Two months, lot’s of entries and our judges have named the winners.  For those of you new to the blog, in May we launched a promotion as part of our 20th Anniversary celebration which we called an ”emotional exploration of art”.  Through this, we invited our clients over the past 20 years to write stories about how my portraits have impacted them and their family.  I had no idea how powerful these stories would be.  The response was overwhelming.  I am humbled and motivated by the power of my portraits and the way they have impacted each of you.  In our marketing, we talk a good bit about the “Lori Grice Difference.”  Often many of you have had trouble putting into words how incredibly wonderful your experience was with my studio and more importantly how much you have enjoyed your portraits. Through this call for entries - many of you put it into words more masterfully that I could have ever dreamed.  Dr. Michael Guido often says that it would bankrupt a dictionary to find the words to adequately thank you.  I concur completely with him in response to your entries and excitement this promotion has generated!

The judges had great difficulty identifying one top entry.  They asked that in addition to the “Most Moving Story” that we also add four more finalist along with many honorable mentions.  If you did not send your story in, my hope is that these will motivate and inspire you to share your stories of the impact of my portraits with me.  We are working with a publicist to put these stories along with others in a book form to share with the world.

Congratulations to Neelam Raichura of Statesboro who was our judges’s favorite and to the four finalist Stefanie Reeder of Savannah, Kristen Grach of Savannah, Kitty Cason of Statesboro and Sheri-Lynn Owens of Rincon.  Congratulations also to our honorable mention story authors: Avis Coleman of Savannah, Linda Powell Jones of Statesboro, Cheri Alderman of Black Creek, Stephanie Owens of Statesboro, Amanda Kicklighter of Statesboro, Lisa Oliver of Glennville, Dr. Michael Guido of Metter, Kelley Chester of Statesboro, Carolyn Lynch of Washington, D.C., Michelle Smeltzer of Savannah, Jen Morris of Statesboro and Susan Allen of Statesboro.

I also want to thank our sponsors for this promotion: Serenity Day Spa and Salon, The Blue Moon Cafe, and Dr. Larry G. Hubbard, DDS.

Here is a copy of a half page ad that will run in the Lifestyle section of the Statesboro Herald tomorrow announcing the winners.  We will include each of the stories along with the portrait that I created for them in our blog beginning on Monday. 

Thanks to all of you who entered this promotion.  If you did not place, I know you will understand after reading all of these stories in the next few weeks - what a difficult task the judges had.  Each story touched my heart in special and incredible ways.  I want you to know that I felt each of you deserved the “Most Favorite Story” but that is why we selected an independent and diverse group of judges to help make these difficult selections.  Thanks again for your enthusiasm and willingness to share your amazing stories with me and now others through this blog.

If you have never experienced the Lori Grice difference, I invite you to give me an opportunity to create for you what I have created for each of these wonderful people and thousands more throughout the world.  It is your legacy, your story, that should be told through a fine portrait for generations to enjoy.  Contact us today and give us the opportunity to share more with you about our difference - if you feel I am not the portrait artist that will best suit your needs - then my staff and I will diligently work to match you with a photographer that can accommodate your budget and portrait goals.  (our Legacy Portraits begin at $250) We will do this consult and matching at no charge to you.  It will only cost you a little time and a phone call.  Please don’t procrastinate… contact us today at info@lorigrice.com or 912-764-7274.