Perfect Timing

For about two weeks now I've been contemplating, how am I going to do this? How am I going to let people in? How will they learn who I am? To know the real me... I think I've written about myself on my blog, but was it enough?

Things happen for a reason. I truly believe that. For instance, before I actually had kids, I wished that my future first child would be born in the month of June (the month my husband was born) or July (my birthday month). I got pregnant when I was 24. A couple of weeks after learning I was pregnant and after the first ultrasound, I had a miscarriage. I was devastated. It was hard to be around people with kids. Soon after (possibly a couple of months later), I learned I was pregnant again. This time with twins :) I learned that at my "official" ultrasound. The part where I believe things happen for a reason is my first little peanut would have been born in May. Our twins were born in July. See what I mean?

So as I sit here, painting my nails with "It's Bouquet with Me" by Sephora by OPI, I think the great reason for me waiting to tell my story was because the universe, or God, wanted me to wait for the perfect time. And the perfect time has come.

Last year I was introduced to a lovely wedding photographer named Katelyn James. She's based out of the east coast and she's fantastic! Not only is her work simply to die for, but she's a Jasmine Star bride. What?!?! I would give anything to be a j* bride :)

Anyhow, just today Katelyn James announced a contest to win a seat to her Workshop Experience. Click here to find out more. In order to enter the contest one would have to tell her their story, and why we would want to go. It's all adding up, isn't it? I wanted to tell my story a few weeks ago. For some reason I couldn't find the perfect time to write it. And well...it looks like now's the time.

I got my first camera when I was, I believe in 6th grade. I think I was 11 or 12. It was actually a Christmas gift from my parents. I think I even saw her buy it for me when we were shopping for Christmas gifts at Sears. :) It was a Kodak point and shoot and I loved it! I remember taking it to school and taking photos of my friends.

In high school and community college, I took photography classes. I believed that I wanted to be a photographer. I didn't know what type, but I knew I had fun being behind the camera. And it was super fun developing my photos in the darkroom.

I left community college early to follow the love of my life. He was in training for the Air Force. My love took me to Texas to be with him.

In December 2003 we got married in City Hall. How ironic is this? I have no photos of us on our wedding day. Me, a photographer (or back then a wishful photographer) had no photos from our special day. That's one thing I regret...not having photos. Another? Not wearing a wedding dress. I would love to go back and change some things, but in all honesty it was perfect because it was just us two. And that's all we had back then. If I could do another wedding, to say, renew our vows and finally get that wedding that I dreamed of (wedding dress, photos, family and all) I totally would do it. Hear that Babe??? :)

Attending Katelyn James' Workshop Experience would be perfect for me because I've only been at this (being a professional photographer) for over a year now. (Oh, did I mention a part-time professional photographer?) I've shot 2 weddings, assisted in 2, and photographed a wedding reception. I know there's a lot I need to learn. I also know this is something that I want to do for the rest of my life.

Up until late last year I wasn't sure what type of photography I wanted to do. Just starting out I wanted to do everything. To get my feet wet and see what I liked.

True story...Just today I told a co-worker that I want to specialize in Weddings and Boudoir. I've never really told anyone that (other than my husband and friend). I was scared to announce what I actually wanted to do, or specialize in.

I would love to attend Katelyn's workshop to soak up all the knowledge I can gain. From shooting the little itty bitty details to big giant wedding parties. From turning that inquiring engaged couple to a Veronica Hudley Designs bride and groom. I want to make my clients say "Wow...I love her and her work is out of this world!" I don't necessarily want to be the best in the world, or be top photographer in a certain year. I just want to make my clients proud that they chose me and to spread the word. :)

If for some reason I don't win this contest (because again, things happen for a reason), I will be okay with that because this allowed me to finally tell you all a little more about me. And I hope you're able to find some sort of connection to me. And to help you out even more, here are my top 5 current favorite TV shows :)

1.) The Voice - I love, love, LOVE Adam Levine!!! And Blake too :)

2.) Glee - Finn is soooo HOTT!!!

3.) Say Yes to the Dress - Gotta love dress shopping, or any shopping :)

4.) Four Weddings - Love to see what each bride does with her wedding

5.) One Tree Hill - I've only become a fan possibly 2 seasons ago. I'm sad that they're going away :(

Oh wait...one more...you can never go wrong with Friends. :) I love staying up and watching Friends on Nick at Nite. :)

Cross your fingers for me! :)

It's all in the craft

I've always been a creative person. I remember in fourth grade we were doing sand art. I had a photo of an alligator (this sounds a little too amateur for fourth grade, huh? so I'm not sure why we were doing this at that time). I colored him in, along with the scene around him. I outlined him with the sand art. After recess I came back to my desk and was pretty much done, but my classmates were still working on theirs. So I decided to fill in some areas with sand art. I think the end product was outstanding, if I say so myself. :)

A few of you may know, but others probably don't. I am a crafter at heart. My obessession is paper and fonts. (I think I've mentioned that in a previous post.) My niche..invitations and cards.

It all started in the mid to late 90's. I want to say 1997-ish. My aunt wanted me to help her make invitations for my cousin's baptism. I used that blue stationary paper with the white clouds. Ha, ha!! That just screams BEGINNER!! I'm the type who always wants to add more. So with that invitation, instead of printing directly on the blue cloud stationary, I printed on tissue paper. Tissue paper, like the one you use for gift wrapping. Literally. I think I was going for the vellum look, but didn't even know what vellum was, or even that it was called vellum. Couldn't they name it "stylish see through paper"? I wish I saved a copy for myself to have as a memory.

Little by little I would try to kick up the next one up a notch. Another one I did was I used parchment stationary paper and gold ribbon. After that I believe I took a break because I don't remember any other invite that I did until 2004 when my nephew was born. I also did his baptism invites.

I used a sepia photo of him that I took while I worked at the JCPenney Portrait Studio. I printed it on cardstock, used vellum for the inside and tied it all together with gold yarn (but not really yarn...more like string). I really liked that one because the photo blended in with the card.

Around 2006 I took it to another level. I wanted to make a business out of this, but started small. I went to Craigslist.com and found a couple who was getting married. They were on a budget and were looking for someone to do their invites. I was nervous, but accepted the challenge. I believe I made 60 bucks off it. Probably spent more creating it all, buying the supplies, and shipping, but at least I got my name out there, right?

Fast forward to today. I don't get to do a lot of paper crafting because photography has taken over my life, in the most wonderful way possible. However, a couple of months ago I promised myself that I would dedicate one day a month to paper and nothing but paper. I intend to keep that promise because I really do love emerging myself in all my scrapbook paper, various types of glue/adhesives, different colors and styles of ribbon and my Cricut...oh how I LOVE MY CRICUT!!! Sometimes I just sit and stare at it because there's SO much you can do with it that I don't know where to start.

Here's some that I've made in the past.

Another craft that I have started to do is custom hangers, or what I like to call it, wire bending. I'm sure you've seen those wooden hangers with "Bride" or "Mrs. fill in the blank" in recent weddings. I decided to try my hand at it because after seeing one in action I never want to photograph another wedding dress without one.

So I bought some hangers and some wire and I started my newly acquired wire bending skills. This is my first completed hanger. You'll be seeing more of these for my 2012 brides who do not have one. Congrats Brides :)

Because I have decided to rededicate myself to crafting, I have decided to make it a feature on my blog. Therefore, you guys get to see what's freshly made :) About twice a month I will talk about what I've made, or plan on making. I haven't quite set a date for these yet, so they may just pop up one day. So be sure to keep coming back. I appreciate the company :)

There may also be giveaways...and don't we all love free stuff?

Happy crafting!!!

Gotta do what I gotta do with what I have

Okay, so a couple of blogs back I mentioned that I would do a post about my gear. I thought I would do that today (since I'm sitting here waiting to get my nails done :) )


My gear is far from fancy. I think it was 2008 when I asked for a DSLR from my husband for my birthday. If anyone has shopped around for a DSLR you know how much those bad boys cost.


Now, at the time my intentions for getting a camera were not for getting into the business. I have taken photography classes in high school and college and had always used a 35mm film camera. Since the digital era was here and screaming my name, I felt like it was time to get a digital SLR.


Next was choosing the brand. Canon or Nikon? Actually, this wasn't too much of a hard decision because I also had my heart set on getting a Nikon. I heard great things about it and it was only right to get it. Well...off to Best Buy we go!


I couldn't go too expensive (even though I had a coupon...THANK GOODNESS FOR THOSE COUPONS! ) And I didn't want to get the cheapest camera (which was the D40). So which did I end up getting? The D60 ( ha ha... just the next step up from the D40). It was the best we could buy. The next step up was $800 (don't remember what model that was) and we couldn't afford that one. So we bought me the D60 with the 18-55mm vr kit lens.


I was sooo excited! I wanted to play with it right away. BUT...I couldn't because it was my birthday present, and it wasn't my birthday yet ;( My insides we aching everyday up until my birthday.


Like I said before, when I got this camera, I wasn't getting it to jump into a photography business. I mean, eventually yeah, but not right away. So for about a year and a half my camera was on auto, shooting on jpegs. (Ha ha...)


Long story short, I purchase a 50mm lens on ebay. Good price and works well. Only thing is, its a manual focus. Doesn't bother me much in the beginning because I had to manually focus with film cameras. The lens was working well up until I think September last year. Used it for a shoot that was really beautiful, but when a photo was printed from that session, it came out not tack sharp (when it looked like it on my computer). I vowed never to use that lens again, so the next day I went to Best Buy to purchase a 35mm lens that DOES autofocus :) The reason I bought the 35mm instead of the 50mm is because the 35mm was cheaper.


Other than that, I have a Vivitar flash that I also got on ebay. It's one where I can attach it to the camera. Not the best flash, but it works. I also have a UV filter and now a Polarizer filter (thanks to my in-laws. THANKS!)


That's about it. Sometimes I struggle and wish that I had a pro camera because the one I have doesn't feel like it's up to par, but I have to remember that it's not really about the gear, its what I can produce with what I have. Besides, I still have time to get a real pro camera. :)


Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!

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