Last Minute Packing

I'm a last minute packer. Throughout the week before a trip, I'll collect things in piles to take, but the suitcase won't come out until the night before I leave. Clothes are then pulled fresh from the dryer, and hastily tucked away. The carry on pile grows until I need four arms to carry it all. Yet with this method, or despite it, I rarely forget something important.

The only thing that regularly gets left behind is my toothbrush. It's one of those things I can't pack until the last second because I want to use it in the morning before I leave. Like I said before, tooth brushing is a mindless activity. So once the teeth are pearly white, the hand automatically drops it back in its holder, to be left behind once again. Thank goodness for a Walmart in almost every city to save everyone around me from morning breath!

So here I am, putting off packing by blogging. It's the night before I leave. The suitcase is open on the bed. The piles are surrounding me. I can hear the washer in the background furiously churning to clean my clothes in time. Tomorrow I jump on a plane headed to my-not-so-favorite city to attend the WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) convention. It'll be huge; it'll be overwhelming, but I'm excited! After hearing about it for years, I'm ready to go and participate! Only 8 hours left until I have to leave for the airport. And so the countdown and packing begins!

Whole wheat chocolate chip cookies I made for the trip!


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Grass Valley Studio | Northern California's Wedding Vendors 2

My favorite thing so far about these shoots is getting to know the people better. It's one thing to make a little small talk every couple of months at a meeting and another thing to spend time in real conversation--even if it still had a lot to do with weddings... I think at least half the morning was spent talking, laughing, and eating yummy scones. Thanks girls for making the event a success! I look forward to working with you again in the future!

We shot more than faces this time as Mary brought along some of her beautifully fragrant products.

Michele, of Turning Leaf Photography, graciously allowed us to meet in her studio!

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Nevada City Stonehouse | Northern California's Wedding Vendors 1

I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day or more wonderful people to spend it with. It was the first official Grass Valley/Nevada City photo shoot with the subjects being some of our area's wedding vendors. Rachel, Carola, and Phyllis were so easy to shoot! I so enjoyed getting to hang out with them outside of our usual get togethers and just chat it up! Thanks girls for trusting me to capture a little of you! I hope you love your pictures as much as I do!

We started out with some more typical head shots...

...but quickly moved into more of a real, lifestyle, you pictures!

Makeup and Hair artist Carola May

Studio 9 Design's graphic designer Phyllis

Rachel of Art in Bloom

Favorite of the day!

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Nevada County Photo Shoot

I'm so excited! If you attended the Nevada County A Wedding Affair for all Seasons bridal show, you know we have some amazing vendors in this area. Yet because many work in the background of weddings, they may have beautiful pictures of their work, but their own pictures tend to be cut out from family pictures or a last minute snapshot. This should not be!

Some of the photographers in the area wanted to throw back a little love, so our first photo shoot will feature the vendors themselves! All NC vendors are welcome and invited to come! We have two dates with two different locations to give you a choice between an outside and a studio feel.

On February 18, we will be meeting at Stonehouse with the first sessions beginning at 10am:
107 Sacramento Street
Nevada City

February 23 will be at Michele Coomler's studio with the first sessions also starting at 10am:
10558 Combie Road
Grass Valley

For more details and to reserve your session, drop me a line at lydia[at]lydiaphotography[dot]com. Hurry, spaces are limited and likely to fill up fast!

Me and my second shooter, Liz, at the Santa Rose wedding expo.

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Nevada County's A Wedding Affair

When I stepped in Miners Foundry last Sunday afternoon, I was blown away. Nevada County's A Wedding Affair for all Seasons was the classiest, most beautiful bridal show I have ever attended. Not only were some of the top wedding vendors from Grass Valley and Nevada City there, but Donna of Joy of Life Events had outdone herself with the decor! Each room represented a different season through the vendors' displays and a unique table setting to show how a wedding could beautifully coordinate with that time of year. I was having such a good time talking to vendors that I didn't take many pictures, but I couldn't resist trying to capture just a little of the beauty.

Leah of Illuminated Invitations had some fun Save the Dates as well as matching customized announcements.

Bright punchy colors with a shabby chic twist were on show for the summer room.

Crisp white and silver shone bright in the winter room.

Fall had an Asian organic feel with simple lines and coordinating accents. I was so sad to have missed the table for spring. It was simply elegant and gorgeous! Donna did an amazing job putting the whole show together! Each detail was so intricate and perfect. I can't wait to see what she does next year!

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Beautiful California Saturday

The last couple of days have provided a much needed break in the rain.  Not that we don't need more water, because we do.  I'd love to be able to tube down the Truckee River this summer without bumping into rocks!  The sunshine was just a warm reminder of how blessed I am to live here, and that spring is coming!  To celebrate, I purchased some accessories for an upcoming photo shoot.  So excited because I got some amazing deals!  Nothing says successful shopping trip like 85% off!  With dinner at friends' house Friday night, church Sunday morning, and the Nevada County A Wedding Affair for all Seasons bridal show in the afternoon, it's turning out to be a great weekend!  Hopefully a great week will follow as I attempt to create my own version of this skirt slip to pretty up my favorite wedding shooting dress.

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Sonoma County: The Wedding Expo

There are some things in life that I like to have scheduled. Work, teaching, shoots are all planned and added to my calendar then carried out in fine fashion. Once it awhile though it just feels good to be spontaneous. A quick trip to Valentina's for chai with a friend or an impromptu photo session just for fun adds that little dash of flavor that keeps life interesting. So when Melody called me and said she had free tickets to The Wedding Expo in Santa Rosa last Saturday, I instantly knew this was one last minute road trip I wanted to take!

Last time I had attended an expo it was a Sacramento wedding show, so it was neat to see how much they can vary. I met some of the nicest vendors, ate yummy red velvet cake, and helped out at Melody Joy Floral's booth. I can picture myself having my own booth at a show someday just for the fun of it!

Which reminds me, if you can, be sure to attend Nevada County's A Wedding Affair for All Seasons on January 31, 2010 at the Miners Foundry in Nevada City! In each of the four rooms, wedding vendors will be decorating according to the seasons as well as introducing you to their businesses. While I won't be participating in this show, I will for sure be attending to support some of the best vendors in the California!

Until then, drink in the loveliness from Wine Country's The Wedding Expo:

Melody Joy Floral's amazing designs!

Favorite! Isn't it stunning with the peacock feathers?

Some of the vendors had fabulous displays!

L to R: Melody Joy Floral, Cal-West Rentals, Sift Cupcakery, Flour Chylde

Starlet Gowns had beautiful accessories for the glamorous bride!

More details the show

L to R: Petal Town Flowers, Flour Chylde, The Oyster Girls

Tamy from DreamMaker Ventures was one of the sweetest people there. Her invitations and paper products were so creative and beautifully designed!

I just had to get another bouquet/limo shot, and Gold Star Limousine obliged me by allowing me to use their limo!

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Giveaway Winners

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway! I'm so excited to share such an awesome resource with you and only wish I had more copies to give! If you know anyone that has attended the Fast Track Workshop, help them be a "Beth" by hitting them up for a copy! Wondered why I asked you all to share a word describing ME (not the photography, website, etc.)? You'll have to read the book to find out!

For the winners, don't set this aside to read later in your "free time." Make the time now to begin your year and business in the best possible way. Feel free to email me anytime if you have questions!

And now for the winners! *drumroll*

• Pilar
• Stephanie
• Kimberly
  

Congratulations!  Your ebook will be arriving soon to your inbox!


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Fast Track Photographer Giveaway

If there has been one book that has changed the photography industry recently, it has been Dane Sanders' Fast Track Photographer. For the amateur and professional alike, Dane makes clear what many people have missed. Pretty pictures do not a good business make. You are not your photography, and YOU are what sets your business a part from every other photography business out there!

With Dane releasing a new and updated version later this year, the original edition of Fast Track Photographer is no longer available from his store. As I attended his workshop back in May and got a sneak preview of some of the new content, I know it will be good and can't wait to read it! For those of you who cannot wait until then, I have three copies of the original in the ebook format that I am giving away to three blog readers! To enter, simply leave a comment sharing one word you think best describes ME and some way to contact you (ex: lydia[at]lydiaphotography[dot]com or a link to your own blog). The giveaway will end on Tuesday midnight PST and the winners will be randomly drawn from all the qualifying entries. Feel free to spread the word and leave another comment sharing how for an additional entry!

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Personalized Websites

With the new year comes exciting changes!  I'm so thrilled to announce the coming of personalized websites for my brides and grooms!  You may have seen a little advance notice with Alicia and Chris' engagement session.  What's so neat is that it can continue to work for you months after the wedding!  I just finished a site for a wedding in Hat Creek, California back in May.  Andrea and Trevor now have a place to continue remembering their day as they watch their wedding slideshow and relive their engagement through their own videos!

My website program, Showit, not only gives me the freedom to create these personalized sites, but it also allows my clients to post them on their Facebook profile!  With the click of a few buttons, they will be able to paste in a code I give them and share their site with all their friends!

Tip: Want a pretty url to send to all your friends and include on the save the date, invitation, or wedding program?  Buy the domain of your choice and have it forward to your personalized site!


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