Now through Feb 14th we will be offering a fast, easy and convenient way to get your business portrait taken. View and choose your photo immediately after your session. Your favorite image will be enhanced and ready for you to use for your website or business card within 48 hours for just $99.
Recently I lost my grandmother. She was 95 and lived a long happy life. At her visitation my aunt Chris put together a board of photographs from her life. It was great listing to the stories that my relatives (some of whom I had just met) told about my grandmother and how she lived and it was the photographs that led to the stories. I was reminded again about the power that photography has in an individual's life.
Another great way to end the year is by running a race! Unfortunately it may be my last one for a while. Yup that hip is acting up again. I may have to find a new sport. I had been cutting back the miles for a few weeks. Trying to get enough races in the grand prix to qualify for an award may be difficult now. I'm officially taking a few weeks off from running then I'll see what happens.
Well we ended the year by taking the girls to NYC for Christmas eve. 
Kelli had been wanting to go the city for a while so when we decided to go to my brother's for Christmas we incorporated it into our trip. It was a brief few days but perfect time to take in the Rockets and do some shopping for the girls at the American Girl store.
Our 2007 season ended with a fantastic fundraiser effort by our portrait clients participating in our Photoshop out Cancer campaign. Thanks to your participation we donated $500 to Dana-Farber cancer research.
My buddy Phil is a proud new Dad! Welcome Peter Zane 7lbs, 3oz - 19 inches. Mom and baby are doing well after delivery last night. Phil and I have worked together over the years. He is also a photographer. We first worked together for Bob Knight Photomarketing in Florida while I was still in college at UCF.
Last time I saw Phil was after he finished running the Boston Marathon in 06. Take care of the your new bundle Phil!
Just to update everyone on our holiday schedule. We are currently open 9am - 4pm on MWF. 9-6pm Tue & Thur (evenings & Saturday's by appointment.) I do have openings this Saturday the 15th if you need to pick up something before Christmas please call if you need an after hours pick up.
We will be closing the studio Saturday Dec 22 - Thursday Dec 27th. Amy and I are both going to be spending the holiday's with our families out of town this year. We will be open by appointment only Dec 28 - 31st. Closed on Jan 1st. We resume regular winter studio hours starting Jan 2nd.
Last weekend I ran in the Andrea Holden 5K. It was a bright sunny day but a little chilly (low 30s at the start). Around 500 runners at this year's event - I think that is there largest turn out so far. I finished in 51st place with a time of 21:06. About a minute faster than the raw bar in Mashpee a month ago. So the running seems to be coming along. Running between 20-25 miles a week right now.
Next up will be a the CCAC grand prix series starting this weekend in Chatham. There is a series of 7 races/runs all on Sunday mornings. These are quite fun. 5$ and we bring some food to help out the host. Where else can you run with 60-70 of your friends for 5$ and eat all kinds of food after.
If you run 5 of them and your a member (cost $20 to join) you will get an award at the end. You don't have to be a member to come run at one of these races nor do you have to race. In fact I'll probably just use this Sunday as a training run.
This weekend's run will be at Campari's Bistro in Chatham at 11am on Sunday. Bring your $5 and I'll see you there. Go to the CCAC website for details and directions.
Here are some recent photos of my girls I did a couple of weeks ago........It was freezing when I did these!! They lasted about 5 mins. before they were complaining about how cold they were. That's what happens when I wait to take their photos.
One of the humbling things about being a photographer is losing someone you have photographed. On most occasions my job is a very happy and enjoyable experience - someone gets married, a couple goes to a prom, a party, a group gathers for a special occasion.... Then when we lose someone I am reminded of my responsibility to capture these images not only for our clients but for their families as well. In some way knowing that I was able to capture something that will help
them remember helps me put things in perspective. I took Maggie's Senior photos in the early fall of 2005. She had been going back and forth to hospital's in Boston for another transplant at the time and we had to reschedule several times. She was very determined to get her Senior Portrait taken. Something that a lot of teens take for granted or don't care at all about. She suffered from CF and kept a O2 tank close by while we took her photos. She had more courage and determination then most people I know. A true hero! She will be missed. Parents hug your children everyday.
From her friends on facebook -"In memory of the strongest girl many of us have ever met. A true inspiration to us all. Whether you knew her as Maggie, Mags, Magpie, or didn't personally know her at all, you know the story of the girl who battled Cystic Fibrosis her entire life with a smile on her face and nothing but love and strength in her heart. To that beautiful girl who was first to walk at the SHS class of 2006 graduation that brought many of us to tears, to the daughter, the friend, the classmate, the role model, and now the angel. We Love you Maggie"
Rip Margaret Grace Smillie6/19/88-11/12/07
Recently I ran in the 2 mile fun run at Edaville. It was a blast! I hadn't run in a race like this in a very long time. First it was short (under 3 miles) and it was mostly x-country. I finished 5th out of 161 and 2nd in my age group with a time of 12:50.
Next up will the the Andrea Holden 5k road race in Dennis the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
For a limited time (Nov 14-Dec 28) we are reducing our studio session fee to just $25 (normally $75). All of your session fees will be donated to Dana-Farber. Included in your session fee will be your choice of 10 free slim line cards or 1-8x10 portrait. (a $50 value)
Many of us have either been touched by, lost or know someone who has been dealing with this illness. My Dad is now in remission from his battle with the disease. Kelli's Dad now is dealing with his battle and Kelli's best friend recently survived her fight. Dana-Farber has been making great strides in battling this horrible disease and I thought of nothing better to do this holiday season than to try to help battle a little myself.
Come have your family portrait taken this holiday season and help us Photoshop out cancer!
Call me today to set up an appointment 508-833-0080
Tom 
My couch just got a little more comfortable today! Kelli and I bought some new furniture back in the spring when we moved to our new home. Some of the furniture was purchased at Jordan's during the MONSTER DEAL! If you bought a sofa, table or mattress and the Red Sox won the world series then you get the furniture for free! We should have bought more stuff!
Well I'm back running again since the doc told me I should at least do a few miles a week - Just not any marathon's just yet. Today after a few weeks of training again I entered in the 1st Annual Raw Bar 5K in Mashpee. Great job for a first time event. Lots of food & drinks at the end which is great!
I ended up winning my age division by 1 sec (22:15). Not bad but it was a "1st annual" and most of the fast guys are gearing up for the Cape Cod Marathon/Relay on Sunday. I'll be there lending a hand but no racing tomorrow for me. Next race in a few weeks? Maybe.
See you on the roads.
What an 
amazing weekend!! I went to both game 6&7 against the Tribe with a few of my good friends from Sandwich. Both games were awesome!! Sorry to my good friends who are Indian fans but it was another great comeback for the boys from Boston. I actually got to talk to Kathryn Nixon (Trot's wife) at the beginning of game 7. She was very stressed watching the game with her husband on the bench. Here are a few ok/bad pics that my buddy Ian took. But they are better than anything I got since I left my camera at home. I better remember to take along my camera next time!
A couple of weeks ago I went up to Providence to photograph engagement photos of one of my past assistants Jenn and her fiance Joe. Joe went to school at PC and I thought of nothing more fun than to get off the beach for a day and do something a little different. I convinced my wife Kelli to come along and we made an afternoon/evening out of the session. Congratulations on your engagement Jenn! Joe seems like a great guy. We look forward to your wedding at the Newport Hyatt on June 28, 2008.
