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In the spirit of tomorrow’s big holiday, I’ve decide to have a super Merry Christmas sale as a big thank you to all of my wonderful customers.  I’ve been in the photography business for over 2 years now, and cannot believe how time has flown and how many amazing opportunities I’ve had to meet and photography so many wonderful families.  I am truly grateful for all of our sessions together as well as the generous referrals you’ve provided to your friends and family.

With a new year approaching and the holiday spirit in the air, I’ve decided to offer an unbelievable, unprecedented holiday sale to say “Thank you!”

I have thousands of digital files I am getting ready to archive, and thought I would offer one last chance to purchase these files before they are deleted (I will be implementing a new file retention strategy next year to better manage the mass amount of data, but right now it’s time for me to clean house.  In the future, I will only be keeping photography session files for 60 days after your session.  At that point, they will be archived, and then deleted shortly thereafter.)

Digital files can be used in cards, announcements, family websites, blogs, just about anything you can imagine.  They also can be printed and saved in baby books or family photo albums.  I’ve decided to give them to you at a super steal, around 80% off the normal rate, it is the Christmas season after all.  I am requiring a minimum order of 5 files, but with these super low prices, you’ll want more than 5 anyways.  The price for these digital files will be:

• 5 photos for $100
• 10 photos for $195
• 20 photos for $375
• All photos you can carry (that’s pretty much everything!) - $500

If you missed getting all of the photos you wanted from your session, now is your last chance to get them at a great steal before they are gone forever!

ACTION REQUESTED
If you’ve had a session with me, and are interested in viewing & purchasing some digital files from any of our sessions together, please send me an email at emilie@emiliekarun.com.  Once I receive your email, I will reactivate your gallery and send you a link  The galleries will only be active for 2 weeks so don’t delay!  The offer expires January 31st.

It was a success!  Although I had a few last minute cancellations and went from 10 sessions down to 6, I was still slightly terrified at being able to actually pull them off in one day, 5 back to back, and in only 30 minute increments (I’m used to at least 90 minutes).  But the weather cooperated, the kids cooperated, the sun was generous, and it was, indeed, a success.  Everyone was so in the mood to enjoy the beautiful day and be in the leaves and fresh air - everybody really seemed to have a great time, I know I did.  I was down right pooped after it all and am now faced with TONS of work editing, uploading, preparing galleries, etc. but I think it was worth it all and I hope you agree!

I will probably do something similar to this in the future.  I’m also considering offering “create your own” mini day or something like that if you can get 5 families together to participate.  I’ll have to noodle that one for awhile but stay tuned…you may be hearing more on that topic.

While I’m still editing, I had to select some of my favorites from the day to post as sneak peeks.  My over ambitious goal is to have all the photos up and ready for my mini clients by the weekend (since I am going away on a  much needed escape), but I can’t make any promises. I hope it was a great day for everyone too and you love your photos!

Senior sessions are just so much fun and I was lucky enough to spend a beautiful afternoon at Starved Rock with Becky.  Beck was so sweet and put up with me well…I like to try all sorts of crazy things.  Sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t, but taking the risk and thinking “outside the box” is the way I roll.

I hope you love your photos Becky!  I loved taking them for you.

So I think my new favorite location is Buffalo Rock near Utica.  With gorgeous trees, leaves, great shade, no crowds and of course, the buffalo, what more could you ask for?  Okay, well the buffalos have yet to make a photo, but they are a great bribe to get kids through the shoot.  Spending another afternoon out there this past weekend with the lovely Micheli family, I really enjoyed taking advantage of this often under appreciated locale.  I plan to host this year’s mini-mania event on November 14th at Buffalo Rock as well so check out the previous blog post for more details on that!

Anyways, Buffalo Rock it was and what a sweet and fun family I had the pleasure of photographing.  Little Gavin, with his gorgeous lashes and literally, sparkly eyes was so sweet and patient and his older brother Carter was such a lady killer with his own dashing looks.  Look out mom and dad, you’re going to be chasing the girls away in just a few years!

Coming back from my long leave and maternity leave, I was a little nervous about getting back into the swing of things, reconnecting with my customers, and booking sessions.  Fortunately, that has not been a problem.  The number of requests for sessions this fall season is higher than ever and with my new limited schedule, I’ve been unable to accommodate many of the requests.  I know many of you are looking to get a few pics for Christmas gifts or just one great family shot for your annual Christmas card.  To help accommodate this, I’ve decided to dedicate 1 day to providing a quick, cost effective option for my clients who were unable to schedule a full session this season.

On Saturday, November 14th, I will be scheduling 10, 30 minute mini-sessions throughout the day at Buffalo Rock State Park near Utica. The sessions will cost $100 (for up to 4 people) and include a free digital image of your choice (a $100 value!) that can be used in holiday greeting cards or to make gift prints from.  We will take as many pictures as we can get in the 30 minutes.  The reduced fee will still include custom photo editing, touch-ups, & enhancements, and a private, password protected online ordering gallery where you can view your proofs and choose your free digital image, as well as order additional prints if interested.

I’m scheduling the sessions on a first come, first serve basis in 30 minute increments from 9 am to 11:30 and from 2:00 to 3:30.

If you are interested in scheduling a mini-session or have additional questions, please email me at emilie@emiliekarun.com.  I hope to hear from you soon!

What a fun time I had with the Goetz family a few weeks ago!  Despite getting totally rained on at Starved Rock, we managed to dodge the drops enough to get some shots of the whole clan.  Everyone was together, even some in from out of state, and I was so happy to be able to take some “non-traditional” photos of the big happy family.  Everyone, including the little guys, were such great sports despite the gloomy and COLD weather our day brought.  But, things could always be worse; like the poor bridal party who shared our shelter during a downpour at Starved Rock!

Thanks again Goetz Family for letting me spend the afternoon with you!

Orange leaves, green grass, and red noses…that pretty much sums up the fall colors from this surprisingly chilly autumn we’re having.  Little Ben and Anthony didn’t let that stop them from having a great time during our photos at Centennial Park a few weeks ago.  Mom and Dad did great too and we got some wonderful family shots of everyone just having a great time enjoying the season.  Thank you Gina for being so amazingly patient in scheduling your session!  Gina received a session gift certificate for mother’s day over a year ago and waited patiently during my bedrest and maternity leave to schedule their family session.  I hope you love the photos and it was worth the wait.  Thanks again!

So last week I had the pleasure of doing my 3rd senior session and it was more fun than ever.  Approaching my 10 year class reunion this weekend, I was more than excited to help create new photos and memories for my dear friend Liz’s younger sister Maggie.  Maggie was so sweet, cooperative, and certainly made my life easy!  We had fun snapping shots downtown LaSalle, hiking through weeds and walking on railroad tracks.  It’s amazing how fast time flies and how she too will soon be looking back, 10 years from now, wondering where the time has gone.

Blue eyes & big curls pretty much sums up the most adorable little kids since I don’t know when.  Miss Ella was such a model, taking direction well and up for anything, including shaking a rattle to help keep her little baby brother’s attention.  Brody Mac was a doll, so sweet and so into the grass!  Mom and dad, my dear friends Abbie and Bob, were a blast too.  I had a wonderful time taking this family session.

We wanted to get some more silhouette shots on my favorite hill at Baker’s Lake.  I wasn’t sure if the partly cloudy sky was going to cooperate, but boy did it ever!  We had a beautiful sunset and I am so happy with how the photos turned out.  Abs, I hope you love them too girl!

They say to “do something everyday that scares you” and taking dance portraits was something that frankly I was very nervous about doing.  But always up for a new challenge, I couldn’t resist getting out with an amazingly talented (and flexible might I add) dancer.  Missy is a true LPer, but has been living & dancing these past 10 years in New York city.  I was flattered, excited, and slightly terrified, when she asked me to take some “unconventional” dance photos for her portfolio.  A few days ago we hit the streets in downtown LaSalle and out and Baker’s Lake and let me say, it was AWESOME!  Not only was it so fun working with her, trying new things and getting creative, but to be around such talent was inspiring.  Missy is unbelievable and was such a good sport, up for anything, including walking barefoot on some pretty questionable surfaces, climbing scaffolding & fire escapes, and enduring some rowdy cat calls & comments from bystanders, and even a few questions from a News Tribune reporter.  I’m still working on editing but had to post a few sneak peeks for Missy.  I hope you love them and they are what you were hoping for!