2009

Here we go again... another year of love and hope and happiness!!!
I've been really busy working on marketing items.

For example, I am now listed on www.mywedding.com.
I'm about to be listed on www.rainbowweddingnetwork.com.
Updated my website, www.nataliephoto.net. Please check it out.
Have also made my website editable so I can maintain it myself.

I actually have album offerings now AND have just ordered sample albums from the 2 companies that I'll be using. Both are very non-traditional.
First is www.la-viealbums.com. Artistic. They do amazing work. Each album is a work of art.
Second is www.couturebooks.com. Elegant. Very contemporary. Yet timeless at the same time.

I mean who really wants a wedding album that screams "I'm a typical boring poorly designed wedding album that my children will laugh at when they look at it in years to come." I'm just not interested in offering that to my brides and grooms. Instead, when their children look at their album, I want a response with something like, "OMG, this is so cool. Look how good you guys looked. Wow, this looks like it was really awesome."

Am waiting for my new business cards to arrive, an embosser and stamp of my logo. Have made many trips to many art and paper stores, talked to printers, spent hours and hours making the files, editing, and all the FINE-TUNING to make sure everything is just right... I can hardly wait to pick up my new promotional materials from the printer later this week.

So these are just a few of the things that I've been up to over the last number of weeks. And there are still many things that I want to set up in addition to these. But if I want to describe what I've been up to and where I am now, I guess the best way to describe it is...
RAMPED UP FOR 2009!!!
There you go. That's it. Ready and raring and RAMPED UP!!!
Yes indeed.

So anything else for 2009?

BRING IT!!!

2008! OH WHAT A YEAR!!!

Well, busy busy busy. That'd be a good way to describe 2008. But a good kind of busy... so many weddings, so many couples in love. I already have a new years resolution... around this blog - BLOG MORE. More information, more photos, more news. B/c I can only imagine that 2009 is going to be that much greater than 2008. Look for more new images on my website, www.nataliephoto.net. New offerings, new albums. And anything else I can come up with. Stay tuned!

MICHELLE AND BRIAN

Michelle and Brian. Pine Garth Inn, Union Pier, Michigan. WOW!!! What a weekend. It was awesome. Michelle looked beautiful and she couldn't stop smiling the whole day. I've never seen a calmer bride. And Brian, he couldn't hold back his happiness when he saw his bride walking down the aisle. Family. Friends. Everybody had such a great time celebrating with this bride and groom. On a hillside. Right on the water. The sun setting. YEP!!! It was awesome!!!

It was through the bride's brother, Stephen that the bride and I connected. He's been my hair stylist as well as my friend for many years. BTW, Thank You, Stephen! 

So what happens to you when you're the brother and a hair stylist??? Well, we lost count of how many heads of hair Stephen but it started with his mother followed by his 5 (yes, 5) sisters, and a couple of friends on the side... including me. He barely had time to get ready himself before he walked Michelle down the aisle.

Wishing Michelle and Brian all the best and HAPPILY EVER AFTER!!!

Also, can't wait for the babies to start arriving... I do family portraiture too!!!

Summer 08

Wow, I  can't believe that it's almost August already. Where has the summer gone. I know that I have spent practically every weekend celebrating, partying with couples in love. Yeah, sounds like a hard life as a wedding photographer, doesn't it? I initially thought my blog would only be wedding photos but there are always other things that catch your eye that aren't always the bride and groom and they just say something to you, you know. So here is one of those, the candles people light for their prayer intentions...

OMG - The Big 40

Yes, May was my birthday month and this year I turned 40. YIPPEE!!! Age of reckoning??? Perhaps. Just when you start to really get comfortable in your own skin... things start to hurt a little here and there. Thankfully, the aches are few and the gray hairs even fewer. But the good times are far better and more often.

What a wonderful birthday it was. My 2 big sisters, Jane and Lulu, came in from Baton Rouge to help me celebrate. With over 30 of my friends, we feasted on jambalaya, Mississippi mud pie, and mint juleps. Everyone earned their Mardi Gras beads while good ol' jazz played all night long. It was a great time. Everyone had loads of fun.

40? I figure I'm just beginning to enter my prime. And starting it off with my sisters and friends made it oh so special. 

Debby and Carl

Congrats to Debby and Carl!!! 

Not your traditional wedding day and that's just fine with me... the small and intimate setting of Maxim's on E. Goethe. A brief ceremony followed by cocktails and dinner with family and friends on this special occasion. Friendly crowd, having a good time, celebrating Deby and Carl tying the knot. So glad I could capture the special moments for them. 

Wishing them 'happily ever after!'

Brigid and Dan

It was a good day to get married and that's just what Brigid and Dan did. We didn't let the cool weather stop us. The ceremony took place at St. Michael's - such a great church - it certainly has a long aisle for the bride. But I swear, those bridemaids made it a quick trip. Then cocktails and dinner at The Union League - awesome venue. Ornate and high ceiling. Artwork everywhere. Great service and food. And to top it off to get everyone boogie-ing... the Ralph Wilder Orchestra. It was a long day but gosh, it was a fun one too. Congrats to Brigid and Dan!!!

2008 Weddings

Yes, weddings already and the calls keep coming. Looking towards another great year of couples in love, happiness and celebration. It's a 'tough' job, but you know the saying... being around all the love and joy, people celebrating. Really, though, it is a pleasure to do what I do. And I feel a big responsibility too - I mean after all, these people are going to remember their wedding day through my eyes, how I saw it. I take that responsibility very seriously. But when you're with the special couple, their family and friends, you can't help but be happy and celebrate with them.

San Diego Vacation

It's always good to be able to get away from Chicago in January and February. I was able to steal a few days in San Diego. It was sunny but still chilly and to top it off, I caught my friends' cold. It had me cut my vacation short but not before I got to spend a few days taking in the sites like Balboa Park, Old Town, and USS Midway. I can't believe how much there is to do and see there. It just means that the next time I'm there I'll need a lot of time to do it all. You can check out all my vacation photos at www.pictage.com and search "san diego vacation".

Holiday Season

Now that all the hoopla of the holiday season is over and we are settling in to focus on this new year, I just had to post a photo of one of my sister's family. I got to spend Christmas in Louisiana with my two sisters and their families and that was great. I love spending time with my 15-year-old niece and 10-year-old nephew... I mean, otherwise, when would I have ever watched "Transformers" or "Finding Nemo" for the 10th time or the third season of "Spongebob Squarepants" if it weren't for them. Can you believe that I had never heard of "High School Musical?"

I did get to eat lots of gumbo which is always a good thing. And on Monday, January 7, LSU will be playing Ohio for the college football national championship... GEAUX TIGERS!!! That's how we spell 'down there.'

And I'm looking forward to a fantastic 2008 beyond what will be just good... It's going to ge GREAT... for you, for me... We're going to make it AWESOME!!!... a year worth remembering...

Ready? Let's get busy!!!