(yes, I know it’s almost the end of February, but stay with me for a minute)

It’s a great time to self-reflect on the previous year; what worked and what didn’t.  The first quarter of the year, in particular, is typically a quiet time for most photographers, giving us the time to think back on everything and get pumped about the coming year.  In order to make the most of this time, posting on the blog will likely be very light.  As in: even lighter than it has been already.  I know, I know.  What WILL you do now with that extra 2 minutes in the morning every Wednesday?!?

All joking aside, I’ll get back to posting, and to business, after a short hiatus of sorts.  Like Tiger Woods, I don’t know how long I’ll be off the circuit, but will let you know as soon as I’m back in the game (I don’t know where that came from, really).  In the meantime, I’m off to make some of these.  Wish you were here so I could share…kind of :)

But today it ends!  (that sounds so dramatic.)  I had my first session of the year yesterday and it definitely helped me refocus.  And it reminded me of why I chose to do this in the first place.  So I’m back, yeah!

The beginning of the year can be a marvelously slow time of year for photographers (I mean that in a good way).  With the mad rush of the holidays over, it’s a great time to work on personal projects.  I decided to do a 365 project this year.  Basically, it entails taking at least one picture every day for a year.  It doesn’t have to start on January 1, but I think most people go about it that way.  I didn’t really “commit” to the project until last night.  And by commit I mean say it out loud.  I’ve been taking pictures every day since January 1, but haven’t called it a 365 even though it’s been on my mind the whole time.  I figured if I didn’t tell anyone and missed a day then it was because I wasn’t REALLY doing the project.  I’m one of those people that has a hard time with discipline, so putting things out there and having people help me be accountable really…helps.  I have to say, I’ve really loved it so far.  It’s just everyday shots of my family and my life.  Boring for most, but wonderful for me.  Here’s the image from Day 5:

Mmmm…cupcakes.

I wouldn’t necessarily say my 365 project is a New Year’s Resolution, but it’s definitely something I’d like to achieve this year.

How about you?  Any goals for this year?  Tell me about ‘em in the comments below.  Especially if you’re the type that needs help in the accountability department.

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Hooray!!

I’m so torn.  There are times when I want to go full steam ahead.  I want to do mini-sessions for the holidays, start taking maternity and newborn clients, schedule some of the boudoir shoots that people have asked for, etc.  Just do it all NOW!  But then I remind myself that I just left my job 3 months ago.  That I’m still doing some work on myself and for my family.  So I need to take it sloooooow.  I need to do things in a non-stressful manner.  I can’t let myself get to the place I was at before I stopped working. Because that was NOT a good place!  Ask my husband, he’ll tell you…

And I really want to start off with all my ducks in a row.  With my logo done, my stationary ordered, my packaging figured out.  I want people to get the whole LNP experience from the get-go.  Because you only have one chance to make a first impression.

So I wait…

And wait…

Not-so-patiently…

Until I just can’t take it anymore and I have to take matters into my own hands...

Do you see the tongue??

So hopefully, the next post you read from me will be it.  The big announcement.  With all the details.  Because I just don’t know how much longer I can take!!!

P.S. That’s Mulligan in those photos.  He is such a good dog.  If that were me, I would’ve knocked Owen over trying to get to that dessert…but his humans have trained him very well.

I’ve been “unemployed” for just over 11 weeks now, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been workin’!  I’ve been researching products and vendors, printing labs and, my favorite, paper goods!  Because I want my stuff to be pretty!  Have I talked about my unhealthy obsession love of paper?  No?  Really?  Are you sure?

That’s my paper drawer.  It’s a little full.  Yeah…

But as I said, I’ve been busy!  I’m even meeting with an accountant this Friday.  And I’m excited about it!  Honest!  I like numbers.  I was in AP Calculus in HS.  Sometimes I wish I’d been a math major in college.  But only sometimes…

Anyway, check back soon, because my pricing is almost done.  And you can bet I’ll be running a REALLY GOOD grand opening special.  K?  K.

One of the ways I hope to differentiate LNP is by the products I will offer.  I plan on including something tangible with every session.  There will be options for those that prefer to display something on a wall as well as something for those that prefer something more handle-able.  Having photos that you and your loved ones can physically  look back on years from now is very important to me, and I want anyone that books a session with me to have that.  One of the things I’ve found that I just love are these photo boxes:

Images by Melissa Surprise, click on them to see her site. used with permission, of course :)

Aren’t these just beautiful?  I plan on ordering some for myself and I can’t wait to get my hands on them.  They can be personalized any way you want!  You can have your individual images matted (so they’re sturdier) and then display them on an easel as an alternative to having something framed.  What a simple way to show off your stuff!  You can also just grab the box with all the images inside on your way out the door and  take it to Grandma’s house to show her.  Or just leave the box on your coffee table.  It’s beautiful on it’s own, and anyone that sees it will gravitate towards it to check it out.  It’s like having your own personalized coffee table book!!!  Featuring YOU!

I’m keeping an eye out for other beautiful things, too.  So stay tuned to see what I find!

Wendy

I’ve been on this photography journey for quite some time now.  I’ve been following other inspirational photographers, practicing on my kiddos, friends and family and having long heart-to-hearts with my husband, Shawn, about all of this.  And I feel it’s time.  Time to just GO, as Jodie Allen and many others would say.  Time to stop listening to those voices in my head whose only purpose is to keep me from doing what I love.  To make me doubt myself and instill fear in me.  I mean, really, people.  What’s the worst that can happen?  Nobody hires me?  I’ll still know that I went for it, and I’ll still have a great blog where I can document my family’s life.  After all, I already took the hardest step in following this dream.  I QUIT MY DAY JOB.  The totally safe, secure one that was paying me almost $90,000 a year (yeah, I said it) to compromise who I was and sucked every ounce of life out of me on a daily basis (for 9 years, people!).

So I’m not scared.  Because there is one thing I know for sure (not to get all Oprah on you): I love photography and I will be doing it until the day I die.  And the more I do it, the better I will get.  So if I average one session a month for the rest of my life, I will be happy with that.  Because I will be doing what I love.  I will be a part of documenting someone’s life.  For later.  Because, sadly, we all forget things.  Important things.  But through photography, we are able to look back on our life and remember the things that are important to us NOW. Important to us TODAY.   Things like how your baby had such good thigh chub that you just wanted to nibble on it.  Just a little.  Or how it’s possible that she once fit into the nook of your elbow.   How your belly button looked when it popped out at the end of your pregnancy.  Or how your 20-year-old son STILL gets that same look on his face when he is focusing really hard on something (you have a picture of him with that same look on his face when he first learned how to tie his shoes!) .

So here I go.  I’m taking the steps necessary to make this happen.  I have a logo that is in the works and have a lot to think about as it relates to product offerings, etc.  I was going to wait to put the word out about LNP until I had all of that figured out.  Obviously I changed my mind!  So while I’m not “open for business” yet, I am open to sharing.  Over the next several months my business will be developing into something I can be proud to call my own.  And I plan on documenting that process here.  So add me to your reader, or subscribe to my feed above.  Or just bookmark this site so that you can see all the updates I’ll be making to this site.  Because you’re gonna wanna follow this.  For all I know, this may be a train wreck!  And everyone loves a good train wreck, right?  If they didn’t, all those “Housewives” would’ve been booted off the air a long time ago (not that I watch that stuff…honest).

And because a post isn’t a post without a picture, here is one SOOC (straight out of camera) that I just love of my 2-year-old, Max:

How cute is that kid?!?

Wendy