient and understanding with me and my ever-changing schedule, with regards to the Africa trip.  Well, you don’t have to wait anymore.  There was only 10 days in this entire year that I would not be able to go (because of this family vacation that has been in the works for over a year).  After too many delays to count, the family FINALLY got the clearance to travel and pick up their son!  Unfortunately (for me, not them!), it was a few days ago, when I was in Alaska.  I am over the moon excited for the family, because as you know, this is a LONG time in waiting (we were originally supposed to travel in JANUARY!).  I wish I was there, but I am so happy that their wait is finally over.

So, since I won’t be traveling to Africa (anytime soon!), I am planning on flying up to Nashville (where they live) and doing a family session for them after they get back and settled.  I have to wait until they get back to set exact dates, but it will be sometime in September.  I will be there for a few days, and since I am up there, I will accept a couple of sessions while I am there.  If you live in the area and are interested in booking a session, OR if you know someone in the area who would be interested, let me know!  jps@jpsearcyphotography.com  My travel sessions tend to fill up quickly, and especially with this time of year (perfect for those holiday sessions!), I expect these couple of slots to go.

That is all the news and updates I have for now!

As much as I love the scorching heat of Florida (insert eyeroll here), I am leaving this great state for a little while.  No worries, I’ll be back, it is just vacation!  My family and I are heading off to Alaska for a much needed vacation!  This is one of those “bucket list” vacations, and we are SO excited to be going.  I will be taking at least 2 million photographs while I am gone, so I am sure you will be seeing a few here in a couple of weeks.  But for now, I will be checking my e-mail only frequently (come on, it IS a vacation afterall!).  So be patient with my e-mail response time please!  But I promise you, I will come back fully recharged and ready to shoot!   If you are interested in booking a shoot, check the calendar section on my website for available dates, and then e-mail me the one you want (with one back up date, just in case).   And what a way to come back from vacation, with an e-mail full of people who want sessions .

Oh, how I love my birthday!  My husband and boys always spoil me.  Not necessarily with a bunch of gifts, but rather with lots of love and attention.  It is a day all about me!  Who wouldn’t love that?!  This morning, I slept in late, and was greeted with my most favorite breakfast in the world.  Banana stuffed french toast.  YUMMMMMM!

So now I sit here in a very happy mood, so I want to spread that around!  (That is where YOU come in!).  For any sessions booked TODAY (until midnight tonight!) for shoots held in September, you will get the gift of a HALF PRICE SESSION and a free gift print with your order!  This offer is good for today only, and the session must be booked for September.  It is good for senior sessions, kid sessions, baby sessions, or family sessions!

September is a great time to have a session.  The weather is cooling down (a little), and it is a great jump into the holiday season (yes, have to think about that already!).  Get those family holiday photos done and crossed off your list early this year!

So, if you want to take advantage of my BIRTHDAY SPECIAL, shoot me an e-mail at jps@jpsearcyphotography.com and let me know what date you want!  Remember, you have to pick your date TODAY for this half price session!

Happy birthday to me . . . Happy birthday to me . . . Happy BIRTHDAY to Jeannette . . . Happy birthday to me!

Whew!  I am SO ready for vacation!  I will be gone (but still checking in, of course) until July 3rd.  Feel free to e-mail me directly at jps@jpsearcyphotography.com to schedule sessions or ask questions.  However, be patient with me getting back with you!  I should be able to check my e-mail once a day, but I do plan on keeping work to a minimum to spend as much time as possible with my family!

And a side note, to the two families that I shot the other day.  I am so sorry that I couldn’t get the sneak peeks up for you.  I really did have good intentions, but here it is almost 5am, and I JUST finished packing and wrapping things up.  Off to bed to take a little nap before a long drive!  And I promise I will get the sneaks up for you as soon as I get back!  Thanks for your understanding!

and what a way to end it!  She was beautiful, had a great family with her, and was lots of fun!  We met out at a park that I rarely go to, but LOVE!  Especially at that time of day, sunset.  The sun sets over the lake, and we get amazing light.  Ahhhhhh!

I do want to apologize to her, and a few of my other clients though.  Her sneak peek is a little delayed by a day or two are a couple of proofing galleries.  I over-committed myself the past couple of weeks (well, more to the point, things have taken a lot longer than originally planned).  I promise to those who have been patiently waiting for their galleries to go up, they will be up by mid-week.  I am gluing myself to the computer chair so I can get caught up on everyone’s proofing! LOL!  Thank you so much for being patient, and I promise the wait will be worth it!

OK, back to sneak peeks!  Here is another gorgeous senior!

Thank you for a wonderful session, and I can’t wait to proof the rest of your shots!

With my week long of learning, I have decided to make some changes!  Change is always good!  I am working on getting them together now, but just wanted to give you a little peek into what may be coming on the horizon!

I will be starting baby plans!  If you don’t know what these are, they are where you pay one fee, and then bring your baby in several times during the year for no additional session fee.  Typically done at newborn, 4 months, 8 months, and one year.  Your one price will include a print at each session as well as a gift at the one year mark. 

I will be having limited mini sessions.  These are great, especially if you have recently had a full session, and just want to spruce up or celebrate something new (like loosing teeth, 1/2 birthday, or braces coming off, etc).  They will be done on a very limited basis, and I am sure they will fill up quickly when they are announced.  To be kept up to date on when these will happen, you will want to either check the blog here frequently (it will always be announced on here), and/or you can “fan” me on facebook!  If you are on facebook, look me up!  You can find my personal page with my full name Jeannette Priest Searcy, and my business page (that I am still trying to figure out! LOL!) at JPSearcy Photography.  

Collections are being changed completely around.  I have never really been one for packages, however, I was coached on how to make them REALLY good and save a lot of money!  The best thing is, I can still stay very flexible (which was why I never really pushed them, because I don’t like locking people into what I think they should get).  Details to follow soon!

And lastly, senior sessions will be changing up too!  Their session fees, packages, offerings, and actual photographs!  Too much to go into, just didn’t want to leave them out here! LOL!

Exciting things coming up!  Keep tuned in and connected for details as they are officially announced!

I am back (obviously), and I had a very nice surprise!  One of our models made the finals (the charity model search)!  She has been in the lead for most of the contest, but the last week or so, the list changed so much.  She dropped out of first, and then she would be right back up, and then fall again, and then right back up.  I had no idea what to expect!  But we received the confirmation that she did indeed win for this region!  WHOO HOO!  

Now, she moves on to the finals.  For this, she will be up against 49 other cuties.  It is not done by popular votes, as this round was.  There is a panel of photographers and other industry professionals to decide who will win the grand prize.  Thank goodness I am not on that panel, because there are a lot of cuties (of course, I am partial to one ).  

So, everyone keep your fingers crossed for her!  I believe they are announcing the grand prize winner on May 1st, so I will let you all know if she makes it!

Oh my goodness, I had such a great time!  Yes, it was nice to get away for a few days, but it was so much more than that.  I was getting away with people just like me!  Photographers that I have “met” only on the computer, I have become in real life friends with.  And photographers that I have admired, there to give me one on one coaching.  It was an incredible learning experience, and I am so glad I went (I am EXHAUSTED, but I can get over that!).  

Something that I really tried to do, was to step outside of my comfort zone and push to do new things.  Things that may not work for family sessions for clients (well, some may work great for seniors!), but just to push myself to be different.  

I will leave you with a few of my favorite shots from this week (and if you are on facebook, look me up and friend me.  I have even more on there!).

After a crazy busy couple of weeks, I am headed out of town for a little bit.  It IS work related though!  I am going to what I hope to be, an amazing hands-on photography conference.  I will be gone tomorrow (3/29), and will be coming back home late Thursday night (4/2).  I WILL have access to my e-mail while I am gone, but I won’t be able to be as prompt as you are used to!  I will probably only get to check once a day, so be patient with me!  I will get back with you ASAP!

Also, I have a couple of trips in the works.  And as you know, when I travel, I love to set up sessions.  (Not TOO many though, it is supposed to be a vacation you know!).  So, if you, or anyone you know, is in the area that I will be, and would like to set up a session, e-mail me ASAP, and I will see what we can work out!

Atlanta (yes, I go to Atlanta often.  It is because my sister and my little niece are there!) – April 7th thru April 10th.  I only have space for one more session for this trip, so if interested, don’t wait.  Jump on it!

Atlanta – Washington DC (this is our summer vacation.  We will be driving, so any spots on the way would be fine as well.)  I just have tentative dates for this one.  So, if you are interested in a session, let me know and I can be a little more flexible about the exact dates.  It will be sometime between June 24th – July 4th.  I do know that we will be spending a night in Atlanta both on the way up and the way back.  But, I am happy to stop anywhere along the way!

That is about all I have for now!  Have a great week everyone (I know I will!).