Happy New Year!

Where does time go?  In a blink of an eye, bookings for 2012 and 2013 brides are in full swing, portrait sessions for next summer are showing up on the calendar, and maternity sessions are becoming newborn sessions.
I feel so fortunate for such a strong client base to make this all possible.  This past year was filled with wonderful families and celebrations and I have a feeling next year will be just as grand.  So "thank you" to my clients who have become such an integral part of my life for the past nine years.
Ok, mushy parts aside for now...
Couple things ~
*  Yes, it's not too early to book your summer session.  Once you've decided on your travel dates, send me an email so we can secure a session time.  I'm booking portraits through October 2012 right now.  Peak weeks are filling up fast.  I'll continue to create a "wait list" like I have in past years, so if you're a last minute planner, give me a call because I just might be able to find a session time for you.
*  The weddings season is busy for 2012.  I do still have a few weekends free, but these are filling up fast.  If you are getting married in 2012, let's chat soon.  I am currently booking through the 2013 season.
*  Summer/Fall 2011 clients -- images are going to archives this month.  If you've been distracted with the holidays and haven't placed album or print orders yet, please shoot me an email so I don't archive your proofs just yet.

I'll try to back to this blog in the next week or so to share some really cute maternity images from a session last month.  After all, what fun is a photographer's blog without pictures?
Stay warm this winter!

Out of the Office - July 15th through 18th

I will be out of the office July 15th through July 18th while I attend a photography workshop in Boston. Looking forward to coming home with some great post-processing skills :)
Of course I should have limited access to email and voicemail if you should need to speak with me. Email will for the most part, be returned next week during the regular office hours of Tuesday through Friday 9-3 pm.
Have a great weekend!

Christmas in July?

Time for the holidays? No, not really, but it is time to start thinking of your holiday cards if you plan on using your beach portrait images on them!

I've reduced the pricing on cards significantly this year and will hold the new pricing through at least the summer for those of you who feel like planning ahead. I've also added 15 new templates to my holiday designs, so check them out. If you don't have a password to view the holiday card templates, shoot me an email.

Graduation is here!

Well, preschool graduation that is! My oldest graduated last week and I thought this picture just said it all... summer vacation here we come :)

Going greener with FREE tote bags!

I try hard to keep my business as earth-friendly as possible. This includes being kind to the dunes and participating in community events.

One area I struggled with was finding appropriate packaging for print orders that are shipped out of state. While I try to recycle packaging as often as possible, I was often left short by the end of the season. My dilemma was solved when I stumbled across these re-usable totes! What could be better? They work well in my shipping efforts and allow you to be green as well!
They are a great size, and fit more than a paper bag in the grocery store. They can be washed in the gentle cycle and even are reinforced for those heavy loads.
Do you want one? Send me an email either to "TheisPesko@earthlink.net" or through my website/contact page (www.NCBarefootMemories.com) by March 31st and I will mail you a free bag. One bag per family please. I'll be mailing these out the first week of April, so they will arrive to your home by Earth Day :)

Gift Cards are here

Looking for that perfect gift? How about a gift card? Gift cards can be used for session fees, print orders, even albums, and can be purchased in any amount.
I've had these in the works for quite some time, and am thrilled with how pretty they have turned out.
Call or email with any questions!

Back from Jamaica

Our family has returned from a wonderful vacation in Jamaica. It is a beautiful country, and we especially enjoyed a tour to see the wildlife in the mountains. The boys were thrilled with seeing crocodiles :) Here are a few images that I liked at first glance...still in the process of going through them all, but thought I'd share at least a few.

Office hours are getting back to normal, print orders are caught up, it's going to be a great 2010! This is prime booking time for most of the wedding season and dates are filling up fast. I am just so excited about the weddings this year and the wonderful combination of brides ahead of us.
So, here are a few of those images...since I figure you'd be more interested in see the landscape instead of our family, I've stuck mostly to nature.

Out of the Office Jan 4-14th

I can't believe it's finally here - our first real family vacation!
I'll be in the office all this weekend, but will be out of the office from Monday, January 4th, through Thursday, January 14th. We will return refreshed and reinvigorated for a fantastic 2010 season!

If you would like to know more about wedding coverage, please be sure to indicate your event date in your email. I will be scheduling some consultations on the weekend of January 16th to coincide with the Crystal Coast Bridal Fair.

I am currently booking family portrait sessions for the summer months. Please indicate your travel dates and session date restrictions.

Wishing you all the best for a prosperous 2010 filled with beautiful moments!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

More weddings on the way...

Fall is here, and so is the busy fall wedding season. I've been enjoying quite a few weddings and engagements this month and am looking forward to sharing them with you soon!
An update to my October office hours:
Monday 9-12Tuesday 9-12Wednesday 9-3Thursday 9-12
Of course, feel free to contact me beyond those hours as well :)

Print Orders~Proof Processing Updates~New Office Hours

The season is officially winding down now that school is back in session. With the last push of August, I have a higher than average volume of proofs and print orders sitting on my desk. I still should be completing everything in the originally quoted time frame (2-5 weeks for proofs, 2-4 weeks for print orders).
So, don't fret, I am taking my time to give each family the individual attention they deserve. I feel so strongly against rushing orders and processing as I value each of you as clients and have committed to providing you a quality experience from beginning to end.

PROOF PROCESSINGCurious as to where you are in the progress of your proofs? I've put together a list of clients that I am in progress of working on with an estimated completion date. Clients names have been abbreviated for privacy:~Maff (8/26)~Smi (8/28)~Thom (9/2)~Dav (9/5)~McC (8/29)~Stei (9/2)~Mur (9/5)~Eng (9/12)~L&A Wedding (9/12)

PRINT ORDERSIf you placed a print order last week, you should received your prints by the end of next week.

OFFICE HOURSI have new office hours in effect. Up until Labor Day, I will be in the office on Wednesdays from 9-3.
After Labor Day, my office hours will be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 8:30-12.
Of course, you are never limited to calling within those hours. I am in the office daily, you're just more likely to speak with me right away during those hours :)

SENIOR PORTRAITSNow is the time to be scheduling those senior portraits if you haven't already. October is looking pretty booked, but there are a few September openings.

Thank you to all my families and bride/grooms this summer, we've had an amazing summer season and I have enjoyed every minute!

Apple Mania

A new Apple computer came to join my work station here at Barefoot Memories Photography. I am pretty excited about this because it should help speed up my processing time, print orders, ect. BUT, the learning curve is a big more than I expected (I've always had PCs).
So, many of last week's sessions and the C&S wedding are still carefully preserved on memory cards while I try to get this up and running. Some families have been about 90% completed, so hopefully, I should get a better handle on things in the next few days... and it shouldn't be too long until I can get your proofs uploaded for viewing.

The computer is amazingly fast, with beautiful screen, plus the newest version of Photoshop, I'm in a photographer's heaven...albeit a little behind ;)

Three little birds on my doorstep....

Well, maybe not my doorstep, more like my garage ;) Our family has been watching three little eggs in a bird nest for weeks now, and much to my relief and excitement, they finally hatched! My oldest son named two of them "Chirp" and "Tweet", my little guy named the third one "Scoop". It was tricky to get any picts of them, and I am very concerned about potentially scaring mama bird away...so this was as good as I could get. Hope you enjoy :)

Time to book those Senior Portraits!

If you are a local senior, now is the time to be calling about booking your senior portrait session for the fall! I am thinking of starting some sort of Ambassador program for a few seniors who attend local high schools, so if you are interested, please shoot me an email. I will make a list on a first come first serve basis for Ambassadors.

What are Ambassadors? Basically, it's a way to get yourself a bunch of free wallets or discounted prints. Plus, the first Ambassador from each high school also receives a discounted session. It's a way for me to get my name out there while also offering you a great way to get more prints for your friends and family.

There are so many fun location shoots we can choose from, the beach, the fort, nature trails, really the options are unlimited, so get creative and give me a call :)

The pettiskirts are in!

I ordered these beautiful pettiskirts for this season, and I was delighted to finally receive them this week! They are so soft and full and are going to be pretty on the beach this summer. I even got to try them on my two boys. What I would have given for a camera in my hand while they were twirling around, lol. But, rather than ruin the moment (and capture some awesome blackmail), I just enjoyed their little giggles.

So, I think the plan will to bring these skirts to most of my beach sessions. We'll see how that works out. Bottom line, if you want me to bring them to your summer session be sure to shoot me an email, and I'll definitely bring them along.

Here is a picture of their yummy goodness....

Here are our Easter creations this year...took a while to teach the little one they weren't balls to be thrown....most of them are cracked, but hey, what's better than rainbow egg salad sandwiches? :)

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! Our family is looking forward to a morning of Easter egg hunting tomorrow -- watch out here they come :)

On a side note -- if you have called me and are waiting a return phone call, unless you have left an email address I haven't gotten in touch with you. Turns out the seasonal allergies stole my voice and I am annoyingly raspy on the phone. I'm restingup what's left of my voice for a bridal shoot tomorrow afternoon. So, please give me a few days for it to come back, or shoot me an email instead.

Have a great weekend ~

I'm still here....

I'm still here.... Our family had an emotional week with our son. He was a brave little guy who underwent a lot of uncomfortable testing for blood and whatnot, as well as a MRI in the ER last week. It was so hard to watch him go through it, but I was also quite proud of his maturity, even at the tender age of four. We still aren't in the clear yet, although there are many signs of improvement, so please keep him in your thoughts.

The Drs and staff at the New Bern ER were fantastic...a bottle of bubbles was the most delightful distraction! Playing with our camera phones and blowing bubbles made the day go by a little faster :)

July is filling up~

July is always the most popular month for portraits, and this summer is no exception. I am nearly fully booked for the month of July, so if you are considering a July session, please email soon!

I hope to implement some sort of wait list, and/or additional sessions this summer for my peak months of June, July and August. I haven't quite figured out all the details, but know that there may be options even if you are visiting on a peak week.

The months of June and August are shaping up as well, but currently I still have some flexibility to schedule your family or event.

Out of the office Feb 15th-22nd

We will be out of the office from February 15th through the 22nd.

I will have some internet access while we are away, but will for the most part be relying on my Blackberry for returning emails. Since I am not especially fast typing on the Blackberry, please excuse the slow and concise emails :)

Proofs from the Furry Friends Outerbanks Wildlife Shelter promotion will be worked on when I return. It is my hope to have them up and online by the end of the month. Print orders are currently being processed in a 2-3 week turnaround.

Hope to be back with some great pictures to share :)