January. Business plan month. Ugh.

As an artist, I prefer the ART side of my job to the business side. I put off accounting and behind the scenes tasks until the last minute every year. However, one good part of January is going over everything from the previous year and seeing what went right and what could’ve gone better. I am commited to giving back 10% of my income every year. Every year. I am proud to report that 2010 was a SLAM DUNK! Sessions, mentoring, post processing work and straight out cash were donated for a plethora of causes and greatly exceeded my 10% goal. Feels good.

But I can do better.

As a photographer, I know how infrequent it is for my family and I to be in front of the camera. We’re busy, I’ve got baby weight, and… well, that’s about it. Its been over a year since we had a family portrait and never have had a professional portrait session of just us. Sure… I can set up a tripod and a timer and HOPE for miracles or take a bajillion photos of my boys and their daddy myself. But what about me? How will my kids remember what I looked like cuddling them, kissing their scrunched noses,  and holding hands with their daddy if I am NEVER in any quality, professional images?

Easy. They won’t.

Time to fix that for YOU ladies.

One of my giving back events this year is the 2011 Photographer Pay-It-Forward (PIF). Every month, I want to photograph a different photographer and their family and give them a disc of retouched images COMPLETELY free of charge. No money, please. Just show up all decked out and fully styled and we will rock a session.

But there is a catch.

Each participating photographer has to pay it forward to another photographer within 3 months of their session. Get one and give one away. That’s it.

So… here is my ad for the free sessions… I can only accept 12 photographers. I will open up sign ups for a week and then will use random.org to select the winners. If you would like to be considered, check out the ad and follow the directions. Easy peasy.

I’d love to shoot you.