Friday Fractured Thought | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer

It's Friday...you know what THAT means.....(besides, oh...I dunno....Four Weddings is on tonight, which is, like, the greatest wedding show ever.....)

Other noteworthy new nuggets:

- Our first Halloween in the new 'hood went off without a hitch....well, except for that whole "your neighborhood is the place to be!" hitch, which forced us to make a last-minute candy replenishment run to Shopko. Who knew? We couldn't PAY kids to hit up our house in Milwaukee!

- The Peanut's first Trick or Treating experience was fabulous. She LOVED it....she was all about getting right in there with the big kids and demanding her candy. She only wanted to stop at houses that had decorations, which was kind of a funny. The best part? Betty isn't much for candy, so I've been able to raid her bucket guilt-free all week.

- On the subject of Halloween, maybe it's just the mom in me...or maybe I'm just a gigantic out-of-touch prude...but there were some costumes the neighborhood gals were sporting that my daughter would not be caught DEAD in at their age. Seriously...your 12 year old does not need to be a "sexy cat" for Halloween. She's 12. Also, all the kids over the age of, say, 8 were Trick or Treating WITH cellphones...and seemed to do more texting than Trick or Treating. Sad state of affairs.

And yes, I sound old and crabby. I know this.

- This has been a challenging week, for a number of reasons for sure. I'm a lot busier than I had anticipated for a November (good thing!) but I'm starting to get sluggish...and tired...and I'm looking at a fairly un-ready baby room and feeling a tad overwhelmed.

So, when I made a visit to my "local" camera store (local being Rockford) I was vulnerable....I think the sales guy knew I needed to acquire SOME sort of equipment to ease my somewhat irksome week.

I went in for an umbrella and light stand

I came out with a new lens.

Ugh...dangerous stuff, those camera stores.

- I'll be taking my new lens buddy out for a run this Saturday at the season's LAST WEDDING. Insert big-eyed "I can't believe it" stare here, because whew!! What a season! 32 weddings...countless awesome families...and having to hear the Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feelin'" more times then I can really recall or ever count. I've eaten my weight in awesome cake and can probably do the Cupid Shuffle in my sleep by this time.

I'll be back at it in January but I am looking forward to some slow, laid-back Saturdays coming up.

- Just a reminder, I'm still running a sale on SmugMug purchases (any purchase off the SmugMug site). 25% off with the coupon code SEASONEND10. This sale ends November 15th, so get those Christmas orders in quickly to take advantage of it!

- Speaking of the holidays and orders, if you are going to be wanting your album by Christmas, it is very important that you get your picture selections in by November 15th at the absolute LATEST. I beg of you! I'm working diligently to get all albums designed and off to the printers in time for holiday delivery!

- On another holiday note....Gift Certificates make AWESOME stocking stuffers, so contact me about ordering a Gift Certificate for your family or friends. They can be purchased in any amount.

- I was getting a bit concerned about Dexter. I adore this shore...LOVE it....but it had not been really holding my interest much thus far this season. However, last Sunday's episode RAWKED. Very cool. Keep it up, Dexter!

- I just did a sitting last night doing portraits for Beloit's Finest (the BPD). I tried to get them to agree to write off the two speeding tickets I got in August. No dice. : )

- The Mini-Sessions went great and we got some awesome shots out of the day (even though it was cold....and a football game was going on). I may reconsider the late fall date if I decide to bring out the Mini next year.

- 16 and Pregnant is BACK! Awesome-sauce, seriously. Could this show be any more entertaining? Babies named Genesis.....16 year olds getting married in racing uniforms....it's just good watchin'.

- I'm going to be unloading some camera equipment this week that I just don't use (a few lenses....etc) so stay tuned. If anyone is REALLY into the color pink and needs a fashion camera bag for 1 camera, boy do I have the bag for you........keep tabs on Facebook for sales : )

- Up this week: Shopping for the baby room with my mother-in-law tomorrow.....the last wedding on Saturday in Chicago...fun filled family session on Sunday in Milwaukee, two bridal consults this week....whew-wee!!! Who said it was slow season?

And now, your moment-of-Betty....

Trick or Treat!!! For the first time! She was quite into it.

Patiently waiting.

Shooting huge. Last week's wedding. Sad the only time I have to take "belly pics" is when I'm working and find a good mirror! LOL

This, my friends, is BIG NEWS. Betty.....eating FRUIT. Now, if you don't know my kid let me fill you it. She eats one thing: macaroni and cheese. That's about it. The kid is pickier than all get-out. So, my dear mother-in-law actually got this kid to EAT. AN. APPLE. As you can see, she documented the moment for proof. I was STUNNED. Stunned, I tell ya!! (Picture courtesy of Mother-in-Law)

Friday Fractured Thought | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer

Well...I knew it was coming. I've been struck down with the first cold of the season. Funny thing is, this time LAST year I got a massive flu...same time I had to shoot a Friday wedding AND Saturday wedding AND portrait sittings on the Sunday. My schedule knows this stuff is coming and decides to throw a cold in the mix on purpose.

- Oh. my. GAWD...Dexter. How awesome was the Dexter premiere?! What shocks me is that there are still some people out there who haven't seen this show. Your lives are lacking! Get on it!

- This Tuesday, the husband and I are going to see Jimmy Eat World in Milwaukee. TOTALLY psyched! Their new album is fabulous. I was super-pregnant LAST time I saw them, too...this time plans include waiting outside of the venue to get a shot with Jim Adkins....my super-crush.

- I spent the majority of my week at the Brandon Perron workshop (see review below) and got to spend some extra time getting my feet wet with some off-camera flash. This has always been a bit of a thorn in my side, but I think I'm getting more comfortable with it and I can't wait to unleash it on some unsuspecting brides and grooms.

- Last week I got my new linen-paper guestbook album sample in the mail and it is beautiful. It's going along with some package changes/tweaks I'm making. It's very "minimalist" but absolutely timeless and lovely. I really like it (and I know you will too!)

- I've been in touch with a graphic designer pal of mine and we're in the VERY infant stages of planning Type A Images' new website (WOO HOO!). Very excited about what's to come.

- Ahem...mini-sessions. Folks...seriously, I'm completely booked for regular sessions in October so this is a great way to get those Christmas card pictures taken and not have to go to the Picture People or something equally scary. Shoot me an email, I still have 7 spots open. And I'm not going to shut up about it until they're full so you might as well just get it over with. : )

- Speaking of "booked", I'm about 1/2 full for 2011 weddings, so if he "put a ring on it", so-to-speak, hit me up and let's talk.

- So sad about Tony Curtis : (

- So, if you're kind of out of the Twitter-sphere loop, you may have missed the big "wedding photography" related announcement this week that uber-famous "photographer to the stars" Denis Reggie is partnering with kind of scary "photographer mill" Bella. Far be it for me to begrudge the guy's need or desire to make some money, but this pairing just seems off. It's kind of like if Gwar decided to partner with Celine Dion for a duets album. Just doesn't fit. It will be interesting to see what transpires.

Coming up soon on the blog: I have a wedding this evening and tomorrow, as well as a family session and a birthday party session on Sunday, so it may be just major blog action for the next few days as I roll out the sneak-peeks (and sneak in some time to actually sleep at some point).

Next week I get to travel down to the Chicago area and meet my friend's new baby, Nevin, and photograph her. SUPER jazzed for that as well.

And here, for your moment-o-Betty, we have my kid's puzzle building skills caught on "film". She did that puzzle all by her lonesome (I was too busy laying on the couch complaining about my stuffy nose). My kid rocks. Last night, as we were getting ready to put her to bed, she asked us to say goodnight in "Chimese" (that's Betty speak for Chinese). Nick Jr. is making my kid tri-lingual. Who says TV is bad? : )

Not the BEST pic of the kid...but what do you want? I'm a bit under the weather!

Friday Fractured Thought | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer

Another week down and another day closer to the Dexter premiere. Oh yes, priorities! I've been waiting a YEAR for this week!

In other "news":

- I'm sure if you follow me on Facebook (if not...what'supwiththat?) you've grown weary of me complaining about the neighborhood kid's and the local high school's homecoming antics. Now, I'm going to preface this by saying I am not some crabby old lady who doesn't remember what it's like to be 16. REALLY...I'm not. But holy buckets...these kids have it ALL WRONG.

First off, when we were in high school, the whole point of night-time mischief during Homecoming week was to NOT get caught. That was paramount! You wore black...you parked a block away from your intended target...you quickly TP'd their house...and you stole away into the night undetected like Chuck Norris.

That is not the case these days. Now, apparently, the point is to be as LOUD AND OBNOXIOUS as humanly possible...throw in some profanity and hurled eggs and you have Homecoming 2010.

Last night we were the crabby neighbors. It was late, our kid was trying to sleep, and the neighborhood was being taken over by these KIDS and their baking goods (not to mention their crappy cars with equally crappy stereo systems). So, cops were called. Kids actually got ARRESTED (the cops said it's ridiculous this year, pure vandalism..not just fun and games).

I will be glad when Homecoming is over.

- On a happier, less "rant-y" note, as I mentioned, this week is the Dexter premiere! I am so giddy-excited about this I can barely stand it. The season finale last year just messed. me. up. For at least a week. Cannot wait to see how they resolve everything!

- Also, Jimmy Eat World's new album "drops" this week, and tonight they will be on David Letterman. Jim Adkins is my super-not-so-secret girlie crush, so this is good news. And if you're not a fan of the band, or only remember them for "The Middle", I highly recommend picking up their album Clarity. It will blow your mind.

- Next week I will be attending a workshop in Madison with Portland photographer Brandon Perron . Since getting back from WPPI's Road Show I've been pretty motivated to take Type A Images to the next level, and I'm hoping this two day workshop will be even more motivating. And FYI to my photographer pals, there are STILL open seats for this workshop, folks. It's affordable for a 2 day event and I highly recommend attending if you can!

Mandie Haberman from Red Gecko, who is hosting Brandon Perron in Madison, will be at the Great Dane on Monday night to welcome him to town. Stop on by! I'll be there nursing a kiddie cocktail. : )

- Speaking of changes and motivation, I finally got a hold of a friend of mine who is a graphic designer to start on the new Type A Images website. It's been something I've been kicking around for awhile and had been afraid to pull the trigger on it, but when you go to my current site I don't believe it really SAYS anything about who Type A is and what I want clients to know. Hopefully the site will be ready to go live shortly after the New Year.

- How funny was yesterday's Facebook outage? And how sad are we as a community of folks who cannot seem to function normally without CONSTANT online connection? (Oh I am guilty, believe me!) Nuts. Twitter blew up like mad when FB went down. I have to wonder how office productivity went up!

- I just signed up to do my first bridal show this February. It will be the Wedding Show and Tell in Milwaukee (at the Audubon Center). I'm pretty excited about it, since it's another thing I've always put off doing.

- I feel like a broken record here, but there are STILL openings for the Halloween/Fall Mini-Sessions I'm holding on October 31. SEVEN in fact. This is a great way to get affordable shots for your Christmas cards, so hop to it, people!

And speaking of work...I'm gearing up for a wedding in Milwaukee tomorrow with the always fabulous Maggie . Reception is at the Harley Museum and I'm super jazzed about shooting there. Sunday I have an engagement session (and here's hoping no rain) and then I intend to glue myself to the TV in anticipation for Dexter!

Next week is all learning from failure and Brandon Perron fun....and then TWO weddings. I also have to give a great big fun shout out to Andrea Paradowski as she prepares for her wedding next week! Good luck!!

And here is some Betty fun....

Friday Fractured Thought | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer

These weeks have just been flying by....Can you believe next week is Labor Day already?! Ugh...summer...where did you go?

- I went on an organizational rampage this week. I HAD to get my stuff together. Maybe it's early nesting instincts. Maybe sticky notes were starting to devour my desk. Either way, I decided it was time to ditch the sticky note route and get with some organizational software.
I'm testing out ShootQ. Not sure what I think about it yet....we'll see.

- I got myself another speeding ticket. Now, for those not privvy to my driving history, I'm a bit of a lead foot. I even got one of those scary letters last year saying if I got ANOTHER ticket in that 12 month span I would have my license suspended. Not to worry, the 12 months passed ticket-free. Until yesterday's run in with the Town of Turtle cop. I'm sorry...but 25 MPH is a travesty. Beloiters are the slowest drivers on the face of the planet. I say this with love. Really.

My husband said "You can NEVER say anything about MY driving now!"
My response? I am not a BAD driver. I'm just a FAST driver!

- It's nearly September....which means we are THAT much closer to the return of Dexter AND the release of Jimmy Eat World's new album....two things that I am seriously looking forward to. What's going to happen now that Rita is dead (sorry, spoiler...but cmon folks, it's been a year!) and will Jimmy return to the awesome-ness that was Clarity? We'll see....

- I'm starting to compile a list of blog post topics (wedding/photography/whatever.....related) to post about regularly. If you have any ideas of what you'd like to see, shoot me a message on Facebook or here.

- I got a vintage babydoll style dress and knee socks in the mail and they are waiting patiently for next week when Betty and I will set out on a fun photo adventure. Pink knee socks and excellent, hazy light just excites me. Cannot. WAIT.

- Just a heads up, fall is booking up quickly but I still have some weekday openings in October, and November still has plenty of dates open. Do not fear the cold weather folks!

- Speaking of cold weather shooting, I am in the very early stages of planning a studio build in my house. I had been toying with the idea of seeking out a brick and mortar studio in Beloit, but with the new baby on its way and Betty not yet going to school, it didn't seem like the time. I have this big basement not being used....and plenty of room...so I'm hoping I can get it up and running by January or February. I'm excited about the prospect of continued shooting even through the winter months!

I leave you with a bit of Betty Claire Photography. She's been slow on the work lately. Maybe she's busy giving workshops. ROCKSTAR!

Self portrait

My maternity shoot. Betty grasps sunflare. Awesome stuff.

Parents : A study.