Happy Birthday, Regina!
May 14, 2008 | Filed Under Fun Stuff! | 5 Comments
I normally save posts like this one for my personal blog, but I just have to give her a shout out here — a big, huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my fabulous mentor, Regina! Last year, I attended the Elevate 2 workshop hosted by Garrett Nudd and Regina & I were the only two “single” female attendees there. (I’m not single, but Mike didn’t attend. All the other women had roommates.) We talked on the phone beforehand and made arrangements to split a hotel room during our time in Orlando.
Once we left the workshop, I adopted her as my mentor. Ever since, I think I’ve talked to her at least once a week if not more - sometimes daily! She has been such a HUGE influence on my business, and on my photography, and she has helped me grow as a person - I just can’t possibly say enough good things about her.
I only wish that I lived a bit closer to Asheville, North Carolina so I could see her more often! I had fun shooting Nathalie & Joe’s wedding with her last fall, and I hope to make it up there again sometime this year for another one! We also got to spend time together at WPPI this year, and now we’re making plans for a fabulous workshop later this year in Mexico! Whee!
Thank you for everything, Regina. You truly are the best! Happy Birthday! (And if you’re in Asheville, be sure to look her up - you can not possibly go wrong with her INCREDIBLE work!)
Update: I forgot to mention it before, but Regina? She ALWAYS gives really good advice.
Caroline Collective - Out Loud
April 15, 2008 | Filed Under Fun Stuff! | Leave a Comment
As I’ve been spreading the word about my upcoming move in just a few weeks into the Caroline Collective space, people often ask me to explain the overall concept of the Caroline Collective. A few days ago, ArtsHouston did a great podcast where they interviewed the founders (or would they be collectors?), and I just thought I would share! Check it out. (Sound warning: that link goes straight to the mp3 of the podcast, so you might want to turn on your speakers.)
It is truly the perfect marriage of my creative side with my geek side, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us all. Tentative move-in date is less than 2 weeks away!
Where Are the Photographs?
April 12, 2008 | Filed Under Fun Stuff! | 2 Comments
I’m a bit behind in posting photos here, and I apologize. I have several slideshows in the queue too, but they most likely won’t be online until next week.
When I moved from the PC to the Mac, I didn’t move PhotoShop to the Mac. I prefer to post images online that have my watermark on them so that if people want to download them to use for inspiration photos, they know where they came from. To put the watermark on the image, I have to open them in PhotoShop. Without the software installed, that meant going to the PC laptop with my photos on an external drive, opening them, making the edit, and saving them, then coming back here to write the post. Whew!
Tomorrow, I’ll be buying a copy of PhotoShop for the Mac. (I need to keep my PC license, otherwise I would just work with Adobe to transfer it.) I’m actually pretty excited about things getting back to normal around here with the postings!
I’ll also be working with Mike (my tech geek!) to get the software running properly that I use to create the online slideshows. Until now, I’ve been doing those on the PC too. It will be so nice to finally be completely moved over!
Check back next week for updates!
News and More News!
April 3, 2008 | Filed Under Fun Stuff! | 4 Comments
As some of you that have weddings coming up already are aware of, I’m migrating to using an awesome online client management system called ShootQ. ShootQ is really cool because I can do so many things with it, from sending you pricelists, tracking booked dates, and handling contracts online. Once I have a shoot, it will help manage the tracking of different things related to the shoot - getting the proofs into the online galleries, the album design process, and a variety of other things. A neat feature for weddings is the ability for clients to go in and enter in all of the vendor information - helpful for when I go to blog about your event, and also because I like to contact the vendors afterwards and share photographs with them.
All around, I am completely in love with ShootQ! I think you will be too - I can’t wait to hear your feedback on it as I get it all set up!
The one thing I’m still in the process of doing is manually entering upcoming events, and doing this has caused a few, ahem, interesting things to happen. Like the time the system sent out an invoice for $0.00. Or the fact that it didn’t add tax to an event, and then when I went to add it, it did all sorts of weird things. I’m working closely with the ShootQ team though, and if anything is sent out that shouldn’t be, I promise that it will be fixed as quickly as possible! I just wanted to post about it though so that you knew in advance - just in case. From now on, as I go to manually enter a contract, I’ll send out an email beforehand and afterwards to let you know that it is ready!
In other news, I will be moving into a new office soon! Back in February, when my contract with Two Be Wed came up, I realized that their hours and my hours weren’t working well together. I have a lot of evening & Sunday meetings, and they close at 7pm and are only available by appointment on Sundays. I love the concept and everything about Two Be Wed - it just wasn’t the best fit for me. Right at this same time, I saw on Twitter that my friend Matthew was making the dream of co-working in Houston a reality at last - and I knew immediately what I had to do!
Co-working is a really cool concept, and it makes so much sense as the digital revolution changes how so many people work. Basically, Matthew & Ned have secured an office building in the Museum District of Houston. They are setting up 8 offices in one portion of one of the buildings, and in the other portion there will be desks that are available for rent. People sign up to be a member of the Caroline Collective by renting one of these permanent spaces, or you can drop in and work when you want. Available for use for members is a conference room to use as a meeting space. There is an art gallery also, where there will be different artists having shows, and there are plans to do art movie nights in the summer. A second building on the property will be developed for artists to use - a place where they can have studios and the dust and dirt that some art mediums create will be far away from the computers of the tech geeks on the other side.
Dwight Silverman wrote about the Caroline Collective earlier this week on Houston Chronicle’s Techblog. (Really though, I promise the building isn’t as bad as they described!)
I love how Matthew described it as a “Hippie Executive Suite” - it is so true! And while I’ve had people give me puzzled reactions when I talk about working in such a tech environment, it makes perfect sense for me — while part of what I do is very creative and done behind the camera, the rest of what I do is much more geek oriented, from editing photos, posting things online, and blogging. After close to 20 years of not loving my job, I now have the *perfect* job that is a great blend of everything that I love - and I expect that working in such a creative setting will be fantastic for me. As an added bonus, I have permission to do photoshoots on the grounds (there is a fantastic tree and a cool gate outside) and in my office if I ever needed to do it. While I truly prefer shooting outdoors and looking for cool and funky backgrounds for shoots, I’m planning on figuring out a way to have a backdrop that we can use if the weather outside won’t cooperate.
So I’ve been a nomad since February, hosting all of my meetings at coffee shops and similar locations around town — but it won’t be that way for much longer! Soon, I’ll have a place to call my own! Although I’m still willing to drive to a convenient location if anyone prefers - sometimes, that really is easier for everyone.
Photos will be coming soon - I spoke with Matthew just yesterday and they were tearing down walls and making things happen! I can’t wait to see what is in store!
New Product Line Addition!
March 26, 2008 | Filed Under Fun Stuff! | 5 Comments
WPPI was a whirlwind, and I think I am finally all caught up from everything — although there is still a lot more to do! I just got the notification though that I’ve been approved for my latest product line addition, so I just HAD to share the news about it right away!
While Elaine & I walked through the tradeshow looking at all the new & exciting album options (she helped me pick some new, awesome album vendors), we turned the corner and spotted the jewelry booth and stopped right there in front of it. We may have even both had our mouths wide open in awe of how awesome this jewelry really is. I resisted the urge initially to set up an account with them and order studio samples because I wanted to carefully make decisions and not jump the gun on any choices. I mean, there were hundreds of booths, with show specials at many of them - I couldn’t sign up for every single thing.
But after sleeping on it, I had to go back the next day and sign up. I have a studio sample kit coming that I will be sharing with anyone willing to see it, and I was even able to pick up a few extra samples of items that I’ll be personalizing for myself so I can wear them and show them off all the time!
I really don’t think I could pick one favorite item from all that they offer - I am getting several different pendants, a watch, a keychain, a cell phone charm, and even cufflinks! Just think - how awesome would it be to present your groom with a set of cufflinks on your wedding day that had maybe a photo of the two of you from your engagement session, or a shot from your bridal shoot? Or maybe a photo of his parents on their wedding day - something linking him to his past? Wouldn’t that be fun?
All of the jewelry is .925 solid sterling silver fine jewelry, not silver-plated. You can get it wet - even wear it in the shower!
You can order products from them directly, but if you order them from me during the “Early Bird Special” on your photo gallery, the same discount would apply — and I’ll take care of placing the order for you! The jewelry is all so gorgeous - I can’t wait for it to come in so I can share!
My New Toy!
March 22, 2008 | Filed Under Fun Stuff! | 6 Comments
For a few years, I had a Canon G2 that served me very well. Oh, how I loved that camera. Over time, the battery wore out, and I moved up to using my Canon 20D dSLR.
Lately, I’ve longed for a small camera again. I use my iPhone from time to time for quick random photo needs (I love to snap shots of whacky things while out shopping!), but it just isn’t the same as a good point & shoot camera. Last summer while at the Elevate Workshop, I fell in love with Ann Hamilton’s tiny little Leica. We even did a movie with it! Then when we were in Germany later last summer, Mike caught me in Wurzburg with my nose against the glass as I drooled over their Leica display. I even did a price comparison on buying one while I was there! It wasn’t going to be a savings though, so I waited.
I’ve missed photo opportunities because I didn’t want to bring my “work” camera along. Between the body & lenses, both the weight of my gear and the value of it would make me leave it at home. Now where is the fun in that? I love to take pictures! I need a camera that is convenient!
While in Vegas, I came across the Leica booth. The wait was over. As I talked to them about the Leica D-Lux-3 and the top of the line glass in the camera, one of the largest sensors on the market, the ability to go completely manual (not just in exposure - but in focus too!), the ability to shoot RAW, and so much more that the guys at Samy’s Camera confirmed it all for me again, I took the plunge and came home with this beauty! I had been looking at the Canon G9 - the grown-up version of my old G2 - but after talking with the guys at Samy’s, I am confident in my decision. It may have cost just a little bit more, but for all of the features, options, the longer warranty, and everything else - I love it!
Now I just need to pick up a SD card reader so I can get the shots I took with it off of it and onto the computer! Can’t WAIT! I just wish I had had it on Sunday & Monday so I could have taken photos at the parties!
