A few months back, I ran a little viewer’s choice contest called “The Baker’s Dozen.” I presented photos from a number of clients and asked for you to decide the winning photo. In the end, the mighty Madison was the victor!

The winning client received a free photo session along with a canvas print. It was a pleasure to meet again with the young Madison for her private session. It is always amazing to me to see the giant changes, made so plainly evident in photographs, as children grow up. Have a look at the contest winning photo, then take a look at these:

This will probably come as no surprise considering the amazing efforts of her greatest fans and promoters, but Madison is the VICTOR!

The WINNER

All participants have been notified via email of the results, and everyone involved has received a small prize as well. By the way, the email I sent is the only email that you guys will receive from me.

I have also decided, due to the HUGE response, that I will be giving away 5 not 4 portrait sessions. The winners of these $200.00 prizes will be notified via email. (So, I guess that means that 5 of you WILL get one more email from me.)

When those sessions are done, you’ll see the results here! Again, THANK all of you who voted and sweated out the VERY close competition!!

Hey! I said that I’m announcing the winner on MONDAY, Feb 1st. This is simply announcing the end to the competition. I truly wanted to thank each and every one of you who participated! (Even those who “participated” 5,6,7, or 8, times.) Comments received AFTER 2:00 pm EDT Sunday Jan 31st (by MY watch), will be very much appreciated, but they aren’t going to count.

The winners of the portrait sessions will be notified very soon. If you have not seen the details of the prizes – The Baker’s Dozen Contest details.

I’ve begun tallying the votes, (including deleting the many, uh, “enthusiastic” 2nd, 3rd, and 4th votes from the same persons..) and I’ll post the winner Monday morning.

As a quick side note, I asked a number of my photographic colleagues to vote on their favorite image. (Their votes did not count toward the contest results.) Their choice, due largely to the composition and warmth of the light, was this one:

Photo 25

I love my clients. They’ve trusted me to capture some beautiful and very precious moments in their lives. They’ve shared those moments, through my photographs with many of you, their friends and family.

If you don’t mind, I’d like to give a few of YOU something for free, and all you have to do to be eligible to win one of four (4) – and maybe more… – portrait sessions – worth $200.00 – is to VOTE.

Below are 13 pairs (a Baker’s Dozen) of photographs of 13 portrait and wedding clients. Each photo is numbered, 1 to 26. Simply leave a comment in this post with the photo number you wish to vote for, and you’re entered. (Only one vote, and only votes with valid photo numbers are eligible.)

If you really want to vote twice, you can pop over to my Facebook page and you can legally vote a 2nd time there. (And that enters you twice!)

We’ll get to the details of your prize later, but now, it’s time to VOTE! And remember, only comments on the blog or on the Facebook photos, count.

P.S. Vote ONCE. Just one vote. Vote only one time. Do not Vote twice, for that would be too many. One shall be the number of times to vote, and the number of times to vote shall be one. Three votes is right out! And FIVE is utterly ridiculous. One Vote only. (You can vote ONE additional time on Facebook.)

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

Photo 5

Photo 6

Photo 7

Photo 8

Photo 9

Photo 10

Photo 11

Photo 12

Photo 13

Photo 14

Photo 15

Photo 16

Photo 17

Photo 18

Photo 19

Photo 20

Photo 21

Photo 22

Photo 23

Photo 24

Photo 25

Photo 26

The Baker’s Dozen Contest details.

As the husband of a graduate of the very fine Chapin High School, I of course tagged along to the 20 year reunion. I was ordered volunteered to take a group photo of the attending members of the class of 1989. It was quite a party. While I was there, I took the time to walk around and shoot a few impromptu portraits of the class members. I even set up a backdrop in a side room to shoot a few more formal portraits complete with the blue of the Chapin Eagles. (Well as close as I could get it with a flash and gels.)

A few from a very fun night!

I do have to say that these folks were EXTREMELY good sports to cram together like this and STAY PUT for almost 5 minutes while I made a couple of adjustments to the lights. It’s a little hard to tell at this size, but they all also kept up happy faces too!

A little over six months ago we first met Madison in my Maternity shoot with Harry & Kristen. And she made her photo debut just a couple of weeks later.

We finally got together again last weekend for her 6 month Family Portrait session. What a wonderful young lady and family to spend an afternoon with!

Just a peek at some of the photos of the day.

It’s been just a tad over 6 months since you met Gavin in his newborn photos. And just a couple of weeks before that, Chad and Angie did their maternity photos with me. Time literally blows by. That gap between when I see the newborn and when I shoot the 6 month photos is far larger than it sounds.

Look back at the New Born photos, then look at a couple of shots from the day.

Sam and JoAnn, are celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary.  It is a 50th that some feared would not be celebrated due to illness.  JoAnn, as it turns out, is a fighter.  Her granddaughter, Allison, asked me to do a family portrait, which is something this family doesn’t not have. They do now.  The effort that went into this lovely celebration was clear in every detail.  Just like Allison’s love and care for her grandmother.

Here are a few from the day.

At end of my time, I took Allison and Rick aside for a quick couples session while the celebration of friends and family continued inside.

My brother and sister-in-law recently had their first child. It happened while the Mrs and I were in Disney at the Food and Wine festival. At Thanksgiving I was able to shoot a few pictures of Vincent. He’ll be back for Christmas and a few more family photographs.

Introducing Vinnie!

Grandma is a “little” happy…

Daniel Lane Photography

6 months or so ago, Avery made her debut to the world. On a cool Autumn day, we got together again at Saluda Shoals park for their 6th month family photo session. This, by the way, is where the phrase “baby blues” comes from! Just look at the change a few very short months brings!

A couple from our day.