New Waterfall / Fountain Sessions in 2011

We’re offering this brand new session style for 2011 Seniors. It is with waterfalls and fountains and is only offered by special appointment on a few occasions during the summer and early fall months of the year.

We going to make these really fun 30 minute sessions (at locations in Kansas City) available at specific times during the summer. Be prepared to have fun and get wet during the session. We have special clothing guidelines (Listed on the our web site information page)  that you need to be aware of.

You will have an actual cool waterfall or one of several large fountains we can select from to make some crazy images no one else will have. Don’t wait, call now to make your appointment because we’ll only make a limited number of trips for this offering.

We Fix $6 Haircuts!!! LOL

Just saw a TV commercial this morning that really got me laughing. It was about a local hometown barber, he sees a new place open up across the street. It’s a big new facility, lots of TV cameras, big fanfare, etc., and a huge sign advertising $6 haircuts! Obviously he mutters, “$6 dollar haircuts?”. In his mind he’s asking how can I compete with that, it’s below my cost.

Next scene, The local barber is hanging a sign that reads, “We fix $6 Haircuts”, and the new shop is shut down, out of business.

I find this funny because we get that all the time. We see clients who come to us after going somewhere else for a better deal. They’re disappointed with what they receive and finally come back to us. I had one senior who couldn’t even get the photographs they ordered (and paid for) because the company went out of business. I had another senior ask me about prices because when they went for the session, they ended up in the guy’s basement for the session. Not exactly the experience level you want to see!

With today’s digital world there are so many new places opening up. New stores with new owners and many of them have little to no formal training. Now, I’m for competition, it makes me better but, so many places are opening with little understanding of what it takes to create a really nice portrait. The standards for professional lighting, artistic composition and expert enhancements are being discarded in favor of a cheap price.

Anyway, enough of my rant, just be careful when you compare. It’s not always about price and most times you get what you pay for.

Apple Blossom Pageant 2010

Just got word about the 2010 Apple Blossom Pageant. I wanted to post some information so that those who are interested can sign up!

There are three entry categories, Queen (age 15 to 19), Jr. Queen (age 11 to 14) and Princess (age 7 to 10). Entry numbers are limited so look things over and make decisions early. The competition involves a written essay, modeling with dressy attire, no formals and a short interview with the emcee on stage.

Entry forms can be obtained at the competition web site www.appleblossomparade.com. Forms must be submitted by March 5 (postmarked) to our studio. The winners in each category will receive:

1. A crown with flowers
2. Ride in the Apple Blossom Parade
3. $300 Cash
4. Photo session and a 16 x 20 portrait from our studio

The entry fee is $35 and the written essay (200 words or less) will be “Why is the Pony Express an important part of St. Joseph History”. There will be a luncheon, workshops and photo shoot at the Holiday Inn downtown on March 7 and a required rehearsal on March 12. The pageant itself will be on March 13 at the Missouri Theater.

New Limited Edition Series for Children

Calling all Kids!!!!

I’m excited about a seminar I visited in January. It was about a children’s program that I want to offer to our clients this year. We’re going to be using some new idea’s for children’s photography this year that I know everyone is going to go wild about.

To start, we’re going to be adding some great new themes to our “Limited Edition Series”. For those of you who don’t know about this program, this is the “Readers Digest” version.

We offer selected monthly themes from an array of settings representing childhood. Each scene is custom built to look as realistic as possible and allow the child to emerse themselves in the magical experience. It is for kids age 7 months to 12 years.

Each  theme is only available for a few days, with one to two sets per month. Hence the title “Limited Edition”. I have at least 20 ideas, some revamped ones and many totally new theme’s in mind.

I Need Child Models!

Here’s the fun part. I need to create some samples images for each theme so that people will get the idea of what we’re doing. Soooooo… help me out. I’m going to list all of the theme’s we’re working on. If you have a child from 7 months to 12 years old who would like to participate, let me know. Comment here, on  facebook or email me at jack@jmcbee.com.

Give me the name and age of your child, tell me if you have a preference on what theme you would like to participate in. I’ll contact you and set up the model shoot!

Limited Edition Themes after the jump.

2K11 Senior Model Program

The 2K11 Senior Model program involves students, in their Junior year, agreeing to serve as exclusive representatives of our studio for one year. Senior Models are photographed on at least 2 occasions with both indoor and outdoor images.

The images we create are used extensively for marketing and advertising throughout the remainder of your Junior and Senior year. After we produce your previews you begin showing them around to others in your class and referring them to our studio. Each time your friends use our professional services, you get a reward or bonus resulting in cash or discounts for your senior portraits. Your friends get some free wallets.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

1. Your portrait session is used in our web site, studio display, publications, advertising, promotions and some off site displays throughout the year.

2. Two FREE extensive photo sessions with the latest styles for 2011.

3. Great rewards and bonus levels for referring seniors to our studio with a long list of other great benefits (included in our Info Packet).

We will only be offering this to a few 2K11 Seniors from each of the area schools this year because the program has grown so much in popularity.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO?

Send me an email (jack@jmcbee.com) or make me a friend on facebook (Jack McBee or J. McBee Portrait Gallery). Tell me “you’re in”, and send me your mailing address, email, etc.

I’ll send you a complete packet of information about the program. If you decide to participate you can expect great photos and a really fun experience.

The program is closed off by the end of February, Don’t miss your chance by putting it off!

Senior Model Highlight: Week 3

The last two weeks we’ve shown models from LHS and CHS, so this time we’re highlighting Sarah Chellew from Benton High School. Due to some rainy weather we got stuck indoors, but that didn’t stop us from getting some amazing images.

Business Portrait Special

Let’s face it, competition is getting tough out there so, you have to do your best to stay ahead of the rest. Start with a professional business portrait from J. McBee Portrait Gallery. Make that great first impression with a portrait that communicates your unique personality.

J. McBee Business Portrait

1. You have a wide range of portrait appointment times
2. It’s fast and easy, you select your image immediately after the session
3. You receive a photo CD complete with a high res, full color image, Black and White image and low res color web sized image for internet usage.
4. Includes a copyright release to print your images anywhere and anytime you need them

So don’t delay, call today and receive an additional $10 off our already low $69 price. This is a limited time offer, offer expires August 31, 2009

Family Portrait Special

Why not have a family portrait taken at specially reduced prices?

J. McBee Portrait Gallery is offering family portraits (indoor or outdoor) at specailly reduced prices. We have set aside a couple of Saturday’s for family portraits and we wanted our valued clients to be aware of this special offer.

We’ve put together some great low price offerings for our limited edition sessions. Each session will last only 15 minutes and we can create any number of groupings (mother and dad, mother and kids, kids individually, etc.) during that time limitation. It is for immediate family only (mom, dad, kids, spouses) due to time limitations.

Photographs can be taken indoors or outdoors (call for appointment times) on one of two dates. You can select your own background from the locations we offer and you will be presented with a set of previews in about a week. Packages start at just $99.

There are no session fees, we do ask for a $99 fee to hold your reservation and it all applies to your order of portrait images. Contact us today to make your appointment for this once a year special.

2010 spa Model

I’ve been talking to a few seniors about a great opportunity for some students in our area. Our business is a member of “spa” (senior portrait artists) and each year they sponsor a “spa Model” program. Seniors in the class of 2010 who are photographed by sponsoring studio’s can enter the competition to become a “spa Model”.

We’ve had a number of seniors this year that I think would be excellent models for this program. As a member, I have been to several of the spa events and they are great learning and idea sharing opportunities. The seniors have a lot of fun and get to model for some of the best photographers in the nation. This year we’ll be in San Diego in a 5 star hotel by the beach.

You have to be photographed by a participating studio who is a member of spa. You then submit a composite card of images we create for you. The entry fee is $100 and you are then judged for your photographic ability as well as things like personality, versatility in your looks, attitude, etc.

If you are selected you are flown to San Diego for our annual meeting. You get to serve with other winners as a model for the best senior photographers in the nation. Some former models have went on to professional careers. At the end you participate in a runway / photo shoot with everyone in attendance, lights, music, camera’s, the works.

Check out www.spamodels.com website that will show you some of last year’s winners and give you a little more info or you can contact us at jack@jmcbee.com or give us a call at 816.364.6454

Senior Model Highlight: Week 2

Our Senior Model for this week is Baleigh McCrary from Lafayette High School. She is so much fun to work with and we’ve created some outstanding images for her. We began with some new locations and ideas. Even though lighting conditions and weather (it was very hot) weren’t in our favor the results just blew us away and we will definitely be revisiting some of these areas for ALL our seniors this year. Leave a comment and let us know what you all think. We want to know how we can give you the images you deserve.

Baliegh is one of our 2010 Senior Models from Lafayette this year. Her and Angela Moore (we’ll post some of her session later) have bonus cards they can present to you. When you turn them in you receive a bonus for having us capture your senior images this year.