Craft Photographic Gallery

Senior Summer Specials

Wow, It's July already!  Why is it that the summer just seems to fly by and those winter months, just drag and drag.  Oh well, lets enjoy it while we can.  I hope you are having a great summer! 
We are having a great time photographing the seniors. 
Summer Senior Specials
July- Save 50% off all Designer Sessions
Beach Special- Schedule your session August 10th or 11th and Save $50 off your session!
                        August- Save 25% off all Designer Sessions
Deciding where to have your senior pictures taken can be very confusing.  We want to answer all of your questions and help you to make a decision you will be really excited about.
It's easy, just schedule a senior portrait consultation and one of our staff will be happy to talk you through everything you can expect for your senior portraits at Craft.  We will be happy to explain the price list and how much it will cost to your parents, too!  That is usually their biggest question.  There are a lot of options to help you get everything you are dreaming of.  We have a great new multi media presentation to show you too. So, call the studio and schedule your personal consultation.  Bring your friends!
See you soon-Lori

P.S. Watch for the latest Senior Mailing next week! 
1in 5!! If you are one of the first five seniors to call and book your appointment after you receive the mailing you will get a Deluxe Session absolutely Free!!  Really, try it as soon as you receive the mailing call us.  Of course, you will have to have the mailing in front of you, you will have to answer a question from the flyer.  : )
We'll be waiting for your call. 

Children's Portrait Contest Winners Announced!

The 2008 Children's Portrait Contest is wrapping up and the winners have been announced!  Well, the real winner is S.A.F.E. Place!  Our clients were very generous this year in donating diapers and many baby products to help families that are often forced to leave behind personal possessions and basic necessities when they go to the emergency shelter. 
Thank you to all of our entrants for your generous donations this year! 

The winners of the 2008 Children’s Portrait Contest are:

Grand Prize Winner, Nealy Brown, one years old, she has won a Portrait Session for her family and a 16x20 Custom Portrait.

Baby Life, infant to 1 years, Lexey Clark, Gift Bag from the Children’s Shoppe

Toddler Time, 2-3 years, Ella Domingo, Family Pass to the Children’s Garden at Leila Arboretum

Preschool Pleasures, 4-5 years, Abigail Huggett, $10 Gift Certificate to Meyer’s Toy World

Contemporary Kids, 6-12 years and Tween Years, 13-16 years, Alexa and Jonah Glau,

Movie Passes to the Bogar Theater

Me and My Friend, Alyssa Hussong, $10 to Meyer’s Toy World

Oh, What a Face, Kaiden Elsey, Four passes to Binder Park Zoo

Storybook Children, Reese Komarck, Family Pass to the Children’s Garden at Leila Arboretum

Classic Portraits, Troy Cole, Kids’n Stuff Museum

Playtime, Owen Dobbins,Family Pass to the Children’s Garden at Leila Arboretum

All winners will also receive Gift Certificates for a Free Dessert from the Marshall or Battle Creek McDonald’s

All of the winning images can be viewed by clicking on the Children's Contest Album in the right hand column. 

Thanks again, Watch for more information to come regarding next years Children's Portrait Special.

Lori

"I Love This Place!"

I love photographing kids!  I have a great time getting down on their level to capture their true innocence through my camera.
The big brother in this Simply Kids - Base Ball set was so excited when he realized where his Mom was taking him for pictures.  His Mom told us that when they pulled into the studio, he exclaimed,
" I love coming to this place!".  Well, Zane, we love having you and your brother come to this place too.  

You can come play here anytime. Dennis

Beach Days at South Haven

Dennis and I want to invite all of you to join us at the beach in South Haven this summer. 
Beach portraits are one of our favorite summer portraits.  It is a special time for the families to get away from the everyday "busyness" and relax and play together at the beach.  The images are always so beautiful as they capture the relationships of your family that you will want to remember forever. 
Evening and early morning is the best time for beach portraits.  We have found that the best day to schedule is Sunday evening or Monday.  The beach tends to be quieter during those times and a little easier to work with the kids.

We are currently scheduling appointments throughout the summer.  Please call for available dates and times. 
                                                                  See you at the beach- Lori
                                                                      
                      
  

'09 Senior Spokesmodels

Hey, Class of 2009, you're a Senior!

The following students have been selected to represent Craft as a '09 Senior Spokesmodel.   If you recognize one of these students you can receive 16 free wallets from your senior portrait session.  All you have to do is ask for a senior referral card and bring it to Craft when you get your pictures taken. 
Gull Lake- Katelyn Langstrom
                                  Marshall- Jordan Weck
                                                 Stacey Hughes
                           Kimber Tarkiewicz        
         Albion- Emily Reimann      
          Hanover-Horton Jaimie Mercer 
          Lakeview - Laura Sliva
                             Nick Duckett
         Coldwater- Brittney Sowles
                               Harper Creek- Allison Evans
                                                    Caitlin Redmond
 
  
 

Check out all of the different  Senior   Albums in the Blog.  You can see even more of the Spokesmodels Images in the Blog Albums. 
If you want to know more about Senior Pictures at  Craft- just call the studio, we will be happy to answer all of your questions!  See you this summer- The Craft Crew
   

Take me out to the Ballgame!

Baseball is one of America's favorite pastimes!
Growing up, one of the Craft family's favorite things was going to Detroit to watch the Tigers play baseball.  They were fans rather they were winning, or losing.  Dennis would join his Dad and brothers on those familiar blue stadium seats for many years.
This past Christmas he received a surprise gift from his older brother, two seats from the Tigers Stadium on Woodward and Trumbull!
June 11th and 12th Simply Kids will feature those two seats along with a variety of vintage baseball memorabilia. 
Bring your kids, or even the whole family, for a special portrait featuring America's favorite past time- Baseball!
  ***Cracker Jack treats for Everyone!

Senior Portrait Scholarship

It’s Senior Portrait Time
June is almost here and another school year is coming to a close.  This means many different things for students, but if you are an upcoming high school senior, it is time for senior pictures. 

Senior por  traits are something that most high school students look forward to and start planning for as early as their freshman year.  They wonder which photographer they will go to, what they will wear, and what poses will they like. It is an exciting time that kicks off their entire senior year.

A few years ago, a Mom came in to the studio to pick up her daughter’s senior pictures and
she made a comment that has co ntinued to stay with Dennis Craft.  She said, “Every girl deserves to feel like a princess for at least one day in her lifetime. You have given my daughter that.”   It is the goal at Craft to take that attitude with every senior they photograph.

For most students it is just a matter of choosing a studio and making an appointment.   
Craft Photographic Gallery is aware that some students don’t have the opportunity to make that choice. 
There are a variety of reasons that can keep seniors from being able to have th e portraits they are
dreaming of.  Many families are experiencing financial setbacks, and Dennis and Lori Craft would like
to remove this obstacle for three seniors from the Class of 2009.  “We feel it is important for every
student to have the opportunity to not only have the experience of feeling like a model for a day, but to
be able to select a portrait package to share with their family and friends,” says Lori Craft.

Craft Photographic Gallery is offering a Senior Portrait Scholarship Program for three upcoming high
school seniors.  The students chosen will receive a Deluxe Portrait Session and a Senior Portrait Package
which includes an 11x14 wall portrait with gift portraits and wallets, each valued at $650.00. 

You must submit an essay (250 words or less) stating why you or the person you are nominating deserves to receive one of the scholarships.  Awards will be based on either financial  need or personal circumstances. 
You can send the essay and application to the studio or you can download an application at
www.craftphotography.com under the senior section.  Applications are also available at the studio.

Applications must be submitted by June 30th, 2008.  The scholarship awards will be announced by Monday, July 7th, 2008.

It's been a long time...

Wow, I didn't realize how long it had been since I have "blogged"!  O.K., I am making the commitment to be a better blogger.  Not sure if that is a word or not, but it is now. 

Watch for current updates for upcoming portrait specials for Family, Children, and Senior Portraits on our blog.  There will be at least weekly additions to the blog.

Here's what's new...

Tea Party and Tad Poles ~ June 1st - 30th 
This is our most popular Limited Edition Portrait set for children.  Whether they are fishing or having a tea party, the kids have so much fun playing down by the creek they don't even realize they are having their picture taken. 

The Irises are in full bloom along the creek, so now is the perfect time to schedule this special portrait opportunity!

The Easter Bunny is coming to Craft!

Wow, it has been way too long since I updated this blog.  yikes! I guess all this snow shoveling has just gotten in the way.

Well, spring is right around the corner, even if the weather doesn't look like it.  Easter is very early this year, so the Bunny Portraits are also being scheduled early in March. 
We are currently scheduling appointments for March 5th -8th. 
Please call early this is always one of our most popular sets for the kids.   

Simply Kids is a new portrait opportunity for the kids.  We will be introducing some new portrait sets along with some of the favorites from the past.  Watch for more information to be coming on this in the future.

Well, stay warm, spring has got to be coming soon!!

Take care,
Lori

Christmas is coming!!

Wow, I can't believe how fast the holidays are coming.  Next week the studio will be transformed into a Christmas wonderland.  I am excited about the different portrait sets that are coming up just for the holidays!

• November 14 and 15- Timely Traditions, Winter Wonderland
• November 16 and 17- Santa Claus Portraits
• November 29, 30 and December 1 A Cozy Family Christmas- Bring the family, or just the kids for a special Christmas portrait. Christmas Cards and portraits packages just in time for the holidays.
• December 5 and 6- Timely Traditions, Christmas Time Portraits

Choose your favorite portrait set for your children's special Christmas portraits.  Give us a call at the studio and we will be happy to explain all of your choices.

The pictures of our children at Christmas time are my favorites.  This year will be the first year that all of our children won't be sitting on Santa's lap for our traditional Santa picture.  Mom's enjoy it while you can, they grow up so fast!

Take care,
Lori