Growing pains

9 months ago I decided to take my photography seriously and start a photography business. Like everything in my life I did a lot of just sticking my toes in the water before wading in cautiously. This has been a year full of uncomfortable learning curves to say the least. When I started out I had a very basic camera, 1 bottom of the line stinky lens, and no experience what so ever with Photoshop. The most important thing I DID have was a love of photography, a supportive husband, and friends that encouraged me with photo opportunities and technical knowledge. I am so indebted to Paty, Katie, Lesa and Laura for their encouragement and help. I am on the brink of a major step for me. Soon I will have a REAL website! It is in the works right now!!! As I am going through the pictures I have shot in the last 9 months to use in creating this website I am in awe of the growth that has occurred in my work. Building this new website is intimidating to me. I feel like I'm going out in public wearing big girl clothes and high heels when I'm still wearing a training bra...lol. So...keep your eyes out for my new growth spurt. Hopefully I will be up and running by the end of the week!

Bluedomain...here we come!

Ok...I did it! I actually bought a website interface from Bludomain! I have had a HUGE email snafu with them and have been trying get information from them for 3 weeks now. Evidently they had an email issue. The good thing about this is that I ended up getting in on a new interface launch! Instead of getting a bottom of the line site I ended up with a full blown site for less money...which is a VERY good thing. I am a neurotic mess waiting for the email from them with the contract and link. Now that I finally made my mind up I just want to get going. I am SUCH a bad waiter!!! I am so excited to be able to share this new website with all my customers to show them just how great they look!

If it had just snowed...

We went to bed with the promise of snow or at least sleet and freezing rain last night. The big boys both slept with their pj's on inside out and backwards in some sort of crazy "make it snow" ritual. I went to sleep planning all the things I was going to have Charlie help me do since he would be snowed in tomorrow. Well...no surprise here....we have no snow, or ice, or anything really. So everyone is off to school and work and Griffin and I are home alone again.

But here's where it starts falling apart. Just as I am going to get in the shower Zack starts melting down because he can't find the homework assignment he "forgot" to do. He SWORE to me that he was all done with his home work! I can't believe he was banking on snow and didn't do a 2 page assignment! 15 minutes of hunting later I find it and sit down with him and get it done. That window of opportunity for a shower is mighty small now but I risk it and jump in. I'm getting out of the shower just as Zack and Greg are supposed to be going out the door to catch the bus. Greg starts freaking out because he forgot that I'm supposed to do snacks for a special event in their classroom that morning. (No note from the teacher or any warning or anything. It was something that I had volunteered for in September that I had forgotten about. It had no firm date at that time so I was REALLY caught off guard by this). There was no postponing this and I had NOTHING that would work here at the house and there goes the school bus during all this freaking out. By the time I dry my hair, dress me and Griff they boys will be tardy so Charlie takes them to school and runs by Giant to get "something". I am crossing my fingers about what he winds up with.

The day's not over yet! I get a call from the Vice Principal at the boy's school because a little boy in Zack's class decided to pound him because he said he wanted the Bears to win the Super Bowl instead of the Colts. Thankfully Zack wasn't hurt. He didn't want The Vice Principal to call me because he was afraid I would want him to come home. He wanted to go back to class so nobody would think that he going beat up! The other little boy got suspended for several days over the whole thing. I am so freaked out about this! Our school is a nice surburban school and my son gets hit because he disagrees on who should win the Super Bowl!

All I can keep thinking is...if it had just snowed....

Feburary already?

Oh my gosh! I can't believe it's Feburary already! I was going to set aside the month of January to get all my "business" in order. I had a HUGE to do list! I knocked a considerable amount off of the list but there is still so much to do! I HAVE to have that website up and going. I've GOT to start advertising to build my business. I have to get my records organized from last year to get taxes over with. How did this happen?!?!?!

Ok...I was gone to Florida with the family for 10 days. You also have to consider the amount of time that was eaten up with getting ready for that trip too. I guess you should also factor in the "post vacation depression" days as well. I was useless for about 4 days after the trip from sheer exhaustion and depression. It was so hard to figure out where I left off and get going again.

Ok....so I guess it's time for a new list and a new attack. (sigh)

A wish for the Blue Fairy

I'm wishing on a star tonight and hoping that it will turn into the Blue Fairy. Dear Blue Fairy...I don't want to be a real little boy...I just want to be a real photographer...with a real website and everything. I promise I will go to school and not become a Jackass at Pleasure Island. Oh please Blue Fairy...won't you help me out?

Remembering Basketball

I had a shoot tonight that was such a blast from the past for me. I went out to Thornburg Middle School to shoot team pictures for the Hawkeyes. These boys were so much fun and really cooperative. I was shooting their pictures before a game so we had to get a little creative since there wasn't enough room to shoot in the gym while another game was going. I hope they like how I photoshop some fun into the pictures for them! So the bast from the past happened becuase we had to wait for the other game to finish before I could shoot their group shot on the court. Of course the game before them was running late and then went into over time. I was "stuck" watching that game for quite a while before I could shoot. It was a BLAST! These boys looked to be about 10 or so and the game was tied up at 29 all. I got so into the excitement of the game and I didn't even know a single kid on the court. The game was won in the last 2 seconds of overtime by a little boy with the luckiest shot of the night. I hope that's a moment he never forgets! I know I won't forget the look on all the boys faces (both winners and loosers) for a very long time. I remember playing basketball at their age and feeling the exact same way.

A to Z

A- Available or not? My camera has some available date still but I'm taken.
B- Best Friend? IRL Lesa (there's something wonder-filled about someone that has been your friend for over 30 years.) on-line Laura (there's something really fun about someone that you've know for a short while and have so much in common with)
C- Cake or Pie? Pie...chocolate merangue to be exact.
D- Drink of Choice? Diet Coke (you should be suspicious about anyone that drinks Diet Dr
Pepper)
E- Essential Item? my camera
F- Favorite Color? Peach or denim blue
G- Gummi Bears or Worms? YUCK....neither!
H- Hometown? Born in Costa Mesa CA but my hometown will always be Heber Springs, AR
I- Indulgence? Dark Chocolate...preferably the good kind.
J- January or February? February...I'm a romantic at heart.
K- Kids and names? Zachary Alexander, Gregory Isaac, Griffin James
L- Life is incomplete without? Snuggles from my kids
M- Marriage Date? August 10th, 1991
N- Number of Siblings? 3 sisters Jeanie, Tammie, Christy
O- Oranges or apples? Apples preferably hiding in a flakey crust
P- Phobias/Fears? Something happening to my children and claustrophobia.
Q- Favorite Quote? How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
R- Reason to Smile? My husband loves me without reservation.
S- Season? Fall
T- Team Sport? Football
U- Unknown Fact About Me? - Well, if I have worked so hard to keep it a secret I'm not about to tell now!
V- Vegetable you hate? BEANS!!!
W- Worst habit? I hate that I am a hording clutter freak....sigh!
X- X-Rays you've had? Oh my gosh...what hasn't been x-rayed.
Y- Your favorite food? Good Mexican food!
Z- Zodiac? Leo

Get well soon Laura

Ok...so while we're on the topic of Laura... I'm really missing her! Laura is ill right now and is recovering from surgery. It's pretty serious but I believe everything is going well and we'll look back on this 6 months from now and realize it was just a little bump in the road. So...here's a whispered prayer and a happy thought for Laura and her recovery.

My Friend Laura Inspires Me!

Ok...so I'm going into this with some trepidation. I hate starting something that I'm afraid I won't be able to keep up with....but....my friend Laura inspires me! She is the busiest person I know and yet she finds time to blog. I love going to her blog and reading what is going on with her. The funny thing is...you'd think I 'd know everything that IS going on with her because we talk almost everyday... but every time I go to her blog I learn something new. So... because you inspire me Laura...here's my blog. So could you teach me how to post a picture now...lol?!?!?!
You can get inspired by Laura at http://laurasrandomphotos.blogspot.com/