A Little Change Will Do You Good.

I have made some minor updates to the site (http://www.typeaimages.com/). New music, new colors, new pictures. I invite you check it out!

In addition, the prices have been updated for 2009 as well. Please check them out if you are planning on booking Type A Images in the near future. Never fear, dear tentative clients...if you contacted me prior to January 1st I will honor the old pricing. That's just how I roll. : )

In more TAI news, Summer 2009 is hereby full. I have a few people I'm waiting to hear back on but I'm not going to be able to take on any more weddings between June and August 2009. I am still open for family and single subject sittings however. Just be aware that Saturdays are pretty much booked solid until Fall!

That being said, if you're currently planning a Spring 2009 wedding, shoot me an email! I have openings in March through May.

This year has been amazing and I cannot wait to meet more people and document more memories in 2009!

2008- A Year in Review

Oh My Goodness!! It's Nearly the New Year!

With this year nearly over, I thought it fitting to kind of gloss over a year that has been full of incredible highs and unbelievable lows, surprising triumphs, and devastating loss. It's been a long year, and one that even though a lot of good has happened I can't say I'm sad to see it go.

I'm ready for a new number, a new time, and a fresh start.

When the year began it was a Groundhog's Day type situation, with each day much like the last. I got up, dropped the baby off with her daycare provider, and went to my desk job. I did it in robotic motion, just kind of showing up but not engaging. Mostly because all I really wanted was to go pick up Betty and get her home.

Fast forward to April. I lost my job. I really hate that term "lost"....it sounds as if I got up one day and just forgot how to drive to work. In reality, my "zeal" for the position (or lack there of) had become, by that time, quite apparent. I wasn't happy. I needed a change. I needed to be with my daughter. April was a huge turning point. I was improving on my photography skills and starting the small idea of perhaps turning it into a full time career.

I never thought that Type A Images would take off as fast as it did. I can't begin to tell you how fortunate I feel when I wake up knowing I get to do what I love every day. I have met some wonderful families and couples this year and it's been a complete pleasure to be a small part of their day, capturing moments and making memories.

2008 was a big turning point for me. I launched a new career and said goodbye to an old one I had known for 5 years. I spent a lot of time with my daughter, which made me happier than I could ever explain.

However, sadly, 2008 will probably always be overshadowed by the loss of my grandmother. It's a loss that has changed me, altered the way I look at life, and one that follows me every day. I was incredibly close to Grams Betty. We spent a lot of time together and her absence colors everything I do. I'm sure, over time, the grief will diminish but at this point it has painted a black cloud over an otherwise wonderful, change-filled year. I miss her every second of every day. I feel that with her death, the very last of my childhood went with her. It took a bit of the wonder and magic out of life.

So when I go to people's homes or to their events to capture things on film, I always hope that the memories I am building for them become great reminders of happy times. I am forever thankful that I took as many pictures of my grandmother that I did, even when she was at her sickest. To steal a line from one of my favorite movies, life moves pretty fast....if you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it. I love what I do...because I freeze bits of time and allow people to revisit them again and again. It's a great job, and I hope to expand on it and do more exciting events in 2009.

I hope everyone's New Year is filled with happiness and joy. I hope 2009 brings good things for all of my clients, past and future, as well as friends and loved ones. I am hopeful for a better year. I graduate this year (finally!!!!) and my daughter will turn 2 (scary!). And I plan on continuing to put my all into Type A Images. I don't normally make resolutions, but I do hope to concentrate on improving my craft, spending more quality time with my family, and making 2009 a great year.

Happy New Year!

A Message from Type A Images

From my family to your! Have a SAFE and HAPPY Holiday Season! See you in 2009!

Last of the Holiday Sittings

As I write this, there is wrapping paper on my living room floor and a bevy of Sesame Street characters scattered about my daughter's bedroom. It was a successful holiday and I closed it out with a family sitting today in Milwaukee.

This was one of the larger groups I've worked with, but we got some great shots out of it.

Enjoy the sneak peek!

I swear, most kids love me. I don't think this little guy was too thrilled about the camera though. I still thought the shot was pretty cute!

Kids and a Couch

Through The Frozen Tundra, To A Family Shoot We Go!

You do what you gotta do to get the good shots, even if that means driving your little SUV through 500 feet of newly fallen Wisconsin snow to reach a family in need of photography.

Today's shoot involved a family together for the holidays....it's what Christmas is all about! The house was lovely and we got some great shots!

I hope the Klas family enjoys their sneak peek and I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

This is, hands down, one of favorite pictures I have ever shot. I love how this turned out!

The family

How cute is she?!

My dad used to own a pool hall, and while I was taking these I just kept thinking how he would cringe to know that anyone was lying on a pool table. But hey, it made for some adorable shots!

Never done an upside-down shot, but there is a first for everything!

Fake It Til' Spring.....

When life hands you lemons, they say to make lemonade. And when Wisconsin hands you a foot of snow in 1 day, I say you head to the Domes. At least if you have an engagement session to shoot, which I did today for Timothy & Emily.

You have to love the Domes, because it gave us an opportunity to fore-go making poor Timothy & Emily trudge through the newly fallen snow. Plus, they had a good mix of greenery, cheesy Christmas decorations, and neat multi-colored walls!

Here is the sneak peek for Timothy & Emily. Hope you guys enjoy them!

This week is going to be nuts, to say the least. I have 2 family shoots and a wedding coming up this week, not to mention the holiday. So, be sure to check back for more sneak peeks coming up!

The Dome itself made for a great backdrop

I LOVED this green wall. LOVED it.

Tag, You're It.

Apparently I was tagged, and I'm supposed to list 25 random things about myself. I figured it may be a good way to get to know me. So, I'll give it a try. However, I'm not all that exciting and may find it quite the task to think of 25 things.

1. I am 28 years old. When I was little, 28 sounded incredibly old. Now, I feel far too young to be a mom, a homeowner, a wife...all that. I mean, I swear I was just 18 yesterday.

2. I have a slight obsession with vintage things. I especially love old-Hollywood and Edwardian fiction and fashion. I'm beginning to think I was born in the wrong era.

3. I have had several life-changing events, but the most significant were the day my daughter was born and the day my grandmother died.

4. I tend to attach songs to people. For example, if we have known one another for awhile, I'll associate you with a song and/or artist...even if it's someone you may not like.

5. I am still in college. I have two classes remaining this year before I graduate with a BS in Sociology in May. It was my original goal to be a Geriatric Social Worker, but then photography came along and wooed me.

6. I grew up Roman Catholic and attended Catholic school for 10 years. It was...interesting.

7. I could eat spaghetti every single day for lunch and dinner and never tire of it.

8. Before I ran Type A for a living, I worked for a medical company for 5 years. I would like those 5 years back please. : )

9. I have a crazy, teenage-girl crush on Jim Adkins from Jimmy Eat World.

10. I have been to over 100 concerts/shows and love going to see bands live. Although...it has been awhile. Kids will do that to ya. But I went and saw Jimmy Eat World 6 days before giving birth. I wasn't going to miss it!

11. I have four tattoos. A stargazer lily on my back surrounded by the lyrics "Find your place, speak the truth", a dove on my lower back, a fish on my tummy, and my grandmother's signature on my foot.

12. I love Anne of Green Gables. The books, the movies. So much so that Anne is a high contender for a name if I ever have another girl.

13. Photography pet peeves: Cheesy Photoshopping, that pose where the bride is standing and there are bouquets on her skirt (what IS that?), and "megapixel warriors" (Mine has 10.2...what are YOU shooting???)

14. My favorite photographers are Julia Cameron, Henri-Cartier Bresson, Sheye Rosemeyer,
Lewis Carroll, and Annie Liebovitz.

15. I rarely read fiction. I'm a non-fiction and biography nut. I'll pretty much read a biography on anyone.

16. I would love to travel to Japan someday. If only to eat the food.

17. I try not to get political on this blog, but I do fully support Universal Healthcare. Working with health insurance companies for 5 years led me to truly believe each and every American deserves affordable healthcare.

18. My dream home is in Beloit. Go figure.

19. I am a PC.

20. My hair is currently blonde with short bangs, but it has been green, blue, pink, purple with pink stripes, dark brown, black, and red. I like to experiment. I also see no issue with just getting sick of it one day and hacking it all off to start over again.

21. I drive a Saturn Vue, but I would REALLY love a Buick Enclave. How OLD am I????

22. My husband and I were married on top of a building supply company in Beloit that has a green grid roof....during a carnival that was going on down below.

23. I have two cats: Milo and Phoebe.

24. (Almost there!!) I LOVE Mountain Dew. I'd rather drink Mountain Dew than anything else. Alcohol wise I ususally don't partake unless there is Champagne involved.

25. I love being BEHIND the camera, not so much in front of one.

Snow Day: An Ode to Self-Employment.

My schedule for today:

1. Shower
2. Play with Betty
3. Nap
4. Finish Mindy and Greg's wedding
5. Eat
6. Play with Betty
7. Remember that this time last year I would have been driving through this snow to get to my stinkin' desk job.
8. Play with Betty
9. Smile.

Dog Day Afternoon.

Saturday I had the pleasure of being one of three photographers to shoot the annual Rock County Humane Society "Pets With Santa" photo fundraiser. It was fun meeting all the families and their little furry companions.

The event was hosted by K&W Greenery in Janesville which I highly recommend making a stop at if you are ever in need of something leafy and beautiful, this place is gorgeous! They had us set up in a nice little area with great natural light and a pretty koi pond housing goldfish to rival the size of any I've ever seen.

It was a fun way to do something for a good cause and help out the organization where my husband and I got our own two cats Milo and Phoebe.

I got some great shots of the dogs and even learned a bit as well, the man picked to be my own personal "dog wrangler" was a wealth of canine-related observations.

Enjoy!

Lucky Koi narrowly escaping a curious onlooker.
This dog was gorgeous, and didn't at all mind the festive Christmas bow

Plug-o-rama

Portraits work for pets too!

Pictures With Santa.

This Saturday the Rock County Humane Society will be hosting their "2008 Pet Photo Shoot" for the holidays. This is a fundraiser for the RCHS held at the beautiful K&W Greenery in Janesville (14 E Hwy Janesville, WI). I will be their photographer for their Pet's W/ Santa and Pets/Family pictures.

The pictures run from 10-3pm so I encourage you to gather up Fido or Fluffy and help out the RCHS for a good cause!