How about a little contest to add even more excitement to the holiday season?? I’ve taken inspiration, with permission, from fellow photographer Bre Thurston of Southern Cali, to kick off my first ever Best Portrait Contest. I had a blast going back through all of my client image folders and picking my favs that I felt really represented each session best. Now it’s your turn to cast your vote and let us know which you think is the best of 2010.
[here are the rules]
1. Each individual person may vote for one photo, one time only. IP’s will be tracked so please don’t be shady and try to vote more than that. Please and thanks 🙂
2. To cast your vote, just leave me a comment in the comment section below. Please include comment under this blog post “ooooh exciting” and not within another blog post comment box. Please identify by coordinating image number.
3. If you’re not a Fan on Facebook, head on over and hit “Like” now. Fans, and only fans, will get a ONE MORE VOTE! Please indicate in your comment below that you have “Liked” the Fan Page.
Also, winners will be announced on the Bellini Portraits Facebook Fan Page so keep checking there for updates!
4. Please double check to be sure your email is typed in correctly.
5. Send this to all of your friends and family and get them to vote, too!
[here are the prizes]
1st place : (1) 16 x 20 Gallery Wrapped Canvas of the winning photo
2nd & 3rd place : 11 x 14 styrene mounted print of the 2nd & 3rd place photos.
4th & 5th place : $50 print credits towards future session.
Contest will end Sunday December 5th at 11:59pm!! So go cast your vote!!
without further ado, here are the images!!!!!
1. “baby on white fur”
2. “girl in lavender dress”
3. “girl holding lemons & apples”
4. “baby with flower headband”
5. “girl in vintage stork rocker”
6. “girl on white rocker”
7. “baby blue eyes”
8. “baby girl sticking out tongue”
9. “dad and son”
10. “newborn sleeping”
11. “baby bear”
12. “girl in rowboat”
13. “climbing the fence”
14. “baby smiling on quilt”
15. “girl smiling on quilt”
16. “rainbow”
17. “cherries”
18. “b&w rocker”
19. “gone fishing”
20. “bella nina”
21. “newborn in crocheted wrap”
22. “boy in overalls”
23. “boy on crate”
24. “newborn profile”
25. “twins on beach”
26. “L-O-V-E”
27. “boy on blue boat”
28. “brothers on boat”
29. “brothers IN boat”
30. “family under tree”
31. “boy on blue canoe”
32. “girl and flower”
33. “big beautiful eyes”
34. “engagement”
35. “nina 2”
36. “brothers”
37. “b&w family”
38. “boy and wagon”
39. “the tent shot!”
40. “girl in field”
41. “boy agains green barn”
42. “boy in shed”
43. “boy & apples”
44. “girl in rocker”
45. “baby makes 3”
46. “star tree”
47. “banner boy”
48. “newborn in blue hat”
49 . “girl with candy colored necklace”
50. “boy on tire”
51. “boy in cornfield”
52. “boy with a pear”
53. “pretty paige”
54. “baby on bed in b&w”
THE FINE PRINT:
I reserve the right to make changes to the contest at any point. Clients may not ask to change the photo chosen for the contest. Prizes will be delivered in January 2011.
Thanks for playin’!!!
HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING.
Gobble Gobble.
Cristina Coco - YAY! Can’t wait to see who wins!
I am voting for # 31, boy on blue canoe. They are all WONDERFUL, but I remember the first time I saw that one it made me peacefully happy – and that’s a good thing. 🙂
Missy Perron - Great idea! Excellent year of portraits! So many cuties but I’d like to place my vote on photo number 11 (baby bear):) Thanks!
Kiki - #2, for sure. LOVE!!!
Melissa - #25 twins on beach-but I am biased 🙂
Still the best photographs I’ve ever seen on this blog!!!
LORI KOSTAS` - I am voting for image #38 I think he looks like an angel who can make the saddest person on any given day Light up like a christmas tree…. Great idea Stephanie, beautiful pictures as always
Erika LaValley - I vote for #11, Too cute
Denise - I am voting for #25! Piper and Brynn are too cute!!!!!!!
Lisa - Well they are all so beautiful. What an amazing gift you have capturing the essence of every subject that comes in front of your lens…That being said, I love love love number 41 ;). I also “liked” your fan page so will also vote for 42.
Denise - I am voting for #25. The twins are too cute!
Ed - Have to vote for #25…love my girls!
Keri Santos - I vote for 54. “baby on bed in b&w” I liked the fan page too so my vote could count twice!
Cindy O'Connell - Voting for the cutest beach girls, #25!! Love it.
Jill Herrick - #25 twins on beach is the best!
Joe S - My favorite is #54. “baby on bed in b&w”.
Jenn - ALL of them are beautiful, thanks for sharing these images. My vote is for #9 Dad and Son – those are the most blissful moments in life. Happy Thanksgiving Steph!
Jo - #11 baby bear 🙂
Rachel - #25- Twins on the beach- stunning and adorable!
richard - #11 baby bear,
Karen - Gotta vote for the baby bear #11 Grrr….
Shannon - #25 – twins on the beach. beautiful (although really they all are)!
Mel Cotter - They are all SO cute! #11 is precious – that’s my vote! 🙂
Jena - #11 is my favorite, adorable!!!!!
Kris - I’m going for #46 ; ) Love your work!!!
Jen - I am voting for # 11, baby bear picture. How adorable!
Christine McManus - I vote for #25! The twin girls look absolutely adorable!
Joe S - I just liked the Bellini page on facebook. I vote for 54 – baby on bed B&W with this 2nd vote. Thanks!
Laura - I vote #13 – cllmbing the fence…although, there is some really TOUGH competition on here. They are all great photos.
Mike - #11 baby bear
Jane Farrington - I have to vote for #22 “boy in overalls” though there are so many amazing photos!
Bre - It was nearly impossible to choose, so I will just go with my first gut feeling. 9 & 16. I’m a fan on Facebook! I hope your clients/fans love your contest as much as mine do – I’m sure they will because your work is AMAZING! Wonderful year!
Beth - Gotta go with #25…those twins are doll babies!
jason - i vote for #54 “Baby on Bed in B&W”
Natalie Clayshulte - I’m a fan on facebook as well, so I am voting for #30 and #54. So hard to choose since all of your work is breathtaking!!!
allison - Love #25 Twins on the beach….what cuties!!
Dan - #11- Baby Bear, Coops!!!
Jessica - I’m a fan on facebook, and my two votes are for picture #54, “Baby on Bed B&W”.
Pat - I love #54, Baby on Bed in Black & White. I’m a fan on Facebook, so I vote for #54 twice! Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!
Kara - I vote for #54 baby in bed in b&w. So cute! I am also a facebook fan so two votes for 54!
Eileen Broderick - Whoa–this was WAY hard! I am a fan so I’m gonna vote for two. Dad and Son #9 and Rainbow #16. Both just take my breath away. Of course, all of them do but since I have to choose!
Karen - #54 “baby on bed in b&w”…beautiful picture of a beautiful baby! Also a fan on FB so 2 votes for this pic.
mary - I vote for #11!
michelle - I vote for #54 Baby on the Bed in Black & White.
Robyn Higgins - #22 Love the little boy in overalls! I’m also linked to facebook now 🙂
Jenine - I meant #35 – Nina 2!
Kristen - I vote picture # 54 “Baby on Bed B&W”!
Dan B. - I vote for number 54 the baby on bed in B&W. Also a facebook fan – so two votes for her.
Gina - I vote for #11 baby bear! Also I am a fan on fb 🙂
Cheryl - I vote for #25 the twins on the beach. Love it.
Melissa Dunn - Vote #1 and Vote #2: #17 “cherries” (I’m a fan on FB!)
Timothy Pham - My vote is for #2 girl in lavender dress!
Stephen Sisca - My vote is for #16 rainbow. What a cutie:)
Jason Fan - Votes for #:
52. ”boy with a pear”
46. ”star tree”
(I’m a fan on FB!)
Dan - Number 11
Elise - ummm…Def #39 “the Tent Shot”
Maegan - Voting for #48 “Newborn in blue hat”
Sandra Bludau - This is too hard. Going with #25 and #31. (Fan of Facebook)
Amisha Schraudenbach - Vote for 54. “baby on bed in b&w”. Great pics, my favorite #54 is adorable.
Sandy - I like #54 “Baby on the Bed B&W”
Becky Spaulding - Two votes for #13 but really really love them all!
Ann - Voting for #11!
Irene Edreich - I love all your photos. My favorite is #40 “girl in field” she is a beauty just like her mom. I am also a fan on facebook so apply the right number of votes! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Cindy - #39 gets my vote! such a pretty picture of 2 cute girls!
Julie Twiss - I am voting for “Twins on Beach” #25
Jing Hoffmann - My vote goes to #54 Baby on Bed B&W. Such a great photo. I love it.
Bob - I vote for number 11, he is the greatest 🙂
Jessica - Voting for #48 “Newborn in blue hat”
Darlene Twiss - My two favorite bathing beauties–I vote for #25-Twins on Beach.
Ciara Calitri - i “liked” on FB- #39 is beautiful!
Barbara - My vote is for #54 “baby on bed in b&w”…hat an amazing picture of a beautiful baby. Also a fan on facebook so make that 2 votes for this picture.
Greg Kirkos - #54 – baby on a bed in b&w – soo cute!
mary - #11
Tanzyn - # 25….LOVE LOVE LOVE it:)
kimbrali - can i just choose them all?!?!
i guess number 23 if i must pick one 🙂
Amy - Number 54, “baby on bed in b&w” — love it!
Armando Holguin - picture # 54 “Baby on Bed Black & White – too cute!
Susan - #54 Baby on Bed BW- My favorite -precious
Judy Simpkins - I vote for #39 “the tent shot”. Sweet!
T Innis - Love the #11 “baby bear”
Michael - All the pictures are great, my favorite is Twins on the beach #25
Christopher - I vote #25. Twins on a beach!
Diane - My vote is for #54-:Baby on Bed B&W. So adorable!!
Margaret-Rose Principato - #39 BEAUTIFUL GIRLS!!
Laurie - # 48 “Newborn in Blue Hat” Simply Precious!!
Jennifer - #16. Rainbow …gorgeous
Juan - I vote for picture # 54 “Baby on Bed B&W”
Lurdes - # 54 Baby on Bed B&W
Michele Sisca - my vote is of course for #16 rainbow!!
Nay nay - beautiful cloe # 16 gets my vote
Marcia - I vote for#54 Baby on Bed B&W!
Kelly - I vote for #11,”baby bear”,ADORABLE!!!
Kim - I vote for picture # 54 “Baby on Bed B&W”
Christina - I vote for #54 Baby on the Bed B&W!
Debby - My vote is for #48, “Newborn in the Blue Hat”! Beautiful!
Rita - All of the photos are so different and so beautiful, but I must vote my girl, #20.
Karen Gorman - I love # 38….boy and wagon
Cassandra - Love all the photos but I vote for #20 – Nina. So adorable!
Sara - I love #20! So many beautiful pictures.
Dianne - I love #25 “twins on beach”.
karen salzillo - I vote for #54, baby on bed black and white
BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
Michelle Henrick - This is a difficult task, my friend. Really, I have many favorites but for some reason I am drawn to #20 “bella nina”. I am also a fan on FB so I will also pick #49. :-).
Dave - “Twins on Beach” gets my vote. How can I resist?
Al S - I vote for # 54 Baby on the Bed Black and White.
I am a fan on facebook so both of my votes go to # 54.
Great Photo!
Kesha - I vote for picture 54 “Baby on Bed B&W She’s is a beauty! (facebook fan)
Angela - Oh sweet baby bear #11!!!! Delicious!!!
Lorraine - I vote for #25 “Twins on beach”. All the photos are great which made choosing difficult but the twins photo looked very cute and natural.
Kerrie E. Ryan - Voting for #11 Baby Bear! Love Him!! 🙂
Kerrie E. Ryan - #11 Baby Bear
farrah jobling - it’s IMPOSSIBLE to choose just one from your amazing work!!! But since I *must*…I’ll pick #25 twins on the beach.
md - Beautiful work! My vote is picture # 54 “Baby on Bed B&W”
DL73010 - My vote #22; so cute!!!
Jannice - #11…baby bear is adorable!
Karina - What gorgeous pictures, I vote for Bella Nina #20. So beautiful!
Heather - #11 very cute!!!
DENISE CHIARELLA - MY VOTE IS FOR #16 RAINBOW….. JUST BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
Kevin - I can’t vote for just #14 (baby smiling on quilt) or #15 (girl smiling on quilt)…not as a proud uncle, that is! I’ll let you decide where the vote should go between those two selections. All the photos are beautiful and amazing – great job!
Deb - #33 gets my vote. hope this is posted correctly
Sue Rylander - I vote for #54, baby on bed in black in white-very cute!
Jannice - I’m a fan on Facebook…I’d like my second vote to also be for #11 baby bear 🙂
Angela - vote for 11
Janet - I love #25……..the twins at the beach, so beautiful and very natural.
Vickie - I love #22. Cutest little guy in overalls and cap.
Melissa T - I don’t know any of the subjects of your portraits, I’m just a fan of your work :).
My first vote would have to go to #17, Cherries.
And the second vote (facebook fan) #39, the Tent Shot.
Looking forward to seeing the winners!
Hannah - I vote for #18 b&w rocker. I liked you on facebook too so can you just put both votes for 18? Thanks!
Christine - Oooh exciting!
I’d like to vote for #34 big beautiful eyes
Love that smile!
Megan C - I vote for #33, his eyes are fantastic!
Irene Brook - My vote goes to #20. “Bella Nina”
Michael Brook - Correction!!!
In my vote for “Bella Nina” I made a typo – the number of the photo is 20.
vika vays - My vote goes to #20″Bella Nina”
lev vaysburd - I wouid like to vote for “Bella Nina” #20
Leslie - First I just have to say…you are truly an amazing artist!
It was hard to narrow it down, but I just can’t get #9 out of my head. Can’t wait to see who wins!
Rita Vayner - I vote for #20, Bella Nina
molly mello - it is almost impossible to choose but #2 an #16 are my favorites.
Jaime Feldmaier - Baby bear!
Maria Campanella - #16…A natural beauty!!
joyce - I like #54 baby in bed B&W and I also “like” it in facebook!
Barbara Watts - I would like to vote for #22 “Boy in Overalls”.
Lisa Beaulieu - These pictures are beautiful!! I’d like to vote for #11 “Baby Bear”!!!
Jodi - All the shots are gorgeous!! But my vote is #39 Tent Shot!
Keri Calnan - I vote for 38-Boy and wagon.
Melissa - I would like to vote for Baby Bear #11 he is sooooo cute:)
Zina Dvorkin - I vote for #20, Bella Nina.
rita - I am a big fan on facebook, so I vote again for my girl, Nina #20
Valerie - My vote is for # 54, baby on a bed in b&w, and I “liked” Bellini on FB!
Joan - I vote for #54 baby on bed in b&w.
Gina - so hard, i went back and forth and back and forth…. #25 (although i LOVE the tent shot)
Valerie R - I’m voting for “#54, Baby on Bed in B & W”. Best of luck!
Lisa M - #33! and Im a fan on Facebook
Patty Beckman - I especially love #22 Boy in Overalls.
Laura - I am a fan on facebook. I’d like my second vote to be for number 48…baby in the blue hat. Not sure if my first went through because I didn’t see it on here but it’s 13 (climbing fence)
Trisha Cucinota - I vote for #11.
Jessica - Nina #20 is the cutest. please make sure my vote is cast for her.
Carol - All the portraits are wonderful. I vote for #25, Twins on the Beach.
Rimma Zelfand - #20 Bella Nina! so cute
Erica Zelfand - #20 Bella Nina. BEAUTIFUL.
Rachel - #11 baby bear
Joyce Moisan - I vote for number 25, Twins at the Beach. These little twins are like two little angels floating over the sand. All the pictures were beautiful, but these twins get my vote.
Patrick - My vote is for #14 and #15!!
Jonathan - I vote for #22
Mike - # 11 Baby bear
Karen - I vote for #11!
Daryl - I vote for #2. I think it is hysterical.
Yelena - I love #35
Barry Dunmore - Wow – some really great portraits. Well done! I’m going for picture # 54 “Baby on Bed B&W”
Jaina - I vote for #54! 🙂
Nancy Walker - My vote goes to #22 “Boy in the overalls.”
Catherine Georgotas - Please place my vote for # 54 “baby on bed in B&W”
Catherine Georgotas - I would like to vote for #54 ..baby on bed
kate chase - #54 baby on bed!
Christa West - I vote for the cutie #54!
Lisa Pode - I vote for # 54 “Baby on Bed B&W
Laura Howells - I vote for #54, Baby on Bed. Cutie!
Alex - Loving number 25!! 🙂 That’s my vote!
Celeste D. - This was a hard decision. All the photos are great! But I have to say #25 gets my vote.
Ryan Borkowski - I have to go with picture #54 “Baby on Bed B&W”
Kristina Purcell - I love the “baby on bed in B&W”! That gets my vote.
Francine - I vote for #54 Baby on Bed B&W, that is too adorable, she’s a real cutie pie!
kelly gustavsen - #17 and #18 get my vote!
Susie - Number 54 gets my vote!!!
Christina - I vote for #54 baby on bed b&w. Great photos!!
linda dambra - # 54 is my pick!
liz - #39, the tent shot is gorgeous!!!
karen - #39 the tent shot is my vote!
april todd - #16! The the pure simplicity of it!! BEAUTIFUL!
Betty Nash - #39 The Tent Shot, just beautiful !!! Great photos..
Kimberly Canino - My vote is for #16 Rainbow!!!! What a gorgeous girl!
Barry K - #54 is too adorable and has my vote!
Margaret-Rose - #39 The Tent Shot! A-DOR-A-BLE!!
Melissa - I am voting for the cutest little boy i know! photo # 22 “boy in overalls”.
Every picture on here is amazing!
Kara - #54 Simply Adorable!!
Kim - I am voting for picture # 54 “Baby on Bed B&W
Anne - 33. ”big beautiful eyes”
Lisa Trakis - Love them all, but my vote is: 31. ”boy on blue canoe”.
Krsiten Francis - I vote for baby #54
Ellen Schiller - I vote for #20! Bella Nina!
Claire - #21 Boy in overalls! Love him!
Beth Innis - Hands down, Number 11!!!
Ann Hoyt - I vote for #25 on the beach
Anna - #25. Love the twins on the beach!
Anna - #25. Love the twins on the beach.
Janet - #25 Twins on the beach! How sweet are they!!
Georgia Darviris - I vote for number 25 the Twins..
They are beautiful.
Gert Cushing - I would like to vote for # 25 – Twins On The Beach… aren’t they beautiful – two peas in a pod! Duplication of perfection is awesome…..
Nancy - I’d like to vote for #54, “Baby on Bed”. SO adorable!
Ron - I vote for 54. “baby on bed in b&w”!
Tracie - Vote for #25 -twins on beach -very cute and natural.
Aleza - Yikes! Sooooo tough, I am in love with them all! I’ll vote for #26 – “L.O.V.E”, the expressions, everything just makes the heart smile. Gorgeous :D.
Sara - #25, too cute!
Clare - My vote is for 54. “baby on bed in b&w”
Steve R. - #25 Twins on the Beach.
Etherial, excellent symmetry with twins holding hands, pushed exposure, subtle pastel colors, the obvious breeze adds movement.. everything about that shot is good – and the little ones are gorgeous. That one is a keeper.
Barbara - My vote is for the Twins on the beach #25. What sweethearts.
Jolie - #25 Twins on the beach is the best!!
Tami Ellis - #25 Twins on beach very cute!
Krista - So hard to pick one, they are all beautiful!! My choice is #16 Rainbow
Chad - #54 – Baby on bed in b&w is the cutest of them all.
Judy - #25 has my vote, they are just ADORABLE!
Cheri - #54 Love baby on a bed…. adorable
Pam - #25 Twins – twice as nice, and more than twice as hard to get a great shot of both!
Josephine - #54 love the huge eyes of baby in bed! simply adorable!
JDunlap - # 54 “Baby on Bed B&W – great pic!
Brandon - I Vote for #25 and you should too!! Very Cute!!
Barry Okun - #39 “The Tent Shot”
Taryn - I vote for #54 “baby on bed b&w” – LOVE IT!! And I liked the Bellini Fan Page on Facebook! Beautiful photos all around 🙂
Stephen Taylor - #54 is my vote — what a cutie!!
Carol - “Beautiful” My vote is for picture #54 “Baby on Bed B&W”
Carol - #54 Baby on Bed B&W, What a cutie pie!
Julie - Great Pictures! My vote is for #54, baby on bed, such a beautiful babe!
Shannon Brady - I like #52 – a boy with a pear
Jeff Pollack - My vote is for #54 “Baby on Bed B&W”, a beautiful picture of a beautiful baby!
Shawn - I vote for #25 twins on beach (Piper & Brynn) – sooooo cute!! 😉
Rachel - My vote for the picture contest is number 33
Tiffany - My vote is for #33 – Big Beautiful Eyes
Everett - I like the baby on Bed in Black and White #54
Amanda Stowell - I love #33 – Big Beautiful Eyes. I have “Liked” the Fan Page!
MDT - Baby on the bed #54, what a gorgeous photo! I love black and white photos and she is so sweet. I am also a fan of the Bellini facebook page! Both of my votes are for #54 : )
Anita - I vote for #33 – Big Beautiful Eyes. I have “Liked” the Fan Page! Amazing picture.
.
Javier Ramos - # 20 what a beatiful Baby !!!! hands down the best looking baby on your web!!
Jane - Vote for 54. “baby on bed in b&w”…cute picture!!
Erin - I vote for #54 baby on bed in b&w 2 times 🙂 i liked the Bellini fan page on facebook too! GOOO BABY # 54!!
Taylor - My vote is for #54. Precious!
Kim T. - Oops! I voted on the wrong blog post, HOWEVER, this is the real second vote for #54. (I liked your facebook page for the second vote.)
Tom B - I vote for #54 Baby on Bed BW. Great shot!
Roxann - I’m voting picture #54 “baby on bed in b&w”. Such a beautiful picture
Leandra Taylor - #54, Baby on the bed in b&w is my vote! 🙂
Nicole P - Go #54-Baby on Bed in Black and White! The cutest little peanut!!! 🙂
Liz Cavano - Cast my vote for #54– such a cutie!
~Liz
Molly - #25 – Twins!!! So pretty!
Amanda - #54- adorable!
Marc M. - Wow, so many beautiful images to choose from!
My vote is for #54 “Baby on Bed B&W.” Love the eyes!
linda dambra - #54 pure beauty!
melanie d. - #52. LOVE!
Jaysin - #25, fun and playful!
megan - my vote is for #54!!
Marc Berliner - #54 — what amazing eyes
Jess - #2 Girl in Lav Dress
#52 boy with a pear
Tamara - #54 – Those eyes!
Keith Montecalvo - 54. Adorable child, beautiful composition
Also added a Facebook “like” for the second vote.
Erin M - 52!! The boy with the pear!! I love that one!
Andrea Liberis - # 54 – love the smile!
Lisa Ellerin - little baby bear #11 is my vote fpr the cutest baby bear I have EVER seen! beautiful pictures!
Jack - 54. “baby on bed in b&w”
jodi pfunder - # 31 – boy on canoe
(count me down for two votes because I like you on FB)
Terry - I am voting for #11 “baby bear”.
Whitney - # 16! rainbows!!! They are all gorgeous but my vote is rainbows hands down!!!
Joan - Voting for #48 Newborn in Blue Hat. He is such an angel!
Mike - I vote for #54 “baby on the bed in b&w”
Jody - So many amazing pics – but my vote goes to #16!!! And I’m a fan on Facebook so 2 votes to Chloe!
Jimmy - They are all wonderful, but I love #54 “baby on the bed in b&w”
Jason - I love them all, but my favorite is #54!