Merry Christmas!

Here's hoping everyone has a safe and happy holiday!

And as you can see, Santa has been hard at work already.  Don't forget to leave out your cookies and milk.  And in my case, put the dogs in their kennels tonight so they don't eat the cookies first!

What's in 1 day, 9 hrs, 3 min, 28 secs?

Santa Claus! 

If you haven't done this before with your kids, it's pretty cool. Oh heck - you don't need kids to do it!

NORAD (The North American Aerospace Defense Command) has been tracking Santa Claus since the 1950's.  On Christmas Eve, they post Santa's location from wherever he is in the world.

Track Santa here

Here's hoping you've been "nice" and Santa stops at your house.  I'm off to bake some cookies!

A Muppet Rhapsody

Hearing this song reminds me of the movie Wayne's World, but has a whole new take when the Muppets perform. Too funny!

Boudoir Sessions, any takers?

I'm looking for models for boudoir / pin-up style sessions that I plan on offering. These sessions will give me the opportunity to fine-tune lighting and sets.

The photos will be very tastefully done and there will be NO nudity. I'll chat with you on what kind of look you'll be most comfortable with. You don't have to be clad in lingerie. A man's button-down dress shirt can be perfect for such a session and be fun and playful.

If you decide to do a session, your compensation will be the free session and deeply discounted print pricing is offered.

I have only two requirements. First, you absolutely must be at least 18 years old (that's a no-brainer). Second, you will need to sign a model release as these images will be used for advertisement (print, internet, etc.). So you will need to be o.k. with other people seeing the images.

Maybe your interested but not quite sure if you want to do it by yourself? Get your girlfriends together and we can do everyone's individual sessions all at the same time!

Give me a call or email me with questions or if you're interested in setting up a session!

Heart of Minnesota Fundraiser - Holiday Pet Portraits

This is our second year offering pet portraits and donating the session fees to the Heart of Minnesota Animal Shelter. Last year was so much fun and I enjoyed meeting so many new people and pets.

Yesterday started out the first day of sessions and again had a great time. People often think it's a lot of work for me when doing these sessions, but actually it's pretty relaxing for me. Since we're dealing with animals in new surroundings, I actually have the pet's owner be the "pet wrangler" since the pets are obviously going to be more comfortable with their owner handling them. So my job is pretty simple ... I just sit on the floor and wait. : )

There are still a few sessions left for 10/30, 11/01 and 11/02.

The session fee is $36.00 and you receive a 4 x6. Any additional pets or people would be an extra $10.00 per subject.

Call me at 952-913-7677 to schedule a session!

Dan Thaemert benefit

Not long ago I was asked to donate to an upcoming benefit being held for a man who survived a crash when all odds were against him. His story is truly amazing and no doubt a miracle. There’s just no other way to describe it.
You can read more on his website.

The benefit is 10/24 and his family and friends have certainly outdone themselves with the benefit to make it something for all ages to enjoy. Here’s a quick rundown of the event taken from the website:


INVITATION!!! INVITATION!!! INVITATION!!!
Please join Dan and his family for a day of fun, food, and fellowship.
On Saturday, October 24th, friends and family are hosting a benefit to help pay for some of Dan's medical expenses. Please join us at the Mayer Community Center anytime from 3:00 PM - 12:00 AM.
The benefit will start at 3:00 with a BAKE SALE, SILENT AUCTION, MASSAGE THERAPIST, FACE PAINTING AND TATTOOS FOR THE KIDS. A complete pulled pork and turkey DINNER will be served from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm. There will be a visit from two of the MINNESOTA VIKING CHEERLEADERS from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm. What a photo opportunity! At 7:00 pm, the LIVE AUCTION by Carl Radde will begin and we'll end the night with MUSIC BY DJ MR. BIGG from 8:00 pm - 12:00 am.

2010 Rules!

For some of us who have graduated high school just a short time ago (ha ha!!), you'll remember that your graduating year was THE only year - it was the best. Well it's the "changing of the guard" -- now it's the Class of 2010 that rules.

Here's one of my latest 2010 seniors. Here's a sneak peak for you, Kristina!

Did you not hear back from me?

I've recently found out that I may not have been receiving all of my voicemail messages due to some glich - oh great!

If you happened to leave a message and have not heard back -- please give me a call! I'm assured everything has been resolved.

I'm very sorry to anyone who may have been waiting, and waiting, and waiting for me to call back!

2010 Senior Girls

Your perfect prom dress that you searched high and low for now is tucked away in your dark closet. Wouldn't it be fun to wear it just one more time? And - how about getting some stunning photos in it, too? (And no cheesy prom poses - I swear!)

And the best part ..... it's FREE!

If you're a 2010 senior girl who would like to model your prom dress for some test sessions I'm working on, contact me at 952-913-7677 or email me at: info@rainavenuephotography.com

As your compensation, you get the session free and a set of 16 wallets to add to your arsenal of wallets to share with your friends for your senior year!

Free Ride to the Children's Museum

Pretty cool -- I just got an email from the Minnesota Children's Museum and Metro Transit is giving free rides to and from the Museum this Saturday and Sunday. Click here to download the coupon.

Time flies when you're having fun!

Seriously -where does time go? Months have slipped since my last update and I could have sworn I just posted a week ago. It is certainly a good thing to be busy and I'm not complaining at all, but if I'm loosing my mind, we all might be in trouble! ; )

This is one of my favorite images from this session and let me tell you, this little guy is a charmer. He's such a sweetheart and I was lucky enough to get a hug...unsolicited I might add - the best kind!

The Start of Summer

It's official. Summer is here.

Crazy you say?

Nope. You see, when your 4 year old comes running in the house on the edge of a near breakdown because he's afraid he's going to miss the ice cream truck, you know that summer is here (or at least getting there).

Today was the first day the ice cream truck made its rounds in our neighborhood. It was a tough decision, but he ended up with the cherry/lime/blue raspberry Bomb Pop. Oh and what pretty colors it makes on a white t-shirt!

(I don't recall this being a corn-cobb flavor)

Be a fan and win a year of portraits!

All because of my friend Christina, I've been sucked into the land of Facebook. I was never one for MySpace or other sites like that so when she said, "oh just join it", I did. I was surprised to find that it wasn't juvenille like I thought it would be - and now I'm hooked. Thanks a lot Christina!

Oh I kid!

So anyway, Rain Avenue Photography and Rain Avenue Photography Seniors have pages of their own. If you have a session with me, I will post some of the images so you can use them for your profile (of course only if you want them posted).

Then that got me to thinking -- it'd be fun to have a little contest amongst my current clients & Facebook fans as well as new people who join as fans.

I am giving away a YEAR OF PORTRAITS to the person who refers the most people to be fans. Who could pass that up?

If you want to get in on the contest, you must sign up as a fan of either:

The Rain Avenue Photography page

or

The Rain Avenue Photography - Seniors page


The pages have the full details of the contest. Good luck!!

Spring Portrait Sessions!

Whether you celebrate Easter or the coming of Spring, this bright and fresh set is perfect! It works well for dressier clothes or jeans. Don't forget to bring your favorite bunny if you have one!

March 17th (very limited times available)
March 19th (very limited times available)
March 21st

The creation fee (a.k.a. session fee) is $30.00. This session lasts 20 minutes and includes one outfit. Add $10.00 to the creation fee for each additional person.

For these special sessions, we are offering packages:

Package A: $198.00
One pose
1 - 8x10
2 - 5x7
4 - 4x6
8 wallets

Package B: $116.00
One pose
1 - 8x10
2 - 5x7
1 - 4x6

Package C: $68.00
One pose
1 - 8x10
1 - 5x7

Package D: $46.00
One pose
1 - 5x7
1 - 4x6

To schedule a session:

give us a call at: 952-913-7677

or email at: jenny@rainavenuephotography.com

Brian Taylor benefit

Coming up this Sunday, March 8th in Watertown, there is a benefit for the Taylor family of Watertown. Brian Taylor was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma in 2006 and has been battling ever since.

There will be a pasta dinner (by D'Vinci's - yum!) and a silent auction, which there will be a couple gift certificates up for auction from us.

Bid away and help the Taylors!!

Check out www.taylorbenefit.org for additional details, or to make a donation if you can't make it this Sunday.

Senior Rep program -- Applications being taken!

We are taking applications from this year's juniors (class of 2010) for Rain Avenue Photography's Senior Rep program.

If you are chosen to represent Rain Avenue Photography, you will get a FREE all-out session done the Spring of 2009. This is so you can show off your images THIS year to all of your friends and family. You'll get customized rep cards (it's like your own business card) to pass out and you will earn credits for every person that completes their session with me!

And if you decide you'd like to have more current pics for your senior year, you'll get 50% off your session for your senior year.

And there's more! But we'll keep those little details a secret for now!

Applicants must possess the following:

excellent people skills

reliable

trustworthy

absolutely must love having your photo taken!

DEADLINE: Monday, March 2nd

If you are interested in an application, send us an email: info@rainavenuephotography.com

Good-bye

Today we said good-bye to my husband's grandma. She was the last grandparent that my husband and I had left. It was a tough service to attend (of course they all are), but to me it was hard because Granny Velma was so much like my grandmother who has been gone for over 2 years now. It was kind of like it happening all over again.

At Granny's service, the pastor read a poem, to which I was surprised I had never heard before given the number of funerals I've been to in my life. I thought it was so perfect -- at life and death. Hopefully we can all strive to be better people....to be like the Granny Velmas and the Grandma Neumanns.



The Dash
by Linda Ellis

I read of a man, who stood to speak,
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone,
from the beginning, to the end.

He noted that first came her date of birth,
and spoke the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all,
was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time,
that she spent alive on earth...
and now only those who loved her,
know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own;
the cars... the house... the cash.
What matters is how we live and love,
and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard...
are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough,
to consider what's true and real,
and always try to understand,
the way other people feel.

Be less quick to anger,
and show appreciation more,
and love the people in our lives,
like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash,
may last only a little while.

So, when your eulogy's being read,
with your life's actions to rehash,
would you be proud of the things they say,
about how you spent your dash?

Drum roll please!

On Saturday, I stopped by the Heart of Minnesota Animal Shelter to present the funds raised from the 2008 Holiday Pet Portraits.

I am very proud that we raised $425.00 - and all thanks to YOU out there!

That equals out to roughly:

28 days worth of food

OR

giving 8-9 sick animals a visit to the vet

OR

providing a spay/neuter to 5-6 animals

Just think - it costs over $400.00 to feed the animals - that's not even for a full month! And, that doesn't include the special diet food that some animals need to be on. I'm sure you can see now why it's so important to give to this organization (or others that your heart is with).

Some interesting information I found on the internet (and all sites varied a bit with the stats but pretty much are all very close in details):

CATS

Average number of litters a fertile cat can produce in one year: 3
Average number of kittens in a feline litter: 4–6

That means in seven years, 1 female cat and her offspring can theoretically produce 420,000 cats.

BY FIGURING OUR DONATION WITH THESE STATS,

WE PREVENTED POTENTIALLY 2,352,000 UNWANTED CATS!

DOGS

Average number of litters a fertile dog can produce in one year: 2
Average number of puppies in a canine litter: 6–10

That means in six years, 1 female dog and her offspring can theoretically produce 67,000 dogs.

BY FIGURING OUR DONATION WITH THESE STATS,

WE PREVENTED POTENTIALLY 375,200 UNWANTED DOGS!

Did Hell freeze over?

Wow, it's cold out there! I don't understand why the dogs keep wanting to go outside either. I think it takes me a good 20 minutes to warm up just from opening the door.

I had planned on posting more since the madness of the holidays is over but then Carver (kiddo) was sick, then I was, then Travis (hubby)...not to mention Dodger (dog) has a ruptured ear drum and now Playdoh (dog) is limping. And just moments ago, Carver says his head is cold. Now I realize it is chilly outside, but when he of all people asks to put something on his head, somethings a'brewin'.

Off for now to try to stay warm and will post more soon!