Inevitable.

Well... it is with a heavy heart and yet plenty of enthusiasm that I announce the closing of Announcing Lily and a full focus on Stephanie Robin Photography & Design. I really feel like I was living a half life before the birth of this new business venture. I am surprised daily by the response to my photography and the interest in personal and custom sessions for my clients. It's hard to believe I've already booked dates through July 09 (not to worry though... I'm not yet fully booked) and I'm very much looking forward to each and every session. I have a special place in my heart for my newborn photography and am attempting to develop a style of my own, adding to my props, setups and repertoire as time and money will allow. One of the other reasons I am so invested in these sessions is the opportunity to create beautiful, high end, one of a kind announcements for my clients. Until now, I really hadn't quite hit on a trifold and card stock clientele and am completely in love with creating these beauties for my most recent clients.

Although I appreciate all of you so so much and am so thankful for your support of Announcing Lily over the years and compliments on my designs, I feel I would be offering a disservice to those of you interested in using your own photos as, at this point, my heart really longs to take control over every aspect of my designs.

I had a very hard holiday season with the business having made several exceptions to my business practices and guidelines set out this past fall (my own fault) in order to serve up some last minute cards. The experience was very disheartening and left me with a bad taste for this business and eating a rather large cost. I was totally dismayed and had never encountered such a thing before but it certainly opened my eyes to the fact that I no longer long to do this in this fashion. The demands on my time are already great due to my beautiful children and family and my complete passion for all things photography and I felt myself pulled rather thin leading up to the holidays.

You'll be happy to know I will be offering a sitting fee discount of 25% to all of my past AL clients who book in with SRPD between January and May of 2009. I appreciate loyalty and am looking forward to servicing those of you who are local to Burlington in a much more complete manner. :) All of my past designs as well as many new ones are available through SRPD with the added bonus of beautifully captured images. I do hope to see you over there. The site and blog are always a work in progress and although I don't think they presently reflect my brand perfectly, I am hoping to get closer as time goes on.

For those of you who are not local and are desperate for beautifully created photo announcements and cards, I would refer you to a few of my most talented competitors. Please feel free to check them out by following the provided links. Although some are located in the States, you'll find their service and deliveries second to none. Believe me... I have samples from them all!

The Stork Came (CAN)

Every Moment Matters (CAN)

Buttercup Prints (CAN)

Pumpkin Pie Memories (CAN)

Belly Bean Designs (Not CAN but one of my all-time favorites! Totally worth it.)

Tiny Prints (a wonderful all encompassing company)

I know you will find all you need and more with these companies! Feel free to let them know Announcing Lily sent you! And because I love you all so much, one of my most recent cuties... all of 5 days old.