Your name: Erin Beth Freeman

Workshop: Week 1

If you have a nickname, what is it? Oh, this is funny!! Do I really have to tell you? LOL!! OK, I will go for it, it’s “Earwig!” It’s a name that my dad has called me since I was very little…I can’t believe I offered that up! It’s so embarrassing.

Are you single, married, have children? I am married, it will be two years in September. I just had my first baby in Jan, he is turning 7 months. He is the joy of our lives!! I thought “Ok, a baby is going to change my life, am I really ready for this?” But I had no idea how much joy and happiness our boy would bring!! We just want to eat him up everyday!!

If you have children: how many, what are their names, how old are they:

Yes, Jack is 7 months old. Jack Wayne Freeman. Not to be confused with John Wayne though they do sound similar!

What state do you live in ? Davina – you live in Utah? So do I! Yes, as Davina said right now I live in Utah. I was born and raised in California however and I will always consider that my first home. But for now I am settled here enjoying the ski life and my husband and baby!

What do you spend way too much of your time doing? Oh, this list could get long. Let’s see…I spend way to much time stalking other people’s blogs. Primarily other photographer’s blogs, I love it!! The rest of my time is spent with my son when I am not working at my “office” job. But I don’t see how I can count spending time w/ my son as “to much time.” You can’t ever spend to much time with your babies! I also am obsessed with a clean house, my husband would definitely say I spend to much time cleaning our house.

What do you wish you could spend more of your time doing? I wish I could travel more. There are so many places I want to go, I have a list of about 100 places to see before I die (yea- sounds like the travel channel!!) however I made this list up a couple of years ago and I am determined to do it all before I die! So what is my next big adventure after this workshop? Going to Italy September 2008!! Can’t wait!

How did photography find you? Photography has always been my lifelong passion. I am always the one who brings the camera to every single event or party. All my friends know that they didn’t need to bring their cameras b/c I take all the pictures and then made copies for everyone! In college I took several classes and It’s always been my passion, it’s what moves me and inspires me. It’s just been recently however that I am really dedicated to it.

What is your favorite thing to take pictures of? My favorite thing to take pictures of is definitely people! I love capturing that moment, whether it’s a laugh or a smile, I love photographing kids, families and babies.

How long have you been doing photography ? I have been doing photography on and off for years for friends and family but recently I have been given the opportunity to reevaluate my life, figure out what is important to me, things like that. It was very clear to me that my passion for my photography is where I need to put 100% of my time so I would say I have been seriously pursuing photography for about a year now.

Do you have a photography business? If so, for how long? I am not officially opened for business yet! But my goal is to be open within the next 6-8 months as of now I am continuing to build my portfolio for my soon to be website. I am hoping to learn lots of great things at the workshop that I can apply to my business when I get back.

What is your favorite food? My favorite food is Mexican by far!! Anything that is hot and spicy I love!! I cannot get enough of it!

What is something you can’t live without? I can’t live without my wonderfully supportive husband and my baby. However, you did say “something” so I would also have to say that I cannot live without chapstick!! I have to put it on every night before I go to bed, it’s like a ritual. I also cannot live without my coffee, ohhhhhhh there is nothing like waking up to a good cup of coffee. Oh, did I mention a good glass of wine? Now that I think about it, there are a lot of things that I can’t live without!! LOL!

What is something no one knows about you? This one is hard, let’s see..To those that are close to me, I am an open book, I guess if I had to say something that not a lot of people know about me is I love reality shows! I am a junkie, it’s embarrassing and a little sad but that really is probably something a lot of people don’t know about me. It’s one of my guilty pleasures!!

What is on your iPod or Playlist: On my IPOD is Keane, Audioslave, 2-Pac, Ben Harper, Daughtry, Dave Matthews, Dixie Chicks, Justin Timberlake, John Mayer, Michael Buble, Plain White T’s.

Are you a night owl or early riser? Well I definitely used to be a night owl but since having my baby I am an early riser!! No choice there!!

What is your favorite guilty pleasure? Snickers and a big ol’ glass of milk.

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world…dead or alive, who would it be? Definitely John F. Kennedy, I am such a Kennedy fan!! But maybe Mother Teresa as well, I am always amazed at how much she gave of herself to others.

What are some things that you like? Reading books, sleeping in, my dog Dutch. I love to ride horses, planting flowers, a great big fire and a cozy blanket, going skiing just after the perfect snow fall when the sun is out and the sky is blue or hiking on an open trail just my dog and me and the mountains all around.

What are some things you don’t like ? Mean spirited people, people who put others down, people who are mean to animals. Traffic Jams, commercials on radio stations and waiting in any type of line.

When you can do anything, what do you do? I take out my camera and take pictures, or I just chill and read a good book or sometimes I just take a good ol’ nap!

What do you have to do before you die? Complete my list of 101 places to go before I die, and to love my family as much as I possibly can.

Tell us something more about you:

Funny Here we go again, something else that is quite embarrassing, but oh well at least you guys will really get to know me!! Whenever I go pee, I have to tickle my lower back. It’s the only way I can go!! My husband thinks it’s the weirdest quirk he has ever heard of and he’s probably right! But for some reason as soon as I tickle my lower back I go pee right away!

Serious I am a very loyal person to my friends, there isn’t much one can do that I wouldn’t forgive. I am a firm believe in forgiveness. It’s not always easy but it’s worth it for the good of your soul.

Entertaining I can do a pretty mean roger rabbit! Yes, that is a dance that I used to perform quite regularly back in the early 90’s when it was popular!!

Philosophical Always trust your gut instinct, it never lies.

Exciting I am with Kelly, I am still so excited to be a mom!! More so then I ever imagined, I can’t wait to have another one! I am also thrilled to be attending this workshop, I know it’s going to be an experience I will never forget!

True I know that we are on this earth to help each other out, we are here to make a difference in each other’s lives and to learn from one another.

Meaningful My family is the most meaningful to me, whenever I have a bad day as soon as I walk in and see my son and he smiles I just smile back and everything else that went wrong doesn’t seem so important anymore. Also, my husband gives the most meaningful hugs ever! His hugs always mean so much to me because I can just feel his love when he hugs me.

Powerful Mmmmmmmmmmm….knowing what you stand for is pretty powerful and never wavering. Always stick up for what you believe to be right and true.

Name 2 of your weaknesses: Oh, I am slightly obsessed w/ a clean house and I would have to agree with Lauren, I hate math!! Yuck!

Name 5 of your strengths: Outgoing, optimistic, loyal, a genuine concern for others and I’ve been told I am a good listener!

Your name:  Jackie Petersen

Workshop:   week 2

If you have a nickname, what is it? 
Only to my cute little 3 year old neighbor.  It's ¡Honey¡.  He hears me call my
husband that all the time so that¡¦s where it came from.

Are you single, married, have children?
Married with children

If you have children: how many, what are their names, how old are they: 
The only time I feel old is when I have to say how old my kids are, I don¡¦t know
how they got this old. 
I am mom to Kacey, 24, lives in Portland, Oregon and Courtney who is 21 and lives
with her husband in Washington Terrace, UT.  I am step mom to Jason who is 26 and
lives with his wife in Syracuse, UT, Jessica, 24, who lives with her husband in
Layton, UT and Jared, 20, who lives in France.
 
What state do you live in?
Utah and No. Carolina

What do you spend way too much of your time doing? 
Being on the computer, and worrying.

What do you wish you could spend more of your time doing?
I¡¦m pretty lucky at the moment, I get to do what I want when I want for the most part.

How did photography find you?
I have always taken pictures of the kids but now I want to learn how to take
photographs, hope that makes sense. 

What is your favorite thing to take pictures of?
It¡¦s always been my family, but I would love to focus on families and babies.

How long have you been doing photography?
Not long

Do you have a photography business?  If so, for how long?
No

What is your favorite food? 
Ice cream!  Baskin Robbins Nutty Coconut or Dairy Queens Cookie Dough Blizzard.  Ice
cream is food isn¡¦t it?

What is something you can¡¦t live without?
My hubby, family, computer(internet), and contacts.

What is something no one knows about you?
At times I feel inferior because I didn¡¦t go to college.

What is on your iPod or Playlist:
I don¡¦t have one, but I do enjoy most music.

Are you a night owl or early riser?
I am both, just depends what¡¦s going on.  Actually I wish I didn¡¦t need to sleep
at all!

What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
White store made birthday cake with lots of sugary frosting, ummm good.

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world¡Kdead or alive, who would it be? 
My grandma Helen, she¡¦s the only grandparent I knew and I¡¦d love to talk to her
about life.

What are some things that you like?
Diet coke, veggies, shopping, sewing, playing the piano, shopping, laughs, bottled
water, learning, people, my dogs, color, and did I say shopping?

What are some things you don¡¦t like? 
Slow drivers in the fast lane, drugs, dark bathrooms, seafood/sushi (I¡¦ve tried!),
phony people, to be cold 

When you can do anything, what do you do?
Hmm, this is a hard one.  Shop, decorate, visit friends or family, sew, play a
computer game, read, serve others.

What do you have to do before you die? 
The only thing I¡¦ve ever said I have to do before I die is learn to play the drums,
why? I don¡¦t know.

Tell us something more about you:

Funny ¡V I went on a business trip with my husband years ago, while he was at a
meeting I was getting ready and needed an iron which was not in the room.  I finally
got the courage and called room service, the knock came and the guy brought in the
iron. I took it and then he stuck out his hand, I didn¡¦t know why in the heck he
was doing that so I gave him five and it wasn¡¦t a five dollar bill.  I have since
learned he wanted a tip ƒº.  I¡¦d love to know what he thought when he left. I still
laugh when I think about this.

Serious ¡V June 26th 2007, I was at the airport with my husband and our dogs.  He
got a phone call 30 minutes before we were to board.  It was the doctor calling
about his test results and telling him he should get his bags and come home.  He has
kidney cancer. One week later he had his kidney removed and didn¡¦t need chemo.  We
are very blessed!

Entertaining - As hard as I try I can never get out of the house and leave without
going back in to get what I forgot.  It makes me crazy. 

Philosophical ¡V Bloom where you¡¦re planted.  Not always can we control situations
but we can control how we handle them.

Exciting ¡V I get to go to France in March and I will know how to take amazing photos.

True ¡V Unfortunately, hard as I try, I don¡¦t have the best relationship with my
parents. 

Meaningful ¡V Relationships with others, is what life is about.  

Powerful ¡V I am very blessed, to live in this country, to have family, to have my
five senses, and to know where my blessings come from.

Name 2 of your weaknesses:
Staying on task or some might say ADD; I like to think of it as multi-tasking

Spending money, no matter where I go I can find something I ¡§need¡¨

Name 5 of your strengths:
Good listener
Hard worker
Reliable
Committed
Optimistic

Kelly on the Monday morning conference call... (isn't Posey adorable?!) As you can see we all dial in with our own little world unfolding around us.

Your name: 

Kim scot fischer

Workshop: week 1

If you have a nickname, what is it?

Mama… ha, ha. back when I was a bartender everyone called me scotty

Are you single, married, have children? Married with two children
If you have children: how many, what are their names, how old are they: Davis is 5 and Hagen is 18 mo

What state do you live in ?

california

What do you spend way too much of your time doing?

Ummm, lately … editing!,

What do you wish you could spend more of your time doing?

Playing with my kids…Photographing things other than weddings… swimming., yoga, dining in fabulous locations with great wine and good company. Traveling. Photographing all of the above!

How did photography find you? In another lifetime, I worked for Crate & Barrel. My photography partner Niki (whom you all will meet) also worked there. She had just graduated from film school, and inspired me with her talk of photography. We started a small women’s photogroup . Niki inspired me and sparked my true love of photography. As well as derailing me from Grad school.I can say she was the closest thing I ever had to a mentor. Now ,almost 15 years later, we run a business together.

What is your favorite thing to take pictures of? Anything that has inspired light.

How long have you been doing photography ? Close to 15 years

Do you have a photography business? If so, for how long? Yes. I shot my first wedding in 1999. Niki and I actually got our business license in 2005. Those first few years were slow. I think in the last year and a half we have finally felt like this is a REAL business.

What is your favorite food? Sushi and ice cream… not together

What is something you can’t live without? My kids, of course.

What is something no one knows about you?

I am an open book… everyone knows everything about me.

What is on your iPod or Playlist:

No iPod, but my I listen to the follwing on a regular basis: The Be Good Tanyas,, Lily Allen, Damone, Crooked Still

Are you a night owl or early riser?

My children are early risers therefore I am .. but before children I could sleep til noon!

What is your favorite guilty pleasure?

Reality shows

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world…dead or alive, who would it be?

My husband and a few close friends. That sounds so domestic, but, seriously, we never go out to dinner without the kids.

What are some things that you like?

wine, the changing of the seasons, my son’s laugh, sleeping babies, deserted beaches on cloudy days…um…I sound like I am fillng out a singles add..

What are some things you don’t like?

Passive aggressiveness. War. When I am impatient with my kids. Traffic. Instant coffee.

When you can do anything, what do you do? I would go to a decent restaurant by myself and have a good meal with a great glass of wine, and watch people….think about how I would photograph them.

What do you have to do before you die?

Take my kids to Alaska. Have a satisfying career and let my husband quit his job.

Tell us something more about you:

Funny

I like to make the ‘hang loose’ sign with my hand … a lot.

Serious

There are days that I seriously seriously doubt my skill as a photographer, and I start to panic, like “what am I doing with my life” kind of thing.

Entertaining

My 18 mo old is sitting in his highchair right now covered head to toe in blueberry yogurt

Philosophical (Davina-Everything in life is not urgent.)

I think feminism gives us the choice to not only be kick ass and strong but to be weak and vunerable as well.

Exciting

I feel like my career is on the brink of something big. I feel in the next year my business will expode.

True

I am a really good mom.

Meaningful

I was molested as a child .. went through years of therapy,-found my strength, and can honestly say if I could go back and change history I would not. My journey has made me who I am, and I really like how I turned out.

Powerful (Millie- Well... I am pretty strong for a woman.)

I think I am pretty strong, too… Millie you know we are the stronger sex ;) !

Name 2 of your weaknesses: (Lauren- Organization and MATH!)

I procrastinate

I am deathly unorganized

Name 5 of your strengths: (Millie- fun to be around, time management, dedicated, loyal, optimistic.)

I am honesty

Loving

Generous

Strait forward

Strong

Your name: Courtney Beck

Workshop:  week 2

If you have a nickname, what is it? Court, schooldays were Corky or Corn nut

Are you single, married, have children? Married a year and a few months to Justin. No children yet.

What state do you live in ? Utah – born and raised

What do you spend way too much of your time doing? Being on the computer.

What do you wish you could spend more of your time doing? Catch up on things I’m behind on.

How did photography find you? I don’t really remember a time when I didn’t enjoy pictures. I remember in Junior High when we had to research about different careers and photography was definitely on of them. I didn’t really do anything about it in a business sense until about 2 years ago. I took my cousin and my neighbor on a photo shoot with film. I showed a friend/neighbor/photographer what I had done and she asked if I wanted to second shoot with her the next day at a wedding. I was so excited, even more that I got to use a digital SLR. I think that weekend I bought my camera.

What is your favorite thing to take pictures of? I enjoy taking engagements photos, but people in general. I LOVE taking senior pictures.

How long have you been doing photography ? Around 2 years

Do you have a photography business? If so, for how long? I guess so, around 2 years.

What is your favorite food? I love pretty much anything with chicken except chicken cord-on-blue (nasty! No offense!). I love Pina Colada smoothies. As far as a certain ethnic group – MEXICAN. I love Javier’s in Ogden, UT.

What is something you can’t live without? Mascara, I feel weird not wearing it and my husband and family in general.

What is something no one knows about you? You know, I’m really not a loud person so I thought this would be easy to answer but I can’t really think of anything.

What is on your iPod or Playlist: Frank Sinatra, Amos Lee, Corinne Bailey Rae, Michael Buble, Diana Krall, and others but I can’t remember them now.

Are you a night owl or early riser? I went from an early riser to a night owl.

What is your favorite guilty pleasure? Ice cream with caramel and maple bar donuts.

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world…dead or alive, who would it be? My great grandma Helen. My mom and aunt always say how funny she was but I don’t remember her.

What are some things that you like? Smoothies, dogs, fishing, going to movies, and bowling every now and again.

What are some things you don’t like ? Being taken advantage of.

When you can do anything, what do you do? I would like to go fishing, play Guitar Hero, and hang out with Justin (movies, video games).

What do you have to do before you die? I want to go to England, Italy, and Mexico. I would also like to visit a third world country. My goal is to have a photograph in a magazine.

Tell us something more about you:

Funny I guess that I’m borderline narcolepsy. It really is funny but there’s too long of a story behind it. Now I hope I don’t see the search for the Narc at the workshop!!! Just kidding!!! And we caught a mouse in our apartment today!

Serious I have an issue with people watching me edit photos over my shoulder. In an art class in junior high my teacher would always stand over my shoulder and watch what I was doing. I don’t like the feeling of being critiqued while I’m in the middle of something. When it’s a finished project, it feels different somehow.

Entertaining As soon as I get home from work I put on some sweat/pajama pants on. Justin just loves it. I hate wearing dress pants every day so when I get home I have to get into some comfy clothes.

Philosophical Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…………………….

Exciting I’m going to this workshop! The last day of the workshop is my birthday! Big 22!!! Then a couple weeks later my brother comes home from France!

True I’m pretty reserved and quiet until I get used to new surroundings.

Name 2 of your weaknesses: Procrastination and keeping my life not busy.

Name 5 of your strengths: Caring, organization (not quite at the moment), creative, fast learner, good listener.