News-Press and other info

Oh my goodness! August has been too crazy - I'm ready to stay home and get some work done!

We had a really nice article written about us in the Fort Myers News-Press!
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070801/NEWS0119/70731086/1004/ACC


I had a super fun engagement session with Danielle and John this month!














My summer helper, Michelle, went to back to college in Tallahassee.









Michelle put together my new fan so I practiced with Michelle as my model!



My new part-timer is Melanie. Melanie also sells a Discount Dental program (which I belong to): http://www.discountdentalprograms.com/


Here I am with Melanie at the Chamber of Commerce "Trade Show in the Tropics".


I just got back from the Florida Professional Photographer's convention with lots of new ideas!
I hope to redo my website, get all my household projects done and revamp my price lists in September. My son, Chris, is helping out for a few weeks before he goes back on tour with his band Fake Problems. Check out FP's new website: http://www.fakeproblems.com/.

Trade show this Thursday

August is a crazy month! Two trade shows, a vacation and the Florida Professional Photographers convention. It's tough to fit in time for real work!!

Please come visit us at the 'Trade Show in the Tropics". The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Trade Show will be held on Thursday, August 23rd from 3pm to 7pm at The Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club. The Trade Show is the largest event of its kind in Naples, with over 150 booths and attended by 1,200 people.

Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.
www.napleschamber.org

Peggy at the Back to School Expo on August 4.

Come see our new products and new pictures - photo jewelry, playing cards, dry erase boards, different albums, etc.

On Saturday, I leave for the Florida Professional Photographer's convention. I hope to come back with lots of new ideas and techniques! I also want to check out the trade show to see the latest albums and gadgets!

Key West

I'm on vacation!!

Saturday, August 4 Expo!

Back to School Expo

10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Coastland Center Mall

We'll have a table at the mall. Come see new pictures and new products! Or just stop by to say hello!

Neapolitan Family Magazine and Coastland Center are sponsoring this expo with 50 child-related vendors. There will be lots of give aways and door prizes!

Kittens!

Looking for a responsible family! Brother orange and Sister Russian Blue - hopefully they can stay together, but they can be adopted individually. They are so cute! About 8 weeks old.










Grey sister (we call her S2 - I have a grown cat, Silver, who looks just like her!)







Orange brother. We named him Junior.
























They play together constantly.








And sleep together.

I've had them for almost a week now. I will get them spayed/neutered before adopting them out so their adoption fee is $30 each. You will still need to take them to the vet for shots, etc. Please call me (Peggy) at 239-263-7001 or email info@naplesportraits.com

Here is their story:
A beautiful calico cat had four kittens in my bushes. I called the Humane Society - they only take owner surrendered cats- no feral cats. I call Domestic Animal Services - they have a 95% kill rate - an average of 300 cats a month are euthanized there! So I called some of the no-kill places. They are so full! Jan from For the Love of Cats has been super helpful. http://floridacatrescue.com/resource.html

I have the two kittens but can't keep them (I already have two cats). We are looking for a home for the two calico kittens too. I'll take the mother to get spayed and let her back out. She'll keep the snakes and rats away and hopefully live an okay life as a feral cat. Please please please make sure you spay or neuter your cats! And help me find good homes for these sweet and fun kittens!
Peggy 239-263-7001

June WOW!

Usually things start to slow down in June, but this year has been very busy! Here are just three sessions from this past week.

Trash the Dress!!

This is the latest trend - we have a portrait session after the wedding to go out and get crazy. It's not for everyone. Dan and Sara had a blast! And yes, I also got very wet.

Family Portraits in the Studio
It's nice to have a studio - especially in the summer when it rains so much.

The Radcliffe family was so nice, so gorgeous and so much fun!

Engagement Session!
Jaclyn and Ryan are getting married in April in Georgia. They visited Naples for a short vacation and some beautiful engagement photographs.

Neapolitan 50plus Magazine

I was recently commissioned to be the cover photographer for Neapolitan 50plus magazine! Here is a copy of my first cover photo:

Cover models Doug Keating, Jr. and Doug Keating, Sr. own Keating Associates on 5th Ave S.

http://www.keatingrealty.com/

You can pick up this magazine at over 250 locations throughout the Collier County area, including Sweetbay Supermarkets, Sam’s Club, Hollywood and Pavillion Movie Theaters, county parks, libraries, medical offices, retail establishments and more.

Check out the website at www.n50plus.com

Dinosaur Playground Saturday, May 26

We are having a super special on Saturday, May 26th. We’re taking fun pictures at Dinosaur Playground from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.!

If you’ve never been to Dinosaur Playground, you are in for a treat! It’s an indoor, air conditioned, clean playground. There are so many things for kids to do and a nice parent lounge for the adults to relax in. What a great idea for the hot summers in Florida! Check out their website: http://www.dinoplayground.com/ or call 430-PLAY. A full day’s admission is $12 for the first child, then $8 for the next. Adults are free.

I'll see you there!
Peggy

First Communion Portraits May 19

This has been a very busy season! Soon I'll post pictures from recent weddings, portraits and corporate events.

We were hired to take pictures for First Communion for some of the local churches. We will also offer the same First Communion special at the studio on Linwood Avenue on Saturday, May 19th. Bring your child dressed in his or her First Communion outfit. We'll have rosaries and prayer books for props if you like. Call for an appointment.

263-7001.

Dylan's One Year Session

This was such a thrill to me. I first photographed Dylan's parents for their engagement and wedding. It's been a long and wonderful relationship. It doesn't hurt that they are all so gorgeous!

Dylan, The Snappy Dresser

Fun with Cake!

And then with clean up!

March Newsletter

Click here to download our latest newsletter! You can see some of our latest pictures and offerings!

HEADSHOTS
The Tuesday headshot special is working out really well! An executive headshot at our studio on Tuesdays is only $95. That includes 4-6 takes, one image lightly retouched and all medium resolution images on CD. Everything is set up and ready to go so that the entire process only takes about 30 minutes. It's perfect for a busy professional!
















Aaron Sevigny, CEP, CSA, RFC



FAKE PROBLEMS















So by now, you know I love to brag about my son! Chris' band, Fake Problems, is the Spotlight Artist on Allmusic.com. Here is the first sentence: "You know that surge of excitement only felt every so often after stumbling upon a relatively unknown band and getting floored with their potential? Florida's Fake Problems is that band .... read more at www.allmusic.com. They are on the front page - scroll down a bit.

Check out some of their music at www.myspace.com/fakeproblems. Fake Problems is currently on tour with Against Me! and The Riverboat Gamblers.

This week's work

Karen and Russ had a super romantic wedding this past Friday. They got married in a beautiful park, took a horse drawn carriage to the beach for sunset and then on to the Inn on Fifth for a lovely rooftop reception.

I love my infrared camera!!

Jennifer and Gregory are expecting their first child.

Jennifer!

Fake Problems, State Theatre, St Petersburg, Florida

I went up to St Pete last week to see my son's band play. It was SO dark! I'll never complain about a wedding reception being dark again. This was one of the most difficult photo shoots ever!

This n that

While researching how to put together a blog, I subscribed to a couple of blogs. My favorite is called "Dumb Little Man, Tips for Life". DLM has tips about finances, health, your love life, computers, and photos! From DLM, I learned about Photojojo - which has photo tips, projects and gadgets for sale.
http://dumblittleman.blogspot.com/
http://www.photojojo.com/content/

Here are some recent photos from Avant-Garde:

Above are a couple pages from Matt and Katherine's wedding album.

More fairies this month!

I love to personalize family portraits as much as possible. This car is a part of the family!

I needed a headshot for my brochure. Chris photographed me. Geez, I'm getting old. I should have spent more time retouching.
Having a studio is fun! Chris shot my headshot and then I took some funny pictures of Chris and my nephew, Richard.

Baby & Child Portrait Contest

Avant-Garde Images is participating in the Miller's Lab Baby and Child Portrait contest.
One photo from each child's session from January 1st through May 31st will be entered into the Miller's contest.

Here are the details:
Grand Prize $5000.00
1st Prize $2000.00
2nd Prize $1000.00
Honorable Mention $500.00
~~~~~~~
This contest is sponsored by Miller's Professional Photo Lab.
Contest Rules:
* Children, infant through age twelve, are eligible
* Images must be taken by our studio between Jan 1 and May 31, 2007
~~~~~~~

Categories
Color
Black & White/Sepia
Humorous
Kids with Special Needs
~~~~~~~

The winning images will be selected by a panel of judges, professional photographers with a background in children's photography. Judging will take place in July, with the winners announced by July 31st.
~~~~~~~
It's so exciting! We have the most adorable children in Naples so don't you think that we are bound to win? Creativity counts so if you have ideas, please let me know. Each client will help me choose the picture to enter into the contest.

Call or email to set up your session. Baby program and special portrait sessions DO count!
Peggy
263-7001

Our latest newsletter is out! You can download it here:
Avant-Garde Newsletter

I switched to Blogspot for the blog. Chris is typing in all subscriber email addresses. You'll have to approve the subscription. Sorry for the extra step!

I plan to update the blog every couple weeks. I'm going to add photo tips and photo projects. Plus we'll feature some of our recent photos!

Today, we are highlighting three year old Emily!

Portrait Season!

I've had many family portraits, a few babies, a maternity and an engagement session in the last week. This week I have family portraits scheduled every single day. I'll catch up in January!
Peggy

Family Beach Portraits at the beach are the most popular!

Finally! I had a baby girl in the studio!

Maternity at the beach

My new fainting couch. I bought it for children but Yin-Yang looks pretty good!

Daddy's boy