...about me!

i always read cute little comments that people make about themselves and their lives and think, why am i so boring?  so, i thought i'd come up with a list of little known facts about me.    what is 'little-known' about you?

• my favorite food is tuna salad (recipe below)
• i cannot type - and typos are guaranteed
• i have a harley davidson
• i played the piano during my entire childhood and thought about applying to juliard
• i was in the NFL and ranked nationally for 4 years 
• my favorite color is brown
• i haven't had a hair cut in over 9 months!
• i do not have a tv
• i have over 100 hostas in my yard
• i am an alpha delta pi
• i used to be an optician
• i know how to 'sweat pipe'
• i'm ambidextrous
• i have no cavities
• i have a shih tzu and 2 cats (everyone know this!)

TUNA SALAD

• 1 family-sizes pouch of drained water packed tuna fish - i like the pouch!
• 1/2 of a celery bunch - diced
• 5 dill pickles - good-sized ones! - diced
• hard boiled eggs (2-3) and i only use the white (i don't like the yellow part)
• 2 T sweet relish
• 1/4 small onion - finely diced
• 1/2 c (spicy) brown mustard - spicy is optional, brown is not
• 1/4 cup low fat hellman's mayo -optional - helps hold it together (i usually just add more mustard)

Slop it all together and refrigerate - totally better the next day. 

i usually make a double recipe .  if you notice, this recipe is low fat, but not on purpose.  i just like it that way!  to really zing it up, throw in a T of dijon mustard.  my mom makes the best tuna salad, but no matter what i do, mine doesn't taste like hers, so i made up  my own.

well, tomorrow the iPhone will be available.  what a great gizmo!  I'd love to have one, but it's not in my budget.   

i do love my iPods, though!    i bought my first one because i got such a great deal on it - a little shuffle.  i had an amazon gift certificate, so i think it cost me about $40.  since i loved it so much, i got a 'real' iPod - right before the video iPod was released - so i got a good deal on that one, too.  and of course, i could wait no longer to have the video iPod, so once it was released, i did splurge.  i really love how i can download videos - i have an episode of PINKS on it - beacause a freind of mine was on the show (and won!!!), and i also have episodes of The Office on it.  it's awesome when i have to fly to be able to watch something.

i spend HOURS in iTunes looking for music - HOURS!  right now i have a lot of delerium in my most listened to folder.  the best thing about iTunes is that you don't need an iPod to use it.  i spend a lot of time at my computer - actually a RIDICULOUS amount of time at my computer - and i just play music right through my computer.

LOOK WHAT My wonderful, amazing, terrific sister came home with surprise last week - a little pink shuffle!!!  i love this little thing, too!!  i clip it on myself and listen to my books and music during the day at work.

this is pretty funny - when i was in arizona a few months ago, i stopped in a drugstore to buy stuff.  i forgot my razor, so i bought a new one, and in the package were 'free earphones'.  what an odd combo - don't you think? razor and earphones??  i got that razor because of the earphones, and i have to say they are AWESOME!  they are in their own little holder.  that marketing worked!  and i love the little earphones.  i saw these earphones at the 'regular' store and they are like $19 (without the razor!)- so i feel like i got another deal!

Shelly and Chance stopped by while they were in town to go over their album.  We photographed their wedding a couple of years ago and we just did a pre-design for them!  We now include the pre-design in our coverage, because life gets so busy that picking out photos and 'getting around' to everything becomes a challenge! 

They brought a new addition with them...  isn't she gorgeous!?

There are a few more, but those are on the way to the new family, who lives in sunny California!  Who would think that as Pittsburgh wedding photographers, Bellissima would photograph so many people from all over the country?

My baby has been a little sluggish, so we went to the doctor today.  She said his back leg seems to be bothering him.  I gave him a 1/2 of a baby asprin - THAT was interesting - and he seems to be a little better.  He did not like to have his temperature taken, and he was very anxious while at the vet.  

Xander is very thin - i cannot believe he weighs 11 lbs.  He might have a soft palette, which is why he's been coughing, but that is nothing to worry about.  So now we just wait to see if he feels better.  If not, he'll need x-rays and blood work - just like a person.  I'm looking into heath insurance for him.

We received some new 'stuff' today from our lab!  We like to hand-write notes, and we ordered some new cards.  WOW!  they are beautiful!  We even printed a photo on the back.  These would be simply STUNNING as Thank You cards, or 'fine art' note cards.  This one was printed on 'pearl' paper - you MUST see it in person - gorgeous!

 and here's the BACK of a UV coated card - so SHARP!

We found these little white gloves to handle photos.  (so nice to keep finger prints off.)  I wear them when I check things in.

We also recieved some more folio cases for our viewable proof cd's.  We loved our embossed ones, but these are terrific, too!  We're always loooking for something beautiful and exclusive, and these fit the bill.

I recently learned about Google Docs and Spreadsheets and WOW!  is this awesome!

Brenda and I often want to work on the same spreadsheet. We are always asking each other what needs to be done next, and we always 'double-do' stuff - UGH!  We had this spreadsheet that we shared, but it was kind of a pain to update and something was always kind of goofy.  BUT, with Google, we can work off of the same sheet at the same time!!  I can see that something is waiting, and work on it, then update the sheet so Brenda doesn't waste her time doing something I've just done.  We can keep certain documents, like contract forms and client detail forms in here.  It's like an Excel spreadsheet online! It's awesome - i LOVE spreadsheets!  What a way to keep track of what we need to do for clients!

I learned about this from a fabulous photographer, Timothy Beckford - the one and only TimCo.  This is one guy who cannot sit still.  He is an Orlando and destination wedding photographer and always traveling to amazing locations all over the world, so we're using the Google tools to communicate and keep track of the design work he needs. 

Since I liked the Docs and Spreadsheets so well, I also started to play with all the Google tools.  Google calendar - another winner!  I can make a calendar for me, and more!

All you have to do is get a gmail account.  I'm busybee1@gmail.com.  Then, when you sign into gmail you'll see the links at the top of the page.  The calendar is very nice, and will text stuff to my phone.  Of course I'm getting ready to play with the Photos link.  i LOVE Google!!!

I thought I'd let you know that the photographs from Melissa and Phil's rehearsal at Heinz Field were released this week.  We were so fortunate to get a 'grand tour' of the field and the steeler's locker room - not like any locker room I would expect!  Simone was our tour guide, and she was a doll!  The favors for the guests were special Terrible Towels made up with Melissa ans Phil's names on them - so perfect! And the guests signed a special ball...

Simone took us down to the field, but not onto the grass - how perfect the grass looks right now!  The field looks small compared to when you see it on TV - and it was strange to see no one in the stands.  It's the Steelers 75th Anniversary, and there are emblems all over to celebrate...

Then we headed into the locker room.  There were HUGE emblems on the floor - and they are SACRED.  No one is allowed to touch them.  We understand that usually they are lifted up when guests tour the locker room, but they were still on the floor when we went to the room.  Everyone was very well behaved and no one touched them, as it is firmly believed that this would bring the steelers bad luck. 

Thanks to the Heinz Field staff for a fabulous party and a wonderful tour!  If you are interested in having a party or even having a Wedding Reception at Heinz Field, contact Cayce Little at the Coka-Cola Great Hall.  We have photographed a wedding at the Great Hall at Heinz Field and I must say that everything associated with the Steeler organization is first rate - I especially remember the fabulous food and the elegant atmosphere.

Here is a link to Melissa & Phil's web page - just click the link that says "rehearsal proofs!" to see the rest - this evening was a blast!

This wedding was all style and grace.  Melissa was one of the happiest, most excited brides ever!  She was over flowing with excitement and enjoyed every moment of this beautiful day.  Phil greeted his guests graciously and with such style.  This is one groom who was truly comfortable in a tax - and looked great, too!

I'll let you get right to the Moving Pictures.  (I've got to note that the brides' brother blows a mean saxophone!)

I love to post lots of photos here, but this one image seems to say it all...

Here are a few more~

Shoes from Ann Taylor

Melissa's flowers were by Hepatica - beautiful blooms!   They found a fabulous Rolls Royce limousine to take the groomsmen from the Renaissance Hotel to the Church in STYLE!

After having her hair and makeup done at Esspa salon, this 'Audrey Hepburn' bride slipped into her beautiful beaded gown for a joyous stroll down the isle with Dad to her handsome groom. 

After the ceremony, they greeted their guests guests just outside St. Scholastica's before Molly's Trolley carried them off to the Pittsburgh Field Club for great photographs and a wonderful reception!  Julie Driver can help you with information about the club (412.963.3479)

I must say the one thing, besides the style and grace of this wedding couple that really stood out to me was the MUSIC!  The the band was Studio E and they were simply amazing.  It was a pleasure to work with Brian Parker, again, too!  If you need a videographer, give him a buzz 412.655.4848.

Congratulations Melissa & Phil!  We'll have lots more photographs coming soon!

Melissa and Phil had their rehearsal at HEINZ FIELD last night - and what a great time!  this is their guest book - i can't wait to give it to them.  stop back for more pictures tomorrow evening...

i'm off to shoot the wedding - what an elegant affair this will be! 

this post is for professional photographers! 

First, I am very proud to be launching a new adventure!  There has been a lot of work to go into this one. AND I must say, I'm not alone.  I'll be making a special announcement about that in the near future, as I want to tell  you how this is really different. 

I believe there is a need for truly custom album design.  A resource that photographers can go to for help to design their own albums, have a custom design created for them, or have someone who can become 'their designer'.  I've been asked to do this by a number of photogs - which is so nice!  So it's finally here!  Just a little seed right now, but there is so much in the works - you'll want to stop back a lot!  To keep up on the progress please sign up for the Newsletter.  And if you know someone who needs design work, please send them this way....

www.bellissimadesignsolutions.com

NEXT...

one reason i hated the idea of 'special lighting' was the thought of lugging all that junk around.  and i must say the last few weddings, while the lighting has been great, lugging the gear stinks!

i remembered Zack saying he uses a golf bag to travel on an airplane with all his lighting gear.  this made be think of the little bag i used to have for taking a few clubs to play a par 3, and thought that it MIGHT work for the gear.

Look at this little bag i found!!!  

no, i'm not going golfing - it's for lighting gear!  BUT it is a golf bag.  i found this one at Dick's Sporting Goods, but you could get one anywhere that has golf stuff.  it's called a 'sunday bag', and they are usually used to carry a few clubs when you play a par 3 course.  it's the PERFECT size for the avenger light stand and 60" umbrella i carry.  the umbrella can even be put on the outside of the bag, the way a regular golf bag holds an umbrella. this is GREAT,  but the BEST part is that there is a little pouch on the side that is perfect for a 580ex flash, the adapter, 2 pocket wizards an batteries!  and there are lots of little pouches that usually hold a golf ball or two that you can put 'stuff' in, like biz cards. AND you could put pens where the tees would usually go.  ALL THIS FOR ONLY ABOUT $20!!!!!  check out your local sporting goods store and ask for a SUNDAY BAG they are perfect for the lighting stuff, as you can see!

by the way, i used to play a mean round of golf, and was the medalist on my high school golf team for 4 years. i played about 36-45 holes a day (i was a kid - i had nothing else to do!) of course now, i just play 'driving range'.  much more fun!  and only takes 1/2 hour.

ciao for now!

~robin