If you’re a follower of this blog, you know how much I love telling y’all about the stuff I love. When I stumble on something amazing and life-changing, I can’t help but shout it from the rooftops! But today, I’ve decided to take it to the next level and GIVE AWAY some of my absolute favorite things. In my fantasy world, I like to think that with the end of Oprah’s show, she has passed the Favorite Things baton on to me, but of course that would mean I could give away vacations and cars and appliances and… well, that’s just not gonna happen. :) But I can do the next best thing, and that is to give away some of my summer essentials to one of my awesome readers. Keep in mind, this is open to everyone- not just clients or fellow photographers or friends- so please, please, please enter, or else I’ll just have to keep all these goodies to myself. ;) Read on to see what’s included and how you can win it!
First up, you can’t keep up with all your summer essentials without a great bag. Ladies, don’t get too excited… this isn’t a fancy brand name, but it is Target chic, and that’s just how I roll. :) I love this purse because it’s soft and flexible, but roomy and sturdy enough to pack in a lot of stuff (even your camera, for all you photographers!). I also love the versatile light gray color, which goes with pretty much everything and should transition into fall really well.
You’ll also get one of my newest favorite toys, a Holga 35mm camera (in turquoise, naturally). This is great for documenting all your summer adventures in an old-school, artistic way. (Check out this session that I shot entirely with my Holga to get a feel for the magic it makes.) Imagine the suspense of having to wait to get your film developed just like we used to have to do after family vacations… Yeah, it’s pretty sweet.
And what would summer be without a great soundtrack? Death Cab for Cutie is always a fantastic standby, and their latest album Codes and Keys is no exception. Also, I’m sure you’ve heard Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” blowing up radio stations… is her voice not incredible? Guaranteed to inspire some road trip singalongs.
You’ve also gotta have a good novel to read at the beach or by the pool or on your backyard deck. One of my favorites is The Help, which you may have seen is being made into a movie starring Emma Stone later this year, so perfect timing! I know it’s sometimes hard to take books that make the bestseller list (and subsequently get made into movies) seriously, but this one really is a fantastic read. You’ll also get Season One of Mad Men, which is one of, if not the, best shows on TV, in my opinion, so if you haven’t seen it, you’ve gotta start here and catch up. If you have, then you need to have it on DVD so you can re-watch it again, and again, and again.
I can’t make it through the day without a little help from Starbucks VIA (aka crack packets), so I’m also throwing in a handy reusable cup filled them. Makes great iced coffee anywhere you are, or you can mix it with milk for a latte or blend it with ice cream for a milkshake. So many uses!
This nail polish is my new favorite. A perfect shade for summer! I also love Loreal’s Infallible lip gloss, which is long-lasting and supposedly plumps your lips. I can’t really speak to that last claim, but I do love this stuff. And Burt’s Bees… well, that just speaks for itself. :)
The only thing that you can’t see very well in the photos is a $20 gift card to Chick-fil-a. If you don’t love Chick-fil-a, well…. I don’t know if we can be friends. Ha. I’m also throwing in my favorite summer candy… Starbursts and Sour Patch Kids!
And finally…. a candle! I only recently got into burning candles, and my absolute favorites are the Woodwick ones. When you burn them, they sound like a crackling fire, and for people like me who will probably never have a real wood-burning fireplace, this is a pretty sweet close second. When we were in Cracker Barrel the other day, I spotted some new styles, so naturally I had to pick up this summery Lemon Verbena scent, which is perfectly light and fresh.
So the question now is….. how do I win all this great stuff?
EASY PEASY!
There are multiple ways you can enter. Each way you enter is worth a certain number of times your name will be thrown into the pot, which means that you have up to SIXTEEN chances to win!
1. Leave a comment on this post telling me what YOUR favorite summer essential is. (worth one entry)
2. Go HERE to “like” my Facebook page. (worth one entry)
3. On your Facebook wall, post the following: “I want to win @Morgan Trinker Photography’s favorite things giveaway (http://bit.ly/kP4TBW) because _____.” Fill in the blank with whatever reason you can think of. Be as creative as you want! Note: You must “like” my page first so that you can tag it with the “@” symbol in your post. If you have any questions about how to do this, please let me know! (worth two entries, potentially three if you’re super creative ;) )
4. If you have a Facebook business/fan page of your own, post a link to this post (http://bit.ly/kP4TBW) encouraging your followers to check it out and enter. Don’t forget to tag @Morgan Trinker Photography in the caption so that I can give you credit! (worth three entries)
5. Update your Twitter feed with the following: “I want to win @morgantrinker’s favorite things giveaway! http://bit.ly/kP4TBW” Note: Please copy and paste the whole thing, including the link to my blog. (worth one entry)
6. Look through the archives of this blog and “pin” one of your favorite images to your Pinterest account, giving credit to me in the caption. Please feel free to pin as many images as you would like, but you will only receive credit for the first image. (If you don’t have an account and would like an invite to see what it’s all about, shoot me an email at [email protected] and I’ll hook you up!) (worth two entries)
7. Book a portrait session or wedding with me by the deadline. (worth FIVE entries!)
The deadline for all entries is Thursday, June 30 at midnight. I will do the drawing on Friday, July 1 and announce the winner here on the blog that same day. Keep in mind, I have no way of giving you credit for posts on Twitter and Facebook unless you tag me so that I can find it, so don’t forget to do so. And if you enter, please be prepared to send me your contact info and mailing address so that I can get your package to you as quickly as possible!
If you have any other questions, please feel free to let me know! And best of luck to all of you!
.JPG)
Sarah D - I wish that I could book a portrait session with you. My favorite item is the Holga camera. I already have one (and love it) but a blue one would make me super happy! This is an awesome giveaway! Thanks, Morgan!!
Holly - You’re simply amazing!I’m loving that bag (and everything else) Target is definitely the way to go! :)
Andrea C - What a great idea and such fun stuff!
My favorite summer item that we can’t live without are sunglasses that look fabulous and go with everything! My Coach glasses have lasted 6 years and are still going strong and in style… I think
Megan - Banana pudding, a great pair of shades, and a ball cap!
Kathleen Frank - LOVE giveaways!!! My fav summer essential has got to be my yashica d film camera. Got it a month ago & have been obsessed ever since!
Camille Johnson - Cute Cute! My favorite summer essential are my crochet flats from Aldo! and burts bees of course!
Ann Marie Leveille - How fun! I love all of these goodies!!!
My summer essential is DEFINITELY a good book! When I went to the beach earlier in the summer I took good ol’ Harry Potter with me! :)
Jessica - I adore your blog and am enamored with that goodie bag! My summer essential are slightly messy pigtails, a good summer dress, and a cute bag (that beautiful gray one will do just fine!).
Kelley - Great blog, great photos. My summer essential is Evian Mineral Spray, which acts as a cool, refreshing mister on summer days. I could easily see it nestled next to the Burt’s Bees and that gorgeous pistachio nail polish.
Brianne Eatchel - my favorite summer essential is a flower. I can tuck one behind my ear on a sunny day, gather a handful to place in a vase to enjoy for that week, or stop and smell the sweet scent of roses on the side walk. I often remember from summers past my mother planting flowers as big as me. Flowers are something I miss in the wintertime, and when spring hits… they make me happy.
Alison Funk - I am in total agreement with your favorite things, but would add a super cute and comfortable pair of flipflops to that list…thanks for the opportunity to win some great stuff…I love your pics!
Nichole S. - Wow! This bag is perfect for summer. I especially love the woodwick candle. Every time I go to Cracker Barrel I have to smell them all. Keep rocking the seafoam green. :)
Stevie Ann - I would have to say my summer essentials consists of a stack of amazing books (many that i’ve read time and again and new ventures), drawing utensils (pencils, pastels, charcoal, etc) for fun, my laptop for writing, my camera, my family and my friends!
Becca - Wonderful giveaway! My summer essential is books! They can be anything. Fiction, non-fiction, etc. As long as I can read them by the pool, in the shade of a tree or at the beach, they win.
Becca - Becs_83
I want to win @morgantrinker’s favorite things giveaway! bit.ly/kP4TBW
http://twitter.com/#!/Becs_83
LAA - Southern Aisle - My favorite summer essential would have to be the sno-cone! There’s a great little place here called Shave the Planet and I go there at least twice a week for a big cup-o relief from this heat! Great giveaway!
Whitney Robinson - I adore your blog, and I love the camera! They are so fun and lightweight for summertime. Thank you!!!
Karla Collegeman - Oh I’m sooo excited! My summer essential: Pellegrino with lime, bubbles for the kiddo, good book, and bathing suits for the pool/beach. With that being said, pair all the with these goodies and oh my, it will only get better.
Jillian Holcomb - My Kindle is my summer essential!! I carry it everywhere so I always have it on hand to read a bit in a nice sunny warm spot! And my sunglasses!
Kristie Bringhurst - My favorite summer essential is my sunglasses. I got the best pair in Chinatown in NYC for $5 and they are amazing. I really hope I win this giveaway! It’s so great!
Kristie Bringhurst - I just “liked” you on FB
Kristie Bringhurst - I just tweeted about the giveaway. @kristie4sayz
Kristie Bringhurst - I also pinned a photo of yours!
Rachel Dean - I absolutely love that bag! Target is wonderful.
Emily Matteson - My favorite summer essential is my pair of chacos! They’re the most comfy summer sandals I’ve ever had.
Jamie - My FSE: that tottering stack of New Yorkers I neglected all semester. Pretty good for the city, even better for the beach.
Leona Smith - My Favorite Summer Essentials are … a pair of wedges, my Thor shirt (that changes colors in the sun) and the new Jonathan Jones album “Community Group.”
Amber Ritchie - Ahh! Love this! My favorite summer essential would have to be a pretty pair of TOMs shoes. Wear them with sun dresses, jeans, or shorts, they are always hip and effortless! : )
Kelli - My summer essential - iced coffee!! MMMMM…
Leah Furman - This year my favorite “Summer Essential” is a lip stain called Just Bitten by Revlon! I put it on in my favorite shade and it last all day! So easy..My color is twilight.
Becky Moore - My summer essential… a pair of big dark sunglasses. They go everywhere from the store, to the pool, and out for a run. A must have!!
Catherine - I love everything about this giveaway! My favorite summer essential would have to be any Harry Potter book. They’re the perfect stories to get lost in while sitting in the sun!
Deb DenBraber - Yeah!! for give-aways. My summer essential is my chaco sandals for sure. :)
Aunt Heather - Oh Morgan….this is so fun, it gets everybody excited and hope’n they can win all your awesome faves!! Mine, at the moment would have to be the “Hunger Game” trilogy books. LOVE EM, LOVE EM, LOVE EM!! I have 20 pages left of the 2nd one and can’t wait to pick up the 3rd one. Just started reading them a week and a half ago. My wind down time before bed is with Katniss and Peeta!! Also gonna be a movie!!
Becky Johnson - Morgan, it is impossible to have just one summer essential!! Dark sunglasses, good book, iced drinks, plenty of sunscreen for the girls, a camera………..the list goes on and on.
Ali - Def the Holga Camera! I love it!!!! I grew up watching my mom taking pictures and I do it as a hobby now, having the Holga camera will be amazing! :D
Danielle - I try to pin things on pintrest from your blog all the time and i only am able to a few pictures… do you have a block on copying of images or something
Meagan Darrow - OMG! What a beautiful giveaway. I wish I could enter in all the different ways! My favorite part of the giveaway is the beautiful bag. My favorite summer must have is my canner! I love canning the beautiful bounty of summertime. Great site.
Carrie Meredith - My favorite summer essential is Strawberry Chapstick with SPF! It smells like a daquiri and protects my lips from chapping and sunburn. Us redheads need our SPF!
Lee Westbrook - My favorite summer essential is definitely my large cotton tye-dye hobo bag. Its perfect for a day at the beach, pool or park. I throw anything and everything in it and if it gets sandy and dirty, I can just toss it in the wash :)
Angela Leisure - My favorite summer essential is my 2-yr-olds wagon. We love going for walks! Well, I walk, he rides. :)
Kari Rennekamp - My summer essentials are a chair on the front porch, cold cider, a stack of concert tickets & good music.
Holmes - My favorite summer essential is my hammock!!! Can’t go anywhere without it because the moment I leave it behind, I find the perfect hammock spot to read or snack or simply be lazy!
Emily (The Culinary Couple) - So happy to have found your blog! If I could, I would book a maternity session with you while we’re visiting family in Alabama next week — your photography is gorgeous! As for my summer essentials, I’m going to go with my belly butter (pregnancy must-have), Bobbi Brown tinted moisturizer with SPF, and my Crocs flats.
Emily (The Culinary Couple) - P.S. I’m now a fan on Facebook!
filiz - what a wonderful giveaway! my summer essentials are suncream spf50, big sunglasses and many skirts.
Bethany Jones - My summer essential is my Camelback water bottle!
Meagan - uhhh… LOVE this! My summer essentials include ray bans, feather earrings and coral EVERYTHING (lip gloss, nail polish, etc!)
Erin Kesler - How could I choose??? This is almost everything I love, too! Except that I am dying without a Holga…. my little Diana is lonely. And my other favorite summer things: cute purses, long maxi dresses, feather earrings, an old classic novel, and a good lipgloss! And, shoot, I already “like” your f’book page! Can I DOUBLE like it? Or how about LOVE it? Yeah, right now, I am metaphorically (and truly) “love”-ing it. : )
Brittany Duncan - So, this is officially one of my favorite posts (besides the engagement session of Matthew and I of course)! But anyways, my favorite summer essential, well essentials actually is as follows: my hawaiian tropic lip balm with SPF 15 in it because my lips are always chapped and they get sunburnt really easy (plus it tastes good), my orange mesh beach bag that is packed always with a swimsuit, towel, flip flops and sunscreen (just in case I get the urge to go to a pool/lake and don’t have time to go hope) and last but not least, my ipod and headphones so I can jam out wherever I am to make hanging out in the summer even more fun! :)
amy little - hi my love!! I miss your face tiny tiger. i want everything in this giveaway and want to book you for a session. you comin back to the motherland soon? also, i posted on my business page but couldn’t figure out the @ thingy. i struggle, but I WANT TO WIN WIN!!
smooches!
make up lessons nyc - I like this bag! It is perfect for summer! Very cool!
Meg P - what a sweet giveaway! my summer essential would have to be my camera, thanks to all the extra daylight! :)
robin - My favorite summer essential is my dog. There are no bad days when you get to enjoy a good hike or dog beach!
Meg P - i also “liked” you on facebook!
Lexi Crockett - My favorite summer essential is sunscreen! Specifically, Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer Liquid Daily Sunblock. (as seen here http://www.neutrogena.com/product/ultra+sheer+liquid+daily+sunblock+spf+70.do)
It is amazing. And you gotta take care of your face! Don’t wanna be wrinkly and leathery when you get older!
-Lexi
Christen - My favorite summer essential are my turquoise Knockaround shades. Wouldn’t that Holga just compliment them perfectly? Also necessary are smoothies. Can’t go a couple days with out one.
Meg P - …aaaaand i pinned one of my favorites from your blog (and of course gave you credit) ;)!
Abra - My favorite summer essential is a big straw hat. This year I found a great large brimmed black one that looks very early 60s, and awesome with my retro polka-dot one piece.
kelly - my favorite summer essential is Nivea’s “A Kiss of Protection” SPF 30 lip balm! i haven’t been able to find it in stores this year, but it saved my lips all last summer, and the “A Kiss of Smoothness” has been tiding me over since my last one melted in the car :( your bag looks fab!!! that camera? amazing. where do you find these things??
Shannon - My favorite summer essential are my flip flop and skirt collection. I have to stay easy breezy and love how comfy and easy my summer clothes are.
Karen J - These items are fabulous, and I just read The Help last month, it was fantastic! My summer essential is sunblock and a cute sundress
Tammy - My favorite summer essential are a pair of rockin’ sunglasses! I have quite sensitive eyes, so even when it’s a not so sunny summer day, these babies help protect my peepers! Btw, awesome giveaway!
Tammy - I’ve just posted on my FB wall and I’ve tweeted about your giveaway! I’ve liked your FB page for a while now. Does that still count towards an entry or are only new “likers” counted?
Amanda Prestridge - What an amazing giveaway!!! My usual must have for summer is strawberry lemonade and my newest must have are the Magnum Ice Cream Bars that have finally made it to the US! Love your work Morgan!!
Amanda Prestridge - I entered by doing: #1-3, #6, and hopefully #7 soon!!!
CanCan - I have to give props to Amanda Prestridge b/c I found your giveaway via her Facebook post. :)
My summer essential…i love to pig out on peaches and blueberries and strawberries…mmm and watermelon. Summer fruits!
Kaelyn - The Holga is definitely a requirement for summertime :)
Kaelyn - I also liked you on facebook :)
Erika C. - My summer essential is a really good moisturizing lotion! I can’t stand having dry skin, and between the summer sun and swimming, my skin will end up like sand paper! I did as many of the entries as I could :)
Heather - I love that you included Burt’s Bees. I am obsessed with all the products, and they are definitely a favorite. Also, starbucks via? Perfect. This whole bag is just so amazing.
Ellen - Can’t do summer without a good dog to share it with :)
Hyla - My favorite summer things are a great bright Zoya nail polish, currently the coral color Kara. And a great pair of walking/running shoes!
Hyla - Liked Your Facebook!
Hyla - On Facebook
“I want to win @Morgan Trinker Photography’s favorite things giveaway (http://bit.ly/kP4TBW) because I’ve never seen a giveaway this fantabulous before!!!”
Hyla - Facebook Comment Entry Number 2
“I want to win @Morgan Trinker Photography’s favorite things giveaway (http://bit.ly/kP4TBW) because I’ve never seen a giveaway this fantabulous before!!!”
Christie S - Target, Burt’s Bees, Sally Hansen and Adele? My kinda Southern girl! I grew up just across the Alabama border in Georgia. I miss it!
Angela - My favorite summer essential is ice cream!
Julia Johnson - My favorite summer essential is my Target Flip Flops. Foam bottoms with Woven Straps, The most expensive flip flops Ive ever purchased at $10 and worth EVERY PENNY!
Kristi - I love all this amazing stuff! and I like the ideas of the “stuff I love” posts - very unique! My summer essential is my Dove SPF 15 face lotion that I can’t live without (with fair skin, I have to wear it every day!)
Ash - My summer essentials: bright green leaves, a stack of good books, the smell of limes, warm nights, dresses, a pair of FABULOUS leather wedges. Mwah!
Ash - Oh! What if I book you for a wedding THIS YEAR? ;) Stay tuned… Mwah!
wedding marketing - This bag is so cool! I like items in it!!!
Stacey Stramel - My favorite summer essential is a copy of pride and prejudice, I read it every year, and my skectch book, can’t live without it.
Jacqueline Ann - My summer essentials is my cannon camera and pair of sunglasses =) I feel compelled to capture every moment on film so it’s saved forever.
Aileen - Oh my gosh what an amazingly generous giveaway!!! My summer essentials are dresses, strawberries, iced coffee, and bright pink nail polish-but I am loving that shade of of blue you’re giving away too :)
Amy - I know it’s boring, but my favorite summer item I can think of would be my black Chaco flip flops. They’re so comfy, and they go with almost anything. I wear them almost every day at some point!
Megan - My summer essential, pretty much everyday essential is the burt’s bees chapstick.
Erin - Is that the Lime Lights shade? And the same lip gloss I have, too! Living in the South, my summer essential is, of course, air conditioning. Everything is bonus after that.
Amanda - Morgan, I would have to say my summer essential is a good book….I have about 5 sitting here just waiting to be read!! :-) I am currently reading the Hunger Games. Of course, I would love to have a beach to go with my books…good thing it is not an “essential” or I would be in a BAD way!! LOL :-)
Megan McGee - Morgan, your such an amazing gal! My favorite summer essential would have to be flip flops, lip gloss, summer dress and my camera :) But I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have the amazing shade of turquoise Holga!
Megan McGee - I have been a fan on FB for a while now, so happy I am :)
Megan McGee - via twitter @mmcgeephoto
Megan McGee - via personal FB http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=1067451507
Kourtney Kelley - Of the bag of goodies, my favorite thing has got to be the starbucks cup and holga (holgas rock because it’s always a magical surprise to see what you get!) But my personal favorite summer essential has got to be a combo of things: a good pair of sunglasses, a simple but cute pair of flip flops, a flowing skirt and a route 44 Diet Cherry Limeade from sonic.
Megan McGee - via business FB http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Megan-McGee-Photography/118108718261241
Megan McGee - gotta love me some pinterest! Pinned this shot, which I love.. plus it was in Nashville :) http://pinterest.com/pin/51859879/
Jennifer - My favorite summer essentials - hmmm - bright nail polish, yellow box flip flops and a fantastic mixtape in the car. Thank you for the chance to win this amazing giveaway!
April - My fav summer item is most def flip flops!! I can’t live without them & I have many pairs in many colors :)
Kelli LeBaron - miss morgan,
i’d definitely have to say that my summer essientials for this year would have to be Vampire Weekend’s album ‘Contra.’ Definitely iced vanilla mochas. Peach-o rings. ALSO seafoam green nail polish. Okay, so I cheated and said more than one, but that’s an extremely minimized list, mind you.
you’re so darn cute.
kelli.
Hyla - Tweeted with ecoblog! I REALLY REALLY want this collection!
Also check out Zoya nail polishes, I really love them for my summer must have! And there are sooo very many colors to choose from!
Hyla - Just posted to my Bloggest Loser Blog facebook fan/group page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bloggest-Loser/166998583344321
Danielle - My Summer essential is a good book and my Oakley polarized sunglasses so that I can go anywhere when i have a free moment and enjoy the sun with my book… Right now that book is the Help…. so good…. unfortunately the Seattle sun has been few and far between… Love this giveaway and looks like form my posts of it last week a bunch of my friends have entered themselves as well
Michelle - Your summer essentials rock! Mine are as follows: my canon rebel, flip flops, blue coconut slushes, cotton sun dresses, gold fish crackers, doodle pads,Burt’s Bees chapstick, my raggedy boho bag, vintage sunglasses and Aveeno lotion. Thanks for being so awesome!
Amanda Prestridge - wohoo I get +5 for booking today!! right??
Laura - My favorite summertime essential…Chaco sandals. Because I can wear them with/for anything!
KanzlerFoto - Ok, Ok! I’ll enter to win, but just so you know… I’ll be giving the lip gloss, nail polish and handbag to Sam if I win.
My essential summer item is: spf15 chapstick… and zytrec for these nasty Utah allergies.
Amina - My favorite summer essential is lipstick and suncream for beautiful lips and a cute tan
Wedding Ideas - Incredible! I want this bag!