my sweet Mama

{UPDATE: Monday, October 3rd
I am so touched by the wonderful kind words and prayers from you all ~ Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I'm not sure what to post yet so I'm not posting anything for right now...I can tell you they have narrowed it down to either Early Cognitive Impairment or Alzheimer's...so it doesn't sound good but it also isn't something that I have to rush home for. We are leaving Japan next month and I will be there with her soon. I'm so thankful we are heading home soon...being here is getting harder each day.
Thank you all so much for the amazing love you have shown me! I am truly blessed!}

***

Monday, September 26th
I am staring at my keyboard wondering what to write. 
I need to write about something photography related...that's why you come here, to read about other photographers, learn about how they market...blah, blah...that's I feel about it right now. I have no desire to help you be inspired right now~ how's that for being honest. My mind is racing with so much right now...the wondering of what is next in my life. I am blessed beyond belief with three healthy children and a loving husband. I am also feeling like the world is about to slip out from under me. The words ring in my head...has Mom's doctor called you yet?... it sounds bad...they did an MRI...Alzheimer's...brain tumor...don't know anything yet...shit! Yep...I have never cursed here...but that's all I can say to sum up what I'm feeling. I have never felt so far away in my life! Across the whole damn globe and I can do nothing! All of her children live far away...Houston, Arizona and Japan...no one is there with her. I feel like we have abandoned her. I know we all have lives and jobs that have taken us away from our hometown...but how is she feeling right now...is she as scared as we are? I can't even ask her because she doesn't even know what's truly going on.


I wish I knew what to pray for...what do I ask God for? 


I'm here talking to you...hoping you will understand my need silence here on the blog. I don't want to think about how much I'm letting you down by not writing...you see,  I struggle so much with letting others down. When I don't write something here, I have such guilt. I honestly do think you will be mad or disappointed in me...I hope you are not. I hope you understand. I know you understand because we are all a child of a parent that we love and can't imagine life without them or a life taking care of them...seeing them in a way that breaks our heart. 
Thank you for listening. My husband is gone for the month and not here to comfort and dry my tears...I needed desperately to talk and even if no one listened, I still got to talk. 
I hope you hear from me tomorrow with a post about how relieved we are that it was nothing to worry about...that suddenly she remembers how to find her way in this world and can do the things she could do before she was "confused". I hope...I hope...I pray...I cry...I have to believe everything will be ok again.

I love you Mom...all the way from Japan and back.

It's a Giveaway from Kotori Photo Jewelry~

***update~ the winner of the giveaway is Melissa Ives...comment number 45...Congratulations Melissa!

............

We are so excited about the launch of the new fashion line from Kotori! It offers some of our favorite pieces to date... they're trendy, stylish, and thanks to the new metals and finishes, many are half the cost of their sterling pieces.

We think you'll find some new favorites of your own in the new line, and we hope it will open up more opportunities for you to sell photo jewelry to all your clients.

To celebrate to launch of the new fashion line from Kotori, we are hosting a Kotori giveaway! 
 One lucky winner will win the NEW Fashion Studio Package AND the Sterling Studio Package... a total prize valued at $170.

The Fashion package includes 3 of the new pieces ($75 value) and the Sterling Package includes 2 sterling pieces ($95 value). 


Check out their catalog online here.


To enter the giveaway, here's what you need to do...

• "Like" Kotori on facebook 
• "Like" our new deal site  the Daily Savvy Steal on facebook.
• and spread the word about the giveaway!

Come back here and leave a comment letting us know you liked the two facebook pages and spread a little gossip...then you are entered! Pretty simple ways to enter...you might just be the lucky winner! 
The giveaway ends on Sunday (September 25th) at midnight...and the winner will be announced Monday morning (September 26th).


**comments will not show up right away...all comments must be moderated first...and since I'm all the way in Japan, the time difference makes it difficult for me to moderate them during your daytime simply because it's our night time.  Please be patient...they will show up sooner or later.


GOOD LUCK!

calling all chic readers

check out the giveaway going on at the new site from Kelli France! you can win a Northern Barnwood rug...and see the fun things she has created at the Chic Critique! 

love this Lab...love this steal

We just had to let you know about the fabulous Daily Steal...from Miller's Lab! We love this lab and can't say enough great things about Millers and MpixPro...they are simply a great lab with great products and great customer service...and we are thrilled they are offering a Daily Savvy Steal today!! Check it out...The Daily Savvy Steal.

love these templates~

Love the templates from Photo Card Boutique! Check out the Daily Savvy Steal today! (they are 40% off!!)

look who is having a Birthday

Dear Miss Modern is turing one!
And we are helping her celebrate today on the Daily Savvy Steal...you get a party favor just for coming...not only is she giving the Savvy Steal readers 40% off all instant downloads, she is also giving everyone a free download. Check out her facebook page for the free download and the Savvy Steal blog for the sweet way to get 40% off today!

We love the new Holiday cards from Dear Miss Modern...40% off with the Savvy Steal!

! 

what do we wear?

We are so thrilled to announce the launch of the new "what to wear guide" THE LOOK.  It was designed by photographer Leslie Kerrigan where she compiled the latest fashion trends into complete outfits for families and kids.  She has even included resources for these outfits to make it super easy for your clients to dress for their photo shoot. By sharing this guide with your clients, they will show up to their photo shoot confident and looking fabulous! 
To read more about the guide and to get it for 50% off today only, check out the Daily Savvy Steal today!! 
Congratulations Leslie on the release of the guide...we know it will become a must have for photographers...especially those booking holiday sessions who want their clients dressed fabulous.

fun at The Shoppe...and a deal

Such cute card templates from the talented girls at The Shoppe...love these! and you will love this~ they are the Daily Savvy Steal today! yep...50% off a $120 gift card...how sweet is that!! So when you purchase a $120 gift card, it only cost $60...what a sweet savvy deal!

meet the Fancy Farm Girl~ Tiffany Kirchner

What do you get when you put a farm girl who loves unique vintage finds and a love of photography?   One fabulous, funky and original photographer!

Tiffany Kirchner is just that!  Fabulous, Funky and Original!  She has traveled the world and lived in a few different countries but she always comes home to her farm and her farm girl roots.

These roots combined with her eye for finding the perfect vintage prop make her commercial and private photo shoots uniquely hers.  The Fancy Farm Girl has her own unique story and her own unique style, and we loved hearing all about it!!

I had the opportunity to interview Tiffany and she was fun and fascinating!  I think you will agree!  Check out what she had to say below and make sure to check out her sites, www.thefancyfarmgirlphotography.com and her blog, www.thefancyfarmgirl.com.

Tell me a little about you...where are you from?  
I am a 38-year-old Commercial/Editorial Photographer that also moonlights doing Whimsical Concept Shoots for private clients. I love 1950's prom dresses, pink and Rodeo. I would rather ride a horse to work than drive a car, and I could eat ice cream for every meal in a perfect world.
Where I am from is probably the hardest question for me to answer. I was born in the US, but spent 8 years living in Asia, and 2 in Europe. I have been back stateside for a while now, but I am a very nomadic person. I currently reside on a little farm near the base of Mt Rainier, just outside of Seattle, Wa.

Married?  
Happily married for 17 years, a darling man who indulges my hair brained ideas but still hates pink despite my many efforts to change his mind.

Kids?
I have two beautiful daughters, one almost 16, the other 12. My eldest is a beautiful and fearless Tomboy Rodeo Competitor, tough and independent, a lot like her mother. My youngest daughter has severe special needs, she was born with a condition called Rett Syndrome. She is a real light in my life. She is non verbal, is in a wheelchair, has very bad seizures and is fed via a gtube. Despite these things, she manages to get up and smile every day. It inspires us on a daily basis to not sweat the small stuff. 

How did you get into photography?
Somewhat by accident. I was a avid hobby photographer for years. I had dabbled in classes and had a decent camera and glass, but really only shot photos of my own family events and kids. When I started a vintage reselling business, I opened a blog and started taking photos of my product and vintage shows I would attend. The feedback I was getting was not about the cool vintage finds I had, but mostly about the "pretty pictures"  I was taking. I began to really emphasize the photos I was taking, staging and editing until my photography was taking more time than my business! When a stranger contacted me and asked if I would shoot their event and how much I charged, it made me stop and rethink my current career choice and make the switch into photography.

Any formal training?
This question goes hand in hand with the last. You see, I am kind of a perfectionist. It can be a real dilemma sometimes! Once I decided to make the career change and market my services, I figured I better know what I was doing. I took almost a year before launching my business, and took many online courses and workshops, studying and practicing photography many days a week. I find the words "self taught" so confusing. What really does this mean?? I do feel I am self-taught but yet I did educated myself with materials made by others. I'll let you decide which I really am, and when you do, let me know, ok? Because I really don't know! :)

How long have you been a photographer?
I launched my business in 2009. I have been a photographer in my heart always......

Who or what inspires you as a photographer?
I have a rampant imagination. Conjuring the story is what inspires me. When I look back at my favorite things I have shot, it is always my whimsical concept shoots. I love props and I use A LOT!!! I will go to the ends of the Earth to make my concepts come to life. I had a shoot recently where I needed a Military Humvee, and I needed it by Friday. A seemingly impossible thing to get my hands on. But guess what, with a little perseverance and a whole lot of eyelash batting, I was able to get my hands on one!!
If I had to choose a photographer that has inspired me, there is really one that I can say has influenced me, and that is then incomparable Tim Walker.

How would you describe your photography style?
Whimsical Vintage Lifestyle. I want to tell a story, not take someones photo. Besides shooting for private clients, I also shoot commercial / editorial work and Boudoir. While I try to infuse my style into everything I shoot, sometimes these shoots are a little less whimsical and a lot more traditional. I love it when a commercial/editorial client hires me for my style, that is usually the best job fit, because you are both getting what you want!

What has been your proudest moment as a photographer?
Landing my first magazine job. Credibility is something as photographers we all strive for. Somehow it made me feel like I was finally "credible" to have been paid and published. This alone does not credible make, but it really made me feel proud of myself. Since then, I have had my work in over 40 publications and have even been the lead photographer on a book. It has been a wild and fun ride, and has given me invaluable experience.

Can you tell me what magazines, books and other publications you have been published in?
 My work has been published in Where Women Cook, Where Women Create, Artful Blogging, Somerset Life, Mingle, Celebrations (book), Porch, and soon to be in Romantic Homes, and a British book called Gardenalia, just to name a few.

Can you share advice for anyone wanting to get into the commercial side of this business and wanting to get published??
Make both an online and traditional portfolio of your work. Make sure to include commercial work. If you have never done commercial or editorial work before, stage something and shoot it to show what you can do. Then submit your work to the publications you wish to work for. For commercial work, market yourself aggressively via the internet. Always have your traditional portfolio with you, so when you happen to be in the right place at the right time, you can whip out your book and show what you can do!! You never know when a potential client or an opportunity is going to arise, they are often very serendipitous!

What has been your most successful marketing technique?
For private clientele, most definitely FACEBOOK.  It is the best multiplying marketing tool I have ever used, and it's free!!! I ask all my clients to friend me, and after a session, I always choose a fabulous "teaser" photo to edit and upload. I tag myself and my client. Then not only do my list of friends see the photo, but all my clients friends see the photo as well. Often times other friends or family members will then post it on their facebook as well, reaching all their friends. By the end of the day, it can potentially have been seen by several thousand people. All seeing the link to my site.  Did I mention that it is FREE????  Sounds almost too good to be true, right??? I get 75% of all my private clients from facebook referrals.

What is the biggest piece of advice you could share with those starting out in this business?
Do NOT go into it half assed. Pardon my french, but it is true. Do not put yourself out there until you are convinced you can invest the time, money, and handle the stress. Also, make a plan of how big or little you want your business to be so you can give yourself some guidelines on time management from the get go. Also, never work for free under the guise of good exposure. Your time, skill and talent are worth it!!

What is in your camera bag?
Whoa.....my camera bag is big and full. Camera gear is my jewelery and I have a big collection :)
Here is what is always in my bag for every shoot though:
Canon 5d mark ii
50mm 1.2
24-70mm 2.8
50mm macro
70-200mm 2.8
530ex speedlites
batteries...lots and lots of batteries.....
business cards
gum


Favorite lens?
My 50mm 1.2
not only do I love it's open aperture for the creamiest bokeh, but it is one of the lightest lenses I own, so my back doesn't hurt as much!

Studio, On-location or in-home studio?
yes.........While I shoot 2/3rds of my photography on location, I definitely need a studio. I am currently building the Boudoir side of my business, which I have been shooting in my home studio a.k.a. my bedroom, so I am actively looking for a studio space. It seems at this point though the more likely scenario will be another building on our property to house my studio, rather than renting an outside space. It makes more sense, and the financial investment goes into your own property and not into someone else's. Then in bewteen clients I can do laundry.

If you weren't a photographer, what would you be?
A showgirl in Vegas :)  LOL!

What is your favorite savvy indulgence?
MOST definitely the barnwood flooring!!! This stuff is the coolest thing sliced bread, I LOVE it!! It is so easy to clean and it is portable enough to take on location. It looks exactly like the real deal, I am hooked!

I would like to thank The Savvy Photographer for the interview today, I hope you all enjoyed reading it!


Thank you Tiffany for the joining us...and a big thanks to Leslie Kerrigan for a wonderful interview! 
We wanted to share with you more images from Tiffany~ The Fancy Farm Girl.

Do you track your mileage?

Did you know you can receive a business deduction for miles you travel for business? 
Did you know that you have to keep written documentation to support that deduction? 
Today is your lucky day...the Daily Savvy Steal is the Mileage Tracker...and it's 40% off today!

steals are back~

The Daily Savvy Steals are back~ did you miss them? The movers are gone and we have an empty house with very few pieces of the standard Navy "loaner" furniture...it's quite lovely {I'm being sarcastic...}
So it's back to work around here. 
Check out the Daily Steal today!!

Kotori Photo Jewelry is hosting a giveaway~

Kotori is launching a brand new line & giving away over $2,000 worth of prizes to celebrate! Head on over to their blog to enter and don't forget to check out their brand new line of jewelry!

we remember

Ten years ago today so many lives were changed. We all remember vividly the moment we first heard of the tragedy that rocked this nation. Today is a day of remembering those who lost their lives and honoring them. Bless the families who miss them dearly...God bless them all today and every day after. 
I had the honor of attending a ceremony today on board the ship where my husband is the Commanding Officer. Crew members shared what 9/11 meant to them and how it's impacted their lives. The above image is from the ship today overlooking Sasebo, Japan. It was a beautiful site to see the American flag flying while listening to my husband and the other service members speak and remember the precious lives that were lost. I have so much to be thankful for. 
Today we all remember...and will never forget!


Join us today on our facebook page if you would like to share any special ways you and your family honor those who lost their lives 10 years ago today or if you would like to post an "in memory of" for someone you know {or even didn't know} but would like to honor. 

pardon my absence...

If you have checked the Daily Savvy Steal, then you know why I'm not posting here the last few days...my life is crazy busy this week. The packers and movers arrive tomorrow morning bright and early. Our house will be packed up and put on a boat for the states...it will arrive two months later. I'm more tired than I can express...my bones ache from the amount of work this moving involves. You would think it would be easy since I've done this yearly for the past three years...just gets harder. The worst is deciding what we will need here for the next two months. We will stay in Japan until mid November and then head to our new home...Atlanta, GA!! We are so excited to be heading back to the south.
So please pardon my absence this week. My baby girl started kindergarten today also..and she loved it. Cried when I picked her up...don't think she missed me much.
Also found out why she has had constant stomach aches for so long...her blood test were positive for a wheat allergy. She will need to start a gluten free diet. So much to learn now about this change in her eating. I need to stop and breathe...and be thankful for all these little things that I'm stressing over...things could be so much worse! An international move is no big deal...right?
I will be back soon...in the next few days!


And any advice from some of you moms with kids that have wheat allergies would be much appreciated!

and we pray

I can't get her off my mind...for the last three days I have thought about her so much...so often. She needs our prayers. A fellow photographer that we all love and admire...she is now in for the fight of her life. Ovarian Cancer. I'm speechless...and sad...and believe she will win this battle. 

Pray for her please. 

We love you Jen Thompson!

Invitation love

 I wanted to show to show this adorable party invitation created by the talented blogger and designer, Paige from Paiges of Style. She gives a step by step tutorial on her blog about how to create the photo lined envelope..how cute is that! 
Check out the tutorial here...Paiges of Style.


Also...we are thrilled to have Paiges of Style as the featured Daily Savvy Steal today!
We love her DIY printables and party decor...and today only she is giving Savvy readers 50% off! Click here for more info...The Daily Savvy Steal.

I just had to show a picture from her daughters "Curious Charley's Monkey Party...it just makes me smile!