I know you’ve all been on the edge of your seats. Here’s the 411 (permanently posted in the linkbar above as well), mark your calendars!:

Saturday, September 27th (raindate Sept. 28th): Mini beach sessions at Plum Island Point, Newburyport MA

Saturday, October 11th (raindate October 12th): Mini Sessions at Atkinson Park, Newburyport, MA

Saturday, October 18th (raindate October 19th): Mini Sessions at Atkinson Park, Newburyport MA

The beach sessions will be at the lighthouse end of Plum Island, and will be held on the beach (I added this extra weekend date because I really want to give you the opportunity to get beach portraits in before the summer leaves for good!). Weather permitting, we should catch the last warmth of early Fall for these. Park sessions are in one of the most beautiful parks in Newburyport- with gardens, paths, bridges, fountains, and a variety of places to relax. More dates will be added with popular locations should these fill.

You may have some questions on these elusive ‘Mini Sessions’!:

What is a Mini Session?

A mini session is a regular photo session, but is a half hour long, which is just enough time to get those great family/kids shots in for your Christmas Cards and gifts. No hassle, no stress, just a half hour, and you’re done! These are perfect if you need updated family portraits and family gifts. Mini sessions will be scheduled in the mornings and afternoons of the above dates.

What do I get with a Mini Session?

Your mini session includes at least ten edited final photos, and a CD of these for printing as gifts and wall art. It also includes a pack of 50 Holiday Cards, of which you’ll get to choose from our exclusive designs. Holiday Card designs will be a mix of traditional and chic to accommodate every taste and style.

What kind of shots will I get?

I will shoot in my signature style, but I will work to supply you with a mix of traditional family photos, individuals of your kids, and some fun shots as well. Perfect for the grandparents AND your friends!

When should I have my order for cards/products in by?:

All orders, to be received by Christmas, should be in by November 1st. All orders placed after this date will not be guaranteed to be in by Christmas.

What if I want a full, regular session?

Of course, full sessions are still offered year-round, and can be scheduled on any weekend days other than these dates. A regular full session is 2 hours long, with at least 40 images presented. Full sessions include travel to homes, which may be a more convenient option if you would like a more extended update of your family photos.

Can I buy prints and products?

Prints and products will be on-sale year round as well, and are available for mini session bookings. I will be offering special holiday products (albums, gift albums, and frames) starting September 15th. I have a surprise product line up my sleeve as well, and here’s a hint: painted canvases and jewlery. Okay, here’s another hint: Erika Jones (now go Google! :) ).

 

Please email me for pricing. Booking is on a first-come, first serve basis. Please use the form on this blog, the form on my website, or simply email contact@mariahgale.com. These slots will fill fast, as this is the most popular time of year for family portraits (who can resist having all of their cards, portraits, and holiday gifts done in one fun, hassle-free half hour?). These sessions will be a blast- I can’t wait to see my repeat clients again, as well as new bookings!

 

And since no post is complete without pictures, here are a couple from my recent meetup with a fellow photographer who traveled out here from California with her little guy:

 

We shot in Boston Common, and this red wagon was conveniently…not ours, haha. A fellow toddler let us borrow it to shoot in. Such an altruistic little guy- couldn’t have gotten these shots without it. ;)

I have to add this one, because it shows off his gorgeous eyelashes. We were looking for planes, a rare still moment:

 

Thanks for hanging out, Helene!

 

(I just added this yummy striped background. I’m not sure how it looks to you guys on smaller monitors…mine’s 24″…so let me know if it looks alright or not!)

Until Next Time,

MG

Category: Little Ones, Recent Sessions, business, products | Show Comments | 2 people commented. Click here to add yours!

I’m so absolutely excited to offer this to my portrait clients. I haven’t gotten around to taking pictures of it until today, but here it is. It’s the most luxurious, heavy, beautiful album on the market, and it’s all mine. Ahem, well, yours!

The cover image is printed onto a high-quality lined keepsake box to house your album in. The album pictured (my sample carried to sessions) is thinner than the actual keepsake album (5 leaves, 10 Images). The session album offered for portrait clients is in fact a 15-leaf, with 30 8×10’s featured. So imagine the album you see here, only x 3! I would have that as a sample, but trust me, it’s a bit too heavy to travel with to sessions :)

The album itself is 12×12 inches, which rivals the biggest coffee table books. Professionally bound, thick matting gives your album a weight and presence that echoes the emotion of your images:

Your favorite image is printed onto silk, and wrapped around your album cover, with a custom-imprinted title:

Isn’t it pretty? I’ll add more images of details a bit later.

 

Until Next Time,

Mariah

Category: Photography Tech, business, favorite things, products | Show Comments | 2 people commented. Click here to add yours!

I had taken pictures of my accents for a client- Hi Victoria!- and decided I might as well post them, right? The white bag hasn’t been emptied yet, so I think y’all deserve a look at my newborn accent props.

Depending on your monitor, these may look very bright. These pictures don’t represent a newborn shoot, rather, the fabulous props that I use in the shoot!

We’ll start with exhibit A, The white bag and my stack of assorted bowls, baskets, and trays:

Some of the yummy fabric I use for boy shoots (disregard those flowers…they got mixed in there somehow!). The basic fabrics I use are the backgrounds for these photos…the fuzzy white, soft tan, black background, etc.

My nautical stripe and beautiful white basket:

 

The big, wide bowl:

 

The big, wide bowl in action, modeling fuzzy blankets:

 

The leaf basket (this just kills me).

 

The clean, white bowl modeling my black background. Or is it the other way around?

 

Other accents, modeled with the fabric of the moment:

 

Sheepskin, tricks of the trade, basic baskets, and blankets are not featured :) You’ll just have to wait for your sessions!

Mariah

Category: Little Ones, Personal, Randomness, kid fashion, products | Show Comments | 2 people commented. Click here to add yours!

Our new 2008 line of custom announcement cards is here! These are displayed as birth announcements, but can be customized as baby shower cards, invitations, or thank-you cards, and can be filled in with birth stats, quotes, or any number of possibilities! Ask me about rates and custom design.

I am SO excited to offer these, and I really think they fit with the fun, light, bright style we put forth in our images.

Our first card is a front and back or inside/outside combination, depending on if you’d like a folded or flat card. Boy version is also available:

 

The next series is one of my personal favorites. Juicy, colorful, and bright, these really put forth the “fruit” of your “labors” (forgive me). Blank spaces are for stats:

       

You can’t go wrong with argyle and paisely for your wee one:

        

        

Stars and Flowers fill these 5×7 cards (empty space for stats and names):

     

Birds hop among dots in these 5×5 cards:

       

And country charm meets modern chic in these 5×7’s:

     

And some general purpose cards that can be used for virtually anything!:

       

Aren’t they adorable! I want to print these out and send them just for fun, they’re so cute. Each card (except for the first card and the 5×5’s) is a 5×7 flat card. They can be ordered as folded cards with blank insides as well.

Card are sold at a minimum of 50, and in multiples of 25 after that. They come with your choice of linen or plain envelopes. They are a gorgeous way to announce your new addition- or anything you’d like!

 Please email me at contact@mariahgale.com, or use the contact form above if you have any questions.

 Mariah

Category: Little Ones, business, favorite things, products | Show Comments | 3 people commented. Click here to add yours!