I sent a newsletter out tonight. If you didn’t receive it, you are not signed up and/or confirmed. To sign up, go to the main site:  www.alyciaalvarezphotography.com and sign up! Be sure to “confirm” it, or you will not be *active* (wow…who wants that? LOL!)

Wow! First of all, I am blown away by all the emails giving me kudos about the “quirky kid quote” albums and wondering if I’m going to sell the templates! I’m thrilled that everyone is so excited–photographers AND clients!  So many photographers have been asking me if they can *steal* the idea and so I’m making it easier… I’m going to sell the 19 template albums I’ve created so far, including the list of 35 questions I send clients (though, the possibilities are endless!)

Each “album” includes 3 basic pages: title page, quote page, image page. You could easily omit the “quote page” and use the image page for both left and right if you didn’t want to use quotes.

In addition, I’m a self proclaimed “quote addict” (font addict too! Is there therapy for these ailments? ha!)… and I am in the process of formatting all my favorite quotes–COMING soon! Stay tuned for details! The beauty of the quotes is that even if you didn’t have “quirky kid quotes”, you could use any quote in it’s place (great for babies or seniors or couples!) I also made a few that could work for engagement and/or bridal sessions (couldn’t leave out Kevin!) I have been creating these for clients using 10 images/quotes, though, you could do as many as you like! They are fun super fun sessions and the parents are having fun “interviewing” their kiddos!

Okay, so if you are like me and love to design but don’t always have tons of time… (I so wish I could BUY more time!)… or…you just hate designing… LOL!… I’m offering all 19 templates and kid quotes for only $75.Yea… a *steal*!

If you would like to purchase them, please send paypal to: alycia@alyciaalvarezphotography.com and I will email you a download link.

(I will be adding these to a separate site within the next couple days with automatic payment and download, but in the meantime, this will work… I didn’t expect such a HUGE response!)

and for the clients…

THESE are SOOOO fun! Even if you can’t make it on October 23rd, but *have to have* an album…shoot me an email or give me a call.

Okay, this is just too funny…I HAD to share! Baby’s first high heels! Does it get much better than this? I think not! Whoever shows up to their next session with a pair of these bad boys gets a free 8×10! Love it! Makes me wish I had a baby of my own to sport some of these! haha!

You can find them here: Baby High Heels

I am totally excited about my newest idea… it’s been living on sticky notes for a year or more… and has finally come *to life*.

“Kid Quotes!”

These are fun coffee table albums filled with the *best of the best* quotes from those little *people* who have lots of genuine and unique things to say.

How does it work? You schedule your 30 minute mini session and I’ll send you a list of several “kid questions”…you pick 10 and then ask your kiddo to answer them… bring me the answers and any props/toys that would work for our session and VOILA! Your very own “Quirky Kid Quote” album will be created.  There are five different templates to choose from, so you can make it custom to your child. The cost is only $499 which includes session, online gallery and 10×10 album. 8×8 and 5×5 duplicates are also available for reduced pricing.  Call or email for full details.

This type of session is best geared towards children 3-8….but if your kiddo talks early, or still says *quirky* things… bring it ON!

As always, the fall season gets crazy for me with holiday cards etc, but as a new product, I am going to offer a full day of “Kid Quotes” sessions on Thursday, October 23rd.  If you already have a session scheduled and are interested in a “Kid Quote” album, please inquire about reduced pricing on the 10×10 album.

ps PHOTOGRAPHERS…. I will be selling these templates soon…If you are interested, please send me an email and I will be sending out details within the week. alycia@alyciaalvarez.com

I am really excited to announce some upcoming dates for “Beach Week ‘08″… I usually take a couple weeks off *shooting* to work on computer editing after the “Holiday Cutoff” (which is November 7th this year)… I decided this year to take my computer to the BEACH and am going to stay at a condo down in AnnaMaria Island and do my *hunker down*.  Since beach sessions need to happen at sunset, I can edit during the day and do one beach session per day. I only have FOUR sessions left- November 16, 17, 18 and 19. Even though these are after the *deadline*, these will be ready by the Christmas cutoff.

Because I will already be staying on the *island*, the session fee will be only $99 (reg $350) and the minimum will be the “Desk Portrait Collection” $895 (reg $1500), in addition to 20 free Holiday cards with any card order. Shoot me an email or give us a call to schedule one of these days. There are only FOUR left…so call fast )

Wow! I’m working on a new “baby’s first year” album for this little man and am going through picking out some favorites… there are just so many that it’s hard to choose! I dont think I’ve ever shared any of this little guy and his gorgeous parents (he has two gorgeous siblings too, but I’ll save them for when I post the album! These guys are so much fun with a HILARIOUS sense of humor. They crack me up every time!

Here’s a few (or more than a few! ha!) favorites from the belly to the baby!’

ALL BELLY!!

check out his shirt!! HILARIOUS!!

This past week, I attended a mixer at Bernini’s in Ybor City (yummy calamari!) for the Tampa Bay Heart Gallery. For those not familiar with the Heart Gallery, it is an amazing organization that  is “dedicated to increasing the number of foster and adoptive families, as well as heighten awareness for the hundreds of children needing homes in our community.”  For a few years now, I donate my time and services by taking portraits of children in the foster care system who need to be adopted. These portraits are printed and displayed in a gallery that travels all over the county.

At the event this week, I was very touched and thrilled to hear that Danielle, the little girl I photographed last year was adopted! Her story is one of the most incredible stories I have ever heard.  Normally, the stories and children are confidential , but since she is now adopted and her story made public, I am able to share.  She was born a functioning baby and left in alone in a closet her entire life and become Emotionally Autistic.  The authorities refer to her as a “feral child”. You can read the entire story here, but be ready with your tissues!

There’s also a full written article, which is very intriguing. Read it: HERE.

I really began to cry when I read this excerpt:

The day Danielle was supposed to have her picture taken for the Heart Gallery, she showed up with red Kool-Aid dribbled down her new blouse. She hadn’t yet mastered a sippy cup.

Garet White, Danielle’s care manager, scrubbed the girl’s shirt and washed her face. She brushed Danielle’s bangs from her forehead and begged the photographer to please be patient.

White stepped behind the photographer and waved at Danielle. She put her thumbs in her ears and wiggled her hands, stuck out her tongue and rolled her eyes. Danielle didn’t even blink.

White was about to give up when she heard a sound she’d never heard from Danielle. The child’s eyes were still dull, apparently unseeing. But her mouth was open. She looked like she was trying to laugh.

Click.

and then to read this part, from her adopted mother about when she saw my portrait of Danielle…

She saw it. A little girl’s face on a flier, pale with sunken cheeks and dark hair chopped too short. Her brown eyes seemed to be searching for something.

Diane called Bernie over. He saw the same thing she did. “She just looked like she needed us.”

Words cannot express how I feel right now. I am blessed in many ways and I am just grateful, that I could offer my gift to help in this way. I am so overwhelmed and pleased that the Heart Gallery is so successful!

Here’s the original picture and another I really liked…

and here’s another little boy I photographed last year who found a home! You can hear some his “audio” if you watch the clip on the Heart Gallery site.

Today is always one of those days that sorta pangs me, then makes me proud… all at the same time.

I remember everything about that day. 2001.

I was actually waiting for the arrival of my new FILM camera that day. I had ordered it because I figured out that my Canon AE-1 (manual film), couldn’t focus on kiddos quick enough and ordered an ELAN (which was quickly replaced by digital a few months later!)…

My cousin in Chicago was getting married. I was planning to go. Road Trip.

I dropped Andrew off to his kindergarten class… and was next taking my baby girl (only 16 months then!)… to her “mom’s day out” class.

As we were driving… I heard some crazy… RANDOM… radio message about a horrible *accident* NYC…. it perked my attention more than most NEWS.  I dropped off the Gabster…and people were talking. Still not sure. Thinking it all random?

I got home…and trust me when I tell you. I should SO be more of an ADULT “news” person than I am… it’s my weakness. The *news* depresses me. makes me sad. I try sometimes…to watch. But I am like, “Um. I watched this? for what? to cry?”… sooo. That day. I felt different. I watched.

I turned on my news. I started to prepare for my road trip and vacuum my VAN (yea yea. VAN)… but brought out the portable radio. The news seemed serious… so I went back inside.  I saw the second plane. I gasped. I KNEW. it was bad. bad. bad.

We were military then. And it hit me hard… We didn’t make the wedding. I remember driving though my town and taking some amazing images of all the flags and feeling the *American* love!

I love this country! With ALL my heart.

My heart goes out to the families who lost loved ones… the PEOPLE who experienced the FEAR… and to those brave Americans, who protect us. EVERY DAY!!

First of all, the schedule is already getting crazy fast, as it always does starting in September. I am pretty sure that November is full (will have to check with Laura, my amazing ‘client coordinater’ :::smiles:::) and there are still still slots available in September and October. Be sure to get on the calendar soon, otherwise, I will have to work off a waiting list, and I never like to have to do that. As always, I try to keep a few slots open and available for maternity and newborn.

The deadline for the SESSION is NOVEMBER 7th and December 5th for ORDERS to be guaranteed by Christmas. Keep in mind that jewelry and bags take longer, so the sooner the better!

Be sure to check out all the new holiday cards too under the “extras” section on the website… type in the word “holidays” into the password section. Lots of new designs this year!

Also, as a surprise bonus, for every collection ordered from now until November 7th, you will receive a COMPLIMENTARY keepsake ornament. If you would like more to give as gifts (perfect for grandparents!) They are half off ($40–regularly $80).