Dear Friends:

As the holiday season swings closer, I see parents going nuts trying to get all the goodies on that long list.  But, as you look back in your past, it all about a gift?   What would you give to spend one more day with one of your loved ones that passed on.  Just one more day.  Who would you spend it with?  What would you say to them?  Would you tell them that you love them?  All too often we take life for granted until we get that telephone call at that odd hour of the day.

One more day..... who would you spend it with?

d

Dear Friends:
Now that the holiday rush is in full swing, I have decided to make a list called "Things that make you want to scream!"  Feel free to email me with one of your rants.  If you are one of these people, I want to say that I say these things only because I feel you have to realize how crazy your statement or action is!
Okay, so here goes some of them:

1.  Client places an order on November 20th.  Told it would be ready around the first week of December.  Client calls on November 27th just in the event that it came in already.  Like we wouldn't call her?
2.  Client sits with us for over an hour and then announces that she can't make a decision without her husband being there.  Ladies:  you can do it!  We burned our bras in the sixties for a reason.
3.  We strongly encourage clients to view their images without the aid of little ones.  The preview session goes sooooo much smoother.  Mom cannot get a sitter and brings child in.  Child picks nose and wipes on wall.  Mom, says nothing.
4.  Different mom brings children in and is oblivious to child laying on the ground walking up the walls with his black sneakers.  Just painted walls 7 months ago.
5.  Mom brings baby dumplings in with dirty diaper.  Hmmm.... does she think no one will notice?
6.  Client reviews order, places order and after going home and telling husband, calls and cancels.
7.  Mom spends 1 3/4 hour with us reviewing prints and then asks if we can put them online because she can't make a decision.
8.  Dad comes in smelling of alcohol.
9.  "Do you have any Sunday hours?  We golf on Saturday."
10.  "Sorry we missed our appointment.  We decided to take an extended weekend down the shore and figured we would reschedule when we came back to town."  (Yep, I didn't mind waiting for you on a rainy Friday night until 8:00 p.m and then you didn't show.)

So, friends, it is a little wacky out there as you can see.  Everyone has their "issues" and so do I.  However, in this day and age, why aren't more folks respective of people's time?  If your doctor's appointment is for ten o'clock, do you show up at eleven?  Do you miss it altogether?  Does the office charge you for the missed appointment?

Being in business for myself has made me keenly aware of where I have to be and what time.  Hopefully, if you read this you might understand why it is important to value everyone's time.
Talk soon!
d

Hey Friends!

Love, love, love to get down the beach to photograph!  But, what I love even more is when clients are open to doing something a little fun.  Sure, they listen to the crazy photographer.  They think it is nuts at the time, but love the images at the end!  Here is the Rheiner family back in August.  They ordered 25 of these images!  Of course they ordered others, but this one is way too fun to pass up!

Isn't it all about having a good time?

Donna

Whoa!  The holiday rush is here!

Just a note to let you all know that the studio is running in high gear to get your orders done on time.  We had a ton of folks who missed their appointments to view their Family Portrait Fundraiser images and are now calling to come in.  Thats fine, but please be patient with us.  It seems like after Thanksgiving every remembers that they had an appointment and missed it. 

Since Hannukah is earlier this year, we are pressed for time to get those orders out first.  Our cut off for ordering anything is December 10th.  So, if we do not hear from you by then, we will not guarantee any holiday order. 

The studio will be closed December 22nd to January 8th.  I am sure that everyone who knows us, understands the holiday demands and hours we put in since September. 

Take care everyone and stay warm!

Donna

Hey Friends:

While doing our Family Portrait Fundraiser we occassionally come across an amusing photograph.  This one caught my eye and I wanted to share it with you.  Tell me what you think!

Donna

HEY FRIENDS!
Just a quick note to say that I have not disappeared!  I have just been swamped!!!  As many of you know, I do Family Portrait Day Fundraisers to help out schools and organizations in need of raising funds.  This year, I have seven (yes I said seven) of them!  So, since the second week of October, I have photographed over 220 families!  I still have one more fundraiser this Sunday and then I will be finished. 
I love giving back to the community.  It is a win, win situation for everyone involved.  However, for us, it is a tremendous amount of work.
The only pet peeve I have is that we schedule time to go back to the organization(s) to meet with the families for pre-appointed appointments and many folks don't show up!  Can you believe this!  No phone call, no nothing!  We sit there and wait for them.  Oh yea, we send them out a confirmation ahead of time.  At one particular school, we had 22 no shows!!!!  Three of those no shows called or emailed the studio that day.  The rest just never bothered to let us know.  Now, two weeks later, they are calling the studio wanting us to make time for them at our studio. Yikes!

Anyway, I will be posting more soon.  I am being buried by paperwork these days and trying to make everyone a happy camper!
d

Hey gang!  Yes, there has been a tremendous lag in writing.  I spent nearly two plus week on a liquid diet so everything pretty much came to a slow down at the studio.  Had a knock down drag out cold in the middle of September and then a bad case of bacteria poisoning due to some food for the last few weeks.  I am back now but my engine is running a wee bit slower so I hope that clients and friends will understand.

Family Portrait Fundraiser Days are in full swing!  We had a tremendous turn out this past Saturday at the Makefield Elementary School (Pennsbury) as well as Sunday for the Wrightstown Elementary School (Council Rock).  This weekend I have a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday afternoon (a portrait session in the morning as well) and on Sunday we are again doing another Portrait Fundraiser Day for Crossing Cooperative Nursery School in Washington Crossing. http://www.crossingcoop.org

I know many of you have called in the past week requesting weekend appointments for sessions or viewing and frankly, I have to say that weekends are booked up way in advance.  I pretty much plead with everyone in August to call the studio then and get their requested session time in early because prime days such as weekends fill up so quickly.  We try to make everyone happy but I am sure that we upset some.  I have to say in that case that we are sorry.  We can only do so much in a 48 hour period!

Anyway, holiday cut off for having your portraits taken will be November 28th.  Ordering portraits for the holidays will be cut off on December 5th.  Sorry gang, no ifs, ands or buts here!  I have to institute these dates for a reason.  After I had a client realized she didn't order enough prints and begged me to order a few more, I put a rush order in on December 21st.  They arrived the morning of December 24th and I waited on Christmas Eve for her to show up to get them.  Well, you got it, no show.  She did not answer her phone.  I am sure she had a wonderful Christmas eve dinner while I sat there until 6:00 p.m. waiting for her to show.

Live and learn my mother always says!

Anyway, take care and jot us a line!
Donna

Hey Friends!

Well, it has happened.  A case of food poisioning.  Yep....  Last week I got home from a wedding and within a few hours had a fever of 101.  It has been 9 days now and I am basically still on about 80% liquids. My doctor says it will pass.  Frankly, I think I will before "it" does!  I am not pointing any fingers, but I will say that I am now bringing a cooler to weddings.  Nothing better than a safe ham and cheese!

Anyway, here are some absoultely great photographs from Amanda and Jesse Tucci's wedding.  The day after the wedding, I met them down at LBI for some beach photographs.  Great, great great!  I loved working with this couple and cannot count the great images that we photographed from their wedding.  If you want to see their slideshow, click here:   http://www.donnalerephotography.com/slideshows/   

The password is:  Amanda

 Is this way cool or what?

Every wedding that I do I am amazed at how different they can be right down to the most minor details.  This terrific bride Jesse had such a wonderful day last week in Morristown, NJ that it was hard to walk back inside.  Perfect weather, perfect humidity and a perfect bride and groom (Jeff) too. 

Here is just an example of how great the day went!

Hi Friends:

I just want to take a moment and thank all of my friends who voted for my studio.  It came as quite a surprise to be nominated!  Yes, it is true that I am thankful to be nominted!  Believe me.  Sometimes being out in Washington Crossing, my studio gets overlooked (except for the deer!).  So, it warms my heart when clients think of me out here! 

If you want to vote, tomorrow is the deadline.  Here is the link!

http://myfoxphilly.cityvoter.com/details.aspx?business=46461

After you vote you have to log into your email to confirm it.  Thanks again!

Donna