We've Moved!!!

I'm thrilled to announce that this blog has moved. The new blog is found at:

http://www.alyssaannephotography.com/blog/

So switch your bookmarks!

B Family {love}

I had the joy of photographing this family of three just a few weeks before they are due to transition to four. Their two year old son was a bit hesitant about the whole "photography" thing until we came across a big door. Yes, a door. It was a first for me. This little guy was in love with doors, and brighten right up as soon as he could play with one. In fact, we could hardly pry him away. I see engineering in this little guy's future...

Leave some blog love for this cute family.  If there are 25 different comments in 5 days, they will be receiving a free 5x7 of their choice.

Thanks, Arif and Kim, for allowing me the opportunity to document this moment in time for your family. I'm looking forward to hearing about the arrival of your sweet little one!

At Home

As you all know, my main job is mothering four of my favorite people.

This pretty much sums up the energy level in our home...

Tag Yourself!

Hi, all! I've uploaded many more photos to my Facebook fan page HERE. I've also changed settings so that past clients can tag themselves on their own photos and use it as their profile picture (if you so wish). And don't forget to invite your friends to be fans as well. 

So head on over, and start tagging!

{Happy Tuesday, everyone!}

Aisling {newborn}

Not only was little Aisling a dark haired beauty, but her wonderful parents were up for anything during her newborn pictures. They are lovers of the great outdoors, and Aisling's dad, Brian, spends his work days climbing trees for a tree service company. We'd recently had a storm that knocked over multiple tree limbs; and behind our house, I found the exact prop I had in mind. Brian employed some serious brute strength holding his little bundle of joy up "on the tree top." 

 

 

Big yawn!!

Welcome to the world, Aisling!

Natalie {newborn}

Precious Natalie was not only a complete doll-baby, but also such an excellent little model.  She snoozed through my photography antics with that dead-to-the-world newborn sleep that her mother lamented is only present during the day. 

With 25 different comments in the next 5 days, comes a free 5x7 for Miss Natalie's mom and dad. So rant and rave away at how beautiful their girlie is!

Drawing Winner {announced}

No doubt there is some techie way to handle a drawing, but I had fun this week filling up my two blue bowls with the names of all the wonderful people who jumped at the chance to help a great cause.

Then this morning my son Elijah (who also goes by the name "SuperBoy" since receiving Grandma's gift of a cape) came to the rescue to help pick a name from each bowl.  

You should have seen how excited he was about this job. Taking things very seriously, with eyes shut tight, he pulled two winners.

Dave and Hannah won my drawing, and Lauren won Janelle's!

A HUGE thank you to all of the participants!!

Two Drawings

Are y'all ready for a chance to get a great deal AND help a wonderful family adopt two orphans? 

I couldn't be more excited about this year's adoption fundraiser drawing! Watching a loving family open their home to an orphan is one of the few things that brings tears to my eyes.

Meet Steve and Nicole. 

Ladies, you know that girlfriend you have that blurs the lines between being a friend and a sister? That's who Nicole is to me. She's been there for me when I needed her most, engaged in more deep and encouraging conversations than I could count (while consuming an Olympic-sized pool worth of Starbucks), watched me give birth, and been such a part of my life.  To know Nicole is to love her. When my sister-in-law hung out with her for the first time, she later told me that Nicole was "one of the most genuine people I've ever met."

 Nicole and her husband Steve, who happens to be my hubby's good buddy, have two wonderful kids. I'll never forget listening to my phone message one Saturday in June.

"Alyssa, we need to talk.  There's something I need to tell you."

She and Steve felt that God was calling them to adopt, not one, but two kids. So this year, a little boy and a little girl from Ethopia will hopefully joining their family. Right now, their life is filled with all the work of an adoption process which of course involves high costs. 

So to help raise money for their adoption, we are doing two drawings. 

The winner of each drawing will be able to get a photo shoot and the CD of the processed images for $350. A regular sitting fee is usually priced between $100-$200 and the price of the cd is $500. So winning the drawing gives you a major discount! The photo shoot can be used for family, kids, couples, high school seniors or a newborn portraits.

Best of all, EVERY PENNY will go toward the adoption fund for this family.

There are two drawings this year because the wonderfully talented Janelle Bradshaw (who also happens to be Nicole's sister) has agreed to help out. One drawing will be for a session with her and one for a session with me. 

Janelle's work is gorgeous! She has done our family photos for a couple of years now and took the photo above.  You can view her photography HERE and HERE. 

Please note that Janelle is in Gaithersburg, Maryland and I am in Fairfax, Virginia. We're both willing to drive but obviously within reason. So keep this in mind when choosing which drawing to participate in.

Now for the details and rules!

 Please read them carefully before submitting your name:

*By entering your name in the drawing, you are agreeing to pay if you are chosen

*If you want your name put in the drawing, email me at: alyssa@alyssaannephotography.com by midnight on Monday, January 31st.

*Please specify in the email whether you would like your name put in Alyssa or Janelle's drawing (or you can double your chances by placing your name in both!).

*The winner will be chosen randomly and announced on this blog.

*The $350 is due within two weeks of the announcement of the winner.  If the winner does not pay in this period of time, a second name will be drawn; and the first will no longer be eligible.

*After you have paid, you will be mailed a gift certificate for a session and CD for you to use at your convenience. There is no expiration date.

*New and returning clients alike are both welcome to submit their names.

*The gift certificate may not be used for appointments that are already scheduled.

So start submitting those names, and let a friend know about it, too. Let's help Steve and Nicole bring their kids home!

Arabelle {3 months}

This weekend I was back at Arabelle's house to see how much she's grown! Even at 3 months, she was all female, wanting to catch my eye and have a cooing version of a conversation. And aren't her blue eyes and rolls downright cherub-like?!

If there are 25 different comments on this post in the next 5 days, Arabelle's mom and dad will get a free 5x7.

Winner!

Thank you to everyone who voted giving this contest well over twice the amount of votes as last year's! It's time to announce the top three...

Now don't you hate it when a reality television show is about to announce an elimination or winner; and they have to drag it out with a long pause and the inevitable commercial break? Maybe I should cue some overly dramatic music and stop the post right here.

Naah!

So here we go...starting with the photo that came in 3rd place.

Second place goes to:

And the winner of the 2010 Favorite Photo Contest is:

Congrats to little Maren and her parents!

2010 Favorite Photo Contest!!

It's here- the annual favorite photos contest! Thanks to all my fabulous clients who made 2010 a wonderful year!

The difficult job of narrowing it down to 12 of my favorite photos from last year is complete. Now that I've done the nominating, you're job is to be the judge. Just cast one vote at the bottom of this post. The prize for the winner is a $75 credit toward any prints or other items you want from the winning photo's session.

PLEASE NOTE: ONLY ONE VOTE PER PERSON. 

The contest will run for one week closing at midnight on January 14th.

So here, in no particular order, are this year's nominations:

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

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