H&M Photography & Design: The Blog

2009 Christmas Cards are Here!

It's that time already! I know - didn't we just do this?

This year I've got lots of different Christmas card designs to choose from. Here are the important details:

• $30 for a set of 25 Christmas cards. Additional cards can be ordered in any quantity for $1.50 each (ask about discounts for 100 or more cards!).
• This year I'm also offering the digital file of any design to print on your own for a one-time fee of $40.
• All cards are fully customizable (colors, text, photos).
• Cards are printed on high quality cardstock and come with white envelopes.
• Cards are flat with design on the front. The back has plenty of room to write a custom message if you'd like.
• Turnaround time is about a week and a half (not including shipping to your home).
• Cards are designed exclusively with photos taken by H&M Photography. There's still time to schedule a session for Christmas card photos! [If you're interested in using your own photos, please contact me.]
• Rectangular cards are 5x7; square cards are 5x5 and can be converted to 5x7 if you'd prefer. (Postage is slightly higher for square cards.)
• To order cards, just call or email me - 678.316.7906 or hmhmaynard@gmail.com
• All Christmas card orders must be placed by December 3.

So here they are:

#1 - Happy Christmas (uses 1, 2 or 4 photos)

 #2 - Joy to the World (uses up to 6 photos)

 

#3 - Fa la la (uses 2, 3 or 4 photos)

 

#4 - Swirls (uses 1 horizontal or 2 vertical photos)

#5 - Simply Merry (uses 3 horizontal photos)

 

#6 - Dots of Love (uses 1 photo)

#7 - Merry Little Christmas (uses up to 6 photos)

Shown with 1 photo:

Shown with 6 photos:

 

#8 - Mittens (uses 1 square photo)

#9 - Monogram (uses 1 photo)

#10 - Bright Christmas (uses 3 photos)

#11 - Lots of Dots (uses 1 vertical or 2 horizontal photos)

#12 - Deck the Halls (uses 1 photo)

 

 #13 - Simply Bright (uses 1 horizontal photo)

Feel free to call or email with any questions. Merry Christmas!

- Heather Maynard, Georgia photographer

Introducing "Brag Books"

I've spent lots of time in the last few months looking for a few new products to offer. One in particular that I was looking for was a "brag book" of sorts - a book, small enough to carry around and fit in a purse, that could be printed with lots of images from your session (or multiple sessions).

I've finally found one that I like. It's 7x7 inches, hard cover with photos printed right on each page and on the back and cover. They can be anywhere from 20 pages to 100+ pages, and they serve as an excellent way to show off a new baby, grandchildren, your wedding photos or any photos from your session. They make great gifts, too!

To test them out, I created a little book for my friend and client, Katie. Actually, the book is for her new baby boy, Lane. 

I wanted it to be something that Lane (and the whole family) can look back on in several years to tell the story of the day he was born. But I also wanted it to be kid-friendly, so I paired graphics with photos and text to tell his birthday story in a children's book style. I was at the hospital, camera-in-hand, on the day he was born, so I was able to use photos that were shot on his birthday to tell his story. Here's how it turned out:

Here's the full book (click each photo to enlarge):

Back, spine and cover:

Brag books start at $65 for a custom-designed 20-page book. Please ask if you're interested! Additional photo book sizes, including larger coffee table books, are available.

-Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia photographer

A Wedding Bonus: Gallery Cards

In just a few weeks, I'll be shooting Phil and Carolyn's wedding, and it's going to be beautiful! Typically, when I shoot weddings, I include gallery cards - cards that guests can pick up with instructions on how to view and purchase photos from the wedding straight from the website.

Each gallery card is custom-made for each bride and groom to match their wedding colors and style. If we do an engagement session or bridal portraits, those can be incorporated into the gallery cards, too. 

Phil and Carolyn's cards arrived a few days ago and I'm so excited with how they turned out. Their wedding will be a formal church wedding, so I went with a simple, classic design. But I chose a funky bookmark shape to make them stand out. (And it's kind of like an additional favor for guests - they're getting a bookmark, too. Okay, so maybe that part's a stretch.)

There are so many advantages to having gallery cards at your wedding, but here are just a few:

• It gives guests quick access to all the photos without having to ask the bride and groom about them after the wedding.
• Out of town guests can view photos, too - no album necessary! 
• Payment and delivery are arranged with whomever buys the photos, so the bride and groom don't have to foot the bill or deliver lots of photos - they can focus on their own photos.  
• No one feels obligated to buy prints, but the website makes it easy to do so if they would like to. 
• All questions related to photos can be directed straight to us - we'll handle it! 

If you're booking a wedding with H&M, be sure to ask about custom gallery cards as part of your package. 

-Heather Maynard, Atlanta, Georgia wedding photographer

Lilli's Princess Party Invitations

I've been so busy posting photos from sessions lately that I almost forgot to post the invitations from Lilli's fourth birthday party - a princess party! You may remember the photos of Lilli in a tutu. These invitations are the final result of that. 

I love this pink, red and orange combination! For some reason, it makes me think of ice cream. Which makes me think of summer. Which makes me SO HAPPY. 

Here's the final invitation:

and here were a couple of alternates:

and the labels:

Happy {belated} birthday, Lilli!

-Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia children's photographer

Happy Birthday Claxton!

About a month ago I took photos of Claxton, and his mom asked me to use some of those photos to create invitations for his second birthday. 

His party was at Jungle Jumpers - one of those huge indoor places with all the jumpy, bouncy, blow-up things - and his group was in the monkey room. Since I got some great shots of him jumping on his bed, I went with a monkey theme. Here's the design his mom chose:

I also made some matching address labels:

Using photos on invitations or cards is a great way to add a personal touch to them. We're happy to create a custom design for any occasion, just give us a call.

I saw photos from Claxton's party and it looked like they had a blast jumping, sliding and being little monkeys. Happy Birthday Claxton!

-Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia children's photographer

Your Input Needed...And a Giveaway!

I am in serious need of some new business cards. Every time someone asks me for one, the only thing I have to offer is a promise that I'll print some soon - not a great way to get new business, I know. But the problem is this: I don't know which photo to use on my card. I look at these photos so often that I can't decide which is my favorite, so I figured I'd seek some slightly more objective opinions - yours!

Here's what I'm going for: one side of the card will have my logo with my info, and the other side will be a single photo for big impact. For some people, this will be their first impression of me as a photographer, so it has to be something that makes them want to give me a call, or at least check out my website and give me a second thought.

I've chosen a few photos that are my favorite. What I'm asking you to do is tell me which one is your favorite (and the reason behind that choice, if you'd like). If there's another of my photos that I didn't include that you think would be better, I'd like to know that, too. Just leave a comment on this post by clicking "comments" at the bottom of the post.

And...the giveaway!

Just for giving your opinion, I'll enter you into my giveaway for a set of 25 holiday gift enclosure cards and 25 gift stickers - personalized for you:

 All you have to do is make your choice and leave a comment by Sunday, December 7 at 5 p.m. I'll draw a winner randomly and announce the winner on the blog on Monday and notify the winner via email (so please provide your email address when you leave your comment). 

So here are the choices for the business card photo:

Option 1:

Option 2:

Option 3:

Option 4:

Option 5:

Option 6:

Thanks for your help, and good luck!

Introducing 2008 Christmas Cards

I'm so excited to introduce to you my new holiday cards for 2008. I've been working on them for a while now, trying to find the right combination to suit all tastes, so I hope you can find something you like!

All cards are printed on high quality, smooth finish card stock and come with envelopes. You can choose from flat or folded cards, leaving you room to write personal messages if you want. All text can be personalized.

Pricing: (using photos taken by H&M; does not include session fee)

Flat cards - $30 for a set of 24 cards

Folded cards - $40 for a set of 24 folded cards 

This year, I am also offering my designs to those who want to use their own photos for $45 per set of flat cards or $55 per set for folded.

If you don't see something you like, I can create a custom design for your personal or business holiday cards - just give me a call.

So here they are, and happy holidays!

Modern Dots

5x5

2 square images

Snow Days

5x7

1 to 4 images

Polka Dots

5x7

1 to 4 images

Whispy Winter

5x7

3 to 4 images

Orna-Mints

5x5

3 images

Simply Merry

5x7

3 to 4 images

Chic Cheer

5x5

1 image

Icy Dots

5x7

3 images

Colorful Christmas

5x7

4 images

Short & Sweet

5x7

1 to 4 images

Blue Christmas

5x7

3 to 4 images

Thanks to all my Christmas card models - you help make the cards so beautiful. If I used your photo in these samples, receive 10 percent off your purchase of holiday cards.

To order cards, please call or email me. 

678.316.7906

hmhmaynard@gmail.com