a complimentary session | alabama children's photographer

i knew it was inevitable . . . i already went more than 7 days without posting!! i received a "reminder" email early monday afternoon from A.H. in decatur, alabama. i have been so swamped that i haven't had an opportunity to update the blog until now (and i've received several reminders this afternoon, which gave me the push i needed).

congratulations "h" family - i can't wait to see you in april for your free session!!

Y monica

don't be shy | alabama lifestyle photographer

given the fact that 2009 is officially "the year of the blog," i have been putting a lot of thought into ways to keep you (and me) entertained!! i decided that one good way to do that is to come up with another way to get a complimentary session!!

it's so simple: every month i will give a complimentary session to the person who posts the most comments on my blog! the only prerequisites are (1) there must have been at least 15 comments during the month and (2) the comments must be from at least 7 different people!! this should be interesting - i don't think i have had 15 comments TOTAL since the inception of this blog . . . ;-D

Y monica

the year of the blog | alabama photographer

i know, i know! i get emails about it all the time - i absolutely MUST blog more!!

i rarely make new year's resolutions, but i did this year: i will endeavor to blog AT LEAST once a week! in fact, i'm going to give away FREE stuff when i don't.

here are the details:
every time i go more than seven (7) days without posting, be sure to shoot me an email reminding me to post. the first person who emails me after each such incident gets a FREE SESSION!!!! if there has ever been a "sure thing," this is it - just look at my posting history!

Y monica

another gift . . . | birmingham, alabama photographer

Everyone who contacts me this week to schedule a session will receive a complimentary 5x10 storyboard and coordinating table easel. The storyboard will be mounted and ready to display!

I will try to post a picture of this gift later today . . . I'm loading up all my little ones this morning to go see my adorable grandfather ("Pa"). I could just gush about him all day!

Ymonica

AMAZING GIFTS, Collections and Limited Edition Sessions | birmingham, alabama photographer

Like most people, I have always LOVED Christmas! This year seems more special than any in the past, though - I have a great husband and 3 GORGEOUS babies! (Well, they're not all "babies" - my 5 (almost 6) year old literally almost comes up to my shoulder . . . and I'm 5'5"! And my middle child - who prefers to be called "Incredible Hulk" these days - will very quickly let me know he's no baby. But they're MY babies!) This is our youngest's First Christmas, and the other two are at the age when things are magical! Sooo . . . I'm in the spirit early!

Gosh, I should really break this up into several posts, but I've gotta just spit it all out for now. In no particular order:

OCTOBER MINI-SESSIONS Sunday, October 26 and Tuesday, October 28 I have never done these before, but I thought I would give them a try. These sessions will work perfectly for those who need to get holiday cards together but don't need a "regular" session at the moment. Here are the details:

$65
~ 20-minute sessions (scheduled at 30 minute intervals from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.)
~ 10 to 15 images shown in color AND black and white (for a total of 20-30 proofs)
~ your own private, online gallery
~ limited to 4 people per session
~ all prints, cards and other products sold a la carte

The first of these sessions (October 26) will be in downtown Homewood / SOHO. I have done several sessions there recently, and my clients (and I) have been absolutely THRILLED with the images each time!!! There are so many great things this location offers: excellent lighting, great textures and vibrant colors.

The second set of mini sessions (October 28) will be at a more traditional location - Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Be prepared to throw a fresh spin on the Gardens sessions, though. Think colorful, playful and relaxed!!

I have a feeling these sessions will book quickly, so call or shoot me an email to schedule soon.

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AMAZING GIFTS All regular sessions scheduled during the month of October include a very fun gift (yes, that means FREE) designed with images from the session. There is a different gift for each week. Everyone who calls this week to schedule a session will receive (2) accordion brag books!

These are the perfect size (3x3), and each will contain 10 images from the session. These accordion books are not even available for purchase, so this is your chance to get them!

My plan is to post the gift for the coming week each Sunday night, so be sure to check back each Monday morning to see what's coming up! There are only a handful of sessions left in October, so keep that in mind if you are hoping to schedule!

*note: these gifts are not available with mini sessions.

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LIMITED EDITION COLLECTIONS I have had so many requests for "collections" that I have put some together for just this season. There are several options - at all different price points and with many different size variations!! These collections are intended to (1) help you knock out as many holiday gifts as possible and (2) save $$ while you're at it!!! Click

here for details!!

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DIGITAL IMAGES NOW AVAILABLE!!! This is a very recent addition. If you want to have your own holiday (or other) cards printed, this is the solution! Please visit the "rates" section of our website for more information!

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Special savings for October and November ONLY!! Purchase either the Gallery Keepsake Box or Gallery Album for only $450 (each is normally $750!!!!).

***

I guess that's all for now, but check back because I'm already thinking of some other surprises to throw your way! And I have a really fun announcement to make later this month regarding Monica Carroll Photography!!

Ymonica

Babypalooza winners . . .

Congratulations to the three winners from Babypalooza:

1) Whitney Rogers;
2) Latoya Brooks; and
3) Stefanie Scott.

Each of the winners receives one FREE SESSION!! I have also e-mailed/snail-mailed each winner with all the info you need to take full advantage! CONGRATULATIONS!

For the rest of you, don't forget to check back from time to time. I plan to introduce some other fun things in the coming weeks!

til then . . .
.:monica:.

Babypalooza::COMPLIMENTARY SESSIONS

Gosh, I know it has been ages since I last posted! The whole site-going-down thing threw me completely out of whack! It was "only" down for 4 days, but it absolutely drove me crazy!!

Anyway, so last weekend we participated in Babypalooza - a baby expo held at Brookwood mall. Somehow it had flown under my radar until about 12 days before the event - TWELVE DAYS! There was so very much to do to get ready and so little time to do it, but we pulled it off for the most part.

So many fun families stopped by our booth. So many, in fact, that I ran out of business cards - and I had 450 (so for those of you who got a handwritten business card, please forgive me). To all of you who stopped by, thanks so much for the feedback - it was so great to hear that you love what we are doing!

As a lot of you know, I am giving complimentary photography sessions to 3 very lucky people who visited us at the expo. I will announce those winners Monday (the 22nd), so be sure to check back. I will also email (or "snail mail" those who didn't list an email address) the winners. How *fun* that is going to be!!!

til then . . .
.:monica:.

SO MANY EXCITING THINGS . . .

I have so many exciting things going on . . . obviously, I have a new blog.

I just returned from an AMAZING weekend in Chicago. I spent the weekend learning from one of THE best children's photographers in the country - Audrey Wouldard (click her name to see her site). Just to name something you might recognize, she photographed a recent Pottery Barn Kids advertising campaign. Also, if I identified a celebrity family who recently sought her out to photograph them you'd absolutely flip. But I don't think I should tell - I don't want to risk getting her in trouble with the family. ;-D

I just can't say enough about the weekend and some of the folks I met there. I'll try to post some of the images from the weekend soon.

Also, I'm getting ready to launch a NEW WEBSITE!!! I love, love, love it, and I'm working feverishly to get it ready to go live. You'll definitely see the difference when it's up!

I'll post again soon.

xomonica