this contest was good…

y’all stepped up.

you donated the cost of a cup of coffee,

your lunch money,

and some of you gave that $50 to get entered

for a pretty rad prize from MZP.

and you know what?

Jen exceeded her goal…

EXCEEDED.

the clinical trial starts soon,

in part due to you amazing people.

thank you, thank you, thank you.

I know I’m late announcing the winner,

and I’m sorry.

It’s been insane around here

to say the least.

But here it is…drumroll please…

Krystle Joyner

(be sure to email me on July 1st to book your session spot…you get first dibs!)

  meet jen. and cooper. and cohen.

when I first started my journey into the world of photography, I was almost immediately introduced to this mama’s amazing talent.  her giving heart.  her clear wantingness to elevate this industry.  I was in awe – she’s as amazing as she seems and more.

and now, she needs our help.  your help.  your friends’ help.  your mom, your sister, your old college roommate.  she needs them all to help.

nine months ago jen was diagnosed with aggressive ovarian cancer.  she had a radical hysterectomy. she endured rounds of chemo…but due to complications from that chemo her numbers are climbing again.

what exactly does that mean?  it means that doctors have said she’s got 12 to 18 months.  that time, hugs, moments, memories, kisses, smiles…everything with her two sweet boys is now on some crazy time table.  BUT, there is this amazing clinical trial with the Mayo Clinic and jen’s in…well, if she can raise the some $63,000 it will take to pay for the trial and the flights back and forth from Oregon.

that money amount sounds HUGE, I know, but really would you put a price tag on extra hugs with your kids? a chance to see them grow into the amazing men you know they’ll be?

so, now that you know about my friend jen,  about why she needs each of you, I know you want to know how to help.  it’s a couple quick clicks to donate on her blog (where you can also read about her journey).  you can give $5, the cost of a Starbucks coffee.  or $20, the cost of a lunch out.  or…if you have $50 you can get your name in the pot to win something AMAZING from MZP.

Here’s the deal, friends.

The prize:  a coveted, happens once-a-year, holiday mini session with all the trimmings (session, ALL the digital files, plus 75 holiday cards) a $1400 value

How to enter: donate $50 to jen’s fund  DONATE HERE then send me an email saying you donated (mz@melissazihlman.com).  that’s it, you’re entered to win!

Bonus entries:  for every additional $50 donated you’ll receive ONE additional entry.  but here’s the amazing one…share this post, and let your friends know when they enter to tell me in their email who sent them – if they mention you, you get ANOTHER entry.  the more entries the better your chance to nab this prize.  awesome, right?

now go help jen.

she deserves every chance to kick cancer’s butt.  to have more moments with cooper & cohen.  to live.

all images copyright Benjamin Edwards Photography used with permission from Jen Thompson

the fine print: this giveaway is in NO way affiliated with Facebook. session will be booked in early July and winner must select from mini session dates provided (Saturdays in Sept or October). sessions take place in either the Dallas/Fort Worth area or Philadelphia.   prize has no cash value and is nonrefundable and nontransferable.  winner will be chosen Wednesday, May 29th and announced Thursday, May 30th.  please play fair…this is about something SO much BIGGER than a mini session. xx

it has been 8 months

since I’ve seen kate.

she was only a few

days old then,

brand new,

and completely surrounded

by love.

kate’s mommy is a

pretty awesome photographer,

and well,

we photographers don’t

get in front of the lens

often enough.

when kate’s mommy

pinned a picture

of a mom & me session

on pinterest,

I just knew

we needed to get together

to do this.

the mother – child bond,

well it is just too special.

it cries out to be documented,

this connection

brings tears to my eyes.

so magical.

back in February,

I held a contest,

remember?

and that winner

was from TN,

a place I’d driven through,

but never really stopped

to get to know.

It is stunning there.

and the session,

well it was pretty amazing.

two kids totally

in love,

and three grandparents

who simply cannot

get enough of

those two kids.

such an honor

to capture

the little moments.

*a little disclaimer…I’m behind on the blog again…trying to get caught up in the next week!!*

Meet Summer.

She’s a photographer too.

Like many other photographers,

she’s never had a family session.

Just her, her husband, and her sweet girls,

all together in one picture.

We totally fixed that

this week.