I was just looking over some of our previous orders and came across one that really hit home. Now I know that most of the gifts we purchase are done at the last minute. Maybe you thought about what the perfect gift would be, but then got extremely busy (which happens... I know) and then realized..... Wow that party or special occasion is just a few days away.... or more commonly.... tomorrow. So you make that last minute trip to the mall in search of something that could be looked at as a gift you put a lot of thought into. But then after going into the 7th store and walking out empty handed you finally say.... just pick something! I hate to admit this... but that has been me many of times. I don't intentionally do this, but sometimes I put too much thought into it and go in search of "perfect" gift... not find it and then have to settle.
What I don't think people realize is that sometimes what you give a person might end up being one of the things they love the most..... something that will be in their lives forever, and possibly the lives of their children. Now don't get me wrong... there is nothing wrong with giving a really warm sweater or a comfy pair of pajamas... I love those too... and they are great gifts for those everyday occasions. But that is not the kind of gift you would want to give for a wedding or anniversary, a first Mother's Day or Father's Day. Some occasions require long lasting gifts ... something to touch their hearts.... because these are the days they will remember forever... the days that will bring tears of joy to their eyes when they are thought of.
During the Summer we received an order for out Personalized Names in the Sand Photo. We worked on that photo and sent it out within a few days. It was just 2 names and a date in the sand. By the date we had a feeling it was for an anniversary. A few days later we received this email from the woman who ordered it.
"This gift means a lot to me. When I was a little girl my dad and step mom would take us camping. I used to carve their initials in the sand all the time. My dad is now terminally ill and this will be their last anniversary so thanks so much for what you have done. I know they will cherish it."
This letter brought tears to my eyes..... I know what it is like to lose a parent... and I know just how tightly you hold on to the objects that meant alot to them. I know that whenever her stepmother looks at this photo she will be reminded of their wedding day & her love for him. And possibly one day this photo will be given to their daughter to have & to cherish. This was the day that I realized just how deeply our photos touch peoples hearts.... and that sometimes a gift is not just a gift.... it's much more. This is the reason why we put a lot of hard work into our photos... because we know just by ordering one... you are putting a huge amount of thought and love into your gift.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Costume Crazy
Okay, so the second ...and I really mean the second I got back from LA..... (possibly filming for a TV show..... which I can not reveal many details, except the fact this is was for our business and sooooo exhausting and kinda fun.....) my kids hounded me about Halloween costumes. Before I left on my not so sunny but more rainy and cold California adventure I promised them that I would get their costumes together as soon as I got back. So now I realize this is where the stress really begins.
Britney, who is 12, has this whole obsession with Lara Croft (Tomb Raider). She's going through a I wanna be a girl who kicks some serious butt phase. Which is all good, cause I actually never got out of that phase myself..... but the costume I found was a little too revealing for a 12 year old, which seems to be the case with any costume they sell for a girl over the age of ....lets say 5. So now I need to make this costume myself.... so I get her a pair of shorts (according to her, not the right color brown), I get her a shirt ( it's suppose to be a tank top... so I get out the scissors).. get the guns, holsters, and combat boots...... $50.00 later I'm thinking..." It probably would have been alright if a part of her butt cheeks were hanging out and her belly was kind of showing."
Okay... then I have Bree (10)... who is angelic looking... pale skin, beautiful wavy hair.... extremely polite and deep down inside...... just as dark & twisted as they come. She always needs to be something extremely frightening for Halloween. The sicker the better. So when she told me she wanted to be a bride this year I was a little shocked.... till she said " and Mom can you rip the wedding dress all up... throw blood all over it and make it look like my face had been ripped off?" Then I thought... "There's the little Bree I know!"
Britney, who is 12, has this whole obsession with Lara Croft (Tomb Raider). She's going through a I wanna be a girl who kicks some serious butt phase. Which is all good, cause I actually never got out of that phase myself..... but the costume I found was a little too revealing for a 12 year old, which seems to be the case with any costume they sell for a girl over the age of ....lets say 5. So now I need to make this costume myself.... so I get her a pair of shorts (according to her, not the right color brown), I get her a shirt ( it's suppose to be a tank top... so I get out the scissors).. get the guns, holsters, and combat boots...... $50.00 later I'm thinking..." It probably would have been alright if a part of her butt cheeks were hanging out and her belly was kind of showing."
Okay... then I have Bree (10)... who is angelic looking... pale skin, beautiful wavy hair.... extremely polite and deep down inside...... just as dark & twisted as they come. She always needs to be something extremely frightening for Halloween. The sicker the better. So when she told me she wanted to be a bride this year I was a little shocked.... till she said " and Mom can you rip the wedding dress all up... throw blood all over it and make it look like my face had been ripped off?" Then I thought... "There's the little Bree I know!"
And then there's my son, Angelo (7). Thank God for Angelo! He wanted to be a werewolf.... 2 clicks later....DONE! Gotta love the boys!
A great Fall Personalized Photo.... Have 2 names "carved" into this fence. Great for those Fall weddings.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
How we met
Okay so how is it that April and I share a business when just a little over a year ago we had no idea who each of us were?
Well..... it kind of goes like this. April responded to Craig's list ad I had online.... no not one of those ads.... but one for an apartment for rent. I emailed her back and forth few times. She decided she wanted to take the apartment. Unfortunately, we decided not to rent it to her....... because we sold the house. But I thought it would be nice to still meet her once she did move to Mahopac from Massachusetts. I thought she might need some help figuring this little town out. She had no friends or family here. A few days after she moved here I gave her a call & invited her over with her 2 extremely cute kids.
As I waited for her to arrive a sickening feeling came over me. What if she is a complete sicko. Some crazy, missing teeth, pants up to her boobs, psycho. For a second I thought...hmmmm maybe this wasn't the smartest thing to do. Then I saw her jeep pull into my driveway, and I thought okayyyy she's driving a real car and not some nasty jalopy with 10 antennas sticking off the roof. This is a good sign. Then she rang my door bell and Oh my God..... she looked normal. Pretty even. So relieved.
So we began talking and it turned out that she was very nice. We spoke about the schools, houses, and other very important Mommy stuff.
A few days later we met for coffee. We discovered that we both wanted to go back to work now that our kids were getting older. We also needed to find a job that was super flexible being we both didn't have anyone to help us out with our kids. We felt like there probably wasn't a job out there with the schedule we wanted... you know... 10:00- 2:00, Monday through Friday, no weekends ever, no holidays, no Summers and all school vacations off. Then we found out that we both loved photography..... and the rest of that convo went something like this:
"Hey you want to start a business?"
"Umm, Sure, I guess so."
"What about if we start tomorrow?"
"Sounds good... don't think I have anything else going on tomorrow."
"Okay... talk to you later."
"Yep... see you then."
And well that pretty much sums it up. We've been busting our butts getting this business up and running.... and having a ball doing it.
Well..... it kind of goes like this. April responded to Craig's list ad I had online.... no not one of those ads.... but one for an apartment for rent. I emailed her back and forth few times. She decided she wanted to take the apartment. Unfortunately, we decided not to rent it to her....... because we sold the house. But I thought it would be nice to still meet her once she did move to Mahopac from Massachusetts. I thought she might need some help figuring this little town out. She had no friends or family here. A few days after she moved here I gave her a call & invited her over with her 2 extremely cute kids.
As I waited for her to arrive a sickening feeling came over me. What if she is a complete sicko. Some crazy, missing teeth, pants up to her boobs, psycho. For a second I thought...hmmmm maybe this wasn't the smartest thing to do. Then I saw her jeep pull into my driveway, and I thought okayyyy she's driving a real car and not some nasty jalopy with 10 antennas sticking off the roof. This is a good sign. Then she rang my door bell and Oh my God..... she looked normal. Pretty even. So relieved.
So we began talking and it turned out that she was very nice. We spoke about the schools, houses, and other very important Mommy stuff.
A few days later we met for coffee. We discovered that we both wanted to go back to work now that our kids were getting older. We also needed to find a job that was super flexible being we both didn't have anyone to help us out with our kids. We felt like there probably wasn't a job out there with the schedule we wanted... you know... 10:00- 2:00, Monday through Friday, no weekends ever, no holidays, no Summers and all school vacations off. Then we found out that we both loved photography..... and the rest of that convo went something like this:
"Hey you want to start a business?"
"Umm, Sure, I guess so."
"What about if we start tomorrow?"
"Sounds good... don't think I have anything else going on tomorrow."
"Okay... talk to you later."
"Yep... see you then."
And well that pretty much sums it up. We've been busting our butts getting this business up and running.... and having a ball doing it.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Brand New Blogger
Hi! My name is Laurie and my friend and business partner is April. Our company is called Name Your Wish Images. We create beautiful and unique Photo Art. We shoot all of our own photos and then, using a form of digital art, we personalize them to include names, dates or messages. We do this in a way that the names look ingrained in them, as if it has always been a part of the image. We work really hard to make each photo perfect because we know just how much these mean to people.
Many of our orders are for wedding and anniversary gifts. For these occasions.... they are perfect. Just add the couples name & wedding date and just like that their gift has been made memorable by you! It's something they will display on their walls for years to come & think of a joyous day every single time they look at it.
Our photos are also great as holidays, birthdays, birth announcements, Save the date cards, and pretty much any occasions you need a gift for. And the price is soooo affordable, but don't worry..... these personalized photos are very high quality.....long lasting!
Many of our orders are for wedding and anniversary gifts. For these occasions.... they are perfect. Just add the couples name & wedding date and just like that their gift has been made memorable by you! It's something they will display on their walls for years to come & think of a joyous day every single time they look at it.
Our photos are also great as holidays, birthdays, birth announcements, Save the date cards, and pretty much any occasions you need a gift for. And the price is soooo affordable, but don't worry..... these personalized photos are very high quality.....long lasting!
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