Frike Loss Winner!

Random.org gave me #2.  I had four comments so the winner is Katriena!!!  Katriena message me on my facebook page so I can get your info and send out your free print!

This will show them!

What do I do when I loose a frike?  Cry, but then I give away a print!  That's right I value my frikes and realize it has been some time since a give away so here it is... leave a comment here or on Facebook and I will use random.org to pick a number and award a mystery winter print!

Been Gone a while...

Check this out!

Ok I am entering myself in a agive away by linking you all to my friend Cathy's blog.  She does amazing bracelets that can handle baby grabbing!  So I kinda want this one...  http://creationscathys.blogspot.com/2010/10/second-october-giveaway.html.  So go on check out her stuff, yes go on right now.

Give Away Winners Announced!!!

We hit 350 frikes this morning friends, and as promised I am using Random.org to pick a winner.  I am going to count from the first fan to the last and the number assigned wins a FREE 8x10 of the selected winners choice!!!  Random.org gave me the number 327 that corresponds to Nancy Lombardo!  Nancy just watch for my message on Facebook!

Our 2nd give away has a winner as well- RJ&Melissa correctly guessed my Orchid print as the mystery image!!!  RJ&Melissa leave a comment on Facebook and I will message you for your contact info too!

I love giving away images but I love selling them even more.  I am still hoping for sales this holiday season.  I enjoy sharing my images with people immensely, I also love to hear what you think of my stuff.  I am starting to find my groove again I hope and plan to continue to deliver new and interesting items frequently.  Keep referring me and keep me in mind for those weird occasion gifts- like a housewarming these prints are fabulous for that!  Or that person you don't know well but need a gift- think photos.  Want to redecorate a room- custom prints make a fabulous decor option.  Or for that picky annoying mother-in-law pictures are personal and easy.  Think brownie points.  I try not to push the sales hard as well I want to make my page enjoyable and sales pitches continuously kinda take away from that but this is a business.  So there is my sales pitch for the week- not hard huh?  I hope fall is treating you all well and that you have the wonderful sunshine we have been having here in my area.  Some new favorites of mine...

GIVE AWAY REMINDERS

I am 6, yes only 6, frikes away from a Give Away!!!  When I hit 350 frikes on my facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Columbus/MJAB-Images/133308790017766, I am giving away a FREE 8x10 of the winners choice!  Refer me peeps, help a girl out.

Also GiveAway #2, when I get the correct guess on my mystery photo winner, basically I lost her and she picked a print so when one of you frikes guesses the correct print choosen you win a free 8x10.  So far the hints are it's a flower, it's on Etsy and now it is one of my many orchids.  If you guessed guess again, I really want to give away a print! 

I feel like my site is loosing steam and want to pick things up- any ideas?  I know I should post more but have been going through a tough time at home, things are getting better and now can focus back on my business.  I hope to go shooting capturing some fall images for you all.  Another reminder, there are less than 100 days to shop for the Holidays and fine art prints make great gifts, so head over to http://www.etsy.com/shop/mjab  and get a head start on your shopping list!

In a slump

I am in a a shooting slump.  I haven't been behind the lens is a while due to being a Mom.  I have been sick, both kids are sick, one has had accidents and I have seen my pediatrician twice in two days.  Super fun stuff I tell you.  I tried some stuff at the local fair but don't have high hopes,  so far I think I may have one shot but nothing making me go OH!  Which means it probably won't be displayed.  I hate when nothing gives me that feeling, makes it like a fruitless exercise.

Feeling the love

I seriously am feeling the love right now.  In the last 3 days I have been included in 4 treasuries!  On Etsy that's pretty fun stuff having others select your work as something worthy of looking at.  Hope that made sense, it's early and I am sick and low on caffeine.  Each treasury has selected something different so that's 4 images that got special attention!  I feel so good about that, my work is reaching people- even if no one is buying people are coming in and looking.  I can hope that this turns into sales especially around the holidays.

On a side note no one has gotten the mystery image.  Do we need more clues?  So far it's a flower, listed on Etsy, and only 3 guesses!  Come on folks guess away- what do you have to lose- you could win!  We also have the 350 frikes giveaway- when my facebook page hits 350 likers I will randomly give away a 8x10.  I have 6 followers to my blog and when we hit 25 I will also give away randomly to my blog followers only a free 8x10.  That's 3 giveaways- you know you want to recommend me to your friends- I am fun and give away free things- what's better than free?

Some new works...

What to say?

I hate titling my blog posts, some days I just ramble and well today is that kind of day.  A few things going on-
1. Give Away one when I hit 350 frikes/friends on facebook or 25 followers here which ever is first I am giving away a free 8x10 of winners choice- to be drawn by random.org.
2.  Give Away 2- whoever guesses the correct print of a lost winner (serious she choose a print and no name or addy left.  can't track her) will win a free 8x10 of the winners choice.
3. When should I begin sales for Christmas?  Crazy huh thinking about Christmas a gift shopping, but it's coming up and I plan on running many sales as photos make GREAT GIFTS!!!!  I want to sell through the holidays to help pay for a new lens!  I offer discounts for group purchases and if you are an etsy seller yourself, I will do a trade!  If anyone has ideas on when they start shopping for the holiday let me know- I want to tailor my offerings to my customer base!

Give Away Game Help!

Well only 3 guesses so far- where is everyone?  Here is another hint- the flower image is on my Etsy page and my Facebook page.  There are a lot less on Etsy than FB.

New GiveAway!

Well I lost the name of one of my winners and feel just awful about it.  I am going to have to scour my FB page and hope to find her.  But in the mean time how about a quick and fun giveaway!  The first person to guess the won photo wins a free 5x7 of their choice!  List you guesses in the comments section here and good luck- hint: It's a flower ;-)

Apparently I am obsessed

With the moon.  Any night when it's up and gorgeous, which is often this month, I must grab the camera.  I wonder if it is boring for others to watch the phases of the moon as I capture them.  I am just practicing and having fun so for me it is not boring but I seem to be running out of subject matter.  All the flowers have died in the August heat, and while I do capture my kids I prefer not to publicize those images as professional work because they are not.

I am also enjoying chasing the Sunsets.  When it is gorgeous and just illuminates the entire sky, it is perfection.  I look at my images and wonder if they can fully capture the beauty of a sunset and the wonder I feel.

GIVEAWAY!

Well since Facebook is being a turd and not allowing Fan pages to do giveaways unless it is through a third party- well Blogger is a 3rd party right- so Giveaway is here instead! The Facebook giveaway was when that fan page hit 350, which I am 25 away from, but that doesn't seem right since I am doing the giveaway here. Soooooooooo, when I get 25 followers to my blog (that's here folks) I will giveaway that FREE 8x10 print of the winners choice. The winner will be chosen at random using random.org.
Now I have given away things on Facebook and my winners there are still waiting for there prints as I am trying to make one big print order to save gas. I just want to acknowledge that I do know who to send what prints to just waiting on a few more frikes (that's my friends/fans on facebook) to tell me what they want as a freebie to place the order.

Some options to consider for FREE...

When the Moon Hits the Sky...

Last night while tucking in my daughter I saw the moon and it was beautiful. Chasing the sun caught in the sunset colors, awesome. I wanted to catch it but didn't have time- the light has a funny way of moving. So tonight I hoped to catch it. Well the timing wasn't the same but it was a lovely crescent shape so I gave it a shot. Got a few bug bites but I got one images I am liking



I am finding night photography is quite tricky, the slightest movement and it's blurred or the wrong exposure and you are screwed and you can't save it as much as you can when you have decent light. So I now have myself a challenge, LOVE IT!

On an evening walk

Went for an evening walk last night and had to go back for my camera. The ducks and the light were just calling to me. Was very soothing to be sitting in the falling light with some old bread feeding and capturing ducks.

Animals are a new subject for me. Flowers don't move or talk back in their own language. I never know when inspiration will strike or what will catch my eye. Sometimes its a simple gesture or a color. Sometimes its shapes or light. It's a constant mystery.

Rejected...huh?

My works have been rejected by a free stock photo exchange. I don't get it. They booted me on technical aspects saying the photos were flat. Is my work crap? I thought I had some good stuff, wonder if I should try again but I feel defeated. I have been having a bad few days and this just tops the cake. Here I have been thinking that I am getting some good stuff and now rejection. Even though I know, I KNOW, I am doing good work I feel like maybe it just plain sucks and I am deluding myself. Doubt how I hate thee.

My Rejected Work.

I got my Pony!

Well I missed this afternoons lightening festival so I camped out for tonight. And I got 3 good shoots, one of which is fantastic in my opinion and I am very proud of. I was all agitated and grumpy till the storm began tonight and I started getting some hope and man nothing and I mean NOTHING cures a bad day mood like a perfect shot. Off to have a peaceful night and sweet dreams...

The urge to shoot

It has struck again, thankfully. After a few weeks without wanting to shoot, I now have the desire to go out and photograph and capture the beauty around me once again. It's a fickle creature the creative drive, she is temperamental and capricious. Some days you shoot and get crap other days you strike gold. Either way for me the exercise is a good thing, the thinking and framing a shot, lining up the lighting, adjusting the crop- awesome. Then when I get home and blow them up it's like a birthday gift. You unwrap and hope you get that pony. Sometimes you do where you least expect it. I hope to find a pony again soon.

Mania- great for art.

It is. The best inspiration comes from manic episodes for me. Crazy swirly feelings, odd ideas- I never know what I can create while manic. But here's the thing- creating can cause it too. The excitement and high from watching an idea born is amazing. The only issue, ok well there's more than one, is that you can't focus on life and sometimes you mess up. Sometimes life needs attention- dinner does need cooked and some times the art isn't good- sometimes it reflects the craziness inside my head. Some nights there's hot dogs for dinner as it's easy and you won't screw that up. Sometimes you write and people can't understand what your saying cause it's all messed and right in your head.

Check this out!

http://photographersofetsy.blogspot.com/2010/07/our-july-slide-show-is-live.html

This is a link to the POE (Photographers of Etsy) blog and you will find two prints of mine. I am so very excited and honored!

Got to remember

There is so much to remember when promoting a business venture- Facebook, Twitter, Etsy for sales, to craft fair or not, flea market or not? and then the blog. Lord help me, I am nuts. I try and shoot 3 times a weeks, it's good mental exercise. Not too mention the more I shoot, the more I can potentially sell. I take photos and capture images as it makes me happy and gives me peace. It has been a long hard road to even want to photograph again. 11 years to be precise.

Welcome!

A little intro- I am a stay at home Mommy in her mid-30's. I love to take pictures for the joy I feel while doing it. These are what catch my eye so my business is mainly a stock photo business, yet I can try and do custom work. Check out my Etsy page or follow me on Facebook @ MJAB Images.