Road Trippin’!

Tomorrow, Tyler and I are taking a day off of work to head to Indy for the Warped Tour! It’s about a 4-hour trip for us to the Verizon Wireless Music Center, but we are fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of people. And everyone says we should do this kind of thing while we’re young…and don’t have kids. So why not?

Plus, the tickets were free! My boss won the tickets on the radio for me (I was trying to call in, but didn’t get through…she did, and I’m so happy!); I’m widely known as the girl who wins stuff on the radio…seriously, I’ve seen live Gretchen Wilson (and met her backstage…I have the picture to prove it), Brad Paisley, Dancing with the Stars and Larry the Cable Guy. All from calling in to the radio. But this time, I owe it to her.

We may not seem like Warped Tour kind of people. I think it’s a little more punk/alternative than we normally would like, but since my husband is a musician, we try to see as many musical acts as possible. It’s good for the creative juices and opens your mind up to other styles to infuse into your own music. Or so I’m told. I’m not the musical one in the family.

Most of the acts, we’ve never heard of. However, one of our favorite Christian bands, RelientK, is going to be there. The “I Kissed a Girl” girl, Katy Perry, is going to be there, too. I’m not crazy about her, but Tyler likes her. Gee, couldn’t imagine why. ; ) I’m also going to try to catch Gymclass Heroes and Angels and Airwaves.

It’s going to be a hot one, for sure, but I love stuff like this. What’s better than being with your favorite guy, hitting the road and seeing some awesome musical acts for free?

And because I love putting pictures in my posts, here’s one from last weekend when my mom and dad were in town. We made our annual trip to Holiday World, and man was it a hot one. We spent a lot of time at the water park, not only because it was hot, but also because my sister is prego and can’t ride rides. Doesn’t she look so cute with her little belly pooch?

Family outing to Holiday World

And here’s one of me…and Tyler groping Santa. What am I going to do with that husband of mine?

The Neffs with Santa

 

Majors Family: Sneak Peek

Location: Downtown Evansville.

Family: Clint, Misty and Isaac Majors.

Weather: Muggy, hot and hazy.

Pictures: AWESOME! Aren’t they a cute family? Made my job easy!

Seriously, I had so much fun taking this family’s pictures. They let me do some crazy things with them to experiment with angles, compositions and locations. We were all hot and sunburned after we were done, but I think it was worth it; I couldn’t be any more pleased with the outcome.

Our first stop was at a Methodist church in Evansville that had these amazing stained glass windows. We walked up to the church and Misty admitted she really wasn’t sure the location was going to work. But I’ve driven past it several times on the way home from work, envisioning this very next shot. What do you think?

Majors family photo shoot by Nicole Neff Photography

There were SO many other great shots that I think we’re going to have a hard time narrowing it down. Tough problem to have, right?

(Image straight out of the camera, no photoshopping)

 

Causey Family: Sneak Peek

Last weekend, I went with the Causey family to the Newburgh Lock and Dam to take some fun family photos. It was a hot, hot evening, but we got a lot of really fun shots. Because I wanted to snap a few more group photos of the three, they took me up on my begging to go to downtown Newburgh after church on Sunday to grab a few more. I’m so glad that they were okay with it, because we got one of my very favorite shots. Amy says the image below pretty much sums up her life with two kids. I think a lot of parents can relate.

Without further ado, meet the Causeys: Alyssa, Amy and Grant. Thanks so much, you guys, for putting up with me and having so much fun in front of my camera. You guys are awesome!

Causey family photo shoot by Nicole Neff Photography

(Image straight out of camera, no photoshopping)

 

Having a wedding in 2008? Still need a photographer?

Then you’re in luck! Since I’m dying to do a wedding — and SOON — I’m lowering my price to $550 to two lucky couples who will walk down the aisle to say “I do” before the year 2009. That’s half off my lowest package! Here’s what you get:

• Photography by me, unlimited hours
• Images professionally edited
• A CD of the best color-corrected images (at least 200) with a copyright release
• Highlights from your big day featured on my blog
• Online proofing if you would like to order high-quality photos from me

If you’re interested, go to my web site, fill out the contact page and mention this deal in the comments section. And don’t forget to tell all of your friends and family who may want to take advantage of this awesome opportunity!

 

The Good, Bad and Ugly of Owning a Small Business

Yesterday, I was reading my monthly Glamour magazine and came across exactly what I needed. It wasn’t the latest gossip, the latest way to seduce your man, the hottest fashion accessory. No, it was words of inspiration that any lady with hopes of making a go of small business can take to heart. The headline had me interested: “Yes, you can start your own business. And if anyone tries to tell you differently, hit ‘em with these facts:” I was intrigued, so I read on:

• 87 percent of freelancers and entrepeneurs say they’re satisfied with their jobs
• $2,000 – The median cost to women who start up a business — you don’t have to be rich (My thought…thank goodness)
• $143, 726 – The average net worth of a female entrepeneur (I’m not there yet, but wouldn’t that be fab?)
• 7% – The annual rate at which women’s net business income grows (that’s nearly twice as fast as men’s)
• 42% – The rise in the number of women-owned businesses over the past decade. In 1997, there were 5.4 million, today nearly 7.7 million.

Some people might criticize me for being so open about the struggles of having a small business, and that’s fine. Honesty is the best policy, and I’ve learned so much from other people that I think that any glimpse I can give into the realities of owning your own business might help someone out there struggling with the same things as I am.

We’re not alone in this. There are more people than we realize in the same boat. Granted, I just started my biz and I have a full-time job that supports me and my family. But being a professional photographer is a dream I’ve had for some time now. It would be awesome to be able to do that for a living; how much fun would that be?

But on a more serious note, I’ve been a little disappointed lately that my business hasn’t take off faster than it has. I want to be buzzing with business, but right now I’m setting a few shoots here and there. Which, truly, is great because I have some absolutely FABULOUS clients. But I’m the kind of person who likes things to happen at warp speed, so this has been a lesson of faith and patience. I’ve been praying every single night about my business and asking God to grant me patience (I’ve been told that’s a big no-no, but I can’t help it). Specifically, I’ve been praying for awesome people to see my passion, creativity and potential and want to book me. My biggest goal is to book a wedding.

I’ve been doing all of the groundwork for my business, so once the clients start coming in, I’ll be ready. I’ve been researching so much lately that my head is spinning: pose/location ideas, contracts, print prices, album prices, design, accounting. The last one is the worst because I’m horrible with finances, but it’s also probably the most important since it can make or break you in the business world.

Owning a small business is not all roses, but it can be very fulfilling. I hope that others out there, especially women, can gain a little something from the fact that there are others out there going through the same things we are and that many of them, in fact, do succeed.

So as I go to tonight’s shoot to capture the love and happiness of a great family from my church, I’ll go armed with the knowledge that I can do this. Not only can I do this, but YES. I. WILL! Watch out world, here I come….

(Sorry, no picture this time. I think the words in this post deserve the focus instead. It’s all weighed heavy on my mind and heart lately.)

 

The Moment You’ve All Been Waiting For!

It’s finally here…MY NEW WEB SITE IS UP! That’s right, just head on over to www.nicoleneffphotography.com and check it out. There you can find my prices, see galleries, contact me and order prints (if you go to the proofing gallery and enter “public,” you can order some of my artwork). I’m beyond excited, and it’s been a long time coming. Here’s the first picture you’ll see on my site:

There was a lot that had to fall in to place before I was ready to unveil it: get the pictures edited, choose a web site, decide the layout/colors of that site, choose prices, see an accountant, fill out all of the paperwork to become an actual business, wait for the site to go live, wait, wait, and wait some more (there was a server problem that delayed the visibility of my site). There are a lot of people who I owe thanks to for making this all happen:

• My fabulous husband, Tyler, who encouraged me not to wait until Christmas to get a web site like I had planned. I’ll never forget walking hand in hand with him on the beach in Hawaii and talking about my future business plans. I just about stopped in my tracks when he said, “Why wait until Christmas? Why don’t you just do it now?” Since then, my imagination has been running wild with all of the things I could do with a business. He’s spent a lot of nights in bed alone because I’ve been up late planning, designing, and researching everything that I need to put into this business, but he’s not complained once. I’m such a lucky girl!
• Brenda of Appointed Design…she’s my design diva. Not only has she done a FANTASTIC job editing the photos I’ve sent to her, but she’s been a great friend who has answered sooo many of my questions along the way and even took the time to critique my web site before I decided to go live with it. We may live hours apart, but our friendship and faith keeps us close.
• My accountant, Larry Bitter of Brown, Smith & Settle here in Evansville. I’m sure he’s tired of all my emails asking questions that probably seem like no-brainers to him. I’m simply not a math person, so wrapping my mind around all of this accounting stuff gives me a headache.
• All of the people who have scheduled photo shoots with me have given me confidence that I actually CAN have people who want my work to hang on their walls. I have to pinch myself sometimes when I think about all of the great people who have entrusted me to take their picture.
• Last, but not least, God. I’ve prayed and prayed about this and it just feels right. And now that it’s actually happening…how blessed am I? God has blessed me with this passion and talent for photography. I’m nothing without Him, and I must give Him all the glory!

So go to my site, browse and leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

 

That Announcement is Coming Soon…

I know it was like two weeks ago when I said I had an announcement, and I promise it’s coming soon. Things are taking a little longer than I thought they would, but I AM making progress, so that is good. And believe me, it’s BIG news. At least in my mind it is. I can’t wait to share!

I’m so glad it’s the weekend. It’s too bad it’s going to be busy. After traveling last weekend to visit family up north, I came home pretty exhausted. This week feels like I’ve been running non-stop and my body is craving sleep. I should be in bed right now, but I have to post a blog. It’s just my style.

Last weekend in addition to taking my cousin’s picture, I also got the opportunity to go to my niece’s baptism/dedication. She’s getting big so fast, well for her anyway…she’s a tiny girl! Here are some pretty cute pictures of the little sweetheart:

Here she is with her daddy, Adam, who is a Methodist minister:

The district superintendent came to baptize her:

This is mommy, Kyla, holding Elizabeth. I love how this picture turned out. I shot at a really small aperture so everything except Elizabeth’s face is blurred:

This next picture makes my heart SO happy. This is Grandma Helen holding Elizabeth. I love the look on her face; it just seems like such a peaceful moment.

And finally, Tyler and I were outside waiting for everyone to go to lunch when I decided to play off the reflection in his glasses. Love it!

In other news, I finally started running again yesterday. It had been a month since I’d done any running at all (before we left for Hawaii) because I had cut my foot on a rock in the ocean in Hawaii and then I had my wisdom teeth removed. One month off really makes you feel out of shape! I’ve done 4 miles each of the past 2 days, so we’ll see how long it takes to build up my endurance again.

 

Free Photo Shoots!

That’s right — I’m offering FREE photo shoots! These can be family, senior, engagement, fashion, business, baby, pet, maternity or any other kind of picture you can imagine (well, almost anyway)! That’s a $200 value for absolutely nothing but the pure joy of spending some time with yours truly!

I have some pretty fun shoot sites in mind, but if there is a place near and dear to your heart, you are more than welcome to let me know. Once I’m done with the pictures, I’ll send them off to be edited and then upload them to my proofing section where you can order however many pictures you would like!* You can even give friends and family members the password to your online proofing site so they can order prints, too. Couldn’t be simpler! If interested, leave me a comment and I’ll get in contact with you so we can set up the shoot.

I did a photoshoot this weekend for my cousin Rebecca and had an absolute blast. These were “just because” pictures since her mom never likes the quality of school pictures. Rebecca and I had a great time laughing, and we even had our own Talladega Nights moments. We found ourselves saying several times “I don’t know what to do with my hands” and then bursting into laughter. Rebecca will be a senior this year, and I look forward to doing her senior pictures. She’s a natural! (These images are straight out of the camera…no editing whatsoever)

 

 

*NOTE: I am no longer offering free photo shoots. However, you can check out my web site www.nicoleneffphotography.com for my current portrait session price.

 

Some Big News…But Not Just Yet

I have some big and exciting news to share with you all veeeeeeeery soon. There are some details to be worked out before I share, but I’m expecting to deliver the news in the next couple of weeks. So check back often…until then, here’s a clue!

Could it really be so obvious? Surely not, right? Bring on the guesses, except for those of you who are in on the secret!

 

Hawaii Recap

So we’re finally back from Hawaii. It’s been a whirlwind since we’ve been back, at least for me. We returned Thursday night a little later than we had planned because our planes from Honolulu and Houston were both delayed. When we arrived at home, Tyler’s parents were already here. They had graciously kept Lola for us while we were gone, so they dropped her off at our house so we wouldn’t have to make the trip to their house to get her. We were so happy to see familiar faces and be in a familiar place. Don’t get me wrong, Hawaii was great, but there’s just something about home. And then of course, yesterday I had two of my wisdom teeth removed. My face has swollen to the size of a basketball, but luckily I have little pain. Tyler and his mom have been saints in keeping me comfortable. I couldn’t be doing this well without them.

But on to what you really care about, the Hawaii trip. We left very, very early Wednesday morning to catch out 8:10 a.m. flight in St. Louis to Houston and then from Houston to Honolulu. None of us slept very well on the way over. I slept maybe 20 minutes at the most, but seeing the island from the sky was a breath of fresh (okay, more like recycled) air.

In Honolulu, we waited for what seemed like an hour for the shuttle to take us to our rental-car company. We took the Impala to the house we were staying at in Eva Beach, which took us more than an hour with the loooovely Honolulu traffic. We quickly put all of our things in the house and set out to find some food. All of the places we wanted to try near the house ended up being total dives, so we settled on IHOP. Yeah, Tyler and I celebrated our anniversary with a dinner at IHOP. We were so tired that we didn’t even want to take a picture to celebrate the momentous occasion. I’ve never slept so well in my entire life as I did that night.

On Thursday, we were scheduled for a helicopter trip around the entire island of Oahu. We were a little worried that it was going to rain and we wouldn’t be able to make our trip, but we learned that it was not rain clouds in the sky, but vog from the volcano in the Big Island, which had recently erupted. So all of the pictures from the helicopter tour are a bit hazy, but we saw some really cool things, nonetheless. It was one of our favorite things of the entire trip.

This is the actual island where Gilligan’s Island was taped:

This is the Magnum PI house:

We also saw the Dole Plantation and USS Arizona from the air, which we saw later on our trip. We had such a blast!

Afterward, we went to Waikiki to get some beach time. It was hazy with vog there, too, so the pictures aren’t as pretty as they could be.

We also took in some shops while in Waikiki. There were Coach, Louis V, Gucci, and Tiffany’s stores, but this one caught our eye. It had some of the funniest t-shirts in it:

On Friday, we went beaching. The first beach we went to was at the Ko’Olina Resort. It was a little man-made cove with lava rocks all around. It was definitely a gorgeous place. Unfortunately, I cut my foot on a rock while snorkeling with BJ, so I was hobbeling around for the next couple of days. If you look really close in this first picture, you can see BJ and Rachel with their snorkel gear on.

We also went to Hanauma Bay. This was one of the most beautiful places in Hawaii. It’s a sanctuary for fish and turtles; they even close the park one day to give the fish and other sea life a break from the people.

Just down the road from Hanauma Bay was a scenic lookout. The sunlight was peeking through the clouds, and I just loved how it was highlighting the city below:

On Saturday, we decided to visit the North Shore. On our way there, we stopped at the house where my mom and her family lived while my grandpa was stationed in Hawaii for the Air Force. It was on Koi Koi street in Wahiewa, and just seeing it gave me such an indescribable feeling. It was an honor to be able to capture the image of the house and bring home a piece of my family’s history to them.

The first beach we went to on the North Shore was Sunset Beach. The waves were so loud and very powerful, but we loved every minute of it. I took this picture of BJ and Rachel, and just love how it turned out:

After Sunset Beach, we ate lunch and then headed to another nearby beach. It was here that BJ, Rachel and I got to touch a sea turtle. They say that touching a sea turtle in Hawaii is good luck. It was such a cool feeling to have this beautiful creature swimming around us and not being afraid of our presence. After that, we stopped at a Hawaiian shaved ice stand on our way to the Dole Plantation. It was delicious!

The Dole Plantation was a really interesting place. We took a train ride through the plantation and learned about the history of the plantation and how pineapple is farmed. Afterward, we each got a snack: Tyler got chocolate-covered pineapple and the rest of us got pineapple ice cream, which was veeeery tart.

 

On Sunday, we went to the USS Arizona Memorial. It was great to be able to honor all of the men who lost their lives that tragic Dec. 7 in 1941.

That night, we left for Maui. On Monday, we were supposed to go on a 5.5-hour horseback ride into Haleakala crater, but realized if we did, we’d miss our flight back home. Luckily, we were able to get a 1-hour trip around the ranch of Pony Express Tours. It was very educational, but poor Tyler’s horse kept trying to buck him off as we went down hills. Luckily, we made it back without anyone being thrown off a horse.

We also went to the summit of Haleakala, which was 10,023 feet high.

On Tuesday, we went on a snorkeling and kayaking trip. Since I took my waterproof film camera, I don’t have any pictures of this yet. This was right up there with the helicopter tour, though. It was a beautiful day for it. Along the trip, our guide pointed out the homes of Shaquille O’Neal, Adam Sandler, Paul Mitchell, and Shirley Temple. And once we got back, our tour guide found a seahorse in the canal. It was really cool to hold it, especially since these beautiful creatures are becoming extinct.

On our last day, Wednesday, we went back to Ko’Olina Resort because we had so much fun there the last time. It was another beautiful day, so Tyler and I bought some drinks and took a walk out near the marina. Of course, Tyler got a “frosty Monster” and wanted me to take a picture of it. I think he’s obsessed, but it’s cute:

The flight back was not nearly as bad since it was at night and we were able to sleep some on the way home. Hawaii was great, but it’s so true that there’s no place like home.