Shawna Noel Photo Blog

April 5, 2010

Easter Weekend

How I spent my Easter vacation ::

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March 17, 2010

Filed in: Personal

"Each day, we try to suck less"
- A quote from one of my favorite photographers at WPPI 2010

It was another epic year in Las Vegas at the annual wedding and portrait photography conference, WPPI. This year our schedule was crazy full. I *almost* didn't have time to go shopping. But I did. The last day :) Oh, happy.

We attended a workshop with the fine folks at The Image is Found right before the convention started. It was a great kick-off to WPPI for us! Plus Nate and Jaclyn are really laid-back and fun to hang with, so it was a great environment to learn in :)

We saw a lot of old friends (Hi Emily, Katie, Lindsey, Fran, Sam, Carey, and Jen+Steve Bebb) and met great new friends (Hi Zida, Laura, Reddoor Creative, Jasmine, Matt and Katie, Ben + Laura, Eliesa, and JVS!). I love to put a face with a name, so we also met with folks at ShootQ, PickPic, Photo Mechanic, Album Exposure, all vendors we use, at the trade show.

We love WPPI for many reasons -- the networking! the parties! the stuff at the trade show! Over the course of six days, we heard some really great photographers say some really great (and funny!) things. Here's a snippet of what we heard at WPPI ::

When posing clients ::
"This will be awkward, but just work with it."

Photoshop class ::
"We WILL be working on double chins today."

Videographer who happens to be an idiot ::
"Vidiot."

In a lighting class ::
"Use TTL. It's awesome. It's all you need when using flash"
In another lighting class ::
"NEVER use TTL. It's horrible. If you are using TTL, you shouldn't even call yourself a photographer."

About your website ::
"Everyone will go to your about me section to make sure you are not a 400 pound pervert."

Random quote I found in Kory's notes ::
"There is no heaven."

On getting inspired ::
"Don't read dumb-ass girl blogs."

A nice Midwestern girl when people cut in line at Airhorns and Lasers ::
"That is NOT OK."

And that is WPPI in a nutshell :)

On to the photos! First up, photos from the Image is Found's workshop ::

Sturdy shoes are important in Vegas. Boots were the shoe-of-choice for most girls there :)

Got dust? Call 385-DUST.

Crab-walkin' is cool.

My orthodontist would be happy to know that I am wearing my rubber bands (this is mostly because I'm afraid my jaw will fall off if I don't wear the rubber bands).

My name is Koreeeeeeee!

Yep. We are in a drainage ditch.

There is no camera tilt here. Kory really does walk like this ::

How adorable are Jaclyn's red pants and purple shoes? Love.

Do you wonder how The Image is Found creates those amazing photos? Here's their technique. Nate says it works every time, guaranteed.

Fashion in Vegas is awesome (especially when Bon Jovi is in town).

Lasers!

Katie Lewis dances like this ::

We are so obviously from the Midwest.

Kory looking suave.

New dance move (how to dance with both hands AND drink!).

Doing the Dave Arntson (with Angelica Glass' arm).

Photo by Steve Bebb.

Our own Baby Brecken made the cover of his own book! Sample Seldex album at the Finao booth!

I think Emily likes guacamole.

My all-time favorite activity is shoe shopping! Poor Kory had to sit through it with me.

Last year at WPPI, it was always too cold/windy for the Bellagio Fountains. This year we finally got to see it (and it was choreographed to Celine Dion, woo-hoo!).

Kory told me I brought too many shoes. Maybe that's why my suitcase was 73 pounds!

The only day the sun was shining: The day we left!

And the reason why this post is a day late: I was waiting for these Photobooth photos from the Airhorns and Lasers party!

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March 4, 2010

Filed in: Personal

Four weeks later ...

Finally, after jaw surgery and four weeks of blending all of my meals, I was able to eat real food today! And the darn splint that was attached to my teeth was removed! Hooray.

Now that I can speak much, much better, I am getting excited for our annual trip to Las Vegas for the wedding and portrait photographer conference. We are heading out of town tomorrow and will be back next Thursday. If you are a photographer and are going to WPPI, text us at 218-779-2294! Making new friends is fun :)

Here are a few photos that Kory snapped of me today ::

This is totally unrelated, but I just saw it on Facebook and had to repost it! Paul Salwey, the brother of the groom in the photo below, created this lovely piece of work from Kately and Josh's wedding portraits. I think it's way too funny. Enjoy (and good work, Paul!) ::

Tomorrow we are announcing details for our upcoming workshop, so check back then :)

Also, on another unrelated note, I'm selling a Canon 5D. Email me at shawnanoel@gmail.com or text me at 218-779-2294 if you are interested!

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March 1, 2010

Filed in: Personal

Winter at the lake

I've always wanted to go to the lake in winter. I like the idea of getting all bundled up to go on a hike or snowshoeing adventure. I like the idea of an outdoor fire when it's 10 degrees. And I like how calm and quiet the lake could be in winter.

On Saturday I had the day off so we took a day-trip to Cass Lake. It was a gorgeous day, almost too warm, for enjoying the woods + lake. During our snowshoeing adventure I had to take my coat off because I was sweating like crazy! After snowshoeing, we grabbed lawn chairs and stuck them in the snow right out on the lake and sat there, enjoying the warmth of the sun.

Here are a few photos from the day.

The road to the cabin ::

The frozen lake :

GPS telling us that we are, in fact, on the lake (see the small blue dot? That's us).

Tweeting about the experience :

My winter-look :)

Snoesnowing :

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February 1, 2010

Filed in: Personal

Out for surgery

Early, early Tuesday morning I am headed to Fargo to have surgery on my jaw (I have to be there at 5am, which means leaving Grand Forks at 3:30am!). I've known about this surgery for about 18 months and really, I'm still scared thinking about it. It's the last step of my orthodontia treatment to correct my overbite. A lot of people have told me stories about their jaw surgeries and it seems like overall it's not so bad. But it's the first time I've ever had any type of surgery. I keep thinking about all of the horrible things that can go wrong. And I worry I might have a Jay Leno-sized chin when this whole thing is done :)

Because of the surgery I'll be out of the office starting today. I hope to be back next week, depending on how I'm feeling. Kory will be the email master while I'm gone, so feel free to email shawnanoel at gmail dot com if you need anything.

Here's a recent photo by Dave at Milestones ... Dave just loooooves taking photos of my braces :)