What a Great Family!

We have been working with the Klass family since the boys were toddlers and four year old Abby was just a baby. With a job relocation, the family moved about two hours away and hadn't had any luck finding a new photographer closer to their new home. After several attempts at new studios failed, Dad said, "Just call Mark and we'll make the drive down."

We were glad to see everyone, especially the newest family member of only nine months! We had lots of fun and Garrett the youngest son happily reminded Mark about the time that Mark 'ripped' his face off... Let us explain. In Photoshop, Mark did a head swap of Garrett. He was blinking in one photograph so we borrowed his face from another photograph to make sure his eyes were open. Mark had showed this to Garrett, and now he tells everyone that he had his faced ripped off. Got to love kids and the stories they tell!

It was wonderful seeing everyone! We plan on visiting them in their new home later this year on one of our many trips to northern Ohio this summer and fall.

Happy New Years!

We have lots of great things in store for 2009, which we'll get you up to speed on soon. However, New Years brings on a lot on new promises and resolutions and I thought that I would share one of mine with you.

Life has a tendency to get overly complicated and my resolution this year is to simplify. It is amazing what a conscious effort it takes to do something that seems like it should be so simple. I know a lot of other people probably feel the same way.

Mark is a big movie buff and one of his favorite movies is Field of Dreams. One of the lines from the movie says, "You fail to recognize the most significant moments of your life as they are happening." With that in mind, I hope that we all can slow down just a little to savour all the beautiful people and moments in our lives. Whether they are big or small, each of these moments are apart of our own unique journeys.

So here's to enjoying the journey a little more this year! Happy New Years!

Holiday Hours

Well, we made it through! Working 16 hour days, 6 days a week for the last six weeks, 4,125 holiday cards, 11,840 square inches of canvas prints, 1,082 album pages and what seems like miles and miles of photographic paper...we've made it to Christmas!

Monday, December 22nd 9am to 2pm*

Tuesday, Decemeber 23rd 9am to 6pm*

Wednesday, December 24th 9am to Noon

Thursday, December 25th Closed

Friday, December 26th By Appointment Only

Saturday, December 27th Closed for a Wedding

Sunday, December 28th thru January 2nd By Appointment Only

Much like Santa, who gets exhausted from his efforts, we will be taking a little time the week after Christmas to spend with family...poor Charlie has almost been an orphan this month.

*If you have orders that still need to be picked up, but don't think you can make it into the studio during the hours posted above, please let us know. We will find a way to get your order to you any way we can :)

PS. This is Charlie's card from last December...what a difference a year makes!

Double-Your-Dollar Sale Almost Here!

Hopefully everyone has recouped from the Thanksgiving weekend! The Christmas season is officially here and to celebrate we are having our annual Double-Your-Dollar Gift Certificate Sale!

December 3rd and 4th only, we will double whatever you spend on a Gift Certificate! In other words if you spend $100, we give you a Gift Certificate for $200. Portrait Gift Certificates make a perfect gift...especially for those people who have it all! When you give the gift of portraiture, you are giving a one of a kind gift that they will be able to treasure forever.

Pop into the studio or order by phone this Wednesday and Thursday. Gift Certificates come elegantly packaged so they are ready for giving! Call 937.748.8445!

Don't forget...by hitting the green "Share This" button listed below this post, you can forward this message onto anyone you wish!

40 Days till Christmas...WOW!

Front Cover of Card.

Inside of Card.

Don't want to freak you out...I already am! There isn't all that much time before Christmas. It isn't like it is a big surprise since it happens the same time every year, but how does Christmas always seem to sneak up on you?

As a FYI, November 21, 22 and 23 are Springboro's Holiday festival. In years past we have held our "Double your Dollar" Gift Certificate Sale during the festival. However, since it is such an effort to get to the studio (mainly parking) we have moved the Gift Certificate Sale to December 3rd and 4th. That allows to you easily pop in to the studio or reach us by phone.

In case you haven't done the math, here is are some possibilities for you! If you purchase...

$50, we double it to $100...not a bad gift!

$100, we double it to $200...now they are starting to rethink their gift to you! Ha! Ha!

$250, we double it to $500...everyone else is starting to look like a royal smuck a the Christmas party. From now on, you are the preferred guest...considered it VIP status thanks to Mark Garber Photography.

$500, we double it to $1,000...Congratulations! You've surpassed the other relatives and have made it into the will! Don't forget about us when you are rich and famous!

$1,000, we won't double it because then it just looks like you are simply flaunting it. We only have your best interest at heart and don't want you to start looking too confident. (Actually, this is where the fine print starts kicking in...you just knew there had to be some.)

Anyway, mark your calendar...this only happens once a year!

PS. The Schenkings' card happens to be one of my favorites from this year. Ohh, if you only knew the stories behind this card.... We love this family including all their quirks, which includes a 'Captain Jack Sparrow Phase' where a child in full pirate's regalia would invade the studio. Stephanie, if you are reading this post, I know you are smiling ;)

Welcome to the world...Baby Nathan

You may remember the Cristofaro's pregnancy photos from last month. So here's the big unveiling! Here is baby Nathan at only thirteen days old!

We first met Amber and Alex when we photographed their wedding a few years ago. Amber is also a photographer. Any photographer will tell you that photographing another photographer is the hardest assignment to do. But, we thank Amber and Alex for placing their trust in us and we are honored to watch their family grow.

I know this time in your life can be overwhelming (I know it was for me), but remembering that newborn baby is so important. They grow so quickly!

The Stavas

We photographed Mike and Christina's wedding a few years ago and have been lucky to watch the kids grow up right before our eyes. Courtney's baby album is still a studio favorite and I couldn't resist putting their fall session on-line. The image with the leaves is one of my favorites from this year! You couldn't ask for better expressions.

Baby Nolan!

Baby Nolan couldn't be happier if he tried. He laughed his way through the entire session. Nolan's session is a great example of a more candid or contemporary style of photographing that, while works best outdoors, still can be done in studio.

Photographic milestones for babies, since they change so rapidly within the first two years of life, include newborn, three months, six months, nine months and one year. It is also recommended to do eighteen months. After that point you should photograph your child once a year.

We have many baby programs to capture baby's first year and are currently in the process of designing other portrait programs that make it easier and more fun to document your family's history. We'll be announcing those new programs this winter.

Urban Flair!

I am waaaaay behind on getting fall portraits blogged...October is the busiest month of the year by far! However, I wanted to post Tim and Sara's urban session.

Looking for something more fresh and unique? Our urban sessions offer something other than the traditional. Unique settings combined with more contemporary clothing and posing/candids make for beautiful art pieces for your home. A plus to the urban session is that they can be done year round; whereas, environmental sessions are limited to late spring through early fall.

If you are looking for something more contemporary or unique, don't forget that all our Signature Session come with a design consultation to help you in commissioning the perfect artwork for your home.

The Holidays are almost Here!

Hard to believe, but another holiday season is upon us. Here are some things to help make your holiday's run smoother.

Scheduling Sessions: We are almost at capacity for evening and holiday sessions. There are a few spaces available around Thanksgiving and Christmas, but be sure to call now to reserve your session time.

Delivery: The order time frames listed above are the last possible dates to get orders complete with the guaranteed delivery by 12.23.08. The Greeting Card date of December 5th is for Press Printed cards. We will still be able to order auto-quantity 4x6 photos for insert cards until December 10th.

Holiday Gift Certificate Sale: Have a tough person to shop for? Give the gift of time with a portrait gift certificate. We will be doing our annual "Double Your Dollar" Gift Certificate Sale December 3 & 4th only. During those two days you will be able to get TWICE the value! In other words, if you spend $50 you'll receive a gift certificate for $100!

You can stop by the studio or simply order over the phone. Gift certificates come elegantly packaged and are ready for gift giving. This is the only time of year that we run this promotion so be sure to take advantage of it! Some restrictions will apply.

Still Plenty of time for Halloween!

There is still plenty of time to get those cute Halloween Costumes Photographed and your order delivered before Halloween!

Our Halloween Special includes a Desktop Collage Frame.

Call 937.748.8445 to schedule...but you better hurry!

Reminder!

This week is Christmas in October. We still have a few session spaces left! Call today to reserve your session or to place your card order from a previous session!

Ten Months and Counting!

Ugh! I can't believe our Charlie is almost eleven months old! I just want to freeze her in time. Charlie is a child on the go, so we don't get a lot of snuggle time. So each night when she falls asleep in my arms, I try to memorize her little face and hands, the way she breathes, the sound of her sleeping. Before I lay her in her crib, I hold her tight to my chest and try to memorize the way she feels in my arms. I never never want to forget!

Time can be so wonderful and yet so cruel. I love watching her grow older and learning new things, yet I know she will never be the same again. I love her so much and marvel at the beautiful soul in my keeping...even if it is only for a brief amount of time.

Babies, Babies, Babies!

Somehow, it ended up being everything baby this week at the studio. We had everything from pregnancy to fourteen months. If you were to ask me what my favorite subject matter is as a photographer, without hesitation I would have to say brides and babies. I love the beauty, grace, sentiment and the challenge of both. No two weddings and no two baby sessions are ever the same! Which is also kinda funny because two of these beautiful babies and one to-be are the pride and joy of some of our past bridal couples.

Here are some highlights from this week...

Hannah at fourteen months.

Ellie's Nine Months

Bode at Nine Months

Grace at Nine Months.

I love the tongue sticking out. Such concentration!

Happy First Birthday to Sadie!

Ready, set, go!
The Cristofaro's