Okay, maybe I'm not famous, but Drew and I are in a magazine! Our fabulous wedding photographers, Three Blondes and a Camera, used one of our wedding pictures for an ad in Baltimore Magazine's Bride magazine. Even though it's only the back of my head and a portion of Drew's neck, it's still pretty cool :)
I love Christmas so much that even after it's over, I try to keep it's spirit. Drew and I didn't take down the Christmas tree until last week. The poor tree was so dead and dry; there were pine needles everywhere. (Note: Dead Christmas trees do not smell like fresh ones.) Still hanging in our kitchen is a Christmas wreath. I kind of like it. Maybe I'll just leave it there :)
Keeping in step with the Christmas spirit, I'm finally posting some Christmas pictures. Go ahead, chastise me for procrastinating. Just don't blame me when your mood lifts after reminiscing about Christmas with me.
We did Christmas twice, with Drew's family, then with mine. My first Christmas as an Ackermann! Drew got me a new lens this Christmas, so I went a little picture crazy :)
Oh, friends. I can't wait to tell you. I am so excited. It's shopping therapy times 1,000,000,000.
This morning, I got up at 7:30am on my own, excited about my pending purchase. Not able to go back to sleep, I left Drew snoozing and started counting down the hours until 10am - the magical hour when the camera store opened. 8:30. 9:15. 9:55. 10:00! I didn't even shower, just threw on a headband (girl's best friend) and brushed my teeth (wouldn't want to scare anyone away). I went out in the freezing cold, drove to the store and...
Now, you must be asking yourself, "What did she buy?! What in the world would motivate Andrea enough to get off her butt in her warm apartment, go out into the freezing cold, brave Saturday shoppers all while looking pretty rough?!"
Well, I will tell you. As I type, I am staring at my brand new...Nikon D80! WOOO HOOO! After striking a bargain with Drew, Tom and Renata, the D80 is mine!
I am also the proud owner of an SB600 speedlight, a famed Gary Fong Lightsphere and a 50mm 1.8. (Thank you Maria!)
I know this probably doesn't mean a whole lot to you, my reader, and I thank you for patiently bearing my outburst.
Who needs money? Who needs heat and water? Who needs basic necessities when you have a D80? Not me!
There is no baby I love more than Hayden. It is true.
I can't believe he is turning one this month! Renata, his mom (and my fantastic assistant/second shooter who I will blog about later), was the cutest pregnant lady ever. She was one of those women who only get the belly. From the back, you couldn't even tell she was pregnant.
We all had so much fun guessing what Hayden would look like, trying to get Tom and Renata to let us name him and talking to him. On the night Renata went into labor, it was like a sitcom. The call went out to everyone around 10pm and we all came speeding to the hospital to wait it out. I was in Salisbury, a good 2 hours away from the hospital, but I hopped in the car with my friend Emily and off we went! About 8 of us gathered in the waiting room, watching the balcony expectantly for Tom to come announce the birth. Around 1am, Hayden was finally born and we all loved him immediately.
Now, he's turning one. Tom and Renata are throwing a little party for him and I couldn't be more excited. Ohhh, expect pictures. :)
Here is the invitation I designed for his party. I know he's cute, try to contain yourself.
Gracious blog readers,
I must apologize to you for several reason (especially if you have been visiting here in the past 24 hours). This blog has been very patient with my desire for more "cool features". Yesterday, I thought I had mastered the HTML for a navigation bar and drop down menu. No. I was wrong. My blog has been a mess! So, for you who have visited, please pardon my dust. :)
Also, I realize my picture size is very inconsistent and I know that some people are having difficulty viewing some of the pictures on their monitors. I promise I am trying to learn how to be consistent and post images in the proper size.
This blog has had quite a few hits in the last week and I am grateful!
Thanks everyone!
Andrea
New Year's Eve has always been a highlight for me. I love new beginnings and I love being with people I love - what could be better?! This year was particularly exciting, my and Drew's first New Year's as old married people! I have a feeling 2008 is going to be a great, great year. It's just a hunch really :)
To start a tradition, I've decided to blog my 10 New Year's resolutions, photo style.
1. Take a Photoshop class. (If anyone has suggestions or recommendations, please let me know!)
2. Learn to shoot 100% manual. I want to know the ins and outs of my camera so well that I will never miss a shot due to exposure! (P.S. I am scared to death of this.)
3. Discuss accounting with someone who knows what they're doing. Maybe I'll even take a class for small businesses.
4. Get a website. I cannot WAIT for this one. :)
5. Quit my full-time job. When people ask me, "What do you do?" I will say, "I am a photographer." (!!!!)
6. Shoot more than one wedding. I've got the wedding coming up in February and Michelle Rose invited me to shoot with her (!) in May, but I have a feeling I'm going to want MORE!
7. Speed up my workflow. I am a snail as far as workflow is concerned. I know this is going to be an ongoing process, especially if I am going to be a Photoshop master, but I've gotta get organized as far as storing and batch editing.
8. Get a Shootsac or a 24-70, 2.8 lens, whichever comes first :)
9. Gain inspiration. Since I am just now trying to conquer the technical bit, the creative side can sometimes be secondary. This year, I'm resolving to look for inspiration in people, art, music and life, and truly letting my life be art.
10. Stop being scared. While everything about photography is exciting, it's also scary. I am always tentative when taking on a new client and I get nervous before every shoot. I am such a people pleaser when it comes to photography and honestly, sometimes that can be a bad thing. It's time to work hard, find my passion and go for it.
My motto for 2008 comes from the lovely Jasmine Star who was kind enough to reply back to an email I sent her: "Keep your head high and your dreams big...and you'll surprise yourself with how far you'll go!" (If you're looking for a little inspiration, read Jasmine's blog! She began a little over a year ago and has been so successful - I'm loving following her journey!)
A year from now, I can't wait to look back and see where I've gone.
2008, here I come. :)
Well, friends, I am happy to say...I am shooting my first wedding. Yikes! Hurray! Crap! Eureka! Oh yes, a plethora of feelings.
On February 16th, Miss Jessica Beall will become Mrs. Jessica Goad. (Jess, I know you are reading this...and I love you :) ) I am beyond excited. Drew is already sick of me talking about it!
I'm going to be shooting alone, with some labor assistance by my good friend Renata. Maria is letting me borrow her flash (thank you!) and I'm thinking about renting a fish eyes lens for the occasion. Opinions?
In other news (yeah, like anything can top that!), I am trying to get on top of some pictures I need to edit and learn how to blog them better. Warning: this blog may undergo a lot of changes. I'm trying to learn the most efficient way to post pictures...that actually fit on the screen. Photographers, is there a certain size to save to that makes this easier?
I'm finding out that my workflow is painstakingly slow and that needs to change. I'm looking into getting ViewNX or Lightroom for some speed. I am LOVING CaptureNX. Newbies, I highly recommend it - you can get the same results as Photoshop with half the work and knowledge, really.
I have been thinking this morning (as I SHOULD be getting ready for work, yet am procrastinating) that photography actually stirs my heart. Cheesy, okay, but I'm serious. I LOVE IT. I spend most of my time thinking about it and I still can't get enough. It almost feels like something has come alive in me. Goodness, I am grateful. That and the fact that doors are actually opening for me. It is overwhelming for me to think about. I have found a profession that I absolutely love and may have a knack for. What more could you ask for?! REALLY?!
To my sweet, sweet clients who have been my guinea pigs, "grateful" is just not a good enough word. I couldn't do this thing that I love without you. THANK YOU! I can't wait for more!
