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Kisses and Disses : Chutney + Budgets
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I stared up at my friends in horror from the cement, hoping against all odds THAT didn't just happen. Oh, but it did. On our way to dinner on Monday night in Downtown San Diego--laughing, hungry after a workout, and tired from a full day--we walked the streets in search of the perfect Indian restaurant. As we rushed across the street to avoid the red light, I quickly stepped onto the sideway and then...slipped.
And not like a graceful, elicit pity slip. It was straight out of a cartoon...you know, where I'm suspended in midair for nine seconds while my feet pedal in hopes of avoiding a fall. Next thing I know, I pancake the sidewalk. Then I pray for God to send a giant earthquake to SWALLOW ME WHOLE. I lay on the floor while my friends rush over and ask if I had a seizure. Or momentarily levitated.
After a few seconds, I dust my ego off and get back on my feet. Just then a group of dashing Don Draper lookalikes approach me and I kinda hope they ask if I'm okay. You know, so I can bat my eyes and act all Grace Kelly. Instead, the one with the red tie smiles and says, Don't worry, none of us saw you fall!
So, yeah, this leads me to another installment of Kisses and Disses... |
This week's DISSES go to...
*The guy wearing the red tie. I mean, really? I fell...in public...hard. Couldn't he have let a girl bat her eyelashes?!
*One-ply toilet paper. Why even bother making it anymore?
*Budgets. Yes, I need to stay away from shopping for a bit...I got all Girl in the Green Scarf for a hot minute, so I need to check myself. Ummm, let's hope for the best. |
This week's KISSES go to...
*Apricot chutney. Tried it for the first time on Monday night and my life? Will never be the same. Chutney completes me.
*Trader Joe's Midsummer Night's Cream. Yes, this cream is uber moisturizing and leaves your freshly shaven legs shiny. Say it with me now, Ooooooh...
*Mail. Random, I know. But everyday I check the mailbox to see if I've received a note or card. I sound pathetic admitting this online, but I don't care. I love paper...and words...and signatures. I save all notes I receive because I've convinced myself one day I'm going to find a cool way to display them all. Whoa, I have issues.
Happy Friday! |
    
P erhaps to those who live outside major cities and metropolitan areas, Southern California seems like a daunting and cavernous place to live. The traffic, the smog, the millions of people in just a few square miles. But the truth of the matter is that even in big cities, like Los Angeles or Orange County, a taste of small town living exists. At least in feeling, anyway.
Last night I had the honor of speaking at SmartyOC to a group of amazing people. The group is usually comprised of just women, but last night meeting was open for all (you know I love me some men!). I spoke about branding businesses online and the importance of social media. To this group of entrepreneurs and outside thinkers, I was preaching to the choir...but at least we all same the same tune! The night was wonderful with many thanks to SmartyOC's leader, Cassie, and everyone who made me feel so welcomed. It felt like a Sweet Home Alabama. Just without the farms and cows. |
| Thanks again to those who came out, and thanks to JD for the photos...he also captured some video, so hopefully I can post a bit of here soon! :) |
W e're so different. I think in circles, he thinks in lines. I see high, he sees straight. I make complexity, he prefers simplicity. And the way I speak? Sometimes drives him nuts. I often use idioms--which JD is still getting used to--but when I use phrases from another language, he's way over it.
So, what did you mean by that? I heard you use it last week too, and I want to know what it means. We sat in the car and JD asked what pièce de résistance meant. I explained that this french term basically refers to the best part or feature of something. I used examples to further my point and he just smiled and shook his head. His wife is weird.
When we got home, we decided to take Polo on a walk. Before we leashed him up, JD linked his collar and said, I guess that means Polo is the pièce de résistance of our family. Oh, Internet, my husband is weird too! |
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Showit +Site : What is it all about it?
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A lightbulb went off a couple weeks ago while speaking to a group of photographers in Canada. It was during the Q+A portion of my presentation (it was four hours...NO ONE wanted to hear me present that long!) and a photographer asked how I incorporated Showit +Sites into my business. Generally, most photographers remembered the blog post referencing my use, but few understood it. Lightbulb!
It was then when I realized I had done a weak job explaining how I use +Sites. Like I've mentioned many times before, I don't advertise and I don't really have a budget for marketing. Instead, I prefer to invest in my clients. I've come to truly believe my business will go farther with one, two, or one hundred happy brides, than with advertising online or in print. One way to make sure my brides are happy is by giving them different ways to share their images. Yes, my blog does a great job with this, but I also wanted to leverage my voice on Facebook, without sacrificing my brand in a sea of online noise. This is where I've discovered that +Sites is unbelievable!!
While in Canada, the morning of my presentation, I blogged Keren and Pieter's engagement session. A few hours later, my presentation began and by the time the Q+A rolled around, I was asked about how I use +Sites. Instead of just talking about it, I decided to show them. When I opened Safari, it popped back to Keren's Facebook wall, where I had tagged her in her unique and personalized +Site that morning. In just a few hours, Keren's friends were complimenting her and she was even nice enough to give a shout out. Love her! |
This is just a small, small showcase of the power of social media. In just a few hours, hundreds of Keren's friends saw her photos...photos taken by me. She passed my name around with a ringing endorsement with a simple click of a mouse. This is powerful. And the best part? It's simple. Any photographer using Showitcan make +Sites for their clients and embed them in Facebook. This makes your clients happy and is a great way to empower people to share your work.
I know this post was long, but if I'm going to err on a side, I'd rather ensure people truly understand what I do and how I do it. If you have any questions, feel free to check out Showit, or leave questions in the comment box. Also, BIG thanks to Keren for letting me openly share this story...love her! |
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San Francisco Engagement : Gladys + Chris
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I t was the first thing he said to her. And neither of them have forgotten it. Nice legs, Chris said the first time he saw Gladys. Coming from a complete stranger, it should've been awkward, but Chris possesses humor and charm, and when he quickly followed up with complimenting the animal-print tights she wore, Gladys simply laughed and struck up conversation with Chris. He was introduced to her by a mutual friend at church and they spent the evening chatting about his recent stint in Asia teaching english.
Gladys simply thought it was a chance meeting, but she later discovered Chris noticed her from around the world. On Facebook. She was in a picture with one of his friends and she popped from the screen. Chris thought she was beautiful and made every effort to fall in line with her view when he returned to the US, months later. His efforts paid off that day at church and when she sat next to him and offered him some of the almonds she snacked on, he knew he was in.
In the weeks that followed, Gladys and Chris planned dates around their favorite San Francisco spots, laughed at each others' random jokes, and--soon enough--changed their relationship status to "Engaged" on the very thing that brought them together: Facebook. Gladys loves how much Chris pushes, encourages, and loves her...Chris loves how Gladys makes him laugh, see the world, and listen to what he says in between the lines. I'm honored to be shooting their wedding in Sonoma later this year, especially after getting to know them in San Francisco for their engagement session...here are a few of my favs... |
| We started in their new apartment, where gorgeous light peered in from the San Francisco streets... |
| The great thing about classic architecture is the overabundance of windows and light... |
| Before we headed out, we had to have some fun in their old school elevator... |
| Just a few streets away is Gladys' favorite cupcake bakery...no, really, she's addicted. We paused for a bit before getting our sweet on... |
| She's tasted every cupcake flavor at That Takes the Cake and knows just how good sugar should taste...she's even planned to have these at her wedding...awwww, yeah.... |
| We then drove to Majestic Forest in San Francisco...and the light was ahhhh-mazing... |
| Glad, you're fierce...and boy oh boy do you know how to SMEYEZ! (For those who are confused, 'smeyez' is smiling with your eyes) |
| Love...love...love...one of the best things about this couple is that they're San Francisco wedding photographers, and they sure know how to have fun behind and in front of the lens! |
| And your shoes? Yes, I'll take a pair for myself... |
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