I hope everyone had a very happy holiday!  The lovely Jen and Patrick are featured on one of my favorite blogs today - The Wedding Chicks. Congrats to this fabulous couple!

And to my fellow vendors, I just heard that The Wedding Chicks are now offering the opportunity to advertise on their blog!  You should definitely scoot on over and see what this adorable bridal resource has to offer!

In other news, I know I have been a very naughty (and boring) blogger lately. Stay tuned this week for what is sure to be a beautiful New Year's Eve wedding, plus a rockin' day-after session!

delightfully,
Chenin

I have been a very naughty blogger and forgot to share with the the details of an amazing project that I recently learned about.  Giving is Awesome is a worldwide photography project where photographers can donate their time and art to families in need.  Just in time for the holidays, Kristen Kelp, our Totally Rad Customer Service Diva, has created a website where photographers can donate their time to families who can't otherwise afford beautiful family photography.  This is a completely grassroots and totally amazing project.  Kristen's goal is to collect $1,000,000 worth of photography services for needy families; she is doing an incredible job and has over 250 participating photographers! hope you will all consider being a part of it.

I am so excited to announce that my brand new website is live and ready for your viewing enjoyment! CHECK IT OUT RIGHT HERE!

Special thanks to the awesome team at Into the Darkroom for designing this site from the ground up (literally!)  I sent them a horrible iPhone photo and a crazy list of things that make me smile and they were able to design a site that is a perfect reflection of me and my work.  I highly recommend them to anyone!

As you peruse the site, be sure to check out the galleries, full of brand new work, as well as the fun "hidden" content, courtesy of my bird friend, Wrigley.

delightfully,
Chenin

It's time for another information-/rant-filled post to clear my head of all things I *meant* to blog but never got around to... So here they are, in no particular order:

*Barack Obama ran for, and won, the Presidency.  I typically try to avoid political discussions on this blog; mostly because I know that my views are extreme and I'm already probably on some government watch list for Hippie Liberals who shouldn't be allowed to take part in the political process.  But I will just say this - America, I am very proud of you.  Thanks for taking a chance and thinking outside of the box.  (Now Californians, that's another story.  I am more than a little disappointed at how 52% of you voted on one particular issue, but, hey, one step at a time, I guess.)

*Speaking of election night, something has been bugging me for a while.  Wolf Blitzer of CNN reminds me of someone, and I've never quite been able to put my finger on it.  It plagues me on and off, sometimes interfering with my ability to sleep, or complete basic tasks around the office.  But, on election night, it hit me.  He looks like Snarf from Thundercats.  I think the resemblance is obvious.


*I am still knocked up.  I don't blog about personal things too often, which is why I have spared you all the day-to-day details of my pregnancy.  I figure you would all much rather see pretty pictures than listen to me ramble about what color I painted the nursery (blue-grey and buttery yellow), or whether we're having a girl or a boy (a boy), or what I'm craving (tomatoes), or how I'm feeling (great, thanks!).  But, rest assured, baby is growing quickly and we will be welcoming our little one in a few short months. For those of you who feel incomplete without a piccie, knock yourself out (shot by John, my second shooter at last week's wedding) -


* My darling husband and I were interviewed for f-stop and beyond, a cool little podcast/internet radio show for photographers. If you have about 45 minutes to kill, it's a fun get-to-know-us interview.

*My new blog, designed by the fine folks at Into the Darkroom, was featured in this month's Rangefinder Magazine. It's a great article on the role of blogging in a wedding/portrait photographer's arsenal.  Check it out HERE.

* I am hosting a little Finao Open House at my studio next week.  Check out the details below-

Dear clients,

The holidays are quickly approaching!  In order to facilitate quick and easy holiday ordering, Boutwell Studio has reactivated all 2008 wedding and portrait galleries!  These galleries will remain online until December 1, 2008. 

We are also offering a 20% discount on all reprints and holiday card orders placed before December 1, 2008.  (To receive your discount, simply enter the coupon code *XMAS08* when you check out. Please make sure you enter this code and it is properly applied to your order before you check out.  No refunds will be issued, once payment is made and check out is complete.)

We are also offering holiday cards this year! Login to your gallery to learn more about these.

ALL REPRINT AND CARD ORDERS MUST BE PLACED BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2008 TO BE GUARANTEED FOR DELIVERY BY DECEMBER 24, 2008.

Let me know if I can answer any questions, or chat with you about holiday orders!

delightfully,
Chenin