Can you believe that it’s that time of the year again?!  The Holidays are quickly approaching, so it’s time to prepare for baking batches of yummy cookies, gift giving and sending out holiday cards.  I’m here to help, at least with the last two!

Family Portraits make beautiful gifts that last a lifetime for parents, grandparents, and especially for yourselves.  Time passes in the blink of an eye, and children grow so quickly; the snapshots you take throughout the year are wonderful, but there is nothing like taking the time to have a Family Portrait taken by a Professional Photographer.  And the portraits can be used for your Holiday Greeting Cards too, creating two gifts from one session - brilliant!

Image above: Family Portrait Session  | Image below: same image used for a Holiday Greeting Card - one of the designs I’m offering this year!

My Fall Family Mini Outdoor Portrait Sessions are only $95.00 and will be held in October - I am determining the date/time/place, but it will likely be one or two Sundays in October!

Remember, if you were a past wedding client of mine, my annual gift to you includes no sitting fees for the first hour of your Family Portrait Session.  However, sessions are based on availability due to limited dates and times, so don’t hesitate to reserve your space before it is lost.

If you’d prefer a more personalized service, you can choose to invest in a “Home for the Holidays” Family Portrait Session or my Exclusive Legacy of Love Family Experience(TM) when all the family is together for the Holidays.  With the purchase of one of these two Portrait services, you will receive a Credit that can be used towards a Custom 11×14 Enlargement or a Custom-designed Legacy of Love Story Book(TM). Again, dates and times are limited for these services as well, so call today to schedule your session!

The next two images are two more examples of the Holiday Cards I’m offering this year! ENJOY!

Call or email me for more information on what is included in the Fall Family Mini Outdoor Portrait Sessions, the “Home for the Holidays” Family Portrait Session or my Exclusive Legacy of Love Family Experience(TM). These are popular services, so don’t hesitate to reserve your session today!

The special offer for these Family Portrait Photography services will be available by appointment only from today, September 8, 2009 until September 30, 2009.

BIG love, Joanne Bartone Photographer | www.joannebartone.com

I’m a former Social Worker; I worked in the field for seventeen years. I left that field at the height of my career as the Director of an Inpatient Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center to return to school for photography, but you can’t take the social worker out of the photographer!  I’ve never stopped thinking, ‘How can I continue to be of service to people?’

The answer to that question came to me last month when I saw a report on the National News where many soldiers enduring tours in Iraq and Afghanistan are suffering with relationship problems, PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), morale issues, severe depression and heartbreaking record numbers of suicide.  I can’t even begin to express how that news report affected me…I felt that I needed to reach out to help in some small way.

So, I took my desire to reach out to help and put it into action.  My thought process was, that I personally know and understand he power of a photograph; I’ve witnessed it in my own life and through the eyes of my clients as I make countless couples happy through my wedding photography all through the year, so I knew I had to reach out to our military personnel and their families to try to make a small difference for them.  And, so my idea and desire to help is coming to life!

Whether or not you or I agree with the war, or the policies of our government, all of which are neither here nor there, these brave men and women are the people who have to endure the hardship of their service in a thankless job meant to make a difference for so many at their expense, sacrifice and detriment. Yes, they signed up for the job, but these are not just soldiers, they are human beings; people with feelings and struggles just like you and I and they deserve HOPE.  I say if “hope” is the latest buzz-word in our nation, how about we all “put our money where our mouths are” and make a difference by reaching out to others and by DOING ANYTHING that might make a difference for one person or for many!

Click on the photo to read the story on this little gift I couldn’t resist giving:

Photo: Andrew Russell/Tribune-Review

I would encourage everyone, from all walks of life, to reach out to help those in need no matter who they are, no matter who you are.  Find a situation that speaks to your heart, as I did in this one small instance, and MAKE the time to do something about it. It might be as simple as reaching out to a neighbor in need, or to a cause or a charity; anything will do.  Imagine how much better the world would be if we all could spread a little more love and compassion - after all, we really do get back what we give.

I will post more about my experience and the interesting things I learned about reaching out to soldiers with my gift in my next post after the event!  Look for part 2 next week!

BIG love, Joanne Bartone Photographer | www.joannebartone.com

DETAILS:

What: A free one-day portrait session for military personnel and or loved ones dealing with current military deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan.

When: Sunday, March 15, 2009, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum, 4141 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15213 – parking available in the garage beneath Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum and on the street. GRACIOUS DONATION OF SPACE for the session donated by Marjorie Henderson, Director of Sales at S+S - Thank you Marjorie!!!

More information: Reservations are recommended, but walk-ups will be taken first-come, first -served. E-mail joanne@joannebartone.com or call 412.418.8075.