Your name: Kara Purtell

Workshop: week 2

If you have a nickname, what is it? Ka

Are you single, married, have children? SINGLE, and lovin it!!, but seriously guys, am I the only one?? If so, I may have to find a man by Feb : )

What state do you live in ? Michigan

What do you spend way too much of your time doing? Looking at photo websites, playing in photoshop.

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

How did photography find you? A family friend of mine is a photographer, and he introduced me to photoshop, and the idea of doing it professionally, but my dad I think mostly influenced me to pick up a camera.

What is your favorite thing to take pictures of? Animals, specifically seals and sea lions… babies make a close second though, and are more accessible.

How long have you been doing photography ? Since high school

Do you have a photography business? If so, for how long? Yes, sort of, kind of, hopefully soon! It’s currently in the works.

What is your favorite food? Hands down, Thai Food. YUMMY!

What is something you can’t live without? My computer & hand lotion

What is something no one knows about you? I have the most vivid dreams, and I usually remember them in the morning. Whether something totally mundane, like a phone conversation, or something tragic, like someone dying, I wake up not really sure if it really happened or not. It’s scary!

What is on your iPod or Playlist: Country (big &rich, Miranda Lamburt) , Christian (bebo Norman, Jars of Clay), Girls (Sarah Mclachlan, Jewel) lite rock (lifehouse, chris cornell)

Are you a night owl or early riser? Night Owl all the way.

What is your favorite guilty pleasure? Chocolate, anything chocolate

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world…dead or alive, who would it be? My grandpas. They died when I was young, and I never really got to know them.

What are some things that you like? Animals, fall, Christmas , Wine tasting, laughing, friends, dinner parties, cooking, traveling, flying, and FOOD!

What are some things you don’t like ? Overly aggressive people, being cold, bad drivers.

When you can do anything, what do you do? Go wine tasting with friends

What do you have to do before you die? Travel the world!! I want to go to so many places (Australia, Africa, Ireland, England, France, Iceland, Alaska, Brazil, Japan, Costa Rica, etc, etc, etc…)

Tell us something more about you:

Funny I start listening to Christmas music in October because it makes me happy.

Serious I have “unknown white spots” on my brain. It started with a MRI for migraines, and turned into checking me for anything and everything they could think of. Since my health really hasn’t changed other than headaches, I just get checked up on with MRI’s every year, but I’m constantly watching mystery diagnosis and shows like that thinking that I might have what they had. I’m really not crazy, my head just hurts a lot!

Entertaining I found out a couple years ago that I’m allergic to cats (officially anyway, I kinda already knew) but I love my cat so much that I let her sleep with me under the covers by my face every night. I suffer, but we are happy.

Philosophical Life is what you make it.

Exciting I won a raffle for the Alzheimer’s association last week. $2500. First thing I thought, $2500 = a canon 5D! Woohoo! I’m so excited to get it!

True I’ve moved 5 times in the last 3 years, including 2 cross-country moves.

Meaningful I moved to California for school and realized a year after I graduated that I didn’t want to live there forever. Mainly I wanted to be by my family. I knew the relationship I was in wasn’t going to work out, so as soon as that fizzled, I quit my job (a good job that I loved I might add), and three weeks later I moved back home to start my own photo biz. So far it has been awesome!

Powerful I feel like I’ve finally figured out what I want and need in my life, in my work, relationships, and self, and I finally see how I can accomplish these things. It is a great feeling!!

Name 2 of your weaknesses: Finishing things that I start & organization

Name 5 of your strengths: I’m a good listener; I’m optimistic, laid back, a good cook, and a photoshop expert!

Your name: Missy Williams

Workshop week 1

If you have a nickname, what is it? Missy is my nickname (my name is Melissa, but nobody calls me that :)

Are you single, married, have children? I am married (to Jason) and have 2 little ones!

If you have children: how many, what are their names, how old are they: Max is 2 and Mallory is 1 (they are 1 year and 1 week apart :) The name alliteration was not intentional (in fact, I was trying to avoid it) but we wound up with Max and Mallory (and if you include me, Missy, it sounds pretty silly :)

What state do you live in ? Maryland – born and raised!

What do you spend way too much of your time doing? Sitting in my cubicle!! To pay the bills while building the photography business, I work full-time as a Software Engineer (yup – you read it right, I’m a dorky SW Engineer :)

What do you wish you could spend more of your time doing? Playing with Max and Mallory, building the photography business, learning (about ANYTHING!), volunteer work, EXERCISING, relaxing…the list goes on!

How did photography find you? Well…my husband has loved cameras and photography his whole life, and has made a living as a photographer for the past 4 years, working for a fantastic studio in the DC area, and learning a ton. Over the years we tossed around the idea of him branching out on his own, and us working together to build a photography business, and this past February we decided to make it happen. So, here I am trying to learn as much as possible about photography and business in general (ladies – I’m hoping you can help me out here :) :)

What is your favorite thing to take pictures of? I’m new to photography – haven’t found my favorite subject just yet :)

How long have you been doing photography ? Not long enough – I’ll definitely be a fish out of water at this workshop, but I’m up for a challenge!

Do you have a photography business? If so, for how long? I think I answered this above, but I’ll give it another shot :) Yes – currently my husband is the photographer and I handle the schedule, website, editing, ideas…… We don’t have the name solidified, or a brand, or the website complete, so we obviously have a LOT to do :) but we are building it piece by piece (I have a non-photography related job and my husband stays home with 2 munchkins 5 days/week!! Trying to build a business in addition to that has been QUITE a feat!)

What is your favorite food? Well I LOVE mashed potatoes, mac n’cheese, French fries with gravy (I think that’s a local thing) but currently I’m on a fajita kick! I’m trying to lose weight and get in shape (before the next pregnancy :) and fajitas can be super yummy AND healthy :) :) Oh – and baked UTZ potato chips – love them!

What is something you can’t live without? Jason – he is my ROCK (sounds so corny I know, but it’s true!). I can handle ANYTHING as long as he is there with me to walk me through and talk me through.

And ponios (pony-tail holders) – I NEED ponios :)

AND Dunkin Donuts coffee!!!

What is something no one knows about you? I’m a pretty open person, so there isn’t much people don’t know about me…hmmm, I’ll have to come back to this one…

Oh – I know – most people don’t know that “Bitch” by Meredith Brooks is my favorite song - I love how it describes how women can be so many different things all in one package :) For those who don’t know, the words to the chorus are “I’m a bitch, I’m a lover, I’m a child, I’m a mother, I’m a sinner, I’m a saint, I do not feel ashamed, I’m your hell, I’m your dream, I’m nothing in between, you know you wouldn’t want it any other way” And I really am all of those things :) :)

What is on your iPod or Playlist: A VERY eclectic mix! If you put it on shuffle, you might hear a Wiggles song, followed by some Eminem, then maybe Bohemian Rhapsody :) There is also some relaxation zen type music, Gwen Stefani, ABBA, Christina Aguilera, Bon Jovi….

Are you a night owl or early riser? DEFINITELY a night-owl!

What is your favorite guilty pleasure? TMZ, Perez Hilton and Reality TV – I try to stay away from all three but I’m not very successful :P

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world…dead or alive, who would it be? My Nana and my mom (I know, that’s 2 people :). I was 10 when my Nana passed away, so she doesn’t know the person I became, and I didn’t know her as a friend – I would love for her to see what an amazing mother my mom is, and to share stories and pictures, etc.

What are some things that you like? my Mom and Dad, getaway weekends with my girlfriends, massages, Disneyworld, music, Lucky Charms, long summer days, vacation with my family, sleeping in, Max and Mallory laughing at each other, Jason, family get-togethers (brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles – the whole crowd)

What are some things you don’t like ? People that see things in black and white and think they are ALWAYS right, anybody who intentionally makes someone else feel bad, peanut butter, being sick

When you can do anything, what do you do? Just about anything with my family. Relax, visit my parents and Jason’s parents, go to the park, watch a movie

What do you have to do before you die? Assure my kids are confident, healthy and happy. Know that I made a difference somehow…

Tell us something more about you:

Funny When I was 8-months pregnant with my son, I was in a friend’s wedding, and Jason told me I looked like Ursula the sea witch from “The Little Mermaid”……and he was SOOOO right!!!!!! (he meant nothing mean by it, just calls it like he sees it :) and he thought I was a VERY cute sea witch!)

Serious I am terrified of snakes – not just scared, TERRIFIED! If I see one on TV or in a book, I cry – and if I see one in person (in the woods or a pet store) forget it – I’m hysterical! I really want to tackle this fear – I don’t want it to prevent me from doing things with my kids (camping, nature walks…).

Entertaining Almost every night, after dinner but before bed, Max, Mallory and I dance and sing to “Rock-a-bye Your Bear” (a Wiggles song) and “Hot Dog” (the theme song to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse).

Philosophical You are what you eat……..just kidding :) :) :)That was the first thing that popped into my head though (I’m very philosophical, can’t you tell :)

Ok…Being richer, smarter or prettier than someone else does not make you a better person. Being kind….that counts.

Exciting I’m going to a photography workshop in February, for a whole week, and I don’t know anyone going!! Seriously – this is a major step for me in learning to be comfortable out of my comfort zone!

True I am most at peace and content when Max and Mallory have had a fun, active day, followed by a good dinner, warm bath and are tucked in bed, exhausted and cozy, ready for a good nights sleep. After a day like that, and once they’re off to sleep, I can breathe and feel no anxiety, which is very rare for me.

Meaningful I am honestly so incredibly happy. I love my life, I love my family, and I love myself. And I think I am blessed – there are a lot of people who can’t say these three things and mean them.

Name 2 of your weaknesses:

1. Sensitive – I take everything to heart
2. Always Afraid – afraid to try something new, scared of being alone in the house, afraid of snakes….fear has too much of a hold on me.

Name 5 of your strengths:

1. Open-minded
2. Intuitive
3. Motivated
4. Quick learner
5. try to find positive in everything

I am getting some questions about ferry scheduling so I thought I would go ahead and let everyone know about the ferry time schedule. This is crucial when you are booking your flight that you book it to make sure you are able to get to and from the Island in plenty of time.

*I would suggest allowing the following times for travel (time has been added for those "just in case's") ALLOW:

1.5 hours of travel time to get from the island to the airport (includes ferry time)
1 hour of travel time to get from the airport to the ferry*

If you are flying out of ILM (this is a small airport) you will need to arrive 1 hour before your flight departs.

The ferry is about a twenty minute ride and it leaves the second they say it will. They will NOT hold the ferry for you... believe me! You will need time to get all of your luggage unpacked and allow them to load it onto the ferry a few minutes before it departs. I suggest holding all of your equipment to carry on yourself!

FYI: When you see the word "Indigo" used, this is where you board the ferry at the mainland. "The island" is considered Bald Head.

To get a peak at the Summer ferry schedule click here. (first week and second week arrival will need this one)

To get a peak at the Winter Ferry schedule click here. (second week leaving will need this one)

WEEK 1 arrival - Arrive on Feb 17th (be there for the welcome dinner which will not start before 6pm) If you arrive early you can check in, meet everyone and explore the island. (WINTER FERRY SCHEDULE)

WEEK 1 departure: Depart on Feb 22nd (there will be no classes this day so you can leave on the first ferry if need be, just be sure to check the ferry schedule)(WINTER FERRY SCHEDULE)

WEEK 2 arrival - Arrive on Feb 25th (be there for the welcome dinner which will not start before 6pm) If you arrive early you can check in, meet everyone and explore the island. (WINTER FERRY SCHEDULE)

Week 2 departure - Depart on March 1st (there will be no classes this day so you can leave on the first ferry if need be, just be sure to check the ferry schedule) (SUMMER FERRY SCHEDULE)**

Your name: Jessica Lynne Smith

Workshop: week 2

If you have a nickname, what is it? My mom used to call me lady bug when I was a little girl. As I have grown older, she dropped the bug and just calls me lady.

Are you single, married, have children? I have been married for just over two years. No children yet…

What state do you live in ? I live in Utah.

What do you spend way too much of your time doing? Reading photography blogs, looking at photography sites, reading photography magazines, playing in photoshop, and working to improve my skills as a photographer

What do you wish you could spend more of your time doing? Spending time with my wonderful husband.

How did photography find you? I have always loved photography for as long as I can remember. I have always wanted to be a professional, but was criticized by my family. My mother told me that I should be a nurse, and that I would never make it anywhere as a photographer. For a portion of my life, I took her advice. I was on the path to becoming a nurse. At that point, I had recently met my husband. He helped me to switch paths and to go after what I really wanted. He didn’t want me to ever regret not chasing my dreams. Now my mom is very supportive since she sees that I can do it and make something of myself even if I am a photographer.

What is your favorite thing to take pictures of? I used to would have said landscapes and scenery, but since I have started doing weddings, my answer is definitely people.

How long have you been doing photography ? I have only been doing photography professionally since January, but I have been doing it for fun since I was just a kid.

Do you have a photography business? If so, for how long? Yes, since January, 2007

What is your favorite food? I love shredded beef enchiladas with beans, rice and vegetables from this little restaurant in my home town. Either that or mashed potatoes.

What is something you can’t live without? My husband, chapstick, and showers. I should probably also add my computer, I spend way to much time on it in this “digital” world.

What is on your iPod or Playlist: Alison Krauss, Kenny Chesney, Rod Stewart, The Turtles, Alabama, Moulin Rouge Sountrack

Are you a night owl or early riser? I am more of a night owl than an early riser, but there have been times where I to go to bed at ten or eleven and wake up at nine or ten. This bad habit showed up after I was married.

What is your favorite guilty pleasure? Fried ice cream with caramel and whipped cream

What are some things that you like? Ballroom dance, particularly swing dance. Board games, iced oatmeal cookies from walmart, doing fun and crazy photo shoots with my family, tin roof sunday ice cream (the kind with almonds, not peanuts)

What are some things you don’t like ? The feel of cotton balls, anything to do with needles, people making gagging noises, debt, starting to exercise when I haven’t for awhile

What do you have to do before you die? Have at least 2 or 3 children

Tell us something more about you:

Funny When I was younger, my cousin and I went shopping, and our stuff was put into HUGE bags. We joked that they were big enough for us to fit into. When we got home, we climbed into our bags (we fit perfectly) and took a ton of pictures. The rest of the day we turned into a crazy fun photo dress up day.

Serious My husband just started pharmacy school, so we just moved to a different town. I am very grateful to be a photographer at this time because it is one of the only ways I know of to meet people because I am usually home all day or out taking pictures.

Philosophical To the world, you may just be a person, but to one person you may be the world.

Exciting I have a career doing something I love, and an amazing man to grow up with and the world in front of me to explore and be a part of.

True My family is a yours, mine and ours kind of family. My mom and dad divorced when I was two, and both remarried later in life. I have 2 brothers and a sister from my mom and dad, 1 from my dad and his second wife, 1 from my mom and her husband, my dad’s second wife has 3 of her own, and my stepdad brought 3 kids into our family. Also, my husband has 10 brothers and sisters.

Name 2 of your weaknesses: Procrastinating, and being self conscious

Name 5 of your strengths: Honest, sincere, good listener, I have a great family, and I am a hard worker

Your name: Melissa Pepin

Workshop:  week 1

If you have a nickname, what is it? Mel…but that’s kind of boring..???

Are you single, married, have children? Im married (2 years) to a smoking HOT Pharmacist!

If you have children: how many, what are their names, how old are they: Charlie and Sophie are my cocker spaniels…but they behave pretty much like children so...does that count?

What state do you live in ? Georgia

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

What do you wish you could spend more of your time doing? Sleeping (this 4-6 hour a night thing just ain’t cutting it!)

How did photography find you? I’ll warn you now…I write like I talk…so forgive me for the punctuation issues in the following! Part 1: I started taking pictures when I was in high school, just because I loved doing it. I disposable camera’d myself to death in those days! In 2003 when I was a sophomore in college, I was really big into the Passion/One Day movement with Louie Giglio and worship leaders like David Crowder, Charlie Hall, and Chris Tomlin and they announced that they were having another One Day event in Sherman Texas and that they were accepting art work for the 268 Generation Gallery that would display work all over different states starting in Texas, at One Day. I submitted some photographs that went along with the theme that they requested and that was the first time that my pictures were displayed for anyone other than myself. It was really cool, and though I don’t know if I was really ready to have my first experience like that in front of the 30,000 people that attended that event, it left me itching to see what else I could get myself into!

What is your favorite thing to take pictures of? Brides…and Food.

How long have you been doing photography ? 5 years

Do you have a photography business? If so, how long? YES! Almost 2 years

What is your favorite food? I LOVE French onion soup and field green salads…and strawberries Romanoff (huller strawberries covered in brandy cream sauce…ugh! Im having a moment right now just thinking about it!)

What is something you can’t live without? Bottled water…aquafina or desani…I don’t care if its really just tap water…as long as it doesn’t taste like plastic or iron then I’m good with it. J But I defiantly drink between 10-12 bottles a day…I RECYCLE EVERY BOTTLE!!!!! And my rainbows…and my Burts Bees… (and the husband is a given!)

What is something no one knows about you? Oh Lord..ya’ll are just ASKING for an emotional breakdown…  hehehe Money scares the hell out of me. I grew up with just my mom and we didn’t have any…any. So I have worked myself to the point of insanity (ex. 3 part time jobs in college while I toted a full load of classes…cant remember ever really sleeping…ever) because you would think that the US Mint was going to go on strict and I would be the only one of the face of the earth left without a cent. Money can make you happy…can make you sad...or angry…or insane and sometimes I forget about Gods provision and his promise to take care of me…its when I try to take it into my own hands that things get crazy...it makes my throat feel like its going to close up.

What is on your iPod or Playlist: Michael Buble’s HOME cd… Nelly Furtado…Matt Carney…Michael Tolcher…and John Legend

Are you a night owl or early riser? Night Owl…but I can get up early...and I do most of the time but if I don’t get a cup of coffee when I get up...its UGLY!

What is your favorite guilty pleasure? Expensive dinners and ….(gulp) shoes!

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world…dead or alive, who would it be? As completely cliché as it is going to sound…it would be Jesus…I just don’t know how a person can live…and live life according to how they KNOW God wants them to live it…yet know all of the horrible things that face you, and still be able to love people and forgive people and share yourself with them. ( I mean…Jesus was the word made flesh so I know that he knew that it had to be done…but from a strictly logical point how do you take all the junk he dealt with and still want to love…its mind blowing and more challenging than anything else. )

What are some things that you like? Singing (I was a vocal performance major when I started college and the perpetual wedding singer before I started shooting them! And I lead worship at my church in Athens, Ga…so I LOVE singing!), and a close second is COFFEE….COFFEE…COFFEE!!!!

What are some things you don’t like ? People that try their hardest to make those around them feel 100% inferior to them. I also don’t like the horrible things that are being done to women in the Congo right now, poverty, Pepsi, 0.7 lead , mint ice cream, my grandmothers thanksgiving Turkey…and when your dog eats your shoes…or underwear, or socks…you name it and she’s eaten it!

When you can do anything, what do you do? Romantic getaways with my husband…he works hard and helps me a LOT and I love getting to spend one on one time with him…hes a lot of fun!

What do you have to do before you die? Travel the world more….Ireland…Spain again…Italy…and be able to take my mom with me on these trips. J

Tell us something more about you:

Funny my nick name growing up was Tootie. Not because I had gas as a child...but it was my older cousins nick name until she grew out of it so I got it….unfortunately...and apparently I was never old enough to grow out of it! Boys would call my house in high school and my mom would inevitably say “Tootie!!!!! PHONE!!!!” shesh!

Serious Im terrified of death or of people dying…and disappointing people.

Entertaining When I was a kid I used to (now keep in mind I was an only child) play news, or talk show host…you get the point. Well, when my husband and I got married we got a Kitchen Aid Mixer…one of the big daddy ones….and I cant tell you how many times he has walked into the kitchen and stood there and listen to my “cooking show” before making his presence known! He’s also caught me in the bathroom making up jingles for bathroom products...if you ever heard my Listerine commercial you would think I was hilarious!

ALSO, I used to memorize those “monster ballad” commercials…you know, where it would be a collaboration CD set and they would play like 10 snip-its in a row just to show you a sample of what the box set it like…yea...I still sing them… the whole commercial that is… J

Philosophical You can't personally control everything.

Exciting I just got my first magazine cover!

True I tend to over commit and have a really hard time saying no.

Meaningful I always prayed for a man that I could be real with and that would want to take care of me (despite the fact that I want to take care of me more) and my family…and he gave me that in my husband…and life can be really sweet sometimes.

Powerful I have lived in a world surrounded by “youre not good enough”’s and “You cant do it”’s…and Im overcoming all of that…right at this very minute!

Name 2 of your weaknesses: Budgeting and admitting that there is something I cant do

Name 5 of your strengths:

I really love people

Im fun to be around

Im articulate and speak well

Im driven

and Im honest.