The third annual Father Daughter Date Nite is in the bag and thanks to YOU it was the LARGEST and most successful EVER.  All of the proceeds tonight will go to Bethany’s Place a future home for wayward girls.  Every one that attended received a FREE 5×7 photograph.  Mom’s, I want you to know how incredibly well your husbands listened to you tonight.  Some of them stood in line over an hour to have their picture taken.  Many of them told me that you were clear that no matter what - they were not to come home without a Lori Grice photograph.  I began photographing at 6:30 and finished with the last couple at 9:30.  Over 260 of them patiently waited, posed and allowed me to create a wonderful portrait for you. This is nearly 100 more than last year– WOW!

I want to say a special thanks to Lisa Lee and the gang at Doodlebugs for helping in such a big way with this event.  They will be mailing out to you, in a few weeks, your free 5×7 from the session.  We will also be web posting our favorites on our web site very soon.  Keep watching and we will let you know when they are up.

Most importantly, THANK YOU, for supporting Brooke, Boyd and Brynn tonight as they honor the memory of their daughter Bethany is such a special and wonderful way!

Today Papa Larry (aka Dr. Larry Hubbard - cosmetic dentist in Statesboro) visited Edie Grace’s 1st grade class at Pinewood.  They have been studying dental health this week.  This is his second annual visit to Edie Grace’s school for dental health week.  We had a great time sharing with her class and listening to the wonderful questions they asked.  Of course the gifts were the most important thing of the visit.  He gave each of them a dental packet which included a coloring book, tooth brush, dental floss and most importantly those chewable pills that show you how horribly you have brushed your teeth.  Remember those?  He also gave them a plastic dental mirror - just like in the dentist office.  They can now all check out their new teeth coming in!

Edie Grace wants to thank Papa Larry for making this special visit to her class.

Tonight the long awaited newest addition to Downtown Statesboro held a “private” opening.  Chops is located on West Main Street in walking distance from the studio.  This is a dream come true for Statesboro Entrepreneur Skip Aldred.  Skip was a pioneer in downtown restoration.  He developed this building which housed a dry cleaners for years in to luxury apartments and quaint retail shops.  The addition of this classy restaurant is the final part of this long range development.  A few community leaders got a VIP test run of the restaurant.  Tomorrow all of you can enjoy CHOPS with their official opening.  The restaurant is beautiful.  They have done a phenomenal job with dark woods, exposed brick and focus lighting - that gives you the feel of a Houston’s restaurant.  The food presentation was wonderful and the food was incredible.  We tried a the steak, chicken and salmon and would recommend any of these.  Here is a preview for you of the restaurant and food.

We welcome the Thomm family to downtown Statesboro.  We will be seeing lots of you - I am sure!

They have already discovered my studio, web site and blog.  As a special incentive to our blog readers - the first person to read this and make a comment on the blog about how much you can not wait to try Chops will get a $25 gift certificate from CHOPS. 

WE have a winner congratulations to Jeff Place.  See his comments below.  Welcome Jeff to Statesboro and thanks for discovering our blog so quickly!

This popular Easter event is one of our annual events we partner with Strasburg Children Clothing.  This is a GREAT opportunity to get a uniquely creative portrait session on location in Forsyth Park for a GREAT deal. We will also have live Easter Bunnies with us for these special sessions. This event ALWAYS sells OUT so call today 912-764-7274 to reserve your spot.  This is the first public post about this event and we only have THREE sessions AVAILABLE for this event.

Here are the details:

Session shot on location at Forsyth Park in Savannah

Thursday, March 20th

Package includes the session, 1 8×10, 2 5×7’s, and 8 wallets of one pose

ONLY $199

ALMOST SOLD OUT

ONLY 3 (THREE) AVAILABLE

We still have a few tickets for the Father Daughter Date nite this Friday, February 29 at First Baptist Church in Statesboro.  The dance is a fundraiser for Bethany’s Place a future home for way word girls.  Click here to learn more about this wonderful story.  The tickets are $40 per couple (Father and one daughter) each additional daughter is $10.  There will be a DJ, finger foods and a FREE portrait session and a FREE 5×7 from me. (This picture alone is a $35 value)

Edie Grace, DeWayne and I are looking forward to seeing you on Friday night.

Thanks the the tremendous response from our email newsletter and the blog - this year is going to be the best year yet!!

Last week I posted information about the past weekend’s Georgia Professional Photographer’s Association meeting in Statesboro.  The meeting was held at Robbins Nest and the French Quarter restaurant.  Today’s Statesboro Herald featured the meeting with a wonderful article on the front page of the business section.  Yes the photographer caught me SHOPPING at the trade show.  Jan Moore the business reporter did a wonderful job with the article.  If you missed the story click here to read page one.

  Every little girl dreams of being a professional ballerina.  Well at least I did as a little girl.  Often I still have that dream.  I feel the years of ballet lessons paid off in helping me understand posing and allowing me to see my clients in a special way.  When I was 13 I was invited to spend six weeks doing an intensive ballet study in New York City.  I was so excited I could hardly wait to tell my Mom.  My parents were divorced and my Mom was raising me as a single parent.  She would not let me go.  I could not understand or believe that she could be so cruel!  How could any MOM not allow their daughter to accept this tremendous opportunity?  Well years later I got the rest of the story.  My mom simply could not afford the camp.  I made a pact with myself on that day to NEVER allow any talented girl who earns this opportunity -but can not go because of financial restraints- to be denied this opportunity.

Last year I learned about a very special young lady (who has a wonderful future ahead of her) that encountered my same experience.  She too is raised by a single mom.  Her mom works odd jobs in addition to her full time job to pay for her to attend ballet school.  Last year she applied and was accepted to one of the top camps in the country.  She and her mom were promised that her tuition would be paid by her dad.  They drove half way across the country to the camp - only to be turned away - because her dad did not come through for her again.  When I learned about this it was too late to help.  I told her ballet teacher to please allow me to help if she had another opportunity.  Again she has applied and been accepted to another top school.  The tuition for the school is $2,100.

I want to make this dream come through for this tremendously deserving young lady.  If you feel you can skip eating out a few times in the next few weeks and give that money to this young lady - she and I would be phenomenally grateful.  She and her mom have no idea that we are doing this.  I hope to have the money raised by the end of next week - so we can give it to them in time for the registration deadline.

Contact me at the office at 912-764-7274 or by email at info@lorigrice.com if you feel led to help her.  All checks will be made directly to her dance school which will be making the arrangements for her.  Everyone who contributes will join me and her teacher in presenting this unbelievable gift to them.

Thanks in advance for helping grant this special wish!

Tonight the Savannah ABC affiliate WJCL TV named Lori a “Champion of Change.”   Lori was nominated and selected because of her cancer advocacy.  Lori has become internationally recognized for her efforts to raise awareness for cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine.    In fact if you Google Lori I think even you would be stunned at how sought after she is as a spokesperson for cervical cancer.

Casey Jones the anchor for the ABC affiliate did a masterful job in telling Lori’s powerful story.  There is so much more to be accomplished.  Thank you for your continued interest and support of Lori and this wonderful cause.

Click here to see the story.  You will see the text and on the right you can click the play button under the video on demand bar to see the story.

She has a MAJOR interview coming out very soon with a HUGE media outlet.  She has already taped the interview and we are waiting on the Executive Producer to let us know when the interview will be used. Stay tuned!

Every day the when the phone rings - we continued to be stunned at how God is using Lori in such incredible ways.  Your emails, call, letters and contributions to Lori’s fight have become the inspiration that Lori continues to draw strength from.

We will be forever grateful for your friendship and support!

DeWayne and Edie Grace

One of the largest groups of readers outside our clients to my blog are photographers.  Yes we can track our blog readership.  I know you have that sinking feeling now in your stomach that I have caught you.  Well yes I have but I am very flattered by your interest in me and my studio.  Each of you work VERY hard to learn my “secret” to success.  To make you feel a little better about being caught “sneaking” around my website - “borrowing” ideas from me for free - here is another FREE tidbit for you.  The GPPA is the state affiliate of our national trade association the Professional Photographers of America.  This is a wonderful group of people who share your interest in photography.  You will find members with a varied level of experience - from beginners to old timers like me.  Few organizations had impacted me more personally and professionally than this one.  One of the greatest honors in my professional career was being named by GPPA this year as Georgia’s Photographer of the Year.  Being named  photographer of the year was a 20 year journey that began when I attended my first GPPA meeting and is a very large part of what has made me the “overnight success” that I have become.

If you are serious about photography and want to derive income from this industry then this organization is a great place for you to get involved.  Why would I share this “secret” with you?  I have been tremendously blessed with my gift of photography.  Every day I talk to people who feel they share my same gift and passion to be successful in this business as I do - but for some reason they are falling short.  I simply do not have the time to mentor each of you personally.  I do understand that by learning a few basics about the technical aspects of photography and the business of photography then you have a much greater opportunity for success.  More importantly by being involved with organizations like GPPA you are challenged by the organization and the membership to work harder and focus on improving the quality of your work, your customers experiences and the professionalism of your business from a financial standpoint.  In effect, by becoming involved in professional organizations like GPPA raises the standards of our entire industry making all of us stronger and better.

I can physically only photograph a very small number of clients per year and ensure them the Lori Grice difference that makes me unique.  So for the clients I do not photograph for whatever reason - I want them to get the best and most professional experience possible regardless of who they choose as their photographer.  From the stories I hear daily - this is not often the case.

Since our industry is not regulated the only way to continue to raise our standards and insure a consistent level of professionalism and quality is through volunteer membership to organizations like GPPA.

Currently there are nearly 60 of you charging for photography services in the Statesboro area but only 7 yes SEVEN of you have chosen to join the GPPA.

This seminar in Statesboro is a wonderful and inexpensive way to learn more about a business you are interested in investing time and money into.  The reason the meeting is in Statesboro is that it is being organized by incoming president of the GPPA and long time Statesboro Photographer Larita Hulsey.

I have posted the information below with a link to the registration form.  Reply to this blog if you have an additional questions for me.  I look forward to seeing you at the GPPA seminar next weekend in Statesboro!

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Professional Photographers Association
“We’re Glad Georgia Is On Your Mind”

2008 Winter Seminar Information

Robbins Nest Event Center
16303 Hwy 80 W
Statesboro, Georgia 30458
(912) 764-4222

Contact Us:

2712 Marcia Drive
Lawrenceville, GA 30044
(888) 272-3711

http://www.gppa.com

gppaed@bellsouth.net

Join us in Statesboro, Georgia, February 24^th and 25^th, at the Robbins Nest Event Center for a great line-up of talent, good food and dancing. We have reserved a block of hotel rooms at the Holiday Inn Express for a special rate of $79. Make your hotel reservations by calling (912) 489-7368. Be sure to mention you are with the Georgia Professional Photographers.

Don’t forget to register.  Click Here… to download your seminar registration.

Seminar Talent
Complete program information on the web site at http://www.gppa.com/seminars.html

Kirk and Lora Baxley
”Children Photography”
Sunday, 9:00 – 11:30 am

Kevin Jiminez

”Weddings & Bridal Portraits”

Sunday, 1:00 – 4:30 pm

Jerome Spivey

”Artography”

Monday, 9 am – 12 Noon

Music, Food and Dancing

There will be a private party held at the French Quarter Café in Statesboro for all registered winter seminar attendees on Sunday night from 6 – 11 pm.

I predict some of you are going to be very pleasantly surprised this Valentine when you open your “LOVE PROOF” (a gift certain to prove your love) Valentine gift.  Our For Your Valentine promotion was another SELL OUT! This ensures that many of you are going to have a special Valentine.  This couple wanted to celebrate by creating some “love proof” images they will both cherish forever.  What a GREAT Valentine gift to each other! 

Think this would be a great Valentine gift for you or for your special Valentine?  Give them a gift certificate for a “For Your Valentine” package.  We have extended this promotion because it sold out so quickly that many of you missed this phenomenal opportunity.   These will be for gift certificate purchases only.  Your session will be scheduled in the next two weeks.