Seventh Heaven: Mommy & Me Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to the Mullins Family, for adding one more little bundle of joy to their brood!

They are finding themselves in Seventh Heaven. :D



What a day we had!  Finding shelter from the wind, crossing our fingers that the rain would blow over, and then sunshine to finish up.  Such a crazy Michigan Spring it has been!  However, it did not dampen the children's spirits any.


or even their parents'....




And even amongst all that, we were able to capture some precious moments too.




I cannot wait to meet sweet little baby girl Mullins in a few weeks.  Good luck with the transition, guys!  May you all be joyfully blessed!  And a big thanks to my assistant Emily!  Couldn't have done it without you!

Amber

If you are interested in booking, please stop by Simply Portrayed and check out our current promos!
You can also visit us on Facebook; we appreciate your interest and support!  Thank you!

Mini-Session: Water for Africa

Woo-hoo!  Mini-sessions are here! 


Saturday, June 1st, 2013
10 session slots, from 10:00 am and finishing around 5:00 pm
$25 of the $45 session fee will be donated to Team World Vision, 
providing clean water to Africa
 through the Varacalli Family's Goal

The session includes:

30 minutes of session time
5 digital images, electronically delivered
private, online proofing gallery
and
printing release

Also, for donating to such a great cause, receive a free 5x7 print!

Sign up, rain or shine, let's do this!
Sessions will be done on-location in Livonia, Michigan

To book, email Amber at
simplyportrayed@gmail.com
or visit
www.facebook.com/simplyportrayed

We would love to reach our $250 goal to help provide
 clean water to Africa.  

Book today!

If you are unable to make a June 1st session, please contact me and we can work something out for this wonderful cause!  

*Gift Certificates or any other promotional giveaway cannot be used for this event.

Welcome Baby Charlie!

Thank heaven for little girls...they are too adorable!  
And thank heaven for patient Moms and Dads.
For they make my job even easier.  

Meet Little Miss Charlie.


sweet slumber
What a little sweetheart Charlie is!  I could not get over how awake she was for being so small.  
She loved showing off her eyes.


daddy's little girl
hello, big world

And snuggling with mommy.  She finally got cozy and settled.



Then, she snuggled with some of her special friends...



 Finally, she was a snug as a bug in a rug.

perfectly peaceful
Before I left, we even got to see a smile come out.  That always makes my day!  And of course, 
GO BLUE!

hail to the victors

Thank you to Mike and Joana for allowing me to spend a little time with your precious princess!  
She is absolutely perfect!






Welcome Baby Comben.

Waiting...it is not always what it is cracked up to be. 
 Surprise...now that is worth waiting for. 

mom & dad awaiting their surprise

Meet Jess and Matt.  They know all about waiting vs. surprise.  They waited nine months to find out the sex of their baby...what troopers!  And I had the pleasure of meeting their new little one of few weeks ago.  Please help me welcome Master Ben.

peaceful little man

smiley boy
the joy of mommy


















sweet slumber

What a sweetheart he is!  On the day of the shoot, he was so snuggly and content, even though he had a little bit of a tough time adjusting to his new surroundings during the photo session...

baskets are hard to connect with sometimes
But Mommy knew exactly what to do.
shushing at its best <3

And Ben settled right down.

half-smile
When it was time to move, Daddy helped too.


Congratulations to the three of you!
  I look forward in watching Ben grow. 
we make three

Giveaways: Celebrate "100"!

Yesterday, I hit a major milestone & I would love to give back a BIG thanks!  For all the fans out there, enter to win TWO $50 gift certificates, one for you and one for a friend!  

make sure you have "liked" the fan page when you enter

This giveaway is especially for those who have become a fan of Simply Portrayed.  I want to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to everyone who has visited the fan page and has become a fan.  It means the world to me, so thank you!  

Here is how to enter:

1.  Make sure you have "liked" the fan page
2.  Send a message to the fan page including your name and a friend's name 
3.  Tell your friend to enter too...this way there are more chances for you to win!
4.  Visit back on March 17th, when the winner will be announced.

Good Luck to everyone!  And spread the word...the more fans, the more giveaways!  
I love giving back!

Amber Gregg
owner and photographer of Simply Portrayed

Also, check out the official rules and details at 


The Expecting Combens

I had a lovely winter meeting with Jess and Matt one blustery February day.  They are expecting their very first bundle of joy soon and they have decided to keep the gender of their new addition a surprise!  


How exciting!




Meeting these two was such a pleasure.  They are so very much in love and it was so easy getting that to relay through the camera.  Laughter and smiles completely surrounded Jess and Matt as we went through the photo session.  They truly were a joy to shoot.








And who could forget that lovely little peanut?  Well, wouldn't you know it, today they added one more into their growing little family....lil' Master Comben.



Congratulations, Jess and Matt on your beautiful little boy!  You guys did it!  Enjoy this time of getting to know each other.  I wish you all the best.



Showcase Collection: Blue Skies

Growing up, I loved watching the movie White Christmas with my mother.  The song "Blue Skies" would often times be stuck in my head as it was referenced once or twice in the film.  However, it wasn't really until recently that I have come to appreciate the blueness of sky.  Sure I love a sunny, cloudless day just as much as everyone else...but, a photo session with a blue sky background...now we're talking!

There is something that pushes me to capture nature as it is...and rarely does nature produce an overexposed sky.  Cloudy sky...yes.  Overexposed sky...no.  And yes, everyone wants their subjects to look a-ma-zing, but I also want to work hard to show all the beauty found in the nature around them.  So, here is my first showcase collection:  

Blue Skies



Blue skies smiling at me...




             
  nothing but blue skies...


blue skies...


do I see...



keep smiling and get out and enjoy those blue skies!

Intro To Giveaways: Mommy & Me!

Free stuff is exciting!  

I love when I receive something extra just because.  A little note, flowers, an unexpected comment or words of encouragement...who doesn't?   I want to be able to put that into my business as well.  
So here we go, new in 2013...introducing Giveaways!

Giveaway #1:  Mommy & Me Session

Exciting News for all those Metro Detroit Mommies-to-be!

enter to win before 2/13/2013

Send me an email, simplyportrayed@gmail.com, or send a message via Facebook to enter to win two sessions: 
a 30 minute maternity & a 30 minute newborn. 
Enter by 2/13/2013 
the lucky mommy will be announced on Valentine's Day!

Entering is simple.  Tell me a little bit about yourself, a loved one or friend and how this giveaway would be special for you or them! 

As always, thanks for your support & keep checking back for more Giveaways from Simply Portrayed!

Check out all the promos at Simply Portrayed

UPDATE:  The winner of the "Mommy & Me" Giveaway was Carrie Mullins!  Congratulations to this soon-to-be-Mommy of Five! :D

Because adults need portraits too!

I am so excited to be starting my official 1st full year venturing out in photography.  The past 6 months have been a wonderful journey, but I am super pumped to see what this year has in store.  I am hoping to see some familiar faces throughout the coming year, as well as some new ones!  I can't say it enough, I really love working with children and families!

And, who could forget, adults too!  It is funny, most people assume that booking a photo session is entirely reserved for events, couples and families...perhaps a pet or two every now and then.  But, towards the end of last year, I ran into quite a few adults that told me it has been a very long time since they had their picture taken. I suffer from that myself--as I am usually on the other end of my camera--but, it can be nice to have a portrait or two just of yourself!  And these ladies pulled it off very well, don't you think?  







A year in review...

I have had a blast this year.  Each photo session spent with my clients has been amazing!  I enjoyed meeting new and old faces, working with families, and branching out in ways I had never expected.  It has been a fabulous year...but where did it go?  Time has flown, the year is over, and yet, the memories will be forever captured in print...the blessings of photography.

a year in review
I cannot believe that we are saying goodbye to 2012!  This has been a year of growth for both my business and family.  My husband is persistently working to get through nursing school and adjusting to new clinical schedules every 7 weeks...I am so proud of him!  Through this, I have been venturing out on my own, trying to tackle this "new business" thing and I have been really pleased with everyone's response and support...thank you!  Also, I could not have done this without the support of my husband and parents (both sets), and also my second pair of hands, Ms. Emily.  You all have made such a difference this year and for that I am forever grateful.


a sampling from Franklin Community Preschool picture day,
Ms. Emily, my assistant & (of course!) Louie the monkey

What an adventurous year this has been (we even survived the Mayans!).  In a way, I am slightly saddened to see it close.  But with new beginnings come new opportunities and ideas, and that is one thing that I am really excited for.  I cannot wait to see what 2013 has in store for me, my husband, my family and my business.  I really could not have started this thing without you and your interest!  I treasure every person I've met along the way and cannot wait for what the new year holds.


my dearest family (some not pictured...camera shy, I'll get 'em one of these days)


Best wishes to all.  I'll see you on the other side of 2012...
camera in hand.
  
Amber Gregg, owner and photographer at Simply Portrayed

O-N-E!

I love capturing milestones.  Birthdays, firsts, accomplishments...these are all very special times and there is something so exciting about putting it into a picture.  A moment to be captured forever.  Earlier this month, I was able to meet Mr. Miles as he met his 12 month milestone.  He is such a little cutie and a mighty mover...he was all over the place!  Happy Birthday, Miles!  Here's to being the big ONE!



birthday boy

Sunny, but chilly!

In the beginning of November, I had the opportunity to work with two amazing families.   I was so looking forward to meeting them all, having met a couple of their children at Franklin Community Preschool for picture day.  


williams family
williams kiddos
It was a blast, especially that cold blast of 
pre-winter weather...32 degrees....burr!  But, we found a bit of sun down by the beach and snapped a few family shots while we could.   


happy hunters
Considering the circumstances, I couldn't have asked for better subjects.  Thank you Hunter and Williams Families, it truly was such a pleasure working with all of you!  Thank you for braving the freezing temperatures and being so patient; it was so appreciated!   
the hunters