Thanks!

Back in December, I was contacted by a mother that found me on Google - she and her family were going to be in town, could I do some family photos for them? We started scheduling the shoot and talking about possibilities, getting to know each other a little through email. I came to learn that her husband is a Marine, and they have an adorable little boy (with the cutest little dimples!).

I came to learn that these would be their first family photos since Mom & Dad got married (who never had professional engagement photos taken!), and they would be especially meaningful, as Dad would be leaving in a month or so for his first tour in Afghanistan since they were married. I knew I had to provide them with some really great photos - and a fun experience during their vacation!

We did have a lot of fun that day, blowing bubbles, chasing dear son around, finding fun little places for photos, running from trains (just kidding on that one)... Dad has since headed off to Afghanistan, and Mom & I are keeping in touch. I can't even tell you how much it means to me to know that some photos I was able to provide them with are helping them just a little bit through this time apart.

Mom said I could share a little bit of an email she wrote me back in January, when they received their photo CD.

"I just wanna thank you so much again for your awesome eye for photography and for doing our family photos. You truly have made a wish of ours come true! I know it will definitely be easier for me having great photos of our beautiful family on our walls, especially going through this first deployment. U are the best!
Take Care, The Altamirano Family"


Seriously, how am I so ridiculously blessed to get to meet all of these great people?


On a side note, I do still have availability for my April & May "marathon" days in Tampa and St. Pete, and of course I'm currently booking sessions here in Orlando, too!


(I am available for travel to Tampa/St. Pete at other times, so let me know if you're interested but not available on those weekends.)

I'm Special... So Special...

Did you start singing that 80's song by the Pretenders? "I'm special... so special... I gotta have some of your attention..." Yeah, I admit, I did. I'm somewhat of an 80's music addict. In fact, I've got the video running on YouTube right now!

Every once in a while, when I'm out with a family for a shoot, I'll see a bajillion other photographers out and about. Most of them are other 30-something women, who presumably received a dSLR from their husband and decided (hopefully after lots of practice) that they wanted to turn photography into more than a hobby. Humph. Sounds familiar. Suddenly, I feel a little less "special"!

So it gets me thinking, "What makes me unique as a photographer?"

Let's be honest. 99.9% of the people who contact me are females, usually between the ages of 25-40. Mothers, girlfriends, fiancees and grandmothers who are looking for family photos to cherish forever. Guys aren't often too excited about the whole "photo" thing. Don't get me wrong - there are many guys who are totally photogenic and are totally into it! But for the most part, not so much. Women are just naturally (usually) more comfortable in front of the camera!

But after all is said and done, I get emails with notes like, "My husband usually hates photos, but he keeps saying what a great time he had!" There was the family who almost cancelled their session because the father wasn't quite in the mood to be in front of the camera... but by the end of the session, we were all talking up a storm and still keep in touch!

For some reason, I'm able to make people feel comfortable in front of the camera, and that couldn't be more of an honor to me! When I edit photos after shoots and realize that I captured that sweet moment between father and child or the daughter that hugged her brother without prompting, I feel such gratitude that I'm able to meet so many amazing people and witness the love they have for each other. (On a side note, I think I've yet to edit a photo of father & child without shedding a tear!)

Thank you so much to those of you that have allowed me the honor to photograph your families! Each of you have taught me some great things about love and what it means to be a family - no matter how big or small!

Looking for some photos?!

For all of you fabulous Tampa & St. Pete folk, I am now booking sessions for my marathon weekends this spring! Just contact me with your preferred date & time, and I will get you going on a session agreement and let you know where to send a small deposit.

Can't wait to see you for photos this spring!
(click on the image to enlarge it!)

Drum Roll Please...

And the winner is...







The Travaglino family!!


AND the Kim family!


Each with more than 500 votes, I have no choice but to award free photo sessions to both families! Congratulations! I'll get in touch with you very soon so we can start planning our fun time together in the months to come! Can't wait to do maternity photos AND more photos with sassy kiddos!

Thank you to everyone for your enthusiastic participation. I'm so happy that you had a fun time with this, and it has been an incredible way to end a first year doing what I love and beginning a new year, full of new families and new memories!

To all of my 2010 families - Don't forget about my current referral special, running only until January 31st! If you refer to me two new clients who schedule & pay for full sessions, you will earn a free session. Don't forget that one new Yelp or Google review also counts as one referral! (Maximum one free session. Only booking & scheduling of session must happen by January 31st.)

To all of my incredible new "fans" - If someone referred you to me, not only do they earn some pretty cool rewards, but you will earn $25 off of your session price! That's a session for only $125! (Within the Orlando area. Travel elsewhere is available at an additional price.) For more information, check out my website (under "Pricing") or Facebook page (under "Info").

I frequently make trips to the St. Pete/Tampa area, so keep an eye on my blog and Facebook page for more information. I'm currently planning a trip in the next few weeks. Give me a call or email me if you are interested in getting on my list of contacts for that trip - you'll get first choice at a session time when I schedule the day!

Thank you again. I look forward to meeting many of you in 2011, and then YOU will get to be a part of next year's contest!

Wow!

This contest has been so close! What fun it has been to come home everyday to see who is in the lead. I hope you've been having as much fun as I have!

The contest will end tonight at 8:00 pm EST, so get those last votes in!

In the meantime, I hope all of my new fans will check out my website for information about my photography deal, prices and more examples of my work. I'll post more info tonight about my current referral special I have going on, too!

Announcing... the 2010 Year-End Contest!

Happy New Year!

It has been an amazing year, and I am so thankful for all of the loving families I've met this year! It has been a year full of piggyback rides, swinging, splashing, cold red noses, sweaty summer days, smiles, laughs, and even some tears. To celebrate, I'm happy to announce my first annual year-end contest that I will be running through my Facebook fan page! The lucky family with the most "likes" of their family photo will win a FREE photo session in 2011!

Here are the details!

TO ENTER
- You don't have to do anything! All families who had a portrait session with me in 2010 and have model release forms on file will automatically be entered!
- If you do not have forms on file with me, simply email me. I will send them to you, and you can fill them out, scan them, and return them to me via email.
- If you are not interested in a free 2011 session, simply reply to this email, and I will remove your photo from the contest.

TO WIN
- The contest will be open for voting from January 1st-9th. You may tell your friends to begin voting as soon as the photos are posted tomorrow.
- To encourage your friends to vote, you can post a link to my Facebook page and remind them to vote for you by "liking" your family photo in the "2010 Sessions" album. Only "likes" for photos in this album will count! (Note: People will only be able to "like" your photo if they are first a fan of Katy Lineberry Photography.)
- Fans may vote for as many photos as they like, but only "likes" will count, not comments!
- To keep it fair, I will not be tagging you in your photos. However, you may tag anyone that is in the photo (tags for people not in the photo will be removed).
- The winner will be announced on Monday, January 10th!

WHAT YOU WILL WIN
- The winner will receive a FREE photo session - a one-to-two-hour photo session and CD of 50 edited images with print authorization!
- Photo session must be scheduled for a 2011 date.
- Photo session can be scheduled anytime in the Orlando area or during limited times outside of the Orlando area.
- Prize retail value ($150) cannot be altered or changed in any way and is not redeemable for cash.
- Prize is not transferable to other persons.

Good luck!

Year-End Contest

If I photographed your family this year and you have model release forms signed and on file with me, keep an eye out here and in your email for a chance to win a FREE session in 2011!