Friday, November 27, 2009

This Holiday Season,
Giving a Little
Gives a Little MORE

Holiday 2009
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This year, I will be doing something a little bit different. I need EVERYONE'S help, so please pass this information along to as many people as you can!!!

As you may remember, an old friend of mine from high school has been battling cancer for a few years now. Last year, lots of people helped me put together a benefit concert in honor of Shannon Sperando. We were able to raise a modest amount of money, but the holiday weekend that the benefit took place on hindered us from doing as well as we'd hoped.

As many of you may already know, Shannon's health has taken a roller coaster ride this past year, and she now faces incredible uncertainly. Her husband, family and many friends are all taking the news on a day by day basis. Shannon continues to surprise everyone with her strength, and by achieving the opposite of what the doctors have been expecting.

As everyone well knows, cancer is an unforgiving and brutal battle. It is emotionally, physically and financially draining. Worse than anything, it is one of the most uncertain battles we as beings can face.

While we cannot guarantee anything as far as Shannon's health goes, we CAN guarantee that at least a little bit of stress can be relieved from the financial end of Shannon's battle. There will be many things I will try to orchestrate, starting with a photo print sale.

When you order a print directly from my website, www.amyphotochicago.com, I will personally be paying for the cost of the print to be made so that 100% of that cost can go directly to Shannon's cancer fund.

ALL 8x10 prints on traditional photo paper are only $50 when you enter the coupon code: shannon01.

ALL 11x14 prints on traditional photo paper are only $100 when you enter the coupon code: shannon02.

ALL OTHER traditional photo paper prints LARGER than a 16x20 will receive a $250 discount when you enter the coupon code shannon03.

FINALLY, all other prints ordered from my site that are made on either canvas or metal will receive a $500 reduction when you use the coupon code shannon04. With these specialty prints, I will unfortunately be unable to personally cover the cost of materials, as they are quite expensive, yet will still be donating 100% of the proceeds to Shannon's fund.

In addition to my website, ALL proceeds that I would otherwise personally receive from ANY prints purchased from the Chicago Photography Collective website or gallery will be donated to the fund. PLEASE remember that while purchasing prints this way will cost more, it will also yield more money to be donated to the cancer fund. As an added bonus, prints purchased from this outlet will ALSO support so many Chicago photographers as we work to get our artistic efforts noticed and appreciated.

To learn more about Shannon's situation, and for the most current updates, please visit her website at www.shannonsperando.com. There, you will also find the following information where you can opt to donate directly to Shannon's cancer fund without purchasing a print:

Make checks payable to:

The Shannon Sperando Cancer Fund


Mail checks to:
Hills Bank & Trust Company
Attn: Katie Miller
1401 S Gilbert St
Iowa City, IA 52240





The beautiful Shannon last year at the benefit concert in her honor



An advanced THANK YOU to everyone for your help with this effort. Happy Holidays!

xoxo

~amy

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Sarah and Carlo the Chihuahua
A Christmas Card Photo Shoot
Milwaukee, WI
November 23, 2009
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I took a mini road trip to Milwaukee today to spend time with the fabulous Sarah :) We took her adorable little Chihuahua, Carlo, to downtown Milwaukee for a photoshoot that Sarah wanted for this year's Christmas cards that she'll be sending out. We ended our shoot with a trip through the drive through at Starbucks - Carlo's favorite!!



























































I also wanted to share with you all these beautiful pepper mills that Sarah hand painted. She gave me one of them as a thank you for today's shoot (the other was one that I had already ordered as a gift).







Sarah not only paints pepper mills, but a variety of other neat objects like wine stoppers, tables, mirrors and even guitars! To see more of her work AND to support this talented artist, please visit her website at http://www.sarahgallenberger.com What a fabulous gift idea, just in time for the holidays!!

Stay tuned for future shoots with Sarah - we've got some fun things planned!
Cindy & Gracie
November 22, 2009
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You may remember a photo session from earlier this year with Cindy, Gracie and Dan. This morning, I made my way to take photographs of the lovely expectant mother and her absolutely adorable and photogenic daugher :)

Can't wait to see you both when the new little addition arrives!

~amy