Whew, this has been a big goal of mine since I decided to pursue photography on my own. Lane Baldwin Photography officially has a pretty 8-page pricing guide (with help from Sarah Q Design)! Here’s a little preview:
I’m currently booking 2012 and 2013 weddings, so please send me an e-mail if you’re interested in seeing my full pricing guide: info@lanebaldwinphotography.com.
Generally, I’m a huge multitasker. I watch TV while working on my laptop and eating and folding laundry all at the same time. But every so often, I crave doing nothing. You know what I’m talking about. The lounge around, watch TV, curl up with a book, eat whatever whenever doing NOTHING.
These last four days were a perfect time to recharge my batteries. After a couple months of living in a new place and getting into a new routine, it was definitely time for some relaxation, and I was in need of some quality time with my college friends, or FBOFW as we refer to ourselves (The short story: Miami students are known for naming their off-campus houses and we named ours For Better or For Worse. Hence, FBOFW).
Photobooth photo credit goes to SPROUTsquared Photography.
Leah, Susan, Lindsey and Nicole. These girls are the loves of my life. I can’t imagine going through college–or life, really–without them. Even though we live literally all around the world now (Lindsey’s our international girl), when we get together we pick up like we just saw each other yesterday.
I won’t go into all the weird jokes, embarrassing stories or hilarious memories we share, but I WILL share a couple pictures that probably sum up our love for each other.
Oh yes, we have pictures in an “Autumna” photo booth. Many actually. We’re so weird. 
(P.S. That’s Susan on a stick up there. Can’t leave anyone out!)
Oh, the jumping picture. We’re so good at it.
We missed you, Leah!
“When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate.”
—Shauna Niequist, Bittersweet
Nathan and I are spending our first holiday together in Indiana at the Baldwin house. Even though I miss my family, I’m counting my blessings this Thanksgiving:
God and our new church
My husband
Family, near and far
Friends, old and new
Our new city
Two jobs that I love
The new house!
Good books
Warm pets (I’m typing this post with one hand because I have a cat on my laptop)
The opportunity to travel
Pumpkin chocolate chip bread
…and YOU! I’m definitely thankful for you.
Dear Amanda,
THANK YOU. Thank you for everything. You have no idea how much you’ve touched my life and how eternally grateful I’ll be for all you’ve taught me.
Back in 2009, I was this photographer wannabe who had no idea how to make my camera do the things I admired in other photographers’ photos, including yours. I watched (really creeped ) from the sidelines until you posted that blog about needing an intern. I knew it had to be me.
After the oh-so-awful first impression I made by showing up LATE to that first wedding, I was sure you would never choose me. But you did. Somehow you saw past that mistake. For some reason, you gave me another chance. I say that’s God’s work right there!
And don’t worry. I soaked it all in. I didn’t take it for granted. I hope you know that I look up to you and aim to be like you as a business owner, photographer, and woman in general. Whether you want to be or not, you’re my mentor!
For every wedding you let me second shoot, for every lesson you taught, for every joke you shared, I will truly be indebted.
I miss you but know that this friendship will continue (mostly because I’ll be calling you for advice every other day ). Thank you for everything, Amanda!
Love,
Lane
When I did a campus tour at Miami University (my alma mater) back when I was in high school, my family came with me to get a feel for the college.
After touring some classrooms, stopping by a dining hall and checking out the football stadium, our tour guide turned to my family, looked right at my younger brother, Barry, and said, “So, when do you graduate?” Yes, that’s right, our college-aged tour guide asked my middle school-aged brother when he was graduating from high school and coming to Miami. I was embarrassed but completely used to being mistaken for the younger sibling.
At 16 years old, I looked like I was about 10, and my 12-year-old brother was taller than me. And at 26, my 22-year-old brother is A LOT taller than me.
Photo credit goes to my cousin Cheryl.
I don’t know how it happened but Barry is a foot and a half taller than me. And he puts it to good use. He plays professional basketball in Madeira, a Portuguese island in the Atlantic. Cool, right?! With any luck, my family and I will be visiting Madeira at the beginning of next year to see my YOUNGER brother play basketball overseas.
After 22 years of watching my brother succeed at his game, I have to say I’m OK with being the shorter sibling. I’m so proud of the way Barry handles himself on and off the court, and I’m especially proud of the courage he has to follow his dreams.
Plus, I never have to worry about reaching for stuff on the top shelf cause he gets it for me.
This was right after Barry’s college basketball team, West Liberty, won their conference tournament last year. The guys went on to the NCAA DII Final Four in Springfield, Mass.
White cake with chocolate icing. That’s the only birthday cake Nathan ever wants, despite seven years of me trying to convince him to “get creative.” This year, even though he still wanted his white cake with chocolate icing, I decided I was going to make him a second cake whether he liked it or not (let’s be real, who wouldn’t want two cakes?!).
Enter s’mores cake in a jar. Yeah, I know. The name alone makes you want to do a happy dance, right? Well, it’s just as good as it sounds. If you like s’mores, cake and mason jars, you have to make this right now. Even if you already have one dessert in the oven.
S’mores Cake in a Jar (from How Sweet it Is)
Makes 4 16-ounce mason jar cakes
Crust (I have a huge sweet tooth and this crust wasn’t sweet enough for me. If I make it again, I would make the crust from the back of the graham cracker crumb box):
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 stick butter
pinch of salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Melt butter and mix in graham crumbs and salt. Mix until moistened. Spray 4 mason jars with non-stick spray and press graham crust into jars. I began by adding a tablespoon to each, and repeating until graham crumbs were gone. They don’t need to look perfect. I pressed the crumbs down firmly with the flat bottom of a clean screwdriver.
Cake:
1 1/8 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup dark cocoa powder
1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon heavy cream
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons sour cream
Topping:
1 bag of large marshmallows
In a bowl, whisk egg and sugar until smooth and no lumps remain. Add milk, cream, butter and vanilla, and mix until combined. Stir in sour cream. Sift dry ingredients together and add to wet mixture. Mix until batter is smooth. Using a 1/4 cup measure, add batter to mason jars one scoop at a time. You only want to fill them up about half way, and the batter should work evenly for four jars. Again, don’t worry if it is perfect. Place mason jars in a baking dish and add about 1 1/2 cups of water to the bottom. Bake for 30 minutes, or until cake is set.
Remove cake from the oven and press large marshmallows down on top, being careful not to burn yourself. There is no set number of marshmallows to use; I pressed down as many as I could, about 4-5 each. Heat the broiler on your oven and watching carefully, brown marshmallows for about 1-2 minutes, or until golden brown. Do not take your eyes off them! Serve immediately.
One word: DELISH!
By this time, you probably know I’m a huge proponent of using DIY and handmade creations for wedding decor (if not, see here and here). Both are unique and can afford you a one-of-a-kind, personalized wedding at a fraction of what some weddings cost.
Now, I want to take it one step farther and talk about reusing wedding decor. Yep, you heard me. Why not put those creations you spent so much time on before the wedding, to use AFTER the wedding? Or if you’re planning a wedding now, think about how you might be able to use those details post wedding.
Take it from me, I spent so many hours thinking through and even creating some of my details, there was no way I was going to stick them in a closet afterwards. So, I decided I would give some of my stuff a second life at home and in other weddings.
At Home
Because Nathan and I are kinda in limbo with the housing situation (Hint: We may be moving to something more permanent soon. !!! More on THAT later), a lot of our wedding stuff is still in boxes, but I did manage to decorate a little:
We used SO many vases for our centerpieces, I had to use some of them for fresh flowers in our house. And I spiced up the display with our program box. Once we move and get things sorted out, I’m going to donate the unwanted vases to a thrift store. Win win for me and the people that get my vases next.
And I’m displaying our custom paper pinwheels in our apothecary jars. I’ve got a project up my sleeve for these pinwheels in the not too distant future. Stay tuned!
In other Weddings
Oh, the Internet is a wonderful thing isn’t it? There are some great websites that allow you to connect with other couples and buy or sell wedding stuff. And that “stuff” includes EVERYTHING, from linens to dresses to bow ties to shoes. If you’re not going to look at your wedding dress again, why not let someone else look beautiful in it?? Or if you’re looking for a great collection of vases for centerpieces, why not buy them from another bride who doesn’t need them anymore? That is working together folks!
Check out some fab sites that I had bookmarked for our wedding:
Once Wed
Recycled Bride
Ruffled
BravoBride
SmartBride Boutique
This was such a fun wedding for me. Even though I second shot this one with Amanda way back in July, I have to share it now because it was gorgeous!
First of all, these two are so sweet and their friends and family couldn’t have been happier about their marriage. Second, Callie and Robert’s wedding was in Oxford at Miami University, which of course holds a special place in my heart. Finally, they used almost every, single vendor Nathan and I used at our wedding. Definitely good taste.
Enjoy this classy pair!
When we left Melt after dinner a week ago, we all agreed that we should be rolled home. Why? Oh, because we COULDN’T MOVE after eating a pile of fries and the following:
Nathan: A FRIED ham, turkey, and cheese sandwich with mixed berry preserves
Nathan’s sister, Brandi: A lasagna grilled cheese sandwich (like the lasagna ON the sandwich)
Nathan’s mom, Leesa: A grilled cheese sandwich with bacon and tomato
Me: A barbeque chicken grilled cheese sandwich with grilled onions
Sensing a trend? Yep, Melt serves tons of varieties of grilled cheese sandwiches. You might have to wait an hour any time you go, but these sandwiches will be the most unique, delicious grilled cheese sandwiches you’ve ever eaten. Plus, if you get a Melt tattoo, you get 25% off for life. And people do it! Because it’s that good!
For all you foodies, you should know Melt. It’s been featured on Man vs. Food (13 different cheeses, five pounds of food … enough said?) and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. It’s a Cleveland icon, and I had to go, even if it meant being rolled home.
Brandi had to take pictures at the restaurant because I was TOO! EXCITED!
There’s that infamous lasagna sandwich.
And my sandwich the next day in some better light. Deliciousness in a recyclable to-go container.
Hopefully this one is a new one for you guys. I really like Jill Andrews voice and style. Definitely a favorite on the Creative Juices playlist. And a little secret for you: I found Jill Andrews on NoiseTrade.com–a website that lets you download albums and songs for free and helps artists connect with fans. Stuff is only available for a limited time, but it’s a great way to learn about new musicians!
What a wonderful post. I miss you already.