As promised, here is Nathan, our poster boy. He was one of the very first children we photographed. He is from Pontotoc, Mississippi. He thoroughly enjoyed the photo session and couldn't wait to show his photos to his father. If there is a photo that I regret not getting, it was the one of Nathan and his dad looking at the photos as Christina spread them on a table for their approval - they loved by the way. Below are his other three poses |
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| Christina and I show the photographs so we do not meet the kids, parents, or staff, until we arrive with the photos - usually a week to ten days after Jack and Adrienne or Niki took them. Last spring we drove to The General's Kids, a center in Burnside, Kentucky. As usually happens, we went through all the portfolios with the director (in this case the assistant director) and as many of the staff as can get away from their classes for a few minutes. Everyone loved all the pictures - they always do - but the one that got the most attention was the one on the right. No one could believe that Jack and Adrienne had got him to smile - well, as you can see, more than smile, he out right laughed for us. We told Jack and Adrienne about the reaction and they weren't surprised - Adrienne said, "He was tough, but once we got him started we couldn't stop him, and it was worth the effort. There is nothing like seeing a happy child and it's our goal to make sure that always happens if there is any possible way. It takes work, but it's worth it. |
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This is Jakala, from Clarksville, Tennessee. Two months after we started United Portrait Studios, (November 2006) we took photos at Jakala's grandmother told the director that she already had more pictures than she knew what to do with so she'd pass on this opportunity. The day we showed the photos at the center we saw her leaving with Jakala and asked if we had photographed her. She smiled and explained that she decided not to have them made. Christina invited her to take a look at the photos of some of the other children. She did and immediately said, "Oh my, I've made a mistake. When will you be back in this area? Christina checked the calendar and told her we would be in Hopkinsville, Kentucky in three weeks. Though it was a seventy mile drive, Jakala was there. We asked if we could use her as our poster girl and Jakala's grandmother quickly agreed. We also have a poster boy - Nathan, from Pontotoc, Mississippi. Watch for more about him. |
It came to me last night that I should post at least one blog from every day care that we visit and that's what I've decided to do, beginning with Covenant House in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
I'm beginning with Covenant house because of Freddie Lenard. 
Jacqueline, Freddie's mom, had just recently moved to Clarksdale from Seattle when we photographed Freddie (May 2007). She loved the photos and purchased the entire package.
A few days after we were in Clarksdale, Christina was talking to Augusta Strong, Covenant House's director and she mentioned that Jacqueline's home had been destroyed by fire. When Jacqueline told Augusta the details of the loss she ended with the comment, "And the worst is I lost the photos of Freddie."
We told Augusta that it would be our pleasure to replace the entire set of photos and add a framed pastel. We placed the order that day and asked the lab to rush the processing. In less than a week we had the new photos and sent them to Augusta for "special delivery" to Jacqueline and Freddie.
The timing was perfect - a week after she received the replacement photos, Jacqueline and Freddie flew back Seattle for a visit with Freddie's grandmother and you can be sure all the photos went with them.
Children, their parents, the day care centers that we visit and all the personnel who work at the centers are what our business is all about and we love it.
a day care center in Clarksville. 