From our home to yours...Merry Christmas!

Wanted to share our family card with all of my blog friends. These cards fold into themselves to make a square, so the ordering looks a little disorganized as posted, but I think you'll get the feel for them. Either way, the message is the same. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from me to you!

5 days old...

Meet sweet baby Garrett- just 5 days old- truly the perfect candidate for a newborn session, don't you think? Garrett was quite happy to have his portraits created. I think he knew before long all his newborn wrinkles would be filled with baby fat and his belly button cord would be no more. I regret not having images like these of my own children. Thank you, Garrett for making the trip from Mankato to see me. :)

Tis' the Season

I think I'm maintaining sanity....at least sanity for this time of year. I am officially booked and have no openings remaining for 2007. I look forward to recording your memories in 2008.

The best news is that I completed my OWN children's Christmas portraits this past weekend.

It was a short session and one of the first ones where there was no tears! (by me or the kids..ha). Mission accomplished! Here's one from the session-

Gallery Winners...

Thank you to Angela, Tanya and Sherry for submitting their wall galleries to share with us!
I loved seeing how you've displayed my work in your homes and it's given me some inspiration for my own walls...IF I can ever get some pictures of my OWN kiddo's taken (you know, the shoemakers children go shoeless...).

Please contact me to receive your complimentary 11x14 from any previous session or future session! You're all winners! ;) Offer expires July 01- 07.

Sherry's Wall Galleries

Sherry has been a client of mine for some time, and I love how she groups her images to really show how her children have grown and changed. She also shared some pretty ingenious ideas that she shared with me below:

The grouping with the clock in the middle is in my kitchen. I like it because I get to look at my family (in style) while I cook. I liked the backdrop of the picture of my dogs so much that I painted the whole kitchen to coordinate with the picture.

The grouping with the "tub" picture that is in the silver frame is in our main floor bathroom just above the toilet. Once again... we decorated the room around the pictures painting the walls cream and accenting throughout the room in gray and silver to coordinate with the "tub" in the picture.

The grouping with the word family is one of my favorites. The picture on the left was take by my sister in law at our wedding. We then have the picture on the far right of the other precious phase of our life so far (the first pictures of the boys together). The picture in the middle of our family ties it all together.

The black framed pictures (with 4X6 shots) and the black frame with white matting are mostly in our hallway upstairs. I get to pass those photos every evening on my way to bed and every morning before I leave the house... combined with other pictures of our dogs that are in the same hallway it reminds me at the beginning and end of every day why each day is such a gift.

Finally, there is the main grouping over our living room couch. I found a large 6 pane window at a garage sale for $6.00. I painted the window frame black... each space is 10X14 inches so it displays 8X10 pictures beautifully. It took awhile to paint the window but it is perfect. I recently finished two more windows that each have three panes and I will be hanging those horizontally on each side of the 6 pane window once Ryan's 6 month pictures are done... until his 9 and 12 month pictures occur there will be some empty space on his side but he will grow quicker than desired and those spots will fill up too. Once that occurs I am moving the three month collages (that are currently on the sides of the big window) to them opposite wall with their hand and foot molds in shadow boxes above and below each collage. At that point the living room will be full and it will move on to another room.

Thanks for sharing these, Sherry! I get to see people's portraits, but seeing them actually hanging in your homes gives them whole new meaning! I love it!

Email Woes

Due to a problem with my ISP, I am unable to send or respond to email addresses at Yahoo, msn, or hotmail. I ask you patience until this is resolved.
I will have more galleries to share with you! Thank you to those of you who are sharing!

Another Share--

Thanks to Tanya for sharing her beautiful wall! Frame collections like this are quite popular now, and I think she said this one came from Pottery Barn? It's really a great way to display your portrait art.

Wall Galleries to Share!

Thank you to Angela for sharing these awesome pictures of some of her wall galleries featuring my work. Angela tells me she has little "Alison Galleries" all over. They look fantastic! Angela has some great ideas for displaying smaller desk size images up to larger wall portrait galleries.

WOW!

What great ideas!

Show Your Stuff! Contest

Show me your stuff! I would LOVE to see your Alison Stumpf Photography Portraits as they look in your home! Many of you have told me about how you use your portraits to decorate with real meaning in your homes, and I'd love to see it. You know, a picture says a thousand words!!

Maybe it's a canvas gallery wrap, or a wall arrangement of various size prints. A collection fo diffferent size frames on a shelf, your child's nursery with his 'bits of' collage above the crib...we want to see how you feature your portraits! Send your picture/s of your Alison Stumpf Photography wall galleries or wall art to me at

jstumpf@frontiernet.net

Your images will be posted on the blog for others to see and maybe we can all get some new ideas.

For each picture you send, your name will be entered into the 'hat' for a drawing for some fun prizes!! Send your picture before Sunday, November 18th.

I'm posting a few pictures of my own to get you going.

So, come on...send me your wall images!!!!

Taylor

It's wasn't the warmest day for Taylor to do her sernior portraits...but we survived the cold weather and managed to get some awesome shots! This Estherville Senior is a natural as you can see! Look for more of Taylor in a few weeks.

I have two sessions slots remaining before the new year.

Also, don't forget if you're looking for a special gift, portrait jewelry makes a great gift and can be personalized with any Alison Stumpf Photography image. Visit my accessories store for samples and pricing.

Santa's Little Helper

It's the time of year when these cute little christmas elves start popping up all over. Isn't Noah the cutest little thing ever? He couldn't stop smiling, and I'm hoping to have some more of his images up very soon!

This weekend takes me to a photographic lighting seminar in South Dakota. And you know what they say about photography...it's all in the lighting :)

Coming soon.....another contest. More details in the next day or two---

Can't forget Finland

Now that we've met Mr. Italy and Mr. East Chain, we can't foget Ms. Finland. Liisa is from Finland and she was definitely a natural behind the camera! I don't get a chance to do a lot of soccer (or is it Football in Finland....I'm not sure?) shots for Seniors, so that was fun too!

All the way from Italy...

Luca came to see me all the way from Italy...um, well, ok, he is FROM Italy, and maybe he didn't come to me, I went to him, an, well, ok- it was in East Chain. But Luca IS from Italy and spending the school year with his host brother, Jake's family. Irregardless- it was fun and we got some outdoor shots down on the farm.

Speaking of Italy- I was viewing my webstats today and it's amazing to see the hits on my site from all over the world- inlcuding Japan and Venezuelia, Greece, to name a few. Pretty wild!

I'm feeling pretty 'worldly'. :)

NO POUTING!

'nuff' said!

Sweet 16

Here's a brand new design I'm offering in collages. I think it's fresh and fun! Great for family room, kid's room, etc! Like I always say...why hang a picture of a vase of flowers when you can feature art with MEANING!?
November is almost here. If you're planning to schedule a session for holiday portraits, I'd like to take a moment to encourage you to call soon to book your slot. I do have a few session times left, but when they are gone they are gone. While I hate turning people away, I've learned that I need to reserve some time for my family and self to enjoy the holidays as well. So call today!

Thanks!

Blue Jeans and Blue Grass

Well, maybe it's not blue grass...I don't know what it is, but it's pretty...and so is this family! They are pretty special and the girls are like sisters to my kids. They are beautiful inside and out. Calvin even claims one is his "goo-bwend" (girlfriend). Guess which one! ;) It's not much of a sneak peak, because you can head right over and see the whole session on my site-

http://www.alisonstumpfphotography.com/

Allie

Allie helped me scout out some new shooting spots and we had a blast. I'm lovin' the Allie in the Alley shots! So pretty! Just a sneak peek while you're waiting so patiently!

Thanks for letting me try out all my ideas on you!

Sarah

This session with Sarah seemed to be one of the few nice fall days before it turned cold and all the rain knocked the leaves from the trees. Sarah had some great ideas and I'm glad we moved her session up a week to take advantage of the good weather while it lasted. I almost feel like I"m starting to get a tad caught up, but wanted to give a sneak peek of Sarah's beautiful senior session.

Back from Boston

As some of you know, I had the opportunity to combine business and pleasure last week with some of my photographer friends in Boston. I've learned so much from these talented women. Paula-you're a fabulous host- thank you! But it wasn't all talk of f-stops and shutter speeds, we had some time for the autumn sites as well, and an opportunity to fullfill a lifelong dream of visiting the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast (this will come as no surprise to those of you that know me well ;). Thank you to Tammy and La for tagging along with me, and for the image, Tammy. And thanks to Paula Swift for the fab group shots. It was a blast!

I assure you that I am working diligently to get everyone's proofs up for viewing as soon as I'm able. I appreciate your patience! If you're thinking of holiday portraits, now if the perfect time to book your November session! If you're looking for a senior session, I am booked until after the new year. As in years past, I book no appointments past December to assure that everyone's orders arrive in time for the holiday, and to assure time to enjoy the holiday with my own family. Be sure to check out all the holiday card samples in my gallery. I enjoy finding new ones I think you might enjoy.

Back from Boston

As some of you know, I had an opportunity to comine a little business and pleasure last week when I joined some of my photographer friends in Boston. It was so much fun to be able to spend some time with these very talented photographers who I am glad to call my friends. But, it wasn't all f-stop and shutter speed talk. Besides learning tons, one highlight of my trip was fulfulling a life-long dream of visiting the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast in Fall River, MA. (If you know me, that won't surprise you).

Torey

Here's Torey! Couldn't be a nicer guy more comfortable in front of the camera- and I found some new fantastic spots for shooting! I won't have the rest of Torey's images on for a little bit, but wanted to give him and some other "special " people I know a sneak peak before I'm off to Boston for a photography conference and fun.