Monday, December 26, 2011

The Holiday Card

So, after the photo shoot on the Saturday before Christmas - I whipped up the perfect Christmas card template. I had my cards printed 1 day at Calagaz - and they did a fantastic job & they were mailed out on Tuesday and all made it before Christmas. But I was worried. So...I created a reversible card - both Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Just in case. I liked it so much, I think I'd do it every year. Here's our card...
Front

Inside One

Inside Two

Back

And every card comes with my Holiday letter - or the Annual update - On the update...I like to put what everyone in our family asked Santa for and what they hope to accomplish next year. It's always a nice letter with a typo or two. Maybe one year I won't be such in a rush that I'll let my very detailed husband proof it for me ... We can only hope.

Our silly photo was a great addition to this year's card - After all, it's who we really are - centered and wacky around the edges - I have so much fun with my family.
Did you get our card? Leave your address below & I'll add you to next year's mailing list -
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
XoXoXo, Daphne

Daphne Ellenburg is a budding photography business owner in Southern Alabama with a supportive family and a new fancy-pants in home studio. She loves college football, big handbags, lip gloss and all things Olympus. Daphne also enjoys writing about her Photo-Adventures and her entertaining family. Catch up with her at Ellenburg Photography {Website} {Facebook} {EP Blog}{Daphne's Blog}{Join EP Project 52}

Ellenburg Photography's award winning photographer, Daphne Ellenburg, specializes in Wedding Photography and Family Portraiture. We are located just north of Mobile Alabama. We proudly serve all of Alabama, and Gulfcoast Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana. (251) 656-7601

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Ellenburg Family Christmas Card Photo Shoot...

Taking the annual Christmas Card photograph is always a lot of fun. I like everything about it. Picking out the perfect outfits. Choosing a great location. Creating the perfect template for a wonderful send out. But if I had to pick on thing to change, I'd take my shots earlier...but you know when you're photographing other families too...you either do your shots first or last...this year I was last last - but with low drama.
We took our photographs in my front yard. It's one of my favorite places to shoot, it's gorgeous. I'm happy to announce, that at this year's shoot, the threats for smiles were at a minimum. No one cried. We still included a pet. And I only had to say, "Can you see the camera at all?" only once. All in all a great photo shoot. I even let Jackson take a few shots. That kids got skillz.
Enjoy a few of my favorites...

Wacky hats make for great times.

Yes, an Ellenburg Totem Pole.

Grant always makes laugh with his super cool poses.

I love the shadow in this shot! I want to frame & stick it on the wall.

Jackson took this shot - He did fantastic!

Yes, I dressed a cat in a dress & scarf for my magical Family Holiday Photography. No shame.

Do you do a holiday photo shoot? - it's a fun afternoon adventure & a memory that will last forever - Think about it for next year :-)
XoXo, Daphne

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Week 51, Our Favorites...

"The Best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear" Holiday Cheer is contagious this time of year. A candy cane, or a song, or a steaming cup of hot cocoa by a twinkling Christmas tree and I'm on pins and needles anticipating the excitement of Christmas morning. You guys did a great job photographing your holiday cheer. I loved so many things and then I turned a bright shade of green with envy. My remodel is so close, paint touch ups & curtains to hang in my beautiful new kitchen and I'll be holiday ready. It's my turn to host Christmas dinner and my entire family has been banned from visiting since we've started our remodel in August. They are going to be so surprised, and hungry. Christmas eve is my favorite day of the year. Christmas magic is everywhere. Kids are the most behaved ever. Everything smells like sugar cookies or Pumpin spice. And at any moment I could burst into song. (You've been warned)
I love the photos this week. Our top ten is in no particular order. If you enjoy the photography, click on the photography links below it to visit the artists work. If you like it, send them some love. Photography can be a challenge, your kinds words can make all the difference to an artist who had a tough time this week. So go ahead, and click click click!
Here we go...
ONE {Great selective focus & I love these flakes. Dying to try it!}

51/52 Holiday Cheer - MCP Project 52 By Sheryl Salisbury

website • twitter • facebook

TWO {Love the shiny texture from the pan & the perspective}

51/52 MCP Holiday Cheer By Jillustrated

THREE {Great selective focus & the bokeh}

project 52/51 {holiday cheer} By jsnnmom

FOUR {Great Great Great texture!}

MCP 51/52 Holiday Cheer By ayers549

FIVE {Great color & bokeh!}

Project 52 By joniburtt

SIX {Perfect tone for a White Christmas & love the texture}

Kim Klassen Texture Rejoice By Moopiecow

SEVEN {I love the yellow background, pops the photo}

Presents By SunnyKeri

EIGHT {I like that you added a hand. It really makes the photo}

51/52 Holiday Cheer By lhabig

NINE {Love the pop of color on the white. Beautiful colors & tone!}

51/52 {Holiday Cheer} By DoubleLPhoto

TEN {Awesome reflection!!}

51/52 MCP Project 52 - Holiday Cheer By My Photographic Eye by Irela

www.myphotographiceyebyirela.blogspot.com
www.myphotographiceyebyirela.com

And now for the Ellenburg Photography Photo of the week...We took our holiday photos last weekend. You know what they say about family photographers, your own photo is either first or last, I'm the later again this year. When will I learn? Anywho...This is the photo I always want to send out.

51/52 The Holiday Card I always want to send By Ellenburg Photography

And this lovely shot of me & my husband, Mike was taken by my oldest boy, Jackson. He's got skillz.

The Ellenburg Photography Project 52 is starting in one week! We're so excited! Sign up today - we're 39 Members strong so far. Big thanks to our first participants.

Next week MCP ACTION's final theme for 2011 is "What Life's all about" - with all the Christmas joy this week, I'm sure you'll have no problem photographing what this week's theme means to you.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas filled with the joy of the season and week filled with family, fun and Photography. Hope Santa finds you!
XoXo, Daphne

Daphne Ellenburg is a budding photography business owner in Southern Alabama with a supportive family and a new fancy-pants in home studio. She loves college football, big handbags, lip gloss and all things Olympus. Daphne also enjoys writing about her Photo-Adventures and her entertaining family. Catch up with her at Ellenburg Photography {Website} {Facebook} {EP Blog}{Daphne's Blog}{Join EP Project 52}

Ellenburg Photography's award winning photographer, Daphne Ellenburg, specializes in Wedding Photography and Family Portraiture. We are located just north of Mobile Alabama. We proudly serve all of Alabama, and Gulfcoast Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana. (251) 656-7601

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Quick Peek - Ellenburg Family Photo

The Holiday Family Photo. It's a tradition for my family and probably yours too...and I find that as a Photographer, I take mine either really early (Octoberish) or really late (Yesterday). I'm happy to report that no one cried this year and I only had a few minor threats to get the shots I wanted.
If you really want to spice up your holiday family photos, include the family pets and bring a wacky hat.
Enjoy just a peek of yesterday's family togetherness...
This is the family photo that I want to send out every year. THIS IS WHO WE REALLY ARE. I love this photo.

Yes, I do have a scarf on a cat. This is my daughter's best friend, Spooky.

I'm in LOVE with this hat - and the guy behind me.

More of our family wackiness is coming soon...Stay Tuned.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Week 50, Our Favorites!

Festive Colours are everywhere I look this time of year. The Christmas spirit is certainly out in full force around the towns of our group of photographers. I love looking through the photo stream and enjoying a sneak peek into your lives. This is my favorite time of year, but it's also my busiest. If your days are anything like mine, I'm cramming everything in. Holiday parties, Christmas decorating, Christmas Shopping, Endless gift wrapping and I'm on the very last leg of my main floor remodel. Despite the never-ending to-do lists, it's great that you are finding the time to squeeze this group into your week. Your Festive Colour shots are impressive, and it seriously made me feel under-decorated, so I'll be trying to catch up this week. {Big Smiles!}
Now on to our top ten. As always, our photographers are shown in no particular order. The link to the photographer is below the photograph. If you enjoy the work, visit the photographers links. Photography is fun, but it's hard work too. Your encouraging words might make all the difference to a photographer that struggled this week. So get out there and click away and spread some joy. (Tis the season and all...)
Ready. Set. Here we go...

ONE {In Love with this Mirror idea. Great Colors! and so cleaver!}

Festive Colors - 50/52 By clwick cindywick.smugmug.com/PhotoAdventures/Mirror-Box-Photos/2...

TWO {So sharp. So many colors with great detail. Nice work and it made me hungry.}

project 52/50 {festive colors} By jsnnmom

THREE {Gorgeous Macro, and great red. Hope you're feeling better}

50/52 Festive Colors By lhabig

FOUR {Great tone. I like that this dark instead of bright. And I have that same camera Ornament. It's Awesome.}

50/52 MCP Project 52 - Festive Colors By My Photographic Eye by Irela

www.myphotographiceyebyirela.blogspot.com
www.myphotographiceyebyirela.com

FIVE {Great Bokeh & I loved the hearts for your love story. Congrats on the first Christmas of many more to come}

festive colors By krist143

SIX {Love the Selective focus and the candy cane craftiness}

week 50/52 {Festive Colors} By karisworld

SEVEN {Great Point of view! Love the tones, it almost sparkles. Very nice.}

MCP 50/52 {Festive Lights/Colors} By ib4luvnit

EIGHT {Great panning! Seriously, I have panning nightmares. This is wonderful}

50/52 Oh Christmas tree By dettaowens

NINE {Great colors! Our Nutcracker Armies could hang out.}

Nutcrackers!! By Shananna83

TEN {Love the Point of view & the bokeh. Great shot!}

Virtual Christmas Tree By kvakamudi

As for the Ellenburg Photography photo of the week, I went with something a little different. If you follow my blog, you know I spent last weekend in New Orleans for PhotoNOLA. It's an awesome festival of photography. Here's my take on a Festive Colour of New Orleans, that can be celebrated year-round in the city.

50/52 Mr. Crab - The Festive Colours of New Orleans By Ellenburg Photography

Week 51's theme for MCP Action's Project 52 is "Holiday Cheer" - on the week before Christmas, this will be easy to find. But with 3 themes so similar back to back, the real struggle will be going out there and finding something different. But, that's why it's a 52 Week Challenge - haha! Let's get out there and struggle together.

Looking for your next challenge? Join Ellenburg Photography's Project 52 - It's going to be great fun! Sign up today! We are proud to be 38 members strong with two weeks before the launch! So exciting.

On this week before Christmas, I'd like to wish you all a wonderful week filled with Love, Family, Photography, Gift wrapping and shorter To-Do lists. May your Christmas be Merry and Bright.
XOXO, Daphne

Join EP Project-52