Vintage Valentine’s Day Mini Sessions Feb 5
We are proud to announce our first mini-session event at our new location. The event is a themed “Vintage Valentine’s Day”. Bring little girls dressed in simple, classic tops and pair with one of our tutus. Bring little boys in khaki or tweed pants or a blazer , and complete the look with a men’s fadora. The products will be exclusive to the event, and all at discounted prices. We will feature one of our Limited Edition storyboards, a themed album, and custom framing styled to the images. Mark your calendar and call us to book your free 20 minute session. We are limited to 15 sessions for this event. This limited edition event has an opening package of $99.
We will post sample images after the weekend so you can get a feel for the style.
2010 in review
The stats helpers at WordPress.com mulled over how our blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:
The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads This blog is on fire!.
Crunchy numbers
The average container ship can carry about 4,500 containers. This blog was viewed about 22,000 times in 2010. If each view were a shipping container, your blog would have filled about 5 fully loaded ships.
In 2010, there were 71 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 188 posts. There were 373 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 109mb. That’s about 1 pictures per day.
The busiest day of the year was October 18th with 223 views. The most popular post that day was Shawn & Regina: The Beaumont Ranch Wedding.
Where did they come from?
The top referring sites in 2010 were iveystudio.com, facebook.com, en.wordpress.com, mail.yahoo.com, and mhspantherbaseball.com.
Some visitors came searching, mostly for ivey photography midlothian, ivey photography, high school senior pictures, softball senior pictures, and ocean blue eyes.
Attractions in 2010
These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.
Shawn & Regina: The Beaumont Ranch Wedding October 2010
1 comment
Ennis High School Senior Portraits: Samantha March 2009
2 comments
Grandview Junior High Cheerleading Photos: Abby February 2010
Midlothian High School Senior Portraits: Jordy April 2009
2 comments
The Catch: MHS Freshman vs Midway Football Action Photos October 2009
4 comments
We’re Moving: 403 West Main St Studio Opening January 11th
UPDATE: January 1, 2011.
We are no longer available at our old Ave. G location. As of Monday, January 3rd, we will be without phone service during the early part of the week. If you need to reach us, please use 214-794-8101 or email info@iveystudio.com. The new studio on Main St will be closed until Tuesday January 11. We look forward to sending out an open house and grand opening invitation.
We are putting the finishing touches on our new studio location this week. If you live in Midlothian or have driven down Main St lately, you may have seen our progress. A few touch-ups here, a few inspections there, and we should be ready to move in by the end of the year. We will be closed the first week of the year while we clean up the dust and arrange the new wall displays, just so. Here are a few photos from the job site. Thanks to Olson Custom Homes and all of the wonderful contractors who helped us build this.
The Lot on the day we purchased it
Pouring the foundation
Framing and Roof went on in about 3 days
A view from inside the new camera room
Same view from inside the camera room, after sheet rock
A little paint helped it look almost finished
Roger and Donnie pouring the footer for our sign
A view of the entry way, after paint and texture
A nice BIG work room for processing your portraits
And ALMOST finished....
Gift Card Sale : 50% BONUS !
It may be too late to have your portrait made for Christmas Gifts, but it isn’t too late to give a portrait to your loved ones . . in a Gift Card! Now, through Friday December 24, purchase any gift card over $200, and we’ll add 50% to the value. Yep, your $200 is worth $300. Your $1000 is worth $1500. You name the price, and we’ll add 50% to it. All you have to do is use your money before May 31, 2011. Call 972-723-2464 to order, or come by the studio. We are moving this week and next, so you’ll have to forgive the dust.
Offer expires December 24, 2010. Gift Cards valid through May 31, 2011. Not valid for wedding or event coverage.
Print Re-Order Special Starts Today!
If you had your portrait made here in 2010, and you just didn’t get everything you wanted, now you can. Order any print you previously ordered in any size up to 8×10 for just $25! 4×5, 5×7, or 8×10, the choice is yours. Just call or come by. If you need an online gallery to see your images, we can do that. COntact us at the studio by calling 972-723-2464.
In addition, we’ll take an additional 25% off any wall print (14-inch +) or gallery wrap canvas! SO, if you missed out on “The Big One”, come on back!
Midlothian Tornado Photographs
A tornado is a common site in Texas, but not when it forms a few hundred yards outside your door. Here are a few of the 43 photos we took during the 5 minutes this tornado was visible.
Snake in the Grass
Sometimes you have to watch where you walk on a photo session with us. We go off the path, and today we found a friend. I don’t know my snake species, but I assume this guy was harmless. Maybe a rat snake or something similar. Comment if you know.
Policy Changes, Pricing, Minimum Orders: Effective 2012
Effective May 1st, we will have some changes to our pricing policies. Until then, our $25 reservation fee and minimum order policies are in effect. On January 15, our pricing structure will change.
Pricing
For our standard family, children’s, maternity and engagement sessions, we no longer have “packages”. We experimented with packages, or Collections for about a year, and decided that we are not a “package” studio. We create custom products for your home. Sometimes you can call it a “package”, but most of the time, its just what you want. We do offer bonus incentives and discounts for larger orders, but you can expect custom creations and products designed for YOU, not Packages designed to sell you “stuff you don’t need”. We’ve also lowered some prices on Wall Portraits and Custom Albums. As always, print prices start at about $50.
Order Deposit
For MOST of our sessions, we require an order deposit at the time of your session. This means you will pay money to be used during your ordering session. We look at this like a “security deposit” from you. We are happy to photograph just about any time, anywhere, but we can’t afford for clients to take advantage of our time and not place an appropriate order with us for their portraits. Of course, if you don’t like your portraits, or are not happy with our service for any reason, your deposit and session fee are refundable. The order deposit varies from $150-$500, and generally sets an expectation for you on what to anticipate starting your order with. We will never tell you how much to spend, but we do want you to be aware of what is possible, and the order deposit will at least get you started.
Session Fees
Family, Engagement, or Maternity Photography: Our new Session Fee is $75 for weekday appointments and $125 for weekend appointments. There is no minimum order and we’ll work with you to design products that are best for your home. Print prices begin at around $50, with sizes available up to 70×100 inches.
Children and Baby Photography: Our Session Fee is $75 on the weekdays and $125 on the weekends. There are no minimum orders, so buy what you like. We do have minimum order requirements for our seasonal and discount programs. Please ask for details on those special sessions.
Senior Photography: Effective for the Class of 2012 Sessions, we will offer three session types. The Mini, The Half, and The Full Session. Our mini sessions require an $195 minimum order. Our Half Session requires a $300 minimum order, and our Full Sessions require a $500 minimum order. What you ultimately spend depends on the length of your session, the number of outfits, and the products you choose. Call us for a complete consultation and we can give you a complete price guide. The minimum orders for Seniors are not designed to tell you how much to spend, rather to direct you into a session that is appropriate for you and your budget. You can spend ANY amount, no matter the length of the session, but you must spend more for the longer, more elaborate sessions.
Consultation
For each session, we will now ask that you give us a few minutes of your time PRIOR to the session so that we may consult with you in detail about your session, the products you may want, and the spaces we may fill with your images. We can conduct the consultation in your home, here in the studio, or by phone. It just takes a minute of your time, but goes a LONG way toward helping us deliver our very best work to you.
We never enjoy discussing business on our site, but we feel it is important to announce these changes. Our new pricing structure allows us to be more of a custom art studio, rather than a “package” studio. We design custom products for your home using priceless images we create. Sometimes that costs a little, other times that costs more. Our minimum order policy was hampering us and causing confusion for some clients. With every rule, there is the exception. Our Senior Sessions, Watch Me Grow Sessions, and Seasonal Mini Sessions will still carry appropriate minimum order requirements.
We appreciate all of the business and look forward to capturing memories for you very soon.
Thanks
Ivey Photography
Winner: The Texas Star Award, Best Team Effort – Bock Bar Mitzvah
We are proud to announce that Ivey Photography was awarded a Texas Star Award for our part in a Bar Mitzvah last year. Thanks to Yvette Audrain of Premier Special Events for coordinating our entry.
Officially, the Award reads as follows:
Best Industry Team Effort $50,000-$100,000
“Step It Up for Lance”
Yvette Audrain CSEP, CPCE Premier Special Events
Marla Watson-Werst, CSEP, CTA PeaPod Group
Gary Peto Shag-Carpet Productions
Chris Smith, Shana Woods - Ivey Photography
Brooks Kendall KenRan Productions
Jennifer Burns Lite Dallas
Luana Stoutmeyer Encore Productions
Wendy Krispen Wendy Krispen Catering
Lance’s Bar Mitzvah Party was held at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas. The theme was built around the Movie “Step it Up”, a break dancing movie. We were very proud of the photos, and you can see them in our Mitzvah Sample album at the studio. Congratulations to all of our colleagues who were a part of this great event.
Funny Wedding Case: Judge Joe Brown
There are so many “cheap wedding photographers” floating around. This is pretty funny, as long as you hire a pro. If you hired this lady, not so funny.
Council Approved – We’re Moving! 402 West Main
We are so excited to announce that the Midlothian City Council Unanimously approved our rezoning request for our new lot at Main and 6th Streets. We’ll begin construction very soon and hope to have our grand opening sometime at the end of the summer. Thanks to everyone for all of your support.
Our new address will be 402 West Main Street, Midlothian TX 76065.
Celebrate Spring Mini-Sessions March 6th and 27th
March 6th Enchanted Garden Sessions
Our March 6th Enchanted Garden Sessions will be held at Spoiled Rotten Children’s Boutique in Midlothian. We will have our “garden set” at Spoiled Rotten, complete with live bunnies, ducks and chicks for the kids. This is our more traditional look, and the kids absolutely love it. We have a stone wall, a set of stumps for the boys, and the animals are fun for everyone.
About the Photography
Our Seasonal sets are designed specifically for children. The Enchanted Garden set has a depth and richness intended to imitate a spring day at the park. The live ducklings, chicks and rabbits will bring a smile to everyone’s face. Best for ages 3 months to ten years.
March 27th Spring Colors Sessions
Our March 27th Spring Colors Sessions will be held here at the Ivey Studio in Downtown Midlothian. This set will be filled with TONS and TONS of Bright Spring colors and a giant display of flowers, courtesy of Ruibal’s Nursery. The preview photo is without the flowers, but we wanted to show the great colored backdrop we’ve constructed. Bring the kids in white, or any other color. The panels are green, blue, orange, yellow, pink and purple. We can switch them around for girls and boys, where appropriate.
About the Photography
Our Spring Colors set is a new creation that will be filled with bright pastel colors and live/fresh cut flowers. Perfect to show off your Easter dress or a new spring outfit. Best for children of walking age and older.
About the Pricing and Packages
Our Mini-Sessions are a perfect way to introduce your self to our studio. If you’ve never been in, we invite you to join us for the first time. If you are a regular, we look forward to seeing you again. Either way, the packages and prints are affordable for any budget. As always, our Watch Me Grow Members receive a free 8×10 print with their purchase.
Individual prints start at just $15.
Discounted packages start at $49. Our opening package includes an 8×10, 2 5x7s and 8 Wallets of your favorite pose.
We ask for a $40 minimum purchase. $50 for groups of 3 or more please.
Contact us by phone to book a session at 972-723-2464
Midlothian Snow Day
One good thing about being a photographer is that when a photo opportunity presents itself, I have the best gear to make the photo look its best. Here are a few images from my snow day at home with my kids. The Barn at the bottom is one of my favorites to photograph. I couldn’t resist the snow scene.
Coming SUMMER 2010 – NEW LOCATION !
We will soon begin construction on a new studio in Downtown Midlothian. This afternoon, we purchased a lot at the corner of Main & 6th Street. Over the next few months, watch our new studio take shape when you drive down Main St in Midlothian. We are VERY excited about the space and look forward to an open house later this year. Thanks to everyone who made this possible!
Happy Anniversary – to US!
Today is the one year anniversary of the NEW Ivey Photography. January 2nd, 2009 marks the day that I purchased the business from Janie Ivey Whitter. This time of year, most people look back and think “What could have been?”. I am looking forward and wondering “What will be?”. Of course, we made so many great images this past year, it is hard to not look back (best of video coming). Along the way, we made a few mistakes, and its good to take those lessons and look forward. We hope all of our blog readers and clients (new and old) are happy with the change in ownership here at Ivey. Not that we don’t miss Janie and David, but we feel like we’ve added much needed life and energy to the business. Photography is a difficult business in that you have to reinvent yourself for every client. Each person wants to feel like they are getting something unique. I think we do a good job with the task of creating, but still sticking to the classic portraiture and values that Ray Ivey would want. We’re proud to begin year two as the NEW Ivey Photography. We have many goals to reach, many new clients to gain, and many past clients to retain. We hope you’ll come along with us for the ride that will be Ivey 2010. Happy New Year everyone!
Having a Charity Auction? We Would Love to Help
If you are hosting, or know of a charity auction benefiting a good cause, please contact us. We are happy to donate to your live or silent auctions.
Santa in the Studio – Saturday! Still a few openings!
We’re all set for Santa to be at the Studio on Saturday. Avoid the malls, stay out of the toy stores, and get a quality portrait in our great Santa in the Park Set. We’re snowed in and Santa has a candy can for everyone! We have a limited number of openings for Saturday afternoon. If you aren’t on the schedule, call us at 972-723-2464 and we can get you booked.
Unexpected Saturday Opening – CALL NOW !
Our Saturday appointment for tomorrow afternoon just rescheduled. The weather is PERFECT, the time is PERFECT, and its all yours if you call. We’ve had this spot filled for three weeks and its suddenly open. I’m offering the session time for free, and I’ll start your order off with a $150 gift card.
You can reach me at 214-794-8101
Chris
Holiday Cards Available
We have several custom designs for our 2009 Holiday Cards. We offer a 5×7 Folded with 3 images, and a 5×7 Flat with up to 2 images. Here are a few samples of what we’re offering this year, and we have dozens of unique designs like these. Folded 5×7 Cards with envelopes are $36/dozen. Flat 5×7 Cards with envelopes are $24/dozen.
If you’ve had your photo made with us recently and would like to use our card designs, please call us. If you are planning to have your photo made with us this year, please get on our schedule now. We know you’re putting it off, its understandable, but now we’re down to it. We’ve been having crazy weather, so who knows what we’ll have for the rest of the Fall. We’ll be taking appointments seven days a week from here to the end of the year.
Inside view of one of our 5x7 Folded Cards (unfolded view)
Outside view of one of our 5x7 Folded Cards (unfolded view)
Back view of one of our 5x7 Flat Cards
Front view of one of our 5x7 Flat Cards
The State Fair of Texas, Kids, and Cameras
Yesterday I spent the day with my family at the State Fair of Texas. Normally, I don’t post personal photos on the Ivey Blog, but in this case I was thinking of all of our clients, friends and readers when I looked through the photos. As I stood and watched my 3 year-old son ride one over-priced ride after the other, I heard others complain how “expensive” it can be to take your family to the fair. And yes, I felt the same, for about 15 seconds…Until that smile came around the corner on the first “Flying Tigers” airplane ride (8 coupons for those wondering). Where else can you buy a lifetime of memories, a genuine moment of happiness, and 335 great photo opportunities for about 200 bucks? Lots of places I’m sure, but I found mine at the State Fair. Sure I spent more than I wanted to. Sure, I ate more than I needed to. And sure, I took more pictures than you probably will. But I got my memories, spent the day with my family, and got these great photos. Take your kids to the fair. Take your CAMERA with you. Get close, and shoot away. PS The Corny Dog was extra good this year 
.
Connor on the "Flying Tigers" ride - He really thinks he's flying this!
Connor and Grammy on something that looked like it would make you dizzy.
I swear this is the EXACT motorcycle ride that's been at the fair since I rode it in 1979.
This smile made the whole day worth it.
When a large raptor swoops over you at 40mph, you should pay attention.
MMMMM.....Cotton Candy
Camryn didn't let the noises on the Midway keep her from napping.
Fall Themed Portrait Mini Sessions October 10
This year we are mixing up our Fall Themed Mini Session event and getting out of the studio. We have partnered with Nicole Blackmon of Spoiled Rotten Children’s Boutique in Midlothian, and will be setting up our fall themed set at her home-based store. Appointments are available starting at 9am on Saturday October 10th. Each session is 15 minutes, and there is no session fee. We’ll be offering a great set of packages starting at just $49. Its a great chance to bring the kids out to a great little boutique store, meet Nicole and all of her vendors at this once a year event. We’ll be there with a great Fall Set in Nicole’s back yard (with permission from the weather). Nicole will be managing all of the appointments this year and you can reach her by email at spoiledrottencb@yahoo.com. You can also see her blog and her really cute clothing line at spoiledrottencb.blogspot.com. Nicole has several great vendors coming in and the whole day should be very exciting. We’re excited to get our studio out on the road, and we hope to see you all there.
Free tickets to the Waxahachie Bridal Extravaganza
If you are planning to attend the Waxahachie Bridal Extravaganza, please stop by Ivey Studio. We have a limited number of complimentary tickets for a bride and a guest.
Meet us at the Waxahachie Bridal Extraveganza
We look forward to meeting you and showing off our best wedding, engagement, and bridal work at the Waxahachie Bridal Extravaganza. The event is September 20, and will be held at the Waxahachie Civic Center. We’ll have samples, specials, and our entire staff out to meet you. We’re unveiling several new products and we are very excited for you to see them. If you’ve been considering Ivey Photography as your wedding photographer, please stop by and see us. This is the only time of year we offer discounted packages and incentives on our wedding services. It is also a good chance to make a direct comparison of Ivey Photography to several other quality photographers in our area. Every bride who stops by will get a gift from us, just to say congratulations on your engagement.
My Three Aggies
Today my daughter started her Freshman year at Texas A&M. We marked the occasion by taking this photo of my two youngest, all decked out in Aggie gear. Congratulations to Chandler(’13). Good luck and Gig ‘Em! Love, Dad (’95), Angie(’94), Connor(’24) and Camryn(’27)!
In case you couldn’t figure out what the numbers are by our names, that’s our College Graduation Year
Chris Smith
972-723-2464 Studio
214-794-8101 Mobile
www.iveystudio.com
csmith@iveystudio.com
