Photography Contest -- AZ Photographers

{ For All Phoenix Metropolitan AZ Photographers }

This contest is open to all photographers in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

{ East: Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Apache Junction}

{ North: Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Anthem, Cave Creek, N. Phoenix }

{ West: Buckeye, Goodyear, Avondale, Peoria, Surprise, Phoenix, Glendale }

{ South: Queen Creek, Awhatukhee, Maricopa }

The Details:

What Do I Get If I Win?

If you are the winner, you will receive a private 2 hour

Photoshop tutoring session with me {Alicia} of Beba Photography.

How Do I Enter?

Choose 1 of the photos below and edit it to your best ability and then send the file to me: alicia@BebaPhotography.com by Tuesday, December 6th, 2011, 11:59pm. You may only choose 1 photo and only enter 1 time.

Then What Happens?

I will place a number on each photo and upload all entrants photos on a separate blog post. An announcement of when the blog post is up will be made on Facebook { http://www.Facebook.com/BebaPhotography } on Thursday, December 8th, 2011, so stay tuned to Facebook for updates!

So Far, So Good....But Then What Happens?

Photos will be posted on this blog for a total of 1 week, from December 8th, 2011 until December 15th, 2011, 11:59pm. You may invite family and friends to visit this blog and type out the number of their favorite photo in the comments section below all of the entrants photos. You can let them know which number is yours so that they can vote for you. The photo with the most votes at the close of the contest on December 15th, 2011 will win.

Can I Use The Photo I Edit?

Unfortunately, no, not entirely. By entering the contest you are agreeing to only use the photo for this contest. The edited photos will only be used in the context of this contest and then removed. You may not use the photo on your website or in your portfolio. Photos may not be sold, traded, used in other contests, published or used for any form of monetary gain

You may, however, post the photo to Facebook so long as there is a link back to Beba Photography { http://www.Facebook.com/BebaPhotography.com } and the correct credit is given. Photo may be posted to Facebook with the following: "Photo copyright Beba Photography -- Edited by {enter your name/company name}"

Please note that any photos displayed without proper credit and/or used in non-permissable ways will be fined 3 times the professional cost of photo in violation of copyright laws.

What Do I Edit and Submit For the Contest?

Select one of the following photos to edit. You can click on it, then right click and select "Save picture as":

Questions?

I can't wait to see your entries! If you have any questions, email me at:

alicia@BebaPhotography.com

Best wishes & Happy editing!

Don't forget to tell your friends about it if they're interested in entering too!



Why Should I Pay for a Professional Photographer When I Can Go to Walmart or JC Penney? -- AZ Photographer

{ Walmart vs. The Professional }

My friend Beth of Lizzie Bee Photography and I were discussing this very question tonight. I've been asked it by others a lot and want to answer it. Why should people pay more for a professional when they can just go to the mall or a local chain and get lots more for a lot less?


Here's confession time. I actually used to work at a mall photo shop a long time ago and know first hand that they don't always necessarily have the same experience as a professional photographer has. I will be honest--I was hired back then when I had zero experience. I had some raw talent, but had never shot before. That's not to say that the pictures are going to come out horrible, but they might not be to the same caliber as a professional's are.


The key is where people place their value on things. We all value something different in life. Some people value their home and are regularly buying things to spruce up their home. Others value their cars and you can always see them out on a weekend detailing the finest detail of their cars. Others value fine dining or are wine conneseurs....others, book or music lovers, jewelry lovers or technology gurus. We all have something that we lean more to than other things. We are hobbyists and all unique in what we love.


My value is on photography. It's what I'm passionate about. I would and still do sit for hours pouring over old photo albums of my grandparents, aunts and uncles who have passed away. At Christmastime, I want to pull out the albums and pour over old Christmas memories and how different things are now than they were back then. I want to see how much I've changed, my loved ones have changed, how life is segemented out and stored in each photo.


Because I value photography so deeply, my argument is for it's value. I wouldn't take my car to a mechanic or to someone who had never worked on a car before, even if they had some natural talent at it. I pay for the experience and level of expertise accordingly. Yet a lot of people will not place value on their memories and are okay with just okay. But do we underestimate the true value of photography and our photos? When a fire happens, the first thing that people usually grab after their family and pets is their photos. Why? They're just pieces of paper with images on them, right? Well, maybe to some. But for those that value them, they are like little time capsules that hold the treasures to the past. The are like little stepping stones that built the life of the holder. They are memories--cherished ones.


Well, what about the difference of cost? People often ask me, "Why should I go to you and not to JC Penny or Walmart? Because really, it's true--they're right. You can get so much more materially at mall or local places than you can with a professional photographer.


You get more materially, but less substantially.


You'll be getting a photographer with less experience and a product that's not quite as high in caliber. I make sure to hand touch and hand edit every one of my photos. I bring artistic touches to them. You're not going to get that with Wal Mart, JCPenny, Sears, Picture People or Portrait Innovations. Clients pay for the art that goes into a professional's work and not just the photos--the pieces of paper with images--themselves. They pay for the hours that go into making sure that photos are beautiful and capture your family in an artistic way. That's where your price comes from. And for those that value that artistic representation of them and their loved ones--those are the ones that hire me as a photographer.


I feel confident in charging my clients what I do because I believe in the price itself--I know the time that is invested into each one to make sure that they are artistic and lovely and I know the value I'm giving my clients in memories of their loved ones. The second a person passes away, the value of the photos I took multiply 100 fold.


We value memories so much--why *not* invest into them? ♥


I believe in their power and for those of you who value the preciousness of memories, I know that you do too.

{ Black Friday Special -- 1 Day Only! } -- Arizona Photographer

Starting tomorrow at 12:00am, I will be offering a Black Friday photography special!

Limited to 12 11 10 9 sessions only!

 { The Details }

What Do I Get?

You will receive a 1 hour photo session and a CD-R of 35 edited high resolution

digital images for only

$100.00 + tax!

This is a savings of over $250.00 off of normal pricing!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday savings to you!

When Must I Purchase By?

Photo session must be purchased between 12:00am and 11:59pm

on Friday, November 25th, 2011.

How Can I Purchase?

Only Paypal payments and mail-in check payments will be accepted.

Paypal payments must be submitted before 11:59pm on November 25th.

Check payments must have the envelope postmarked on November 25th.

Envelopes not postmarked on November 25th will be returned.

Purchase is non-refundable.

Please send an email to me { Alicia } at alicia@BebaPhotography.com and let me

know that you would like to purchase a photo session.

I will send you an invoice.

When Will Photo Sessions Be Good For?

Photo sessions will be good for the month of December 2011 and January 2012 only.

When you submit payment, I will reserve a spot on my calendar for the month of December or January.

Can I Purchase Additional Products?

You receive 35 edited high resolution images on a CD-R, but you

may also purchase additional

 products { prints, slideshows, canvases, etc. } at regular price separately.

Who Is This Black Friday Special Open To?

Anyone in the Phoenix Metropolitan area. This includes:

EAST VALLEY:

Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Queen Creek, Apache Junction

NORTH VALLEY:

Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Glendale, N. Phoenix, Anthem, Cave Creek, Fountain Hills

WEST VALLEY:

Avondale, Goodyear, Buckeye, Surprise, Phoenix, Peoria, Litchfield Park, Tolleson, El Mirage

Any questions, please email me!

Happy Black Friday Shopping!!!

Thankful -- Mesa, AZ Photographer

{ Thankful }

Um, I think that Roscoe is taking his begging habit a little too far....

But this is by no means a way to poke fun at those who truly are struggling. In fact, I have a heart for those who are struggling and I'd love to bring awareness to it, using irony to bring light to something that is truly a serious situation.

Thank you for letting me share my heart. <3

Something really impacted me. Last year, as I was exiting a freeway in Phoenix, I saw a man carrying a sign like this and something in me completely broke me at the very core of who I was. I had never seen a man look so...hungry before. His very eyes were so hungry--I could see it that he was struggling and hungry and they still haunt me today thinking about him. I had nothing on me. No money, no nothing to give to him and so I had to drive past. I remember crying in brokeness that day because I wished that I could do more.

I sometimes feel like the weight of the world will crush me when I think about how many people are struggling and how I wish we could help everyone. I wish there was enough to share and give and that everyone had the wonderful opportunity to live so freely without having to wonder where their next meal is coming from.

It's true, we cannot help everyone...the thought kills me, but it's true. The world will always have the poor. But while we can't help everyone, we CAN help some and it to them, it matters. As Thanksgiving approaches and we're reminded of how blessed and fortunate we are, I wanted to encourage others to find a special way to make someone's day and if you feel led to it, give back a portion of what you've been given.

Maybe you can pay for the meal of the person behind you in the drive through line.

....or smile and talk with the clerk at the store that's working so feverishly on Black Friday.

.......or let someone have that coveted parking spot or hold open the door for someone.

Maybe you can give a gift card to a local fast food restaurant to the person standing by the entrance of the supermarket asking for food, or drop in some coins as the Salvation Army rings their bells.

There are so many ways that we can touch other people's lives--big ways, small ways....and small things done in a big way. : ) So many ways to fill empty bellies and empty hearts. Both need filling.

It's amazing how much better that Turkey tastes when you have already had your belly filled with the kindness you extend towards strangers.

What can you do this year? Be creative.

Holidays have a way of bringing out the best in people and bonding us together in brotherhood and sisterhood and looking out for each other's best.
Make this one a great one!

Happy { early } Thanksgiving!