I am def not a Kardashian but you can still keep up with me 
(sorry for confusion-the format for the newsletter submission will not fix, type name in first box and email in second one until I can get this thing fixed!!)
Also you can view this month’s current newsletter at
I live off inspiration. My photography is always from inspiration from somthing or someone.. i thrive off of it. I love sharing it and getting it. I love hearing about others aswell!! I wanted to do a contest that was more like a giving back for this fall. I want to challenge all of you to look in your community and tell me if you know someone that inspires you by their outlook on life, their abiilty to overcome tradegy, their comminty outreach or just them being themselves!! I want to help one deserving family get a chance that maybe they normally wouldnt get because they are selfless and help others more than they would spend money on portraits. They deserve capturing memories too! Now dont get confused, inspiration can come from many sources but I want you to search for the deserving, selfless, loving inspirations out there that you know deserves a little sunshine of a fun day of portraits with their family.
If you know somone, email their story here:
kstafford@marymomentphotography.com
My inspiration:
MY Mom! Simple. She has been there through everything in this life and is now battleing Stage 3 Lung Cancer. She is amazing and keeps trucking along just for her children. I know she will beat this cancer and live to see my children have children so that strength in itself inspires me to be a better mother and woman an live life.. and not just live life.. but LIVE LIFE!
Here they are!! I get these questions alot. I try to make it simple on the site but my “simple” is somtimes complicated
so i tried to make it even more simplified!!
Enjoy enjoy enjoy!!!
I am just about filled with Holiday sessions.. these are regular 75.00 sessions but do inlclude 25 Holiday cards and an 8×10 gift print!! How awesome right? Well I filled up 80% of my available dates and only have a handful left! Ify ou want one, and they will go quick, please email me through my site via my calendar.. I will assign you a date and time (only two session spots a day). I havnt announced my location yet but will soon, it will be “fall” like.. so trust a sister okay! In the meantime, refer some friends to MMP and get you an extra 8×10 for their booking…..
Here are the lists of dates.. not many.. ALSO ALL MINI SESSIONS ARE BOOKED SLAMMED FULL!! because I love my clients so much and they love me back, they booked up in 30 mins of announcing them last month!! wohoo.. mmp! I will be releaseing Holiday cards soon too.. so keep an eye out for those!!
I have shot 7 weddings so far in 2010 and have three left this year. Thats 10 in one year.. fab! Also countless bridals and engagments for lovely clients that are getting married affar! So I love doing these and hope to do 10 next year! This is somthing i really enjoy sharring with couples and basically becoming part of their lives for months prior to the wedding.
Remember to send the link to this blog to friends and family, you never know who will mention your name as a referal and remember wedding referals that are booked means a free session for you!! So make sur they say your name!!
Contact me, Katie Stafford, to recieve a bridal packet and to set up a bridal consultation!
Here are some shots from May2010 to July 2010 weddings.
How awesome are you guys? Mini sessions booked up in 30 min!!! that was 20 slots booked in 30 min!! how awesome is that! Now that we are booked for mini sessions we are now completeing the days left on my schedule to get christmas family portraits. Since I already booked so many days I have listed the remaining days for 2010. I will remove them once they are gone and then I will be full! i will be shooting family sessions up until November 15 to recieve cards. If you are apart of the baby or year plan, please make sure your dates are confirmed and on the books with me!!
so now to the fun stuff….. every year in July I announce my regular session dates that are remaining for the year aswell as my holiday special for regular sessions!! This year will be just about the same except I’m adding one happy, an 8×10 gift print. So for your session you will recieve 25 photo printed christmas cards along with an 8×10 gift print. So many clients give their photos as gifts for the holidays so I wanted to throw in a little happy! I will release the 2010 christmas cards in Late August so get excited!!
Rules: Apt must be booked and in the months of August-Nov. 15 and session fee recieved within 5 days top reserve your date. Due to limited available spots for the year, please make sure your payment is sent to secure your spot or your spot will be given to the next on the wait list.
Remaining dates:
August- 20, 21, 24, 27
September 6, 13, 21, 24 & 25
October 8, 9, 11,15, 22,
November 1, 5, 8, 13
ta dah…. mini sessions!!
Okay so Fall/Winter Mini sessions will be held on October 2nd. Each mini session is 25.00 and you receive 2 5×7’s. We will be shooting in a new location and it will be announced closer to date. To book your session, please contact me through my website at www.marymomentphotography.com and I will assign you a time. I will be shooting 9-12 and 2-6. Each session is 20 min and can include family and individual shots that we can fit in the 20 min time frame. You will receive proofs in an online gallery 2-3 weeks after the session date and you will have 15 days to purchase. Remember this is the best time for Christmas card portraits and since I am only holding one session, spaces are limited.
ALSO SHOOTING DATES ANNOUNCED FOR FALL!
I am limiting myself to only two sessions a day and limited days for shooting. Christmas Card season is CRAZY so I want to be organized as much as I can get to prepare for it!
Available session schedule below-
One Saturday a month for portraits/family sessions – only two sessions available on those days (unless wedding previously booked and then it will be moved to next available Saturday of the month)
Two Saturdays available for wedding shooting (this also includes bridals and engagements)
Newborn Portrait are shot on Monday and Friday Mornings, only one newborn per day since these sessions may take longer than 2 hours to shoot depending on baby
Family/Children/Senior Portraits are Monday, Thursday and Friday afternoons. Please check availability.
Keep in mind my calendar is not
IF YOU ARE ON A BABY PLAN, PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL YOUR DATES HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED WITH ME SO YOU WILL NOT BE OVERBOOKED.
Okay and here are a couple of FAQ’s I get regarding my site, sessions and pricing!!!
Q) How do I book a session with MMP?
A) Please contact me through my site at www.marymomentphotography.com to view available dates and contact me to book your date. Please make sure we confirm your date once you contact me inquiring about a date. Please hold your session date by sending session fee in within 5 days of booking.
Q) How much is an MMP Portrait session?
A) a 1-2 hour session is 75.00 and does not include prints. I do offer several year plans for sessions and you can view them at www.marymomentphotography.com You can also view print prices of canvases, prints, coffee table books and other products on my site under pricing and information.
Q) What should we wear?
A) That depends on what type of shoot it is….
For newborns- their birthday suit.
For children I suggest layered clothing in fall and funky SMALL prints in clothing in spring. Big bold prints or cartoon characters on children’s shirts take away from the child so keep that in mind when choosing outfits. I love bright colors all year so don’t be scared to wear bright teal in in the winter!! Look in my blog archives to see clothing suggestions for children!
Families- I prefer the word “coordinate” not “matching”. I love siblings to match its super cute but i prefer coordinated outfits when it comes to family portraits. I am not your “white tee and jeans” photographer. Wear solid colors, keep the fellas in one color polo with jeans and have the ladies match them with coordinated scarves or jewelry.
Q) Do you provide the props?
A) Yes, well sometimes… I have lots of goodies to bring to the shoots but if we are over the age of 3 months i bring limited props if any at all. I prefer outdoor shoots to be earthy and i will occasionally drag a chair or iron bucket for a child to sit on but mostly we will use the elements provided to us in outdoors!! For newborns I do bring blankets, hats etc.. depending on my artistic mood that day i may also bring a basket or two and some cocoons. I shoot newborns and 3 months mostly at the child’s home so i will use alot your own things in your home such as bowl, chair, blanket etc..
Q) Where will we shoot?\
A) This all depends on the session. Newborns are shot at their home to provide them with the most comfort to keep them sleepy. I will also shoot 3-5 month shots at your home or minel since most babies this age are not sitting well un assisted. Once they hit 6 months in above I will give you a location where we will shoot prior to the session date. My mind is always running and will always find new places so unless you have a specific location, i will come up with a place to shoot! The only thing i do ask is what look do you want- city life or wild life? City Life shots are outdoors in urban areas like downtown jackson… Wild life shots are outdoors in parks and fields.
Q) What if I need to cancel or reschedule?
A) Session Fees are non refundable but I will be glad to reschedule your session at your convieince on any day that is available. I ask that unless it is an emergency or illness, please try to cancel sessions within 7 days of your session date so that the clients on the wait list will be given the spot.
Q) How long will it be before proofs are ready?
A) Your images will be ready to view two-three weeks after each session via an online gallery. Your online gallery will remain online for only fifteen days. It is highly recommended you make your print selections within this time frame. Your purchased prints will be ready for delivery three – four weeks after your payment has been received and cleared.
Q) Can I show my proofs on facebook or email?
A) It is illegal to use or copy images in any way or manner without written permission by katie at MMP. MMP retains all copyright. With that being said, I LOVE for you to show your images but I would love also for you to respect the watermark! I will post images to my blog and to FB for you to share which are called “sneak peeks”. You may use your “sneak peeks” as your profile photo or share them to friends online but please do not crop or remove the watermark. Please make sure you show your watermark on all images displayed and you will be able to show the world!!
Q) What happens if images are lost?
A) Although great care will be taken with the files taken at your sessions, MMP limits any liability for loss, damage or failure to deliver pictures for any reason to return of all deposits made or a re shoot at no additional cost. This is something that is a rare occurrence but all photographers raise your hands to a failed hardrive!! It happens but I have had a hard drive go out in the past so I backup everything online, on disc and on numerous hard drives… this in itself helps everyone sleep better at night.
NUMBER ONE-
I love my clients and how so many of you know each other and love watching families that know each other grow up under my lens… so I’ve decided to get going on my Referral Contest. I’m putting some of my advertising funds back into the hands of my clients! I will be drawing prizes for Monthly Winners in July, August, September…then a GRAND PRIZE winner for the entire three months.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A CURRENT OR PAST CLIENT TO PARTICIPATE! I keep track of all of the referrals…so when your friends, family or co-workers reserve a session with me, mention your name and complete the session, I will track your referrals for a future session!
Here’s how it will work:
Monthly Drawings
The monthly winner receives:
DOUBLE REFERRAL CREDITS FOR THAT MONTH – yes!! Let’s say you refer 4 people in June (which is 100 print credit for referals) - if you are the winner, you would get a $200 Referral Credit!! (and even if you don’t win, that’s still $100 in Referral Credits!)ANDCHOOSE ONE PRIZE:
GRAND PRIZE Drawing
The Grand Prize winner receives:
$50 Bonus Referral Credit in addition to the credits earned when the new clients reserve their sessions. AND
CHOOSE ONE PRIZE:
The Referral Program:
Being a new small business owner, I rely heavily on referrals. Thank you so much for spreading the word about my business. Take advantage of the referral program as often as you like! Receive a $20 credit toward prints at your next session for each new client that you refer. You may combine multiple credits to one order. REFER 4 PEOPLE AND RECEIVE A $100 PRINT CREDIT!Credits valid on orders placed before the online gallery expiration. Credits may only be applied to Collections and Prints. Credits are awarded when the session retainer is received from the new client.
**The Fine Print: Sessions must be held on or before September 30, 2010. All prizes and Referral Credits apply to future sessions. Monthly drawings will be held on July 1, August 1, and October1, 2010. Grand Prize drawing will be held on October 1, 2010.
Number TWO
SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT on FACEBOOK!
This is a simple way to get you a free session fee! For the months of June, if you had you are a current client from 2010 and have displayed your MMP images proudly, post a picture on FACEBOOK to enter to win! One entry per image and this will be the people’s vote! Remember to Add MMP as a fan or “like” the fan page and upload your photos of your images to the comment page! Once we have them all in June, I will place them on my blog and let the voting take place!! So get to adding MMP and to earn double the chance to enter, upload the image to your facebook page and share to your friends to ask them to vote and to add MMP themselves!! This will be a win for everyone cause everyone is always wanting new ideas on displaying images and my clients somtimes come up with the best ones!! Now HOP to it!
Dont worry, if you dont have fb, msg me your photo and Ill upload it for you to be in the running!
so if you havnt found me on facebook and added me and told all your facebook friends to add me.. go ahead and do it, it will be super nice of you!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Mary-Moment-Photography/63278043228?ref=ts
Thanks guys and Happy Summer!!!
You know your singing the song right in your head right now!! don’t deny it.. you like miley! okay so guess what else I’m doing on the regards to workshops for DSLR beginners… teaming up with Jeanelle Caraway from J. Caraway Photography (www.jcarawayphotography.com) and instructing a beginners class at the Lake Caroline Clubhouse in Madison! This will be a weeknight class from 6:30-10 and will allow up to 60 individuals! Lots of learning from two different sides of the table! We will be going over Natural light Manual Shooting, ISO, Shutter, Aperture and why we use them! Also we will have a question and answer portion of the class so bring your questions that you already have in your head! We aren’t teaching you to be us, we are teaching you to use that camera that you have so you can pop it out of that bag and snap your kiddos cute little faces! Be yourself with that camera, but to do that you need to know how to use it!
I myself am hosting small workshops that are more intimate at my home for 10 students on Sunday afternoons once a month. April and May classes are booked but we are still accepting classes in June and July! These are smaller 2 hour courses for general beginners info on using the camera and what everything means and how to read that dreaded camera manual and actually UNDERSTAND IT! Individual classes are offered as well so contact me for more info!!
So be stoked cause me and J are! Come see us on the 13th! Please contact us to get a spot!
Ive got an answer for ya… or maybe a good start! If you dont have time to order online, take some good glances at these shops and get to putin those outfits together! I love cordinated outfits but nothing matchy, I love dressy mixed with casual. I love accesories. Check out these places they have some great ideas on what looks good in photos from baby up to Mommy and Daddy!!
