Archive for October, 2009

Win a Free Gary Vaynerchuk book – Crush It!!!

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

My son bought me this book “Crush It“, I was actually reading another book at the time and he insisted I put it down and read Gary’s book. I did!

WOW! No matter what business you are in, want to be in, think about being in or just are curious about what passions can do for you. GET THIS BOOK!

No joke, this book hands down will guide and direct you. It will direct you to the do’s and don’ts, and give you the details you need to “cash in on your passion”

I’m all about passion, and finding your passion and building your business on that. I “preach” it and live it.

I’m thrilled to offer a free “Crush It” book.

So, what do you have to do to win a free book? It’s easy….

Tell us What you are doing to Crush it! Anything in your personal or professional life that you are taking to the next level!

We will pick a name and let you know on Nov. 9th, if we get Soooo many names we may even pick two :-)
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NY, NY…

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

Today brought the opening of the Photo Plus Convention, we had a late start into the city but, anytime you enter NYC there is always something amazing waiting for you!!!

I’ve had an amazing amount of fun meetings and met some very fun people! I can’t wait to share with you. I love to meet people and talk and ask questions and this city is Soooooo much fun to do that in.

One thing I do notice is that since 9-11 New Yorkers have been kinder to “tourists”, even though I stopped considering myself a tourist years ago, I still need directions. Besides the busy, busy, shove, push, run, move atmosphere, there are some amazing stories to be told in the streets of NYC!

I can’t get into too many things now, It’s late and everyone else is sleeping, we have early wake ups and into the city for shows, popcorn and doughnuts!!!

I’ve got over 300 images so far…so, here is one to share with you!
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So for now, from the city that never sleeps…laterz!!!!

New York City, PhotoPlus and New York City

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

I’m here! I love NYC, always will.

I’m here for one of the best photo shows on the East Coast: Photo Plus.

Photo Plus is a great time for photographers to get their hands on all the supplies, equipment and just fun photography stuff we need/want/desire/lust……

There’s going to be some awesome seminars and I can’t wait to see who is here this year.

I’ll be street shooting, something I just love to do. It’s New York City, C’mon, you have to street shoot here.

I want to go to “Top of the Rock”, I normally do not do touristy things while in the city (been here way too many times) but the ROCK is amazing to shoot the city at dusk!

Then to St. Marks Street for Falafels and St. Alps Tea!

Can’t leave out Adorama and B&H

And the two places I’ve been chatting about on Twitter (Leesab) and FB (Lisa Taylor Beachler)
for months now: Garrett Popcorn and Doughnut Plant!

Seriously I love this city…

I hope to share pics with you later tonight!

So we are off, catch you in the city that never sleeps!

Bryan

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

Some of you may know Bryan, if you live in Missouri and listen to 97.1 between 5-6pm you’ve heard him. He’s The Financial Coach. He knows his stuff.
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I’ve actually been listening to him for a while to get a better hold on what is going on with the changes in the world around me.
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Bryan does a lot of things and when he asked me to shoot some promo shots for him, I was thrilled. I love to shoot and to shoot for the purpose of promo is always exciting. We met on Monday. We did our normal walk and talk.
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Monday was the perfect day for shooting, overcast and cooler. Bryan did a great job being in front of the camera! What do you think?
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Thanks Bryan and he’s the link to his website: The Financial Coach

Still want to know about me..

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

Out of all the questions I get when I open up the forum to ask “anything” you’d like I still get a ton of questions about me! Who am I? What do I like? What do I eat? and a few more.

So, today I decided to answer the ME ME ME questions!

So everything you wanted to know about me, but were afraid to ask, oh wait, you did ask…

I’m simple:
My Aunt used to say this to my cousins when they were getting smart mouthed, I can still hear her say “stop being simple”! But my simple is a more stylish word.
I wear one necklace, 2 rings and a watch, sometimes I wear earrings.

I’m a tree hugger:
Not really, but I love nature and yes, I do ask people to bring me a rock home as a gift when they travel and no ladies, I do not mean a diamond!

I’m a stalker:
Well, not totally. I love to watch people and figure them out. Why they do what they do.

I’m a romantic:
I cry at all chic flicks and even some movies you’d never cry at. I’m a wedding photographer, so c’mon, why would I not be romantic?

I’m a tea addict:
Oh it’s true, if you are around me you know one thing that I will always have a glass of tea! My favorite flavors are from Teavanna, Earl Grey Creme and Roobis Caramel w/Mate Vana mixed. Black, no sweetener of any kind.

So that is some of the more interesting answers I have for you today. If you’d like to know more, I’m pretty much an open book and will answer almost anything. Shoot me an email, comment on my blog, twitter me: LeesaB. Ask me your questions. Photography related, personal or world peace. I’ve got the answer :-)

Any any blog without an image is useless..I captured this little guy while waiting for a client the other day.
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Carissa

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Carissa is the worship leader at our church. She’s simply amazing!
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She talked to me last week about her upcoming album release and asked me to shoot for her album cover. WOW! What a thrill. Of course I said yes and we talked about style and her ideas for the cover.

We scheduled to meet but were rained out and met this past Saturday and the weather was perfect.
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Carissa like all the other leaders in our church are very humble. They work side by side with everyone and are the first to pitch in and lead by examples with their actions! It’s been such a great honor to be around some of the most amazing people in the world!

Carissa has an amazing accent, she’s from Kentucky and as you get to know her this “performer” is nothing more then a home town girl. We had a blast walking around and talking and getting to know each other better.

I promise to get you all the information about Carissa’s CD as soon as I can. She’s working on the website now and the CD has been cut. So, it’s just a matter of time.

Till then.. here are a few of my favorites from our shoot!
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Lisa’s Countertop – the finale, finally!

Monday, October 12th, 2009

Finally not because it took Jim so long, but finally because I am finally going to get the images up and tell the final story of our concrete countertop.

First I have to tell you I hate HATE drywall dust, I could move out every time anything is done with Drywall. No matter what you do, the dust is everywhere, it floats for days and lands when it wants to months to come.

Drywall…meet your match – concrete dust! It’s a given that concrete dust does not fly around for days, but on the end of a wet diamond sander, the damage is almost the same. Wet concrete was flung all over the kitchen even as we prepared for the worst and cleaning it up….well, was not fun, but we did it together and did it in one night so the horror of that is behind us now!
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I did not take any images of the wet and drying concrete all over the place, not sure why, but trust me, NEVER do this inside your home!

I think it took Jim three passes to get the concrete smooth as we were wanting and he added something to give it a bit of color (it does not show well on camera). But this countertop was sooo smooth!
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OOO and lookie at my new sink..it’s sooo nice (faucet is on order) and deep and yes, those are our dirty dishes. Hey, I’ve been busy OK?
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I had a wedding in Ohio and when I returned home, Jim had gotten the sealer and sealed the countertop and it was just about ready for me to place things back the way I wanted. It’s sooo shiny! and really very awesome!

Was it worth the mess?
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I actually think so! It’s amazing and if water gets on it, it just beads up. It’s so shiny and nice and has a nice contact sound when things are placed on it.

Jim rounded the edges and I wanted him to keep the bottom edges rough, it really adds to the look. The stones you see in the one shot are only on a portion of the countertop but as I look at it more I am thinking our next countertop will be more like that!

So thanks to my amazing husband who can do all things! He’s really pretty amazing, nothing he can’t do or fix!

Melanie and Brandon – The Video

Saturday, October 10th, 2009

A video of Melanie and Brandon’s awesome day! Just click on their names below and….. enjoy!!!

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Brandon and Melanie – Love and Emotion

Saturday, October 10th, 2009

This blog starts a new way we are going to blog our weddings, from now on, our stories will be shared with the images and not just a story from me and then a list of images. I hope you like the new way we are going to do this!

Melanie was so calm and cool, by far the calmest of brides I’d seen this year. When she thought something was on her dress, she looked down and said “Oh well, I can’t see it” and moved on!

Brandon, a bit nervous, but so anxious to see Melanie!

The running joke was that Melanie’s dress was in all reality a pant suit that she decided would be more comfortable to wear. Poor Brandon! So I told him Melanie looked beautiful and we left it at that!
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Tears were flowing long before Melanie walked down the aisle. There was something so special about these two families. The connection between all of them through the two lives of Brandon and Melanie becoming one!
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When Brandon saw Melanie, he melted, tears flowed from his face. Melanie walked down the aisle escorted by her Uncle and it seemed as if a moment in time had stopped, as Melanie reached the 2nd pew, Brandon came down to her! Melanie in tears, hugging her mother, her aunt and receiving a kiss from her Uncle and hugging her future mother in law.
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Everyone not just in tears, but sobbing, not in sadness but as if an expression of uncontrollable joy.

This was not a sad occasion, but, the love and emotion of celebrating the passion of Melanie and Brandon.
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This photographer had tears in her eyes as she photographed the emotion!
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The families were amazing and we felt like family! That is what it’s all about for us. Not just “doing a job” but becoming friends sharing in their day and beyond!

The wedding party, was equally as amazing and SO MUCH FUN!!! They loved and cared for Melanie and Brandon not only by words but in actions!
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When I heard the first dance was to Metallica I froze! Metallica, How are they ever going to pull that off? The emotion of the day led us to moment when the bride and groom took the floor. Melanie leaned into Brandon, Brandon took her hand and the music began to play.

Brandon told me I would like, no love the emotion of the song and from beginning to end the song originally scored by Metallica and re done by Apocalyptica “Nothing Else Matters” and executed by the deep passionate glances between Melanie and Brandon. It was, by far one of the most emotional songs I’ve heard and seen!
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Amazing…. here are a few shots of Melanie and Brandon
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Thank you so much for allowing us to become part of your amazing special day. We with you the best of everything and as I told you, with families and friends like you have…. you’ll never be lacking or wanting!
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Stephanie and Steven – reposted….

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

*** Due to some technical error, this blog post was lost, I wanted to post it again to make sure it got it’s proper place. Tomorrow we will begin with Melanie and Brandon’s blog post!

I never met Samantha or Steve before their wedding rehearsal. I did not even know what to expect. I was thrilled they chose us to cover her special day and I knew she would not have a second thought about her wedding photography!

Kirkwood Missouri is where they were married and it’s really such a beautiful small town. There is a train station, market and a really cute open air plaza.

Sam and Steve were already married, Steve is a U.S. Marine and Sam wanted to be with him, so last year in August, they married so she could move to California with him, but Steve always promised her a wedding! Today was her day! Steve married Sam with family and friends in attendance and she had the celebration of a lifetime!

Samantha’s three sisters were at her side and Steve’s two and half (he’s adopted) brothers were on his side (it’s a joke)! The greatest thing about this whole day was everyone was so close, both families were so bonded it was hard to tell what side they belonged to, and at the reception for the bridal party dance, the DJ played “We Are Family”!

Such tight, loving families AND friends!

Sam designed her own cake and used her grandmothers beautiful earrings as decorations. They chose an amazing arrangement of flowers and even incorporated ornamental cabbage into the plan, it made for something very different, yet so beautiful.

Now here is a news flash even IF your GPS AND the lady at the hall tell you, you are going the right way. Don’t believe them! I ended up 30 minutes on the OTHER side of the reception hall and had to really struggle to find my way to 2 hearts banquet center. I actually ended up near 70 by the airport! We did miss a few things, but, got there in time to cover everything that needed to be covered and Thanks to great families that understand.

**Note taken to find the venue the night before! Point taken!

It was just so beautiful of a day and a gorgeous night! Raquel and I are very thankful that you chose us to cover your special day. It was awesome getting to know you all.

Ohhh, and you have to tell me, WHERE did you get those chocolate truffles? They were amazing! WOW!
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