New Banner!

I put this banner of Courtney Collins up in the front window a couple of weeks ago, but with the Christmas rush, I forgot to post it here. I love this banner! It's of Courtney out in the snow. She came to Rowe Photography from Open Door Christian School. I try to keep my banners in the front window very seasonal, so right now I am featuring snow photos. Sounds like we are going to get some more tonight. As long as it's not a foot of snow, I'm okay with that. My philosophy is that as long as it's going to be cold, there might as well be some snow on the ground! It makes the photography outdoors look better! Have a Happy New Year!

Class of 2010 Models Wanted!

Attention Class of 2010! Want the most unique and cool senior pictures? Be a model for Rowe Photography! You'll get your senior portraits taken for FREE & $$$$'s off your senior portraits. Help us so we can show off all our new fun ideas for next year. You've got nothing to lose and you'll have great senior portraits! You'll be featured on our marketing pieces, our Facebook, MySpace, our Blog and our website. Go to http://www.rowephotography.com/ to fill out an online application! Deadline to apply is Dec. 30th, so hurry!

The Ulcar Sisters

These sisters came to Rowe Photography to be photographed as a present for their mom's birthday. Isn't that nice? Her birthday is Sunday, so I hope she loves them when she sees them. It was an awesome session and both girls photographed beautifully!

Xmas 2008

Here is a candid photo from my family Christmas this year. These are two of my nephews and my dad. They all got Under Armor hats this year. They all thought they looked so cool! So we made them take a photo together. I'm sure they think they look really gansta! I'm still trying to deliver last minute orders today and tomorrow, but I thought I would post this in the spirit of the season! Happy Holidays!

Susan

Picture of the Week

Okay, so it's really a card, not a picture. I hope you forgive the difference! This is a Christmas card we did from a session yesterday. Heather and Joe just adopted Haley from Guatemala and she arrived home last week. She is so cute! They wanted to give her a little time to adjust, then get portraits taken right before Christmas. She did really well! I love this card, it's so cute! Happy Holidays!!

Susan

Christmas Caroling

We went Christmas caroling in my friend Becky's neighborhood in Elyria last night. She lives off of Hilliard. There were about 15 of us that went. Apparently she used go caroling when she was a kid and she wanted her kids to experience it, so she made her boys go. I never did.

People were very surprised to see us when they opened their doors and seemed to genuinely enjoy it. We tried to keep the songs short so they didn't have to stand with their doors open for long. It was more fun than I thought it was going to be! It's nice to know in this time of hustle and bustle, when we're trying to get everyone's orders ready for Christmas, you can do one small thing (free, too!) to make someone's holiday special. It is the true meaning of Christmas.

Now we might go to my friend, Vern's, neighborhood Sunday, so be careful when you open your doors this weekend! You might find a group of really bad singers!!! Happy Holidays!

Susan

Gift Certificates

Rowe Photography offers gift certificates for those times that the perfect gift needs to be created later. Get them now for the holidays and use them at a later date. All denominations available. Just call the studio at 440.926.1440 and we'll fix you right up!

Blood Bank!

I went to the Life Share Lorain County Bloodbank yesterday to give blood as I try to do faithfully. It was really busy. I mean way busier than normal. Usually this time of year it is slower for them because of the holidays. They told me that they were giving away a FREE $25 GAS CARD for making a blood donation. And if you were able to do a double red cell donation (usually by appt.), you would get two cards so $50 in FREE GAS! I told Walter and he went and did it, too! I told them I would tell everyone I knew and figured this would be a great way to reach a lot of people. Hopefully a lot of people read this! Tell everyone you know. If you go, tell them I sent you! They said they would be doing it until January 17th, but I don't know if they will run out of gas cards and end the promotion early. So, if you're thinking about doing it, you might not want to wait! Go give blood!
Susan

Winter Senior Special

Click on image to view larger. Blog special. Mention this when scheduling!

My Family

Well, my niece Devan had her sweet 16 party last night with all of her friends. The first photo of my niece Devan and my brother David was of them dancing to "Butterfly Kisses". Devan cried through the whole song! My family (or most of it anyway by this late hour) was in attendance. At the end of almost every party we play Bon Jovi's "Never Say Goodbye" and stand in a circle and sway. This always brings my mother to tears, followed usually by Devan. This was the photo I took after the song. I lay down on the floor and shoot up on the circle. An old trick from days of wedding photography.
A good time was had by all!

Annual Turkey Bowl

Here is the photo from the annual turkey bowl. I have wanted to put it on the blog for a while, but my camera was dead when it came time for the photo, and a friend took it instead. I just got my hands on it today. My family has this flag football event every year on Thanksgiving morning. This year wasn't horrible. A little cold, but not nearly as bad as last year, when it was raining!!! Of course, I don't play, just watch from the sidelines! My three brothers play, along with my nephew and some friends and their kids. It is a good time for everyone!

Technology is Great

My family had a get together yesterday, and we were discussing how teenager today never have actual conversations anymore. They just text back and forth. My brother, Paul, tells me about this service called Sly Dial. It is designed so that you never need to actually speak to someone on their cell phone again! Okay, here's the deal...
You have to call your sister, but you hope you will get her voicemail, because you don't want to lose 30 minutes of the day having a meaningless conversation. You call 267-slydial and give them the number you want to leave a voicemail to. It will patch you automatically through to the person's voicemail, where you can leave a message. Very shortly thereafter, they will get a voicemail message from you. You will never have to actually speak to anyone again! How cool is that?!
I asked if it's a free service, and it is. You have to listen to a commercial before getting to leave your message, which is how they make their money. Now we will all only communicate through voicemail!!!!!!!
Susan

The Leg Lamp

Last night was Old Fashioned Christmas in downtown Grafton. The theme this year was from the movie A Christmas Story. You know, Ralphie, the Red Rider BB Gun, etc. So.....

Several years ago I bought a leg lamp for my brother for his birthday. He is a HUGE fan of that movie. Just like the movie, my sister-in-law isn't very fond of it. Every year right after Thanksgiving, my brother lovingly places the lamp in his front window. It stays illuminated until Christmas for the whole neighborhood to see.

Since the theme this year went with the lamp, I asked if I could borrow it for my front window at the studio for Friday night. My sister in law, Connie, said I could come get it and keep it as long as I needed! I picked it up on Thursday night and will return it to him tomorrow, so he's not without it for long! It worked out perfectly, I think, for me and Connie! Thanks, Paul. It was a big hit and people loved looking at it in the window!

Computer Issues!

Well, I found out late last week that my server is having major issues. Just about every day I would come in and find a blue screen on my computer. My computer service guy came out and looked at it and said the drives were failing! He had to special order bigger ones and he is coming out today to replace them. I'm nervous! He also told me in the meantime to stop doing backups to try to tax the system less! Doesn't that sound like the opposite of what you should do if your drives are failing?!
I trust them, so I'll let you all know how it goes today. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Susan

Facebook challenge!

OMG! Okay, so I photographer I know who has a studio in southern Ohio has had a facebook account longer than I have. His goal was to get to 1,000 friends, which he achieved the other day. So now he has put a challenge out there to get 2009 friends by the end of 2009! I have to take him up on this challenge. I currently have 871 friends, so I am behind him. SO..... TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO BE MY FRIEND ON FACEBOOK! I have to give it a shot. I will approve ANYONE that asks to be my friend. No more being picky! I can do it!!!!
Susan

Economic Stimulus Package

Here is our special for the month of December for senior portraits. You can click on it to see it larger. Winter break is a great time to have them done! Snow is great for photographing, and the way things look right now, I think we are going to get some more! Session must be completed by December 30th. So call now to make your appointment!

The Porch

Well, not too long ago Walter found out that a house down the street was abandoned and owned by the village. He liked the look of the front porch, so he started using it for some outdoor poses, like the one you see here. As I came to work today, there was a huge crane on the lot and the house was half gone! They completely knocked it down today! I called Walter and told him his porch was gone. He was bummed, but it only motivates him more to find more new spots! Change is inevitable!!!

Susan