New Year, New Goals

     Hello my avid Allie Ray Photography blog readers.  Lately, I have been reading blog pieces and following photography groups on Twitter and Linkedin.com.  One of my favorite articles, I looked at this week was on the Twitter page of Adorama (to follow them click here).  This one article written by Mason Resnick tells you how he is being proactive in marketing his photo business (here is the link).  I feel like I could take a few tips from this guy, especially since I have seen a lot of people getting engaged recently on social media.  I know I have some wonderful supporters out there who will help me get more clients, but the harder I work on getting my business known then I will be able to travel.
     I have made goals for my business and I will keep on making more.  I have started testing and using a bigger flexible cutting board.  But in general I feel like I have accomplished so much in being able to talk more about my art.  I am able to explain what I do and the process without looking at someone help.  I have found a new belief in myself.  I have tried photographing new things and have expanded what I like to photograph.  A new year brings a new list of potential customers, new possibilities, new growth, and expanding whatever it maybe I desire.  All I can say is 2014 was good to me and I am ready for 2015.  Here are some of the final things I did this year.

This image was done for a friend on silver leaf 9x12 inches woodblock 

This image was done when I was trying to choose what to give someone for Christmas. Silver leaf 8x8 inches woodblock

Thank you for reading my blog and please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Etsy, and Instagram.  I hope you have a wonderful New Years Eve and New Years Day.

Setbacks make us Stronger

     I have been thinking a lot lately about setbacks and how sometimes we need a little of motivation.  Setbacks come when we least except them too, but the thing that will get us through it is HOPE.  I am telling you avid blog readers this today, because yesterday I went to the doctor for a heel issue.  I was thinking it was only a stone bruise, but it turns out I somehow sprained my posterior tibial.  I am happy to say I am wearing a lovely boot cast and with this cast I will still be able to do my photography.  YAY!  I will still be able to do normal things.  The only setback I have is that I will have to lighten up on exercise (nothing to hardcore).  When I first heard that I was definitely disappointed, but then I began thinking this gives me a lot of time to explore new things.
     Here are some of the things I began thinking of: I will be able to do some research on my next photography job and maybe try to make something similar to it.  I will be able to work on social media, and take new pictures.  This past Tuesday, even though my heel was hurting I went to explore my cousin's farm and was able to take some pictures of the horses.  I have been around horses when I rode them when I was in elementary school and even when I attended camp.  The thing I really enjoyed was the horse let me pet him or her.  The experience of seeing any animal again (after many years) and them letting you touch him or her is so rewarding.  I was able to watch them eat.  Yes, I do not want to walk around with a boot for 4 weeks, but I am able to still do things which makes me thankful.  Here are a few pictures of the horses and the farm from the other day.

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The Holidays

     It is that time of year when somehow everyone is shopping at the same time and there are no parking places.  Christmas cards are being sent out and everyone wants them to be perfect!  Do not worry if you have more than one girl -- there is always one card where everyone looks great (that was not the case for me).  I had a few years of Christmas cards in which I looked horrible, but for some reason my dad liked one of those pictures and it was on his dresser for years.

     We have all these wonderful Christmas parties coming up and we have to make sure we have our red or green sweaters so we look festive.  We have to put our decorations out that only stay up for 25 days if we are lucky enough to have put them up the first day of December or we wait until after New Years to take them down.  If we are lucky we have little helpers to help us out with all this. 

     Today, was my second Christmas party and I was so excited about it.  It was hosted by my mom and my aunt.  The thing I do wish though is that someone would host a Tacky Christmas Party with me.  I always see pictures during the holidays of people with reindeer antlers and fun sweaters; which makes me want to host a party like that one day.  I just need someones help and maybe a few more Christmas decorations.  I love looking at people's Christmas china, the way they decorate their trees, and all the different decorations around people's houses when invited to a party.  Every tree is so different.  That is the thing about the holidays everything is so unique which makes it so SPECIAL!  I really enjoy this time of year and getting Christmas cards in the mail.  Christmas cards can give you great ideas for family photos year around.  Here are a few pictures from the party the other day.  Of course, I took one of the tree.  

Thank you so much for reading my blog.  Please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Etsy.  Have a great Holiday season and if you need any last minute gift ideas I can make print a photograph for you and put it on a gold or silver leaf woodblock.  

Giving Thanks!

     I am ready for this wonderful holiday that is this Thursday called Thanksgiving.  I know for some it goes a little unrecognized, but for me it has been the only holiday that has stayed a somewhat constant after all the changes in my life.  My relatives always ask me how my photography is going, which I am happy to answer them.  We spend days together catching up and Thanksgiving was the first time anyone really took the time to celebrate my 21st birthday (a month and half later) at a bar.  I mean I know that might not mean much to some people.  As I have grown up, I have learned a few things.  You are the one who makes your own happiness and I know that is quote by someone, but it is so true.  If you want to celebrate your birthday; I say call your friends and ask them to join you.  Thanksgiving is all about giving THANKS and I am thankful that I have started my own company as a photographer.  I em enjoying doing what I love and see happy customers in return.  I am so thankful that my friends and family are supporting me.  I am just so glad and thankful that I am able to do what I love.
     I have been honored this past month to do two commissions, help with some wedding albums, put my work in a new store called A'mano and even work on some Christmas card pictures!  I wish I could post some of those up now, but I have to wait until after the holidays.

As always thank you for taking the time to read my blog. Please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Etsy.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Finding Art

     Today, I want to go into more detail why I started a photography business and more about my inspirations when photographing.  When it comes to photographing nature I think about all the wonderful experiences I had with my dad.  My dad loved nature more than anyone I know.  While we were growing up he pointed out the sunsets to my brother, sister, and I from our back porch.  Now, whenever I see a sunset I think of him.  Another experience I had with my dad and nature is we would be driving in the mountains along the curvy roads and he would point out the beautiful scenery to us.  Some of my favorite things to do while hiking is to sit and just let all the scenery soak in, because it can change in a heartbeat.  He taught me how to appreciate the little things like: flowers, beautiful views, sunsets, and many more things about nature all while on our family trips.  My dad loved art, and he would always be willing to point out a Monet or Manet painting or one of the artists from French Impressionists era.  He gave me drawing books while growing up.  He helped my mom name her paintings whenever she showed him a finished painting.  Today, I wish he was here to see how I am pursing my dream of photography in honor of him.
     My dad passed away 6 years ago, but I think of him daily when I photograph, create my pieces on silver or gold leaf, and love how my senior project in photography was a book about him.  It might have taken me all of college to finally open up about my dad, but I did have a few good professors who knew I was strong and knew what I should be looking for when I graduated.
     In his honor, I am taking pictures whenever I travel whether it is on my iPhone or my DSL camera.  I always try to also always get a picture with the people I am with, since there is one photograph I wish I had gotten, but I never did.  So for that reason I will be taking photographs for keepsake and to remember the good times whether they are at the Halloween Parade with my nephew, dinner with my friends, or even a party I am taking pictures at I will have some candid shots along with the posed ones. I might even try and take pictures of dogs even if they are shy of the camera.

The book I made my senior year at SCAD.

Thank you for reading and as always keeping following my Facebook page, Twitter, Etsy, and Instagram.  Holiday promotion on Facebook until November 20th if you follow three or more of my social media sites you receive 10% off your total order.

Halloween

     Yesterday was Halloween and I went to the Halloween Parade in the village with my nephew and my sister-in-law.  I was so excited to see all the children dressed up and so exited.  The people on the floats were throwing candy, miniature footballs, pencils, spider rings, and much more.  Parents were watching their children and making sure they did not go to far in the street to get the candy.  It was so fun seeing my nephew smile at the balloons passing by, but he was dressed as an alligator with his hat off.  It was so funny, because whenever my sister-in-law or I tried to put the hat on he was so cute when he started crying.  Who has not been through this issue at least once?  I used to complain about my costumes before going trick or treating, because they were too itchy.  I understand exactly how all the kids feel when they start disliking a part of their costume.

     I was taking pictures at the parade and some of them were a little fuzzy, because as you know things are not always still when you take a picture, so you have to make sure you have your settings when you are taking photographs at any event correct.  You may have to do some test shots, which is always a good idea.  As always I am still learning and photographing anything that means something to me.

 

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Photo Editing

     Over the weekend I was at a birthday party taking pictures.  The birthday girl turned 1! Her family and my family have known each other for as long as I can remember.  My nephew was invited to her party and when he showed up he saw the balloons which he immediately called 'balls' in his cute adorable voice.  For my nephew anything that is round is a ball (balloon, pumpkins, etc.) and that means he can throw/toss it.  I saw this opportunity to photograph the birthday girl coming towards me and her new toy (which of course I thought I had gotten), but when I looked through the pictures while uploading them there was a pink balloon in the way which my nephew had put in front of her face (by accident).  Of course, to me that is both hilarious and sad at the same time.  Today, we know that all to well as photobombs.  I for one can not blame any one year old for ruining a photograph, because they are so young.  Their eyes are so sensitive and they do not like the sun shining on them (but then again who does).

     As a photographer, I am learning yes I do take a tons of pictures when I am at an event which is a good and bad thing.  It is a good thing, because when your nephew shows up you think 'Oh my goodness look how cute he is playing with the balloons,' and you have to remember I am here on a job taking pictures of someone else not who I want to photograph.  It is a bad thing, because when you begin editing them there are a ton to narrow down.  But at least I will have enough to choose from and hopefully make the clients happy and want to use me again.
     Here are a few more pictures from the birthday party that capture the birthday girl.  I am so glad that I was there to capture the event for the family.

  

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