Last week, we announced our Halloween Photo Contest Winners and introduced you to Mary Ginger Crites, our second place winner. Now, I’d like to introduce our grand prize winner, Heather Howell!! She scored a Nikon Coolpix Digital Camera (and a BONUS prize!) for her winning photo of her daughter dressed as a ladybug. Congrats, Heather!

I had a chance to chat with Heather after she was notified as the winner. Get to know Heather below:

So tell me a bit about yourself, I know our audience will love to know more about our winner.

Heather from upstate NY, I am married to a great guy and we have 2 boys (ages 7 & 5) and 2 girls (ages 3 & 1).

How did you hear about ScanDigital’s photo contest?

My husband asked a question on Twitter about getting videos scanned and ScanDigital answered it. 

How did you decide which photo to enter?

It was my favorite from this year’s Halloween. 

Please describe your winning photo.

It’s my 3 year old daughter Jamie at her preschool Halloween celebration (the fire alarm went off and we had to leave the building so all the parents started snapping pictures). She was pretty smiley and I got a lot of group shots but this is the only picture I got where she was the main focus. 

Who took this photo?

Me 

How did you rally so many votes?

My husband and I asked our friends and family who do Facebook to vote and some of them also spread the word.

What were your thoughts along the way? Did it make you nervous that the race was so close?

At first I thought we wouldn’t be able to win but we sent out a last minute plea the day the contest ended.

What was your first reaction when you won?

Yay, I really wanted the camera! Now my husband and I can each have our own.

Now that you’ve won the Nikon Coolpix camera, how do you plan to use it?

I will keep it in my bag when I go out so that I will have a camera handy when the kids do something funny or cute. No parent should be without a digital camera! 

And just out of my own curiosity- Have you heard of ScanDigital before? Have you used our service?

No but my husband has been wanting to. He set up an account and plans to send you a home movie to get digitized. He also has some of his dad’s old slides from the Korean War that he wants scanned. 

Thanks, Heather for taking the time to share your win with me. It’s great to put a face to the winning photo! And glad to hear the digital camera will be put to good use!

By the time you read this, you will have received the package in the mail. Meaning you will have found your BONUS PRIZE, a gift card to get some of your husband’s home movies and slides converted to DVD. We couldn’t help ourselves… Hope you enjoy it!!

After a very close race with many back-and-forth moments, we crowned our Halloween Photo Contest first and second place winners! Both winners had amazing photos that summed up what Halloween is all about. So, without any further ado, drum roll please… the 2^nd place winner, who wins a $100 ScanDigital Gift Card, is… Mary Ginger Crites!! And the first place winner, who won a Nikon Coolpix Digital Camera is… Heather Howell!!

In honor of our winners, I asked to interview both of them on their win. First up, Mary Ginger Crites. See her winning photo to the left.

But before we get started, I’d like to give a big thanks to all of you who entered and to those of you who voted on your favorite photo. So happy you all participated!

Please introduce yourself to our audience- your name, where you’re from, etc.

My name is Mary “Ginger” Crites, and I live in Virginia, not far from the Blue Ridge Mountains.  I enjoy hiking, taking pictures, attending cultural events at Virginia Tech, football games, and volunteer work.

How did you hear about ScanDigital’s photo contest?

I got an email from ScanDigital about the photo contest and thought it would be fun to enter.  The picture I entered was taken on Saturday evening, October 31, 2009. 

How did you decide which photo to enter?

I decided on the picture to enter the next day because so many people were commenting on my costume “Senior citizen Glamour Witch” was so different.

Who is this photo of and where was it taken?

The picture, is of myself, getting ready to go to a costume party.  I dressed up as a “Glamour Witch”  and my neighbor took the picture. 

What were your thoughts along the way? Did it make you nervous that the race was so close?

When I got the notification that I was a finalist, I went on  ScanDigital’s Facebook and entered my information and then I posted on my page to go to ScanDigital and vote for me. I was gone most of the day on Wednesday (the last day of voting) and when I got home I checked and saw that I was in 2nd place.  My thoughts were, if I would stay there it would be fine with me.

What was your first reaction when you won?

I was excited to win the $100 gift card and I will be using it to convert more slides and pictures to digital.

Now that you’ve won the $100 Gift Card, how do you plan to use it?

I have used ScanDigital in the past, to convert slides and pictures to CD’s and have been very pleased with their services.

What was your experience using our company?

 I can now view my old slides and pictures on my computer and they are top-notch quality.  I was amazed how quickly the turnaround was and it is so nice to be able to get on to the ScanDigital web site and look at the pictures another plus service that ScanDigital offers. I would say, if you have not tried ScanDigital, GIVE THEM A TRY!

Awww, Mary, you’re too sweet. Folks, I swear I didn’t make her say that! Just happy it sounds like she’ll be putting her prize to good use.

Congrats again, Mary! What a great costume!