Names, Cars, J*, creative LIVE and Candice Benjamin!

HEEEEEYYYY Internet!

It has been a little bit, huh?  Things have been pretty crazy here, so I apologize for the hiatus.  :D
Let's see, where do I start?

I have a business name!  I won't spoil it just yet - we are still working on the logo, but it is a long time coming.  The next step will be the website.  I want to put myself out there, so that way (hopefully) next year, I will be shooting more often for clients.  I really love it!  I am scared beyond belief, but I am going for it!!!!

My car - just under three months from our drive to Florida - that would be roughly a 16 hour drive, decided to cause us a little bit of trouble.  Not solved yet - but it was "fixed" enough to drive.  For y'all who know about cars, my front differential decided to play games with us and go "bam bam bam bump bump bump".  All in all, it controls my 4 wheel drive.  SO we have taken out the front drive shaft for the time being, and just have to replace it before any snow.  WHEW!  Not the time of year for a big fix!

This past weekend I watched Jasmine Star on creative LIVE.  She has the best seminars!  If you are interested in learning about how she runs her business, it is a great seminar!  She is very smart, and creative.  A true inspiration.  You can check her course out here: http://www.creativelive.com/courses/building-your-wedding-photography-business-jasmine-star

Watching creative LIVE, there were a few people who won a contest to be there in person.  One of those people was photographer Candice Benjamin from California.  Over the last few days, I have looked over her blog, her website and have stared at a bunch of her photos.  This girl is GOOD!  She also just took a huge step moving forward with her business.  She quit her day job.  Mucho Kudos to her!  Congratulations Candice, and good luck with your new endeavors!  You can follow her here: http://candicebenjamin.com/

Last but not least, I am so happy to announce that my new camera will be in my possession early next week!  More next time on that! :)

For now, I leave you with a few pics from Central park.  My brother and his girlfriend, a squirrel, and my sister.

85mm f/1.8

INTERNET!!!  I got my 85mm f/1.8 lens today!  I got home, and immediately tried it out on Ameilia's XTi!  OMG!!!  It is everything I hoped it would be.  I cannot wait to pair it up with the 7D!

I just wanted to tell you that.

XTi - for now

My daughter and I are both on this journey to change over from Nikon to Canon.  For my daughter, the switch was easy.  She is done.  For me, not so much.  You see, I had gear.  After the last two weeks, what remains, I will be keeping.

I went from this in the house:
Nikon  D90
Nikon D40x
Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6
Nikon 35mm f/1.8
Sigma 24-70 f/2.8
Sigma 105mm f/2.8
Nikon D3000 w/18-55mm kit lens (my daughter's)

To this (keeping):
Nikon D40x
Nikon 35mm f/1.8
Sigma 24-70 f/2.8

This is strange to me, and I am left feeling like there is a big hole in my existence.  My D40x is great.  My remaining lenses, also great.  But I long for more.  That time will come and I am on my way!

Trading places a bit we now have in addition to the three items above, we have this:
Canon Rebel XTi (my daughter's replacement for her D3000)
Canon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Canon 85mm f/1.8

The 85mm will be a good portrait lens, and I got the 18-135 as an every day type of lens that I like to tote around - until I finally decide what my "good" lens will be in that area.  I will however be getting the 50mm f/1.4.  It is the start of something new!!  I am so excited.  And, as a bonus - all my gear from my Canon EOS Elan 7, every lens, and the flash, all work on my daughter's XTi!  This is great news!  And oddly enough, the Nissin flash we purchased for the D90 works on the XTi as well!!  :)    The old lenses are nothing great, but work well, and they are crisp, regardless of the reviews.  I have given them to my daughter as her kit items.  I am glad I did not try to sell them!  It makes me wonder now if the new lenses I have purchased, will work on my Elan 7!

Adopt the pace of nature:  her secret is patience.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Upgrades

So, I finally have taken the first real step to upgrading.  I put my D90 up for auction on Ebay.  This is very scary to me - but if I didn't do it - I may not have taken the leap towards the upgrade.  I love the camera, but I love the one I want more.   I do have my first camera.  It is not THAT old.  It takes fab pictures.  I shouldn't be without my main camera for long...but just in case, my baby is there to back me up.    I don't want to jinx it - but look for a new better me in the near future!  I am also working on my actual business name, and finally the logo.  I had an epiphany the other day after hearing from a long lost friend.  (Thank's Mark!!)  No, more like family!  It has been 30 years since I have seen this family, and I hope that in the near future, we will get to see each other - soon!

On another note, I realized the other day that I have six Communions to shoot in the month of May!  WOW!  It is a good thing I like them.  =D  All the little details that come with little girls on this important day.  Sneak peeks to follow as they come!

f1.8 ISO 400

I was explaining the exp. triangle to my brother who is diving into the world of DSLRs tomorrow.

Dear Brother... wide open on the 35mm!! :)  LOVE IT!  :)

And below you see the store I held my future in.... :)  OH MY... I cannot wait!

Bon Jovi!!!!!!

I am totally psyched!

I have BON JOVI TICKETS!!!  

Internet - I was not going.  Well, not originally.  I really felt like such a bad fan and was just telling that to my husband.  His name is Scott, for all of you who may not know. Then a week later, I get an email from WPLJ.  Pre-sale for a new date on the tour. I decide this is a sign.  IF I can find tickets I am willing to buy, I will get them.  If not, then I just was not meant to go.  So the next day, I sign onto Ticketmaster.  10am... 10:05am.  NOTHING IS OPENING FOR PURCHASE!  UM...why not?  I  go to the email.  Recheck the time.  Yep.  10am!  I check Live Nation, because I know sometimes they go through that link.  No.  Not there.  10:10am I finally decide to go back to the email and click through there. Normally - all tickets are sold out at this point.  But it is a pre-sale.  So I kept on.  Persistent, I try.  BINGO!  I am in.  Over and over I patiently go through the process.  CAPTCHA is so annoying.  Really it is.  After about ten tries...I finally come up with a mix that is PERFECT!  Internet, I have never been so lucky.  EVER.  I mean, I always have gotten beat out of good tickets, and have always had to go through Ebay or Stub Hub.  Not this time though!  :)  I am now the proud owner of Bon Jovi tickets for Section A1, Row 6!  AISLE SEATS!  Score!   To the powers that be - thank you for being on my side that day!  Everything happens for a reason.  I truly believe this!  

So Internet - you must stay tuned to watch my Jovi drama unfold.  Where exactly are the seats?  How close to the Golden Circle will I end up!?  May 6th....  it will all unfold.  Nassau Coliseum.  Do you have your tickets?  They still have them available here: http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0000455E99635905?artistid=734608&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1

Tick Tock...

We're Lane leaders, we're the best
We're the best oh yes we're fresh......

It is funny how people meet.  Back in High School the one thing I wanted to do was become a cheerleader.  I didn't care who was going with me, or who wasn't.  That was my first independent step out of my shy shell.  My freshman year, sure enough...I tried out, and I made it.  I have since met some of the bestest friends that I still stay in contact with to this day.

Tick Tock please don't stop,
Let's show Adams how to rock....

I approached Doreen about some pictures on Facebook.  We spoke about Cheerleading and stuff.  We never really saw each other, but had many common friends.  A few months ago, Doreen approached me about shooting her daughter's Sweet 16.  I immediately said yes!  Funny how much two people who live miles apart have so much in common!  It turns out that one of her daughter's friends, is the daughter of one of my good friends growing up, and the Godmother to my daughter!  Such a small world.

I say rock, you say roll
I say Ice, you say cold
I say disco you say the beat
I say honey you say it's sweet

Speaking of sweet - Doreen's daughter Mary is the sweetest!  She looked gorgeous in her dress...and had the most fantabulous party!  Internet, I kid you not!  I had a blast shooting this party that was held at Flowerfields in St. James.  I am not done going over the pictures yet, but I wanted to share a little bit from the other night.

                       

Mary - just beautiful!

 

The dance floor for the entire night was full!

So although I never hung out with Doreen, I hope that we get to hang out and continue to share the oddities of life moving forward!  It was a pleasure to officially meet everyone, and I had a great time!  Thank you for sharing this special day with me!

Say hello to my little friend

Today is President's day.  I get to stay home today from my "day" job - without using PTO.  (A big YAY!)   I find myself taking a look at my shoot from last weekend of my little friend, Gary.  Oh how this little boy melts my heart.  He is so cute, I can eat him up!  I look back to last October when I first had a session with Gary, his mom Jackie and dad, Chris - and see how much Gary has grown.  And oh, this shoot - he was all for the smiles and the camera!  

Thank you Jackie, Chris and my little friend Gary.  You have made me realize that I really do want to do portraits.  You encouraged me to learn and push forward with this, and for that - I will be forever grateful!