If Lady Gaga was gone

My post today is not about Lady Gaga, it's about a person worthy of all the people that follow her around.  Is Lady Gaga talented? Yes she is. Is she brilliant? Yes she is. If she wasn't, she wouldn't have so many followers, she wouldn't be famous, or would she be?

My grandfather Conkling "Connie" Chedister died yesterday 5 pm, at the age of 98, taking with him some of what the world needs most. With the looks of Clark Gable, the heart of a saint, the smile of an angel and he loved like Santa Claus. Giving his love he gave away freely to everyone he met. My grandfather was an inventor, a truly brilliant man. He invented things to keep people safe, to help them better themselves and even some things to make life easier.

My grandfather was a beautifully humble man, always put others first and never wanted the spotlight, preferred to help others to have it. He never compromised his morals, he stayed true to who he was and never sold himself out for fame. No he wasn't famous, but those who had the honor to know him, knew he was something special, worthy of remembering, worthy to be missed and worthy for the world to take notice.  So, if today the sun doesn't shine as bright, if the flowers aren't as fragrant, if the wind is not as playful, it's because my grandfather left this world for one that he will be more appreciated in.

Life is not about the Lady Gagas, the Michael Jacksons, or the Tom Cruises, it's not about the famous people who light up the big screen or make a CD that hits platinum. It's just about people... the little people, that we tend to overlook, the people who love unconditionaly and love, big!

I love you Grandpa

Corinne Noel †

Helping out those who help others

I had the pleasure to photograph and the honor to meet all of the volunteers for the Hearts Afire Medical Outreach  Missions. These wonderful people are the behind the scenes that make medical missions in Haiti, Africa and other places in real need of medical help. Some of the Doctors that go out into the field, putting their safety aside to help others were there also.

They had a 50's themed party to thank all of the volunteers, with all the 50's music, egg cream sodas and hula hoops you could handle. There was a beautiful '55 Lincoln in the prettiest shade of blue for me to photograph the guests with.

I don't have an M.D. after my name, but it doesn't mean that I can't volunteer some of my time and give back to the ones that are helping others. It was really a great night and everyone seemed to have a great time...including me, I now have a really cute pair of those pink retro shades...love them!

Corinne Noel †

My kind of school

Yesterday & today, I have had the pleasure to watch and learn from one of the best in the Wedding photography...the one and only superfantabulous...Jasmine Star. I'm sitting from the comforts of my home studio/office & watching her live over the Internet. Well, it's me and over 4,000 other people, but the truly amazing thing is that it's free :)

There is a Fashion/commercial photographer, Chase Jarvis and her has online classes for photographers all the time. He approached Jasmine to do the craziest, never done before, online live wedding class for other photographers! It's a brilliant concept and I'm just so blessed to be home to watch it. I will be abandoning my children for 3 more days, but they can wave at me through the windows to the office, or say "Hi" as I pass though the livingroom for snacks and potty breaks :0)

Tell my family I said "hi" they're the ones with their noses pressed against the glass windows of the studio ;)

I will however let my kitty Gracie stay in here, she's a very good listener :)

Corinne Noel †

I challenge you to read this blog!

I challenge you to read this blog! What are you afraid of? Have you not read enough worthless posts without heart or tweets that you skim through, because they make you feel nothing?

I'm not asking for you to follow me, shoot photos like me or want to be me. I'm asking that you reach out and find other people who have something to say, something new, intelligent, something with heart that makes you think and feel. We're out here and we want to be heard. We want the chance to help shape the world with the others that are shaping the world now.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. Take a moment to read the other entries, I think they are worth reading, otherwise I wouldn't have written them ;)  Maybe one was meant for you.

So go search into the dark corners of the Internet to find people with little or no followers, we're out here waiting to be heard and waiting to share our hearts, our thoughts and our dreams.

Blessings & Belly Laughs,

Corinne Noel †

You never know, you might find something wonderful if you look, like a Smallen.

I'm sitting on my couch checking email & tweeting, while my boys watch tv & eat ice cream. It's been a long week, life struggles, personal and spiritual have drained me and I look to carbs for my last injection of strength.

Reading through the Biggens on Twitter. A Biggen in my book of "Rinnisms" is a person who is VERY successful in their field. I follow mostly photography Biggens, the greats, they don't need any more mention, they know who they are. They blog, they post photos, videos, tweet about life as a Biggen and I read about all of it.

Oh, you don't know me, I should introduce myself. I'm Corinne Noel, a photographer from Sarasota Florida, mother of two, loving wife and yes sometimes a  photo blog stalker. I'm what you would call a "Smallen" meaning, unfounded talent, newbie, green, well you get the idea. I think it must be wonderful to speak and be heard by many; create for many eyes to see. I too have a dream to leave my mark on this world, to leave a legacy of beautiful art and love.

Now the real reason for this blog entry...is to see if I can be heard, if anyone is really out there. How does one get blog followers? I guess you can beg, tell, ask, or challenge someone to read your blog. I'm going with the challenge option. I may not be the best photographer, but I have passion. I may not have the fine writings & teachings of a famous poet, but I have a heart.

I challenge you...yes you the one reading this to follow, not because I just told you to, but because you never know, you might just find something wonderful. Welcom to my blog, I hope you enjoy your stay, come and visit often.

Blessings & Belly laughs,

Corinne Noel †

Finding your gift...

Since I was a little girl, I have wanted to be many different things. I wanted to help animals, sing on the big stage, act with the hunks of Days of Our Lives and save the world one patient at a time. For one reason or another, nothing really stuck. I have always done many things, I've been good at some, not so good at more, but I've always wanted to find where I belong.

I started taking pictures when my youngest son was born. I had a fascination with birds, they were so hard to focus on, but when you were fast enough, the results were beautiful. Family started to notice my photos and asked if I would shoot their family photos. Then I started doing beach portraits and I was asked to photograph my first wedding about 6 years ago, it went better than I had hoped, prayers do work!

I was a VERY part-time photographer for about 5 years after that, I did a lot of non-profit charity events, family, friends, etc. I was still working a corporate job that required 60 + hours a week and all of my heart and soul. So, I really had  very little of me to devote to my passion. I left my patients and pursued what made me happy, not what made me money. It was only this year that I have been full-time.

This past weekend, I was sitting in my studio with one of my brides, we were going over her photos and we began talking about life. Three hours later, we realized that we had only been through 20 photos, but had really learned a lot about each other. We broke through the client/photographer barrier and settled into a great friendship. As I learned all about her path that brought her into my studio, I learned so much about myself. I'm a photographer who loves people, on the inside and the outside. She thanked me for the "free" counseling session as she winked, but she was genuinely grateful. She was grateful that I took the time to listen, to share, to care and to be honest.

I've found my gift... honest true love of people, sharing my heart & listening to theirs. Doing my best to capture the outside beauty, so they can see what I see on the inside.