2nd Annual Mother's Day Giveaway ~ Idaho Lifestyle Portrait Photographer

UPDATE: Entries are now closed. Thanks for all the participants. Winner will be selected by random drawing and announced once notified. 

It's the 2nd Annual Mother's Day Giveaway from Maggie Malson Photography!

I'm so excited to be partnering with some other really great local business women this year

to offer a fabulous package.

Who's there to kiss the boo-boos, dispense hugs at all hours of the day, run to and from activities, put nutritious meals on the table, help with homework, take care of the home, be a shoulder to cry on or someone to laugh with? It's Mom! And Mom deserves a great big Thank You!

Whether you are a mom, a mother-figure to others, or have a favorite mom in your life (your own mother, a friend, aunt, grandma or other mother), then this giveaway is for you!


What You Win: 
Let's face it. Moms are usually the ones on the backside of the camera, trying to preserve all life's moments. Let's get mom in front of the camera with her family laughing, hugging, enjoying family time! Winner will receive a complimentary lifestyle portrait session with Maggie Malson Photography. Session also includes $100 print credit. Session will take place in the fall of 2011 and is valued at $250. (Photographer will travel up to 100 miles from Parma, Idaho, with no additional travel expenses.)


And to give mom a chance to relax with friends, Heather Madden of Mary Kay has donated a  "Panorama of Pampering" Girls Night Out for Mom and up to four friends! This evening will including a pampering pedicure, hand treatment, facial, mineral cosmetics, refreshments and a $40 shopping spree!!


What mom doesn't love a bit of sparkle and shine? Jennifer Morgan of Jewels by Park Lane is offering a jewelry package with pendant and earrings, valued at $120.


Finally, what Mom doesn't want her home to filled with love and some wonderful scents? Crystal Herzberg with Scentsy has donated a plug-in warmer and Scentsy Bars to the lucky winner.

How to Enter:

Make a comment on this blog post about "Why I love being a Mom" OR "What I love most about the mom in my life". (This is the only required entry.)

You can receive additional entries by doing the following: 
     -Follow Maggie Malson Photography on Facebook.
     -Sign up for the MMP Newsletter.
     -Post about this giveaway on Facebook with a link to this post! (Example: Check out the fabulous Mother's Day Giveaway from Maggie Malson Photography)
     -Tweet about our giveaway with a link!
     -Blog about our giveaway with a link!
     -Check out Heather, Jennifer and Crystal's websites and make a comment about your favorite product from each.


Come back and comment here that you’ve done so – each entry requires its own separate comment. You can enter up to seven times total. The more you share, the more chances to win. Entries close at 10 p.m. MDT on Friday, May 6, 2011. Winner will be selected by random drawing.


Good luck! Don't forget to tell the man in your life to enter too because you would love to win this!

What's your favorite way to display? ~ Idaho Portrait Photographer

I thought it would be fun to hear and see how my clients, friends, fans and any blog stalkers I might have out there like to display their favorite memories-be it professional portraits or just snapshots they have taken. So, how about it? I'd love to hear what you do with those special moments! If you have a photo-even better. You can either send it to me at info@maggiemalsonphotography.com or post it to my Facebook fan page. I'll go first. Here's one wall of our living room. I have two other walls in this room that have photos displayed too, but this one is probably my favorite.

On the left, I have three 8X10 Gallery Mounts that I took of our kiddos. I love the plate rack my SIL gave me as a birthday gift. It made a great way to display these images. I normally wouldn't put 8X10's on the wall unless there was more than one. They are just too small by themselves unless in a really tight space, so this worked out beautifully.


In the center of the wall is my favorite--the 20X30 gallery wrapped canvas of our family. I swapped family sessions with fellow local photographer, Amber Fischer, and she captured a beautiful moment for us. I love it and it makes me smile EVERY time I look at it. That's what art of your family is supposed to do. :0) And that's why I think ART of your own children or family should be on your walls. What a great way to share the memories of them and show your kiddos how much they mean to you? My girls love the collages I made for each of them to sit on their desks from their birthday sessions.


I admit, I used to be freaked out about large wall portraits and thought 11X14 was large. I'm a big scrapbooker too (well used to be-I'm so behind now, but am determined to get caught up!). If it didn't fit in a 12X12 album, I thought it was too big. However, I knew when we did this session, that I wanted to order a big canvas. In fact, I really wished I'd ordered a larger one, 24X36 or even 30X40! And once I hung it on the wall, I was hooked! We have several other large (16X20 or bigger) canvases and Gallery Mounts on other walls of our home now too. And again, every time I looked at these images I just smile and remember.


Well, what if I have a small home or little wall space, you ask? Well, I realize that can be an issue. And there are a few options. Either get the biggest wall portrait or canvas you can to fit the space to give a big impact with just one image (really don't be afraid of going big) or try using several smaller prints together to create a collage look on the wall. You can put them in the same frame with matting, identical frames or mix and match frames, depending on your style and decor. However, I would recommend keeping the space between  frames small, as that will also give the images more impact. If you think you have to spread them out to fill up space, you probably need a bigger print size. As a service to my portrait clients, I can also help them create wall groupings with portraits from their sessions. I can even show you what your prints will look like in different spaces in your home. 

I have used Gift Prints (8X10 or smaller) together in several places in our home, either on the wall or a shelf, piano, dresser, etc. In this photo, you can see I put two 4X6's from that same family session on a small magnet board. Normally, I believe 4X6's only belong in a scrapbook or on a desk, but grouped together they can make a nice display.


Finally, on the side table is a Keepsake Album I designed from that session. I wanted to have all of our images in one place. It is a hardbound press-printed photobook with a leather cover and UV-coated hinged pages. I love how durable it is; I don't get as nervous when our two-year-old wants to look through it as I do the paper albums I've printed from scrapbook places. (Still glad I have those, but there is a big difference in quality between the two.) The girls love looking at it also! I don't worry about the pages getting torn or how it will last for several generations. I know that it is a keepsake we can enjoy for years and pass down through the family.


Whether you have big wall portraits or small gift prints in frames, or even have done something totally different with your favorite memories, what really matters is that you are capturing them, displaying them and enjoying them! I'd love to hear and see about what creative things you do, so please share! Thanks!

Little Beauties ~ Nampa Children's Photographer

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of capturing these little beauties during a Portrait Party! What's a portrait party you ask? Well, it's where you get to be the Hostess of the party, provide a location, some refreshments and invite all your friends to enjoy some good times, and we capture some beautiful images for you. Mini sessions are 20 minutes for up to four subjects. One Gift Print (8X10 or smaller) is included. Guests also receive watermarked images emailed to them to share with family and friends, a password protected online gallery to view proofs and special pricing on portrait products. The Hostess also earns portrait products! Call me for more details!

Miss A and Miss H were are such dolls. Miss A enjoyed playing with the tea party set and Easter eggs we had available. She is full of personality, and I loved all the expressions she showed me when I asked to see her happy, sad, mad and silly faces. Six-month-old H didn't want mommy to get very far away, and she took a little warming up, but she has the cutest grin. And I love those cheeks! Her mom Becca made that adorable headband to match big sis's skirt too. She's a graphic designer and super creative. It was fun meeting her and her sweet girls! Thanks again! As always, if this blog post receives 10 or more comments, the D family will receive a complimentary 5X7 print of one of these images.

Gallery Wrapped Canvas Sale ~ Idaho Portrait Photographer

~To all my wonderful clients~

Gallery Wrapped Canvases are on sale now! My lab is offering a sale and I'm passing the savings on to you! Sale starts today (March 17) and ends Sunday (March 20). If you have been thinking about a canvas or canvas cluster for your wall, now is the perfect time to order some ART of your children or family for your home! Here are some samples. Call or email me today and we can design a gallery for your home! Sale prices start at $120* for an 8X10. Sizes available up to 40X60. Save 20 percent!!
*plus Idaho sales tax

30"X40" canvas

We can take all your favorite images from your session and create a beautiful wall gallery.

 Canvas Art Panels-One image is split into three separate gallery wrapped canvas panels.

Cupcakes, Key Lime Pie, Kids and Cows ~ Southwest Idaho Portrait Photographer

What?! Cupcakes, Key Lime Pie, Kids and Cows? Well, check out some of these links (and some photos) I wanted to share and see what's happening around here. Sometimes I find the coolest things when I'm wasting time, I mean, cruising the Internet doing valuable and pertinent work-related research. Ha, that sounds official, doesn't it?! Other times, I just find some neat things out there in the real world, that I just think are really fun and I want to pass them along. Let me know what you think...

For starters, if you have little ones or are expecting one, you have to check out this site, On to Baby. They have the neatest ideas, products and inspiration for the wee ones in your life. I absolutely love this totally unique, beautifully designed Custom Word Book. 

Also, I found a beautiful post by photographer Deb Schwedhelm recently. She is an amazing artist with a unique eye. How many of you out there are waiting for the perfect time to schedule your family portrait session? Well, ladies and gents, the perfect time is NOW. Read Deb's thoughts. Is There a Perfect Time?

For you local folks, if you're in the mood for some amazing sweet treats, check out Miss Ellie's Cakes in Nampa. We stopped in there one night when they were about to close and picked up some delicious treats-fresh strawberry, vanilla and German chocolate cupcakes, and a giant no bake cookie. They were even great tasting at the end of the day! Annie bakes everything herself every morning. You have to check this little place out!


The other day I was in Walmart and discovered Wrigley's Extra Dessert Delights Gum. This stuff is awesome! I am so excited to think maybe I can curb my sweet tooth by chewing dessert flavored gum instead of rummaging through my cabinet and downing a handful of chocolate chips when the cravings hit me or eating a bowl full of ice cream in the middle of the day! Seriously, I do that. Sad, but true. So far, I think Key Lime Pie is my favorite flavor, although I loved Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream when I tried it first. The other choice is Strawberry Shortcake. Not sure if I can call this a permanent solution, but for now I'm trying to go for the gum whenever I need something sweet, which is usually after every meal. You know, a little sweet after something savory? Thanks Wrigley's!

And just in case you're wondering what's been keeping me busy lately, here's a few pics to show you...

What are you looking at J?

Cows.

Where are they J? Right there, silly mama!

It's so fun the kids can go outside and check out all the baby calves and mama cows right on the other side of the fence. They love it, and I love it too.

Hope you all have a great day!

A Dancer's Story ~ Idaho Portrait Photographer

Last year I had the pleasure of photographing dancers from Elite Dance Academy in the Treasure Valley. One of the dancers is especially talented and we worked together to capture some beautiful images that tell her story as a dancer. I designed her images into an album, which are shown here. 

As a photographer, my goal with each session is to create timeless, story-telling images. These images show the details and the big picture of who you are or who your family is, and not just what you look like. In addition, we can capture your relationships and interactions with each other, so that each time you look back at your images, you feel the same way you felt when they were taken. 

In 2011, I have placed a much bigger emphasis on "Your Story" Collections. These collections all include a custom-designed portrait album to showcase all the images from your session to tell "your story." Watch the blog for more examples or contact me for more information.

Thanks for choosing me to capture your lifestyle and your story.

Child Mini Model Sessions ~ Idaho Children's Photographer

 Is your child North America’s Cutest Kid?

Now you have the opportunity to prove it. And help a great cause at the same time!

For the second year, Maggie Malson Photography is participating in the International Charity Model Search. This year's model search is to select North America’s Cutest Kid and to raise funds for the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation.

The grand prizewinner will win a $2,500 savings bond, a $2,500 travel package, and a $100 Target gift card.  The second and third place runners up each will win a $500 savings bond and a $100 Target gift card.

Model Search Special:
$50 entrance fee per child includes a 15-minute mini session and one image submitted to the International gallery. You will receive 6-10 images to preview in an online gallery and one gift print (up to 8X10, value $40). Siblings will incur an additional session fee and their own time slot. Special pricing on limited edition portrait products will also be available. The contest runs from now until March 31, so sessions will be scheduled beginning Feb. 1 through March 28, 2011.

Finalists will be determined by online votes. Each vote is $1 (no limit on the amount of votes you can cast), and all proceeds from votes benefit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. Every family member who registers their information on the Charity Model Search Website will also receive 1 complimentary vote.  The top 5 paid votes, and the top 5 complimentary votes in each region will move on to the final judging round for a total of 50 finalists.

Grand prize international winner and runners up will be determined from the 50 regional finalists. The winner and runners up are selected by photography experts.

Contest open to residents of the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www.charitymodelsearch.org.

But that's not all...

In addition, every child (ages 0-18) entered in the model search will also be entered in a blog contest for a chance to win a complimentary creative children or family portrait session (value $150) with Maggie Malson Photography as well as a $25 Target gift card!

Whether they are fresh from the womb, trying to learn their ABC's or getting ready to head off to college, there is always time to capture memories of the beautiful child/children in your life.

Call (208) 674-1283 or email info@maggiemalsonphotography.com now to enter your “Cutest Kid” in these exciting contests!