Michelle Ridner Photography

11/17/2024

A little update!

Here is what is remaining for 2024/2025 🎄

2024 Santa Session - Donation Event
https://book.usesession.com/s/CgPwTvE6Z

2024 Full Santa Sessions
https://book.usesession.com/s/9VIk3Zvan

2024 Christmas Family Session
https://book.usesession.com/s/_9Z_DuX_h4

2025 Christmas Family Session - Coat Drive
https://book.usesession.com/s/-YGDKFGZ_

2025 Full Santa Sessions (Last chance to get them at this price)
https://book.usesession.com/s/ejmh4EB6O

2025 Spring Family Session - Diaper Drive
https://book.usesession.com/s/cPIM8fcxB

My FINAL Full In Person Photography Workshop
https://book.usesession.com/s/888LQw-N2i

I also had 3 mommas upgrade their newborn sessions which left 3 Petite Newborn spots previously booked for 2025. So if you are expecting and want one of these 3 I would RUN and grab ones of these since I am no longer booking and these are only available because the mommas upgraded.
http://www.michelleridnerphotography.com/store/p183/Petite_Newborn_Session.html

11/11/2024

I had an insane demand for more spots for these Christmas Family Sessions so I am opening a few final spots. These will be it for the year. They sold out within hours last time so be sure to jump on quick to claim yours.

If you’d like to trade out your unexpired previously purchased basic, premium or extended family for one message me for a code.

Private 10 minute time slots.
You will be able to choose one or both setups for your session!
35 High Resolution Images delivered in 2-3 days

Link to schedule:
https://book.usesession.com/s/hS_LZKBT-e

PLEASE PLEASE read the previous post for details before emailing or booking. I had about 30 people email me questions I already answered in the previous post last time. This is not an eligible trade for anything except those listed above. It is trade for trade meaning the time doesn’t get extended if you have a session that’s longer, etc. Since this setup I incur cost for the setup/studio rental and regular sessions do not include sets.. etc.. it is trade spot for spot. ❤️

11/08/2024

Hi Sweet Friends!

I have something very special for you all.
So quickly tag ALL YOUR PEOPLE!

Two of your absolutely favorite photographs

Coral with https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063625091094

And Perla with https://www.facebook.com/BellaLunaPhotographs

are partnering with me for something SUPER SPECIAL! If you have not booked your Family Christmas Photos for this year! This is SO PERFECT! And I have two great options so you can have a longer private session OR shorter semi private session.

ALSO! If you have a Basic Session, Premium Session or Extended Family Session you purchased this year on sale or regular price that is not expired and would like to exchange it for a full private Christmas session please send me an email WITH your order number to [email protected] and I will send you a code.

PLEASE do not send emails asking to exchange other sessions/credits/etc. This is a courtesy I am making ONLY for those who have purchased those listed above since I have closed my business and closed bookings and would like to be sure to get families with prepaid items shot. It would be an even exchange. No additional time/funds would be added or taken away. If you send an email asking something that has already been answered or requesting anything additional I will not respond so please read thoroughly to help cut through that.

Side Note: And I promise I mean all of this with the MOST love and kindness. I am just trying to make this transition the absolute easiest all the way around and be fair.

If you previously purchased a session .. those are STILL being scheduled/shot. I have posted it many times but still get so many questions. Yes, I am closing my business. And yes I closed the website last month so no one was able to make any additional purchases. Which means the only sessions I will be shooting in 2025 are sessions that have already been purchased. Refunds are not an option for previously purchased sessions as I have not made any changes to any booking procedures, etc. You will email me on or after December 1st to schedule. You have all the way up until your session expires to schedule. Sessions have and will still expire one year after the purchase date as stated on the website and booking information. With the exception of Any Age/Milestone session OR unless I have directly told you it is extended.
The Christmas Family Sessions will be shot by Coral and Perla! Both trained under me for several years and are INCREDIBLE! And then I will fully edit your images and deliver!

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF!

Christmas Family Session Option One:
(This is the one you can exchange your previously purchased Basic, Premium OR Extended Family Session for!)

Saturday, December 7th
Private 10 minute time slots.
You will be able to choose one or both setups for your session!
35 High Resolution Images delivered in 2-3 days

Link to schedule:
https://book.usesession.com/s/hS_LZKBT-e

Christmas Family Session Option Two:

Sunday, December 8th
Semi-private 3-5 minute session
One setup of your choice
20 High Resolution Images delivered in 2-3 days

100% profit for these will go to Coronado Heights Elementary where staff will purchase food for children to take home on holiday breaks as many kids rely heavily on school breakfast/lunch as their main meals.

Link to schedule:
https://book.usesession.com/s/_9Z_DuX_h4

10/26/2024

Saturday, January 11th I will be hosting my last ever photography class. TAG YOUR FRIENDS!! Spots are going to be GONE fast!

ONLY $75 for the first 10 people who book! Then price will go up to $99!

You do not want to miss this class.
If you are a beginner, amateur or seasoned shooter this class will be a GAME CHANGER for you.

This class is going to be my most comprehensive class I have ever offered!

Breakfast AND lunch will be provided!

You will learn all the ins and outs of your camera and how to shoot professionally! We will be hands on learning all the ins and outs of editing. We will have a family modeling for hands on shooting/learning. We will be learning outdoor and indoor lighting systems. We are going to go over marketing, social media, website design and customer service.

Truly ALL THE THINGS!

If you are ready to dive into the world of photography THIS is the BEST time to do it! And THE CLASS you want! Whether you just want to take professional photos of your littles, family events, vacations.. OR you want a 6 figure photography career! I am ready to teach you how!

SPOTS ARE VERY LIMITED FOR THIS CLASS SINCE IT IS SUCH A COMPREHENSIVE CLASS! So spots will go fast. So click now to grab your seat!

https://book.usesession.com/s/888LQw-N2i

10/17/2024

Hey sweet friends..
I have a bunch of fav photos of some of your littles on smallwoods stored I had in a previous studio space of mine! I am clearing out my garage and want to make sure these fall into the hands of their mommas. If your little one is in here and you’d like the Smallwood print (free of course) dm me so I can send you pickup info ❤️❤️❤️❤️

10/07/2024

Hi Everyone,

I sent emails a few weeks ago to everyone that is scheduled in October and November that I will unfortunately need to cancel our session. If you did not receive it please check spam.

$24 Flash Sessions, Youpick, Newborns are exempt from this.

For anyone who requested a refund and have not received it yet please note they will process within 1-2 weeks. Weebly has a daily/weekly limit.

Thank you everyone.

If you do not have a session scheduled October/November please disregard as this only effects those schedule for October/November.

10/04/2024

Hi Sweet Friends, thank you a million times for the sweet and kind words yesterday. You have no earthly idea how much I needed it.

I have received lots of emails about these two events and am able to finally share them below.

If you read my initial email you know that I am fully stepping away from my business. The only events I will still host annually will be the Christmas Coat Drive and Spring Diaper Donation Drive. These are near and dear to my heart and provide HUNDREDS of littles with much needed coats and diapers year after year.

Here are the links for 2025.
This is exclusive to those who are previous clients.

The spots will be first come first serve each year and will get claimed quickly so please make sure to get on and reserve your spot as early as possible. I will attach some past photos of setups we have done. These are so much fun and you get the absolute BEST Christmas and Sprint family photos while blessing these sweet babies. You can purchase multiple slots if you want more time but you must bring a coat or package of diapers per slot.

2025 Christmas Coat Drive
https://book.usesession.com/s/-YGDKFGZ_

2025 Spring Diaper Donation Drive
https://book.usesession.com/s/cPIM8fcxB

09/30/2024

Hi sweet friends,

Reminder my website will be permanently closing at midnight tonight.

If there is absolutely any session you would like me to capture before I am closed permanently you’ll need to be sure to go on the site now and get it.

http://www.michelleridnerphotography.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

I’ll open my books starting December 1st for anyone who has a prepaid session to get scheduled in 2025. My schedule will be pretty open and available since I will no longer be booking I will have lots of flexibility. If you purchase a newborn you’ll contact me when baby arrives.

I will shoot out anything prepaid until November 30th 2026.

Please also be sure to screenshot any information needed. Once the site is deactivated it can no longer be accessed publicly.

I will be taking the next few months to work on my health and sort through emails and messages and get everyone squared away for the upcoming year.

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR AN AMAZING 13 YEARS! I hope to see many of you one final time before I close. But if I don’t know how greatly I’ve appreciated you all! ❤️

** EDIT TO ADD**
Anything not addressed above will be as scheduled. Please read through all previous posts/information before sending emails. If any changes happen to your scheduled sessions you’ll receive a personal email. ❤️

09/27/2024

09/25/2024

I am so sorry I haven’t been able to respond to all the emails and messages. I’ve received well over 700 since Monday. I promise to work through them all this week.

I have had a majority of them asking about Lupus and appreciate all the love, prayers and advice concerning it. I am such a private person when it comes to my health. Primarily because I don’t accept compassion well. I love to be the helper and care giver and not on the receiving end. So it’s been a struggle opening this door.

I wanted to shed some light on what this disease is. Because I feel it’s rarely talked about and for so many reasons. As someone who’s struggled with it for much of my life it’s truly an illness that’s indescribable to anyone who doesn’t have it.

It presents itself in so many different ways at different times. You’ll be in remission for months and have sudden flare ups out of no where.

It affects different people in different ways. I began having ongoing fevers and recurrent health issues at a young age. And since have had multiple surgeries due to ongoing infections my body can’t overcome from bladder surgeries, LEAP procedure, emergency gallbladder surgery and partial liver removal, tonsillectomy, an emergency c section to deliver my twins at 25 weeks… and many other procedures for different things from blood clots to ruptured cysts, and on and on. But I’ve never had flare ups to the magnitude I have this Summer. Typical flare ups for me consist of ongoing fevers, headaches, rashes, fatigue and elevated blood pressure causing nose bleeds a lot of the time.

Recently I’ve been dealing with these as well as mouth sores, busted blood vessels in my toes, severe wrist pain and numerous other issues. If I spend more than a few hours in the sun I’ll be covered in rashes and sores for days.

Sadly there’s no treatment for Lupus.
Hydroxychloroquine was a great help to me but unfortunately it began to deteriorate my eye sight to the point the cost outweighed the benefit.

Steroids are also very beneficial but again the effects are very hard on my body. Spikes in blood pressure, spikes in glucose, and my body covered in bruises. I also take anxiety medicine as stress is a major contributor to flare ups. But am maxed out on the amount I am able to take. And still at times double up on it.

During flare ups you feel literally immobile. The best way to describe it is how your body feels with the flu. There’s been times I physically couldn’t pull myself out of bed. As hard as I tried. And mentally it is torture. My mind doesn’t work. I am constantly forgetting things or mixing things up. It’s so so hard. Especially if your a go go go person like I am.

We are now in the process of testing one of our twins for pediatric lupus as this summer she has unfortunately dealt with sun induced headaches, fever, rashes and other abnormal and strange test results. Autoimmune diseases are just so hard to get answers for, test for and get help for. And mentally even trying new things to see if it helps is draining and finding the energy to start the journey of new diets, medicines, procedures is overwhelming to say the least.

But I’m praying God has opened the door for me to have that time. And the amount of love and support you all have shared truly has been the greatest blessing. I love you all.

09/23/2024

I have written and rewrote this time and time again.

There is absolutely no way to express the love, joy and thankfulness I have for so many of you. I have always said and will always say I have gotten to work for the most incredible families in the world. And I have enjoyed and loved all those incredible moments you have blessed me with.

But... God impressed so deeply on my heart this past year a path he wants for my life... and the more I have been pushing it to the wayside the more I see the effects of that disobedience in my life and along with it have some some very difficult family/personal situations that unfortunately I cannot go into. Sometimes what we want for ourselves and what God wants for our life are two different things and that can be such a hard thing. This business has been such apart of me for the past 13 years. I have watched so many of your children grow up from babies to now teens. I could dive into a full novel of where my heart and mind are right now, but I know all of you that know me it all goes without being said.

It is time for me to step away from the photography business. It is time I give my full attention and energy to my 3 little girls at home and homeschooling them, my husband and my health. I have struggled to balance it all and have failed. I have tried to set boundaries but owning a business there never will be. It is a full time 24/7 job. And I am unable to pour myself fully into both things. God has confirmed time and time again this is the path he wants for me... and I have been so stubborn to comply. Because I truly love so much what I do.

Unfortunately, this Summer my health has really suffered. Some of you may know but a majority don’t that I suffer from Lupus and have since I was young. Sadly, the past several months I have dealt with extreme flare ups and major health issues related to this. It has taken a huge toll on me and my family. It is time I made this choice. Which is truly one of the hardest I have probably ever had in my life. And I pray you all know just how thankful I am to have been able to capture so many special moments in your lives and how much I love you all!

Now to answer the questions I know many of you will have.

PREPAID SESSIONS:
I will still of course be shooting any prepaid session that have not expired.
My 2024 schedule is closed for the year (besides pre-purchased newborn sessions)
If you have a pre purchased session that has not expired, you will send me an email on
December 1st 2024 and I will send you options of sessions dates/times.

EXISTING GALLEIRES:
Your existing galleries will stay uploaded to pixieset until June 2026. You will have plenty of time to download/save all your past galleries. I will of course still have backups stored on my external hardrives in case you need them any time in the future.

GIFT CERTIFICATES/CREDITS/ETC
If you have pre-existing gift certificates/credits/etc you will need to use them prior to October 1st. On October 1st I will be closing the website, and no further sessions may be purchased. You will then email me December 1st and I will get you scheduled for your session for 2025.

REFERRALS:
I do have a list of referrals for newborn/family/maternity photographers that I trust and I strongly recommend and would love to pass along their information to anyone who would like it. Just send me a message and I can send that over.

FUTURE SESSIONS:
I will be closing the website on October 1st. If you would like one final family session with me, newborn session, first birthday, etc you will have until October 1st to purchase it and you will be able to email me December 1st and I can schedule that for you for 2025.

SANTA KELLY SESSIONS:
I will still be hosting my annual Santa Kelly Sessions. These are very special to me and I know a tradition for so many of you. I will be sending out personal emails only to those who have shot Santa Sessions with me in the past to schedule those year after year. Those emails will go out this evening and spots will be FCFS

DONATION EVENTS:
I will also still host my two annual donation events. My Diaper Donation Drive and Christmas Coat Drive. These too will be emailed out only to those who have done them in the past with a link to schedule. Those emails will go out this evening and spots will be FCFS

If you have any other questions, please comment below and I would love to answer it for you.

I would also absolutely LOVE for you all to share any memories/photos below with me from the past 13 years. It would mean the world.

Again, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! I LOVE YOU ALL!!

09/22/2024

Huge HUGE bittersweet announcement coming tomorrow friends!! 🫶

Drop a comment below so be alerted.