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BLESSINGS!
Showing posts with label in case you're interested. Show all posts
Showing posts with label in case you're interested. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
{ small }
I've been thinking about this particular blog post for a few days, but it all came together last night when I discovered this...
I'm sure it's hard to tell from this image...but it's a baby cardinal tucked away in our jasmine...tiny, fragile and exposed. Mom and dad were out scouring up some good grub this morning...so I tried to carefully snap a couple...before I was dive bombed like a P-40 in 1942...which resulted in injury (to me and the chair I USED to be standing in)...which also resulted in disinfectant, Neosporin and Nemo band aids...and now a limp...which I’d like to keep on the DL...especially when it comes to my husband! (J, just in case your reading this...yes, the camera and lens are fine...I checked!) Dang, what I won't do for a picture - thank goodness I don't work for National Geographic; my liability would be GINORMOUS! :)
Anyhoo...over the last 2 weeks I have been gently and humbly reminded of how small I am. Not physically...especially after baby number 2, and definitely not as small as I wanna be. But how I sometimes jump to conclusions, assume the worst in others or ignore my God-given sense of shut up instinct and in the end…feel small. I think it's God's way of reminding me that I am not the all-powerful, super-human, awesome mama control goddess that I think I am - and that's a GOOD thing!
For instance, last week I kept telling my daughter..."Come on, Em, hurry up, we have to go, let's go, get moving...I don't want to hear it, we're late!" In a small, sad little voice she finally said, "But mama, I can't find my shoes." If I had just stopped to listen. Small...
Or when I've assumed that my husband means something terrible by "You're gonna wear that?"...when in actuality he means, "You can't wear that, cause now you look better than me!" :) Instead of asking what he meant, I assumed he meant the worst, when he was really giving me a compliment! Small...
Or when I kept worrying over a situation for days (OK, months)...and when I was praying for just a Pinto and He gave me a BMW...I'm suddenly stunned! Why should I be surprised? God is bigger than my worry, but when I prayed, did I really believe what I was praying for or to WHOM I was praying? Small...
So now I am faced with the challenging reality of praising God for those times when I am reminded of my smallness. I have to learn to raise my glass with gusto to all of those times when I am humbled, or when frankly, I am cut off at the knees...or pushed off my chair by a ticked off mama cardinal!
2 Corinthians 12:10 (The Message)
7-10Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.
Yep - limitations, mistakes, assumptions, a big mouth and a big head are not fun things to learn, but it reminds me that because of Christ, my weaknesses make me strong. Because of His grace, I'm forgiven...thank goodness! Because of His mercy...I don't get what I REALLY deserve!
Thanks Emma for being patient with this hurried mama.
Thanks J for loving me when I assume you mean the worst.
And thanks to all of you...family, friends, clients, strangers...for recognizing my weaknesses and giving me a chance anyway to share my talent...for then I am strong!
I'll try to take a few more pictures as the baby cardinal grows to show you his humble progress…and mine...:)
Now I should probably go and take some Advil and change my band aids...
I'm sure it's hard to tell from this image...but it's a baby cardinal tucked away in our jasmine...tiny, fragile and exposed. Mom and dad were out scouring up some good grub this morning...so I tried to carefully snap a couple...before I was dive bombed like a P-40 in 1942...which resulted in injury (to me and the chair I USED to be standing in)...which also resulted in disinfectant, Neosporin and Nemo band aids...and now a limp...which I’d like to keep on the DL...especially when it comes to my husband! (J, just in case your reading this...yes, the camera and lens are fine...I checked!) Dang, what I won't do for a picture - thank goodness I don't work for National Geographic; my liability would be GINORMOUS! :)
Anyhoo...over the last 2 weeks I have been gently and humbly reminded of how small I am. Not physically...especially after baby number 2, and definitely not as small as I wanna be. But how I sometimes jump to conclusions, assume the worst in others or ignore my God-given sense of shut up instinct and in the end…feel small. I think it's God's way of reminding me that I am not the all-powerful, super-human, awesome mama control goddess that I think I am - and that's a GOOD thing!
For instance, last week I kept telling my daughter..."Come on, Em, hurry up, we have to go, let's go, get moving...I don't want to hear it, we're late!" In a small, sad little voice she finally said, "But mama, I can't find my shoes." If I had just stopped to listen. Small...
Or when I've assumed that my husband means something terrible by "You're gonna wear that?"...when in actuality he means, "You can't wear that, cause now you look better than me!" :) Instead of asking what he meant, I assumed he meant the worst, when he was really giving me a compliment! Small...
Or when I kept worrying over a situation for days (OK, months)...and when I was praying for just a Pinto and He gave me a BMW...I'm suddenly stunned! Why should I be surprised? God is bigger than my worry, but when I prayed, did I really believe what I was praying for or to WHOM I was praying? Small...
So now I am faced with the challenging reality of praising God for those times when I am reminded of my smallness. I have to learn to raise my glass with gusto to all of those times when I am humbled, or when frankly, I am cut off at the knees...or pushed off my chair by a ticked off mama cardinal!
2 Corinthians 12:10 (The Message)
7-10Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.
Yep - limitations, mistakes, assumptions, a big mouth and a big head are not fun things to learn, but it reminds me that because of Christ, my weaknesses make me strong. Because of His grace, I'm forgiven...thank goodness! Because of His mercy...I don't get what I REALLY deserve!
Thanks Emma for being patient with this hurried mama.
Thanks J for loving me when I assume you mean the worst.
And thanks to all of you...family, friends, clients, strangers...for recognizing my weaknesses and giving me a chance anyway to share my talent...for then I am strong!
I'll try to take a few more pictures as the baby cardinal grows to show you his humble progress…and mine...:)
Now I should probably go and take some Advil and change my band aids...
Thursday, April 1, 2010
{ balancing is an act }
You ever meet those people that you think, "MAN, I wish I was her; she really has it all together - the cute house, awesome husband, great kids dressed in boutique clothes, gourmet meal on the table and perfectly sun-kissed skin...blah, blah, blah"
OK, nothing against those people, but that ain’t me. Someone said to me the other day, "Man, you sure are handling everything really well - 2 jobs, commuting over 3 hours a day, 2 beautiful kids, a husband AND keeping up with Facebook and a new business...":) Well, I’m here to let you know that I wear A LOT of concealer under these eyes, cause along with a lack of sleep and serious caffeine addiction lately, I certainly don’t feel that way. I struggle every single day with this thing called ‘balance’. Life, home, kids, husband, exercise, planning birthday parties, my DVR’d shows...hehehe
So this weekend is my personal rejuvenation! Yes, I have 4 sessions. Yes, I have eggs to paint. Yes, my hardwood floors look like I’ve been sawing wood in my house. Yes, I’d like to actually like to sit down and shave my legs and paint my toes or pull weeds in our garden. But you know what...it’s also Easter.
We were at the pediatrician yesterday since Miss Audrey decided to carry on the Perkins tradition of a record number of ear infections BEFORE the age of 1, and little Emma tagged along. Before we left, Dr Joslin – who ROCKS BTW – asked Emma about her Easter. Oooooohhhh, she mentioned eggs, her new dress and candy, but when Dr J asked her what was Easter really about, she stretched out her little arms and said “It’s about Jesus! He died and then He came back to life!” There was such excitement and joy in her voice. It was one of the proudest Mama Moments I’ve ever had...To know that my child, one of the greatest loves of my life, showed the first glimpse that she gets it! It’s not about eggs or candy...jobs, dirty floors and Facebook. I can teach her to ride a bike, be kind to others and give to the SPCA – but when she learns to love God, my job as a mom, for me, is D.O.N.E. That’s it for me; to know that one day my child will be with me in Heaven worshiping at the feet of our Savior. So, at what point do we as adults lose that ‘matter of factness’ and instead focus on the things that don’t matter? Where is MY attitude of sheer joy in knowing that someone loved you so very much that He took your place, suffered an excruciating death when not only He didn’t deserve it, but no one could find any reason for killing Him?
So this Easter...forget about shaving your legs (wear pants please :) ), your new dress (if you’ve had time to get one) or the fact that you haven’t had a haircut in 2 months (hats are in, right?) or washed your car in 4 (cars are parked OUTSIDE the church)...come to Him as you are, flaws and all. He already paid the price; He already bought you your life back; He loved you before He created you. He doesn’t care what your floors look like, if your kids are wearing the latest trends, or if you shop at Whole Foods; He cares about your heart. He cares about ME and calls me His Beloved; He cares about YOU and calls you the apple of his eye...and yes, He loves my kids more than I do!
And those people that look like they’ve got it all together...do they really? Balancing is really an act after all...because I’m sure they’ve got a disorganized closet or crazy junk drawer at their house too. How do I know? Come on over to my pad, and I’ll show you...just don’t look at my floors...:)
~blessings~
OK, nothing against those people, but that ain’t me. Someone said to me the other day, "Man, you sure are handling everything really well - 2 jobs, commuting over 3 hours a day, 2 beautiful kids, a husband AND keeping up with Facebook and a new business...":) Well, I’m here to let you know that I wear A LOT of concealer under these eyes, cause along with a lack of sleep and serious caffeine addiction lately, I certainly don’t feel that way. I struggle every single day with this thing called ‘balance’. Life, home, kids, husband, exercise, planning birthday parties, my DVR’d shows...hehehe
So this weekend is my personal rejuvenation! Yes, I have 4 sessions. Yes, I have eggs to paint. Yes, my hardwood floors look like I’ve been sawing wood in my house. Yes, I’d like to actually like to sit down and shave my legs and paint my toes or pull weeds in our garden. But you know what...it’s also Easter.
We were at the pediatrician yesterday since Miss Audrey decided to carry on the Perkins tradition of a record number of ear infections BEFORE the age of 1, and little Emma tagged along. Before we left, Dr Joslin – who ROCKS BTW – asked Emma about her Easter. Oooooohhhh, she mentioned eggs, her new dress and candy, but when Dr J asked her what was Easter really about, she stretched out her little arms and said “It’s about Jesus! He died and then He came back to life!” There was such excitement and joy in her voice. It was one of the proudest Mama Moments I’ve ever had...To know that my child, one of the greatest loves of my life, showed the first glimpse that she gets it! It’s not about eggs or candy...jobs, dirty floors and Facebook. I can teach her to ride a bike, be kind to others and give to the SPCA – but when she learns to love God, my job as a mom, for me, is D.O.N.E. That’s it for me; to know that one day my child will be with me in Heaven worshiping at the feet of our Savior. So, at what point do we as adults lose that ‘matter of factness’ and instead focus on the things that don’t matter? Where is MY attitude of sheer joy in knowing that someone loved you so very much that He took your place, suffered an excruciating death when not only He didn’t deserve it, but no one could find any reason for killing Him?
So this Easter...forget about shaving your legs (wear pants please :) ), your new dress (if you’ve had time to get one) or the fact that you haven’t had a haircut in 2 months (hats are in, right?) or washed your car in 4 (cars are parked OUTSIDE the church)...come to Him as you are, flaws and all. He already paid the price; He already bought you your life back; He loved you before He created you. He doesn’t care what your floors look like, if your kids are wearing the latest trends, or if you shop at Whole Foods; He cares about your heart. He cares about ME and calls me His Beloved; He cares about YOU and calls you the apple of his eye...and yes, He loves my kids more than I do!
And those people that look like they’ve got it all together...do they really? Balancing is really an act after all...because I’m sure they’ve got a disorganized closet or crazy junk drawer at their house too. How do I know? Come on over to my pad, and I’ll show you...just don’t look at my floors...:)
~blessings~
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
{ Stages of Confidence }
WARNING, WARNING...This is a long one...look away if you dare, but read on if you like...
It's kind of a random title for a post, but let me explain...
Like most of you out there, I've got a lot going on - parenthood, wifehood, business ownerhood, renovating my hood... There used to be a time not so very long ago when I could stay up till 3am working on a college project or hanging out with friends, but these days getting up once for a 3am baby-feeding almost kills me - yes, and you too Jeremy. :) You all know what I'm talking about...my 20s was all about going full blast through my day on 2 hours of sleep and a tub 'o caffiene product and feeling the adrenaline rush...now in my (late) 30s, 2 hours of sleep means I get to a red light in Downtown Dallas and wonder how and when I got there cause I don't remember the entire drive...OR if I remembered to brush my teeth and put on deodorant before I walked out the door! (And hopefully the garage door is closed too...hmmmmm) Makes me wonder what the heck my 40s are gonna be like?!
With each year and with each stage in my life or experience I've encountered...I've changed. I've always been a cautious person; look both ways, check my mirrors, etc., but some things I've become less cautious about in life. Like what people think about me or speaking my mind or being more blogger-transparent. However, in some ways I've changed for the worse...like self-confidence. OK - this is not going to be a pity party, just a confession. Whenever you start something new and things aren't moving as quickly as you think they should...you start to think..."Hmmmmm, what's wrong with me?", "I must be doing something wrong.", "I thought I was more likeable." At least I do. Your confidence takes little hits here and there until pretty soon you realize you've got quite a lot of self-inflicted, Dana-sized, self-image dents.
That's where I am. I'm SO patient when shooting little bitty babies that won't sleep when those brand new parents want them to or with those adorable 2 year olds that have a hard time opening up because of their ingrained 'stranger-danger' phase...but I am so IMpatient when it comes to my own life! Good grief; I need to give myself a break!
So over the last week I really started to think about the word 'confidence'. What can I do to NOT let others, technology or situations intimidate me. After all, I'm really a pretty outgoing and funny person. Those who come in contact with me generally know in 5 minutes the true me - you can read it all over me in permanent marker so my mom says...AND that I like to laugh, joke, cut up...and yes, sometimes cry easily. So I think it all boils down to this stage in my life of starting a new business and being in a spot where I really haven't been before - unsure of myself as a professional and where exactly this road will take me. I know there are fellow photographers out there who know TONS more than me on the technology front, all the jargon and lingo, all of the connections and all about the best products and vendors. BUT, not all of them are me. I have alot to offer too - like a talent for seeing great images of people, families and kids and making them happen! I'm not successful 100% of the time, but I'm OK with that.
I saw a question this week on another blog: How much talent do you think has been wasted from a lack of confidence?
Dude! Good question! If it is something you feel you have the talent for; if it is something you really want to do; if it is something that makes you happy all the way down to your toes; if you feel it is your passion...why are you letting foolish ideas about yourself get in the way?!
One day my husband told me, ”I looked back at some of your images when you first got started and...blah, blah, blah...You’re a lot better now.”
Well, at first I was offended...you know, sometimes boys don’t express themselves well to hormonally induced, post-pardom, sleep-deprived mamas. So one day, in my secret place, accompanied by a large amount of chocolate and Dr Pepper to feed my sorrow...I discovered he was right! And it was a GOOD thing! It meant I had grown, learned and changed...for the better! I'm still learning every day. And when I make mistakes or don't quite get the picture I saw in my noggin...I give myself a break, chat up the mistake, try again and learn from it in the process. OK - maybe it's not that Dr. Phil-like for me ALL the time, and maybe I kick myself in the tukis a few times, but I know God gave me an eye for making people happy with my camera, and it's up to me to remember that God will bless me if I honor Him with my words and actions, trust Him with my business, give Him praise for the failures AND successes, and learn everything I can at this particular stage in my life...cause before you know it, this stage will be over and I'll be 40! CRUD...:)
So what's holding you back? I know what's held ME back...but tomorrow is another day!
And here's my beautiful Emma at her almost 4 year old, fighting the cheesy fake smile stage in life. We finally got past cheese and she gave me her best FIERCE...rawr!! Is she not the prettiest little girl you ever laid your peepers on?!
It's kind of a random title for a post, but let me explain...
Like most of you out there, I've got a lot going on - parenthood, wifehood, business ownerhood, renovating my hood... There used to be a time not so very long ago when I could stay up till 3am working on a college project or hanging out with friends, but these days getting up once for a 3am baby-feeding almost kills me - yes, and you too Jeremy. :) You all know what I'm talking about...my 20s was all about going full blast through my day on 2 hours of sleep and a tub 'o caffiene product and feeling the adrenaline rush...now in my (late) 30s, 2 hours of sleep means I get to a red light in Downtown Dallas and wonder how and when I got there cause I don't remember the entire drive...OR if I remembered to brush my teeth and put on deodorant before I walked out the door! (And hopefully the garage door is closed too...hmmmmm) Makes me wonder what the heck my 40s are gonna be like?!
With each year and with each stage in my life or experience I've encountered...I've changed. I've always been a cautious person; look both ways, check my mirrors, etc., but some things I've become less cautious about in life. Like what people think about me or speaking my mind or being more blogger-transparent. However, in some ways I've changed for the worse...like self-confidence. OK - this is not going to be a pity party, just a confession. Whenever you start something new and things aren't moving as quickly as you think they should...you start to think..."Hmmmmm, what's wrong with me?", "I must be doing something wrong.", "I thought I was more likeable." At least I do. Your confidence takes little hits here and there until pretty soon you realize you've got quite a lot of self-inflicted, Dana-sized, self-image dents.
That's where I am. I'm SO patient when shooting little bitty babies that won't sleep when those brand new parents want them to or with those adorable 2 year olds that have a hard time opening up because of their ingrained 'stranger-danger' phase...but I am so IMpatient when it comes to my own life! Good grief; I need to give myself a break!
So over the last week I really started to think about the word 'confidence'. What can I do to NOT let others, technology or situations intimidate me. After all, I'm really a pretty outgoing and funny person. Those who come in contact with me generally know in 5 minutes the true me - you can read it all over me in permanent marker so my mom says...AND that I like to laugh, joke, cut up...and yes, sometimes cry easily. So I think it all boils down to this stage in my life of starting a new business and being in a spot where I really haven't been before - unsure of myself as a professional and where exactly this road will take me. I know there are fellow photographers out there who know TONS more than me on the technology front, all the jargon and lingo, all of the connections and all about the best products and vendors. BUT, not all of them are me. I have alot to offer too - like a talent for seeing great images of people, families and kids and making them happen! I'm not successful 100% of the time, but I'm OK with that.
I saw a question this week on another blog: How much talent do you think has been wasted from a lack of confidence?
Dude! Good question! If it is something you feel you have the talent for; if it is something you really want to do; if it is something that makes you happy all the way down to your toes; if you feel it is your passion...why are you letting foolish ideas about yourself get in the way?!
One day my husband told me, ”I looked back at some of your images when you first got started and...blah, blah, blah...You’re a lot better now.”
Well, at first I was offended...you know, sometimes boys don’t express themselves well to hormonally induced, post-pardom, sleep-deprived mamas. So one day, in my secret place, accompanied by a large amount of chocolate and Dr Pepper to feed my sorrow...I discovered he was right! And it was a GOOD thing! It meant I had grown, learned and changed...for the better! I'm still learning every day. And when I make mistakes or don't quite get the picture I saw in my noggin...I give myself a break, chat up the mistake, try again and learn from it in the process. OK - maybe it's not that Dr. Phil-like for me ALL the time, and maybe I kick myself in the tukis a few times, but I know God gave me an eye for making people happy with my camera, and it's up to me to remember that God will bless me if I honor Him with my words and actions, trust Him with my business, give Him praise for the failures AND successes, and learn everything I can at this particular stage in my life...cause before you know it, this stage will be over and I'll be 40! CRUD...:)
So what's holding you back? I know what's held ME back...but tomorrow is another day!
And here's my beautiful Emma at her almost 4 year old, fighting the cheesy fake smile stage in life. We finally got past cheese and she gave me her best FIERCE...rawr!! Is she not the prettiest little girl you ever laid your peepers on?!
Friday, March 19, 2010
{ Q&A: Who do YOU read? }
So I kind of pride myself on being a 'Blog Stalker'...I know, I know, there's probably some Anon group for it, but I want no part of it! These are the people that inspire me, who I log on in the wee hours for or click on in between edits for a break...though they don't know it. Here's the who and the why...
Jasmine Star...I found her about a year ago, and I'm hooked! She is true, forthcoming, funny and an educator. She is what 'cool' wants to be and what 'hip' only dreams about. I know that whenever I read a post, I will laugh (at least once) outloud (probably spew something from my nasal cavity) and learn something about photography in the process.
Amy Wenzel and her husband, David Wenzel...When I read their blogs, my soul is uplifted. Their devotion, praise and honesty with and about Christ is where I want to be too. They are my daily slap in the face via God.
Zack Arias...His little video critique rants have literally made me cry-laugh - I still giggle about elbow boobies. If you haven't seen his critiques, I swear, you will laugh too. Plus, he makes me look at my images and go..."Hmmmmmm." (Then usually followed by..."CRUD!") :)
Crash Taylor...This is a site where photographers from literally all over the world post an image and tell you how they did it. OK, not that I'm going to take some rad and funky fashionista photo, but it's way cool to see what someone in Sweden is shooting! Right?
Jared Rey...This guy's on the local side, and I just love his style - funky, fresh and a little reminiscent. I also like the fact that he too shares his knowlegde with others...Not so we can copy, but so we can experiment! Love, love, love his Before & After segments...
Marie Q...On the really local side, I read her blog because I think her images are just pretty, soft and sweet. I'm sure I have just violated some form of ettiquette on complimenting the right-up-the-street competition, but it's already out there...so THERE! Plus, I don't like the word 'competition'...I prefer to think of it as healthy motivation! Who knows? Maybe one day we'll think of each other as professional friends...? :)
SO...Who do YOU read?
And here's one for the road...HAPPY SPRING Ya'll!
Jasmine Star...I found her about a year ago, and I'm hooked! She is true, forthcoming, funny and an educator. She is what 'cool' wants to be and what 'hip' only dreams about. I know that whenever I read a post, I will laugh (at least once) outloud (probably spew something from my nasal cavity) and learn something about photography in the process.
Amy Wenzel and her husband, David Wenzel...When I read their blogs, my soul is uplifted. Their devotion, praise and honesty with and about Christ is where I want to be too. They are my daily slap in the face via God.
Zack Arias...His little video critique rants have literally made me cry-laugh - I still giggle about elbow boobies. If you haven't seen his critiques, I swear, you will laugh too. Plus, he makes me look at my images and go..."Hmmmmmm." (Then usually followed by..."CRUD!") :)
Crash Taylor...This is a site where photographers from literally all over the world post an image and tell you how they did it. OK, not that I'm going to take some rad and funky fashionista photo, but it's way cool to see what someone in Sweden is shooting! Right?
Jared Rey...This guy's on the local side, and I just love his style - funky, fresh and a little reminiscent. I also like the fact that he too shares his knowlegde with others...Not so we can copy, but so we can experiment! Love, love, love his Before & After segments...
Marie Q...On the really local side, I read her blog because I think her images are just pretty, soft and sweet. I'm sure I have just violated some form of ettiquette on complimenting the right-up-the-street competition, but it's already out there...so THERE! Plus, I don't like the word 'competition'...I prefer to think of it as healthy motivation! Who knows? Maybe one day we'll think of each other as professional friends...? :)
SO...Who do YOU read?
And here's one for the road...HAPPY SPRING Ya'll!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
{ little gold stars }
So once a month I am going to give a little gold star posting to give a thumbs up (or down for that matter) to a product...vendor...food (cause I'm ALL about tasty treats for the tum tum!)...or whatever is on my mind that day! It gives you the opportunity for great recommendations...or the chance to talk back. And the chance for me to give back a little something and give others business when they been so kind as to give a little to lil' ol me!
So the first round is b/c my wonderful, thoughtful and awesome valentine uses this vendor to send me flowers more times a year than I deserve...and I L.O.V.E. them! If your mate is in the market for a way to send flowers that's fast, easy and pretty light on the wallet...look no further, and forward this posting...cause here it is!
Your sweet little buds arrive from ProFlowers in this great 'long-stemmed' box reminiscent of days of old...right to your doorstep the very next day (Even on SNOW DAYS! Mine arrived on Thursday in the middle of our snow-nami!)...freshly cut w/in 24 hours...with a vase of your choice...a sweet sentiment from the sender. With a few snips and some sugar water...voila...you have this awesomely scrumptulicious boquet!
I love you my J-lentine!
They are GREAT for Mother's Day too! Hint...hint...wink...wink...:)
So the first round is b/c my wonderful, thoughtful and awesome valentine uses this vendor to send me flowers more times a year than I deserve...and I L.O.V.E. them! If your mate is in the market for a way to send flowers that's fast, easy and pretty light on the wallet...look no further, and forward this posting...cause here it is!
Your sweet little buds arrive from ProFlowers in this great 'long-stemmed' box reminiscent of days of old...right to your doorstep the very next day (Even on SNOW DAYS! Mine arrived on Thursday in the middle of our snow-nami!)...freshly cut w/in 24 hours...with a vase of your choice...a sweet sentiment from the sender. With a few snips and some sugar water...voila...you have this awesomely scrumptulicious boquet!
I love you my J-lentine!
They are GREAT for Mother's Day too! Hint...hint...wink...wink...:)
Monday, June 29, 2009
{ Nominated! Go Vote! }
Before I start my previews from the weekend sessions (below), I have to start with this little diddy...So Friday I get this email that says...
Congratulations! Your business has been nominated as one of the top businesses in North Texas as part of the Best of the WFAA-List.
Well, shut the front door!
I'm not sure who is to 'blame', but I can honestly say I am completely stoked, honored, humbled, baffeled and a gammet of other emotions (although some could be related to pregnancy, which could explain the weird peanut butter craving I've had lately esp. since I HATE PB!). See as a photographer, you want to come across as awesomely confident, but inside you're always striving for approval and perfection...both of which I struggle with on a minutely (is that a word) basis.
So for today, I will take that God induced kick to the behind...put aside those feelings of unworthiness...and focus on working my flegling business into my one day full-time passion! Whoever you are ~ Thank you for the honor! For EVERYONE...CLICK HERE TO SEE MY LISTING & VOTE! The contest closes July 3!
Now - On to the previews...and one more preview to come from Sunday's special session!
Congratulations! Your business has been nominated as one of the top businesses in North Texas as part of the Best of the WFAA-List.
Well, shut the front door!
I'm not sure who is to 'blame', but I can honestly say I am completely stoked, honored, humbled, baffeled and a gammet of other emotions (although some could be related to pregnancy, which could explain the weird peanut butter craving I've had lately esp. since I HATE PB!). See as a photographer, you want to come across as awesomely confident, but inside you're always striving for approval and perfection...both of which I struggle with on a minutely (is that a word) basis.
So for today, I will take that God induced kick to the behind...put aside those feelings of unworthiness...and focus on working my flegling business into my one day full-time passion! Whoever you are ~ Thank you for the honor! For EVERYONE...CLICK HERE TO SEE MY LISTING & VOTE! The contest closes July 3!
Now - On to the previews...and one more preview to come from Sunday's special session!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
{ Why Do Professional Photographers Cost So Much }
So I have been getting comments like this or similar at least once a week lately...the answer may seem long, but please read through, I think you will be surprised, educated, and hopefully relieved that photographers really AREN'T trying to pick your pockets...especially in this economy...:)
This question and others are answered on my site under FAQs, but I wanted to post it to my blog because I think the answer is SO important. In addition to giving people great images to last a lifetime, I feel it's important to educate people too! Please don't take ANY of the answer as complaining...I absolutely LOVE what I do, but until I really got 'into the business', I never realized just how much work and all of the little nuances that go into each session. Remember, a lot of photographers charge more and some less for their services...always review the quality, service and their style before choosing your photographer, don't just choose based on their prices!
In this digital age where everyone has digital cameras, scanners and home “photo printers”, when people take their camera cards to a local printing store and pick them up a few hours later, I hear this all the time - How in the world do Professional Photographers charge $55 for an 8×10 when they cost just $1.50 at the store? Here’s why.
Simply put, you’re not just paying for the actual photograph or piece of paper; you’re paying for time and expertise. First, let’s look at the actual time involved. If you don’t read this entire page, at least read this first part. (This is my version on what happens ‘Behind the Scenes'. Remember each photographer has their own means and ways of preparing, editing, items and ordering. The scenario below applies to me and my work…and keep in mind that in addition to my photography business I have a regular 40 hr/wk day job...in addition to my awesome family and photography business! :)) For an average 2 hour portrait session:
• 30 minutes initial communication, session details, locations, etc.
• 30 minutes of equipment preparation, camera, car, etc.
• 30 minutes to 1 hour of travel to the session
• 1-2 hours of shooting
• 30 minutes to 1 hour travel time from the session
• 1 hour to load the photos onto a computer (2-4 Gb of data)
• 30 minutes to back up the files on an external drive
• 1-2 hours to edit / post initial previews to blog and email to client
• 3-5 days (sometimes longer) of Photoshop time including cropping, contrast, color, art work; including textures, overlays, cloning of unwanted distractions, airbrushing, sharpening, saving a copy for print and a copy for the Internet and backing up the edited photographs, printing the proofs for viewing, make slideshow for viewing, make and print your little ‘extras’ that you don’t know, until the viewing session etc. The list can go on and on…
• 1-2 hours to load photos to online host for client viewing
• 2-3 hours to communicate to the client regarding viewing images/ordering prints, answer questions, receive their order and payment, order their prints, receive and verify prints, package prints.
• 30 mins – 1 hour of scheduled appointment for pickup of photos.
You can see how one 2 hour portrait session easily turns into more than 4 days of work from start to finish. So when you see a Photographer charging a $200 session fee for a two hour photo shoot, you are not paying them $100/hour. And I haven’t even mentioned all the other office work of running a business that happens on a daily basis.
For an eight hour wedding…I won’t go into all the details, but an eight hour wedding typically amounts to at least 2 to 3 full 40 hour work weeks worth of time. Again, if they are charging you $4,000 for an eight hour wedding, you are not paying them $500/hour.
Now, as for the expertise…In my case, shooting professional photography is a skill, acquired through a natural talent of seeing the light, an artistic eye, and many, many, many hours & dollars of learning how to use software, constant upgrades, finding the best quality of products to offer you etc. Even though a quality camera now costs under $2,000 taking professional portraits involves much more than a nice camera.
Most Professional Photographers take years to go from buying their first decent camera to making money with their photography. In addition to learning how to use the camera itself, there is a mountain of other equipment involved, as well as numerous software programs used to edit and print photographs, run a website, having insurance etc. We also have to calibrate our monitors regularly to make sure what we see on our screen is exactly what gets printed, no unwanted colors.
And let’s not forget that you actually have to have people skills, be able to communicate, make people comfortable in front of the camera - and posing people to make them look their best in a photograph is a skill all by itself. Think of it this way - the next time you pay $X to have your hair done, those scissors may only cost $1.50, but you gladly pay a lot more to hire a Professional to apply them.
What about the cheap studios at the Shopping Center?
Please don’t compare me to the chain store studios. But if you must, consider all of the time and work that I put into your photographs, compared to what they do. Good luck getting a two hour photo session at a chain store. Not to mention they won’t come to the beach! And of course, look at my work compared to theirs. You get what you pay for.
I could go on and on with why Professional Photographers charge so much, but you get the idea, I am a service to please you, to give you something that you will have a lifetime of enjoyment and wonderful memories from. Consider this when you think about the cost of a session…
Taken from extracts of the original writings from: Shawn Richter
This question and others are answered on my site under FAQs, but I wanted to post it to my blog because I think the answer is SO important. In addition to giving people great images to last a lifetime, I feel it's important to educate people too! Please don't take ANY of the answer as complaining...I absolutely LOVE what I do, but until I really got 'into the business', I never realized just how much work and all of the little nuances that go into each session. Remember, a lot of photographers charge more and some less for their services...always review the quality, service and their style before choosing your photographer, don't just choose based on their prices!
In this digital age where everyone has digital cameras, scanners and home “photo printers”, when people take their camera cards to a local printing store and pick them up a few hours later, I hear this all the time - How in the world do Professional Photographers charge $55 for an 8×10 when they cost just $1.50 at the store? Here’s why.
Simply put, you’re not just paying for the actual photograph or piece of paper; you’re paying for time and expertise. First, let’s look at the actual time involved. If you don’t read this entire page, at least read this first part. (This is my version on what happens ‘Behind the Scenes'. Remember each photographer has their own means and ways of preparing, editing, items and ordering. The scenario below applies to me and my work…and keep in mind that in addition to my photography business I have a regular 40 hr/wk day job...in addition to my awesome family and photography business! :)) For an average 2 hour portrait session:
• 30 minutes initial communication, session details, locations, etc.
• 30 minutes of equipment preparation, camera, car, etc.
• 30 minutes to 1 hour of travel to the session
• 1-2 hours of shooting
• 30 minutes to 1 hour travel time from the session
• 1 hour to load the photos onto a computer (2-4 Gb of data)
• 30 minutes to back up the files on an external drive
• 1-2 hours to edit / post initial previews to blog and email to client
• 3-5 days (sometimes longer) of Photoshop time including cropping, contrast, color, art work; including textures, overlays, cloning of unwanted distractions, airbrushing, sharpening, saving a copy for print and a copy for the Internet and backing up the edited photographs, printing the proofs for viewing, make slideshow for viewing, make and print your little ‘extras’ that you don’t know, until the viewing session etc. The list can go on and on…
• 1-2 hours to load photos to online host for client viewing
• 2-3 hours to communicate to the client regarding viewing images/ordering prints, answer questions, receive their order and payment, order their prints, receive and verify prints, package prints.
• 30 mins – 1 hour of scheduled appointment for pickup of photos.
You can see how one 2 hour portrait session easily turns into more than 4 days of work from start to finish. So when you see a Photographer charging a $200 session fee for a two hour photo shoot, you are not paying them $100/hour. And I haven’t even mentioned all the other office work of running a business that happens on a daily basis.
For an eight hour wedding…I won’t go into all the details, but an eight hour wedding typically amounts to at least 2 to 3 full 40 hour work weeks worth of time. Again, if they are charging you $4,000 for an eight hour wedding, you are not paying them $500/hour.
Now, as for the expertise…In my case, shooting professional photography is a skill, acquired through a natural talent of seeing the light, an artistic eye, and many, many, many hours & dollars of learning how to use software, constant upgrades, finding the best quality of products to offer you etc. Even though a quality camera now costs under $2,000 taking professional portraits involves much more than a nice camera.
Most Professional Photographers take years to go from buying their first decent camera to making money with their photography. In addition to learning how to use the camera itself, there is a mountain of other equipment involved, as well as numerous software programs used to edit and print photographs, run a website, having insurance etc. We also have to calibrate our monitors regularly to make sure what we see on our screen is exactly what gets printed, no unwanted colors.
And let’s not forget that you actually have to have people skills, be able to communicate, make people comfortable in front of the camera - and posing people to make them look their best in a photograph is a skill all by itself. Think of it this way - the next time you pay $X to have your hair done, those scissors may only cost $1.50, but you gladly pay a lot more to hire a Professional to apply them.
What about the cheap studios at the Shopping Center?
Please don’t compare me to the chain store studios. But if you must, consider all of the time and work that I put into your photographs, compared to what they do. Good luck getting a two hour photo session at a chain store. Not to mention they won’t come to the beach! And of course, look at my work compared to theirs. You get what you pay for.
I could go on and on with why Professional Photographers charge so much, but you get the idea, I am a service to please you, to give you something that you will have a lifetime of enjoyment and wonderful memories from. Consider this when you think about the cost of a session…
Taken from extracts of the original writings from: Shawn Richter
Sunday, April 19, 2009
{Marketing 101}
So, I got the website I've dreamed about for a year; the blog makeover is in the tweaking stages (I am so pumped by the bigger images!); and now I'm marketing! Here's the ad I've taken out in The Daily Light running the next 4 consecutive Sundays! I'm in the Lifestyle section...next to the babies and weddings. And I would like to send a huge thanks to Julia in the Daily Light marketing department for all of her wonderful and speedy assistance!
{Spot Hunting}
I also spent this weekend looking for new little treasure spots in Waxahachie for sessions, and I found these...and I should give the biggest shout to my mom; she is the super hero for finding the coolest RR bridge in the Hatch! More adventures in spot hunting coming soon...
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
{ The New Tin Star Site Has Launched! }
Today has been a WONDERFULLY productive day! I spent the afternoon at the Dallas Arboretum previewing their Dallas Blooms event, and let me just say...It is going to be awesome this year! Below are a couple of my favorite images from today...but others will soon follow because their theme this year for spring is "Storybook Playhouses"!!! What a GREAT venue for family/children sessions!
However...the most fabulous part of today ~ My new website is up & running...I can't tell you how excited and blessed I am! The new website is good...but God is great!
Take a peek and tell me what you think:
http://www.tinstarphoto.com/
This one I refer to as "Bee Bootie"...:)
PS...Can you tell I'm excited?...if you can't...well let me just say it again...I AM!
This one I refer to as "Bee Bootie"...:)
PS...Can you tell I'm excited?...if you can't...well let me just say it again...I AM!
Friday, February 13, 2009
{ It's Official... }
I am a business! I filed Tin Star Photography with the Ellis County Clerk's Office today...and according to them, at least for 10 years...I'm committed! (I am not a suspicious person by nature, but I hope Friday the 13th means nothing to the 'photography gods'...) Also coming in the next few weeks ~ a new website, a new blog and whatever else I can find...I'm so pumped, and SO open for business! PS - I also got my new Canon camera and lens this week...woo hoo, what a great week! And to my love ~ Happy Valentine's Day; you make all things possible!
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