January 2015 - Charlotte Family Photographer | Carolyn Ann Ryan Photography

23 Jan

Charlotte, NC Family Photographer – Best of 2014 Portraits Contest

Best of 2014 Portraits Contest is now open.

It’s that time of year again, and we are so proud to host the Best of 2014 Portraits Contest. So much happened in 2014, including the Grand Opening of our very first portrait studio in Westfield, and I am so honored and blessed to have worked with such incredible clients!

I’d like to say thank you to last year’s amazing clients and showcase my favorite images from 2014! But we just couldn’t choose our top favorites and we need your help! It was hard enough to select just ONE image from these sessions. Sometimes, it’s the sweet adorable face that we can’t resist, or maybe it’s the one that makes us laugh, or maybe it’s the image that tugs at our heart! Which one will you choose?

The Top 3 Images with the most votes will WIN PRIZES, including:

First Place: 16×20 canvas print (valued at $445)
Second Place: 11×14 mounted print (valued at $175)
Third Place: DVD Music Video Slideshow ($175)

Voting begins today on Friday, January 23, 2015 and will close on Friday, February 6th at 11:59 pm. Winners will be announced on the blog on Monday, February 9th. You will only be able to vote ONE time. Anyone caught tampering with or violating the rules will be immediately disqualified.

Use the radio buttons at the bottom of the page to enter and submit your vote to the contest.

Additionally, since we would like to share the fun and gifts of the contest with everyone, if anyone books a WINTER STUDIO PORTRAIT SESSION while the contest is running, they will receive a $100 print credit towards their print order! Call us at 908-232-2336 to discuss your session options and book your session for a February or March Winter Studio Portrait Session.

Best of 2014 Portraits

1. Communion Day Giggles

001

2. Happiness

002

3. You Can’t Give a Hug, Without Getting A Hug

003

4. First Steps

004

5. Daddy’s Little Girl to Have and Hold

006

6.Little Minion

005

7. Brothers

008

8. Soulful

062

9. Sunshine Day

009

10. Love

010

11. Sunshine and Smiles

011

12. Cutie Pie

012

13. College Bound

013

14. Sisters

014

15. Summer Days

015

16. Hugs for Mom and Dad

016

17. Thumb Wrestling Champion

017

18. Saturday in the Park

018

19. Sweet Dreams

019

20. Communion Day

020

21. Brotherly Love

021

22. Whenever I See Your Smiling Face

022

23. True Companion

023

24. Two of a Kind

024

25. Best Friends

064

26. Together

025

27. We’re in This Together

026

28. Belly Laughs

027

29. Just Married

028

30. Mom Makes Everything Better

029

31. Sweetness and Love

030

32. Puppy Love

031

33. Family

032

34. Joy

033

35. Pure

034

36. Laughter

035

37. Christmas Puppy

036

38. Day at the Beach

037

39. Her Little Loves

038

40. Princess

039

41. Be My Valentine

040

42. Through the Years

43. Double the Love

042

44. Giggles

043

45. Group Hugs

044

46. Three of a Kind

045

47. Soft and Cuddly

046

48. Kissy Face

047

49. Christmas Jams in Christmas Jammies

061

50. So Happy Together

048

51. Cuddles

063

52. Inseparable

049

53. Generations

050

54. Pretty in Pink

051

55. Three Plus One

052

56. Sparkling Smiles

053

57. All Together

054

58. Little Boy Blue

055

59. Best Days

056

60. Beauty

057

61. Summer Breeze

058

62. Walk in the Park

059

63. Lullaby

060

Rules and Eligibility
Contestants must be at least 18 years of age and a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident. Carolyn Ann Ryan Photography employees and their immediate family members are not eligible. Immediate family includes only spouses, parents and children. Contest entrants include all Carolyn Ann Ryan Photography clients that completed sessions and orders in 2014. Voting begins today on Friday, January 23, 2015 and will close on Friday, February 6th at 11:59 pm. Winners will be announced on the blog on Monday, February 9th. You will only be able to vote ONE time. Anyone caught tampering with or violating the rules will be immediately disqualified.

19 Jan

Future Charlotte, NC Family Photographer – The Road Ahead

Getting ready to move to Charlotte, NC

Carolyn Ann Ryan, Family Photographer from NJ, gets ready for relocating to Charlotte, NC

As we have been packing away the holiday decorations (and yes, we are definitely delayed on that task), the reality of the next six months is sinking in more and more – and our upcoming move to Charlotte, NC is almost here. If you are a subscriber to my monthly newsletter, then you probably already saw the news a few months back that my family and I will be moving to Charlotte, NC in June 2015. My husband is being relocated for his job, and so while we are excited about this opportunity, we are also going to miss our family and friends in NJ, and I will certainly miss my wonderful clients.

I’m definitely a sentimental person, and therefore with each holiday and milestone, I can’t help but realize that this is our last Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s in our NJ home. When we purchased this house, we thought it was just a starter house and we would probably only live here for a couple of years. And here we are, 10 years later, and this house has truly been our home. We have loved this town, our friends, neighbors and this whole community.

But I also have been keeping my thoughts focused on the road ahead. These will be exciting times for our family with new home construction, new schools for the kids, new friends to make, warmer weather to enjoy (really happy about this one), and many new adventures for all of us.

What does this mean for Carolyn Ann Ryan Photography? I’m still in business in NJ until the end of June, but the last sessions in NJ will be held around mid-May to ensure that all images are processed and all ordering appointments are complete before we move.

I will unfortunately be unable to donate gift certificates to Tricky Trays and Silent Auctions in NJ this year, but if you know schools in the Marvin, Weddington, Ballantyne, Matthews, Wesley Chapel, and Pineville areas in North Carolina that will be hosting fundraisers in the late Spring, please let me know and I may be able to provide a gift certificate.

Additionally, if you have friends in the South Charlotte area, near Marvin, Weddington, Ballantyne, and surrounding neighborhoods, then please let them know that Carolyn Ann Ryan Photography will be re-launching in the Fall and I’m looking forward to working with families in the area!

We still have six more months to go, but just wanted to give a special thanks to all of our wonderful NJ and NY clients! It has been a privilege to work with you and your families, and thank you for making me part of your moments and memories! If you are ever in the Charlotte, NC area, then please get in touch!

08 Jan

Charlotte, NC Family Photographer – Hearts Galore

Charlotte, NC Family Photographer – Hearts Galore

Isn’t it bizarre how a simple outfit can change your mood and make you so happy? Isn’t it true that when you feel good about the way you look in a particular dress or pair of jeans, it can make your whole day? This adorable young lady looked so sweet and happy in this perfectly pink and red dress. We just had to capture this moment. As a parent, there are times during your children’s youth when you want to be able to remember how adorable they are and this was one of those times. It was around Valentines Day when we photographed these images (hence the jewelry and hearts!) and Mom wanted to capture that feeling – when she saw her daughters smile in the most perfect little dress. Transforming you back to those special moments – PRICELESS!