New Year's Resolution

I've decided to share my resolution with the world (or at least with the people who read my blog). And, I'm not waiting until the new year to start. This is the year I build my business and turn a hobby into a full-time job.

I've had my own business now for about 10 years, and have enjoyed working with friends and family and the people they've recommended. I have enjoyed having plenty of spare time to spend with my kids, pursuing my hobbies and volunteering with the school and church. When I decided to be a stay-at-home-mom, I figured I would be back in the work-force full time when the kids went to school. My kids are now in 4th grade and my husband is down to working only one job (he retired this year after 22 years in the Army National Guard).

I took several steps today to start the ball rolling. I am working on marketing, PR, building the commercial side of my business and have plans to do some serious market research during the upcoming "Bridal Show" season. I am also working to update my pricing structure to include digital pricing.

I believe that the only thing holding me back is my own doubt. This resolution goes a lot deeper than just building my business. It is a commitment to value my experience believe in my abilities. I am going to start living the quote that has been sitting on my desk for the last 10 years:

If one advances confidently in the direction of their dreams and endeavors to live a life which they have imagined, they will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.

-- Henry David Thoreau

or maybe I'm just manic.

More cool wedding stuff

Amber and I shot very fun wedding last weekend. At the reception, the bride and groom had provided a candy table with take out boxes for the guests. We had covered most of the reception when I double-dog-dared Amber to get a grandma to pose for a "fun shot". We had her throw candy at her family members to see if they could catch it in their mouth. The next thing we knew, everyone wanted a picture -- or at least a chance to throw something at a friend or family member. In some, if you zoom in, you can actually see where the candy is and try to determine whether the candy was caught or dropped. Here is one of my favorites:

Here are some of my other favorite photos from Katie and Mike's Wedding:

Tag, I'm it

My friend Deanna (http://deanna-norris.blogspot.com/) tagged me with the task of telling 8 things about myself you don't know. I'm pretty sure my throngs of dedicated followers (April and Deanna) already know everything about me, but I'll try.

1. I am ADDICTED to reality TV.

2. I am adopted and registered on several search sites to find my birth-mother.

3. I have Social Phobia (fear of being evaluated negatively in social situations) leading to Glossophobia (fear of public speaking).

4. I like big words.

5. I have a tatoo and a body peircing. Yup, I am cool like that :).

6. I dream of living on a sailboat. Waiting patiently for the phone call (he he he).

7. I hate filing more that any other chore.

8. Even though I am a neurotic-neat freak, my bedroom and closet are almost always a mess.

On-Line Proofing

I feel like this year has been a year of change. In the past photography was a part-time job that gave me an outlet for creativity, socializing, and a little professional validation. I've enjoyed dabbling in photography while spending the majority of my day as a stay-at-home mom.

Since Steve returned from his deployment and retired from the military, he helps with everything around the house. I have far more time to dedicate to photography (not to mention having him available to take the kids while I'm working). This new-found freedom has aloud me to update my product offerings and spend a little more time learning new tools and techniques.

I have now photographed seniors, families, and weddings digitally. I am working on offering new digital albums. And today, I finished my first on-line proofing for a wedding.

For my throngs of curious and dedicated followers, you can check it out at:
http://www.imagequix.com/

In the Event Guests - View an Event box type L93A19G for Photographer ID and click Submit
Select Wedding of Marta and Alex
Select Enter Proof Viewer

This could be turning into a full-time career...

Top 10 accomplishments

1. Married the love of my life
2. Two beautiful and smart children
3. Owner and sole-proprietor of Keepsake Portraits
4. Competed in 3 triathlon's - finished 4th in my age-group in the 2nd race
5. Survived my husband's 18 month Army deployment
6. Editor of Business Insight Magazine
7. Bachelor of Arts - MSU
8. Completed 4 years of Bible Study Fellowship (so far)
9. All-conference for high school volleyball
10. Graduated 3rd in my high school class

Technology and the 21st Century

I find myself being reluctantly dragged into the 21st century. First it was the cell phone. For the longest time I used my cell phone for emergency only. My husband complained that I never had it on when he tried to reach me. Next, I started using for work. If I was meeting a customer for a sitting, they could reach me if late or lost. Sunday, I left my phone at my brother's new house (I spent the weekend helping them paint so they can move into their new house...yeah, Dave and Sam!!!) and luckily I had a spare cell phone for just such and emergency. I am becoming addicted to technology.

The next shove into modernity was Deanna helping me create a website for my business and she and April inviting me to view their blogs. I'll admit I had a certain amount of blog-envy motivating me to create one for myself.

Now, against all of my excuses and foot dragging, I bought a digital camera and am up to speed on Photo Shop on my new laptop. I'll preface by saying that the quality of medium format film is still far above digital photos. However, I love taking digital pictures. The immediate gratification of see the photo and being able to adjust the elements in the photo is awesome. My "business partner", Amber, was the motivating force pushing me into the world of digital photography. Having someone who knows how to navigate through this new world has made it a lot less painful than it might have been. I can see so many ways to use digital and why it is necessary for me to add to my product offering.

Deanna -- we are going to have to change that line in my web-site about me not giving in to the realm of digital photography...

Top 10 to-do list

I love to make lists -- so what better way to start than with a list. This is my constantly changing top 10 life to-do list (not necessarily in order of importance):

1. Travel to Australia
2. Sail from Chicago to Mackinaw
3. Scuba dive in the Caribbean
4. Run a marathon
5. Take a bike-tour-vacation
6. Write a book
7. Visit Egypt
8. Hike the Appalachian Trail
9. Help a child in need
10. Own a sail boat on Lake Michigan