It's the season of giving -- and you know what the means. My favorite holiday is just around the corner! This year, to celebrate Thanksgiving and say thanks to my amazing clients, I'm holding a canvas contest!

I got this idea from fellow photographer Katie Nesbitt, and I love it for so many reasons. First, I can't stress the importance of printing your photographs. Second, I love canvases! Cliff and I use them in our own home and I can't wait to gift a client with one!

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:
 
To vote for your favorite family, like the Jonna Michelle Photography Facebook page and then like the family’s picture in the 2016 Canvas Contest album. You can vote for as many people as you’d like. SHARE your entry to encourage your friends and family to vote for you! You must like both the JMP Facebook page and the picture in the Canvas Giveaway album for a vote to count!

The family with the most votes by Saturday, December 10 will win an 16 x 20 gallery wrapped canvas! I will announce the winner Sunday, December 11.
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In no particular order, here are this year’s entries:

All through the month of February, I held a contest to win a FREE mini session with me. Thank you to everyone who participated and shared a little love via Facebook. I'm so excited to announce that the winner is:

Dawn Marie's name was chosen randomly from all those who entered. Dawn Marie, your prize must be used between April 1, 2016 and October 1, 2016, and includes 45 minutes at an outdoor location of the winner's choice and complimentary digital files. Contact me so we can chat details.

Thank you again to everyone who participated. Your love and support means the world to me!

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and you know what that means: Love is in the air! During the month of February, if you share some love via Facebook, you could win a FREE mini session*!

Here's how the contest works:

1. Like the Jonna Michelle Photography page on Facebook. If you're already a fan, great! Ask a friend to like the page, too!
   
   
2. Share any post published during the month of February and you'll automatically be entered to win! You must like the page AND share at least one post to be eligible.  The best part?? You can start by sharing this post! The contest will run February 1 - February 29, and the winner will be announced Tuesday, March 1.

jhPhotography received dozens of entries from area residents who shared what they love about Silver Spring. A random drawing was held Saturday and the results are in!

• Bethany Meissner of Maryland is the first-place winner. She will receive a free photo session of her choice.

• Colleen Moriarty, also of Maryland, is the second place winner. Colleen will receive 50% off of a photo session of her choice.

I want to congratulate the winners and thank everyone who entered the contest. The dozens of responses received are a true testament to just how charmingly beautiful this community really is. Below is a small sampling of what neighbors and friends have to say about Silver Spring. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!

What do YOU love about Silver Spring?
Share your thoughts and you could win one of two great prizes from jhPhotography!

First Place: A free photo session of your choice (a value of up to $300).
Second Place: 50% off of a photo session of your choice (a value of up to $150).

So often I promote Nebraska on this blog, simply because it is where I'm from. It's home. I find immense beauty and solitude there, and am awed by the landscape, the people and the culture.

As much as I enjoy journeying home, recent revelations in my life have caused me to take pause and  realize that Nebraska isn't the only place that has stolen my heart. I have two homes, and one of them is right here in Silver Spring.

It's been five years since I moved to this area, and I'm not sure I'd want to live anywhere else. Silver Spring is a vibrant, eclectic community full of artists, artisans, activists, families and so much more. We've got old staples like Tastee Diner--a favorite since 1932--and new traditions, including a year-round Farmer's Market.

This is a place where rural meets urban and urban meets suburban. Business ventures collide with recreational opportunities, bringing together the best cultures from every walk of life.

I feel blessed to live here and am so proud to call Silver Spring home.