The Secret Sauce

Sounds simple enough, right?  It really is... And my secret sauce is delicious and fun and fulfilling.  I know you'll love every minute of it. 

If you know that you would love to have a very different photography experience, give me a call.  I'd love to speak with you and find out all of the amazing things about your family that makes your heart sing.  My number is 240-766-8966.

Dream - Discover - Create - Display (2 minute read)

Over the years, I’ve come across a lot of moms who stress over all the things about getting ready for their photographs:  the clothes, the background, the kids, the partner… so much to manage!  No wonder so many Moms of Two think to themselves, “Oh, there’s so much going on, I’ll just do it Next Time.”

Before you know it, Next Time comes, and goes, and guess what?  It keeps getting pushed away, with a vague sort of intention.  Eight years and two children later, there are no photographs on the walls of the whole family, when your second child was two.

Moms of Four now have no photographs of smiling parents and children, gathered together in the safe haven of a loving embrace, on the wall, for everyone to see.  Do the younger children ever wonder if they were just dropped off one day?

Moms, I give you permission to dream about having a beautiful family photography experience.  I give you permission to stress less over outfits and locations.  I even give your partner permission to enjoy the time together.

Discovering what is most important to you is the beginning of your journey.  Take this time to savor each family member, and soak them in.  Reconnect with your partner, discuss more about life than the bills.  Coming together as individuals who interact with each other genuinely will be more evident in your artwork when approached in this fashion.

Planning your photography experience, photographing exactly what you want, and creating artwork that is perfect for your home are the next steps.  This is necessary, because without this crucial part, all we have is a potpourri of photographs that we don't know what to do with, and then it becomes a mundane moment.  The magic can only come when the steps are followed.

Finally, the best day comes, and that is when I deliver your artwork to your home.   As you open each piece and lovingly touch them, you'll recall what it was like that day, with the warm sun on your shoulders and your children’s giggles ringing on the breeze.  You’ll fall in love with your family all over again.  As the artwork goes up on your wall, you'll fall in love again.  And every time you pass it by, you'll fall in love again, and again.

You see, the artwork on your walls can truly impact your life, and each of your family members' lives.  Let this artwork be a guide for your family, to remind you of how you love each other, even when times are tough. With artwork, it's easy to be able to feel that love, every single day.

And that's all that matters, right?

First Family Portrait Session

Born to be Wild!

Here's the continuing saga of Sweet Michael!

Daddy Rides a Harley!

Proud big sister!

Did I mention that they are Packers' Fans?

Early Bird Fall Leaves Special Offer!!!

You don't want to miss this.  It's ONLY good for the first 10 callers.

Call NOW.

Don't forget:

Cute Kids Contest! The Month of June, 2014

As another way to celebrate our first anniversary, we will be running a children "Cute Kids Contest"

Please read the rules and regulations below.  This contest will be done through the blog of my website.

Rule #1: Entries are limited to one snapshot per family. If you have more than one child that you would like to enter, please consider the siblings category for ages 0-18 years. 

Rule #2: Photo MUST be a snapshot. Retouching is NOT allowed. If you take photos of your child and do anything more in Photoshop or any other editing program than resizing and sharpening, your submission will be invalid. The snapshot must show surroundings and not depict a backdrop.

Rule #3: One vote per person only. You must be 18 or older to vote. Any suspicious Facebook accounts will be checked into. Cheating is NOT allowed and will result in immediate deletion of image and therefore your entry. 

Rule #4: You must be a Facebook Fan of Honey Bee Photography and remain so through the duration of the contest

Rule #5: How to Vote:  Each contestant will have his or her own entry on the blog.  During the times of voting, a person will be able to vote ONCE.  You will type VOTE under that person's photograph.  Please be honest by voting only once and don't create several accounts for your children and yourself.  That will not be tolerated.

Rule #6: Negative or disparaging comments will not be tolerated and you will be removed from the contest. That said, comments in the albums begging for votes will result in disqualification as well. 

Rule #7: If these rules cannot be followed by entries and voters alike, your entry will be disqualified and removed. Please advise your family and friends to keep their comments to themselves and just vote. 

Rule #8: Drama will NOT be tolerated. I have the final say on every aspect of this contest as I am the owner of Honey Bee Photography. 

Rule #9: Anyone who has won a session with HBP in the past 6 months may not combine winnings with this contest, or with any other discount. 

Photos are to be submitted by email ONLY to meganmartineau6@gmail.com. Photos posted on my page will not be accepted/entered into contest. Photos must be received no later than 11:59 pm June 14, 2014.. When you email your image, please include the name and age of your child(ren), as well as YOUR contact info as a way to get in touch with you if you are a winner. If this information is not included, your submission is invalid. 

The categories are as follows: 1. 0-18 months. 2. 19 months to 4 years. 3. 5-10 years. and 4. Siblings 0-18 years.   Albums will not be created and displayed until voting is supposed to start. Snapshots must portray the child's/children's current age. 

Voting will begin at midnight 12:00 am East Coast time on June 20, 2014 and conclude at 11:59 pm East Coast time on June 25, 2014

As a warning:  There may be some twists and turns along the way with the voting, as this is definitely a GAME.  Please expect that there will be at least one thing that will happen. 

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There will be 3 levels of winners. The first level is the over-all most votes in any category. The second level will be category winners with the most votes in each respective category. The overall winner will NOT be included in the category winner level. The third level is the category runner-up. 

Prizes will be as follows. Grand Prize will go to the over-all winner and includes a one-hour regular family photo-session including 4 people (if more than 4 are in the family, winner is to provide payment for additional subjects at $10 per person), and a $200.00 print credit. Anything ordered over $200.00 will be paid for by the winning family along with all shipping costs. The Grand Prize is valued at $250.00.

Category winners will each win a half hour session of the winner (meaning the person(s) in the snapshot entry) and your favorite image in an 11x14. This prize is valued at $110.00

Category runners'-up will receive a half-hour session of the winner (meaning the person(s) in the snapshot entry). This prize is valued at $40.00. No portraits are included. 

Upcoming Auction for Family Photo Sessions for this Summer

Hello Fans and Friends!

We are coming up on the first Anniversary for Honey Bee Photography's official opening, and we are excited!

One way that we will be celebrating is by doing an online auction, right here on my blog!

This is how an auction works.  At a given time, I will announce what the auction is for and will start taking bids at xyz amount.  I'll hold the auction for 6 minutes so that it gets really exciting.  I will let you know at the end of bidding one of two things:  either that a person won the auction, or that the reserve was not met.  The winner gets contacted by me personally, right away to make the payment and talk about scheduling.  I will probably do 4 auctions in an hour's time, a few nights during the week of June 1, 2014.

I did an auction several years ago in 2010 when we lived in Anchorage, and it was extremely successful  I want to do this again!

BUT I NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT.

How can I do that?

By asking you, my fans and friends, to spread the word, and send the link to this blog post to everyone!  There are a few things they have to do to participate in the auction.

1. They need to go to like my page on Facebook.
2.  They need to check out my website and find a favorite image of their's and share it on FB.
3.  They need to be present at the auction at the time it starts in order to participate.
4.  Have fun!!!

5.  I will be doing sessions and packages as well.

I will be holding the auctions on the following evenings.  Don't worry, I'll be sending reminders!

Monday, June 2 at 7:30 pm.
Wednesday, June 4 at 8:00
Friday, June 6 at 7 pm.

That's 12 auctions we'll be doing!  How exciting!  Stay tuned for more information!

April Showers bring HUGE $AVINGS!

Happy April, Fans and Friends!  Have you survived the Ides of March and leprechauns looking for your pot of gold?  March was pretty fun with the crazy weather and even though I LOVE snow, I do not like it in Maryland.  When we were in Anchorage, we just kept going; here, life literally STOPS and it takes forever to re-start. 

Ah well, enough of that. I'm so excited that spring is finally here.  Birds are singing and flowers are blooming.

This brings me to an AMAZING announcement.  I have a professional goal of photographing 10 families in the month of April.  

Yes, you heard that correctly.

I want to photograph 10 families this month with the gorgeous cherry tree blossoms or at a favorite park such as Kinder Farm.  I'm really excited, because I'm totally sweetening the deal for my potential clients.  

Oooohhhh!  

This offer is good for families of up to 5 people.  The youngest must be at least 6 months old.  All rights reserved and is subject to availability.  Only 1 purchase per family.  Session must be used between now and April 30th.  If you would like to upgrade to a further place than 15 minutes away from the studio, it is $0.50 per mile each way.  If you would like to add more people, it is $15 per person.

Call 240-565-0361 for more details.