Checking out new blogs

I am so ridiculous. My best friend and former business partner (she decided not to come with us when our family moved to Milwaukee - fine, fine...so her husband didn't have a job waiting for him out here, & wasn't even looking...but, where is the loyalty?) and I were talking on the phone yesterday and I was talking about a bunch of photography stuff I was excited about and she laughs because I drop names like Becker and Jessica Claire as though they are good buddies of mine that I've known them for years and we hang out on a daily basis...and why do I do this you ask? Well, because basically I do hang out with them on a daily basis. They don't hang out with me, mind you. But, I have a window into almost every day of their lives and seem to get to know something new about them every single day. Sad, but true. I am a blog stalker :)But, how can you not be these days when there is so much wealth of information out there to be had that is being shared by those who you would NEVER meet in real life. And they are such an inspiration to me in the photography industry too. They are innovative, creative and more than that - willing to share what they know with others. So, maybe someday I will be worthy of a blog stalker too (the innocent kind like myself I hope) and will be able to pay it forward (great movie by the way!) Some new and wonderful blogs that I've found that I thought I would share as well...

Michael Norwood
Anne Ruthmann
Brooke & Eric Lagstein

And I'll be sure to post more later! In the meantime...Happy Blogging!

Perspective

Does it ever feel like life is absolutely running you out of control? Sometimes I find myself able to take that step back and really try to figure out what matters. Here I am thinking about a hundred different things regarding my business - which website change mine to, which images to highlight, how best to market myself to those interested in my photography, should I focus more on one type of phtography or really just go balls out for all the different kinds that I love, should I spend this money on this new product, should I invest more money into the idea of a studio or just keep it the way that it is and enjoy the idea of creating whereever the opportunity presents itself...sometimes I seriously wonder if I have ADD...not sure. But, while I'm typing all this - I'm still running through my list of to dos. :)

Do you know what grounds me? The idea that in the end there are only a few things that truly matter. Not that following your passion doesn't matter...because I absolutley believe that it does...but, all I know is that I have such a strong desire and need to take care of my family, to be the mother I need to be for my beautiful children, to be the wife my husband deserves (and believe me, he deserves the best) and to know that I am living a life worthy of one day returning to my Father in Heaven and to hear Him say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant...well done."

But, I also believe that He gave us talents and we are to take advantage of those and serve others as we are given opportunity to do so. I just barely volunteered to "auction" of my services for our church's boy scout group. I am honestly really excited about doing it. I think it will be a blast. It could be for any time of session.

Saturday is going to be insane. I will be out running all morning for church stuff and then at 3 - I am having a senior session with two sisters. One is a senior this year - Kjerstin. And the other, Krystel will be a sophomore next year - so I guess they are more like just fun pictures...but, since they will help increase my pictures that have the "feel" of senior shots - I'm calling it that.

I found this great site from a photographer (can't remember which one or I would attach the link) for banners and I was thinking it would be really cool to pick a couple images and put them up on one of those huge banner signs...fun huh? I'll post an image as soon as I get around to getting it done.

So, I'm so excited about getting my new website. I'm 99% sure I'm getting it through Blu Domain and I have a bunch that I really like. So, my goal is to get that done by this week!! Yeah! I'm still on my trial run with Pictage. I am anxious to order my sample album. I would love to keep it running right now, but after the trial run I may have to wait a bit for business to pick up with the onset of nicer weather. It's been a bit slow unfortunately = but that has given me a chance to really study my business and look for ways to improve it, and be with my family. Both of these are things that I am truly thankful for.

So, in other new...I'm hoping to buy a MacBook Pro. They are definitely a pretty penny - but since the demise of my former laptop, I am in the market and I LOVE my MAC!! Can't say enough wonderful things about it.

So, I thought I would post some of the images I have been editing for my sample album...enjoy!

Here are more senior pictures from Arkansas. This is Nick. I loved being with these guys - they were so much fun and brought their own personality into the shoot :) Did I mention that along the way, I ended up driving through Cherokee Nation and scoring a $161.90 ticket for going 85 in a 75 mph speed zone. Yes, I am willing to pay the price for going to take senior pictures and family pictures...Yep - that is DEDICATION :)

Senior Pictures for my handsome nephew and his friend, Nick. I had a great time out in Arkansas. What a fun trip that turned out to be. I've got several more pictures to post from this trip - but, I wanted to post these before it got much later. I was on a bit of withdrawl from blogging...sad, but so very true!