I just found a cool site that let's you make a custom background image for your blog.
Thought I'd share the link with you. I'm just working on updating the look of my own blog -
you can check out the neat new background image I made :) It looks like this when I made it on the site:
I think if you check out my blog you'll agree the end results are pretty cool. Have a great day :)

I have to say that I have never met anyone with more energy that Chris Kufske. This lady brings multi-tasking to a whole new level. She started her business and gave birth to twin girls in 2002 and has been running full speed ahead ever since. She has an incredible eye and takes the most amazing photos. You can check out her work at Click Photography's website. The thing I want to share most with you is Chris's incredible spirit of giving back. Chris has had cancer touch her life several times and watch family and friends fight an incredible battle. Armed with the best tool she has - her camera - Chris decided to help in her own way. She has founded "Smiling Eyes" - a non-profit organization of volunteer photographers who donate 2 free family photo sessions per month for families living with cancer. It really is a wonderful gift. I encourage all of you to check out both Chris's site and the Smiling Eyes site. You won't be dissappointed.

Today's shout is for you Chris....... in my books you totally rock! (thanks to Erin from Simple Photo for these great photos of Chris.)

Sandra says:

Labels: businesses we love

Things we love...

Backup!!!


Always, always, always back up your data, ladies. Can not stress this enough. One thing we have found and LOVE is SMugMug... for a LOW annual rate you can store unlimited jpeg files! Seriously. We recommend one on site and one off site data storage spot - and this is an awesome off site storage solution!!

One thing I have found I would NOT recommend. I recently bought a Seagate FreeAgent external drive. I only had been using it for about two weeks - did nothing to it - did not bump it, accidentally unplug it NOTHING. And suddenly it's not detected on my computer anymore. I tried all of our computers. Spent hours working through their troubleshooting. Tried for three days in a row to get through to them. Send in a technical support ticket just to be referred back to the troubleshooting info that didn't work in the first place. Today I tried their data recovery line - got through... but they said I need to talk to the technical dept. (who I can't get through to!) who will give me a case #, then I have to call back to the data recovery and then SHIP it to them and they it will take 5-7 business days. Again I repeat - I did NOTHING to this drive! It was sitting happily next to my computer. Supposedly it's a firmware issue.

Moral of the story - do not use SeaGate.

Also, I spoke with someone I do trust at a computer store and he suggested NOT buying the external drives that are enclosed. Instead buying an external drive and enclosure separately and having the computer store put it together. This way if something does go wrong with the enclosure - it can be replaced. If something goes wrong with the drive - it can be accessed and repaired. Made sense to me.

So remember - back up! Back up! Back up!!!

As I type I'm singing this little ditty...

A-blogging we will go
A-blogging we will go
High Ho the derry-o
A-blogging we will go

Sandra and I have talked back and forth about what this Chick Clicks blog will look like. And for someone like me who is passionate about blogging regularly.. I've been neglectful of this blog. Please forgive me, dear Chick Clicks blog. We have decided we will have four areas we will focus on in this blog...

1) Women we love - women (photographers or not) who inspire us to dream, to live fully, and to be better people.

2) Businesses we love - as photogrpahers, we are also businesswomen. We will feature businesses that are helpful to our business of photography or that are good examples of successful businesses. (wow - how many times did I use a form of "business" in this section! Thesuarsus anyone?)

3) Websites we love - who doesn't like a little internet love? We'll showcase websites we enjoy for their layout, design or that we find to be a helpful link!

4) Things we love - here we'll feature tings we love in general... who knows what will pop up here! My love of Alf and my cabbage Patch Kid? Or maybe Sandra's love of jogging? Random in full effect.

Are you ready for all this loving we're about to share here folks? Maybe we should change our little ditty to...

Our loving we will blog
Our loving we will blog
High Ho the derry-o
Our loving we will blog

From one chick who clicks....

Krista

Sandra says....



My apologies for the delay in blog posts.... no excuse really except that Krista & I have both been very busy.... which doesn't show any signs of changing anytime soon, so instead of making excuses, we are going to make a point of blogging more often!





First of a GREAT BIG THANK YOU... to all the ladies that made it out to our first Chick Mix. It was an awesome day and we hope all of you enjoyed it! Here's a group shot of the chicks :)

Also a big thank you to all the ladies who have joined our online forum. We love hearing from all of you. It's so great to share ideas and information.

Krista & I are working on our plan for the blog and I promise from here on in we'll be posting more regularily ... I pinky promise :)

So - our first Chick Mix is coming up SOON - are you coming???

Think of it as a chick clicks family reunion - where we take time to learn together, encourage and inspire! We are soooo pumped! woo hooo!!!

So - are you coming?????

Link

Sandra says....

Just wanted to do a quick post to thank you all for your great comments and emails that we've received this week. It's so awesome to know that this idea has caught on that you are all enjoying the forum! Thank you so much!

I hope you have a great valentines day with all your loved ones!!

Sandra

Krista says...

Well, today is Valentine's Day - and even if it is not romantic... today I think about sharing love. With any and all! Loving with reckless abandon! Yay for love!

Part of our dream at Chick Clicks is for "sharing the love" amongst us chicks... and we're so happy to see people on board with the forum especially and chatting away! Asking questions, making comments about photos, and learning together. Makes me happy. :-)

Today, may you take time to love someone - or everyone!! - and to be loved.

Krista says...

I envision Sandra and I throwing a big party - for YOU! Sandra is opening the door - and squealing in delight at the friend who has knocked. "Krista! You have to come and see who's here!" I come running from the kitchen where I was preparing some fabulous meal for the party (since we're dreaming why can't I be a bit Martha Stewart like?) and am delighted to see our guest! There are hugs and lots of chatter as you, our guest, take off your coat and settle in for a good heart to heart.

Then we hear the door open again and in walk a few more friends - laughter flowing in with them. Because really, isn't that the best? When you are such good friends you don't need to knock but can stroll in unannounced?

Suddenly the house is filled with laughter, stories, hugs, tears, joy...

This is a bit what it feels like to both Sandra and I - a party of friends. Old friends. New friends. Women photographers who join to gab about what is the best lens... what do I wear when shooting a wedding... where do you get your canvas wraps done... any good book suggestions... how do you balance being a mom and a business woman working from home...

Chick Clicks is here not because we have all the answers... remember, I was only pretending to be Martha Stewart. But because we find value in the conversation, encouragement and inspiration we as women photographers bring to each other. Sandra and I are simply the hosts of the party - we all know that it's the guests who make the party!!

So... let us introduce you to Chick Clicks.


Right now there is a great conversation happening... are you a part of it? Come join the forum (it's FREE) and
meet new friends, ask your questions, dialogue, learn together!


Our first Chick Mix workshop is March 14th... just over a month away!! You won't want to miss this time of learning and networking!

Thanks for coming to the party - we hope you'll make yourself at home. Next time don't knock, just walk right in!