I’ve had a camera in hand since I visited the zoo on a field trip in about the 2nd grade (I actually still have an envelope full of tiger photos from that trip!) At some point my mom bought me a purple point & shoot camera to which I’m sure I kept Ritz camera’s mail-order film service in business. Life carried on and I started this photography business after our wedding in 2009. I got by with offering low cost wedding photography in those first 3 years, gaining quite a few clients who were sweet enough to take a chance on a relatively new photographer. Then the three year slump hit with a vengeance. Bookings slowed to a crawl and I’ve felt a little like I’m just treading water to keep my head up. It’s time to shake things up around here…. thus, my confession a few weeks ago. This little lackluster blog is about to get a face-lift, something I’ve known needed to be done, but I’d been avoiding the expense. Now, do I think a blog makes a business? No. But do I think it’s a main highway to achieving a successful business? Yes. My highway needs repaving, new signage and some of those pretty wildflower project patches to easy your eye. So here’s to getting those orange barrels up and back down quickly, lots of pretty to look at AND a new blog post from me EVERY Tuesday! Gotta get back to consistent sharing over here…. and I have so much to get posted! Cheers!

*Some links in this post may contain affiliate links. This post was originally written in 2014, pricing has certainly varied over the years! Want to see a photographers eyes bleed? Hand them a black Friday ad. This morning was no different. I am a loyal Best Buy customer having bought oodles there… tvs, refrigerators, games, etc….. just not cameras or anything to do with them. This morning I got the black Friday preview email…. cue eyes bleeding. Please don’t fall pray to the “deals” on these kits, as they are just going to be a let-down for anyone who knows anything about SLRs (or anyone who’s willing to learn). They’ll quickly realize the lens is plastic (all kits lenses are!) and will only produce a good image in broad daylight (not at 6AM when the kids want to open their Christmas gifts) and that camera bag…. well…. it’s fugly and will prove to be too tiny for all the gadgets you’ll inevitably collect. On the left is the ad I received via email this morning…. bundles that will “save” you! Not.  That camera bag…. yuck-o! That lens…. crap-ola! On the right is the same camera body, with 2 prime (they don’t zoom… use your feet, people!), a flash and a sexy camera bag! Check below for links of everything.   The camera  $449 through Amazon. 35mm 1.8  $196 A good all-purpose wider lens that will work well in lower light 85mm 1.8  $496 A good all-purpose longer lens that’s great for capturing across a room or anywhere some distance is needed. It’s also good in low light. SB-80DX $133 …. even the greatest camera won’t work clearly in darkness… a flash with a swivel head will be your BFF. (I own this flash, and love it!) Super nice camera bag: Ona Chelsea bag  $369 (obviously you can find something for much less)   = $1279 without the bag or $1643 with the bag…. still FAR less than the kit in the Best Buy ad, and much higher quality lenses!!!   Want to gift a camera (or maybe someone has a nice camera) and want them to learn to use it properly…. meaning NOT on auto or P mode…. I love teaching my Camera 101 class. 1 on 1 classes are $225 for 2-3 hours and groups are $145 per person (with a minimum of 3 people, max of 5). Email me to set up a class for someone special or gift it to yourself!

The last 12 months I’ve messed with making a new website…. something separate from this blogsite. Well…. it’s finally starting to take shape well! I hope to release all this goodness by the end of the month!! I love this blog design, but thought something a little more polished was in order…. Here’s a peek of a few of the elements….. Happy Thursday!!