cindy asked "where do you live in Kansas?"
well cindy...that feels strange to just blurt it out to the world...so i will say
in the very middle of the state.
the good part.
and she asked "what tips do you have for starting a photography business?"
i decided to just give it a try...said yes when people asked me...even though it made me feel sick to my stomach the first 10 times at least.
but i put no pressure on myself.
meaning i said "if this doesn't work, if i am away from my family too much, if i am not good enough, if i am not happy then i will say at least i tried it." and that would be that.
i have not put any money into marketing the business yet.
it has all been word of mouth...
so my biggest tip is get out there and try.
misty asked me "how do you edit your photos?"
i use the software with iPhoto for all my personal pictures.
i use that and Picnik for my work photos. i want to learn photoshop but i am big fat chicken.
but it's on my 35 things list so sometime this year i will do it.
she also asked "how do you get so many people to follow your blog?"
misty...you meant that in a nice way right?
i am sure you did.
i think people come here because....it's colorful...bright...cheerful....focuses on the good...
lots of fun places to click that aren't ads..
or maybe it's to laugh at how cooky i am to have five kids and drag them all over the country for photos?
my first big break was today's creative blog. and the inspired room after that.
those were when my stats jumped big time for the first time.
but i am certain they don't come for long wordy post like this one that focus on ME ME ME.
and she asked "can you give tutorial on tye dye?"
maybe someday...but it was so stressful this summer that i couldn't focus.
i just use the box they sell at walmart in the craft dept. and followed the instructions...you can do that!
AND SHE ASKED..."how did i learn to sew?"
i took home ec in high school and made a lovely maroon and yellow Trojans sweatshirt that was never worn because i made it way too small for me on accident.
but then when i quit selling Creative Memories (fun fact right there)
i had a small amount of money to spend...
i bought a wicker loveseat (that my husband threw away when we moved to ks...w/out asking me!!!)
a chenille bedspread (that is now been made into pillows all over etsy)
and a $99 sewing machine from sears with my mother.
she taught me how to thread it, sew a straight stitch and even make a button hole...that was awesome.
thanks mom.
sara asked "what is your favorite room in your house?"
i guess it's the kitchen. i spend 98% of the day in there so...
the kitchen.
and she asked "what is your favorite restaurant?"
in wichita? Red Rock Canyon...i love it for dinners with craig on a date.
it's dark..i have a thing for lighting in restaurants...i don't like to see other people.
and it's good food..a real treat.
but i will never order the Moo, Cluck and Oink because it's just WRONG.
on a date you should never have to say those words.
period.
so i order the steak and glazed carrots and smashed potatoes and i am one happy woman.
and my MIL makes cinnamon rolls so i don't think i have had the breadbasket's.
but i do love their coconut cream merrengae pie.
mindy asked for some "tips on organizing"
ha ha ha.
good one mindy! you have my family crying with laughter.
i apologize profusely if i have given the illusion that i am organized...
i am not.
we have a few routines but i usually mess those up too.
the chore chart is probably as organized as i get.
and the two middle kids switch off unloading the dishwasher and the two oldest switch off loading it.
i also do things like forget to pick my kids up from events...
miss programs or promotions...
lock my babies in the car with the keys accidently which resulted in mall security rescuing us...
burn food almost every meal...
and my house is a mess!
abby and sara asked "how did you choose your children's names?"
lauren is named after my sister Lorel.
scott is named after craig's brother that was still born...sweet baby scott.
sean is a name we both liked.
talby is a name i heard (friend of craig's whom i have never met) when sean was a baby and i saved in my head for the next baby. i love it. it's so perfect for her. (it's pronounced like talbot's but it's tal-bee)
and miss annie...we decided when we looked at her. ann is a family name too.
cassie asked me "have you learned how to cook pork yet?"
it's only been two weeks!!! the answer is no.
but craig made some kind of pork in the crockpot on sunday and it was goooooood.
Heather asked me "why don't my pictures with my new SLR look any better than with my point & shoot?"
you have to mess with your settings...read photography blogs and do what they say...read books...
ashleyann...karen russell...they give great tips and i have learned a lot from them.
but just using your auto green square setting won't get you better pictures.
i change my settings almost every time i pick up my camera...because your light is different each time.
and she asked (and many people have asked me this) "how do you get your picture so big on your blog?"
i don't know anything about blogspot.
sorry.
AND she asked "will you sell your prints on etsy?"
maybe someday i will heather...when i have some time to focus on the shop...this winter? hopefully.
meaghen wanted to know "how are your indoor shots so bright."
i shoot in bright rooms. our kitchen has two walls that are all windows...so it's bright.
i don't shoot in the dark rooms.
and she asked "what does craig do for a living"
he's a latex salesman.
he's an architect.
he works for the yankees.
another heather wants to know "how can i see chippendales in kansas with you?"
oh heather...i tried to take you...but you insisted on going on a week long trip to hawaii with your husband instead. ha ha ha ha ha
Kelly asked "can i move in with you"
i might consider this kelly if you agree to take the morning carpool run.
i really dislike getting up at 6:30 and driving all around our town in the near dark listening to
fighting kids and radio disney.
and you'd have to take over the laundry too...my enemy.
erica asked "did you always want a big family?"
yes erica, i did.
always.
craig says five is enough.
and i respect him because he is my wonderful husband.
so i only bring up how i long for more babies once a week or so.
but i will agree with him very much that it is not easy having such differing ages in the house.
a high schooler and a baby would be hard for me.
i could do it...but it would be exhausting.
jennifer asked "can i set up a photo session with you?"
yes. but in the spring.
i took my last photo session of 2009 today!
i will use november to finish editing every shoot i have left
and then i will spend december with my family.
then i will sew and fill my etsy shop all winter.
then i will start back up with photo sessions in the spring.
i only take pictures outside (except newborns...they are done in my kitchen all year round) so
with this weather...i am done till spring.
jennifer...i will put your email address on my spring schedule list...thanks!
who else would like to be on that list? email me.
diana asked "are we related?"
you have duerksen spelled differently in your comment...so probably not.
but if that was a typo then probably yes.
you know these communities...we are all related pretty much...it's that mennonite blood.
not mine but craig's.
keri asked "what bible study are you doing right now?"
i was going to write a post on that this week! thanks for asking.
we are studying Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow.
i really really like it...and i don't get anxious.
and she asked "are you dressing up for halloween?"
no. craig even suggested we skip it this year all together...but the kids wont' agree to that!
we quit buying new costumes a few years ago.
they have to use what we have or come up with something on their own.
no one is ready in the least...it's one day away for school parade, etc.
AND she asked "what is your dream job?"
ok...this is corny...i know...
i have my dream job keri.
i am serious.
i love being a mom and a wife...and now a little bit of a photographer/artist thrown in.
i don't think anything else could satisfy me.
but if you want me to DREAM...let's see...
george clooney's assistant?
i wouldn't get anything done though because i would just be staring into his eyes all day long!
and the last question was from erin... "what did you decide to do with the 3rd floor?"
boring answer for the last question...nothing.
we have many projects in our heads but nothing that we are ready to start on soon.
but i liked the idea of filling it with beds like a dorm...think Facts of Life.
ok...my fingers hurt.
and my eyes are burning from staring at this computer screen.
that was the longest blog post i have ever seen.
go get some visine so you can carry on with your day...i am so sorry.
thanks for asking.
if you like this...let me know in the comments and maybe we'll do it more often.
