Redesign

Our living room and dining room are the least used spaces in our home. Together they encompass about 1/3 of the living space in our home and yet they hardly get used at all. They are decorated in a formal style which looks very nice, but they're hardly inviting for conversation or entertainment since there is very little seating space. So we are redesigning.

The goal is to make the entire long, narrow room with it's vaulted ceiling, warmer and more inviting. We're going to replace our settee and coffee table with a sectional sofa and ottoman. Our rolltop desk will be replaced with a corner entertainment center which will include a 52" LCD TV, integrated Blue Ray/amplifier and speaker system, and an Apple TV for music. In the dining room, the china cabinet will be replaced with a lighted presentation case to show off some of our collectible artwork, and our hand carved oak dining room set will be replaced with a drop leaf table which will be used for a game table when we entertain. Much of our older furniture will be given to our children or sold.

The drapes will be replaced by warmer earth tones that will match the sectional sofa, and 5.1 wireless surround sound speakers will be mounted to the walls. We'll also be replacing most of the artwork in the room to match the new feel of the space.

Redecorating is, of course, Wanda's forté, so she is in her glory. She is happy, so I guess I am too.

2009 Planning (NSFW)

Detailed planning contributes to great shoots. I learned that lesson in 2008 and I hope to build on it in 2009.

I'm planning all my 2009 photo shoots. 2008 was a most productive year for me photographically, both in my personal projects as well as my family projects. By my rough count I worked with 16 models for about 20 separate shoots over the course of the year. This isn't including all the family photo shoots I conducted. Indeed, one of my projects which I hope will lead to a book publication within the next 1 - 2 years, is going quite well. I have been working with some very nice, lovely and stable models lately. Some of my other models are a little less stable and seem unwilling to take directions well, but I love the images just as much from them as I do from my more mature and professional models.

You can read about my 2008 year in photography here in the post below.

The two little problem models are Jocelyn and Ryker who are cousins and born just a little more than a month apart. They're my latest granddaughter and my first grandson. So 2009 will keep my camera busy, no matter what other projects I'm able to start and finish. And they can always provide a bit of stress relief. If some of my other shoots go poorly, I can at least count on these two to give me a big old slobberly smile which can immediately light up my heart, just like hugs from their bigger sibling and cousin.

Anyway, I'm working on my 2009 project plans. I have several shoots I intend to complete this year. There are at least three or four to be done in January and February, two that I'm planning toward the middle to end of March, and another 6 over the course of the summer, and an additional 4 in the fall. This is, of course, if all goes well and I get enough models willing to work within my budget.

So, what are these projects? Well you can read about them all here:

Mark's Current Projects

If there are any of you that want to help with the project - photo assistant, 2nd camera, Makeup Artist or Stylist, model or csotume designer, let me know and make me a pitch. Any of these could be a fun project and I'm looking for some creative minds to work with during the year. Let's all create some art together.