Many of you know that I have been working on a very special magazine cover for a long time client.  This week over 38,000 members of the Georgia Bar received their monthly Georgia Bar Journal featuring Gerald Edenfield and his family on the cover.  Gerald, a Statesboro attorney was recently sworn in as the President of the Georgia Bar.  For months we have been planning and working on creating the perfect portraits for the cover and story.  Gerald and my father grew up together in Stilson, GA.  Needless to say, I have known Gerald all of my life.  No matter how incredible his success continues to be he never forgets his Stilson roots. Family and tradition are very important to Gerald.  When we had our first meeting to discuss the cover I felt strongly that the portrait should be created at his family farm “Meldrim Woods Plantation” in Stilson.  We also agreed that his wife Sharon, daughters Sharri and Kristie (both attorneys) and Gerry (currently in law school) should be included.

Sara Coole, the Director of Communications for the Georgia Bar joined us in Stilson for the shoot.  DeWayne and I really enjoyed meeting and working with Sara.  As you can see from the cover and the story in the magazine she is a very gifted graphic designer.  Sara took some pictures during the session of us working to create this beautiful cover.  She was very kind to include a behind the scenes story as part of the article.  This gives a sneak peek to the enjoyable evening we had with the Edenfields.

Over the past 20 years, I have had the opportunity to create many wonderful covers for magazines and books.  This one was very special for lots of reasons.  It is not often that you get to see a life long friend achieve his life long goal. Gerald is a lawyer’s lawyer and he will be a tremendous president of the Georgia Bar.

Congratulations Gerald and thanks for allowing me to share this incredibly special honor with you and your family.  One day soon, your children’s children will revel in sharing these portraits with their children and telling them about you and your wonderful career.

A wedding celebration…

After photographing weddings for fifteen years every opportunity to attend a wedding as a guest is a wonderful treat. Saturday DeWayne,  Edie Grace and I had the opportunity to attend Juan & Claudia’s wedding at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Statesboro.  This wedding was not your every Saturday type of affair.  The wedding was completely in Spanish!  I guess I had forgotten to mention that to Edie Grace.  About two or three minutes into the wedding Edie Grace leaned over to me and said, “Mama, I can’t understand a word they are saying.”  Well, I guess she hasn’t watched as much Dora the Explorer  as I thought she had!  Kids in other countries that are bi-lingual by six are so blessed!  But I digress.

I have always been intrigued by different religions and different cultures.  What a wonderful voyage Saturday was!  The thing that I was the MOST amazed by was the integral roles the photographer and videographer played at the event.  The entire event was basically choreographed by them.  There has been so much hype about photojournalism and just capturing the events as they unfold, but when everything is said and done all you have left are the portraits and the video.  Your cake is eaten, your flowers are dead and your beautiful dress is hidden away in a cardboard box in a closet.  Doesn’t it just make sense to have the day entrusted to pros that have experience recording your beautiful day?  I had never met the team that captured Juan and Claudia’s day before, but they worked very hard making sure that not even one detail was missed.

  If you, or someone you know is looking for a wedding photographer PLEASE do a lot of research before you book.  We are currently on a “sabbatical” from weddings.  I really love spending my weekends with Edie Grace and DeWayne.  When she is away at college, I will probably come out of retirement and do some more weddings but I learned five years ago that life can be really short.  So I want to savor every minute I can with her while she is little!  When interviewing wedding photographers, be sure that the photographer is a member of a professional trade association preferably GPPA or PPA.  That gives them a network of support in case they were to become ill or injured on or before your big day.  They are also provided professional insurance through these organizations that would include mediation and other legal services designed to protect you and the photographers investment of your incredible day.

Congratulations to Juan & Claudia!  May they be blessed with love, happiness and great wedding portraits!!!

Here is my monthly update on Studio events.  If you did not receive this newsletter via email please let me know so we can correct your email address or add you to the distribution if you wish.  Email us at info@lorigrice.com or call us at 912-764-7274. 

Hope you have had a GREAT Summer!

Express session dates: 
Wednesday, August 15 Studio Express session, perfect for expecting, newborn, or children portraits.  Casual and Dressy backgrounds available. 
Tuesday, August 21 Guido Gardens - Metter, perfect for family, siblings and five year portraits. 
Express sessions are $180 and includes 30 minute session and two 8×10’s.  These sessions are for new and existing clients.  Our goal with these sessions is to allow anyone to be able to afford and experience the Lori Grice difference.

Studio Remodel Sample SALE:  We are remodeling the studio to make room for some cool new products that you are going to LOVE!  To make room for this we are selling everything off our walls for 50% OFF.  This includes all frames, display sample portraits, framed art, and children’s clothing.  We will be moving all negatives and files from 1987 to 2006 to storage.  Order any images from these files before we move them for 50% off.  SALE ENDS AUGUST 31.

Back to School Girls night out and away:  You’re invited to join me on a girls night out in Atlanta.  This Dutch treat trip will include great food, a great hotel, great shopping, and a visit to the Annie Leibovitz exhibit at the High Museum.  We will leave Statesboro around lunch on Friday, August 24 and return on Sunday, August 25.  Go to the studio events section of my blog to get full details.  Space is limited so reply to me now if you’re interested in getting away with us girls.  Sign up deadline is August 17.

Have you read my blog?  A couple of months ago we launched a blog on our website.  This daily journal has become very popular with those of you who have read it.  If you have not checked it out - I must issue a warning - it is VERY contagious.  Do not log onto it if you do not have plenty of time to read it.  Many of you have told me that it is the first thing you do when you get up in the morning and the last thing you do before you go to bed.  The blog includes powerful stories from many of you, sneak peaks at upcoming studio events and a look back at what you are missing.  I call it my own “reality” TV show….welcome to my world!  Check it out now at www.lorigrice.com/blog

Your portrait, Your Story promotion:  Congratulations to Neelam Raichura of Statesboro who was selected as the Judges Favorite in our “Your Portrait, Your Story” promotion.  Kitty Cason - Statesboro, Sheri-Lyn Owens - Rincon, Kristen Grach - Pooler and Stefanie Reeder - Savannah were named finalist by the judges- Congratulations!  In addition, there were lots of Honorable Mentions named in the promotion.  You can read all of their stories in the Your Portrait, Your Story section of the blog. www.lorigrice.com/blog Thanks to all of you who entered.  These powerful stories have inspired me and touched many of you in incredible ways.  Knowing how special your portraits that I have created for you have become is a tremendous compliment.  I hope after you read these stories that many of you will take the time to send me your story.  These serve as a constant reminder to all who reads them of how powerful and beautiful life can be.

Lori Grice Gift Bonds:  There is NO better gift than a Lori Grice gift bond.  Email me and tell me what your Lori Grice birthday, anniversary or Christmas gift wish list is.  Husbands are always looking for a creative, unique gift for you.  I know how hard most of you are to buy for - so he will be THRILLED with some help.
Tell me what you want and let me know the best way to reach him.  I will contact him personally and get to work on making your next occasion as special as you deserve it to be.

Husband DOG House - repentance program:  If you’re married there is two sure bets where husbands are involved.  They are heading toward the dog house are they are in it currently.  When your husband needs a way to make it up to you send him my way. Some examples of how I have “helped” husbands get back into good graces again?  Well the basic gifts are family or children portrait sessions with no complaining about the location, attire or budget for the portrait sessions.  Location is the real kicker - can you say St. Augustine, Tybee, Atlanta….you get the idea.  Thank goodness husbands are human and us wives are VERY forgiving - for a price.  Isn’t Love GRAND?

St. Augustine portrait travel weekend:  We are currently working with several clients for a location shoot in St. Augustine, Florida.  This would be a fun get away and a great opportunity to have  a “destination” portrait for your home.   I rediscovered St. Augustine on my birthday and am anxious to take a few of you down there for portrait sessions.  The trip will be in October - we are working on dates now.  Let me know if you’re interested and we will put you on the list.

Tybee Beach Portraits:  We still have a few openings for beach portraits.  These are some of my most popular portrait sessions.   They make great wall portraits, gifts and Christmas cards.  Our next availability is the weekend beginning on September 7th.

Have a GREAT August!

Lori

By:  Susan Allan - Statesboro

As I look back on the last nine years we have lived in Statesboro I see the threads of these years that have been woven into our lives, creating lasting memories ….
As I look around my house at the photographs that represents the days of our lives Lori Grice Photography has captured those days  of these special years that our woven into the fabric of our memory. 
I see memories of happy days of the final summers of high school - the senior portraits of both my girls capture their youth, their varied interests of high school days,  the hopes and dreams of their future.  From the casual poses in the ourdoors, to the poses representing memories of band concerts, leading the band in football half time shows for April and a treasure chest of ballet costumes for Ashley to the serious formal poses that remind us of the beautiful young women they have become - we treasure each thread of the tapestry.
Amidst the happy memories are the pictures of four best friends, reminding us that woven into the tapestry of life, yes, even young life, is sadness, tragic losses, mountains to be climbed.  These pictures capture the importance of friends as one of the four faces the pain, the fears, the uncertainties of cancer and reminds us of the miracle of good health on the other side of illness. We treasure the tapestry of friends in our daughters lives.
The generations are represented around our home through LGP of my parents as we announced the joy of their 5oth wedding anniversary.  A picture representing the blessings of family, the shared joys of the generations,the celebration of half a century of marriage!
Even our professional lives are captured by LGP through our official staff photographs at First Baptist Church.  Even the blessing of being able to connect our lives with those of our First Baptist Family has been made possible through the photography that introduces our staff to newcomers through our staff photographs. 
As the threads of the tapestry continue to be woven, we cherish the pictures of the new love of a new generation.  The engagement pictures of April and Eric represent the beginning of a new journey, the promise of many years together of shared love of yet another generation.  The cherished bridal portrait hangs in our home, a reminder of yet another passage of time, another family tapestry in it’s beginning stages with so many threads yet to be woven into the tapestry of love. 
Yes, Lori Grice Photography has truly enriched our lives through friendship and the capturing of the memories of our lives in this past decade.  We are grateful for these portraits that represent the tapestry of our lives and help us to remember in the days to come as God continues to weave the tapestry of his choosing in our lives.  

By: Michelle Meyers Smeltzer - Savannah

Three summers ago, Lori created a beautiful beach portrait at Tybee that touched our families lives.  In this special portrait taken of us you see such a wonderful loving Mother and Father/Husband and Wife/Daughter and Son/Grandmother (MeMe) and Grandfather (Papa) .

Just last August, that same portrait that has brought so much joy to all of us was displayed at my Father’s funeral on August 12, 2007.  Dad’s death was a tragic loss which has devastated us but thanks to Lori we have an incredible portrait that reminds us daily of his special love for each of us.  The love, creativity and beauty captured by Lori in this portrait speaks for itself.  Upon Dad’s death, one of my first calls was to Lori who so kindly forwarded a gift size copy of our cherished portrait to be placed in his casket so that it would be sent to heaven with him.  I could not have ever asked for anything more special to me than the portrait of my Mom and Dad captured by Lori and the love that is shown. Thank you for Lori for allowing me to share how special this portrait is as words can’t even begin to describe how dear it is to me.

Thank You,
Michelle

By: Randy and Linda Powell-Jones - Statesboro

Linda and I would like to thank you Lori for one of the most memorable experiences we have ever shared together; visiting your studio and working with you, DeWayne and your staff.  What a wonderful time we had!  Discussing your art, developing our idea of what we wanted in our portraits and then watching the synthesis of our dreams and your talent generate a wonderful collaboration of creative energy in your organization was both marvelous and fascinating!  What fun and joy!

Lori, your designation as “Master Photographer” not only sets you apart far and above other photographers, I believe it is recognition of the quality of work that you and your studio are producing; it is recognition that you have not only honed the technical complexities of your profession but have also mastered the ability to create a “Work of Art.”

Your ability to take an ordinary Joe like me and see how best to photographically define and accentuate the characteristics that are my best is well - I am grateful! (I never looked better!)  You are indeed a “Master Photographer!”  And Linda, in my opinion is the most beautiful woman.  You have captured her beauty and made it timeless.  Thanks again.  The portrait of our granddaughter Jenna is perfect also.  Now she brings a lot to a photographic session, (including a 2 year old’s boundless energy).  Your patience and remarkable abilities again “came to the fore,” her portrait is treasured; thank you three times more!

Lori Grice and Company, you have all given Linda, our family and me a very special gift, talent and a special kindness.  We appreciate all that you have done for us.  The business portion of our experience together was efficient and satisfying.  To anyone wanting to work with you I would commend them to your professionalism and courtesy and ability to immediately make a customer feel at ease.  These are all qualities that are not physically seen but do positively affect the “bottom line.”  In a way each of the Lori Grice employees are also “Masters.”

As I finish this letter I once again look at our portrait.  We never looked better!  We are in love and it shows!  Our hobby is ballroom dancing and that passion too is captured in our pose.  Although I was not called for duty in Iraq, at the time we were in your studio, I was awaiting orders and was expected to be “out of the country” very soon.  That “tension” between a soldier and his wife and the volumes it speaks within our portrait is also evidence of your skill as a “Master photographer.”

Linda and I hope to continue our relationship with you and DeWayne.  We enjoyed our brief time together and look forward to the time when we all get to meet again.  I hope I haven’t worn these words out - Thank You!

Randy and Linda Powell-Jones

By: Lisa Oliver - Claxton

In the last 4 1/2 years I have learned how special portraits can be, and thanks to Lori the portraits themselves are special.  On December 10, 2002 my 10 year old son Clay was killed in an auto accident.  Lori remembered creating portraits of Clay when he was a baby and got in touch with me.  She went through all her old portraits and found every image that Clay was in and gave these to me.  Lori and DeWayne then asked me to pick out my favorite image and they had a portrait made and framed for me as a gift.  I can not express how special the portrait is.  It hangs over my mantle, and is my most prized possession.    On April 21, 2006 my husband Paul was killed in an auto accident, and I immediately looked for the portraits that Lori had made of our family.  When you loose a loved one, every photo is like a treasure.  Portraits bring back all the happy memories of time spent together.  Thanks Lori, when I miss Paul and Clay, I can just look at your portraits and I feel the connection with them again.

Forever grateful,

Lisa

By: Avis Coleman - Savannah

This portrait of my child and me has a special place in my heart. It?s the only one I ever had done of me with one of my children. At about 20 ?22 months, I took each of them to Lori Grice Studios for their portrait in their matching green linen outfits. It was always stressful trying to get my little darlings to cooperate but the results were always incredible and well worth the effort.

When Lori asked me if I wanted to take one with Grace while I was there for her turn in front of the camera, I don?t know why I did, but I said ?yes? and I?m thrilled that I did.

I said yes another time in my life, and that time it was to God. That is why this wonderful, beautiful child is in my life and I will be forever grateful.

I was 42 years old, in the throes of my third painful, difficult pregnancy and was facing the struggles of raising four children (the first set are twins) under the age of three with a husband whose job kept him away from home more than either of us would like. In my eighth month, I signed the papers to have my tubes tied, justifying my decision based on many factors ? my advancing age, the dangers associated with so many C-Sections, and of course, the four young children who needed so much attention and care.

I had converted to Catholicism after visiting with husband for several years, but still didn?t quite understand the birth control issue. Surely God would understand with all these children and all the risks I faced at my age, that I might chose to prevent any more.

I was wrong and I thank God every day that some voice tugging at my heart convinced me to talk to someone about my decision. Father Tim McKeown was a fairly new parish priest and had only been at our church a few months but he was available and willing to talk to anyone about Catholic beliefs and the will and purpose of our Heavenly Father. Again, I expected full dispensation for what I was about to do, but it wasn?t coming from this staunchly faithful, dedicated young priest.

He explained to me that our bodies are pallets that God uses to create his masterpieces. Father Tim asked me how I would feel if I learned that I could have created the person who could bring about world peace or cure Aids. What if I prevented from coming into this world the child that was supposed to take care of my husband and me in our advancing years? He was so spiritual and so faithful to the Word of God, I understood for the first time why our faith is so strongly against chemical or surgical birth control techniques.

Rubbing my huge, kicking tummy, I wanted to follow that faith, but still thought it might be nice to stop with this one if that was God?s plan for my life. Father Tim sent me home with literature and a cassette to learn about the church?s only approved form of control which is Natural Family Planning. This system calls for counting the days, watching temperature changes, and a few other measures.

Brendan, Coleman baby number 4, was born three weeks later and my astonished obstetrician left my reproductive system intact, though shaking his head at my change of heart.

My husband and I had no trouble following the Natural Family Planning protocol and were very successful!

For five months.

In October 2002, we learned that our fifth child was on the way. We wondered how this could happen! We were so careful from days 11 through 19 like we were supposed to be. But the very precise ultrasound we had during those first few weeks clearly showed that the baby was conceived on an unheard-of day 23!

While we didn?t look forward to all the shots, the back pain, and the epidural, we were overjoyed at the thought of yet another baby. How could we have ever thought we didn?t need any more?

Our joy multiplied exponentially when our 20 week ultrasound revealed that this miracle baby was another girl. I was finally giving my older daughter, Addie, the one gift in life that I never had ? a sister! We couldn?t believe our luck and thanked God every day for our fifth blessing and prayed that she would be healthy and strong like her four older siblings.

We named her Mary Grace Coleman ? Mary after her wonderful grandmother who had died four years before, and Grace because we truly felt the ?Grace? of God was responsible for this incredible miracle.

John and I say at least once a week how very, very blessed we are to have these five incredible, beautiful children. And we laugh hysterically at all their antics, but especially Grace?s. She has a hilarious personality and a charm that amazes everyone who meets her. I know God sent me to see Father Tim and I know that she is here for a reason. We don?t know what she will do with her life when she grows up, but all of us know that she is special. She is a precious addition to our life and she is here because of God?s glorious and amazing Grace.

By: Jennifer Morriss - Statesboro

When a friend of mine called to let me know about this contest, I thought I?d never have time to get it done. She phoned me at noon, and the submission is due at 5pm.! I went home for lunch still thinking about the essay contest but, not really considering it. While heating up my leftovers in the microwave, I looked around my kitchen at all the Lori Grice photos. I walked into the dining room to peek at some more.

?Wow, that one of us together walking in the garden is so beautiful. It is truly a piece of art.? I say to myself.

Then I pass the black and white picture of my little baby, bare bottomed. She is swatting at bubbles, and I remember blowing them for her during that photo shoot.

I say out loud;

?How could I even pick just one!??

I hear the ding of the microwave and walk back into the kitchen. As I stir last night?s lima beans, I wonder which picture has the most ?sentimental? feeling for me.

I sit at the kitchen table and look up.

I have a three panel frame of my daughter, Bella, wearing a pale green dress. The dress was gift from my mother for Easter. We saved it to have her picture taken by Lori because we loved it so much! I remember that day well. I recall having to give my 18 month old little girl ?Smarties? candies to keep her still enough to take her picture. (Lori always thinks of the small things that really help!)Even as a baby she has had such an excitement for life, and it was so hard to keep her in one place in that beautiful garden.

As I scan the three photos, I stop at the last one and I feel that tightness in my throat.

I feel the mist in my eyes.

This is the picture.

It is the one I always go back to.

150 words couldn?t cover the happiness I feel when I see that photo. EVERY time I see it, the image brings a smile to my face. It is a picture of Bella smiling with her hands beside her cheeks. It wouldn?t be the most technically perfect picture. It wasn?t the one we bought the wallets for family members; it wasn?t the one you would have chosen to have done in oil and hang over your mantle?.

It is a candid shot. Most people would probably wonder why her hands are by her face.

But , I remember why and I always will.

Bella?s favorite things are animals. She has been obsessed with them since she was a baby. At an early age we taught her animal sounds. Her favorite one was the tiger.

She would curl her little fingers up beside her face, like claws?and let out her best growl. It sounded more like a squeak than any growl. But she would giggle and laugh so hard every time. Lori snapped the photo at the perfect moment for me. It captured the smile Bella gave right after she so proudly showed off her tiger impression. This photo shows her precious fingers by her glowing face and her famously contagious smile. Everyone that sees the framed photos agrees that that isn?t necessarily the best photograph in the trio, but it is so Bella. I will have that moment in my heart forever. Because that photo, shows my daughters true personality. Everytime I look at it I can remember my little girl making a tiger noise and then hear her sweet laugh.

Our family will never forget how Bella used to make silly animal sounds, and now I have a picture to remind me, every time I step into my kitchen. Somehow it makes eating leftover lima beans for lunch seem a little more fun.

Can you say - ROAD TRIP??  Girls…let’s celebrate a job well done….buying pencils, getting school clothes, having all the haircuts - you know all the MOM stuff! (Getting the kids ready to go back to school)  You deserve some time away and I have the perfect excuse for you to recharge!  For those of you who are regular blog readers - you read about me going camping with some of our clients in their Airstream camper a few weeks ago.  Lot’s of you wrote in and told me that you agree with my idea of camping.  With this in mind I am making this year’s “Girls Night Out” a camping trip to Atlanta.  The camp I have selected is my favorite sleepaWay camp.

No Counselors. No Curfew.  Sneak away for W Hotels SleepaWay Camp.

Sneak away for a summer night or two in the city, SleepaWay Camp style. Your exclusive W Hotels experience includes:

A two room W Suite - complete with a Heavenly Bed and a Heavenly Bath!

• Sophisticated s’mores treat delivered to your room.
• In-room campfire DVD for that cozy camp feeling.
• W Postcards to tell your loved ones that you never want to leave!
• Two Bug Juice Cocktails for a good bug- we mean buzz.
• A super summer-camp room you’ll love!

We will travel to Atlanta of Friday, August 24th and on Saturday, August 25th we will visit the Annie Leibovitz photography exhibit at High Museum of Art.  Annie is a world class photographer who’s client list is in my opinion, the undisputed “Best of the Universe.”  John Lennon, presidents, movie stars and recently the Queen of England have all been in front of the lens of her camera.  She has inspired me throughout my career.  You have seen her images - but probably had no idea she took them.  (other examples: Covers on Rolling Stone, Vogue, Vanity Fair and even Demi Moore’s preggie portrait)

Enjoy viewing inspiring photography in one of the most incredible museums in the world, check out some great shopping, have a great meal or two and stay at my favorite hotel without bedtimes and the normal night-time drills we all have to do.  Just the girls….celebrating, enjoying other mommy company and taking a much needed break!

You will come home inspired, refreshed and relaxed.  Don’t miss this unique opportunity!

I have reserved five of the W Hotel’s best suites for the weekend.  This Dutch treat event will be loosely scheduled to give you as much down time as you wish.  We plan to leave Statesboro around lunch on Friday, August 24 and car pool to the W Hotel which is located in the Perimeter Mall area on the north side of Atlanta.  On Saturday we will tour the Leibovitz exhibit at the High Museum.  After the High we will check out some boutique shops and then enjoy dinner as a group.  Sunday will be your day to sleep as long as you want and enjoy the hotel.

We want this to be a fun weekend get away for you.  With this in mind, you can stay two nights or just one.  The Hotel for two nights with the suite and sleepaWay package and a ticket to the High will be around $500. (single occupancy)  You can downgrade the room and choose to stay one night - if you wish.  Or you can grab a girl friend to share the cost and enjoy a great - fun weekend away.

This trip is available to current or past Lori Grice clients.  However, if you have a friend that wants to come along with you and is not currently a client - then they are welcome as your guest!

If you are a professional photographer, aspire to be a professional photographer or simply want to scope me out for Uncle Bob who is about to give up his profession as a brain surgeon to begin a lucrative and fruitful career in photography - this is GREAT!  We have a special day designed just for you on Friday, August 23.  We will tour the Leibovitz exhibit together and then have a late lunch where we will discuss the images in the exhibit in more technical detail. No matter whether you are a client, friend or have never heard of me - this day is designed for you - if you have an interest in photography at a professional level.

Deadline:  August 17

Contact DeWayne at info@lorigrice.com or call 912-764-7274 for more details or to reserve your space.  This is a limited offer - available on a first come basis.

I look forward to spending the weekend with you in Atlanta!