January 12, 2012

Engagement | Heather & Graham

While Heather & Graham were home from Arkansas over Thanksgiving we were able to get together for their engagement photos! We loved getting to know them and trekking around uptown Charlotte with them 🙂   They’re huge Harry Potter fans… so of course we had to incorporate it!    
January 11, 2012

Business | Unsolicited Advice II

Hi All! I’m back with another installment of ‘unsolicited advice’ for other business owners (this doesn’t just apply to photographers!). Today, it’s all about taking care of your clients. I talked last time about customer service. Today I want to expand a little on that, specifically on knowing & pampering clients to make them feel special 🙂 I want my brides to know that it’s a special thing to be a JJH bride. We want your wedding experience with us to be more than Jeremy and I showing up on your wedding day, taking photos and being a go-between to get albums, prints & canvases. Here’s an example: In 2010 I sent all our clients our Christmas card, this year we thought we could do better…. I mean, it doesn’t take much to do better than just a card, right?! I admit I procrastinated when it came to this project, but I’m glad to say it was accomplished! I initially wanted to send custom chocolate bars with our logo…. but with too short notice, the company couldn’t do it. (note to self, plan ahead!). I placed an order for the regular bars, and patiently waited. I got the call they were ready & then realized I had NO CLUE how to mail them! I needed small boxes, but they couldn’t be slathered in USPS… that’s not fancy! So I ordered 5×7 print boxes… then patiently waited for them to arrive. They showed up on our porch & then realized the chocolate was going to slide around in the box…. better find something to keep them stable… and bubble wrap was out of the question. I found some pretty, pink “shreds” at Target… perfect! I was on my way to getting these puppies sent! I spent a few hours packaging & shipping the week of Christmas. I then said a prayer they wouldn’t arrive a melted mess. Thankfully, I got many sweet notes from brides of how much they loved the little box that showed up in their mailbox, unexpectedly. I wish I’d taken better photos, but in the fury of getting these out, all I had time to do was instagram 🙂 Here’s to making our couples feel extra special in 2012!
January 10, 2012

Newborn | Annabeth

If you scrolled to the bottom of our last post, you realized we have a new family member 🙂 She was born the week of Christmas… so what happens on Christmas day, while the in-laws are cooking? A newborn shoot, of course! So please meet Annabeth Avery Horton 🙂  
January 5, 2012

Portraits | 2011 Review

As promised, I’ve followed yesterday’s 2011 wedding review with our portraits 🙂 I really love doing portrait sessions, they’re so much more relaxed than a wedding day. We get to chit-chat and get to know our clients a bit better. While I really feed off the energy of a wedding day, the slower pace of portrait sessions are so nice! I included our bridals in here, as we consider them a “portrait” session….. I didn’t have bridals done when we got married, but I SO wish I had! It really allows you to try out your hair/makeup/shoes/jewels…. all together with that fabulous dress. ***I’ve been thinking about giving away a bridal session to our next bride we book….. would anyone be interested 😉 ????     Thank you all for making our 2011 extra special!   PS…. did you notice that little one in the bottom left corner??? I haven’t blogged her yet, but she’s the newest addition to the Horton family! Jeremy’s sister had her the week before Christmas, Anna Beth Avery 🙂      
January 12, 2012

Engagement | Heather & Graham

While Heather & Graham were home from Arkansas over Thanksgiving we were able to get together for their engagement photos! We loved getting to know them and trekking around uptown Charlotte with them 🙂   They’re huge Harry Potter fans… so of course we had to incorporate it!    
January 11, 2012

Business | Unsolicited Advice II

Hi All! I’m back with another installment of ‘unsolicited advice’ for other business owners (this doesn’t just apply to photographers!). Today, it’s all about taking care of your clients. I talked last time about customer service. Today I want to expand a little on that, specifically on knowing & pampering clients to make them feel special 🙂 I want my brides to know that it’s a special thing to be a JJH bride. We want your wedding experience with us to be more than Jeremy and I showing up on your wedding day, taking photos and being a go-between to get albums, prints & canvases. Here’s an example: In 2010 I sent all our clients our Christmas card, this year we thought we could do better…. I mean, it doesn’t take much to do better than just a card, right?! I admit I procrastinated when it came to this project, but I’m glad to say it was accomplished! I initially wanted to send custom chocolate bars with our logo…. but with too short notice, the company couldn’t do it. (note to self, plan ahead!). I placed an order for the regular bars, and patiently waited. I got the call they were ready & then realized I had NO CLUE how to mail them! I needed small boxes, but they couldn’t be slathered in USPS… that’s not fancy! So I ordered 5×7 print boxes… then patiently waited for them to arrive. They showed up on our porch & then realized the chocolate was going to slide around in the box…. better find something to keep them stable… and bubble wrap was out of the question. I found some pretty, pink “shreds” at Target… perfect! I was on my way to getting these puppies sent! I spent a few hours packaging & shipping the week of Christmas. I then said a prayer they wouldn’t arrive a melted mess. Thankfully, I got many sweet notes from brides of how much they loved the little box that showed up in their mailbox, unexpectedly. I wish I’d taken better photos, but in the fury of getting these out, all I had time to do was instagram 🙂 Here’s to making our couples feel extra special in 2012!
January 10, 2012

Newborn | Annabeth

If you scrolled to the bottom of our last post, you realized we have a new family member 🙂 She was born the week of Christmas… so what happens on Christmas day, while the in-laws are cooking? A newborn shoot, of course! So please meet Annabeth Avery Horton 🙂  
January 5, 2012

Portraits | 2011 Review

As promised, I’ve followed yesterday’s 2011 wedding review with our portraits 🙂 I really love doing portrait sessions, they’re so much more relaxed than a wedding day. We get to chit-chat and get to know our clients a bit better. While I really feed off the energy of a wedding day, the slower pace of portrait sessions are so nice! I included our bridals in here, as we consider them a “portrait” session….. I didn’t have bridals done when we got married, but I SO wish I had! It really allows you to try out your hair/makeup/shoes/jewels…. all together with that fabulous dress. ***I’ve been thinking about giving away a bridal session to our next bride we book….. would anyone be interested 😉 ????     Thank you all for making our 2011 extra special!   PS…. did you notice that little one in the bottom left corner??? I haven’t blogged her yet, but she’s the newest addition to the Horton family! Jeremy’s sister had her the week before Christmas, Anna Beth Avery 🙂