To see more photos and read about this wedding visit my other blog!

Even though I am not an every morning cup of jo kind of gal, Jake always asks, “Do you want some coffee?”

Today I said, “Sure.”

So, yeah, I have been busy!!  So busy!  July was suppose to be my “catch up” month where I planned on wrapping up the two weddings I had in June.  Along with doing just that, I also booked a wedding at the end of July, a 6 month old last Sunday, a newborn tomorrow, an engagement shoot on Sunday, a Senior portrait on Tuesday, a one year old the next Sunday and am assisting Paige at DeWees Photography for two weddings!! WHOA. Eight! shoots scheduled for this month, which means I am literally drowning in photos!  Woohooo!!!!

This is exactly EXACTLY where I wanted to be this summer and I couldn’t be happier. Sure, there are occasional moments of freak out and a tab bit of stress…but more than anything I feel so grateful. Grateful, to be working from home and doing something I truly enjoy.

Don’t get me wrong, the process of starting your own business is intense and frustrating at times. Lots of trial and error and realizing there are probably better and faster ways of doing whatever I am doing. Thank goodness I have Jake to help me and lean on, he is so great as my co-worker, colleague, husband, and best friend. Thanks Jake!

I get tons of inspiration from all the photog-blogs I read and all the wedding photographers out there — there is a lot to learn and I am excited.  Here are a few of my favorites - Jessica Claire, Jasmine Star, Jose Villa, Geneoh, and so many more.

Well, my coffee is gone so it is back to editing!  Don’t forget to check out Ingman Photography blog in the coming weeks — many posts to come.

Ridiculously cute, adorably fun, and sweeter than you can imagine.

I love my new job!

Ummmmm, YES!!!!

We emailed back and forth for a few weeks — I found out all about her, her fiance, and their wedding and it all sounded lovely. I really wanted to get the job…I was so excited and kept sending positive thoughts into the universe and everytime I checked my email.  I felt confident with the quote I sent her and hoped it would work out…but in the end they decided to go with a local photographer (because of travel fees).

I just found out this morning and I am really really bummed.

Rejection sucks — it is definitely going to be a part of this new business of mine and I know that in time it will get easier…but these first real rejections, out on my own, just plain sting a little bit more.

But it will be okay and I am going to be okay.  Because, I know that I am finally doing something that I enjoy.

Photo taken as 2nd photographer with DeWees Photography

Look at that slightly out of focus moment of pure joy! I can see the love.

Biggest perk of the job — being surrounded by love and happiness every time I go to work!

These past few weeks I focused on how the heck do I find clients?!!?!?  I began researched advertising options that would fit within my budget and be most advantageous. I had no idea that advertising is crazy expensive!!!  Options for monthly accounts, yearly contracts, print ads, and online ads got to be very overwhelming.

Luckily I did find many sites that allow free vender posting, which is great and I definitely took advantage of their offer.  But unfortunately, these free listings have none of the bells and whistles you can pay $100 per month for…like photo examples and top of the list priority. Regardless, at least my name is out there a little more!

In the end I decided to go with a site that I have been drawn to for quite awhile. OnceWed.com!  I am thrilled to announce that you can now find Ingman Photography on the OnceWed.com vender guide!!

Once Wed is a ridiculously cool website that offers REAL inspiration for DIY wedding projects and ideas with DAILY blogs featuring REAL weddings. I think it is a wonderful resource for the modern, stylish, crafty, and totally fun bride.  Just the kind of bride I want to attract!

From the About page on Once Wed:

Emily Newman, 24, launched Once Wed in March 2008 as the only free listing service for wedding dresses after selling her own wedding dress online and realizing how few resources there are for women looking to do the same. The site now offers brides everything from real weddings and inspiration galleries to modern DIY wedding projects. Her widely read blog is updated daily with real weddings, DIY projects, and so much more.  With over 2.3 million page views a month, Once Wed has grown into one of the top wedding resources on the Internet today. Once Wed has received critical praise in many major media outlets including – The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal & NBC.com.

Many roadblocks and detours have been a part of the journey, and even the “failures”, because without them, she would have never started Once Wed.  Emily currently resides in Atlanta, GA with her wonderful husband Brett.

Each time I visited Once Wed I found photographic inspiration so it feels great to be associated with something that I admire personally and professionally.

Currently Ingman Photography is the ONLY Minnesota vender to be listed on Once Wed — which makes me feel very special!

Check out my blog post on Ingman Photography for some fun photos

p.s. I can’t thank my BEAUTIFUL cousin Abby enough for allowing me to use the photos I took at her wedding this past September on my website and blog. I would NOT be in the place I am today without her generosity. Thank you so much Abby!

Jake is amazing and makes everything beautiful, simple, and functional — so a BIG THANK YOU to my honey bunny for designing and building this for me!

My favorite functions include the FORWARD and BACKWARD arrows on the photos and also the PAUSE/PLAY button — I love that kind of control.  Check them out – just roll over the photos on either the homepage or the gallery photos.

And please, take time to pause.

I can’t tell you how excited I am to launch this site – it feels so great!

And for that, I am truly sorry.

But I have been busy! With what, you ask?!

Well, with one of my new careers, I say.

Welcome to top career choice - Ingman Photography.

(My other careers include organizing coach and treasure finder).

All of these careers are in the beginning stages but if you want a peek into what I have been doing for the last few weeks WP-wise (wedding photography wise) you can browse through some of these recent photos. Woohoo!

So yeah, I’ve been busy and it feels good.

Also, if you care to know — I go to the gym now. I am that person that goes to the gym on a regular basis Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and sometimes Saturdays. And to my surprise, it is working! I’ve lost some pounds of unwanted chub that prevents me from fitting into the jeans I want to fit into! Can I get another, Woohoo!!?!!

Feeling good, looking good, and being good. Thirty is awesome.

It was an absolutely beautiful weekend full of family, reminiscing, and laughter.

I was able to take photos all day along with the photographer they had hired — it was great practice for me.  Here is just one ’sister shot’ of my beautiful cousins Rachel, Abby, and Stacy.  More to come later!

But it was very very hot.  Everyone was sweating. For five hours straight.  You know how much I enjoy the heat. See last post. I did alright though, drank tons of water. And just owned my red perspiring face.

I am learning A LOT about what it means to be a photographer — First, of course, is the actual shoot, which is like eight hours of taking photos WITHOUT sitting down.  Then you go home EXHAUSTED and sleep.  Then you decide what to do with the 1,500-2,000 photos you just took because by that point your computer has run out of room. (Jake is installing two terabyte hard drive in the basement. I can’t explain what terabyte is, I am sorry). Once you get all 1,500-2,000 photos in Aperture (a photo management tool on my computer) you rate and organize them into folders and begin the process of cropping, color changing, and balance. Oh my!

It can only get better, right?!

I am also realizing that there is great responsibility and honor in being part of the celebration and capturing the moments of these weddings. I take this very seriously and want to do a good job.  I am constantly looking at photos online for inspiration — the weddings on this website are UNBELIEVABLE. Check out the photos in Real Weddings.

I will share some of my photos soon. Just have to install those terabyte things, upload 2,000 photos, rate and organize them all, and then begin the editing process…you know, I should be done sometime NEXT YEAR.