STALKING

I was doing research for a book I'm writing and found the following tips online. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
 
Stalking is tough. But it doesn't have to be! These three tips will help:
1) Megaphones are stalking cancer. It may seem like common sense to some, but they're loud, they're visible, and frankly, they're unnecessary. Try stalking without one and you'll finally realize how stupid you were all these years.
2) Cancer is stalking cancer. Nobody wants to be stalked by some sicko (gross!). Instead, stay super healthy and light on your feet by not having cancer.
3) Dress for success. A nice leafy green jump suit, with a blazer that has twigs and leaves on it will work very well when you're hiding in nearby shrubs. Don't wear anythign that will stand out, like a yellow vest or a hat that's on fire. That's basically it. Happy Hunting!

Feel like this ever?

ha ha ha! This is one of my favorite commercials. Enjoy your mid-week laugh.

Trade? Anyone?

Hey all,

So lately I've been trying to fix up our house.  And our funny home-owners insurance has decided that we don't need as much money as we think we need to fix the basment. Or even get it back to where it was before the awesome flood of 2010. 

Anyway, that puts me in a bit of a predicament.  If you know me, you know I can't sit still with a giant mess in my house.  So here's my proposal.

First, Im all about trading.  What you can do for what I can do.

If you know how, or know anybody who knows how, to do the following, and you want to trade for a sweet photography package including prints and frames, let me know:

1.  Drywall and mud (1 1/2 walls) / ceiling texture in one room.
2.  Concrete patio over the area that is now a giant mud pit.  (Of course, Mark will help out).
3.  Soffett (is that how you spell it?) and gutter so our ceilings don't cave in from all the bird nests and poo up in the attic.

There you have it.  If you want to trade, I'm game.  You can email me:

erinsummerill(at)hotmail.com

Rue and Bear : Photography Tips for Kids

1. Have an assistant. I've been trying for weeks now to get a good shot of Ruby, but that squirrly girl won't have nothing to do with it. Every single time I get the camera out, push out my light and prop her little buns on a chair she starts screaming. Luckily for me, Shanna from JUST SO stopped by. She helped me wrangle in this wild one for some cute shots. Without her, Ruby just might have escaped yet another day of picture taking.

2. Use Candy. Candy works wonders, believe me, I know. If you tempted me with a box of Hot T's or some M&M's, I'd probably do whatever you wanted...well you know what I mean. In the first shot Ruby is looking at the candy, and in the second shot, she's kissing Teddy so she can get her piece of candy. 

3.  Shoot in Continuous focus on your Auto Focus or switch to manual. It takes to long for your camera to lock on a target when they're all squirrely, so make it easier on yourself.  Continuous shooting is the way to go!

To find out more random photography tips, you can always check my photo blog: www.erinsummerillphotography.com/blog

Or take a class from me.  Email for more info.

To Mark : Luv Erin

grateful.

I'm grateful that I have debt to pay off. A lot of debt.
Because it gives me something to work for. A goal at the end of the road.
It keeps me busy.
And it keeps me focused.
Photography started as a way to pay down Mark's school loans, and to help with our finances when he was out of work. Since I started, I can't say it's been easy, but I finally feel:

Busy.

Not a little, but so busy that sometimes I feel overwhelmed. Like I'm drowning in To-Dos. Sometimes, like yesterday, I didn't have time to change out of my PJ's until it was too late, and then I realized it was time to go to bed.

Today I woke up feeling a little cranky about how busy I feel, but then I realized I'm ungrateful.
Truly ungrateful for what I've been given. Ungrateful for the debt that gave me my college degree, and home, and even my babies. Ungrateful that being busy, could just possibly be my talent. My calling. Me.
So, I sat down today, forcing myself not to complain, and thought it out.
I would be sad if I had nothing to do. Depressed by boredom.  I'm ADD that way.  I need to be moving, doing, working, or helping to keep my mind alert and my psyche sane. I feel a constant need to be a productive human being. I NEED to be busy.
Does that even make sense? (I know sometimes, especially to my sweet hubby, it doesn't.)

So busy as I a may be, and stressed as I may seem, without all these things to keep me busy, I wouldn't be

ME.

Good Lookin' Old People

Today I shot my mom and dad...Nothing special.  Just a Sunday shoot, in regular clothes.  After I edited the image, I amused myself with the following scenario.  I repeat, the following is a figment of my imagination. 

Setting:  Somewhere in small town, USA in the not too distant future.

Old Lady:  Now, Vern, that there is some good lookin' old people. 

Old Man:  Why yes, Lucille, I quite agree.  Since when did folks like us get so gosh darn good lookin'?

Old Lady:  Since that dearie Erin Summerill presented those cursed with wrinkles with her wise photoshoppin' abilities. 

Old Lady:  Amen, to that Lucille. 

Disclaimer:  Lucille and Vern are fictional characters.  No old or wrinkled people were hurt in the filming of the following image.  (ha ha snort).  But the dog may have been a little traumatized. 

The CONTEST is on!!! Come win it.

Here's the heads up!  I posted a contest on my photography blog (www.erinsummerillphotography.com/blog).

You can win:

8x10 coal black OMAHA frame

Studio Session fee in my ONE LIGHT STUDIO ($150 value)

8x10 artistic print to fit into your spankin' new frame

To enter, you must go to my photo blog and read the rules.  However, since this is my family blog, you can also (in addition to going to my photo blog) leave a comment here too and that will earn you an extra piece of paper with your name on it to be placed in the jar.

Now go to my PHOTO BLOG and check out the contest