Small Business Saturday - November 26, 2011 AND Why Shop Small Businesses

Small Business Saturday is TOMORROW - November 26, 2011! I'm so excited!

Tomorrow, I'll be joining others across the country as we all come together to support small businesses in our areas- and you should, too! Even if all you do is buy one or two things, you're helping to make a small business successful- a small business run by a 'real' person who knows the frustrations and rewards of working hard every day to follow his or her passion.

Find out more about the movement HERE on the Small Business Satuday website and show your support by liking them on Facebook, too!

And why would you want to shop small businesses?  Well, I don't know anyone who is exactly anti-small business.  But I'll give you some compelling reasons, anyway. 

Support the Local Economy -

One study done by the American Independent Business Alliance in Austin, Texas showed that for every $100 spent at a small business, $45 remained in the local economy, compared to only $13 of every $100 spent at large retailers.  Now that is huge.  And it makes sense.  Besides the fact that small, local businesses are run by real, local people who spend their money in the area, a lot of the business' money stays local, too.  Small businesses often support other small businesses when at all possible (or, I know I do!).  So there's a need for an add-on? They hire a local contractor.  Tax time? They hire a local tax consultant.

Small businesses are 'real people' -

I'm not a hugely political person, but I certainly know that the way that we change the issues with the economy that we currently have is not going to be by burying our money in the backyard or by giving it all to huge corporations in the name of being 'frugal'.  Things will get better when we support each other.  And small businesses ARE real people.  They're your neighbors and friends.  Support their businesses and you are supporting them. 

Definitely a memory, not a backdrop

Specialty and locally-made goods -

What is more special than an item you know the story behind? The antique you bought after chatting with the knowledgeable dealer for half an hour, the chair in the corner that was made by a local wood-worker instead of bought off the floor of a large mall retailer, the portrait on the wall that was created when you commissioned an independent photographer with a real vision instead of a cookie cut-out backdrop - It's apples to oranges, isn't it?  Sure it may cost more, but it's worth more.  You're buying an item that is the result of passion and dedication.  

A personal experience - 

For the most part, as you already know, it's a totally different experience walking into a mom & pop store or hiring an independent photographer.  A more personal experience.  Someone there notices you when you walk in, truly cares whether or not you leave happy with a shopping bag in your hand.  Since photography is what I know, photography is what I'll talk about here- if you value photos that show who you, your child, your loved one is instead of just what he or she looks like, hire someone who truly cares.  Along those lines, if you want to buy a gift that is special and unique, something that shows you care, a small business is a good place to start. 

And if you want to extend that to those on your list this year, a great idea for helping to support small businesses into the New Year when business gets a little slow? Gift certificates to local businesses! I know you don't buy gift certificates with the intention of your giftee making additional purchases, but they often do.  And that's not a bad thing- it means they're loving what they're getting, and you're helping them get it! 

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I hope I've given you some food for thought or at least a little drive to join in on Small Business Saturday.  But if you can't get out shopping tomorrow, that doesn't mean you've lost your chance!  There are still plenty of shopping days left until Christmas! And your support will mean the world to the small businesses you frequent this year- I know it does to me!  Happy shopping, everyone!!

Happy Thanksgiving! -- 24 Things I'm Thankful For

A lot of my Facebook friends have been posting something they're thankful for every day this month, and I've really enjoyed reading them! I haven't done it, so I thought I would do them all at one time. 

So here's my list of 24 things I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving!

My beautiful baby standing in the light

1. Family - I'll start out with the completely obvious.  But I really am thankful for my family- the one I was born into, the one I've made, and the one I married into.  I'm thankful for the love and the laughs and the memories and the word - FAMILY - that ties you together no matter where you are and no matter how much you actually have in common. 

2. Light - I know that encompasses a lot, but I'm thankful for it, anyway.  And I'm thankful that I get to see it and enjoy it in a different way.  Photographers are always paying attention to the light, even when there's no camera around.  And sometimes, it just takes my breath away. 

3. Friends - I've got some good ones!

4. Chocolate

Me and my lovely sister, Joy, at her baby shower last summer

5. Sisters - I know I already mentioned my family, but my sister deserves a special spot on this list.  My sister is my best friend, and if I have no one else in the world, I have my sister.  She's beautiful inside and out.  We grew up together singing about it, we leaned on each other when we lost those we love, and now we're raising families of our own.  I could not be more proud of my 'There-whenever-such-devoted-sister!' (And as a side note, I'm more than a little thankful that she married an awesome guy who I am proud to call my brother-in-law.  I know so many people who complain about their siblings' spouses, but I have no complaints.  Travis is the perfect addition to our family, and I just love him!) 

In addition, I'm also quite fond of the sister I got when I married my husband.  The adventures, the memories, the crazy photo shoots - and we make more memories every time we're together! I'm so thankful we get to be sisters!

6. Pumpkin pie - This might have something to do with where I am in my holiday celebration right now...

7. Growing up in a small town - I definitely did NOT appreciate Marianna when I was growing up there, but I love to go back and visit.  No matter where I go, I've got roots there.  And I'll probably know someone when I walk into the WalMart, no matter how long I've been away.  I didn't realize for a long time how special that is.

The Photo Betties stop for a quick pic at the Women of Heart gallery event November 2, 2011

8. A jump-right-in personality - I seem to have missed out on the built-in human nature thing that apparently says I shouldn't take on huge undertakings that I know nothing about without at least thinking it through thoroughly or that I need to wait for someone to go with me into a room full of strangers- that sort of thing.  Sometimes it gets me in over my head, and sometimes- well, sometimes it makes me do thins I never would have dreamed I could really do.  Like change my life and become a photographer or make Women of Heart happen in just three months or go to a meeting full of other female photographers I've never even heard of who became some amazing friends (The Photo Betties). 

9. My Ana Gray - I'm in awe of how special and beautiful and smart and funny and creative and, well, I'm just in awe of her.  And she came from me and Chris.  How amazing is that?

10. 'First World Problems' - You will never see me write 'fml'. Not that bad things never happen to me, but I'm thankful that my Facebook whinings usually are about stupid things like a pixel out on my old iPhone screen (although I'm glad not to have to deal with that anymore!) or changes to Facebook itself.  Really, my life is very good when these are my problems.  There is a roof over my head and food in my cupboards; I have clean water and heat in the winter- I'm so thankful!

11. Sparkly, pretty things

12. Balloons and bubbles and penguins and all the other things that make my Ana Gray light up with glee.  Particularly penguins at the moment.  She yells, "PONIES!" when she sees them which is absurdly adorable, because she really thinks she's saying, 'penguins.'

13. Diet Coke

My wonderful little family enjoying a carousel ride

14. iPhones - "The problem is that once you get an iPhone, nothing else is acceptable." - Me.  And it's a true story.

15. My husband - I won't wax poetic and destroy his bad reputation (although surely the picture of an adorable 2-year-old witch that is his current Facebook profile pic will have already done that) but let's just say that my life is never, ever boring, and I'm thankful for adventures with a guy that I love! 

16. Sunglasses

17. Holidays - Celebrating is really important to me!

18. A Southern accent - Particularly strange since I've worked hard not to make it SO obvious these days, but I really am proud to have Southern roots.  I like grits and friend shrimp and boiled peanuts and (Diet) Coke, cold watermelons bought off of trucks on the side of the road in the hot summer.  I enjoy good manners and the amazing wide-open landscapes, the thousands of churches and the strangers who wave as you drive down the street.  And I love that it all belongs to me in a way, because no matter where I go, I'm FROM the South. 

Ana Gray and Mommy taking a walk with our shadows

19. Uggs

20. Bad teen movies - Did you know I had terrible taste in movies? Well, I happen to love that I get to love them!

21. Photography - the art that 'stuck' and makes me feel fulfilled

22. Squishy socks

23. I'm thankful that I was able to quit my job to go to school for photography and have been able to pursue my art without having to take an outside job (except for being a mom, and that IS a full-time job!) 

24. Beauty - I read once that as children embrace all the little details of the world they live in crying, "Again!" after every little experience, maybe God still joys in the creation of every beautiful little flower after the zillions He has made crying, "Again!" after every one.  And in that, maybe we with our hard, 'sophisticated' hearts and blind eyes grew 'older' than our God.  That stuck with me.  And I'm thankful that I haven't lost that appreciation for beauty, either. 

Thanksgiving will be over for me in just under 2 1/2 hours now, and I'm sad to see it go! I really hope that I can remember to revisit this post throughout the year, so I can remember when I'm whining about the latest Facebook changes- It's a good life, even when things get a little annoying or hard. :) 

I hope you and yours have enjoyed your Thanksgiving, as well, and I hope we can all take time to realize all the things we have to be thankful for! It makes us much, much happier people, and isn't that the best way to be?! 

Now back to your pumpkin pies, everyone! Let's wring all of the merry out of this Thanksgiving!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! 

Philadelphia Gallery Event - My Work From The Women of Heart Gallery Show -- Part TWO

As promised, it's PART TWO of my posts of my own work from the Women of Heart Gallery Show. 

Last time, I showcased the Women of Heart Portraits- the essence of what Women of Heart : Becoming Art For A Cause is all about! Those ladies truly ARE Women of Heart, and they truly DID Become Art For A Cause!

This time, I'm showcasing my mixed media work.  This was something new for me, but I've always been fascinated with mixed media.  Like I told the Photo Betties, it's a different way of thinking when your photo is a jumping point instead of being the end result.  So with some interesting printing techniques, some interesting materials, and lots of black acrylic paint, my first mixed media series was born.  At some point late at night (I always wake up with my best ideas when I'm trying to drift off to sleep at around 2 in the morning), and after a lot of playing around, it all clicked. And before I even got started on my first piece, I could not WAIT to show it! I was proud to see it on the wall at the gallery event, and I'm proud to show you guys, too!

They definitely have more of an impact in person- there's a 3-D effect to many of the pieces that is hard to capture with pictures.  So you'll just have to come see them the next time they're displayed! ;)

So without further ado, here they are! 

(And I hope you like them, because when I showed them to Ana Gray at the show and asked her if she likes them, she said, "Hmm... No. No." Already an art critic!!) 

(Recognize her? Jenny shows up at all my shows- she's just that awesome ;) 

Philadelphia Gallery Event - My Work From The Women of Heart Gallery Show

Wow! It's been a full month + a day since I have been here! But believe me, I was BUSY! :) Last Wednesday's Women of Heart Gallery Event was AH.MAZING! 

A big moment! -- Me, with my mixed media work in the foreground

I'll have a full recap for you guys sometime very soon when I have all the pictures (I was in them, so I wasn't taking them this time- that was the awesome Heather DiPiazza and Jenna Walcott! And there is actually a wonderful recap on the Photo Betties blog- you should check that out!) but for now, I want to share my own art from the show. 

 There were actually two small bodies of my work at the show- the Women of Heart portraits that were my favorites from the minisessions that were done in October as well as a mixed media series that I was excited to show for the very first time! So this is definitely going to be a two-post thing! First up: The Women of Heart Portraits!

Women of Heart portraits displayed at the gallery event   

  If you've been following along since Women of Heart got its start, you know that the first step was a series of minisessions of my Portrait of a Woman fine art portrait program that I offered in October with the profits from each session going to the Cancer Support Community of Philadelphia. 

Portrait of a Woman is about empowering women to see their beauty regardless of age, weight, and other insecurities.  So puting aside their own insecurities, each of these women, some of whom are photographers themselves, stepped in front of my camera.  I hope they see, as you do, how beautiful they are! They truly were the ones Becoming Art For A Cause!

KATIE

Katie wanted to do an urban shoot, and I jumped at the chance to be her paparazzi for the evening :) I followed her around Center City Philadelphia, finding some hidden nooks and crannies like this rooftop view.

Katie looked like a fascinating woman out of time in her one-shoulder animal print dress. (Literally, animal print dress. There are animals on the print of her dress. I love it!) and her antique Roaring 20's era hat- that you just might recognize from a certain logo present at the top of the page! 

Katie, I had a blast hanging out with you in Center City! You are awesome in front of the camera! I hope you had half the fun I did, and I hope you enjoy your photos for years to come!

 RAE

From the first I talked to Rae, it was clear this would be a glamorous, but natural shoot.  Reason being, Rae is a glamorous, but natural kind of woman.  I have a feeling that whether it was last week or two hundred years ago, Rae would be the most beautiful girl in the room.

And she's an amazing mom to two beautiful little girls- a side of femininity she really wanted to portray in her shoot. 

So I tried to catch it all! And I was really struck by a portrait where Rae is perhaps the smallest element in the frame standing amidst the towering trees, but her femininity and beauty are absolutely undeniably what the portrait is about! 

PAMELA

When Pamela and I first chatted about how she saw herself and what type of art she could see herself being, a picture started forming in my mind- and hers, too, I think!- of this beautiful, classic, natural woman. Sort of a modern take on the classic Renaissance paintings of women in nature.  As we chatted on and on, we added in a gorgeous sweater and some of her favorite books- things that just perfectly suit who Pamela is. 

There is a story with these rocks! I love it when my models are more brave than I am! Pamela saw this gorgeous rock in the middle of the stream and said, "I HAVE to get on that rock!" And I'm so glad she did! It wasn't easy getting to it through the slippery, cold stream, but it was definitely worth it! 

DOREEN

Doreen is really no stranger to photo shoots. She's a classically trained singer with a full performance schedule. In fact, you may already know her! But if you don't, you should! I'm so glad that I met her! Doreen is beautiful, inside and out, and I am definitely a fan! You can find her on Facebook or through her website!

But for our shoot, you can find her in a HUGE abandoned building! Now, this is a brave woman! She traipsed through broken glass and huge puddles, maneuvering around old spray paint cans and Heaven-only-knows what else! She even posed in what was once a bathroom! So actually, brave is an understatement!

But it was so, SO worth it! What a gorgeous place in all of its broken down nature! (I'm not telling you guys where it is. Guess you'll just have to book a Portrait of a Woman session of your own, and I'll take you there... with a blindfold. Hahaha!) We laughed, we talked, we took a gorgeous picture or two (MILLION), we had SUCH a blast! Shooting was so much fun, and half the fun was just hanging out!

(P.S.- You'll be seeing Doreen again in a little bit when I post my mixed media pieces!) 

Lauri

 

When Lauri and I first spoke about her shoot, she told me her vision was to be mother nature- goddess in the woods. LOVE.IT! But goddess in the woods could go in a lot of scary directions, so I was determined this shoot would be awesome and suit Lauri perfectly.  And I definitely think we pulled it off! My favorite (8 yards of) white fabric... Lauri's gorgeous self... a lovely fall day... it all came together perfectly! Lauri, I think you ARE a goddess! 

 And quite possibly a goddess who feels no cold! I was more than a little shocked when Lauri informed me she was going to find some water to get into.  But, as you can see, she did just that! And yes, it was chilly! But Lauri is a rockstar, and I'm sure that she did eventually get warm again ;) I KNOW it was worth it!

Coming up next: My mixed media pieces! Stay tuned!

You're Invited! :: Women of Heart :: Philadelphia Gallery Event

To all big hearts who love art!