Last fall, Ian and I were given a wonderful gift. I had met Jen and Dave Stark at the Don’t Give Up Workshop in Colorado in the spring, and several months later they came to Boston on one of their not-infrequent adventures. It was so lovely to reconnect. We ate soup and cornbread, went for a rainy walk in the Fells, and introduced them to the game Big Blue Moon. Our few hours together weren’t purely social though – they gave us the gift of their time and talent, and made beautiful and authentic photographs of us. When we received the images in the mail a few weeks later, I flipped through them in wonder and felt rather verklempt. We weren’t perfectly styled, the sun wasn’t out, but they had captured us – the special smiles, the little gestures. It’s hard to get Ian in front of the camera, and we don’t have tons of images of the two of us, so I treasure these photographs.
I can’t repay The Starks for this gift (we sent them on their long drive home to Toronto with our thanks and some chocolate chip cookies), but I can pay it forward. And that’s what I’m here to announce today. One couple (dating, engaged or married) will receive a free portrait session and the final set of high resolution images. I want to create images to celebrate you and the love you share in the here and now.
Here’s how to enter:
E-mail me a little about yourselves and what it would mean to you to have the images. Please include a favorite story or memory, and a snapshot of the two of you. E-mail me (kelly (at) kellybenvenuto.com) with the subject line “Pay-it-Forward Portrait Entry.” Entries must be received by 11:59 PM EST on Tuesday, March 4, 2014. You may nominate yourself or a friend.
The fine print:
1) One winner will be chosen at random and notified by e-mail on Wednesday, March 5, 2014 by e-mail. The winner must claim the prize within 48 hours.
2) The prize is one free photo shoot (up to two hours in duration, within 30 miles of zip code 02155) and the final, high resolution .jpgs with a personal print release. The prize is valued at $750.
3) There will only be one winning couple. There are no second or third place prizes. The session must take place in 2014 on a mutually agreed upon date. Current clients are not eligible. A standard no fee contract will apply. No purchase necessary. No substitution prize will be granted for this contest.
Love this idea Kelly