Northwest Indiana Photographer, Valparaiso Photographer – Samantha Uphold Photography » Northwest Indiana Photographer, Porter County Photographer, Valparaiso Photographer, Newborn Photography, Child Photography, Family Photography, Senior Photography

1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

And the winner of the free session is Robyn Markos!!! 

Thanks for all the entries and sweet comments.  This was a lot of fun. Congrats to the winners and thank you to everyone for making 2009 a fantastic year!  There will be a session special announced on Monday.  Stay tuned!!

Thanks to 2010 starting with an epic computer crash, this contest is SUPER late.   That just gives me an excuse to make this an even better contest than the past two years.  The winning family will get their choice of the image in a 16×20 or a complimentary session.  The 2nd place winner will receive an 11×14, and the 3rd place winner will receive and 8×10.  Encourage all of you friends and family to vote AND to leave a comment at the bottom of this post.  After the contest is over, I will enter every person who leaves a comment into a drawing.   One person will win a complimentary session!!    Everyone can vote once, and the contest ends on March 3rd at 11:59 pm!

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I would like to start by thanking Kristen Kalp of Essential Imagery for this truly awesome idea. She is not only the brainchild behind this incredible giving idea, but she encouraged photographers all over the world to donate last year.   AND, she started this amazing website to track the donations of photographers! Now, onto the awesomely awesomeness that is the heart of this season….the spirit of giving…..

You know someone. You know someone who’s experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can’t afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family’s spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it. Who is that person? I need your help!

We all know that custom photography is a luxury, not a necessity. But, what is more important to us than our relationship with family and the precious memories that we create? I can’t think of much else. That is one of the reasons I choose to photograph families in the way that I do. I want them to have a physical, constant reminder of their precious connection – the spirit of their family. I want to give them something that will lift their spirits when they look at it. I’d really like to give someone a chance to have that year long reminder. And, I’d like to give it to someone who deserves it and could otherwise not afford to have it. This is where you can help me.

I want to know who you think deserves a holiday “pick me up” of sorts , and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography – $2,000 worth, to be exact. Whether they choose a gallery-wrapped canvas, albums, prints for Grandma, or a slideshow to watch over and over . . . it’s in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season. Oh, and a little bonus? The person who nominates the winner receives a $500 print credit. What better reason do you need to show some love?

The rules:
1. You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar vacation home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)
2. The nominee must reside in Northwest Indiana or be able to travel here for their session. If your nominee lives outside the area, send me an e-mail, anyway. There are loads of incredible photographers partnering on this project and there’s sure to be one near you.
3. Comment on this blog entry to let me know you’ve entered and e-mail me the full story: samantha@samanthauphold.com. Tell me who you know, what they’re experiencing, and why they deserve their life translated into art. Please include contact information for your nominee and yourself. The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve . . . get nominating! I can’t wait to read all of your entries!

Open your heart to someone this holiday season. And thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

Last month, Butterfly Kisses and I teamed up for an extra special event.  Zutano customers recieved a complimentary mini session with me, and now they are entered into a contest to win some fabulous prizes!  The  contest will run through April 18th, 2009.  Anyone can vote once (one vote per computer).  Check out the adorable kiddos below and vote for your favorite! Check out Butterfly Kisses to shop the latest in Zutano fashions

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Hey everyone!  It’s been pretty quiet around here, eh?  I *just* finished up switching my sites over to a new hosting company, and it wasn’t the quickest experience to say the least.  But, now I’m back up and running, and ready to end my 20ish day absence with a contest!  That’s right!  For the lucky, loyal blog readers who keep checking back, this is for you!  I’m going to limit this contest to a new client.  I love, love, love my clients, but this contest has significant sentimental meaning, and well, in order to do what I want it to do – I need to have a winner that has put off photos for awhile.  

Is that person you?  Do you keep meaning to call, meaning to schedule, meaning to get that arrangement of outfits, loose that weight, perfect that hair, or save just enough money to finally set up a family photo session?  Let me tell you – there will never be the “perfect” time for family photos.  Your little babyman or babygirl will always have a scratch, a broken arm, a few missing teeth, or something that will make you say – “Maybe in a few months we’ll get them taken”.  I used to believe in this theory, too.  That’s used to be when I would try to get those perfect family shots where that perfect family was looking perfectly into the camera, with the perfect amount of smile minus eye squint, and everything was, well, picture perfect.  Then I discovered my passion.  It was capturing people in a real setting, in a real environment!  That’s when I also discovered that the imperfections were what made the “perfect” in the photos.  There are SO many moments that shouldn’t be missed.  I really believe that everyone should hire a custom photographer at least once!  Let someone document who you are at that very moment.  

So, this moment is right now.  I want to hear from someone who keeps coming back here thinking

“I should, but”,

“I want to, but”,

“Maybe after I/we/he/she,”

Shoot me an email, let me know you want me to document your life for a moment.  I’d be glad to do it.  Here is how the contest will work.

The first person to email me, letting me know why today, March 26th is so special to me, will win a free session.  Yes, this contest is in honor of *something* very special and important to me.  :)  My loyal blog readers who have followed me since my blogspot days, will probably have the best chance of winning this (but seriously, people – google is your friend.  It is EASY to find my old blog).  Or you could cheat.  How?  Well, my family works all over Valpo, and they’d have no problem telling you the answer. Test drive a car at Barile (wait til noon and ask for Preston), go snatch up some yummy Fazoli breadsticks and ask one of the Vanaman twins, or shoot over to Pam’s cubicle (holla Livemercial peeps!).   Today is very important to me, and I want to celebrate it!  Remember, the winner will be someone I haven’t photographed before.  Go!  

Right now is important.  Right now needs to be remembered.  I’m thankful for right now.  

email me at

sammyv22@yahoo.com

I know times are tough, but you want to do something good, right?  If you could find it in your hearts to spare at least $1 to vote in a contest for one of the following kiddos, it will go toward an amazing organization.  The organization is NILMDTS, and it is a fantastic charity.  

Go here to make your tax deductible vote!!  The kids are organized by last name, and the letters you are looking for are F, J, M, P.

Here are the adorable faces you are looking for!!

Thank you to everyone who voted!!  Watching the results behind the scenes was very exciting!  We had several different leaders throughout the course of the contest.  I appreciate all of the repeat visits, the sweet comments, and all of the votes!  :)  Now, onto the winners…….

FIRST PLACE!!!  Let me know if you’d like your 16×20 or your session credit!  Congrats!  :)

SECOND PLACE!!

THIRD PLACE!!

It is that time once again! The Favorite Image Contest was a huge hit last year. Last year, I featured one entry from each session. However, I was only in business for 1/2 a year in 07, so it was a bit easier to handle all of the choices. This year I needed to limit the contestants, so I picked 22 because that is my lucky number! I never would have been able to choose on my own, so I simply pulled names from a hat. Then, I picked one of my favorite photos from each of their sessions. And, wa-la! Below you’ll find the 2008 contest entries. Everyone can vote once a day, and the contest will run until 5:00 on March 1st! The 1st place winner will get their choice of a 16×20 print of the 1st place photograph or a complimentary session. The 2nd place winner will receive an 11×14 of the winning image. The 3rd place winner will receive an 8×10 of the winning image. Happy voting!

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VOTING IS OVER!!!!! STAY TUNED FOR THE RESULTS!!!

Happy New Year, everyone!! I am SO excited about 2009 and all it has to offer. I know this sounds sooooooo silly, but I can TELL, I can FEEL it. This year is going to be great! I already have so much in store at the business end of things. There will be some changes around here – some AWESOME changes. I have a new blog that I LOVE (pstt….sign up at the top!!!)!!! I’m working on a few AMAZING website projects that will give my clients the TOP of the line in custom experience when it comes to portraiture. I have invested SO much time, effort, and $$$ to create THE experience for my clients. It is all coming together beautifully, and I seriously am SO STOKED to get it all done. I have some new products coming out that are T0.Die.For. – along with – new digital collections. Yes, in 2009 there will be ways to obtain ALL of your digital files from your session!! I want to tell your story – show you the art of your heart. I have had SO many clients take me up on the brag book – which is the print option of getting all of your images. Due to so much interest in “getting all of the files”, I’ve decided to add a few digital collections. I love it when clients want ALL of their images. That happens so often, and it tells me that I did my job right. Now, I’ll have an option for you to have ALL of them to do with as you please. The fine print is getting all worked out, but if you are interested, shoot me an email, and I’ll let you know when it is ready. I love my clients, and I think this year I have figured out how to make the experience so unique, easy, accommodating, fun, and GREEN!! Stay tuned!!

In the immediate future, I have just joined forces for ANOTHER charity project that I am flipping for. This is going to be HUGE for families that are on a budget. I know the economy STINKS. I know it’s right after the holidays. I know there are so many people that WANT great photos of their children, and for whatever reasons can’t afford a full session. I totally understand this, and that is why I am SO SO SO excited to present the next project that I am working on! Stay tuned, you’ll be informed of this VERY shortly!!!

I wish you all the best in the year to come, and I thank you for sharing this journey with me. I’ve been so blessed to meet and work with so many FANTASTIC people over the past year. I can’t wait to see you all again and meet many, many more great people!

Here is just a cool video that shows some of the most amazing photographs from this year in news. The direct link shows it better than it shows up here on the blog. There are some graphic images!