Portfolio Update

We just finished updating our portfolio with lots of new images, with much larger images (you could even say huge), and a new category highlighting our work at Gymboree Play + Music, all using HTML instead of Flash so now you can view it on iPhones, iPads and any other device with a web browser. Let us know what you think.

Win a Portrait Session

Here are two opportunities to support local schools and win a black and white portrait session with Dodgen Photography. Naples Elementary and Lowell Elementary schools in Long Beach will be auctioning off gift certificates for a black and white family portrait session and a one hundred dollar product credit. The auctions are coming up this month so make your reservations soon, and good luck bidding.

Naples Elementary School Auction
March 12 at 6:00 pm
at Gladstone's in Long Beach
Contact the school at 562-433-0489 for more information.

Lowell Elementary School Auction
March 19, 7:00 pm
at The Ebell Club of Long Beach
Contact the school at 562-433-6757 for more information.

Portraits at Gymboree

I will be photographing at a couple of Gymboree Play + Music locations next week. If you have children five years old or younger, this is the great opportunity for them to explore all the fun that Gymboree has to offer, while I capture the moment in black and white portraits. The kids are generally having such a good time they do not even notice that I am there, allowing me to capture their true personalities. If you are interested in attending or getting more information, contact one of the Gymboree locations below.

Cedar Hills Shopping Center Gymboree
Reserve your space today, 503-384-0542
Wednesday, March 9, 4:30 – 5:15 pm

Lake Oswego/Bridgeport Gymboree
Reserve your space today, 503-670-1683
Thursday, March 10, 2:30 – 3:15 pm
Friday, March 11, 3:30 – 4:15 pm

2-for-1 Portrait Session Promotion

Book a portrait session by February 28 and receive a second session in 2011 free.

Two sessions give you the opportunity to document a wider variety of experiences or developmental stages. For instance, one session could be devoted to capturing some quiet moments at home together as a family, while the other is spent documenting a favorite activity around town. One session could be devoted to your your child's baseball game, the second to your daughter's ballet class. One session in the spring playing at the park, the other in the fall creating family portraits for holiday cards and gifts. E-mail or call us 562-856-2755 by February 28th to take advantage of this offer.

This promotion is good for two, one hour individual or family portrait sessions on location within 20 mile radius of the 90803 area code. The first session must take place by May 31, 2011 and the second must take place by December 31, 2011. The session fee is due at the time the first session is scheduled. Portrait sessions are non-transferrable.

Newborn Portrait Session

Here are a few favorite photographs from a recent newborn portrait session.

Portraits at Gymboree

I will be photographing at Gymboree Play + Music again in a couple of weeks. If you have children five years old or younger, this is the perfect opportunity for them to explore all of the fun Gymboree play equipment while I capture the moment in black and white portraits. The kids are generally having such a good time they do not even notice that I am there allowing me to capture their true personalities. If you are interested in attending or getting more information, contact one of the Gymboree locations below. Sessions are almost full, so do not delay.

Lake Oswego/Bridgeport
Friday, September 24, 3:30 – 4:15 pm and 4:30 – 5:15 pm
Call to reserve your space, 503-670-1683

Cedar Hills Shopping Center
Monday, September 27, 3:30 – 4:15 pm
Call to reserve your space, 503-384-0542

Father's Day

Parenting has been one of the most exciting, challenging, joyous, exhausting, exhilarating, edifying, and rewarding experiences of my life. Here is a photographic tribute, from portrait parties and sessions over the last year, to all of the dads. Happy Father's Day!

Mother's Day Portrait Sessions

Mother's Day is right around the corner. There is a lot for a Dad to do on this holiday. He has to think about his wife, the mother of his children, his own mother and something from the kids to their mother. sdfs

Dads, you might consider breakfast in bed, sending her off to brunch with her girl friends, or having the kids make her some painted pottery. Or, you might consider something different this year. (Mom, if you are the one reading this, just go right ahead and forward it to your husband.)

A common complaint among mothers is that they are never in the family pictures. As the one behind the camera in our family, I can relate. More often than not, Mom is the family photographer. It isn't a job she minds so much, but it would be nice for the kids to see their Mom in a photograph every once in a while. So, whether you are a mom or a dad, you might want to remedy this problem and schedule a Mother's Day portrait session. 

A portrait session is a perfect Mother's Day gift. It lasts much longer than flowers or even a coffee mug. There are lots of ways to arrange this. Dads can surprise Mom and schedule a "Mom and kids" portrait session. Or he can be there too, for a whole family session. Just make sure you give Mom enough notice to change into something cute. She'll appreciate that.

Or you, Mom, could take the initiative and set up a portrait session yourself. There is nothing wrong with stating exactly what you'd like for Mother's Day this year. Some husbands actually prefer to have things spelled out for them.

You might even consider hosting a Mom and kids portrait party and get some of your other Mom friends in on the fun. They are probably missing from a lot of family photos, too.

Whatever you decide, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can get your portrait session scheduled, or send out a gift certificate, before Mothers Day actually arrives.

Portrait Parties--A Word from our Hosts

Our portrait parties have been very popular since the day we started offering them. After holding these parties for many years, we thought it would be nice to hear from you, the hosts, that pull these parties together.

Our first host is Greta Eskridge. Greta has hosted 4 portrait parties and she shares with us why she keeps coming back for more.

I attended my first portrait party with Dodgen Photography 5 years ago. Not only did I come away with wonderful pictures of my family, I also decided I wanted to host a portrait party of my own.

It seemed like an easy thing to do, a fun way to introduce my family and friends to Jeremy's amazing photography and also, a really easy way to earn some credit towards purchasing more photos from the session.

I was right. It was all those things. But after hosting my fourth portrait party this year, I have found it to be much more.

I host my parties in the fall. (That way there is plenty of time to order pictures for Christmas.) We have used three different locations and in those four years, our family of three has grown to a family of five. Hosting the portrait parties has been a fantastic way to document our growing family, as well as the families that join us each year. I love looking through each family's portraits to see how every one has changed from year to year.
It has become more than a party. It has become a tradition.

If you are hesitant about scheduling your own party or being a hostess, let me put your mind at ease. Judy and Jeremy make it easy. Finding people to attend won't be hard either, once they see Jeremy's photos.

I look forward to working with Jeremy each year for my portrait party. The pictures he takes are some of our family's most treasured possessions. I am so glad I decided to host that very first party. I look forward to doing it for many years to come.

In addition to this post, Greta is going to be a contributor to the Dodgen Photography blog. Greta is a stay at home mom of 3 kids. She is pursuing a new found love of photography, and writes two blogs of her own, Lilly and the Brothers and Picnics in the Park. Look for more posts from Greta on photography news, book reviews, craft projects and more.

Happy Valentine's Day