I'm so excited - I have to tell y'all about this!

You guys at DG are some of my best friends and I am busting with excitement about something. I have to give you some background, because it's also a very specific answer to prayer. :D

We need a mattress. It's worn out, and so are we after sleeping on it. But it wasn't something we could do. Last night, I told my MIL I was praying and asking God to provide us with a good mattress. I told another friend this later last night, too.

Well, today I got a phone call. Nope, wasn't a mattress salesman.

It was Natura Pet Products, the makers of the dog food we buy for Emma. A while back, I'd sent them some photos of our dogs along with a letter telling them how pleased we are with their food. The lady who got the e-mail liked the photos and asked if I could send some more. She said they like to use customer's pets in their ads.

I sent more, and signed a model release saying they could use the pictures as long as I received credit and my copyright remained on them.

This call today was from their marketing director. He said the company wanted to buy exclusive rights for four of my photos!

They're giving us a year's supply of their pet food, 24 coupons for any size bag of dry (or case of cans).

And...They're paying me a handsome and completely unexpected amount for the pictures! Shoot, when I sent them, I wasn't even expecting to be paid.

God is good! That's mattress money, baby!

I maintain original copyright to the images. The exclusivity applies to restricting the selling or commercial use of the photos within the pet supply industry without prior approval from natura. I maintain rights to ownership and will receive photo credits.

He also said they want rights of first refusal if I have any other pet photographs I wish to try marketing.

I'm so excited! Here are the pictures:

well, they are fantastic pictures! I don't blame them. congrats.

Oh gardenwife! That is a wonderful story. When we look back at the indirect ways our prayers are answered it becomes clear an all-knowing and loving God was the source. Some sceptics may say coincidence but you know better.I am so happy for you. Way to go Emma!

Thanks! I just never dreamed someone would want to use them like this. Boy, they sell cat food, too - I need to get pictures of the kitties!

Doing the happy dance for ya. Whoo Hoooo!!!! Congratulations! Now I can tell people that I know a nationally known pet photographer. LOL

Now you can have a new mattress to hide future big money under.

Fantastic pictures, Kim. God is certainly in this!

Congrats Kim...and of course Howie too!

You just happened to have 3 beautiful dogs to take pics of anyway. Now, don't scrimp on a cheap mattress, get a good quality one. You both deserve it, especially with Howies bad back and your problems also.

Wow, a whole yr. of dog food...that's a lot of worth right there. hehe

Donna

Great story. Fabulous photos!

You are truly blessed.
Cheri'

What a great story and what beautiful photos - no wonder they wanted them. I am so happy for you - I had back problems and I know the value of a good mattress. My question is: Will the models be sleeping on the new mattress too???? Sweet Dreams!

congratulations! those are terrific photo's you took. it is also nice to know that you can see the miracles in your life. god provides what we need, not always what we "want" but always what we need. god bless, deb z

Will you publish your sleep number?

Kimberly, you just made my day with this wonderful news! Your photos are wonderful and that one in the upper right is definately outstanding! Have fun trying out mattresses and find the perfect one.

GOD is indeed so very good. I think of the words that are part of a song I like. "If GOD doesn't meet this need it will be the first indeed. HE has never let me down before." We never know what avenue HE will use to bless us or answer our prayers, but HE always does it somehow.

What a wonderful story....Not only will you be getting your mattress, but you'll have the excitement of seeing your dogs' pictures possibly on the bags of dog food. Congratulations!

Wonderful story and picturers! You have been blessed.

GW, those are truly exquisite photos and you are beginning to reap the kinds of professional rewards -- and the personal joy that comes with them -- that I have long wished for you!

God's answer to prayer is always so breathtakingly well-rounded -- blessings in 360 degrees. I am thrilled for you, on so many levels. Enjoy that new mattress, and all the benefits that are coming into your life.

Wow! That is fantastic!!! Congratulations! You are quite a remarkable and resourceful woman!!!! And the dogs are quite handsome!!!

Brilliant news gw. They're fabulous photos and deserve to be recognised!
I'm SO pleased for you :))

Congrats GW! I love all the pix, but especially the one in the top right corner. How did you do that? Is it only one photo or three put togheter?
You'll be sleeping like a baby soon.

That's the best 'doggone' thing I've heard in a long time! God is good and your photos are awesome!

Wow.. CONGRATULATION! I love all your photos.. all are natural. You and Howie deserve a new mattress so you both can sleep better. I am so happy for you!

GW, congratulations. I'm not surprised since you take such incredible photos.

That is just terrific and congratulations Kim on the photos. M'gosh we have some celebrities in our midst...now which camera did you say you use??? Here kitty, kitty!! :-)

wow :)

Congratulations! Well deserved too.

That's so great and the pictures are wonderful. All your pictures are great I bet they had a hard time just picking out 4.

Congrats Kimberley!!! I wish my 'kids' could earn their own food. LOL

Kimberley, GO GIRL! I'm so proud of you. Your pics are BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

Isn't it amazing what a prayer can do?

Kim, those pictures are wonderful! They pose so naturally! You'll have to let us know what brand to buy when they put your pictures on it! Truly a miracle!

I'm standing and applauding!!! Well, I will after I type this. lol woohoo!!!!!

What a fun answer to your prayers!

Thank you, everyone! I am still just blown away that someone is paying me for something I love to do. It's always something that happens to other people, not me. It is honestly such a GOD thing. They're going to send me copies of whatever they use the pictures on; so far, they've used one in a brochure, he said.

NoH2O - Oh, yes, they'll be sleeping with us some. Emma's a terrible bed hog with those long stilts of hers, so it's not a nightly thing, just a treat (for us as much as them!).

Paintedlady - No montage, there. The just posed like that! To their left is a window, and they like looking out of it. All I have to do is click my tongue or say "squirrel!" and they get up on the chair and look out. On that day, I just started snapping shots as they looked out, and Sarah turned toward me at just the right moment.

For every really good shot I get, I probably take fifty or more bad ones. Thank God it's a digital camera!

Congratulations, good news for a great person. Great pictures too.

Bigtime congratulations, Kimberley! Will wonders never cease!?

Great pics...I just knew at some point in time you'd be recognized for your talent!

(I think Emma would like a Temperpedic!) (Oh yeh, so would you and Howie!)

Yes, Emma would love one, I'm SURE. Hey, where'd you get your Tempurpedic, Shoe? You're talking the foam mattresses, right? We tried the SelectComfort just to see if we liked the feel of them and we didn't, even the ones with lots of cushion still felt squidgy to us even when pumped pretty full of air.

It give me such a peaceful feeling looking at your photos.
You have really captured a "feeling".
Congrats

WELL! I'm bringing my pictures of "The Kids" to round up this fall that I took at round up last year.....and the one of Emmay and my granddog, Scout. I will need to get them autographed!! Congratulations. Jo

Pawprints, maybe? ;)

GW...We called the 800 number and ordered ours (they had a really good special going on). They're a great company to deal with. They not only delivered it, but hauled our old stuff away, no charge. We splurged and got the Calif King (I'm skinny but I'm lonnng!) I'm really glad we did. That mattress is fantastic! If I remember right, they also have a 30 day "try out" policy.

Any chance you could haul it to the roundup just in case the cabin beds are lumpy?? ROFL!!!