A Flurry of Behind the Scenes Work at PRB

I am amidst a flurry of behind the scenes work here at PRB. A new look - a new feel - a new experience. I am creating new pricing, new products, new marketing, new packaging and toying with a new logo design. Client incentive pricing - oh, yes, that means great things for my clients! A mix of that Crushaholic artsy flair with the classic feel of PRB styling. A lot is in store. Here is a little taste of my new feel.

I have been transformed........

I am home from a life-changing workshop hosted by my dear friend, Marianne Drenthe.  It was phenomenal.  I am inspired, transformed, excited, revitalize, reinforced.  It was far more than I could ever have imagined.  I am indebted to Mare for the rest of my life.

Thank you so much, Mare, for teaching us about putting our hearts into our work.  It was exactly what I needed to hear!

I will post some of the photos I took from the workshop in the next few days.  I am still trying to get back on track and catch up on the rest I most certainly did NOT get over the weekend!

Session Fee Increase!!!

Yes, it is true.  The time has come for me to increase my session fee to $185 for new clients and $150 for previous clients.  The increase will take place for all sessions booked after May 1, 2008.  BOOK TODAY to secure your date at the old rate!  All you need to do to secure the old rate is select a day and pay your session fee.  Voila!

No!  It is not my exhaustion from lack of sleep (see previous post) that has made me up my rates!  There are great new things in store from PRB!  This weekend I will attend the See The Light workshop hosted by the wonderful and talented Marianne Drenthe - Owner of the boutique-styled Marmalade Photography in Wilmington, IL.  I have recently added the PRB Inspire Guide, interactive proofing templates and in-home consultations.  I have created personalized proofing guides to assist clients with their orders.  All of these changes will be taking place IMMEDIATELY!  And, soon I will have the latest photographic technology that is the buzz worldwide - the Nikon D3.  

Hold On Tight!  Oh, Yes.  I am definitely ready to jump...

Caffeine-induced-insomnia

You would think I would know better.  It isn't as if it is a surprise.  But I just couldn't resist that creamy latte I yearned for at 4 pm.  It was warm and I was cold.  I made a small one with only 3 oz of espresso versus the 4.5 ounces I do in the morning.  I never ever drink coffee or green tea during the afternoon for one reason and one reason only.  Caffeine-induced-insomnia.  My husband can down a Dr. Pepper at bedtime and sleep like a baby all night long.  Not me.  I thought I was good.  Fell asleep with NO PROBLEM around 10 pm.  And, then BOOM.  Wide awake at 1 am.  Now it is almost 4.  And, right now I can feel a buzz in my inner ear.  My brain is going crazy with all the things on my to-do list for tomorrow.  Of course, because I have been up for the past two+ hours already, I will be sleepy all day tomorrow.  So that means the workout I had intended in the morning may have to get kicked from the list in addition to half the mountain of things I need to get done tomorrow.  I have already been working on those things in my head.  Too bad I don't REALLY have them done.  Sigh.

And, I have definite deadlines right now.  This weekend I am heading to Chicago to attend the See The Light workshop hosted by my dear friend Marianne Drenthe - owner of Marmalade Photography.  I am so excited to finally meet her and to share in her wisdom!  We met online years ago through something having nothing to do with photography.  She is a very caring and generous person not to mention the fact that she is also incredibly talented and motivated.  I can imagine she will do an awesome workshop.  My invisible friend will no longer just be invisible!

So I have been packing my camera in my head.  Deciding which camera to bring.  I usually don't travel with my most expensive camera but for sure my D2X THIS weekend.  Which lenses.  Three?  Four?  How many compact flash cards.  At least both my 4 gb.  Maybe another.  OH, I better not forget my card reader.  (as if I would forget my card reader..)  Do I need my flash and SU-800? no I don't think so.  Gosh, I need to update the software on my laptop.  And, I probably need to free up some space on my drive.  I can pack that portable.  I rely on my desktop for all my photo editing but this weekend I will WANT to edit my images.  I better remember to update all my actions.  Where are those actions I have written myself, anyway?  In the library?  Or in file upon file upon file in the applications folder??  Gosh I wish I remembered.  Oh, and all my brushes and logos.  Ugh.  I wonder if she has wireless internet.  Does my hotel have internet?  Will I be able to chat with Ian?  I better remember my iSight.  And, what about the fact that I am still running on 10.3?  But I can't install Leopard unless I install CS3.  And, I can't install CS3 unless I pay for another license which is absurdly overpriced.  But then I can't play with the D3 NEF files that I will capture when I borrow her baby because I only have CS2.  So what will I do???  WHAT WILL I DO?????? 

So what time will UPS deliver my photos for my portfolio on Friday?  If it is time to go to the airport and he hasn't gone by can I track him down in the neighborhood and demand my WHCC package??  Is that totally unsat?  I can collate on the plane as long as I have the package.  Why didn't I order them on Monday instead of Tuesday?

This is my inner monologue at 3 am incase you were wondering.  At least now I have it written down to remember my card reader and my iSight so I don't have to worry I will forget.  Oh, and let me remind myself now to charge my GPS tomorrow.  And, my iPod.  Phone charger.  Don't forget the phone charger.

I need a book.  What is that Oprah book club book??  Yea, I need that.

Who is going to pick me up from the airport on Monday??  

Well, one thing I HAVE done in my two hours of 'post-midnight mental tasking' is go to weather.com to see the forecast for my big weekend in CHI town.  Um, Mare?  It is only going to be 50 degrees there!?!  What's up with that??  Are we going to be indoors the whole time?

Gosh, that means I am going to have to pack sweaters.  And, boots.  But which boots??  I better do some laundry tomorrow so I am not waiting on UPS AND the dryer on Friday.  What will I wear on the plane? I have to be ready to go right out and meet everyone once I get there.  Going out clothes....  jeans...  boots.....  

I am a freak.  I sound like I never travel.  But it has been a while.  After the traveling blitzkrieg of 2006 you would think this would be old hat.  But I was a freak about all the details for each of those trips, also.  Think of all the great places I went that year.  I miss traveling.  Why can't I just be happy with a backpack staying at a youth hostel so I could afford to travel all the time?  No, I want nice hotels and fine dining.  Cocktails by the pool.  Dreaming of Puerto Rico....  Lisbon...  Singapore...  Must go back to Europe.  Stat.

nearly 5 am.  almost sleepy.  not quite but almost....

EXCLAMATION!! I HATE WINTER!!!!!

This is not a confession.  It is an exclamation from the tops of the trees and rooftops.  I HATE WINTER!!!!!!  I may have been reared in arctic weather - I snicker to my other Northern friends when school is closed due to a DUSTING of snow, but I have quickly gotten soft as I have lived in the South for the past 12 years.  I would never complain if I lived somewhere that was warm all year round, as I did for three winters in California.  However, in Norfolk we have definite seasons.  Our winter is mild by MN standards.  Minnesotans are known to wash their cars in shorts when it warms to 50 degrees...  And, I can still almost understand that.  You have to experience it to understand the feeling of standing next to a HUGE bank of old, brown snow in the warm sun.  You can HEAR and FEEL it melting.  You can smell the Earth again as the ground finally thaws for the first time in 5 months.  However, at this point I feel like it is cold, windy, and dreary way too much of the year even if we rarely go below freezing.  My drafty old house may have amazing character in her styling, but she is too darn cold for me.  I doubt the other parents at school will even recognize me without my poofy coat.  The only reason I can stand a convertible is because I have seat heaters.  And, even though my hubby finds it to be a complete turn off, I often hop into bed with socks.  Even during the summer.  Well, the warmth is upon us, if even for a few days.  And, there is no doubt that I love the spring as much in Norfolk as I did in Madison and Minneapolis.  I can feel my vibrance and excitement coming to the surface.  Yes, it is true, Spring has Sprung in Norfolk, VA!

YAY SPRING!  

TOLD YOU SO!!!!!

Ok, no one ever warned me... ahem, I mean the Easter Bunny... ahead of time.  BUT if they did, then they could say TOLD YOU SO!  Yes, it is true.  My kid is OBSESSED with Guitar Hero.  He sings the songs.  Alice Cooper.  Rage Against the Machine.  He is FIVE.  He plays them over and over singing along and doing the full guitar face and stance.  10 times in a row.  Over and over.  And, yes, he is now even doing air guitar while putting up with my photo practice.

Consider yourself warned.  Guitar Hero may take over your household.  

Studio + Creative = Oxymoron

Personally, I find the whole idea of being creative in a studio setting to be a total oxymoron.  With that in mind, it is still a skill I desire to have - a hurdle I must master.  I have all the equipment I need - the seamless paper, gigantic softbox and a great light, and now I even have a nice place to practice.  It is spring break - I even have a subject sitting around the house to work with.  I have managed to tear him away from Guitar Hero for a bit to play.  I have to say that it has been fun!  I really like these photos!  Only a few skittles got this kid to cooperate.  He is such a good boy!  And, a little photoshop magic even made these 'cool' in my humble opinion!

Just ignore the bed head!  We can't be perfect all the time.

Normal

Sometimes I wonder why I can't just be NORMAL.  Darnit, I can't.  And, this is my version of studio.  Gosh I love this photo.  GUSH!

Spring Break

It is spring break here in Norfolk.  How on Earth do we keep these boys busy??  Oh, right!  Photo torture!  Here is Evan with his best buddy, Maddox.  It is was the mom double team with the cameras.  Yes, it is true, we are BOTH photographers.  Wow, these are some unlucky kids!