Keith’s blog

Client Appreciation Price List 

During September I'm having a Client Appreciation Event with prices like I've never offered before. Here's how you Qualify, It's for anyone that's EVER done business with me or the people they refer. If you know someone that has been here before we can make that work as a referral.

Here are some of the things you'll be able to take advantage of. 6, 5x7 + 8 wallets $58. No package over $179. 16x20, $99 (normally $249) Canvas Wall Portraits (Gallery Wrap or mounted on Masonite) well below anything I've offered in the past. Oh, also I'll have digital filed available for you to do your own printing if you want to.

There is NO SESSION FEE! Just pay a $99 reservation when you book and that ALL goes toward your purchase. I'm making some changes at the studio and this is a little test run to see if there is anything with this pricing structure that catches on and I figured why not offer it to those that have already been good to me. So, help me with the test and go ahead and schedule that Portrait Session that you've been putting off. And while you're at it, spread the word! You can view the price list or download a PDF copy here: Client Appreciation Price List

Well, it has been a week or so since I’ve logged in here and I’ve spent a fair amount of time thinking about what I’d wite. I was looking like I might make some comment on the situation that is coming to a head in Egypt. But in the last 24 hours I’ve found out about two people that have died that were close to poeple that I care about. More than that in the last month.

As I type this I’m in tears for Rose, whose children lost a close friend Thursday. She’s in so much pain because she’s helpless in their situation. My heart aches for her and her children. Then, this afternoon I found out about the death of Marvin Broyles. I was connected to Marvin through several people, His Brother Jerry, Nephew Jeff , and my friend Scott. I first knew about Marvin through Scott. They worked together years ago and had many adventures together. Marvin went on to be Cheif Magistrate Judge for the last 20 or so years in Gordon County. Scott and I spent a fair amout of the evening talking about what a great person he was.

And last, one of my best friends, David Bell, lost his dad a few weeks ago. I can only imagine what he went through. I don’t think I’m good at “being there” in these situations but I do know David will be there for me when the time comes.

All this makes me think that we should latch on to the ones we care about and love and let them know how we feel about them while they are still here, I’m going to do my best to do so and I hope you will too.

Keith

It’s the first of Feb and nearing the end of my slow season. Historically, this is the time I travel, go to conferences for additional training and catch up with old friends. This morning around 3:00 AM I got back from a few days at St Pete Beach, FL where I accomplished all three of those objectives.

I have renewed old friendships, taken some R&R, and gained some great ideas for the upcoming year business wise. One goal that I will share with you is that I WILL blog at least once per week. I do enjoy it whenever I take the time to sit down and get it done. Honestly, I’ve tried to more recently than my last post but I had lost my password and just moved on instead of actually working it out. So, I hear by give you full permission to call me out if I’m not blogging once a week… and hopefully more often.

 Here is a picture I took with my cell phone while on the beach.

Keith

Well, I finally did it. I got the big hair cut today. I’ve had a pony tail for the past 18 years but no more!

Thoughts of getting a short cut have crossed my mind a few times over the past few years but they usually didn’t stick with me for long. But this time I started thinking about it a few months ago (no rash decisions). Honestly I decided to follow through with the cut in June or July. I just never picked up the phone for an appointment. I had a day off today and thought “today’s the day”.

I called Tundra Taylor at Tundra’s Hair Studio and she worked me in. Here’s a picture of me, Tundra and the pony tail that will be donated to Locks of Love, www.locksoflove.org . This is the 4th or 5th donation I’ve made over the years.

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It’s a big change but I like it. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

By the way, Tundra and her husband Dan have been clients of mine since their son Wes was born. Their entire family is sooooo nice! You can see a Beach Portrait I did for them last year on the wall behind us in the picture.

Last week I photographed the pageants at the NWGA Regional Fair. This was the thirteenth year I’ve done this. It was one of the first jobs I got when I started doing photography on a professional basis. It’s always nice to see a whole slew of dolks I haven’t seen in a while.

It has only bee four days since we left Calhoun. In some ways it seems like yesterday and in others bit seems like a year.

If you know me you know I love a road trip and it doesn’t take much to get me to hop in a car and go across the country. This is the second trip Dad and I have mede this year. In January we drove to OK and back for a class I went to. This trip was just to go, see and do.

Since Sunday we have gone througn TN, KY, IL (Chicago) WI (Milwaukee), MI (Minneapolis), IA, MO, (St Louis), Back through KY and as I’m writing this we’re less than an hour from Nashville.

Dad says there are now just 5 states he hasn’t been in. I’m going to have to get a map of the US and mark the ones I’ve been in to see how close I am to all 50 states.

Yesterday we started the day out in Waterloo, IA and drove 550 miles to St Louis. At St Louis we went up in the Arch (the second time this yr for me).

Of course we stopped at the Cabela’s outside St louis. Dad didn’t find anything there but I finally talked myself into a Gerber Machete that I’ve been eye balling. I’m slowly but surley clearing out a bunch of under brush at my place and I thought I’d give it a try.

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We went up in the arch in St Louis. Dad is a little claustrophobic so I wasn’t too sure how he was going to do. Especially on the ride up and down. He wasn’t too sure about it either. You ride up in a pod with four other people and it’s a tight fit! Any way, he did just fine and said it was worth the stop.

It has been a great trip so far and I should be home in time to mow the grass. I’ll have the final pictures  tomorrow. They will probably just be at the Bass Pro we’re about to stop at in Nashville.

Yesterday was a long day. We started out in Milwaukee and about 17 hours later we laid down in Waterloo, IA.

 I don’t have many pictures from yesterday because of a really amature mistake. Grrr!

About the only stops we made other than the necessary ones were at Mall of America (just long enough to say we have been there), Matt’s Bar in Minneapolis for a burger like you have never had before. The cheese is cooked inside the burger. Be careful on your first bite or two. The cheese is sort of like molten lava.

Check out the groovy wall paper at Matt’s. This place hasn’t been changed in the past 30 – 35 years. Except for all the awards that are hanging on the walls. 

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The place is just a neighborhood bar with a grill behind the bar. No kitchen. No plates, no silverware, no ice for your water and no credit cards. Just a burger wrapped in paper and some much needed napkins.

And of course, we had to stop at another Cabela’s. This one was in Rogers, MN.

After his we drove wntill about 1:30 AM and stayed in Waterloo, IA. Next stop St Louis.

We got up around 6:00 AM today to make the trip into Chicago. believe it or not we didn’t even hit any traffic on the way into the city at around 8:00 – 9:00 AM.

Dad go us some tickets on the double decker bus tour. It was a great way to see the city and learn a lot about it in a short time.  The weather couldn’t have been nicer but it was a little warm by the end of the day. The only thing we didn’t see that I wished we had seen is Chess Records.

We had tickets to go up in the Sears Tower but the wait was about two hours, We’re bringing those tickets back with us. They don’t expire for a year so let me know if you want them.

Instead of going up in the tower we ate at Giordano’s Pizza. I ate at one on Rosemont about three years ago and was really impressed. I insisted we eat there today and Dad says it’s the best pizza he’s ever had.

I took this picture of Sears Tower while laying in the grass in a park after lunch waiting on the tour bus ti pick us up. Actually, it’s not even called Sears Tower any longer. I can’t remember the new name but I eard on the news reciently that someone new took control of the tower and the had naming rights so they renamed it.

We ended up at a Cabela’s near Milwaukee. Dad has been looking for a particular type of fishing rod and he found it today. They usually sell for about $100 each and he bought two of them for a total of about $75. I told him on the way out of the store he looked like the kid that found the prize egg.

Tomorrow we’re off to Minneapolis and I’m sure we’ll be in another Cabela’s too.

Dad and I left the house at 5:00 AM this morning for a four day road trip.  The drive up was pretty nice and we made good time for the most part. The weather was great too. It was about 90 degrees out but low humidity so the heat isn’t a problem.

The White Castle burgers REALLY didn’t agree with either of us. I know I won’t be having any more of those for a long time.

After we got checked into the hotel we hedded out to a Cabela’s about 30 miles away.. 30 miles, no problem, right? Well, 70 miles and an hour and a half later we finally pulled into the parking lot. Dad and I both can take credit for that snafu. Oh well, it’s not the end of the world. We made it there and back.

 We’re staying about 60 miles outside of Chicago tonight and we’ll be in Chicago for a few hours tomorrow for the double decker bus tour and Sears Tower (did you know it’s not called the Sears Tower any more).  

After that we’ll end up in Milwaukee and another Cabela’s. We’ll be at a total of four of them over the next three days and a Bass Pro. Who knows why but that’s what he wants to do and I’m enjoying our time together.

I’m looking forward to another Rd trip with my Dad. We’ll be hitting Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin & probably some others. Dad has it all planned out.

I don’t really care where we go I’m just looking forward to spending the time with Dad.

I’m going to try to blog and post pictures each day from the rd. so check back.