Merry Christmas!

Have a safe, happy and love-filled holiday! And since posts with images are way more fun than posts without, here's my final Santa baby of the 2009 season, Elise. See you all in 2010!

back from the land of the mouse

Phew! What a whirlwind the past week has been. We jetted down to Disney World last Thursday to give my boys their first real introduction to the land of the mouse. Although Dylan is already a big fan of modern Disney hits such as Cars, The Incredibles, Bug's Life, Wall-E, etc. In just 4.5 days we covered Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. By no means did we see eveything, but we certainly hit it pretty hard. The boys were troopers through it all, but I have to say they napped VERY well today. I think it will take them (and us) a few days to fully recover!

I'm sure I'll have more on our Disney experience - and pictures of course! - to post over the next few days. But in the meantime, I wanted to let everyone know that I'm back. I have stacks of orders etc to sort through and packge up so please give me a day or so to get through it all. It's all coming together!

happy december!

It's hard to believe that it's December already. Where has the time gone??? I'm knee-deep in the busy season, but I wanted to take a few moments for some general announcements and housekeeping.

First of all I want to thank all of my wonderful clients. It's been a busy and exciting year. I've been amazed by the demand and honored to capture all of your families.

Secondly, December is BOOKED. Beyond booked really. I've squeezed in as many last minute requests as possible, but if you're not already on my schedule, I've seriously got nothing left (exception being any newborn clients that are already booked). But I am scheduling away for January and February if you can wait until after the first of the year. Just drop me a line.

Lastly, Amy Drouet Photography will be closed December 10-16 and December 24-January 1. In the first case I will not have any access to email and voicemail and will return all messages when I get back. In the second case I will be returning calls and emails as time allows and continuing the behind the scenes work (editing, placing orders, etc.)b but no sessions will be booked during this time period.

See you in 2010!

A note to my clients...

As you all know, the holidays are rapidly approaching. I've been working every spare moment, including some late, late nights to get galleries out as quickly as possible. 'Tis the busy season after all. :) I have several orders due in from the lab over the next few days and I will get those out to you as quickly as I can.

However Amy Drouet Photography will be closed Dec 10-15. All orders placed and paid for by the 9th will be sent to the lab immediately. All orders that are returned from the lab prior to the 10th will be delivered/sent out to you before I leave. Orders that are not returned from the lab by the 10th will be delivered/sent out to you on the 16th. Orders received after the 9th will be submitted when I return on the 16th.

All of this is to say, if you have not placed an order yet - or have not paid for an order yet - and you want delivery in time for the holidays (especially those ordering holiday cards!) please get those orders and payments into me as quickly as possible. Thanks!!

the busy season...

Just a quick note to ask everyone for their patience and understanding. November is my busiest month of the year and I have tons of sessions going on at the moment. I have a few galleries to release and a few sneak peeks to get up, but so far I'm keeping up pretty well. If you've called r emailed me and I haven't responded yet, I promise I haven't forgotten and will be getting in touch soon! Thanks!

Ho Ho Ho! Holiday Cards Are Here!

As anyone that follows the blog knows, last weekend was my big Christmas in October holiday special. And boy did we have fantastic weather and a great time at the park. That promotion includes beautiful press-printed holiday cards, but did you know that you can order holiday cards without being part of the Christmas in October promotion? If you had a session with me anytime in 2009 and you'd like to use the images for press-printed holiday cards, just drop me a line at amy@amydrouetphotography.com. But do it soon! Orders for holiday cards must be received by Sunday, November 15 at midnight to guarantee delivery in time for your holiday mailings.

Below are just a few of my holiday card designs for 2009. My complete selection of holiday cards features more than 40 designs to choose from!

(Click to view larger.)

Two Spots Left...

There are just TWO spots left for the Holiday Mini-Sessions on Saturday, October 24. Email me soon if you're interested in snagging one... All slots are first come, first served!

Christmas in October!

Here it is... finally! My Christmas in October mini-sessions offering. These sessions are geared toward families looking for that special image for their holiday cards and some beautiful images to share with friends and family as gifts. And it offers a tremendous value over regular pricing. Take a peek (click on the image to see it larger):

There will be a limited number of slots available, so please email me at amy@amydrouetphotography.com for time slots and additional details if interested. Sample of this year's holiday card designs will be posted soon!

I hope to see you there!

A Note About Fall Sessions

As my long-time clients know, late September straight through the end of December are typically my busiest, craziest months all year. Everyone wants photographs for holiday cards and to give as gifts for family and friends. And who can blame them? :)

All this is to say, if you're interested in a Fall session, please book as soon as possible. October and November are already booking up fast. And this is especially important if you are looking for "milestone" portraits for your baby's first year. Booking early will ensure we can schedule your session in the right time frame.

And last but not least, keep your eyes on the blog for some upcoming announcements, including my annual "Christmas in October" holiday mini sessions and some sneak peeks of this year's holiday designs.

Hope to hear from you soon!

email issues

I'm having difficulty accessing my amy@amydrouetphotography.com email address while on vacation. If you've emailed me at that account in the past few days, please temporarily use amydrouet@yahoo.com instead. In addition, I have a couple of clients that I owe information to, but I can't access their email address (Ashley E., Patrick D.). Please shoot me a note to the yahoo account so I can get you the information you requested. Thanks!

off to the beach!

The boys and I are leaving momentarily for a week of fun in the sun in Gulf Shores, AL. Amy Drouet Photography will be CLOSED during this time, however I will check email as time and connectivity permit. See y'all soon! :)

Better late than never right?

As anyone who follows this blog has seen, I had a busy and stressful April. One that encompassed two trips, a wedding, and very sadly, the death of my grandmother. I'm finally mostly caught back up now and I suddenly realized one more thing that I had forgotten - my April Harrison Avenue Marketplace drawing for a free session! Since I clearly want to do that drawing before the May marketplace next week, I grabbed the bowl from my office table this morning - where it has sat neglected and untouched for the past few weeks - and grabbed Dylan for the big moment. He was actually even cooperative this morning. :)


So without further ado, the winner of the free session is...

PAM MITCHELL!

Pam - keep an eye on your email. I'll be in touch very soon.

I'm back

I'd like to thank everyone for their patience this past week. As many of you know, I'm not originally from New Orleans. My husband likes to say that he imported me. :) But the fact is, the hardest thing about living in New Orleans for me is being so far from my family and friends. Two very different events brought me back to New England this week and exemplify just why it is so hard to be 1500 miles away.

The first, and saddest news is that my grandmother passed away recently. She had been undergoing chemotherapy for bone cancer for some time and it was taking quite a toll on her. With her health declining, I made the effort to get back to Boston as often as I could over the past several months. A few weeks ago she made the decision to discontinue chemotherapy and her health began to fail rapidly. In a fortuitous twist of fate, I had a trip to Boston already planned for this past Thursday. Her health was so tenuous that I feared that it wouldn't be soon enough. As my husband and I and Logan sat on the plane, I prayed continuously that she would hang on long enough for me to see her one last time. My family was skeptical that she would make it that long. I prayed the entire two hour drive from Providence, where we landed, to New Hampshire, where my grandmother was staying at my aunt's house. I was warned that she would be unconscious. That she would be unresponsive. I didn't care. I just wanted to see her alive one last time. I had this overwhelming fear that she would pass away just moments before I could get to her.

I'm so grateful that those fears were unrealized. I arrived to my aunt's house that afternoon and for the next three hours I and my other family members took turns staying with her so that there would be no chance that she would die alone. I got to talk to her and tell her how much I loved her. She was unconscious but I believe with all of my heart that she heard me and that she had waited for me to get there and say goodbye. She passed away at around 10 p.m. that evening with my mom, two of my aunts and one of my uncles by her side.

Although my heart aches with the loss of my grandmother, there is another, happier, occasion that brought me north this past week as well - my college roommate's wedding. I was honored to stand in her bridal party and celebrate her special day with her. And not only did I get to celebrate her wedding, but I also got some extended girl-time that I don't often get with her and our other friends very often. Most of my trips to Boston are whirlwind affairs spent driving all over MA and NH and filled with brief lunches and dinners meant to help us catch up. This trip showed me just how much I miss out on them with them by living so far away. I hope to do a better job of staying in touch after this week.

Despite all of the reminiscing and the pull I still feel to the Northeast though, it was good to finally get home to New Orleans late last night. I have a lot to do over the next several days. I have orders that have come in that I need to get out. Proofs that I need to create. Sessions that I need to edit and proof. And the list goes on and on. But I am working on it and if you've emailed me recently and haven't heard back from me yet, please just give me a little longer. I'm working on returning all of my messages today.

MIA

I want to just drop a quick note to all of my clients and friends that follow this blog to let you know that I may be MIA the next few days. I have a family emergency and I'll be traveling the next few days, but I will check e-mail if time allows and I should be back in full force next week. Thank you for understanding.

Please bear with me...

I'm currently traveling in Texas and while I have my computer equipment with me, I'm having difficulty getting a steady Internet connection. I know a couple of you out there are waiting for galleries to be released and proofs to be uploaded. Please bear with me a little longer. I will get them up as soon as I can. Thanks!

March 29th is lonely...

Sunday, March 29th is the last weekend session opening I have until May. I think it feels left out. :) Any takers? Just drop me a line at amy@amydrouetphotography.com!

Casting Call: Newborn Multiples

There's something about newborn sessions that always gets me. Photographing those sweet, tiny, squishy bundles of joy lets me relive the excitement of my own boys' births. Those breathless, sleepless first days of wonder, euphoria and exhaustion.

Well, I recently had the opportunity to photograph newborn twins (check out Ella + Ryan) and like a baby junkie, I need more! So I'm looking for two families expecting a multiple birth. If you know someone that fits the bill, please forward them my information.

They get:
- One free session (session fee waived)

- One free print, 8x10 or smaller, from the session

The criteria:
- The newborn session must take place within the first two weeks after the babys' birthes or, if the babies are in the hospital for two weeks or more, within the first week after they are released from the hospital

- You must be willing to sign a model release which allows me to use the images in my portfolio and on my website

- All sessions must take place on-location in the metro New Orleans area

Harrison Avenue Marketplace

Last Wednesday I had the pleasure of exhibiting at Lakeview's Harrison Avenue Marketplace. If you're not familiar with the Marketplaces, they are a great opportunity to sample yummy local food (Drago's anyone?), listen to music, check out local artists and businesses, and visit with neighbors. As future Lakeview residents, my family and I have made a point of attending of these gatherings for the past year and each one has been great fun.

But this was my first time on the other side of the booth. I have to say, it was so much fun to meet so many nice families and talk about photography. And I had a great response to my drawing for a free session. In fact, that's what this post is really all about. I grabbed the fish bowl full of entries yesterday and let Dylan pick the winner...

And the winner is...

Heather Johnson!

Heather, I'll email you shortly about your free session. And for everyone else that submitted on Wednesday, keep your eyes on your email for a special offer for you too.

Urban Maternity Casting Call is now CLOSED!

Thank you!!

New Casting Call!

Casting Call 1: Urban Maternity
I'm looking for two fun couples for maternity sessions in the French Quarter or Uptown New Orleans. I'll be doing one session in each location so first choice goes to the first taker. :)

The details:

You must be available one or more of the following dates for the session:

Sunday, March 15, late afternoon (around 4 p.m.)

Sunday, March 22, late afternoon (around 4 p.m.)

Sunday, March 29, late afternoon (around 4 p.m.)

Sunday, April 5, late afternoon (around 4 p.m.)

You must be between 28 and 34 weeks pregnant at the time of the session. There will be walking involved so the earlier end of that timeframe is better.

You must be willing to allow the images to be used for promotional purposes by Amy Drouet Photography.

You must be game for some fun, playful and non-traditional maternity images!

You get:

Your maternity session fee is waived.

A free 8x10 image from your maternity session.

You can upgrade to my maternity/newborn session package for just a $75 session fee.

Spread the word! And if you're interested in snagging one of these sessions, email me at amydrouet@yahoo.com ASAP with your preferred date and location. Remember, I'm only taking two couples for this casting call and the first couple to reply gets first first choice of locations!

(And keep your eye out for another non-maternity casting call coming soon...)