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1.  There are six days left to enter the nursery contest.  I have gotten several entries over the last few days, so I am getting more excited about it! AND the publisher of the Baby Guide was telling me that they are always looking for nurseries for the magazine so who knows!!

2.  In a fun and different direction for my business, I have been hired as the official photographer of the Zoo’s Education Department!  I’ll be taking pictures of fun things such as their zoomobile, afterschool programs, etc that they can use in their brochures and website.  I am excited!

3.  If you didn’t see it yesterday, I announced the date for a second Get Manual Workshop.  If you missed it first time around, be sure to check out the details.

4.  I have two beautiful flush mount albums in the works for orders for clients, and I am VERY excited!  They are such a gorgeous product…the perfect way to preserve your photographs from our session!

5.  It’s not too early to start thinking about spring and summer photos.  Mother’s Day and Father’s Day will be here before you know it as will Easter.  While things are slow calendar-wise now, they will definitely be picking up so don’t wait to schedule your photos for too long.

6.  One more from my teeny bean yesterday.  Her real sneak peek will be up tomorrow…  I just love this picture – makes me smile   And for reference, that hat usually is slightly tight on newborns!!

7.  We went to Brooklyn last weekend to visit my sister in her new place.  (She just moved there after years in DC)  And while we were there I got to go to Adorama’s store in Manhattan.  I know this would probably only really appeal to other photographers but it was AMAZING.  It was just huge with photography equipment everywhere you looked.  And while I was there I purchased a new lens for my collection – the Tamron 90mm micro.  This lens allows me to get really close up detail shots – it focuses at less than 11 inches away from the subject and allows me to get things like the eyelash picture I shared in my last sneek peek and shots of newborn baby parts like these.  I LOVE my new lens!!

8.  As a side note to the Brooklyn post, I am looking at a few different travel dates and cities for this coming year.  Some areas up in the air include North Carolina, Arizona and New York City along with the RI beaches, though those aren’t *really* travel sessions for me.  I am also open to suggestions for other cities!!  Especially if Southwest flies there 

9.  As of Monday night I am up to 349 fans on Facebook!  That is SO cool.  I didn’t think I’d ever make it to 300!!  Now I want 500 – yes I’m greedy. 

10.  The “How to Pick a Good Photographer” post is in its final stages!!  I expect to have it up tomorrow or Thursday of this week.  So be sure to check back!

I am slipping a few announcements in here so read carefully!!

1. First, if you have an awesome nursery and a baby between 5-11 months old, you will WANT to check back tomorrow for an exciting announcement.  Promise!!  And even if you are not in the area, you will still want to check back because you might still be able to play.

2. I finally uploaded my picture of the Bellani display. Ignore the quality – this is an iPhone pic I will get back in there with the camera at some point! The prints on the left are 24×36 gallery wrapped canvases with a 15×30 gallery wrapped in between them. Then on the right, the left and right images are 20×30 canvases and the top and bottom images are 24×24. LOVE it!!! Covered window in between the two.

3. I just learned that SuperBowl photographers carry an average of $30,000 of equipment around their necks while shooting the game. I am now drooling with jealousy and want to be a superbowl photographer. Of course I don’t know if they would let me have the cart I would need to carry all of that – that stuff’s heavy!!  I always point out the equipment to Matt when we are watching.  Just what he wants, I am sure, as he is trying to concentrate on what is going on in the game. 

4.  On that note, if you watched the Superbowl, how awesome was that game?  Unless of course you were a Colts fan.  This was the first year in MANY that we were not at a Superbowl party or hosting one. It was a nice change though.  I found myself cheering for the Saints because they had never won even though I also liked the Colts.  But THIS moment with Drew Brees made the entire thing worthwhile.  I dare you to watch it and not get a little tear in your eye.  No clue how long this will be on the internet because I am sure CBS will pull it, but it is so adorable.

5.The first Get Manual workshop was this past Saturday and I had a GREAT TIME!!  We had nine participants and while my children screamed played in the basement with Matt, we got a good deal done!  Lots of talking, lots of practicing, pretty perfect!  I have decided that I am going to do another one, I am just settling on a date.  But it will definitely be in March.

6. I am announcing special North Carolina sessions! I will be in state from March 29-April 2 so if you would like some family photos done, contact me for information! Sessions will be available in Winston, Greensboro and the Triangle areas as well as possibly Charlotte.  I have no idea if I will book one, ten or none, so let me know if you’re interested!  As a side note, I am always available for a travel session!  If you don’t live near Providence but would like a session, you can always ask.

7.  Just to prove that Layne DOES cry.  This is what I got after I told her that no, she could not hit the camera.   She has developed quite the little attitude recently, and has decided she does not like to be told NO. About anything.  And why yes, I DO take pictures of my kids melting down and I’m sorry, I just cannot help but laugh at this series!!!!!  I think it’s the bottom left one that really gets me.

8.  Have I mentioned that a Cupcake Shop opened right down the street from me?  Literally, around a corner and down the street.  Every morning on the way to take Nolan to school I drive past the steamed up windows of the shop and imagine the deliciousness that tempts me inside.  We have eaten a few different ones and they are wonderful.  My favorite is the red velvet, Matt loved the Grasshopper.  And as a bonus each cupcake is a little work of art.  No slathered on frosting here – they are perfectly decorated with adorable little designs.  Extra nice for us, she carries both a vegan cupcake AND uses no egg in her chocolate cupcakes.  And to just totally top it all off, she also does cakes.  YUMM-O!!!!!  I *almost* stopped by to get one…you know…for the sake of photos for the blog   But I resisted.  Maybe next week for Valentine’s Day I’ll do a special feature.

9.  Want to ask me a question?  Anything at all?  Well, now you can!  Just click HERE. It’s totally anonymous if you want it to be so ask away, I’d love to answer!  Of course keep it appropriate.  My mother is watching.

10. One more from my last newborn.  I just edited this today and oh my goodness I just want to squish the cheeks!!  Have I mentioned I LOVE newborns???  And I have another one sometime in the next two weeks – a little boy so I get my wish to use my cocoon and hat!!!!

Annnnnd that’s all.  Make sure to check back tomorrow!!

It’s baaaaack!  (for this week)

1.  I will have had three newborns in less than two weeks after this weekend and I am THRILLED!!  I love newborns.  They’re squishy and scrunchy and just so adorably perfect in their newness.  Gives me baby fever!  Shhh…don’t tell Matt.

2.  There are still two spots left in my workshop on the 6th.  If you’re interested, contact me asap!  I am busy putting together the outline and gathering materials for it.  So excited!

3.  I just booked myself a day of beauty for the last weekend of the month.  I cannot WAIT as it’s something I never ever get to do for myself.  Thanks to an excellent birthday present from my parents, however, I am getting to do it.  I think I might even shut down the computer and phone while I’m at it.  The kids will be in Connecticut, my husband is actually NOT on call and I am getting pampered.  Yippee!  Oh and local people, it is Elan Day Spa – I’ll be sure to recommend if I like it!

4.  So Layne did end up having an ear infection.  Poor thing.  Our very first ear infection in this house.  Nolan somehow went four years without ever having one.  He also never had croup and within 12 months, Layne has managed to have both.  But my theory on this is that she will NOT get the egg allergy that he has (fingers crossed!)

5.  If you are a 2009 client and haven’t checked out my Big Canvas Sale that is going on, you really should.  Ends January 31.  Go BIG!

6.  On a related note, most people have seen my Bigger Really IS Better post by now.  But most people don’t know HOW to go bigger.  In fact, I have gotten a few questions from people about that.  They say “I’d love to go bigger but I just don’t know how to.  Do I frame it or what?”  Never fear, I am working on a follow up post about different options for going big that I offer.

7.  I just got a beautiful sample coffee table album in that I can’t wait to share with clients.  Just gorgeous!!  Even nicer and still to come is the stunningly beautiful flush mount album that I am offering beginning this year.  Think leather cover, thick pages, – an elegant way to preserve the images from your session.

8.  We are planning a trip back to North Carolina for the end of March and then Orlando in the beginning of May.  Two family trips and I can’t wait!  We’ll be in North Carolina for about a week and then Orlando for the same.  Thinking possibly about taking Nolan to Disney World but not entirely sure…

9.  I am working on a few possible giveaways as well as some photographer interviews that I haven’t gotten to do yet to help fill these slower months, so check back occasionally to see what’s going on

10.  And last but certainly not least, I am so SO excited to announce that I have been chosen by Bellani Maternity to display my work in their store!!!!!  If you are local and have been pregnant or have a baby, chances are that you know Bellani quite well.  I was beyond THRILLED that they contacted me.  My display will be going in the room where the classes are held.  If you are local and you have NOT heard of them you must must must check them out.  They offer a ton of things for everything between maternity and children under three years of age.  They are also a phenomenal breastfeeding resource as well as a few other things such as cloth diapering, baby wearing, etc.  Once I get it up there I will definitely be taking photos of the display and sharing it here.  This has thrust me into the process of redesigning some of my marketing materials so I have been a busy bee!

That’s it for this week!