Christina Vawter Photography » Indiana Wedding + Lifestyle Photographer

Well, the holidays didn’t turn out quite like I thought they would.  On Christmas Eve, I left with my sister to join my mom, dad, and gramma in Kentucky, where my great-gramma was very ill.  Gramma Ena (my great-gramma) just celebrated her 90th birthday in August, and had been suffering from frequent mini-strokes.  We were fortunate enough to be able to stay in Kentucky to help care for her in her final days.  The morning of December 29th, Gramma Ena passed away.  We held services in Kentucky, and my entire family received an outpouring of love, thoughts and prayers from friends and family.  Your kindness means more to me and my family than words can possibly express.  While nothing about this holiday season was typical for our family, the true meaning of Christmas was evident in the compassion and love that we received.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

It’s with that same spirit that I am excited to announce the winner of the Giving is Awesome lifestyle portrait session.  There were many entries for VERY deserving families… Which made the selection of the winning family very difficult. 

And the winner is…

The Ferguson Family! 

The Ferguson Family will receive $1,500 worth of services and products - a lifestyle session (to be scheduled in January, February or March), a 20-page 8×8 album, a 16×20 matted, framed, and signed print and a disc of all final images with printing rights.  

Mrs. Ferguson’s dear friend nominated the family, and she will also receive a lifestyle session (to be scheduled January, February or March) and a 16×20 matted, framed, and signed print, a $500 value.

Details about the Ferguson family will be posted with their session photographs. :) 

Thank you again for all your love and support, and I look forward to capturing the love of the Ferguson family!

Those of you who have been with me for more than a year might recognize the beautiful Jacqueline and her family from this lifestyle session in 2008.  :)  Jacqueline contacted me in October and wanted to do a lifestyle session with her side of the family including her mom and dad, three aunts, and their families!  It was a blast shooting this family.  The photos were a holiday gift for her grandmother, so I can now share them with all of you. :)  All the cousins got along fabulously, and everyone relaxed in front of the camera after just a few minutes!  I’ve said it a million times - beautiful people make my job so much easier, and the Hanna family is NO exception! :)  I hope you all have a blessed 2010!!

This holiday season, I’m participating in the Giving is Awesome project.  Giving is Awesome is a simple effort by photographers worldwide to give back to their communities.  Since I know what you’re really looking for are the contest details, here we go, folks:

You know someone. You know someone who’s experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can’t afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family’s spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography — $1,500 worth, to be exact. The recipient will receive a lifestyle session (to be scheduled in January, February or March), a 20-page 8×8 album, a 16×20 matted, framed, and signed print and a disc of all final images with printing rights. 

Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a lifestyle session (to be scheduled January, February or March) and a 16×20 matted, framed, and signed print, a $500 value. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be, people?

The rules:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)

* The nominee must reside in Indiana. Tell me who you know, what they’re experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.

* You must e-mail me the full story: christinaisgan@yahoo.com  

The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve — get nominating! I can’t wait to read all of your entries!

Open your heart to someone this holiday season — and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

With love,
Christina

And because what’s a post without a photo?  This photo always gets me in the holiday spirit!!