Upcoming offers from Kenny Barnes Studio

Just wanted to let you know of some really neat themed sessions we are offering here at the studio over the next month or so.  In addition to the sessions I want to highlight in this message, we have six Christmas themed sessions too!


We have a couple more spots left for the 2011 Angels of Hope Calendar portrait sessions.  This is a fundraising event for our charity, Women of Hope.  Proceeds from the sale of the calenders go to help women and their families going through the journey of cancer.

We have extended the portrait sessions one more day.  Last chance for this year's event - Friday, August 27th.
In October, we will open up the voting for the images that will be included in the 2011 calendar.
Check out the website for more information on Women of Hope.

Back by popular demand, Swan Lake and Hidden Cove!   This adaptable set is designed to look like your child is in a little cove at the lake.  We can make it casual for little boys or frilly it up for little girls.  Depending on what you prefer, we can suggest clothing at the time you call to schedule your appointment.  The dates for these sessions are Tuesday, September 14 and Wednesday, September 15.

Our studio is offering a special session at the historic Greystone Inn in downtown Wilmington, NC for accomplished ballerinas.  The date for "Bella Ballerina" is Saturday, September 18.   

Hunting season is almost here!  This year we are offering a portrait session for the hunter called "Open Season."  Our studio backyard is the backdrop for these portraits with huge live oaks and lush greenery.  We love to photograph people showing their interests and hobbies.   The date for "Open Season" is Saturday, October 23.




Call the studio at (910) 392-4214 to schedule your portrait session today!  You will have your portraits back in plenty of time for Christmas!

Four!!

Living in coastal North Carolina definitely appeals to people who love golf. The coastal climate allows you to play just about every single day of the year. Why not capture your love of golf in a portrait?  

Top 20 Baby Names from 2009

Baby naming expert and co-author of Beyond Ava & Aiden, Pamela Redmond Satran, shared the Top 20 Baby Names for 2009 on her blog in the May 7th edition of The Daily Beast.

Jacob retained the top spot for boys names for the 11th year in a row.  Newcomers to the list are Mia for girls and Jayden and Noah for boys.  Not surprising - the fastest rising boy's name was Cullen, the surname of Twlight hero Edward Cullen.

Girls:   1. Isabella    2. Emma   3. Olivia   4. Sophia   5. Ava   6. Emily   7. Madison   8. Abigail   9. Chloe   10. Mia

Boys:  1. Jacob   2. Ethan   3. Michael   4. Alexander   5. William   6. Joshua        7. Daniel   8. Jayden   9. Noah   10. Anthony


Did your favorite make the list?

Brotherly Love

I'd like to introduce you to Nick and Matt.  Nick is the older brother and Matt is the youngest.  I've been photographing them since they were just tiny babies.  We've known their parents a long time.  I photographed their engagement portrait and bridal portrait.  Then, when she was pregnant with Nick, I photographed their maternity portrait.  

Boy, time flies!  I just can't believe how much the boys have grown.  Both boys have grown into fine young men.  Each has their own unique personality and love each other dearly.  We are so proud of them.  Nick and Matt both love sports. In fact, Nick is playing in the All-Stars Tournament this week.  

This year, their mom asked me to do two paintings of them in historic downtown Wilmington.  I had so much fun, not only spending time with them downtown for the photographic session, but painting the portrait as well.  Painting allows me to bring a lot more customization and creativity to a portrait.  I can bring in colors to match the decor of the home.  I can change parts of the background to include more foliage or flowers.  In the portrait painting of Nick and Matt walking down the brick sidewalk, I painted in the bricks.  The sidewalk was actually cement.

Good luck to your team at the All-Stars Tournament, Nick!

Micah is Wilmington's Top Dog 2010

(Micah speaking)  I humbly accept the honor of Wilmington's Top Dog for 2010.

To Talk Inc.  - Thank you for having the contest.  I really appreciate the gift basket you brought me and my parents.  That doggie chocolate was delicious.  My mommy said I can't have any more snacks for a little while though.  I think she's afraid I will eat too much and get a belly ache.  Oh well, I'll just play with the new toys until she lets me have more goodies.  Maybe a pet-zel or one of the other yummy looking cookies from the basket.  My daddy will sure enjoy the coffee from Port City Java.  Mommy and Aunt Dawn like the Talk huggies and the Talk To the Paw fans.

Miss Debbie - I hope your doggie, Camden, won't be jealous because I kissed you!  Just tell him that I was very excited to know that I won.  I get really excited when I get presents!

I really want to thank everyone who voted for me!  I assure you, I will not let you down in holding this incredible honor.  In addition to the Wilmington's Top Dog 2010 honors, I will continue to work hard at Kenny Barnes Studio.  It's a great job that I love very much.

To all the other doggies that were nominated - I read all the write-ups for Top Dog and know that every one of us are very special doggies.  We are all Top Dogs!
               Just remember - Dogs Rule!

(Photo) Debbie Elliott, President of Talk Inc., presenting the Wilmington's Top Dog 2010 Award to Micah 
Visit http://www.talkinc.com for the announcement and press release.

Angels of Hope

In conjunction with our studio charity, Women of Hope, we will be producing an annual calendar as a fund raiser. Proceeds from the sale of the calendar and the voting process to select the angels for the calendar will be donated to Women of Hope. If you haven't heard about Women of Hope, please go to the Women of Hope website for more information on the services and resources we want to make available to women experiencing cancer and those who are on the other side of their cancer treatment.

We will be photographing children for the calendar July 30 - 31 and August 13 - 14. If you would like to participate, call (910) 392-4214 to schedule a portrait session. We ask that you consider making a donation of at least $50 to Women of Hope in lieu of our studio session fee. Girls and boys from newborn to 3 years old are eligible to participate. They will be dressed as little angels in costumes we provide.

The calendar will be sold for $12.99, with $2 from each sale going to Women of Hope. The voting process to select the angels for the 2011 calendar will be $1 per vote. You can vote as many times as you like. All the money received from the voting process goes directly to Women of Hope.

Our goal is to raise $25,000 this year for Women of Hope. It's a challenging goal, but with your help, we can do it! There are several ways you can help.

1. Have your child photographed and solicit votes from your family and friends to have your child included in the 2011 calendar. Call the studio at (910) 392-4214 to schedule a portrait session.

2. Go online during the months of September and October to vote for your favorite angel. You don't have to have a child in the voting process to participate.

4. Order the 2011 calendar. Consider purchasing additional calendars for people on your holiday gift list.

5. Make a financial contribution of any amount to Women of Hope. You can make a contribution online with your credit card or Paypal by going to the Women of Hope website or you can mail a check to:

Women of Hope

c/o Kenny Barnes Studio

1642 South 41st Street

Wilmington, NC 28403.

On behalf of the women who will be receiving services and support from Women of Hope, we thank you from the bottom of our heart.

If you have any questions or would like more information about how to get involved with Women of Hope, please call Joy Wade at (910) 617-0990 or email her at joy@kennybarnes.com.

Things for Children To Do in Wilmington, NC

I never knew there were so many activities that children and families could take advantage of right here in our own town. Wilmington Parents Magazine has a great calendar on their website with multiple activities for every day of the week.

Here's a link to the website calendar: Wilmington Parent Magazine

You may want to add it to your Favorites to reference all summer.

Some of the ones I thought would be interesting are:

- 4th Annual Children's Fishing Day at Kure Beach Pier from 6 - 11 a.m. this Saturday, June 5th

- Free Kids Workshop at Home Depot on Eastwood Road from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. this Saturday, June 5th

- Free Ocean Safety for Kids at the Mallard Street beach access at Wrightsville Beach from 12 - 1 p.m. Sunday, June 6th

- Free admission to the Cape Fear Museum for all New Hanover County residents from 1 - 5 p.m. this Sunday, June 6th

- Little Explorers at Halyburton Park for ages 2 - 5 on Monday, June 7th or Tuesday, June 6th from 10 - 11 a.m.

- Mother's Morning Out at the Church of the Servant from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 9th

Check out the Wilmington Parents Magazine for more details on these and other activities. Some require registration and others have age limits.

Have fun and be safe!

TOP FIVE GRADUATION GIFT IDEAS

Money – This is the most common and easiest gift to give. It’s an especially great gift if you know the graduate is saving up for something special.

College Bound Gifts – This is a pretty easy gift because most college freshman will be living in a dorm and need things for their dorm room. You could also give a gift with the school’s logo.

Technology – This is a more popular gift idea. Entertainment items like an MP3 player, an iTouch, or a mini netbook computer are very popular.

Experiential Gifts – Traditionally, this is thought of as the trip to Europe or backpacking through the countryside of a European country. It doesn’t necessarily have to be extravagant. For example, Greyhound has a Discover pass program where you buy a ticket that will take you anywhere in the USA for 7 – 30 days.

Memories – This gift helps capture some of the memories of the graduate’s life. It can be a compilation of photographs from throughout the years leading up to graduation or a professional photographic session that allows the graduate’s personality and interests to be reflected through portraits.

Bottom Line: The easiest gift is money. The gift that locks in memories and adds to the graduation experience will be treasured for a lifetime.

(taken from www.socoolgifts.com)

Ten Mistakes Parents Make With Teens

from www.byparents-forparents.com

1. Lecture rather than discuss

2. Ignore the obvious

3. Not following through on rules and consequences

4. Setting unreasonable goals

5. Pointing out only the negative, expecting only the positive

6. Leaving the educating up to "someone else"

7. Giving up on family time because it is too much of a hassle

8. Assume good grades mean no other problems

9. Not taking the time to know what's up with adolescents today

10. Giving up too soon: Forgetting the "three time" rule

For more information and elaboration on each point, see the entire article on the By Parents - For Parents website.

High School Seniors

When it comes to choosing a senior portrait photographer, high school seniors want someone that can capture their real personality.

Gone are the days of the generic yearbook photograph. You know – the fake suit with a bowtie for guys and the drape around the shoulders for girls. Today’s seniors won’t settle for that type of cookie-cutter photo for their yearbook. Now, they like to show a little of their own, unique personality with both formal and casual, serious and sassy portraits.

Photographers that work with high school seniors have to be a lot more creative. It’s such a monumental occasion. That last year of high school needs to be photographically captured in a way that shows the real person. It should include not only the yearbook photograph; but, other photographs that show the senior’s personality and style, hobbies and interests.

At Kenny Barnes Studio, we offer all of this for our high school seniors. The senior can use several different outfits for their studio and outdoor portraits. We can also go to the beach or any other location that is meaningful to the student. We’ve can incorporate musical instruments, sports, pets, and other interests in the portraits. We start with a free consultation to plan the portrait session. That way, we are both prepared for a successful portrait session.

Note: High school senior portraits are usually done this time of year for the rising senior. Most yearbook deadlines are in the Fall of the student’s senior year.

A Job Description for Mom

I saw this job description for the position of Mom. I doubt anyone would take it unless they’ve done this type of job before. God bless our moms!!

Happy Mother's Day!

POSITION: Mom, Mother, Mama

JOB DESCRIPTION: Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment.

Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.

Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.

Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.

Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.

Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.

Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.

Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next.

Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.

Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.

Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.

Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION: Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION: Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent.

When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS: While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.

Let’s make sure our moms know how much we appreciate them and all they do for us personally and for our family.

“To a child’s ear, ‘mother’ is magic in any language.” - Arlene Benedict

Mom’s Advice Stays the Same Through the Ages

How many of you can recall the little things your mom said to you when you were young that made you roll your eyes? Now, I bet some of you say them to your children. Then, you think to yourself, “I’m becoming my mother.” You know what? That’s okay. You, like your mom and her mom and her mom, want to bless your children and keep them safe from physical and emotional hurts. And, for that, we honor all moms!

Here are a few sayings that we came up with here at the studio that we remember our moms saying:

“Look both ways before crossing the street.”

“Do as I say, not as I do.”

“Don’t bite your nails.”

“Eat your dinner. There are hungry children in Africa that would love to have something to eat.”

“Eat your vegetables.”

“Pretty is as pretty does.”

“Always wear clean underwear in case you get in a wreck.”

“Don’t cross your eyes. They might get stuck that way.”

“Watch your language, or I’ll wash your mouth out with soap.”

“Don’t chew with your mouth open.”

“I brought you into this world and I can take you out.”

“You’ll miss me when I’m gone.”

Feel free to comment with other sayings that your mom said (or says).

Mother’s Day Activities at The Children’s Museum of Wilmington

The Art Room at the museum will be set up on Sunday afternoon, May 2^nd for kids to make Mother’s Day cards.

On Saturday, May 8^th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., the museum will be having a Mother’s Day Extravaganza. The kids will be making bath salts and/or brooches for their mom.

Check it out! http://www.playwilmington.org

Don’t forget Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 9^th. All moms like family portraits. We can help you with a gift certificate from Kenny Barnes Studio for your Mother’s Day gift.

Miss Wilmington, Brooklynne Williamson

Congratulations, Brooklynne, on winning the title of Miss Wilmington! I know you will represent our city well at the Miss North Carolina pageant.

I had the privilege of photographing Brooklynne after she won the Miss Wilmington Pageant. This is one of the photographs her family choose to display in their home. Not only is she beautiful on the outside, but she is equally as beautiful on the inside. Lots of our young clients look up to her at the dance studio. She's an excellent role model and friend to them.

Best of luck to you, Brooklynne! We'll be cheering for you!

Spring Flowers = Lots of Pollen

Wow! I heard today that this year is the worst year for pollen since 1997. Normal counts are around 1500. This year, in the Wilmington area, the counts are 5000.

Our backyard studio gardens are proof that pollen is heavy this year. Last weekend, it seemed like there was a yellowish-green fog over the city. Now, that's some thick pollen. Thank God, it rained last night. That helped settle some of the pollen dust.

I love Spring though. It just reminds me of a fresh start - a new beginning. It's like once the cold, winter weather is gone, people come alive. I see folks outside exercising, playing with the kids, going to the beach. People seem to smile more.

This weekend is the Azalea Festival in Wilmington. We had the privilege of photographing several of the Azalea Belles. It's supposed to be a beautiful weekend. So, there will be lots of outside activity for the festival. If you are going, have a great time!

Happy Easter!

Easter is a favorite time of year for Elizabeth and I. We love all the spring colors, flowers, new outfits to wear, and children's activities associated with Easter. But, truly, Easter to us is a time for remembering what Jesus did for human kind. I saw this little saying on a friend's Facebook post and thought I would share it today on the blog.

"Blessed are those to whom Easter is not a hunt, but a find; not a greeting, but a proclamation; not an outward fashion, but an inward grace; not day, but an eternity."

Wishing you all a happy, holy, and blessed Easter!

"The Ducks Are In the Mail"

This year, we are using live baby ducklings for Easter portraits. Believe it or not, they are being mailed to us. Elizabeth is supposed to be getting a call from the post office tomorrow to let us know that the baby ducklings have arrived.

We are doing the portraits this Thursday and Friday. So far, the weather outlook for the portraits looks good. The portraits are going to be done by the water in our backyard studio.

We got all the necessary supplies to keep the ducklings this weekend - a large container, food, bowls for food and water, and lots of wood chips. So, we are ready!

It's going to be so fun!

Studio B

Along with the paintings and Artisan portraits we create at Kenny Barnes Studio, we have another division of our studio called Studio B.

Studio B is the 100% photographic division of Kenny Barnes Studio, meaning minimal enhancement is done to the photographs. We also use a more casual photographic style. With shorter photographic sessions, minimal enhancement to the photographs, and a different finishing process, Studio B offers a price to meet everyone's budget. You will still receive the same studio experience that's always been provided by our studio, the same client service, and a quality product that you will be proud to own.

Four!

It's time to hit the greens. Dust off the clubs. Spring is in the air! Many of our clients enjoy one of the benefits of living on the coast - - Golfing!

Let us photograph your Miniature Golfer at our studio. We are offering a Limited Edition portrait session called "Miniature Golfer". Its for boys and/or girls ages 2 - 10 years of age. We have a costume for the little boys. Little girls can wear one of their own outfits.

This session is being offered on the following days:

- Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

- Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

Call to schedule your Miniature Golfer. (910) 392-4214

What a Night!

We were totally overwhelmed by the turnout for the Women of Hope charity debut. So many wonderful people came to hear about the charity we have begun at our studio. We provided an overview of the services and resources that we want to make accessible. There are lots of ways to receive from and give to Women of Hope. That's what last night was about.

The focus of Women of Hope is to help provide support for women and their families going through all types of women's cancers. Additionally, we want to offer health education to women of all ages, but especially women under the age of 40. We also want to provide education to the community about women's cancers and the needs that a cancer diagnosis present to everyone involved.

Thank you to everyone who came out last night!

For more information on the charity and/or how you can help, give us a call at (910) 617-0990.

Portrait Paintings by Kenny

We sure do love what we do at Kenny Barnes. One type of art that is so wonder to create is a portrait painting. There is so much that we can do - special backgrounds, added colors, we are truly limited by imagination. Here is one of our recent formal studio paintings. We will post many other images over time - visit the blog often!

Bella Ballerina

We had a wonderful time photographing several ballerinas over the past weeks. With a vision in mind, we knew we wanted a dancer with a love for their art. These subjects needed to be strong students of the art of ballet. Here is an image from one of these dancers. Ms. Miller is hoping to study ballet at the School of the Arts. We wish her well and hope her dreams come true.

Happy New Year!

We are so excited about 2010! We have some great things to offer this year. The calender will be going out to our clients soon. Elizabeth is putting the finishing touches on it and confirming the dates for all the offers.

We hope you all had a great Christmas with those you love. We enjoyed a lot of family time with our daughter from Atlanta, our parents, siblings, and friends. Christmas is a big deal at the Barnes' home.

If you would like to be included on our mailing list, go to our website and let us know. We are also on Facebook and would love to be your friend.

Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous 2010!