R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me....

I've read articles and posts in the past about why photographers charge the amount that they do. I agree that a lot more goes into it than what most people consider. (When I have been on the other side of the camera I'll admit that I didn't think about all the factors involved.) However  since I'm not as experienced I don't feel I've earned the right to charge what my time is really worth. If I offer to do a session with no session fee I am giving you 1-2 hours of my time (and you are too) for free. It doesn't end there though. Once I get home I spend hours going through your photos, choosing the best ones and editing them and burning them to a disc. This entire process can take anywhere from 5-12 hours depending on how many photos I took and how much editing I do. At a minimum we're looking at 6-14 hours of time out of my schedule and away from my family. I'm not even going to talk about equipment or gas or any other charges. JUST time. I donate 6-14 hours of my time nearly every weekend. Sometimes twice in a weekend. I often annoy my husband by scheduling a session or two on a long weekend when we could be travelling and enjoying our last few months in Europe.  So if I make time for you, please have the courtesy to not ditch me to go with another photographer at the last minute. It's an insult to my generosity, my creativity and my skill.

What if the chance to photograph a fun interesting session came along so I cancelled my session with you at the last minute? That would be unprofessional at the very least.

As a customer or client of course you have the option to choose any photographer you want. I'd like to think people choose me because they like my work, not because I offered them a discount or a free session. Once you've chosen me, I put everything aside to accommodate your needs. If you need to change a time or date I'd much rather you ask me than just cancel. All I'm asking is that you be respectful of your photographers time. Especially if you not even paying them for it. 

I'm in Love with a Camera Strap

I like pretty things. I like to stand out and be different. (Not tattoos on my face or shaved head different, but more of a "Ooh, look! I've never seen a camera strap like that before!" way.) I have entered numerous contests trying to win myself an Epiphanie camera bag. If you haven't seen them, check them out here. They are gorgeous! They are also around $150-185 which I don't feel comfortable spending on myself right now. Maybe someday, but right now some new business cards, lighting, a new lens; all those things seem a little more urgent. So I keep entering contest hoping like heck that I'll win. Someone has to win them right?





My other fantasy indulgence item that I want purely because it is so pretty is a camera strap from Straps Made With Love. She has so many hand crafted straps, many of them one of a kind. They too are a little more than I wish to spend at the moment but not nearly as extravagant as the camera bag. I am entering a contest over at Susanne Vedvik's blog to try to win one. This is my second attempt at winning a camera strap. If I don't succeed feel free to purchase one for me as a Christmas gift, wink wink! I'm hoping maybe karma will be on my side this time.

Burg Eltz

Burg Eltz is one of the prettiest castles we have visited in Germany aside from Neuschwanstein in the Alps.

If you like to hike you can use one of the lower car parks and hike up through the forest paths (which is what we did without realizing there were other options) or you can park much closer to the castle and walk down a paved road. There is also a shuttle you can take for 1.50 Euro each. I would recommend walking down, and then taking the shuttle on the way back up to your car as it's a pretty steep hill going back up.
The car park we used was called Ringelsteiner Muhle in Moselkern. There was a restaurant and I believe a hotel near the car park area. The sign said 40 min but it took closer to an hour and a half with a five year old dragging behind.

If you do chose to park down below and do the hike, make sure you still go up the big hill. There is a great place to stop and take pictures. It's worth the walk.

For the official Burg Eltz website click here.

Here are some other interesting views we saw on the drive.

Monopoly with my little and my fuzzy

It was a rainy today so we decided to play Monopoly. The age on the box said 5-8 so both my daughter (5) and cat (8) were finally the right age to play! Slinky loves Monopoly. (He's been playing since he was little. )

Slinky's not a very good sport

He was rolling in the dough...

My little lost.

What do you do on rainy days?

(See, I told you Slinky's been playing a long time. He's a ringer.)

Our Genealogy Tour - The Ferry Home

 By the end of our trip we were pretty tired of driving so we drove down to Sweden and took an overnight ferry  all the way back to Germany. It was terrific. It was like a mini cruise. I'm so glad we did it that way. It didn't even cost any more than gas and a hotel would have! The all you can eat seafood buffet was a little pricey but it was all inclusive and since we didn't have to drive, we indulged a little.

A passing ship

It was a little bit windy up on the top deck!

We stayed up on top until we ran out of coast and then we went inside to eat, shop and sleep. I will never forget this trip. I think it was my favorite out of all the places we have visited. Scandinavia is expensive, but worth it. I highly recommend it.

Our Genealogy Tour - Norway (Part Three - Ness/Mjosa)

The third day we went to find where my ancestors lived. Some of the information I had information that they lived in different towns but they were all very close together. We headed to the island of Mjosa to see the Skavang farm.

Unfortunately it was either no longer there or we took a wrong turn. Most likely it just doesn't exist anymore.

This is where it should have stood.

I did find this mailbox though...

We still got to tour the area and see some beautiful views. We even stopped at a flea market and bought a few things to take home. We found a church but no Skavang headstones. :(

The church in Ness

These headstones were all removed but I thought it was nice that they kept them

While I was taking this picture a bird pooped on my husband hehehe!

Before heading back to the hostel we stopped at a museum in Gjovik where there was a replica of what the old town would have been like.

All these cabins in the woods reminded me of a creepy movie.

They would be fantastic for taking pictures though!