Let's Celebrate, It's All Right!

Sometimes my work experience from Sears Portraits come in handy. This weekend proved that.

I'm actually VERY pleased with the photos I was able to do on Saturday and this afternoon. Are they perfect, no. I doubt any photographer comes away feeling they did everything exactly right, but that being said I love how these first few turned out!

We'll see if I can handle it when mom has my stuff booked for next weekend. We're cramming in everyone we can because the snow has come early to South Central Alaska and I can't risk driving back and forth much more than next week. Which is kind of a bummer, but at the same time I want a weekend to myself ha ha!

I think that I will be moving to Kenai either January of next year or May. I really hate doing it and yet I don't. On one hand, that means I won't get to work even part time at wildride... but I can't live up here on my own and we all know I've worn out my welcome.

I am not completely sure living at home in KEnai is going to be much better, though. Dad is in a funk of massive proportions and that was wearing me thin in the three days (two if you look at the hours actually spent there) and I can't go back into that sort of thing. Seriously it never stops!

But either way if I don't mooch off of someone I can't take my dog into an apartment, and even if I didn't have a dog it'd still run me 900 a month without utilities! BLAH!

So prayer in that area would be greatly appreciated. I've gotta get this photo business off the ground.

I will have some photos up soon! :)

Yesterday afternoon I paid for and received a business license. I am a professional photographer able to do business in Alaska! How freaking awesome is that?

Now I just pray I get to get some use outta it!

Email or Call (907.244.2801) and book a session today!

Photography by Antonia Reitter

...he always hits me square between the eyes.

This whole "Live Like You Were Dying" series at church has been kicking my butt. Talk about making one re-evaluate their walk with God and making one feel convicted! It's like Preacher KNOWS... He's like Santa Claus or something.

Actually, not really. It's God speaking through Preacher, and in a Mighty way. I am so thankful I have a pastor who is willing and ready to smack his congregation upside the head time and again with the Word of God. He's not seeker friendly, he's about building a strong and healthy foundation in Christ for all of his sheep.

But yeah... ( wow )

In other, non religious related news, I just raked part of the back yard, I smell really bad now because the back yard smells horrible! lol. I worked on the church website this morning, gotta make a lot of changes in the next two weeks, but it will be worth it in the long run. Pastor Davis is so different from Pastor Dean when it comes to this website, so the website will be getting a face lift soon.

I also got 'commissioned' to be one of two photographers (Pastor Davis wil be the other one) to shoot the new Church directory. We'll be doing that in the late fall (September/October) I may have him bump it up as work ends september 1 (for the life of me I couldn't remember how far into Sept. we were planned to go lol) and I'm worried I'll be working full time in Kenai during weekends when I need to be writing and studying. We'll see.

I somehow rubbed a blood blister on the palm of my right hand, typing hurts!

I think that's pretty much all that is going on with me. I gotta hit the shower and get ready for a wedding rehearsal dinner. For a wedding for family, that didn't even think to ask me to shoot the wedding. But then they called yesterday and asked if I could shoot the rehearsal and getting ready. I said no. If they'd asked earlier in the year I would have, but I don't have the card/disk space at the moment, and I'm not going to stress about it. I have already committed this time for the website and just some ME time when I'm not travelling to Kenai (will be there for mom's bday next weekend). *sigh*

The days are going by way too fast, btw. Anyway gonna jump in the shower in about 15 minutes and I still have email to go through so I'm gonna quit rambling here! Hope everyone's early summer is going well...

went with dad and the guys yesterday and it was so much fun. Pastor Robin is a KICK! Though I do feel bad for him, he did NOT KNOW what it's like doing something like this with my dad. He kept saying how it was just wearing him out! ha ha!

My dad gets tunnel vision and then just GOES. Top that off with the fact that he knows just about everyone that has a booth there and you get a lot of starting and stopping and buying. Dad sold half of the fishing gear that the guys bought. The reps at the booths just sat there and let him do it! I was rolling!

Anyway I have a photo assignment due tomorrow and so I took my camera along. I had to do something 'abstract' and the fishing equipment was perfect.

I think this one is my favorite


it's that one or this one


or this one lol I dunno!


oh and the best quote from the day was by Pastor Robin - "3,000 people in here, and your dad know's EVERY ONE OF THEM." ha ha!

We're working on our trading cards in digital imaging. I still haven't chosen the skaters yet, but I did decide to use Johnny's foot as the background.

Anyway I was looking through my photos and Red came up behind me and started gushing about my work and then spent most of the class period spying on my photos. He gave a few critiques, but said it was probably some of the best sports photography he'd seen in a while - and certainly the best figure skating lol

So I felt special. He was impressed.


That is all lol


I have this nagging cough that I can't get rid of and it's driving me nuts. I hate coughing, and especially in public as I know how annoying it is to people around me. BLAH!

Sold a textbook on Amazon today! 15 bucks in the bank, baby! lol

Other than that not much to report. I gotta get my butt in gear and update my Scotty site, and get on my mom to give me the latest happenings at FBCK so I can update that site.

I got offered to help with Keegan's site on FSO, so I'm really looking forward to that. I think I scared Jamie with my enthusiam when she asked, though ha ha!

Fur Rondy starts this weekend, which means the Rondy on Ice show is coming up. It's a USFSA sanctioned event, but even so I plan to be there and possibly take pictures. I got weird looks last time I was there for taking photos since I dont know any skaters, but considering Keegan is making waves in the skating community I say the show is fair game! LOL

I may just go and cheer on the skaters though. Anchorage FSC needs support even if they don't appreciate it.

There's a S. Central Photo Meet up on Saturday that I want to attend so that might be fun. Hopefully. We're going to shoot some of the happenings during Rondy. It'll be nice to get out even though the weather is not really all that Rondy friendly (people friendly, yes. winter fun, no lol)

Shinook winds came in and ate teh snow majorly. It's sad :(

ok off I go to upload more photos to my smugmug account. Still haven't heard from the bigwigs at USFSA....

....while goofing off online yesterday I saw THIS and I emailed my mom saying I wanted it. It was a great price, and let's face it if dad saw the link he just *might* say yes.

Well... I was right. Today I got a message on my cell phone and the home phone that dad said I needed to jump on and grab it up and to consider it a belated birthday gift.

Nevermind that I already got a gift from them (ie money for my trip) but still it's so cool.

I honestly didn't think they'd say yes, considering I had JUST gotten a dr. bill AND they gave me money for Christmas AND my Birthday. But sometimes the 'rents come through and surprise me. I can't WAIT for it to get here, now! I mean, it's just going to be SO MUCH FUN! and it will come in handy for things like Disney World and the Iditarod and wildlife photography

I'm just so excited!!!! *squee!*

Alright, back to my 3 page essay due Tuesday!

Ok so I haven't watched a Star Wars trailor yet today. So I am making progress, right? Forget that, I fell to my inner darkside *sigh*

I have watched the "Becoming Obi-Wan" behind the scenes piece for starwars.com though. But that's my Ewan fix! Not my star wars one! Right?? so it doesn't count, right????

Nothing much to report. Got out of math early today. Not sure why. I am sooooooo bored.

I have fallen in love with a group of Star Wars fans over at Padme's Corner/Wardrobe... they are a lot of fun. All we do is gush about Ewan McGregor and Star Wars, it's the best!!!


Got an email from the guy I worked for during the Iditarod. My portfolio is here!!! I have to go pick it up sometime this week. I am excited to see how they turned out. hopefully I will go tomorrow in between classes or something...

if not my Friday outing will have to deal with two stops.

which reminds me I have to email my g'pa....


42 days until the Revenge of the Sith!!

and they don't suck as bad as I thought they would (to be honest I thought they were all going to be crappy...)

hopefully they're good enough to land me the job next year :)

http://www.photoreflect.com/scripts/prsm.dll?EventFrame?event=019U002X

my photos are the ones where they're coming through the trees... the actual professional took the photos from the Downtown area....

I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo glad they came out!

Yeah, I think my parents are now officially more obsessed with American Idol than I am. Not that I care or anything, but you'd think my parents would want to talk to me more than they'd want to watch American Idol!

I called last night and they weren't home, then they called me back right before American Idol. Then dad tries his darnedest to get me off before *gasp* he missed the show. I felt *SO* loved last night! LOL When DUANE wants to talk with me more than daddy, something is wrong LOL

For the Record my mom likes Travis. She think's he's smooth and not that bad for the eyes. LOL That's my mom.

Not too sure who dad likes

and Duane likes Bo the rocker, and Anwar (or as he said "the teacher guy, I can't remember his name, but he sings good.")

I like Bo, Anwar, Carrie, Constantine... and Travis LOL And mom and I agree that Bo looks like Travis Tritt and he even has that same sound.

Speaking of Dad, he got attacked by a Bald Eagle. Okay, well, it was caught in a coyote snare, and dad tried to rescue it and it fought back. But no worries teh Eagle is fine, dad got a fish and game dude to come out and they got the Eagle loose. And I guess teh guy who owns the snares will be in trouble for something he did that made it a "bad" trap... I don't remember what daddy said

Anyway I am watching Dateline right now, and not to be overly rude. But I really think Scott Peterson's half sister is out for money. Her whole crap of I don't want to hurt them, I think is a load of crap. She just *suddenly* feels that he's guilty? I don't buy it! I think it's totally egotistical of her and just wrong... there's my rant


on to the iditarod...

I met with "my boss" today. I am really excited... he isn't going to hover and I have creative license to do it how ever I want. WOOT WOOT!!!

he is really nice and I am really excited about it... and now American Idol is on so I am going to get this done and over with and then I'm going to do some homework and then I'm going to go to bed...


Luv and hugs,
-Tonichelle
BTW, Paula annoys me, and I think that her drama mama is so old that it's even annoying in People Magazine LOL

Ok screw getting my hopes up I just sent him a link to my Fur Rondy photos and he sent a reply back:

[quote]Toni,

Those samples provide a perfect assessment of your ability for the
subject matter at hand. I would safely assume you are the designated
candidate.

Do you have a preferred headshot for your media credentials....could
you email that to me. You will be listed a Official Media, Photographer-
North Star Multimedia.[/quote]

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!! I have to pee! *rushes to the public (yuck) restroom*

yeah right... I am soooooooo excited for this possible job

It IS for the Iditarod... it's to photograph the idita-riders as they come around the corner....

Idita-riders are people who either pay for the chance to ride in the ceremonial site in a sled or they are Make-A-Wish kids. It's a big deal (Susan Butcher in the early 90s used to take two or three make-a-wish kids... she'd just change out dogs and go again :laugh: she was awesome.... I miss her in the race) up here... and people pay $$$ to ride which helps keep the race going :)


Anyway I got an email from the guy who would hire me and he said he is very hopeful that I am what he's looking for and so he started telling me the plans for Friday and Saturday...



so yeah, I'm so not getting my hopes up LOL :clap: :clap: :clap:

I might have a one day photo shoot job out in the snow on March 5. I could very well get a job shooting a dog race...

so think of me to get the job... I've emailed the guy and am waiting to hear back from him! *cross fingers*

I want to fly all over and take photos of figure skating for magazines. That would be just awesome.


I guess I am just gushing over my pictures that turned out so great that I thought wouldn't... And to think they'd come out better if I had the press passes to use bigger and better equipment!!! I found out the other day that if I had asked for a pass I could have gotten one too, because I work for an official website! (granted it would have only been good for the ice dance stuff, but still!!!) guess I'll have to keep that in mind if I ever get to go to nationals again...

I want to go to St. Louis so bad it's not even funny... I want a lot of things, but I am definitely starting the begging for St. Louis... wouldn't that just rock if it were my Christmas present from the family???? I think it would be nice ha ha!!!




Oh and I just found out that for the first time in forever dad is taking the youth group to Y.E.C. Way to tick those of us who didn't get to go after jr. high off! Kassy's not even in the country, which is why he's probably going this year. ha ha! she can't kill him if she's in the land down under ha ha! I get to go, but I'm still very upset that we didnt go sooner... though our church/pastor is pretty much hated by the ABC of the SBC but still... we could have gone sooner! lol




and on another note, I am being forced to watch the superbowl from start to finish this year because it's an assignment for one of my classes... how horrible for a figure skating fanatic, right? darn you football!

ok well now that I have been random and really did not have a post with substance I am going to go pout somemore about my photos going MIA!

If any of your photos of Melissa and Denis turned out PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE email me and send them in an email to me so that we can use them on their official site (which I am trying to get going again... Joe isn't being too helpful so I think I'll bite the bullet ASAP and buy my own webspace for their site! in which case I need some advise as to who to use for that service)

thanks
-Tonichelle

I am pleading insanity for the ammount of photos I took in Portland. That's the only way I can explain it (since Hez and Melanie are both denying they had the power to intervene :p ha ha!). The final count is 25.5 rolls... I am insane


I took 12 to be developed last night... they'll be back Monday... $52.50 is, I think, what the cost will come to... *Sigh*

I was insane.

I caught a cold on the plane ride back. That's the only explanation anyone can come up with. It sucks... I feel awful... I skipped another history class. Not a good thing. I have a feeling I will either be withdrawing or end up with a D or worse in that class... I hate that feeling.

I will be typing up my Disney week soon. Not sure if I want to actually put it on here until I have pics or not though. We will see

The Wedding went well... Valerie was so beautiful! I loved her dress, and I loved being a part of her day! :) (okay okay, THEIR day ;)) Now I have February to watch one of my best friends go and get married. Though it's not really official Courtney's bf, Dave, talked to her dad about it and all that is left is he wants to surprise her with the ring... my guess is it'll be Thanksgiving or Christmas when she gets it... then I get to take their engagement pictures! As well as being their wedding photog!!!! I am so excited. I grew up with Courtney, she was my first friend that I made when we moved into the house in Kenai! We used to tell people we were sisters(when we were younger we looked more like sisters than we do now!)

In other news, Tesa and Steve are expecting a baby in March, so there's another thing about 2005 to look forward to! Tesa and Steve let me be a photog at their wedding too... and I think I did the BEST I've ever done at theirs... can't wait for the baby... it's going to be so cute (they want to know the gender but no matter how hard the dr. tried they couldn't get a good picture one way or the other... oh well) Tesa suffered a miscarriage earlier this year so this is just great and she was glowing when I saw her this past weekend!

Anyway, I'm not sure how I will type up my disney stuff... I may wait for teh photos just so I don't forget anything... we'll see!