Bethany is a wedding and portrait photographer in the Austin, TX area. She is another incredible photographer that I of course met through an online forum (I’ve met some of the most amazing people that way) and is seriously just as beautiful in person. I also credit Bethany for a lot of the positive growth in my own photography over the last couple years, she and Vicki were placed in my life at a time where I needed a lot of direction. So a year and a half ago when I had the chance to go to Austin for a photographer get together, I jumped on it. I learned so much being in the company of other talented photographers and came home with a few lasting friendships that I cherish. Bethany is someone that I admire for her personal strength and her ability to capture people as they are, no pretenses. Her images are full of personality and emotion.

Who are you? Seriously. What makes you Bethany? Give me a little bio, please.
Way to start an interview. The very first question just happens to be completely loaded, thank you. Who am I? I wake up every morning and ask myself this very question. Ok, maybe not really. But kinda. I know who I am very well, but am constantly on a journey of self-improvement and discovery. Now that I’ve danced around this question, I’ll try to answer it the best way I can. I am Bethany. I am a woman, a mother, a documenter of life, a cook, a housekeeper, a bookkeeper, a chauffeur, a child wrangler, a teacher, a dreamer and a hopeless romantic. I have been blessed with being in the business of photography for 5 years now; it is truly one of the best things that has ever happened to me. My business honestly started as a hobby, something I could call my own. I was a stay at home mother of two boys, and with the birth of my second son, my photography journey really began. Turns out, it was a blessing. My second son was diagnosed with autism at 30 months old, and ironically I had unknowingly documented his slow decline in development. I have also been blessed with documenting the steady growth and progress he makes. Now as a mother of two amazing boys and a beautiful little girl, I am so thankful for being given a talent I love so dearly. I am just a girl, with amazing children, and a kick arse job trying to keep my dreams alive and bigger than me.

What type of photography do you specialize in? Why?
My work has transitioned from strictly portrait work to weddings in the last three years. I also dabble in commercial work, and have started a wonderful adventure in fashion photography….but weddings are my joy. For two years, I wouldn’t touch weddings. There is no do over, and I knew it was of great importance to really know my craft before I took on that responsibility. After a call from an amazing client needing a photographer in a pinch for a friend’s wedding, I decided to help. It was that wedding that planted a seed of love into my work, it was such a high. There is a euphoria that surrounds the day two lives join that simply cannot be matched. There are no worries, the world disappears, and for those hours nothing else matters but the love that is so overwhelming. Words cannot express how much I love, appreciate, and find joy in my work. I will never stop being amazed or thankful.

Why Photography?
Because, for me, it is love. I feel alive and present and aware when I see the world through a glass lens. I feel at home. I don’t know how to describe it other than that, it’s honestly amazing to me.

How would you describe your style?
Just like me…..flipping awesome! Oh. Wait. You mean really? Welcoming. Fun. Urban. Emotional. Creative. Natural. Raw. Organic. Crazy. Me. Did you want complete sentences here? Cause I’m not capable of using them.

How did you come up with Paisley Day?
Paisley Day is a collaboration with myself and my amazing business partner, April Orr. April is a ridiculously talented wedding planner, her eye for design blows my mind constantly. I started by myself 5 years ago, as Bella Amadis Photography. When my wedding business started booming, we ended up working at a ton of weddings together, or referring clients to each other. So, a little over a year ago we started toying with the idea of starting a business together. We saw many brides exhausted by dozens of vendor meetings and recognized a market for providing a “one stop shop” for our target market. A year ago, Paisley Day was born. What started as a side project, has blossomed into a booming business providing brides with some of the most exceptional and talented wedding professionals in the Greater Austin area. We are constantly amazed by the opportunities that have come our way since we combined our arts. Of course, Bella Amadis is still in full swing, driven solely by amazing clients that keep coming to see me every year. I seriously, seriously have the most rad clients. Ever.

What would be your perfect photo shoot?
At every wedding, I require that the bride and groom set aside at least 20 minutes where I can run off with them. That slot of time, beyond everything else, is always my favorite. It is so important to me that they set aside this time, and the images we get in that time are always their favorites. In those moments, nothing else matters. The rush of all of the people stops, the world grows quiet, and the air is saturated with love. I don’t even exist to them, but I am there. Watching them interact, seeing their faces just beam with amazement, listening to the sweet laughter, and the tender conversation. It is truly one of the most amazing things in the world. Love never stops blowing me away.

What can’t you live without? (Besides me)
What else is there??? I mean, you make my heart so happy and the way you speak to me? Wow. You complete me. It’s sort of like this video

If I was being picky, and had spare room in my heart for anything outside of you, it would be the following items. I would also like to note I am always taking donations of these things:
Cheese.
You.
Chocolate.
You.
Camera and a great lens.
You.
Music!!!!
You.
Amazing friends.
You.
Great jeans.
You.
Flip flops.
You.
Love.
You.
Hope.
You.
Faith.
You.
My fantastic family.
You.
My beautiful babies.
You.
Jesus.
You.
And a pocket knife, every girl should own one.

Anything else we should know?
I’m secretly a ninja.

Share some of your favorite images:

Thank you so much Bethany! If you are in the Austin area and want to contact her, and you know you do, here she is Website Facebook

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Vicki is a child photographer based in Springfield, MO. Vicki is another crazy phenomenal photographer I met on a forum as I first started getting serious about photography. I can honestly say that I didn’t really like her that much at first, but what initially turned me off is exactly what I’ve come to love about her. She is honest. There is no sugar coating. I started the way most photographers do-taking pictures I loved and having family that “loved” everything I did, pushing me to possibly pursue this as a business. I believed family and friends and felt like I knew how to take fantastic pictures but then I started sharing them on forums and having someone actually critique them stung. A lot. At first I wondered what she knew that made her feel like she had that right, and then I started studying her pictures and *duh, lightbulb moment* realized she really knew what she was talking about. Her pictures had something to them I wanted to emulate-they were soulful, they drew you in without all the fluff and *gasp* they were stunning (and properly exposed LOL). That was a moment that forever changed my portraits. It made me realize how much I needed to learn. There is so much more to photography than pointing the camera at a pretty subject and getting a pretty picture. And even technically correct photos can lack vision, what leaves you somehow changed after seeing the photo rather than just an oh that’s nice. I credit Vicki with pointing me in a direction of growth and still go to her on occasion when I need a kick in the butt.

Who are you? What makes Vicki tick? Give me a little bio, please.
I am your friendly neighborhood crazy person, I mean, photographer. The thing about me is that you can never take me seriously. I love to have fun. I love to laugh. I always try to make sure my clients have a great time during their sessions. Yes, I’m a complete nut-case and I’m proud of it. It’s what I do.

As for photography, I fell in love with the camera at a young age. I was probably ten years old or something and my sister, Carolyn, and I snuck into my parents bedroom, searched through their stuff (I won’t even tell you the effect finding my dad’s underwear drawer had on us. It wasn’t pretty) and discovered my mom’s camera. It was an old Vivitar 110 camera. Ya know, one of those skinny long monstrosities that looked like a chocolate éclair? Yeah, it was awesome. We decided we wanted to play photographer so we broke into my neighbors backyard (we were little hellions, I tell ya) and took turns posing around the large cherry trees that adorned his property. I still have the pictures from that day and I will occasionally look at them to remind myself of where it all started. Back then, I sucked as a photographer.

After that day, I was hooked, officially and completely. It wasn’t until high school, however, that I started to take my hobby more seriously. It was when my journalism teacher unwisely gave me a SLR camera to take to a school sporting event. It was my job to capture those awesome action shots where you could actually see the sweat pouring from the athletes while in mid-jump. I tried, but failed miserably, realizing I still sucked as a photographer. That’s when I began to devour all things photography. I read everything I could about the subject and practiced as much as I could. I finally started to get better.

Photography was a hobby my husband and I shared. Later on, we started to take impromptu road trips across the country. We would leave home with nothing but a change of clothes and a camera. Those are some of the best days of my life. The resulting pictures are simply priceless to me today.

As for education, I minored in photography in college. I was actually pre-med with a photography minor. Great combo, eh? My college professor was a complete jerk but he made me stop and think about the images I was taking. He made me realize there should be more to the process than capturing the scene they lay before me. He taught me to capture emotion, life. For that I am thankful. I have also taken the NYIP (New York Institute of Photography) course. I took it as sort of a refresher a few years after college.

Other than photography, I have many hobbies, although finding the time to enjoy them is nearly impossible. I love to read. I’ve always had a passion for books. I also love to write. My friends have been begging me for years now to write a novel. I may do so one day, therefore prepare yourselves. I love to sleep, but only manage a few hours a night. Don’t ask why. It’s pretty lame. The most important thing in my life is my daughter, my drama llama, my muse. She’s my life. I wouldn’t be here without her.

So, yeah, that’s me in a nutshell.

What type of photography do you specialize in? Why?
I specialize in child photography. I enjoy it because I can be myself around them. I can be the complete goof that I am and not worry about it. Children simply amaze me. I love their sense of wonder. I adore their simplicity. I love to capture their very soul in an image. It’s a very spiritual process for me.

I also photograph high school seniors. I love them because they actually listen to what I ask of them. I love their diverse personalities. They make me feel younger by being in their presence.

Why Photography?
I had no intentions of becoming a professional photographer. For years, it was only a hobby for me. However, several events in my life made me realize how important photographs were. Life is fleeting, loved ones are gone before you know it. That knowledge spurred me to take photography further. I wanted to help others capture their loved ones in images. Therefore, I decided to go into business and I never looked back.

How would you describe your style?
I would say my style is fun, yet emotional. I try to keep things authentic and uncomplicated. I don’t use many props or a lot of equipment, choosing to focus on my subject instead. My goal is for someone to look at one of my images and feel an emotional connection. I want them to see beyond the exterior of my subject and peer into their very soul. Oh, and I want my clients to cry. That’s always fun. {snort}

What would be your perfect photo shoot?
A beautiful spring day with perfect lighting. A child that is a bit shy by nature but full of curiosity. A parent that respects my art and will let me do my thing. All I need is my camera, a couple of lenses and perhaps my reflector and I’m a happy camper.

What can’t you live without?
In terms of photography, I can’t live without my camera, reflector, 50mm, 85mm and 24-70mm. Those are the things I use the most. I’ve come to realize that tons of equipment doesn’t make you a better photographer. Learning to use what you have is all you need to do to create a beautiful image.

Outside of photography, I cannot live without the internet. Seriously, I’m completely addicted. Facebook and Twitter own my soul. I love my cars. I love my books. I love my BlackBerry. Most importantly, however, I love my little girl. She makes everything worthwhile.

Anything else people should know? What else do you do?
I love music. I can play several instruments. I don’t play them well, mind you, but I play them nonetheless. I enjoy playing the guitar, piano, drums and on occasion the trumpet. I use to be able to play the violin, but it’s been years. Maybe I’ll try it again soon. I would love to learn to play the didgeridoo because I think they are funny.

I’m constantly writing. I love to write stories for my daughter, although, they’re usually silly little things that will make her laugh. I have written some other things, original works I guess you can call them, but I’ve never shared them with anyone. I’ve been working on a project with some others, though, and hopefully it will lead to greater things. And like I said before, I may take on a novel sometime.

What are you listening to?
Well, seeing how I’m crazy, my musical preferences usually reflects that. I have a very eclectic taste in music. My favorite musical style is classical. I love Chopin, Beethoven, Mozart and all the other greats of that era. I love everything from old 80s heavy metal to grunge to pop to hip hop and even some rap. Seriously, I love it all, except most country. I find country music lacking in talent these days so I avoid it as much as possible. When people look at what’s on my iPod they usually hand it back to me scratching their head. Here are a several artists I enjoy:

Augustana
Chairlift
Damien Rice
David Cook
Etta James
Evanescence
Finger Eleven
Foo Fighters
Green Day
Gwen Stefani
Incubus
Jewel
Journey
Katy Perry
Kelly Clarkson
Kevin Rudolf
Kid Rock
Leona Lewis
Lifehouse
Lincoln Park
Lostprophets
Madonna
Muse
Michael Buble
NIN
Otis Redding
Patsy Cline
Pink
Radiohead
Simple Plan
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Thriving Ivory
Timbaland
Van Morrison

Okay, that list makes me sound relatively normal. Trust me though, I’m not. Oh, and I’m secretly in love with Glee. Don’t tell anyone though.

Share some of your favorite images and why you love them (silly forgot that part so I’ll give commentary )

*award winning*

Vicki’s photos are all about showing the real person. Her sessions are fun and capture the essence of childhood. Just look at the eyes in the photos, there’s a real sense of connection with the person.

Thanks Vicki! If you are in the Springfield area, get in touch with her-you won’t regret it! Website

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I just returned from a brief vacation (where I went down with a seriously nasty stomach bug) and am getting caught up as quickly as possible. The computer is still sick so photos are still in the works but we should be back up very soon! Thanks to my wonderful customers for understanding! Expect to see some fun engagement shots, a few cute kids, and some long overdue shares coming up very soon! Don’t forget a great special is coming up, *hint* something for your guy.

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Ingredients:
1 lb. spaghetti noodles (or other pasta shape)
1 lb or so of precooked shrimp (defrost frozen)
1 cup of veggies, seasonal variety (I used peas but you could use tomatoes, asparagus, zucchini, or whatever is in season)
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp dill
1-2 tbsp olive oil or butter
salt & pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and add oil or butter; keep warm.
2. While cooking the noodles, prepare (warm/cook) veggies. Remove tails from shrimp and cut smaller if desired.
3. Combine noodles, veggies, shrimp, and remaining ingredients. Serve warm

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Speaking of birthdays, I just had one 27. A year closer to 30. Honestly, I’m probably in the minority here, I just don’t see the big deal about 30. But I did sit back and think about where I thought I would be compared to where I am now. I changed my mind a lot about what I wanted to be when I grew up. A photographer really wasn’t one of them because I didn’t realize that could actually be a career. But I always wanted to be a mom. And it’s one of the things that I am most happy about in my life. I constantly question whether I’m doing a good job at it, if I’m good enough, but when my boys tell me how much they love me or climb up in my lap just to cuddle it washes those doubts away. I knew I’d be married, and at some points I hoped I’d be married to my dear husband (remember we’ve known each other 22 years) but I don’t think I planned to be married at 20. Our plan was to start kids around 25, I have a 5 year old LOL. Of course I dreamed of being much wealthier, I mean who doesn’t? But as I look back on what I wanted then versus what I have now, I really can’t think of hardly anything I wish was different. I’ve got a wonderful family, a roof over my head and food in my belly and that’s more than a lot of people can say.

Anywho, over the course of our crazy month we celebrated a wedding of a family member, a few birthdays (including my momma’s the day after mine, a surprise party for an uncle and a dinner out for my father in law), and even attended a Suns basketball game as a family with tickets gifted to us from my in-laws that we rode the light-rail train to (I think the kids enjoyed that even more than the game ).  And then came tax time which was apparently the perfect time for my computer to die. Sadly, it is still dead so while I work off the dinosaur laptop I have no pictures to post I also have been informed by a few people that not all of my emails are reaching me or going back out. If you need to reach me please contact me through my personal email for the time being until I can straighten that out kayla.renckly {at} gmail dot com (replacing at and dot for spam reasons). Scheduling will be light at the moment for personal reasons but I will do my best to accommodate.

With all that, I’m trying to jump back in here and attempt to shake off this blogging slump! I hit a wall and couldn’t think of anything to write about so why not talk about me right? LOL I’d rather talk about pretty much anything else. While my computer is ill, I’ll be sharing with you some of my fabulously talented photographer friends that inspire me daily. I hope you enjoy hearing from them and love their work as much as I do!

P.S. I have lots to share as soon as the computer doctor, aka my husband, has a chance to perform surgery-lots of pictures and look for an upcoming special in May (hint-think lace).

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Ingredients:
1/2 lb (half a pkg usually) shaped noodles, shells or rotini work well
1 1/2 c veggies, we usually use peas
1 can tuna, drained
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2-1 tsp garlic powder (or 1 small clove pressed garlic)
salt and pepper to taste
parmesan cheese optional

Directions:
1. Cook pasta and veggies according to their directions.
2. Flake tuna with a fork and add to pasta. Add veggies and stir together.
3. Drizzle olive oil over the pasta mixture. Stir to coat lightly. Add a little more if you need to.
4. Mix in the spices to taste. Serve with parmesan cheese over the top if you prefer.

It’s a super easy peasy recipe that’s great for those nights you just don’t feel like making a big meal for the family.

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One of the first things you should do after saying yes and announcing your joy to everyone you know is to decide what your overall budget is. In 2009, according to The Knot, the average wedding budget in the US was $28,385 (not including the honeymoon) with $2,444 spent on photography following the traditional 12-15% of the entire budget. After you have determine what your budget is, it’s time to decide what the most important items are and what portion of the budget they deserve.

Once you know what your budget for a photographer is, it’s time to do your research. Start searching for photographers in your area  – both online and recommendations from friends and family. Recently married friends can be some of your best resources but make sure you check their vendors out for yourself to make sure they match your style. Look over potential photographers’ websites and blogs thoroughly, do you like what you see? Do the images speak to your vision of your wedding day? Contact the photographers you like to make sure they are in your budget range and to check their availability for your date.

It’s time to meet a few photographers in person, unless you are having a destination wedding where you should at least speak on the phone. How do you know they are the right one for your day? There’s lots of questions you need to ask but more importantly you need to know what the answers should be. What’s the point in asking the standard list questions if they don’t actually answer what you really need to know?

What is your approach to photographing a wedding?
Have them describe how they photograph a wedding -  before you mention what you would prefer (anyone can say they are what you want when they know what to say). Do you want a photographer who blends in to the background and allows the photos to happen naturally? Or do you prefer a photographer that conducts the day and poses every shot? Maybe you prefer a photographer that helps move the day along and lightly directs portraits but still captures images as they happen? Make sure that their answer matches what you want. Remember the photographer will be at your side throughout the day and you want them to feel more like a friend than one more stress to deal with.

Can we see some of your work?
It’s an obvious question but not for the reason you think. Most wedding photographers hone their skills as the “second shooter” (an additional photographer, not always experienced) or even just taking casual photos at a friend’s wedding. It’s a great way to learn but the pressure is not the same if you are assisting another photographer as it is when you are on your own. The other issue is that the images may not be their “original” work. That is not to say they did not take the picture but snapping a photo of another photographer’s setup does not show their own style.

Can we see a whole wedding?
Every portfolio will display a photographer’s best work and those that they feel best show their style, but they may not show a wedding from start to finish. It’s important to see an entire wedding to ensure that the quality of work is consistent and that you still love their style. Whether you see it on the computer screen, in prints or an album, make sure you see at least one.

Who will be photographing my wedding?
You need to know if the person you are meeting will be the one photographing your wedding. Do they hire other photographers to shoot their weddings or do they photograph the weddings themselves? It’s also important to know if they use a team or if they work solo. Make sure you see the work of whomever will be there on your wedding day and try to find time to meet them all in person if possible.

What else do you do?
It is important to know if they are a full-time or part-time photographer. This isn’t a deal-breaker for most people, but it may be for you. Are they overbooked putting your photos at the bottom of  a long to do list? Are they an occasional photographer that may not be prepared for the event? The important thing to know is what priority your wedding will be and will they be available for you as needed.

Do you use professional equipment/backup equipment?
This is much more important than the “what brand of equipment do you use?” qustion. There are several brands/types of equipment and unless you know a lot about the specifics of them all, it doesn’t really matter which one they use. However,  it does matter that the photographer is using professional grade equipment, not entry level or even the point and shoot camera you use for every day snapshots. It’s also important that they carry backup equipment of similar quality in case the unexpected happens and something fails. The “do you use film/digital?” question is only as important as you want it to be.

What do you do in case of bad weather?
If you plan to have an outdoor wedding and it is forced indoors due to weather, it’s important to know that your photographer will still be able to provide top notch photos no matter the circumstances. Ask  questions specific to your wedding venue/date and make sure you are comfortable with the answers. Look at examples of similar situations when possible.

What can we expect for proofs and when can we see them?
Have the photographer define what their proofs are. Generally photographers will take many more photos than you will ever see. There’s a good reason for this. Usually several photos are taken that are nearly identical to ensure that an important shot is not missed. They are then whittled down to get rid of the shots that are unflattering – eye blinks, people looking the wrong way, someone walking through the shot, etc. It would be overwhelming to go through 10 group photos; besides, who wants to see photos that they don’t look their best in? Ask if their proofs are fully edited, partially edited, or straight out of the camera. Find out how long after the wedding you can expect to see your proofs. It usually ranges from 3 to 12 weeks depending on how many photos a photographer takes and the amount of retouching they do to each photo. Also ask how they will be displayed – do they provide printed proofs or are they online and how long are they available.

How do you back-up/store my images and for how long?
This is VERY important. From the moment the photographer takes the photo to the time they are delivered to you, you need to know that the images are secure. Equipment has been known to walk away during weddings taking images with them. A photographer needs to secure the memory cards during your wedding to ensure that they are not lost during down time. Once they upload them to their computer, they need to back photos up in more than one location. Hard drives failures happen often and the last thing you want is your images lost forever. Make sure they tell you that they are backed up in at least two locations, preferably one of them being an off-site location. Another important question is to find out how long they store your images, especially if you do not receive digital images.

Do you provide digital images?
This is not a question that will be important to everyone. If it important to you then you need to know whether they will be low-resolution or high-resolution and what your restrictions will be. Generally, low-res images are watermarked and not suitable for printing. These are provided for your use online and are watermarked for both your protection as well as the photographer’s. No photographer wants their work stolen or claimed by anyone else and you do not want unscrupulous people taking your images for a use you would not approve of. Hi-res images are usually able to be printed to a size of at least an 8×10. Restrictions of how they may be used are placed on them (ie. personal use only with no commercial use) and the copyright remains with the photographer. Ask your photographer if digital images are available and whether or not they are included in your price. You should also ask if they will be retouched.

Can you provide references?
It is important to ask for references to ensure that the photographer you are thinking of hiring is as good as they say. Find out if the previous couples are satisfied with the photos/products they received and how the photographer performed during the wedding. Did anything go wrong and how did they react? Obviously if they were recommended by a friend this isn’t quite as crucial, but it’s still a good idea.

Do you provide emergency coverage?
What happens if they are unable to be present at your wedding due to unforeseen circumstances? If they are in an accident or become ill what is their policy? Most photographers will do their best to be at your wedding no matter what and will try to find a replacement if necessary. Find out if the photographer that would replace them is as qualified as they are.

Can you photograph “this”?
Do you have a special request or something unusual that you want photographed? Make sure to ask your photographer if that is something they can accommodate and if they happen to have examples of a similar request.

What will you be eating?
Yes you need to ask this. Unless you are only scheduling your photographer to be available for a couple hours, you need to provide a meal. This goes for the other vendors as well. The last thing you want is for your photographer to pass out during your reception and miss important shots. Make sure your caterer is prepared to feed your vendors though most will ask you what you want to provide ahead of time.

Make sure the photographer you choose is insured, behaves and appears professional, is committed to and understand the importance of capturing every detail, and that the photographer provides a solid contract. Ask yourself if you like their personality and style, do they make you feel comfortable? Do a search for their name and look at the entries to make sure they don’t contain negative reviews or possibly even news stories about the photographer not delivering the photos. Choose your photographer wisely and not solely on price. Remember, there are no wedding day do-overs.

If you have any questions or ideas for future posts please let me know. Photographers feel free to use this on your blog as long as you link back and give credit

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20 random facts about me you may or may not have wanted to know…
1. Red is my favorite color. Of all time. I plan to add a lot more red to my house decor and love wearing it. Ironically I’m allergic to red food coloring.
2. Chocolate is my Kryptonite. I have a hard time resisting a good piece of chocolate. If you want to get on my good side bring me some dark chocolate Bordeaux from See’s Candy. Or a piece of Chocolate Stout Cake from Rock Bottom. I’d even be happy with a Dove chocolate bar. Right now I kinda wish I hadn’t given up sweets for Lent, craving some chocolate right now. Somebody save me some Samoas for Easter!
3. I met my husband when I was 5 and he was 6. My mom babysat him and his brothers and we became great friends. We’ve been married almost 7 years now; it’s crazy to think I’ve known him for more than 21 years!
4. Before I thought photography could actually become a career I thought about attending culinary school. I love cooking from scratch and creating new recipes or tweaking recipes to my taste which is why I struggled with baking for so long-you kinda have to be more precise there. The idea of standing for hours on end with knee and hip issues didn’t sound appealing so instead I spoil my family. Maybe someday I’ll open a restaurant.
5. I hate cleaning. There, I said it. There is a pile of clean clothes on the couch and mounds of dirty clothes taking over my bedroom right now as we speak. I don’t like cleaning bathrooms at all and can’t wait to hand that one off to my kids My kitchen is generally the cleanest room in the house, it’s just easier to cook when everything is clean. I need to find some latex-free gloves for cleaning, especially dishes-floating food in the dishwater makes me queasy when it touches my hands.
6. I find it impossible to sit still. Yup, I’m the one that bounced their foot and drove you crazy in class, it drives my husband up the wall. This is the reason I don’t like bubble baths, I don’t find it relaxing to just lay there, I need to be doing something.
7. Even though I was born in a teeny tiny town in Northwest Missouri and have lived a few other places, I’ve been in the Valley of the Sun (Phoenix for those that aren’t from here) since before I started kindergarten. I still hate the heat in the summers and become a hermit to avoid it. That might be why I’m so pasty, well that and the fact that I burn very easily. The term “dry heat” bugs me, 115F is unbelievably hot no matter the humidity level.
8. I usually listen to country music (love me some Wranglers even if my husband won’t wear them ) but I enjoy *most* music. I like to sing along-be warned I am not good-so if I can’t sing to it I won’t listen to it.
9. I know how to drive a stick shift (manual transmission) and actually prefer it. I think it’s a control thing.
10. I’m not a bandwagoner (if that’s even a word). I like being different, unique, weird whatever you call it. I tend to not follow trends as much and try to stick with what makes me happy. Which explains why I don’t shoot Nikon or Canon and I happily use my custom built PC, not that there is anything wrong with the others they just don’t feel right to me.
11. I like being barefoot, a lot. I hardly ever wear shoes at home and if I can I’ll kick off my shoes wherever I am. I wear flats to my sessions partly so I can take them off and work barefoot. I can’t say it’s never caused me problems (stubbed toes, thorns, cuts, etc) but it’s something I never grew out of from my childhood.
12. I love reading. If it’s a good book, I get absorbed and lose all sense of time. But I don’t read what you’d expect. I’ve never even touched a Twilight book *gasp* and the only magazines I read are photography related. Currently I’m working on getting through all of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan series and I just read Family feasts for $75 a week by Mary Ostyn.
13. I love being a mom to my 2 boys but I’d love a daughter. There is nothing like the love a boy has for his mommy but I love all the frilly little outfits and I just don’t see my boys letting me put them in dresses Besides I’d love to have a relationship like the one I have with my mama.
14. I crack my knuckles-it’s a bad habit but I can’t seem to get rid of it. I blame the boys that I hung out with in 3rd grade that taught me that one in my attempt to fit in with them instead of the mean girls.
15. I love veggies! If they’ve got butter and salt on them I’ll try them for sure. There are very few foods I don’t like and I will try *most* foods once, something about the heads still on there freaks me out-I don’t like my food looking at me.
16. My goal is to have a studio location hopefully by the end of this year, if not next year. I’m tired of working from my desk at home where it’s hard to make myself separate work hours from family hours. And while I LOVE working outdoors in the natural light, it would be nice to have a space dedicated to use during the blazing heat of the summer and for my clients that would rather not be outdoors.
17. I love to write and draw/doodle. I have two books in the beginning stages and hope to find time soon to actually write them. I sometimes have to sit down and write my ideas out just so I can move on to the next thought bouncing around in my head. I also draw/sketch on occasion and doodle constantly-you’ll find doodles on papers all over my desk.
18. I am was a closet sci-fi fan. I try to deny it but I find myself drawn into the strange shows my husband watches. No matter how hard I resist I end up watching them. I enjoy a few of them but I’m not a big enough fan to handle most of it, some of it is just too weird.
19. I do not like horror movies/shows (I have bad enough nightmares on my own thank you) but I really enjoy a good action movie. I also really enjoy dark comedy as well as satirical comedies. It couldn’t have anything to do with my use of sarcasm could it? I’m willing to see a chick flick but it’s gotta be somewhat realistic.
20. I don’t mind getting dirty. I love hiking and camping-the real kind without bathrooms, running water or other amenities far away from any other campers. My only problem is the creepy crawlies. And maybe my irrational fear of what I can’t see in the dark. Thanks so much mom and dad for watching X-files and my lovely husband for confirming that yes there are beard where we go camping.

That was so much harder than I thought it would be when I first started writing it. The first 10 were easy, 15 wasn’t too bad, but getting to 20 took a lot of time and thought. I’m hoping you found something in my 20 facts you could relate to and that I didn’t come off as too neurotic. I tried keeping it mostly unrelated to photography since that would be an easy one but it snuck in a bit. Obviously photography is a passion of mine and has been since I can remember. I’d love to hear your thoughts: was there something that made you laugh? something that made you nod in agreement? anything else you wanted to know? Maybe I’ll do a follow-up in the future.

And since it’s a little boring without a photo, here are a few favorites from a past session that never made it to the blog

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Ingredients:
1 c brown rice (not instant)
2-3/4 c hot water (or according to package instructions)
6-12 oz tomato sauce
1 small tomato diced (roma sized)
1/3 smaller yellow onion diced
1/2 green bell pepper seeded and diced (optional)
2 tbsp oil
1/4-1/2 tsp ground cumin
salt to taste

Directions:
1. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a sauce pan over medium-low heat. Add rice and stir to coat. Lightly toast rice.
2. Add water and cook until all water is absorbed and rice is fluffy. Stir often (or it will burn and stick to the pan).
3. In a separate pan, heat the remaining oil. Add onions and peppers and cook until onion is translucent and pepper is tender.
4. Add tomato sauce, cumin and salt to taste. Mix in tomato, onion, and pepper. Cook until heated through.

See, easy peezy and super yummy!

If you have any ideas for future posts please let me know!
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I get asked a lot by both photographers and clients what my policy is on letting my clients post their images to their blogs and facebook account. I personally love it when my clients post their family pictures on their blogs, facebook, etc. It shows me that they truly love their images! I encourage my clients to copy their pictures from my blog to use on the internet. Here are a few do’s and don’ts that you should think about when reposting your images:

1) DO ask your photographer what their specific policy is on taking pictures off of their blogs. Some photographers encourage it and some don’t allow it. If this is important to you this is something you should ask BEFORE you hire your photographer!

2) DO include your photographer’s name and website under the images (a link would be super nice!). That’s just the polite thing to do

3) DON’T crop out their logo. Most photographers use their blogs to advertise their work and do so as a courtesy to give their clients a sneak peek. If a client crops out the logo then how will other people know who took the picture?

4) DON’T edit the picture in ANY way. Taking the pictures is only half of a photographer’s job. The other half is editing. If you think you can do a better job or want to edit out some of your wrinkles or use selective coloring please don’t. That is super insulting. If you don’t like your photographer’s editing enough to want to edit it yourself than maybe you need to find another photographer next year.

5) DON’T try to print from the files on the blog. For me specifically I know that the files I upload to my blog are too small to be printed in a 4×6 size. It’s not cool to invest in a family session and then print the images off of the blog and not pay for prints. Make sure you know how much the prints cost before the session to avoid sticker shock. Same goes for scanning prints that you already bought. Not cool (and illegal)! Some of my family members are guilty of printing images off of my blog. It makes me cringe when I see them FRAMED in their homes with my logo still on there! To be fair, I’m also not great at emailing them the file when they ask for it

*used and edited with the permission of the author*

Ok so now you ask what exactly are your policies on this?
I have no problem with you copying the images from my blog to use on Facebook, MySpace, your family blog, etc. In fact if you ask I will even email you the watermarked copies of the blog pictures and any that you order. BUT you are not allowed to edit them in ANY way. Do not crop out the logo (or really even crop at all) and give credit to the photographer (please tag me if we are Facebook friends). If you would like I will post them on Facebook and tag you in the photos so that you can share them without having to worry about it. You are in no way allowed to edit your photos-I edit them in my style which is what you hired me for. The photos are a representation of my work-I do not want my work associated with your bad edit. Do not print these photos either, they are a low resolution to protect me from theft and you from unscrupulous people stealing them and using your image for a purpose you may not like (think advertising for a disturbing product, it’s happened to many people). If you have any other questions on what you can and can not do with your photos, please ask me. You don’t want to accidentally break a copyright law that could cost you a lot.

If you have any ideas for future posts please let me know!
Leave me some Love in the comments! Contact Me Portfolio