Recipe for Christmas All Year Long

Mason - A first Christmas memory...

Recipe for Christmas All Year Long

Take a heap of child-like wonder
That opens up our eyes
To the unexpected gifts in life—
Each day a sweet surprise.

Mix in fond appreciation
For the people whom we know;
Like festive Christmas candles,
Each one has a special glow.

Add some giggles and some laughter,
A dash of Christmas food,
(Amazing how a piece of pie
Improves our attitude!)

Stir it all with human kindness;
Wrap it up in love and peace,
Decorate with optimism, and
Our joy will never cease.

If we use this healthy recipe,
We know we will remember
To be in the Christmas spirit,
Even when it's not December.

By Joanna Fuchs

The Old Family Album

The Old Family Album
by Ethel K. Gosney

The old family album
Once was prominently displayed
With its cover of red velvet
Trimmed in gleaming silken braid.

Every parlor had a table
Filled with shells and a paperweight,
And the album of your ancestors
Anchored like a ship of state.

There were old tin types of Grandma,
Aunts and uncles and cousins too...
And Grandpa with his cane and derby,
Fancy vest and button shoes.

Yes, the old family album
Once held its rightful place
In an old-fashioned parlor
Amid souvenirs and lace.

So if you're tired of travel
And your world seems closing in...
Bring out the family album
With the tin types of your kin.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is the holiday of peace, the celebration of work and the simple life... a true folk-festival that speaks the poetry of the turn of the seasons, the beauty of seedtime and harvest, the ripe product of the year - and the deep, deep connection of all these things with God. ~Ray Stannard Baker (David Grayson)

As Thanksgiving is just around the corner, we wanted to thank you our clients and our friends for giving us the opportunity to capture those special moments in your lives. We look forward to serving you throughout the holidays and in the new year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gift certificates 50% off for the month of November

With the holidays quickly approaching, people are beginning to think about what gifts they would like to get for their family and friends. Maybe you have a sibling that's just had a baby, or perhaps you have a friend that has just gotten married, or maybe you can't figure out what to get your grandparents because they already seem to have everything. Portraits make a great gift for those that seem to already have all they need or desire.

For the month of November we are selling our gift certificates for 50% off...ie a $100.00 certificate is only $50.00. This is a gift that will continue to give throughout the years and is sure to become an instant family heirloom.

We also have a wide variety of new holiday products like porcelain or pewter holiday ornaments. AND, we are offering our portraits on customed designed jewelry such as pendants or charm bracelets

To view some of our past work please visit our website wwwbroylesportraits.com or you call us at 865-777-5683 to schedule a Getting-To-Know-You portrait consultation!

Here kitty, kitty,kitty...

Halloween can be so much fun, especially for little ones. Here is one of our favorite young subjects Blayke, dressed as an adorable kitten, celebrating her first Halloween.

Blayke's parents are participants in our Baby's First Year program. They came into our studio during their pregnancy and allowed us to capture images of the two of them Bonding Before Birth. After Blake was born we continue to capture memories - this is our third session.

The above images were created in our studio,backlit by Alien Bees lighting, photographed with a Nikon D200 at F11 with and ISO of 100

We have a wide variety of new products just in time for the holidays, our holiday family portrait sessions are filling quickly so if you are thinking about having family portraits taken then please call our studio 865-777-5683 to schedule a Getting to know you session. View more work at www.broylesportraits.com

Holiday portrait sessions...

It seems like every year the holidays come around more quickly than the year before.

We are scheduling Holiday Portrait sessions now so that you can have your portraits back in time to order Holiday gifts or cards for your loved ones.
We have several new products that we are featuring this year for holiday gifts such as silver ornaments or sterling silver charm bracelets or necklaces with your favorite image/images on them. These are sure to become an instant family heirloom and make great gifts for grandparents or even for yourself.

We've extended our holiday card campaign where you receive 5 free cards for every 25 cards that you order through the end of October!

Call our studio 865-777-5683 to schedule a complimentary Getting-to-Know You session where we can show you some of our past work and help you to create a wonderful family portrait session that will meet whatever needs you may have. You can also go to our website and view some of our past work at www.broylesportraits.com

Welcome Lexi

We would like to congratulate parents Alicia & Aaron on the newest addition to their family. Alicia recently gave birth to a beautiful little girl named Lexi.

Alicia & Aaron are participants in our Bonding Before Birth program. They came into our studio during their 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy and honored us with the opportunity to capture them interacting as a family before Lexi's birth. Lexi has a big sister named Lily and these portrait sessions allowed Lily to bond with her new baby sister as well.

After Lexi was born, the entire family came back into our studio to show off the new baby in a very casual portrait session that I'm sure will be treasured even more in the years to come.

The above images were captured at Michael Broyles Portrait Studio in the Renaissance|Farragut complex in Farragut, TN with a Nikon D200, at F10, with an ISO of 100,using a Tamaron lens of 28.0-75.0 mm f/2.8 on a dark grey muslin background.

Holiday Greeting Card Special

For most of us Summer has wound down, the kids are now back in school focusing on fall sports and what have you. Most of us are not yet thinking about the hectic husle and bustle of the holidays. With proper planning,the holidays do not have to be as hectic or stressful.

We are offering our clients an early bird holiday greeting card special. If you place your holiday greeting card order by October 15,2009 you will receive 5 free cards with every order of 25 cards purchased. This will also ensure that your holiday cards are back before Thanksgiving.

Call us 865-777-5683 to schedule your portrait appointment or to place a holiday gretting card order.

We now have a page on FaceBook. Become a fan of Michael Broyles Photography to receive details of our specials. Keep an eye out for our Fall Portrait in the Park promotion.

It's a Senior thing...

Senior portraits are about expressing who you are. When Mars came in, to have her senior portraits taken, she expressed that she wanted a more urban/grunge feel to her portraits.We made every effort to accomodate her and by doing so, we got some great images of her being herself. Which is really what senior portraits are all about.

By taking the clothing choices that Mars picked out and simply standing her next to a concrete wall with metal pipes we were able to really capture Mars' personality.

We are still looking for a few more senior ambassadors from Loudon, Lenoir City, Farragut and Hardin Valley high schools.

Being a senior ambassador has many perks, you get reduced pricing on your portraits and some cool free stuff just for letting us capture your personality.

If you are an upcoming senior or you know one then please contact our studio 865-777-5683 to find out how to become part of our Senior Ambassador Program

Two Portraits for the price of one...

Attention Clients:

My color lab has made me an unprecedented and limited time offer
(until Aug 14).

They have dropped their pricing. I want to pass this along to you.

Available on 16x20 or 8x10 prints! Order one print and you get a second portrait free (and it can be a different pose).

NOW IS YOUR TIME TO PURCHASE GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS!

Orders must be placed by Aug 14. Placing an order may require you stopping in to the studio to ensure the correct portraits are ordered. Please remember that we see our clients by appointment only.

If you have any questions please call 865-777-5683

Note: This cannot be used with any other discount

Michael Broyles

Baby's First Portrait

Bringing a baby in for their first portrait can be a daunting task.
The new parents aren't sure which outfits will look the best on their little one or how to position the baby to make him/her the most comfortable. The stress and anxiety of Baby's First Portrait session sometimes outweighs the fact that the new parents are creating a cherished memory with their little one.

We want the new parents and their new baby to be as comfortable and relaxed as possible. This is why we provide a complimentary Getting-To-Know-You consultation as part of any portrait session that we do. This allows our new parents to come into our studio and view some of our work and discuss what they want to take away from their portrait experience. Often, we discuss appropriate clothing and background choices and it this time together helps lessen the stress and anxiety that many new parents feel about their portrait session.

This consultation also gives us the opportunity to explain the different Baby's First Year programs that we have available and we can discuss the portrait sizes and to whom they want to give the portraits. We've found that our Getting-To-Know-You consultations also help us to begin building a relationship with this new family.

If you are looking to have portraits of your new baby or even a family portrait, please call our studio 865-777-5683 to schedule your Getting-To-Know-You portrait consultation. You can view our past work at www.broylesportraits.com

The Gibson Family

Last week the Gibson family came into have Blayke's portrait taken. My how this little one has grown. She's sitting up now and saying small words. It seems like she was tiny just a few weeks ago. Where has the time gone?