The photo I responded to is this:

And here is my response, which I took with my iPhone 4s using the Camera Awesome app:

April 18–20th, Jesse Valley Photography will participate with an elite group of photographers around the country in a very special portrait promotion. During that time we will be providing a wonderful opportunity for you to update portraits of yourself and any family members you wish. In doing so, you will help to support Operation Smile, which provides free surgeries for children around the world who suffer with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.

Along with other members of Professional Photographers of America (PPA), we are offering the gift of an individual portrait session and a desk-size portrait in exchange for a $24 donation to PPA Charities, which has chosen Operation Smile as its charitable partner. For every 10 individuals we photograph, another child will receive the gift of surgery! It costs as little as $240 for Operation Smile’s medical volunteers to provide a life-saving surgery that can take as little as 45 minutes. One hundred percent of each donation will go to Operation Smile.

We also believe that our Celebration of Smiles event is a wonderful way to teach children the value of reaching out to others. Even small children can understand the importance of Operation Smile’s work, and they are eager to help these needy children. We hope you will join with us in helping to make this vital work possible, and we promise to create a portrait that you will treasure.

To schedule your session appointment, which will take place at the Rose Garden at Lake Harriet, please call us today at 612/382.2867.

My meal was a breakfast quesadilla, and Toby was eating his dog food.

Jesse Valley Photography (JVP) wants you to be a Model for us. Why? Pretty simple. We’re looking for more high school students who want to take advantage of our unique senior photos. So what’s in it for you? Just a few small things like:

A FREE Model session

A FREE Buddy shoot

A FREE Signature session (up to three hours of photography, at a location of your choice).

A FREE Family session

Photos from your sessions posted on Facebook and in other ads.

And that’s not all.

After your model shoot, you’ll also receive JVP materials to hand out to your friends and classmates. Plus, you can earn cash and prizes (including an iPad 3!).

REMINDER: Deadline for applications is March 7, 2012.

Interested? Think you’ve got what it takes?

Go to www.jessevalley.com/models to apply.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jesse Valley Photography Receives 2011 Best of Minneapolis Award

U.S. Commerce Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement

NEW YORK, NY, December 14, 2011—Jesse Valley Photography has been selected for the 2011 Best of Minneapolis Award in the Photographers category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2011 USCA Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

You can read the entire press release by clicking here.

About U.S. Commerce Association (USCA)

U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a New York City based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Commerce Association

UPDATE: I also found out that they used a picture of the wedding party skipping rocks that I photographed in their current brochure! Here is a photo of it that I just took with my iPhone.

Photographing Sarah and Vic’s wedding was a lot of fun. It was a hot and steamy day (so much so that my camera lens fogged up when we left the reception), but they were great sports as we trekked through downtown Minneapolis for some last pictures. I always love it when I get to do some special portraits with the bride and groom alone, and I know it is memorable for them too. The other fun thing from this wedding was doing my first PhotoBooth (which you can read about by clicking here).

The following is a time-lapse video I made from the pictures:

I have posted the pictures I took of the event here. As an added bonus for The Pet Project, I am donating the proceeds from any print sales.

As a quick aside, I love how much fun the little girl had with the PhotoBooth, and I can imagine that it would be a big hit at children’s birthday parties (give me a call if you are interested: 612-382-2867).

Thank you to all of the vendors who contributed to the event, and especially to all the people and pets that came out to the opening. I have also teamed up with the Pet Project for my annual Portraits with Pets event. You can read more about it (and schedule a pet session), by clicking here.

They say it’s better to give than to receive, so why not do both?

Enjoy giving and receiving in October during Family Portrait Month. For every family session booked, we’ll give a $50 donation to Operation Smile and you’ll receive $50 off your session.

HOW TO BOOK YOUR SESSION:

Because of a busy wedding season this fall, weekend sessions are very limited. Call 612.382.2867 ASAP with your calendar and credit card handy. To reserve your session, you’ll pay the $100 session fee (normally $150) and $200 deposit. Weekday sessions can be at any location within 20 miles of Minneapolis. Or if you would like a weekend session, choose your location and date below:

October 2 at Westwood Nature Center (morning sessions only)

October 9 at Minnehaha Falls (morning sessions only)

October 15 or 16 at Lake Harriet Rose Garden

October 22 or 23 at the MN Landscape Arboretum

October 29 or 30 at St. Anthony/Main

To see more of my portraiture, please visit my portfolio by clicking here.

Have you ever wanted to have family portraits taken with your beloved pet? “Portraits With Pets” is an opportunity to have portraits taken of—and with—your pets. The entire $50 session fee (regularly $100) from each photo session will be donated to The Pet Project. Additionally, if you bring an unopened bag of pet food or a new/gently used pet toy, you will get a set of free wallets with your order ($34 value).

These hour long sessions will take place the following two weekend days in September (additional pet sessions during the work week available by appointment):

September 11 from 9 am–5 pm at Oak Hill Park in St. Louis Park.

September 25 from 9 am–5 pm at Lake Harriet in Minneapolis.

All sessions need to be reserved in advance. Sessions are on a first call, first reserve basis. So call today to reserve your session—612-382-2867. For your convenience, your portraits will be available for online ordering.

Click here to see more samples of my pet photography.