07/25/08 ~ Devin's Maternity Session

Here are a few from Devin's Maternity Session today....isn't she so pretty?









Those were just a couple of her faves from the session.
Devin...Thanks for letting me experiment on some new poses. She was such a trooper guys..

Don't forget.....V7 Photo's Grand Opening is August 1st.

07/23/08

Well...I joined the Sweeny Chamber of Commerce today.

Wanted to let y'all know that my Grand Opening - Open House will be August 1, 2008 from 5pm - 7pm(ish). I will be having a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5pm so please come if you want. I'd love to see you and have you see the studio.
There will be goodies, snacks, prizes and FUN! Hope to see ya there!!!

7/21/08

GUESS WHAT!!!!!!!!

The Fire Marshall came to see me today for the final walk through to get my occupancy certificate so I can open my doors....

I PASSED!!!
V7 Photos is officially OPEN for business at 212 N. Main!

I hope to see ya in the studio soon! I'll announce my grand opening- open house soon.

Special BLOG Coupon:
Print this post and bring it with you to your next session for $5 off your session fee. (good thru Sept. 1, 2008)


Well...my brother (Johnie) and Hubby helped me move the file cabinet from my office to Sweeny. (Thanks Mom for letting me "work from work"...hehe..that sounds weird)
We beat a storm on the way from Freeport to Sweeny.....when I pulled up to the studio, I looked up and this is what I saw.


Do you see it??? I'm taking this as a sign of God's Blessings on my business.


Well...I'm tired and I need to post this and get to bed.

The next post will be a few pics from a couple of recent sessions...until then...Have a Great Day and see ya soon!

7/20/08

UPDATES!!!!!

Well the reception area is DONE (except for a couple of pics I'm waiting to get in for the wall). The studio is set up. (except for cleaning the tools off the counter.

Speaking of...my Daddy helped Jerry "fit" the new counter top into place and hang the upper cabinets.

I've been soo lucky with having my entire family support my decision to open the studio.

Here's the mostly finished counter:


So...I've discovered a problem with my flooring....it seeps "chocolate milk". No..I'm not crazy...lol...here's a pic to prove it:

see....I'm not nuts...it looks like choc. milk and Smells like spoilt choc. milk...it's actually the glue from where they didn't install the flooring right...sooo it looks like new flooring will be here sooner than I thought...joy joy. We've rolled the floors (a special thanks to my father-in-law & his boss for letting us use the roller from his work) and got most of the problem taken care of but it seems that if I mop the floors...the water makes it seep more.

You know....having a hubby that is an electrician....and asking his thoughts on what I could do for a curtain rod to hang across the room (22.5' wide) and not being able to really "hang" something from the ceiling because it's a suspended ceiling....he suggested hanging emt (metal tubing for electical wires to be run through) from the wall and supporting it with wires around the ceiling beams...I liked the emt idea but not the wire....so I came up with an idea and made an "EMT Curtain rod" system (with his help of course...like I'm gonna cut the stuff..lol)...so when you come in the shop...be sure to check out me unique (to say the least) curtain rods.

Here's a pretty pic for y'all to see....this was they sky when we left the studio on June 17.


Can you tell I like taking pics of the sky & clouds? Well...here's another sky pic...this was in Freeport when I was leaving the office on June 19.


ok...back to the updates...in my last post....I mentioned my AWSOME signs...here's a few pics of them if you haven't driven by to check them out...
This is a close up of the door:


This is what I drove up to on June 23...sooo pretty:


Close up of windows (LOVE the butterflys):


They hung the main sign June 27....I LOVE it:


Oh...Mom & I had a visitor the day the phone company/light company were here working on their stuff....


This little birdy decided to fly in the back door....smack into the front window and knock itself silly....I went out the backdoor so I could open the front door so that it could get outside but Mom ended up having to scoop it out the door with a folder because it wouldn't go. It sat on the window sill for a while before finally hopping off down the sidewalk.



Oh....here's another cool cloud pic for y'all to see...The first person that e-mails me with the correct location of where this photo was taken (building, town, etc) will get a Free 5x7 with their next session. I think the clouds look pretty cool...just kinda stuck in the sky (yeah I know that's where they are...but they kinda "pop" out like you can just reach up and grab one).



Ok...I'm gonna close this post now. Hope to see y'all soon...and I'll post the winner if anyone can guess the correct answer.

By the way....to get exclusive coupons & specials...be sure to sign up for my mailing list by sending your name, phone, address, email to v7photos@aol.com.

7/2/08

Wow...has it really been almost a month since I last posted? I promise to try to get on here this wkend and post new pics. If I only had internet access at the shop.....well that's another long story that will just make me angry. :)
Quick update on the happenings at 212 N. Main....

If you've driven down Main Street since Friday morning, you may have noticed my AWSOME sign..(and window decals)....If you need ANY signs, decals, etc made for your business or personal....you should call the wonderful guys over at C&M Signs in Sweeny....Excellent service, FAST turn around...Took my idea and made it even better. If you haven't seen it....be sure you glance my way as you drive down Main Street.

ok...bear with me...I'm trying to rem. what I last updated...

We have finished painting the reception area, studio, office, kitchen....that's all the painting for now.

I have hung pictures in the windows and have filled my cabinet with a small selection of my faves. If you didn't know this about me...I have a frame addiction...well you prob. didn't know it because I have just recently discovered it....and ALL the stores that I buy frames at aren't helping with their 50% off sales.

I have a "land line" & "fax line" hooked up now...was supposed to have internet 3 wks ago but still don't. SOOOO, I decided to switch my net to broadband from the cable company. The cable guy is coming tom. (THURSDAY) to hook up cable for the reception area & internet for the office....WOOOHOOOOOOO!!!! I LOVE the cable company now....and I won't discuss the phone company.....now I have to sit on hold listening to their "wonderful" music and recordings to cancel the stupid DSL. So not looking forward to listening to their recordings for another hour of my life. Speaking of the phone....my phone # isn't changing...the # I'm using now is a cell phone and I will continue to have it (979-480-4056) but the "land line" # is 979-647-0040.

hmmmmm what else.......

Oh, I've moved the file cabinet & work table into my office...still need to find a computer desk but I can't find one that I like that fits the space. It's driving me wacko.

The plan is to finish setting up this wkend so that I can get the Fire Marshall out next wk (hopefully) to do the final ok on it so I can open my doors.

If you'd like to be notified by mail or email of when I open my doors, please pop me an email and I'll let you know when I'm open. v7photos@aol.com

Well I need to get to bed as I have another long day tom. Hope to see y'all soon!

6/5/08

Isn't this pretty...it landed on the door frame when my brother & Jerry were making the door where it opened out.



Well...it's been a busy busy week. This past Sunday was my preachers last Sunday at our church so we had a dinner for him. This Sunday we are having another dinner for the new preacher. So add that to the craziness at the studio....I'm exhausted.
We are gonna miss you Alex & Kelly (and the kiddos)!



Let's see...an update on the studio....
We have painted the reception area & 2 of the 3 walls of the studio area.



ohhhh yeah......and the most exciting news.....Jerry bought me a Cow....yes a cow...
Meet the studio mascot "Bessey"


We bought her from our neighbors and Jerry rolled her down the road to our yard. We will be moving her to the Studio after we get everything set up.

5/28/08 -Update on building

Let me just say....I'm tired....I can't wait until the remodel is done and I can relax a little.  We have been going to Sweeny every night after work to work on the building...trying to get it ready to open.

I have a banner hanging in the front window as a temp. sign.

We finally narrowed down the paint color choice from these:

to....well.... you will just have to attend the grand opening to see the final color selection

As of last night:

The city Electrical Permit guy has been and checked the electrical work we had done and said it looked fine to him.  YEAH!!!!

Johnie & Jerry got the door turned so it opens OUT.

The guys took down the "Magic Nails" signs for me.

Jerry & I finished installing the ADA handrails in the restroom.

We installed the smoke detectors in all the rooms & rehung the fire extinguishers & put signs with them.

We cleaned the walls in the front room getting it ready to paint.  Oh and we bought the primer & paint so hopefully if all goes as planned we can start painting this wkend.

Last night we put up all the celing tiles that were not messed up in some way (have to go buy more....have I mentioned that I HATE going to Lowes, Home Depot and any other hardware store???  if not...well I HATE it!  )  Oh and earlier in the wk, the guys adjusted the wires holding the ceiling so that it was level all the way across instead of drooping in the center (while I ran around the room for them holding the laser level reader for them).

This is what it looked like as of when we left the building last night.  It's getting there.

Now I'm waiting on the city guys to come and tell me if I've done everything to their specs to get my occupancy so I can really get hard & heavy to open.

5/19/08 -Construction Started

5/19 I officialy have possesion of the building & CONSTRUCTION has started....we have to take down the ceiling tiles so Jerry can pull the old wire so the electrician can run the new "to code" wire.  My brother has been wonderful helping us get the toilet switched out to an "ADA" toilet to meet code and so we have a clean toilet (the old one was just gross). 

Brother & Jerry taking down the ceiling tiles so the electrician can have easy access to the wiring (which starts tom., FRIDAY 5/23)

Opps...did I do that????  lol...I pulled the hair station off the wall so it could go in the trash

these pics are the front room as of yesterday (5/22)...most of the wire is gone, no power in the building.....my brother has the water hooked up along with the water heater (except for electricity to actually heat the water) and my NEW TOILET!!!!

5/19/08- Before pics of V7 Photo's New Home!

Well...it's official...V7 Photos will be moving from my home to it's own Studio space in Sweeny.

Thought I'd share some pics of before, during & after as I've been requested to do so.

The building before I bought it:
Let me just say it's kinda weird how the building was left...it's like they just decided to send everyone home one day without warning and close up shop.  there was nail polish out, shampoo & dye open, cotton open, nail decor sitting out ready to apply, envelopes stamped & addressed in a bag to take to the post office....it was just very weird....

Outside -front of building

Outside -I LOVE this bush....soooo pretty but thorny...it's at the back corner of the building in the empty lot beside it (that belongs to me as well)

Inside -still with all their junk

AFTER PURCHASE....before construction started
The front 10' will be the "reception" area and the back part will be the "studio" area

haven't figured out the "fish" in a nail salon yet....but they are now down for the most part...have 1 section left to "pop" off the wall

Office

Back Yard (from left to right)

Dressing/Changing area (also storage of backdrops, etc) (behind curtains..which are going bye-bye is where I will store things like mop/broom, tp, papertowels, etc....it's a shower right now) & the door at the end is the bathroom

Browning-Brown Wedding 4/26/08

Here are a few of my fave pics from the Browning-Brown Wedding on April 26. They were such a fun & happy Bride & Groom. Nicole (my assistant photographer) & I had a blast taking their pics and helping them to "Preserve a moment in their families life, one portrait at a time". To see the rest of the portraits from the wedding, please visit their albums at www.v7photos.smugmug.com.

5/13/2008

Well...I've been searching high & low for the "right" location & building to buy and I've finally found the new home of V7 Photos. I am in the process of buying the "Magic Nails" building on Main Street in Sweeny (2 buildings down from Stop N Go). I signed my part of the papers today and should have the keys by Friday. There are a few things that need to be done to bring the building to "code" but if all goes as planned, I should hopefully be moving in over there before the end of June.

I'll post another blog when I open my door in Sweeny. Anyone that joinds my mailing list (myspace &/or email) before I send out the bulletin abou the "Grand Opening" will receive a special offer that no one else will get. So, be sure to share with your friends & family (be sure to tell them to let me know that you referred them to me so that you get credit fo the referral).

Unless something crazy happens & I get moved in sooner than planned, the Dad & Me limited edition shoot will be at the current studio location (621 Loggins, West Columbia). Spaces are filling up for the Dad & ME LE shoot so be sure to book your spot soon. Print & bring this page with you for a bonus 5x7 from the shoot.