101 In 1001 | Lane Baldwin Photography

101 in 1001: #1 Buy a Camera Bag I Can Shoot With.05.09.12

Does it feel like everything’s moving really fast? And when I say everything, I’m personally thinking about this business. I feel like it was just yesterday I was launching this blog, getting my first (or second) camera bag, declaring I was going to try this photography thing on my own, branding myself … and now this Saturday I’ll be shooting my first wedding of the season. And then it’s on to tackle albums.

I’m so thankful that this photography dream has taken on a life of its own. I feel incredibly blessed that I’ve been able to work quickly and take on one new thing after another. Kind of crazy, but also crazy exciting.

So anyways, onto the subject of this post: the Posey bag by Kelly Moore! As shoots picked up, I realized how much I needed a smaller, lightweight camera bag that I could wear during a session. I was constantly going to my big bag to change lenses or cards, and I was wasting time. It definitely wouldn’t do on a wedding day. Enter Posey bag.

When I was looking for a bag I could shoot with, I thought about SHOOTSAC. I’ve used Amanda’s while working weddings with her, and while I love how well it lays against your side, I really wanted something that I could set on the ground without falling over. That’s the one drawback to the SHOOTSAC for me. Sometimes I lay on the ground for a shot, and it’s necessary for me to keep my gear safe if I have to take off my bag.

So, since I love my Kelly Moore JuJu bag, I decided to look at her line again. Kelly Moore’s bags are so durable and practical, but also cute! And the Posey is no exception. It meets all of my requirements and then some. Take a look:

Looks like a purse, right? I love that I can now safely take my camera out with me and not look like I’m carrying a camera bag.

The top flaps fold down for when you’re shooting, and they magnetically stay in place. Brilliant!

I divide the inside into three compartments, so I can fit three lenses in there when I shoot. I can also fit my 5D mkii with two lenses if I want that option.

There are so many pockets! One on the back that closes with a magnet (center photo) and multiple on the front. My favorite part about this bag is the secret zipped compartment that has a sleeve for lots of CF cards and also a ton of pouches for business cards. I definitely will never run out of room in this bag.

So, what bag do YOU shoot with and why? Any other brands I should be checking out?

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101 in 1001: #17 Splurge on a Desktop Computer and Update Adobe Software.04.04.12

The first computer my family ever owned was a Macintosh back in the mid ’90s. It was boxy and tan and the screen was tiny, at least compared to today’s standards. I remember being SO excited to get a computer so I could play Oregon Trail and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego and take typing tests (yes, typing tests. I was a nerd).

After that old Mac went by the wayside we had a stint of PCs, but in 2008, I bought a MacBook and was reintroduced to the Apple family. I don’t know what it is about brand loyalty to Apple but I feel it. (I promise this blog post isn’t a marketing ploy to get you to go buy a Mac.)

While my MacBook is still going strong, and I love it, it’s not the ideal computer for a photography business. I’ve known for awhile that I needed a desktop so I can edit my photos consistently and have the platform to upgrade my Photoshop, and I finally bit the bullet.

Big purchases like this are scary, but I know in the end that this lovely Mac will speed up my workflow so much. Plus, it’s kind of exciting to have this shiny thing sitting on my desk.

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101 in 1001: #14 Join a Church.03.27.12

We raced up and down the dim hallways, exploring room after room after room, shouting at each other when we found something. For my brother and I, checking out a new church was almost as exciting as Christmas morning. You never knew what you might find.

We got to check out new churches often because my mom is an interim minister (yep, I’m a PK … a Pastor’s Kid!), which means that she serves a church for a few years while they look for a permanent pastor. For us, that was generally exciting. New people to meet, new friends to make, new rooms to explore.

When I went off to college though, going to church was on me. What?? I’d grown up following my family from church to church and now it was up to me to decide if, when and where I would go. That was a huge turning point for me, and I really do think it set the stage for my post-college years.

Finding a church home has always been one of the first things I do in a new city. I want get involved, I want to worship alongside friends that share similar beliefs. Belonging to a church is just that … it’s belonging, it’s having a sense of purpose.

Nathan and I knew we were home the first time we visited Forest Hill Church. I remember whispering to him during the service, “I’ve never seen a church this vibrant.” I’ve pretty much overused the word “vibrant” when describing Forest Hill, but it’s the word that always comes to mind. There’s so much going on and everyone is SO happy.

I knew almost right away that we’d become members of Forest Hill Church, and this past Sunday we did. I felt like I was coming full circle … from those really early days of exploring new churches, to making my own decisions in college, to this. I’m excited for what’s ahead!

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Beautiful Business Cards and Packaging03.19.12

Since I started photography, every time someone asked for one of my business cards, I’d sheepishly hand over a homemade one. They didn’t have smooth edges or sharp text and I longed for professionally made cards.

One of the first pieces of advice Amanda gave me was always pay cash to further your business. If you don’t have the money for a new lens, wait until you do. If you can’t justify new business cards exactly when you want them, you’ll have to be patient.

Well, guys, my patient(ish) waiting is over! I’m so excited to unveil my beautiful business cards and packaging (yes, that means NO more Jewel Cases!) from the lovely Kraft and Jute. Each of the pieces I’m about to show you fits my brand perfectly … lots of burlap and kraft paper! Can’t wait to start using these.

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101 in 1001: #91 Learn How to Work Our Grill03.13.12

OK, first, let me just preface this post by saying yeah, it’s kinda weird that I’m writing about learning to work our grill. BUT, when I started my 101 list, I vowed to blog about each thing as a way to sort of “scrapbook my life” online. So, here it is. Boring or not.

It has been absolutely beautiful here in Cleveland. Nathan and I decided to break out the grill on Sunday for the first time this year, and I ~~insisted~~ begged to cook our food myself. Usually Nathan’s the grill master but he reluctantly handed over the tongs for the sake of my 101 list. Now I officially know how to stack the charcoal, open the flue and close the lid to grill the perfect chicken. Not that my chicken wasn’t perfect. It was slightly chewy and overcooked … but Nathan was nice and ate it anyways without saying a word until I mentioned it. Next time I’ll get it!

(Please disregard the random letter B in the yard. Another bedroom project!)

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Goodreads: The Train of Small Mercies, Love Wins & The Girls02.29.12

You know that feeling when you finish a really good book and you don’t want to start another one just yet because you’re still hanging on to the last one? Or maybe you start another book but you just can’t get into it because you’re still thinking of the one you just read? That’s how I felt after each of these books because they were all so good, but SO different! Check it out:

The Train of Small Mercies by David Rowell. This is one of the best books I’ve read in a loooong time. I flew through this thing; it helps that it’s an easy read. This is a story about multiple characters and how they react/deal with Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination … and all the tragedy that the country has faced up to this point. The entire book revolves around the train carrying Kennedy’s body from New York to Washington, D.C. I’m embarrassed to say I knew almost nothing about Robert Kennedy, so bonus points for learning something, as well as being entertained.

Love Wins by Rob Bell. I’ve been a Rob Bell fan for awhile now because of his NOOMA series, but I had never read one of his books (it’s now checked off my 101 in 1001 list). I needed to read this book. One that, yes, explores heaven and hell, but also pounds home the point: God loves you … always. I really like Bell’s writing style (very casual), and after I finished this book I felt like I needed to pick it up and read it all over again. There’s so much packed into 198 pages, and Bell can so poetically put into understandable words and sentences things that I could barely comprehend before starting the book. Go.read.

The Girls by Lori Lansens. I can’t say I’ve ever read a fiction (or non-fiction) story about conjoined twins … until now. Rose and Ruby have been joined at the head since birth, and now, at 30 years old, Rose (the writer of the two) has decided she’s going to write her autobiography. While she tells a lot of stories, I think the most interesting parts are about them: how they get around, how they decide what they’re going to do each day, and how they lead a fairly normal life having never been alone in 30 years.

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101 in 1001: #53 Make a cake from Scratch and display it on our Cake Stand.02.16.12

When we were in Madeira, Nathan and my grandma talked about having chocolate cake almost every night. I don’t know why chocolate cake was their fixation (Nathan prefers white cake with chocolate icing), but after we got back I decided to make him one. And what better time to bake a cake then Valentine’s Day?

OK, so I have a confession. This cake wasn’t actually from scratch, but I’m counting my 101 in 1001 anyway. The cake was from a box but the icing was from scratch! And it was DELICIOUS. I might have eaten a few spoonfuls after I iced the cake. Here’s the recipe:

1/2 cup butter or margarine
2/3 cup baking cocoa (I used Ghirardelli, which was probably why it was so chocolaty)
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
2 tbsp brewed coffee (I left this out because I forgot to get it, but I bet coffee would have made the icing even richer!)
1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 tbsp almond extract (THE secret! Almond extract makes everything better)

After decorating this cake, I realized that I definitely do not have a career as a cake decorator in my future. I would lose on Food Network’s Last Cake Standing. It kind of looks like the cake has a bowl cut from those strawberries. I’m pretty sure the judges wouldn’t think that was cute. Plus, half of the strawberries fell off the top.

The good news? It still tasted delicious.

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101 in 1001: Visit Barry in Madeira.02.05.12

I remember my dad calling to tell me that Barry had signed a contract to play professional basketball in Europe.

“He’s going to Madeira Island,” my dad said. “It’s like Europe’s Hawaii.”

I hadn’t ever heard of the Portuguese Island, but it sounded pretty amazing to me. Temperatures between 65 and 80 all year long? Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean? Quaint towns and rolling hills? Yep, that’s paradise.

Now, having visited Madeira, I know why I had never heard of the island: It’s not at all an American vacation hotspot. There were lots of British English-speaking tourists, but we didn’t run into another American the whole time we were there (minus the couple Americans on Barry’s basketball team). To me, there’s something liberating about that. Knowing you’re visiting an area where you’re in the minority. Seeing a truly foreign place out of wide eyes. It does something for your soul and your mind…

Lots more pictures will hit the blog later this week and next, but for now I hope you enjoy this sneak peek of the island from our hotel in Funchal (Madeira’s capital). This was right at sunset. Gorgeous.

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101 in 1001: #6 Clean out my Inbox!01.18.12

Friends, I am embarrassed to say that just a couple weeks ago I had more than 4,500 e-mails sitting in my Inbox. I know I’m all “I love being organized!” but my Inbox? It got the best of me.

Here are just a couple of the things I found while DELETING old e-mails:

A Facebook notification from 2007 (2007!! That’s back when Facebook e-mailed you about every little thing.)
A message from my previous, previous roommate (Hi Lauren!) about our utility costs for October 2007.
Lots of stuff about the 2008 presidential election.

… And you get the idea. I’m happy to say that I have a brand new organization system that I’m bound and determined to stick with! Yes, I have about 63 folders on the side of my gmail, but I’d rather that everything have a place … and that does NOT include my Inbox. The goal is to keep no more than 20 messages there. At that point, I need to get to work responding/filing!

What are your e-mail organization best practices? Obviously, I could use some advice!

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101 in 1001: #59 Visit Stan Hywet at Christmas.12.31.11

As a kid, I was obsessed with Christmas! According to my grandma, I would “practice” getting up on Christmas morning weeks before the actual day took place. Like I said: obsessed.

I vividly remember visiting Stan Hywet as a little girl and being swept up in the magic of the holiday. For those of you not familiar with this Akron mansion, it was built between 1912 and 1915 by F.A. Seiberling, the man who founded The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. This house is unbelievable—not a detail was forgotten—and it’s especially unbelievable at Christmas. So many lights and trees and decorations.

Now that we’re in Northeast Ohio, I’ve wanted to take Nathan to all these spots I remember from childhood, including Stan Hywet. Although I was NOT prepared for the crowds (it took us hours to get through 10ish rooms … be warned if you decide to go next Christmas!), I did love reminiscing. And the magic of the holiday was still there between those walls.

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