Winner of the Wedding Photography Giveaway 2009!! | Northwest Arkansas Wedding Photographer

Posted on March 19, 2009

I am so delighted to be able to make this post. It makes my heart happy, which is really the best feeling in the entire world! I got a small group of friends and family together to go through the nominations and select the winner. I needed to not be a part of this process or else I would end up giving everyone free wedding photography because the stories were just so great. I can be a bit of a sap like that. ; )

After some deliberation, my little panel picked a winner. Allow me to introduce the winners of my 2009 Wedding Photography Giveaway, Kassie and Doug! Aren’t they cute?

DnK

Here is the sweet letter that Kassie’s sister Allie sent in for the nomination. (Allie asked me to edit a couple of sentences to protect someone’s identity. I’m a sneaky snake!)

Good afternoon!


I would like to nominate my older sister (Kassie) and my future brother-in-law (Doug) for your photography giveaway. They have been together six years this March. They are so sweet and laid back; they role with the punches… and there have been a lot of punches lately. They take care of everything for everyone. Anytime anyone has a problem, they are the go-to-guys. On a regular basis they receive phone calls for computer support from various members of the family, Doug is building a great website for our older brother’s business, and Kassie plans every event our family encounters. Lately though they’ve had to deal with more than normal. I’ll give you a run down of just the big events of the last six months. We have a family member who has gone through a difficult financial situation, and Kassie and Doug made sure that no one in that family lacked anything during this time.


Around the same time I found out I was unexpectedly pregnant. They were the first to jump on board and get excited for me. Kassie is throwing my baby shower and they have made certain I have or will have everything a baby needs by my due date.

They completely took care of Christmas this year. They bought presents for everyone, including aunts, uncles, and friends, and put all of our names on the gifts so no one felt badly.

Two days after Christmas they found out one of their dogs (Meeka) was sick with a horrible cancer-like disease. They tried everything to save her; blood transfusions, expensive medications, weekly (and sometimes two or three times weekly) vet visits. They weren’t able to save her but after a month and a half they had used a large part of their wedding savings.

I don’t know the whole story of Doug’s family, but in August his sister died in an accident and just before Christmas his mother (who he’s always been close to) had to move home to England for health reasons leaving Doug the only member of his family still in America.

On top of all this they are both Graduate students with full coursework and research schedules and despite all the bumps in the road they haven’t fallen off track with their graduation deadlines.

They are so supportive of each other and I know neither of them would have made it through without help from the other. Together they are a rock. I can’t think of anyone else who deserves this more…they’ve been through so much together and their love hasn’t faltered.


The picture I am including is a couple of years old, but it is my favorite because it is very them. Like I said…they are so laid back!


Thanks for your time!

Allie

Isn’t that the best nomination letter ever? Allie was so sweet to nominate her sister. And to keep the secret! In fact, when I got in touch with Kassie to tell her that she had won, she had no idea and was very shocked that her sister was able to keep the secret for so long.

I had wanted to be able to call to announce the news while on speakerphone and being filmed on my webcam and then post it all to the blog, but I just wasn’t able to make that happen and didn’t want to delay the announcement a moment longer. Kassie was completely caught off guard and it was so sweet. You could hear the excitement in her voice. I wish I could have recorded it! Wouldn’t that have been cool? Oh, well. I still have warm fuzzies from it. :) I just love that I am able to give such a great gift to a deserving couple.

Soon we shall set a date for the engagement photos, which I just can’t wait to do. The wedding is in December, so I suggested doing the engagements earlier while we have beautiful weather and so we wouldn’t have such a long wait before we could have some fun with the camera! I can’t wait!!

Thank you so much, Allie, for nominating your sister. Kassie and Doug, I look forward to working with you.

As for all of the other nominations, I’ve extended offers for engagement sessions as consolation prizes. Thank you all for participating in my first Wedding Photography Giveaway contest. I hope to make this an annual thing because it is just a great feeling to give back. :)

Wedding Photography Giveaway Extended! | Northwest Arkansas Wedding Photographer

Posted on February 27, 2009

Today was supposed to be the deadline for the nominations on the Wedding Giveaway, but I have a sick baby, a wedding this weekend, and oodles of stuff going on next week. I decided that if I couldn’t get a spare moment to gather my panel of judges this week, why not keep the entries coming? So, there will be one more week to send in nominations!!

Remember, all you have to do is know someone special who is getting married and nominate them. Send in a photo (under 1mb, please) and a letter telling me about how awesome, special and deserving this couple is and why they should receive the gift of photography. All nominations should be sent to raininglightphotography@yahoo.com It’s that easy.

Untitled-1

Here is to you, contestants! | Northwest Arkansas Portrait Photographer

Posted on February 26, 2009

How do I start? A couple of weeks ago I decided that I wanted to do something exciting and special by giving away my photography services in a fun contest. I was anticipating some excellent entries and had visions of how fun it would be to announce the winner. What I did not plan on was all of the craziness that has happened. Maybe that was naive on my part, I’m not sure. I do know how competitive people can get when it comes to winning awesome things (and I like to think that I’m pretty awesome!) and probably should have thought things through a bit more. I apologize for that.

I received a comment shortly ago that took all of the fun out of this for me. The commenter was upset because they felt that the contestant mentioned yesterday broke rules and should have been pulled from the contest altogether. They were also upset because of the new way to vote. While I can see where this person might feel this way, I just want to stress that there WERE no rules against this sort of behavior because I didn’t think to create one. That is why I decided to start the contest again. Technically no rules were broken because they didn’t exist, but I did agree that spamming was unfair to all the contestants and I wanted to make it fair for all. Again, I apologize because I feel like this was something I should have foreseen and taken steps to prevent.

So, the bad news is that I’m pulling the contest. The good news is that everyone is a winner! Yes, you heard right, everyone is a winner! Each contestant is going to get a session with yours truly, five images on CD with printing rights along with five 5×7 reference prints!! This is a value of $380. I feel that this was the best way to settle what has become a very confusing, stressful, headache inducing situation.

Does this mean that Raining Light Photography will never host another contest? Absolutely not! I love the idea of giving away photography now and then. I just think that the next contest will be nomination only and then I’ll either use a panel to judge on a winner, or I’ll just use a random generator to pick the number of the winning contestant. I’m all about simplicity and think that it would prove to be the easiest way to continue what I feel is fun, exciting, and something that I believe in.

So, contestants, thank you so much for participating in my first contest. I guess you can say you were the ones to work out unforeseen kinks! I do hope you enjoy your prizes and I am looking forward to working with you. You will be getting emails outlining your prize.

Filed Under contest | 2 Comments

Contest Time! | Northwest Arkansas Portrait Photographer

Posted on February 24, 2009

How exciting is this? The time to begin the voting for my first Portrait Photography Give Away is here! The rules are very simple. There is a poll set up on the blog, see it floating up there above everything, sort of being in the way? Haha!! Just vote for the photo that you think deserves to win. Any and all blog readers can vote in the contest. Voting will be open until 11:59 pm on Thursday the 26th.

Here are the contestants-


Number 1 This little guy wants a portrait session to show off his eyes.
014

Number 2 This single mommy wants a session to make her feel great.
stef

Number 3 This fun-loving girl wants to play with the camera.
playing around 031

Number 4 This young newlywed wants to Trash her Dress.
l_7c9a35cd943bdf7049304e52d5cdbf34

Number 5 This brother and sister want to have some fun portraits.
Easter 2008 052abc

Number 6 This little baby wants to celebrate her upcoming arrival.
belly- michael and allison 25 weeks

So, go and vote! Pick your favorite.

Filed Under contest | 2 Comments

Wedding Photography Contest Still Going On | Northwest Arkansas Wedding Photography

Posted on February 18, 2009

Know someone who is getting married in Northwest Arkansas in 2009? Think they deserve not having to worry about paying for a wedding photographer? Just a little reminder that Raining Light Photography’s Wedding Photography Contest is still going on! Nominate the couple of your choice by sending in a photo and a little letter stating why you think they are the best and deserve to win free wedding photography. Simple as that! The winner of the contest will receive 8 hours of photography by me, an Engagement, Bridal, AND Day After session with all images on DVD, all wedding images on DVD, and a Storybook wedding album. The deadline for nominations is March 1st, so get yours in today. Just think about how excited your friends will be when you tell them that you nominated them to win free wedding photography!

Filed Under contest, promotions | 1 Comment

Portrait Contest | Northwest Arkansas Photographer

Posted on February 18, 2009

Oh my, we’ve had some awesome entries into the portrait contest! If you’ve been meaning to enter but have yet to do so, there is still plenty of time to submit photos! The deadline is Friday. Hurry and get in those photos for a chance to win a $450 session. Remember, this includes the session fee, ten digital files with printing release, ten 5×7 reference prints, and a 11×14 mounted print.

Love is in the Air | Northwest Arkansas Wedding Photographer

Posted on February 14, 2009

Okay, lovebirds. Tomorrow is a big day for all the ooey-gooey romantic types, and I want to be ooey-gooey, too. How do hope to accomplish this? The time to announce my 2nd contest is here!

I love surprises, as I’ve mentioned, and I love giving, so I thought it would be fun for this contest to have the opportunity for both. I want to give while someone gets a great surprise. Do you know an engaged couple you absolutely adore? Do you think it would be awesome to surprise them with a fantastic gift because they are so deserving? Well, tell me how much you love them and why they are the best because the winners of this contest will receive 8 hours of wedding photography by me, an engagement session with all images on DVD, a bridal session with all images on DVD, a Day After session with all images on DVD, and all wedding images on DVD with printing release, and a Storybook album! That’s a value of over $2400! How’s that for love, giving, and surprise?! I’m so excited. :)

Here’s how it’ll work. Send in a photo and a letter telling me why you think that this couple deserves wedding photography. Are they the hub of your social circle, always making sure there is a place to crash? Do they volunteer for a great cause? Never afraid to lend a hand during a big move? Just an all around awesome couple? Tell me about it!

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES 11:59 PM ON MARCH 1ST

Photos (1mb and under, please) and letters are to be sent to raininglightphotography@yahoo.com

Here are a few rules. The wedding will need to be in 2009 and in the Northwest Arkansas area. There will be no 2nd shooter, though there will always be the option of adding one at the normal rate.

Good luck and Happy Valentine’s Day!!

Contest!!! |Northwest Arkansas Lifestyle Photographer

Posted on February 9, 2009

I’ve wanted to do a contest for awhile now but wanted to wait for something special. New prices and digital collections are pretty darn exciting, especially when you are wanting a reason to celebrate. I will actually be announcing a second contest soon, so it’s double the fun with Raining Light Photography!

So, do you want photos taken by Raining Light Photography? Do you want FREE photos? How about winning a collection worth $450? The winner of the contest will receive my Light Mist digital collection which includes ten images on DVD with printing release, ten 5×7 reference proofs, and a 11×14 mounted wall print! Sound like a great deal? Yeah? Want to know what you have to do? It’s really simple. I just need some photos, that’s all. Simply email a snapshot (1mb or less) to raininglightphotography@yahoo.com with the subject CONTEST. The photo should be of the person or persons that you want to win the session. This can be a child, a senior, a family.. any one can submit an entry! Please limit four subjects or less or a $15 fee per additional person will apply. Also make sure that you have permission to use the photos in this event. This means no professional photos entered, please.

What happens after I receive the photos? I am going to blog the photos and post a poll for all my blog readers to vote on the winner! Photos can be submitted from tonight until 11:59 pm on Friday the 20th.

So, what are you waiting for? Send in those photos for your chance to win! And check back for the announcement of the second contest!!

All photographs property of Cherron McDonald and Raining Light Photography