2011 Wedding Photography Giveaway

ENTRY FORM

In New England, winter is the season for wedding planning, an activity full of its own headaches and hassles. In a perfect world you wouldn't have to worry about your photography budget and I'd like to help you live in that world. Here at Ryan Richardson Photography I'd like to make that planning as simple as possible by giving away a fantastic wedding package to one lucky couple getting married sometime between July 2011 and June 2012 - a $4,500 value. This great package includes:

• An engagement session ahead of the wedding, to help announce your love to the world.
• 2 photographers on the day of your event.
• 8 hours of coverage on your special day.
• An online image gallery
• 1 heirloom wedding album, to share the story of your wedding.
• 2 small keepsake parent albums
• A CD of high-resolution and web-resolution files

Two runners up will receive free engagement sessions and a $100 print credit. All entrants who schedule a consultation will receive a $150 credit toward the wedding package of their dreams from Ryan Richardson Photography (this excludes the basic package).

To enter couples may simply fill out the bookings and inquiries form with the details of their wedding with the phrase "wedding photography contest" in the comments field. The top three couples will be selected from entrants at random to receive a free engagement session, with the cutest couple (as determined by the number of "likes" on their Facebook engagement session album by 9:00 AM EST May 1, 2011) receiving the top prize.

Contestants must enter by 5:00 PM EST February 28, 2011. Finalists will be selected at random the same day and be notified by e-mail the following business day.

Last year this contest generated a lot of interest and some great photo sessions. We'll be shooting the winning wedding, Holly & Luke, this June.

Some restrictions do apply, the contest is only open to residents of New England (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont) and contestants must be able to schedule their engagement session by April 15 (in New England) to be eligible for the grand prize. This contest does not apply to destination weddings or weddings held outside of the New England region. It is also not open to friends and relatives of Ryan Richardson or independent contractors employed by Ryan Richardson Photography.

Ryan Richardson is not responsible for any taxes or liabilities that result from winning this contest and entrants agree to have their basic information and likeness shared for promotional and commercial purposes. Additional rules may apply and are subject to change. The contest will be cancelled if there are fewer than 15 entrants by the deadline of February 28, all entrants will still be eligible for $150 package credit. Void where prohibited.

2011: A Preview in New England Photography

What a difference a year makes. 2010 saw a lot of changes at Ryan Richardson Photography as our business grew and evolved, there were a few bumps in the road, but what had started as a happenstance turned into a full-fledged passion. In 2011 we hope to continue that growth and change, bringing our clients better products and a better experience than ever before. This year, we're also pushing the idea that Ryan Richardson Photography is not just a Massachusetts and New England wedding photography company, but a photographic lifestyle. From the moment you're married to the pitter-patter of little feet there are hundreds of reasons it's great to know a photographer.

During the month of January, we'll be rolling out a few new products and making some great announcements for the first part of 2011.

January 11: The Second Annual New England Wedding Photography Giveaway

Last year, this contest helped to pull a lot of eyeballs toward our services. We gave away three engagement sessions and met three great couples and we're hoping that this year's contest willl draw even more. Congratulations to Luke and Holly, last year's winners who will have their upcoming wedding covered this June. This year the prize is valued at over $4,000.

January 18: Referral Rewards and Loyalty

Our best business comes through word of mouth, happy customers beget more happy customers. To help add a little incentive, we're starting a modest referral rewards program that not only lets our clients introduce their friends and relatives to great photography, but look like heroes while doing it. Previous wedding clients will be able to offer their friends and family the chance to save a bit of money on their wedding photography package. Certain wedding clients will also be offered a loyalty program that lets them take 20 percent off all future photo sessions (and 10 percent off future print products).

January 25: New Lifestyle Portrait Packages

Ryan Richardson Photography is about more than just weddings and we hope that the people we shoot with are more than just clients. In 2010 the portrait side of our business puttered along as a secondary focus, that's one thing I really want to change in 2011. To that end we're introducing several new portrait styles and packages including maternity, seniors, family and something a little more fun just in time for Valentine's Day.

These aren't the only changes ahead for Ryan Richardson Photography, so keep looking for new announcements, updates and tips right here on this blog or become a fan on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ryanrichardsonphotography).

2010 Wedding Photography Giveaway: Let the Games Begin!

After months of anticipation, the final stage of the 2010 Wedding Photography Giveaway is here.

This past weekend was a blast as I met with each couple for their engagement session and I hope that the next few weeks will be even more fun as they marshal friends and family to help them claim victory. Unfortunately there can only be one winner, but each couple was a blast to work with and I hope that - free or not - I can be a part of their special days.

To vote, simply leave a comment on a couple's album on my Facebook fan page by 5:00 pm on May 1, 2010. Each unique user commenting on an album will be counted as a vote that will put that couple closer to the finish line.

Heather and Jenn - I met up with Heather and Jenn at Roger Williams Park in Providence, Rhode Island. We scouted out the mock-Japanese garden, marveled at the foliage and had a great time during this shoot.

Andrew and Liz - It was a lovely Saturday afternoon, and google had gotten me a little lost on my way in to Sommerville to meet with Andrew & Liz. They had a big day planned and we set off for teh Charles to get some great photos of teh water and city skyline (as well as some boats) but the sun was a little harsh. It was a really fun shoot that crawled along the riverside and wound up back at their home with a bit of baking.

Holly and Luke - It was early in the morning when I met Holly & Luke and Water Place Park in Providence. The sky was nice and overcast, creating a smooth and even light all over. It was really great to meet them and they were a real blast to work with as we circled around the park looking for great photo opportunities.

Good luck to all of the contestants, I wish you could all win (well that's not entirely true, ideally a rich stranger would just pay for each of you to have the deluxe package).

Congratulations Finalists

I'd like to congratulate everyone who took part in the first Wedding Photography Giveaway. There were a lot of great entrants from Cape Cod to Connecticut, but in the end there could be only three.

Things could have been a little more fun, and a little more interactive but everyone walked away with something. Entrants are all eligible for a $50 print credit with any package they book from me (I can't really offer print credits for other photographers).

The finalists each will receive a free engagement photography session and two will receive a $100 print credit. The grand prize winner will be decided by a vote between April 15 and May. Sure it's a bit of a popularity contest, but in the end I hope that everyone has a great time and gets some great photos.

So without further ado I'd like to congratulate the three finalist couples:

1. Jennifer and Heather: They're planning a fun July beach wedding bringing together their friends and family to celebrate their love and commitment.

2. Katie and Craig: This couple are getting married at a beautiful historic site in Peabody in September.

3. Liz and Andrew: They are planning a beach wedding on the North Shore in June of 2011.

One Final Week

There are only five days left in my first Wedding Photography Giveaway, so now is the time to enter if you're getting married between July 2010 and June 2011. There are a lot of great prizes to be announced on February 28 at 5:30 pm including the three contest finalists.

So help spread the word (or if you want to just keep it a secret to make your odds of winning that much better). There are a lot of great changes ahead this year and I'm hoping that I can share them with you!

The grand prize winner will recieve my deluxe wedding package - a $4,500 value - complete with 12 hours of photography, 3 great albums and some flexible print credits so you can have so many memories to treasure around your home. To enter simply fill out the bookings and inquiries form and include the phrase "wedding photography giveaway" in the comments field.

Participants will be contacted soon after the drawing about the results. There is one potential snag, dates with multiple conflicting entries. Finalists will have their special day reserved but al other dates are on a first come, first served basis. As usual dates are not reserved without a signed contract and payment of a retainer. I always hate to try and put on sales pressure, but there are only so many weekends in a year.