Individual Mini-Session Contestants/VOTE!

**CONTEST NOW CLOSED**

Instructions: Vote for your favorite contestant by submitting their name to the comments section below.  Contestants, you MAY vote for yourselves.  Voting ends on Sunday, 8/21 at midnight, at which that time I will tally the votes.  You may vote twice - once here and once on Facebook (you're only able to vote on Facebook if you're a 'fan' of Boy & Girl Photography, so become a fan!).

(Story first, and the corresponding family's picture below it)

Kevin Jackson - "I am an ordained minister.  My grandmother passed away a while back and my grandfather found a nice lady.  Eventually they decided to get married.  They asked me marry them and this would be my first wedding ceremony to perform.  I was going to read the pre-written introduction as the opening of the ceremony but was very nervous about that because I don't read well in public.  I love public speaking but reading in public is a different story.  I thought to myself "Ok...make it though the intro and the rest will be ok."  Long story short, I read through the introduction like a pro.  I was very proud of myself and I thought the rest of the ceremony would be a piece of cake, so I let my guard down.  The next part of the ceremony was the giving away of the bride with the bride's sons giving her away.  My line was supposed to be "Who gives this woman to be married to my grandpa?"  The words out of my mouth were "Who give this man to be married to my grandpa".  The crowd starting laughing and after I realized what I had said, I wanted to go hide under a rock.  My first wedding, my grandpa's wedding, a very classy wedding and I flub like that.  People left the wedding that day, not saying "What a beautiful ceremony" but "Can you believe Kevin messed up his own Grandpa's wedding?"  No one else has asked me to marry them since and I don't know if they ever will.  This is my most embarrassing moment."

Elizabeth Levstek - "During my 6th birthday, my entire class was invited as well as my family.  When they brought in the cake, my parents thought it would be funny to watch 30 or so 5 and 6 year olds blow out trick candles.  They ended up catching all of us trying to blow out the trick candles, on video.  After we ate cake, we were opening up presents and for the most part, I received what every 6 year old gets for their birthday, barbie dolls, baby dolls and the fake make-up kits.  It came time to open my aunt and uncle's present, who usually give the awesome presents, and it was two giant bottles of Hidden Valley Ranch!!!  I opened Ranch.....of all things I open Ranch in front of all of my friends.  The first reaction when I opened the present, was tears.  All my friends laughed and it made me feel even worse, I was so embarrassed that all my friends saw me open Ranch.  At 6, you don't understand the point of gag gifts, so my first thought was that they hated me.  In the end, they gave me a really awesome present but still to this day we speak of the Ranch incident, and of course laugh about it now.  Recently at my 16th, we had prizes for my friends that knew me the best that represented favorite memories throughout my life, and a bottle of Hidden Valley Ranch was one of them."

Amy Lounsbury - "Ok a funny story...One that comes to mind is when I was in the 7th grade, I was attending my 7th-8th grade prom and I was wearing one of those dresses that required a hoop. When I was on the dance floor trying to dance which was difficult with the hoop and my heels, I ended up getting the heel of my shoe caught in the hoop and tripping landing flat on my bottom and the hoop straight in the air. Saying that I was embarrassed would be and understatement but looking back at it now I find it amusing."

(I apologize, but for some reason this picture keeps uploading sideways to the blog; I can't get it to turn for nothin!  It's correct on FB though.  Hmmm...)

Shelly Mckoin - "Ding Dong Ditch Gone Wrong:

To my fellow ding dong ditchers…you know the feeling you get in your stomach from the second your fingertip touches that doorbell as you dart off that front porch, trying not to be spotted or seen? Just knowing that door could swing op at any second and it’s game over! So while in this panic mode, you run for the nearest bush, tree, dumpster, etc. or in MY case, the bed of a pick up truck. And with your heart pounding, you wait and watch to see the victim open the door, as you laugh hysterically at their confusion, delighted you have won yet another round of ding dong ditch! However, my ding dong ditch experience did not go as planned. Let me start from the beginning. One late summer night, my fiancé and I were sitting at home, pondering what to do in this big town of Kernersville. We decided we needed a chuckle and therefore a game of ding dong ditch was in order! So we dressed in our fiercest black sweats, rubbed the black stuff under our eyes (you know the stuff football players wear), and we jumped into the car. As we’re driving down the road, thinking of who our victim will be, I remembered how my mother had recently refused to take me back to school shopping for clothes. Voila! Our victim has been chosen and we are in transit! As we quietly approach the condo’s, my fiancé kills the lights on our get-away car and parks in behind the dumpsters. I then quietly open the door of the car, and creep up towards my mom’s condo. As I reached the door, my heart was pounding, but I HAD to do it! So I stuck my little finger out, pushed the doorbell, and took off! At this time, I realized “Oh Snap! Where am I gonna hide?” So I jumped into the back of this pick up truck parked in front. I was so relieved, my mother had not yet opened the door. I thought to myself, “Yes! I got her!” I’m sitting in the bed of the truck, waiting, my heart is pounding as I cry laughing on the inside, knowing I got her! She’ll think twice before she ever tells me no again to go back to school shopping! Then all of a sudden, I hear this car flying down the road and it whips into the complex! Oh my gosh! It’s a cop car! My heart is racing! Its coming right towards me! Someone has called the police! Do I continue hiding? Do I jump out and reveal myself and come clean? What do I do???!!! Then as I peek over the edge of the truck I notice the cop is a short, stocky, grey headed man. As he walks towards the condo, passing the truck, I realize, it’s Lieutenant Brandon! My step dad! (yes my step dad is a LT for the Kernersville PD). So I jump out and say, “Hey Mike!” As he whips his head around, he does not look too happy. Apparently my mom thought someone was trying to trick her into opening her door so they could break in, since it was so late at night. So she took it upon herself to call the cops just to be on the safe side. He proceeds to tell me I scared my mom to death! So, my get a away car pulls up and gets me and we leave. I call my mom to tell her she should have known it was me because I have a history of ding dong ditching friends and family. She laughs and thinks its very funny at this point, my step dad went back to work (not happy), and we headed home. Thank goodness that cop was a relative! Ha Ha!
She still hasn’t taken me back to school shopping…."

Family Mini-Session Contestants/VOTE!

**CONTEST NOW CLOSED**

Instructions: Vote for your favorite contestant by submitting their name to the comments section below.  Contestants, you MAY vote for yourselves.  Voting ends on Sunday, 8/21 at midnight, at which that time I will tally the votes.  You may vote twice - once here and once on Facebook (you're only able to vote on Facebook if you're a 'fan' of Boy & Girl Photography, so become a fan!).

(Story first, and the corresponding family's picture below it)

Vargas Family - "WIth a two year old and five year old it is truly difficult to think of one embarrassing or funny incident.  Our mundane daily routine seems to be filled with some whoopers!   For instance, when I was about 8 months pregnant with my daughter, we were at the Honda dealer waiting for the car to be serviced and I took my son into the bathroom.  Upon returning to the packed waiting room he loudly and proudly proclaimed, "My mommy has a boy part (substituting anatomically correct term he used" just like me and Daddy!"    I about died of embarrassment but, am pretty sure everyone laughing in the room knew the truth!"

May Family - "So this is our family and this is the funny story I have related to the picture.

Rodney and I sold all our belongings and moved 3 hours away from our hometown and family to attend college. Our children were two and 4 months old. We lived in the family dorm housing on campus inside of New Tribes Bible Institute in Jackson, Michigan. When we arrived to college on our first day, the dean led us up to our "apartment". It had only two windows and the entire apartment was 400 sq. feet, but the kicker was that it had no running water or a bathroom.
We lived there two years, carting our water from the supply closet that was down the hall to our apartment. We had a "sink" that we would plug and pour water into to do our dishes, and then it would drain into a huge bucket that we would take back down to the supply closet to dump.
We shared a community bathroom that was right down the hall from us and to take showers, I had to go upstairs to the girls shower room and Rodney had to go to the otherside of the building to the guy's shower room. We would tote our belongings with us everytime. Our children would take a bath in rubbermaid totes in the middle of our apartment, which we toted the water from the closet to get.
We had no air conditioning and heaters that would turn on at scheduled times. So in the summer we would be sweating like crazy and the winter we would be freezing waiting for the heater to kick on, and then when it did our little apartment heated up like a sauna.
I look back at it now and am so grateful for our time spent there. We built a lot of memories of our young family and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. We recently went back to the college to visit and I am pleased to say that they remodeled all the married dorms and they all have running water now, but they still share a community bathroom."

Hutchinson Family - "As a mother of four many, many, MANY funny and embarrassing events happen quite often. Funny is when my daughter decided tell her brother the room was a pig “style”!!! And talk about embarrassing on our first beach summer vacation as a family and my son was in the pool with my grandfather and pooped out of the swim diaper! The pool cleared fast because of floating corn. YIKES!"

Nichols Family - "On my birthday, July 1, we all went to one of my favorite "hole in the wall" restuarants. That night they had "live" music.... or something similar... a one man show with a keyboard, sound system and pre-recorded music. He was singing a mismatch of OLD country (pre-Garth) and old southern hymns. My son, Cale, 19 months at the time, would sing (which at 19 months translates into a scream) everytime the man sang. Each time, with the help of my daughter and husband, we tried our best to "sush" him or distract him so he would stop. Sitting at the next table over from us was a man eating by himself and reading the newspaper. During one of Cale's "singing" episodes, our eyes met and I noticed he was laughing. He then turned to me and said, "Oh, let him sing.... he's much better than him (pointing to the "live" music)." At that point, we all started laughing and we let Cale have at it! Cale "sang" at the top of his lungs for the rest of our dinner...and enjoyed every second!  I am sure many people were happy to see us leave the restaurant that night... but one lone man in the back was hoping for an encore! "

Saunders/Jester Family - "For Thanksgiving a few years ago, as a family we decided to go to the beach with just us and my grandparents. We arrived right around dinner at the condo complex we were staying. Our condo was located on the 4th floor so we all loaded our luggage and ourselves onto the elevator and pressed “4”. All of a sudden the elevator made a terrible noise and stopped between the 2nd and 3rd floors. The back of the elevator was glass and opened up to the atrium/lobby of the complex and NO ONE was in sight. Our only option…pick up that scary emergency phone in the box and call 911. We told them that everyone was ok we didn’t want them to come with all the bells and whistles and lights and what do you know? Not only did one fire truck show up but 3 fire trucks showed up. It took 3 firefighters to pry the doors open just enough for us to jump up and squeeze out. We gathered quiet the crowd in the atrium/lobby and it was the joke for the rest of the week. None of us got on an elevator the rest of the week either. It’s something we all still laugh about today, and something that would only happen to my crazy family!"

Baker Family - "One evening me my husband & our 3 year old son went to staples to pIck up a few thIngs. It was tIme for us to check out so we went to stand In lIne.There was a group of hIgh school age girls standIng In front of us jokIng around.One of the gIrls proceeded to "slap the other" (jokIng of course) Well our son saw thIs and went and "spanked" the gIrl on the

bottom .She turned around lookIng at my husband thInkIng It was hIm
HAHA then she looked down when she heard our 3 year old son tell her
"NOT NICE SAY SORRY" my husband and I both trIed to hold back from
laughIng! I was totally embarrassed."

James Family - "Ok pertaining to the picture that I submitted.  My son was finally glad to have graduated kindergarten.  He decided to be silly when it came time to take the picture that is why he is wearing a nose ring.  Lol.  I gotta truely love my children.  They are always doing silly and crazy and embarrassing stuff. "

Swistak Family - "Who knew?

It was Mustache Day at Trader Joe's.

And we were lucky enough to happen upon it.

After our gracious mustache promoter tracked down some
unique 'staches for our entertainment,
we bought some healthy treats and made plans to take lots of pictures.
However, we didn't plan on laughing as much as we did!

Mustaches have not always been a laughing matter.

My dad, Alekzander's "Gruffalo" has always had a mustache.
One Christmas morning, the anticipation flung me out of my bed.
I was so excited to see what Santa brought.
On the way to the tree, I was stopped in my tracks by my Dad's bare face.
It was the first time I had ever seen him without facial hair.
Immediately, I cried and cried and cried.
I told Santa he could take all of my toys if he brought my dad's 'stache back.
I cried some more.
I had to touch his face to make sure it was really still my dad.
{Probably NOT the reception my dad expected on Christmas morning!}

I wish I could say this happened when I was four;

my irrational, emotional outburst would have been understandable.
I believe I was closer to my tween years!
Too bad Trader Joe's Mustache Day
didn't coincide with my very traumatic Christmas morning!"

High-School Senior Contest Winner

Remember the contest I posted a couple days ago?  I only had one high-school senior submit their picture and "6 random things", so Bradley Turner is automatically the winner of a free mini senior session!  Congratulations, Bradley.  Here's Bradley and his "6 random things":

Bradley Turner/Glenn High

1. I LOVE bass fishing!

2. I love spending time with my crazy cousins!
3. We go to the beach every summer.
4. If there’s anything I like to do better than fishing – it’s hunting!
5. Oh – did I mention………I LOVE fishing!
6. When given the opportunity, I can clean up pretty good!

Another Contest! Because I Love You :)

Hey!  Guess what?  I have over 600 'fans' on Facebook now.  For me...this is big! - and I look forward to my 'fan' base expanding even more!  Are you not a 'fan' on Facebook?  Click on the Facebook link above and 'like' Boy & Girl Photography.  If you're not on Facebook at all, you should be.  Just sayin ;)

Sooo...the news is that I have another contest for you all!  You've made me so excited in reaching the number of 'fans' that I have, that I want to share the excitement with you all in giving some of you a chance to win a free session.  This time I'm giving away a mini session to a high-school senior (2011-2012) and a mini session to a family and a mini session to an individual (meaning, it's a one-person session).  You could be the one!  These contests involve voting for your favorites, so you'll want to be a part of it.  These sessions can *only* be won by those that do not already have a session booked with me.  If you've already paid a deposit, you may *not* submit to these contests. 

High-school seniors, send me a photo of yourself (no professional photos, please) with "6 random things" about yourself attached.  Your picture and "6 random things" will then be posted on the blog and people will get to vote on (by sending their vote to boyandgirlphotography{at}gmail{dot}com) which high-school senior should win a free session.  The senior to win the most votes gets a free mini session.  Easy peezy!  Don't be shy!  Enter your picture and "6 random things" by emailing them to me (boyandgirlphotography{at}gmail{dot}com) between now, Tuesday, August 16th and Thursday, August 18th (that gives you only 2 days) and then I will post the entries on the blog and on Facebook and you viewers will have 2 days to vote.  Seniors, you may not vote for yourselves.  Everyone else, you may vote only once - either by 'liking' the seniors photo and random things on Boy & Girl Photography on Facebook or by emailing me your vote.  But for right now, you seniors just need to get your pictures and "6 random things" about yourself submitted to me - boyandgirlphotography{at}gmail{dot}com.  Snap to it! ;)

The other giveaway is for a mini family session.  Families (up to 10 people), submit a family picture (no professional photos, please) and attach a funny/embarrassing story about something that's happened to you all.  Please no vulgar or crude stories, because lots of people will be seeing these.  Send your picture and funny story to boyandgirlphotography{at}gmail{dot}com and when I receive all entries, I will post them to the blog and to Facebook, and the voting will begin.  Tell your family members and friends about this so they can vote for you!

The last giveaway is for an individual (one person shoot).  Same game as the family session.  Submit a picture of yourself (no professional photos, please) and attach a funny/embarrassing story about something that's happened to you.  Please no vulgar or crude stories, because lots of people will be seeing these.  Send your picture and funny story to boyandgirlphotography{at}gmail{dot}com and when I receive all entries, I will post them to the blog and to Facebook, and the voting will begin.  Tell your family members and friends about this so they can vote for you! 

The contest winners MUST be local to the Winston-Salem area or willing to pay a travel fee (if you live 30+ minutes away from me).

You may enter into only ONE of the above 3 contests.

Please don't hesitate to email me with questions if you don't understand something about the contests!  Make this fun, y'all!  Look forward to hearing from you!  And by the way, don't stop helping me spread the word about my business.  Thanks, you all!

{500 Fans Giveaways}

So, I now have over 500 'fans' on Facebook, YAY :)  I hope it stays that way and continues to increase. You all have been awesome!  Thanks so much for all your support!

I mentioned that once I reached 500 'fans' on Facebook, I would be doing some giveaways!  So here it goes, folks.  You ready?

1. I'm giving away a mini session (absolutely free; disc included) to the first person to post my website and Facebook links to your blog (obviously you'd have to have a blog for this).  You HAVE to send me an email (no texts or phone calls or FB message) saying what you did and send me the links to where you posted them.  My email is boyandgirlphotography{at}gmail{dot}com.  The first email that shows up in my inbox is who wins.  This giveaway is ONLY for those who have NOT had a session with me before.  If you've already booked a session with me, you cannot win this giveaway.  Must be local to the Triad area. 

2. I'm giving away a full session (absolutely free; disc included) to the first person who refers a friend to me and your friend books a session AND follows through with the session.  First person to email me (boyandgirlphotography{at}gmail{dot}com) with this info and to have your friend email me as well to book their session, wins.  This giveaway is for anyone, whether you've had a session with me or not.  Must be local to the Triad area.

3.  I'm giving away a...WEDDING!  This isn't free, but $500 gets you an engagement shoot, bridal portraits, and 4 hours ceremony and reception coverage and a disc with your best images and full printing rights.  First person to send me an email (boyandgirlphotography{at}gmail{dot}com) to book this and pay your deposit, wins this.  It's a really great deal, and although I don't advertise my wedding photography, I DO do it, and I look forward to expanding this part of my business.  If you've already booked a wedding with me, you cannot win this giveaway.  Must be local to the Triad area, or be willing to pay a travel fee if you live outside of the Triad area. 

Looking forward to increasing my 'fans' even more!  I've loved all the people I've met and will continue to meet through this {job} that I'm so passionate about...

{First Day of Spring Contest}

**CONTEST NOW CLOSED**

It's officially spring.  The weather has been beautiful around here.  After my little vacation, I have a new-found passion for photography.  So, I wanna spread the love, heheh :)

First, this contest is only for those who haven't won a free session before.  I want to give others a chance!  First 5 to come, first 5 to serve.  So, here's the EZ-PZ contest to win a free (no small print) session.  All you have to do is this...

1. Be a 'fan' of Boy & Girl Photography on Facebook (if you already are, even easier for you)
2. Tell a friend to 'like' Boy & Girl Photography on Facebook.
3. Send me an e-mail (boyandgirlphotography{at}gmail{dot}com) and say something like, "Hi, my name is _____ and I'm a Boy & Girl Photography 'fan' on Facebook, and my friend/family member _______ just became a 'fan' as well".  Do not send me an e-mail saying, "My friend said she's gonna 'like' you".  Only write when both you and your friend/family member are 'fans'.  I am able to check the list of 'fans' to see if you're on there. 

You and the other person you recommend to Boy & Girl Photography on Facebook who becomes a 'fan' win free sessions after completing the step above.  That's a free session for you (to use as you please) and a free session for them (to use as they please).  Make sense?  (and yes, this makes a total of 10 free sessions)  Also, your free session includes a disc with your best images!

That's it.  Don't hesitate to contact me with questions, but be quick! 

{Another Contest}

CONTEST NOW CLOSED

**This competition is NOT for those of you who have already won free sessions.  This is a chance for newbies ONLY, those who have not won a free session yet.**

I know you all have been waiting for this.  I got at least 6 emails yesterday asking, "When are you gonna post that competition for a free session?".  You all make me smile :)

I'm going to make you all work a little for this one.  So, here it is...

I'm giving away 3 FREE sessions to the first 3 to do this - send me a "home" picture (no professional photos) of yourself or your family and tell me why you deserve to win a session.  First come, first serve.  Also, I *will* be sharing these photos and reasons on here and probably on Boy & Girl Photography on Facebook, so if you're gonna be embarrassed or shy, then this competition is not for you :) 

Remember, this is first come, first serve, so as soon as I get the first 3 with a picture and reason why you deserve the free session, then I will let the rest of you know the competition is closed. 

Come on, don't be shy :)  Just find that picture that you know you have on your computer and email it to me - boyandgirlphotography{at}gmail{dot}com. 

And just because every post is better with a picture, here's a few from when I went to the circus last month.

{Back By Popular Demand...}

CONTEST NOW CLOSED!

Another chance to win a {FREE} mini-session!  I've had so many requests for more contests, and I want to help you all out (because it helps me out, too!)  by offering another chance for a {FREE} session.  No gimics here, you guys.

So, the contest this time is this {it's simple, cause I love y'all}...

Have a family member, friend, stanger {whoever!} 'like' Boy & Girl Photography on Facebook.  Once they do, tell me (send me a message via the Contact Me box on the above tab) and YOU will win a {FREE} mini-session.  When people 'like" Boy & Girl Photography it helps me expand my business, and well, I'm all about that! ;) 

So, help me spread the word!  This contest is for the first {FIVE} to do it.  If you have more than one friend/family member/co-worker, etc 'like' Boy & Girl Photography, AWESOME, however, you only get 1 {FREE} mini-session, despite how many people you tell to 'like' me ;)  Make sense? 

Can't wait to see y'all :)

{Another FREE photo session contest!}

I guess I'm feeling generous again ;)  So, here you go - more chances to win a FREE photo session!  Check out the details.

**this contest now closed** Contest #1 (for previous clients only) - Click on http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Boy-Girl-Photography/124087487612313 (Boy & Girl Photography's Facebook profile) and write a review of the work I've done for you.  Just click on the "Reviews" tab and let me know what you think of the session(s) I've done for you. You also have to e-mail this review to boyandgirlphotography@gmail.com so that I can put it under my blog's "Testimonials" tab. First FIVE (5) previous clients to do this win a FREE mini-session. This does not apply if you already have a session booked with me for this year.

**this contest now closed** Contest #2 (for anyone) - Help me spread the word by linking my work (Facebook profile and/OR blog) to anything you have where others may see it - this could be a personal site/blog you have, your Facebook profile, Twitter, wherever! But no cheating, so you have to e-mail me where you linked me so that I can check it out :) Email me at boyandgirlphotography@gmail.com to let me know where you posted it. First FIVE (5) people to do this when a FREE mini-session.

(more of these blue-eyed siblings soon to follow)

{Chances for Free Sessions!}

I'm always looking for new things to do, new clients to bring in, so here's your chance to help me out!  And besides, who doesn't want a chance at winning something, right? :)  You may enter into as many of the choices as you'd like.

1. Share your favorite Christmas tradition either by commenting below this post or posting it on my Boy & Girl Photography Facebook profile (you will have to 'like' Boy & Girl Photography to be able to write on the wall).  Doing it this way - other people will be able to see what Christmas traditions you all have!  It's fun!  I will be drawing the names of whoever enters from a hat.  Like, seriously - a hat ;)  Anyway, whoever's name I draw - YOU win a FREE session!  This contest ends on Friday, the 24th - Christmas Eve!  **update**  Courtney White is our winner.  Her favorite Christmas tradition is this: "every year at christmas my grandparents put on a huge christmas eve dinner for our family and close friends who dont have family in the area. before dinner everyone gathers together and plays crazy grames. these games are invented by my grandfather. one year he hung up a toy possum and we had to shoot the possum with marshmallows from a marshmallow gun. playing these games would def be my favorite tradition!"  Thank you for sharing this with us, Courtney!

2. Refer a friend to me.  If they book a session and follow through with it, YOU (not your friend) win a FREE session!  I'm limiting this contest to 10 people, so first (10 to) come, first (10 to) serve.  This does not apply if you had a friend (that you referred) book and follow through with a session before I posted this contest.  **update** This contest is closed.

3. Book a session this month for January, and YOU win a FREE session!  Easy, right?  I'm limiting this contest to the first 5 people to book a session for January before December is over.  **update** This contest is closed.

4.  I'm almost at 200 fans on Facebook - 190, to be exact.  Be in the next 10 'fans' to bring me up to the 200 mark, and YOU win a FREE session!  Those of you who are already 'fans' on Facebook, tell those who aren't to 'like' Boy & Girl Photography!   **update** I've reached 200+ 'fans' - thanks so much, y'all!

These contests are, of course, only for those of you who live in the Triad area.  Hope to hear from you soon!

{Teen Boys | Free Session Op}

Calling all teenage boys (ages 13-19)! Want a free photo session? All you have to do is send me a message (via the contact box at the bottom of the page) and you'll be entered into a drawing for a chance at a free photo session with me. Deadline is Saturday, November 27th.  Winner selected via random number generator and announced on that day. 

And I know this isn't a teenage boy, but look at all this cuteness: