KAY ESKRIDGE, LORI NORDSTROM & ELIZABETH HOMAN WIN OPERATION SMILE'S JUDGES CHOICE AWARD WITH TRIPLE SCOOP MUSIC

We're excited to share a very special post from one of our favorite vendor partners TripleScoop Music's blog.
PPA Charities held a fun and challenging competition at their evening festivities during the most recent Imaging Convention in Nashville. ‘The Ronald’ was a spoof on Donald Trump’s successful reality show and PPA President’s Ron Nichols, along with two other judges, participated in this light hearted event. Four teams competed in two ways. One, by creating and displaying an image with a country western theme (the Judges Choice) and two by raising funds by means of votes (the People’s Choice award / $1.00 = one vote) for the PPA Charities Operation Smile campaign.

It was both an honor and a privilege to lead one team through this process. My team consisted of myself (Kay Eskridge), Lori Nordstrom and Elizabeth Homan as well as many, many photographers that helped our team through our fundraising efforts. Our team title was The Power of One and this is our story . . .

Standing as ONE, professional photographers across the country can make a difference in the lives of children all over the world through the PPA Charities Operation Smile Campaign. It is the ‘Power of One’ team’s goal to enlist the support of socially responsible photographers by sharing how the simple ‘power of one’ really is.

These are tough times for fundraising but we firmly believe that people still want to help. They just feel like the small amount they may have to give couldn’t possibly make a difference. Our campaign was designed to show them it is not true. Small amounts could count. And, that by spreading the word about the Power of One, they would become a part of a campaign that was making a dramatic difference in so many little lives. So we twittered, facebooked, blogged, emailed, e-newslettered . . . and worked tirelessly at spreading the word and asking for small amounts.

Embracing Operation Smile was the perfect fit for our campaign. What person wouldn’t want to help give a child hope for a future where they would not be ridiculed for the way they looked or spoke? What person wouldn’t want to help give a child the chance to smile?
Our message is simple . . . the power of one does count. One simple act of random kindness can make a difference. One hug, one smile, one relationship, one thoughtful gesture, person to person, generation to generation . . . the art of kindness rekindled in this simple campaign.
The image we created for ‘The Ronald’ exemplifies not only the Power of One (as in one generation passing the gift of music to another) but also this competition’s country music theme. The song we selected from the amazing team at Triple Scoop music, “Sing” by David Keen, was just the right addition to our presentation (as well as exemplifying PPA’s Campaign Smile perfectly)! The crowd loved the image and many said there wasn’t a dry eye in the house while they listened to the wonderful words of the song.
The judges discussed the presentation, the votes were tallied and I am proud to announce our team, The Power of One, took the Judges Choice Award.
We were very proud of raising $2,000 in three hours. The big winner that night was the many lives that will be forever changes through PPA’s Operation Smile.
A big ‘thank you’ to the team at Triple Scoop for helping us in our fundraising efforts and for a beautifully written and performed song. They say ‘a picture is worth 1,000 words’ but I think when you put music to it . . . it makes it priceless!

Being a part of an amazing weekend . . .

I am so excited to be a part of this upcoming workshop . . . there are only a few spaces open so if you're interested please contact Lori via the information below :) I'll post some images from the experience ~ including our trip to Kansas via the whcc private jet. Pinch me, pinch me, pinch me!

PPA Charities & our Power of One Team

Consider the ‘Power of One’
One person + one dollar = one united force

Standing as ONE, professional photographers across the country can make a difference in the lives of children all over the world through the PPA Charities Operation Smile Campaign. It is the ‘Power of One’ team’s goal to enlist the support of socially responsible photographers for a one week fundraising drive. The week will end Saturday, January 9th at the PPA Imaging Charities Party as our Power of One program is presented for judging at The Ronald Event.

How can you help? It’s easy!

First, we’re asking for pledges in increments of $1 . . . $10, $100, $1,000 . . . whatever amount you can give. The link to donate using a credit card or paypal account is: http://ppacharities.com/donate-now.php. You will need to use the Honors/Memorials Donation button and be sure you list PowerofOne in the Special Requests. The cut off to donate in this way is this Friday, January 8th at midnight.

Second, as ‘Power of One’ team ambassadors we ask that you share this fundraising campaign with as many people as you can. Contact fellow photographers, clients, family, friends, anyone and everyone. We’ll all be working as ONE and that is where the power is. Send emails, twitter, post to facebook, blog, anyway you can help get the word out. See below for some ideas to help you. And please join us at the Charities Party on Saturday night at Imaging 2010 ~ it’s FREE and it will give you one more chance to vote for our campaign! One dollar = one vote.

The key to the Power of One campaign is that is starts with YOU and the power you have to do something wonderful. We thank you in advance for getting involved and making a difference in the lives of children across the world that will be forever changed through PPA Charities Operation Smile.

Thank you so much,

Kay, Lori and Elizabeth
The Power of One Team

Want to learn more about PPA Charities Operation Smile Campaign? http://ppacharities.com/

If you want to twitter:
PowerofOne joins PPACharities 4 OperationSmile.Donate today & give a child a smile~even $1 counts.list powerof1 on form http://bit.ly/61Uzud

If you want to facebook:
Standing as ONE, professional photographers across the country can make a difference in the lives of children all over the world through the PPA Charities Operation Smile. Join the ‘Power of One’ team by donating this week by using the Honors/Memorials Donation button and be sure you list PowerofOne in the Special Requests. The cut off to donate like this is this Friday, January 8th at midnight. You can make a difference!
http://bit.ly/61Uzud

I've been MIA

My most sincere apology . . . we've been very busy as elves at the studio so my blogging has taken a back seat. It's been a great holiday season for us and we are very appreciative of the clients that have placed their trust in us to create images with them they will enjoy and share with family and friends. My 'merry' is getting merrier!

Webinar Contest Winner

The winner from Tuesday's webinar contest is Richard Stahlberg. The assignment was to send us an image in 'pink' in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month within 24 hours of the webinar. We had some really creative entries but this got all of our votes. He will receive a FREE program DVD Kit from the webinar :)
Here's a quote from Richard . . . 'I enjoyed your webinar on Maternity Marketing yesterday. I have attached a 'pink' photo I took this morning. I lost my brother about three years ago to cancer. I took this opportunity to honor him'. Thanks for sending and sharing Richard!

Our cool new background

Here are some images from a background we had painted for us by David Maheu . . . absolutely delicious!!!!! The Noren children are always such a pleasure to work with and we appreciate Suzy for her patience while shopping for brown clothing . . . who would have thought it could be so tough to find brown in the winter. But wait, it's not really winter yet here in sunny AZ!

My name is Gabriela Garibay, I am a full time student in Sacramento State University and I was diagnosed with cancer on May of 2008. I consider this the best experience of my life because it changed my life and the person who I am in a way I did not expect it.
It was unexpected and I had always been a very healthy person so I never thought I could have cancer.

It all started with a knee pain, that went on for nearly a year and even though I went to the emergency room many times there was no further testing because I didn’t have health insurance. Then I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, which seemed weird because it was only my left knee that was swollen and in pain. I followed the treatment as it was prescribed because I could not stand the pain anymore and other aspects of my life were being affected too. However, the pain did not stop and I went to the emergency room looking for more answers.Once again I was sent home and told that they could not help me I just had to deal with the symptoms of arthritis.

To my luck, a doctor called me the next day and said he wanted me to get an MRI done because he saw something abnormal in my bone. I went that same day after school and I can truly say it is a date I will never forget. I had the MRI done and I was admitted to the hospital immediately, after a week and four biopsies I was sent home without knowing exactly what I had. I knew it could be cancer but I was just hoping for better results since it was unsure. Then I was referred to another doctor and had 3 more biopsies done. Finally, I was diagnosed with a cancer called lymphoma and the chaos in my family begun. I could not stand to see the pain in my parent’s eyes, just thinking of it brings tears to my eyes. I have learned so much about myself and to really appreciate what I have because in a blink of an eye everything you have can disappear.


I take this experience has Gods way of letting me know I needed to be closer to him. For some reason every time something bad happens to us humans we turn to God for help and I was not the exception. I put my life in God’s hands and whatever he decides is best for me, I respect. However, I learned to enjoy every single day of life and to always help others because you never know when you will need the help. Ever since day one that I was admitted to the hospital the first time, I was astonished by all the love and support I received from people I did not even expected. I could not help to feel like crying once I realize how many people cared about me, I was receiving calls even from Mexico from so many persons, and it was a thriller for me. It is just amazing because until this day I receive many calls from people who want to know how I’m progressing, people praying for me, sending me food and donations. It so hard to explain how I feel and how this has had affected me.


I do not believe in self pity because it only brings you down, I believe in fighting with everything you have and not being a victim. As I was going through chemotherapy, there were times I could not help to feel weak mentally but I had to keep strong because a big part of fighting any type of disease as a lot to do with your mind.


Today I am a survivor and I am afraid that the cancer will come back some day however I learned to enjoy every day like it was the lost one we had. I want to study speech pathology because I have always liked to be around children and I want to help children. But when I undergone chemotherapy and I saw so many kids in the clinic that were also receiving it, my wish to do something for children grew. It broke my heart to see these babies experiencing chemotherapy and that motivated me to avoid feeling sick even if I did feel very sick. I wish I had the cure for cancer and could give it to all those who are ill but since I cannot I keep them in my prayers. I am going to graduate and help others in any way I can just like so many people has helped me. I thank God for choosing me and no other member of my family to go through this because I do not know if I could resist seeing any of my love ones go through all the side effects and symptoms of cancer and the chemotherapy treatment.


I have always love taking pictures and to me being bald was awesome because I always wanted a picture of myself bald headed. It made me value every part of my body and be proud of whom I am and all the obstacles I have overcome. I would love to win this contest but what I want to do the most is spread cancer awareness and motivate those fighting against cancer.


Please post a comment, email me at jamie@imagesbykay.com or call the studio at 602-393-9333 to cast your vote starting November 1st!