Well, I tend to agree, but with a little twist and a pinch of something special. I say, GO BIG AND GO HOME WITH A GREAT BIG CANVAS!

I am so lucky to have such a fantastic canvas vendor! My vendor not only has what I believe to be the best product – great color, high quality construction and excellent customer service, but they have found it in their hearts to offer up a SUPER SIZE CANVAS SALE FOR MY CLIENTS!

This incredible offer allows me to offer my clients a 30% SAVINGS!! YES 30% off my canvas prices for large sizes!! AND, because my vendor is being so generous, that makes me want to do a little added something special for my clients too! Here’s what else I’ve come up with for you! A CONTEST!!

Purchase or pre-purchase any canvas or canvases in the sizes listed below during this sale event, and your name will be entered into a random drawing for a chance to receive a SUPER SIZE 40×60″ CANVAS, ABSOLUTELY FREE! That just happens to be MY FAVORITE SIZE CANVAS!!

Nothing looks quite as good as that baby up on your wall over the fireplace or couch. Except of course when it’s flanked by even more canvases! :) Another great thing…the larger the canvas you purchase, the more entries you get, and the more canvases you purchase, the more entries you get! That’s two ways to increase your chance of YOU taking home that GIANT CANVAS! What are you waiting for? Call 516.280.3471 or email me right away!! Sale ends this Saturday!

20×30″ – 1 entry to win
24×36″ – 1 entry to win
30×30″ – 1 entry to win (square size alert…perfect for *storyboards!)
30×40″ – 2 entries to win – double your chance!
40×60″ – 3 entries to win – triple your chance!

*Sale prices include a single image per canvas. There is an additional charge for multiple image storyboards.

Details without exception: The canvas sale starts now and ends at 12 noon on Saturday, August 14th, 2010. Canvases must be paid for, in full, by next Friday, August 20th. Official (well not too official) drawing for the winner of the super size canvas will take place on Saturday August 21st, 2010. Only those that have paid for their canvas(es) in full at the time of the drawing are eligible. Winner to be announced on the blog on Monday, August 23rd. Doesn’t matter if you have already had your session, have a session currently booked, or are just booking one now (for the holidays, perhaps?). Clients pre-purchasing their canvas must book and complete their session in 2010. All special promotions and sessions require a complete, signed model release. Policies and procedures as stated in my Product Pricing Guide may also apply. Please contact me with questions. All purchases and pre-purchases are final.

Wait, there’s more! Every client with a valid entry into this canvas contest gets a surprise gift too! Every client!

OK, now I’m done. What are you still doing reading this? The clock is ticking! Hurry, call or email me now!

And because no post is complete without an image, here’s another favorite from the yummy newborn session. There’s just something so special about a new mama and her precious newborn…

We had a fun time on a gorgeous day in a beautiful local park. I learned that this cutie’s favorite color is purple, which you might guess from the images, and she likes listening to music and dancing. She can also make some great funny faces!

I just love the way a 3 or 4 year old child’s personality really shines through in their images. No longer a toddler and not school age, this is a very special time of growing and learning and becoming independent. It’s a period of time I wished would have stayed longer with my own kids. It goes by so fast and I am truly happy and honored to capture these precious moments.

Thank you to all my models for being so very patient while waiting for your images to be finished and posted to your galleries. I’ve been a busy bee, and I’m so thankful to all of my clients that continue to show and talk about my work to their friends and family! There is no higher compliment than when a client recommends me to a friend!

I’m almost ready to start scheduling the sessions for the final 4 models for my { All About Me } sessions. Thanks for your patience too! I’ll be contacting you this week!

Enjoy this sneak peek “B” family! It’s just a small sample of the great images I got of your beauty!

Her photo session immediately followed the church ceremony, in the small window of time and opportunity just prior to her party, which I also photographed!

This event was a fabulous feast for the senses. From start to finish, every thoughtful detail was lovingly planned by her also beautiful mom, and was thoroughly enjoyed by a friendly crowd of family and close friends.

Kudos too to Sans Souci in Sea Cliff, Long Island for providing a spectacular venue.

So pretty!

Her dress was so elegant too!

This image is one of my favorites!

When photographing an event, I love to capture the details of the day, and storyboards are a great way to display them. They are very popular with my clients, come in various sizes, can be rectangular or square in shape, and can be finished in several different ways. Aside from a print, a storyboard can be a gallery-wrapped canvas { gorgeous! } or, in a product newly added to my line, a padded and wrapped, specially coated print that is mounted so that it stands out from the wall like it is floating. You have to see it to truly appreciate it; I will have pictures of this new product up on my blog next week. A few clients have already ordered and received theirs, and we have all been very pleased with the results!

The 20″ square Communion storyboard I designed incorporates session images as well as those showing some of the details from the party. (I’ve blocked out the name, in case you’re wondering, as I try not to include names, particularly children’s names in my posts.)

Thank you to the family for allowing me to celebrate with you. I am excited to create your session album as a lasting keepsake of this momentous event in your daughter’s life!

During my hiatus, a much needed and very much enjoyed family vacation took place. This was one of my favorite views, shot from a key vantage point…my lounge chair. :)

Well, our vacation was wonderful, but alas, it set me back and messed with my rhythm. OK, so it was not a steady rhythm, but it was getting there.

Fact is, there just are not enough hours in the day to get everything I would like to get done, done. As my kids get older, the schedules get crazier and the calendar, more crowded. After school there are snacks and homework, baseball and parties, dinner and showers, reading and praying, and finally bedtime…and that is on a slow day! :) I am often too tired to even think about feeding my blog. Truth is, some nights I am just happy we have fed the kids!

Speaking of being “messed with”, this weather has sure messed with me and my clients this week. This was to be my week to shoot the adorable little 3 and 4 year olds…outside! Thank you to the mommies for your patience while I shuffle and rearrange. I hope to get all the sessions completed by the end of next week.

Meanwhile, take a look at one of my regular cuties. She turns 3 in June and I have had the pleasure of photographing her several times over her little life already. She is the subject of one of my favorite images, an image that has been displayed on a large canvas at the four recent fund-raising events (auctions) in which I have participated this spring.

It seems very appropriate that now this little lady is also helping me to kick off my “All About Me at 3″ session and collection.

Three is a wonderful age! There is a strong desire for independence yet still a need for the security of a parent nearby. Children of this age have an insatiable curiosity and love to explore. They can communicate, listen and understand. Of course they can also flip like a pancake from smiles to fits, laughter to tears! I find them incredibly adorable, extremely lovable (most of the time), frequently amusing and infinitely amazing. It is such a brief period in their journey, and for me to be able to capture it, honestly, forever, is a privilege I cannot explain.

For All About Me at 3 sessions, I have asked that the mommies allow their kids to wear what they want (within reason of course). I want to see the children as they see themselves, and as people closest to them see them.

As evidenced in this image, and judging from the head to toe outfit selection of my young client, it is not hard to notice that this girl’s favorite color is PINK!

Ah, but here is the reason why I love this age, and this child! This was not only her favorite color, this color was hers! Pink, as a favorite color, belonged to her! I could not have it as my favorite color; it was already “taken” and I had to choose another. Talk about having exclusive rights!

Taking a cue from this little one, I have decided that purple is now my favorite color, so if any of you are thinking of having it as yours, sorry, it’s taken! Dibs on purple! :)

If your child is turning three, or is already three, and you are interested in learning more about my All About Me at 3 sessions, please email or call 516.280.3471 for details.

I wanted to let you know that I have two slots open this weekend for Communion sessions, one for Saturday afternoon and the other for Sunday, mid-morning.  The flower show is at Hicks Nurseries in Westbury, Long Island, and this is the last weekend.  Considering that we are just now heading into spring (yippee!) and that there are only a few species that are blooming outside right about now, Hicks really is a great place for a beautiful background of flowers.  Email or call me at 516.280.3471 to arrange your session…quick!

Here’s a gorgeous Communion invitation using one of my images and created for me by my friends over at Silverbox Creative Studios.  The names have been changed to protect the innocent.  ;)  Thank you Susan!

Please contact me by March 22nd, if you’re interested.

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I’m working on a session package celebrating little ones, ages 3 and 4, and I need some little cuties to photograph for my promotional materials, blog, website, etc.

I am looking for willing models who can be their adorable selves in front of a camera.  Specifically, I need charismatic kids that are 3 or 4 years old, or will be within the next six months – so from now thru July, early August.

Sessions to take place in April, during the day, during the week – single child only, multiple clothing changes necessary, perhaps even minor location changes.  I’m looking for approximately 3 boys and 3 girls, siblings welcome, but they will not be photographed together and each must be a separate session, perhaps even on different dates.  This is all about the individual!

Session and single 8×10 desk print are complimentary, with an opportunity to purchase a special new, themed collection (to be determined, but will definitely include an album and 10×20 storyboard) at a 20% discount.  A signed model release is required.

Let me know by email as soon as possible if you are interested.  Also, if you know of anyone else that might be, please have them email johanna@johannasophia.com.

What do I mean by charismatic?  Here’s a shining example.  During a break between me photographing each of his newborn twin brothers, this little guy, without any prompting, stepped into the “spotlight” and handed me a half dozen adorable shots showcasing his personality.  It was comical.  Was this the same kid from a scant few moments before when we were trying so hard to get that newly expanded family shot?  Clearly, he was ready for his close up now.  :)

For beautiful and elegant invitations and thank yous, I’ve found a lovely company, SilverBox Creative Studios.  As a special offer, when you book a Communion session, there is no fee to use digital images from your session for your invitation or thank you when purchased from SilverBox!

Session collections are without print order minimums, and you can purchase additional a la carte prints at 20% off my current product price list.  All sessions require a $100 non-refundable deposit to secure your scheduled time.  Session is for Communicant only.

The number of sessions is limited.  To find out more about the Communion session collections and to reserve your appointment, please email or call me at 516.280.3471.

Although the girls far outnumber the boys in Communion sessions for me, I do have a couple of boys already booked this season!  I suppose the focus is on girls where Communions are concerned because girls have dresses and crowns and tiaras and veils and flowers and pretty shoes, have their hair done special, etc., and boys have a suit and a smile.  Funny thing is, how often to you see your handsome little man in a suit…with a smile?  I’d say that was an occasion in and of itself!  ;)

I’m offering the canvas sizes listed below at 28% off my regular canvas prices!  Why 28%?  I don’t know; it’s crazy!

These beauties are one of my absolute favorite items.  I blogged about my new personal canvas wall gallery, proudly on display in my home, several weeks ago.  These are gorgeous, gallery wrapped canvases that come ready to hang – no need for framing!

You can purchase canvases using images from a previous session, OR you can pre-purchase them for an upcoming session!

Call me at 516.280.3471 or email me to place your order.  There is no limit on quantity, but you must place and pay for your order by 10PM, February 26th.

The sizes that are on sale are:  16×24, 20×24, 20×30 and 24×36.

And to complete my post, an image of course!  Here’s one of my all-time favorite session images; a little blast from the past for her mama.  You might recognize this lovely little one as I’ve had the pleasure of photographing her more than once, and I’m thrilled to be photographing her again next month!

What a cutie-pie!  I’m a real sucker for those cheeks! :)

It gives me great pleasure to know that I can make images that do that for other people too!

Last year, one of my favorite Valentine mini sessions was of an expectant mom and her adorable little boy. The portraits were a surprise for her husband, his daddy. They were playful and fun, and I had a great time shooting them.

I’ve used some of the images from that session to show off more of my beautiful Valentine cards that are available to purchase with your mini session images.

Another favorite Valentine session was of a group of extended family – 3 families separate, but together. It was so much fun to see them all in the spirit of the holiday, wearing red, wearing heart motifs, enjoying the gathering. It was a great start to a fun family tradition!

Here are some additional cards with images from those sessions.

This year, maybe you could start the tradition!

Check out my Valentine mini session information and call 516.280.3471 or email me to schedule your session.