There is a song by the band U2 "Grace" it's just a beautiful song. Nichole Nordeman remade the song and with her voice...I just cry when I hear it. Since I first heard this song I have been in love with the name Grace. I want to bless a little girl with that name, however I have two boys :) So...we adopted a kitty from the rescue locally and I named her Grace, her nickname is "Gracie." Now this is the part of my post where I go off on some sort of tangent...hang in there, I do get back to my point...usually. Have you ever noticed when you name an animal a name that would portray a certain character trait that they actually turn out to be the opposite? My kitty Grace is the farthest thing from graceful, other than while she is sleeping. She is clumsy, silly & goofy, but when she is sleeping...she's gorgeous! What do you think?

Corinne Noel †

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.

Being an original...

Not just in the photography world, but in all walks of life, we are told to be original. As those words echo in the back of my mind, I see a world of imitators and wannabes. I'm not judging anyone and I never said imitating was a bad thing. Child learn by imitating, my children still do and for that reason I try to be very careful about what I do.

I sit here today at my computer screaming inside, frustrated at this crossroad that I find myself at. I know that I am unique, my husband thinks sometimes too unique. I want to brand myself and wear a banner showing everyone who I really am, I read books about finding my special and unique brand. I am constantly running into people who fearfully hide their knowledge, not wanting to share it, fearing it will make them less unique. I know that in Art classes in school we are to copy the masters, but in photography, some of the 'Masters" don't quite want it to go down that way.

Greatness is a gift, but I think there is also a responsibility to help others be great too. No other person in this world can do something creative, just like you, because we create with our hearts and experiences. No two people have the same everything, God made sure of that :)

I feel like I am alone in this photography world (Sarasota), my kindred spirits thousands of miles away in California. My friends that I've never met, get me, funny how that works. They are honest, witty, vulnerable, humble and very talented in this place of captured moments of time that I love. Someday we will meet and will feel an immediate connection. I can't wait for that day :) Until that day, I stand alone, being me in my own quirky way, seeing what I see and how I see it. One moment of truth at a time.

This is NOT your little brother's kickball...

I was asked as a favor to shoot the 2010 Southwest Florida Regional Kickball Tournament. I accepted the challenge, not because I have never had the pleasure of photographing kickball, but because I haven't seen a kickball since the 6th grade! What really drew me in was that this was kickball for adults.

I had flashbacks to 6th grade, remembering my "special spin" I would put on the ball. I remember kicking with all of my heart, only to fall flat on my butt and never even touching the ball. I remember silently praying to not be the last pick and grinning from ear to ear when I wasn't. I was nervous. I was picturing the people on past teams, now grown up, pointing and laughing at me...still!

I thought about what kind of insane person would want to "go back" and play kickball? Obviously all the athletic guys and tomboys that made it look so easy. People that couldn't possible make it in real life that they felt they needed to succeed somewhere and kickball was it. Now I wasn't really sure what to expect.

When I arrived, I was relieved to see normal, healthy, okay somewhat normal people having a blast! Now, don't think they weren't competitive, because they were VERY serious about their kickball. They had rules and matching shirts and trophies...oh my!

At the end of the day, I found some of the nicest people I've met in Sarasota, who really can play some kickball and have a blast doing it. It was a great time, so great that I was rethinking my childhood failures at kickball and thought I might give it a go. There's always next year ;)

Squirrels are just rats with fluffy tails

I have always envisioned a beautiful french country garden for all of the places that I have lived in and I thought this time I would really make it happen. My front garden has butterfly bushes and a small rose garden. I have beautiful bougainvilleas, gardenias and fresh herbs growing. I have a bird bath with a Celtic cross in the bowl of it and I have a 3 foot cedar wood bird feeder that would look heavenly for any bird.

Everything is wonderful...except for the unwanted visitors, the squirrels. I have always been an animal lover, but I will admit, I did shoot an armadillo once. However, while raising my boys, I have always taught them to love animals and not to hurt the lizards. This has not been easy and I have been successful, for all but maybe 5 lizards.

My 40th birthday came too soon like a credit card bill in the mailbox. I have to be honest and say that it was truly dreaded. My amazing husband Bret is a bit younger than I am, to my advantage since I act much younger than him most of the time. Let's just say it's good to have an adult around sometimes...if you know what I mean ;)

For my birthday my husband took me to brunch at the Ritz Carleton, which was amazing and fulfilled every food craving I have ever had in my life. He also allowed me to pick out things for my dream garden. I bought new flowers in all different colors, a bird bath and a bird feeder. I love birds, really!

I spent 4 long days ripping apart my front yard and reassembling it to resemble something like a garden. Most importantly I put the  bird feeder together by myself, that I am quite proud of :) I placed everything in just the perfect place and I waited. I waited and I waited and I waited some more. After 10 minutes I was very disappointed...not one single bird.

I walked away from my garden, I went back inside, cleaned myself up and I heard movement in the garden. I could hear the birds outside, I ran to the window and what did I see...a big pair of squirrel balls faced right at me while he was tearing at my bird feeder! I grabbed for the hose...he came back and this time he brought friends. They dug holes in my gardens, knocked one of my newly planted flowers over to tower like the Pisa.

I searched the Internet for help and I decided on Moth balls. My eyes watered as I pulled them from the box, the children took 3 steps back and making a "yucky" face. I thought this to be a good sign. I placed the moth balls in the garden, not just anywhere, like a decorator, adding smelly accents to my garden. They looked like little decapitated snowmen all over my garden, but I didn't care. When I was finished, I waited and I waited some more.

After a couple of hours I heard movement in the garden and I knew the savages were back. I waited patiently for them to keel over and die. I felt justified, I was doing it for the birds! What I saw was not death like dominoes, but laughing squirrels with big snowman shaped cheeks. The mothballs were now being carried off like prized nuts by the squirrels. I thought for sure they would die from them, but then the squirrels came back for more. They removed all 30 mothballs and I believe they have furnished their entire nest with mothball furniture, all thanks to the crazy bird lady with the hose.

After feeling defeated, I refused to refill the bird feeder only to nourish the demon squirrels for almost 2 weeks. They have since ripped chunks of the bird feeder off in rebellion and trampled every plant I have. So, today refusing to wallow in defeat, I refilled all the bird feeders I have, but I added cayenne pepper. This was another deterrent that I read about online we will have to see what happens.

Moving in a forward direction

With photography, as with most things, there is constant learning and with the technological side of photography it's always changing. Where APS cameras and then digital were the big things, now it's all about Pixels. Bigger is better...My best camera has a 10.1, now Hasselblad has a 39.0. They get bigger everyday. This is a good thing if your making a photo the size of Denmark or you crop in on the mutant atoms of a flea.

I sometimes get lost in thinking I need the latest and greatest, then a little voice (Thank you Holy Spirit) reminds me that it's the photographer not the camera. Then of course I worry about technique and there I go running for blogs and books to extract as much knowledge as I can before my head explodes. Or, my husband yells that it's time to put the toys away and come in for supper.

My past is littered with more information than one person can put to use, so I'm making a change to the "less is more" team. I like simple, elegant, beautiful, classic... but simple. I'm thinking of changing my company name, yet again,to just" Corinne Noel. " It's shorter, it's my name, it sounds French and classy, which is what I'm trying to market.

I've gone from the broad terms of "Life Photographer" to wanting to do strictly wedding and portrait photography. I don't want a studio. I feel there is so much outside, more canvas than the eye can see, why limit myself to what I can hang on my wall or pull out of a closet?

Here is a photo from Mother's Day with my family, my nephew Alex. I can't wait to do his Senior photos.

A beautiful Easter...

It's the Tuesday after Easter and I would have to say my favorite since I was a child. There were no big gifts or mountains of candy, but more about the true meaning of Easter.

I was on Facebook for a time and many people from my past came out to befriend me. There were many unsettled things that were settled. I asked for forgiveness of my past, as I freely gave forgiveness to others that didn't ask for it. I am a new creation in Christ Jesus, it is my duty to forgive others or I cannot receive Jesus' forgiveness and that I cannot live without! The feeling of true freedom happened last week, a real sense of being able to move on. I can look back at some pretty terrible memories...and smile knowing it was all part of who I am today, that it has been wiped clean and together we have been freed of any burden of guilt we may have carried over the years :) God is amazing!!!

Worked on the finals for a restaurant advertising campaign. 4 separate shoots and not with the best lighting. Did my best, I think some came out REALLY nice!

Wedding season is coming again

This past winter I have found myself doing parties, outdoor sports, indoor events, but the weddings have been no where to be found. Until today...Just had my first lead of the season and I'm getting excited with the thought of tool and lace and a picture of forever.

This is a wedding I did last year, the bride was beautiful and her home had every photo-op available without taking her to another location or bringing ANYTHING!!

I think today is the start of the warmer weather coming back...I don't really miss it. Maybe I do, but I really don't like being stuck to my leather seats, or my makeup dripping down my face before I get to my destination.

It can always be worse, if this is the worst that happens, I'm blessed :)

When it rains it pours...

I have been really busy these last couple of weeks. I've been preparing for two events in the same weekend, no recovery time at all. It worked out great, the weather did more that cooperate, it actually was accommodating. The weather was so bad at one event, that I was actually able to go to the 2nd event early and relieve any stress about being short on time. The Beast Feast is an event for outdoors men. It has hunting and fishing and the whole manly hunter vibe. What most don't know when they first get there, is that Jesus is the reason and they will be introduced to him by a man who looks like the guy standing next to you in line at 7-Eleven buying chewing tobacco. The event is done beautifully, the people are amazing, the food is great and I get to witness many having the "Come to Jesus" moments. I'm blessed and honored.

I received the news earlier this week that my youngest son, has a rare congenital disorder where he won't have more than 6 adult teeth in his mouth. This is bringing back thoughts of me growing up with spaces between all my teeth and not smiling with my mouth open until I was 33! Only because I had my front 6 teeth bonded. I looked somewhat normal. My sweet little man, this would kill any one's self esteem, but after a messy divorce and some of the verbal abuse he takes from his Dad's house, I'm afraid of the consequences.

Many other things have come before me this week, none as crippling as what is happening to my son. Have to move on and pray, pray that miracles can happen for me too.

Lost in space or just in the middle of life...

Things have been really busy! If you ask me with what, I will roll my eyes, start counting on my fingers while I whisper to myself task after task and then the answer will be, "I don't really know!" Sometimes we all get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and we don't really know how to explain what happened, it's like a car accident..."I was driving along and the next thing I remember...I woke up here!" I woke up today and that's where I am...I know where I am, just unsure of where I was or what I have been doing :) I'm sure it was important to ME and a step toward improving ME and that's all that matters :)

Working with one of my sittings from last month, album issues, plenty of inexpensive albums and tons of very expensive ones, but the middle man is hard to find. Ordered one album from a company, not up to my standards, they want a picture of the album sent to them...why? I just want a credit! Anyway, that's another issue for another day.

Here is a photo that I took of a little girl, fun shoot outdoors. Kids are great, they must have 50 expressions in a minute, capturing them is the challenging part :)

In the Dungeon...

Helping a friend out with his new gym, said I would take some photos, thought it would be easy. Well, new things are not always easy. He calls it "The Dungeon" I thought it was just a name for a place of torture. Not completely the case here. It's VERY dark! I was taking action photos in the dark! I have lenses for weddings that do great in low light...but for NO LIGHT! So, I didn't do as well as I had hoped. Here is a photo from the shoot, it's a little artsy, but that's just me. Why put it in a book or a little frame and call it a photo when you could make it big, hang it on the wall and call it ART!!!

enough of that day this, day that stuff!

Okay it has been a few days since I last blogged, why does this sound like a confessional? Anyway, life has been busy! My computer guy turned a 15 minute project into a 4 day project, however on the bright side...I asked for an Acura type software at a "if you can drag it you can have it price" and he gave me a Black Range Rover decked out and still at the drag it price! I'm very happy :)

Forwarding my new domain to my photo site and forwarding my old domain to my new one which will...you know. Working on my logo, yet again, thinking I may go with something very simple as choosing my font and then wait for the logo. Much cheaper I think...budget is calling and I can't afford the call, ya hear me?

One of my events that I have done for 5 years now, is going to use one of my photos for their shirts this year, I'm honored :)

Day 4

Happy with my new logo, I think I have plastered it on everything I own, but my clothing...hm mm it would look great on a black shirt...heheehhehe! Spoke with a fellow photographer about selling rights to his photos to a zoo. All I can say is "Research, Research, Research" I don't know a lot about that situation and he has no idea what he might be in for, so Google away my friend, Google away! Went to Taekwondo this morning, I'm hurtin' but it feels great. I really want to take some photos there of the kids, parents just love to see their kids doing great and I love taking the photos and seeing the parents faces when they look at what I saw. It's awesome, it's why I do what I do.

Moments pass so quickly that we can rarely capture them to memory to do them any justice, that's why we have photographers! I love what I do :)

Photo for the day: From a Windsurfing regatta in Sarasota. The water is cold, the boat is rockin' and I'm standing up with a steady hand! Yahoo I love a challenge :)

Day 3

Worked on new logo today...went from fancy to simple and easy to read :) I like it, classic, simple, but elegant, black and white...sounds like me! Funny how that works isn't it. Okay, now working on new business cards yippee this is great fun! Going from part-time to full-time is a big change. Everything that I did before down to my logo was rushed and I knew it was only temporary. This is the real deal now...mister! Permanent marker serious!

Oh yes, and my photo for today: Photos for a family of 5 + a dog, for more Christmas cards, walking down to the posing area gave me some great shots of the kids looking more natural. I love this photo...maybe because it reminds me of myself when I was little, the sun setting behind her on the open water, tells me that the possibilities are endless...I love that!

Day 2

Okay this isn't so bad, a little problem with the whole password thing and remembering which email account I used to set this little booger up with :D and we're off!!!!!

Working on updating my website photos and products, big pain in the bottom half, but it must be done. Humbling to look at other photographers blogs and see how this really hasn't started out to look anything like their blogs.

Note to self...must have lots of photos to pull off "Pro Photo Blog" will try to remember that. Oh right, let me add a photo for today...ummm okay here it goes...

*** This photo from a great family wanting their Christmas Card photos. I think this was the fastest shoot I have ever done, must have been it was the week before Christmas and she still needed to send them out ;)

Crazy little thing called B L O G...

First day of blogging, not really sure what I'm doing, but because I'm serious about being successfull in the photography world...here goes!

This is a photo from our family vacation Beech Mountain North Carolina. Beauty & peace in a single shot...I love it!