In other news, I have a strong urge to rewatch Titanic. I blame the stupid trivia question printed on my morning’s oatmeal packet,”Who sang the Titanic theme?” Really, oatmeal! Challenge me! Then again….THEN AGAIN….Melodrama just might be the ticket to winning District Karaoke. Imagine Titanic complete with the dialogue. (Ironically, of course! Right, Ariel?) “I will never let go, Jack. I’ll never let go.” So, I shall leave you with the video. Not the official one, but the fan video. Those are the best. This one was chosen in particular for two reasons. 1.) The dialogue. 2.) That perfect halo light surrounding Jack and Rose. In 1997, someone spent a lot of time and earnest effort Photoshopping this poster. I applaud vanity projects of all kinds. Golf clap, user elh1992. Gold friggin’ star, dude. If you have  extra time on your hands today, might I suggest watching the Celine Dion video. Remember Lifetime: TV for Women paid homage to its green screen sunset in the awesomely bad biopic, William & Kate.

Some friends encouraged me to sign up for the inaugural District Karaoke. So, I did. I didn’t research it or over think it. I just drafted an impassioned email seeking team mates. Here was my appeal:

Dear everyone I know:

One of my life’s goals* is to win a karaoke competition. Thanks to Katrina, I now have my chance with District Karaoke.  Obviously, I need a team. I’m looking for previously undiscovered talents, connections with others who might be interested and a future audience. Effective team members will contribute a wide breadth of pop music ranging from Yacht Rock to Brit Pop and Classic Country or a specialty niche, like Tanya’s Beastie Boys, and a gregarious stage presence. The only team member exempt from the “stage presence” requirement is me, and that’s because when I close my eyes and gently touch the air with my palm reminiscent of early 90′s Mariah Carey…. I’m FEELING that shit.

Also, if you serenaded Baby Got Back to your wife at your wedding, you’re on my short list. If you wear really, really tight jeans while singing Led Zeppelin, you’re also on my short list.

This is an opportunity. It’s your opportunity at greatness and you’ve only got one chance. Don’t miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a February. Plus, there’s beer and tee shirts. Be a joiner. Be a performer. Be a STAR!!!

Puppies & Unicorns 4-ever,
Brandy

*other life’s goals:

• own a wig wardrobe based on the characters from Valley of the Dolls.
• have my closet fashioned into a Gap saving time in the morning
  
• only ever be seen in Barbara Walters’ lighting
  
• receive a definite answer to the question “which is cuter:  puppies or Ryan Gosling”

That mass email resulted in a team of exactly….me, myself and I. Oh sure, 12 cheerleaders, but I’m in this alone. Only after signing up as a free agent did I learn of “taping” and “interviews” for DC50/TheCW. I might throw up. Stay tuned for much hilarity is sure to ensue.

This week, I’m dog sitting my Golden Retriever buddy, Roscoe (P. Coltrane), which means Roscoe’s mommy left me her car. You know what that means? I’m taking the opportunity to work outside my home office and away from the coffee shop / library options in walking distance. I drove for a change of scenery. I plan to camp out at this corner booth until the good people at Panera kick me out. I’m engaged in a little professional development. Namely, teaching myself SEO and blogging / marketing  best practices. When I checked the professional photographer career box, I had no idea that most of my time would be spent at a computer. Most people don’t realize that. I get “You’re a photographer?!!! That must be fun!” a lot at cocktail parties. That’s a common perception.

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It is fun. I mean…not Terry Richardson* fun. Ew! I do have a flexible schedule, work with awesome people, and get to be fluent in cool photography slang. Only a small amount of my time is spent photographing. A lot of time is spent sitting at a computer administrating a business i.e. just like you. I enjoy editing photos, the creative aspect can be quite meditative, but that’s only a small bit. No one tells you in school that you’d better become an expert in 10 other not-at-all related business sub-topics.

*I would reference Terry Richardson, but Panera deems him NSFW! Yeah. So, now you get “not Terry Richardson fun”

While I bore myself to death with SEO tutorials, trying to fix all the stupidly ineffective and possibly counter-productive things I’ve done to my blog over the last 2 years, I’ll leave you with pretty things to look at. This is a treasury list curated by Alice of Blue Lobster Prints.  She is a gifted and imaginative illustrator with a panache for animals. Her Etsy storefront features whimsical cards for all occasions. I’m lucky to be included on her personal mailing list. In fact, her hand-drawn, screen-printed Valentine’s card from a few years back is now framed and hangs in my living room. I cherish it. Alice and I met when we both worked at Paper Source. She’s in my top 5 list of funniest girlfriends. We have a healthy pen-pal debate over who’s hotter, Ewan McGregor or Micheal Fassbender. For my part, I’m all about Ewan, always have been. Until a recent viewing of Jane Eyre, Fassy looked like the kind of guy who wouldn’t bother to learn your name or (gasp!) spoon. I must concede. If I squint, I can see it. Warning to those who go see Shame, it might dampen established quivers. I’m just saying. It’s not called Shame for nothing. We also have a deep mutual admiration of Cee Lo. More than anything I wanted to be cast on The Voice to convince Cee Le to go live in Alice’s shirt pocket. She’s also a soon-to-be bride. Eeeek! I MIGHT be more excited than her.

‘Somewhere Beyond the Sea’ by BlueLobsterPrints

Modern Fiber Art Soft Sculpt… cornflowerblue… $100.00	Blue Coral – Large Watercolo… RiverLuna $40.00	2 Jointed Flitch in Sustaina… grayworksdesig… $250.00	Print from my Illustration 5… calamaristudio $10.00
Offering No. 23 – Handstitch… odelae $65.00	Sandpiper and Coral Button S… leeandlatimer $5.50	Lighthouse Rustic Nautical d… Raceytay $25.00	Recycled Chenille Sea Urchin… ParkerBrownTex… $60.00
Australian Pelican totem ani… HandyMaiden $32.00	Demeter Pearl Earrings ShopClementine $15.00	Flight 8×12 Fine Art Print ModernToile $20.00	The Maiden theaterclouds $18.00
Green Sea Urchin Shell fogandswell $38.00	Natural Driftwood Slab Air P… OceanSwept $26.00	Leafy Sea Dragon – archival … amberalexander $20.00	wooden humpback whale waldor… outsideeverywh… $10.00

Blogging weddings involve pulling images together to tell a cohesive story, much like designing a real album for print. The process is pretty cerebral, and one I enjoy almost as much as the photographing. Anyone who knows me can attest to my being painfully deliberate at times. It’s not unlike curating art behind your sofa, choosing throw pillows or a statement necklace for an outfit. Some images are given visual weight when they’re presented as a diptych (two images side-by-side) or even as a triptych (three images side-by-side). It’s a process which is why I don’t blog everyday. Also, if it’s a wedding I’ve 2nd shot, out of professional courtesy I don’t blog those images until after the principal has done so.

Don’t Forget: my Etsy BOGO sale runs through Friday. Order one print and get another free. Ask nicely and I’ll even gift wrap it in pretty kraft paper and pool satin ribbon! Vintage Parisian post cards not included!

It’s almost time for my hair appointment. Friends were almost evenly divided on an informal Facebook poll, with Britney dark just ahead of Super Blonde. Britney dark, of course, inspired by Ms. Spears’ wackiduzy Blackout era. I’ve decided to take their advice. I’ve done really dark before and loved it, but I’m wondering if it’s too safe…I’m bore which always puts me in the mood for shockingly dramatic. It becomes harder and harder to achieve shockingly dramatic when you grew up with a hairdresser for a mother and nothing save a Skittles palette seems like a bad idea.

I never thought I’d compliment Evan Rachel Wood for anything due to the residual Marilyn Manson ick factor, but I just can’t quit her. She is my ultimate hair crush. Just look. I just tried inserting these images into this post and it went all stupid on me, so these other blogs probably had to pay for the images. Sorry, you’ll have to click.

I need to figure out how to enter every party this holiday season like Mariah Carey. I also need her secret to losing weight seemingly without moving her body EVER. What the what? She doesn’t move. Not even a little. It is hilarious to me.

Let’s take a moment to bask in celebrity hilarity. Okay, I’m going to get back to edits / Vampire Diary repeats.

R.I.P. Billy the Cat

Happy Halloween! I’m just quickly checking in as I have to finish some work on deadline. That means I’m going to work at my desk with a lap top next to me streaming episodes of Vampire Diaries (which I totally started watching last night.)  What? Don’t you judge me. It’s both seasonally appropriate and vapid enough to soothe me while I’m sick with a really bad chest cold and CW teen dramas have magical elixir properties.

Don’t forget the Alexandria Film Festival is this week. I’ve got to shake this cold off in time to snappy snap my camera at a bunch of the Festival parties. Are you coming?

And finally, just because this is the most awesome video featuring Dracula in recent pop music…

Ha ha. Now it’s stuck in YOUR head too. If this upsets you, blame The Future Mrs. Darcy!

There’s a new Etsy listing and I’m excited because I just had the original matted and framed to hang in my new house. It has a very retro feel appropriate for the Mid-century row house we now own. Shot at night on a vintage camera during a long exposure, it’s now been digitally scanned making it the newest / oldest addition to my Wanderlust series.

So, I’ve been a little radio silent as I painstakingly painted ceilings and did a little non-dominant free-handing. Who needs tape?  All our stuff is now moved in. Unpacking continues. During that process we had an earthquake and a hurricane threaten us. Phew. I can’t believe nothing broke during the earthquake. I had a glass lamp sitting precariously on the edge of the kitchen counter to help paint the corners. I also had all my framed art leaning on the walls. Nothing broke. Chalk it up to 1955 construction.

Friends keep insisting on photos. Here are a few quickly taken on my iPhone in between coats of paint. I promise to do a proper staged shoot a la Apartment Therapy, with a real camera, when all my art is hung, rugs are straight, and accessories are just so. Until then, please forgive the poor quality.

In the top image, you’ll see the living room had a flat, yellowy tan shade of blah. Why flat, I ask you? I chose Lyndhurst Gallery Beige in satin for the walls. It’s a substantial warm-grey neutral that accepts everything. Ah. I love it soooo freaking much. The kitchen received a bit of hot-orange persimmon color. Not too much, just a little. It’s such a happy color. It was around hour 25 of painting that I talked myself out the chevron pattern on a 25 foot wall. Maybe I’ll revisit that idea again in the future. For now….I simply can’t. My resolve weakened. I’m getting too busy to undertake the scope of that project. I will be second shooting a lot of weddings this Fall with Debi Parker Photography. Also, I’m working on upcoming blog posts featuring some recent weddings and yesterday’s fashion shoot for Fibre Space with the lovely Daphne. Stay tuned.

]]> http://www.moderntoilephotography.com/2011/08/new-print-on-etsy-modern-toile-photography/feed/ 0 http://www.moderntoilephotography.com/2011/07/2051/ http://www.moderntoilephotography.com/2011/07/2051/#comments Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:04:17 +0000 Brandy http://www.moderntoilephotography.com/?p=2051 It all started with Dim Sum. Chinese tapas. Yum.

It was Saturday, 1 day past due for a beloved baby’s arrival. I vowed to eat only spicy foods in the hopes of encouraging my bff, Kristen of the Future Mrs. Darcy, to go into labor. Clearly my voodoo worked as Kristen’s labor began before my green tea was even poured. It’s the kind of week I’m having. I’m throwing things out into the universe and it’s coming back. Lucky. The baby was born early Sunday morning. Perhaps my powers extend farther than I realize? Both Posh Spice and Kate Hudson felt my influence as they too birthed babies on Sunday. I don’t take kindly to them stealing my Kristen’s thunder, but whatevs. She wins the name game: Fiona Grace. Lovely.

The Dim Sum brunch was in honor of a friend of mine, Abeer. She is probably the most well-connected, get-things-done, diva in the DC area. And if you’re reading this, Abeer, I want you to know, I’m sending good vibes your way. Sitting at a table of strangers, small talk led to conversation, conversation led to laughs, and laughs led to OMG, let’s be Facebook friends! By the end of lunch, I learned that DC is a really just a small town, but that strangers were reading my blog.

I’ll be honest, I thought this was published in a vacuum. So, it’s a little weird to have someone say they’ve spent hours looking at your blog. I should not be surprised, I blog stalk people. Lots of people. In fact, when I was in dining at Refuge des Fondus in Paris, I was sitting next to an American. I mentioned that I read about the fondue place on the blog, Oh Happy Day.  So had she. Jordan of Oh Happy Day, thank you for the recommendation. I’d be happy to reciprocate if you find yourself in DC.

If you’re a reader, be sure to subscribe to the RSS. Please, add your comments, it’s what helps motivate me.

So, I’ll catch you all up on a few personal things. We’re house hunting. We had settled on a potentially charming fixer-upper only to learn that fixer-upper means “money pit.” Our only option was to walk away after the inspection revealed water damage, a bad roof and structural damage. You could see the outside from the attic. And THAT is why you get inspections. Hopefully we’ll win the bid on this other adorable, already charming home. Either way, we must vacate our apartment by the end of August as it’s being sold from under us. Stress level is a bit high, but with my recent good luck, I’m sure it will all work out.

I’m procrastinating. Blogging only makes me feel productive when I’m not doing what I should be doing. I have: edits to complete, inspiration to find, a gym to hit, french to learn, chicken to crock pot, film to buy and taxes to file. Once a potential client pointed out that my blog wasn’t updated as much as other photographers. Although my response was not meant to glib, I suppose saying “I guess those photographers don’t do their laundry” could be construed as such. I didn’t book that client. Oops.

Anyway, I may not be diligent about blogging this week or the next. At the risk of sounding like that annoying girl from your biology class who ran on and on about how much homework she has, when you had the exact same amount, I’ll just say this: Spring is BUSY. January & February, not so much. During the winter I spend hours starring blankly into the abyss of the internet. Spring rolls around and I suddenly feel the way most adults feel ALL THE TIME. I’m trying to tie up loose ends, delivering images and albums to clients before heading to Paris. Plus, I have three exciting projects this week. I’ll be photographing a gallery opening in Georgetown, second shooting a wedding with the awesome Debi Parker-Keating and an engagement session with Ariel and David.

Friday’s exhibit at the Susan Calloway Fine Arts gallery is first. I’ll be sure to blog images of the event that honors locals Robert Rea, artist, and Frank Randolph, interior designer. I will try my best not to gush in an unbecoming manner – even though in an alternate world I’d be an interior designer. Speaking of interior design, I am now hooked on the HGTV show called Secrets from a Stylist. This addiction helps me procrastinate more effectively.

Okay, back to edits. Toodles.