First Year Revue of Living Angels Calendar

First Year Production

This was the first year of the Living Angels Calendar.  In my opinion I feel it was a total success.  We,  raised $1200 for the children of A Kid Again.  One important fact we sold 350 calendars which will   help to bring awareness to the public about A Kid Again.

I wished we could have raised more funds but with the idea of not relying on the charity to produce funds we had a pre-sale of the calendar which helped to raise the needed funds for the first batch of calendars to be produced.  Within the first two weeks of the pre-sale we sold 250 calendars.  The reason for such low income from sales was due to how we produced the calendars.  We bought small batches instead one large mass production.  A Kid Again tried to get some sponsors for the project but with no available takers it was left up to me to produce the funds.

Any unsold calendars will be given to A Kid Again so they may give them to some of their supporters as a thank you token for their donation.

Here are some statistics from the website that I feel have some important indicators.

The map shows what states visited the website.  As you can see 27 states were active and there were purchases from 10 of those states and the most being from Ohio.

 
This shows the traffic sources plus (not shown) the bounce rate was 37% and the average time on the site was 3:39 with 484 visitors and 1,339 page views.  Stats were gathered from 08/17/2011 to 12/25/2011.
For a first run calendar these are great and gives some insight as to how many people were interested in what we had to offer.
Note: Bounce rate is the percentage of the people who did not spend any time on the site after they viewed the home page.

 The Next Version

Now is the time to decide how to move on to the next version.  I have asked on Facebook and also produced an questioner on the calendar website, which is totally anonymous,  to find out if we should continue with the calendar.  To my surprise only 6 people responded and (5) saying "Yes" and (1) Saying "No".  What does this mean do people feel it was not worth it or they stay away from polls so they will not hurt someones feelings.

I would like to produce another version but I am also indecisive on the basis that no one wants to say yes or no to the calendar.
I am asking a lot of people involved with the calendar about what type of images we should produce.  No decisions have been made but hope to have a decisive direction for next years version within the next month.

If you could take the time to cast a Yes or No vote it would be helpful.   Go to www.livingangelscalendar.com and you will find the poll on the home page.  Thank you!!

Living Angels Calendar A News Story

 View Video Click HERE

I am honored to have been nominated for the ABC 6 News special On Your Side Community Champions.  A tribute to people in the community who make a difference.

Bob Kendrick news anchor for ABC 6 came to the studio to do an interview with me and two of the angels in the calendar.  He then came to my home to watch me work on the images as I turned the children into angels.  Bob has put together a very touching informative piece which has touched many people.

A special thank you to Bob for doing this segment.  I hope the segment helps with the calendar sales and brings funds for the children to enjoy their adventures but to bring awareness to the public as to what A Kid Again does for children with a life threatening illness and their families.

Family Video Stores

I am pleased to announce Family Video stores will now be selling the Living Angels Calendar.

Starting September 25th Family Video Stores in Columbus, Marysville and Newark will be selling the Living Angels Calendar.  They will give you a free video rental on selected videos when you purchase your copy of the calendar.

Here are the store locations:

Columbus OH 5540 N. HIGH ST 43214 614-841-1771 

Columbus OH 5304 N. HAMILTON RD 43230 614-855-5489

 Marysville OH 332 W 5TH ST 43040 937-644-2749

Newark OH 225 NORTH 21st ST. 43055 740-344-1877

Whitehall OH 3768 E. MAIN ST 43213 614-338-1439

Galloway OH 5370 SULLIVANT AVE 43119 614-853-4970

All proceeds from the calendar sales goes to A Kid Again to help children with a life threatening illness to be.... A Kid Again!

Grove City Arts in the Alley

The Living Angels calendar will be for sale at the Grove City Arts in the Alley Saturday and Sunday September 17-18th.  Hours are Saturday 10:00 am to 8:00 pm and Sunday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. 
Our booth 109 will be located on Park St. next to City Hall.

Prices for the calendars are 1- $17.00  or 2 or more $15.00.  Sales tax is included!  All proceeds from the calendar sales are donated to A Kid Again.  www.akidagain.org

Now here is the cool part!! 

Purchase one Living Angels Calendar and receive a coupon for 50% off all portrait pricing until October 31, 2011.  I do not charge a session fee for any of my portrait work.  You just purchase the prints you need.  

This includes High School Seniors, Family Portraits, Individual Portraits, Children, In Studio or Outdoor Portraits and our new line of Esprit Portraits.

Stop by and say hello and see samples of my portrait work and get more information about our services.

 

Zane - The Warrior Angel

Zane as a warrior angel for the calendar.

On September 2, 2011, before an interview with a news reporter from a local TV station I listened to a story Zane’s mother told me.  She asked “ Do you know how the idea of Zane being a warrior angel started?”  “No, please tell me” I said.

She explained that her and Zane had met a little girl named Kennedy and her mother on one of the elevators at Nationwide Childrens Hospital.
Ever since then the two families became friends.  Zane and Kennedy became rather close since they were both going for treatments at the Cath Lab.
One day Zane showed his mother a piece of art he had done in school.  Zane had cut pieces of white paper and taped them to another large piece of green paper.  He had drawn a face and armor on the body.  He also cut out wings and placed them on the back of the person holding a ball and chain.
Mom asked “What is it Zane what does it mean?”  Zane replied “It’s an angel mom a warrior angel to protect Kennedy!”  The mom always takes photographs of Zane’s work so she got her cell phone out and snapped away.  See Zane's art at the bottom of this post.
She showed me the photograph of the warrior angel and my heart began to pound.  “That is so amazing” I replied.  I asked Zane “I cannot believe this, when did you do this Zane?” He and his mom could not remember the actual date but they both said it must have been in January of this year or somewhere close to that.

In July 2011 I asked Zane’s mom if she would like to participate with the “Living Angels” calendar.  She responded with a big “Yes!”  We set a time for July 19th in the evening to photograph Zane for the calendar.
Just before I started to snap the shutter I asked Zane if he wanted to be a nice looking angel or would you rather be a tough protecting angel with a sword or spear.  He hesitated and said “A nice angel.” But then he suddenly changed his mind and said “A protecting angel!”
Without knowing the story of the piece of art I then photographed him with a spear and gave him the caption “How great the dignity of the soul, since each one has from his birth an angel commissioned to guard it”  - Saint Jerome

The main reason I am writing about this story is because ever since I started to take the images for the calendar there has been a higher force within me.  God!  The Lord has brought to me the people to be my angels and has shown me all the quotes to use with their images.  He has directed me where to go to obtain the calendar cover photograph.

Today I have to just thank Our God for allowing me to show to his people that there are truly angels in this world.  Angels to help each of us whether it be for prayer, a loving touch or just being a friend to help protect another soul.

Zane is a true warrior angel and has survived his life threatening illness to be able to be the protector to his dear friend, Kennedy.

Zane's art of his Warrior Angel

Revision to the Living Angels Calendar Website

I have received some information from clients purchasing the calendar saying it was too confusing to order the calendar and I agree totally!

With a little bit of research and seeing another friend using Weebly.com for her website I decided to make a website dedicated to the Living Angels.

All the information you need about the calendar is now located in one easy to use website.

Order Your Calendar Here

You can read about A Kid Again, Mark Williams and see all of the calendar pages.  You can order from the site too.  It will take you to the original ordering site.  There you will only see the front cover for the calendar.  After you hit continue on the landing page just select the cover and purchase image then input you information.  If you get confused there are instructions on the new website to step you through the process

If you use the old website address it will still take you to the ordering site and you will only see the calendar front cover.  You can still order from that site.

I hope this helps with the ordering and viewing of the total calendar.

If you have any further problems or comments please feel free to contact me!

Thank you,

Mark Williams

Living Angels Calendar Pre-Launch Sale Event

 

The fine art calendar "Living Angels" is about to be published and we want you to save by purchasing calendars before the launch date of September 1, 2010.

The calendars will benefit A Kid Again a nonprofit 501(c) (3) charity.
For 15 years A Kid Again has enriched the lives of children with a life threatening illness and their families with fun filled activities and destinations though out the year.

On August 15th the website will be open to order your calendar(s). Order as many as you like with reduced prices $3 or $5 off from the regular price of $20 (Ohio Sales Tax included).

Order Your Calendar Here

Major credit cards/debit cards will be accepted (Visa, MC and Discover). Paying by check is accepted but orders will not be shipped until we receive your check and cleared your bank.

Calendars will be shrink wrapped and mailed in boxes . There will be a small shipping charge for this service.

Please feel free to invite your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to this event. This will be a win-win event for you and the children of A Kid Again.

Thank you for helping these children with a life threatening illness and their families to be ...... A Kid Again!

For more information about A Kid Again please go to:

www.akidagain.org

or call them
Toll Free: 800-543-9735
Phone: 614-797-9500
Fax: 614-797-9600

Copyright © Mark Williams Photography 2011 All Rights Reserved.

Mark Williams Photography
4140 Tuller Rd Suite 101
Dublin, Ohio 43017
614-832-6448
www.markwilliamsphotograph​y.net

Miracles and Magic Show

 The Best Miracles and Magic Show

On March 12, 2011 Columbus witnessed some of the BEST magic at the Capital Theater in the Riffe Center.

Shawn Farquhar, Jon Petz and Kalin and Jinger were the magicians for the show.

The Las Vegas magic/comedy show raises funds for the charity A Kid Again based in Columbus, Ohio.
434 A Kid Again family members attended the show at no charge.

Sorry If You Missed It!

 THE BEST PARTY COLUMBUS, OHIO HAS EVER HAD

Sorry if you wanted to go to the BEST party Columbus has ever had but had other plans or if you didn't want to go at all..... well you missed out on some of the best magic, food and entertainment and I have the proof right here.

400 people enjoyed the Miracles and Magic Opening Night Party Friday March 11, 2011 at the LC Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio.  An on stage magic show was performed by "Grand Prix World Champion of Magic" Shawn Farquhar from Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada, with Jon Petz, Aaron DeLong, Michael Dustman, Michael Kent, Steve Branham, Bill Gladwell, David McCreary and Mark Zust doing magic at the guests tables.

Music entertainment provided by 4 The Record from Marion Ohio, Specialty drinks for auction were made by Flair Bartender Rob Turek and Aerialist performed high act maneuvers on draping fabric. 

Aerialist perform maneuvers from draped cloth.

4 The Record provided music entertainment.

4 The Record

Rob Turek mixes a specialty drink that was auctioned off.

Shawn Farquhar makes a coin pop through a guest shirt.

Jon Petz

Michael Dustman

Mark Zust

Bill Gladwell

Michael Kent

Aaron DeLong

Guest amazed at the bending of the fork magic trick.

David McCreary

Miracles and Magic This Saturday March 12th at the Riffe Center

I cannot say enough about Miracles and Magic the best comedy/magic show in the Midwest.

This is where I started my journey with the charity A Kid Again.  Jon Petz sent me an email telling me I could get discount tickets if I called CAPA direct.  After seeing the show I knew I had to do something for the charity.

Jon Petz founder of Miracles and Magic.

This will be my third year photographing the show and every year it keeps getting better.  Considering how much it has grown since Jon and his wife Stacey sold tickets out of their kitchen and the show was held at a local high school theater.
Today the show is held at the Riffe Center in the Captial Theater and hopefully this year will be a sell out.
Top name magicians from around the country have been performing to help raise funds for the charity.
This year Jon hopes to top the $1,000,000 mark of funds raised since the inception of the show. Every show ends with a special effect called "Snow".  Jon brings a child onto the stage with him and together they produce snow that falls from the stage ceiling and then entire theater has snow falling around the crowd.
 This part of the show was the clincher for me to get in contact with Jon and offer my professional services to the charity.
The show is also performed in Cincinnati and Dayton and hopefully will be in Cleveland within the next year or two.  You may purchase tickets by calling the CAPA office directly 614-469-0939 (M-F) or going to www.miraclesandmagic.com.  The show is geared around all age groups so the children will have just as much fun as the adults.  Be prepared to laugh and to see some amazing magic.
For the adults who want to have a great evening out on the town with great magic, specialty drinks and all out enjoyable evening plan to attend the Opening Night Party.  The LC Pavilion will be the host this year with a large stage for magic performances and some other surprises.  You may purchase tickets by visiting www.miraclesandmagic.com .

Jon and Avalon magically produce snow.

Children come on stage to play in the snow.

Celebration Party for Poet and Author Angie Sayers

Photographs taken at the Celebration Party for Angie Sayers

Saturday March 26, 2011 the parents of Angie Sayers hosted a celebration party for the publication of "Illuminations".  

Family members and close friends were the guest who attended the party.  Angie was autographing books for those who received their copy.

Icing Smiles provided a beautiful cake (have to get the name of the baker) for the party.  It was gorgeous and tasted wonderful.

Here are the photographs I took of the party and guests.  These will be posted on facebook as well.

I want to say Thank You to the Sayers and Angie for allowing me to be the designer of the book.  Plus a great big thanks to A Kid Again for asking me to design the book.