This summer we have a series of limited edition express sessions for you.  These sessions are 30 minute sessions designed for current clients who would like to have a Lori Grice portrait over the summer but do not want to do a full session.  The limited edition sessions are also a great way to give me a shot at becoming your families portrait artist.  For $180 you get a 30 minute theme session photographed by me and three 8×10 images.  You have no obligation to buy anything additional.  Of course, your welcome to purchase whatever you wish.  (Express session compared to a full session what is the difference?  A full session includes a design consultation prior to the session where we meet and discuss your portrait goals, review the room or rooms where the portraits will be displayed and make critical design decisions for your portraits.  An example of the design elements would be deciding location, props, clothing, who will be in the portrait, size and type of legacy portrait (canvas, watercolor or oil).  We schedule the session date and commit no less than one hour of my time in creating your heirloom legacy portrait.  Often full sessions will also include a clothing change and multiple sets or locations)

Many of our clients have told us that they have always heard that I am WAY to expensive for them to use.  But after using me, they learn that for the quality of my work, combined with unsurpassed creativity, and wonderful and responsive customer service the value of owning a Lori Grice portrait is unquestionably affordable for almost any budget. They are often very frustrated to learn how amazing and affordable my difference is - knowing that they have used other photographers simply because they assumed or were told by “friends” that I was out of reach for their budget.  When they did get the courage to call and give me a shot - they become upset that they have not been enjoying my services already.

If you still don’t believe that you can afford me - then try one of these sessions.  There are no hidden fees, no tricks, no gimmicks.  Simply a wonderfully affordable way to get a Lori Grice portrait for less than most photographers charge for a sitting fee.  I know you and your children deserve the very best - now you have no excuse to make that happen.

These do book fast - because they are a great value.  So email or call 912-764-7274 to book today if your interested.

Only three more Limited Edition Express Sessions.  For $180 you will get an express session and 3 8×10’s.  This is an affordable way to document your summer or catch up on those portraits you have been meaning to do.  We have some availability left - but reply now if you want us to follow up with you so you will not miss these great and affordable opportunities.

We are still booking our Playhouse and Puddles sessions for July 12.  These will be shot on locations at Edie Grace?s playhouse.  This is a terrific way to capture your children as life happens.  Thanks to the recent rains we have some great mud puddles so the guys will not be left out.

Our Grandparents Day express session will be July 18. (BYOG - bring your own grandparents)  This is a great excuse to get those generational portraits you have been wanting.  There is NO better gift that you could give the grandparents than portraits of them with the grand and great grand children.  This is your chance to give them a small thank you gift for ALL they do for you.

Pet Parade - July 26.  No matter what your pet is - we will photograph it with or without you.  Often people tell me that they really would like a Lori Grice portrait in their home but they do not have children.  This is your chance to get a Lori Grice portrait of your pet.  It is also a chance to get dad in with his favorite hunting dog or all of you with he family pet.  The second most special person in our house next to Edie Grace is our cat Thelma Lou.  She loves to be photographed and I know yours will also. Scales, Fins or Fur - we love them all!

Hope to see you soon!

Lori

Seven days into my new blog and WOW are we having fun or what?  I need to become more mobile as a blogger - I have learned.  Yes, some of you are already addicted to the blog.  So where have I been?  In the last few days, Tybee, Savannah, Hilton Head, Sea Island, Atlanta, Macon, Waynesboro, Metter and a few points far and some in between.  Summer family portrait season is in full swing.  If we have been a little hard to reach by phone and by email - you know understand why.

Edie Grace, DeWayne and I are looking forward to reducing our schedule for a few day’s at our bungalow at Tybee.   Hopefully, this will give me a chance at experimenting with blogging on the road.

We are booked this coming week with Savannah and Tybee appointments.  However, we do have a few Strasburg Children sponsored limited edition beach sessions available.  These will be 30 minute, single concept sessions at the beach for only $180 a GREAT price for beach portraits.  The $180 includes the session and three 8×10s.  Call the office at 912-764-7274 and speak with DeWayne if you would like to learn more about these.  I know we have one evening appointment available on Monday, July 2.  These sessions are for Strasburg clients - but they do allow us to open unfilled spots to anyone.  This is a great, affordable way to experience my difference.   Now back to the fun - you have asked for more REAL LIFE images of me, my family and my travels.  Many of you have asked if what it is like traveling with me and my camera.  Well here is a little idea of what it is like.  I am putting a good number here to make up for my tardiness this week in blogging.

The first two images are at Chicago O’Hare airport.  It was one of those moments I had to decide whether to take another picture or miss my flight and divorce my husband.  So I took only two as I was running through the airport - but I may have to have a longer lay over on my next trip to properly photograph this beautiful place.

Edie Grace driving already??  Well she has become the master of the “Mule” at Papa Bob’s farm - so a car can not be so hard - especially an old slow one right?  Notice how dad is trained to pose while Edie Grace is about to run over a formally nice man at Six Flags.

OK now you know the secret - it is out!  I do have ALL of the super hero’s come by every morning to help me get Edie Grace to school and camp - as I prepare to stamp out all of the evil in our city (and create a few heirloom Lori Grice portraits along the way).   Edie Grace is joined in these pictures by her “Atlanta” cousin Alayna.  It was a fun day at Six Flags and Skull Island water park.  See how boring my travel is?  Work, Work, Work!  Notice who is on the phone while EVERYONE else is having fun.  Thank goodness us “super hero’s” have a phone booth available when we need it. 

Every one ask if Edie Grace and DeWayne are trained perfectly to pose for all of my pictures throughout the day.   As all training goes, there are good days and bad.  So I included a few images so you can see the real Edie Grace.  The silly ones were taken while we were being “tourist” on the Hearst ghost tour in our second “hometown” Savannah.  This was more fun than I ever could have imagined.  It was Edie Grace’s idea.  We really should listen to her more often!  

One of Edie Grace’s favorite hobbies - fishing for alligators at our good friend Jack Flanagin’s Oasis on Tybee - the Crab Shack.  It really is a shack with some of the best shrimp and oysters you will ever eat.  It has a Jimmy Buffet feel.  Being the smartest marketer I know - Jack has done a remarkable job marketing to kids of all ages.  It is a must do for us every time we go to the beach.

Edie Grace and one of her favorite executive assistants (I know she is a babysitter - but Edie Grace prefers to refer to them as EA’s)  Marissa and Edie Grace enjoyed the pool at the beach while we were out creating another perfect wall portrait on the beach.  Many of you have mistaken Marissa for me.  I know you were simply being nice - but it really did make my day.

I took the image of Edie Grace sleeping in her princess loft castle bed, with her Hello Kitten bed sheets, custom embroidered gown, her favorite teddy that was a gift to us when she was born, and of course what every princess needs to sleep properly chilled gel ice eye pack to help her unwind after a tremendously stressful day at camp.  For some reason, many of you think I influence my daughter?  Other’s of you sympathize more with DeWayne for having two HIGH NEED women in his house.  Might was well start her our early - don’t you think?

The picture with the lemon was taken at dinner this week at downtown Statesboro’s newest restaurant Hugo’s.  Edie Grace highly recommends their hand squeezed lemonade and the pasta.  She says it is the best she has ever had.  Don’t worry Chef Jason at the Blue Moon - you still win the overall dining experience for Edie Grace downtown - but she feels her friends should all try Hugo’s.  Hope to see you there soon!

Our relationship with “The Sower” Dr. Michael Guido spans my lifetime.  For the past ten years or so DeWayne and I have been actively involved in his ministry the Guido Evangelistic Association in Metter, Georgia.  Time tonight will not permit me to elaborate properly on how special this relationship has been.  DeWayne, Edie Grace and I owe much to Dr. and Mrs. Guido.  I plan to share this remarkable story in more detail in another blog.

  This morning at our invitation, Dr. Guido led our worship service at Believers Church in Statesboro. (Ok it will take another blog or two to explain how our church movement is taking the region by storm)  At 92 Dr. Guido continues to inspire and overwhelm me.  He preached one of the most powerful and incredible messages I have heard in a very long time this morning.  His sermon was based on suffering and the reason God puts it in our life.  He went on to explain how we should respond to it and allow it to humble us and build us up to be stronger Christians and stewards of our church, family and communities.  We had a large number of salvations which reconfirms how powerful his message was.  PRAISE GOD!

We were most moved after the service when our Pastor Scott Moore invited the congregation to visit with Dr. Guido.  The line wrapped around the sanctuary and one by one, young, old, black, white, rich and poor stood patiently in line to share their personal story about how “The Sower” had planted a seed in their lives.  Thank you God for this phenomenal experience.  I was humbled as I witnessed the difference one man has made in thousands and thousands of lives over his span of 50 years in the ministry.

If your interested in having “The Sower” visit your church email us and we will help accommodate his travel and schedule.  We feel compelled to share the power of his ministry with as many of our friends as possible.  It is as if we lived in biblical times just a few miles from one of Jesus’s disciples but never took the time to meet them.  Take a second and view their web site and read a little more about their incredible story.  The pictures chronicle their 50 year journey.  Aren’t they charming?

  WOW…it is going to take a few post to tell you all about this wonderful evening.  No Fair…many of you figured out that my mystery man….is still my man….DeWayne.  It is hard to believe that we have been together for over 20 years and married 19.  We did act as though we were still in High School and our bodies are paying for it today.  I actually had a little later curfew for the reunion than I did for my Senior prom.  DeWayne, Edie Grace and I hosted Dr. Michael Guido at our church today so it was not as late or as crazy as the pictures make it seem.   It was SO good to see so many friends from high school.  Many of them I have not seen in 20 years.  Isn’t that crazy?  Life is simply too busy.  OK enough jabber and the good stuff…the pictures.  Here are a few and I will post more later.  Included are the Reunion, the after party and the after - after lake party (it was a late night and we threw in the towel much earlier than the hard core few).  

Sheri-Lyn is married to an incredibly special man - Kevin - who is also an incredible dad.  They have a beautiful daughter Sydney who is one of the luckiest little girls in the world.  In September Sydney will celebrate her 2nd birthday (and yes Kevin and Sheri-Lyn I am working on some spectacular ideas for her two year portrait).  When Kevin is not busy being a great dad, husband, engineer and GSU SUPER Fan - he is filling his time as the ex-officio head of the Lori Grice Fan Club.  Kevin called me this morning and was shattered that he had not already made my blog.  (what am I thinking it is only three days old) So I am correcting this immediately.  The problem is not including their family here - but what image or story to include.  So until I have time to confer with you both about your favorite story I will share with you the most recent. 

Kevin noticed an image on my web site in the senior gallery.  This senior had in the background a portrait of her and her dad when she was a baby and being the planner that he is (reference to engineer above) - wanted to capture he and Sydney in a portrait he could use in her Senior portraits.

We went to one of my favorite outdoor locations and captured the most incredible image of Kevin and Sydney.  The expression and interaction between this father and daughter is so powerful.  I knew it would be “the portrait” when I fired the shutter.   This couple and their story has touched us all in unexplainable ways.  Truly I have met fewer people that appreciate and love life more than Kevin and Sheri-Lynn.  DeWayne and I liked the image so much that we have included it in several of our print ads. 

Many of you know about our 20 year reflection on my work as an artist.  I have asked clients over the past 20 years to write in their stories of how their portraits that I have created have impacted their lives.  Telling my clients stories through portraits is very moving and powerful.  Kevin and Sheri-Lyn have submitted a story for this reflection that I will be sharing with you soon.  The promotion “Your portrait, Your Story” has been extended for a few more weeks.  If you have not submitted your story - please send it to me so we can include it.  The stories have been so inspiring to me.  I am refreshed by and reconfirmed through these that God is working through me, as I use my gift of portraiture, in unbelievably, wonderfully, incredible ways.

Whenever I am completely overwhelmed with the demands of balancing my schedule being a mom, wife and entrepreneur I pull this image up and think about this mom.  Imagine having five beautiful children and learning that God has given you TWINS - yes twins.  It is said and I agree that children are gifts from heaven.  Well this couple is the most richly blessed couple I know.  I have photographed all five of the other children at different stages of their life.  Mom thought it would be fun to come out to their house and photograph all of them when they arrived home with the new additions.

Now talk about capturing life as it happens!  Everything is much more interesting with seven!  I met with the mom before our session while she was expecting and I was stunned at how radiant and alive she looked.  It was as if this was her first pregnancy.  I asked her how she is handling this unbelievable news so incredibly well.  Her answer I will never forget.  She told me that she had taken some time to herself after learning that not only was she expecting again - but it would be twins.  While she was out she did what all stressed out women do - she went SHOPPING!  In the store she saw a rack of snuff.  Immediately she found herself filled with amazing memories of her grandmother.  She went on to tell me how her grandmother had seven children but only two of her children survived.  She then looked at me with tears in her eyes and told me that if her grandmother could handle loosing five children - certainly she could handle mothering seven.  God certainly placed her in my path to encourage me and you.  When I am feeling a little overwhelmed - I always think of this mom.  

Tomorrow night is my high school reunion.  I am so EXCITED!!  Edie Grace is sitting here with me and she thinks that it is neat I am so excited about seeing all my friends from High School.  (I know it is past her bed time - but Friday nights is Girls Night so we get to stay up a little late and do extra fun things)  Several of us have gotten together this week to go through our yearbooks and reminisce about our high school years.  Even I have a few band camp stories…well none as good as American Pie - but still entertaining.  Keely, Mark, Jim, Leslie, Jimmy, Lisa, Yvette, Brandi, Tracy, Vernessa and others - it has been fun catching up the past few weeks.  I can’t wait to see all of you and the rest of the gang tomorrow. 

I think the greatest part for me about all of this, is it allows me to become filled with all the special memories of high school and the importance of the senior year.  As I looked through the yearbooks, not only did I think about all the wonderful memories from high school for me - but also about all the seniors I have photographed and the importance of Senior pictures.  I choose now to only photograph 25 seniors and after tomorrow night I will work with renewed energy to create images that 20,30,40 years later - as they prepare for their reunion - these images will warm their heart and fill them with tremendous memories. Of course, I wonder what the class of 2019 will look like - the year Edie Grace graduates.

The MOST exciting part about tomorrow night is my date.  I was able to take this super sexy, college guy as my date to my senior prom.  We had so much fun together my senior year.  I have looked long and hard to locate him and guess what I FOUND HIM.  He happened to be available and agreed to accompany me to my High School Reunion.  I have promised him that we will have even more fun than we did at my Senior prom.  As you know, I tell all of my great stories through pictures and I have located a picture from our prom night - just a few years ago.  Some of you may even recognize this hunk of a guy that has rekindled the butterflies of excitement that I felt the night before my last prom.  Stay tuned and I will give you a full report on how my great evening goes with my “mystery man”.

DeWayne and I joined a group of amazing and accomplished professional photographers throughout the country a few weeks ago as the guest of the Professional Photographers of America to christen “The Haven”. “The Haven” is located in Morton, IL and is the brain child of Vicki and Jed Taufer. This one of a kind education facility is designed specifically to help train photographers. Since the introduction of digital technology, industry leaders have dubbed the photography industry as the “new Tupperware”. I predict that someone in your family, your office, your child’s school, your child’s playgroup or maybe even you, is now a professional photographer. This is truly an exciting time in our industry. A time that we find thousands of new people entering our industry every week. This has created some tremendous opportunities for me and other industry leaders to fill the roles of teachers and mentors.

Continue reading “"The Haven" christening…”

One of the greatest parts of my job is traveling with clients to fun and exciting locations.

I captured this image of Edie Grace at the Atlantis in the Bahamas while working on a commission for a local family. Before visiting the Georgia Aquarium, this was the largest Aquarium I had ever saw. Edie Grace “wandered” up to the glass and peered through in shear “wonderment”. Hence the title “Wonder”.

What a fascinating experience. Simply one of many, many experiences Edie Grace has shared with DeWayne and I as she has explored the wonderment of childhood. I have included this image in my Master’s and Healing Art Collection.

Powerful image….powerful story…..

I have been anxiously waiting for weeks to launch my blog. If you know me, you know that everything I touch that reflects me or my image has to be perfect. So you can imagine the stress of selecting the “perfect” image to launch my blog.

This image was taken for her dad who is now off to war. Telling the story of this family and the range of emotions they are experiencing was phenominally compelling for me. When I captured this image, I knew it was the one. Travis know that you, Katrina and Emory Jane are in our prayers constantly. Thank you for allowing me to tell and share your powerful story. Never can we repay you for your sacrifices.

Continue reading “Finally my BLOG is ONLINE!!”