You’d think I was quite the daredevil if you didn’t know me! Here I am introducing two brand spanking new things (the first was here) for ALM Photography in one week. The second new addition to the biz you ask? A friendly little contest of course! To be honest, I’m a crazy competitive person and have been known to turn everything humanly possibly into a contest. So, the fact that these haven’t been a regular part of my business is a little mind blowing.

Let’s start off with the prize. If I were a drummer, this would be the point that you heard a dramatic drum roll. I’m giving away a Retro Mini Session! This is the whole shebang; hair, makeup, 30 minute session, one high res digital image to share or print to your heart’s desire (remember, huge deal, I’ve never offered digital files to my portrait clients before), a low res image to show off to all of your soon to be jealous Facebook friends, Twitter followers, fellow pinners or any other online comrades, a digital Valentine to share with your loves, optional complimentary styling by yours truly (this means finding all of the pieces of the puzzle and giving you options, not buying) and finally a special 25% off all additional products you choose at your Premiere Ordering Session. In my best Billy Mays voice, but wait that’s not it… I’m not giving away just one Retro Mini Session! No, I’m giving away two Retro Mini Sessions! That’s right ladies, your odds just got better before your very eyes!

*** To get to the cliff notes version of how to enter, simply scroll to the bold text below. I’m a wordy person when I talk and type, sorry!***

Okay, you can now drop the annoying infomercial voice from your head. You’re probably wondering how to enter, right? Well, I wanted to try something new, but at the same time didn’t want anyone to feel left out. The first way to enter is pretty simple, just follow these simple steps. Step one, head on over to the ALM Photography Page on Facebook and click share on the contest image. You can click right here to be taken directly to that image. Share it “On Your Own Timeline” and step two, ask any of your friends that see it to click on it, then write on the ALM Photography Page that they either found my page from Your Name, that Your Name wants to win a Retro Mini Session or something communicating that it was YOU that led them to me. Any questions? Seriously, if you do ask! The person who brings the most people to the ALM Photography Page is going to win one of the sessions. Remember, two steps to enter, click share and then get your friends to post that it was you that sent them! No liking required, although I’d sure love it if you would click the little like button if you haven’t already!

Contest number two will honor my morning addiction. You might think coffee, but you’d be wrong. I kick off most days with a little QT on Pinterest. I’ve found that it really gets the gears on the right side of my brain spinning. Not only is it my version of caffeine, but it’s also a great little planning tool. While I planned out the promo shoots I pinned images that inspired me and that I wanted to improve on. So, to enter you’re going to need a Pinterest account. If you don’t have one, drop me an email at anna at annalynchmcclary.com and I’ll shoot an invite your way (first come, first served). Step one, create a board entitled Retro Mini Session With ALM Photography. Step two, plan out your Retro Mini Session. Pick out the era that you want to embody, pin hairstyles, makeup looks, clothes, props, or really anything about the 50′s or 60′s that inspires the look you want. Where do you find these images? Well you can simply type 50′s or 60′s into the Pinterest search box, or you can venture out into the internet on your own. A few things I might type into the Google Image Search is Mad Men, Pleasantville or Pan Am. Step three, post a link to your board on the ALM Facebook Page.

The winner of the Pinterest contest is totally up to me. I’m going to choose the winner based on their board. Quantity of pins isn’t better than quality, but make sure you have enough to provide a general look and feel. I’ll choose the winner based on the look that I most want to shoot. Keep in mind, you don’t have to actually stick to the board 100% if you win, however you’ll earn cool/inspiration points in my book if you do! Don’t be afraid to daydream a little!

A Simple Recap For You:
Contest 1- Sharing Is Caring:
1. Go to Anna Lynch McClary Photography Facebook Page
2. Click share on this image and type a witty plea to your friends to come back to the ALM Page and say that you sent them/ you want to be the big winner (in your own words of course)
3. Campaign, campaign, campaign and then wait anxiously. Contest ends Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 5:oo PM CST and the winner will be announced that night.

Contest 2- Pin It To Win It:
1. Login to Pinterest (email me to get an invite if you aren’t already signed up)
2. Create a board entitled Retro Mini Session with ALM Photography
3. Pin a plan for a 50′s or 60′s themed session
4. Post a link to your board on the ALM Photography Page (you can post the link before the end of the contest, all boards will be judged immediately after the contest ends, none before then)
5. And the winner is… contest ends Monday, January 30, 2012 at 10:00 PM CST and the winner will be announced Tuesday, January 31, 2012.

Of course every contest needs rules. For the Sharing is Caring contest, each account can only count once. So, one person can’t say that three people sent them. No matter what, the first person they say sent them will get the vote. You CAN share the post more than once. In fact, it’s highly encouraged. Keep in mind some of your friends only check FB in the morning or some only check it at night. The following rules go for both Sharing Is Caring and Pin It To Win It. The session has to take place during the set time frame February 9-11, 2012 at my studio here in Omaha, Nebraska. The prizes have zero monetary value, so if you win and can’t use it, you can’t trade it for something else or ask for any kind of compensation. If the winner can’t use it, it will go to the person who has the next highest amount of votes and for Pin It To Win It my second favorite. Remember, it’s all about the amount of people that come back to the ALM Page and say you sent them, not how many times you share. Of course I reserve the right to disqualify anyone.

The rules for Pin It To Win It are pretty straight forward, because the winner is up to me and my personal judgment only. You have to use Pinterest to make the board, you have to name your board Retro Mini Sessions with ALM Photography and you have to share the link to said board on the Anna Lynch McClary Photography Page by the deadline. As always, I reserve the right to delete any posts off the ALM Photography Page and disqualify anyone should I see fit.

So, ladies ages 7-105, ready, set, go!

-alm

So I started hinting around new things coming for 2012 and have spent almost all of the year on the road so far, so I haven’t gotten to share any of these exciting new things. The first thing I’m going to share are my Editorial Sessions that I’ll be offering this year. Basically these sessions are going to be similar to what you see in your favorite fashion magazines and on America’s Next Top Model. Each month there will be a different theme and they’ll be run as mini sessions. That is unless you’re a senior client of mine, and then you still have the option of any of the monthly sessions, but also have the option of doing a totally custom Editorial Session.

Do you have to be a junior or senior in high school to take part? Heck no! I can only imagine how fun it would have been to do one of these when I was 12, especially with a group of friends. Even more, if you’re of drinking age and have some girlfriends coming in and doing sessions with you, we’ll crack open a bottle of champagne and make it a girl’s night out.

I haven’t even mentioned my favorite part. Every single Editorial Session will include professional hair and makeup! If you’re like me, you don’t pamper yourself that often and it’s complete heaven when you actually get to. I’m going to make sure that you feel like a super model.

So, the first month I’m starting with a theme that I’ve been dying to try. Every Sunday night at 9:00 Mitch knows that we have to watch Pan Am. Don’t get me wrong, the storylines are good, but I watch for the clothes, the hats and the fun makeup. Thus, February will be kicked off with a retro 50′s and 60′s theme. I spent Monday of this week shooting Rachel and Jae to get some example shots to show off how awesome ya’ll can look.

Oh, and no excuses here. All of these clothes came from either Forever 21 or Hollister. So, if you don’t have time or just don’t have great luck at thrift stores, you still have options. I was kind of blown away by all of the options I found for these girls without even trying. If you’re crazy busy with school, work or just life, I’m also offer styling where I’ll pick out a few options for you and you’ll have the final say. We’ll also have some fun accessories and props waiting for you!

So, the down low on this first month is that you get to do a fun Retro Mini Session for only $99. It includes your choice of a high res file that you can print or upload until you’re blue in the face. This is a huge deal for me, I’ve never given out files before on a portrait session. Since it’s that time of year, it’ll also include a digital Valentine for you to email to all of your loves. I’ll upload to the ALM Facebook as usual as well and you’ll get invited to the studio for a Premiere Ordering Sessions (another new little thing that I’m offering this year). Something else that I’m doing that’s a little different is donating 10% of all sales to the Make A Wish Foundation. What are you waiting for? Click on the Contact ALM tab up above!

-alm