Doug, my husband and partner in crime, made an interesting blog post about his desk and what it says about him and his life. It got me to thinking about what fills our lives and time and how we keep it all straight. Many people ask me how I balance it all; wifedom, motherhood, my business and my friendships keep me very busy. The answer: Apple Things.
Things allows me to keep track of my to-dos, prioritize projects, assign projects to my intern (Hi Christine!) and set due dates. It is a very useful piece of software. But it also pretty much sums up my life. Have a look -
Things allows me to keep track of my to-dos, prioritize projects, assign projects to my intern (Hi Christine!) and set due dates. It is a very useful piece of software. But it also pretty much sums up my life. Have a look -
Really, where else can you see "sign up for infant CPR" next to "make a sample album for Jeannie?" Or "order business cards" right above "make a living will?" At times, I wonder why I always feel so busy and so frazzled and then I stop, and breathe, and look at my Things list. There's a lot to do when you're a photographer and a mom and a wife and a wanna-be Martha. I'm a busy girl, but Things sure does help.
delightfully,
Chenin
Contact Me * My Portfolio * Stuff for Photographers
delightfully,
Chenin
Contact Me * My Portfolio * Stuff for Photographers
Will Duris said:
thx for sharing, this is very useful.
(01.18.10 @ 08:01 AM)
nate kaiser said:
I!
LOVE!
THINGS!
it's a total lifesaver for our biz and life! you should try setting up "areas" so you an keep track of what's going on and needs to be done for all the different parts of life :) we've also setup each wedding client as a project than then we can make all of their steps, tasks, etc. a part of.
(01.18.10 @ 08:01 AM)
Will Duris said:
thx for sharing, this is very useful.
(01.18.10 @ 08:03 AM)
Liz said:
I have been using Things on my iPhone for a while and I LOVE it - does the desktop application make it that much better? Is it worth having both?
(01.18.10 @ 08:16 AM)
Christine Chang said:
Hi Chenin! Looks like a great program, can't wait to try it myself!
(01.18.10 @ 11:24 AM)
Monica Hodges said:
Oh Chenin... I feel your craziness!!! I am a photographer mom as well and yes, my to-do list often has interesting items stacked together as well!! How is Things different from MobileMe or from a to-do list inOutlook? Best wishes for sanity:)!
(01.18.10 @ 11:57 AM)
Angela Renee said:
I second Nate's suggestion of setting up Areas in Things. It will show you your daily tasks divided by area which is super helpful. It's a fabulous program for partitioned people:)
(01.18.10 @ 12:23 PM)
Bobbie Brown said:
This looks just like my kind of 'thing'! (Pun intended!) But seriously, I love this!
(01.18.10 @ 12:52 PM)
Adrienne said:
Thanks for sharing! I've often wondered how you stay organized! It seems you do it ALL! Can you now blog about how to be so cool and creative!? I need help with that too :)
(01.18.10 @ 04:19 PM)
Angela Higgins said:
What an awesome list! I have tried Things briefly but think it may be the way to go for me too this year. Thanks for sharing :)
(01.18.10 @ 05:46 PM)
Amber Fox said:
I just got things for Christmas actually. My family knows that I have a hard time juggling my family, my full time job teaching and running a photography business on the side. So I am excited to see that you really like "Things" too. I also recommend reading the book, Getting Things Done, by David Allen, the inventor of Things. So cool Chenin!
(01.18.10 @ 08:02 PM)
teaworthy said:
This is perfect. Thank you so much for sharing.
(01.19.10 @ 09:13 AM)
Susan Stripling said:
I use this like CRAZY. shows you how I set it up. I use Projects to keep track of the workflow of each wedding etc! I LOVE THIS PROGRAM.
(01.19.10 @ 04:28 PM)
margaret lee said:
oh yay thanks for sharing this :) i added full-time mom to full-time photographer last july and i feel like my days have gone from 24/7 to 25/8! i will definitely check this software out to keep me in check.
(01.19.10 @ 08:41 PM)
Dana Fontaine said:
Thanks for highlighting this for me! I did not know about it previously but I think I will be heading to the apple store today! I am curious though, do you have the iPhone app Things as well? Is it necessary?
Thank you!
(01.22.10 @ 12:46 PM)
Kia Gregory said:
definitely as not busy as you but things looks like a bomb app!
(01.24.10 @ 01:31 PM)
Amanda Auer said:
It's not so much the "living will" as it is the "get rhinos who surf" that has me totally perplexed. LOL Chenin!! :)
(01.27.10 @ 10:09 AM)
Michelle Guzman said:
BUSY BUSY!!!! But this is motivating me to knock of some of my to do list. :)
(01.29.10 @ 12:49 PM)
Tim said:
a lot of people love this app! i still can't get into it. and its not an apple product, its culture code. may want to change that: http://culturedcode.com/things/
(02.02.10 @ 09:47 PM)
It's been a while since I shared a recipe of my blog, so I thought it was about time. Here's how I cooked up this image from my latest engagement session -
First, the before image -
The Totally Rad recipe:
-Claire-ify @ 40%
-P.O.S. Lens (with Blurred Edges at 30%, Highlight Flare turned off, and Overall Levels Tweak at 40%)
-Lux (soft) @ 40%
-Cut Like a Razor Blade
And the After image:
First, the before image -
The Totally Rad recipe:
-Claire-ify @ 40%
-P.O.S. Lens (with Blurred Edges at 30%, Highlight Flare turned off, and Overall Levels Tweak at 40%)
-Lux (soft) @ 40%
-Cut Like a Razor Blade
And the After image:
AmyPunky Photography said:
This is gorgeous!! The before image is already amazing but I love the after image even more. Beautiful colors!!
(01.15.10 @ 07:50 AM)
Erika said:
Thanks for sharing Chenin! Really helpful!
(01.15.10 @ 08:47 AM)
Amanda Rae said:
Wow...even though I've literally watched you work your TRA magic, this one is perfect! I want to go try it right now!
(01.15.10 @ 09:17 AM)
cindee bae said:
aww, beautiful image and perfect recipe for it! Can't wait to see you play with the new LR presets!
(01.15.10 @ 09:42 AM)
Laura said:
Lux is one of my faves! Beautiful! Would you mind sharing the camera settings for this shot?
(01.17.10 @ 01:21 PM)
Magnus Bogucki said:
what is amazing is your before picture - nice to see you got it right straight away and then enhanced it a bit. Nice work!
(01.25.10 @ 01:51 AM)
Andrew J. Allen said:
that's my sister! :) and my future bro in law! they are so happy with your photos, Chenin, as I'm sure all of your clients are!
(01.25.10 @ 03:18 PM)
jennifer said:
I seen this on the website for Totally Rad Actions & I LOVED it! Did you create Totally Rad Actions?
(05.21.10 @ 02:34 PM)
From our bulletin board at home.... (shot poorly with an iPhone)
This little quote (above) really resonates with me. In our efforts as artists to be "different" are we forgetting to be authentic?
Just a little mid-week food for thought.... would love to hear everyone's opinions....
delightfully,
Chenin
Contact Me * My Portfolio * Stuff for Photographers
Just a little mid-week food for thought.... would love to hear everyone's opinions....
delightfully,
Chenin
Contact Me * My Portfolio * Stuff for Photographers
Jenn Galloway said:
YEAH!!!! If there were bells to ring out, I feel like they would be ringing now, after reading this! And this couldn't have come at a better time for me. Sometimes people just get SO wrapped up in blaming people for copying this or that, that people forget to be real themselves. Did that make sense? Anyway, thank you!
(01.14.10 @ 02:27 PM)
julie said:
personally i don't spend a whole lot of time trying to be "different". it doesn't feel natural to me to to try to one up somebody, or to do something just because maybe my eyes haven't seen it before. i feel it is true that there "is nothing different under the sun"...that is except for the fact that each and every human being on the planet contains a different set of dna. my focus as a photographer is 100% of the time on my clients. in my opinion if you want to do something different focus more on the only thing that IS different, on how you can make them feel when they have respectfully chosen to spend time with you and money on you, and make photographs that will ultimately make them feel like their time was well spent and that will bring them back to a moment in time that can never be taken back, but only remembered by the work you have done and the experience you have given them. whoa, didn't mean to type that much, but i guess that's how i feel!
(01.14.10 @ 02:27 PM)
AmyPunky Photography said:
I really love this quote, but I love the quote by Jean-Luc Goddard even more! This is exactly what inspiration must be: a path which brings us to our own creativity and originality. Thanks for sharing this quote with us! :)
(01.14.10 @ 02:40 PM)
Marta Locklear said:
Brilliant! I have been in and out of the Copy vs Inspiration debate for the last couple of years, and this put it so so perfectly! I would love to borrow the quote to ad to my own work space during my time of creative transition. Thank you for sharing!
(01.14.10 @ 02:48 PM)
Stephanie Castillo said:
I LOVE this!!! SO true on so many levels! Thanks a bunch for sharing! I might just have to steal this from you and put it on my fridge ;)
(01.14.10 @ 02:52 PM)
Cristina said:
Love, love, love this. Hate the copying debate. Sure sometimes some things are obvious... but really, you own that pose? Thanks for posting. I agree and it is a great reminder to me. Printing it. Now.
(01.14.10 @ 06:12 PM)
brooke bowland said:
thank you a million times over for this. i think often times people are too hung up on exactly this and forget what they set out to do in the first place. so posting this in my office!
(01.14.10 @ 06:42 PM)
Heather said:
So very true Chenin. I have said this for awhile to my husband as I look at others work. He is a PhD student in Criminology and is always fighting the battle of "well someone else has already done something similar" when it comes to journal articles. For me at least seeing others work inspires me to try new things. Nature inspires me. Whenever I am feeling really burnt out I like to escape with my camera and just let nature inspire me. So glad that I am not the only one who feels that not much it truly original.
(01.14.10 @ 07:19 PM)
Trish said:
I don't like the word 'steal'. It has such negative connotations. I prefer 'borrow' or 'be inspired by'.
"Select only things [to borrow] that speak directly to your soul" is the bit that explains how the end result will be authentic, because you're adding your own interpretation.
I've been a writer for a long time, a photographer for a comparatively short time, and a paid professional photographer for a few months. I know what my 'writer's voice' , sounds like, now I'm trying to determine what my 'photographer's voice' looks like (voice? eye? perspective?) and it's hard not to WANT to be just like people like you, Chenin! But I need to find the authentic ME otherwise I'll never develop a unique style.
Thanks for posting this. Sorry for the stream-of-conscious waffle :-)
(01.15.10 @ 12:57 AM)
Rebecca said:
Great quote. I heard a quote similar to this at a business conference that I attended a couple of years ago. Their moto was: "Steal shamelessly. Share shamelessly." It was all surrounded by a change of attitude that would open businesses up to sharing ideas openly and helping others.
(01.15.10 @ 06:30 AM)
brooke bowland said:
had to share that i shared this one on my blog. thank you for the inspiration. of course...i linked you for putting it out there!!! :)
(01.15.10 @ 07:26 AM)
imthiaz houseman said:
great post, i have to agree. that really sits with you. i take inspiration from everywhere and make it my own.
(01.15.10 @ 09:50 AM)
Leah Haydock said:
Love it - in the words of my all-time favorite songwriter, Bono:
Every artist is a cannibal, every poet is a thief
All kill their inspiration and sing about their grief
(01.16.10 @ 07:52 PM)
Abra Michelle said:
Thank you so much, Chenin. It seems I really needed to read this today as it brought tears to my eyes. Hearing it from an amazing photographer as yourself somehow makes it resonate more fully. Thank you again.
(01.19.10 @ 09:45 AM)
Every year at Christmas, I like to send a little something to the wonderful people who support my business and my photography. So when I met Diana Phillips, a crazy mad-scientist-meets-graphic-artist-meets-chocolate-queen, I knew we had to collaborate on a project together. And when I emailed her, proposing that she make me my own couture collection of truffles and allow me to design the packaging, I thought for sure she would say "thanks, but you're crazy." Much to my excitement, Diana was game for working with me and so my 2-month long custom chocolate project was born....
The packaging: homemade papers in cream, ivory, blush and light blue, hand-sewn by Diana herself, and made in to a beautiful box. The chocolate themselves were wrapped in more hand-made paper and topped with a custom made menu/thank-you-card/holiday-card. The box was wrapped in velvet ribbon, a bit of twine (ya'll know how much I love my twine!) and topped with one-of-a-kind cabochons and brooches.
The chocolates: dark chocolate truffles in the shape of tiny flowers, filled with amazing flavors like Lilac, Lavender and Violette. Yumm.
It was an amazing project to work on and I had a blast trying my hand at the art of packaging. And, of course, chocolate-eating ;)
The packaging: homemade papers in cream, ivory, blush and light blue, hand-sewn by Diana herself, and made in to a beautiful box. The chocolate themselves were wrapped in more hand-made paper and topped with a custom made menu/thank-you-card/holiday-card. The box was wrapped in velvet ribbon, a bit of twine (ya'll know how much I love my twine!) and topped with one-of-a-kind cabochons and brooches.
The chocolates: dark chocolate truffles in the shape of tiny flowers, filled with amazing flavors like Lilac, Lavender and Violette. Yumm.
It was an amazing project to work on and I had a blast trying my hand at the art of packaging. And, of course, chocolate-eating ;)
cara said:
Gorgeous! The packaging, the chocolates, the photos -- lucky lucky you :)!
(01.13.10 @ 07:40 AM)
Victoria said:
Oh wow! That looks so good! I wouldn't even want to open it though..it's too pretty! But then, I definitely would want to inhale those chocolates...what a dilemma!
(01.13.10 @ 07:44 AM)
Your Father said:
And you didn't send one to your daddy why? Like you, beautiful, elegant and creative. Love, pops.
(01.13.10 @ 07:47 AM)
Rebecca Honeywell said:
I love these, totally gorgeous all round. I'm a packaging geek too and you've inspired me!
(01.13.10 @ 07:57 AM)
anda said:
THAT is by far the coolest packaging I have seen in my life. And a majorly awesome idea to collaborate like that!!
(01.13.10 @ 08:01 AM)
Amanda Rae said:
You might be a genius. Thanks for raising the bar. I'm going to start thinking about my Christmas gifts NOW!
(01.13.10 @ 09:07 AM)
angel swanson said:
loveeeeed mine!! they were absolutely scrumptious!!! don't laugh at me, but i actually wore the brooch that came on my box. :) xoxo
(01.13.10 @ 09:24 AM)
Joanna said:
That has got to be one of the best holiday gifts I have ever seen. Terrific job!
(01.13.10 @ 09:44 AM)
cindee bae said:
ahhhh.. How would anyone even open up the gorgeous packaging?! And if they did, how would anyone eat those beautiful chocolate?
(01.13.10 @ 09:51 AM)
Kaysha Weiner said:
These are incredible!!! They look almost too beautiful to eat.... ALMOST! lol
(01.13.10 @ 11:52 AM)
jenniferL said:
love the packaging design and craftiness! i'm a big fan of sewing on paper. i'm laughing at your dad's comment.
(01.13.10 @ 12:11 PM)
brooke bowland said:
just beautiful. each box is a work of art. what an amazing gift.
(01.13.10 @ 01:42 PM)
Cristy Cross said:
Are you serious?? These are awesome. I am so impressed with the packaging. I love it! How fun and what a different way of showing your creativity through yummy chocolate bites.
(01.13.10 @ 02:33 PM)
Nicole said:
I'm thinking that these would be great to add to my bridal party gift baskets Thanks for the great idea!
(01.13.10 @ 04:57 PM)
Anna said:
So elegant and beautiful and scrumptious! I would love to order a few boxes ;)
(01.13.10 @ 05:20 PM)
Joyful Weddings and Events said:
So gorgeous! And they look delicious :) Such a cool thing to be able to do!
(01.13.10 @ 07:18 PM)
Harmony Loves said:
DEEE-lish-ious! I love chocolate! and these look so pretty :)
(01.13.10 @ 07:37 PM)
diana said:
Chenin, it was a blast collaborating on the choice of papers and ribbons. I loved putting together the collages and juxtaposing textures, patterns and colors before reving up the sewing machine. The packaging was a lovely complement to the antique custom chocolate molds. I'll play mad scientist with you ANY day!
(01.13.10 @ 08:11 PM)
Andrea said:
Gorgeous! I am in love with the designs, what a fabulous idea! Hope none of my clients see this, kind of making me feel like the lousy card they got wasn't all that...
(01.13.10 @ 09:58 PM)
Alissa said:
The chocolates are beyond beautiful. What I love the very, very most about this post is your dad's comment. "Like you, beautiful, elegant and creative. Love, pops" You are a lucky, lucky girl.
I've never commented here before. Although I lurk a lot, I want you to know that your work is so lovely! Your images (and the TRA's you use) are wonderful! Thanks for sharing yourself with the world!
(01.14.10 @ 02:25 PM)
AmyPunky Photography said:
I hope you didn't eat all the chocolate and didn't send empty boxes. Just kidding!! This is a fabulous idea!! :) The papers are gorgeous!!
(01.14.10 @ 02:52 PM)
kary heimbach- kary h events said:
i loved my box of chocolates! it was beautiful, the chocolates were amazing and I kept the box! here's to a "sweet" 2010! Hope we have lots of events together! xoxo
(01.14.10 @ 04:15 PM)
Kari S said:
IThose are gorgeous! I dont know if I could have opened the packaging to get inside!
(01.15.10 @ 06:08 AM)
chenin's mom said:
hey Chen! I didn't get any chocolates either....what gives?=P
(01.19.10 @ 07:18 AM)
Olivia said:
Very pretty- the homemade paper, cabochons and brooches really make these stand out (not just your typical box of chocolates!). The chocolate flowers almost look too good to eat :)
(01.20.10 @ 04:33 PM)
angie said:
I thought for a second I was in Heaven! This is the prettiest chocolate and chocolate boxes I have ever seen!
(01.21.10 @ 06:21 PM)
Judd said:
WOW - this packaging design is truly inspirational ! I'm on a horrible Jan diet and those chocs are taking me close to the edge!
(01.22.10 @ 11:34 AM)
Jaclyne - Heavenly Blooms said:
Beautiful box. Beautiful chocolates. Love this.
(02.03.10 @ 09:42 PM)
Bob Monk said:
When men are looking for that perfect gift for her, a gift of chocolate is the perfect one. Chocolates are perfect mood elevators and are considered to have aphrodisiac properties. A heart shape chocolate says
(02.04.10 @ 09:00 PM)
This little sweetheart was born on New Year's Day and sure likes to party! We had a heck of time getting her to go to sleep, but managed to catch a few photos of those sweet, sleepy newborn baby moments.
Buffalo NY Wedding and Portrait Photographers said:
Those newborn photos are absolutely adorable!
(01.17.10 @ 09:37 AM)