20 posts from November 2007

I heard this on the way home from a shoot today:

Yes, I wanted to marry Jon Bon Jovi when I was a kid, and I still do. Sigh. I love this song and Bon Jovi!

It's kind of nice out today and I hope to take advantage of taking some pictures this afternoon because the weekend is slated for horrible storms. Fun!

Today, Dan leaves for Iraq. I called him last night and we talked really quick as I know he's busy since getting his orders. Mom was really sad and is thinking the worst. It's really hard to imagine someone so young still with so much growing up to do to be fighting in a war that is pointless and one that isn't fought the same way - dirty. We're tying a yellow ribbon around our porch post (we don't have a tree in the front yard) until Dan comes home again. He says he will get to come home in February for a brief break, but as we all know, that could change. It's a pretty shitty early Christmas present from the government if you ask me. I have work to do, but am trying to focus now. Here's Dan's MySpace page if you feel inclined to become his friend and wish him well and show your support for him. He needs to know that so many of us here care about our troops and him no matter what our stance is on the war.

Hmmm, I haven't got a lot to say other than I'm kinda tired this afternoon. I have to run up to the vet's office for new medicine for the cats - so, better go do that. Have a good one!

I don't mean just the monitor, but I mean a big stretched canvas printed of your work! I just received my sample 24 x 36 Canvas and it's GORGEOUS! If you are new to photography as a business, you should really consider ordering one really big so you can show your customers how amazing they will look at that size. It really is pretty. I can't wait to hang it in a studio some day! Maybe next year! I've been doing more research into the other stuff for my customers besides regular prints and this was the first to arrive of my sample ordering spree. I'm waiting on my little leather album and my fine art book to arrive. I'm going to also be sending off my application to sell my photos on Gina Alexander handbags. These are simply divine purses! I saw them in person and I was immediately sold. Heck, they are walking advertisements for your work.

This one is my favorite and retails for $285.00 - pictures are on both sides and of course, the sides are my signature style these days! Too bad they aren't processing applications till after the holidays.

I still have a ton of work to do before I go to bed tonight including answering emails. But, honestly, I had to share this - Andie is riding roller coasters while working - NO FAIR! HEE HEE, see how much fun you can have on a MAC?

Okay, so I haven't VOXed in four days. Miss me? Just have been busy with other things.

I sit here typing on my new Apple keyboard and my new 27.5" wide screen monitor. I'm in love.

It's going to be interesting getting used to these things! My laptop is docked into the monitor. Jake helped me get it and set it up for me. Love my brother! :) I can use my laptop and monitor side-by-side if I want or need to. I can tell you that a picture at 100% will be AMAZING to edit! I am loving it.

I had been in the Apple store twice this week and fell in love with the iMac. Thinking it would be great to have a desktop - and if I ever do go into a studio I will want it as a second computer. But, instead, I opted for a cheaper monitor at Best Buy. An iTune tvshow is bigger than my little TV in the bedroom! Crazy nuts I tell ya! Anyhoo - it may seem like I have spent a lot of money this year, but it's all business expenses and honestly, anything I make goes right back into the company. Eventually, I will have a gorgeous studio with all the equipment I need to fully function and feel satisfied. But, for now, I work hard at my job, and put some of it away and some of it towards something else to make business that much better.

Okay, enough of that. My grams was in town over the weekend which meant fully entertaining her and not so much work. I did shoot on Friday and Saturday (some pictures up over at Pink Gnome if you care to go look). I took my brother with me to shoot and am hoping to get him learning the ropes some so he can help me at times. I'd like to start thinking about weddings and would like to have him on board. But, before I could do that I'd have to buy a few more lenses and a flash for him to use on my backup camera. More investment. Maybe next year. Oh man, that's closer than it sounds!

I have made two purchases for Christmas already. Two. Ugh, I hate thinking of things to buy for Christmas. I suck at it. But, I have my business Christmas cards and personal Christmas cards ready to be addressed and mailed out. Last year, I didn't even buy any to send out. Horrible.

Oh - our Thanksgiving photos are up on the Pink Gnome blog too. I know I keep sending you there, but seriously, it's where I want my photography shown.

We didn't go to Weight Watchers tonight. Not because we were afraid to see a gain, but because we shopped all day (well, window shopped most of the time) and our feet were killing us and we were exhausted. I still am. I am thinking of crawling in bed here in a few and crashing out till tomorrow. Sounds good to me! I have a lot of email to answer still so if you're looking for an answer from me, just be patient!

Hugs and have a great, WARM week!!!!

Pecan Pie and October Road. It's a good day!

I'm ready for it - sorta. I can't seem to get past the fact that I'm off tomorrow because I am trying to prep up for Friday and Saturday - two shoots. It will all come and go and be over with before I know it though. Sigh. The holiday rush means everything just flies by.

I posted a sample album that I just ordered from a new vendor for my business at Pink Gnome Foto's blog. Wanted to share with my clients so if you want to see, just click here. Tammy, if you're reading, yes, it's of Anna. Figured I'd use her photos for the sample book to show off to seniors.

Went to get Merlin a new winter coat tonight because it's about to get pretty nippy out. Finding a coat and sweater to fit his body is pretty tough. He's not a medium, not really a large and definitely not an XL, but sometimes, all three of those fit him. He's just shaped weird. Luckily, this one seems to work:

Here's the sweater I got him too - a little big, but better thant he one he had. He's one stylin' pup!

I have a few more Christmas card templates up at Pink Ink Studios so if you're still working on those last minute orders or for your own personal use go grab them! So far, I haven't heard from the labs about backups. I just ordered my own for my business and can't wait to see them in person. I got them on pearl paper - more money, but snazzy looking! Click here to go to Pink Ink Studios.

A little music for my bud, Melissa - enjoy and have a great Thanksgiving!

  

Snagged this image from our hostess from the weekend:

Friday morning I drove 6 hours to Fort Wayne, Indiana. Spent an AMAZING weekend with photographers from a group I belong to that came from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and me of course, from Missouri. Various levels of experience and in business too. I learned a good deal of things and enjoyed meeting up with people that I have known from online. You feel as if you already know them so the greetings are so quick and you just begin chatter per usual. Fun times.

I have a lot of images that I took that I'll probably be sharing over at the Pink Gnome blog when I'm done, but I working on last minute orders for clients for the holidays and am finishing up my processing of those images so stay tuned - poor Pink Gnome Blog is being neglected.

I can't express how much happier I am focusing on my photography. I have visions of a beautiful studio some day. I know that as long as that vision stays in my heart and mind it will happen. Financially, it's not doable right now, but I know that I can work hard to make that happen. I would love to be able to convert our garage into something for a year or two - it's perfect because there isn't much work that would need to be done other than removing the garage door, painting, running electrical and we already have an outside door that clients could use so they wouldn't be in my home. Just no bathroom option. Anyone have money they want to donate? I am quite proud that I have been able to pay cash for practically everything in my business. My credit card debt for the company is well under $1000. Probably closer to $600. You can't beat that and I don't intend to change it. Some day, I may have to borrow money to really grow my business but for now, I work with what I have and I let my customers pay for my equipment through each session and print order. It seems to be working, but I am an impatient person!

I drove home late Sunday night - dark, rainy, plenty of roadkill, yuck. A couple Starbuck stops and I was so excited to see this:

Okay, so driving through the ever rough Interstate 70 through East St. Louis into my city is not the best way to snap a picture with your camera phone. But, you get the idea! HOME! So nice to cross the river and realize it's just a short hop, skip and a jump away till I pull up in my driveway.

Some of my WEAK attempts at iMovie this weekend using my cheapy video camera - bitmappy, but still fun.

If you're a photographer, you'll get the "chimp" sound byte  in the latter. I have another one to make from my remainder of clips and will work on later.

Naw. But, I do have to laugh - I have discovered iMovie. I always knew it was there and have watched my brother use it and Garageband and all that jazz. I just never messed with it much. I finally got my chintzy little video camera to work on the MAC. It produces .avi files so I had to search for a plugin that would let me see the videos (audio was fine). It's just too fun. I took a bunch of shots in Photo Booth and just did a quick little montage. Oh it's the little things that please me!

http://homepage.mac.com/hollymccaig/iMovieTheater1.html

I have NO idea how to just link to the movie in my iDisk or .mac account. I'm still learning the ropes here on some of these things!

This is going to be the busiest day ever! I have to color my hair and get ready this morning. I will be running errands and dropping off pictures. I have to pull some final reports from My Digital Muse's admin area before it closes down this weekend (the server that is). And gather up all my belongings for my trip this weekend. I leave in the morning and come home late Sunday. I should get there at about 4 p.m. and arrive in time to check in at my hotel, find Meg who is rooming with me and then head over to Kris' studio. A little cocktail hour and boudoir session the first night. So much to learn and share this weekend. Very much looking forward to this!

Alright, time is getting away from me!