Just One of Those Days
January 28th, 2009
I was going to write about my mind wandering off today, but really, I find that every day my mind wanders off into somewhere, the edges of reality and imagination blurring. That statement is pretty way of saying that I’m, simply and now proudly, a space cadet. It wasn’t always this way– in the orderly world of school and in some parts of real life this does not prove advantageous–it’s funny to me how, when I first stepped into UCLA I thought I wanted to suit up and be a CEO of a big and powerful company (I know, as specific as teen thoughts get sometimes), just to go through school and discover that corporate was the last thing I really wanted to do.
Fast forward about ten years and I don’t suit up every day and I’m not in charge of a big and powerful company. This was the goal that I’ve wanted to accomplish all along, because the path I am on now is better. Not that there’s anything wrong with suiting up and being a CEO, but there are unique and special personalities for this and since space cadet is on the top of my list my life would (and had been) difficult in a cubicle environment.
But here’s my thought for today: although I am not where I need to be, currently I am where I need to be in order to be where I need to be in the future. Try saying that ten times as fast.
And since this is a photo blog here are some photos back in the editorial days when I was running around covering stories, some interesting and some not-so-interesting. In the spirit of the Miss America Pageant, I present to you the Hottest Moms of America:
This contest was sponsored by Restalyne. Restalyne is a drug like Botox, so you get by now why they were having this contest.
Time to get to work! But before that I leave you with this thought: Hotness is in the eyes of the beholder.
Eat your vegetables,
Christine.
Queensberry Albums, Matted Pages
January 21st, 2009
Here’s my album schpiel for the out-of-state inquiries I have been getting lately. Usually brides and grooms around the LA area will touch and feel my albums and it’s oohs and aahs all the way.
To continue, I have been including Queensberry Albums with my wedding packages ever since I started photographing weddings. My first album with Queensberry was ordered as a result of my own wedding, and since then I have loved Queensberry for their classic and durable albums.
I strongly believe in providing albums of the highest quality, and though Queensberry Albums are more expensive than other album vendors I think that the albums are really worth it. Usually the bride and groom get two choices as far as albums, either a matted style or a digital style (or what I’d like to call a magazine style, where the picture is printed directly on the page). After the couple signs off on my design I send the order electronically to New Zealand, where the album is printed and assembled. Gino Demeer is my customer service friend and he usually answers any questions I have promptly and with a very cute New Zealand accent.
Here’s a photo tour of what I’m talking about. Pictured below is Erin and Sam’s album. They ordered an 18 page matted album. When I say pages, I’m referring to two sides.
Notice the attention to detail that Queensberry gives to these albums: even the protective corners have curliques, which I think is a great design finish-minimalist and tasteful.
I choose vinyl covers for all albums so if your future kids gets their cheese whiz fingers on the album all that is needed is a damp cloth for cleaning and care.
With matt albums the bride and groom get to choose the mat color (or colour as they spell it in New Zealand) and the page color. Here Erin and Sam opted for a classic white mat with black pages. With mat albums photographs are printed by Queensberry and the pictures are cut and hand-assembled into the album.
Above is a page of Erin getting ready. Included with every album (mat or digital) is a presentation box that is made of heavy caseboard that is overprinted in bronze.
Last but not least, matted albums come with a glassine cover page that adds an elegant touch and sets the mood for the rest of the album.
So why order an album? I have thought about this too with my own wedding, and here’s my answer. In the digital era we take many pictures, but oftentimes those pictures don’t really go anywhere except into the realms of digital la-la land. There is just something about holding a physical album and being able to pass this treasure on from generation to generation. Every page tells a story, and every time I flip through my own wedding album I relive the wedding day better than it was on that very day-in other words, without all of the stress I went through for the process of getting married. It’s just the quiet of my living room and an album with a story that sets my memory into motion.
Nancy and Ricky have also ordered an album, but they chose a digital album instead. When their album arrives I will go into the unique personality of the digital album next.
Houston, we have a problem.
January 20th, 2009
As you know, I’ve been in the process or reorganizing my office, and this past week I went to Ikea in the daytime. My husband offered to go with me and help me carry all that stuff but since he works regular hours he wanted to go on a Saturday, and Saturdays at Ikea are crazy, so I declined. I went to Ikea a year ago on a Saturday and all I remember were a ton of people in a maze, and me standing in the middle of it and not really enjoying that consumer experience at all. I vowed never to return there again on a Saturday, and after the current experience that I am having with the furniture I don’t think I’ll be buying from them for a while.
In any case, part of my Saturday evening was spent with a pair of teenage brothers from church who helped me assemble some furniture, since 150 lbs of chipboard is not really my idea of a good time. Here’s how it went:
Derek: Here Dennis, you screw on the wheel.
Dennis: No, Derek, you screw it on! I’ll be the brain, and you can be the muscle.
Derek: Why don’t you just listen to me, I’m older.
Christine: You know, it might be easier if you screw the wheels on with the wheel panel on top instead of to the side.
Dennis: Yeah Derek, why don’t you do that?
Derek: That wasn’t your idea, Christine said it before you did.
My husband was busy doing Sunday dinner preparations so I think he got to enjoy the show.
Needless to say, I thought they weren’t being very efficient, so my friend Stan and I helped out. I take a closer look at the manual. I used to be a tech writer, and the directions are simple enough, but the execution is much more complicated. My friend Stan and I took over assembling the paper drawer, since Derek had finals and his mom wanted him home by 11 (they were sweet and refused to take any money, so I sent them home with some clementines and much gratitude).
Like me, Derek and Dennis just didn’t understand that Ikea products have a learning curve and a pattern that you get used to once you’ve built enough Ikea products. Turns out my friend Stan assembled an Ikea living room with his roommate before, so he was the one who took over in building the paper drawer. By midnight we weren’t done and sawdust was all over the living room, and needless to say I was a bit frustrated. Certain parts were also ill-fitting so I still need to assemble the rest of the paper drawer and run a drawer back to Ikea for an exchange in parts.
On the brighter side, the other piece of furniture I bought went without a hitch, as there were really only 3 main pieces to put together.
If I’m worth my salt I’ll show you pictures of a clean and organized office by the end of next week.
The Office
January 6th, 2009
I’m long overdue for an office makeover. I’ve always been on the messier side, so I usually try to claim the creative artist’s exemption. But seriously, I can be clean. It’s just that I need to find a home for everything. I’m not exactly a pack rat either, throwing things away gives me alot of joy. It’s just that sometimes the paperwork piles up, and little things, like this expired coupon, get kept for too long.
Additionally I’ve also acquired more photo equipment last year than usual so they need a home too. This business is currently in its toddler stages and the kid that is my business needs to learn how to put her toys in the toy box. Don’t you like it when I personify my business? It makes me feel less guilty when I look at this pile on my desk:
Pictures are close up–I’m saving the wider angle lens for when the office is done. For this project I will be enlisting the help of Ikea and the readers of this blog for accountability. Feel free to email me and ask how the office project is going. I’ll try to update as I go. My goal is to get this office revamped by the end of January.
Hope everyone had a great holiday season! This year because of my shooting schedule I got to stay home and let me tell you, the traffic in LA is perfect during Christmas and New Year’s. Everyone’s gone and the freeways were not congested at all. As an LA veteran usually I schedule everything around times when the traffic is low, but this season it was pretty clear at most times.
You know traffic in LA is bad when that’s the first thing you think of when people ask you how your holiday season was. But all in all it was a nice break, time with husband, family and friends. Oh, and I tried a slice of baguette with blue cheese and honey for the first time. It’s supposed to be really good with champagne. But I thought it was all right. Maybe I’m just a cheese whiz and crackers kind of girl.
I also got to take a short weekend trip to Vegas and see one of my friends win a small poker tournament and another friend hit a royal flush in pai gow. I love watching people play poker, perhaps more than I love playing poker myself.
My 2009 is off to a great start. Hope the same is true for you!