To apply to be a Mandi McDougall Photography 2011 Senior Spokesmodel please fill out the form here.

What is a senior spokesmodel?

Basically, you are my presence at your school. You are charged with helping market my studio to your peers and getting them to book me for their senior pictures!

What am I looking for in a senior model?

I want kids who are fun, outgoing, involved, adventurous, creative….you need to be up for anything! I want kids willing to try out new poses, new locations, and bring their individual style and flair to a photo shoot! I want kids willing to be supermodels for a day and have fun! I need kids who are willing to go out of their way to promote my business and be excited about their pictures!

What do you get out of it?

FREEBIES!!!!

Well…..sort of. You have to earn the rewards as payment for a job well done. Basically, the more kids that book with me the more you get.

How does it work?

You need to apply to be a senior spokesmodel. Once you are chosen we will get together in April for your session. That session is all about you and what you want to accomplish with your portraits. Creativity is a must! At this time you will be responsible for a $100 session fee which is earned back with two referrals and will be applied to your print order. Why a fee? Well, history has taught me that kids need a little incentive to get out there and get the referrals. And, well, if you don’t I still need to be compensated for my time. Being a senior model is much like a job. You do your job, I pay you.

After your session we will work together to choose the best to put in your 5×7 brag book. Then, you get your brag book and a set of gift cards to hand out to your peers. You need to show them the pictures in your book and convince them to book me.

You will be asked to sign a contract to not represent another studio during your time as a senior spokesmodel. You will also be expected to not seek additional senior portraits at another studio.

I also expect you to keep up with any promotions I am running and inform your peers any way you can to take advantage of them.

I also use your images on my marketing materials, facebook, and website.

In the fall of 2010 or spring 2011 we will schedule your follow-up mini session. When you’re ready to order, you will come into the studio to see the proofs of your sessions and place your order. I’ll tally up the referrals and you can choose your prints or other products at that time.

That’s it! Easy peasy, right?

So, how about those freebies?

Well…..each referral earns you $100 print credit. Remember, at 2 referrals you earn your session fee back, and every referral after that earns you $100 in additional print credit!

And because a post is no fun without a picture, here is one I took today of my sister’s beautiful (and well-behaved!) dogs.

If you are interested in booking before my break, please contact me soon. My available dates are limited.

If you are interested in booking in April or beyond, I am also taking those reservations at this time.

Isn’t she too cute? I think the true test of beauty is looking this gorgeous in comfy jeans and a white tee.

LOVE this one! The dress, the colors…

This is my favorite!

This girl was up for anything! Such a trooper!

I love this bridge, and most of the shots I take on it…this one is in my top 5!

Taylor, I had a blast capturing your sweet spirit today! Thanks for trusting me with your senior pictures.

Be sure and add a comment below to help Taylor win a free 8×10!

If you are interested in booking a session with Mandi McDougall Photography, e-mail me at info@mandimcdougallphotography.com. If you are a friend of Taylor’s and mention that when you book, you receive a $20 print credit.

My mom and grandmothers did an awesome job with the food…mmm, a taco bar! Messy, but SO tasty!

And the super cute and REALLY tasty cupcakes that my sister and mom whipped up! (they both thought they were supposed to make them, so we had an abundance…not that anyone was complaining!)

My sister had everyone guess the day they think Landon is going to make his appearance…who will win?? (BTW, I guessed February 22nd)

I thought this was a great game, but I’m not sure if everyone agreed There were 9 different kinds of baby food to taste and guess…I only missed two, I mixed up applesauce and pears!

I and baby got a ton of great presents, but this one is the most special and sentimental. This quilt was won in an auction by my great-grandmother before I was born, and she decided to gift it to the next great-grand baby. Well, that lucky bebe was me! And although the quilt has planes, she didn’t figure I would mind. This quilt was used by myself and 3 siblings, and then my mom put it away and gifted it to Landon! How sweet is that?! (lovely picture, I know…but I was trying not to cry!)

He bought me this adorable necklace for Christmas this year, from Lisa Leonard Designs. Isn’t it the cutest thing you’ve ever seen? I started looking into hand stamped jewelry about a year ago when I picked my 2009 Word of the Year {grow} and Lisa Leonard’s work is some of my favorite. I wear this necklace pretty much every day, and it is something I will cherish forever!

Gotta love my cats. Until our human baby makes his appearance this spring, these two keep us on our toes…they are training us for parenthood

Doesn’t she look so cute? Well, it’s all a cover. This is the MOST mischievous cat I’ve ever met…

…and she shows her true colors in this picture! It’s the death stare!

This was the first year we had a real Christmas tree (appropriate for our first Christmas in our new house!) I had to spend a little time capturing the holiday beauty.

Up next: my favorite Christmas present!

Giving is Awesome is one of my favorite things to do during the Christmas season. Amid the hustle and bustle of buying and wrapping presents (which I still need to finish…), baking cookies and other treats, and decorating our house and tree, Giving is Awesome allows me some moments of quiet contemplation and thanksgiving. Quiet contemplation over how good life really is; not just mine, but for each and every person that was nominated (there were 6 nominations, by the way!) This year’s nominees span the gap, from mothers who are taking care of their parents to a family with 12 children (8 of those sweeties are adopted!) Each time a story landed in my inbox, I cried. Hey, what’s a pregnant lady to do!? And then I thanked God for each of their stories of love, perseverance, determination, grace, love, gentleness, and for the person who think so much of them that they would take the time to nominate them for something like this.

Choosing this year’s winners (yep, I said winners!) was no easier than last year. I can’t do it alone, and so I am again thankful for those who helped the indecisive photographer make a great decision. I cannot wait to capture this year’s winners with my camera, and to share those images with all of you.

(drum roll please)

With no further ado, the winner of the 2010 Giving is Awesome package is:

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Monica and Jim, parents to 12 fantastic children, 8 of whom are adopted! Christall nominated Monica  and her family, and I was so truly moved when I read her story. Christall and her family have become more than clients to me, they are friends (and fantastic people themselves!) So when I heard what Christall had to say about Monica, I knew she was a front-runner for sure!

“Monica (the mom) is the kindest, most caring, loving and patient woman I have ever come into contact with. She manages all 12 of her children with grace and respect and in turn they are all beautifully kind and loving children. Obviously being a mom to 12 children means there isn’t a lot of $ to go around. The family always has food, they always have clothes (never new – always handed down or from the thrift-store) but again, you will never find a family who is more thankful for what they do have – and know that the true measure of richness is 100% in how much you love Jesus and your family.

I have learned so much from just watching this family and have often wished there were a way I could give back to them just a small  portion of what I’ve gained through our friendship. Monica is the person I call when Ava is screaming and I don’t know why. When being a mom to two 8-year-old girls feels like more than I can bear, I call Monica. She is there, without question, and always with words of wisdom – she is truly the hands and feet of Jesus in my life.”

Monica, Jim and family: I cannot wait to meet you all! Christall said that you have not ever had a family portrait done with all 12 kids, and we’re about to change that!

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NOW, like I said above, this year we have winners, plural. When it came down to choosing a winner, it was a close vote. Because of that and because it’s my giveaway and it’s Christmas time and I can do what I want I am crowning a second Giving is Awesome winner! This person will receive a free session and my $550 collection!

so…congrats goes to…

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Shawn and Justin Fisher! The Fisher family was also nominated by a past client, Laura. Again, this was another story that really resonated with me. Shawn and Justin are young parents to an adorable little guy Micah (I know because Laura even sent me a picture!) who have had their fair share of life’s bumpy moments. Laura shared with me how inspiring Shawn and Justin are, and how much they really deserve some fantastic pictures of their little guy, and I couldn’t be more happy to be blessing them with that exact thing this Christmas season!

Again, I want to thank everyone who makes Giving is Awesome possible: my awesome past clients, everyone who made a nomination this year (you all rock!) and the fantastic people they nominated, anyone who passed along my e-mail or blog post to someone they thought might be interested, and the original Giving is Awesome guru, Kristen Kalp!

May you all have a very Merry Christmas and a happy (and safe!) New Year!

I love this one! Even though it was COLD out, I think it was worth braving the weather to get such a perfect Winter Wonderland portrait!

I do love these tracks, the trees are just so pretty! They did a great job of coordinating just enough, but not being over the top matchy-matchy!

Aww, now doesn’t that look like sibling love?

Be sure and add a comment below to help the Putman Family win a free 8×10!

If you are interested in booking a session with Mandi McDougall Photography, e-mail me at info@mandimcdougallphotography.com. If you are a friend of the Putman’s and mention that when you book, you both receive a $20 print credit.

Melissa, thanks for choosing me to capture your growing little family!