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!

Tackling the Art of Photography

At the beginning of this month our studio attended the annual PPNC (Professional Photographers of North Carolina) Convention. The theme this year as you can see was Tackling the Art of Photography. We went dressed in our favorite teams gear. Nolan still loves the Panthers and is hoping for "next year." Anne chose Florida because some of the grandchildren are down there. Denise and Ben are always rooting for Da Bears!

We had a lot of fun trying out our newest football moves!

Anne and Nolan's son, Spencer, and his family also came to visit for a little bit too. We always love baby Carter time!

National Charity Model Search

Is Your Child America’s Cutest Kid?
Anne Grant ~ The Village Photographer is one of the participating studios in the National Charity Model Search to select “America’s Cutest Kid” and to raise funds for charity.

We’re looking for cute children ages 18 months to 14 years old to model for a portrait to be entered into the contest.

Models Search Special:
$25 entrance fee (payable to Make A Wish Foundation), which includes a 15 minute model session and one image submitted to the national gallery. (Click on flyer image below to enlarge).

Finalists will be determined by online votes. Anyone may vote. Each vote is $1, and all proceeds from votes benefit the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. (NILMDTS.org)
Grand prize national winner will be determined from the 50 city finalists. Winners selected by photography and modeling industry experts.

If your child is selected the national winner, you’ll receive many prizes, including a $5,000 US Savings Bond and a Canon PowerShot G10 digital camera.

If you’re interested in entering your child(ren), please call the studio at 336.766.8367. For more information about the contest, go online to http://www.sandypucmodels.com/

New Cover...New Friend

We had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Juawana Hall, her husband Matt and their precious little boy, Caleb while photographing them for the next cover story for Forsyth Woman.
Dr. Hall has an beautifully decorated office for her optometry practice, Hillcrest Vision...I call it the eye "spa"! As I observed her perform an eye exam on a two year old child, I enjoyed seeing how the whole process, as well as the entire office, is so "kid-friendly."
She has some of the nicest designer frames, so I hope to be getting a new pair of glasses myself soon.
As we talked, we discovered Juawana's husband, Matt is a videographer and will help us develop a brand new product line, a fusion of still images and video to create an unforgettable, meaningful experience and a fabulous art piece for your home decor. We will be unveiling this soon, so stay tuned...
We were glad to have the opportunity to see the workings of a successful business and to make new friends with the Hall family!

Look at Me and My Cool Attitude

The Expressions Limited Edition Portrait Session for April is for the trendy kids with the coole attitude. We know you're out there and want to rock your style in a trendy portrait!

Each "Expressions" event has a suggested donation instead of session fees. The one for April will be to assist the Winston-Salem Industries For the Blind with their summer camp for visually impaired children. They need craft and class supplies, so we are asking for a suggested amount of $15 (or more) Gift Card from a store that has these items (i.e. Wal Mart, Target, Michael's , AC Moore, Staples, Office max, etc.)

PPNC Mentor Program

We recently hosted a mentor program called Pro Share through PPNC (Professional Photographers of North Carolina). Anne is very involved in PPNC and has been a mentor for many years. There were eight photographers from Virginia and NC who all came to listen to a program about what we do at Anne Grant Photography to deliver top notch client service and how that has kept our business strong, even in the economic climate we are currently experiencing. We had a wonderful time and made many new friends.

Getting More in Touch with Our Creative Genius

In the beginning of February we hosted a workshop with an artist and master photographer from Boston, named Arthur Rainville. We fell in love with him when we first met him at our Fall Seminar and contacted him a couple of times to ask him questions. He sensed our enthusiasm and offered to do a smaller class with us at our studio. We learned many things from him. Anne and Denise learned each of their personal styles. We found out that Anne enjoys her portraits to be "one with nature." Denise enjoys her portraits to be based on angles. It was interesting to find out the artistic side of the beautiful portraits we create every day of our clients beautiful families.

We also all had our own modeling experience (even Cooper!)

We so much enjoy receiving more knowledge in a profession that we are so passionate about!

We Love Our Spokes Models!

This last Tuesday night we had a wonderful time getting to know the Class of 2010. We had a get together to meet our Sr. Spokes Models from surrounding area schools. The Lewisville Soda Shoppe was nice enough to let us meet at their restaurant. (Lots of wonderful foods were consumed) All of these girls really got us excited about the upcoming senior season.
If you missed our get together, we will be having another one on March 12, 2009. Please call the studio for more information. 336.766.8367

Forsyth Woman's Girls Night Out @ New Town Bistro

Every Month, Forsyth Woman Magazine has a GNO at a different local restaurant and the last one was at New Town Bistro. It must be something that we ladies love to do because I could hardly find a parking space when I got there and it was wall to wall of beautiful women. The owner of New Town, Kyle Agha (shown in photo with his son) had special Firefly Martinis and bar bites just for us!
More images from the evening may be seen on FaceBook

Be a SUPER HERO to your Significant Other!

One of our most popular new items we have added to our Portrait Boutique is the Photo Jewelry. We have had many "heroes" this past holiday season, when husbands came in and ordered them for their wives! Come see our new designer collection...Mother's Day is not that far away!

Wired, Connected, and Unplugged

In the 80's Unplugged was the buzzword for the recording artist's comeback concert that personified and celebrated their work. Wired can be kind of "high strung" or wired for sound. And now even when we're wireless, we're plugged in...
A bit confusing to some, but above all we need to be CONNECTED, so I've added to the top of this page, a growing list of some social networking sites we plug into to keep in touch with people who want to keep in touch with us.
The latest I found is Yelp.com which will probably increase in popularity after being featured on a recent iPhone commercial. To post a review on our studio (or other businesses), please visit http://www.yelp.com/biz/anne-grant-photography-clemmons-2

We're On The Cover!

OK, we're not on the cover, but even better, one of the nice families we have photographed is on the cover of Forsyth Family Magazine. Billy Prow & Jonny Plemmons are brothers-in-law and own Secure One, the 5th largest ADT dealer of security systems in the country. Read the February issue here http://www.forsythmags.com/backoffice/pdf/FF02-09web2.pdf

We've just photographed the cover story for the March issue of Forsyth Woman Magazine...Stay tuned!

Class of 2010 SpokesModels Wanted

DO you like to be photographed?

DO you know lots of people in your class?

DO you want the BEST portraits for your Senior Year?

Go to www.grantphoto.com and click on the Resources tab for the SpokesModel application. Then wait for an invite to our Senior Spokes Get Together on February 24 in Lewisville to find out how you can represent our studio to your classmates.
What's more, you will have the opportunity to earn prizes such as as Spa Basket, a GPS, an iPod, or a Laptop computer! We can only use 3-5 SpokesModels per school, so don't miss out!

3rd Annual Gallery Exhibit

We will have a reception at the Lewisville Soda Shoppe 10am-2pm March 7, 2009

For more details on how to be a part of this event http://grantphoto.com/pdfs/Winter09.pdf

Here comes the Bunnies!