Coming soon!

So, it looks like I finally have a reason to create a portfolio website.  I have one portrait session under my belt and with the wedding on Saturday, I will need a nice place to display my work.  I finally took the leap and signed up for a web designing tool so I can create my website.   I've spent today trying to come up with design ideas and was blank.  I started sketching something a while ago and now I seem to have gotten the creative juices flowing, so I at least have a starting point for the new design :)

My plan is to have a separate blog and website.  This way I can still blog about whatever I'd like while having a portfolio of my work that is strictly professional.  I haven't decided where I will host my blog yet; it will either remain here on Blogspot or I may move it to Wordpress.  It is staying right here for the moment, but I will definitely make sure I post the new link if/when it moves so you will (hopefully) be able to stay with me ;)

I'm off to start creating!

What I've been up to

May has been a very productive month so far and it seems like everything is really starting to come together.  I finally decided on a business name for when that time comes.  Instead of using my own name, I went decided on A Bella Sorriso Photography.  I created a Page for it on Facebook, which you can check out here if you'd like.  I also designed my logo and ordered business cards.  They came in the mail today and I love them!  Now all I have to do is work on my website so I can post my portfolio online and I'll be all set :)

I also got together with a friend of mine on Saturday to take some family photos.  Michelle & I worked together at the bank until last year and it was really nice to see her again and meet her kids.  Her little boy is 2 months old and man, is he adorable!  Her daughter is another cutie.  She's 6 years old and has such an outgoing personality!  She seemed to love having her picture taken and had me laughing the whole time with her poses.  I finished editing all of the photos last night and wanted to share some.  Here's a sample of the photos from our shoot:

These geese were at the park with their little babies when we arrived.  They were so adorable I couldn't resist taking some photos :)

Birthday Wishes

Today is my Dad's birthday.  The photo above of my Dad and I was taken in 1984 when I was three years old.  I've had this picture tacked up on my bulletin board for years now and I can't explain why, but it has always been one of my favorites.  We celebrated his birthday yesterday with a nice dinner and his favorite - Boston Cream Pie.  He could just about wait for us to sing happy birthday before digging into his cake lol.  He has been working a lot lately and we've been pretty busy during the past few weeks.  He had a nice, relaxing day of doing nothing, which I think he enjoyed :)

Dad's birthday 'cake'

I've got that springy feelin'

 Project 365 - Day 27 

Spring has officially returned and along with it, spring cleaning!  We spring cleaned the house from top to bottom and wound up redecorating my bedroom in the process.  The picture above is of the photos I framed for my room.  I have been testing out photo printers recently and most of them let you order 4-5 sample photos to test their quality and services.  I've found a couple companies that I really like and will use when I need prints from my photoshoots.

I chose the best prints and bought frames for them yesterday and will be hanging them up tomorrow when I officially finish redecorating my room :)  I have been waiting almost two months until Spring came along to use my new comforter set.  Once I put it on my bed, change my curtains and hang my pictures I will finally be done.  I will post pictures once everything is finished.

I don't know what my problem has been lately (stress most likely), but it seems like I cannot focus on anything and everyday I feel like I've accomplished nothing.  I know that isn't totally true, but that's how I feel.  I've been reading up on the business aspect of photography and most days I come away from it feeling very overwhelmed.  There is SO much to know and so many things to consider.  But I keep telling myself 'one thing at a time'; perfect my photography and take the step into a business when the time is right.  I am a perfectionist (very bad!) and I always feel the need to plan everything, so it only makes sense to me to do the research now and know the costs of having my own business before jumping into anything.  From what I've read, many people who start their own photography business are ill-prepared and don't realize what is entailed until they are in the midst of it.  For this reason, most Photographers are out of business within 5 years.  I am determined that I will not be one of them!

Speaking of business, I will post about the photoshoot I have booked.  I will give you a hint: there will be many flowers and people to photograph ;)

She's Alive!

I'm alive and well!  I had no idea that it had been almost a month since my last post and I didn't want to let anymore time go by before posting.  I started out taking a break while I was sick and then time just flew by and I've gotten out of the habit now.  I haven't even been taking many photos recently and my Project 365 is still stuck on Day 26 lol.

Wow, so many things to talk about...I don't know where to start!  I'll make a short list below and then talk about things in more detail in the next few days :)

What I did on my vacation (no) sick leave (no, that doesn't sound right either) recuperation:

* DVR'd and watched the Olympics.  The whole thing - all 17 days (well, ALL of the speed skating, snowboarding and figure skating anyhow).  I've never watched to entire Olympics before and I really enjoyed it.  Now I am looking forward to the Summer Olympics!

* Developed a fondness for Apolo Anton Ohno ;)

* Bought a new computer with Windows 7 (which I am loving!  bye bye Vista!!)

* Transferred everything over from my old computer (again!) to the new one

* Went on a mini-photoshoot and finally got the picture I've been wanting to take for a long time.

* Found out that the mouse is back.

* Had a hand in making sure the mouse didn't come back again :(

* Rearranged my room and turned it into a more functional office/bedroom.  The clutter was driving me crazy!


Well, I think that should about cover it for now.  It's good to be back!  I missed my routine and hopefully I can get back into the swing of things with taking my photos every day and posting them here.  For now, here is the photo I mentioned above of the church.  It's a small church in our town and I've driven by it quite a few times and always thought it would make a nice picture around dusk.