Extreme Portrait Makeover Contest & Fundraiser!

We are thrilled to announce our "Extreme Portrait Makeover Contest!" The idea for this exciting contest came to us after a home not too far from ours burnt to the ground. Our thoughts and prayers were with the family who suffered such a tremendous loss, but it also got us thinking. There are many families with missing or incomplete photographic histories. Your story may not be as extreme as that last story, but we would still like to help!

From now until June 30th, you can enter or nominate others for our "Extreme Portrait Makeover Contest." There are TWO Categories of entry each with their own Grand Prize and Runner Up Prizes. Complete details and entry forms can be printed in the upper right hand corner of this blog.

The FIRST CATEGORY OF ENTRY is 'open to the public.' Tell us why you or the person you nominate is in need of a portrait makeover. Maybe there was a natural disaster, medical reasons, military leave or any other reason why your family/children don't have portraits to display in your home.

The SECOND CATEGORY OF ENTRY is for 'existing' Mark Garber clients...even if it has been awhile since you've been into the studio :) We want to know what your Mark Garber portraits mean to you!

HOW TO ENTER: Download and print the Entry Form located in the upper right hand corner of this blog. Be sure to fill out the correct entry form: 'Existing Mark Garber Client' or 'Open to the Public.' Have your entry form and $5 Donation to "A Special Wish Foundation" submitted to the studio by 5:00pm on June 30, 2009.

A SPECIAL WISH FOUNDATION: 100% of all donations go directly to A Special Wish Foundation. Your donation will specifically help send Bobbi and his family to the San Diego Zoo!

PRIZES!!! Each of the two Categories of Entry will have a Grand Prize and a Runner-up Prize. Here's what you can win!

Grand Prize: An Entire Room Portrait Makeover worth $2,500, plus hair and makeup for your portrait by Alec's Day Spa and Salon!

Runner Up Prize: $500 of Portraiture

Everyone Wins: All who enter will receive a Free Portrait Session valued at $100 and $25 in Spa Services from Alec's Salon and Day Spa! You're getting $125 in services for your donation of $5! What a deal!

We have a panel of guest judges gathered from around the country who will be selecting the winning entries. Winners will be announced on July 10th! Good Luck!

*If anyone is having troubles downloading the entry forms you can also pick up copies at Mark Garber Photography in Springboro or at Alec's Salon and Day Spa (located inside NeoLimits Fitness in Centerville) !

Our Charlie at 18 Months!

I honestly don't know where the time goes! Charlie is in fact closer to nineteen months...I'm still using months because I can't bear to say almost two years!

Everyday with her is a blessing and we just love watching her grow and explore. She is talking more and more each day and nothing makes me happier than to hear her babble. This session was tough because she was climbing everywhere, but it turned out adorable.

Charlie also had the added task of modeling the tutu's and hats that we now have available for purchase at the 'Portrait Boutique' inside the studio. Each tutu is hand made and can be custom ordered in any size or color.

Baby Jacob

We did a Precious Parts session for Jacob and there are just to many to choose from. We love those long lashes and wavy dark hair! The girls are going to chase him for sure when he's older. I just love the first image with those full cheeks, long lashes and button nose. Too cute!

Jacob's Six Months!

We photographed Megan and Dan's wedding a few years ago and our honored to do baby photographs for them now. I posted one of his newborn photographs so you could see how much he has grown... and what that cute ornery smile has evolved into. We did the wall of teddy bears to work in one of Dan's bears that he had as a kid.

We can't believe how much he has already grown! Babies change and grow so much that first year. That's why documenting baby's first year is so important...not to mention they're just so darn cute!

Jack turns One!

We did a one year session at Jack's house to commemorate his birthday and nursery...now that he's one, he'll move onto a big boy room. We are designing a baby's first year album from his earlier sessions too, and will post the album when its complete.

We can't believe you are one already! Happy Birthday Jack!

Maverick at Nine Months!

We had done a maternity session for Maverick's mom, Gennifer, so it was nice to finally meet Maverick. He's absolutely adorable with the longest eyelashes we've ever seen. They literally start to curl up there so long. Gennifer did our Father's Day Storyboard as a surprise for Dad. We're not going to post it just yet...just in case Dad might see the surprise.

It Could Happen to You...

A few months ago there was a story on Sunday Morning about how an entire generation's history (both in terms of a national photographic archives as well as people's personal photos) is going to be lost because people don't print their photos. Photos will disappear on hardrives, cds, or simply be deleted to make room for 'new' photos. Lets not forget that technology changes too...records, 8-tracks, cassettes, cds, dvds, blueray....

I have a 'happy snap' camera that I keep in Charlie's diaper bag for impromptu moments. I admit that I was bad and had almost a year's worth of (unprinted or backed up) moments stored on that camera. Needless to say, when the flashcard went bad I was sick to my stomach thinking that the first time Charlie ate spaghetti, got a balloon or went down a slide were lost forever!

Our friends at Fairborn Camera were able to run special data recovery diagnostics on that flashcard and salvaged those images for me. Thank God! I have tears in my eyes just thinking about what I could have lost.

Moral of the Story: PRINT YOUR PHOTOS & BACK THEM UP! Good intentions won't preserve your family's history.

PS. Did you know that a data CD only has a proven shelf life of five years? If you want true archival CDs, buy the gold CDs. You won't find them at local stores. Look for them online.

PPS. Did you know that photographs printed off your home ink jet printer only have a proven shelf life of three years or less? Have your 4x6's printed at a lab on photographic paper. They'll last longer and be cheaper in the long run from buying lots in printer ink.

PPPS. Have a quality professional photograph done and printed with the best archival materials available. I guarantee you won't ever regret it. Ever...