My new lifes motto....

I have heard some wonderfully encouraging thoughts and amazing new ideas that I am so excited to implement to this business in 2012.

Something to think about every morning when you get out of bed....

"What you do today is important, because you are exchanging a day in your life for it."

And.. how can we talk about life and not have pictures of where life begins.

I just LOVE this words of wisdom I received today from the amazing Sandy Puc.
The darling hats are from (www.babygracehats.etsy.com.  Check her out!!

Look at this little sweetie

Some Favs from 2011

We just had a really fun contest over on my facebook page with a bunch of my favorite pics from my 2011 sessions. I awarded prizes to my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd winners as well as gave away a 50% off gift certificate to one lucky fan! Such a fun week. You will want to make sure you are a fan on facebook because I do giveaways often because I enjoy them,
and I love to show appreciation to all my customers. 

If you want to see all the contest photos go to my facebook page and view the album.  

Here are the winners. 

1st Place: Kristi Ellis and her darling family.  

They won a free 16X20 canvas of their picture of choice.

2nd Place: Darling Landry 

They won a $25 print credit.

3rd Place: Cassidy 

She won a free 8X10

Last day to save almost 50%!

I just wanted to remind you all that today is the last day for the pre-sell price on the Dating Divas awesome E-books.  It's a great Holiday gift to yourself and your marriage OR to give to a newly married couple or loved one.

TODAY is the release date on the Marriage Ebook "The A-Z Guide", so they will be sent out today!  So exciting.  Here are the details on the specific book.

THE A to Z GUIDE: 26 Ways in 26 Days to a Happier, Healthier Marriage

Since we can’t come to each of your homes & have a FUN Girl’s Night Out…..we decided to do the NEXT best thing!  We’ve gathered our BEST marriage tips – the secrets behind the success in our own marriages and compiled them into a book to share with all of you!  A collaboration effort by us, the Divas, we share touching, enlightening, and humorous stories to demonstrate each marriage tip.  You will get to see a glimpse inside the marriages of a few of the divas.  {Hang onto your hats!} By applying these simple, yet valuable tips, you will start to experience a different, happier marriage right away.  This ebook will give you practical tools to literally transform your marriage.  We are confident you will:

• Realize you’re not alone
• Feel love in a way you’ve never felt it before
• Communicate more effectively
• Begin to get that “twitter-pated” feeling back  

THE ULTIMATE DATE NIGHT BOOK

You asked for it AND we delivered!! We gathered all of our TOP dates (voted by readers and Divas) plus fresh, never before seen or published date ideas…..and compiled them into our first DATE ebook! This is the perfect book to have on hand for planning date nights! We pretty much have your Friday Night Date Nights planned out for you! We did all the work, you can enjoy the results. Make a 2012 resolution to spice up the date nights for your marriage! {We also thought this would be the perfect book to give away as a wedding present!}

All printables included
Gorgeous photos
Easy-to-follow “Date Night” outlines

There you have it!  You will want to order these sometime, whether it's now or later, that is a promise. So if you want to save almost 50% just order them today before the pricing goes to the regular price.  It will be the best $27 you have ever spent, and just think... it's much cheaper than marriage counseling!  ha ha

Happy Holidays!

GO HERE TO ORDER

Drum Roll Please..............

Oh Boy... sorry for the wait today, but it has been CRAZY!!!  Plus checking everyone's entries etc took a lot more time than I had anticipated.  So thanks for hanging in with me and being patient.  I am SO grateful for random.org for choosing the winners for me, I NEVER could have picked on my own.  So many wonderful friends with so many things to be thankful for. 

Getting right to the point........

1st up:  The winner of the gift certificate from Oh So Chic is......  

Miranda comment November 16 @ 4:56 

2nd up:  The winner of 2 pieces from Shabby Shack is comment 62,  

Linsey November 16 @ 7:20 AM

3rd up: The winner of the g.c to Little Dudes and Dolls is comment 35,

Kristen, November 11 @7:57

The winner of the Minky Couture blanket is comment 33,  

Holly, November 10, @6:12

The winner of the newborn tie from Trendy Ties is comment 49,  

Ronda November 14,  @ 10:37 AM

The winner of the $50 gift certificate to Little Cherry Blossoms is  

Melissa comment 18, Nov 9 @8:58

CONGRATS to ALL!!!

Lastly:  

The winner of my photoshop class ($150 value) is:  

BRETT  Nov 12th @3:35

The winner of my free session, ANY KIND is.......................................................

MEGGIE, #32, Nov 10 @ 4:25  

Thank you to all who participated, and made 

this so much fun!!!  

My class and session winners, contact me @

sammi_nickel@yahoo.com

'Tis the Season to be Thankful and GIVING

This is now CLOSED, winners will be announced here tomorrow. Good luck!

Ooooh friends, sorry for the lack of posts and fun on the Nicole Martin Photography website lately, but the last 60 days have been a whirlwind to say the least. As you can see there is a new design, and the new design represents new changes and new FUN! For all my facebook fans, you already know about my new partnership with "The Dating Divas", but non facebookers this will be a new announcement. I am now super lucky to have joined up with this amazing and so FUN group of ladies, and we are all working together to help strengthen marriages and give the readers so many FUN ways of doing that. I am so THANKFUL already for the new friends I have made, and my 3 fellow friend photographers I get to work with, that have taught and inspired me so much already.

One of the best parts of my business has been all the wonderful, new people I have had the opportunity to meet.  All of my wonderful customers who share their families and friends with me, and also let me be a part of some of the most intimate moments of their lives.  Many new photographer friends that inspire me to become better and vendor friends that are so talented and help me keep my props and outfits up to date and super fun.  I know many of the friendships I have made will last a lifetime, and I am so thankful for this opportunity and for those people.   

So to celebrate all my new friends and because this is the month to be Thankful, 

I am sharing some of my fav friends with you and we are doing a “Be Thankful” giveaway. 

Today I get to say thanks to all my customers and friends for the wonderful fun and happiness you have all brought me.                   

Today I get to give YOU back something, because I am thankful for YOU. 

So Lets Get GIVING!!

Grand Prize 1:
One FREE Session of ANY kind

From Nicole Martin Photography

• a FREE {any type} photo session {family, lifestyle, engagements, bridals, newborn, maternity, childrens, senior, just for fun}
• Up to 2 hours — on location– multiple outfit changes
• Hi-Res disc of 20 images w/ print release
  
  

  When & Where Will the Session Take Place?

  • Must take place after January 1st and before June 1st. 
  • UTAH: Ogden/Salt Lake Area/Logan, WYOMING: Uinta/Lincoln County, IDAHO: Southern area up to Idaho Falls.
  • if you don’t LIVE in these areas, you can still enter and travel to these locations for the session— OR pay a small travel fee and I can come to YOU:)
  • once the winner is chosen, we will discuss details and what will work best for the both of us

                                                                                                             Grand Prize 2:

                                                                            1 FREE Photoshop Class

                                                                                        From Nicole Martin Photography

•  Free spot in my November 29th photoshop class (date cannot be traded).
•  Takes place from the comfort of your own home from 6 pm to 9 pm.  MST 
•  Must have high speed internet, any of the photoshop software, and be excited to have fun and enjoy a good chat!
• In the class I will teach you how to get beautifully sharp images, lovely skin tones, bright twinkling eyes, bring deep color from the shadows and give beautiful sun where there wasn't normally light.  We also go over shortcuts to cut off editing time, change any colors, add textures and much more.  Did I mention we also have FUN?!

*Because I am thankful for all my customers and LOVE meeting new people, if you are interested in taking my class I am giving a Happy Thanksgiving discount of $50 on my November 29th class.  To sign up and receive the details and info email me at sammi_nickel@yahoo.com with the Subject: Class and make sure and mention "Thankful" as the discount code.  

This discount is only good for the length of the giveaway, so through the 16th and must be paid by the 16th. 

If you want to learn how to take your photos from "drab" to "FAB" or if you just need some new inspiration, new ideas, or just a fun time and learn at the same time- this is the class.

A Gift for Everyone

From Nicole Martin Photography

 
3 Brand New Christmas Card Collections for 2011

• For everyone, Buy 45 cards get 5 FREE, contact me via phone, email, or facebook with your pics and what you would like on your card. 
• For 2011 Customers (that I have your pictures already) 20% off you card order. Expires the 16th so get your order in ASAP for the discount.  If your session has already taken place, and you are waiting for the processing of your pictures let me know during this special and you can also take part in the discount. 
• Check out facebook for other cards available for order.

Meet the rest of the Givers:

Oh So Chic Baby Boutique:

 

Hello - My name is Jessica. I am the owner and the designer behind Oh So Chic Baby Boutique. I started this business about a year ago and am thrilled with how much it has grown since then. I am also a photographer and one of the reasons I started this business was because I was going broke buying photography props. So I started making my own headbands and other items and thought I would take a stab at selling them. I a happy to be able to offer "Unique & Affordable Photo Props" to other Photographers (and Mommies!) Take a look around my Etsy shop and be sure to "like" my facebook page. Thats where all the real fun happens! 

Win a $20 gift certificate to Oh So Chic's Etsy shop 

VETERANS DAY SALE: Today Oh So Chic Baby Boutique is having a 33% off sale in honor of Veterans Day and 11.11.11 at her etsy shop! Use code VETDAY33 for 33% off of your total purchase. Go check it out ♥ www.etsy.com/shop/ohsochicbaby

Shabby Shack Creations:

 

Hi I am Amanda Baker, and I am a senior at Idaho State University studying Radiology.  I love to craft and bake in my spare time of studying.  I grew up with a creative mother and a crafty sister, poor dad (:  So I guess that is where you can say I get my itch for crafting.  I started Shabby Shack with my inseparable best friend at ISU sharing the same love for crafting.  You can head on over to our facebook, to see some of our designs.  

Shabby Shack is giving away 2 clips to one lucky winner.   


Little Dudes & Dolls: 

Donna, with Little Dudes and Dolls also wants to join in on our fun giveaway.  She makes THE cutest leggings and has a really fun online children's boutique.  She is giving a $25 gift certificate to use towards anything on her site.  Trust me you will have a hard time deciding what to get because everything is darling!

 A little about Donna.  She is a mom of two kids, she loves to sew/craft.  She is also a pediatric nurse hence her love for children.  She loves to get her supplies from other crafters to keep the circle going in the handmade arena.  Her wheels are always spinning for new creative ideas, and a few of her hobbies are working out, traveling, and spending time with family.

Win a $25 Gift Certificate to use on Little Dudes and Dolls site

Minky Couture: 

You will undoubtedly enjoy the irresistible softness and luxury of your very own Minky Couture blanket.  We are proud to offer you an original creative product that speaks highly for itself.  Whether you're snuggling with your new born infant, off to grandma's for the weekend, packing your bags for college, or just cuddling by the fire with your favorite book, a Minky Couture blanket is your escape to luxury.

Win this adult size Minky Couture Paris style blanket.  

($125 value) 

Something for everyone from Minky......  Coupon Code: Minky2011bs  gives you 35% off!

Visit their website at Minky Couture and also their facebook page.

Little Cherry Blossoms:

Little Cherry Blossoms is an adorable boutique on Historic 25^th Street in North Utah and online at their website , and is also a blog with DIY projects for the Modern Mom.  

Win a $50 Little Cherry Blossoms Gift Certificate to use in their store or on their website

Trendy Ties

 Win a newborn necktie from Trendy Ties...they make great photo props or baby shower gifts if the winner doesn't have a tiny one at home.  They are suuuper cute, check out their website and see for yourself!
 ********************************************************************************************************************************************************************

How to Enter & Win:

• Become a FAN of Nicole Martin Photography’s Facebook Fan Page.
• Become a FAN of The Dating Divas Facebook Fan Page.
• Become a FAN of any of the vendors in the giveaway that you are interested in winning their prize, links are already posted in their information. 
• Update your facebook status and TAG @Nicole Martin's Photography about how excited you are to win in the "Be Thankful" giveaway. 
• Come back here once all three are done and leave a comment with what you are thankful for AND what items you would like to be entered to win. 
• If you want a brownie point, you can leave a comment on my facebook page as well. I love getting to know new people! And.. I have been known to add extra goodies in for "brownie point" ers.
• The contest will end in a week, November 16th at 7 p.m. MST.

Here is a shortcut to all the vendors facebook pages, this will make it easier for you to become their "FAN" so your entered to win their prizes.

Oh So Chic Baby Boutique 
Shabby Shack Creations
Little Dudes & Dolls
Minky Couture
Little Cherry Blossoms
Trendy Ties

The Dating Divas
Nicole Martin Photography

Good Luck to ALL!

*********************************************************************************************************************************************************************

For those of you that are meeting me for the first time, Hello and welcome! Feel free to browse around my website, like I said I have been working on it so a lot of my work and last few months sessions are not on here yet.  You can go to my facebook page though where most of the latest stuff is at this time. 

Baby Lucy