Desk Calendars

Early I posted about the addition of some new items. One of these was the desk calendar. Here is what the finished desk calendar looks like. They are so cute and fun. A wonderful gift idea and since they are all designed by me you can get them year round starting and ending on any month.

Annika's a Big Sister

Today Annika became a big sister. My assistant Erin called at about 11:30pm last night and while walking to the phone I thought, who is calling me at this hour. Well it was Erin on her way to the hospital. They dropped off Annika and went on their way. At around 2am I got the call that Colton was born. He weighed in at 7lbs even.

I titled this Annikas a big sister, because my slideshow images follow Annikas day from wake up until she saw Colton.

Congratulations Erin, Jake, Annika and baby Colton!

Slideshow

The Merritt Boys

Today the Merritts came in for a session. We played with some blocks, jumped on the love sac and got some cool images. Here are a few of my favorites.

MS Bridal Show

On Sunday from 1-5pm at the Sioux Falls Convention Center I will be participating in the MS Bridal Show. There will be many vendors and a fashion show. Come and say hi, check out the booth and my work. If you on the fence for booking this is a good opportuntity to compare us photographers as well as other vendors side by side.

Hope to see you there.
Cory Ann

Sunday Jan 29
Sioux Falls Convention Center
1-5pm

Volunteer Organizations

Well I haven't been needed do either of these services yet, but recently realized that the hospitals in the area really didn't even know that they existed. I am working to educate them on it, if you know anyone who would be able to spread the word, please do. And for those of you in other areas (I will service from Watertown to Sioux Falls and surrounding areas) who read this, be sure to see if there are any photographers in your area that offer this. Hopefully none of you will need this service for yourselves or your friends or family, but in the event that you do at least now you know it is available. Both of these organization operate with volunteers and are not for profit. The service are completely complimentary to the families.

Any photogs out there. If you think you can handle this type of photography... it is an invaluable service to offer these families and they are so greatful to have it done, so please look into volunteering your services in your area.
Cory Ann

Now I lay me down to sleep:
Parent's who are experiencing the loss of an infant (20 weeks gestation) may request the service of a professional photographer to come to the hospital for a private session. They will be provided with a DVD slideshow of the images and all the images on disk for personal reproduction up to 5x7.


American Child Photographers Charity Guild:
Goal to provide families of desperately ill children with complimentary portrait sessions and images. We will come to the hospital even into the NICU as well as in your home to provide the session. The recipient of this service will also recieve a disk of all images for the family to reproduce up to 5x7 and/or an album of 4x6 proofs.

Experiment

So since I'm starting to really catch up ( I keep telling myself this). I decided to play with some images. I've been meaning to work on some new ideas in PhotoShop (PS). This is basically blending an image I took and another layer or something weird. PS can be cool and allow you to do so many different things to create looks and feels to images. This is in my studio. On one of my glass and metal stands with my green wall in the background. It is one of the arrangements Calista made me. I think it would look good in my home too. Hmm. Finally I can hang some of my own art.

What do you think? Am I the only one who likes it?
CA

Tech Data:
D200 & 50 1.4, 1/250 at f1.4 ISO 500. All natural light from my studio window on the right.

Landscapes

You'd think I went someplace really cool to get this wonderful image. But no, it's right here in Brookings. On New Year's Eve while shooting Jennie and Steve I snapped a couple of scenics of the gardens blanketed in snow. Just lovely. I'm thinking about blowing this one up for the house.

Tech Data: D2x and 28-70 2.8, 1/100 at 5.6 ISO 100

New Stamps

So it must be since I'm a mom. But I think the new children's book stamps are cool. I think The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is my favorite.

Here it is pictured. Taken with a D200 and a 60mm micro lens. I was literally about an inch from the stamp. This allows me to get the shallow depth of field. Depth of field is the area in the image in focus. You can see here that that area is very small. The lower your aperture 2.8 versus 11 or something the shallower (or less) dof. Also the closer you are to the subject the shallower dof. Here I employed all of this and the micro lens which allows that close focusing range.

Which one is your favorite?
CA

Amber & Eric 01.21.06

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting and shooting Eric and Amber. They will be getting married in May and I hadn't had a chance to meet them before they booked. We got a beautiful day here in Brookings and took a little stroll around downtown in pursuit of new backdrops. They were a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to their wedding.


Tech Data:
Image 1: Natural light, D200 and the 50 1.4 lens 1/250 at 1.4 ISO 500.

Image 2: D200, 70-200 2.8 lens at 1/640 at 3.5 at ISO 100.
CA

On-line Gallery
Slideshow

Cards

I thought I would share our collection of Holiday Cards. Through an exchange with other photographers we got cards from all over the world. It was so much fun. As cards came in Ayden and I wrote and colored a map and then hung them on the wall. We were only missing a few states and got them from as far away as Australia and Europe.

Thank you so much to everyone who sent us cards. We hope you all liked your cards from us too. Some of the cards came back so if you want to get one next year be sure to send me your new addresses. Trust me they were worth getting. I'll be sure to post our card later.
CA

New for 2006!

Well I had a little goal to have a new service finished and running for all my 06' weddings. Well that was before my first 06' wedding was going to be on Jan. 7. But I got my butt in gear and got it ready, while still needing a couple of adjustments. Announcing new slideshows. Now while you are waiting for your full wedding to be edited and posted you will have a wonderful little slideshow you can view. All slideshows will be linked from each couples blog entry. Look for them for portrait clients as well, especially during the slow season. I would love any feedback, feel free to comment on here or e-mail.

So with out further ado I give you Sarah and Justin's wedding
slideshow

New office assistant

I got a new office assistant and I call him Brother. As in a Brother copier. I'm so excited I don't have to save my dimes and go to Hy-vee and Lewis anymore. Brother and I already got hard to work and caught up on all the copying. I'm so excited... remember I said I was working on increasing my workflow. This was one of the steps.
Yeah!

Puzzles

I was ordering prints and saw an option on my ordering thing (technical term here) for a puzzle. Well I had an image in that order already that size so I thought I would order one and see how it looked.

This is the outcome a really cool 8x10 puzzle. Ayden wanted to play with it. I think it will be a good gift for a child. You know an image of her/his family to put together. So now my SIL's know what their kids are getting for their birthdays.

Ella as a puzzle.
CA

Mmm Chocolate

So I'm running errands around 10am and I stop by Blooming Villa to see Calista and pick something up. Well my hands are dry so I try out this lotion tester she has there. Well, my hands aren't dry, the lotion is actually very nice. However, I should have thought of the repercussions of having a wonderful chocolate smell on my hands all day.

Man I'm still craving chocolate.

I bet your all loving my random posts.. this is a good sign that I need to schedule some sessions before I drive you all crazy.
CA

In the bathroom??

I found this little gem while editing. I remember during a wedding visiting the restroom to find an ashtray, and it's been used too. Just cracks me up.

I must look old

Ok so this isn't the best image to judge, but darn it I am not old enough to have a 15 year old daughter. Here is Kaylla and I after her game. She is 15 and she is my assistant, and a darn good one. But me being only 29 I really didn't take it too well when someone not much older than me asked if I had a child on the court. Common' people I'd have had to had her when I was 15. My gosh. So I'm thinking Ayden is 3 and I'll be 42 when he's 15. Darn this guy just aged me by 12.5 years. I still can't believe it. Ok I'll stop now. Back to editing images of all you beautiful young brides, enjoy it while you can.
CA

Coaches

Well you may know that I used to coach. So I think this gives me free reign to laugh at other coaches. Basketball is one of those sports where the coaches just feel the need to stand on the court. I don't get it. Why? Do they feel like they are more a part of the game? Do they think they can see better this way? Is it to annoy the ref? I don't know, but I just laugh. I think they should do the coaching during practice and leave the playing to the players. If they've done their job they should be able to sit on the bench, make subs, tactical adjustments and some other minor adjustments. They don't need to yell or direct all game long and they definitely don't need to stand on the court. Coaches make me laugh, don't get me started on the parents he he.
CA

Kaylla's Bball games

Well finally I got to go and watch Kaylla play basketball. Roosevelt played Washington. I don't remember the score, but Kaylla played well and impressed me with her sportsmanship and effort.

I used the opportunity to try out the new D200. Man I like this camera. It's ISO (film speed) goes up to 1600 while my D2x only goes to 800. So I shot the whole game with nothing but available light (no flash) and my 70-200 2.8 VR lens. I know most of you don't care what I use, but for those of you who do I thought I'd share. I also shot in RAW and JPG mode simultaneously. Why, because Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) can't process the RAW files yet and the Nikon programs are way too slow.

So here is the wonderful Kaylla.
CA

From Jessie (sister of Lisa +Eric)

Jessie, I hope you don't mind me posting. But you made my day and I had to share. Today I got an e-mail and here it is word for word. It's notes like this that make the hard work seem easy and worthwhile and remind me why I love my job. Thank you so much for the note Jessie.
CA


Dear Coryann,

Just wanted to drop a quick thank you for totally capturing every beautiful and heartfelt moment that occurred at Lisa & Eric's wedding. The pictures are amazing! I felt like I had gone back in time to relive that day all over again just by simply viewing them. It is going to be so hard picking out which ones I want! I know Lisa is so proud to show these to everyone, thank you for making her perfect day completely unforgettable!

Many, Many, Thanks
Jessie Hannah
(Lisa's Big Sister)

p.s. Awesome website!

Here is Jessie doing her part to make Lisa's day perfect.

New toys

Well I got a little something to help me edit a bit faster. Two new very pretty 23" apple cinema displays. I am determined to make my workflow more efficient in 2006 and this is where it starts. This is my workspace, where all your images are processed.
CA

Boxes

So I got this rather large box in the mail. And guess who decided it was his new home. That's right Ayden. Andy came into the office to kiss me good night, it's normal that he goes to bed by 10pm but I stay up easily till 2, and he also told me Ayden was in the box. So into the front room I go with my camera in tow. I love me little boy. He is such a character. Here is sleeping in the box with all his animals. He has different favorites each week and when he gets a new one it must be initiated into the gang by sleeping with him, taking a bath with him and eating with him. I suppose we should add in that I must step on him too.

Hope all of you are in bed by now. I'm back to working on images. Lisa and Eric it's coming.
CA

Sarah & Justin 01.07.06

What can I possibly say?

These two are amazing! What a completely fun and unique wedding. They were married on the stage at the Washington Pavillion in Sioux Falls. The reception was in the 3rd floor lobby and the dance was back down on the stage. The decorations were fabulous as Sarah who works at Blooming Villa had a wonderful vision and executed it so well. Feathers, hats, book, pinecones, it all went together so well! The food catered by Leanardo's Cafe was yummy. And the jazz music from Music Express was very nice.

Sarah had a vintage wedding dress while Justin wore a cream colored suit. All of the men wore hats, including the dads. The bridesmaids were in hunter green with feathers in all the girls' hair. I had the pleasure of delivering Justin very special and personal wedding gift which Sarah and I created for him. I think he was impressed. The ceremony was short and sweet with some unity sand instead of a candle... cool.

I don't know what else to say. I was so pumped for this wedding. Erin and I saw Sarah at wal-mart a couple days before and she was beaming. They were fun, beautiful, in love and creative. And they included me like I was a guest. I got my own flower and I think I had just as much fun as all the guests. So much fun. Thank you so much Sarah and Justin for letting me part of your lives. Can't wait for the bridal session now.
CA

View their slideshow.

Bridal Show #2

Well yesterday was my second bridal show. I had a lot of people stop by. May 12 bride Heidi, nice to finally meet you! Megan who has been e-mailing stopped by with her mom and fiance. Great to meet you too. Then there are the ones that lingered. A couple are in one of the pics, I'm excited to work with you.

I think the show was a success. I handed out all of my packets. I only have one left, and I only have it because I took it back from another vendor who told me they were the mother of a groom. Normally I wouldn't care, but a lot of time and money went into those packets to benefit you brides. And I don't like being lied too. Ok enough of the negative, back to the positive.

I was back in a corner, but people still seemed to find me and I can't count how many compliments I received. It means a lot. When you put that much effort into your work and how you display it always feels good to know people appreciate it. So all who stopped by, all who said something and all who will hopefully be my brides next year. Thank you, you made it all worth it!

Big shout out thank you to all the people who helped get this together:

Mitch Boysen of Boysen CFW linked on the right: He did all the stands and tables in the wonderful metal to match my theme. Did them in record time and I love them!

Dan and the crew at Mac Doctors:
Those slideshows are on my new wonderful 23" cinema displays. Powered by the awesome G5 and the cute Mac Mini. With speakers also from them pumping some upbeat music.

Blooming Villa:
Calista and Sarah (who's wedding was Sat. night) did my flower designs to match my colors and my style. I love them and can't believe how well they can relay my vision into flowers. An art of it's own that they do fabulously!

Outlaw Graphics:
The new sign showing off my new colors and the artwork prep for the etched glass were provided, again in record time by Terry and his team at Outlaw Graphics.

Sign Design:
For another record turn around on my etched glass logo.

Brookings Glass and Mirror:
They are my source that cuts all my plexi for the hanging images and all the glass for my tables. Thank you.

And to my print labs. They did my prints, packets, business cards, bookmarks, proofs, all that stuff that it's really about. The images. Some of it I received on Saturday morning beacause they were kind enough to overnight it. Thank you ACI and WHCC.

And to my DH (dear husband) Andy who helped set most of it up and straighted all the images. He's a bit picky about that and was perfect for the job.

Mr V's

Well last year about this time while visiting my sister and documenting the birth of my nephew I had a bit of an accident on the ice. Well I finally got around to fixing it. I had to give a shout out to Mr. V's Auto Body here in Brookings. They were patient with me, did a great job, have candy in the office, billed my insurance directy. and what made me so happy I got my car back way cleaner that it left they even whiped down all the vinyl and vaccuumed. I was so pleased to drive home a clean fixed car.

Stay safe on the roads!

2005 Year End Summary

I love my job and looking back on 2005 I cannot believe all that was accomplished. Man it has been a crazy year. My first full year. It all grew so fast. In 2004 I had only shot at 4 weddings. And only being fully responsible for one. I expanded my offerings, equipment and got a studio. Did everything and continue to do everything I can to increase my skill and knowledge. Thank you everyone who has been part of this. I do truely have a wonderful job because of you! I hope to see many of you again in 2006 and am excited at all this year will bring.

What we did in 2005:

23 weddings
19 engagements
36 children
16 families
13 high school graduates
9 commercial shoots
5 dogs
6 states
4 mothers to be (and sometimes fathers)
2 births
2 newborns
3 hot women in skimpy clothes (or none at all)
25 custom cards and announcements
and...

Total images taken: Well over 80,000

Bridal Show

This coming Sunday, Jan 8 I will be participating in another bridal show. If you are interested in seeing a number of vendors at once this is a good opportunity. Please feel free to stop by my booth, look around and ask as many questions as you can think of. I would love to see you there.
CA

Ramokota, Sioux Falls, SD
January 8, 2006
1-5pm

Jennie & Steve 12.31.05

I spent my New Year's Eve shooting my last wedding of the year. Wow the weather couldn't have been more in their favor. It snowed and left the trees with a wonderful layer of white on them. Then as we were leaving the church for some images the blue sky came out and the sun shone through with a nice warm glow. Absolutely perfect!

This was my second winter wedding, with my third being next weekend and let me tell you they are so pretty! The churches are decorated for the holidays and all the lights and candles just glow. The shalwls and jackets that the brides add to their attire create a different feel and you have wow.

Jennie and Steve were stunning and little Ben was cracking me up with his sounds while he was eating. The ceremony was in the lovely St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Fabulous natural light and beautiful woodwork. The music during the ceremony was so awe inspiring. The reception was at the Brookings Inn Convention Center. This was my first wedding in here and I loved it. I was able to bounce my light so wonderfully. I didn't realize how big this place was, it may hold more than any other location in Brookings with a substantial dance floor too. I believe the meal was also catered by them, I had the Chicken and it was very good. The cake from Hagman's was beautiful to look at and so yummy.

Wonderful wedding filled with some crazy family members that kept me on my toes!

Congratulations Steve and Jennie!

Intimates ™ with J

Have you missed me? Sorry, I needed a little break and with a sick G5 (my bad a** computer) it came all at the same time. So I'll have to play a bit of catch up with you.

Last Thursday I had the pleasure of shooting the lovely J. This women is stunning and her green dress and red hair went perfect with this background. She was fun to shoot and allowed me to be creative and try different lighting.

South Dakota Boudoir / Intimate ™ Photographer