Giving is awesome winner!

I had 7 great families nominated for the giving is awesome 2009 giveaway! I know I promised I'd pop in last week to announce the winner, but you know how crazy Christmas week gets! I was so impressed with everyone's nominations this year. Stories of single parents working so hard to get by, sick babies, nurses who meant the world to people and neighborly love were just some of the letters I received. I assigned a number to each family and then had a random number generator pick the winner.....
drumroll please....

Carly R and family nominated by Kristy R!

Congrats Carly! I will be in touch to set up your session. Kristy you also get a credit so I will let you set that up as well!

Thanks to everyone who nominated families this year. Your love for those you nominated shone through and touched me in a great way.

Waiting on a baby :)

This family is waiting on a new addition, well, any ol' time now! I am so excited to go back down and meet their new little girl, and I wanted to get them a little sneak peek from their last session. I will have the rest of the gallery up by the end of the weekend, D family! I wonder if the baby will beat me to it! :)

On other notes, quickly, the studio will be closed next week. While I will be sporadically checking email and voicemail, I will not be holding any sessions and the majority of things will be picking back up in the wek after Christmas. I do have several sessions booked for January already and I will be opening the schedule through March after the first of the year. I will be back one more time next week to announce the winner of the giving is awesome contest (which you can read about in the post below this one). I have 5 fantastic nominees so far, and it's not too late. Just get your emails in to me by the end of the weekend to have someone you know entered into this great opportunity.





This was an "oh my soul" moment








As always, if you get 10 comments on this post, it's a free 8x10, 20 is a free 11x14 (but not both). If you are leaving a comment anonymously please leave at least your first name in the comment. :)

Giving is Awesome 2009

You know someone. You know someone who's experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can't afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family's spirit, love, and beauty.
You know someone. I guarantee it.
I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography -- $1500 worth, to be exact. Whether it's canvas or albums, prints for Grandma, or a slideshow to watch over and over, it's in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season.
Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a $250 print credit. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be, people?
The rules:
* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)
* The nominee must reside in Tampa, FL. Tell me who you know, what they're experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well. Please make sure that they are available for a session in January or February of 2010. I will need to complete the session during one of those months ONLY.
* You must e-mail me the full story : courtneyvickersphotography@yahoo.com
The winner will be announced during the week of Christmas -- get nominating! I can't wait to read all of your entries!
Open your heart to someone this holiday season -- and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

Seventh Heaven

Yep. Little "O" is number 7 for this adoring family. I photographed his big brother "A" a mere 20 months ago, right before I had Finn. I personally start to hyperventilate at the thought of babies 20 months apart, but this mommy and daddy take the chaos is stride and even embrace it! The other kids were'nt up to joining in on the session this time, so little "O" and I got some quality time alone. What a sweet and mellow guy he was, and so patient with me.
Mama has been waiting for a sneak peek, so I had to take a moment away from the frantic end of the holiday season madness and show off this squishy guy.













As always, get 10 comments on this post and I'll give you a free 8x10, 20 comments gets a free 11x14. (but not both) If you are leaving a comment anonymously, please leave at least your first name within the comment.

Everyone likes a freebie!

It's giveaway time. No, it's not a free session or a canvas, BUT it's just as good. My girls at the mommyista are having an event this Thursday night (Dec. 3rd) and I am giving away two spots to go to it. One for you and one for a friend.
From The Mommyista :

Fete De Glam
Get your glam on…holiday style! Enjoy an evening of make up, makeovers and prizes as you relax with friends and allow a team of experts to pamper you! Come in your little black dress (or shop for a new one) and learn from a professional stylist how to use accessories to get ready for all your holiday parties. Always wanted a head-to-toe makeover? Two ladies will be chosen at random to be totally glammed-up! Of course, there will be prizes: (2) $100 shopping passes from Dillards and a $200 fragrance basket! You’ll look so good, after this event, you just may have to hit the town with the girls!

This event will be taking place at the Dillards in the shops at Wiregrass mall in Wesley Chapel. It will be such a fun moms night out! Now, I know you're very excited to win some tickets for you and a girlfriend, so here's the info.

1. Call your husband and let him know he's in charge of dinner and bedtime on Thursday night.
2. Call a pal and see if she wants to go with you.
3. Be the first to leave a comment on this post, with your name and your friend's name and I will sign you up to go!
4. Find me there and say hi! (Ok, you don't really have to do this but it would be good to see you)!

Please really check that you will be able to make it before commenting on the post. Thanks!

And because I am not going to leave you without a couple of pics. A couple more from the holiday mini sessions...

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday.















Thanks G family for a fun session!
10 comments-free 8x10
20 comments-free 11x14 :)

Hold on part 2

Meet "T"! She is a very special little girl, who was born a micro preemie at only 25 weeks! Now, she's a happy little gal who you might never guess had such a rough start at the beginning. Her mama and daddy are super proud of her!

I love this little series.

What's that, Minnie? You want some Tea?


HA! Well, let me just help you out...


What? She was trying to take my tea!


Gotta love some baby feeties


especially when they are attached to such a sweetheart.

Hold on to your hats.

I have been busy busy busy lately and haven't had time to update the blog too much. But thanks to my awesome hubby I am able to work most of the day today! So, I'll be posting a few sneak peeks today. Now any of you that I post who's gallery has not yet gone live, it will be up no later than tomorrow night! Oh, and lest I forget! If you get 10 comments on your sneak peek, it's a free 8x10. 20 is a free 11x14 (but not both) so any of you that I sneak peek today, tell all your friends to come check out your gorgeous kiddos!

First up, had to share these three cute as a button siblings! I used to be in a playgroup with their mama waaaaaaay back when, and I was thrilled when she set up a session. I had never met little "A" and middle kid "J" was just a baby himself the last time I saw him. Thanks for coming out to play with me again, M family. It was great to see you!





I am mostly a bright and colorful type of gal, but I have friends in the photography world who do gorgeous and amazing things with textures and vintage moodiness. Every once in a while I open an image that just screams at me for that kind of processing, and I am happy to oblige it! This was one of those.

For all the 5 year old girls out there....

Let the nervous giggling commence.
What a cutie, huh?!!?

Caution

Extreme cuteness ahead.

I have to admit

I am a total sucker for daddies and their little girls. I melt. Visibly. Really. Just get a mop.

Big kids.

I love em! I know school takes their pictures, but really I wish more parents of "big kids" would continue to get professional images of them. It's so so so so different than the school picture!

Killing me softly

Oh. my. soul.

It's gonna come out a lot this week. Just bare with me.

Oh my soul!

Oh my soul. It's a little phrase I picked up when I went to college in Tennessee. And sometimes it comes out of my mouth, sweet southern belle accent and all. That was the case this morning, when I opened up P's one year session. To say I am in love with these images is an understatement. Is it odd for me to want to hang one in my house? Maybe not so much. Since I did baby P's six month session earlier this year her mama and I have become great friends, and so I love the whole family! Especially baby P. I mean, what's not to love?






She kept making this adorable little scrunchy nose face!


This one. Ahhhhhh. tutu cute. Mommy, this is the one I would put up at the big bash :) ALthough, it would also be amazing HUGE on canvas. If you don't I will. Seriously. The next time you come over it will be on my wall :)


This one of P and Daddy made me tear up. That's when "oh my soul" slipped out.


another "oh my soul" moment :)


Remember mommy, get 10 comments and it's a free 8x10, 20 is a free 11x14. (Yes, even my friends have to pay for sessions, it's the only way I have time to do them!)

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween to all my readers, and I hope you have a fun and safe trick-or-treating experience. Speaking of treats...(did you like that segue? Yeah I should have been a stand up comedienne)Here's your sneak peek "L" family.

"B" just had a birthday! Happy 5 big man!




I love moments like this


Back story: "S" had had just about enough with the photo shoot, so mom and dad gave her the phone to play with. She started dancing to "That's not my name" by the Ting Ting's and totally made my day. The best part, mom's name is Stacy, and when it said "they call me Stacy" both kiddos belted it out and laughed!


Oh, and because I keep forgetting. If you get 10 comments, you get a free 8x10. 20 comments is a free 11x14 (but not both). SO go get all your friends to come leave a comment here!

Double Trouble

Yep. More twins :)
Mom and Dad, your gallery should be ready Thursday! For now here's a bigger than usual sneek peek!









There is seriously nothing cuter than a little boys belly!




This makes my day every time I look at it.