A Cool Opportunity For Me

So, I keep forgetting to blog the good news that I was going share with you (I think I briefly mentioned it a few weeks ago)….

I am now a freelance wedding cinematographer for Mulberry Lane Studio! I'll take wedding gigs from them as needed, if I'm not already booked. A few weeks ago we worked our first wedding together at YWCA, downtown Ft. Worth. We have another wedding coming up this fall at Ashton Gardens.
I'm pretty excited about teaming up with them. They are a photography business, but they are expanding their services to include wedding cinema….that's me! I'm so honored to be working with them. It's a wonderful opportunity for me.

Speaking of weddings, I guess word is getting out about my business. It's been a wonderful wedding year. Yesterday, I met with a bride (who was referred to me, by a previous client), a few hours later she booked me for her 2015 wedding near Tyler, Texas. Here's to the 2015 wedding season too!

I just wanted to share the good news with all of you! Thanks so much for your encouragement and supportive words. AND thanks for watching my videos! I put my heart into every wedding.

Here is the Mulberry Lane Studio site if you want to check it out.
http://www.mulberrylanestudio.com

All These Weddings Make Me Want to Walk Down the Aisle Again & Last Day of School Treat

A few days ago, I recorded a wedding at Classic Oaks Ranch. The venue was fabulous….something you'd see in a bridal magazine. I'll be editing that for the next few weeks. The groom and bride wanted to have a first look, before walking down the aisle. This moment was so special!

I told Trey, all these weddings make want to get married again. Trey responded with you should be saving for a college fund and wedding(s) for the girls. True. I let Chey watch some of the ceremony, as I was editing. Chey is such a girlie-girl and loves weddings too.
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Monday, was the last day of school for my niece. I picked her up from school and we went to sonic and bought slushes. I got Dakota ice water so she could feel like a cool kid too - I think she figured out that the big girls had slushes because later I found her drinking Chey's cherry limeade.

Photography Work for the Ballet Felt Like A Progressive Party

I love when my interest and professional work collide.

Saturday, I had an opportunity to photograph Texas Ballet Theater's Ballet Gala. In case you don't know, I'm slightly obsessed with this ballet company, so it was a real treat to photograph the gala.













The evening festivities started at 6 pm at Van Cliburn Recital Hall.
Greetings…

As soon as they walked in, I took couples or single photographs of the guests. Everyone was dressed to impress.
(in this photo) To the left is the Artistic Director of TBT, Mr. Ben Stevenson O.B.E

The floral and table decor at the dinner hall was stunning.
    
After the dinner, everyone was invited to cross the street to Bass Hall and watch the Ballet Company perform EPIC MASTERPIECES: Serenade, L, & Gloria. I joined the group and watched the show. Gloria was my favorite. So, dark, so dramatic! During intermission VIP from the gala were invited to the intermission green room for photos and cocktails. I tagged along and took a few photos in there.
When the show was over around 10 pm, the gala after-party began at McDavid Studio, located across the street from Bass Hall.
Around 10:30 pm, the Company Dancers joined the party.

They basically stole the dance floor. Everyone enjoyed it! It was so entertaining!!

What a fun event to document.

Throughout the night, everyone had an opportunity to bid at the Silent Auction.
To view all the photos from the gala, feel free to browse my professional website: 
domvideophoto.com/gala

It's Been a Marathon Kind of Day & I Don't Mean Running

Every semester at UTA the nursing undergraduate students participate in a pinning ceremony.
The College of Nursing has 3 different ceremonies:
1. BSN (on-campus)
2. AP-BSN (Online Students)
3. RN-BSN (On-Campus & Online Students)
Each class averages 80 students who participate.
Most semesters (for like the past 5 years) the students hire me as a freelancer photographer to take their pinning photos. Today, I worked all 3 ceremonies. 8 am. 12 pm. 3 pm. If you want to see more of what I've been up to…hop on over to domvideophoto.com
It may be a day or two before my most recent work is uploaded. On that note. I've got to go….
I hope you all have a great weekend!

Love & Marriage: Franklin Wedding Still Frames

If you haven't had a chance to watch the Franklin Wedding -- what are you waiting for? :)

If you have watched the video, you will recognize these images.
Next on my business calendar is something I will be filming and editing this month and again in the Spring. So, it's a two part production. This project is in conjunction with the University of Texas System and Health Resources and Services Administration. Exciting stuff is happening for my little business!!! 2013 -- What a journey it has been. Thanks for your kind words and encouragement.

Hands-On At Home for Trey & At Work For Me

I've been working the last two days long hours. I've been recording a seminar in Dallas. Trey has been helpful, especially today. He's been watching the girls. Thanks for being a hands on Dad, Trey!

A rare moment, Dakota cuddling. Side note, Baby arm rolls are adorbs!!!!!

This is what I've had my hands on....
My office at the Omni Hotel
I've mentioned it before, but I want to say it again. I'm really impressed with the Omni Hotel customer service. Both times, I've been there they have accommodated me when I need a private lactation room. Yesterday, during lunch, the hotel restaurant got slammed with customers. The management felt terrible because the group that I was hired to videotape, did not get their food right away -- which in turn set us off schedule -- so today they provided a complimentary smoothie bar. Yum!

Open for Business

I've spent my entire day taking portraits. I had 85 students sign-up to take portraits and about 75 of them followed through. So, it's been a non-stop day for me. I can't wait to get home and organize all this paperwork and start working on these photos.

This was my office for the day. It's a skills lab.


I guess that will have to wait until after ladies night. I almost forgot about that! I have banana pudding in the fridge that I made just for the ladies.

I'll leave you with this picture of my little ballerina.

I Said One Thing & Then I Did Another...

Do you ever say, I'm not going to do something and then it seems like you turn around and do it. Well, as I recall I said I was not going to take on as much photography work, when I initially launched DA Video  & Photography Services. I planned on focusing primarily on video, but still doing event photography as needed. Well, I've been giving an opportunity to do photography work, that could potentially lead to repeat business twice a year. It's taking composite photos for the BSN Nursing Class. 

I'll be taking on that project, next week. I already have 80 students who have made an appointment to have their portrait taken by yours truly. So, with this big project and upcoming projects, I decided to add a third camera to the mix. 

Today, I welcome the Canon EOS 5D Mark III to the family. I was not at home to receive the package,  as we speak I'm still not home! So, Trey opened the goods and took this photo for me. The batteries are being charged, as we speak. I'm so excited to use this as my main DSLR camera for shorter video productions and also excited to use it to take portraits. Family, Friends and all moving things -- this might be the time to ask me to take your portrait, since I'm so giddy with excitement. I will most likely say yes. Maybe.

WEBSITE! 
Oh, I also have more excited news to share about my business. I have a website! Please visit it! Also, keep in mind that it is a work in progress.
http://www.domvideophoto.com

Small Business Update

Earlier this year, I made my video and photography business official. I wanted to have at least one project a month and so far, that's exactly how things have/are panning out (at least for Jan. through May). I don't have much going on this summer, but I would love to record a wedding ceremony.

Here is my latest project, it's a quince. I will wrap this project in a few days, but I wanted to share a short 50 second clip from the ceremony.

I have a pretty big photography project coming up this month and it has the potential to be repeat business for me. I wanted to stay away from as much photography work as possible. However, I enjoy event photography, I'm not talking about that.... -- but I'm willing to give this upcoming project a shot. <--- pun!

Sassy & Sweet Test Subjects

Before heading to work to record a Quinceañera, I had to adjust a few camera settings. I used the girls as my test subjects. Chey swayed around and was talking nonsense and Dakota was whining -- "Mom, put that camera down and hold me!!!"

 Shout out to Brittany, for putting my name out there and helping me get this video gig.

I mentioned in a previous post, I didn't have any projects lined-up for March. However, since then I've been making plans to create a handful of videos for church. I'll be working with my pastor on one project and for another project -- I'll be working with the worship leader.

My cameras are being used and that's great! I think it's time to start buying more gear. My wish list has been growing, now the hard part is deciding what I actually need.

My Week in Pictures

First of all, Happy Birthday to Trey! He's officially a 30 year old man. We celebrated, yesterday (I'll post some pictures of that later). I had to work all day yesterday, so we celebrated, once I got home.

I was working in Dallas at the Omni Hotel recording a seminar. The clients who hired me are so nice and the staff at the Omni are also very courteous. The AV guys helped me get situated with my audio line. During my lunch break, I told a hotel staff, "I'm a lactating mom and I ned a private space, like an office or something, so I can pump." Instead of pumping in an office, the lady gave me a hotel key room. I guess, I look like a trustworthy person because she didn't even ask for my name or ID.

The food that was served at the conference was so good!

Do you like film cameras? I've had two cameras sitting in my media closet (at work), for years. My co-worker wanted to surplus them and I was like --- HOLD UP, NO. I'm using them!  (I wasn't)
So, I decided to display them in the office. Pretty cool, huh?
It would be cool to try to take some pictures, but I'm scared my pictures might turn out overexposed. It's not like a DSLR, I can't just turn the dial to AUTO and preview my pictures.

Like I mentioned in a posts or two earlier, I've been sick this past week. Yuck!
I'm finally feeling better and I went for a 6 mile run this morning. That's my first run/workout in almost a week.

And this is what I do, when I don't have Kleenex. Classy. You know you do it too.

New Adventure: Small Business Owner

“If you aren't nervous about your passion, you aren't passionate about it.”

-Bobby Flay

I feel like we're best friends so, I'm going to be honest. I'm nervous, stressed, terrified, and at the same time excited about expanding my business. Well, it's too late to turn back because I've filed the paperwork and now I'm officially a small business owner. Gulp. I keep telling myself, being nervous about this new adventure means I care and that's normal. 

The Fort Worth Business Assistance Center has been a huge help. I attended their small business workshop. I'll probably I need to go back and attend the tax workshop. They offer free counseling, so I'll be there for sure. I also asked some old colleagues for advice, (you know who you are: THANK YOU). 

Now operating as... 

Dominique Anderson - Video and Photography Services.
I want to focus primarily on video services, but I will continue to take photographs for events and I might take a few portrait sessions too (a big maybe). 
I will continue working my day job, but now I'll have to be a super-ninja-mom and balance a small business too. I see a lot of nights and weekends of editing in my future. Whew, it already sounds exhausting. Thanks friends and family, in advance for your support. Love you! 

Stay tune, for a very exciting year.

Casual Portraits of My Friends

Krista, Makenna, Kye and Casey

 

Bean bags + Kids = This...



Do you barter? 
Krista asked me to take a few pictures of her and the family. Even though I emphasized, I'm more of an event photographer, she was like I don't care, you're awesome and I was like have you seen my pictures??? (of food and my feet)??

I agreed to take her family portraits (casual) and instead of her paying for the portraits, she agreed to watch the girls for me. Date Night! Sweet! I think we both got a good deal.

My Week in Photos

December is always a busy freelance month for me. This past week, I had four photography events, two of which I also provided some video support. All of the ceremonies took place in the span of two days.
 
I used my personal camera to take pictures.

A faculty was appointed to say the closing remarks at one of the ceremonies. Everyone was ready to go (and eat dinner, I'm sure) and the faculty said, "I just have a few words to say,"  --- then she rolled out a scroll. Haha!!!!

My weekend office. I like the view.

I'll leave you with two sweet pictures of Dakota.