Update for National Charity Model Search…

As you may know, I recently participated in the first National Charity Model Search. The contest’s goal was to discover America’s cutest kid and to raise money for charity.

It was a huge success, 2,000 model’s images were submitted to the contest, and most importantly, the competition raised $164,775 for the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS) foundation.

The competition was so much fun. We were thrilled to enter our community’s cutest kids into the contest. All six of our models placed in the top 10 thanks to you and your votes! The feedback from clients has been overwhelmingly positive. People were enthusiastic about my philanthropic efforts to partner with NILMDTS. So many folks have experienced the loss of a child or know someone who has. Raising money for NILMDTS was an effort everyone supported.

The 50 finalists have been selected. Photography and modeling industry experts will select the grand prizewinner, which will be announced on May 1st. The finalist gallery is available for viewing – just click here.

Here is our first place model for Maryland:

 

This has been such a positive experience that we plan on participating in the National Charity Model Search next year. I hope that just as many of you step up to partner with me in this fun endeavor, and that we raise even more money for NILMDTS in 2010.

Honestly, I’m overwhelmed by the kindness that so many of you shared during this contest. Thank you so very much for making this a huge success for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep and for our cutie models.

xoxo

Engagement session on location…

with Steeny and Jason. I had a blast with this great couple last weekend.

It was a beautiful day, a slight wind in the air, sunny with enough cloud coverage to make it a perfect day for photographing this fun couple.

It was wonderful watching these two interact together; they compliment each other nicely. They each showed great interest in the other and really seemed to appreciate one another.

Steeny had found me through a google search several months ago and together we worked on a special project for Jason. I already knew she was great in front of the camera. During their e-session, I quickly realized that Jason was comfortable (or did a great job faking it!!) in front of the camera as well.

And by the way……I’m always wondering if I’ll get a phone call from my couples the day after their e-session complaining about their kissing muscles being sore! Haven’t so far!

Here are some of my faves from our afternoon together…

Steeny and Jason, thanks for a fun time together. I enjoyed getting to know you better as well as photographing you. I’m really looking forward to your beautiful July wedding and continuing to document this awesome time of your lives. You are great individuals and a terrific couple!

KC and John’s engagement session in DC

I had the pleasure of photographing KC and John last week in DC. They are Washingtonians so we started on Capitol Hill. Even though we knew that the cherry blossoms had come and gone, we worked our way to the Tidal Basin; it’s always worth the visit. We were racing against time so we had some fun parking and driving challenges but it was all good! These two were great to hang with and up for most any crazy suggestion that I had for them. I’m really looking forward to spending more time with them and photographing their wedding.

Here are some pictures of this awesome couple…

Love the laughing shots…

Nahal assisted me all day and did a great job; it was both fun and helpful having her come along. Here’s a shot of her photographing KC and John….

We got some cute shots of their doggie, here’s one…

KC and John, thanks for giving me the honor of documenting this incredible time in your lives. I’m looking forward to your beautiful wedding day.

CONGRATULATIONS to my CUTIE MODELS and THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to you!!

I am so pleased, proud and happy to announce that all SIX of Pam Long Photography Cutie Models made it to the top 10 (actually top 9) for the National Charity Model Search benefitting Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep.

These families worked hard to rally the votes for their children and spread the awareness of NILMDTS.

And a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you who voted for your favorite model!  Because of you our six Cutie Models raised over $2550!!!!!!!  WOOHOO!!  This money goes to a very deserving charity.  NILMDTS is a non-profit organization committed to assisting parents and families going trough the difficult time when they experience an early infant loss.  NILMDTS connects families with photographers and provides them with a reproducible CD of the images of their baby at no cost to the family.

Please click here to view the slideshow of all of our Cutie Models.

Here are the Cutie Model winners:

First place – 

A very special thank to Denise and Rob Garner of The Garner Realty Team. They matched dollar for dollar of the votes that came in the last couple of days of the contest! It gave everyone a really nice chance of doubling their money towards the race to win and rallying the vote! I was extremely touched by their generosity; they easily could have put the matching dollars toward their own children that were in the contest and instead helped all of the PLP Cutie Models. Thanks again Denise and Rob.

I had a fantastic time working with my families in the contest as well as hearing great stories from many of you. The awareness level for NILMDTS has certainly expanded due to this contest. There are many deserving charities that I’ve worked with in the past and will continue doing so. Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep serves a great purpose and it’s an honor to raise money for them. I appreciate all of the people who worked so hard behind the scenes at the NILMDTS headquarters to make this a true fundraiser success.

Thanks again to everyone that voted for any of the beautiful children throughtout the U.S.

Have a great day.