2008 January — Minneapolis Wedding, Event and Portrait Photography by Austin Images

Thanks Mike & Barb Miller!

January 31, 2008 By Susan Leave a Comment

I know I’ve mentioned Mike recently but I must give them
more props! Mike & Barb own The Hitching Company!
Their farm is up in Forest Lake which is where they
spend most of their “off season” (if you can call it that).
The remainder of the year, they actually have a spot
near 5th & 10th in downtown Minneapolis. How cool is that?

Mike paid me a huge compliment today (we finally got to
speak on the phone). He loves my energy (and this blog~
it’s now on his favorites list….”hi Mike & Barb!”) and
would like to hook up and do some business together!
So, after Valentine’s Day, we are going to get together,
sit down, hammer things out and get their own blog going!
I Can’t wait!
I added their web site to my “check these out” list…
I’ll add their blog when they get that up and going!

Got Jane’s Valentine’s Day cards ordered today..whew!
A really fun project! Thanks Jane~see you on Feb. 24th!

Well, are you ready?? It’s February tomorrow!
I LOVE when the months that end in “ber” & “ary” pass by!

C’mon spring…LET’S GO!!!!!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Greeting Cards, Wedding resources

Lisa & Shane.

January 30, 2008 By Susan Leave a Comment

I met Lisa & Shane last night at the Sofitel in Bloomington.
That may just turn into my new favorite place to meet clients.
Suzanne, who works there, said folks conduct interviews there
and meet there all the time. It’s really great!
I guess I just always forget that it’s there and that it’s
a terrific option!

Well, this couple is having their reception there so I thought
it would be nice to just meet there and take a look at the
ballroom as well. SUPER nice!

This couple has a lot to do in 7 & a 1/2 months and I’m sure
that they would love to cross “find the perfect photographer”
off the list! I enjoyed them thoroughly and would LOVE to be
selected. Lisa had a lot of great questions for me and I love
a bride that goes after what she needs as well as wants.
They leave for Cabo on Saturday and want to make their decision
prior to departure…I’ll let you know.

I got an e-mail from Mike at the Hitching Company this morning.
Mike was looking for some images that I shot at Amanda & Mark’s
wedding a few weeks ago to put up on his web site.
I sent them off right away so soon they will be appearing on
The Hitching Company’s web site! That’s so cool.
Mike is going to put a link in for me. Thanks Mike!

Perhaps he’ll use this image…

Or maybe this one….

I love this one too!

Moving on, I’m getting a wee bit tired of the cold now.
The 20′s make a return appearance this weekend and thank God
for that. I have a wedding this Saturday in St. Paul.

I’m meeting Tanya Villano today to discuss the studio thing.
I really think that we could work well together and I’m
so jazzed about the possibility of studio space!

Then it’s on to meet Jane and discuss her selection for her
Valentine’s Day card and Party invitation images.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: cool opportunities, Hotels, product information

Too cold for words.

January 29, 2008 By Susan Leave a Comment

After reaching nearly 50 degrees yesterday, we slumped
back into sub-zero temps again. It’s just miserable!
I’m, of course, indoors mostly today but when I left the
gym this morning I think I actually heard my hair freeze!

We live here because????????
Oh, I know..those 3 days in the summer when it’s 75,
sunny, light breeze and no mosquitoes! That’s why! UGH!

Lois, Gary is meeting his PT this week about 4 times and
is seeing his regular Dr. tomorrow morning.
Gary has been on the internet too much…self-diagnosing
himself…This is a guy who’s time at the computer is
usually spent making a tee time or planning a vacation!

Hey..gotta run.
Meeting with a Bride & Groom tonight about a September
wedding of 08.

Filed Under: Personal Tagged With: gary

Blast from the past!

January 28, 2008 By Susan Leave a Comment

Saturday evening I got together with some dear
old friends. I’ve known some of them for nearly
1/2 my life. When Mark called and said “Will you
and Gary join us?” I couldn’t possibly NOT go.

You see, I used to work with most of these folks
back in the Rocco Altobelli days and man, did
we have some times! Mark, Diane and I all took
our places in management at the Minnetonka salon
(YEARS ago) and we all left and opened our own
place out in Deephaven. It was the greatest salon
around…FULL of energy and no corporate rules.
We were all free to be ourselves and grow our
talents, clientel and friendships all while
defending our new found selves in a law suit brought
on by Rocco Altobelli for having gone somewhere
within a 5 mile radius…CRAP!!!
Well, we survived and thrived.
This salon has gone through transformation after
transformation and now yet another…
Mark has sold it to Paul Coffee but the talent there
will not change.

I actually left about 10-11 years ago and moved my
clients to my home where I have a licensed space and
keep a 3 day a week clientel going. It’s tough to
let go…too many clients have become friends and
nearly family!

Making this move, however, afforded me the opportunity
to go after my photography and for that I am eternally
grateful! It’s really been a nice marriage of occupations.

Left is Diane Osborne, center is Dee Grotberg and
right is Kathy Hoese…oh, the stories!!!!!

Here’s a shot of all the girls….

It was so great to see everyone and talk about the old days!
Thanks Mark, for including Gary and I, it was so much fun.

It’s almost 50 out today!!! Melting, melting, melting.

Filed Under: Personal

Disappearing act…

January 27, 2008 By Susan Leave a Comment

I’m not sure what exactly happens to images on my blog.
From time to time an entire post of photos just plain
disappears! All I can really do is go back in and re-
place them. Cut & paste is of no use. It’s really a
downer. The shots from the House of Fun & Fur were so
much fun that I’ve just decided to put a couple up on
today’s entry instead of fixing yesterday’s…you know,
‘push forward’ let the past go!

So, here goes…

This is the very handsome, Ringo…and oh,
yea, he’s not real excited about the pink collar.

But he loves me. He kept running and jumping into
my tripod bag…it was pretty funny…like it was his
safe place.

Here is the newest addition to the house, Daisy…

And the hostess with the very, very mostess, Jane..

Gary and I are going to spend the afternoon together.
We have decided that we will go see Juno finally and
then hit an early dinner.

Supposed to almost it 40 today and tomorrow.
So much for the ice sculpture contest at the St. Paul
Winter Carnival!

Filed Under: Portraits Tagged With: cat fun, pets, Portraits

Return to the House of Fun & Fur…

January 26, 2008 By Susan Leave a Comment

Hi everyone!
I was requested to return to Jane’s home and shoot
images for her upcoming Valentine’s Day greeting card
and party invites. WOW! this was no ordinary shoot.

Missing in action was one of my favorite cats, Betty.
This was not her bag. Here she is from a previous session.

Never a dull moment at the House of Fun & Fur!!

Lois, Thank you for sending me the Cat book!
The one you sent me is signed to you, however.
I’m wondering if you sent me yours by mistake?
I love it! It’s FABulous!!!

Tonight I am going to a party of hairdressers!
These are always fun and it’s been so long since
I’be been a member of this particular group that
I’m just chompin’ at the bit to get there!
Mark, my friend and colleague of many years in the
hair industry, has sold his salon (Metropolis Salon & Spa)
to one of the guys that rents there..Paul. Great guy!
I helped start that salon almost 16 years ago!
But when I moved my clientele to my home almost 10
years ago, I never looked back. I miss the hustle
& bustle every once in a while but I wouldn’t trade
it for what I am doing now.
Working from my home has allowed me to foster my
love and passion for and grow my photography business.
It’s just been FABulous!!

I’ll be bringing the Mark 3 along and shoot the
party for Mark & his wife, Tristin.

Filed Under: Portraits Tagged With: cool opportunities, pets, Portraits

Love old photos???

January 25, 2008 By Susan Leave a Comment

Kindra just shared this with me and I also placed a link
on Gary Fong’s blog today too…he’s been posting vintage
photos that he’s taken in years past and I just HAD to
put it up…it’ just too figgin’ hilarious!
So, go to the bathroom and bring back some kleenex cuZ
this is going to make you both cry AND pee your pants!
List of the Day is the name of the blog and this particular
entry is from last September…enjoy.

Tired of all the catalogs you get in the mail?
Are you on all sorts of mailing lists for them?
Well, this is your lucky day. If you missed it the
other day, the Today show ran a segment on ridding
yourself and your mailbox of all your unwanted
catalogs. It’s not enough to just toss them in your
recycle bin…that just saves paper. Go to this (Catalog Choice) web
site and follow along to stop each catalog from being
mailed to you and you can save much more.
Save the catalogs that are sent to you because you will
need to enter the #’s off the mailing labels.
(Yes mom, you can still get your “Repulican Collectible”
catalog!~kidding!)

Meeting with Jane this morning. I’ll be posting images
from that shoot tomorrow.

Meeting with a bride & groom next Tuesday at the Sofitel
in Bloomington for their September ’08 wedding
(Thanks Tanya).

I have 2 new Bella Pictures weddings on the books for this
year and I’m just ramping up for the ’08 season!
It’s gonna be a great year!

Thanks to Anna S. for inviting me to her play/musical
last night at Eden Lake school. The 5th graders there
sang songs about pride, differences in people and loving
who you are…it really touched me. The message is the
same no matter the age! Thanks again. I got some great
shots and I’ll post them later as well.

The warm up begins in Minnesota..FINALLY!!!
US skating championships are being held in St. Paul
this weekend! Cool!!

Have a great Friday!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: blogs of note

Celeb 4 a day….

January 24, 2008 By Susan Leave a Comment

So get this~
I contacted the folks at Celeb 4 a day yesterday
and I asked them “why not Minneapolis?” and they replied
that they would be on the Today Show this morning.
I set my DVR to record last night so as not to forget.
I woke this morning & had received a note from Tania Cowher
(C4D) and she wrote that they got bumped, most likely due to the
untimely death of Heath Ledger.
They will be on the Today Show this Friday morning.
I”m looking forward to watching the segment! Please tune
in on Friday! Food luck Tania!!

Okay, seriously, this must be the last day of sub-zero
temps or I am no longer going to be held responsible for
my actions! Last night was the coldest night in forever!
High of 13 is expected today. At least the sun is out, right?

Cold update…I slept for and hour & a half between clients
yesterday, then I slept for 2 & half hours around 4
when I was done for the day, then went to bed at 11 and
slept until just after 8. So, FYI? I now answer to the name
of Rip Van Winkle too. I’m working on the beard.

Now, are you a cat fan? Well, I have a treat for you
today…I have a client who has forwarded me the url for
this woman in Germany who attaches a camera to her cat’s
neck and it takes a photo every 15 seconds…cool, right?
Click here for the cat’s photos.

Huh, if I put one on either of my cats, I’d
get comforter, comforter, comforter, butt, paw, food,
comforter, ceiling, ceiling, ceiling, floor, stairs
hallway, litter box, hallway, stairs, comforter!
Not sure my cats are ready for YouTube just yet! LOVE them.

Remember the “House of Fun & Fur”? I’m going back there
tomorrow to shoot some Valentine’s Day images with her
furry friends! Gonna be sooo fun!

bye.

oh, mom, I’ll get some Zicam on your recommendation!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: cat fun, fun companies, t.v.

Cool Stuff & Stuffy Cold…

January 23, 2008 By Susan 1 Comment

Okay, so there’s this article in Time magazine I
just ran across. You can now hire your very own
paparazzi for an evening. Here’s the direct link.
WOW!!! Perhaps I will begin to offer that here
in Minneapolis!?

Tonight I’m going to Hazeltine for a dinner with
all the folks that made this year’s New Year’s Eve
event at the Airport Hilton possible.
From volunteers to Board members…Steve and Becky
Chepokas are hosting an evening to celebrate it’s
success. I’ll be setting up my big monitor
and showcasing the slide show from the event.

Last night I met with Rick & Nancy. They are getting
married on April 19th. They want me to be their
photographer so we are hammering out details.

Still cold here but not for long, a warm up is on
the way…well, 20′s & 30′s will be a huge warm up!!

I’m beginning a battle with a bug, a cold bug.
I’m laying low and passing on the dinner tonight.
Just need to rest, I think.
This has been a very busy winter and it’s just
caught up with me. I’m not myself.
Well, who the hell am I then??? Even Gary’s not
sure who I am these days.
I want to feel this good…

Back to the flannel jammies…..
Sorry Karen.
Take care.

Filed Under: Out and About

Comcast woes…AGAIN!

January 22, 2008 By Susan 1 Comment

I apologize for the e-mail issues again.
I can’t seem to get it together with them.

I’m now off to meet with a couple of
high school sweethearts that are getting
married this April 19th! I just love that!
So I have to run but here is a couple of
shots of Lauren & Ian from yesterday…
I enjoyed my short visit with them.
Next time, let’s go out somewhere!

Filed Under: Out and About Tagged With: TECH trouble