A Beautiful Night
By: Jill Harrelson
Photography by Jill Harrelson of Jill's Family Photography
Ever wonder how great things happen? How ideas are born? How it all comes together beautifully in the end? It's collaboration, baby.
When the imagination of youth, the ingenuity of a local photographer and the creativity of a local publisher combine... the result is nothing short of amazing!
It all started when the Lambert High School Marketing Program (DECA) partnered with Jill's Family Photography to develop a fundraiser for their DECA Program. This campaign was aimed at providing Mrs. Urrea's Advanced Marketing students a real-world business experience. Business owner, Jill Harrelson (Jill's Family Photography), started the project through a brainstorming session with the Advanced Marketing class. It was during this session that the students came up with the idea of a cover model contest.
With the basic idea in place, the group had to decide how to make it all happen. It was a unanimous decision to feature the winners on the cover of Up in Cumming® Magazine (UiC). Further discussion produced ideas that included prize packages implemented by Jill's Family Photography. Reaching out to UiC and the business community, Mrs. Urrea's class and Jill Harrelson approached everyone with an excitement that couldn't be matched. The 2012 Cover Model Contest was starting to take shape.
The students hit the pavement hard, recruiting eligible contestants in the area. With UiC Magazine on board providing an exciting cover concept, businesses such as Muse Salon and Spa, Bravura Fashions and Tuxedo Warehouse jumped in to donate products and services, to help make the cover shoot a success.
Harrelson took preliminary photographs of the recruited contestants. These photos were then presented to a panel of professional photographers, where the top nine were selected based on various criteria. In the end, it was ultimately up to the student body to vote on the nine finalists, determining their favorites. The top three contestants were able to choose from three $500 prize packages!
Congratulations to the winners of the Cover Photo Contest and to the DECA students who turned their idea into a reality. It is through community support, business collaboration and the partnership with the local school clubs and organizations that programs like this can take place. The Lambert students who participated gained valuable experience that can be taken to college or the workplace, by working on a real-world project with Jill's Family Photography and Up in Cumming Magazine. It is with gratitude that we give thanks and extend our gratitude to the advertisers and sponsors for all their donations and support: Bravura, Forsyth Conference Center, Jill's Family Photography, Kroger, McDonald & Sons, North Georgia Smiles, Shoe Gallery, Tuxedo Wearhouse and UiC Magazine.
Jill's Family Photography Cover Contest winners left to right: Sierra Martin, Braxton Roman, Lindsay Porter, Sam DeRosa, Danielle Blake, Kyle Horton, Rachel Bandy, Neha Saxena. Not pictured: Alex Macias
Prom poster cover credits:
Models: Lambert High School
Photography by: Jill's Family Photography
Dresses provided by: Bravura
Tuxedo's provided by: Tuxedo Wearhouse
Hair provided by: Muse Salon and Spa
Gift card provided by: Straw Dog
Location: Lanier Technical College Forsyth Conference Center
