First, I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas/Holiday!!! I of course was sick. I say of course because I always seem to be on Christmas!!!) For the New Year, I will certainly be lining up a series of Raspberry Snap sessions. (http://www.sawickistudios.com/raspberrysnap) These are going to be GREAT and I am very excited about it! Our new studio addition is still under construction, so I will begin planning them as soon as things get back to normal (so to speak!) However, we will be doing the “Family Model Search” sessions after the new year. What is the “Family Model Search”?! Last year Sawicki Studios participated in the International Charity Children’s Model Search and it was a GREAT success! This year we are participating again but this time it is for families. North America’s Cutest Family will be raising funds for the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation (NILMDTS.org)

Are your loved ones North America’s Cutest Family? We’ll give you the opportunity to prove it! Many exciting prizes will be awarded, and the grand prize winner receives a NEW CAR!

MODEL SEARCH SPECIAL

$30 entrance fee includes an up to 20 minute session and one image submitted to the national gallery. You may purchase any of the images for specially priced prints & packages. If you’ve had or are planning to have a regular family session between the dates of November 1st 2009 and April 5th 2010, you may opt to submit an image from the session into the contest at no additional cost.

Finalists will be determined by online votes. Each vote is $1 (no limit on the amount of votes you can cast), and all proceeds from votes benefit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS.org).

Grand prize international winner will be determined from the 52 city finalists. The winners will be selected from the finalist gallery by photography and modeling industry experts.  The winning family also receives a session with the renowned portrait artist Sandy Puc’ and international recognition.

Currently, the available contest session dates will be January 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th, 23rd and 24th and February 20th, 21st, 27th and 28th. More dates may become available as time goes on. To get your slot, go here- http://sawickistudios.bookmonline.com/schedules/familycontest

Choose the date you’d like and the time slot that works best for you. The $30 entrance fee must be paid upon booking. Paypal is required to book online, but if you do not have a paypal account, please call our office at (518) 843-0190 to pay using a credit card over the phone. These will fill up quickly, so be sure to book your slot to insure the best time for your family!!

So it appears that we are being used for a scam. Someone is preying on models by sending them a “job” and linking them to our site to show “their” portfolio. It is from the email address “sawickiphotoservice@gmail.com” We found out because one of the models called us to find out if we were offering a legit job. Here is one of the emails they sent her (complete with bad grammar):

“It’s really nice reading back from you and here are more information about the assignment is a $1500 pay Fashion job (Assignment) for you, My client wants to update her Catalog with her new year release Fashion outfits and to host one of the 2010 model event with her new fashion from Malaysia.this assignment is to encourage the upcoming models in the industry she is affiliated with the Academy Art,you don’t have to be worried about your experience or present look because we have specialist stylist and make Up artist who will bring the real beauty out of you,I’m a professional photographer/Manager with 8 years experience and this is 100% legit here is my website: www.sawickistudios.com). Find all details for the job below….. See More

Job Location
The shooting will be hold at a rented photographers studio in your location,so you don’t have to worry about traveling,the name and address of the studio will be forwarded to you a week before the date of the shooting,all make up will be taken care of in the studio.You can come along with any body of your choice on the day of the shooting,your mum,dad,friend,body-guard anybody you wish to come with just for you to feel more comfortable.

Job details
You have 12 different Fashion outfits to cover,which would be provided by our client on the day of the shooting.

Types of cloths
Jeans and Jackets

Name of client
Diana Reed
Company Name
Bebe Clothing Store
www.bebe.com

Job percentage
The total pay for the jobs is $1500 but you will get $400 as upfront part payment before the shoot and the remaining balance of $1100 will be paid to you in cash at the shooting venue immediately after the shoot.

Shooting Date.
the date for the shooting is not fix,i will have to make arrangement for that ahead from now,I will email you the exact date for the shooting a week before the shoot as soon as the arrangement is completed with our client.
Requirements..
Very Attractive,Classy,In Great Shape,Extremely Outgoing & Personable,out spoken,Must be Reliable.
Payment Policy.
As part of my working policy and ethics,i receive part payment from any client before I proceed with any job and balance immediately after the shooting,this is to identify a serious client and ascertain the job,I hope you comprehend this fact.
I will keep you updated as to when our client wants to make upfront payments
Expectation.
you need to have good and attractive poses .(start practicing) Basically this is all required of you,for your make up my client will be taken care of it,you don’t have to be bother for any make up,please get in touch with me if you will take the job and we can go from there,just let me know if you will take the job to commence with next arrangement.
Please I’d like you to check your email on a regular bases, I might have updates for you.

Regards.
Sawicki Studio”

We are now getting hits from our site from email inboxes from all different states which must be from this. If anyone gets one of these or know anyone who did, this is a SCAM and is NOT from us!!! Or if you get this same thing with someone claiming to be a different photographer/studio, do not fall for it! Scams are VERY rampant this day in age. Protect yourself!

Edited to add, he has made a couple profiles that I have reported already and waiting to get them taken down. They are here: http://www.hotmodels.com/profile/SawickiChris

and here:

http://us.stylished.com/modelagency-Albany/photographers-Albany/Photographer-Sawicki-studios-86586.html