Rock & Royalty Photography

testing...

2012-01-24T19:55:00.000-08:00

checking to see if it actually looks better here than on FB.

...addicted to pinterest

2012-01-18T00:49:00.001-08:00

if you're unaware of pinterest, i think you may be living under a rock. i mean that in the sweetest way possible OF COURSE. hehe
anywho, i'm completely obsessed so please if you have an account follow me at:
http://pinterest.com/rocknroyalty/
and if you do not have an account but would love to join the fun just post a comment with your email address OR email me at rocknroyaltyphotography@live.com with "pinterest" in the subject line and your email address in the text field and i'll be happy to send you an invite.
with that said.
GOOD NIGHT.

an idea

2012-01-16T17:31:00.001-08:00

possible hoodie, t-shirt, tank.... option?

maybe rock & royalty larger

with contact info of course?

meh

i don't know.

it's a new year, charlie brown!

2012-01-15T15:30:00.000-08:00

Dear World,
Meet Paislee! This is the little love bug that has stolen my heart. She joined our family 3 weeks earlier than we had anticipated and has made Wyatt the best big brother in the whoooollleeeeee world. We are so very thankful she came to us healthy, sassy and to a large group of people that loved her dearly before they even met her!
So, now that we've caught up on the personal front. Well, not completely but of course a full update would take days to type, days for you to read and quite frankly no one really wants to go through all of that. Right? Right.

On with the blog-a-logging....
Lately I've been in a slump. Artistically speaking. Emotionally and spiritually speaking. Just all around bummed, aimless and not a real joy to be around. Mostly I feel guilty about this because it effects my children, my husband and in turn it makes me feel worse about everything. Now now now, don't stop reading cos you're like "Gah, this Broad is a total downer" things are getting better.
There is this amaaazing photographer that has been one of my biggest inspirations since I stumbled across her work some time ago. I shot her an email today on the off chance that she might reply. {Let it be noted that there are a TON of really rude photographers out there. You can live hundreds of miles away from them but apparently they still think of you as competition and will not help you at all} so in all honesty, not knowing this lady personally I didn't expect a reply. Not only did she reply, she played therapist for me for a bit and really gave me a pep talk that I needed. Here is the key people, she's NICE. Not like "oh I'll tell you what you wana hear then you'll leave me alone I hope" but seriously genuinely nice.
I am taking Rock & Royalty to the next level this year.
It seems like everyone that has money buys a DSLR and calls themselves a professional photographer. I've been doing this for almost 7 years and still don't feel like I'm even close to the level I hope to be at eventually. I praise everyone that is in this business for legit reasons, not to try and make a quick buck. Photography IS an art. YOU are the artist. What I'm trying to learn is that I need to stop comparing myself to everyone else, keep my OWN visions and aspirations in sight and everything will fall into place.

So. With that. I'm signing off for now.
Blog updates WILL be regular from now on. Rambling probably but hey, that's how my brain works.

xoxo
Mandi Misfit

P.S.
if you're on Pinterest.com follow me under Amanda O'Neill

Big Changes... All Around

2011-11-10T21:12:00.000-08:00

Well, today is the day I put my foot down and say "NO MORE" to stagnation. No more waiting for things to happen. I'm going to be proactive instead of reactive.
AND I'm really excited about it!
This blog will be mirroring my life in a lot of ways over the next few months. Lots and lots of changes.
Our second child will be here the second week of January and I'll be taking time off from my photography until Spring sometime. We're working on our house {lots o' projects there!} I'm revamping my business {pricing, upgrading equipment...etc etc etc} Spending time with my incredible child that is growing at an alarming rate. AND last but not least just working on making our future more solid. I know there is only so much planning you can do in life, but I feel like I have control when I plan. False sense of control maybe, but hey, it makes me feel better. And that's what matters right??!
Anywho. I'm keeping this short and sweet.
Hopefully I'll do enough to keep my followers on here interested and HOPEFULLY I'll do enough to gain more readers and really take this thing to the next level of blogging. Whatever that may be :)

xoxo
Amanda

Grad Card!

2011-08-27T22:36:00.001-07:00

Check out Rock & Royalty Photography for all of your custom design needs!

Photography Is a Shark Tank!

2011-08-27T11:27:00.001-07:00

one thing I've noticed is that it's easy for people {photographers, vendors, crafters...and ANY OTHER BUSINESS OWNER} to get catty towards each other. after all we're all trying to get business, often times doing very similar work to our competitors and feeling the crunch of losing business to each other... BUT there is SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. i have a very different style of photography than everyone around here. or at least i like to think so. from my shooting to my editing i try very hard to keep it very ME. it IS flattering when i see people trying to immitate my work {though i'm not that vain, i realize that they are not necessarily copying me} but i really like to support people who are doing their own thing!

why not? there are SO many talented people out there and i'm well aware that what I DO photography and design-wise will really knock some people's socks off and be completely and totally unappealing to the next person.

that's why it's SO important to have diversity!

i admit, i have a ton of insecurities. though i have been doing this for almost 7 years, there are people who have been doing it longer. people have a more solid background than i do. people that have more money to invest than i do.

but i don't do it to compete with other people, i do it because i genuinely LOVE photography. i love the editing process. i love being able to create something unique and beautiful that no one else can do. {no matter WHAT no one will be able to immitate your style completely, we can all take the exact same photo with the exact same pose and no two photos will look the same..} i love interacting with such a large array of people and i love seeing my photos hanging on someone's wall, fridge, on their FB page... it just love the whole thing! i know that's why a lot of other people get into photography as well. what's frustrating is people that think they can do it cos it's "easy" or they will make a quick buck.

they disrespect other photographers, undercut pricing {pricing their shoots and such to try and take business from others NOT basing their pricing on their perceived value of their own work!} and are just flat out rude.

again. this is NOT every new photographer out there and this is not geared towards hobbyists and such. i know i'll probably have a few people read this and get offended but that's not really my intention.

i think that we need to support each other. i've always been more than happy to help people, i get emails all the time asking about various photography questions. i by no means think i'm the authority on ANYTHING photography but i'm more than happy to give the best advice i can or my honest opinion when it's asked.

i have helped everyone from hobbyists to professional photographers, i've answered questions about editing, shooting... and much more. i've also ASKED a lot of questions over the last 7 years. with anything you love you need to keep learning. if you don't "keep up with the jones'" as they say, you're going to be antiquated and won't be getting any business at all!

i guess what i'm trying to say is that if we can all support each other, then there shouldn't be ANY hard feelings among each other.

no two people are the same which means NO TWO PHOTOGRAPHERS are the same and that's WONDERFUL because no two clients are the same.

there really IS something for everyone!

God Bless.

Mandi

new goal.

2011-08-15T12:28:00.000-07:00

making my blog bigger and better. i am really bad at trying to keep up with this thing, on top of the rest of the things in my life but i think from here on out i will make a better effort to update with photos, announcements and the randomness that is my everyday life!
over the weekend i've decided to try my hand at designing again. i've done quite a few birth announcements, thank you cards, holiday cards and storyboards but i really would like to keep up the momentum and hopefully put out some products that my current clients {and hopefully future clients} would like!
these two are "inspirational prints" that i've designed. i'm considering printing them on canvas and hanging them in my children's room.
i'm always looking for neat things to hang in my home and sometimes i just have to make what i want since i can't seem to find anything out there. if you're interested in having me make something for your home you can email me at rocknroyaltyphotography@live.com and i'll be happy to have a consult with you!
hope you enjoy the art and i'll be bringing more to the table for sure!

i heart faces photo challenge...

2011-08-14T21:17:00.000-07:00

i suppose now is as good of a time as any to try entering my first photo contest...

so... here... we.... go! i hope i did this right!!
and for those of you who aren't used to reading blogs {though i don't know many now days} you can click on the photo for a larger view!

http://www.iheartfaces.com/

...where things are going.

2011-05-16T12:41:00.000-07:00

wow.. where are the days going so quickly??
it really doesn't seem like my last post was that long ago, but of course it was. crazy.
i guess managing a household, caring for a toddler and trying to keep work coming
in really helps pass the time.
we are working on our house, getting walls painted...making plans for various rooms.
working on my office. it almost seems like we're scattering things too much to actually
see progress but hopefully we'll have a somewhat put together living room soon.
i've been really into reading blogs about crafts, refurbished furniture and such lately, and have been inspired to
do a remake or two of my own.
the first one we did is a mirror i found from a local thrift store. i loved how it looked fancy and ornate, i didn't like the brassy-goldish finish so we sanded it down and painted it "key lime" green. i was inspired by a set of picture frames i had recently seen at hobby lobby. i loved the "antique" aspect of the ornate frames but the modern and fun bright enamel colors.
so here's a before...

please don't mind the poor photography...it was taken quickly with a point and shoot. quite frankly i really didn't care what it looked like...hahahah

and here's the after.....

i LOOOOOVE how bright and fun this is and it looks fabulous on my pink office wall!

the next one is an old frame that i had given to me and a corkboard i purchased from a yard sale for a dollar.

we cut it down and made it fit in the frame and painted it. i forgot to do a before but here is the after.....

sooooooo................ there ya have it. what i've been up to. of course i've had a few photo shoots. i'm beyond ready for beautiful springy weather. it's been so rainy and crappy. everything around here is a swamp! ready for some renewal. some beauty. the lush green grass and trees are beautiful, maybe i'll have to make it a point to do some driving around and shoot.

enough rambling. i hope this finds everyone well.

take care,

mandi

Changes! News! Stuff! YAY!!!

2011-03-07T12:23:00.000-08:00

Alright. We're coming up on Rock & Royalty's 6 year birthday. Or anniversary? I'm not sure which one is accurate but either way it's been six years since I started this photography journey and at the moment I am going to be going through some changes. One of my dearest and closest friends and I have done a lot of creative and crafty stuff for the past few years. Along with her mother we've had so much fun doing crafty stuff, going to craft shows... designing things for others and ourselves. Together we all have a blast and we're a creative force to be reckoned with! SOOO.... We've decided to officially join forces. We're in the process of coming up with a name for our collaboration but it's going to be major. We collectively will offer photography {of course}, design services, sewing and crochet services and SO much more. This is all very preliminary so we'll keep you all up to date as we go along but make sure you keep your eyes open for us. We'll be storming through SW Iowa, SE Nebraska and NW Missouri in no time and you won't know what hit you!

On another note of creativity. I came up with a fun idea a while back and I actually followed through with it....

a baby spoon ring. this was one of wyatt's baby spoons and we cut off the cuppy part and made the handle into a ring. i wear it all the time. and no it never turned my finger green!
if you want your own spoon ring you can either mail me your spoon and your ring size OR i can provide a spoon and you just tell me what size you want. they are $15.00 with your own spoon, or $20.00 with a spoon provided to you. the prices do not include shipping.
so this is just a small taste of some of the things we'll be bringing you with our new creative service branch. hope you all stay tuned for all of the awesomeness to come!

be yourself. unapologetically.

2011-01-04T10:38:00.000-08:00

so today is January 4th. 4 days into the new year. everyone is still so pumped for the whole "new year, new opportunities... etc" i am going to try and join the band wagon.
in MY brain i see things differently than most. like okay, just because the numbers on the calendar have changed, how does that effect your motivation to finally make or complete goals. but alas, i am apparently never on the same page as everyone else so i guess i'll probably never fully understand other peoples' train of thought.
i was talking to my friend yesterday and she put it this way "you're never going to make everyone else happy, so just make yourself happy and the other people won't matter" {there may have been an expletive in there too, i'll keep it pg} :).
she's right though. seems like common knowledge, but sometimes it's the "common" stuff that gets brushed under the rug.
not everyone is going agree with what you're doing. not everyone will be happy for you, no matter what your accomplishments. {if you cured cancer, there would be someone there to complain you hadn't done it sooner.}
we tend to let ourselves get so wrapped up in what other people think, that we stop thinking for ourselves & we stop caring about ourselves all together. i think that's a really good and attainable goal for the year. to care about yourself. care about your happiness. care about your health.
be the best YOU you can be. or figure out who you are period. you can't be the best you if you have no effin' clue who you are.
so.
rock it out this year.
if you're big on the NEW YEAR NEW YOU thing.
take it to the next level.
but as much as you learn to love yourself, remember to love others equally this year.

xoxo
mandi misfit

p.s.

2011-01-02T11:48:00.001-08:00

i am going to be interviewing some of MY favorite photogs and posting about them, so keep ya eyes open!

...it's a new year. that's for sure.

2011-01-02T11:47:00.000-08:00

well, it's fairly evident that 2010 is over. whatever happened last year is over. as for years past and past and past. which leads me to this... if you're looking for a new you in the new year. change. change. change.
that's all there is left.
if you keep doing what you have been doing you will keep getting what you've been getting. so. change.
let old grudges go. either try to rekindle an old friendship or completely let it go. rekindle ANYTHING or completely let it go. if not forever, for a while. it'll help you focus on other things that may bring more happiness, money and bigger and better things into fruition. or whatever is "bigger and better" to you.
i'm feeling a little down today, not entirely sure why i just am.
so happy new year everyone, hopefully i'll be much better about blogging this year.
hmph. we'll see!

...a new year is coming...

2010-12-29T14:28:00.000-08:00

what is YOUR resolution?
i think this year i'm going to just do whatever i feel like doing.. i just wana be happy. no obligations (within reason of course...) if i want to do crafts for a week straight. i will. if i want to try to cram as many photo sessions into a month. i WILL.
i AM super excited for spring already. i have a fabulous new location that is going to be out of hand, beautiful by spring time.
it was gorgeous this fall!

this is one of my FAVORITE photos from this fall. BEAUTIFUL momma and son. gorgeous. seriously, did i mention how pretty she is? gah!

i DO fully plan on crafting much much more. because i NOW have a room for it. a whole room for my musings. i am so excited. it's just so hard to get up there right now. hopefully we will get things together soon.

i feel like this is our year. my family is so happy. our lives really are fantastic. we have SO much to be thankful for and i will make every single effort to remember that every single day this year. so maybe that's my resolution. to intentionally be aware of how good we all really have it. leave the pity party at the door and enjoy the fabulous things that we're all blessed with.

xoxo

mandi misfit

...the new year is coming

2010-12-22T15:37:00.000-08:00

so with 2011 on the horizon i thought, what better time to set new goals.
first and foremost i will be taking a break from photography through the winter. MAYBE a smidge
longer but at least til the end of march. we will using this time to work on revamping our branding,
offering up new and unconventional products, promotions and fun mini sessions.
we still will NOT shoot at a studio; however we will be working with local residents and business
owners to provide our clients with unique shooting locations.
on top of photography my creative team and i have decided to create a side project called
"creative couture . . inspiring the {he}art & soul." we will be selling handmade crafts, photoshop templates
for photographers and advanced photoshop users and SO much more.
my goal is to not only rebrand my photography business but to be a resource for other photographers
and work at home mothers that need help getting their businesses off the ground.
i know that it can be intimidating to start a business and i think that between my crew
and i, we can be a very valuable asset to those interested!
i still plan on posting photography and graphic design tips and tricks on this blog and
i can be easily reached via facebook search: mandi misfit or rock n royalty photography!

so that is all for now, i'll post more later! if you get a chance hop on the rock n royalty photography
facebook page and check out the 3 new onesies i posted. just a little sample of what
is to come!

xoxo

....hmmm twists and turns!

2010-12-16T22:25:00.001-08:00

...well i really thought giving jordan the blog would give me more time to do other things, but unfortunately jordan is soooo very busy so i'll be taking the blog back over. i've got a HUGE new year's resolution list. so. this weekend i'll be updating the look of the blog and i will be revealing my resolutions to the world.
we took a short hiatus but we're back and we will be bigger and better than ever!

love and robots
mandi

Newzz

2010-07-24T00:48:00.000-07:00

So, (this is Jordan speaking) I've been working on so many projects to eventually post, but my favorite so far has to be 360 panoramas, otherwise known as 'little planets.' I'm working on getting permissions to post a few photographers work, as well as tutorials on the subject (I'm just as new to it as you are). So, be watching for it, they are AMAZING! :D

New Kidz On The Blog.

2010-07-13T17:36:00.000-07:00

Hello to all of our followers :D My name's Jordan Garrison. I'm 19, I live in Oklahoma, and I'm collaborating with Mandi to revamp the blog. As of now, I'm still trying to figure out what to change as far as graphics, logos, etc. goes, but be sure and check in to see what's been added and what's new. :) We'll be incorporating artist bio's, interviews, tutorial websites, and hopefully hold a few 'submit your own' contests to help those who are just getting started just like we did. I'll be getting back to you soon enough, so be sure and drop by and see it!

still neglecting..

2010-07-13T12:49:00.000-07:00

the blog pretty much has taken a back seat to my life, however
i think i will have someone taking it over for me soon.
he's a very talented photographer from oklahoma who is also interested
in graphic design and such. you will be getting more than just
rock n royalty info, such as artist profiles, maybe interviews...
stuff like that. so. look for that in the future.
as for right now i'm reworking my branding. wanting something a little
edgier but cohesive and unique of course.
getting a little frustrated as i've been at this photo thing for almost
6 years now and it seems like everyone thinks they can just pick up
a camera and they're a photographer. if they can't click a button
to do the editing they don't know how. they know NOTHING technical
as far as shooting OR editing but they are charging people money
to take their photos.
some of my BIGGEST photography idols are self taught {as well as myself} so i'm definitely NOT knocking that aspect. but if you're going to sell yourself as a professional photographer, BE a photographer. NOT a picture taker.
i don't feel threatened in any way by these people, mainly because the people who will pay for & accept that caliber of work are not the people i'm interested in taking on as clients.
i've put a lot of time and effort into learning what i know, and i continue
to educate myself ALL the time.
whether it's photo editing, template design or even shooting techniques. there is ALWAYS something new out there and i prefer to be more progressive with my photography.
i am NOT traditional by any means and avoid taking on shoots that restrict my artistic visions. i get a little frustrated with people that hire me and expect plane jane stuff. i want to be known for the art. not just the photo.
sorry for the rambling... it's been a long month or so!
i guess what i'm saying to all of you prospective photography clients {of myself or any other photographer} buyer beware.

ANYWAY
this saturday is the mini shoot for my couples in red oak, i'm super excited to try some new stuff out.
i'm also working on editing a wedding i did so that will hopefully be done before too long so i can get my mini shoot edited quickly.
i've got lots of sessions coming up, kiddos, seniors & families mainly. if anyone is intersted in a shoot let me know, i'll be extremely limited after the end of august!

thanks for reading this mess of thoughts :D
xoxo
mandi

...blog neglect!

2010-06-11T15:01:00.000-07:00

Wow everyone, have I been busy or what?! I've been horrible about updating things!
So here's what's new for summer!

TWO SPECIALS!

$50.00 portrait special - families, kids and newborns!
usually about a half hour shoot, location of your choice.
{within 15 miles of the Red Oak Area, ask for other locations!}
you will get a disc of 5 edited photos and 5 or more raw images
{depending on how many turn out acceptable}
all images will be printable up to an 8x10
turn around time is about 1 to 2 weeks!

and

$75.00 maternity special - momma's to be!
usually about a half hour to an hour shoot, location of your choice!
{within 15 miles of the Red Oak Area, ask for other locations!}
you will get a disc of 10 edited photos and 5 or more raw images
{depending on how many turn out acceptable}
all images will be printable up to an 8x10
turn around time is about 1 to 2 weeks!

*All payments will be due at the time of the shoot.
Cash or money order only, UNLESS you bank in Red Oak, Iowa.
In that case I will accept a check.
*$40.00 fee for returned checks!
*You will receive a disc with selected images &
a copyright release to print photos at the location
of your choosing and post online or email to friends and family!

***NEW***
I will now be bringing my laptop to each shoot so we can discuss
the photos you will be getting, I don't want their to be any confusion!
You will now be able to select what photos you want edited {within the
package you have chosen: 5 edited & 5 raw or whatever we discuss},
how you want them edited {black and white, antique, b&w with selective color.. etc}
and you will be able to view other products that are available for
purchase at that time such as storyboards, collages, photo borders, keychains, murals, canvas prints & more!

*If you want any printed professionally, or anything larger than an 8x10
I will also have samples of the different styles of paper your photos
can be printed on.

OK!
If you have any questions, comments... anything at all, feel free to email me
at rocknroyaltyphotography@live.com!

Thanks for your time!

xoxo
mandi

summer special

2010-05-24T14:11:00.000-07:00

the three six five project...

2010-05-15T09:07:00.000-07:00

starting tomorrow. i will begin posting a photo a day for one year. this will be known as my {threesixfive} project.
i've seen several photographers take on this challenge and it's always exciting for me to see what other people find interesting and beautiful in daily life. so tomorrow will begin my attempt to get a little more of my personality across to my "fans" and friends.
this will be posted on the blog as well as my facebook site.

also! i will be coming up with specials all summer long that will be exclusively listed on the blog. so keep checking the blog because i WILL be updating it more regularly.

and finally, this fall i'm going back to school to the Media Studies: Graphic Communications program. at least that is the goal. i'm super excited.

xoxo
mandi

{FREE} Mini - Session!

2010-04-06T11:26:00.000-07:00

oh man. what a day.

2010-03-12T11:22:00.000-08:00

i was violently ill yesterday. apparently when you run out of blood pressure medicine, you should refill it right away or you go through {withdrawl symptoms} and they are NOT fun. i am recovering today. wyatt is napping and i'm relaxing. working on photos and sipping on some mint green tea.

my new camera is amazing.

here are a couple photos from the one year shoot i did the other day.

what do you all think? i'm super thrilled with how they turned out and i cannot wait to do more photos in the coming weeks.

here is a new picture of my little punk rock monkey. he's getting so big. 3.5 months old and 27 inches long, 15 pounds. he's HUGE for his age. he's not fat though, just long and big. i'm super proud...

NOTICE the tattoo flash art blanket behind him. am i a cool momma or what??!

anyway i'm going to keep this short, wyatt has fallen asleep in my lap after eating a little bit so typing on the laptop is kind of hard. but. i hope everyone is well.

mandi

ch-ch-ch-changes....

2010-02-23T12:08:00.000-08:00

turn and face the strange. right?

well i had an amazing birthday last week. i got roses from my mother & father in law.

they were gorgeous, as you can see!
ty's grandparent's, uncle & parents showed up to surprise me with cake, pizza & gifts. it was really nice to feel like, at least some of his family likes me. they are good people. very caring and kind.
things are changing around here. i ordered my new camera, lenses and the rest of the goodies yesterday so i hope that will be here by friday for my trip to st. jo to see my OWN family... whom i miss dearly. i wish more than anything we could live in oklahoma, but that will never happen so i will just look forward to our yearly trips. which, i believe is coming in may this year. i will get to see my daddy and the rest of the people that love me the most. i cannot wait. i can't wait for them to meet my son either. wyatt is getting SO big. he is 12 weeks old today, and he's my saving grace. i'd be lost without this little man. he's the reason i get out of bed in the mornings.
we are all settled into our house in nodaway. it's a tiny tiny little town that has me about 45 minutes from my mom & stepdad and 20-ish minutes from all of my friends in red oak. i think i will be happier in the spring when my little man and i can get out with the stroller and get some fresh air & sunshine.
i've also got a SUPER booked spring and fairly booked summer with photo shoots and weddings so that will give me more positivity to focus on. there is FAR too much negativity barging it's way into my life and into my family's life. i'm so done with it. it's sad when you try to make things work or you try to be nice and it doesn't matter. so eventually you give up. but. it's okay. i'm moving on and not looking back. i'm only accepting love, happiness and beauty in my life. i want my son to see happy parents, he needs to be around positivity in life as well. there is no room for negativity, anger or hate.
we bought the paint for the livingroom & kitchen and the new flooring for the kitchen. so hopefully once life slows down a bit we will actually have a spell to work on things. we'll be getting new carpet soon as well. we have to start somewhere.
well that's all of the babbling i can do at the moment, my little guy is waking from his nap and we need to go play on the floor!

amanda jean

...things that make me melt. {my love list}

2010-02-08T17:38:00.000-08:00

so i started thinking today, while watching mister wyatt james sleep, about how much better he makes our lives. my husband and i couldn't be happier. even when the little bugger is being naughty. he's amazing. wonderful. (of course) adorable. sigh. i'm gushing. i'm in love, what can i say?
my husband gives me all of those warm and fuzzy feelings too.
looking back at him asking me to marry him, i think about a lot of things. we had grown so much from the time we met i knew that i loved this man. i wanted to marry him. i never wanted to be without him. i could not cannot and would never want to imagine my life without him. i wanted to be his wife, i wanted to have his children and i wanted to grow old with him. i wanted to have many years of memories and love to share amongst our family and friends. i knew that the path seemed scary, based on my past... but i knew in my heart that wearing down that path was the only way for me to ever really be happy.
i struggle a lot with depression. still. but looking at my son and my husband, gives me something to smile at when the rest of the world seems dismal and drab.
i love these two boys. so much. i love ty's parents also. they've made me feel like part of their family and never made me feel awkward or unsure. they are such a pillar of support for us. i know that if we ever needed them, they would be there. much like most of my own family. for that i am thankful.
i'm also grateful for photography. i may not be the best photographer. i may not have the biggest and best equipment and props... but from the bottom of my heart i love taking photos. i love editing them and i love when people say that they enjoy my images. so. even if i were the worst photog in the world...i wouldn't care. it is my passion and it makes me smile.
i love love love my new house. talk about a project. it's a run down forclosure. BUT. that means that it's a shell of a house. i get to make this place whatever i want. i've already bought the new kitchen flooring, we've got the paint for the livingroom and kitchen and ty put in a really nice new kitchen sink and faucet. it's definitely not happening overnight.... i'm ok with that. it's our home. no one can take that sense of pride from us. we are doing this on our own. for that, i smile smile smile.
so. i guess those are a few things that make me melt. into a soppy puddle of happiness.
i guess the list of people/things that make me sad and angry is much larger but focusing on the people that actually matter to us... it's much healthier.

xoxo
amanda

ps-God is definitely on my love list. just so you know.

..well a blog update was my intention...

2010-02-03T11:13:00.000-08:00

and the second i logged in, my beautiful sleeping child woke up! he's been super sick and super clingy so i'm attempting to type this up with him in my lap.
he turned 2 months old yesterday, he's already 24 inches long and weighs 13.7 pounds. he's going to be my linebacker... we were supposed to get immunizations monday but with him being ill we have to wait. we're doing breathing treatments every 6 hours, antibiotics everyday and eye drops. ugh. it's a crazy ride for sure.
i'm investing in a new camera next week, i'm super stoked about that.
also have new props coming, hats, cocoons, tutus... backdrops.... i'm so excited!
i'm going to be revamping the blog also.. it's just a matter of making time.
so.
bye for now, i will be posting more soon!

...ok so a little more information

2009-12-21T12:57:00.000-08:00

alright, well it's not late at night and i'm slightly less tired so i can spend a little more time updating the blog today. wyatt is sound asleep in his bed so i need to take advantage of his down time.
tyler and i have just bought a house, i'm so excited. we're in the process of cleaning it up and moving, and i cannot wait to get over there. i love our apartment but with a baby i'm ready to actually be in a HOME... not just a place to stay. it's not perfect by any means but structurally it's great, new insulation, new furnace and water heater, newer siding... it's great. it just needs some paint and carpet and it will be much better. we got the new wood flooring for the kitchen and new sink & faucet so at least it's a start. i've got a lot of plans though. i just got a new sewing machine from my mom for my christmas gift so i'll be making curtains and pillows to add some more of a personal touch! so on top of having a new baby we'll be moving and getting all settled in.
ty and i have decided that i am not going to work for at least a year (as long as we can afford it) to stay home and take care of wyatt so we're going to be investing in a new camera for my photography and trying to build my photography business as much as i can over the next year. on top of that i'm going to be opening an etsy store to sell a variety of crafts. glass etched items, sewn items, onesies and various other items. that will be another way to bring in some money.
i'm excited that i'll be getting a chance to do things i love to make money and spending time with my son, and being able to be the best wife that i can be. not that i think you have to stay at home to be a good wife... i don't. i just think that this will be what's best for our family right now.
so.
keep tuned in to the blog, i'll be having giveaways with the various items i'll be selling as well as photography specials!
i'll be posting more often so definitely keep watching!

xo

it's been way too long...

2009-12-20T20:57:00.000-08:00

Well for starters, it's been too long since I've posted on my blog.
We DID have our baby boy, Wyatt James and he was born December 1st, after 30 hours
of labor and a c-section. He was a healthy 8 pounds 9 ounces and 21 inches long.

Motherhood definitely has changed me and it's only been 3 weeks (this tuesday)...
I am amazingly functioning on far less sleep and I had no idea that my heart could be so full.
My husband and I are madly in love, and I never knew I could love anyone else as much or more than I love my husband and somehow or another I found it in me to love this little boy more than I ever thought possible. He's incredible.
Anyway. I promise to post more tomorrow... I've got big news on the Rock n Royalty Photography front so I will be talking about that then. For now I've got to get some sleep, since Wyatt is asleep I must take full advantage!

xo
mandi

hmmm..update anyone?

2009-11-17T22:14:00.000-08:00

welp. i'm officially HORRID at updating this poor little bloggy. an old friend that lived up the street from me when i was a kiddo recently took to writing his blog and inspired me to write some more. thanks erk!
anywho. hm. ok so i went to the doctor today, baby wyatt will be here in a matter of two weeks now. if he doesn't arrive earlier on his own. the only problem with waiting longer than the two weeks would be his size. since i have gestational diabetes and high blood pressure i've been watched really closely and wyatt is big for how far along i am. i don't want to induce, i want to go natural but i want a safe and healthy baby. so. i will do whatever is prudent to make sure that happens.
he's healthy and he's a ham. i think he knows how to push his mama's buttons already and it cracks me up. i can't wait to meet the little guy, neither can ty. we feel SO blessed and SO lucky. i know i joke a lot saying things like "oh no, an o'neill boy.." but i couldn't be more happy to have such an amazing husband who will be an even more amazing daddy! i'm so proud of ty for being such a good provider and really growing up SO much in the past year and a half. we've both changed a lot and God is really guiding our lives in such a manner that for once, i'm proud of my path! not that God was the reason for my disappointment before, it's just funny how when you start to listen to the ol' boy, things work out!
anywho... i have tons to say and no energy so i will post more tomorrow and update the page... change the format to something more seasonal maybe? or baby related? or just cute?
hm....

xo

storyboard sample.. opinions?

2009-10-14T16:20:00.000-07:00

a small storyboard sample.

i'm trying to finish up Randi's photos and wanted to try my hand at some cutsie storyboard layouts. i don't know how i REALLY feel about the work i've done thus far, but i guess i'll get better and better huh? man, i cannot believe i've been at this photography thing for 4 years now. pretty incredible.

mandi

Photo Opinions

2009-10-12T08:25:00.000-07:00

a couple more samples of Randi's photo shoot. Taking them in a little bit different direction than I usually do so I'm curious to see what everyone thinks.

...senior photo shoot!

2009-10-07T20:24:00.000-07:00

...so today i had the pleasure of working with this amazing young lady, she was SO fun and her eyes were just RIDICULOUS! so pretty!
anyway, i'm going to post a couple of samples of her photos, i've got tons and tons more to edit but these are the first ones!
enjoy!!

mandi

...tuesday...bluesday...

2009-10-06T15:41:00.000-07:00

...well i went to the doctor for my weekly appointment. my blood pressure is really good and my blood sugar is being controlled really well with this sucky diet. by the time i got back to home i was so tired i crawled into bed and fell asleep for a while. it was really nice. today was the first day i actually relaxed and let myself do nothing.. i DID get some homework done and some photo editing, but other than that i actually relaxed for a day. mark it on the darn calendar!
the drama has subsided pretty much, gladly.
i want to just say, if someone doesn't like my opinion, or my feelings then they are under no obligation to read my blogs.
the things that have gone on in my life that i chose to write about are my personal feelings... i don't feel the need to censor myself on the off chance someone will be mad. i don't write names. i don't intentionally write things to anger, hurt or upset people but i am a human and i DO reserve the right to vent and have an opinion.
the drama that i referred to is all really stupid. i think it was small thing that got blown completely out of proportion and i just want to get past it (which i've done..) and i hope that our lives can go back to some sort of normalcy. if it doesn't, that's that but at least it is worth a shot.
so with that said... i move on, and let go.
tyler is in the er this afternoon, he told me that i didn't need to come over there. he slipped at work while holding a piece of metal and gashed his thumb. :( my poor baby. he's my rock, i hate it when he gets hurt!
anyway. enough yammering. gota figure out what we're doing for dinner.

xo

A Couple Newborn Photos and a Birth Announcement..

2009-10-04T21:53:00.000-07:00

I had the honor of shooting some newborn photos for a couple of close friends a week or so ago! Her name is Victoria Sue and she's going by Tori... She's one of the most amazing babies you'll ever see and I can't wait to keep shooting her as she grows!

The birth announcement photo is of another friend's daughter named Fiona. Ann Peters took the photo and I created the announcement.

Haven't really worked on much lately but I've got some senior photos this week and next week and some couple fall photos at the end of the month! So on top of school and baby prep I will definitely be occupied! Anywho I just thought I would show a couple photos and see what everyone thinks!

Xo
Mandi

9 long weeks left...

2009-10-02T16:46:00.000-07:00

ok.. welp yesterday was kind of a train wreck. i ran a few errands first thing in the morning and when i got home for some hot tea and honey i started getting some terrible terrible pains throughout my stomach and upper back. to the point where i couldn't breathe or hardly stand up. i called the doctor and they told me to come up to the hospital, so i called my husband and drove myself to the hospital.
ty ran out of work and met me at the hospital and after being strapped to monitors and such from 11a til 7p, being pumped full of fluids and pain meds... they decided that my migraines and cramping was stress induced. stress can do horrific things to the body... even when you're not pregnant.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-symptoms/SR00008_D
has some interesting facts about stress.
so, according to my doctor i am to cut out the things in my life that cause me stress to the best extent that i can.
first and foremost i deleted a few people from my facebook page... sounds kind of petty probably but after all the crap i've been put through by them recently, i thought it appropriate.
it's amazing to me that someone can present themselves to be one person and turn out to be someone COMPLETELY different. i thought that this person was my friend, i mean she seemed really chill, and i defended her to other people when they spoke poorly of her, and now i see what everyone else was trying to tell me. i guess with character you have to see if from a person for yourself or you won't believe it.
all that aside i'm dealing with a grandma who has just been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer, after she just got out of the hospital with a collapsed lung. my mom is a whole other can of worms i won't dive into... it all just gets overwhelming.
then having unwarranted drama thrown at me on top of it... no wonder the doctor thinks i'm stressed out huh?
oh well. i'm taking steps, like i said.. to cut the crap. i am SO grateful though that my husband is the single most amazing man in my life. he cares so much about me, he is definitely my rock and i would be a lost cause without him. our little baby wyatt is lucky to have such a good daddy.
on top of that my friends are pretty much the greatest group of people in the world. they support me, and are always there to listen. ty's parents have been a big pillar of support too, especially with all of the drama in my life. his mom is always there to listen and tell me that i'm not crazy. it's nice hehe.
anywho, ty is home with chicken noodle soup that his mamma made for me to help me feel better! i'm going to go fill my bowl, make me some hot tea and honey and curl up under the covers.... in a desperate attempt to ENJOY the cold and windy weather.

xo

oh baby!

2009-09-17T14:02:00.000-07:00

With everyone having babies this week, and I KNOW 5 people who have popped between last Thursday and today... I've got my own little stink bug on the brain. He's so active all the time and it makes me smile. My heart still hurts for my friends who have lost their little angles before their time and I pray that they are finding comfort or some sort of peace in their hearts.
I can't help but smile when I look down and see him moving in there. Like he's trying to get comfortable... he's just like his mamma, I'm a tosser and a turner til I'm all comfortable. I root around in the bed like a piggy in the mud. I think Wyatt does the same thing alot!
Life is pretty good at the moment... busy with school but enough free time to have to myself. It's a nice combination. I get to do some newborn photos on Sunday and then maternity photos later in the evening so I'm really excited to have some photos to work on. Not to mention the baby I'm shooting for is ADORABLE... that that makes my job THAT much easier :)
Hopefully I'll have some new photos of myself and Kenzie from Sunday up sometime next week. I'm doing her photos and Ty is going to shoot a couple of the two of us since we're due so close together. She has a good chance of going early though so we are wanting to shoot as soon as possible!
Anywho... I gota go get some more homework done! Bless you, God is love...

mandi

let's make a (up)date!

2009-09-04T20:52:00.000-07:00

well, where shall we start? it has been a while since i have updated this little beauty...
i have fully delved into my new roll as college student, taking 15 credit hours this semester and that definitely keeps my hands full. i'm doing really well so far, or so i'd like to think. the hardest part for me is really just getting back into a routine when it comes to school work. keeping track of due dates and quizzes and tests, definitely out of my relm of normalcy.
it IS going pretty well though and i am really enjoying everything i'm learning, i wish that i had tried this hard in high school, my life may be in a different place by now. . . but, i am happier than i've ever been so maybe this is how it was supposed to go? well, i'm SURE this is how it was supposed to go, otherwise it wouldn't be what it is... ok i may be rambling now!
so, school is great and i feel really proud of myself for working so hard and it makes me feel really good when ty tells me how proud he is of me for what i'm doing. i think that he is going to go to school after i graduate, we are both trying to make plans to better our growing little family and it makes me feel good that we are both on the same page.
speaking of our growing little family, things there are going great! wyatt is growing by leaps and bounds, i can tell by how much my stomach has changed.
he moves and loves it when i read stories to him. i've found at the dollar general store of all places, has these one dollar books that are rhyming children's bible stories. i love them SO much, and tyler and wyatt sit and listen when i read them out loud. well, tyler plays video games hehehe but he listens when i read and he comments so i know that he's paying SOME attention.
he's getting big, and i can sit and watch my stomach move when he starts moving around. at first it creeped me out, it was strange enough when i FELT him move for the first time, then SEEING him move from outside of my stomach was incredible. i can sit and stare at my belly forever!
we've got the invitations for the baby shower made, ty's cousin brandy who is awesomely talented made the CUTEST jungle animal themed baby shower invitations and i cannot wait for them to be sent out!
the baby room should be done this weekend. i will be posting before and after photos when it's all said and done. i am going to go to hobby lobby and pick up some cute fabric and make some curtains. i've also decided to get some zebra print fabric and leopard print fabric to make table cloths for the baby shower, then when i'm done i'm going to turn them into big throw pillows for the baby room since we're doing the animal theme. i thought it would be cute.
i went to the pregnancy center in red oak today and signed up for their new beginnings program. it's a really really awesome deal if you or anyone you know is pregnant and you're in the area you really need to check it out. it IS a christian based program but they will only talk to you about the Big Man if you bring it up and want information, they are really just there for the community and to help families and single parents. the ladies that work there are amazingly sweet and laid back, it's a very comfortable environment and the things they are doing for pregos in this area are great! they have a points system where if you go to doctors appointments, wic appointments and a myriad of other things you get points toward things they have at the center. diapers, wipes, clothes all sorts of things. they have books and books and books about pregnancy and parenting, they have christian literature if you're interested in that.
they have caring, wonderful people there for advice and guidance and they ALSO offer classes on everything under the sun!
i'm really glad that i went there for assistance and i am trying to send everyone and anyone there. i am hoping to get more involved as time allows and volunteer at the center. hopefully i can use my new education that i'm acquiring to help them out, it's a cause i really really believe in.
WHOOO. that's a lot of rambling for one night. i guess i will bring this to a close.
i will try to keep up and post more as time goes on...
as you can guess i'm taking a photography break so my blogs will be focused on our journey through pregnancy, school and mommy hood!
thanks for reading, love you much and God Bless you all!

a new blogalog...

2009-08-09T18:57:00.000-07:00

welp really not a WHOLE lot going on.. getting bigger every single day
which i love and loathe all at the same time
life is pretty good
and i have some pretty amazing friends...
wish i had more to report but i don't.
anywho.
i'll leave you with a small collage thing i did
with wyatt's 5 and a half month ultrasound and
my 6 month belly photos!

drum roll please.......

2009-07-28T18:48:00.000-07:00

Yes... I am only 5 and a half months pregnant...
NO I am not carrying twins.
I just think It MAY be a GIANT.
It's moving like crazy tonight and almost made me cry,
not because I am over emotional, but because it's river dancing
on my bladder.
Definitely getting bigger which I pray means healthier and healthier.
We are going this friday on my husband's birthday to find out
if it's a boy or a girl, and I can start calling it something
other than IT :)
so without further hesitation... here's my whale photo this month!
i'm HUGE...

2009-07-25T19:21:00.001-07:00

Well, it's a hopping Saturday night around the O'Neill household,
although I would much rather have the peace and quiet over
just about anything else.
We spent the afternoon at Ty's grandma's house in Grant,
cute little town.
I've been having a lot of emotional drainage lately... it really seems like, if it's not one thing, it's another.
I registered for college though and I start on August 17th. I'm not TOO scared, because I've taken some classes before and I only have one class on campus... BUT I am nervous at the idea of having a baby next semester and trying to be a student. I do have some amazing friends that are willing to help me out and I'm sure some of my family would pitch in too... I just have to remind myself it's for the "greater good" of my family.
It'll be nice to be able to find a job that pays more than $8 something an hour, and would be great to have some day hours.
With nothing else, it will help me tremendously when running my own business. So, pluses all around.
Anyway.. I guess this was just a little update. I'm still here, kicking, but having a really rough time with life...
It'll be what it'll be and God really is in control... especially when we feel like we've lost control the most!

xo

Mandi!

...... don't even know what to title it.

2009-07-21T12:58:00.000-07:00

so. i guess the past week has been kind of a disaster. staying positive has never been a strong point for me but i am giving it my all.
my mom had a TIA and i can't even tell you what it is, just that she freaked me out and now she's gota see all these specialists. then the next day my uncle larry passed away.
larry used to live with us for a while, he and my mom were pretty close...
i always called him uncle growly bear, because when i was little he always looked burly and scary but he was a big teddy bear.
we literally just saw him at the movies last week, when we took my nephews then he was gone.
crazy.
a heart attack at 53. makes you think huh?
i'm 25 and i know i will not do and accomplish everything i want in the next 28 years... it seems way too young to go. but. i am not God.
he had a plan. has a plan. always planning... i sometimes wish i understood his plans, then i find comfort in not having the burden of understanding on my shoulders.
as my dad says "God's plans are none of your business."
which is true. we're supposed to live our lives the best we can and roll with the punches.
there is always more in store for us, we just have to accept God's will and try our hardest to make our lives as successful and happy as we can. always keep pushing... never settling.
i've got a lot of people in mind that simply settle... i am one of them. i'm changing, or trying to.
i know that i was meant for more than dwelling on my past mistakes and beating myself up for every little thing. most of which i have no control over, yet manage to beat myself up anyway.
a practice that completely baffles my poor husband.
anyway.
i guess what i'm trying to say in all of this rambling is that you're never guaranteed anything in life except God's love.
accept it, and hold it close to you.
be the best friend, neighbor, relative, community member... you can be.
and strive for more... it's there, you just have to want it.
and tell your friends and family you love them. if you have problems (don't we all?) try to work through them. you never know when your last day on earth will come and do you really want to leave so many questions unanswered and words unsaid?
i don't.

xo
mandi

New Business Venture...

2009-07-12T12:50:00.000-07:00

Well, as some of you know I am having a baby in December and I've got OODLES of pals having babies around the same time. So, instead of shelling out a bunch of cash on stuff that they don't need, I'm designing onesies for a few of my girls.

At the end of my post are a few of the designs I've come up with so far. A work in progress yes, but I'm pretty excited. I'll be posting completed photos as soon as I get some done.

Also I'll be working on some custom birth announcement samples!

I am planning on starting college classes in a month or so, so for now I'll only be taking a

few photography bookings here and there. I've got a couple people who have already booked

that I will be working with, other than that I'll be taking a small break.

I will be keeping you posted! In the mean time I will continue to update the blog with

all of the happenings and goings on! <3

xoxo

mandi

late night storyboard-ing....

2009-07-06T20:40:00.000-07:00

Here is my latest late night creation... what do you think??

I got tagged!

2009-07-06T15:41:00.000-07:00

Edi from Memories For Life Scrapbooks tagged me and so I chose to go ahead and post two photos... Don't laugh too hard!

The first is the 6th photo from the 6th file on my computer....

Just cheesin... I guess

The second photo is the 10th photo in my 1st file....
this is from our vacation this year to Oklahoma... my dad caught a big catfish on his trot-line (i think that's what his line was called... bahahahaha)

a wonderful wonderful sunday....

2009-07-05T16:01:00.000-07:00

Ok... wow. What a day!
I feel really accomplished. Got our new blinds hung up in the kitchen.
Cleaned and cleaned and cleaned like a mad woman!
Worked on some photos, I've almost got Candi's prego pics
done and I cannot wait for her to see them!!!

If you know anyone who will be a Senior in high school this
year and they still need photos done, give them my name!!!
If you do, you will get a free gift from me and they will get
10% off of their ENTIRE order!!! What a deal!

Ok. Well. I've got a lot more work to do, hope you like the new
blog layout and remember:
My Facebook Portfolio can be located HERE!

xoxoxo
mandi

bye bye facebook, hello more blogging and photo work

2009-07-04T21:19:00.000-07:00

so i'm leaving facebook for a while... for a few reasons but mainly i need to focus on my work and finding a day job and a million other things than who's doing what and who's saying what etc etc etc...
so
i'm leaving it active so people can still see some of my work
but really it's been more of a time killer than anything else.
it HAS helped me get more photo gigs which is a plus but
i'm hoping i can just keep getting more work via word of mouth
and my OWN advertising... ya know?

so i had a wonderful 4th... great time with ty's family
and some of their awesome awesome friends
i ate SO much food and had some wonderful people
make me feel SO good and happy about my baby bump :)
PLUS i got to (CAREFULLY) ride a pink 4 wheeler.
loved it.
so.
in summation.
there will be more bloggage
less
facebookage
and
more stuff that matters getting done!

p.s.

2009-07-01T21:57:00.000-07:00

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=35950&id=705450778&l=37af4ffb92

This is a direct link to my Face Book portfolio, you don't even have to have
an account to view the photos!
So, if you're wanting to see some more of my work, hop on over and check it
out!
If you want to leave comments, feel free to come back over here and
comment away!!!

wow... what a wednesday!

2009-07-01T20:15:00.000-07:00

First of all...

a HUGE thank you to EVERYONE on Facebook who has been SOOOO incredibly sweet

with your nice comments about my photos!

It is really nice that people appreciate what I do, and that they take time to let

me know. Awesome awesome awesome.

I really struggle a LOT with wanting to be better, thinking "well I'm not as good as

photographer X," or "photographer Y has better equipment, maybe they will hire

them because of it..." etc.

BUT here's the thing. I really LOVE what I do. It's my art. It's not just a business,

I am always trying new stuff and it really makes my day when people respond

well!

So THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for making my week with

all of your kind words!

SECOND.....

Well the July

I've got an August Special!

for anyone that books from

now through July 31st for either a July shoot or an August shoot,

you will get your choice of

1 free 8x10, 2 free 5x7's OR a 12x12 Collage (theme of your choice)

Well my darlings, that is all for tonight! It's VERY late and I need to be getting to bed. So I will leave you with a drawing from my FAVORITE artist of all time, Mr. Kurt Halsey.

Because with all of your kindness, I'm feeling kind of like Super Woman!

exoh,
mandi

terrific tuesday

2009-06-30T18:12:00.000-07:00

This is a sample photo from my shoot with an AWESOME couple the other day... Candi & Jeremy are so adorable and SO in love and this baby will be coming into such a nice home of love and family!

Thanks to my awesome girls Jess and Jen for being so sweet and supporting me. I am feeling much better today. Slightly sunburnt but emotionally a lot more whole!

so.
gota get more work done

god bless
Mandi

so. hm. i don't know.. sad frowny face?

2009-06-29T19:50:00.000-07:00

i'm not sure. what to think lately.
i am:
sad
happy
scared
depressed
more of the bad than the good.
why? i don't get it either.
how did my life end up in this
stupid never ending cycle of
crap?

can someone guide me to the next chapter in my life...
because i'm afraid i lost my page.

xo
mandi

today.....

2009-06-24T12:59:00.000-07:00

Wellllllllllllllll. Yesterday was my 4 month mark. We are finding out on July 31st (ty's birthday) what we're having and I feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas!

I'm getting bigger every single day and becoming less self conscious, the more I think about the miracle that is going on inside of me...
I know I know "some miracle, you're doing the same thing billions of women have done throughout eternity.." but really, the way things are happening in my life... it's a miracle.

I'm going to keep this short because I really have a TON of work to do, finishing photos and cleaning my home. I just wanted to say hi and show off my protruding stomach. :)
Oh and I DID find a swimsuit at Target. Target has the BEST maternity stuff for reasonable prices... I love it.
So... with that I bid you farewell for now.

exoh

Mandi

Manic Monday...

2009-06-15T12:51:00.000-07:00

Well boys and girls, here are a couple of samples of the ADORABLE Sallach boys that I had the pleasure of working with on Sunday morning! They were SO fun and full of energy... Their mom is a Rockstar for sure!

I also had engagement photos for a super adorable couple last night and I will be posting some of those photos when I get a chance. I will probably have a post dedicated to engagement photos because I have ANOTHER couple that I need to get posted as well!

Anywho, in preparation for our trip to Gering, Nebraska this weekend I've got TONS of stuff to get done. So. I'm going to keep this short!

mandi

Finally Friday!

2009-06-12T10:10:00.000-07:00

Well, it's Finally Friday and I'm feeling SO very uncomfortable! I'm getting energy back but my "growing pains" are kicking my tail. I'm almost 15 weeks (time is FLYING by) but i thought this little photo was cute and decided to throw it up here.

I can say that I'm really happy that everyone was right and my mornin sickness has subsided. Thank goodness for that, now if we can make the headaches stop (thank YOU quitting soda pop for giving me murderous headaches...) and give me a SMIDGE more energy, I'd be good to go. :)

Now...

Let me give a lesson to all of you out there who have never had children. When you approach a pregnant woman, ask her how far along she is... when she's due, etc. do NOT... and I repeat DO NOT say "Oh my gosh, you're SO BIG for only being x amount of time along" you will more than likely get a half hearted smile and be cursed by said pregnant woman the rest of the day.
So. That has been your pregnant woman courtesy lesson... any questions?

And with that, I will say God Bless you guys, I hope you have a great weekend!

We will be staying at my in-laws for the weekend as they will be out of town so I will

probably take some fun photos of the animals and post them sometime this weekend.

xoxo

Mandi!

Wordless Wednesday... summer blooms make me melt.

2009-06-10T18:06:00.001-07:00

k crazy day and quick post

2009-06-09T17:50:00.000-07:00

just posting to say 'ello!
i'm putting up a couple pictures of one of my favorite couples
andrew and katie! it was a freezing cold day and they
toughed out these photos in the old market.
love them tons and i'll be posting more photos soon!

they say you learn something new everyday...

2009-06-08T17:50:00.000-07:00

So today was less than eventful, it left me with far too much time on my hands to think.... think... and OVER think everything.
Saying I'm scared to have a baby might be the understatement of the year, don't get me wrong... I'm in love with the tiny little human in my stomach. I'm also terrified of the darn thing. I can't even keep a goldfish alive for more than a year, are they really going to send me home with a child?
Really?
I'm good with kids, I love kids and most certainly with strive to be the best mommy I can but REALLY?? How can I be a mom?
I know God has a plan and he really could care less what OUR plans are (see: waiting til i'm 30 to have a baby... finishing college... my photography career in full bloom before said child...) but being the omnipitent one that He is, could he have made a mistake?
Probably not.
My husband is amazing, so loving. He refuses to let me dwell on the fact that I can't fit into my clothes, that I feel like I'm going to puke if I even SEE a food commercial on TV and that I have all of these unsure feelings (which he claims are probably normal..) He holds me when I cry because I saw an ASPCA commercial on TV and doesn't think I'm nuts for crying over every other trivial thing in my life. I really am lucky.
I have a nice life. I'm so blessed and even when my life seemed the worst God saw me through.
I know God will walk with us on our journey and it's sure to be an adventue.
So I guess the moral here is that in one seemingly average day I have learned that I'm not super crazy and that God truely is my guiding light. That's not something I JUST learned mind you, but I think that we need to be reminded everyday...
So I will just relearn God's grace everyday and pray for the best.

God Bless,
Thanks for reading this...
I will be posting some photos tomorrow. Til then, Good night!

Mandi!

Finally Friday!

2009-06-05T16:02:00.000-07:00

Since I don't have a normal "day job" and I'm not quite a mommy YET... it seems silly to say YAY it's Friday! However, the weekend is SO precious when it comes to spending time with my husband. Now my awesome little nephew is down visiting for two weeks so getting to go see him at my mom's is another joy to look forward to! I will be posting photos soon of our visit and MAYbe if I get brave some prego belly photos... that's kind of a personal thing so I'm still debating :)
anywho. hope you enjoy the changes that I'm making and there will be more to come, please feel free to leave your input, and any other suggestions or things you like to see from me!

xoxo

Mandi!

messing around..

2009-06-03T12:24:00.000-07:00

this is an old photo of the awesome Sallach family that was shot for Christmas '08, i've been playing around with new photoshop actions... let me know what you think!

happy JUNE <3 - new photography promo for JULY!

2009-06-02T15:32:00.000-07:00

Promotion For July....Storyboards!

Above are storyboard samples I just created for this blog posting, but they print as a 10x20 and can be customized with literally as many photos as you'd like. For this promotion I'm doing 3 to 5 photos with an optional quote, name, date or anything else more personal you'd like on it!

The storyboard is available for purchase as an ala carte item for $35.00 BUT if you book your July session by June 25th, it is FREE! That's a pretty great gift idea for a loved one, and would also be a nice addition to your own wall!

June 26th through June 30 storyboards are available free with a $50.00 photo print purchase!

I'm working diligently to get some more promotions for July and into August, as well as coming up with more unique products and package options! I know times are tight right now and we all need to cut costs where we can, but when it comes to photography, you really DO get what you pay for and aren't those precious memories worth a little more?

As a photographer I strive to provide my best work at a reasonable price, because I DO love what I do and also I'm among that group of people that DOESN'T have money to throw around... so I understand!

All of my packages are completely customizeable to work with EVERY budget, you won't find that from a lot of photographers and you WON'T find it at those national chains.

From taking your portraits, to the editing and all of those extra little touches... I will take my time to make sure that your photos reflect your vision and make sure your personality shines through!

Stay tuned for more promotions and updates,

thank you for your support!

Mandi O

Wow... It's been a while huh?

2009-05-24T09:42:00.000-07:00

Well, sorry for the delay. I've been incredibly busy and lazy at the same time for the past month or so. Kind of a decompression time I guess.
I'm getting back to life. Trying to find a part time day job and planning for the baby! Ya, that's right, we just found out a few weeks ago that we're having a baby.
So... talk about a surprise. We are thrilled but surprised no less.
So.. I'm going to keep this super short and sweet. I'm back to working my butt off. Sorry for disappearing... I'm BACK

xo
m

sadness...and changes.

2009-04-06T20:04:00.000-07:00

well thursday night was quite eventful. i've been taking care of an elderly woman for the past year and a half and she finally passed away at 1:30a Friday morning. i don't mean "finally" disrespectfully, she had been in the hospital the week prior and finally made it home to go peacefully in her sleep. that had always been her request, to pass away in her home.

anywho. it was pretty rough, i had never been in a situation where i've been with someone when they passed. i hope no one ever goes through that, and if you do, please know the comfort you are providing to them in their final moments is something more than they could ever ask for.
well before she got ill i had been working on a photo easter card for her to send to her family, so her family ordered a large amount of them from me and are distributing them at the funeral which is good friday. it gives me a little feeling of contribution to the funeral so it kind of makes me feel good.

anyway

i guess i am writing this post just to let everyone know that life is fleeting, cherish your loved ones and as cliche as it sounds, live every moment like it's your last.

god bless everyone and enjoy Esther's Easter card. :)

The "I Love You" Giveaway!

2009-04-02T11:45:00.000-07:00

It has always been my very strong belief that a person needs to be told every single day that they are loved, so in that spirit I want to give away a photography package to someone YOU love.

I want everyone to email me at rocknroyaltyphotography@live.com nominating a person YOU believe should receive a free photography session from me and a $50 print credit as well as other goodies.

The only rule is: You Cannot Nominate Yourself.

So that's it.

Email me your submissions by April 13th, the winner will be chosen based on nomination story on April 17th.So give your time and nominate someone you care about, this is just one more way you can show someone how much you love them.

free!

2009-03-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

Got a little one or know someone who does? If you book your children's photos OR family photos by April 6th, purchase ANY package and you'll get a key chain off your favorite pose free!

2009-03-27T07:32:00.000-07:00

just a quick update that i will be offering a few new products! stay tuned i'll be updating some more specials!

zoo fun!

2009-03-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

so we went to the zoo today, i'm uploading photos with minimal editing (some cropping is all). spring always makes me feel like visiting the zoo so i hope you enjoy the photos as much as i enjoyed taking them!

a little rambling...

2009-03-19T09:17:00.000-07:00

well we are officially online in our new apartment! no running to and fro trying to use someone's computer for the internet. it's pretty funny, i hadn't realized how dependent i had become on the internet for my business, entertainment and social networking. i can see what the news reports mean about people being to techy and not having personal relationships offline...in real life.
anywho. i am making a conscious effort to spend more time with friends... it just gets a little difficult when you're a workaholic.
however, i have purchased a new laptop that will hopefully help in my photo turnaround time and in me having a life.
:)
so i am looking forward to my three day weekend, hopefully the weather remains beautiful and i get to enjoy some fresh air as well as two sets of family photos this sunday!
so i will be posting new photos for everyone to see sometime next week!
and... drumroll.... i should have my new WHITE pentax k2000 by next month so i'm pretty stoked about that as well!

take care
love
mandi

Spring Specials!

2009-03-13T19:09:00.000-07:00

Here's the first Spring Special I've come up with. Make sure you print a copy of the flier (click on the photo it should take you to a page with just the image and print from there) to get your $60 package for only $30 dollars!

Stay tuned I will be coming up with more promotions for people who book early appointments etc!

(heart)

Mandi

spring has almost sprung...

2009-03-09T14:22:00.000-07:00

well it's almost spring and i've got some great specials coming up so look for those in the coming week or so.
also i will be putting up a promotional facebook page for Bright Futures Tanning in Stanton.
you can also find me on facebook just search mandi oneill

Soden Samples

2009-02-26T07:13:00.000-08:00

more more more

2009-02-13T10:21:00.000-08:00

this is my newest little nephew hunter lee. isn't he sweet?

some new photos and other items...

2009-02-13T10:11:00.000-08:00

here are a few senior story boards and graduation announcements.

i know it seems like forever..

2009-02-04T13:01:00.000-08:00

since i've updated anything but between working and moving i've been a mess.
so.
in the next few weeks things will get back to normal and i will have some
new work to show.

xo
m

My Work Is Not Limited to Photography Alone...

2008-12-26T14:09:00.000-08:00

Along with our artful photography we offer:

Graduation Announcements

Birth Announcements

Holiday Photo Cards

Baby Shower and Birthday Invitations

and if we don't have what you're looking for

we can come up with a custom card for

any occasion!

Cards and announcements can be made from a photo taken by

Rock n Royalty Photography, you're own personal photo in

digital form or a photo from another photographer ( with written copyright permission!!)

So, if you're browsing the stored shelves and can't find that card

that says just how you feel, come to Rock n Royalty Photography and

let us help make you a card as unique as you are!

Mandi

bye bye christmas, see you next year!

2008-12-26T09:55:00.000-08:00

well, another christmas has come and gone. i remember as a child, the anticipation of waking up christmas morning was almost too much to handle, and when we were handed gifts we would tear into them like a pack of wild dogs. now it's more about the family, celebrating God's love, and watching the new generation of kids get SO excited about those gifts.
ah. how time slips away so quickly, i'll never know. but. i hope you all had a very happy holiday, we sure did around here!

on a photography related note. i did get my new graphics tablet for christmas from Santa Tyler, and look forward to being able to do more unique editing and such than before.
so.
if you're interested in new year's photos, new year's photo cards or anything else under the sun, give me a call or shoot me an email.
can't wait to work with you!

trying new things...

2008-12-23T11:04:00.001-08:00

well, it's going to be a new year. who do you want to be this year? what do you want to do? there is always a ton of questions everyone asks, which all elude to "what's your new year's resolution?"
well.
i have decided to not have a resolution.
it could partially be the cinic in me, but i feel like i am the person i want to be right now, and if i've changed over the course of the next year, then that's what was supposed to happen... who am i to test God or destiny?
so.
no resolutions this year. just working my tail off photographing as much as possible and seeing where that road takes me.

xo
m

2008-12-19T13:19:00.000-08:00

Well... Christmas is fast approaching and I had the honor of doing some family photos for my friend Jamie and her family. It was too easy with them being such a cute group. Tyler and I also got our Christmas card done, as well as Jamie's family Christmas card so I thought I would throw them up for you all to see!

xo
Mandi

2008-11-21T10:16:00.000-08:00

I'm going to keep uploading samples as the days go on.

If anyone would like anymore information as to booking, pricing, etc... just shoot me an email at

rocknroyaltyphotography@live.com

more samples...

2008-11-19T10:56:00.000-08:00

Samples of Recent Work

2008-11-19T09:59:00.000-08:00

Rock n Royalty Photography Basic Information

2008-11-19T09:42:00.000-08:00

Rock n Royalty Photography, a location & lifestyle photography company based out of SW IA is the modern name in photography for every event or occasion.
From family portraits to senior photos, weddings, engagements and everything in between Rock n Royalty offers a unique twist on the ordinary photography experience.
Every part of your photography session is completely customizable for an experience as unique as you are.

Contact Mandi today to set up a consultation.
rocknroyaltyphotography@live.com

*all sessions are by appointment only*

NO SITTING FEES ever!

2008-11-16T09:07:00.000-08:00

stuuuuuffffff

2008-11-13T12:29:00.000-08:00

here are a few more samples, that also came from the wedding.

i will be working on uploading more, non wedding photos and pricing information in the near future...

it's official...

2008-11-09T09:31:00.000-08:00

times... they are a changin.

2008-11-05T15:06:00.000-08:00

soooo my wedding is this friday, needless to say i'm rather excited. nervous. happy. scared.... you get the idea.

anyway. i hopefully get to see my father this weekend also, which will be a real treat for me. i made this as a gift for him for his 50th birthday/christmas present (i know one gift for two events... i'm a loser)

anywho.

after the wedding i plan on tending to this site more, adding more photos, pricing information etc.

so.

until then.....

Ok... the first voyage...

2008-11-02T07:07:00.000-08:00

Ok, so this will be my first attempt at a photography-ish blog. I'm used to rambling on my social networking pages, however this will be a bit more of an open venue. So. In the coming days/weeks/months... I will be bringing the rest of the world my thoughts, my art and anything else I feel like throwing out there I guess.

So.. Stay tuned.

It's bound to get entertaining...