Congratulations Ashlea M. for winning a free one hour Swedish massage from Serenity Day Spa and Salon.  WOW - do we have a lot of stressed out blog readers or what?  On Groundhog Day - I posted a blog and offered one free massage from Serenity and the response was overwhelming!

I was stunned by how many of you are reading my blog - which encourages me to do a better job keeping it fresh.

Many of you wrote stories or notes about the reasons you deserve the massage.  Some of your reasons were very funny and others reminded me how truly blessed we are.  You also shared with me how much my blog, my work and my story of survival inspires you and motivates you to do more and live more every day.

Several of you thanked me for always looking for ways to make a difference in our community and individually with each of you.  Isn’t that what it is all about?   Simply sending an email or placing a phone call to someone you love and tell them how much they mean to you?  Or looking for a small way to make someone’s day brighter?

Well I think it is…and I think each of you who took the time to send me an email deserve a FREE massage.  However, since I am not Oprah I can’t do that - but thanks to Karen Lambert and the amazing staff at Serenity - we are going to give each of you who emailed me 1/2 off a one hour massage.  Here is the fine print:

50% off any 60 minute massage at Serenity until 2/28/10.

($32.50 for a 60 min Swedish massage. Regularly priced @ $65)

Offer may not be used with a gift certificate or to purchase a gift certificate.

This offer is not good on Saturdays.

They have the list of email addresses - when you book tell them you are on my special Groundhog Day list and simply print this blog and take it with you to redeem your half off.

Congratulations to ALL of you!

Granny Grace (seated) and (on right in 2nd pic), was one of Edie Grace’s namesake GREAT-Grandmothers.  She was my Mom’s mom…my Grandmother.  She never quite forgave me for waiting until after midnight to have my C-section since that made Edie Grace’s birthday the day AFTER hers.  (to my defense…I was trying EVERYTHING to NOT have a C-section so I could get back to work quicker…unfortunately I don’t have sick-leave)

Granny Grace spent about two hours in Hospice yesterday before heading to her Heavenly home.  She was 93.  Ironically, they placed her in the same room that my Grandma Frances passed away in March 11, 2009.  She, too, was only there about two hours.   

Her visitation will be Thursday, Feb. 4th from 6pm – 8pm at Hodges – Moore funeral home here in Statesboro.  The funeral will be at 2pm on Friday, February 5th at the Hodges – Moore chapel. 

Your thoughts and prayers of celebration of a life well-lived are our most precious gift.  Our family has been deeply touched by Hospice and all the blessings it has brought to this community.  Any remembrances of Granny Grace would be most appreciated given in her memory there. 

Ogeechee Area Hospice * 200 Donehoo Street * Statesboro, GA  30458.

These days with all the doom and gloom on the news any chance to celebrate is welcomed, right?

So to give you a little something to make you smile on a Tuesday, we are going to have a fun contest.  It is super simple…all you have to do is email me.  Easy, huh?   Click here:  lori@lorigrice.com

Only enter once (email only)…sometime between 12:00am and 11:59pm  on Ground Hog Day.  Unlike the movie that bears the same name, time flies so what are you waiting on?  Enter right now!  We will draw one winner from all the entries.  The winner will receive an hour swedish massage from Serenity Day Spa and Salon!  (Told you it would make you smile!)

Good luck and may the most stressed, relaxation-deserving person win!

p.s.  put “ground hog day contest” in the subject line please

High School Seniors have been getting their proofs back from the school photographers and they want something more creative.  We have LOWERED our Senior packages to match most of the introductory packages from the school photographers.  For the price of what everyone else is paying – you can get WORLD CLASS Creativity!  Lori’s senior portraits ROCK!  They are personalized, creative and FUN!

Do NOT settle for the same old pictures that everyone else is getting when you can have Lori Grice for the same price or LESS!

Remember, the school photographers can NOT make you purchase any pictures from them.  At most schools for now – you will be required to take pictures with them for use in the yearbook only.  In many states now – the school contract photographers can not make you use their pictures.  Many of the schools in our area have adopted that policy and the larger schools are getting a lot of pressure to change their policy.

In the interim – know that you can have the best…for less.

There is no year more special and incredible than your Baby’s first year.  From expecting through the first birthday – NO ONE captures this wonderful time more artistically, consistently and creatively than we do.  For years, we have been the FIRST choice of hundreds of new parents!  With so MANY photographers trying to replicate our work, a few parents have been lured away to others who seemed to match our creative abilities at a much lower price.  Over and over, clients who have experienced our difference in the past have returned to us disappointed that the creativeness, consistency and quality did not match.  They better understood the value of what we create…EVERY day.

We have listened to those of you who have come back with horror stories and have retooled our packages and prices to make our work affordable for most any family.

Here are our two most popular packages:

$399 – includes three sessions during the first year, one 5×5 artistically mastered image from each session and a beautiful 3 panel frame. (additional sessions can be added for a nominal fee)

$99 per month package – includes four sessions throughout the year and a custom designed baby album with 40 - 60 of your favorite images.  YES, 40 – 60!  I personally design the album and present it to you at the end of the year.  Paying monthly allows you to budget your investment.

I almost forgot…we offer gift certificates in ANY denomination ($25 & up) for Baby Showers.  We are happy to wrap and ship too!  Just think of the lasting value a gift of portraits has…they don’t wear out, become outgrown or go out of style.  Your gift will last a lifetime!  This is also a GREAT way to become a part of the 3/50 project.  Spending just $50 dollars a month split between three small businesses will help save small businesses that you love.  Thank you, in advance for keeping all us little guys from becoming a statistic!  (THIRTY businesses on Broughton Street have closed in the last year…) 

  Wouldn’t it be fun to have custom Valentine’s Day cards?  Fun…and affordable too!

Our $49 package includes:  a mini studio session, one 5×7 and 24 – Valentine’s cards (one pose)

Our $99 package includes all of the above plus two additional 5×7’s (one to keep & two to share)

This is too great of a deal to miss!

But, hey…we don’t have too much longer…call or email RIGHT NOW!  912.764.7274

You have the perfect guy and you want to give him the PERFECT Valentine’s gift.  THIS IS IT!  Together, we will design a creative, artistic gift that is very personalized and one that he will NEVER forget!  GSU Students with ID get one additional 5×5 free.

For $99, you will get a 30 minute custom portrait session and two artistically mastered 5×5 portraits mounted in a "little black book"…just for him!

Want to make it a really special treat?  For only $25 more, bring him along to help with the session and maybe we can even coax him to model with you for one of the portraits.

This will be tons of fun for you!

As PPA’s International Photographer of the Year, Lori is renown for her posing, lighting and artistic mastering of images - certain to unleash the super model in every woman (or couple).

No matter how great of shape you are in - or not - every woman is beautiful.  However, most women are so critical of themselves that they will never go through with a "secret" session for your special guy.

To help remove your apprehensions - Lori will guarantee that you will LOVE the final product.  If you don’t - she will refund your money.

So THIS is the year to give him the gift you have been wanting to give him!

GSU Students with ID get one additional 5×5 free!

Session times available throughout the day and into the evening.

Lori will have a variety of set design options to match any outfits.  So bring a few options and Lori will help you select the perfect one for you!

Sign up Now! - Enter your information below!

Questions? Email info@lorigrice.com or call 912-764-7274

Valentines Day is only a month away! 

To help get you ready to “share some LOVE” we have specials starting at only $49!  Some even include 30 cards and envelopes for your children to take to school!  And it just gets sweeter…we have appointments available on Saturday, January 16th and on Monday, January 18th while you are off work and the kids are out of school.

Here are just some of our opportunities:

• “Little Black Book”
• “S.W.A.K”
• “I’ve got the HOTS for you”
• “HUGS”
• “Teddy Bear Tea Party”
• “Teddy Bear Wash”
• “Family Express Sessions”

Call to get all the details…912.764.7274.  I don’t want to publish all my “secrets” on here!

The first five calls will get one bonus 5×7 added to their package purchase!!!

($ 35 value!!!)

Tonight at Imaging USA, the International convention of Professional Photographers of America, Lori received the distinguished International Photographer of the Year Award.

This award is a juried award given based on print performance at State, Regional and International print competitions.  Lori is pictured here with her four images that earned her this distinction. 

It is a great honor to receive such incredible recognition at a conference attended by over 11,000 photographers from throughout the world.

This is the second time Lori received this prestigious award. 

In an industry, where everyone knows someone who is a photographer – it is even more difficult to stand out.  For over two decades, Lori’s work has stood out as her clients have “Experienced her Difference.”

“Being named the best of the best among my peers, is very humbling.  With the increased competition and ease of entry into the photography business, I realize that I have to work even harder now to please my clients.  Obtaining degrees and awards is very fulfilling, however there is nothing more exciting than creating an incredible portrait for a client.  I am judged everyday by my clients.  The greatest award and compliment to me is when my clients are so blown away by their portrait and experience – that they recommend me to their family and friends.”

In the picture with Lori is PPA President Ron Nichols and Louis Tonsmeire, President Elect of PPA.

Tonight, 18 beautiful girls hand-picked by Scott Marchbanks, THE authority on the latest fashions in Prom Dresses and owner of Frills by Scott – performed to a full-house – standing room only theater.   The Averitt Center for the Arts was the venue and the event featured all the hottest, hippest designers of Prom dress designs all featured at Frills By Scotts in Downtown Statesboro.

We were thrilled to partner with Scott and Frills in tonight’s event.  It was a huge success.  Here is the video we featured during the finale.