I have been very quiet on the blog lately as I have been doing some summer travels and busy creating memories with my own family. Of course while I absolutely love documenting special moments for families year-round, I have taken a little break to spend extra time with my kids and husband. It has been a pure joy to get away and refocus. We have been to Chicago for the weekend, visiting grandparents and long-distance friends in Philadelphia, and now here, at Bethany Beach in Delaware (our yearly place) for a week. Yes, traveling around has been a wonderful break and I’m happy to share a few photos of our favorite local beach hangouts.
The beach was wonderful, and we couldn’t believe how perfect the weather was during our stay there.
This is our favorite place to get candy and salt water taffy. I have been coming here since a little girl and there’s nothing like getting sweet treats on the busy boardwalk at night. Love it!
And here is where we love to shop for special treasures like sea shells and fun little trinkets. Again, it’s another place I’ve been frequenting for about thirty years and it still warms my heart to step into such a sweet little souvenir shop.
I hope everyone is enjoying their summers and doing some fun family activities too. On a business note, we have a few summer sessions to finish up, and then we are starting to book for the busy fall season. So, if you’d like to have a session this fall, let us know soon. Thanks!
View full post »
Happy new year to all my wonderful blog readers! I wanted to say a big thank you for taking the time to comment on my posts and to become involved in our online creative community this past year. You all warm my heart so much! So, to kick off the new decade, I will be giving away $10 gift cards to 10 lucky winners to my favorite stores. And to enter there is absolutely nothing you have to do! If you’ve made a comment at all this past year on my blog you will automatically be entered into the drawing. It’s my way of saying thank you for all your support, love, enthusiasm, and participation. All my blog readers rock and I am super grateful to each one of you. Best of luck to you with the contest, and in the start of the new year! Check back next week to see if you’re a winner!
This contest is also to make up for the fact that my original blog contest fizzled as the busy season approached. So sorry! This has been the busiest season ever for Carolyn Bowles Photography and I’d just like to thank all my super duper clients for an incredible year.
View full post »
Posted in blogged: studio, • inspiration •, • news •, • personal •, • photography • | Tags: 2010, blog, comments, contest, happy new year, thank you, winners
These adorable ice cream party invites and thank you note cards arrived the other day and I am so excited to share them here on the blog! Aren’t they so delicious?! These cards were specially made for Back2Back ministries to help raise financial support for a husband and wife team who are moving to Mexico to love on the abandoned children there. (You may remember our super fun photo session a few weeks ago). It’s a joy to create cards for such a special cause. This is also a good time to let everyone know that I can create special cards for any occasion — from party invites to holiday cards to birth announcements to a simple hello! So if you’ve had a photo session in the past or have one coming up and would like me to create a card for you, just ask. I am currently working on some fabulous new designs!
On another note, I also wanted to announce this past month’s blog winner. It’s the great Karie Mclain—wedding and portrait photographer of Denver, Colorado. She is a good photographer friend who I met at my very first workshop. We’ve kept in touch and I just love when I see her comments on my blog. Thanks Karie!
View full post »
I have been having loads of fun working with the designer of Sweet Pea Style who designs and creates custom clothing for children. She has the most adorable holiday line premiering and I am excited to showcase a few of the designs on my blog. And for our little models who wore winter clothing in 90 degree weather, well, they were happily treated to any ice cream flavor they chose—a perfect way to say thanks, and to cool off!
View full post »
Summer is a time to take in the fresh air. Play together as a family. Have an excuse to get ice cream. Run around in sprinklers. Wear flip flops. Roll the windows down. Blast loud music. Pick seashells. See hot summer flicks. Read a good book. And the list just goes on and on. I mean, come on, don’t we just all love summer? Well, I’ll be doing all these things and more with my little ones in the next few weeks. So things may be a little quiet around here while I take some much deserved and needed time to be with my family and be a little more laid back with life.
But before I take my holiday, I wanted to share who this past month’s lucky blog contest winner is—Chris Centofanti! Thank you Chris for visiting and participating in my blog. You will be receiving a gift card to one of my favorite places this week as your prize. It’s awesome to have blog readers like you!
Speaking of the blog, the month of July will be a busy one with upcoming session sneak peeks, new studio products, and a special look at my new studio office. Plus, I may throw in a few glimpses into my summer along the way. Thanks for going along for the ride, and I hope you all are off to a great start to your summers too!
By the way, the above photo was taken by me at one of my favorite places in the world—Bethany Beach in Delaware. Anyone ever been there? I spent every summer there growing up so it’s special to my heart and I love going there with my family now too. Where’s your favorite family vacation beach? Share in the comment box, I’d love to hear!
View full post »
This month’s winning blog reader is Melissa Surprise of Surprise Photography! Thanks Melissa for being such a sweet new blog reader, and friend! Email me your address, and I will send you a gift card to one of my favorite places. I’m so happy you’ve won!
I also want to give a special shout out to my client and friend, Jane Combs. While not a winner this month, she has been awesome at spreading the news about my business, always giving great marketing ideas, and is just so genuinely excited about what I’m doing. Jane, you’ll be receiving a little something special this month too. I’m starting a new referral program because I am so thankful when people like you spread the word! I truly do love building community, and I so appreciate my online bloggers!
And here’s a sneak peek of the sweetness that’s to come tomorrow — be sure to check back to see more from this newborn session.
View full post »
So, you’re wondering where I went last week where I had to be unplugged? Check it out:
I traveled to the most beautiful chateau where I was able to visit the spa, enjoy wine straight from the vineyards, partake in delicious meals, sink into a luxurious bed at night, and learn from the most amazing children’s photographers. It’s like a dream come true! I attended Learnfest — a workshop created and instructed by four of the country’s top photographers: Lena Hyde, Tamara Lackey, Laura Novak, and Audrey Woulard. I loved learning from each of these talented ladies, as well as the other 59 participants I was able to spend time with while there. Truly outstanding!!! (the first photo was taken by Katie Williams, one of my many new photographer friends — the others I took while taking a mini hike)
This is an intensive workshop where the focus is on classroom instruction and discussion. So, it was a nice break to get out for a mini session each day we were there to practice what we had been learning. The photo on the top left is Audrey teaching, and then on the right is Tamara demonstrating her shooting style. One of my favorite things about the workshop is how unique the four instructors are from each other. Life lesson: there are a zillion ways to do just one thing and if you get creative enough, they can all work. Love that! The bottom photo of me photographing side-by-side with Tamara was taken by my new friend Gwendolyn Waite who I met while there. Thanks for sharing Gwen! Funny to see what I look like while taking pictures.
I can’t tell you how refreshing it was to learn about photography, talk about photography, take pages (and I mean pages) of notes about photography, but to only pick up my camera a few times. It was so good for me to focus on my art, my style, and my business. How often can you take three days and nights to do that? So, while I was of course super happy to come home to my family, I admit I could have partaken in one more visit to the spa, one more walk on the scenic grounds or a few more sips of the vineyard’s delicious wines. Yes, it was that wonderful!
Now I’m back at home and ready to use all that inspiration, energy, and learning into my everyday sessions. Things are booking fast for the spring, so get ready for lots of sneak peek blog posts!
View full post »
Just a quick note to let everyone know I will be unplugged from my busy life this week. Yes, no emails, phone calls or blogs! A bit of a challenge for sure, but so amazingly refreshing at the same time. I am attending a photography workshop where my attention will be focused on learning, sharing, and growing with other cool children’s photographers. I will return next week with much inspiration and good stuff to share!
View full post »
And the winner of this month’s blog contest is Rachel Clare of Rachel Clare Photography! Thanks Rachel for being a new blog reader, and for contributing to a post! I will be bringing your gift card to learnfest tomorrow. Everyone else, keep the comments coming and you could be the lucky winner for this month!
As you can see below, there were lots of love notes written in march on the blog — a total of 23 to be exact. It’s super fun to build a creative online community and I love hearing from my blog readers, so thank you!
April’s blog contest will be starting today with this post. Good luck friends!
View full post »
I wanted to inform all blog readers, clients, and friends, that my computer is going in the shop today to get more hard drive space installed. I will have access to email, however on a limited basis. So, please feel free to call if you need me. Otherwise, I will notify everyone when I’m back up and running. And yes, at a much faster pace!!! Wahoo! When I return, I will also be announcing the winner of the march blog contest to see who will receive a fun gift card to one of my favorite places. Thanks, and enjoy the week!
View full post »
