I hope everyone is staying healthy and enjoying the start to the Holiday season 2020 style.  Speaking of 2020 style, here's a different take that I and several others are taking this month for trying out best to get your kids their annual picture with Santa.  Introducing Virtual Santa Visits.

I can do this for you.  It's been tested by a few other photographers and it seems to be a big hit.  I'm happy to do this for you this year.  Here's what's needed:
1.  contact me through the contact form at www.milliedeephotography.com
2.  I will ask for a digital image of your child, preferably not a cell phone image, as cell phone images tend to be a bit on the grainy side.  The image cannot have any copyright issues from another professional photographer.
3.  Payment of $35 is required before image is delivered.
4.  You will have an image you can print out as it will be a high resolution digital .jpeg image.  

Are you familiar with a composite photo?  It's when you take two or more photos and put them together using some photoshop magic and voila! you get the Santa from one photo and your kids from another photo and get something like this.   

This year, a composite photo is your safest bet for your annual Santa photos.  Here in NJ, the covid numbers are unfortunately rising again and we're all trying to stay safe and keep our loved ones safe, so why not go for the safe bet this year and get the composite photo, right? 

I am grateful we had Santa two days this year, one at a tree farm and one in the studio and now, we can still have Santa photos only in a different and defintely safe manner.  This also works out for the kids who may be a little afraid of the big guy and...for those kids who think they're a little too old to visit Santa...Really, are you ever to old for Santa??  ...never.... 

If you're interested, please reach out.  This will be available Now through December 10th.  The earlier you reach out to me, the better chance you have of a quicker turn around time.

Millie Dee Photography just moved and is now located at 172 Landing Road, Landing, NJ 
973.805.FOTO is the phone number and the website is www.milliedeephotography.com.

THANK YOU FAMILIES AND THANK YOU SANTA.  
I called Santa back in July and we were able to pencil in some dates.  We ended up with two dates for Santa mini sessions this year; one day we were in a tree farm on a mostly warm-ish and extremely sunny day in October and then in November, I held an indoor Santa minis day and would you believe, it was warmer on this November day than it was at the tree farm in October the month earlier. 
With everything going on, and being here in New Jersey where the rules and restrictions change so quickly, I'm very grateful to have seen all of these families this year and to offer a special Santa experience; I needed it as much as they did.
The sessions weren't the norm, however, we did manage to make it feel festive, special and have some of that Christmas magic, too.  My assistant asked questions, took temperatures and made sure everyone stayed a good distance apart.  The smell of Lysol overtook the smell of baked cookies and pine needles at the studio, but that's ok.  I think we're all very used to that smell being so prevalent by now. 
Although noone sat on Santa's lap this year, the interaction the children and families had with Santa was certainly memorable.    

I arranged these sessions at my old home studio this year since there is a little more room and we wouldn't have the interaction with the other businesses in the building; it was definitely a good call and a safer, more controlled environment this way.  I'm so grateful that everyone remembered their masks and were so cooperative during the entire process.  Next year, I'll be at what right now I'm calling my NEW STUDIO, as I just moved out of my Flanders studio and I'm photographing exclusively now at the new studio, not my old or home studio.  The new studio is 172 Landing Road, Landing, NJ.  
I'm grateful to say we had a wonderful Holiday season of minis, as of today, all of the families have received their portrait galleries and right after I'm done writing this blog, I'm going to put up my own Christmas tree with my kids.  I'm done working for the day but back at it tomorrow with a 3 1/2 month old at the studio and 5 sessions this week and then that's it for Holiday sessions.  I need time to dedicate to my newborn, milestone and maternity clients that are coming in between now and the end of the year as long as we are still allowed to work here in Jersey, I will be working and taking all necessary & a few extra precautions.  I hope we don't get shut down again, however, I'm so grateful for all of the holiday sessions we were able to fit in before any major restrictions or shut downs came into place this fall & winter.   
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Thank you for a wonderful holiday season of mini sessions!  Wishing you all a very happy AND HEALTHY Holiday Season!
xo
Denise
Millie Dee Photography 172 Landing Road, Landing, NJ  973.805.FOTO 

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What have I learned from having a photography studio for two years?  Well, I did have an in-home photography studio for 8 years before leaving the home, but I flew the coop; I made the decision two years ago to go out on an adventure and I jumped in with two feet by announcing I'm getting a studio.
Why would I get a studio when I could work at home, right?  After all, working at home is less overhead, I could keep costs down, it's easier to have everything right there at my fingertips, why on earth would I want to leave a rent-free space for my own designated space that is much smaller than my home studio and 600x more money than my home studio?
Well, how many of you are working from home right now?  Need I say more?  It's challenging; it's full of distractions and Geezus, I had a pair of scissors here five minutes ago, where are they?  Someone is always moving or borrowing my stuff, so it was time to go.  Time to move out.  This afforded me more opportunity to get creative because I had some time with no distractions; (not to mention our 6 pound fluffy dog loves to bark, which isn't great for newborn photography).
Was I afraid?  Of course!  I was terrified if anyone would come to my studio and it happened; I put an ad out to the public and people started to come in, and then they told their friends and word of mouth started to grow.   
Then...covid hit.  The killer of both people and businesses.  I survived; I had a wonderful woman whom I've met through business, Theresa at Jeremiah's catering in Parsippany and she hired me for food photography during the shut down period and I survived; she gave me hope and I kept moving forward.
I had clients bring their babies in after the shut down, we discussed in detail the covid requirements, what I was doing to keep everyone safe at the studio, such as temperature checks, not working with an assistant (which I miss very much!), an air purifier machine along with only seeing one client per day.  I'm still plugging along and moving forward, albeit slowly, but moving forward.
I've learned so much and there have been so many changes since covid; including many within my business alone; I've learned I need more space, so I'm getting ready to move into a bigger studio space and have some different offerings for my clients in the future.  This move was for several reasons, I love my current space, I'd love to keep both spaces, however, with covid and not wanting to gamble with future income, It's safest to just have the one studio which for me is closer to home and my student aged children.  It will be much easier for me to pop in or for them to pop in by my studio during the day and check in on each other; this was a big reason for the move.  
The bigger space will allow me to offer a more boutique and upscale experience for my clients.  I will have a larger variety of options, backgrounds, set ups, wardrobe etc. for my newborn and maternity clients, which is what I mainly offer at the studio.  
I've learned that the packages I offer aren't a great fit for everyone, so the packages and offerings will be re-compiled to a more ala carte menu for 2021.  You'll get to choose what you want and only purchase those items and nothing you really won't use.  
My main goal for 2020 was FOCUS.  that was my mantra even before covid hit through 2020...FOCUS..  I'm working on my mantra for 2021, but I think it'll be something like step up, upward and onward or up my game.  The plan is to take the necessary steps which will allow for more creativity and more time devoted to each client.  I am already registered for several new classes, I've recently upgraded some equipment,  I'll be offering a wider variety of photography and print options for my clients along with a wonderful experience when they enter the studio for their sessions.   What started out as thoughts and hopes, became visions and now are becoming reality.  It's a great feeling to love my job and to be able to create something that I am passionate about, that I love and can share with my clients.  

I'M EXCITED!  I'm so excited and very nervous at the same time.  
I am praying for the same or even better response with the new studio, which really is only about 3 miles from the old studio and SO close to Route 80.  Will people come through the door?  I am going to say Yes, they will, just like at the last studio. I hope to see many familiar faces and meet some new faces, too.  I'll be more ready than ever. 
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Thanks for reading.
xo
Denise Dougherty
Millie Dee Photography
​9763.805.FOTO
As of December 2020, studio location;  172 Landing Road, Landing, NJ 07850

A random fact about me....I've always related to Alice in Wonderland.  Actually, no, not always, when i was a child, I though the movie was creepy, however, as I grew up and became an adult, the story had deeper meaning to me.  I'm always looking for something new to do, I try to learn something new once in a while and I'm pushing the boundaries and right now, in the middle of the covid pandemic and seasonal mini sessions and the holidays around the corner, I've decided to push my boundaries even more and move my studio.

I'm moving to 172 Landing Road, Landing, NJ next month.    

The excitement of a new place makes my heart pound. I'm actually both nervous and excited because it looks like we may be headed into another lockdown and then what... perhaps I'll be a small business that can't do business.  We don't know what our future has in store for us right now; it's a lot like the Alice in Wonderland story, don't you think so? She just kept falling deeper into the rabbit hole and deeper into her dream, we just keep riding these waves, not knowing when the next one will hit or how hard it will be.

I'm trying to keep myself distracted with the thoughts of my new space; there are many things about the new studio I'm excited about.  One thing I'm truly excited to announce is that it's on the first floor; if you've been to my current studio, you know it's on the second floor, which isn't so great sometimes for moms recovering from giving birth.  We all love my space there, but I seem to be outgrowing it for sure.  This new space isn't much bigger, however, the layout is just open space as opposed to having some walls at my current space, which breaks up the area and makes it feel pretty small.   
This new studio is not far from my current, soon to be my 'old' studio; infact it is just one half mile off of Exit 28 on Route 80 West.  It's so easy to get to.  I'm in a little strip mall, with Fresh Cutz barber shop and Dr. Knobelman, who's actually our family Chiropractor.  I'll be across from Landing Park, too which will allow more options for outdoor pictures for my clients. 

Well, hey, I just wanted to pop on with a few exciting thoughts that are swirling around in my mind.  Right now, it just turned November 3rd, its 12:03 am.  I just got done with edits, edits and more edits from the tree farm mini sessions I held a little over 2 weeks ago and also some maternity sessions that I recently had.  Tomorrow I get to head into the studio and design a few sets for a 3 week old baby boy coming in later this week and also my last day of holiday mini sessions is this Saturday, 9-1 with Santa.  I'm excited and getting a bit of anxiety at the same time as I have to check, double and triple check that we are following all of the necessary covid protocols with Saturday; temperature screenings, questionnaires, masks, sanitizers, cleaners, contracts...I'd so much rather it just be about photos and fun, however, current times call for different routine. 

Just keep riding the wave...keep exploring the rabbit hole....I'm curious to see what's on the other side of all of this, aren't you?  

Be well, Be safe!
Millie
Millie Dee Photography
172 Landing Road, Landing, NJ (starting December 2020)
973.805.FOTO

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