July Special

The Senior sessions are running full out , but there still are some opportunities to get you July special... $34 in FREE WALLETS.... CALL NOW FOR YOUR SESSION...

Open House Free Session Winner!

Congrats to Allison LaMar from North Cedar High School!! Allison came to our Senior Open House- signed up and won a totally FREE INDOOR/OUTDOOR COMBINATION SESSION!!!

You can still get $50 worth of FREE WALLETS -- reserve your session in June. For $34 worth of FREE WALLETS --reserve your session in July... call now....319-627-2361

Class of 2010 - OPEN HOUSE!

May 20th - 3-8pm... we will host an OPEN HOUSE for the Class of 2010! Very informal,,, chance to view great images / sign up to win: an I-POD - FREE SENIOR SESSION - LOTS OF OTHER GOODIES!! Seniors are beginning to call in to reserve their session times for June/July.. In June and July we offer FREE WALLETS SPECIALS.. call now 319-627-2361..

Proms, Proms and Proms!

Spring brings Prom Times!! We have spent the weekends photographing(and enjoying) the most beautiful prom dresses and tuxes on some great young people!!! Last year, we saw some guys in Camo vests, but this year we have seen girls in beautiful camo gowns.... satiny, shiny, and of course the guy in his camo vest to complete the look...

It's been a while since I have blogged here... if you haven't looked yet, click on the "facebook" link on our website to see some great image videos...

Oh, May 20th - 3pm to 8pm... we will host our studio's SENIOR OPEN HOUSE... LOTS OF GOOD THINGS GIVEN AWAY.. PLAN TO ATTEND... JUST SHOW UP... WE WILL BE HAVING FUN!

Hlebowitsh is the 2009 Iowa Junior Miss

Congratulations!! Nadia Hlebowitsh won the Iowa Junior Miss Crown!!! Nadia is a West High Senior and will now go on to compete in the National Junior Miss Contest in Alabama....Good Luck!!

Become a Fan of Country Oaks

Just as NEW as NEW can get!! You are invited to become a "FAN" of Country Oaks on our new Facebook page... just login on Facebook and search for countryoaks photo and become a fan and share it with your friends and family. we will post videos, photos, and specials that are happening at our studio. It will be a great place to keep informed!! Lots of High School senior stuff will show up!! We want you to be a FAN!!!!

Willy Wonka a Success!

What a fun performance by the Junior High Music Department!! Willy Wonka!! Bravo to the entire cast and to Mrs. Brenda Miller,Director... Could not have been better!

Montana the Rocker!

Is there a better name for a Rocker than Montana!! Montana came in for a quick 15 minute model session to help us try out our "Little Rock-n-Roller" Quick Take sessions that we will be offering only from May 5th through May16th in the Spring. Check back in in May for more Rockers! Thanks a bunch, Montana!

Children's Hot Tot Contest Now!!!

The Hot Tot portrait Contest is just starting -- sessions will be available until April 4th... this contest is for children ages birth to 12 years, with 6 ages categories...

Session times will fill quickly, and your entry fee includes: entry into both Local and National contests, your session, and a 4x5 original portrait(value of $17)-- all for only $35.... and discounted children's portrait prices.... keep watching... more kids pics are coming!!

Thanks, Allie!

Thanks to Allie for being our studio Rep/Spokesperson- Class of 2009! We are currently taking applications for 2010 Reps...Lots of discount benefits! Go to the contact page on our website and let us know you are interested!!

I POD Winner! Class of 2009!

Hannah was the name we drew!! We tossed the names of all the 2009 Seniors we photographed into a "hat" and drew out the winner of this year's I POD! Yes, we will draw an I POD Winner from the Class of 2010 about this time next year -- 2010er's have started reserving session times -- call to reserve yours - 319-627-2361...

Kyle Kober -- State Champ!!

Congratulations to Kyle Kober -- winning A STATE WRESTLING TITLE!! If you saw him this season, you know Kyle is a pinning machine -- the Title Match was no different with Kyle pinning his opponent!! Kyle, thanks for letting us create your Senior portrait images and Congratulations!!!!

Looking for Model/Spokespersons for 2010

We are looking for Seniors-Class of 2010- to be Model/Spokespersons for our studio.... if you are outgoing, like to be photographed, and would enjoy discounts on your senior portraits... CALL OUR STUDIO OR EMAIL US THROUGH OUR WEB PAGE.... we will be offering these benefits to a select number of seniors from area high schools within 40 miles of our studio...Don't wait, these slots will be filled quickly!!

Hi-Speed Videos

The reponse to these "HI-Speed" videos is so exciting!! 2010 Seniors will have these as a product for the first time from Country Oaks.... If you see this, and share it with your friends... Country Oaks has reinvented itself for this season - new styles, new looks and new products!!

New 2009 Seniors on web site

Yep, we just updated the 4 senior galleries on our web site -- lots of new looks and styles here at Country Oaks!! Creativity nevers stands still and clients always enjoy something unique, so we keep attending conferences and traveling to pick up new ideas that we can pass on the our portrait clients.

Tom teaches at State Convention

Cory and I just returned from the Professional Photographers of Iowa State Convention where I taught a course to other professionals about lighting and posing high school seniors. My program was entitled "The Difference is in the Details" and I shared how to level eyes, straighten noses, keeping arms and legs appearing the length they really should be...... details that make a good professional's images much more enjoyable and artistic.

We really enjoy visiting with new "pros" who are eager to learn how to create better portraits. In our State organization, Master Photographers are asked to teach younger photographers and I find it very rewarding to have helped in any way I can.

The next blogs will hi-light lots of ideas that we will use this next year...

Videos are Here!!

January is a Planning Month

The phone rings often at Country Oaks during January -- the result of family holiday gatherings and discussions! It's most likely the person who was drafted to make the call to set up their family portrait session that calls....so, we are reserving sessions for families in Feb./March/ and into June for nice outdoor portraits. Mom and Dad's anniversaries are important - remember them with a portrait gift certificate...

2009 Seniors - Still Booking!!

Sure, it is cold outside,,, but there is still time for 2009 Seniors to have great portraits created!!

Yep, we are still looking for those "09'ers" who haven't had their portraits created or just did not like what they had done elsewhere... call it's a good time to visit..

Still Snowing

We haven't decided which portrait will become the treasure that will hold our memories of this Christmas, but this one is fun.... still snowing.... we have a pretty understanding family to be out in weather like this for portraits.... It's good for us to photograph our own family, to remind us what it takes to gather your family and to put up with "whatever" to have a family portrait memory created.

One of the most satisfying parts of my job is to know that people will still enjoy for generations what we have created for them.