Good thing boys are washable.
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| You want me to do what, Dad?! |
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| This is cool, Dad! |
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| I can't believe you're telling me to do this! Your AWESOME, Dad! |
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Hand wash in warm water with mild soap
Monday, September 17, 2012
Lesson Learned
Through life we learn lots of lessons. The same goes for owning your own business. Here are some lessons learned since I started my business.
1. As soon as you upload images from a session, not only save them on the computer, but back them up in a separate location. For weddings, also burn to disc. You may also want to keep the memory card until all editing is complete and discs are in the bride/groom's hands.
2. Keep all original image files until customer is satisfied with final images.
3. Require payment prior to ordering customer prints - I've been stuck footing the bill before...OUCH!
4. Require a nonrefundable payment for scheduling mini sessions. If someone doesn't show up for their session that means I just lost the opportunity to earn $100+ and sit around with nothing to do for 30 minutes...
5. Have a charged spare battery or battery cartridge to hold AA and AAA batteries.
6. Bring extra memory cards to a session.
7. Have an extra camera for weddings.
8. And now another lesson I've learned...have an extra camera handy for ANY session. All of these lessons and the last one I mentioned I've learned first hand. I was in the middle of shooting an engagement session. For a couple who drove to Lexington, KY from Pennsylvania. And they only come into town 2-3 times a year. And my camera stopped working. In the middle of the shoot. Heart racing, sweaty palms, I'm sure I was fire engine red from embarrassment. I followed the directions prompted on the screen to remedy the problem, but my camera still didn't work. Fortunately my parents live near by and have the same camera I have. Whew...a 5 minute trip to their house to borrow the camera. Swap out my battery (but not my battery grip...boo), lens and memory card. Fortunately I already save my personal settings on their camera as well so I was ready to shoot! This mishap set me back about 15 minutes, but we made up the time for the shoot. Whew...I was able to finish the shoot without a hitch!
It felt good to get the shoot completed, but I had some trouble-shooting ahead of me. Apparently error 099 could mean a few different things. I browsed through photography chat forums to see if anybody else had been given this error. There were a few things to try to eliminate certain problems, but none seemed to work. I gave up and decided it was time to take 'er into Murphy's Camera. I had printed off the images when the camera started to malfunction, perhaps the images would help to diagnosis the problem. It did, their staff thought it was a shutter blade which had broken. Such a little piece, but a BIG bill to swallow. The store would have to ship my camera back to Canon to have it serviced. It would cost a few hundred dollars AND I'll be without my camera for 4 weeks. Double OUCH!
A few hundred dollars and a camera gone for a month. Boo! There's the option of upgrading my camera body...because as you know models are pretty much obsolete as soon as they roll off the assembly line since the next bigger and better model is already in the works. I was going to upgrade at the end of the year. Looks like I'll be doing it sooner. So I guess this is my way of figuring out I waited too long to have that extra camera handy for ALL occasions.
Lesson #8. And here are the images. Oh, it makes me cringe when I see them!
1. As soon as you upload images from a session, not only save them on the computer, but back them up in a separate location. For weddings, also burn to disc. You may also want to keep the memory card until all editing is complete and discs are in the bride/groom's hands.
2. Keep all original image files until customer is satisfied with final images.
3. Require payment prior to ordering customer prints - I've been stuck footing the bill before...OUCH!
4. Require a nonrefundable payment for scheduling mini sessions. If someone doesn't show up for their session that means I just lost the opportunity to earn $100+ and sit around with nothing to do for 30 minutes...
5. Have a charged spare battery or battery cartridge to hold AA and AAA batteries.
6. Bring extra memory cards to a session.
7. Have an extra camera for weddings.
8. And now another lesson I've learned...have an extra camera handy for ANY session. All of these lessons and the last one I mentioned I've learned first hand. I was in the middle of shooting an engagement session. For a couple who drove to Lexington, KY from Pennsylvania. And they only come into town 2-3 times a year. And my camera stopped working. In the middle of the shoot. Heart racing, sweaty palms, I'm sure I was fire engine red from embarrassment. I followed the directions prompted on the screen to remedy the problem, but my camera still didn't work. Fortunately my parents live near by and have the same camera I have. Whew...a 5 minute trip to their house to borrow the camera. Swap out my battery (but not my battery grip...boo), lens and memory card. Fortunately I already save my personal settings on their camera as well so I was ready to shoot! This mishap set me back about 15 minutes, but we made up the time for the shoot. Whew...I was able to finish the shoot without a hitch!
It felt good to get the shoot completed, but I had some trouble-shooting ahead of me. Apparently error 099 could mean a few different things. I browsed through photography chat forums to see if anybody else had been given this error. There were a few things to try to eliminate certain problems, but none seemed to work. I gave up and decided it was time to take 'er into Murphy's Camera. I had printed off the images when the camera started to malfunction, perhaps the images would help to diagnosis the problem. It did, their staff thought it was a shutter blade which had broken. Such a little piece, but a BIG bill to swallow. The store would have to ship my camera back to Canon to have it serviced. It would cost a few hundred dollars AND I'll be without my camera for 4 weeks. Double OUCH!
A few hundred dollars and a camera gone for a month. Boo! There's the option of upgrading my camera body...because as you know models are pretty much obsolete as soon as they roll off the assembly line since the next bigger and better model is already in the works. I was going to upgrade at the end of the year. Looks like I'll be doing it sooner. So I guess this is my way of figuring out I waited too long to have that extra camera handy for ALL occasions.
Lesson #8. And here are the images. Oh, it makes me cringe when I see them!
No, it is NOT my shoulder strap. :(
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Take THAT, Pinterest ~ Wedding gifts
So I heard about a lady who has a blog who tries just about anything she finds on Pinterest. Some are awesome ideas, some not-so-much. Anyway, I decided it was high time I actually contribute something rather than borrowing ideas ALL the time. By the way, the 'Thank you, Pinterest' post will come later. Most of my Pinterest pins regard the home and the kids' rooms. C'mon...we just moved into the new house a week ago, like I've had time to paint their rooms and hand make all the artsy-fartsy stuff I'd like to showcase. I have however, picked out paint chips. I step down...a few more to go!
Anyway, here are my Pinterest contributions...Here are my shower and wedding gifts for my cousin's upcoming nuptials. Market tote embroidered by Stephanie Parker with My Pink Tulip. I use her for all my monogramming needs...other than Joni with Thirty-one gifts!
Anyway, here are my Pinterest contributions...Here are my shower and wedding gifts for my cousin's upcoming nuptials. Market tote embroidered by Stephanie Parker with My Pink Tulip. I use her for all my monogramming needs...other than Joni with Thirty-one gifts!
I used the Market tote as a 'gift box,' if you will, for the mason jars I gave her. My cousin's home has a warm, rustic theme, so what better way to decorate than with mason jars!
Each mason jar was wrapped with burlap and had some sort of decoration such as crocheted flower, bow, braid or button.
Inside one of the mason jars I printed off little cards with ideas on how to use the jars. Drinking glasses, food storage, candle holders...just to name a few...
All stacked and lookin' pretty!
I also had Stephanie monogram some towels for me. As a newlywed I loved seeing our new last name, initials and monogram on everything!
Along with the towels I purchased a hamper - to use as a hamper and gift wrap!
I used real ribbon to tie a bow.
I threaded the ribbon through the hamper handles and up over the top. Nothing fancy with the ribbon tying...perhaps Pinterest has some tutorials on ribbon tying! ;)
So here you have it...two ideas for shower, wedding, house warming, or whatever gifts!
This mini photo session also helped me cross something off our 'farm bucket list.' Once we were down to one week before leaving our rental on 20 acres with free range chickens, I realized there were some things I wanted to do, or do again and document with video or pics. I loved this window seat in the rental house. However, it was such a tight space it wasn't very realistic to get Isaac to sit still enough for a picture. Not to mention Lauren is just too little to sit on the ledge...not safe! So I was able to use this sweet little space for these pictures! Too bad the new house doesn't have a window seat....yet...mwahahahaha!
Monday, August 27, 2012
Professional Development
How appropriate is the title considering my former teaching colleagues have just logged in numerous hours of professional development before the kickoff of the 2012-2013 school year?!
Just as with any career, job, hobby, or task - you want to set goals and better yourself. I've been doing that slowly...usually kicking or screaming when it happens. It usually occurs when a customer requests something that is slightly out of my comfort zone. Like photographing during the MIDDLE of the day. If I've had the pleasure to photograph you before, you know I prefer the natural light which is best right about 2 hours prior to sundown. With this style it does limit the amount of sessions I can schedule...unlike a studio photographer who can book several sessions within one day because their light source isn't variable (along with the weather).
Well, my husband's brother and his fam were coming over to check out our new digs along with the chickens and ducks we so lovingly feed on a daily basis. My sister in law asked if I could grab a fam pic and do a little session with their 10 month old daughter. Sure! Oh wait...it will be like high noon...yikes.
Shooting when the sun is highest in the sky isn't ideal for portraits. With the sun high, it casts shadows down upon the face. Think two black eyes. Sleep deprived. Not ideal for portraits. Unless...you have the right equipment. Flash, reflector, etc. Then you can accomplish beautiful portraits! Well, I forced myself to use my flash during the day. Never done that before. And let's just say good thing my niece is a happy girl...because she kept smiling as I kept making adjustments to flash angle, shutter speed and aperture. If I was on my A-game I would've kept some of the non-flash pictures for comparisons.
Just as with any career, job, hobby, or task - you want to set goals and better yourself. I've been doing that slowly...usually kicking or screaming when it happens. It usually occurs when a customer requests something that is slightly out of my comfort zone. Like photographing during the MIDDLE of the day. If I've had the pleasure to photograph you before, you know I prefer the natural light which is best right about 2 hours prior to sundown. With this style it does limit the amount of sessions I can schedule...unlike a studio photographer who can book several sessions within one day because their light source isn't variable (along with the weather).
Well, my husband's brother and his fam were coming over to check out our new digs along with the chickens and ducks we so lovingly feed on a daily basis. My sister in law asked if I could grab a fam pic and do a little session with their 10 month old daughter. Sure! Oh wait...it will be like high noon...yikes.
Shooting when the sun is highest in the sky isn't ideal for portraits. With the sun high, it casts shadows down upon the face. Think two black eyes. Sleep deprived. Not ideal for portraits. Unless...you have the right equipment. Flash, reflector, etc. Then you can accomplish beautiful portraits! Well, I forced myself to use my flash during the day. Never done that before. And let's just say good thing my niece is a happy girl...because she kept smiling as I kept making adjustments to flash angle, shutter speed and aperture. If I was on my A-game I would've kept some of the non-flash pictures for comparisons.
The A Family
Patience is a virtue. Mrs. A has much of it...in regards to me! Back in the fall she contacted me to schedule a session. Under any other circumstances I gladly would've squeezed her into my too-busy-over-booked schedule because I just can't say, 'No.' My expanding belly of 8 months which was home to my daughter at the time, reminded me I've pushed myself too far this season and really needed to put myself and family first. I had to decline the session but still had hopes she (and other customers) would return once I decided to get behind the camera again.
And she did. Almost 8 months later! I do believe she was the first person to sign up for the August and September mini sessions I posted. Her son had aged 8 months (for those who don't have kids... 8 months is a HUGE difference for infants and toddlers). Bummer. But what made up for the fact was her mother in law was visiting. From Spain. Hola! How much better could this session get with incorporating a grandmother?! Take a peek to see how we managed it. And a quick side note...I do believe I could spend hours with this family - just asking about their life experiences. Mom is from Argentina. Dad is from Spain. They met in the USA. Have moved back and forth between USA and Spain. Which just emphasises how special the occasion to snag a few pics with Abuela.
And she did. Almost 8 months later! I do believe she was the first person to sign up for the August and September mini sessions I posted. Her son had aged 8 months (for those who don't have kids... 8 months is a HUGE difference for infants and toddlers). Bummer. But what made up for the fact was her mother in law was visiting. From Spain. Hola! How much better could this session get with incorporating a grandmother?! Take a peek to see how we managed it. And a quick side note...I do believe I could spend hours with this family - just asking about their life experiences. Mom is from Argentina. Dad is from Spain. They met in the USA. Have moved back and forth between USA and Spain. Which just emphasises how special the occasion to snag a few pics with Abuela.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Back To School Sale
Or I could also call this THE MOVING SALE! We are 8 days out from the big move into our new home and my husband doesn't want to pack my inventory!
To see my stock of hats, click here and it will take you to my business's facebook page where you can browse. The sale is only for these hats and not custom orders. Sale ends Friday and all hats will be shipped out on Saturday.
To see my stock of hats, click here and it will take you to my business's facebook page where you can browse. The sale is only for these hats and not custom orders. Sale ends Friday and all hats will be shipped out on Saturday.
Owl hats: $22 SHIPPED!
Beanies: $16 SHIPPED!
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Save the Date!
You are invited to join with us as we support of Local Small Home Business Owners & Crafters
The Pax Christi Catholic Church
4001 Victoria Way, Lexington, KY
Saturday, August 18th
from 9:00am – 2:00pm.
This show is being made available as a service to the community at the request by a few small home business owners. All funds received will provide funding for parish programs. We hope this show will be a good fundraiser for us and we hope it will be a good avenue for our local small home business owners to share their talents with the community!
Drinks, baked goods and lunch will be available for purchase by various parish based organizations to raise funding for their activities.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call the office
at Pax Christi Catholic Church at 859-273-9999 or Amanda Mitchell at 859-533-6983
Registered Crafters/Small Business Owners:
Arbonne Int’l – Anti-aging/skin care
Chiro One Wellness Center
Custom Jewelry by Peggy
Jamberry Nails
Mary Kay
Origami Owl Living Lockets
Pampered Chef
Party Lite
Premier Jewelry
Scentsy
Silk Paintings and Scarves by Carol
Stella & Dot Jewelry
Tastefully Simple
Thirty-one Gifts
Paparazzi Accessories
Beadazzled
Pax Christi Catholic Church is providing a venue for these small business owners to present their products/services Pax Christi Catholic Church accepts no responsibility regarding warranty of product/services purchased.
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