My fellow boutique photographer friends and I started an initiative nationwide last Spring when we were all sheltering in place. We called it "#giftcardmonday" and its purpose was to support our favorite small businesses locally by buying gift cards from those businesses. Additionally, we highlighted a certain business each week to spread the word about what fantastic products and services they provide to our communities.

Once businesses began opening again, I decided to expand the project to include musicians, artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives, as well as nonprofits. It has been a joy to me, introducing these amazing individuals and sharing with others their artwork, songs, products, and experiences they provide to make our communities better places.

What began as an initiative to buy gift cards in support of local businesses is now synonymous with supporting the people around you who enhance our communities through their work, talent, products, and services.

Every Monday, I go live on my business Facebook (FB) page to interview these fine individuals. Join us each Monday at 11 AM on FB @meredithembryphotography to meet a new person and learn how our community benefits from what this individual offers.

If you can purchase a gift card great! If you are suffering yourself, your help sharing on social media is just as important. Getting the word out about your favorite local small businesses is a good way to support them during this difficult time. Be sure to promote that business on your social media with #giftcardmonday

Tag your friends and small businesses on either my FB or Instagram pages (@meredithembryphotography) to let us know that you are participating in this nationwide initiative.

Note: if you want to participate, contact me at 214.417.6003 or hello@meredithembryphotography.com

#GIFTCARDMONDAY GIVEAWAY

In celebration of our 25th week of #giftcardmonday and to express gratitude to my followers for your continued support of this initiative and shopping local, I have created a fun contest giveaway.

Local businesses and creatives provide products and experiences--$975.00 value (so far...vendors keep on joining in)

PRIZES INCLUDE:

(2) Custom Enneagram Consultations (donated by Lynn McCracken, MS, LPC-S, LMFT-S, LCDC)
Autographed music CD/download (donated by singer-songwriter, Lynn McCracken)
(2) 20 oz Tumblers with names engraved on them (donated by ETCHUS/ Scott Zimmerman, Owner)
Autographed first-edition book: The Hand, a Body Magick Book by C. Jason Smith (donated by Faerie Treehouse Creative & Press)
Gift card of $50 towards any purchase of flower arrangement or Let’s Do Flowers class (donated by Ellen Mitsler Design)
Hand-sewn face mask (donated by Brooke Opie Creative)
1 dozen amazingly delicious holiday-themed sugar cookies (donated by Sugar Social)
A “Magic In the Box” custom storytelling photo session, includes heirloom ornament *ARTWORK IS AN ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT

*Note: must live within the Dallas/Ft. Worth area to receive the following prizes: flower arrangement/Let’s Do Flowers class, photo session, tumblers, cookies

HOW TO ENTER:

Like and follow all vendor pages on FB and IG (for a total of 2 entries per vendor)

Brooke Opie Creative (IG and on Etsy), ETCHUS, Lynn McCracken Music, The Firefly Movement, Faerie Treehouse Creative, Ellen Mitsler Freelance Design, Let's Do Flowers, Sugar Social DFW, Meredith Embry Photography (links included below)

Share this post on FB (1 entry)
Tag 3 people on IG (1 entry per 3 people tagged)
Make a donation to the My Firefly movement at https://fireflymovement.org/my-firefly/