A Tale of Two Painters

Two guys walk into an art store and each buys a canvas and some oil paint. One of them is a master artisan with a lifetime of experience and talent. The other one is just a guy who fancies himself handy with a paintbrush. They each spend $10.00 and go off to create a painting.

When finished, the master artisan had created a masterpiece. His composition was beautiful , his use of light and shadow was subtle and brilliant at the same time and his use of color and it’s harmony was perfect. He is able to sell his masterpiece for $2,000.00.

Try as he might, the guy with a brush can’t get anyone to buy his painting. It could be that his use of light and shadow was non existent and his work looked very flat. Possibly it was that there was no flow to the composition, or it may have been his total disregard for proper color harmony. Whatever the reason, he had painted to the best of his ability and didn't know how to do it any better. So there he sat with no buyers. That is until he lowered his price to $20.00. He finally finds his customer and at $20.00, figures that he is doubling his cost for supplies so he is satisfied.

The new owner of the artisan’s painting is excited and proud to show his purchase to all his family and friends. He knows that the investment he made will only gain in value to him as he enjoys it for decades to come.

The new owner of the $20.00 painting really sees no great value in his purchase. He never frames it and after a short while, the painting disappears as he forgets about it and it’s lost.

The moral of this story is that when selecting a portrait photographer, look for that master artisan quality in his work. When you purchase a portrait from him keep in mind that you are not paying for his materials, rather a lifetime of experience and talent that he used to create your image. You will most definitely invest more than you would if you went to the photographer with little experience but is “handy with a camera”. But what is the outcome? Would you want to have an inexpensive picture that you will ultimately have little or no regard for and probably store in a drawer, or would you rather invest in a beautiful work of art that you will be proud to display and show off to all your family and friends.

Photographer of the Year AGAIN!!!

This past weekend was TPPA's (Tennessee Professional Photographer's Association) annual convention. At the convention each year photographers across the state enter 6 images that best represents their work. These images are scored by other photographers from across the country. They score each print on: Impact, Creativity, Style, Composition, Presentation, Color Balance, Center of Interest, Lighting, Subject Matter, Print Quality, Technique, and Story Telling. Scores can range from 75 to 100, 100 being a perfect score. Once every print has been scored each photographer's top 4 scores are averaged. The photographer's are then rank by their averages and the highest average is Tennessee's Photographer of the Year.

Mom (Richard's wife, Deborah) and I are always so proud of him. He's awesome at what he does!! He'd kill me if he knew I posted this image of all his awards...he's a modest man. He won't let me display them in the studio so I just had to post them here. The only ones that get to be displayed are the Kodak Gallery Award, The Best of Show Award, and The Photographer of the Year Award, all others go in the cabinet. Take a quick look, your family photographer is one of the best talents in the business!! Not just across the state, but nationally as well!

This year's awards rank Richard with his 13th honor as being Tennessee's Photographer of the Year!

2011 Seniors! Summer Sessions

These are some of the Seniors we've photographed the last 3weeks! Its been non-stop, and its been HOT, but its been fun!

Hope you enjoy the images...give us a call if you haven't had your Senior Portraits taken.
Ask for Alisha, 901.372.0020!

Senior Deluxe Session Special, Only 2 appointments left!

Our Deluxe Session for Senior includes being photographed in 4 outfits, both indoors & outdoors. This is our most poplar session for Seniors, and it has bee reduced for the summer months. Regularly $75, is only $49 through August 16th. When we designed this image we had 7 appointments available, now there are only 2 left. After the 16th, the session fee goes back up to $75!

Call me NOW to schedule
your session before school gets back into full swing!
901.372.0020, Ask for Alisha!

Vacation spent with Lots of Kids!

I was on vacation last week. Things are busy at the studio photographing High School Seniors, so it makes it a difficult time to leave Richard to do it all. There's a lot of work for two people to do at the studio during the summer, so I appreciate Richard allowing me the time off. I'm ever so thankful that he lets me take a week in July to help with kid's camp.

To me, kids camp is the best time of the year! Our church takes between 40 and 50 kids to church camp each year! I've gone the last four years and its always a blast. Not just because of all the fun stuff we get to do, but because we get to set a time away from the RUSH of daily life and get to focus on worshipping God. To get to teach and to answer questions about Jesus and then watch God work in the lives of the children is AMAZING! When you get the opportunity to be a part of such an experience God doesn't just let you serve the children, He takes hold of you too! I always come back so blessed and always closer to God!

This year there were 12 children that came to know Christ! Praise God!!

Spending Time with the Ramsey Men....

When most of you come into the studio for a session, you meet Richard, and his nice disposition. Easy to get along with, friendly guy...but, when you put all the Ramsey men together, you never know what you're gonna see from their cameras....Richard, Rick and Phil are all professional photographers in various towns and cities, they all have great personalities. You put the three of them together, they are HILARIOUS!! Laughs for hours!

Recently, a few of us took a road trip to Indiana to visit with Rick and his family. Saturday we went to Olivia's swim meet and Rick and Richard were up to their crazy antics...I thought I'd show you a few images Rick took of Richard. He is carrying that "let the background tell a little about the subject" a little to far!

New Product!

Check out this new Accordion Book we have available to our Seniors! We delivered the first one this morning to Kristin's mom. She thought it was pretty neat and was excited to show it off! It's easy to carry around in your purse and show off your favorite images to classmates and co-workers.

One Senior Opening for NEXT WEEK!! (Be sure to mention this blog.)

We are in full swing with our Summer Senior Sessions! June was booked SOLID with Deluxe sessions. This is Kristin, we photographed her session last week. She's coming to see her images tomorrow, here's a sneak peak at what she's gonna see...

July is booking as fast as June, and with limited time to take your Senior pictures before school starts back, you should call ASAP to book your appointment.

We just happen to have ONE Deluxe Session opening for NEXT WEEK! The first person to call and book your appointment for Thursday, July 1st, will receive your Deluxe Session at the Basic Session Fee! All you have to do is mention that you saw this blog post!

Call NOW! 901.372.0020

Don't forget to tell me you saw this blog post!

(ANY Senior that mentions you saw this blog post will receive
a complimentary video like Kristin's from your session with a package order.)

Summer Savings...Sessions Limited!

We have SPECIALS galore! Never have we had so many specials at one time. Anything from Families to Seniors to Business sessions and believe it or not even a special for your pet(s)!

Nearly all appointments for June are booked, and July is filling up fast! Once Summer is gone, so are all these wonderful savings. Go to our website, www.ramseyphotography.com for more specifics on the special(s) you're interested in and/or you can give me a call at the office at 901.372.0020.

We look forward to hearing from you soon! Also, find Richard on Facebook, we're always posting images and paintings. I love to tag our friends with images from their session!

Release of the Butterflies

On a recent visit to help with some photography for the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf (MOSD) I was told that some of the older students were going to release butterflies. I don't know the whole story on how this tradition came about, but I quickly drew a parallel between the children and the butterflies.

I was told the children watched and nurtured these caterpillars until the day they became butterflies and then today they would release their butterflies out into the world. For several years the teachers have prepared the students that are about to graduate for this tradition of nurturing the caterpillars into beautiful butterflies. The tradition coincides nicely with the fact that the students are now about to go into the world to start a new chapter in their lives away from MOSD.

I know it sounds simple but these children, with the help from the amazing teachers and staff at MOSD, are nurtured just like the little caterpillars, they too will emerge beautiful butterflies. With technological advances and the development of hearing aids and the cochlear implant, these children are taught to listen and to speak, as well as, taught the skills they need to take their place in this world. Without this great school, life would have been very hard for these students. Many would have been placed in special education programs, etc. but because of the hard work and dedication of this school, all the teachers, staff, volunteers and sponsors, these students will be starting kindergarten in public school systems, and are ready to excel just like the average 5 year old. In other ways, as I see how these children have developed year after year, I see just how special MOSD is because these students are often ready to surpass all expectations required of a kindergarten student. Just looking at Teresa Swartz, the administrator at MOSD, you can see the love and appreciation for these children. It can be seen all over her face, as well as every teacher and volunteer that steps foot in the school. This truly is a labor of love.

I have been inspired by these children and their overcoming spirit. So on this graduation day the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf will release their sweet little butterflies into the world. The lives of these children and the lives of everyone that has come in contact with them at the school will never be the same. I am so honored to have been a small part in their lives and to have captured a small part of this beautiful story through my photography and paintings.

~Richard Ramsey

Good Luck to our 2010 Graduates!

It's graduation season! The little graduate in the Fox13 news piece is a student at the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf (MOSD). We've been a sponsor of MOSD since 1996 and have seen lots of little children come in and out of the school. We are always in aah to see how much they change and develop through their short time at the school. Autumn is special to us, she's always got a glimmer in her eyes, always a smile on her face and always ready to conquer the world, so you can see how she's managed to capture our hearts. We're so excited to see that Autumn is ready to move on to kindergarten in a public school, but we're going to miss her cute personality around MOSD. It's amazing how much these students have grown and developed in order to be able to attend a public school. This year it's pre-school graduation, but before you know it she'll be graduating high school. Congratulations to Autumn and our 2010 High School Seniors! We congratulate you on all your hard work and achievements and wish you the best of luck as you move forward into the world. May God bless your lives!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Charles, Emma, Broc and Ebby
want to wish Grandma Southall a
Happy Birthday!

It was a surprise to their mother for her birthday. Tracie Stokes and Crystal Hill thoughtfully planned a portrait session to surprise their mother, Sharon. Sharon had bought the dresses for the little girls not knowing that a beautiful portrait would be created using those same dresses.

Emma found it hard to keep the secret from her grandmother, but Friday is Grandma's birthday, so she gets to present her with her gift, their portrait!

Richard and I have know the Southall family for years. Crystal and I grew up together on the softball field and ended up graduating high school together when I transferred to CHS my junior year. Of course, Richard has known the Southall's from around the community as well, but can remember photographing Tracy and Crystal since they were toddlers. Crystal mentioned how people still comment on the family portrait hanging in the Southall home that was taken when she was 5 years of age. Now she and Tracie both have children of their own.

Its families like this one that Richard has watched grow up through the eye of his camera, its almost as though he's been a part of the family. He remembers stories from their childhood, and reminisces about portraits past...his favorite moment was one of the first portraits for the Southall family. Tracy was a toddler, he was photographing her in their front yard, and all of a sudden she pokes her head through the fence and gives a big happy smile. "She had the cutest blond hair!" he said. I'm sure Ms. Sharon still has that portrait, and I'm sure it brings as big of a smile to her face and as much love to her heart now, as it did then.

For Richard, it is such a joy to see Tracy and Crystal all grown up with babies of their own, Charles & Emma (Tracy's children) and Broc & Ebby (Crystal's children). It's such an honor that they have chosen him to produce such a special gift of portraiture for Mrs. Sharon on her birthday.

Happy Birthday, Ms. Sharon!

Tuesday's Child is Full of Grace

These are just a few of the images from our Tuesday's Child Promotion. Its unusual, but almost all of our sessions this year were boys! They ranged from timid and shy to curious and silly, but they are were good, sweet boys! The Tuesday's Child Promotion was AWESOME savings, like none other we've ever had at Ramsey's. If you missed out I really hate that, but look at or website for future promotions. Currently, our Family, and Seniors Promotions are listed.

Give us a call today, 901.372.0020, so that we can answer any questions that you may have regarding a session with Ramsey Photography.

2011 Seniors, Its time to take your Senior Pictures!

This is Kaylee's Senior Portraits! Kaylee was one of our last 2010 Seniors.

2011 Seniors Its Your Turn!
Call Ramsey Photography Today
Schedule Your Senior Portrait Session.
901.372.0020.

Spring Portrait Sessions Are in Full Swing

Our Spring Portrait Sessions are in full swing. We've already been to Memorial Park & Botanic Gardens are the flowers are beautiful! The weather has been great, not too hot and absolutely beautiful! Call today for more information on special packaging and pricing.

Call Today!
901.372.0020

Tuesday's Child is Full of Grace.

May 4th, 5th or 6th

For three days only, Tuesday's Child portrait sessions are just $19 (reg $69). This is a never before offered promotion at Ramsey Photography. Suggested ages are (but not limited to) 2yrs through 10yrs. Groups are welcomed. Sessions include 10-15 images to choose from, professional retouching on all finished products, & the option to add your favorite Bible verse or quote at no extra charge. Special children's collections are available or design your own; packages begin at $129.

Space is Limited, so call today. 901.372.0020

Makes a great Mother's or Father's Day Gift!

Spring is in the Air!

The flowers are starting to bloom and the weather has been beautiful this week. Can you believe its 80 degrees today?! The appointment book is filling up quickly with outdoors sessions. We've had several requests for The Botanic Gardens. We're currently working on our Spring mailing and Specials. Check back in about a week, for more details. However, don't wait until then to book your session.

Outdoor sessions are limited,
call today to book your session!
901.372.0020

Its Voting Time

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There has been an influx of politicians in our office over the last few weeks. Several are getting images ready for their campaigns. But business session aren't just for the politicians. We do business session for college graduates, real estate agents, business owners, doctors, church staff, you name it!












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We offer casual, business dress, and team sessions. If you need a professional image for your website, business cards, billboards, etc. we are available. What are your needs?

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Call us today to schedule
your business session!
901.372.0020

2010 Children's Classic

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Pictured above l to r: Brianna Spray and Miranda Howard

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It's time for the Children's Classic again. Every year, the last week of February, Richard and his son Phil come together in the town of Covington, TN for the annual Children's Classic. This consists of children between the ages of 0-6 to be photographed every 8 mins. After a solid week they have photographed nearly 500 children! Its a busy week but its always for a good cause. The session fee is donated directly to The Carl Perkins Center to help with the prevention of child abuse. Ramsey Photography has been a part of this charity for 15+ years and has given more than $150,000 to the center. I hope you enjoyed these images from this morning's session. Look for the special edition of TheLeader that will showcase all the children photographed this week.

New Website Design

Its that time of year again...changes are usually made in January and February at Ramsey Photography in hopes to make your experience here even better than the one from the past year(s). We like to change things up now and then, so this year we decided our website (www.ramseyphotography.com) needed a face lift. We've always changing the images on our site in the past but some of our favorites seemed to always hang around. Well, with the thought of designing a new website, that meant preparing new images and maybe getting rid of some of the older ones. There are a few images that crossed over from one site to the other, but the majority of the images on our new site are clients from this past year. Of course we're constantly making changes to get it just right, so over the next couple of weeks, keep checking back to see if you or your friends are on our site. We're excited to see larger more vibrant images, the galleries are different, and the client proofing session has changed some, however, I think you'll like all the changes. Be on the look out for a email signup form on the blog and/or our website. We're working on a database that will better serve you and enables us to give our best clients offers that no one else can get.

Oh, by the way....don't forget, its Feb 15...only 13 days left in the February promotion.

$100 Portrait Deal for February

Here's how it works...

If you promise to spend at least $100 (promise with a credit card and we run as an order advance), we'll give you a $69 studio session FREE. Where else will $100 buy you a $169 value?

Simply call the studio and schedule your session. Your session will need to be photographed before the last day of February 2010.

The first 10 session booked after receiving this card will also receive a bonus gift (a $69 value), when order is placed before March 2010. You'll receive a 12 month "Tent Calendar" with images from your session.

Be one of the first 10 to call! Families, children, babies...it's up yo you, but you must call now.

901.372.0020

**Excludes High School Senior Portrait and reorders from previous sessions.