I’m thrilled to announce that this image from Mark & Mary’s wedding last May was chosen as a finalist in PDN Magazine’s Top Knots wedding photo contest! Click here to see all of the inspiring images of the Top Knots contest. A big Congratulations to all of the talented photographers who are finalists and category winners as well!
Today is the day.
This was probably the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. I received well over 50 nominations for very deserving people. I had it narrowed down to a few finalists, and after consulting some peers, I am ready to announce the winner.
Nominated by Carrie, here’s her email (I have kept the names private until they are notified):
“First I just wanted to thank you for what you are doing. I know I am very lucky to be able to have gotten my kids pictures made and I know what treasures they can be.
I have racked my brain for a family that I thought would love to have this done since you sent the email and it finally dawned on me. 
)
Her name is xxxxxxx. I forgot her last name, but I can get it for you easily.
She is married with 3 children. 3 very special needs children. She doesn’t work because they need constant care and so they don’t have “extra” money for things. They have a very modest house and yet you will never hear her complain about it.
Her oldest son xxxxx is just 4. He has several learning disabilities and she has had an awful time finding a program that can help him and she does her best to fill in the spaces.
Her middle child is xxxxxxx. xxxxxxxx has been hospitalized several times with failure to thrive. The don’t know why she doesn’t grow, but they do know her body doesn’t absorb nutrients from food, along with other issues. She has to have a feeding tube placed last year while she was pregnant with her third child. xxxxxxx is 2 and a half, and wears a size 18mo clothes.
The baby, xxxxxxxx was born with a cleft palate. He had to have several surgeries to fix it, had to be done at Vanderbuilt where they had to stay at the Ronald McDonald house out there. He is a little over a year old now and got his feeding tube removed last week.
Through all of this she has had fewer breakdowns than I would have had. . .
She has had a very rough few years and I think that now would be a great time for her to receive a gift like this. xxxxxxx just had her first hair cut, xxxxx just got his first pair of glasses and now that xxxxxxxx has his feeding tube out I think it would be a great to document this time of normalcy in their lives.
Thank you for concidering them. I am sure you have received many stories that are just as heartbreaking. I don’t envy you at all for sifting through them! 
Carrie”
I want to thank everyone who sent in nominations. I thought this would be easy, but it wasn’t. I only wish that I could donate a free portrait session to everyone who was nominated. Go check out www.givingisawesome.com to see what inspired me to begin the contest. If you are professional photographer, I encourage you to participate. You already know how rewarding it is to provide people with photographs. Give back.
Let’s start off 2009 right. The holidays may be over, but giving is awesome all year ’round.
I am giving away over $1000.00 of portraits to a deserving individual or individuals.
Do you know someone who shines above the hardship placed on them? Is there someone who is just a beautiful person (on the inside) who would be thrilled with the gift of portraits, but hasn’t the finances to afford professional photographs?
Tell me about them please!
The winner will receive a free portrait session with $650.00 worth of prints and products (total winnings valued at $800.00)!
Send an email to:
tara@dixiepixelphoto.com
BY February 28th of 2009
The winner will be announced here on my blog on March 31st, 2009.
The Rules:
1) you may not nominate yourself
2) the winner must be within 100 miles of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, or willing to partake in a session within this radius.
3) emails with just names will be disqualified–I need a reason why this person deserves to win.
AND FINALLY . . .
The person who sent the winning nomination will receive a free portrait session, valued at $350.00.
And, in 2009, I’m giving to myself. I’ve decided to make a book, annually, of my favorite Holga images. Volume 1 should be here soon.
Happy New Year.
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