So Cory has this super fancy database that he made for our contest. (I love my computer nerd!) We entered all of the comments into his “super fancy” database and now I share those results with YOU…

Grand prize winner…. she wins a session fee and a disk of all the pictures to print, print, print… Shauna Palmer!! CONGRATS!! She also happens to be one of the moms from our workshop so I was excited to she was one of our winners!!

Second Place winner… Phillip Woodard!! He wins a session fee with a $25 print credit. I bet he is going to use this session for the new baby girl that is due in a few months. His wife made him comment on every post so I am glad his efforts paid off!

Third Place winner… Melissa Hall!!! She wins a session fee with a $25 print credit. I have known her family for a few years and I look forward to photographing her sweet little princess, she is just a few weeks younger than my Sarah.

So, winners email me NOW to set something up. You must contact me within 30 days to claim your prize. After 30 days it expires! I make the rules!

Thank you for all the entries!! Look for another contest in the coming weeks! I love to give something away for free!

And if you didn’t win…. you might feel like this….

Or maybe like this….

But don’t lose heart… your chances are better next time because the three winners can’t win next time.

We love to travel. Really, love to travel! One of the biggest reasons we have always dreamed of owning our own business was so that we can travel when we decide and work while we travel.  We have been very blessed to have the freedom to see new places. A few months back Cory’s cousin announced his wedding for the end of June. We didn’t think attending was possible but then all the cousins and our family came together to surprise Cory’s cousin with us coming to the wedding and of course, photographing the wedding!! We are so excited to see family! I have not meet in person much of Cory’s family so that is extra special for us and our children. At first we wanted to fly, but then we thought about how our sweet Sarah would react to sitting still in the plane. We decided that we would do better driving as crazy as it sounds. We are going to take our time and see a lot of things on our trip and teach our kids lots of new things. Elijah is learning about maps, we knows where every state is on the map that we are going to visit. We are ready for a crazy adventure.

So we are going to share our adventure with you. We are going to try to be funny or maybe at least interesting. We are a little nervous about how to entertain the kids for a four day drive. Just to remind you, E is 3 almost 4 and S is 1 almost 2. Today a good friend said she was so jealous of our trip and I said yes, I will call you when both the kids break down and start screaming. I will ask if you are jealous then. She agreed that it would be nice to have a good laugh at my screaming babies. We are planning for lots of stops and hope to take lots and lots of pictures. I would love to do an album for both of my kids so they will never forget!

I am also shooting a couple of sessions with we are there! So so much fun!

Do you want to know about the contest? Since we are going to be blogging so much the next few weeks, we want to hear what you think about our trip. I can admit to you that will need something to entertain us while we are driving. We are expecting you to do your part and comment on the blog. For every blog comment for every blog entry that is during our trip, you receive an entry. One comment per entry. Want to know what you will win? We are giving away THREE prizes! One mini session with a disk with printing rights. And we will also be giving away two free session fees ($100 value).

So please start keeping us entertained while we drive across this awesome country with two young children. Comment away, I can’t wait to see who wins!

So, pictures to start our journey! Two of the Ferguson’s needed haircuts before we left.

And a rare picture of me… cut and highlighted. I would have taken a before picture but I was embarrassed. I let it get way too long for my taste. I should not go a year between haircut….lol.

Stay tuned, and keep commenting….. it should be fun! Let’s hope anyway!

And for anyone that is concerned about our home, don’t worry… we have a dear friend that is housesitting with her dog. We have an alarm system, on the job local police, nosey neighbors (best ever neighbors!), and one neighbor has two dogs that do bite. Just saying…

But without all the small talk, I will get straight to announcing the winner! First and second place were really close. We decided to a give a 2nd place prize too!

Grand Prize Winner is: #4 Melinda! Email me about setting up your session! It will be wonderful to have your husband on the other side of the camera!

And 2nd place is #1 Kelly!! We are giving you a free session fee ($100) value to be used by December 31, 2010.

Because I have to have a picture with every post. Check out the kiss picture from the wedding this weekend. Cory took a traditional shot but my take was a little different. I really love it!

* Please note that if you’ve never commented on our blog before that I will have to approve yours first before you will see it *

Now for the fun part!

Picture 1 (Kelly):

Why this is Kelly’ favorite picture:

Sam, I love (love, love, love) all your photos. I can’t let myself visit your blog while working b/c I spend way too much time going gaga over every photo!  But, my favorite photo (and I’m biased) is the one you took my kids, with big brother kissing baby sister’s head.  I love them all, but you put that one on a business card and a stray found it’s way into my gym bag.  When she was so sick and in the hospital, I couldn’t leave her side.  Even when they kicked me out of the SCU, I just sat in the waiting room until they let me in again. Someone brought me clothes in my gym bag and I found that photo.  The nurses let me back in so I could leave it for her.  That photo helped me so much during that scary time.  I’d hold Rosie and pray without words and just get lost in the photo of my 3 beautiful, happy, healthy kids.

Why Kelly wants to win:

I’ve been thinking for a while that I would love to have you take my family’s photo in Columbiana, in front of the courthouse.  That’s where we eloped and we do not have a single photo from that day.  I think it’d be a beautiful picture to revisit the courthouse (the place where we got married and where we made my son’s adoption official) and have you photograph our family…..me, my husband, and our three beautiful and HEALTHY (praise God!!) children.

And here is another picture she sent me when baby girl was in the hospital. See the business card? I am happy to say baby girl is healthy, PRAISE GOD!

Picture 2 (Kim):

Why this is Kim’s favorite picture:

My all time favorite picture is of the mom and her triplet boys….the one has his arms crossed in anger.  One looks miserable in Amy’s lap.  And the other  looks like he is up to something sneaky, and mom looks like she is just thinking….”Yep, this is life with triplet boys.”   I, too, have triplets (2 girls and a boy) and I can totally picture that happening if I attempted a family photo right now.  This picture sums up life with multiples for me!!!  Hysterical!!!!

Why Kim wants to win:

Like I mentioned, I have triplets.  They are 6 ½ yrs. old and we have only had one professional family picture made together and that was when they were 2 yrs. old.  We desperately need an updated family picture and I would love for you to capture their innocence b/4 they get to big.  I don’t like to beg, but PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE pick me!!!!

Picture 3 (Tracy):

Why this is Tracy’s favorite picture:

You have so many photos to choose from but my favorite would have  to be the one you took of my daughter in the blue tutu where she is faced away from the camera with her hand perched and tip toes showing. This is the photo that we got in a 16 X 20 of and proudly display as a fine piece of art in our home.  This photo of my little one is one I have dreamed of when I have spent time looking at photos of children.  I love photos of children that capture their expressions and show their faces but there is something about the ones where you can’t see their face, like the one that I describe, or ones where you capture only a certain body part, feet, hands, etc that just move me and you have a wonderful eye for this. Your pictures paint a story that leaves so much to the imagination.  For example, in my favorite photo of my child, I do not see her face in the photo but I can only imagine the expression on her face when you took it.  When I see the photo, I imagine that she has a look of wonder or surprise or just utmost happiness and that makes me smile and my heart melt.  I will never forget what she said when we put her in the blue tutu.  She said “Mommy, I princess.”  I first of all didn’t even know she knew the word “princess” but you made her feel like one and she was so happy that day and I love that you captured her “princess” moment for us to cherish forever.  I look forward to the day of telling her about those photos and what they mean to me.

Why Tracy wants to win:

As for why I would love to win, I just love photos, especially of things of people who are very special to me and I have a perfect subject matter for you.  My daughter is very photogenic and loves the camera and I love how you captured her personality so beautifully and innocently when we worked with you.

Picture 4 (Melinda):

Why is this Melinda’s favorite picture:

The one that stands out is the one you did with all the five boys in the grass with the tulips. I guess because I know them it becomes more personal to me but watching them grow up and then captured in such a beautiful moment was breathtaking.

Why Melinda wants to win:

I remember your dream when it first began and to see where the Lord has brought you guys now and the work you are doing is priceless. You are able to capture such amazing shots and you will do just about anything to get them. So remembering those first pictures you took and now to see how God has blessed both of you with such amazing talent puts a smile on my face. My husband is always taking pictures of our family which means he is never able to be in the picture with us. I cannot remember the last family picture we had made together. He is also a very busy person and although he loves to take the pictures and edit them, he is not able to devote a lot of time to doing this. I would love for our family to have a photo session and I would love for you guys to do it!

Picture 5 (Angie):

Why this is Angie’s favorite picture:

My favorite photograph is the one from the “Trust Me” album where you can see the children’s feet!  I love this photograph because you captured their personalities without seeing their faces.  Once you see the other photographs in the album, their “feet” make perfect sense!  The ability to evoke an emotional response from funky shoes and brightly colored socks is incredible!!

Why Angie wants to win:

I would love to win this contest to see how YOU see my family!! You seem to have a “knack” for knowing people even if you don’t know them.  You connect with your subjects beyond a pretty picture.  That is TALENT and an amazing gift you can give others!! Your pictures truly tell stories!  Even though we don’t know these individuals, they become characters that you want to meet!  (Just like when reading a book!)  As you scroll through your albums, you can see the story of their lives unfold!  It is amazing!!  You allow people to be who they are and then you capture their soul!

Picture 6 (Rachel):

Why this is Rachel’s favorite picture:

The couple sitting in the Adirondack chairs sharing a kiss. I just see that as such a sweet picture and hopefully, one they can recreate 50 years later. So sweet and casual!

Why Rachel wants to win:

I have never had professional photo of my daughter taken. I, myself, have taken thousands of pictures, but there is something different about real professional shots. She is going to be 2 on May 27 and I would love to be able to have this part of her life captured by such a fun and whimsical photographer.

Picture 7 (Kelly):

Why this is Kelly’s favorite picture:

My favorite picture you have taken is of my little one at the Botanical Gardens. She is sitting by the wall in her bishop smocked dress and holding on to each of her big toes. I love it because it captures the essence of who she is so perfectly – sometimes shy, but still mischievous. A little princess, but not afraid to run outside barefoot and get dirty.

Why Kelly wants to win:

I want to win the contest because I love your pictures. Seeing how you are able to forever document the lives of people in the way that you do is unbelievable. I love your pictures because they are real. Looking at the photos you have taken, I feel like I know the people or at least something about them because of what you have captured in those moments. Sometimes the photos seem so intimate, almost as though the people are unaware they are being photographed. Simply amazing. I love them!

Check out the details:

What you win: a mini session (30 minute) to a Birmingham area location to be decided by us both.  AND a disk of all of your pictures from the mini session. PRINT PRINT AWAY.

What you have to do: Until Friday, May 14th you send me an email answering three questions.

1. Your favorite picture that I have taken, your family or something you have seen on the blog. Tell me why it is your favorite picture.

2. Tell me why you think our pictures are different and why you love what you see!

3. Why you want to win.

Easy as that! Please send your email to sam @ hishandsphotographs.com.

Now, here is what we do! We are going to pick a select few as winners. THEN, you get your friends and family to vote on your entry. We are going to have some fun with a little photo contest!

Now the Fine Print!!

1.  Session is for up to 5 family members.

2. Location must be in the Birmingham area.

3. Must be a email not an entry in a comment.

4. One entry per person. Encourage your friends to email me too!

5. Session must be booked before December 31st, 2010.  

Now some more of my favorites from two sisters in Montevallo! Mom went to school here so it was the perfect location!

This first family is one of our mini session contest winners. We met THREE days before the baby boy in mom’s belly made his appearance. I really love that we have a few shots of the the siblings before they welcomed the new baby.

Next Family… this little princess was no having  us putting her on the ground. You can tell from the crying picture. Mom was laughing that I took the picture. Turns out she had a double ear infection… poor little sweetheart! We still got some great shots, I just had to be creative on my posing. Doesn’t she has the most incredible eyes??

The next sweet little girl is a natural… she loves the camera and is incredibly beautiful. At the end of the session, she wanted to take a few pictures with her “duck, duck”. As a mom with a child with a special lovey…. this warms my heart!

Here are the winners from our relationship contest. The two families have been friends FOREVER…. the two dads went to elementary school together and the moms told me that the kids have all been friends since they were born. They acted like family too! Everyone was cutting up and having a great time. We changed our location at the LAST minute. I pulled up at our meeting place and said “Are you up for something different?” I saw this spot on the way to our session and I HAD to use it. Awesome location, more awesome family!

So, that was my inspiration for the contest! First let’s talk about what we are giving away…

1 session fee to the winner ($100 value)

1 session fee for a family or person the winner chooses ($100 value)

Digital Disk with ALL portraits from both sessions ($800 value), AND

1 11×14 wall portrait for each family ($150 value)!!!!!!!!

Why are we giving away two sessions??? I want you to tell me who you would love to have a session with! Tell me about your sister and how awesome she is and how you want to thank her with this session. Tell me about your best friend that has stuck beside you for YEARS. Tell me about your co-worker that is always there to lend an ear. Tell me about your mom… you get the idea! This is two full sessions but I want to schedule the session where the two families have a few shots taken together. I want to celebrate your favorite relationship!

Now, here is how you win:

1. You must leave a comment here on the blog or here on our fan page wall on Facebook. Tell me about why you want to win and who you would give the other session and 11×14 to as a gift. The contest isn’t about someone in need. Remember, I am interested in the relationship!

2. If you enter on Facebook, tell your friends about the contest on our fan page. You can have it say whatever you like this time, but include a link to our fanpage. The last contest went so well with so many entries that I felt very generous and gave away MORE stuff to other winners! I seriously have a hard time not giving everyone something that enters!

3. Session must take place in the greater Birmingham area (some exceptions made on the case by case basis).

4. The person you choose to give the session away to must agree to the session and both families must schedule the session on the same day. This will allow the portraits of everyone together.

5. The sessions is for up to 10 people total.

6. Session must be booked and completed by December 31st, 2009.

And to celebrate some my kids’ relationship, let me show you the picture from 4th of July. I have to admit, it is hard to get picture of my own kids at this age. They are not interested in my camera (Sarah is lately… maybe there is hope!) and we all know how our own kids don’t listen like they should…lol. So when I try to sit them down for a posed picture, it is often comical. Cory is in the background making funny noises (ask him about “Moose”) and I am desperately trying to get both of my toddlers looking my way…lol. But, I love to see both of them in the same print, it makes my heart smile.

 All entries must be received by August 25th, 2009. Winner will be annouced on August 26th.

Now on to the contest…. I know that seniors love Facebook as much as we do! I love to upload senior portraits to facebook pages because the friends are able to see them NOW. You don’t have to carry about a box of proofs or send a link to your friends because it shows up in the news feed! AND it gives you an awesome profile picture! So this contest is for Facebook. Add me as your friend, HERE and make sure you are FAN, HERE. Then go to our wall and tell us why you want the session AND what kind of session would you want (city, nature, rustic, crazy…etc). Last but not least…. change your Facebook Status to:

Check our His Hands Photographs for something completely different for senior portraits! I am trying to win a HUGE contest and you can win too!  http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#/pages/Birmingham-AL/His-Hands-Photographs/34442204574?ref=share

And here is the LOOT….a FREE session fee (up to $200) with up to 5 outfit changes we pick our AWESOME locations(yes, more than one!), a Digital CD of ALL of your session with RIGHTS TO PRINT ($400) (Imagine you printing out unlimited pictures to share with your friends), and a 8×8 20 page brag book ($275) of your ENTIRE session in a press printed album designed by Cory. One person is going to win all this stuff! Someone will be VERY happy. Go sign up now…seriously….don’t you want to win???

AND the Rules….

1. Only one entry per person.

2. Session must take place in the Birmingham Metro area.

3. Seniors must have persmission from parents to book a session and must sign a model release for me to post the pictures on Facebook and my website.

4. The winner will be annouced on August 1, 2009..

5. Session must be booked by November 30th, 2009.

Now a few more from one of our senior reps! We have several sessions set up with more reps in the next few weeks… just wait until you see them!

Let me first say I am so glad I didn’t have to pick and this was random…. I have NO idea how I would ever pick from all the awesome stories and incredible families.

To our three free sessions ($100 value and includes a $25 print credit):

Cynthia Moss

Kellie Vaughn

Emily Leiter

Contact me for details! I look forward to meeting you guys and your families!

Our grand prize winner is….. Rebecca Harris!!!!

Here is what she wrote about her dream session: My husband and I have been married for 13 years. We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our first child, Ava Rae Harris. She is due August 17, 2009. I cannot even imagine the joy Ava Rae will bring to our life. God has truly blessed us with such a wonderful blessing and a very healthy pregnancy. There will be so many moments to be captured of this precious little girl and just the thought of seeing her overwhelms me with emotion.

I mean, come on… how cool is that! This baby will be so loved and I am super excited to offer them this prize! Email me for details.

And because I think it is rude to have a post without pictures since we are photographers…you will be subjected to our family snapshots from the beach. Enjoy or not…