This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Photographer Heather Norris Launches New Line of Portrait Pails

Photographer Heather Norris of Heather Norris Boutique Portrait Studio in Bethlehem, Conn., launched a distinctive line of Portrait Pails at Elizabeth Richard Gifts in Waterbury just prior to Mother’s Day, the week of May 6, 2013. Portrait Pails: Give the Gift of Memories are clear plastic paint pail-shaped gift items for newborn babies, children’s first birthdays, children of all ages, and pets. “My ambition was to create a line of meaningful, memorable gift items that will be cherished for many years long after the toys have broken or a child’s clothes have been outgrown,” explained Norris. Positioned on a turquoise ladder display in the Elizabeth Richard Gifts in Waterbury, the colorful display features the four different Portrait Pails. The Bebe Bucket was designed by Norris to celebrate the birth of a baby; Cake Smash Can was created for a child’s first birthday celebration; Kiddo Can is designed for portraits of children of all ages; and Pooch Pail is offered to hold cherished photos of a family’s pet. Each Portrait Pail contains a gift card for the recipient to schedule a portraiture session with Heather Norris Photography at her Bethlehem barn studio. The pails also contain a hand-made wooden frame to hold the photograph of the baby, child or pet, plus one print to be placed in the frame. The cost for each pail is $99. “A photo session usually costs $150,” stated Norris. “These Portrait Pail gifts provide the same high level of photography services of a regular portraiture session. The full photo session includes 20 to 40 images to choose from to pick the image they would like placed into the wooden frame inside the pail. They could also choose to have gift prints or wall portraits from the session. There are many portrait options for the gift recipient to choose from.” A mother of three, Norris commented that she created these gift items because, “I understand how quickly moment pass in our lives, and how very important it is to capture special moments. Once a moment occurs, it is gone forever. These Portrait Pails are gifts we can give to our family members and friends as keepsakes of those special times in their lives.” For the past year, Heather Norris had been creating the Portrait Pails concept in her mind. “My ambition was to offer a creative gift for the many stages of people’s lives. After recently conducting a professional photo shoot for Lori Greene, owner of Elizabeth Richard Gifts in Waterbury, I spoke with her about my ideas and she offered me a 3x3 foot space in her very popular gift store. With Mother’s Day fast approaching, I needed to work fast.” After contacting a designer to help her formulate the clear plastic pail, Norris scheduled photo shoots for the original images she wanted placed on the exterior of each pail. “For each of the four Portrait Pails, I needed photos of newborns, one-year old children, young children and of course, pets. The designer and I collaborated to created labels and stickers and we ordered all the needed materials to create a prototype using the portrait photos. Once Lori Greene agreed to position a display of the Portrait Pails at Elizabeth Richard Gifts, my husband created the display ladder and my mother, Judy Pelletier of Middlebury, helped me assemble the display,” explained Norris. A graduate of the Hallmark Institute of Photography and former event and wedding planner for the world-class Wadsworth Atheneum arts museum in Hartford, Connecticut, Heather Norris juggles her portraiture photography business while being the mother of three children, wife and ‘organic diva’ of Stone Ridge Farm in Bethlehem, Connecticut, site of her barn studio. Heather Norris Photography’s fine portraiture Bebe Bucket, Cake Smash Can, Kiddo Can and Pooch Pail for pets are all available at Elizabeth Richard Gifts at 951 Chase Parkway in Waterbury. To learn more, visit Heather Norris Photography and fine portraitures, visit www.heathernorris.com, her blog at http:/blog.heathernorris.com, or contact Heather Norris in her studio at 203-405-

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?