Decatur – Page 10

August 10, 2017August 11, 2017

| Ashley + Nathan | SURPRISE We’re Married! |

I’m so excited today to share a little secret I’ve been holding onto! These two Decatur love birds are not only engaged but as of this past weekend they are MARRIED! While it will be just a bit before all their wedding images are ready to share with you (check our facebook/instagram for a sneak peek).

These two planned an intimate ceremony in Chicago (on a boat!) and a couple months ago contacted me about creating some engagement images to celebrate this milestone. I’ve known and worked with Ashley through my work with the Avon Theater creating their annual staff portraits and I was thrilled when she called me to share the news and invite me to create their portraits. And you all know I was even more excited knowing Huck would be on session (I love people, but DOGS… well that’s just next level).

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Be sure to stay tuned in the coming weeks for a closer look at their big day too…. just a peek for now!

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May 17, 2017January 30, 2018

| Recent Album Designs | Seniors, Families & Weddings: More than Images, Heirloom Designs |

Oops we’re a day late on my usual Tuesday blog post but I promise it’s worth it with a LOT of images/albums to check out today!

I know it’s kinda odd to do a ‘look back’ post as we are smack dab in the middle of the year BUT a photographer’s year is odd and not really broken up in the usual Jan-December flow of most. Instead, those of us who photograph seniors often think in school years too so May is always another ending/beginning for me as we say congratulations and farewell to our class of 2017 graduates and welcome in the next class of 2018!

Right now in the midst of finishing up album designs, graduation cards and booking summer family sessions for our 2017 grads I thought it would be fun to look back at one of my favorite products, our custom-designed albums!

Every year (and honestly every album) I try to push myself to try something new, find a new design element, work in a classic item in a new way or even invent/design a new element from scratch. Why? Because I want your album to be as unique as a fingerprint… as unique as you are!

Of course I LOVE our albums for our high school senior clients since these are often our longest sessions with the most locations and outfit changes an album just makes sense to show off everything we’ve created for you. This year we broke our record for most images in an album with over 100 (previously 86 was our record for a non-wedding album!). What other way can you show off, protect and share over 100 of your favorite images?!?! Unless you’re up for wallpapering your house (challenge me, I’m game haha) I think the album is the perfect way to show off everything we created for you!

Next let’s check out our family albums for 2016! Just like our senior albums, our family albums give us a chance to show off all the different images we created which for families means all the individuals, ones with just the kids, etc. You’re all dressed up and ready for session already so our family sessions include MORE than just the whole family images… we take a few minutes to focus on each kiddo for updated portraits of them, plus show off every relationship in your family like momma with kids, dad with kids, siblings together AND the relationship that started it all mom+dad (sometimes it’s been YEARS since you guys have had a portrait together yourselves).

Oh and don’t forget the family PETS!

While we do a handful of individual session albums for families we also offer (and are in the midst of) planning for many heirloom albums that showcase not just one session from one year but all your annual sessions (typically in 5 or 10 year segments). Can you imagine… flipping through one album as your baby grows from an infant into a bubbly toddler then into a big kindergartener… then on and on through middle school awkwardness and into young adults through high school and on?! What a gift for the kids to have once they graduate college and start their own families, it’s like they are finally aloud to check those sites like imgsexy.com and start being adults!

And I love to tell the beginning of your love story starting with your engagement portraits! We often design these albums as guestbooks which simply means we leave some blank spaces for your guests to sign and add their own notes and well-wishes to your album. Always remember who was there to help you celebrate your big day!

Obviously you’ve seen that albums aren’t just for weddings anymore BUT they are still our favorite products for our wedding clients too! Talk about an heirloom piece. Our most popular wedding albums are stunning hand made albums printed in Italy and published with unique image covers including metal and glass prints!

April 27, 2017April 28, 2017

Paco’s Sol Bistro | Small Business Feature

A day late on our monthly small business feature since yesterday was #BabyB’s second birthday so I wasn’t in the office, but I promise it’s worth the wait for the delicious local business! It’s our date night fav.

The Details: Pack’s Sol Bistro | Paco Greenwell, Owner | In Business: 7 years

Hours: Tues – Thurs, 11am-8pm; Fri-Sat 11am-9pm Mondays 11am-8pm beginning June 5th! | Location: 237 N Main St. Downtown Decatur

Tell us about your business… What do you do? Full service bar and restaurant that features 2 private party spaces.

What makes your business unique/special? Unique, made-from-scratch menu featuring all original recipes.

What item/service on your menu or in your shop do you just LOVE and think everyone needs? Everyone should try the chicken meatloaf or southwest egg rolls. And guacamole if you are a fan.

In what way have you gone above/beyond in the past for a customer? We have made a special food feature for several of our regular guests for their birthday. (Actually did this today) We also have Tervis cups for our most loyal bar regular with their name on them. We have also featured art from several local artists.

What is the coolest thing you’ve ever had a client do for you? When hosting a charity event, some regulars purchased a painting they knew we liked and gave it to us to hang in the restaurant.

What tool/equipment/or other vendor could you not imagine doing business without? My staff! They make it all happen.

What other local business do you just LOVE? Why? I would rather not single out any. We always try to support any and all that we can.

Tell us about YOU… WHY did you choose to do what you do? I love to make people happy. There’s no better way to the heart than through the stomach.

When did you know you wanted to go into this business? I didn’t choose it. It chose me. I needed a job at 18. I started as a server and had my first management job at 18. I just took to it naturally. Thru my time I discovered my passion and ability to cook and come up with recipes. I love the combination of art and science in cooking.

What are you passionate about outside of your business? My wife and I are avid pool players and St. Louis Cardinal fans.

Describe your PERFECT day… 85 degrees without a cloud in the sky, hanging in the pool with my beautiful wife, my dogs, our family and friends. Music blasting, food on the grill and laughter all around.

See the latest news at:

http://www.solbistro.com/

See our other past small business features to connect with more businesses in our area:

See more on our Facebook Page and follow us on Twitter @sjanephotog, Instagram @sjanephotograhy, and Snapchat @sjanephotog

If you’d like to have YOUR small business featured for FREE on the SJP blog (or know a small business we should feature) you can find details HERE!

April 13, 2017April 13, 2017

| Senior Models | Just the beginning! | Decatur IL |

Class of 2018 your time has arrived!!! If you’ve been keeping up with us on social media you’ve already had the chance to ‘meet’ our class of 2018 senior model team but it’s been moving quick so don’t be surprised if you missed someone. You’re going to be seeing a LOT from these 13 awesome seniors over the next year but right now it’s time to show you how it all starts….

Our model applicants come in for an interview after they apply so we can get to know them just a bit better and that includes getting them into the studio for a QUICK five minute session and this is just a peek at what we created in that time…..

Payton | Argenta-Oreana High School

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Jaiden | Maroa-Forsyth High School

Ryan | Mahomet-Seymour High School

Jasmyn | Mt. Zion High School

Ashlyn | Eisenhower High School

Kaylee | Eisenhower High School

Kenzie | Central A & M High School

Shelby | Argenta-Oreana High School

Alaina | Central A & M High School

McKinnley | Mt. Zion High School

TaNia | MacArthur High School

Kenzi | Mt. Zion High School

Katie | Warrensburg-Latham High School

So what’s next?!?! Well these guys all have the cards you see above for YOU and each one has a deal for your own senior portrait experience. And stay tuned as you’ll get to see their journey start to finish as a senior model… up next for them we have our GROUP Model Session this month and then a super fun conceptual session which may or may not involve another artist, the elements and a LOT of cleanup (you wont want to miss it!).

If YOU are a class of 2018 senior and want the best senior portrait experience, call/text/email us NOW, our summer sunset sessions are almost full and other summer/fall days are filling fast. And call to book in APRIL, mention this post and you’ll save 75% off your Art Session!

mail@sjanephotography.com | 217.330.7012 | Facebook | Website

April 6, 2017April 7, 2017

| Thrive Entertainment Guide | Commercial & Editorial Photography | Decatur IL |

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Today I’m giving Decatur and Thrive Entertainment Guide some love here on the blog. Decatur has only been home for us since late 2010 so we haven’t even been here a decade yet, but I already feel rooted to this community and really would miss some of the great things this city offers if we were to ever relocate.

One of the very first connections I made when I moved to town was with Katrina Smalley the publisher of Thrive Entertainment Guide, who I could gush about for days… Not only has Kat been excited about my business coming to the area since day one but she’s excited about this town and EVERYTHING going on in it! It’s her (and by extension, our) job to know about what’s going on in Macon county and make sure you guys do too. And I’m honored to be a continuing part of that effort through Thrive Entertainment Guide.

I get to do a very eclectic style of work for Thrive with something a bit different every month. Often I get to cover and create images to tell a whole story (including a cover image!)…

Other times I get to create portraits (like I love) of the movers and shakers doing big things right here in our little town. This is always a fun and challenging endeavor because, while I LOVE to create portraits, it can be a challenge to create a single portrait that shows you, the reader, who this person is as well as what they do or love. And I really push myself to keep these fresh, though there may be a Q&A portrait in every issue of Thrive I hope they’ll never be two that look quite alike (because these folks are all doing very unique and wonderful things).

Still other times my contribution to the magazine drifts over to the commercial side with product images both for stories and for our supportive advertisers. And (hint hint) if you didn’t know already your ad in Thrive comes complete with my services to create images to show off your products to our readers! (Side note, my very own #BabyB has made about 3 appearances in Thrive already and you can see her twice below… it’s true, she’s a star!).

And this past month, my husband even made a debut in the magazine as he was interviewed for a story on Macon Speedway and that’s his pride and joy custom-painted helmet you see (shoutout to INDOCIL).

And occasionally… I mean VERY occasionally I get talked into writing for the magazine as well. Though ‘writer’ has always been a pipe dream of mine, I can’t say that it’s ever been something that comes easily so I admit I avoid it whenever possible. But when it comes with the promise of food and/or coffee who can say no?!?!

And really all the best assignments come with FOOD (and friends)…

Decatur really is a unique place and though it seems to get a bad (for some reason) it really is FULL of unique activities, chances for adventure in nature, entertainment from board games to art classes, theater shows to live music plus don’t even get me started on the park district activities and amenities (OMG so much to do!)… and so much more on the horizon (water park and ropes courses dude!). And if you ever have the thought that there is nothing to do in this city… pick up a Thrive (there are literally THOUSANDS available around town every month) and check out the center calendar, where you’ll also find some of my lovely clients!

Because not only do I work for Thrive every month but it also works for me! Sharing and showing off my amazing clients and what we’ve been creating together.

You can read these and all past issues of Thrive Entertainment Guide HERE.