I’ve kinda had this silent little goal in my mind. You see, there’s this lovely little stat counter attached to my blog when I log in. I like to see how many hits I get when I post, when I don’t post, weekends vs. week days…. ect. We’ll  back in October I’d had the most hits in one month to date, just over 4,000. I made a little goal in the back of my head to have more hits than October….. then I upped the anti on this bet I had with myself…. I bet I can hit 5,000 if I really try. Well, I didn’t try very hard….. till yesterday. When I facebooked, tweeted & blogged (you all to death… sorry!)  that I had a goal to hit… I didn’t even tell you what the goal was, but you all didn’t care. You supported me anyway 🙂 I’m proud to say we surpassed my 5,000 hit goal!!!!! We normally get 100-150 views a day, yesterday we had well over 400 🙂 January has been a roller coaster of a month here at JJ Horton… new ideas, new projects, failures, and triumphs. I’ve had about 20 wedding inquires, 2 of which are for next year! I’ve also secured more portraits & boudoir shoots than ever before. This has just been an awesome month…. and I can only imagine how great this year will be! So, as a thank-you we’re doing a little give-away! Here’s the skinny: 1. One portrait session (engagement, bridal, couple, family or child)  in the Charlotte area. ($150 value)2. If you are a previous client and don’t need/want another session, you’ll get a $150 print credit.3. If you want to book your wedding with us, we’ll take $150 off your package. 3. If you choose the portrait session, it must be shot before April 1st.4. If you choose the print credit, you must place your order by March 15th. 5. This cannot be replaced with previously booked sessions. (ie: if you already have a shoot lined up, it cannot replace it, it’s only in addition to, so you may want the print credit instead, if you win) How to enter….. Comment on this post 🙂 For an extra entry: Link this post on Facebook…. just click the little “f” below this post, it’s easy! (let me know in your comment you posted it on FB!) That’s it! Pretty easy! You have until this Friday at Noon to enter…. Good Luck!!!

I have a fascination with sticking something pretty where it doesn’t belong.  When I was in college, my final project was all self portraits, taken in strange places….. mostly my dads hay barn, but some in other places too. I know you see lots of it now on photo blogs, but I really have had a passion for it for a long time. Give me a girl in a pretty dress, and I’ll find a nasty place to photograph her. Anyways…. getting to my point. Over the last couple of months I’ve run across 2 places I’d love to do shoots. One is in Durham, and one is in Huntersville. These would for sure be more editorial. If you have an interest in being photographed at one of these places, please email me, I’d love to work with you! #1 The Durham Mansion.  This home was apparently the home of a builder who swindled away lots of money, and got caught. His home was foreclosed, and the bank cannot sell because of all the liens against it. It looks haunted to me, and I’m completely fascinated with it. It does have quite a bit of profanity spray painted on it, but I love it. I’d absolutely love to do a trash the dress session out here. I’ll warn you though, both times I’ve been out to this house- the first time just to see it, and this time to take some photos (and I actually rode down to it, as opposed to staying at the street) I got scared. Like got a serious case of the heebie geebies. I have closer photos of the graffiti, but since it’s pretty vulgar, I won’t put it here (unless I do a shoot out there) #2 Bates Motel-ish Jennifer told me about this place, only a few miles from our house. I’d never even noticed it. It’s this mysterious looking single-story motel that’s been closed for years. It’s all over grown, some doors kicked in, some windows broken, tub in the yard, ect. I think this would be a great spot for a couples session, be it engagement or whatever. are you in? email me! info@jjhortonphotography.com