They Grow Up So Fast

Well...it happens even if we don't like it. Babies grow so fast it just defys logic. My great-nephew Jacob came by to see me today, on his way home from his first ever trip to the beach. It's a long drive from Myrtle Beach to Virginia, expecially when you're only 8 months old, so Aunt Rhonda's is a good half-way point. It's a good pit stop, get a fresh diaper, fill up on milk, loads of hugs and kisses, take a few photos, more hugs and kisses, and off you go again.

It seems like just a few weeks ago we were at the hospital welcoming our little 4 pounder to the world. He was so tiny, it was scary. Full-term mind you, just TINY. Not an ounce of fat to spare. Not true now, he's got the cutest little rolls of pudge on his legs. Love it! Fat rolls are so adorable on babies, and it just makes me want to squeeze.

And would you believe that his first tooth is in already. Not that you can see it, mind you. There seems to be a string attached to his tongue so that when you get him to open his mouth his tongue comes out at the same time. It's pretty funny.

Jacob is the first baby in our family in a few years, the first of his generation. It really helps me appreciate what my Mommy clients are going through as they progress through our Baby Club program...they really do seem to change almost overnight. I know it's going to sound corny, but I'm so honored to be able to capture these beautiful stages of their lives so we can continue to enjoy them for many years to come.

I love my job, both as an Aunt and as a photographer.

No....Thank YOU!

Sometimes you just have a good day. You know, not necessarily anything you can put your finger on, just a simple good day. And then there are those days when everything is kinda average, and someone does something really nice that turns it into a great day. I had one of those today.

Last week I photographed a family, not exactly an "everyday" session since the subjects included a four legged family member. Plus we had two babies (cousins) that we photographed together. The dad asked if he sent me a testimonial did I have a place that I could use it. I said "Sure, I can put it on my blog." You know, it was nice that he was happy enough with our services to ask something like that. Most people would never actually get around to sending in the note. (I'm the world's worst for good intentions that never make it any farther than my own mind.)

Then today I got the following testimonial in my inbox...and after you read it you'll see why I'm having a great day. Thanks Mike!

"My wife and I are extremely pleased with Rhonda and the professionalism and expertise she brings to every photo shoot. Our son has been part of the Baby Club and he has enjoyed the photo sessions each time we have visited.

Rhonda is very patient and works with him in order to get the best quality shots. She has even shown her patience as our dog has joined us for one of the photo sessions and Rhonda was very accommodating to everyone, including the dog. Her patience, professionalism and expertise has delivered nothing but quality photos as we expected.

We highly recommend Memory Lane Portraits and Rhonda to anyone looking for professional photography. Thank you, Rhonda"

Mike Hague, Manager, Sign Mine, Inc. High Point, NC

Up, Up and Away

I'm taking a Leadership Class through the Archdale Trinity Chamber of Commerce and it's been a wonderful, interesting, eye-opening experience. Sort of like field trips for adults. Last week we had "Economic Day" and had the opportunity to visit some of the larger scale industries in our area. I learned that Tony the Tiger actually lives in Archdale. It's true, I saw him with my own eyes--who knew, he keeps a very low profile. I would say that I never see him at the local grocery store, but that's not exactly true, now is it?!

This photo was taken by Andee Edelson from the Randolph County Partnership for Children. (Thanks Andee.) I'm getting ready to take a ride I will never forget--several stories high on a crane in the storage facility at Hafele. I had no idea such technology existed right here in little ol' Archdale. Quite a ride!









Our adventure also included tours of:
-A John Deere musuem in Trinity--which I never even knew existed
-SSG/Brand Intense--there's some serious marketing technology going on in that place
-Trinity Furnitures manufacturing plant--facinating
-Linwood Hall--an amazing architectural gem hidden away in Trinity

We also got to enjoy speakers on Industrial Recruitment, Growth Trends, and have a hands-on exercize dealing with commerce. I'm sure you can imagine how tired my little pea brain was at the end of the day.

I can't wait for next month's adventures!

Kisses, Kilts and Elvis

Hey, I want to share a very memorable wedding from last fall with you.

Obviously, this wasn't my typical wedding. Not even close. But that was what made it SO MUCH FUN! Well, that and the fact that I feel I have at least two new friends, David and Laura Posey Grimes. Plus the dogs, let's not forget the dogs, so that's at least four new friends.

Ok, let me back up and clear some of that up. Back when I first sat down with David and Laura to talk about the possibility of being their wedding photographer, I did something very routine. I asked about what they had planned for their day. But their answers were anything but routine.

They were going to have an outdoor wedding in the fall at a private location (I LOVE photographing outdoor weddings) with a Scottish theme, and an Elvis impersonator at the reception. Plus fireworks, real ones. Add to that mixture an attractive, fun, easy going couple that are clearly in love, and you have a photographers dream. Or at least this photographers dream.

The weather was wonderful, and the ceremony was beautiful. So beautiful it captured the attention of the editior of a widely distributed magazine published by the McNeill Clan. They featured David and Laura's wedding in the magazine, along with using several images of their decorations in another article, and to top it all off, "we" made the cover with one of their wedding day photos. What an honor!

I've been photographing members of the Grimes family for several years, and it's been nothing short of a genuine pleasure. I'm starting to feel like family, they treat me so well.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot...the dogs. They weren't invited to the ceremony, but the engagement session wouldn't have been the same without them. Cute pups!

Yes Professor....

I had the opportunity to speak to a group of aspiring photographers as a guest lecturer for a college in Hickory this week. A friend of mine is teaching this course, it's a Business of Photography class...not their favorite one I'm guessing.

It was interesting to see the diversity of the students, from teens to grandparents--all with different styles and goals. They were a great group, attentive and with good questions. They will have a real leg up in their businesses because of this course.

Statitistics show that most start-up photography businesses fail, and many many more never become profitable, usually for lack of good business practices. I feel very fortunate to have earned a degree in business, and some real world experience in the industry before setting out on my path. Some days, that doesn't seem like nearly enough, but we're hanging in there!!

In times like these, it's hard to know what to do. Here's my thinking. If we would all use a little of my Mom's favorite strategy, we would see the economy improve drastically. Her technique was simple, "When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping." Now that's a stimulus package!

Ssssssomething interesting happened the other day....

We recently took a trip to Charleston--that was a blast. We were blessed with the most amazing weather, and enjoyed our "second honeymoon" to the hilt. This was the "real" trip to celebrate our 25th anniversary--a few weeks late due to Randy's schedule, but the little visit to Pine Knob Inn allowed us to start the celebration on our actual anniversary. It's Feb. 10th if anyone wants to send a card next year. LOL

On the way, we made a little side trip to visit some good friends. Clarence and Shirley Mathis served as missionaries in Honduras for several years, and we developed a close friendship during that time. They played tour guides/hosts during the two missionary trips I took there, and Randy and I have enjoyed having them stay with us on their visits to the States. They're back stateside full time now, and settled down next door to Shirley's daughter Carol, about an hour outside of Charleston.

More about the time in Charleston later, right now I want to tell you about what happened while we were visiting with Clarence and Shirley. I was diddybopping along in the woods (diddybopping is hillybilly for walking along without a care in the world, just in case you didn't know.) taking photos of pine cones and such when I nearly tripped on this HUGE snake, and I mean huge. Did I mention he was huge?

He coiled himself around my legs, started squeezing, and nearly ate my camera. I was so scared! But there was no way I was going to file that insurance claim, I grabbed my camera out of his fangs and quickly turned on the flash and started firing away. The light from the flash blinded him, and it was enough to allow me to escape, but just barely! I got myself back to the house where I belonged. Right after snapping a couple of shots to share with everyone. Whew! Gotta love that new Nikon! Takes a "lickin'" and keeps on clickin'.

OK, maybe that's not exactly how it happened, but it could have..... Alright, I see the way you're looking at me, enough already. Here's the real story. His name is Bubba, and he belongs to Carol. I must say, sometimes I do things that surprise even me. And sometimes Randy surprises me as well...even after all these years. Bubba is 14 feet long, and weighs about 110 lbs. He's a little underweight right now, it being the end of winter and all, can you imagine that! I can't relate, but it sounds nice to need to put on a few pounds. I can give him plenty of advice on how to do that.

I've never touched a snake before, much less one this size. I was really shocked that he's smooth to the touch, kinda like patent leather. I expected a snake to feel scaly and rough, and kinda creepy. You know, snakey.

Carol has a few more veeerrry interesting pets, many are rescues from her career as a vet tech. Her collection includes two wolves, two buffalo, a raccoon, a lynx, and there's also a few more normal critters hanging around. You know, like horses, dogs, cats and fish. Me, I just have Randy, and I have a hard time just keeping up with his care and feeding.

Professional Photographers Convention

Wow, I'm excited and tired all at the same time. It's been a big, big week, starting at 4:00 in the morning on Saturday and ending yesterday around 5:30 pm. I just got back to my desk after 5 days in Raleigh at the Professional Photographers of North Carolina convention. We had ourselves a large time, with speakers from all over the nation demonstrating lighting and posing techniques, talking about ways to offer the best in customer service, and sharing the latest gadgets, gizmos, ideas and software finds.

But better than that, I got to spend some time with my fellow photo geeks. It's a lot like a huge family reunion when our association has an event. We have over 600 members, but it feels like we're all good friends. Lots of hugging and catching up gets done at the state convention. My Mother loved to say, those photographers are a strange bunch, aren't they? I think she had visions of every wierdo in the state converging at our convention. We're not all wierd, but a lot of us are. I will not be discussing which side of that line I fall on, thank you very much.

We have a great trade show every year with all the latest goodies and a chance to ask the techie experts questions and get my hands on some of the latest gear. I found a great remote for my camera, and can't wait to use it. I tested it out a few minutes ago, and it's amazing! I was able to trigger my camera to fire through two walls, not exactly my normal use for a remote trigger, so I think it will hold up to my everyday requests of it.

Plus there were some social events, a Tailgate Party on Saturday night. I missed most of it, because I'm on the Print Team and we were working late. Print judging was held on Saturday, and I have worked with the print team since I first joined PPNC about 10 years ago. I'm usually the person who calls out the titles of each print as it is presented before the panel of judges. You know, use your gifts and all that...my big mouth makes me a natural choice as the person behind the microphone.

I submitted prints for judging this year, with the goal of getting one selected for display in the exhibit at the hotel, and the secondary hope of scoring high enough to be considered "worthy of merit." I really lucked up, as I had FOUR prints displayed, with two of those judged as "merit prints."

You might have a hard time believeing this, but I went without a camera. I didn't want to drag it around to all the seminars, and didn't feel safe leaving it in the hotel room, so I didn't take one. (So of course we get the prettiest snow in years!!!) If I can get the photo from my cell phone copied over showing me with my prints, I'll post it here. But no promises. There's some technology I'm savy with and some I'm not, cell phone cameras aren't my strong area. Neither is texting, but that's another subject.

Oh yeah, about the snow. I am blessed to have friends on the Photography Committee (assigned to photograph all the events at convention) and was able to get myself an assignment to take snow photos, with their camera of course. It was a blast!

One interesting piece of information I found out, I was the only photographer in North Carolina to receive their Certified Professional Photographer designation last year. The certification process is rigerous with an in-depth test and then a review of your images by a panel of judges. I'm so proud to have achieved this milestone, it's been a goal of mine for a number of years.

In other exciting news, at least exciting for me...I was elected to the board of directors of the PPNC at the business meeting on Sunday night, and then sworn in at our formal banquet on Tuesday. When I get the photo of the swearing in ceremony from the Photography Team, I'll post it here for you as well. This is the second time I've served on this board, and I'm really proud to be here. This association has been a huge part of my professional growth, and I'm happy to be able to return the favor to the membership by serving on the Board of Directors and speaking at various events.

I've got four speaking engagements lined up, one as a guest lecturer at a college near Boone, one to a Pro Group in Virginia, a seminar for the PPNC's Western Guild event, and a ProShare class that will take place at my studio in January. Looks like it's gonna be a busy year!

I was awarded a gold chevron at the banquet, for having earned 100 credits (enough credits to have earned my Fellow of Photography-F.Ph.- degree a second time.) When I received my F.Ph. I was awarded a medallion on a black ribbon, and the chevron is designed to go onto the same ribbon. I have no intention of failing to continue to study and gain more education in my field, so maybe before my career is over I'll earn another chevron.

I have some great inspiration from Jennifer George-Walker from California ( http://www.jwalkerphotography.com/jenniferggallery/index.html) that I want to try out, so if you know of anyone who is 8 months pregnant and willing to be my model, I want to talk to her. I'm also looking for a family with a newborn babe, less than a week old.

Ok, I gotta go find some bunnies....
Until later,

Rhonda