Love, Joleen Photography Blog

Leftovers

OMG, wow. I've just finished reading Leftovers by Laura Weiss an WOW what an amazing book. It's a super quick read (great for a weekend day when you have more time) and I couldn't put it down. The way this book was written was unlike any book I've ever read and it's been catapulted into my favorites list. The style of writing reminded me of the movies Memento and Swordfish, which are two of my absolute favorites. It's angry and I know it's not a song but it gave me the same feelings of an anthem - it was that powerful. Now I hope that you'll read it and it lives up to the praise I've given it here but try to read it without expectation so you can bring forth your own feelings and thoughts about it. If you do read it, let me know, I'd love to discuss it further!

Here is the synopsis:

"A devastating novel of desperation and revenge from one of today's most compelling new voices in fiction. In this follow-up to her heartbreaking debut, Such a Pretty Girl, Laura Wiess once again spins a shattering tale of the tragedies that befall young women who are considered society's Leftovers.

Blair and Ardith are best friends who have committed an unforgivable act in the name of love and justice. But in order to understand what could drive two young women to such extreme measures, first you'll have to understand why. You'll have to listen as they describe parents who are alternately absent and smothering, classmates who mock and shun anyone different, and young men who are allowed to hurt and dominate without consequence. You will have to learn what it's like to be a teenage girl who locks her bedroom door at night, who has been written off by the adults around her as damaged goods. A girl who has no one to trust except the one person she's forbidden to see. You'll have to understand what it's really like to be forgotten and abandoned in America today.

Are you ready?"

 

Picture Perfect

I'm on a roll, aren't I? But isn't this how it always is? I go months and months without turning a single page then I gobble books up like I'm starving! After my last review of a Jodi Picoult book I was so nervous to pick just the right one to restore my faith. ;) My sister loaned me her copy of Picture Perfect a while back (I have a stack of books in waiting!).

I enjoyed this book. There was a lot of great detail to this book from describing the characters, their lives, and various plot locations. It wasn't the absolute best, best, BEST book I've read (by her or anyone else) but it was entertaining and good and I'd still recommend it. Here is the synopsis:

"Cassie Barrett, a world-renowned anthropologist, wakes up in a graveyard and doesn't know who she is. Taken in for a few days by William Flying Horse, a Native American police officer, she waits for her life to re-appear. When Hollywood heartthrob Alex Rivers shows up to claim her as his wife, she is stunned but still doesn't remember anything.

After she returns to her fairytale existence as Alex Rivers' wife, fragments of memory come back but she senses there is a side to her husband that she can't remember. When she finds a positive pregnancy test hidden in her bathroom, dark memories return, allowing her to piece together her past. Frightened, she runs to the only person she trusts to keep her hidden: Will.

Jodi Picoult's story is a tapestry rich in detail and emotion, a beautifully written novel that will deeply reward, and perhaps inspire, its listeners."

PS - This is random, I know, but I really don't think this cover has anything to do with the story. Hmm..

Organization

I just *love* productive days and yesterday was the epitome of productive! This is probably boring as heck to most of you but I think it's pretty. LOL The hanging files in the document box here, hold copies of all important papers, including our welcome | information packet, model releases, portrait agreements, order forms, expense sheets, etc. I was good about keeping my paper work in the 2007 binder but had yet to start a new one for 2008.. eep! Yesterday I got everything printed and organized. I also finished creating our new Gallery Idea Book and I'm so thrilled with it. I think it's really  going to help our clients visualize their portraits on a wall and give them lots of ideas for display!

Edited to add: Thanks for the proofing, Aimee! ;)

Photo Galleries

We are currently putting together an idea book to share with our clients during our proofing sessions. It offers ten different photo gallery designs that can be ordered as is or used to get the juices flowing for a fully custom gallery! Pictured above are just three of the galleries we're offering. We are now booking sessions in February and March. Contact us to schedule you're appointment before January 31st for 15% off prints and products!

The Tender Bar

I think one of the reasons I love books so much is that it appeals to a compassion I have for people. Like in life, I find myself finding all the ways I relate to the people I read about, fictional or non. This book was no different. Last Fall a friend loaned me The Tender Bar : A Memoir by J.R. Moehringer. At the time I read half and then stopped reading for months, as I often do (but not normally mid book). I decided to finish reading it this weekend and it was such a great read! I immediately related to the writer as a child growing up with an absent (or barely there) father. This book is filled with wonderful stories and tributes. It is very(!) well written, incredibly witty, and evokes a wide range of emotion.

Synopsis:

"In the tradition of This Boy's Life and The Liar's Club, J.R. Moehringer's The Tender Bar is a raucous, poignant, luminously written memoir about a boy striving to become a man, and his romance with a bar. A national bestseller that was named one of the 100 Most Notable Books of 2005 by the New York Times, The Tender Bar will reach an even larger audience in paperback.

J.R. Moehringer , winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 2000, is a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine, and a former Nieman Fellow at Harvard University. He lives in Denver, Colorado."

Come Back

This past week I read my first book of the year - a mother and daughter memoir called Come Back : A Mother and Daughter's Journey Through Hell and Back by Claire and Mia Fontaine. 

Synopsis:

"How does an honor student at one of the finest prep schools in Los Angeles—a bright, beautiful girl from a loving home—end up shooting up in the back of a van in rural Indiana? How does her devoted mother overcome the shock of finding out that her daughter has not only disappeared but had been living a secret life for more than a year?

Mother and daughter each tell their story in compelling, provocative first-person accounts. Claire chronicles her struggles with her daughter Mia's manipulative, drug-fueled behavior, her relentless search for her across three states, and ultimate choice to force her into a boot camp school in Eastern Europe. Mia details her refuge in the abyss of criminals and heroin addicts and the painful childhood secrets that led up to it. Both describe their remarkable, if controversial, process of healing with unsparing honesty and humor.

An unforgettable story of love and transformation, Come Back is a heart-wrenching portrayal of the bond between mother and daughter that will resonate with readers everywhere."

Even though we have very different issues then these I felt this book was an eye opener in some of the ways I parent my sister. It was also very well written and inspiring. If you want to read more from Claire, visit her blog.

A Life Dream Fullfilled

(Uggggh, I hate blog issues that cause you to completely lose an entire post because the site is down since you logged on!)

I know it might seem silly or at least slightly overdramtic but the title really says it all. I consider myself an eclectic person and enjoy all most types of music but I've grown up loving Country. My favorite (of ALL time) Country music singer is  Garth Brooks and I was so, so  sad when he retired  before I had an opportunity to see him in concert.  Needless to say I was super excited to hear he'd be doing five charity concerts (in two days!!) to raise funds for those affected by the fires here in Southern California this last fire season. My mom was able to get three (great!) tickets for me, my sister Aimee, and herself and we went to his first show of the series last night. The first hour of the concert was recorded for CBS. I was bummed when I didn't get to record it because I thought it was playing tonight but it showed last night. That's okay because I was there- woohoo!! :) The crowd and energy were so ALIVE! The concert completely lived up to my dreams and I'm so happy and grateful for the opportunity to go!

News | Updates

♥ You may have noticed over the last few weeks that I've been week on, week off around here. I have accepted a mother's helper / personal assistant position with a sweet 5 year old girl and her mommy. It's every other week (including weekends) so I may stop by and say hi on those weeks but most likely not. On my "off" week I'm scheduling sessions, trying to update my etsy shop, and taking care of all the business of "home". On these weeks I'll try to post lots of updates. ;)

♥ If you haven't visited the website in a while, we've updated it with lots of new stuff! You'll notice a new Contact page including a new Orange County business address and phone number. We've also added a Commercial gallery.

♥ And speaking of commercial, I've recently finished working out details to become one of Jet Set Kids test photographers. I couldn't be more excited. Thanks so much to the mommy of this wee one for connecting us. :)

♥ I did fit in a mini session a couple of days ago with the little guy at the top of this post. He's about to  celebrate his 3rd birthday on Valentine's Day!

♥ I'm off for a couple of days of fun but I'll be back next week with lots to talk about! Happy weekend, friends! xo

Just a few F.A.Q.s | Part II

This is Part II of my response to frequently asked questions. You can read Part I here.

Q. How did you get started with your business?

A. After discovering and developing my passion for photography I started dreaming of making it into a career. I joined a really great group on flickr called So, You Wanna Be a Professional Photograher for tips and feedback and began building my portfolio. I wanted to have a good variety of images to represent my work and aesthetic. To do this I offered PB (portfolio building) sessions at a discount (and often times free). Between these and hired sessions (family, friends, word of mouth) we felt I had "enough" images for my portfolio. I spent a little more then a year and a half honing my skills, researching our target market, developing our policies and investment details, etc. and in July 2007 our website went live! We just kind of went for it and like I mentioned yesterday I tend to do things a bit backward at times. There are still some important basic business details that we need to accomplish.

Q. Did you build your website yourself?

A. I am incredibly lucky to have my own personal IT guy, also known as my hottie hubby! ;) He's a humble person and doesn't like my doting about the website but I really do love it. We would love to have a fancy schmancy flash site someday but right now this is just right for us.

Q. How did you start building clients?

A. I am still "starting" to build clients. I am currently living in an area well outside my target market but I am too far in distance to actively begin building a client base in Orange County. With us planning to move the middle of this year I am going to start building and fostering relationships I have there as well as networking with other professionals.

Q. I am just starting out. Do you have any pointers?

A. The most valuable (and probably the most boring) piece of advice I could give you is to just keep practicing. The last couple of years have been an AMAZING transformation for me. I am constantly learning new things in my effort to master this beautiful art. Learn all about lighting.. I believe that will make or break you as a photographer. Once you're consistently creating good images develop your post processing. If you're anything like me, this will be a process, don't be afraid to go back and update your old photos to see what works best for you. Find your target market and think about what you can bring to this industry that's unique. Lastly, compromise is good but don't sacrifice your aesthetic for a quick buck.

I hope these answers have helped. Much success to you! :)

Tutus & Teacups Mini Session

This year we're going to be offering a series of Exclusive Mini Sessions. These sessions are one day only with a limited number of spots available. The first session we're offering is called Tutus & Teacups and we are *so* excited about it! This session is geared toward girls ages 2 - 8. It will take place in a beautiful location in Orange County, California on Saturday, March 22nd. We'll have a selection of tutus and petticoats for your little one to dress up in and with a lovely scene set up for her to enjoy "tea" with her favorite doll/stuffed animal. A formal invitation is in the works but I wanted to put out this feeler.. Thanks!