sjanephotog – Page 6

January 12, 2017January 10, 2017

| Smith Family Portraits | Decatur IL Limited Edition Sessions | Sarah Jane Photography |

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It’s time to show off the Smith family today! We fit this gorgeous family into an EARLY morning Limited Edition session this fall and I’m so glad we did. We were working to find time to fit them in before a day full of activities/games and it came together perfectly with this beautiful sunrise light.

While I loved this session, I’m most excited about how this family decided to display their images! This was the first time this family had worked with us and Aimee was excited to not only have professional images created but also to display them in their home. She came in with a number of wall images so we could design something perfect for their space (one that already featured a gorgeous shabby chic door hung right on their wall – real statement piece!). While she wasn’t opposed to moving that large piece to replace it with a portrait similar in size (60″ +) we instead decided to design with it in mind and create a smaller series of images that could be hung together or moved around as they like.

Doing a number of canvases also allowed us to feature each of the kids’ favorite portraits of themselves and a couple different family poses for different spaces in the house.

By far my favorite thing to create for families are their personal home galleries! We wake up to 3 of our wedding images each day, and walk down stairs past 60 inches of portraits of ourselves (which will soon be growing with the addition of at least 5 new wall art pieces in our gallery to show off BabyB). And while writing this it seems a bit narcissistic, in reality it doesn’t feel that way at all. It instead fills my heart with love and joy for my family each day when I get to see us happy, loving and together on our walls. And the best part is little BabyB points and says ‘mommy, daddy, bear, lily’ when she sees them too!

Full family sessions are often tough to fit into your busy schedules (I know, scheduling acrobatics is a bit part of my job!) but imagine what we can create for your family and for your home with just 15/30 minutes… just a single Limited Edition in 2017 could add a little love and light to your home and I’d love to be a part of creating that for you.

Booking is open NOW for our 2017 Limited Edition Session dates and full sessions are already filling fast (sunset spaces in for fall especially!). You can book your Limited Edition Session right HERE right NOW!

January 10, 2017January 10, 2017

| The Allen Gals Annual Family Portrait | Decatur IL | Christmas Photos |

I absolutely LOVE working with this beautiful family! I get to work with Melanie every year for the senior yearbook, dances and organizational photos for Warrensburg-Latham High School. And for the last couple years I’ve had the chance to photograph both Melanie and her lovely girls, Savannah & Sophie.

This year we did an in-studio session for a little change and created a Christmas look on our fireplace, something a little traditional and classic and then finished up with a little personality with our very own BoxDropsbySJP Sweet Scarves backdrop (a personal favorite).

I think this family image below ended up being my favorite. The laughs and cuddles with just a tiny hint of tween ‘ew do I have to’ mixed in made that one the most genuine to me and I just love it!

Head on over to our Facebook Page to give this family some love with your likes & comments!

January 4, 2017January 4, 2017

| Miller Annual Fall Family Portraits | Decatur IL |

Oh my goodness! This week is my first week back in the office and I don’t know about you but after a few weeks off it’s taking me a bit to get settled back into the flow of things SO our usual Tuesday blog is coming to you today, on Wednesday, because I forgot what day it was! I hope you all had a wonderful break and are getting settled into the new year as we are… bear with me as I attempt to get back on schedule and let’s pretend it’s Tuesday. Don’t worry our Thursday blog with be back as usual and maybe even a bonus post or two to show off all the beautiful people we were working with this fall. And NOW, it’s time to check out the Miller family:

I’ve had the chance to photograph this beautiful family nearly every year since Grant was a baby with their first session being one of the first in our home studio on the west side of Decatur! This year these troopers hung in there for a cold snap and super windy evening so we could get their annual portraits updated for their Christmas cards.

I’m hoping we treat these kiddos to warm weather for their next session!

If you’re considering a Limited Edition session in 2017 we’ve now opened these 4 dates: April 8 (in time for Easter), May 6, August 5 and November 4 (in time for Christmas). These are short 15 or 30 minute sessions at a preselected location. You can find out more details and book online HERE! These sessions are first come, first serve and when they’re full, they’re full.

December 29, 2016December 11, 2016

Petals | Small Business Feature

It’s time to feature Decatur’s number one location for custom-personalized EVERYTHING! Petals is a full-service gift shop and they specialize in personalization (especially birthday t-shirts!). Monograms, team spirit, you name it they can do it!

The Details: Kari Calhoun, Owner of Petals | In Business: 8 years

Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00am-5:00pm & Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm | Location: 1351 Hickory Point Dr Suite C Forsyth, IL

Tell us about your business… What do you do? We are a full service gift shop. We not only sell fun women’s clothing and accessories, gifts for men, school spirit wear and gifts for all ages we personalize these gifts for you. Monogram your items, create fun tshirts for baby to adult, embroider most items or let us design rhinestone shirts for fun or your school. Birthday shirts are our specialty.

What makes your business unique/special? We create custom personalized items. Infant, toddler, youth and adult. From special 1^st birthday outfits to a funny tshirt for grandpa.

What item/service on your menu or in your shop do you just LOVE and think everyone needs? We love our custom birthday items. Tutus, diaper covers, bow ties, hats, banners, t shirts and onesies. Another fun item is our custom t-shirts. Funny sayings to business logos. We love helping you design something unique, fun and just what you want.

Tell us about YOU… WHY did you choose to do what you do? I decided 8 years ago to open a gift shop after leaving the medical field. It has evolved into a gift shop with personalization over the years. We grow each year and are very thankful for our repeat customers and organizations. I am married to a wonderful man that shares my passion for Petals and creating new products.

When did you know you wanted to go into this business? It was just the time for me. I had always wanted my own business and I was in a position to change jobs or create my own. I chose the latter.

In what way have you gone above/beyond in the past for a customer? We help them get exactly what they want. Sometimes you have an idea and we can make it become a reality. Taking a gift and making it personal sets it apart from everything else.

What is the coolest thing you’ve ever had a client do for you? Become a friend. After 8 years in business some of my customers have become very close friends.

What tool/equipment/or other vendor could you not imagine doing business without? I could not do what I do without my embroidery machines, vinyl cutter, rhinestone software and sewing machine. All these tools help me create customer orders

What other local business do you just LOVE? Why? I would have to say Dels and Giggles. I love knowing I can go to either one of these and find exactly what I am looking for. As a small business owner, I have no time and hate shopping online. It’s great to know I can get great gifts local with wonderful businesses.

What are you passionate about outside of your business? My family and friends. Owning your own business is 24/7 job and when you create and make 80% or more of the items you carry, it really becomes your life. My friends and family understand this and will even come and work with me to spend time with me. It very important to have a support system.

Describe your PERFECT day… I think my perfect day happens very often. Honestly not all days are great, things go wrong, stress happens and it is hard wearing so many hats in a business, but I love what I do. Opening my shop every morning and sometimes looking around and seeing how far I have come makes a perfect day.

Introduce us to your STAFF…

Morgan Ground. High School Senior Maroa-Forsyth

Jessica Eastwood. Our newest employee who is skilled on creating embroidered items for our customer.

See the latest news at:

http://www.petalsgiftshop.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.

December 23, 2016December 27, 2017

| Liz + Justin | Family Portraits Decatur IL | Christmas Cards |

BONUS extra blog post this week! With all the sessions this fall I have our typical Tuesday/Thursday blog posts scheduled out until MARCH so it was time to throw in some bonus Friday blog posts to be able to fit everyone in for their little minute in the spotlight.

Elizabeth and Justin are getting married this May and I’m thrilled to be a part of their big day. We needed just a few images of these guys pre-wedding for Christmas cards so we were able to get them set for our Limited Edition session date down in Macon. I have been in love with this pine tree lane since Rebekah’s senior session and after we had her family session there I knew I wanted to host a portrait date there and the Nash family was on board and so welcoming.

The wind was a tad crazy that day (if you follow us on IG @sjanephotography you may remember seeing all our presents blow away!) but these four were rock stars and did a great job pretending it wasn’t freezing. Here’s hoping for MUCH warmer weather the next time I photograph these beautiful family.

Some of you guys may have seen this gem in your mailbox this Christmas. I LOVE the design they chose for the card!

Be sure to head over to our Facebook Page to give them some love with your likes/comments.