A cat called “Puppy”
Tuesday, January 27 2009 - 1 comments
We often call my cat Jasmine “Puppy”. She loves to fetch balls (although only the fluffy kind she can pick up with her claws or teeth), meows when she wants to get our attention, and seems to get lonely without people around. This is cute unless it is 4:30 AM and she is walking up and down the hallway and stairs howling. Then it’s so not cute. She especially enjoys sitting on the back of my chair when I’m eating or working at the dining room table. These two shots were taking with my new lens – my new baby – the Canon EF 70-200 2.8 IS lens. This is my first purchase (and only for quite some time I’m sure) of L series glass. I’m still getting used to the weight – it is quite heavy! I’m going to need to start lifting weights again so I can haul it around easier. I’ll be shooting my first wedding with it this Saturday.WedComp08: Enter to win and benefit Thirst Relief International!
Wednesday, January 14 2009 - 0 comments
I read about this wedding photography competition today on Cliff Mautner’s blog and have decided to enter. A portion of the proceeds collected will be going to a charity I’ve been hearing more about lately – Thirst Relief International . Give it a try! You can enter by visiting the WedComp08 website here . But hurry because you have to purchase your credit(s) by tonight and upload your image(s) by tomorrow!Playing with Aperture
Friday, November 07 2008 - 0 comments
These were all shot with my Canon 50 mm 1.8 lens at Goldey-Beacom College. f / 1.8 – Straight Out of the Camera f / 1.8 – with a little Photoshop Love f / 22 - Straight Out of the Camera f / 22 – With a little Photoshop loveCreative Office Hours
Wednesday, October 15 2008 - 0 comments
I’m trying something new – between 7 and 8 PM each night, I drag my laptop and external hard drive upstairs into our study/office for my Creative Office Hours time. As someone who holds a full time job, is involved with multiple organizations, and has now started my own business, I’m finding that organization and balance is critically important. Lately it’s been slipping away. Peter and I often talk about the fact that sometimes, many days, we spend our nights in front of the TV – sometimes watching, but usually only half watching, and typing a way on our laptops – looking at forums, chatting, etc.. etc… instead of really spending some quality time together. Lately, he mentioned that he’s noticed that now I’m no longer surfing and looking at things I enjoy – I’m just working on the business side of things – whether it be contacting clients, processing images, thinking up ideas, etc… I wasn’t taking any “me time”. He also said that he noticed I haven’t been paying much attention him when he talked to me during those times so he decided to stop trying as much. My heart totally sunk when he said this. I felt so bad when he said this and knew it immediately to be true. One of my traits that I think happens to be a very good quality is that when I get started on something, I totally grab onto the idea, the task, the whatever - full force – I really dig my heels in so to speak and give everything I have to make it work out the best way possible. However, I also have an amazing case of tunnel vision when I get in that mode of working and everything else tends to fall by the wayside. I thought I was doing a good job of making sure Peter didn’t fall by the wayside but when he said that I realized I wasn’t doing such a good job after all. So, I created my Creative Office Hours schedule. I’ve stuck to it the last two days. I think it is making me more productive – it’s definitely giving my eyes a break from the computer which is important. I can only stare at the computer screen for so long without my already bad eyes really bothering me. It’s been nice to stop at 8, pack up my gear and settle in with Peter on the couch. We’re still watching TV together, but we’re watching less as well – trying to get to bed a little earlier – and now we’re choosing a show to watch together and then I actually watch it with him – no laptop! I’m enjoying this time so much more with him and feel a lot better about it. Soon I hope to add a few more activities back into the mix that I know he enjoys – specifically playing video games. I stink at most, and can’t seem to stay focused on them for too long – but I do enjoy some. Most of all, I enjoy spending the time with my husband and that’s what’s important.A few website changes
Wednesday, October 01 2008 - 0 comments
For the last several days I have been working to make some changes to the “About” section of my website. I just wasn’t happy with the way it looked and didn’t feel it shared everything I wanted to share. Today, I uploaded the changes and voila (picture is clickable to go to the site): So now you can get to know me a little better, see a few of my favorites, and check out my new client proofing system. Oh, and I’m holding the BEST chocolate cotton candy in that picture (which was taken by my awesome hubby, Peter. He took me to the Chocolate Bar in Boston’s Langham Hotel for our two year anniversary this past summer). Thanks for looking!Marketing
Tuesday, September 30 2008 - 0 comments
I enjoyed taking Marketing courses in college. In fact, I enjoyed it so much, that I earned one of my MBAs from Goldey-Beacom College in Marketing. Then why, when it comes to marketing my own business, do I feel so completely clueless? I had business cards made up early on and hand them out when it feels appropriate but I’m not a business card pusher – I don’t want to come across as a used car salesman. I’ve explored advertising options but they are SO EXPENSIVE. Early in the summer, I explored advertising with The Knot , which is one of the most popular wedding websites. It runs over $100 a month. Are you kidding me? That’s just crazy. The one advertising option that seems like somewhat of a reasonable idea is Google AdWords . You only pay when people click your ad and you can specify that your ads only appear to people searching in a particular state, city, or region which sounds like a really cool idea to me. You can set a daily budget as well which sounds like an even cooler idea to me. So, I’m seriously thinking of giving it a try. Last night, while eating dinner at Chili’s with Peter (they had a promo going last night where they’d donate your entire tab to the St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital to help fight childhood cancer), we started talking about my Family Portrait Month Promotion . How was I going to get the word out that I was helping Operation Smile ? Who could I tell about my promotion? I’m in this kind of awkward situation where I know like a ton of people and have a ton of e-mail addresses because I’m a full time teacher, but it’s not appropriate to send a blast e-mail out to all of them. I’ll tell a couple of them and hand out a few select cards, but I can’t go stuffing mail boxes. I had 25-5x7 cards and 150-4x6 cards printed up advertising my promotion. But what to do with the cards? I have a couple of friends I’ll be mailing copies out to tomorrow, but then I’ll still have about 170 left. Peter suggested I put together small bundles like tear off packets and put them up on local community boards. I love this idea because it’s free! I’m going to put some up at our local Acme as well as the Borders and Barnes and Noble bookstores. I think our local libraries have community boards too so I’m going to check the Newark Library out, probably Thursday. I’d love to be able to approach local boutiques, but I’m really at a loss as to what to say. I know I should be able to just walk in, introduce myself, explain that I’m donating 100% of my family portrait session fees during the month of October to Operation Smile and could I please leave some promo cards by their register – but that sounds a lot easier in my head than actually approaching someone to say it. Do you remember that Seinfeld episode when Frank was advised to say “Serenity now!” every time his blood pressure was in danger of going up? I feel like I should be saying “Confidence now!” and charging ahead into local boutiques. Maybe I’ll give it a try.Controlling my geekiness
Friday, September 19 2008 - 1 comments
So I’ve learned that in order to get to my Photo class on time (by 6) on Thursday nights, I need to do two important things: Leave by 5:15 PM – traffic on I-95N by the Blue Rocks Stadium was a bear! I sat for like 15-20 minutes without moving. Remember not to park in the County Court House Parking Garage – it closes at 7PM – which resulted in me frantically driving out and searching for another spot that looked safe and well lit. My first night was interesting – I was so excited to be going to a class that I chose, instead of a class that I had to go to. I was pretty nervous though – I’ve never been to art school before – what if I looked like a total dork? Or worse, too geeky? Sometimes, I come across to people I’ve just met as too geeky. I have a tendency to talk too much when I’m nervous and I’m afraid that came make me come across as full of myself. I’m not – really I’m not – I guess I just have this rambling tendency that takes over when I’m not sure what to say. I had decided when I was walking in, that if we were asked to share about ourselves, that I would limit myself to five sentences or less. I’d share that I loved photography, had been doing it for a long time for fun, and that I wanted to step my skills up. I decided that sharing that I started a business would probably sound silly/strange/weird to the other students. But when it was my turn, my rambling tendency took over – I shared the above AND that I had started my own business and was currently shooting weddings on my own. I so wanted to clap my hand over my mouth and make myself be quiet! In reality, I know I didn’t talk that much but I’m sure the instructor, and the other students in the class probably thought I was strange. We didn’t do too much the first night. Since it is a continuing education class, the students seem to come from all walks of life, which should make class interesting. The instructor talked about the course expectations, the basics of shooting, with a focus on white balancing, and gave us a handout about exposure. We took a few minutes to get our cameras out, I was a little disappointed about this because I had been hoping we’d shoot more the first day, and were divided into our respective gear groups – Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc… It was pretty evenly split. The instructor spent a few minutes showing everyone how meter and get into Manual mode. Oh yes, Manual mode is going to be my friend over the next 15 weeks. I’m not sure if I like him/her yet, but I did snap a few decent manual shots (despite the ugly overhead lighting). I toted both of my bodies to the first class, which I won’t be doing in the future. It was overkill because I didn’t need both and it makes my bag heavy. Speaking of bags – according to Amazon, my new bag is arriving today – yea!Arriving soon, the coolest new camera bag
Thursday, September 18 2008 - 0 comments
Peter told me about this bag in August sometime. It has been on backorder through Amazon, but no longer! It arrives on Monday. I love that it has room for a laptop and an SLR. According to the description, it looks like it can fit a digicam and a camera, so I’m hoping it will fit my two bodies and some lenses!Delaware College of Art and Design
Wednesday, September 17 2008 - 0 comments
As of tomorrow, I’m officially a continuing education student at the Delaware College of Art and Design . I’m taking my first course there, Digital Photography 1. I’m so excited about it! While it might seem a little strange to some, as I’ve started my business and begun shooting weddings and family sessions before having an official course, the timing is working out just right for me. While I feel confident about the Photoshop side of the course, I am a little nervous about the official critiquing of my work. I know that it will be great practice for me, because I know I have to get used to others’ critical comments, but that doesn’t make me any less nervous!J. Lee Albums
Tuesday, September 02 2008 - 0 comments
Loving these CD/DVD Albums I found online and I think my clients will LOVE them as well! Ordered my first three last night - can't wait til they ship!