A Merry Christmas Giveaway!!!

I have some exciting news!! Because Christmas is coming and I think you're all awesome and I appreciate all of your support, I want to hold a giveaway!!

The giveaway is for a FREE 30 minute mini session and 20% off of prints!!

Below is a little box that will allow you to enter.  Keep in mind it may be difficult to enter from a mobile device.  To be safe, I would do all entries from a computer. :)

This is important - You must make the shared post public on your page or else I cannot see that you shared it. To make it public: Find the the post on your page. Next to the time that you shared it there should be a little icon.  Click on that and there will be a drop down. Click on "Public".  This will only change that post and not the rest of your page.  If you do not do this I can't confirm that you have shared the post, so this is important.  Thank you! :) Also, you can share the post daily, but make sure you come back here to confirm you shared in the box below so it counts towards you entries! 

If you have any questions you'd like answered before you enter (or after) please don't hesitate to ask!

ENTER HERE:
(If you do not confim your entries in the box below, I can't count them. =( )

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I hate to be a fuddy duddy, but there are always rules to make sure the giveaway is fair to everyone.

• The giveaway runs from December 5th to December 18th at 12:00 am
• To be entered you MUST enter through the box above.  
• You MUST like Neely's Photography.  
• You MUST share the Facebook post I have on my page that tells about the giveaway (It HAS to be THAT post.  Unfortunately, I cannot keep track of who shares those any other way than a post shared FROM my page. You can do this daily. But make sure that you come back here to confirm you shared it in the box above for it to count. This is important - You must make the shared post public on your page or else I cannot see that you shared it. To make it public, look at the post on your page. Next to the time that you shared it there should be a little icon.  Click on that and there will be a drop down. Click on "Public".  This will only change that post and not the rest of your page.  If you do not do this I can't confirm that you have shared the post. Thank you. :)
• The session MUST take place at least 1 year from the date the prize is won (Neely's Photography is not responsible if winner does not redeem prize).
• The session MUST take place in a reasonable distance from zip code 64855 as determined by Neely's Photography (No further than approximately an hour and a half away and/or approximately 70 miles away). 
• The giveaway only covers the cost of the session and only offers 20% off of prints and products. This does not extend to any other offer and cannot be combined with any other offer.
• Winner will be selected with random.org and contacted via email.  Winner has 48 hours to respond before another winner will be selected.

Morgan Family {Mini Session Southwest Missouri Photographer}

I have known this family (Well, Mom and Dad. This is the first time meeting Tristian. :p ) for quite a while, so I was super excited when Linda told me she wanted to do a mini session.  Adam and I were in the same class, so I have known him since we were tiny tots.  I played softball with Linda in high school (who by the way is a VERY talented softball player.  We were both pitchers, and I always looked up to her).  They are both wonderful, sweet people.  And they always have been.  It had been a while since we'd seen each other last and I was happy to meet their son.  Who, by the way, is going to be a heartbreaker when he grows up...if he isn't already. He is HANDSOME! And a complete sweetheart.

We met to do the mini session and right off the bat Tristan got grass stuck in his finger like a splinter! Just plain ol' grass! I felt so bad! But he was a trooper and after Dad got it out for him, he was fine! Such a champ!! He was so excited about the props I brought!! I was so happy.  I think their pictures really showed who they really are.  They're a lovely, faith-filled family, who love each other very much.

I had a great time with you guys and it was an honor to take family pictures for you guys!!

Be sure and share with your friends!

Sienna + Cole {Mini Session Southwest Missouri Photographer}

I am a little behind doing this blog post, but better late than never right?

Sienna and I have been friends for a pretty long time. Almost 5 years.  She's a great person and I consider her a very good friend.  However, from what I'm about to say you probably wouldn't believe me.  I can't remember how we met.  That's okay though, because she can't either.  :)  We both think we met in class because we were both Graphic Design majors.  She's a way more talented graphic designer than I am, though.  I stick to the picture stuff mostly.  Though, I do very much enjoy design.  Then we found out that we had a mutual friend (who I also did a mini session for and will be blogging in the next few weeks!) and that made us even closer.  She threw my baby shower for me. Girl can make a mean cupcake. I took her graduation pictures. She and Megan (the mutual friend) came to see me after I had my baby. I tell ya, she's good people.

In addition to being extremely sweet, she is also very talented.  Here is a link to her blog which has some of her design work: http://designavenue.wordpress.com/ and here is her Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/designavenue.  I have been wanting a new logo and "look" for Neely's Photography for a long time, so I asked her if she would be interested in doing that for me. I could probably design a logo for someone else, but when it comes to making things for yourself...well, it's hard! So, we decided to exchange 'services'.  And I am so excited. 1) Because we have been talking about me taking pictures for her since 2008 (I found the Facebook posts to prove it) and 2. I'm so excited to see the logo she designed for me (Keep on the look out for that, too!  She's very talented, so it's going to be good!).

She and her boyfriend Cole were both SO easy to take pictures of.  It's usually pretty easy to take pictures of couples when they like one another quite a bit. ;) The light was so pretty that evening.  It was cloudy all day, so we kept texting each other asking if it was sunny yet. When we first started talking she said she really wanted to do a picture where they were wrapped up in Christmas lights.  She was full of ideas.  It makes me so thrilled when clients are excited about their pictures, too!

Also, when I meet someone that is polite, I like to tell everyone about it.  These days not many people are.  Cole is a gentleman.  He was so polite and willing to do anything Sienna or I asked.  I remember Sienna had an idea for a picture and he said, "Whatever you want." I told her she better keep a tight hold on him. :p  But seriously, they're an adorable couple.  I love seeing people in love and happy.  Hopefully soon I'll be taking engagement pictures for you? Wink, wink? I really had a great time with you guys! Thank you for letting me take your pictures!

Enough rambling....that's not what you came here for, right? Onto the pictures... :)

I hope that you loved them! Share with your friends!

Shawn + Sarah {Wedding Part 2 Southeastern Kansas Photographer}

Here is part two of Shawn and Sarah's wedding! This post includes the portraits and the reception.  If you can't tell by the pictures, everyone had a great time!  Their families and the wedding party were so great and fun to work with! And everyone had fun at the reception! It was so fun taking pictures of everyone dancing! Enjoy! :)

Click here to see Part 1!