mini session sneak peeks!

We had rainy fun on the first day of mini portrait sessions! After a week or two of clear, blue, sunny skies, of course the day I arranged to photograph several families at the Berkeley Marina was freezing and misty. One of those "is it or isn't it raining?" days because the fog is so thick. But everyone was game and in good spirits and I got a ton of great shots. Here are a few teasers!





Thanks to everyone for participating! Let's meet up next in a summertime desert ;)

Happy New Year! Engagement Portrait Giveaway Contest, Discounted Mini Portrait Sessions, and Thanks!

Hooray 2011!! It's time for my annual Engagement Portrait Giveaway Contest!

I'm in love with the results from my last two contests, and am so glad I can continue making this a fun way to stay inspired.



As always, I will give away one free engagement session to a lucky pair. And I want to hear your most creative, fun ideas and locations and props and color schemes, whatever comes to mind.



In order to enter this year, please email me (j@jessamynharris.com):

-your names, and either the story of how you met or how you got engaged
-a photo of yourselves
-any ideas, thoughts, or locations you'd like to use for your shoot



The contest is open to the whole Bay Area, though I will likely choose a location in Sonoma, Marin, or Napa. Still... got an amazing location in the East Bay or San Francisco? Feel free to tempt me!



The deadline to enter this year is January 31st... I will pick a winner in time for Valentine's Day, and will shoot in February or early March. Plenty of time for your best ideas!

You can be a current client, former client, potential client, a friend or a stranger. You must be willing to sign model releases for me, so that I can use the images for stock and promotion. The winning session will include shooting time, online hosting, and an 8x10" print of your favorite shot.



Also, if you are interested in a portrait shoot for yourself, your family, you and your partner, or a pet, I will be offering discounted mini portrait sessions through January and February. These sessions will be only $150 (1/3 of the normal portrait price!), will run up to an hour, and will include online hosting, digital proofing/ online hosting, and an 8x10" print of your choice. Availability is limited, so hurry and contact me to set up an appointment!

These sessions are good for groups of up to four people (or pets), maternity photos, newborn shots, senior portraits, engagement shoots, or anything else you can think of - a very good deal for any of those possibilities!

Email me at j@jessamynharris.com or call me at 707-235-8953



Happy New Year!
xo
Jessamyn
j@jessamynharris.com
www.jessamynharrisweddings.com

I would love it if you would like me...

... on Facebook. Finally! I have my long-overdue Jessamyn Harris Photography page up. Here's a simple way to stay up to date, read my blog (I'll have it auto-importing to FB), get exclusive offers, and follow my rambling silliness.
Hooray!
Jessamyn Harris Photography

Promote Your Page Too

Mini Portrait Sessions available!

I will be offering mini portrait sessions now through March!



Half off the regular portrait package price, these sessions will be only $225, will run 30-45 minutes, and will include online hosting, digital proofing/ online hosting, a slideshow of favorites, and an 8x10" print of your choice. Availability is limited, but there is still time to get some holiday or just-because photos made of your family. These sessions are good for groups of up to four people (or pets), maternity photos, newborn shots, senior portraits, engagement shoots, or anything else you can think of - a very good deal for any of those possibilities!

Shoots must take place within Sonoma County (at your home or favorite location), although other accomodations can be made for Marin, San Francisco, the East Bay, and beyond, so just ask! You can email me at j@jessamynharris.com

I plan to keep shooting for fun and work as long as I can until our baby's birth. So this special will run at least up until I start my maternity leave in March.

On a somewhat related note, I came across this post last week about how looking at photographs of loved ones can ease pain and suffering. Absolutely fascinating!

"Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles recently published a study showing that looking at photos helps people experience less physical pain.

The experimenters applied painful heat to the arms of female volunteers under several different conditions. The subjects were asked to rate the discomfort they felt while...

(a) holding the hand of their long-term romantic partner (as he sat behind the curtain),
(b) holding the hand of a male stranger (also behind the curtain),
(c) holding a squeeze ball,
(d) viewing the partner’s photographs (taken upon his arrival) on a computer screen,
(e) viewing photographs of a male stranger (ethnicity-matched to the participant’s partner),
(f) viewing photographs of a chair, and
(g) viewing a crosshair.

The subjects reported the lowest levels of discomfort under condition (d), viewing a photograph of their partner. Surprisingly, looking at a picture made them feel better than when they were holding their partner's hand.

...'The findings suggest that bringing loved ones’ photographs to painful procedures may be beneficial, particularly if those individuals cannot be there. In fact, because loved ones vary in their ability to provide support, photographs may, in some cases, be more effective than in-person support. In sum, these findings challenge the notion that the beneficial effects of social support come solely from supportive social interactions and suggest that simple reminders of loved ones may be sufficient to engender feelings of support.'"

I have read about similar scenarios in some of my pregnancy and birthing books. I think this will inspire me to keep an image of our baby from her ultrasound on hand when I go into labor! I can't wait to meet her :)

Finn and Coffee promo

Just a quick post for today. I try to remember to share the promos that I send out to my editorial clients and potential clients, but since this is my more wedding-and-portraits focused blog, I don't always do it. Here's this week's. I like this little diptych a lot!



You might recognize Finn from the Cast Away shoot. The coffee/ chair shot is from some personal work at my cousin's house in Santa Cruz - more on that later this week!

As always, you can see my editorial/ non-weddings stuff at >www.jessamynharrisphoto.com.