Fall 2011 luncheon

Hard to believe we are turning the calendar to September in the morning!! I hope you have all had a wonderful season so far and wish you great luck as you push through to the end! Need a little motivation?

Instead of our usual fall brunch, I thought it would be great fun to check out Maine based travel spa I Do Spas to unwind and work out those kinks in our backs and feet! They bring the equipment, music, even robes and slippers! You bring those aching muscles and a brunch-type eat to share.

Mark your calendars now as this event has limited availability and reply with the spa service you would like from the options below. Payment is required in full 10 days before the event (this might be the best business meeting write-off yet!).

Package #1
Ultimate Spa $125
Facial, Massage, Pedicure & Manicure

Package #2
Spa Day $90
Massage, Pedicure & Manicure

Package #3
Nail Spa $55
Pedicure & Manicure

A la carte Services
Facial $45
Massage $45
Pedicure $45
Manicure $30

Each service is 30 minutes. Appointments will depend on services booked, starting at 9a. Please list your time preference and we will try to accommodate.

Maine PUG September agenda

A year and a half ago I was approached to lead a monthly group of local wedding photographers who also use Pictage, the online image hosting and professional lab I have used since 2003! I gladly accepted and opened the group up to all photographers, not just wedding photographers and not just photographers who use the Pictage service. We've had round-table discussions with magazine editors, commercial and stock photographers, other top notch wedding industry vendors, lighting and gear demonstrations, and even legal advice. I am proud of the range of topics covered and depth of information shared with our close knit community. I am also insanely busy and therefore will be passing the torch after next Tuesday, my final meeting as host.

Photographers: Months in the making, we're so happy that Justin and Mary Marantz will be joining us from Connecticut on September 6th at 7p to discuss tips for attracting and booking clients like you. A perfect pep talk as we head into the fall booking season! Please RSVP asap as this meeting will be limited to 25 people.

Look forward to seeing you next week!

2011 season assistants

Angela DiPhilippo and Beth Lorden have both contacted me to let our group know they are available to assist or second shoot for you this season. Feel free to contact them directly about your photography needs.

Spring 2011 luncheon recap

Last week Maine's best women wedding photographers met for our bi-annual lunch at Vignola in Portland. Just before lunch we visited Cindy and Randy at Body of Work in South Portland for a brief training session to learn some stretching and core exercises to help us better prepare for lifting our gear and the long days on our feet photographing weddings. Cindy has been my personal trainer for the last five years and I definitely give her all the credit for helping to keep my body strong for this physically demanding profession. It was a fantastic afternoon! Thanks for coming, ladies!

Spring 2011 luncheon

Whew! What a winter! Happy that we've begun our spring thaw and looking forward to wedding season!

On Thursday, April 28th, please join us at Body of Work, 161 Ocean Street in South Portland, at 11a and then we'll head across the bridge to lunch for our 12 noon reservation at Vignola at 10 Dana Street in Portland.

In addition to our usual lunch, personal trainer Cindy Gotts of Body of Work in South Portland will be leading a complimentary group session to share some strength training exercises and stretches so that we may all be better prepared for carrying our gear and help soothe those aching muscles after each wedding this summer.

Please check your inbox for your Evite (or request one from photo [at] emilieinc [dot] com) and note in your RSVP if you will be attending both the training session (comfortable street clothes are fine) and lunch (we'll have individual checks and will order off the regular lunch menu).

Associates, assistants and office staff are welcome. Please RSVP no later than Monday, April 25th. Look forward to seeing you soon!

Maine spring PUG agenda

Happy March Maine Photographers!

It's almost Spring and clients will be coming! Time to brush up on those lighting skills! As I'm still on maternity leave, please join Beth Fitzgerald for the PUG group on Wednesday, March 16th at 7pm at Blush Imagery Photo Studio, 28 Maple Street, 3rd Floor, Portland, Maine. Location lighting guru Brian Fitzgerald of Fitzgerald Photo will lead a full tutorial on balancing multiple lights and modifiers in the studio and on-location. Bring your camera, if you want to shoot along. Plus, a membership to the Maine Wedding Company for a year (a $275 value) will be given away as a door prize so bring your biz card! Drinks and snacks will be provided. Open to all photographers.

Upcoming PUGs:

Wednesday, April 20th: Meet Mary Jo Brown, publisher and creative director of Seacoast Bride Magazine and Melanie Brooks, editor of Real Maine Weddings Magazine for tips on how to get your wedding images published.

Wednesday, May 18th: A round table discussion with a local accountant, trademark lawyer and business lawyer to chat about taxes, Quickbooks, registering your logo, the benefits of incorporating your business, and more!

Wednesday, June 15th: J Sandifer of liveBooks shares the inside scoop on how to create a user-intuitive website and secrets of SEO.

For more information and to RSVP, please contact Nicole at photo [at] emilieinc [dot] com.

Maine PUG January agenda

Happy New Year, photographers!!

Given that I may be in the hospital during our January PUG, Beth Fitzgerald of Blush Imagery has offered to host the PUG for a few months so I can get settled with baby.

Join the group for a gismo and gadget share on Wednesday, January 19th at 7pm at Beth's Blush Imagery Studio, 28 Maple Street, 3rd Floor, Portland, Maine. 207-899-5585. Drinks and snacks provided. Beth will lead a fun discussion on favorite camera equipment, studio equipment, gadgets and gismos to excite you for the New Year. Bring your favorite thingy-ma-bob for show and tell. Let's share our best and worst photo purchases with each other to avoid spending too much in 2011.

Please RSVP to this event at beth@blushimagery.com.

Open to all Maine photographers.