Simple Question Project • Mary

Saturday afternoon after Halloween, just before closing, Mary came into the studio inquiring about the sign on the chalkboard.

I explained my project and what the free portrait entailed. I think she was a bit surprised by the fact that it was a "right now" portrait but was a great sport about it.

Where it was later in the day we didn't have as much natural light as I would have preferred. But we did get a nice shot. While I was taking her portrait for the project she noticed the Halloween set I still had up so I took a few of her with that set up as well.

Mary's dream job is to be a mother. After telling me about her children and grandchildren I found she was like me, and had the opportunity to do her dream job. 

CMMC Baby - William D. III

This morning I went to the Special Delivery Birthing Center at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. Today was my first day as one of the two new Maternity Photographers for CMMC, and a great first day it was!

After first calling in and being told there were no babies interested in portraits I started my daily workout, about 1/2 way through I got a call back asking if I would come in to do a quick photograph for a new little guy named William for the CMMC New Arrivals Website where they share birth announcements of the babies born at the hospital.

As it was my first day in this role I had the hallmark first-day nerves to deal with. Which in my case was waking up at 4am freaking out that I didn't have any boy props in my newborn stash! Good thing I know how to crochet! Made up this super cute hat and thought "There, at least I have ONE thing to use specifically if I have a little baby boy to photograph! Oh no! Watch me get twins!!"

Even though it was a little boy that I was photographing this morning, it was just one. Phew! 

Little William was so immensely sweet, I don't think I heard him fuss the entire time I was there! It must have been all the love that was there with him, momma, auntie & a whole bunch of cousins! 

His Auntie had gotten him a super sweet little moose sleeper set, and I had the perfect prop for that (a last minute grab from the studio) a little moose for him to snuggle with! 

He enjoyed snuggling with the moose so much I was able to capture the sweetest little smile in one of my first few shots! How adorable is he?

William Gary D. III • November 10th, 2014 • 10:12 am • 7lbs 9oz • 20" long

Charlie • 3 Year Update

So Mara & Charlie stopped by the studio the other day for Charlie's 3 year update. Seriously, I can't get enough of this kid. Getting a 3 year old to stay still and in a good pose is usually a challenge, but Charlie rocked it!! It doesn't hurt that his giggle and smile are insanely contagious. He brought the charm and we got some great shots.

I suggest having a special theme for each birthday update, something that is consistent in each one. With Charlie I purchased him an adult size dress shirt and tie. We will take at least one picture of him in this same shirt and tie each year until he is 18 or he outgrows it, whichever comes first. Here he is in the shirt & tie for his two year and three year update.

2 Year

3 Year

Here are some other favorites from this shoot.

I have a bunch of ideas on different themes to carry through yearly shoots. Want to hear more? Contact me & we can talk about starting a theme for your little one!

Simple Question Project - Gordon

So I started this project one day after three unexpected people stopped into the studio. Originally I thought I would like to photograph each person who came in, however seeing as many people may be put off by that idea, word would travel "She's the girl that takes your picture upon entry", then I would have no visitors, I soon revised my idea. I also wanted a story behind each of my visitors. So I came up with a (in my mind) simple question, "What is your dream job?".

For the dreamer that I am this is an easy question for me to answer. It is also a question that was asked of me during an interview almost two years ago, and one that I have since asked a handful of people. It is a question that after I honestly answered for myself started to solidify my plans to open the studio. Would you care to guess what my dream job is?

Gordon was one of my unexpected visitors the day this project was born. A sweet, simple older man, Gordon was a regular at the Pharmacy I managed before coming to the studio full-time. He is now a regular to the studio stopping in most every day to say "hello" and get a hug.

When asked "What is your dream job?" His reply was simple, to work at the new inn across the bridge as either a dishwasher or maintenance, doing odd jobs. Everyone has dreams, I am hoping I can help to make Gordon's come true, even if just for a day.

Gordon - Dishwasher, Maintenance Man

Simple Question Project - Abdi & Aden

Yesterday I heard two guys outside the studio talking about the chalkboard I have out front with the question written on it. I peeked around my computer screen to see one of them peeking back at me. I stood and invited them in. At which I introduced myself and asked them, if they could have any job in the world, what would their dream job be. I found it very interesting that these two young guys didn't even have to think about it as they are still at the age of dreamers.

Abdi said he wanted to be a weight lifter and Aden a soccer player. I hope to see them back soon to give them their portraits and encourage them to follow their dreams, and at the very least to dream.

Aden- Soccer Player

Abdi - Weight Lifter

Simple Question Project - Roger

I have a chalkboard sitting in front of my studio with a question on it. That question is meant to start a conversation, and at the very least make people think. The question has been outside for 4 days now. I just had my first person come in to inquire.

Roger: Is this serious?
Me: Yes, I want to know what your dream job is. If you could have any job in the world and money was no option, what would it be?
Roger: I would like to take all these empty buildings and make them into housing for single women and mothers.
Me: So almost like a housing developer?

This started the conversation of how when he was younger he wasn't to ask his parents for money but went out and worked for it, weather it be a newspaper route, raking hay, painting houses, raking blueberries. He worked for any money he needed/wanted. And his opinion of this ask and you shall receive mentality of the younger generation is leading to no where good.

I then asked Roger if I could take his portrait. He agreed. With this, I have the start to my simple question project. Meet Roger.

J. Family • Maternity Shoot

It finally happened!! I took my first shoot in the new studio!!!!

It wasn't entirely finished, still had a good part of the floor to finish, but the shooting area was complete and that's all we really needed for right then. We had other dates set as possibilities as baby J. wasn't due until the 24th, however it is really good we did them when we did, as baby Analena made her appearance less than 48 hours later!

The family, Amber, Adam & Evan J. are good friends of ours having been on our bowling league for the last three years, and Adam & my DH going way back to elementary school.

I had a blast with them, Amber had some really great ideas! I could tell with all the pink props she brought she was excited to not be the only girl in the house finally :-)

The rain held off so we took a walk to the top of the Auburn River Walk up by Great Falls for some outdoor pictures before heading back to the studio for some shots indoors.

This one was Adam's idea, too much fun!

I really had a great time with them and am happy to call them the studio's first customers! I can't wait until they come back for Analena's newborn shoot!! I'm also thinking about adding something to my maternity marketing about shoots with me lead to baby's in less than 48 hours. Whaddya think??

Miss Alexa • Easter Shoot

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of photographing little Miss Alexa. I had met her grandmother about a month prior while getting my nails done. She had previously gone to Sears and was upset that there wasn't anywhere to go for portraits anymore. I told her that I actually used to work for the Sears Studios for about 6 years before they closed, and actually trained the one photographer she liked to go to. Needless to say, she took one of my cards & booked a shoot! A little networking goes a long way :-)

I took my gear and some fun new backgrounds to her great grandmothers home in Auburn where we had the shoot, and I had so much fun with it! Alexa was super friendly and I was able to get natural smiles easily. I think the fact that we are both blue-eyed-red-heads means that we connected on some other plane :-p

I'm glad I found this fabric at Joann's -- I think it makes a really fun backdrop!

I had so much fun with Miss Alexa and cannot wait for her next shoot! She had a mind of her own and made the portraits fun, for instance her grandmother & great grandmother REALLY wanted a portrait of her in her Easter hat, well Alexa had other ideas. We were able to get a few cute ones, like the one below, she is just too silly, look at all that mischief in her eyes. 

Alexa's shoot was also my first shoot (since I worked at SPS) where I did an in-person sales presentation. It was a learning experience and I look forward to the next time I do one! 

Maine Source Homes & Realty -- Corporate Photography

I was first introduced to Maine Source Homes at last year's area Home Show. Kevin & I were there with our wheels turning and we ran into Jon, one of our bowling buddies. With talking to him more we learned that Maine Source not only does real estate for homes but also builds homes! Kind of the perfect place to start when you don't know if you want to buy or build, which was the discussion on the table between Kev & I at the time.

Fast forward a few months and Kevin & I are still pondering the buy or build question. While we were still undecided I searched for commercial real estate in the area, found the listing for this cute little building which would be perfect for a studio, in a great location with an apartment for additional income! Back into the picture comes Jon -- he worked with us the whole way through to get us through all sorts of ups and downs with a great deal of knowledge and a great network of people to help out from home inspections, to banks & insurance agencies. Since we have signed on the building and it is now ours, he hasn't stopped helping when I have questions about renters, credit checks, and leases!

Jon contacted me a few weeks ago because some of the team at Maine Source needed updated head shots, I was able to work with their schedules (and they mine) and get a nice selection for them.

Weather selling, buying, or building, Maine Source is your one stop shop -- I know we will be back once we do decide if we want to buy or build!

Had Our First "OH SH*T!!!!"

We had our first "OH SH*T!!!!!" moment at the building last night....
Two days ago while I was cleaning I found that the downstairs bathtub (the one in the studio) had no water to it. So last night when both Kevin & I were there he recalled shutting something off in the basement so he went down to turn it back on while I stayed upstairs to test it.

He flipped the lever and we heard water running. The initial, "Oh fhew, it works." wore off very quickly when we not only heard water running, but rushing, and worse yet, DRIPPING! Why such a bad thing, well because I hadn't yet turned on the faucet in the tub to test it, so where was this water coming from?????

I rushed from the bathroom to the head of the stairs to tell Kevin that wasn't it, when to my horror I saw water pouring down one of the walls in the back room! "Shut it off!!!!"

Once turned off, Kevin emerged from the basement and saw what I saw. "Oh, Sh*t!" -- my thoughts exactly.

Fortunately we found where the water was coming from, upstairs in the apartment they had done all new plumbing before we moved in. However they didn't quite "finish" the old plumbing, as they had one copper pipe in particular that they just sawed off and left open. This is where the water comes rushing out when that little yellow lever is turned.

Needless to say, I will be putting a "DO NOT TOUCH" tag on that pesky little lever, and when we switch out the water heater in a few years we will be taking that whole pipe out!

As for a status update -- all the carpet is out from the studio. We have purchased the floating (laminate) flooring, underlayment & tile that is to go into the main space down there, waiting on the tile & underlayment to come in before we start getting the floor in. Wednesday I spend about 4 hours scrubbing the sub-flooring with bleach and water then hand drying it with a towel so that the water doesn't soak into it and get it all wobbly. Got my workout that day for sure. It paid off though as the studio doesn't smell musty anymore! Now it just smells slightly like a pool :-p

Until the rest of the flooring supplies come in our next project is the shower in the apartment. Currently there is only a tub, but the faucets has the fixtures to add a shower, so guess what we are doing.... adding in a shower, and in the process making a half wall with shelving on the other side. Will update with photos once we get going!

We Have a Home!

Signed, Sealed & Delivered, the building at 154 Court Street is ours!!!

Now the work begins! We started by tearing up all the carpet in the studio space as well as took some major ice buildup off the meters.

I will be heading in today to shovel the back entrance as the kitchen appliances come on Monday (thanks mom!). Have shown the apartment once already and have a few other inquiries that have come in as well. Hopefully we will have her rented soon! Below are some pictures of the apartment.

Thinking of putting in some top cabinets in the kitchen, time to go look into that project!