I had to recount... it was really close.... 

(there were about 10 entires on the original SHOW OFF blog post that I had to count as the link was funky, not the voters fault) 

Thank you to all who voted.... I want you to know that I would love to take your photos.... every single one of you... and because I appreciate your votes, I am offering you ALL a discount.

If you book a full session and are photographed between April 15-Aug 31 2013, I will give you $30 off your session fee. YIPEEEE. (when contacting me, make sure you tell me about this, so I can give you the magic code to use ) 

I wanted to run this contest to inspire and encourage you to use your photos. Since you showed me yours, I have decided to SHOW OFF some of my walls. This is a big deal since we just moved into our rental 4 months ago. We have done a lot of work, and are not done yet, but here is a glimpse of how we used our photos. 

This is our hall way. Its dark and cave like. I like big photos. And monograms. See that big empty wall at the end with the awesome 50's doorbell, I have big plans for that. I can't wait to show you. 

This is the kids play room (seahwaks theme) and I let them choose the images. Confession: it does drive me nuts that they are all so crazy with no theme. But, the kids love it. These are all mounted photos, they are amazing... especially for renters. I put them up with velcro. 

Much more my style... this is in our living room. Again, mountd prints. Brings me joy every day. Get photos up on your walls. Its easy. I will help you. (I did take photos of us making this wall and how we decided where to hang everythiing. I will be doing a blog post about it... someday :) 

This is my favorite mounted print. ITs large and in charge. 24x36. Good stuff. A house tour with before and after photos of the rental is coming... scouts honor!!

Oh wait, you want to know who won the contest... that's right....

Client #2 won the contest, by 3 votes. You remember, the one with the wall clock, hall collage, and the GIANT canvas. A girl after my own heart. LARGE photos. (I will get you your $50 visa card)

and, drum roll please.....

Sarah Gibbs... you are the winner of the free spring session. You are the twelth comment down. Nice to meet you! Email me at focalpp@gmail.com to find out about your free session on April 28th. (if you can't use it, feel free to pass it along to someone) 

Thanks for voting and reading the blog. Lots more to come. You can sign up on the right side of this blog to have the new blog posts emailed to you. Or, like me on facebook and I will post them there as well. (you can like me at the top right of the blog posts). 

Over and out

p.s.- don't forget that you can have $30 off your full session. BONUS

My clients are showing off their families!!

I want to inspire you to do something with your photos.

Its important.

Please don't let the images stay in your hard drive forever. They need to be displayed. Loud and proud. 

Stop putting it off. NOW IS THE TIME. 

Good thing about photos, you can change them out, and give the old ones to grandma. They will be new to her :)

10 of my clients have entered the SHOW OFF contest. If you are wondering what that is, scroll down and read the blog post below this one to catch up. 

They want to earn the most votes. 

Whats in it for them? 

A $50 visa card

What's in it for you? 

A free session. Yes, FREE. I am running a spring special. I have saved one appointment for a voter. After the contest closes, I will use a random number generator and one of the votes will win. More details at end of the post. 

Without further adieu, 

#1- a great Chrismtas card and wall collage at her office. images from fall mini 2012 

#2- a large (30x40 canvas) over her fireplace, amazing photo hall, and photo wall clock. images from family session 2011 and twin boys senior pics 2012. (very few images in clock and hall wall are not focal point photography, but most are. just wanted to be up front about that) 

#3 a 24x36 mounted print in her bedroom. you know I LOVE large prints. image from fall mini 2011

#4 mounted pics on shelves and wall. good use of different sizes of images. images from fall mini 2012, newborn pics, family session 2011

#5 wedding and engagement images. lots of great mounted prints. images from spring engagement and summer wedding session 2012

#6 mounted prints and a framed one in the easel (even her flowers coordinate, sheesh :) images from spring 2012

#7 classic and timeless entry. images from family session late summer 2012

#8 framed pics- wall hung and shelf display. images from fall mini 2012

#9 custom iphone case (they made it for grandma for Christmas- love this creative idea). images from family session 2011

#10- a gorgeous Christmas card. love the monogram too. images from fall mini 2012

Here they are, the 2013 show off entires. Now its time to cast your vote.

To vote, please comment on this blog post.

Enter the number of the entry you like the best.

Only one vote per person. (it will ask for your name and email address when voting, so this is how I will contact you if you are chosen to win the free session). If you have entered the contest, you can still vote.

The entry with the most votes on Wed night April 10th will win the $50 visa card. A random number will be chosen and that comment will win the free session. Session is on April 28th. It may be transferred to another person if you are unable to come that day.

Votes on facebook will not be counted, they must be on this blog post

GO VOTE!!

Are you a show off? 

you should be

Have you had your photos taken by focal point photography? 

you could win!!

$50 visa gift card

do I have your attention now?

I should

think about what you could do with $50. that new spring purse, date night, starbucks, new TOMS, a donation to your favorite missionary, groceries, a pedicure, a babysitter, um... money towards your next photo session... I had to say that

Ok, read on

details spelled out below.. there is a bonus

Get the idea? 

I want to see what you have done with your images.

Think large scale (canvas, enlargements, frame wall) or think small scale (Christmas card, frame). Digital images still living in your computer's hard drive do not count. I want you to enjoy these pics. I want to encourage you to do something with them. Family photos on the wall make a house a home, and kids LOVE to see themselves. 

Its easy to win...

#1- snap a quick photo (can be cell phone quality if that is the best you can do) and email it to me at focalpp@gmail.com by midnight on April 5th. With your smart phone, this is easy, no excuses. We are talking $50 bucks here. 

On April 6th I will gather the entires and post them on my blog. Each entry will be numbered. The voting will be begin as soon as I launch the post (in a perfect world, this will be April 6th). 

#2- share.. this is easy. send an email to your friends and family with a link to my blog post, all they have to do is comment on the post with the number of your entrty (this will make the non facebook people happy) 

create a post on your facebook wall and tag focal point photography (you do know how to do that, right?? type the @ sign before focal point and it will link them to my page) there will be directons on my wall about how to vote, or if you are super techie, just post a link to the published blog post in your feed (while on the blog post, highlight the top bar web address and then copy it, paste it in your facebook post) 

talk about it on instagram, or whatever you may be on.. just get the word out. $50 is not all that is at stake...

remember the bonus??

You don't think I want to love on only my current clients do you? we have to spread the joy here... 

#3- surprise... one voter will win as well. thats right, one of your friends or family could win just for voicing their opinion. Once the blog post is live on April 6th, the voting starts and it ends at midnight on April 10th. On April 11th I will use a random number generator to choose a winner. 

And what do they win, you ask? 

A FREE SESSION. yep, you read that right

A free mothers/fathers day spring special session. These are going live soon, with all the details. 

Get exctited!!

Shall we recap? 

snap your photo and email me, 

share it everywhere and get some votes

and wait for winners to be announced

over and out

p.s.- if you have any questions, please ask here or email me at focalpp@gmail.com. I will be calling some of you out, I have seen what you have done with your photos. You can't hide....