Tag: Parkersburg WV

Changes Due to COVID-19

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Hey Everyone!

I hope everyone is staying well and still social distancing and wearing masks.  I know it is hard, but we all need to do our part so we can continue to move forward and not take steps back.

I am excited to be back to work and see all of my clients and meet new ones as well.  I have been open for one week and have learned what changes work and won’t work for the studio.  As hard as some of these rules may be for some, it’s truly what’s best for the health of each client.  Studio Cleanliness has always been a priority, I am just taking things a bit further…

  1. I am washing my hands/using sanitizer at the beginning of each session but now I am asking that each client do so as well.
  2. If any outside props are brought in, they will need to be sanitized before use.
  3. Immediate Family (people who live in your household), are the only ones allowed in the studio during your session.
  4. If you have been sick, with a fever, cough, and shortness of breath within 9 days of your session, I ask that you please reschedule.
  5. If you have contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, I ask that you reschedule your session to 14 days after the known exposure.
  6. Fabrics, Props, basically anything standing still in the studio will be cleaned between sessions.
  7. A time slot will be held between each session to allow for cleaning time and there will only be a couple spots available per day.
  8. I ask all clients to show up at their scheduled time.  

Thank you for a successful first week back.  I appreciate each one of you and thank you for supporting my business.

There are only a couple spots remaining for May, and June is beginning to book up.  I can’t wait to capture memories for you!

Turning 17 During Quarantine…

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When you haven’t worked in 6 weeks because of COVID19 restrictions and your fur baby turns 17 what else is there to do but have a birthday photo session for your cat!

I have had this cat longer than I have been with my husband.  He & I have been through so much together.  He holds onto my secrets, puts his paw on my hand when I cry, sleeps touching me with a paw all night, lets me hold him like an infant in my arms while he sleeps, runs to me when I come home, loves sharing whip cream and loves trying to escape outside to explore the yard.  He loves my kids like they are his own, tolerated all their shenanigans when they were tiny, would be the first to their nursery room door when they would cry as infants.  He truly is THE Best Cat Ever!!

We thought we were losing him 6 years ago when a vet misdiagnosed him telling us his rapid weight loss, 26 down to 5, was due to cancer and we should just keep him comfortable.  Then one day we ended up on Dr Wellings schedule and she said “Why hasn’t anyone ever checked this cats thyroid?”  Come to find out, he did not have cancer  at all.  His thyroid was  working about 4 times too fast.  So after trying and failing on some thyroid meds she referred us to MedVet in Columbus for radiation treatments.  After that he has been healthy other than the arthritis in his hips from the muscle lost during the misdiagnosis.  I am SO Thankful for that day we ended up on Dr Wellings schedule, she truly saved his life!!

Happy 17th Birthday Cheeto!!!  I hope you get to nap all day in the sun while tricking each of us into feeding you even though another of us already has!

Throwback to my First Birth/Fresh 48…

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Well in the internet world it’s “Throwback Thursday” so I am throwing it back to my first birth/fresh 48 session with The Murray Family.  Actually in this case it would be a “Fresh 8 hours.” 😁 The Murray’s have been clients of mine since we welcomed Miss Tatum Olivia into the world that fall day.  We went into this day hoping and praying for me to be allowed into the OR with them but the nurse that day was not having it at all, and believe me it was not without begging!!!  So I waited right by the elevator door so I could capture that first moment when her Daddy brought her to the nursery.  I will never ever forget the nervousness of Todd waiting to go down to the OR & the giant smile of pride and excitement Big Brother Jake had when he first saw his baby sister!

Look through these highlights from the day and then take a moment to read Stefani’s thoughts on her session below…

“I have two children that are 6 years apart in age. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I often thought about the delivery of my son six years before, and the one thing that always stuck out in my mind was how I wished I didn’t have to worry about taking pictures that day, or making sure someone was taking pictures while I was in the recovery room from my C-section, or that I don’t really have any pictures of the first moments I met Jake after returning from the recovery room.
We knew I would be having another C-section with our daughter, so I talked with my husband and we decided to have the day documented in a way that it caused no stress to us, and we could focus on bringing our daughter in the world.
 
I had seen a couple of my friends post pictures they had taken with Amanda, and they were all so cute. I knew she was a momma herself, so I had faith that she would understand where we were coming from with our requests. We met up with her one day and we learned that not only was she a parent herself, but also has a history as nurse, so she was 100% comfortable being in the operating room with us, if the doctor would allow it! I left that day feeling so excited and relieved knowing our documented memories of that day were in good hands.
 
We communicated several times leading up to Tatum’s birth, and discussed what would happen if I went into labor before my scheduled operation date. Thankfully that didn’t happen! Amanda arrived at the hospital shortly after we were taken into our prep room, met our families, and started snapping. We already knew that my doctor wouldn’t allow her in the operating room, but she tried until the time they wheeled me off to convince them! She sat with my husband while they waited for the nurses to bring him to the O.R. – and reassured him that they didn’t forget about him when it was taking a while for nurse to retrieve him. She was waiting by the elevator when my husband came off with our daughter. Every moment that I missed (our family in the waiting room, Tatum’s first bath, holding her daddy’s finger for the first time, my son’s adoration, as well as our family’s’ – ALL of it) was caught on camera, thanks to her.
 
What I appreciated the most about this experience was when I was brought back to our hospital room. I had a less than desirable first stage of recovery with Tatum, and I was a mess. She helped calm me down and when they finally had me settled and Tatum was brought to our room, my husband and I were able to just relax and absorb the entire moment without having to stop to capture it. That is something I will always be thankful for. The same continued as we brought in my son to spend time alone with us, and then the rest of our family. The entire experience was so beautiful – and we now have those memories forever.
 
Of course, our families took some pictures of the day as well, and sure, that could have been enough. But when she sent me the picture file of our delivery day, I cried so many tears of joy because that was exactly what I wanted. Hiring Amanda for this day is a decision I will never regret – what we received from her is priceless!” ~ Stefani 
Are you ready to get your Birth or Fresh 48 scheduled yet?????

Where have I been?!?!!?

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Okay so here I am, hanging my head down in embarrassment that it has been one year AND four months since my last blog!!!!

Where on earth have I been you ask…

Well a not long after that last blog my son started middle school, my mamaw was diagnosed with dementia, and I went in to the busy fall season with a lot of extra life stressors so I kept thinking in the back of my mind I would get back to blogging another day.  I just needed to keep my head above water and keep my business running.  Well day turned into month and now into a YEAR +!!!  My son has come to love middle school, my mamaw is stable and my business is thriving!

I want to try my best to keep up with a blog in 2019 on hopefully a semi-regular basis.   I will bring to you some sessions I have shot since my last blog, stories of life with a teenager & pre-teen, and so on.

2019 for Amanda Greer Photography is going to bring some new changes, session themes, and some fun sales!  I am excited to take on 2019 and make this the best year for my family and my clients!

What would you like to see on my blog?  What would you like to see offered at the AGP studio in 2019?  Comment below or send me a note at agreerphotography@yahoo.com

Subscribe to my blog to stay up to date on the life and happenings at AGP!

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Thinking About Life & Oliver’s 1st Birthday

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Last week I had the pleasure of photographing my cousin Oliver’s 1st Birthday photos.  I have sat down to write this blog many times and each time I wanted to give Jami (his momma) a shout out but told myself “this Oliver’s post keep sappy families to yourself.”  Well I am ignoring that crazy thought, more on his session shortly.

I once heard the saying that your cousin is your 1st friend you’ll have. I never came to understand that phrase until adulthood.  Jami and I are 5 years apart, total opposites in so many ways, yet so alike in others.  When we were small we used to spend every Sunday at our Papaw and Mamaw’s house for Sunday dinner and playing outside, spend nights at each others houses, we went to Disney together once and a few trips to the beach.  Then tragedy struck our family and took loved ones away and with that took away our Sunday dinner’s & playing in mamaw’s giant yard.  We grew, I don’t want to say grew apart because that sounds harsh, our interests just seemed so opposite and the 5 yr age difference seemed to be obvious for a few years.  Adulthood came upon us, Marriage’s & Babies.  Jami became a momma to her sweet boy. Oliver has brought my bond with his momma back to light for me and makes me think of those childhood memories more often.  I am so thankful for those memories she and I share from our younger years and no one can take those memories away.

I can’t believe that Oliver is ONE!!!!  It seems like yesterday I was driving back and forth from the hospital to my house to take care of my kids and yet not miss his delivery!  Click the colored link to see the photos from his hospital session, Oliver’s Arrival & from his Newborn Session here  Oliver’s Newborn

Last week Jami brought Oliver up for some photos to remember his first birthday.  He wasn’t feeling very good and was not interested in his cake at all.  He gets his dislike of cake from his daddy.  I mean who doesn’t like cake!?!

You can view all of the photos from Oliver Finn’s 1st Birthday session by clicking here

Thank you for bearing with me this morning on my trip down memory lane.

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ps  There will be a BIG Announcement about my business within the next week!!!!!

Miss Bree is ONE!!!

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Bree’s Momma April contacted me for a 1st Birthday Cake Smash after being referred to me by another client.  We were able to get it scheduled on her actual One Year Birthday!!  How sweet was that?!?!

Some littles come to their cake smash session and devour the cake & some want nothing to do with it.  Bree was just a little in to her adorable little cake.  April picked up the best little cake from the bakery in Spencer for only $4!!!  It was classically decorated and just right.

These were Bree’s 1st professional photos and she was stingy with her smiles but I was able to capture a couple hints of smiles.

Here are a few of my favorites…

You can view all of the photos from this sweet girls session here  Bree is ONE!!!

Please sign up to follow my blog and stay up to date on the latest sessions and happenings with Amanda Greer Photography!  There will be some exciting new changes coming in March!!!

ps My weekends are now booked through April!!  If you need a weekend contact me ASAP!!! agreerphotography@yahoo.com

 

Sweet Baby Cole

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When looking over past sessions to catch up on blogging I came across Cole’s Newborn session that I had right before Christmas.  He was such a sweet little one with such patient parents.

Tamra contacted me a couple months before her due date to let me know she wanted to book a newborn session with me and she was expected to deliver right before Christmas so I penciled her in.

Expecting momma’s, did you realize the best time to get your newborn session scheduled is when you are still pregnant?!?!

Derrick and Tamra brought Cole in at about a week old for his session.  He loved being swaddled and in-between setups he wanted to cuddle and nurse with his momma.   I love when my clients come in to a session with ideas and props that are personal to them. These proud parents brought in a baseball glove, bat and a ball with sweet Cole’s footprint on it.  They also brought a cute little Santa outfit since he was born so close to Christmas.

Cole’s session went well and his parents loved their photos so it was a home run.   If you would like to view all of the photos you can follow this link Cole’s Newborn Session.

Are you expecting a new little bundle of joy?  Contact me now to get penciled in for your Maternity, Fresh 48 or Newborn Session!

Sign up to follow my blog to stay up to date on the happenings with AGP & my crazy busy life as a “mom-prenuer.”

Ludtman ~ Ripley High Senior

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Graduation 2017 is coming soon!

Olivia was so fun and easy going to work with during her senior session late last fall at the riverfront park in Marietta and we found some great places for photos.  The weather was perfect, the colors of the leaves were perfect, it was an all around great day for a senior session.

Olivia is the type of gal that knows what she wants, not just in her session, but in life.  She knows what she wants to study in college, where she wants to attend, and has the determination to follow and achieve her dreams!

You can view all of her senior session by clicking here… Olivia ~ Ripley High Senior 2017

There isn’t much time left to schedule your 2017 Senior Session!  Contact me asap to talk details!

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Kids will be Kids and that’s okay!

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I want my clients to know, it is going to be okay. I am mom of 2 crazy, okay one crazier than the other, kids and its okay if your child isn’t into pictures right now.  I have been there!

Don’t be embarrassed.  I know that is easier said than done, try to relax and let me work my magic aka act like a crazy fool to make them laugh & hold down my shutter to hopefully get one photo out of 50 for you.

I hear “I’m Sorry they are acting like this” so many times during sessions from moms and dads when their littles are being crazy and running around, not sitting for a photo, and most def not smiling.  Please don’t be sorry, they are kids, most kids do not like having their photo taken and you know what, that’s okay.

In many cases, when you show up to the session, that’s the first time we have met, I try to make friends with the little ones, get to know them, what characters they like, noises that make them laugh, etc.   Then we start the session and 99% of the time it all works out.  I have many moms say they are so impressed with how many photos I actually was able to capture after they left feeling like they would have nothing.

Also I am not above bribery!  lol

Ashley was one of those moms.  She requested her session be shot at her home that she shares with her husband Landon, and littles Carson and Violet.

After chatting with Carson and Violet about the kittens on the porch we moved to the  porch steps of the their home.

The kids playset was just out of sight and it was a sunny warm evening, what would most kids want to do…PLAY!  So after trying to grab some photos in front of the home, we moved towards the backyard to small tall pretty grass near the pond but made a pit stop along the way for the kids to play on the slide and I grabbed some quick pics there.

When I asked Ashley’s permission to use her session as an example for this blog topic I also asked her if she had anything she would like to add about that session and the end result…  “You just telling me I’m a mommy they are fine made me feel a little better, but I think as a parent you always want your kids to be little angels when they are around people and that’s just not how it is. I even prayed that they would be good. Yes it was stressful, but I was 100% satisfied with the end result and I thought all the shots were amazing! I remember thinking … Well maybe they, meaning the kids, weren’t so bad after all.”

I call that session a Win!  Memories are already printed and up on her walls!

So next time your kids are being crazy, just remember, we have all been there at some point and it will be okay!

You can view all of the photos from their session by clicking here…Barnette Family Session

I can’t wait to spend time with all of you for a family session of your own!  Life moves so fast make sure you get in those photos with your kids and capture those moments for some day they will be a memory!  Print those photos and decorate your home with your memories!

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Back to the Blog!

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Happy 2017 AGP Followers!  I hope everyone had a fantastic Holiday Season!  I ate way too much from Thanksgiving to Christmas, shared laughs and made memories with friends and family, and watched the magic of the season sparkle in my children’s eyes.

Now I am ready to take on 2017 and make it the best yet for myself, my family and my clients!   I started 2017 watching many webinars on how to better serve my clients and make your experience with Amanda Greer Photography the best ever!

Different packages will be making their way in to my pricing structure.  I am working out details to offer a Belly to Baby Package & Tailored to you wedding packages.

One thing I am encouraging more than ever is for my clients to purchase prints and canvas’s for their home!  Seeing the smiles on my clients faces when they picked up their canvas’s and prints was so heart warming!!!  Photos do not belong on a usb in a drawer, they belong on your walls and mantles so you can enjoy them!!

My question for you is what would you like to see offered by me in 2017?!?!?  Please send me a message at agreerphotography@yahoo.com.

I can’t wait to capture memories for you in 2017!  It’s never too soon to get penciled in on the schedule!

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