More "In Focus"

Third Annual Frederick Robie Cup Adult Spelling Bee

If you have been looking for your next chance to bid on one of our gift certificates while having a little fun and supporting a good cause, you can do so this Saturday at the 3^rd Annual Frederick Robie Cup Adult Spelling Bee sponsored by the Gorham Educational Foundation.  We are donating a $200.00 gift certificate to the silent auction which can be applied to any session fee and/or products we offer.  Here are the details: 

The Gorham Educational Foundation is a private, non-profit organization founded in 2006 dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in education in the Gorham, Maine public schools. The organization funds programs that encourage a thirst for knowledge, respect for the community, and responsible citizenship. Since 2006, the organization has awarded over $30,000 in grants in the Gorham schools. 

This year, we will hold the 3rd Annual Frederick Robie Cup Adult Spelling Bee. 

It’s a fun filled evening for adults who want to meet with friends, enjoy tasty refreshments and laugh as local teams from businesses, neighborhoods and schools dust off their mental dictionaries and have a go-of-it without spell-check. “Judged” by local community leaders and bailed out by friend and families, it’s an entertaining evening for all. 

    WHO:                     Gorham Educational Foundation 
                                3rd Annual Frederick Robie Cup Adult Spelling Bee 
    
    WHEN:                   Saturday, October 22, 2011 

    WHERE:                  The Old Robie School, 668 Gray Rd, Gorham 
                                Doors Open – 6:00, Bee Starts at 6:30 

    WHAT:                   Food provided by Gorham’s own Salty Dog Cafe 
                                Cash bar (beer & wine & non-spirited beverages) 
                                Silent Auction 

    ATTENDEES:           150 guests from the Gorham community 
                               Tickets are $10 at the door

Thank you for your support and good luck to those of you who participate!

Until the next time,
Judianne and Ron

“Fall is for Family Portraits” Facebook Contest!

How long has it been since you’ve had a family photo taken? Do you even recognize the people in the photo that you so lovingly have your arms around? Or, does it look like a stock photo from a TV family sit-com you loved way back in the 80’s?

If your last family photo pre-dates the dawn of reality TV, it’s time for a new one. Lucky for you, we can help with that while having a little fun in the process!

With the arrival of October and the leaves starting to turn, this is a great time of year to get outside for family portraits. What could make it even better? Winning a free photo session and a set of custom photo holiday cards designed exclusively for you!

Simply enter our “Fall is for Family Portraits” Facebook Contest. Starting now through Thursday, October 13th, e-mail us a copy of your oldest family photo. We will load these images to Facebook for voting by your family and friends over the weekend (Friday October 14th - Monday October 17th). The family portrait with the most likes and comments will win a free portrait session and a set of 25 custom designed photo holiday cards! All together, this is a $155 value!

Here are the additional details:

• You will need to friend us on Facebook to enter the contest and/or register your vote. www.facebook.com/demersphotography.
• E-mail your old family photo to us at info@demersphotography.com.
• The photo session is for a maximum of 5 individuals, and it will take place on the weekend of October 22nd.
• The holiday card design will be used exclusively for the winning family; we will not use the same design for anyone else this year!
• Voting will close at 9 p.m. eastern time on Monday, October 17th.

On your mark, get set, GO find that old family photo and send it to us today!

Until the next time,
Judianne and Ron

Spaghetti Dinner Benefit Saturday, June 18th

Jeffrey Dyer is an adorable 2 ½ year old boy who was recently diagnosed with Leukemia.  Family and friends are organizing a benefit dinner for Jeffrey and his family, and it will take place this coming Saturday.  Here are the details:

 
We are happy to support their efforts by donating one of our custom designed 10-page/20-side 8x8 albums (retail value $325.00) to their silent auction.  If you have been looking for your next chance to win one of our albums, this is a wonderful opportunity to do so while helping a wonderful cause. 

We hope to see you there!

Until the next time,
Judianne and Ron

Limited Time Only – Save on Apple Orchard Sessions!

We can’t remember the last time the apple blossoms waited until almost Memorial Day before blooming.  Once they are here, they are gorgeous and make a beautiful backdrop for portraits.  But, as you know, this beauty is short lived.  If you are willing and able to act fast, you can take full advantage of it! 

This weekend only, we are offering $25 off our portrait session fee (normally $100 for up to 5 people) to the first 4 people who schedule an apple orchard portrait session this coming Saturday May 28^th or Sunday May 29th.  We know the weather lately has been on the wet and cold side, but the forecast for this weekend is trending up in temperature and down in precipitation.  We have all the confidence Mother Nature will be on our side this weekend.

 

If it’s been too long since your last family portrait or portrait of your kiddos, this is a great time to do it.  If you have family coming in from out of town for the holiday weekend and you’ve never done a generations portrait (for example, great-grandmother, grandmother, mother and child), this would be the perfect time to do it.  If you have children who have participated in the recent talent auditions that have come to the area and you need to expand (or begin) their portfolio, this would be a great way to get some unique shots.  The list of reasons to do this is endless, but the appointments are not.  Contact us today to reserve your appointment!

Until the next time,
Judianne and Ron 

Standish Summer Spectacular

The official start to summer is a little more than a month away, and plans are underway to kick it off with a festival that is bigger and better than ever before!  This year, the Standish Summer Spectacular will span 3 days from Thursday evening June 23^rd through Saturday evening June 25^th with a variety of activities and events that will be sure to please every age from the young to the “young at heart”.  This year, the organizing committee has adopted the theme “Paying it Forward,” and we are happy to join the celebration.

You will find us at the Community Marketplace at George E. Jack school on Saturday morning, June 25^th, from 8:00 to noon.  Be sure to stop by to say hello either on your way to or your way back from the parade.  While you are there, don’t forget to purchase your raffle ticket for a chance to win one of our custom designed 8x8 coffee table albums (like the one seen below) valued at $325.  These albums make gorgeous keepsakes for your upcoming graduate, or following your family portrait session, or for your new little bundle of joy after your combination maternity and newborn session.  The raffle tickets will be $2 for 1 chance, or $5 for 3 chances, and 100% of the proceeds will benefit our local food pantry, Catherine’s Cupboard.

 
For more information on the Spectacular, be sure to check out their facebook page here: Standish Summer Spectacular 

We look forward to seeing you in June, if not before!

Until the next time,
Judianne and Ron

Supporting Our Community

On Saturday, March 12^th, the Standish Parent-Teacher Organization is sponsoring a Chili-Chowder Cook-Off at George E. Jack Elementary School from 12 -4 p.m.  
We are happy to support the PTO in two ways.  First, Judianne will be putting her chili to the test to see how it compares to all the rest; so be sure to come show your support for her!  Second, we have donated one of our beautiful custom designed 8x8 coffee table albums to the silent auction.  These albums are valued at $325.00 and make gorgeous keepsakes following your portrait session.  If you have been waiting for your chance to get your hands on one of these, now is the time to do it! 

It’s not to late to get involved in this fun event!  If you want more information on how to do that, contact Bethany or Tonya at the email addresses noted above.  

We hope to see you on the 12th!

Until the next time, 
Judianne and Ron 

Portrait Parties – Now It’s Your Choice!

We introduced our new Women & Wine Get Better with Age portrait parties last month.   (See here for more information.)  Well, the pictures have been delivered and the party guests are still raving about how much fun they had!

 
As we told you in our last newsletter, we have had a request to offer similar parties for the younger ladies.  We asked for your votes to name this spin-off, and we can now announce the winner: Girls’ Night In.  We are pleased to now offer two different parties to celebrate friendships of all ages!

The idea behind Girls’ Night In is based on the idea that we shape our lives with a circle of friends.  Some friends are around for a really long time, while others come and go.  But no matter what, our lives are better because of our fabulous friends!  A Girls’ Night In portrait party is the perfect time to celebrate the relationships you have with your amazing friends.  Whether they are high school friends you lost touch with, college friends that help you survive the daily stresses, or the roommates you share your first apartment with (just to name a few), these relationships help define you and we can help you preserve them in a fun and unique way.  Contact us today to learn more!

Don’t forget, our Mother’s Day Gift Certificate Sale (receive $10 for every $50 you spend)starts next week on Thursday, April 1.  It will last only one week, so don’t miss out!

Until the next time,

Judianne and Ron

Bittersweet Weekend

It was our son’s last hockey weekend this season, and it was bittersweet.  As much as we all need a break from living at the ice rink (even though some of us are not willing to admit it!), hockey families form a special bond.  We will miss our “extended” family for the next few months until we reunite again in either late summer or early fall. 

As many of you know, hockey is a fast game to watch.  Well, it seems even faster when you are trying to photograph it (even when the players are only 7 and 8 years old!).  Thankfully, we get plenty of practice!  J  Here are just a few of the many shots we took of our lucky #13 in orange and blue. 

 
 
   
 
 
With the onset of warmer weather, we are looking forward to softball and baseball to start up again.  We may even try lacrosse this spring.  Don’t worry, we’ll be sure to share pictures of those experiences, too.

Until the next time,

Judianne and Ron 

 
 
 
 

Women & Wine Get Better with Age!

As we told you in our last newsletter, we are introducing some new things this year to help keep things interesting and different.  (The same old stuff all the time is never good for anyone!)  One of the new things we are offering is Portrait Parties focused on specific audiences. 

What is a portrait party, you ask?  The idea is simple, really.  You invite some of your best friends over for good food and good company, and we happen to be there to take pictures of each of you individually as well as record your fabulous friendships. 

The first portrait party we are offering is “Women & Wine Get Better with Age” in honor of all you fabulous 40, 50 or 60-something women who never take the time to celebrate how wonderful you and your friends are.  Our first party took place this past weekend, and it was so fun!

 
There were 7 of us in attendance and no men anywhere around (sorry Ron, but you understand – this is a girl thing!).  We laughed like we haven’t laughed in ages – that, in and of itself, was totally worth it.  Recording these special women as they are today and capturing the friendships that have spanned several years was an extra special bonus.  Here’s what some of the guests had to say about the experiences:

I had a great time. It was definitely an evening of good food, good wine, and a great way to capture memories of lasting friendships!  I'm looking forward to the pictures

It was such a blast!  Thank you for providing us with an opportunity to frame memories of lasting friendships!

When my friend invited me to a portrait party, I didn't know quite what to expect.  I certainly didn't expect the fun we'd have, or how much we would laugh!  Judianne created a comfortable, relaxing atmosphere for the individual poses; and when the group pictures were taken, I forgot there was a photographer there at all!  It was all about hanging out with my girlfriends and I'm so happy to have the pictures to remember the evening.

We plan to offer these portrait parties about once a month, and we already have our next one scheduled.  Yeah!  In addition, we are working on a variation in theme for the “younger” ladies.  We may need some help naming that one, so stayed tuned for more information on how you can help us. 

If you are interested in hosting your own party, click here to contact us for more information.

Until the next time,
Judianne and Ron 
 

Relay for Life – South Portland

We are pleased to announce that will be supporting this year’s American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life by photographing their annual “slumber party” in South Portland Friday evening June 12^th through Saturday morning June 13^th.  This is the first time we have had the privilege to support this worthy cause, and we are really looking forward to it.  We have heard that things can get kind of crazy at 4:00 in the morning, but everyone has a great time!

Weather permitting, our kids will be coming with us ready to camp out for the night.  Alex will likely be asleep shortly after 9, maybe 10.  But, we wouldn’t be surprised if Caitlyn kept us company most of the night! 

We’ll be sure to post pictures here once it’s over, so stay tuned.  In the meantime, you can find out more information about this wonderful organization and this amazing night here:  http://www.southportlandrelay.org/.  We’d love to have you join us on the 12^th!

Judianne and Ron