Another blog must mean I’m at the pink Starburst part of my day!  (Or, totally just procrastinating doing other things…but, whatever.)  I wanted to get another blog ‘o random up before delving in to more client blog posts later this week.  I have a family, photography, session coming up this weekend and am waiting for a little one to be born so I can grab some gorgeous, newborn, shots–so, my upcoming plate is full.  Into December, my books are semi-open so, if, by chance, you’re still looking to get some wintry, family photos in before the Holidays, let me know and I’ll get you on my calendar.

THIS blog, like I mentioned above, is another random one though.  I know I’ve mentioned my new, contract, position in a couple blogs now, but I haven’t told you what it is, exactly.  SO…I’ve decided it’s time to explain what it is I’m doing 🙂  I was offered a photography position with Discover Anoka.  If you don’t know, Anoka is a fabulous little, historic, town that was founded by immigrants in 1844 and was built up, and made into a bustling community by the loggers that came to settle there.  It is right on the Rum River, which drains into the Mississippi.  Anoka’s historic, Main Street, area is where I do most of my work–and there is some awesome shopping there 🙂  Antique stores, bakeries, gift shoppes, floral and candy stores (where I also work), unique dining, furniture stores (re-purposed and new), art dealers, jewelers and even a plumber.  (Plus, tons more…including a smoke shop, a tea room, a law office, a dental clinic, and dog grooming studio/groomer training center.)  It’s such an eclectic town that offers a little bit of everything.  Bottom line, it’s a Main Street, in a small town, that’s loaded with small, local, businesses and I shoot ’em.  Discover Anoka, as I mentioned above, is run by a group of business owners that have come together, as a committee, to promote the shopping district, and all it has to offer.  They are in charge of printing brochures, website updates, promotional marketing and special events.  Currently, they are working to redo all of their physical brochures and are, completely, redoing their website–those are the places are where I come in.  My job is to make it all beautiful by supplying them with the photos they need.  I was down there on Saturday to shoot FabFest–a shopping event that coincides with the deer hunting opener.  (In MN, hunting opener is huge.  Businesses play up the ‘hunting widow’ thing like crazy.)  Being forced out of my comfort zone, and onto the streets to shoot, was awesome.  I will be back down there this week–since we just got some snow and I’m excited to have some snowy photos now, too.  Here’s a few of the photos I grabbed from Saturday:

In case you’re still curious about the area, here is a recent, local, report that Dawn Stevens, one of my favorite news anchors, recently did:

Click HERE.

Other than my latest work gig, I was recently asked to be a panelist on the ‘Drink and Click Show‘.  Michael Bonocore was the guest during our episode.  He’s been an inspiration of mine for years now and, somehow, we hadn’t met in person until last night.  (I am on a mission to meet all of my inspirations–I find a new one about every couple of months, so, this is a lifelong kind of goal.  Every time I get to meet one, I walk away more inspired than ever, this time was no exception.)  Anyway, here’s the show if you’re interested in watching–or, just skipping around through it a bit.

Next up–a client blog.  I have a great, family session to share next 🙂