New Updates, Additions, Specials, & Promos...
First off, today May 1st, is the beginning of the official Military Appreciation Month. This coming Friday, May 4th, is also Military Spouse Appreciation Day. Be sure to thank these heroes (and their spouses who stand by them) for their service and sacrifices! It can be something simple like paying for their coffee at the local coffee shop or something more like paying for their family's dinner at the local restaurant. A tank of gas, a soda, or just a heartfelt handshake to say "Thank You". Our men and women in uniform, as well as their spouses, deserve the recognition!!!

And with that said, ANY member of the military - active, reserves, or retired from - is getting my own version of appreciation. Any portrait session booked for a military member in the month of May will be done 100% free of charge (LOL, that was a lot of "m"s). You don't have to be deploying or coming home from a deployment, as per the OpLove guidelines. This is my own biz offering you a gift to show my appreciation. In addition, you will receive a free sheet of wallet prints (8-poses) and 25% off anything you want to order. No purchase obligations or restrictions.  :)

Next up, my Senior Rep Recruiting. I am starting to recruit my Senior Reps for 2013. If you are an upcoming senior or know anyone who is, please pass along this info! Approved Senior Reps get a free session, free prints, discounts, and credits for each referral. I'm looking for outgoing and active students. For more info and the application, please visit my Senior Rep page linked from the top or click here: http://awilkesphoto.blogspot.com/p/seniors.html

One last thing...I have TONS of sessions to get caught up on posting. Please know that I am working as fast as I can on getting them onto my blog and other social media sites. As of right now, I am running about 2 weeks behind on just processing session pics. I promise to get you updated ASAP, but if I happen to miss you, please let me know!  :)

Thanks, hugs, and much love to my loyal clients and fans!!

Session Giveaways

Yes it happens very rarely, but I am giving away 8-Mini Sessions for FREE to be held on April 21, 2012. Spread the word to all your friends and family for this very limited time offer.

Details:
Date: Saturday, April 21, 2012
Times: 9:30am to 7:00pm (see registration form for specific time slots)
Location: any public location in Edmond, OK
Includes: a FREE Mini Session, online private gallery for 30 days, a $30 print credit, and up to 5 images to be posted on my Facebook biz page for you to "tag" yourself. There is no obligation or pressure to purchase anything additional.
The Catch: you must complete the Model Release form allowing me full use of your photos for my portfolio and advertising. Also, a portion of your session will be focused on certain new session ideas (see Registration From for more details).
Registration Link: www.angela-wilkes.com/machform/view.php?id=12

Now for the "Why" behind this full day of Free Sessions that I am offering. Several of my colleagues, family, and friends are questioning that very thing. Well to the you the truth, there are a couple of reasons. One is that I have been soooo swamped with bookings lately that I haven't had the chance to consider or try the many new creative ideas that keep me up at night. Another reason is that I work so much with our military (OpLove) clients that it has seemingly taken over my creative processes. Which leads to a third reason...being stuck in a rut! It happens quite often with us creative mind people. Even with different people in different locations, it's still just the same thing...point, focus, click, & repeat. I can get the "popular poses" in the "popular locations" without a single thought. It has become automatic, which is why I closed my studio in the first place. It happened when I did mostly weddings, corporate, and now mostly military (OpLove) sessions. I am very busy, and for that I am truly grateful. However, my creativeness seems to be hiding lately. I have tons of fabulous ideas but no chance to test them. So here we are...8 Free Session Giveaways on a single day. You will be my test models, and I will provide incentives for allowing me to use you as such.

It's the Easter Bunny!

Time is running out to book your Easter session. I have a few slots open for the afternoon of Saturday, March 10th. I have also opened up my schedule on Saturday, March 24th to allow for the numerous last-minute requests. This will be the last day available for Easter sessions in 2012. Space is very limited, so book your session asap!

The Easter Special is $75 and includes:
* 30-minute Mini Session at a local park or your home
* Props - big stuffed bunny, Easter eggs, Easter basket, and more (possibly a few baby chicks)
* Private online gallery for 30 days
* Custom disk of your 10 favorite digital images, fully-edited, with print rights
* 16-wallet prints with selectable photos for each
* A chance to win a FREE 5x7 ThinWrap Canvas Print (drawing held during your session)

To book your session or inquire about availability, please contact me at angela@angela-wilkes.com or call/text me at (405) 923-0290.

Winter Market

I just finished the "Fancy! and Friends Winter Market" at the Edmond Museum. It was the first year for the show, but I thought that it seemed to go smoothly! I met several great vendors, potential clients, and got to reunite with some old neighbors that I grew up with. :) I also got to brag about OpLove and all our recent publicity! I made several new contacts in that regards. And a big CONGRATULATIONS to Joy Murphy for winning my free family photo session during the event drawing! I look forward to hearing from you about our 2012 session!!!

Note to Miss Shandee: I received TONS of compliments on your photo! Numerous people said that it was such a great photo. Then they said, "She is just beautiful." Of course, I was very proud at that point because 1) it is a great photo, even if I do say so myself,  and 2) you are beautiful (which I already knew, but am so happy that I got to show others too). Then a few people commented on what I took as the Pièce de résistance...they asked, "Is that your daughter?" Really, OMG & LOL! I was very proud that it was my photo and very proud that I displayed your beauty in its truest form, but then to be complimented enough that they also thought I was your mom...WOW, that must mean that they think I'm pretty "easy on the eyes" too! I was on cloud nine for a few mins.  :)  Your parents must be sooo proud to have raised such a beautiful daughter - on the outside, but more importantly on the inside!

Luckily, my dad came to see me today, the 2nd day of the show, and helped me put my banner up. (It was too tall for the table and there was nothing to rope it to around the sides.) So, lots of scotch tape to the rescue!!!! My booth looked 100 times better with it up, but alas it fell about 10 minutes after daddy left. I tried everything to put it back in place but no luck!   :(

I do want to thank Kristin and Angel for inviting me to the market. It's been a few years since I agreed to do a show, but I was happy to be a part of this one! And to anyone that is in the market for an Event & Party Planner...check out their website here: Fancy Like That!. I also met a local lady that does some fabulous crochet (I got an awesome headband/ear cover thing), so I can hook you up if you are in the market!!!

Be sure to stop by and see me at the Winter Market this weekend!

Don't forget to enter my drawing for a FREE family session in 2012, as well as picking up some free promo items. I will also have Gift Certificates, Photo Snow Globes, and Mini Photo Ornaments available for immediate purchase.

Fancy! and Friends Winter Market

EVENT DATE/TIME
Dec 9, 2011 to Dec 10, 2011
Friday, Dec 9th from 1:00 - 5:00 pm
Saturday, Dec 10th from 1:00 - 4:00 pm


DESCRIPTION
Hosted by Fancy Like That! This sale offers jewelry, fine art, photography, massages and more!


Features photographer Angela Wilkes who was featured on the Today Show & NBC Nightly News highlighting the organization, OpLove, which photographs soldiers and their families before and after being deployed.


LOCATION
Edmond Historical Society & Museum
431 S Boulevard
Edmond, OK


ADDITIONAL INFO
Phone 405-401-0736
Contact email FancyLikeThat@gmail.com

BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL

Black Friday Specials for 3 days
Friday, November 25th at 12:01am until Sunday, November 27th at 11:59pm

Special A - Family Session + $50 Print Credit for $75 (more than 50% off)

Special B - Boudoir Session + Free Pin-Up Calendar for $75

Special C - BOGO (buy one get one) Prints Only for $25, $50, $75, and $100 denominations

Don't delay...these HUGE discounts are only available for 3 days! Go to the "Gifts" page (link at the top) to secure your Black Friday Special.

The "Oh, Baby!" September Special

I am attempting another shot at running monthly and/or seasonal specials. I know I've been lax on setting my promos and specials for the last year. I really wish I had more time to promo my own biz but instead life, kids, and OpLove seems to have taken precedence yet again. So, here is my latest attempt to get back on track...my new special for September..."Oh, Baby!"

September 2011 is "Oh, Baby!" month. This special is for pregnant women in their 2nd or 3rd trimester who want a Maternity Session. All sessions must occur in the month of September to receive the promo despite the actual booking date. Immediate family members are welcome to attend/participate in the session. So what do you get?? A FREE maternity session at any location you choose within the Metro area, in addition to 10% off any prints or products ordered. What's the catch?? Nada, Nothing, Nil, Zip, Zilch, Zero!!! And here's an added bonus...booked sessions will also receive an entry into the drawing for a free birthing session and a free 3"x3" Brag Book. PLUS for every $50 spent on prints and products, you will receive an additional entry into the drawing (held on Oct 10th).

Interested?? Contact me to schedule your session. Sessions are booked based on availability, and space will fill up quickly. So, show me your best "Oh, Baby" belly.   :)

Wanted: Senior Reps

I still need a few Senior Reps in some of the local high schools (Edmond, Deer Creek, Guthrie, & NW OKC). Free Senior Session for you, good compensation for your hard work, and a perk or two throughout the year!!! For more info and a list of schools, visit my site (currently being updated) here: http://www.angela-wilkes.com/site/#/seniors/sessions/  and here: http://www.angela-wilkes.com/site/#/seniors/senior-reps/

I do not discriminate on race, religion, sexual orientation, or anything else. If you are personable and outgoing based on your app, then you will make it to the interview stage at least. Any applicants of interest will be contacted for an in-person interview, which will be very relaxed. (I hate formal, stressful situations myself.) If you are selected as a Rep, parental consent is required via an in-person meeting or a phone call just to ensure that everyone knows all the specific expectations and compensations.

This is basically the "last call" for Reps before the final "Last Call" of sessions for the 2012 Seniors. Good luck, and I look forward to meeting & working with you all!

New Business Cards...

Yayyy, check it out!! I have finally got my new biz cards after over 7 years of the same old, hum-drum cards. And I now have a "digital" business card too, which I am told is the latest thing for businesses. You can see my digital card by clicking here or you can click the v-card icon at the bottom center of this blog. Now that I have confirmed the new printer's quality and how the colors actually look together in print, there will be more matching promo stuff coming soon: brochures, packaging, postcards, and more!

If everything goes as planned, I will be releasing my new type of session within the next week. It's fun and quirky and has the potential to be whatever you can imagine! I will also be offering some awesome specials (maybe even a few FREEBIES) with the announcement. So...be sure to stay up-to-date on my blog (you can subscribe at the bottom left).

Tell me about your Special Day

I have just reinstated the "Special Day" feature on my blog. Please tell me about your special day: a birthday, an anniversary, or something else that is important to you. If your special occasion fits our criteria, you will receive a FREE GIFT from us in honor of your day. The gift may be a free session, free prints, or likewise - and is redeemable for up to 60 days. An email will be sent to you on the 1st day of your occasion month with the details of your gift. Please note that any and all gifts are non-transferable, not redeemable for cash/credit, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotions, discounts, or special offers. You have nothing to lose, and a lifetime of precious memories to gain. So sign up now by visiting the "Your Special Day" page on this blog (link at the top center).