All together now, sigh of relief. :::sigh::: The blog is done. I had a few offers by HTML and CSS geniuses to help me out (thank you), but I really wanted to figure this out on my own (especially because it really shouldn’t have been that hard). I think I just might have done that!
So, come on over to the new home of Anna Lynch McClary Photography’s blog.
http://blog.annalynchmcclary.com
Goodbye old blog!
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It isn’t opening day, but it is the next best thing… first spring training game! While I enjoy watching basketball, football and hockey, it just isn’t the same as baseball. The end of October leaves me counting down until this very day. My beloved Rockies have their first game today down in Arizona. Here’s hoping this is the beginning of a much better than 2008 season!
Baseball is a way of life in my house. In fact, if it weren’t for baseball we’d probably be living in a cardboard box since it is responsible for Mitch’s paycheck. Last year I joined my two loves and had the opportunity to shoot baseball. While it was a good experience, I think the two are better left separated. Because of the crazy and demanding schedule I missed out on most of wedding season and only got in a select few sessions.
Locally, we’re gearing up for the start of the TinCaps season here in Fort Wayne. Opening day isn’t until April 16th, but the longer hours are starting for Mitch, and I’m hearing more about fertilizer programs, equipment, grass, and dirt. Single game tickets went on sale yesterday and it sounds like it is going to be a packed house that first night. I can’t wait!
The best part of all of this… spring is right around the corner! I’ve been eyeing a new bike, and thinking that I can’t wait until it is nice enough for me to ride down to the ballpark.
We were with a short season team last year, so this opening day wasn’t until the middle of May. The crazy part was that it was COLD that night!
Mitch doing what he does best, playing in the dirt and grass working on the field.
My parents flew in for a weekend and I had a day off. What did we do? Well, we watched baseball of course. By the way, you have no idea how hard it was to get someone to take this picture… can’t say Cubs fans are the friendliest around.
Welcome back baseball!
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I promise that once I get through all of this computer work this week I will actually post up some new photos. I’m the type that if I took an hour break to go out and shoot, that hour would then turn into another couple of errands, grabbing lunch, maybe another couple of errands, and then I’d finally go back home to work and would need to do a couple loads of laundry, start dinner, and well you get the point. So, this past month has been a lot of buckling down and staying in my man made cave to ensure that the not so fun business stuff gets done.
I have scheduled my next two trips back to Colorado. The first will be March 26- April 01 and the next is April 21-27. I have a group of wait listed clients that I am going to start contacting today, once they’re all scheduled, appointments will be offered to those on the mailing list (email me at anna@annalynchmcclary.com to get on the list), then I’ll post up on Twitter and Facebook, and finally right here.
With all of the time I’ve spent sitting in front of the computer, I think my kitties were feeling a little neglected (yeah right!). So Griffey, being the attention starved one has taken it upon herself to make sure that she gets plenty of my love.
There is barely enough room for her on my lap while I’m working, but she makes due. This has turned into a daily habit, but I don’t think she realizes that she is growing, thus taking up more and more of an already very limited space. Unfortunately, I don’t think she cares, in fact I think she thinks my work is completely secondary to her. (FYI, the picture was taken with the PhotoBooth on my Mac.)
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Changes are coming to the blog. This past week I’ve been staring at my computer screen even more than I would in a normal week. I’m working on redesigning my blog and even moving it. I’m planning to have it good to go by next Friday, so check back often.
I did miss What A Deal Wednesday this week. However, I’m implementing a deal today that isn’t going to expire next week, next month, or anytime soon, so I hope it will make up for it. I love giving back to my clients and I appreciate more than anything that 99% of them come to me via word of mouth from previous clients. So, I’ve started organizing my referral program and my recent clients will be getting a little mail from me, keep an eye on your mailbox.
Every client will receive eight of these referral wallets (if you run out, I’ll be more than happy to get you more) after their session. That way you can show off one of your images and for every person who books with one of your cards, you both will receive a $25 print credit for a portrait referral or $100 with a wedding referral. If five of your referral’s book, your next session fee is on me!
Thank you again to all of my clients!
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When Twitter started getting attention last year, my first reaction was, “Do I really need another social networking site?” Because of that I resisted and resisted. Well, Saturday I finally caved and signed up. I haven’t had time to do much with it yet, but I have big plans for it. Click here to find me and follow me! I can’t wait to find more people to follow, it really is pretty cool.
Along those same lines I also created an ALM Photography Facebook Fan Page and an ALM Photography Facebook Group Page. I’m planning on using these new avenues to promote specials and share even more work with everyone. If you haven’t signed up for Facebook or Twitter yet, don’t pull an Anna. Stop resisting and sign up!
All of my new links to Twitter, my Fan Page, and Group Page are available on the right side of the blog here.
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But, I’m not too disappointed! We had decided this year that we were just going to play V-Day low key and stay home. No gifts, no cards, no worry right? Well, after work yesterday Mitch showed up wanting me to shut my eyes and pulled an Anna. You see, I can’t buy gifts ahead of time. I get too excited about giving them and end up starting with letting them guess, and then end up just giving them the gift early. The original eye close I believe was for him to get it in the apartment without me seeing. Then, he started negotiating:
“Do you want me to give you your gift now?”
“Well, I wouldn’t argue, but you don’t have to.”
“Well, I mean, what’s the difference in giving it to you now, and making you wait two days?”
“I see no difference.”;)
“Okay, well close your eyes.”
eyes immediately shut!
“Are you sure you don’t want me to wait?”
Opens eyes, “Yes, I’m sure. I mean, only if you want to.”
“Anna, close your eyes!”
After what seemed like 10 minutes passed, I finally opened my eyes to a beautiful, brand new acoustic Fender guitar.
All last year I hinted that I really wanted an acoustic guitar for Christmas. The beginning of November we went out to Sweetwater to pick one out, and I chickened out. I told him not to worry about it, that I probably wouldn’t have time to learn. Problem was, when we were back in Colorado for the holidays, I listened to my friend Anya play who had just picked it up. She convinced me to just go for it. Well, seeing as how that was the week before Christmas and I had changed my mind and told Mitch all I wanted was a new camera strap, I didn’t get one.
The past month I had started shopping around again and was set that I really wanted one, but had no idea which one. I can’t tell you how excited I am to start learning. Mitch checked out a bunch of DVD’s from the library for me, and it is so incredibly hard for me to get my work done today as the guitar and DVD’s sit just a few feet away. I’m pretty sure I hear them calling me…
Thanks for not listening Mitch!
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My walls are covered with photographs. In fact, thanks to us practically being professional movers, we don’t have space for some of my prints. It kills me that I have these awesome big prints and there isn’t enough wall space in our new apartment for them. Someday though, someday there will be!
I absolutely love when my clients order 16×20’s and bigger. In fact, most days when I know I have a big print coming, I stalk the windows looking for the UPS man. They make such an awesome statement. On top of that, a big print is sometimes all that will really work on a wall. Let’s say you have one of those white walls that you’ve been looking for the perfect decorations for. Why put up the latest trend from Pottery Barn when you can show off your kids, family, or how beautiful you were on your wedding day?
To encourage you to take the big print jump, the deal this Wednesday is another 2fer for those who have placed their first order. A little different this week though, this week it is a BOGO deal. If you order a 16×20 or larger print you will get to pick out another 16×20 or larger print, all for the price of one! Valentine’s Day is coming up quickly, so think about how much your parents or grandparents would love a beautiful print. Or, maybe that wall you need to fill would work better with a whole wall arrangement than just one really big print. Either way, this ‘What A Deal Wednesday’ gives you a reason to get moving on that blank canvas now! Just enter the coupon code ‘2fer’ when you are completing your order in your gallery, or email me at anna@annalynchmcclary.com if you want me to put it together for you.
I also wanted to give a little bit of a sneak peek into one of the projects I’ve been working on. I’m a people person, so obviously portrait and wedding photography just kind of jumped out at me. However, my love for photography doesn’t stop with people. I love shooting for myself. The only problem is, I’ve found that I’m filling up hard drives and it is kind of silly for those images to just sit on those drives and no one see them. So, in the near future I will be launching some of my ‘Decorator Series’ prints. Here is a sneak peek, with more details for follow in the near future!
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Email is FINALLY back up and fully functioning. Thanks everyone for your patience!
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Sorry for being a day late. I ended up in Cincinnati yesterday and didn’t get home until a little after midnight. I figured as long as I get it up today, most of you won’t mind! To welcome in February I’m going to run with a 2’s theme. This week is a crazy deal with any 4×6’s being $2 through next Thursday! This is good only for those who have previously placed an order. To get in on this deal just shoot me an email at anna@annalynchmcclary.com.
About the email… it is still down, well, partially. I can now view my emails but can’t reply yet. So, if you get a reply from me at a gmail address, that is why. I’m hoping to get this crazy email mess taken care of by the end of the day, but at this point I am not holding my breath. Please, tech support gods smile down on me! 
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Just a note to anyone that has emailed me over the weekend. My email is currently down and I am working to get it back up ASAP. Thanks for your patience!
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