April 13th, 2010 | by admin
Thank you to everyone who has left me a comment, email, phone call, and facebook post. I truly appreciate everyone’s words.
As I am trying to move on and get back to work I just wanted to say there are a couple openings in the SLC workshop still. Some people have not replied back to me so I have a couple open spots.
It’s only 475 for a one day workshop. Please email me if you are interested in attending.
I hope to actually post some photos after this weekend. I am teaching two local photographers here in Minnesota on Saturday. It should really be great to get out and shoot again.
Again, thank you.
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March 30th, 2010 | by admin
Today has been one of the worst days in my life. We found out we were pregnant with our second child 6 weeks ago. I was going to announce my pregnancy publicly to all of my friends and photographer friends on Friday once I had my first check up. I even had the blog post all written out saved as a draft to press publish on Friday. I had told a bunch of friends but hadn’t gone public with it because I just wasn’t ready. I wanted to relish in the happiness of my pregnancy. I also announced that Salt Lake City would be my last workshop for a while too because of my pregnancy. I just hadn’t said anything yet as to why it was my last one.
On Sunday, I started to spot a little and I wasn’t too concerned because it happened with our daughter but Monday there was more and it scared me. My husband and I have not had insurance in almost 2 years and my husband finally got a job that has full benefits starting April 1st. I got scared yesterday and went to the doctor knowing full well that my insurance hadn’t kicked in and the bills will have to be paid out of my own pocket. At that point, I really did not care. I just wanted to make sure baby was ok.
The doctor used the doppler thing and couldn’t find a heart beat and then used a really old school ultra sound machine and still couldn’t find a heartbeat. She told me I could come in for a better ultrasound this morning. She also told me that I could wait until Thursday when my insurance kicks in to see if the baby was ok. There was no way I was going to wait that long before I found out. It was already awful thinking my baby might not be alive but absolutely hoping for the best. Talk about being completely heart wrenched. Waiting from 4 p.m yesterday until 10 am this morning to find out your baby is no longer living. Today at the ultrasound, we found out that the baby stopped growing at 8 weeks and was no longer alive.
I am completely devastated right now. I never knew what it was like to lose a child but I do now and to all of the mom’s out there I know your pain. It is so raw in me right now. As my husband and I were picking names already and planning for this arrival in October. I do not wish anything like this on any family.
After my husband and I found out we sat in the parking lot just crying. We didn’t say a word to each other. We just cried. Then, I wanted to go see my mom. She doesn’t work too far from us so we went to see her. I did not want to tell her over the phone. I just wanted a hug from her and that I got. My mom held it together so well for us but as soon as I turned to leave I heard the tears rushing.
Then, we just felt like going to church. John and I are very strong believers in Jesus and we just felt compelled to be amongst our friends. Our Pastor was there as well as other good friends. We sat in their room and cried more and prayed and thanked God for the blessing of this child and knowing that God is taking care of this baby for us until we get to our baby.
As I sit here now, knowing I still have this baby inside my womb not living is completely and utterly down right heart wrenching. I never thought this would happen to me. I know, no one in their right minds wants this to happen to them. You start making plans to paint and decorate the baby room, getting out the old baby gates, thinking of reorganizing everything and thinking of names and although the baby is yet so small you get so attached to baby that you just fall in love with them.
My husband has taken the day off and some friends of ours just came to the door. I should go out to see them but yet somehow typing this is soothing me a little. I am still very raw and my eyes hurts from the insane amount of tears that I have shed. I am sure there will be many more tears too.
Please allow me some time to get back on my feet. I am sorry if I am not answering phone calls, emails or texts. I need some time by myself to heal.
To the ladies that are hosting my workshops in Michigan and Ontario, I will be in touch with you very soon so we can finalize everything.
To all of my customers, I am very sorry. I just need some time away from the computer and just spend time with my husband and daughter.
I am so thankful I have my daughter. She is such a joy in our lives. Her little laugh will heal my sorrow. Her sweet smile will heal my pain. Through her I see the Lord working in us. I have to take each blessing that I have and Thank God for them. Thank you Lord for healing all of my pain and sorrow of the loss of our second child. As tears just stream and don’t stop you know every tear that I cry and you embrace me and love me. Thank you Lord for keeping me up, for loving me, and for putting loving people in my path to comfort me. You are my comforter and I take refuge in you. I am so thankful that I know you and you know me.
Thank you for reading this. Please allow me some time to heal. I will get back with you shortly.
love,
ali
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March 22nd, 2010 | by admin
First of all, I’ve been having a difficult time posting this because it makes me sad. I absolutely love traveling and meeting photographers. The last year has been an absolute blast for me. But, I have to say that Salt Lake City will be my last workshop for at least a year or so.
Because this is my last workshop, instead of doing one 3 day workshop, I am going to do 2 one day workshops for $475.00. You MUST email me within one week to tell me that you are going to attend and have payment ready. Paypal is acceptable as long as the fee is paid for. Otherwise, you can send a check or cashiers check.
There are 10 people allowed per workshop.
You only have one week to get back to me because we have to start planning this now. Please email me at ali@rockthatocf.com and write in the subject line SLC Workshop and which day works best for you.
I want to thank everyone for supporting me over the last year or so with Rock That OCF. I am not going away. I just can’t travel anymore. If you want to come to me you are more than welcome to come to Minnesota. I look forward to the things that are coming for Rock That OCF. There is something new on the horizons though, I just have to have some time to perfect it. The hint of that is that you will be able to learn from your home. I will announce that soon.
Thank you all for all of your support. I love everyone!
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March 22nd, 2010 | by admin
Penny Paige Murray! Please contact me at ali@rockthatocf.com and we will hook up.
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March 18th, 2010 | by admin
My loss is your gain! lol Today, I accidentily sent out a contest that was supposed to be for my seniors on Facebook and I sent it to the Rock That OCF Group.
Well, I feel bad that I messed it up and I thought I’d make up for it b/c so many people got it!
The Contest is: A one time thing. Online Mentoring for One individual.
You can post on your blog, facebook, twitter etc.
Have your friends join the Facebook Fan Page. Rock That OCF Group Page
Then come back here and post that you tweeted or facebooked about it. Winner will be announced on Monday.
The winner will have a online mentoring time with me. I can go thru your portfolio, answer any ocf questions, look thru your ocf portfolio, if you have never even shot ocf, you will get my online book…. We can talk thru email or phone. Either way. If you have questions about anything business wise too I can talk with you. It will be lots of fun!
This is just a fun thing to do for someone. Have fun with the contest!
ali
SLC announcement VERY soon. Just working out details. I know for sure it will be June 17th and June 18th. More details to follow in the next post.
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March 13th, 2010 | by admin
This week, I was in Las Vegas for WPPI and I had a wonderful time. I got to meet so many people and I also got to meet friends that I had known for years online. It was so awesome to finally meet some online friends and connect and have fun. Some of the people, I had no idea that they were even there but got the chance to hang with them.
On Sunday, a few of us just had a very informal get together and we shot most of the day. The weather was really crummy though so thankfully my friend Jennie Slade had the hook up on this 5 million dollar home that we shot in for the better part of the day. We had some awesome models too!
Here are just a couple shots, I’ve had time to process so far. I will probably show more later.
Oh, and then the last night that we were there my friends Jaime, Ashley, Natalie and I went into the Venetian and when we were in the casino just messing around and being completely goofy this couple asked me if I would photograph them and I said sure! Jaime held up a flash and I just fired away.
This couple is from Canada and just got married and were on their honeymoon. It was so cute!
And my favorite of them!
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March 1st, 2010 | by admin
If your going to WPPI, my friend Dawn McCarthy is running a contest for a free headshot!
All you have to do is either tweet, blog or facebook about it and leave her a comment!
So if you want a new headshot hit her up on her blog and tell everybody about it!
Dawn’s Blog
An update about my aunt. She is doing a little better. They had to do a trechiotomy today and tomorrow they are going to ween her off sedation. The meningitis is gone but she is still not out of the woods yet. So please keep praying for her! thank you.
Hope all is well with everyone! If you are going to WPPI, I hope you have tons of fun and learn tons too! Safe travels too!
After I get back from Vegas, I will be making some announcements. So please keep checking back.
Ontario Workshop is totally sold out.
Michigan there are still a couple spots left.
Salt Lake City will start taking deposits once I get back from Vegas.
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February 22nd, 2010 | by admin
to WPPI? I booked my ticket the other night. If you are going let me know b/c I’d love to meet you. I’m leaving Saturday and shooting with some girlfriends on Sunday and then meeting with some other girls and staying with them from Sunday night thru Wednesday night. I would love to meet ya so if you see me or want to have lunch or something just email me!
There is some exciting news for Rock That OCF. Please stay tuned for an announcement very soon!
Thank you all for reading my blog and asking questions and being so awesome to me. You are all amazing!
If you guys remember me saying that when I was in New Orleans that my uncle passed away. Now, my aunt is in a hospital fighting for her life because she got pnemonia and meningitis. She’s on a ventilator right now. She’s been through so much the past year with her son almost dying in a car accident, then her husband passing away three months ago. So, if you are the praying person, please pray for my Aunt Betty to have a speedy recovery and that God would heal her completely from her head to her toes. Thank you.
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February 10th, 2010 | by admin
I am still on a high from this weekend. I had such a fun time with all of my new friends. Friday my plane was delayed at least an hour so I was late to my own workshop but these gals were so cool. Seriously, we had such a fun time even in the middle of winter. Friday night, we shot some cute kids and then went and did a boudiour session. That is so not my comfort zone but I totally went with it. We ended up staying up until about 3 that night just gabbing! Then Saturday we started bright and early at 8:30 and shot until around 10 pm. Then we went out to dinner again and stayed at the hotel restaurant until 2.30 in the morning. I haven’t laughed like that in years. I laughed so hard I was crying!
All of us bonded like we had known each other for years! We are even planning on doing a trip together sometime so we can all hang out again!
One of the girls Alli from Canada had a connecting flight thru MPLS with me and so we rode down to STL together and then I came home on Sunday but her flight was on Monday. Her flight in STL was delayed over 2 hours and she called me from the airport telling me that she would miss her connecting flight and be stuck in MPLS for 9 hours. I dropped everything for that day rescheduled my customers and it worked out fine anyway b/c the weather was awful. I brought my daughter to a friend’s house and then I drove up to the airport and picked Alli up and we went to the Mall of America for the day. It was so nice b/c I was so wanting to be back in STL because I had so much fun so this totally extended my weekend.
Anyway, here are a few pics from this weekend.
This is Maurice, he’s the chef at the hotel restaurant Eclipse and he came out and talked with us and totally gabbed it up with all of us ladies. We told him that if we saw him we’d take a couple photo of him so this is Maurice.
Seriously, if you ever go to St. Louis, stay at The Moonrise Hotel. Their service was absolutely outstanding! But, please go there with your special someone…..(if ya catch my drift!!)
The weekend was amazing. The ladies were amazing. I’ve not laughed like that in years. I had an amazing time. If you are even somewhat on the fence of coming to a workshop just ask Terri, Teri, Alli, Laurie, Erin or Kay how much fun they had and how much they learned! I love them all to pieces!
Thank you ladies for an AMAZING weekend! I love you all!
Just got this hilarious photo from our group shots!!! I can’t believe I’m posting it but I think it’s hilarious!!
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February 3rd, 2010 | by admin
This weekend I’m going to be in St. Louis and I am getting so excited! If anyone from that area would like to have dinner with us on Friday night email me so I can give you more info. I love love love meeting new people so anyone is welcome!
This weekend my husband and I were having quite the conversation. I swear every January we are so unhappy living in the cold North. I’ve lived in Minnesota my entire life and every winter about a month or so after Christmas is when I think everyone starts to get really antsy. (This is why we put up our Christmas tree right before Christmas and leave it up longer than most people b/c it seems to make the long winters go by faster for me. lol) And so we were talking over breakfast after church about where we could move. I would love to move somewhere that is warm and doesn’t snow. I’d also love to live where I could charge more for my portraits. (wouldn’t everyone!) Anyway, there are so many ‘ifs’ about moving. It’s just one of those things that you just talk about but never do.
I was just talking to my friend Dawn McCarthy today and was telling her about this same subject and she said it’s like cutting your hair. It’s like you always want to do it but you are too chicken. lol But it’s funny, I chopped my hair and gave myself a new cut today maybe because I know deep down I will most likely never move. And I needed something new!
Anyway, I am working on some ‘NEW’ things for Rock That OCF and I hope to be able to announce it very soon. I am finishing up all the details in the next week or so too. It’s taking me a lot longer to get my work done now with my husband out of town so much and I don’t have much help with our daughter.
I hope to announce this very soon!!!! I am so excited about what’s coming up!
ali
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