They are retired and way over the long Minnesota winters.

They can’t really fly but they do drive to their second home in Mesa, Arizona right after we open presents on Christmas Eve (not really but practically)!

They leave behind the snow, ice, and freezing temps for three months and get in as much golfing, hiking, and biking as they can.

They come back in April with a very nice tan.

I am happy for them because I know they enjoy their time in Arizona…but I do miss them while they are away!

And popcorn for lunch.

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!

Let’s face it — some people love staying home, or going out, eating pizza, or going to the grand cafe, cleaning the house, or reading a book, replying to emails, or not replying to emails, watching late night tv, talking on the phone, or not talking on the phone, going cross country skiing, or playing scrabble, walking their dog, going to concerts, or going on walks, writing letters, or planning trips, cleaning a closet, or reading a blog, twittering, facebooking, or not twittering or facebooking.

We all are walking our walk. And we all are living a story out in our head.

So, I have decided that whatever my happy is (depending on the day) I am going to OWN IT.  Not compare or contrast or wish or hope for something different.

I am going to own my different kind of happy.

I ache for all the destruction, waste, war, selfishness, pain, suffering, injustice, and inhumanity.

It is easy to turn away and forget our neighbors — and our planet.

I try to do little things like text HAITI to 90999 ($10 to Red Cross) or send a donation to Earthjustice in hopes to END the slaughter of wolves in Idaho (and Montana and Wyoming).

My heart aches so much. I ache for the pain and suffering that the people of Haiti are experiencing. I ache for the selfishness of the people who kill. But most of all I ache for the ones who cannot be heard.