Taxes!

Who doesn't love doing taxes!!?


I have an amazing tax lady this year to help me though, since I have so much other stuff to keep track of now having business expenses and such.

It's really funny... Steph and I were just saying, "Where does all the money go...?"
I sat down and figured out all the business expenses in the last year. All I can say is "WOW. THAT'S where it all went!" LOL!

I'm very careful with how I spend my business money though. I usually do a lot of research on equipment and products so that I know I'm getting the best-- and I also try to find the best deal. www.resellerratings.com has helped me a lot-- I have ordered equipment from Canoga Camera, B&H, Adorama, Calumet, and Profeel. Beach Camera also is a good company. They each have great prices and awesome customer service. I get memory cards (Lexar and SanDisk) when they are on sale at Best Buy, B&H and even Office Depot. Aaron has done all of the hardware purchasing-- He's got a Computer Science degree... I think I'll let him handle that:) He saved us a lot of money by purchasing separate parts and building our desktop computer. He's good at researching the best products and prices too. It's important to do researching when you're going to buy such important equipment!

My friend Erin is starting her first year in business and we were talking about the list of things that you have to get in the first year of business (equipment, software, hardware, websites, educational stuff)-- The list is SO long! My list is definitely shorter this year, but I'm thinking the "list" never goes away!

I can at least say that of the business purchases I have made, I only regret two of them!
1) The bigger camera bag I got. It is so unbalanced and awkward to carry! But, I am thankful I have a bag to put all my equipment in. A bigger bag was necessary. It's kind of funny, though...it has this really long random strap on the bottom of it (it really serves no purpose). I try to tuck the strap in, and it always falls out and tickles my legs or drags on the ground, or gets caught in things. Steph and I carpooled to a reception once, and she goes, "WHAT is that NOISE...??" We couldn't figure it out, and then she goes, "IT'S YOUR CAMERA BAG STRAP!! haha!!!" It was caught in the car door and was flapping against the side of the car as we were driving! HAHA!! When I get home, I always forget to cut it off or do SOMETHING with it. Maybe I'll do that before this weekend's wedding.
2) Batteries!!! I went through SO many AA batteries for my flash this year-- I finally invested in rechargeable batteries at the end of the year. I should have done that sooner!

I hope I can at least get SOME money back this year. I have no clue what to expect, since 2007 was my first full year in business. It will be interesting.
Oh, taxes...
(This is a photo of me doing taxes)

Wow, what a month! Let's take a step back.

As of tomorrow, March has come and gone already!!

I've been busy with editing these days, but I promise I will start to update more come the end of April! I am so thankful that I finally have the time I need to get some things done (now that a lot of the business stuff is being taken care of and figured out!). I feel that I'm still trying to recover from my first full year in business. I have learned so much, and I can't wait to use what I've learned.

I also hope to hang out with my husband, who I have hardly had time to see in the past two months. He has been incredible though. One example was that when I got back from the convention last week, I came home to a completely clean house-- AND all of my laundry was done. We do our laundry separately (not a big deal--but maybe different than most couples?) so it was SO amazing of him to take on that huge load! (And I do mean HUGE load... I hadn't been able to do laundry for well over a month. God bless Aaron!!!).

Some really great news-- a friend and fellow photographer, Erin, is getting married this weekend. I am SO looking forward to shooting her wedding! Erin also works for First Day Photo, where I worked for two years. I'll be covering a few days there this week since Erin is off for obvious reasons!:)

Now that laundry is caught up, I have no excuse but to catch up on sharing photos with you as well! I will attempt 2 posts per week at least.
Samantha and Andrew's wedding, September 2007 (absolutely gorgeous day):


Steph used the 70-200 from the back of the church (we love that lens!!) to get this shot. So pretty (This is also my church!)



Some 'tude before the reception!



(Steph used the 70-200 for this one too-- GORGEOUS fall colors that day, and gorgeous shot, Steph!:-D)


End of the first dance. Steph and an incredible angle on this one (not to mention rockin composition)! You never know which way a groom is going to dip!--Thank you to Sam and Andrew for dipping this way! haha! :-D


Andrew (and person who belongs to that hand) enjoying the dance:

Andrew and me!

Samantha and her dad, Greg--who was my 4th grade Sunday School teacher:)

Excited to be brother-in-laws!

I'm back!

Hey everyone! I'm back from WPPI! I'll try to update you a bit later this week with photos because I have some work to do in the next couple of days. Basically, it was an awesome experience. Also, Steph and I spent our last day (Thursday) hiking in the desert with my aunt (who lives in Vegas) and then 12 hours later, we were back in the blizzards of Minnesota. Talk about a change! (And not a very welcome change, at that!)

I hope you all had a great Easter. Aaron and I went to church, then had brunch at my parents' house, and then headed over to Aaron's parents' house for supper. It was a very good eating day, as well as a good day for reflecting.

My friend Dan played Jesus for their church production. It was a pretty big deal and Dan did a great job, from what I hear, and I feel badly that I missed it because I was out of town. Here are a few amazing photos Kinsey Anderson took of "The Thorn" production.






Thanks, Kinsey, for allowing me to share those photos!

Dan is one of my best friends and is dating one of my best friends, Sarah--she and I have been friends since 2nd grade-- We were in orchestra and track, went through many years of tennis together and were captains our senior year, we went through middle school, high school, and college together--which is where we got even closer. She was also my maid of honor. Aaron and I hang out with Sarah and Dan whenever we get the chance(I suppose that is true with all of our friends, ha:)). Sarah and I have our own date on Saturday. We're going to see the Minnesota Orchestra play some Rachmaninoff. Sarah called me from a silent auction asking if she should bid on the tickets because she knows Rachmaninoff is my fave. Call me an orch dork, but I am thrilled.

VEGAS!

I've been looking forward to this trip for 6 months!

Steph and I will be in Vegas for the week, attending WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International)!

I have an incredibly packed itinerary, and I'm not really sure if I'll be able to sleep tonight because I'm so nervous and excited! I'll be doing some shooting, meeting lots of other photographers, filling my brain with all sorts of information, and visiting the trade show to see what types of products or equipment I might be interested in using. I've heard only good things about WPPI... And it's in Vegas, which means WARM WEATHER! I heard it's suppose to snow here in MN on Monday. Isn't THAT too bad! :)

I'll be volunteering at the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep booth on Sunday morning for a couple hours, and then also for 45 minute chunks on Tuesday and Wednesday morning as well.

On Thursday, Steph and I will be meeting up with my aunt Judy who lives in Vegas and are hoping to go hiking in the Red Rock Canyon! I don't get to see her much, so I'm thrilled!

I am really going to miss my husband. Other than the semester I studied abroad, this will be the longest time I've been away from him! (I know, boo hoo, right?).
But we'll be headed to Vegas together in April when HE has a convention out there. Vegas 2 times in a month? That's nuts.

I'll update you when I get back, of course!!


My website is still under construction-- I had hoped it would be finished by now, but it will have to wait until I get back! I am SO EXCITED, because Nancy Harms has agreed to let me use her music on my site!