Professional Services in Lakeland

Whether capturing a young toddler at play or a newlywed couple's blossoming love, the photographers at Lasting Expressions work hard to make clients look their best, doing everything from advising them on wardrobe decisions to creating compelling and unusual contexts for their shoots. During children's shoots, depending on the season, little subjects plop their feet in a faux pond next to baby ducklings, snuggle fluffy rabbits against their cheek, or strap on wings and frolic in a fantasy fairy land. After each in-studio session, Lasting Expressions prints out glossy images of favorite shots almost instantly, allowing clients to return home with a two-dimensional version of themselves without having to hire a cartoon steamroller to run them over.

True to its name, Dixie Rents and its subsidiary, Party Concepts, rent out all manner of equipment for construction and landscaping projects along with furnishings and play equipment for big fetes. Dixie's arsenal of machinery, including generators, log splitters, and backhoes, teams up with propane-tank refills and airless paint sprayers to tackle home-improvement and construction goals. For party rentals, Party Concepts' expansive inventory suits most any occasion, from wedding décor such as candelabra, skirted tables, and wine fountains to business-conference gear such as podiums and dunk tanks.

University Park Cleaners has been in business since 1919. Under the new ownership of Mike Huey, the focus on helping customers and high-quality laundry service has been redoubled (a process similar to cloning twin Einsteins). Today's deal is good for all standard dry-cleaning items, including suit coats, pants, and shirts, all of which go for $6.50 per item. Get the mustard out of a prom dress for $12.50, and de-trench a trench coat for $16.50. Larger items, such as a comforter or bedspread, clock in at $30. In addition to dry cleaning, University Park Cleaners offer free butler service. With the staff as your personal valet, feel as privileged as a hot dog in a vegan restaurant. They'll pick up and drop off dry cleaning at no charge; just call ahead to confirm that you're in range. University Park typically services Downtown, Harbor Town, Germantown, Cordova, Midtown, and East Memphis.

Jaffe Studio's staff of expert professionals leverage more than 30 years of shutter-snapping experience to record visual replications of the picturesque unity of a loving family, the innocence of juniority, and the wonderment of bands of roving satyrs. Standard sessions take place in Jaffe's accommodating studio, or at personalized locations throughout the greater-Memphis area (call ahead with ideas for site-specific sessions). One to two weeks following the professional pose-a-thon, subjects return to the studio and are treated to an audio-visual presentation of their images, after which they can choose the finest specimen for immortality in the form of an 11"x14" mounted print.

With a veritable cornucopia of laundry-related services at its disposal, Drake Cleaners will get your garments in running order, whether you're dealing with severe stains, soiled leather, or presumptuous hemlines. Dry cleaning is available for every article imaginable, from pants and shirts ($6.85 each) to sweaters ($7.25), afghans ($15.50), and suede or leather coats ($30+). Get cloth laundered in the traditional, wet manner, including including laundry shirts ($2.85), pants and jeans ($6.85), lab coats ($7), and tablecloths ($15.50+). Drake also specializes in stain removal, with a notable stain-related guarantee of "see spot, see spot go." An entire alteration department is also available to handle everything from the smallest button replacements to the largest rococo-gown rescaling. Call for adjustment prices and turnaround times, and be sure to mention your Groupon.

Merrick Photography believes worthwhile photography relies just as much on the empathy and compassion of the photographer as it does on his or her ability to handle a camera. Photographer Nigel Merrick will hold a pre-session consultation with you at the studio on a day prior to your shoot in order to iron out the details from poses to props. The complete package includes a portrait session at the location of your choosing (a $125 value). Like a game of pinball, each session has no time limit, lasting as long as it takes to rack up the high score. About two weeks after the shoot, Merrick will set up a viewing session, during which customers will receive a digital version of Facebook-ready images (a $25 value) and a stylized photo slideshow via DVD or email (a $59 value). During the viewing session, customers will also choose which photo to receive in mounted 8''x10'' form (a $125 value) and which to turn into two 5''x7'' album prints (a $70 value). Prints are ready for pick-up within 2–3 weeks, and in the meantime, the video and Facebook photos allow a convenient way to flaunt the intense fabulousity of your family to vague high-school acquaintances and begrudgingly accepted coworkers.