The Most Unusual Find

We were literally screaming with excitement recently at Anne Grant Photography. A check for $250 was sent to us because we had won "The Most Unusual Find" contest which is sponsored by the North Carolina Adopt-A-Highway Program. It is a statewide contest that adds a little fun to cleaning the roadside trash on highways. In October, our very own, Nolan Grant, along with Melinda Gentry and Brent Bennett, our clients, were cleaning Harper Road, the road adopted by Anne Grant Photography. They found a very large egg, close to four inches long. It was so unusual a find that we decided to submit it as an entry in the contest. Much to our surprise it won first place. We still don't know what laid that egg but we are sure glad we found it.
The money will be donated to the "No Limits Dance" that Melinda and Brent are involved in. The dance is held monthly for over 400 teens & adults with special needs at Pinedale Christian Church. They also have a No Limits Formal once a year for those who would otherwise not have an opportunity to attend a dance similar to "Prom Night". What a great Christmas Present!

Santa Bits!

Just like every portrait we create, there is something special about the way your child is portrayed and our Santa Portraits are no different. Of course, you will have the quality images you have come to expect, but with a of a "little bit" of Santa and "more" of your child in your Santa Portrait:
-The focus is on your child!
-If you prefer, a family member can borrow our Santa's suit so your child can be with a familiar person.
-If you want us to provide the Santa, he can be very quiet so your child can tell him his Christmas list or he can be playful and silly if that is what your child needs.
-NO waiting in line...time is set aside exclusively for you!
For our Santa Bits sessions, there is NO Session Fee! Instead we request a gift for one of the Giving Tree items (click here for more info). Simply pick up a gift wish card at any of the 4 locations, choose a gift for the child and bring it to the studio on the day of your session. If you want us to do the shopping, you may make a monetary donation of $15 or more.

The Giving Tree

Rotary of Western Forsyth is having it's 2nd Annual Giving Tree to fulfill the gift wishes of needy children in Lewisville and Clemmons. Last year was a big success and it would be wonderful to surpass the amount of gifts received last year for these elementary school children.
For our Santa Bits sessions, there is NO Session Fee! (See the next blog entry for our Santa Bits Limited Edition Sessions) Instead we request a gift for one of the Giving Tree items. Simply pick up a gift wish card at any of the 4 locations, choose a gift for the child and bring it to the studio on the day of your session. If you want us to do the shopping, you may make a monetary donation of $15 or more.

Upgrade Your Facebook Image

You don't want to miss this chance to have a little fun for yourself, upgrade your look on Facebook and help to send our honored WWII Vets on the Flight of Honor next Spring. See you there!

Free Family Portrait Sessions on a SUNDAY ???

First, for those of you who know us well and how important family time is to us, you know we are making a HUGE sacrifice to give up a Sunday afternoon to do portrait sessions! But seriously, we want to give the honor due to those who have truly sacrificed for our community.
On October 7, Officer Danny Clark and Sgt. Mickey Hutchens were both shot in the line of duty. As they were protecting our community from a dangerous gunman, we must consider how much harm could have been caused had they not stepped in with their dedication to Protect and Serve. Both received serious injuries as a result of the shooting and Officer Hutchens gave the ultimate sacrifice when he passed away on October 12. When Sgt. Hutchens was laid to rest later that week, we saw the most incredible demonstration of respect and honor from the Triad and beyond.
We want to show our appreciation to their families with an “Honor Our Heroes Benefit.” Like most of you, we feel that there is little we can do individually to make a difference. However, we can offer the talents and time that we have been blessed with and you can join us by scheduling a Family Portrait Session for our “Honor Our Heroes Benefit” on November 8 or November 9. What better way to remember these families than to celebrate YOUR family and preserve those memories for a lifetime in a beautiful portrait.
For this event, there is NO SESSION FEE, but we are requesting a $25 donation to the funds that will assist the families of these brave officers. In addition, we will donate 15% of your portrait order to this fund.
On these two days, we will also have refreshments so you can relax and visit with us or your friends for a while. We may even have a police car or two for your children to tour with the friendly police officers who will also be visiting with us those days (this has to be approved by the WSPD first.)
In order to give you our undivided attention, the sessions are by appointment only. You will want to call 336.766.8367 to reserve your session time SOON so you can come at your preferred time.

Anne's Angels & A Child's Prayer

All children are angels. nothing compares to the vision of a child kneeling to give thanks for the day or sharing a quiet story with a sibling.

This scene is all white. Bring your white gowns, slips, pajamas or shirts to emphasize the purity of childlike faith.

Don’t Miss Your Family Portrait Month Opportunity

This fall, Anne Grant ~ The Village Photographer, will participate with an elite group of photographers around the country in a very special family portrait promotion. In September and October, we will celebrate our 5th Annual “Family Portrait Month.” This is a fantastic opportunity for you to update your family portrait with no session fees and special bonus gifts (see below), and at the same time, help to support Operation Smile, which treats children around the world who suffer with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities. Along with other studio members of Professional Photographers of America (PPA), we have pledged to contribute all donated session fees from the “Family Portrait Month” promotion to PPA Charities, which has chosen Operation Smile as its charitable partner. Recording the faces of children and their families is our greatest pleasure. That’s why we believe so strongly in the work of Operation Smile. More than 100,000 children are born with a facial deformity each year in Operation Smile’s 23 mission countries. Thanks to the medical volunteers, it costs only $240 to perform a life-changing operation. Last year, PPA donated over $52,000 to Operation Smile...that’s a lot of smiles! We also believe that “Family Portrait Month” is a wonderful way to teach children the value of reaching out to others. Even small children can understand the importance of Operation Smile’s work, and they are eager to help these special children.

We hope you will join with us in helping to make this vital work possible. Don’t forget that the holiday season is right around the corner, so there’s no better time for a family portrait, which is always appreciated as gifts for family and friends and to send along with Christmas and holiday greeting cards.As always . . . we look forward to creating some truly wonderful portraits of your family.
For this event, we will have evening appointments available on a limited basis and even
TWO SATURDAYS, September 26 and October 17.

What’s more, we want YOU to benefit from this special offer:

NO SESSION FEE ($99 Value)

(We request a $25 suggested donation to Operation Smile for this promotion)

Choose from the following for your BONUS GIFT:

1) 12 Holiday Cards with the purchase of any collection

OR

2) $100 Studio Gift Certificate to use for any future

OR

3) $25 Gift Certificate from Haj-Paj Boutique & Design Studio

OR
4) $25 Gift Certificate at Quest Coffee

EARLY BIRD BONUS:

The first 5 people to schedule a Family Portrait Month session for September will receive a

FREE Designer Market Tote from our new Boutique AG. ($25.00 Value)

Custom Christmas Card Kick-Off

Come and put your feet in the sand!

You know you love it when you are at the beach with your family, so why not make it last forever in an beautiful portrait by Anne Grant? Don't let this opportunity pass you by, since these sessions are only available to a very limited few who act quickly.Please call 336.766.8367 or e-mail kerri@grantphoto.com for more information

It is senior portrait season!

It is time to come in and have your Senior Portraits before you get so busy with all the cool things your last year of high school as in store for you! (Senior Portraits at Anne Grant Photography may be the coolest thing that happens to you your whole senior year!)Right now you can take advantage of 50% off our Senior Portrait Elements and also if you call right now you can take advantage of lots of FREE offers.
(For details, please click on image on left to enlarge.) Call 336.766.8367 or send an e-mail to kerri@grantphoto.com .We have introduced "Senior Elements" as a way to design your perfect session. See http://www.grantphoto.com/ and click on the Resources tab to see the many choices we have to offer.

Ballet Babies & Construction Kids

No Session Fees! We just ask for you to donation to our monthly charity. Expessions packages start at just $129. Call 336-766-8367 or email kerri@grantphoto.com for an appointment that is best for your little dancer or little worker.

Modern Automotive, June Citizen of the Month

We are so excited to tell everyone that one of our very good friends and clients, Melinda Gentry, has been selected for Modern Automotive, June Citizen of the Month. We have a special place in our hearts for Melinda and her family. We have been honored to create their family portraits for years now. We have also been blessed to be able to do the photography for Melinda's charity of choice, Piedmont Downs Syndrome Support Network. For the full story click here.

AG Photo Cover Girls (and Guy)!

We were thrilled to be featured as the July cover story for Forsyth Woman Magazine since it "Celebrates the Lives Of Women". Even though I am quite familiar with the story (since I lived it), as I read the article I realized how blessed I truly am when I think about how things have unfolded for us since I began my studio. Hopefully it will encourage others who may be taking a different path in their career-as I did from being a nurse and then going into photography. Above all, I am glad to show that Anne Grant Photography is so much more than just "Anne Grant"... it is a team of hard working, wonderful people who, through their combined efforts, make the studio a success, even in these trying times.
The entire article can be downloaded here or free copies of the magazine are available at businesses, schools and offices all over Forsyth county and beyond, including our studio!

Looking forward to the Journey...

We are so excited about our association with Quest Coffee Shop in Davie County (formerly Moby’s Coffee and before that, Dairy Queen).

First, I have a confession to make: I didn’t go to their coffee shop when they first opened because I was mad that there was not a DQ anymore, but I soon found out I was missing out on something even better than a chocolate dipped ice cream cone!
After came to my senses, we went there for a staff luncheon one day and fell in love with the atmosphere and comfortable surroundings. Since we have been going there we have gotten to know one of the owners, Allyson Sawtelle, her son Nolan (yes, another Nolan!) and some of the other staff members there. They all seem to love their job and are very friendly.
We will soon begin designing their coffee shop with photographic art and our new line of PoetryArt featuring poetry from Comfort Ahead by Jeff Messick, a local Christian poet. This is an exciting opportunity for us and we will keep you updated on the progress.
Among the many events they have at Quest (such as musical performances by praise bands), is a tea every Monday at 3 PM, complete with white tablecloths, fresh flowers, specialty teas and delicious edibles. Even more important is just a chance to fellowship and refresh your spirit among friends. Normally it is $5 per person, but Anne Grant Photography will soon be hosting our first tea at Quest and want to invite you to join us as our honored guest. We will let you know the date as soon as as we have it finalized, but meanwhile, go by and have a cup of coffee and they’ll throw in a free smile! See you at Quest!

ONE DAY SALE FOR CLASS OF 2010!

This is a wonderful time of year for us, because we have a whole new group of High School Seniors to meet...and making you look the best you ever have in your portraits.
Get ready for the biggest sale we will have this year on Senior Portraits! (For details, please click on image on left to enlarge.)
On Thursday June 25, we will be having a ONE DAY SALE. Call 336.766.8367, but if you have trouble getting through on the phone, keep calling or send an e-mail to kerri@grantphoto.com .
We have introduced "Senior Elements" as a way to design your perfect session. See www.grantphoto.com and click on the Resources tab to see the many choices we have to offer.

Graduation

Kerri's son Joey graduated from Davie High School on Friday, June 5. We wondered was it going to happen since we were having torrential downpours all day. They had practice in the morning in the pouring rain. Joey looked like a drowned rat. However, the sun came out and graduation was on. Once Kerri's family arrived at the high school the rain started again, and stopped just as the graduates progressed. We are so proud of Joey and the Class of 2009, what an accomplishment. Was that rain on Kerri's face or tears, I think a little bit of both.

Beach Portraits...Ahhh!

You know you love it when you are at the beach with your family, so why not make it last forever in an beautiful portrait by Anne Grant?
Don't let this opportunity pass you by, since these sessions are only available to a very limited few who act quickly.
Please call 336.766.8367 or e-mail kerri@grantphoto.com for more information.

Take a Walk in the Wheat

"No Limits" Formal Dance

Recently, we had the pleasure of being a part of the No Limits II Formal Dance. We photographed over 400 special people. We had four stations set up to help in speeding the process along so the guests could go and enjoy their fun filled night. Our Anne Grant Team was there along with four other professional photographers from the North Carolina area. We had such a wonderful time!

In December of 2002, No Limits II was started at Sunrise United Methodist Church in Lewisville. No Limits II is a monthly social opportunity for mentally and physically challenged adults (18 years or older) where they can come and enjoy a night of dancing and socializing. On the second Friday night of each month, the family life center is transformed into a dance club complete with a DJ, dancing, refreshments, door prizes and bingo. The party starts at 7 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m. When they began in 2002, they had about 25 people in attendance. Over the years, they have continued to grow…..and now they have anywhere from 400 to 500 in attendance each month. They outgrew the Sunrise facility in 2005 and therefore had to look for a new home to continue their dances. Over the summer of 2005, they held dances at the West Forsyth YMCA. In August of 2005, Pinedale Christian Church (at 3395 Peters Creek Parkway in Winston-Salem) graciously extended their facility and volunteer support to No Limits II.
No Limits II is a great opportunity for some very special people to have a wonderful night socializing together. The monthly dance is currently sponsored by Pinedale Christian Church, Sunrise United Methodist Church, Piedmont Down Syndrome Support Network, personal donations and several other local contributors. As the attendance has continued to grow over the years, so have their needs. In addition to the 25 to 30 volunteers that are needed each month, the financial needs have grown as well. On average, it costs approximately $500-$600 per month to provide everything that is needed to make a No Limits II dance happen. Information is mailed out quarterly and themed dances are planned throughout the year. People travel from as far away as Statesville, Elkin, High Point, Greensboro and Lexington to be a part of No Limits II. It is a very simple way to bring a lot of happiness to people each month. Some people come to dance, some people come to eat, and some people come to just socialize and play bingo. It is free to all guests and is a night that no one wants to miss!!!

If you have any questions or would like to help in any way, please call Melinda Gentry at 924-6507 or e-mail at mailto:scootbee@windstream.net.

Spring is Here!

Spring is HERE! The grass is growing, the flowers are blooming, and Jonathan is out doing his yard work. We love this time of year for many reasons but the biggest reason is because our portrait park is full of buds, blooms, and rich greens. Perfect for any outdoor session.

SEPPA 2009

This last month Anne and Denise went on a trip to Athens, Ga. to SEPPA. (Southeastern Professional Photographers Association) They rode on a bus with 31 of North Carolina's finest Photographers. There were food, drinks, and dancing to be had the whole trip to Athens and back. While they were there they toured the beautiful town of Athens, posed with Bulldogs on the streets, studied with photographers on the latest trends, danced to The Band of Oz, (in Denise and the IP girls case, Sang with The Band of Oz), traveled the town with our favorite IP girls, learned lots of valuable knowledge about photography, and just plain enjoyed ourselves. They also had a themed college sports party and all of the PPNC (Professional Photographers of North Carolina) folks wore matching jerseys. They DID win the award for State with the Most Spirit. Yeah for PPNC!

MORE Flowers...feeling the LOVE!

Wow! It really makes you feel special to get flowers...these are from Spen and his sweet family for Mother's Day!
Thank you, my loves!
Crystal, you are a super mom to our little Carter...Happy 1st Mother's Day to you!

Thank You, IP Ladies (& Buddy,too!)

My lovely friends from Irresistible Portraits in Kannapolis, NC surprised me with a gorgeous plant arrangement today. It was a totally unexpected and it was even more special because it wasn't even my birthday or anything! When I called to thank them they said it's just because I do so much for them... boy, did I feel LOVED! They even ordered a butterfly on it knowing how much I like 'em! So thoughtful...
I have known Karen Goforth (the owner of IP) for over 12 years or more , but I have been blessed by a growing friendship with her over the last few years. She has a staff of amazing women who believe in her vision and they all inspire me every time I'm around them. Hugs to you, Karen, Jessica, Renda, Tara (Buddy & Ashley, too- not pictured.)
Please forgive the snapshot quality of the images, but sometimes I just want to take a photo for the fun of it with my little "party cam"!

Another "Anne Grant" FW Cover !

We had the privilege of photographing another beautiful Forsyth Woman for the May issue. Lea Church Brendle of Simply Sterling is a stunning cover girl!
She and her store, located at Thruway Shopping Center were a joy to photograph since she had so many fantastic displays and quite an array of product lines. Not only does she have some of the top boutique jewelry lines, but also clothing, accessories, bath & spa products and a wonderful shoe called Alegria with the cutest colors and designs.
Click on photo to see her complete cover story as well as the whole May online issue of Forsyth Woman.

New Display at BenPhil's

Rebecca, the owner of BenPhil's Children's Clothier , is excited about our new display of portraits that enhance their decor with images of beautiful children in their latest Spring & Summer Fashions . She said that the portraits help to show that, even thought they are well known for timeless, white and pastel clothing, they also have the most up to date styles and colors. We hope to update their store with more portraits of First Communion candidates, so if you purchase your First Communion outfit at BenPhil's, ask how you can receive a FREE portrait session in your new clothes!

"The Killing Tree" by Rachel Keener

I mentioned in an earlier blog post that one of our long-time clients, Rachel Keener http://rachelkeener.com/ has authored a novel , The Killing Tree. She has begun her "publicity tour" here in Winston-Salem, first at the library downtown, then at Barnes & Noble.
I had not been to a book signing for a novel before. I was and still am in the process of reading the book (it takes me a long time to finish a book!) I loved that I had already gotten to know the characters a little bit, but then the people in the story came to life as Rachel described them. So unless you hear something that spoils the ending for you, I recommend going to a book signing/discussion/reading while you are in the middle of it. There was quite a crowd there, the book signing line went all around the store and she was such a celeb being photographed with her fans, including me!
Her husband Kip was there, beaming with pride and said he would love a life of going from one bookstore to another for her books...she already has another novel in the works. Way to go, Rachel!

Comfort Ahead

Whether you are in feeling alone, needing comfort or just want to refresh your spirit, you will want to read Comfort Ahead, a book written by a local Christian poet, Jeff Messick.

Although I have known Jeff's sister for many years, I only met Jeff last month. However, it seems like we have been friends for a lifetime...he and his wife Janine are the sweetest, most sincere people you would ever want to meet. They live in Lewisville and even though Jeff is a Stone Mason by trade, he says these poems have been given to him by the Lord during situations that he has encountered with friends or sometimes just mere aquaintances. His story is one that you will want to hear as he weaves the tapestry of the poems with the lives of the people for whom they were written.

We have been truly inspired by his work and are creating a line of Poetry Art & Art Cards- blending photography, art design, poetry, scripture and sometimes portraits. Jeff is available for speaking engagements and poetry readings. We are looking forward to watching God work through Jeff's poems and the message of comfort it will bring. See his website for more information http://www.comfortahead.com/ . Check back often as we will have more items to show in the near future.

Come Play in the Sand!

We'll be at the Easter Festival!

Come out this Saturday to the Lewisville Town Square for some fun and while you're there, be sure to stop by our booth, you might see your portrait there.

We've Photographed an Author!

Rachel Keener has been a wonderful client of ours for many years and we are proud to announce that she has now written a novel called The Killing Tree. You can catch Rachel on April 5, she'll be at Central Library on 660 W. Fifth St., at 2:30 p.m. And at Barnes and Noble at 7 p.m. on April 9, this is located at 1925 Hampton Inn Court.

Keep updated on our blog for more information, and you can also visit http://www.rachelkeener.com/ for reviews and other events for this local (Lewisville, NC) celebrity. Click on book cover photo to order her fantastic book on Amazon. You will not want to leave Crooktop Mountain!

Emergency DAFFODIL Alert!

We were taking our dogs for a walk this weekend at Tanglewood Park and as we turned the corner to go the quiet area we like to visit, we were greeted by 6 deer prancing across the road. The deer family stopped to look at us for a while, then we went a little further down the road and saw another welcome sight... the DAFFODILS! It was rainy and chilly, so we weren't even in a frame of mind to be thinking about the session we had last year with this Daffodil Princess. (Please click on images to enlarge them.)

After we did a quick check for next week's weather forecast on my iPhone, we decided that with these early Spring rains and the weather warming up later this week, that Saturday, March 21 would be the peak of the daffodils!

You will not want to miss this chance to have your portrait created in this gorgeous, painterly setting. As a matter of fact, this is may be the perfect time to have the fine art painting done that you have been thinking about!

Please call 336.766.8367 so we can set up the time that is best for you.

Third Annual Gallery Exhibit on display until April 3, 2009

It is here! Our Third Annual Gallery Exhibit is on display the entire month of March at The Lewisville Soda Shoppe. We had a wonderful turn out on Saturday for our open house. We even got to sit in Kerri's husband's orange 1970 Impala. Please go out and have a burger and fries and vote for your favorite portrait!