Take A selfie in the Lori Grice Fair Booth to Win a Portrait
Fair week always brings cooler weather and the first glimpse of fall to Bulloch County annually. It is also one of Lori Grice’s favorite weeks of the year. “Life is about creating memories and few things in Bulloch County bring family and friends together for special memories than the fair”, said Lori. “Going to the fair with my grandparents, Harold and Edith Hutchison, was an annual tradition and includes one of my most cherished memories. I still wear a hand carved dog necklace that Granddaddy Hutchison purchased for me when I was seven at the fair. Even though he is no longer here to enjoy the fair with me, this special memory lives on.” Another tradition Lori began nearly three decades ago is her annual fair booth, which allows her to share beautiful portraits her clients have commissioned her to create throughout the year. One of the families Lori selected to feature this year is the Hugh and Jeanne Anne Marsh family. “The only gift I have ever asked my family for is a family portrait. There is nothing I treasure more than my family and I want everyone who enters my home to know where my heart is,” said Jeanne Anne. “For Christmas, they surprised me with a gift certificate for Lori Grice to create the portrait I have dreamed of for so long. I began meeting with Lori to start the process. She is so creative and helped make every step of the process easy.” Lori works with each client to design portraits that match the décor of their home and tell the wonderful story every family has to share. This commission was no different. “I have known and admired this wonderful family for years. This family has made so many contributions to our community for generations. It is in important legacy and story that needs to be shared”, said Lori. “They selected Salt Crest Cottage for the setting of the portrait. It was the location where the Marsh’s son Keith married his wife Ryan. With the location in mind, we worked with them on finding the perfect clothing and choosing a date where they all could come together.” The Marsh family has owned property on Colonels Island for years so that added to the sentimentality of the portrait. Once the portrait session was complete, Lori reviewed the body of work with Jeanne Marsh and suggested a grouping of portraits to capture each family individually, the grandchildren and the family as a group. Lori selected the perfect frame molding to match the portraits and their home. Once finished, Lori and her team will deliver and hang the portraits. “I cried when I saw how beautiful they are and I cried again when Lori asked me to include them in her fair booth”, said Jeanne Anne. “They are perfect. Even better than I ever imagined they could be.” If you are looking for the perfect gift for your wife, mom or grandmother, there is no gift they will cherish more than a Lori Grice Portrait. Gift certificates are available for Christmas, Baby Shower and Birthday gifts. Lori also has a limited number of portrait sessions available before Christmas, including Thanksgiving week which is a perfect time to commission Lori to create a portrait while everyone is “Home for...
read moreEdie Grace’s First Day of School – 11th Grade SHS
Edie Grace’s first day of school this year was the first time in her life that I did not drive her to school. She is in 11th grade at SHS which makes her a Junior in High School. Oh My, where is time going. She has discovered the new found independence of being 16 and having a car and a driver’s license. We did continue our tradition of having our first day of school snapshot taken together. Thanks to having a mom that has spent her career preserving precious memories for others encouraging us to at the very least take a quick snapshot, we now have a pretty awesome collection of first day images. These document her growth and maturity and my grey hair and aging. Edie Grace has an exciting year ahead. Thanks to Georgia’s wonderful “Move On When Ready” (MOWR) program she is dual enrolled at SHS and GSU. She is looking forward to serving as a student ambassador for SHS and being a member of the Youth Leadership Bulloch program. She is also a working girl, starting a job at CRI (the “RAC”) on the GSU campus. We are most proud of her “can do” spirit, graceful attitude and giving heart. Every day with Edie Grace is a wonderful blessing for me and Lori. It is a journey that never stops surprising us, thrilling us and showing us the power of unconditional love. We tell her everday that simply “showing up” is a big key to success. She certainly shows up every day with a passion and vigor to change the world. Hopefully, this spirit will continue to carry her through this year and for the rest of her life. We hope this school year proves to be another great year for your children and your family. Life is a precious gift. Enjoy every moment of it and celebrate with your children every opportunity you can. ...
read moreLori Grice Salutes the Class of 2017 Seniors
Lori salutes the class of 2017 seniors and wish them well as they enter the next stage of their life. “It is a great honor to be selected by a senior to share this important story. Every senior I photograph is special and it is such a joy to work with them,” said Lori Grice. Lori Grice is known for capturing life’s milestones artistically for her clients. She focuses on five monumental moments in life that require an investment in professional photography that will be timeless. One of those important moments is High School Senior Portraits. Senior portraits are some of Lori’s favorite portraits to create. They allow her to tell an important story in your senior’s life. “This is often the last chance to tell the individual story for your child.” “Typically, the next season in life to be photographed professionally will be their wedding. That is an entirely different story to be shared photographically,” said Lori Grice, Master Photographer, Lori Grice Photography. “I choose to photograph a limited number of high school seniors. This allows me to get to know them and spend the time necessary to learn who they are, what their ambitions are and what is important to them in this season of life. It is a time to reflect and celebrate.” Rising 2018 Seniors Now is also the time for rising 2018 seniors who are interested in commissioning Lori to reserve your spot. Lori limits the total number of seniors she photographs by school. This allows her work to remain fresh and ensures each senior will have senior portraits that are as unique as they are. Senior portrait commissions begin at $500 and include a design consultation, the session and a credit toward your portrait purchases. Email Lori at info@lorigrice.com or call 912-764-7274 to reserve your spot. View Lori’s work at www.facebook.com/lori.grice.photo or her website at www.LoriGrice.com...
read moreHurricane Matthew Prayer by Rev. Jan Durham – Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church
This past Sunday we attended services at Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church in Savannah. The service was opened with this wonderfully, beautiful prayer by Reverend Jan Durham. After an amazing few weeks of witnessing our communities come together in unimaginable ways, doing extraordinary work, unselfishly giving to others, we have wondered how this important and amazing work can continue. Matthew exposed us to the daily struggles of the “least of these” and for many of us we were reduced to these struggles ourselves. We were helpless but not hopeless. We witnessed the greatness of others at a time when our county is struggling with goodness and hope. It was refreshing, enlightening and empowering. Take a moment and read this prayer and contemplate where we go from here. Through this prayer I hope you will recognize your role and heed God’s call for you and each of us as we now focus on moving our communities forward: “Gracious God, we come to Your house this morning a bit battered and blown and in need of Your nurturing care. For a while we were shaken from our lives of complacency and came head to head with the powerful forces of nature. We scrambled for food and emergency supplies and prepared to “shelter in place.” Many times, we encountered long lines and shortages while a capricious hurricane meandered along the coast. We reluctantly surrendered a little of our prized control of our lives to weather forecasters, government agencies, law enforcement officers, and ultimately most of us followed orders and joined the caravan of evacuees headed inland as we sought shelter with families, friends, whatever hotels would accept our animals. For a while, we were dependent on the preparation and often generosity of others. For a while, we knew the bitter taste of shortages, homelessness, dependence, fear. For a limited while, we faced conditions millions of Your people face every day. Lord, as we begin to recover from Matthew’s fury, let us not forget how we felt during those days. Remind us as we enjoy a steaming shower, a morning cup of hot coffee, a satisfying meal. Remind us as we watch the hordes of faceless refugees fleeing their homes to face an uncertain future May we see them as Your beloved children with uncertainties and fears and remember our own. God of love and grace, forgive us when we are arrogant or self-centered. Make us truly grateful for the privileges we take for granted. Remind us that we are all interwoven into a tapestry of life created by Your hands. No matter who or where we are, we benefit or we suffer from the actions of others. Let our actions be those of compassion, justice, and peace. Teach us to respect and care for the earth, to guard our words lest we contribute to an attitude of hatred and violence, to turn our complaints about the actions of others in our community into actions for our community. Make us ever open to the suffering near and far. May we see the pain behind tired smiles and hear the unspoken cries for help. May we never miss an opportunity to be Your presence to someone who needs a caring touch, a lingering smile, a call or a note of concern. And, Lord, when we are weary...
read moreLori Grice named Silver Medalist at International Photographic Competition
Lori Grice, owner of Lori Grice Photography, has been honored again by her peers and by jurors for providing her clients the highest-quality photography. Lori was named a Silver Medalist during the Professional Photographers of America’s 2016 International Photographic Competition. This International Photographer of the Year designation included four winning images all created for Lori’s clients. The four included a portrait of the late Mr. Burtt Higgins, “Tutu Tutor” a portrait of C.J. Marsh, the daughter of Ryan and Keith Marsh, “Peekaboo!” a portrait of Claire Overstreet, daughter of Heather and Nathan Overstreet, and “Belle of the Ball” a portrait of Rebekah Grey. These four portraits will be on display at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, January 8 – 10, 2017 during the annual PPA Convention. A panel of 46 eminent jurors from across the United States selected the top photographs from nearly 5,700 total submitted entries. Judged against a standard of excellence, just over 2,428 images were selected for the General Collection and 1,007 were selected for the esteemed Loan Collection – the “best of the best.” The Loan Collection images will all be published in the much-anticipated “Loan Collection” book and over 200 selected General Collection images will be published in the “Showcase” book by Marathon Press. “Peekaboo!” will be published in the Loan Collection and both Mr. Burtt Higgins and “Tutu Tutor” will be published in the Showcase book. The level of the award is determined by how many of those four images received the highest possible honor: acceptance into the PPA Loan Collection, which is displayed at photographic exhibitions, conventions and other photography events. Lori was named a Silver Medalist, meaning that one of her four merited images entered the PPA Loan Collection. In 2016, Lori was one of only 139 Silver Medalists internationally. Lori will travel to San Antonio in January to receive the award. As the Southeast’s only Master Photographer, Lori will be accepting the International Photographer of the Year award for the third time in her career. She has also received the Bronze and Platinum medals in previous years. “After nearly three decades, I continue to compete with my portraits to sharpen my skills and to ensure my work stays fresh and relevant. This rigorous and humbling process allows my work to be critiqued by the best photographers in the world and, in return, validates that my portrait work compares and competes with the best of the best”, said Lori Grice. “It is important to understand that each of these portraits were not created specifically for this competition but I selected them from actual portraits my clients have commissioned me to create. My goal is to create award winning images for every client that steps before my lens. I enter each session mentally understanding that this could be the very last portrait ever taken of each client. This pushes me to create a portrait that they would be honored to be remembered by forever.” With Grandparents day approaching on Sunday, September 11th, this is the perfect time to commission Lori to create the family portrait that you have always dreamed of. Your Lori Grice portrait will share your families’ wonderful legacy for generations to enjoy. Contact Lori today at 912-764-7274. View her work at...
read more50 for 50 – Trying to ‘Out Give God’ in a Single Day
This past year, as I approached my 50th birthday, I began reflecting on my life. I looked back at the victories I have had through the years both personally and professionally and attempted to discover the common thread of my successes. There are so many people who have played a role in shaping my life. Many of them entered my world as strangers but now have become lifelong friends. I could begin listing people, events and circumstances that have powerfully impacted me and it would quickly become unyielding and boring to most of you reading this. Without question, however, the common thread is the simple fact that strangers, people who I had no idea existed could understand the role they would play in shaping my life. With this understanding and appreciation, I wanted to do something that not only allowed me to mark this milestone but also celebrate the power an absolute stranger can have on someone’s life. My pastor, Scott Moore at Believers Church in Statesboro, encouraged me to read “The Blessed Life” by Robert Morris. We share a love for reading and a thirst to do more to help shape our community in positive ways. Like his other recommendations, this book was on mark. The book contains a personal story of a pastor who responded to God’s call to give in every way. The more he gave, the more he was given. At one point he attempts to ‘out give God’ and through this test he was taught the power of multiplication of God’s goodness. That shaped my idea to spend my 50th birthday, August 14, 2016, completing 50 random acts of kindness. Not only did I want to make complete strangers day though loving kindness I had a second goal in place also. I wanted to test my ability to out give God for just one day. The idea was in place so I began to plan the day. I shared my idea with my wife and daughter and asked that instead of having a celebration with friends, lets instead use the money we had set aside to do 50 random acts of kindness. They agreed but did not hold up their end of the bargain. Lori and Edie Grace decided to reach out to our friends and invite them to a dutch treat gathering in my honor. On the invitation, they shared my idea and asked for each recipient to write a note to share a memory of how I had touched their life. They also encouraged each of them to support my idea by performing a random act of kindness and sharing that with me. The “gathering” was a very humbling low-key event held at R.J.’s Grill in Statesboro. Some of my closest friends gathered to enjoy great food and reminisce about their role in my life over the past 50 years. They brought notes and gifts for me to share with others the following day. At that event, thanks to those who attended, before I even started my “secret” project my budget had been doubled. I had not even started my “project” and God was ahead. Multiplication! Excitedly, we began with our first stop the next morning at Uncle Shug’s Chicken Barn. It is a popular local restaurant owned by a great friend....
read moreEdie Grace’s First Day of School – 10th Grade SHS
Isn’t it fun how traditions begin so simply, yet become so wonderfully fun? It seems like just yesterday, that I was buckling up Edie Grace into her car seat for her first day of school. Now she is driving. How amazingly fast is time moving. Lori and I are so proud of the remarkable young woman Edie Grace is growing into. She spent her summer babysitting and working with Free Spirit Pottery helping with summer camps. In addition to some fun and educational travel like White Water Rafting, and attending the Miss Georgia pageant where Betty Cantrell – the first Miss America from Georgia since 1953 – helped crown the new Miss Georgia, and attending Sunday School with President Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. In under 12 hours, she was able to see two iconic people that remind us {regardless of political leanings} that you truly CAN do anything even if you are from “little ole Georgia”! She also had her wisdom teeth extracted which was a bit of an adventure to heal from. We were proud of how diligently she worked on summer assignments for her honors classes. She also passed her Joshua’s Law driving school requirements to be able to get her driver’s license next May. The highlight of her summer was traveling with Lori on a buying trip to the Atlanta MART and discovering that she is the size of most of the models. Thanks to this stroke of luck, she is going to be sporting a pretty awesome back to school look. It is fun to run into our clients and friends who have not seen Edie Grace in a while. You all still fondly remember her as that spunky little girl who somehow has grown up before our eyes. Edie Grace is beautiful, smart, courageous and confident in ways that I am certain I was not at 15. In fact, my parents and teachers will agree, she has already completed more school work before classes begin than I did my entire 10th grade year. We are looking forward to a enlightening and empowering school year. Hope today and all the days of this year are filled with all the joy, love and excitement of...
read moreIt is Time to Invest in a Lori Grice Portrait
For nearly three decades, Mothers and Grandmothers throughout the South have celebrated and honored their families through Lori Grice portraits. Each of them will tell you that Lori’s portraits transform their houses into homes. Honored internationally, recognized regionally, celebrated locally and valued extensively by her clients throughout the South, Lori Grice’s artistry will emotionally impact you in unimaginable ways. Anyone can take your picture but Lori Grice will tell your story for generations to admire and enjoy. Long time Lori Grice client Jill Powell describes the impact of Lori’s artist creations. “My home is my personal art gallery that encompasses one of the most beautiful, priceless and extensive collections of art that anyone could assemble. Every piece varies in size and medium from traditional portraits on canvas to hand painted oils. Each one of them was created by Lori Grice especially for me. They feature my children and my family. As you walk through my home and view these magnificent pieces of art, there is no question what I value most. Lori has done a masterful job in creating a beautiful body of work that capture us perfectly and tells our life story in a remarkably way.” Lori’s work profoundly changed after a battle with cancer, when her daughter Edie Grace, was only 14 months old. “I realized that if cancer won, the only way my daughter would remember me was through portraits. This is the gift I give my clients every day. My portraits become a window into their soul….one that will always take them back to this wonderful place in time”, said Lori Grice. “This is why I must be a perfectionist at what I do. This is why I put my heart and soul in every portrait that I create. I value life and the responsibility of sharing it, like no one else will.” Have you ever considered what your legacy will include? Certainly your family is the pinnacle but how will your grandchildren’s children remember you? “There is no responsibility greater than capturing a child or a family and freezing a wonderful moment in time, knowing that generations will relive this very moment. There are literally thousands of people with cameras who can take your picture, but what I work to capture is the essence of you which is much more than “just a picture.” It is your story, told either through a single portrait, a collection of portraits throughout your life or an album that eloquently and artistically tells your story,” explains Lori Grice. “I don’t remember anyone ever regretting a single portrait commissioned. I can’t even count the number of times people have mentioned the guilt and regret of not investing in portraits.” Lori recommends five milestones in your life that investing in professional portraits is a must: 1) marriage, 2) birth 3) around five years 4) high school senior 5) generational portraits of your extended family. As the regions only full service studio who is properly licensed, certified and insured you are not only guaranteed impeccable quality and creativity but also integrity and commitment to customer satisfaction backed up by three decades of delighted clients. From traditional portraits on canvas to hand painted oils and watercolors, Lori Grice is the artistic destination for you. Schedule a no obligation consultation today to learn...
read moreRemembering Sheila Piper Stubbs
In remembering the first time my cousin Dale introduced me to Sheila Piper, almost thirty years ago, it seems like just yesterday. She was beautiful, witty, smart and as charming as they come. Dale was pretty taken by this amazingly special lady and we all could understand why. She was born a few months before me and Dale convinced her to marry him a few months after Lori and I were married. Their wedding was the first wedding we attended as a newly married couple and it was our first Catholic wedding. We joked for years about how much exercise we received at their wedding. I have never sat, kneeled and stood as many times at a wedding before or since. Dale and Sheila were the perfect couple. We always looked forward to seeing them every chance we could. They made Atlanta home so the distance was a bit of a challenge. I remember the day their first born child D.J. was born – November 26, 1994 to be exact. There was no happier couple than Dale and Sheila. Then, a few years later, they completed their family with the birth of their beautiful daughter Tracy on January 3, 2000. Watching this family grow was incredibly special to us. They made trips to Statesboro so Lori could photograph their growing family and on occasion we would travel to Atlanta. Sheila never met a cause too small or a friend too distant to find a way to help in her own special way. She was always the brightest smile in the room and forever focused on everyone in her circle always putting her family and friends before her. Then, last year, came the devastating news that Sheila had advanced cancer. She prepared for a fight and how phenomenally she fought. Last October we made one final trip to photograph Sheila, Dale, D.J. and Tracy at their home in Atlanta. We assumed it would be the last time we had this opportunity but we prayed there would be many more. Sheila wanted one last family portrait and a portrait of Tracy to match the one of D.J. on her wall. It was yet another piece of “unfinished business” that she had to complete. Lori designed a beautiful Christmas card that in typical Sheila style wanted to be more than an ordinary Christmas card but one that celebrated her family and thanked so many who had done so much to be beside her during this fight. It was also a reminder of the unfinished business that she would have to leave to others. A son in college and a daughter who is a rising Junior in High School. Tomorrow, Sheila and Dale will enter the St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church in Sandy Springs one last time as a couple. It is the church where their love was sealed and new life was celebrated as one. Sheila’s fight is over. She is now in Heaven. But her memory will live on in each of us who she touched so deeply. They will gather to celebrate an incredible life well lived and honor her for the incredible wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend that she was. Lori, Edie Grace and my life is so much richer thanks to Sheila. She reminds us how amazingly short life is...
read moreHappy 15th Birthday Edie Grace Grice
Today we celebrate Edie Grace’s 15th birthday. It simply does not seem like she can be 15. Most of you still remember her as that miracle baby that completed her mom and I. We thought it would be fun to look back at the past 15 amazing years with the most perfect daughter God could ever give us. She came into the world with a bang and has not slowed down since. She is a perfect mixture of her mom and I in every way. We are amazed by her loving and giving heart and how passionate she is about making the world a better place for others. Her relationship with God and how she has chosen to use her gifts to expand his kingdom in wonderful ways, warms our hearts. We know she is special, but when others see this also, we are reminded of how it all began nearly 16 years ago on our knees in prayer with Michael and Audrey Guido in their home. I think if they were still alive today, they would agree that God continues to answer the Edie Grace prayer in unimaginable ways. She is our greatest gift. Happy 15th Birthday Edie Grace. Love, Mom and Dad. We worked to put together a little video to remind you all what life is like in the world of Edie Grace. Enjoy as we celebrate a few of her milestones: ...
read more