Yep....

Sorry Blogger. But after playing with my new blog almost ALL day, I have fallen in serious 'like'. There are a few things I am not quite thrilled with that you offer, such as a custom color scheme. But you don't allow me to gallery post my images, and that is important to me. So for now, I will say 'Au revoir' to you and hello to WordPress!

find me now at jmnphotography.wordpress.com ! Whoo! See you there :)

I think I am already changing hosts

This morning I started looking at other photographers blogs and thought that mine does not looks quite as professional. The photos aren't that big. The layout is pretty static. So i started searching for other blog hosting sites and I am working on converting. Not sure if I am ready yet to start paying for a blog :) so I am still looking at other free sites for the time being. I will keep you posted regarding the switch!

Oh What a Beautiful Morning!

The day after Halloween. My “spooky” morning played out like this, which is honestly, quite typical of my Halloween mornings: Woke up. Not so excited to dress up for Halloween. Saw costume ideas and got sad that my costume wasn’t very creative. Got real inspired and came up with great costume ideas - which will promptly be replaced by other ideas or no ideas shortly, as the sugar buzz wears off.

I did sport a costume to work and it turns out they take Halloween pretty seriously. There was a costume contest, cupcakes and so much candy I made myself a little ill. I was a Tacky Tourist. Yes, I know, I was that last year. But that is what I mean, I lose inspiration quick. Next year will be different!

I am really looking forward to the rest of the weekend! I have committed myself to a photo shoot tomorrow with my dad where I play the role of assistant, but aside from that, I don’t have anything to do! No driving. Not homework. No plans. I love it! More time for me to be creative and make more decisions about my business!

I have so many fun ideas swirling in my head for business related cards! I have my information card, thank you cards, a new business card and the covers for the Proof Books people will be getting with their session all designed. I am also coming up with some Holiday Card ideas for people should they not have them yet, and want a super cute one with their puppy. I am planning on getting these all printed next week and start distributing them shortly. Wish me luck! I hope what I have done so far is what people will like! I love taking the pictures and love so much the interaction with the dogs! I have known, at least a little bit, about each of the dogs I have photographed so far so I look forward to meeting new dogs.

I am also very excited about this: A former co-worker of mine has just launched a business of her own! Liz Ink and Paper She is a wonderful designer and is creating holiday cards. I don’t know if currently I have any followers aside from people who already know Elizabeth, but if so, check her out!

After several weeks of planning and designing and playing, a photographer/CS friend of mine, Ms. Mara, has launched her blog. I think it looks great! Check it out here.... marastitt.blogspot.com . She is doing mostly fine art photography right now, I believe, and moving into the world of graphic design as well.

I have been waiting to post more pictures from Iowa because I wanted to have the spelling right of dog number 3 that I took pictures of. But alas, my question has gone unanswered so I am just going for it because I can’t wait any longer. I will submit a correction if I am wrong, which I know I am….

This fantastic dog ….

is named Gergy. He is huge! And very hairy and for the most part, very white. He was so mild tempered too, which was nice. He was also quite cooperative. Not so cooperative that I could get him to sit still, but atleast he didn't turn and run when I was taking a picture. The time of day of the pictures was fantastic! The sun was setting so his lovely white picked up some lovely pinks and oranges. The only bummer was that I ran out of light pretty quick, but I still got several good shots. I particularly like the one below. It was suggested that I use it for his first solo album, should that come about.

I feel like this post has gone on and on. I think that is all I have for right now and besides, my car is calling me from the driveway. It is saying it needs a bath, and I must answer. I hope everyone has a wonderful Saturday! Enjoy the weather if you are in MN! It is gorgeous!!

My Friday Deserves a BIG 'ol "Oof Da"

Goodness gracious! My weekend was a blast and frustratingly eventful at the same time. It all started Friday with something as innocent as spilling my tea all over my desk at work. And it escalated into nearly slamming into a deer on the highway resulting in my car down a ditch and me covered in mud almost to my knee.

"I know this isn't a great way to start a story, but I am ok." That was the line I chose to break the news to my dad via phone.

So as not to bore people reading my blog, I will give the Cliff Note version: 2 deer - 1 in each lane. Me in right lane going 73MPH. Hit breaks a wee bit too hard. Spin in car. Go into ditch backwards. Land in mud.

After that, I was pretty terrified, and had I not been 1/2 way, I probably would have seriously thought of turning around. But I figured I was that far, I might as well not spoil my weekend by skipping the festivities including babies, pork and dog photos. The next morning we were up pretty early despite getting in quite late. After breakfast, I got to work taking pictures of the pups. Kubota was not so thrilled about my camera so pictures of her are few and far between. Lopey though turned into a ham! He was a little shy at first but quickly warmed up to me my lens.

This guy is a tried and true family dog. According to Murray, he has the most stamina of any animal ever. Lopey has survived a few car accidents and seems to be quite happy in life. And boy, do I have lots of pictures to show!

Well, I am quite excited about the outcome of these photos! I hope to be able to edit these this weekend or later this week once I catch up on sleep and my work load dies down a smidgen.

But another oh so exciting thing happened this weekend! I got to meet little Barrett Raymond Curtis who is 3 weeks old today (Happy Birthday Little One!). He is adorable and so mellow.

Thanks to the Perdue's (both people and animals) for a lovely weekend!
Roast On!

Off and Away

Good Afternoon to Friday. I am quite excited to report that my work day is nearly 1/2 over, and I will be leaving at the end of the night for Iowa. I will leave you for the weekend with a new one of the pup.

Have a wonderful weekend, and I hope the weather is nice and dandy. I will have some fun new pictures when I return of 3 canines in Iowa.

Chao!

Chocolate Moose Images

An update to my "latest and greatest" ....

Tonight I started working out some more aspects of my new business, such as what I will really call it. That meant that I should do some research to see what is out there already. Well, bummer, JMN is a common set of initials. In fact there is a JMNPhotography.com already. Shoot! And a JMN Photography and Design. Crud!

My plan? To keep JMN Photography as my main company name (which includes my fine art photography and general design items) but then to have a branch off that for my Dog Photography which will be "Chocolate Moose Images." Don't you luve it? I totally do. And anyone who knows how much I am eager for 2 litter mate kitties may recognize the name combo. I created an informational card this weekend with basic information about me and my biz. I have posted the front of it for your viewing pleasure at this time.

Another thing that is super cool? When researching names, I found these guys! The Original Traveling Photo Booth. It is settled! When I get married, I totally have to have something like this there. How much fun would that be?!

I hope everything is going well with anyone who happens to be reading this! I am losing steam as my night forges on without permission. I'm sure everyone has this where there is just so much to get done, either for need or desire, it would be nice if time stood still, just for a bit. I crave weekends because it is usually a bit of down time where I can think and dedicate some time to my ideas. Work has been super busy this week which is nice during the day because 8.5 hours seems like 3 but I get home and don't really want to do too much. So on that note, I will probably get going to bed. I hear the jingle of Roux's collar, meaning she has been roused from her sleep, noticed the light is still on in the dining room, and will soon be by my side, nose in lap, begging me to go to bed.

Life with a pet is grand, indeed!

Monday Night Blues

It's Monday. And boy, did today feel like a monday! ...

This week at work, I have specific work that I must work on. This work entails recontacting clients to ask them if the work they sent us is really the work they want printed. It doesn't sound like much, but when you have several orders, and phones ringing off the hook, it's work! So needless to say, I was quite busy today.

Hopefully, my week will go fast, as I am looking forward to seeing the new baby Curtis this weekend in Iowa, seeing good 'ol Mur and having another Poochy Photo Booth shoot while I'm there. (Bear with me as i figure out the names for things... I can guarantee there will be lots of silly ones before there are good ones! Poochy Photo Booth --- Exhibit A)

I hope everyone had a swell weekend. I myself had a nice relaxing couple days. Friday night was a work extravaganza at a corn maze in Hastings, MN. Afterwards I trucked over to my Aunt and Uncles (Aunt--- as in Aw-nt ... not ant, that is a bug) in Riverfalls, WI where I crashed (as in sleep, not car)! In the morning Carol and I took lil miss Ahni out for some pictures in their front yard. It was a bit of a challenge because Ahni can't hear as good as she used to so getting her to respond to me was a challenge. I did get some keepers though!

I'm pretty happy with a lot of them. Thanks Carol and George!! You guys were great hosts and dog parents. I hope to do more with her, should time and weather allow. Maybe Thanksgiving? When we are all stuffed to the brim? And hopefully not freezing our petuti off. So why did I title my post Monday Night Blues? Because I am tired enough that I don't have much energy to do anything productive or even creatively fun, yet not tired enough to throw in the towel and go to bed. So alas, I create a blog post. Maybe after this and the rest of my cider I will get to a scrapbook page or 2. Tis the weather for cider! AND my latest obsession, Chai Tea Lattes (with a shot of coffee -- all made from home). De-licious.

blast from the past

In cleaning up my computer a bit, I found this shot from, oh goodness, a while ago. Maybe it was my subconscious start to my business. I wonder where this lil guy is now. I took this when visiting Tay in NC. He and his brother were so stinkin adorable! They loved to run through the grass, wrestle, smell everything and were as cooperative as puppys can be for a few pictures.

Have a happy Saturday night!

exciting!

I am getting more and more excited the more and more I figure things out :) Here is a run down of my day so far, and the day is young.

Today:

* edited more Roux photos. I am nearing the end of the training/sample work with her. I am taking pictures of my Aunt's dog tomorrow which is exciting as well. A new dog! And she is deaf, so probably a few challenges with that as well.

* started working on more specifics with the business. Such as what will be included and offered to my special special clients.

* worked on a logo for a pal at work. She has changed her studio name so I get to be involved with the making of the logo. I will post her blog once she is up and running.

* the sun is shining! always a plus.

So for now, on the fabulous Friday, I will leave you with a new image. Enjoy!!

save the date sample

Quick work post:
I found a sample of what I had originally created for Rene for a save the date card that I liked quite a bit.



note: I am an idiot and used a different friend of mines last name instead of Jeremy's by accident(sorry to all parties involved! it was the first "w" name that came to mind) AND none of the information on the card is correct, so don't start planning ;)




The colors were a little off so we went in a different direction. I will post that as soon as they are sent out. Have a great Wednesday!

new roux

Woke up nice and early this morning to get Roux to the dog park. I find it hard to get up early since I don't actually have to be anywhere until 10:30, but if I sleep, I feel super guilty! SO i try to get out of bed and get stuff done. Today, it happened to be the dog park. I'm figuring that will be a good place to post a flyer saying I am doing dog photography. There seem to be a lot of loving owners there who would perhaps (and hopefully, for my business) like to have portraits done.

After returning home, although Roux was pooooped, she was a good sport for some more pictures. Here are some of the results.

I just love the light on my front steps in the morning sun.

Have a happy evening! I'm kinda glued to the TV tonight but I am planning to break away soon to do something creative. Tomorrow is Wednesday and that means that the week is almost 1/2 over. You know, I have a different respect for weekends now. They used to be nice, but now they are oooooh so necessary.

my latest and greatest

I have joined the world of blogging. It is official. I have a web address. I have a username. And I have a harebrained idea, which, let's be honest, no one should really be surprised by.

Let me start by explaining where I am in my life. I graduated from the University of Iowa in May with a double major in History and Studio Art with an emphasis in photography. I loved my time in Iowa City (holla to all my friends there) and have now moved back up to my original stomping grounds of Minneapolis, MN. I landed a job (thank goodness!) at a digital printing lab in Eagan working as one of 20ish customer service representatives. We have amazing products, amazing prices and amazing customer service. I love it there! The job itself is in no way glamorous, but I work with people my age, helping other people understand exactly what we can provide as a company. I sometimes feel like I might be a part of something a bit bigger than just a customer service representative, and I like it. Another perk? I get a discount on my own printing and if things are slow, I can work on my own projects. My amazing former roommate allowed me to be creative with her wedding invites, which was awesome! I would post it on here, but I'm pretty sure it is supposed to be a surprise.

That is the short list of my current affairs.

Now.... to my latest and greatest. I am starting my own business. At least, that is my plan. I love to be creative on pretty much every level that I can (except I really didn't take to metal working... that is true). Currently, the idea is to smart small but I am planning on getting into the dog photography world. Now, I know. You are probably thinking, "Really? dog photography?" But I have a vision. And I love it! I have been scouring the Internet recently (often times at work) to find samples and ideas and inspiration for my plans and I have come up with a few which have resulted in.... this is my dog Roux. She is just about the cutest and sweetest dog I have ever met! She is a 3.5 year old yellow lab that is my dad's latest pride a joy. And the best note of all? She has become my first guinea pig for my project.

She isn't totally sure about my camera at this point but I think I am warming her up to it. She is really the main dog that I have taken pictures of, however, I have a date with my Aunt's dog, Ahni this coming weekend. I will post those on here as soon as I have a few.

I would love to hear what people think of these pictures!

In addition to photographing dogs, I am also getting into design work. Specifically, I am thinking of doing invitation type items. Like I said, I just did my roommates wedding invitations, and it was so much fun! I will post samples on here once I do some more work because I really love it!! (side note: anyone need invitations to something made? hmmmmm?)

Aside from those items, I am still looking for an apartment I can call my own and space to spread my art projects upon art projects to attack it from all angles. I am still on the hunt for the bestest 2 kitties ever - which by the way, already have names, assuming they fit the kitty's personalities. I am also stil trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up but I assume I will never totally figure that out.

Well - to all those ladies back in Iowa City, here is my blog. I have succumbed to the trend and as of now, am ok with it. I will leave you with this, Roux sends her kisses.