Polka Dot Information Galleries

Contact & Shoot Information : If you would like more information or to book a shoot, please Email me Contact Information: Bonnie Miller b@polkadotportraits.com 703-340-4999 Polka Dot Portraits specializes in Natural Light Photography. Natural light enables clients to be captured through the lens in a comfortable setting without the use of harsh studio lighting and flashes. A relaxed atmosphere is always the goal of a Polka Dot shoot. Shoots typically last one hour, more for newborns as time is taken for feedings, and the occasional 'squawking'. Shoots are available in DC, Virginia, and Maryland. Out of the area shoots are available for a travel fee. ______________________________ "LOVE IT HATE IT, GIVE IT A THUMB": As you view all of the Polka Dot Portraits, feel free to give a pic a Thumbs up or...down, or give a comment to contribute to Polka Dot Portraits' Most Popular Photos. Clients check back in to see if your photo gets ranked by the Polka Dot viewers as a Most Popular Photo! _________________________________ THE POLKA DOT PROCESS: When booking a shoot, please include a pick of two weekends, Saturdays being your shoot date with Sundays as your rain date. With luck, one of your two picks should work out on the Polka Dot calendar. There is no booking/cancellation/or rescheduling fee...plans change, just let me know as soon as you know. I will confirm with you BY EMAIL a couple days before your shoot that we are set for location/weather/time. If I do not hear from you by email confirmation 24 hours before your shoot time, I will assume the shoot has been cancelled. Weekday shoots now available! Send me a pick of two consecutive days in the week, one for your shoot, the other as your raindate. Weekday shoot times: 9 or 10 am. Once I start to edit your shoot, I post 5 pics to your online password protected gallery for you to take a look at. Turnaround is typically 2 weeks for your package to arrive. Once the album goes to print, I send you the online gallery link for you to see your shoot in full slideshow capacity. You may also order prints if you want at that time and send the gallery link to friends and family. Gallery is posted for 2 weeks. _________________________________ POLKA DOT EXTRAS: There is no limit on outfit changes. This allows for many framing opportunities in casual and formal clothing. Just keep in mind, how many times your little ones will want to change clothes without getting overly cranky. Keepsake items may be incorporated into shots for example; baby blankets, silver rattles, cups, jewelry, christening outfits, etc... Other fun outfit ideas: raincoats/boots/umbrellas, sports uniforms, bathing suits, Easter dresses, the classic Halloween costume, Christmas sweaters, party outfits, and the 'old standby' for the boys...just jeans and a T-shirt. Props: some fun ideas to entertain the kids and to add to cute photograph ideas: lollipops...the big swirly ones, bubbles, big straw hats for the girls, sunglasses, umbrellas, candy canes and Santa hats, fluffy tutus, pumpkins, buckets, big cookies, flowers, baseballs/gloves/bats/hats, red wagons, cowboy boots/hats, fluffy blankets, lacrosse sticks, brightly colored chairs/balls, and for my fellow Scottish friends...kilts. Feel free to bring some fun to the shoot! _________________________________ All Polka Dot Pics are copyrighted and are for personal use only. No commercial reproduction is permissible without written acknowledgement from Polka Dot Portraits. Please feel free to contact me for more information, sample albums, or to chat to a Polka Dot Portraits' customer for feedback.

Contact & Shoot Information

If you would like more information or to book a shoot, please Email me Contact Information: Bonnie Miller b@polkadotportraits.com 703-340-4999 Polka Dot Portraits specializes in Natural Light Photography. Natural light enables clients to be captured through the lens in a comfortable setting without the use of harsh studio ...

Updated: Sep 19, 2008 10:26am PST

Polka Dot Pricing : THE POLKA DOT SHOOT: $400.00 plus 5% VA Sales Tax Includes: up to 6 people ($30.00 per person for groups of 7 or more) 40-80 pics, local travel fee, Hardcover photo book in a mix of color/bw, JPG discs in color/bw, printing web-link, archived negatives disc in Polka Dot Portraits Library, & editing. Extra Photo Books may also be purchased at an additional fee. THE 25 POLKA DOT PIC PACKAGE: $250.00 plus 5% VA Sales Tax Includes: up to 4 people ($30.00 per person for groups of 5 or more), 25 pics, softcover Photo Book, negatives disc, print weblink, archived disc, & editing. Hardcover Photo Book upgrade for $40.00. THE POLKA DOT STUDENT PACKAGE: $50.00 plus VA Sales Tax. Includes: one person; 5 poses. Prints are available for purchase in the online gallery. Disc is available for purchase for $40.00 plus VA Sales Tax and $7.00 shipping. _________________________________ POLKA DOT BABY PACKAGES: There is NO sign up fee/or commitment for the First Year package. Shoots are priced/payable at each scheduled shoot throughout the first year. Extra discs and albums may be purchased. Fees include pics with parents and siblings. Baby shoots can be captured entirely inside near any natural light area. FIRST YEAR 3 PACKAGE: First Year payments are made at each shoot starting at $400.00, then at a 10 & 15% discount system. Includes: newborn, 6 month, & 12 month shoots. All shoots include THE POLKA DOT SHOOT details. FIRST YEAR 5 PACKAGE: First Year payments are made at each shoot starting at $400.00, then at a 10/15/20/25% discount system. Includes: newborn, 3 month, 6 month, 9 month, & 12 month shoots. All shoots include THE POLKA DOT SHOOT details. *** Month time frames can vary for example: 4 month, 8 month, and 12 months. 25 POLKA DOT PIC BABY PACKAGE: $250.00 plus 5% VA sales tax. May be used at any time frame in the baby's First Year. Includes the above details of the 25 Pic Package. If used at the baby's 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 First Year, price is 250.00 per each shoot, no discounts are given. __________________________________ PREGNANCY: $250.00 plus VA Sales Tax Includes THE POLKA DOT SHOOT specs except only 25 pics, not sure you need or want... 100 pics of your belly.... _________________________________ SPORTS TEAMS: $25.00 per player Includes: portrait of each player, 8 Wallets, 4 4x6's, 2 5x7's (one of player/one of team). SPORTS COVERAGE: $150 plus VA Sales Tax for one hour coverage....and any incurring ticket fee to gain access to the event. Includes: Disc with 20 pics. _________________________________ SCHOOLS: $25.00 per student Includes: portrait of each student, 8 wallets, 2 4x6's, 2 5x7's (individual/class). Digital negatives: $35.00 per student. Non-student Sibling fee: $35.00. ***Schools and Sports!!! Price includes a password protected weblink allowing printing options for team/school WITH a percentage of extra printing proceeds being donated back to your school or team. _________________________________ Business Shoots: Please email for pricing _________________________________ RESTORATION and SCANNING: Check in for pricing as it depends on the amount of scanning AND/OR restoration required...I do like to sleep at some point... All photographs are placed immediately in firebox and are scanned to digital disc. You receive digital discs of the scanned photographs. Photographs are posted on an online client gallery allowing purchasing of prints. Local clients may bring photographs to me or send thru insured mail, however....personal handoff is encouraged as I am not responsible for the mail sending your pics to Iceland... _________________________________ POLKA DOT EXTRAS: GIFT CERTIFICATES: Certificates are available in any dollar amount. Polka Dot gift certificates are great for baby shower gifts! A Polka Dot gift certificate package may be sent to the gift recipient or to the purchaser. There is no expiration on certificates. AUCTIONS: Polka Dot Portraits can put together a portrait donation package for your school consisting of a Polka Dot Portraits' gift certificate. YEARBOOKS: Yearbooks are offered in softcover for 35.00 a piece plus VA Sales Tax.

Polka Dot Pricing

THE POLKA DOT SHOOT: $400.00 plus 5% VA Sales Tax Includes: up to 6 people ($30.00 per person for groups of 7 or more) 40-80 pics, local travel fee, Hardcover photo book in a mix of color/bw, JPG discs in color/bw, printing web-link, archived negatives disc in Polka Dot Portraits Library, & editing. Extra Photo Books may also be pu ...

Updated: Apr 18, 2008 10:44am PST

Pick a Polka Dot Location! : Click on the upper right STYLE button to view as: ALL THUMBS. Then scroll over the pictures to see the location and the location websites pop up. Click on the picture, click on the website, and you can view location information. This will give you an insight into the backdrop for many Polka Dot shoots. LOCATIONS: Always up for a new location! The pics below may get your mind thinking of cool venues for cool pics. Remember, Polka Dot Portraits will travel! List of Parks & Marinas along the George Washington Parkway: http://www.nps.gov/gwmp National Arboretum, Washington DC: http://www.usna.usda.gov/ Bishop's Garden: National Cathedral in Washington, DC. http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral/visit/gardens.shtml Meadowlark Gardens: Vienna, VA http://www.nvrpa.org/parks/meadowlark/ Tarara Winery: Leesburg, VA www.tarara.com Gravelly Point: Arlington, VA GW Parkway next to Reagan National Airport. Great Falls Park: Maryland & VA http://www.nps.gov/grfa/ Katzen Center: American University, Washington DC http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/cas/katzen/index.cfm Chesepeake Beach: Maryland www.chesapeake-beach.md.us Manassas National Battlefield Park: Manassas, VA http://www.nps.gov/mana/ Gunston Hall Plantation: Mason Neck, VA http://www.gunstonhall.org/archaeology/discovergarden.html DC Monuments/Parks: Washington DC http://www.thedistrict.com/placestogo/monumentsandmemorials.html Mason Neck State Park: Mason Neck, VA http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/mas.shtml Horse Farms Beaches Lakes: VA lakes list http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/index.asp?type=1 Mountain Resorts: Bryce Mountain, VA http://www.bryceresort.com/ National Harbor: On Potomac River in MD, minutes from DC/VA http://www.nationalharbor.com/ Oatlands Plantation: Leesburg, VA http://www.oatlands.org/ *Don't overlook your backyard or your neighborhood park, many pics featured on this site, have been taken in a client's backyard.

Pick a Polka Dot Location!

Click on the upper right STYLE button to view as: ALL THUMBS. Then scroll over the pictures to see the location and the location websites pop up. Click on the picture, click on the website, and you can view location information. This will give you an insight into the backdrop for many Polka Dot shoots. LOCATIONS: Always up for a ne ...

Updated: Sep 11, 2008 11:36am PST

Photographer: Bonnie Miller : Photographer: Bonnie Miller Bonnie Miller is a member of Professional Photographers of America (www.PPA.com) and Children & Family Photographers of America (www.CFPAMERICA.com). She is also the "You Take FIVE!" 2004's People's Top Pic winner of Hewlett Packard and Project Greenlight's worldwide digital photography contest. Bonnie is a Penn State graduate, former Kindergarten teacher, and mother to two active little boys. Polka Dot Portraits specializes in Natural light photography. Pregnancy shoots may be done in studio. Work has appeared in the Washington Post, Washington Life, The Georgetowner, The Hill Rag, and the DC Parks Guide. Check out the Polka Dot Portraits ad in the monthly issues of Washington Parent magazine. Words from the photographer: Polka Dot Portraits strives to capture a photographic moment that will be treasured for all time. Photographs should enrich the soul, it is Polka Dot Portraits goal to accomplish that. I run this business like I would like to be treated. I can come to you or you can come to me, whatever works best for you, the kids, and the family. I do not charge $50.00 per 5x7, as I think that is insane as we all can print from home or online. I give you your pics on a digital negatives disc because I would want my pics on a disc, and I would want to print where I want, when I want, even at 2 am online, so, this gives you that opportunity. Schools are excluded from this, but you can indeed buy the disc if you wish....just ask. Babies and kids: Maybe its the background in teaching drippy nosed sticky fingered kids, I don't know, but, kid pics, the good pics that I want of my own kids, I can take them of your kids, and you will love them. A bonus...for the criers...No worries of cranky meltdowns, what is a shoot if not for a teary pic here and there??? Also, don't worry about runny noses, I will wipe them. One more tid bit, thank goodness for the computer, because those scratches that show up on picture day, I can paint them away like magic, now maybe not a black eye from a sibling squabble or a flying superman into the corner of the coffee table, but the typical scratch, I can take it all away...no worries! Polka Dot Portraits was started in 2005. Inspiration came from 4 places: 1....my grandmother's long frame of 12 proofs that my grandfather had framed and hung in his office. He thought my grandmother was "just beautiful", she would blush and say "all of those photographs of myself are just ridiculous", but would walk away with a smile. This frame of classic photographs inspired the 6 series of pics you will see on the gallery pages of the "many faces" of people, especially of my squishy 6 month old clients. Sometimes the most imperfect picture...a scrunced up nose, a crooked smile,...is the perfect picture. 2...winning a very cool part of a worldwide contest entered on a whim that was advertised in Time magazine....If that magazine wasn't there that day, I may never have picked up my camera. 3....my wedding photographer was a creepy old guy...enough said. and 4....I couldn't bear the thought of walking into a local chain picture studio with a crying baby having a guy in an absurd hat try and make my normally smiley 12 month old giggle with 5 exhasperated moms waiting behind me tapping their toes. Sometimes, that $14.99 package deal is not worth your time, stress, and mental energy...especially when you have to interrupt naptime to get there. There you have it, inspiration for Polka Dot Portraits. Below you can find me in my office surrounded by my "Photographer's Top Pics" from various shoots over the years; provides great inspiration traveling from one shoot to another. Fun photographer tid bits: member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators(one day, hope to have a childrens book published...one day), was once a licensed Private Investigator, past ski racer and gymnast, manage two boys in ice hockey, avid baseball fan, and own a 120 pound bloodhound:).

Photographer: Bonnie Miller

Photographer: Bonnie Miller Bonnie Miller is a member of Professional Photographers of America (www.PPA.com) and Children & Family Photographers of America (www.CFPAMERICA.com). She is also the "You Take FIVE!" 2004's People's Top Pic winner of Hewlett Packard and Project Greenlight's worldwide digital photography contest. Bonnie is a ...

Updated: Sep 18, 2008 12:16pm PST

Preferred Polka Dot Company PICKS! : PRINT YOUR PHOTOS, DON'T LEAVE THEM IN YOUR CAMERA! Printing needs beyond the Polka Dot Portraits online printer? Head to MPIX. VISIT: www.mpix.com They have speedy delivery, excellent quality, many options for framing and gifts, plus they print on canvas, a superb pick for gifts. User friendly, set up a printing/sharing account by your email, and you are up and running. Don't leave your families pics in the camera, send them to mpix and print away! _________________________________ POLKA DOT KIDS! WHAT TO WEAR FOR A SHOOT???: CHASING FIREFLIES VISIT: www.chasing-fireflies.com Tons of fun photo op clothes. Sparkly shoes, fluffy tutus, cool T's, and funky shoes. BODEN VISIT: www.bodenusa.com Check out the MINI BODEN collection. Full of classic but fun kids clothing. A clothing company based in London, England, founder Johnnie Boden says it best: "Clothes that are as fun to wear as they are to look at." Click over to Boden, where a perfect outfit for a Polka Dot shoot awaits. For my Polka Dot girls...lots of polka dot ensembles to fashion around in! _________________________________ LOOKING FABULOUS! Check out Lorna Basse! MakeUp Artist - Skin Technician - Stylist www.lornabasse.com lorna@lornabasse.com 571.233.1859 (mobile) ________________________________ STATIONARY, CARDS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, & MORE! TINY PRINTS VISIT: www.tinyprints.com "Fresh, Modern Photo Cards, Announcements and Invitations!" Need ideas for sprucing up the average holiday card or feature a photo of your pricelss cookie faced 1 year on this year's birthday invitation, head to Tiny Prints. Another Polka Dot Pick for your birth announcements, holiday cards, and birthday invItes is SWEET PEA INK. A timeless avenue for showing off your most treasured Polka Dot Portrait in a Sweet Pea Ink original! VISIT: www.sweetpeaink.com for Labels & Stickers, Invitations, Return Address Labels, Gift Labels, Tres Petit Tags, Calling Cards, Note Card Sets, Onesie Twosie Cards, Holiday Cards. _________________________________ LOCAL SHOPPING HOT SPOTS! DAISY BABY & mommies too VISIT: http://www.shopdaisybaby.com/ This boutique is an awesome stop! You must exhibit control though, or you will walk out with every Daisy Baby item in hand! "From shabby chic to modern, Daisy Baby takes great pride in their selection of well priced and well made furniture, bedding and accessories. In addition to room decor, Daisy Baby also offers a wonderful selection of gifts and clothes. Whether you are looking for the mom-to-be or the brand-new-bundle, Daisy baby can help you create a beautiful gift." Located in Bethesda, MD st 4924 Del Ray Avenue.

Preferred Polka Dot Company PICKS!

PRINT YOUR PHOTOS, DON'T LEAVE THEM IN YOUR CAMERA! Printing needs beyond the Polka Dot Portraits online printer? Head to MPIX. VISIT: www.mpix.com They have speedy delivery, excellent quality, many options for framing and gifts, plus they print on canvas, a superb pick for gifts. User friendly, set up a printing/sharing accou ...

Updated: Nov 06, 2008 8:15am PST

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