New Banner

My sweet soul frister Denise made me this new blog banner using one of the yumji photos she took of me when she visited.

How lucky am I to have such a talented friend?

Love you girl.


PS Deni used to make blog banners as a side business. I don't think she has as much time to do them as she used to, but maybe if you ask real nice..........;)

This art and money pod cast by creative thursday looks super interesting.

Follow link to link and find....

Doing a bit of hopping around on the computer I found the following lovely piece on this blog :


"The more curls you do with free weights, the more your bicep grows. It’s not rocket science. It’s the simple effect of training your bicep. The more energy you give to a thought or action, the bigger and stronger it becomes in your mind, emotions, habits, and practices. Imagine that you tell yourself you must have coffee and donuts at the same time everyday. You practice this routine over and over, even make schedule adjustments so that you won’t be deprived. Now, imagine that you run two miles at the same time everyday, making schedule adjustments so that you won’t be deprived. Don’t expect to outthink your body or your brain on this point. Whenever you invest energy in anything, there is a “training effect.” Every story we tell ourselves has some training effect. Because of the power of the “story effect,” it’s imperative that the story you tell be a constructive, not destructive, one. It’s crucial to be utterly conscious about who you are, what you’re doing with your life, and what stories you’re telling yourself. The training effect of stories makes it hard to break the bonds that form–so take care that your stories are ones that move you towards your ultimate mission.
How many times have you had to force yourself out of negative thinking? To my skeptical friends out there, YES it can be done! Iif you’ve never done it before try it before you spiral into the depths of negativism. Being conscious, being present is the greatest gift you can give to yourself. Being present is the first step to realization that you are in control of yourself, your emotions.
Positive thinking breeds more positive thinking. It is practically virulent in its’ nature. Once you start listening to the voice within as you breathe in the moment you will come to find where your path leads you, the journey begins within you. What is your story?
If you are at all interested The Power of Story website has a pdf document that you can begin completing to write your own destiny, your “story” if you will. Telling our stories to ourselves is the first part of taking control of our destinies. The pdf document encourages you to reflect upon YOU, your old story and the new story that you would like to unfold in front of you. Think about it as if it was a blueprint for your life."

Your very own font/changing room and backdrop

How amazing an idea/possibility, to have your very own handwriting font to use on the computer?

Well this site makes it possible! Now I am still in the stone age it seems as I do not have a scanner. I had one when I was getting my masters and started teaching, but didn't put it to much use and ended up giving it away:(

I know they aren't very much money, but I already have overflowing shelves and rooms and drawers.

On another note I wanted to share two things I have recently purchased.

1. A pop up portable changing room for on location photo shoots. How cool is this? It is a really big pain in the but to put together until you figure it out. I am going to have my husband video me doing it and post it here. I used it on Friday on a shoot and it was perfect. I think more was exposed to the main highway when I felt the wind on my back and realized that as I was bending down to take photos of her in the grass-I was simultaneously flashing the men sitting at a red light in their truck, my plumbers crack.

That was embarassing:O


2. A makeshift portable backdrop/lightfilter. This is to the genius of my frister Genine who made it and then told me how.

Go to Lowes or Home depot and get

6 5foot legths of 3/4 inch round pvc pipe
6 pvc elbows
2 pvc 3 sproket thingies for the bottom

a small hack saw or pvc pipe cutter.

I have yet to cut the lengths but essentially you are making two U shapes (one with 5feet on all three sides and the one to lay on the ground will have 3ft sides and the 5ft piece across) and then attaching them to eachother at 90 degrees with the 3 holed sproket thingies.

What is really cool is that you can either use clamps or just slide a pretty curtain over the top bar and viola!

Now of course if you are using this as a backdrop you will want to sandbag the bar on the back so it doesn't tip over.

I plan on (haven't yet) using it as a "pretend" windowsill to take photos of. I also am going to try it to filter some light for flower photos etc.

We are al superheroes

Not sure if that is the correct spelling of superheroes.hee hee

This is my soul sister Genine's gorgeous daughter Keira yesterday wearing my well loved superhero necklace Joy.

I have been wearing this necklace everyday. I absolutely love it and feel so much like a superhero when I wear it.

Each time I see Keira she wants to wear it. Wouldn't it be great if there were superhero kids necklaces?

I have been feeling a bit in need for some superhero powers lately. My emotions seem a bit raw as I venture into this new aspect of my business, of portrait work.

My friend Genine started portrait work as a side business around the time I started my etsy store. Having her support and encouragement to pursue my own portrait business has been amazing. I have been lucky to have the support of so many of you for a long while....with many of you being photographers as well. But there is something so beautiful and amazing about having someone you live near, someone who your client bases very well may overlap, support you that is life changing for me.

It has brought a lot of feelings to the surface and has meade me want to look at my own ability to share and be supportive, without allowing my ego to get in the way.

To constantly remind myself that there is more than plenty to go around for all of us. That each artist is unique and something special to offer, even if they try the same techniques.

I am really embracing this idea that we all can be superheroes-we all can be rockstars. We can bring out the thunder in eachotehr without it taking away from our own.

No one can steal your mojo or your thunder. What they can do however is find their own through you sharing yours.

So I blogged on my business blog some fabulous links and an invitation to share what I know with anyone who is interested.

The only restriction is my time and memory. Sometimes I do 20 million different things and forget each ste, but I will do my best to remember.

I want to help others find their thunder the way my friends have helped me find mine.

Rockstars

Ok a friend just told me that she enjoyed my texture tutorial. I didn't realize anyone was actually trying the stuff I write about....so she inspired me to make an offer: if there is anything you see of mine that you like or feel like you would enjoy learning the technique on, please tell me and I will do my best to sit down and write out how I do it.

Now I feel a bit self concious because i am far from an expert on anything I do, so the idea of me sharing how seems a bit silly since there is bound to be many many people that are experts, but I will put that aside and share my round about ways to get the looks I do.

I just found this amazing website the other day when searching for a Brianna Graham interview through google. I love her photos and wanted to know where she started, or how she has learned the skills she has-besides years of practice:)

Anyway this website is so full of goodies, you will be on there for hrs and hrs.

http://pifphoto.com/?p=339

I have recently been enjoying some of the free goodies from Michelle Black as well. I have used her funky action on some of my recent senior photos. You can the free tryout actions here.

this is a senior spokesmodel I recently did

Slide show

How cool is this? I have seen these slideshows on myspace-specifically at Deni's (boho photography) and finally gave it a try. They are so easy to make! Just go to Slide.com

Am working on this gorgeous high school junior's portrait gallery. Will ask her if I can use her gallery as a demo so all can see.