Inky-Dinky-Do Blog

Our Blog is Moving / Bakersfield, CA's Newborn, Child, Senior & Family Photographer

So we have the other site ready to go so we are moving our blog reader over to the new Blogsite!  It is the blog + galleries and website.  So now you don't have to navigate to the blog- you will land on it!  Swoopy!

 

Come on over....

http://www.inky-dinky-do.com

 

Join the party!

The MS Walk / Bakersfield, CA inky-dinky-do team

Thanks guys for making our Halloween charity drive so great joining in the Halloween shoot!  We had a great run out and lots of fun.  We posted the images to the facebook fan page.  We are happy to report that we raise over $5K for our team this year!  Woo Hoo!  We did it with the help of great clients & wonderful fellow photographers around the country.

Tema inky-dinky-do raise a little over $5300 so far and still counting!

The walk was fun and we were joined by Lyndi, Amanda, Paula, Stacia & Skylar along with our own family.  Thanks so much for coming and joining in!  :)

The finish line group!

Thanks for a great time ladies!    

 

My favorite new summer salad / Bakersfield Photographer

 OK, I know this has nothing to do with photography, but some of you know I've been trying to cook a little more.  Well I have fallen in LOVE with this easy peasy salad.  It is light, refreshing, perfect for summer and so easy.  

 recipe on the Food Network

Ingredients

• 1 pound large button mushrooms, trimmed, cleaned and thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• kosher salt  and freshly ground black pepper
• 2-ounce piece Parmesan

Directions

Serving suggestion: assorted French cheeses and Poilane Bakery-style breads

In a medium salad bowl, mix together the mushrooms and parsley.

In a small bowl, whisk together the oil and lemon juice until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Add the oil mixture to the salad bowl and toss until all the ingredients are coated. Using a vegetable peeler, shave the Parmesan on top and serve.

Forgive the iphone photo when it was dark, but I was concentrating on the meal not the photography!

Do you like making sandcastles? / Bakersfield Photographer

How fun is it to make a sandcastle with the kids?  I had to share some sandcastles that we stumbled upon.  The images are not mine, nor is the talent it took to do these!  We just had to share though!

   

(Images via joyriding hood, anvari)(Images via barnesandnoble, mtanga, thecontaminated, nonch, kav p) (Images via gary hayes, 2, 3, singham)(Images via sandinyoureye, clark-w, uphaa, notcot)(Images via snowriderguy, julenx, dirtybeach.tv, toxel, myspace)(Images via unp, image-fun, unp, sandinyoureye, scene360)(Images via rwez, mylionking, thepointofitall, toxel)(Images via gizmoave, asianoffbeat, officespam, pleasantmorningbuzz, sandinyoureye)(Images via unique elegance, zscheyge, jamesclay)

So if you are moved to go create now and make your own creation check out the tools you need and some helpful tips for even the most basic of sandcastle on Can You Dig It.

 

Photography as a Career? / Bakersfield Photographer

 

inky-dinky-do gets a lot of questions via email, but questions about photography as a career is the most common one for us from the teenagers.  So we thought we would share a recent conversation.  :)  If you guys want we can make this an on-going conversation.  This is the first part of a conversation via email with a very bright and spunky Junior in high school. 

I like photography and think I will major in it in college, is that a good idea?

No.  There are a lot of starving artist out there.  If you really want to be an artist and make your living from art- then major in business so you know if you are making money!  The art can be how you make your money.

 

Is being a photography rockstar fun?

Well it is funny to think of me as a photography "rockstar" but it isn't really what you think.  I know it might sound glamorous traveling and fashion shoots... the reality is time in airports, missing flights, and fashion shoots are work.  There are a lot of people to make happy.  You are simply a means to an end not a rockstar when you are on set.  I know there are a lot of photographers out there right now promoting the rockstar lifestyle- the truth is they are selling to other photographers.  That is marketing.  So it is like anything else.  Ask yourself what are they selling.  

Don't you make a lot of money though?

In truth, not as much as used to be possible.  Photography as a profession used to be something you could easily raise your family on.  Now, even fabulous studios are taking a little hit financially.

Why?  There are more photographers it must pay well?

Ahhh, that is part of the issue.  Photography used to be something mysterious and you had to understand principles of art and know how to use the equipment. Now you find people get a camera for Christmas and set it to auto and call themselves a photographer.  It really is a buyer beware situation.  Sure they got a couple good images of their friends kids in a field one day, but that doesn't mean they can perform in a situation that is less than ideal or get the results that people expect from a professional.  (yes, this is a sore spot in our industry these days)  I think the you will find 1/2 the time you are better off taking the photo yourself or paying for someone that really understands art.  The middle ground now is people playing- which is fine, but why pay for that?

If I like photography, why not make money at it then?  

I equate choosing photography as a career to choosing to be a restaurant owner.  You can love to cook, but not want to run a restaurant!  Share you gift with the ones you love and make your money from an industry that can feed your family.  When you do photography as a job- it is still a job.  Like any job there are things to keep in mind- do you have a degree in marketing, accounting, management?  No, well then you will need to hire someone to do those things.  When you enter the world of business you have to treat it like a business.  Taxes, insurance (not just your equipment, I'm talking liability, etc).   

So what then would you tell a young person to go into that likes photography?

CGI- seriously.  Those that are artistically inclined should be chasing this carrot.  CGI has made it's way from the big screen to the small screen and is used more than people realize.  Those green screens are everywhere and you don't even know it.  This is where I see a future for a budding artist these days. Anytime you are choosing a career path you should ask yourself where is the profession headed and what kind of future is there.  Farrier (horse shoe guy) was once a great profession, now not so much.  :)

So do you regret going into photography?

I can't say that I do, but I have told my own daughter that isn't a career path I would choose today if I was young.  I would however encourage people to enjoy photography!  I'm not sure why all of a sudden if you like it you have to be "in business".  What happened to the love of photography.  A hobby isn't a bad thing- it is liberating!  You get to photograph what you want, when you want and how you want, strictly for personal enjoyment.  Who wouldn't love that!  I know some great artist that love photography, but love it as a hobby.  Doesn't make them less of an artist. :)  Some of them are pretty smart- job they love and a hobby they love- that makes for a very well rounded person! 

So there is a snipet from a recent conversation.  I know some people think I'm unapproachable.  Not even, I love to talk photography, love to talk to those that are thinking about it is as a career or a hobby.  Now, I wont friend you on Facebook if you are local photographer. (policy I set in place a long time ago and can't change now!)   But if you have questions I'm happy to answer.  :) 

Happy Valentine's Day! / Bakersfield Photographer

 I hope everyone has a great Valentine' Days!  I am happy to report that my, always romantic husband, left me super cute little Rachel Hale valentines all over... where he knew I would find them. Brushing my teeth on the mirror, at my computer, on my office TV, the fridge when I got my coffee, on my purse when I went out, my laptop when I sat down for the night... even in a box of chocolates that he knew I would eventually sneak into the kitchen to pillage come the afternoon!  Each one made me smile.

Top that off with an incredible meal we made together and you have the perfect Valentine's Day.  My husband knows that the big King crab legs he brought home made my heart skip a little more than a bouquet of roses would this year.  

* I  have to update this because Mike surprised me with two beautiful rose bushes (ok, they are thorny little stumps right now) but everytime I go out and pick a rose this summer I will know they are from Valentine's Day!  This is a family tradition of sorts borrowed from my Dad.  :)

Happy Valentine's Day to all and don't forget guys, it is how much you spend, it is about making your Valentine feel special all the time, not just one day out of the year.  :)  

Amazon, the gift givers friend

So I know this isn't exactly photo related, ut today is Mike's birthday!  I love gadgets and things that make my life easier.  Well good old Amazon is my latest love.  Did you know you can go on and make a wish list?  Now on that wish list you can put virtually any tangible item you can think of.  Your family and friends can then shop for you via your wish list!  This helps avoid that bright pink Snuggie that you know someone thinks is a good idea for you. 

Check it out.  It also will make some suggestions of items you might like to spend more money on based on your searches and items on your wish list.  Pretty savvy.  This is how Mike got me the perfect pot rack for my birthday.  See, you just thought he was paying more attention than needed on that one.  So if you are smart you can set your husband up for success with this one- he can buy exactly what you want and look like he spent all day doing it. 

Now, inky-dinky-do, isn't on the Wish List- but we will have to find a way to fix that!  In the meanwhile we can always set you up with a gift certificate or friendly reminder call to the husband.

 

Happy Birthday to Mike!

We hope next year the Broncos give you a victory for your birthday! 

 

iPad... I like?

Apple debuted the much anticipated iPad today.  It is somewhere between and iPhone and a laptop  I guess.  Think of it as a big iPhone.  It will range from $499- $829.  I would think that something like this would have phone capabilities too- maybe cause it reminds me of an iphone, but it doesn't.  On some levels it reminds me of a laptop- without the protection.  I know that my iPhone screen would be scratched up something fierce if I didn't have the cover I have.  So this must has some super big cover it is going to go in too so it doesn't get ruined.  For $829 I don't want scratches!

They do sell a case and a keyboard I see for it now.  I'm on the fence.  I'm not sure why I need this?  It is big enough to be like carrying around a laptop, but lacking the function of the laptop.  Yet, kind of swoopy like and iPhone, but I have a laptop & an iPhone so trying to figure out why I would need this.

Size and weight
Height:  9.56 inches (242.8 mm)
Width: 7.47 inches (189.7 mm)
Depth: 0.5 inch (13.4 mm)
Weight: 1.5 pounds -1.6 pounds

Today is our anniversary!

Who doesn't love an anniversary?  I can't help but celebrate with my wonderful husband.  We were married 6 years ago today and it feels like 6 months.  Time has flown by and so I'm taking the day off work- back to share more great things later! :)

 

The HUNT winner is......

We are happy to announce the Winner of the 2009 Hunt...

Marie Davis! 

Marie has won... 5 hours of private photographic teaching by Stephanie complete with lunch!   This is the most requested thing at the studio and usually is reserved for Stephanie working with professionals at a couple grand a day- so enjoy!  Marie also wins a Complimentary Portrait Session & a Wall Portrait!  

How did she win?  We liked her dedication- her willingness to even get the dog involved and face it the Lush one is funny.  :)  She realy worked hard to get our logo in there too!  I loved that Marie brought her own unique view point- the something snappy- the only person that didn't go for the photo idea on that one!  Way to go Marie!

The Hunt List...

1) Something snappy

2) Something Moolicious

3) Fluff

4) 5 Golden Rings

 

5) inky-dinky-do + You = ?

6) have Mercy...

7) Zoom zoom

8) team work

9) a tower

10) show me a mascot- bonus if you are with them - triple bonus if you incorporate our logo!

11) feathers, fur or fins?

12) you with someone in uniform- and oh yeah you need to make them smile & thumbs up!

13) something Lush

14) a favorite holiday treat

15) come on Mama show me Drama

16) a test

17) spell something out- your can't use actual letters or fonts. 

18) tacky, tacky, tacky...

19) Symbol everyone knows

20) you must be on or at the Edge

And we know you are all wanting to know if I finished..... I didn't.  I know, I know.  I couldn't get it all done!  So those of you that did enter and didn't win- you still won! 

That is right a session and wall portrait gift certificate has been emailed to you.  A $400 gift because I'm a slacker- you gotta love that! 

Thanks for all the fun guys!  Now we are back to planning for the upcoming early Spring Specials!