From the Haugen Heart

The winner of our first online giveaway is... Kristina ! Thank you to everyone who entered, it's been so much fun catching up with you. Make sure to check in often, we'll be having more giveaways. And until then, keep in touch! Congratulations Kristina!

Want to know what we are giving away? A FREE portrait session during our Family Christmas Card Event , 25 customized HOLIDAY CARDS and a fun HOLIDAY BASKET . Here's how it works... 1) Leave a comment here or email us and you'll be entered in the drawing. 2)Join our Myspace or Facebook page and receive FIVE more entries. 3)Leave us comments on our blog, Facebook or Myspace and receive ONE entry per comment. Leave as many as you want, we LOVE comments! 4)Blog about our contest and get 20 entries! Just make sure to include a link to our homepage, http://www.haugensgalleri.com/ , then email us with a link to your blog or website to verify. 5)Add our blog to your blog sidebar and earn 50 entries 6)Sign up for our Family Christmas Card Event BEFORE October 22nd and get 100 entries!!! The drawing will be held Wednesday, October 22nd. We'll post our winner. Good luck! Haugen's Family Christmas Card event is taking place on Saturday, November 1st. Click here for more info...

all of the great athletes we've had visit our studio this year!! McKenzie Joseph Leigh Anne Taylor Taylor Trent Molly Avery Joey Sarah Jaimie Ashlyn I had so much fun getting to know and photograph all of these seniors! You can catch them all in action this year as the compete in their last year of high school athletics! Good luck to you all!

I have always wanted to work on a Habitat for Humanity house and finally got my chance August 9. Habitat for Humanity is one of my favorite charities and got the idea that I could celebrate my birthday (August 1) by giving back to the community. Neil wants to do it with me next time (His birthday is August 12). I spent the morning installing windows in a two story, two family home in south Salem that will become home to the Flores family. I loved doing something very tangible to help a family improve their lives.

I wrote something about Jed Lowrie last year and realized I was long overdue for an update. Jed is a Salem native, now playing for the Boston Red Sox . This is a portrait I did of him and his family when he was 10. The Red Sox placed shortstop, Julio Lugo, on the disabled list in July and called up Jed from Pawtucket (AAA). He has a .260 batting average, 2 home runs and 44 RBI’s for the Red Sox.

I have a new camera phone! I never thought I would want one until I realized that I could post, “See what I’m doing now!” photos on the blog so much more easily. It is really fun! This was taken on a hike up Paulina Peak in Central Oregon on Labor Day weekend. We live in a beautiful state!

We met Lisa Cowan of Sweetwater Entertainment at Scott and Katie’s wedding in August. She provided music for walking in and exiting for their outdoor wedding ceremony and did a great job as DJ for the reception. A good DJ makes our job as photographers, so much easier! Thank you, Lisa! Click HERE to check out all Sweetwater Entertainment has to offer!