Monthly Archives: April 2011

Yes, I was “one out of three” people today

Today I followed the crowed of millions and watched the royal wedding… starting at 3AM!!! I think I’m crazy. But why not celebrate a wedding?

The morning started off with a startle since 3 am is pretty deep sleep time. My dog was not amused either. She kept giving me the look.  Then a trek to the living room where my brother set up our little tv. Yes, we have to set up the tv whenever we want to watch anything live. Our larger tv is only hooked up to dvd player, so if we want to see a sporting event or anything on the networks we have to drag out our little 15 inch screen and try to get the channel to come in! Isn’t it interesting what different people find important? We love our computers and cameras in this house, but music and television. eh. 

Then out came the apricot scones we made last night … and English Breakfast Tea of course!! Can’t have an English party without tea.

 It was actually really fun to watch the pom and splendor. And I loved learning a little bit more about weddings in England. Bridesmaids are all children under the age of 10! And they walk behind the bride. Who knew. 

I loved Kate’s dress and understated flowers. Very eligent. She reminded me a lot of Maria in Sound of Music. Simple yet gorgeous walking slowly down the isle.  Westminster Abby was splendid and magical with the trees inside! It softened the whole place into a beautiful garden!  Whoever filmed the ceremony got lots of props from me for the amazing videography, the shots were so pleasing on the eyes.  Wow. 
I think you get the idea … I enjoyed the whole event!

 All photos can be found HERE thanks to MSN.com

What a joyous day. It may seem silly to make so much out of a couple, but I think the world just wants to have a day off from bad news!

I know I enjoyed it. How about you?

 

Kandel Photography | Fargo Wedding Photographer

Fargo Wedding Photography

0 comments

Simplicity

I’ve joined an online group that does once a week photography challenges. This week was the first one and we were given the subject “Simplicity” – which is actually really hard to know what to photograph! What is simplicity? Is it an emotion evoked by the image? Is it the way we are supposed to approach the project? Or maybe it just means not getting to complex in our lighting and set up? Anyway I took this image today:

 The only light is from the morning sun. No fancy flashes or reflectors. I enhanced the contrast a bit in photoshop just to make the steam stand out from the background a little bit more.

 Simple subject. Simple light. Simple editing. : )

It’ll be fun to have a weekly project to practice on. Even if the photo isn’t that crazy it is a mental exercise too. Planning what to take a photo of instead of just reacting to things around me, which is how I normally shoot at weddings and with people.  I take ques from the vibes people give me, the light of the location, and the weather. I almost never sit down and think about what I want my photo to look like, I just capture what I’ve been given to work with! So this is good for me.

Next week Wedding Photography season starts up!! Yay!

 

Kandel Photography   | Fargo Wedding Photographer

Fargo Wedding Photography

0 comments

Easter

My mom and sister had way too much fun dying Easter eggs this year. I was out at meetings so couldn’t really help out, but this was too fun not to share with you all!!

 All photo credit goes to my sister (she’s in love with my newest lens!).

First step: eggs of different colors

 

 This year they decided to try out natural dyes like beets, cabbage, turmeric, onions etc. I guess it was quite the messy process juicing everything to get the color out!

Then they soaked the eggs over night.

Turmeric dyed eggs:

Red onion eggs: (The stripes are because my sister wrapped rubber bands around them as they soaked)

Purple cabbage eggs: Yes purple cabbage makes blue and green depending on white or brown eggs!! How cool is that!

Yellow onion:

Beets:

Aren’t they the most gorgeous easter eggs you’ve ever seen!!! wow. The colors are so amazing! Look at the textures too, some look wooden, some marbled!

  For Easter Sunday we had quite the house full with my brother and his wife, aunt, uncle, cousins. One of my favorite things to eat on Easter is this:

The empty tomb bun.

He has risen! Happy Easter everyone!

 

Fargo Wedding Photography

0 comments

Earth Day @ Starbucks + a Mobile Bride

 Today I met with a great gal. She is actually the first bride to contact me on her mobile device! The geek in my is just a *little* excited about that!!

Since I work out of my home I often meet up with clients at a local coffee shop since it’s easier to find than my house.  There is a Starbucks just four blocks away from my house which makes it an easy place to meet,  and I love that I can walk in nice weather. Anything to save a little gas, especially with the way gas prices are going up! Which brings me to Earth Day.  Over the last year my lifestyle has become more green. Not really consciously at first, but it’s kind of addicting after a while to figure out how to cut out more junk from my life. It started out by simply switching shampoos and house cleaners to more natural alternatives.  Using white vinegar as a carpet cleaner. Or Cooking more home made fresh foods (I so wish we had a Trader Joe’s in Fargo! When we go to MLPS we totally stock up!).  And the crazy thing … the more we cut out chemicals the better I feel. I didn’t catch one cold or flu this whole winter! My theory is that all the products we live with (shampoos, deodorants, laundry soap, lotion, household cleaners…) the harder our immune systems have to work. I seriously can’t believe how much better I feel! Going “Green” has been a slow process but one that I’m really glad we started.

 Today is Earth day.  Starbucks offered free coffee to anyone who brought in a “Starbucks” mug of their own. So today when I met with my “mobile bride” I enjoyed a hot cup of coffee  in a ceramic mug. I actually enjoyed it more than the paper cups. It felt substantial. A better experience if you will. Yes. Life is full of little pleasures.

 

Do you have a green lifestyle? It’s a process, but I’d love to hear what you do and why!

 

Kandel Photography | Fargo Wedding Photographer

Fargo Wedding Photography

0 comments

The last senior

 

Yesterday was my last 2011 senior. And my last senior as a business. The way my weddings have lined up this fall I don’t have time to do both. So as of today I am a 100% wedding photographer! Which is totally exciting!

And what better way to go out than with a beautiful girl who let out her inner model. I just love it when girls feel comfortable and confident with me to let it out!!!

 Plus it was only 36 degrees and even snowed a little bit, so she was even more amazing for braving the weather without a coat. (BTW, seriously winter, let go of Fargo already!)

So with that let’s get to the photos!

Those eyes!  And I didn’t photoshop them or anything. Wow. She reminds me of Saoirse Ronan in the photo below. Stunning.  

 

It’s bittersweet saying goodbye to seniors. They’re fun and unique. But at the same time going 100% weddings is also so exciting! To be a specialist. To throw myself into weddings, vendors, venues, details, tell stories… it’s another world.

So thank you Seniors 2011. Good luck with your futures!! I hope your lives are full of joy and adventures.  And if you ever need a wedding photographer … *wink*

 

Kandel Photography | Fargo Wedding Photographer

Fargo Wedding Photography

0 comments

Pen and ink

Last week Jasmine Star – one of the nations leading wedding photographers – gave a two day online workshop which I attended as much as possible. It wasn’t like the info was something I’ve never heard before, but the timing of all those great ideas and reminders was perfect. Since I finished school six weeks ago I’ve worked so hard on my business, marketing and thinking about branding ideas. Which is exactly what Jasmine talked about. Perfect! I was scribbling notes for two days, took sunday off, and then started writing again yesterday. Lists and lists of ideas. Notes. Who am I? What do I like? And WHY do I like it? What type of bride am I attracting with my website? Is she my ideal client? If I could create a bride what would she be like? What can I do to attract HER? And so on. It’s a lot of foundational thinking and processing which will hopefully help me to take my business to the next level. To reach my ideal client, not just anybody. To know who I am will also help me with my logo design. I’ve never had a logo, just my business name. Now it’s time to tackle that head on.

 

I’d say I’m about 80% done with establishing my business. But the last 20% is connecting all the dots. Lining them up and plugging them in so the whole business shines!!

It’ll take some time, but I’m definetly on the right trail.

Kandel Photography  | Fargo Wedding Photography

Fargo Wedding Photography

0 comments

Let the Sandbags Descend

You know it’s spring in Fargo when the Robbins return, the outdoors smells like rotten leaves, and the sand bag trucks are out in force. But for all that I really do LOVE spring. Just to hear the birds again! And not wear that heavy goose-down parka. Oh how I love the freedom.

So try to enjoy the spring even if you are surrounded by this:

 

Kandel Photography | Fargo Wedding Photographer

Fargo Wedding Photography

0 comments

A day in my life | Or what a photographer does on non-shooting days

My day gets going with a cup of java and breakfast. (Yes I know it’s decaffeinated but if you read what caffeine does to me  HERE you will know why!)

My breakfasts have been especially delicious lately. Dad brought home some REAL Dutch cheese when he came back from Kenya (he spent 3 days with family in Holland). There is no better way to start the day!

I won’t bore you with random morning routines but jump right into my work day.

10:11 AM  Check and answer emails:10:32Check Facebook – I do a LOT of networking here. There are several photography groups where we help each other with problems, crazy client situations, or give heads up on some online workshops to check out. So this is not just play time folks. Serious work goes on in Facebook!

 

11:02 Find another online listing service to register my business with. These may not actually bring me work but they are read by google, so it’s a great way to get my SEO working. (In English that means that the more google sees my business listed in multiple locations the higher they rank my business, so I can come up on page one of a search instead of page 30 which no one looks at)

 

This service actually had me fill out a lot of questions so it took about 45 minutes to fill it all out.

11:46 I put on my accounting hat and balance my books for the week + my monthly statements came in so a little extra work.

12:00 I watch a few minutes of an online live show put on by my web hosting company and software – SHOWIT. Don’t have a lot of time to watch though … gota get myself put together for a networking meeting.

12:06 Makeup + Hair + pack my bags

12:20 swing by the bank. Too bad Elssaisn’t with me. They always give doggie treats so she LOVES the drive through. It’s like the Dairy Queen for dogs. ; )12:30 drive 20 miles out of town to go to the Venue that I’m networking with. The fields are finally free of most of the snow!!

12:52 A Friends House venue on HWY 75 north of Moorhead. (I took this photo at a wedding last fall)

After talking with Bobbi for an hour about our businesses and giving her some images to use on her website I drove back to town and stopped by the library to drop of some due items and look at the business book section. I’m reading  The Purple Cow right now and am almost done with it, so I need another great read on business and marketing. ; )

Run a few more errands and get home at 3:20ish. My phone rings as I walk in the door. A client would like to pick up their disk of images. So I need to burn and package them!

4:10  Finish burning + Printing + packaging

4:20 time to check the email and Facebook again.

5:22 client picks up disk

5:32 time for some Elssa play time.

5:50 Tea and an I Love Lucy break. I need it badly by this time. I forgot lunch today, and am pretty tired from all the running around!

6:10 I’m learning Adobe Illustrator so whenever I can I’m going through a tutorial program on youtube. I love youtube!

And finally at 7:17 my sister is back from her ballet lessons and we can EAT! Quiche and jasmine rice. MMMMM.

Well the rest of the evening is pretty boring. More emails. More Facebook. More tea and one more I Love Lucy episode. Another tutorial. and then It’s time to cuddle up with a good book in bed. I finished reading P.G. Wodehouse’s What Ho Jeeves last night. I try not to read business books in bed otherwise I’m up all night thinking!!

So that’s a pretty typical day for me. Bouncing from one thing to another, always moving forward. And enjoying it!

What is your day like??

Kandel Photography | Fargo Wedding Photographer

 

Fargo Wedding Photography

0 comments

Go ahead, click the embeded website. It works!

I’m so excited about my collaboration with the NDSU Alumni Center that I created a mini website dedicated just to photos I’ve taken there. I’m going to share it with the great ladies at the Alumni Center so they can show images to potential clients. Not only will it help brides visualize the space in a wedding setting, but hopefully they will fall in love with my work as well. ; ) Sneaky huh!

I also just figured out how to embed my website into this blog. It’s totally cool! Go ahead. Click around. It works just like the original site. Or if you would rather you can go to: www.alumni.kandelphotography.com to see the site normally.
Enjoy!

Flash Required to view this area.


Fargo Wedding Photography

1 comment

t w e e t s
r e v i e w s
F a c e b o o k