Photo of the Day: Feets

I love unusual portrait requests!  Last year I went down to Ohio to visit my goddaughter and her parents and while I was there they asked me to take some family portraits for them.  Of course I was more than happy to do so, since I love them so much and since they gave me food and a bed for the weekend!  This was a shot they specifically requested and we had so much fun doing it!  Nat had fun sizing herself up against mom and dad... I'm sure if I get to repeat this shot in the future the sizes will be much closer... she's growing so fast!

Photo of the Day: Cozy Corner

Forgive me if I've posted this one before, I'm starting to lose track :o)  This photo was taken in Cleavland (where I am this weekend, visiting my goddaughter!) at a little restaurant where my friends took me last year when I came to visit.  I don't remember the name of the place but they had awesome fries!  This table was set up in the front room where they had a bunch of neat free-standing booths up on stages too.  We sat in the back near the bar, but I bet this place is just packed on the weekends!

Photo of the Day: Peek-a-Boo

This sunflower was trying to peek out from it's bud, and I'm really hoping we start seeing this again soon!  :o)  I'm ready for spring!

Photo of the Day: Who Needs a Tunnel?

As my faithful readers know, I took a short trip to Las Vegas this month with my family.  This photo was taken in the conservatory of the Bellagio hotel-casino which they currently have decked out for the Chinese New Year.  The whole thing is really breathtaking, but I especially loved the way the lighting picked up the colours in this shot!

Photo of the Day: Austin Scott - The Wall

I don't often feature photos with people in them for my blog, because I like to use it as an outlet for my non-portrait stuff, but I really really like this photo :o)  I shot this photo of Austin in 2008 on our Eurotrip, in Berlin.  We had gone out in search of a market and found one along this stretch of wall (not the Berlin wall) that had been painted on almost every inch.  I made him black and white to contrast the colours of the wall and was really pleased with the effect it had on the overall shot.

Attention Graduating Class of 2011!!

Want a chance to get FREE Senior Portraits??

Shutterbug Portraits & Design is currently accepting applications for 2011 Senior Reps!

What's a Senior Rep?  Senior Reps are high school juniors (graduating in 2011) who have fun, outgoing personalities, and are interested in earning a little extra cash by helping Shutterbug Portraits & Design expand our client base!

How does it work?  Senior Reps selected by Shutterbug will get their senior portraits taken for FREE.  Shutterbug will then provide them with flyers featuring their photo and our information to be passed out to other seniors.  For every paid client you help us find, you will be rewarded a $5 cash bonus.

Senior Rep Responsibilities:  Senior Reps will be responsible for passing out Shutterbug fliers in any appropriate venues, to friends and family who are graduating in 2011 and need senior portraits taken.  They are also responsible for helping to promote Shutterbug through their online profiles (become a fan on Facebook, invite friends to be fans, link to Shutterbug when you post your photos online, etc)

Senior Rep Rewards: Senior Reps will receive a senior portrait sitting at any location they wany absolutely free.  This includes as many outfits or props as you want, an online proof album to share with anyone you like, 1 digital negative of your favourite shot, one 8x10 print, two 5x7 prints, 18 wallet prints (can be up to 18 different photos or all the same, or any combination).  Senior Reps can also earn $5 cash for every paid client they book with Shutterbug Portraits & Design for Senior Portraits  ($5 can also be applied toward additional print purchases)

Application Process: If you are interested in being considered for a Shutterbug Senior Rep, please send an email to us at Rachel@ShutterbugDesign.com and include the following information:

1.  A current photo of yourself that you really like

2.  A description of what you would like your own Senior Portraits to look like (location, style, etc)

3.  1 page plan outlining how you plan to help promote Shutterbug Portraits & Design if you are chosen

All applications must be received by Sunday 21 March 2010.  Senior Reps will be selected and notified by Friday 26 March in order to setup April portrait sittings

Photo of the Day: Winter Wonderland

Today's photo is in honour of the complete dumping of snow we got yesterday here in the D!  It was taken several years ago in downtown Rochester.  The Paint Creek was mostly frozen and covered in snow so I took the opportunity to go play on the ice with my camera.  For this particular shot, however, I was standing halfway up the bank looking down onto the ice.

Photo of the Day: Birch Bark Series

Today's Photo is also a commercial!  :o)  I framed this piece out for one of my craft shows last year and was so excited to finally see it all together because when I shot the photos this is exactly what I saw in my head as a finished piece... unfortunately it did not sell at the show, but that means it is now available for purchase on my website (along with may other pieces and other products).  Please check it out and I always welcome feedback on everything (the work itself, my site, pricing, process, etc!) so please feel free to send it along!

Photo of the Day: Stained Glass Splendor

I believe I've mentioned before how much I love stained glass... a friend of mine actually took a class once and made me a Christmas tree ornament out of stained glass.  I would love to learn how to do it myself someday!  This window was in a church where I was taking First Communion photos for a client of mine... of course I had to sneak in some shots just for me!  :o)

Photo of the Day: Butterfly Ball

Tonight I will be attending a fundraiser called the Butterfly Ball (hence today's photo) to benefit "Befriend EB", a local nonprofit organisation dedicated to helping families and children who suffer from Epidemolysis Bullosa (EB).  EB is a disease that is basically having the majority of your body covered in extremely painful blisters.  I became aware of Befriend EB through the Troy Chamber of Commerce, and when I found out about their fundraiser, I donated 2 prize packages for their silent auction.  I'm excited to be attending the event as well, with Austin, and getting to meet the staff as well as the prize winners (they will win a family portrait sitting with me).  I love being able to use my own talents to help others, and this way I can help 2 families create a beautiful memory, while their donations will help many children suffering terrible pain to find some relief.  If you are aware of other organisations that could use donations, I am always looking for new ways to help, so please feel free to send them my way!

Photo of the Day: Wedding Bliss

Congratulations to my friend Cindy and her new husband (as of this evening) Mike!  Cindy and I met at church camp many many years ago and I have become friends with just about her entire family.  Her brother was one of my housemates for awhile back in college as well.  This particular photo was taken back in 2007 at the first wedding I ever got paid to shoot :o)  I'm happy to report that the couple is still happily married today (unfortunately not the case with other weddings I've shot...!)  For those of you in need of a wedding photographer, or for those of you who know someone who is in need of a wedding photographer... send me a note!  :o)  I'm ridiculously reasonable and willing to travel if need be!  Check out some of my other wedding shots on my website www.ShutterbugDesign.com

In all honesty though, this entry is a heartfelt congratulations to Cindy and Mike, may you have a lifetime of wonderful experiences and adventures together as a married couple!  Can't wait to join the club!  :o)

Photo of the Day: Solid as a Rock (Wall)

Today's photo was taken in Lynchburg, TN at the Jack Daniels Distillery.  Those of you who know my work know I like close ups of random objects... my brother and I used to get these science magazines as kids and my favourite one featured a close up macro photo of something and you had to guess what it was.  I almost never got it right but I thought it was so cool how you could get so close to something that you didn't even recognise it for what it was... life lessons eh?

Anyhow I like stonework and this wall was no exception, I loved the texture of it, and the curve that the fish eye gives to it as well.

Photo of the Day: Bicycles Built for Two

This photo was taken in Berlin on my last trip there for the program we were doing at the time.  I loved the colours of it... the two purple bikes contrasted by the leaves made for a great feel I thought.  It was already a dreary yucky day, so taking the rest of the colour out of the photo only enhanced the feeling I had when I shot it.

Photo of the Day: Cheer up Charlie

Today's photo is my own personal pick-me-up.  At the end of last year I was informed that my full-time job was being reduced to a project-only basis due to the company's financial position, which means no more regular cheque and no more benefits.  As a result I've been searching for a new job while picking up as many hours as I can cashiering at a grocery store to try and pay the bills so I don't have to deplete my house fund for when Austin and I get married and need a place to live (since we both still live at home and do NOT want to start married life in the parents' basement...!)  Yesterday was a rough day, being very frustrated with my lack of focus and progress, so I'm posting this photo today because, as Meg Ryan once said "Daisies are the friendliest flowers" so they are going to cheer me up... or they'd better :o)  I am trying to stay positive, but we all have our days... yesterday was mine.  Onward and upward!

Photo of the Day: Tropical Oasis

Today's photo was taken in Las Vegas, NV back in 2005 when my family went there for Christmas.  I don't recall exactly where in Vegas it was taken, but I liked the motion of the photo... wish I were somewhere looking at this today, that's for sure!

Photo of the Day: Be Mine

Happy Valentine's Day all!  I was talking with my brother the other day, musing on the fact that when I was single, I LOVED Valentine's day!  I just adored it, it was a favourite holiday and I looked forward to it very very much.  Whenever I was in a relationship (including the current one) I don't really care that much about it at all.  Weird huh?  Austin and I don't tend to do much special for vday, I think I got a rose the first year, and sometimes we'll do something fun and call it a vday celebration if it falls in the general vicinity of it on the calendar, but that's about it.  Nothing against it, we just don't seem to spend much time on it.  Anyway... :o)
This photo was taken in the Netherlands I loved that the leaf looked like a little heart, and that the contrast between the green of the leaf and the greyness of the trunk and background.

Photo of the Day: Rachel's FUN Challenge

ok this photo is absolutely not being selected to demonstrate my mad photo skills.  It has been selected for an entirely different purpose.  I've been noticing a lot of people I know getting really run down lately.  Not enough people make a point of seeking balance in their lives, and as a result, they miss out on a lot of fun.  Austin and I bought these little army dudes on one of our roadtrips... I don't remember where the gators came from, but somewhere along I-75 we decided to wage a war between the gators and the army dudes.  It was hilarious to us as we drove along and became a permanent memory when one of the army guys heroically gave his life and fell into the vent of my jeep... anyway I wanted to post this to remind all of my readers to take some time this week to just do something FUN.  Forget about who's expecting what, forget about your responsibilities or what people will think and just indulge in even 15 minutes of pure FUN!  Go sledding, do the YMCA in your living room, wrestle with your dog, build a fort with your kids, SOMETHING!  Take the Rachel FUN Challenge and report back, I promise you'll feel so much better about yourself! :o)

Photo of the Day: Shadow Tracker

This photo was taken on one of my inspired winter walks.  I love capturing tracks in the snow, but even more than that I really loved the shadows in this shot.  Seemed an appropriate shot to post given the amount of snow everyone seems to be getting lately (bunch of wusses in these parts I might add, it's as if the entire Michigan population has had a massive collective bout of amnesia and doesn't realise they have faced winters MUCH MUCH MUCH worse than this in the past and managed to go to work, school and drive perfectly fine...)  Hope you are all cozy and warm and can enjoy the beauty that comes with the snow instead of focusing on the inevitable slush to come!!

Photo of the Day: Nostalgia

I'm not sure why but the last two days I have been suffering some serious homesickness interspersed with extreme bouts of nostalgia for the time we lived in Rotterdam.  Hence today's photo.  This is a shot of the Erasmus bridge in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.  I took it on my last trip there in 2008 with Austin.  It was an incredible trip.  This bridge represents a lot for me as we were living there when the bridge was being built and were among the first people to drive across it upon completion.  It was one of the things that was kind of surreal when I came back because it's become such a symbol of the city, and I lived there during a time when it didn't even exist.  Yet when we were there it looked exactly the way I remembered it.  Austin and I walked across it on our trip and this shot was taken from underneath.  It's a beautiful bridge and brings back some really great feelings for me, so I hope you all enjoy it!

2 Things Challenge: Safe/Passage

I'm bummed I didn't get around to the last challenge coz I had a really cool idea for it but just didn't make the time to set up the shot.  Instead I'm jumping on board with this week's theme.  I shot this photo several years ago from the dock of Portofino's, a restaurant Austin had been playing at for the summer.  It was hilarious, I'd never seen anything like it.  These people had converted an old car frame into a boat.  Anyway, thought it'd be a fun one to share for this week's challenge... enjoy!

Photo of the Day: Red Rock Faces

Greetings dear readers!  Today's photo is brought to you from none other than Las Vegas, NV in the Red Rock Canyon!  I was showing my trip photos to Austin and this one he kept flipping back to and saying "there's a face!" it was something I totally didn't notice at the time and now I can't look at the photo without seeing it.  See if you can find it!

2 Day Vaca

Do NOT panic, everything is under control!

Dear Readers, I spent the better part of last week on vacation in Las Vegas (can you say "photo opps"?!) and forgot to schedule the extra blogs ahead of time to account for the day coming home and the next day's work schedule.  As a result I will be starting this week's photos a little late so apologies!  I promise to make up for it with some really stellar shots!  :o)  Hope all is well with y'all and stay tuned... will be posting again starting Wednesday!

Photo of the Day: This Ain't My First Rodeo

Somehow just about any animal is cute when in baby form :o)  This is a baby calf waiting to be roped at the Gladwin Rodeo last summer.  Austin was playing two days at the opening entertainment for the Rodeo, so we went up for the weekend and stayed on Austin's family property up there and hung out during the day.  It turned into a nice weekend away and I got to take rodeo pictures which are always stressful but rewarding for me :o)

Photo of the Day: Cherries Jubilee!

My brother and I both work at Plum Market.  One of the things I love about Plum is their produce section.  Every time I work, when I walk through the produce section I want to eat everything I see!  We're in the midst of a cherry season right now and they are DELICIOUS and I really really wish I could afford to buy them and eat them all the time (they're pretty pricey, since it IS a gourmet grocery store and all...) Anyway, it inspired me to share this photo with you all.  Hope you enjoy, and hope it inspires you to buy stuff from my site so I can afford to buy some delicious cherries lol!

Photo of the Day: Coal Play

This photo was taken in Lynchburg, TN at the Jack Daniels Distillery.  We went on a tour a couple of years ago on a Nashville trip.  I took a bunch of photos (shocker, I know) and this was a personal fave.  I've said before that I love a good afternoon sun, and when you give me a heap of coal to shoot in light like that?  Happiness :o)

Photo of the Day: Canoes for Two

This photo was taken at a retreat facility I went to somewhere in central Michigan for a weekend thing with church once.  (How's that for specifics?)  The canoes reminded me of a pair of shoes or something just sitting around waiting to be put away.  Had it been warmer that day I would have been longing to put one in the water and take a little trip down the river.  Lucky for the owners it was cold and yucky, and I only had a 15 minute break :o)

Photo of the Day: Viva Las Vegas

Today I am on my way to Las Vegas with my family for a mini-vaca!  Woohoo!  Be on the lookout next week for some photos from that, but for today's entry I thought I'd leave you with this piece from a trip there several years ago.  This is a glass installment at the Bellagio Hotel-Casino that I just loved.  It was a part of their whole botanical garden thing, and was quite large, very impressive!  Hope you enjoy the colours and the craftsmanship!

Photo of the Day: Flight of Light

Austin and I love Gatlinburg, TN.  We usually make it there at least once a year, and this photo was taken downtown along the creek that runs through the town.  My family has a soft spot for blue herons so I was really excited to capture this guy taking off from his perch on a rock in the water.  I particularly love the way the light catches some of the movement in the wings.

Photo of the Day: Light the Lantern

This weekend was fantastic!  I shot this photo in downtown Ann Arbor on a little self guided tour through their ice sculpting extravaganza.  I love lanterns like this so I was excited it turned out well :o)  Wishing you all much love and light this week as you progress through your lives!!