winter time business or is it busy-ness?

I've been incredibly busy since the onset of December. Since Iv'e been finishing up the fall semester at Ivy Tech Community college in Indianapolis, There are of course those dreaded finals. Part of that responsibility was an online portfolio site for myself. Ohhh. Really? Do work for myself? Wow. That threw me. I always have at least a glimmer of an idea when working up something for a client. In fact, I usually have an overflow of ideas, but when thinking of something for myself I was at somewhat of a loss. What do I like? How should I portray myself? OMFG! I've got to edit 20years work of design work and decide what the heck to post! After taking a good hard look at what I've had stored, I found a few more recent pieces to showcase, but by NO means all of my compiled work. This will be an ongoing effort.

You can see the results of this week of cramming for a final project here. I've also created a website for my friend, Lee Ann Hutson, and her business Always Laugh Creations.

She and her husband, Daryl, are entrepreneurs who also happen to drive my children to school. She's an amazing basket maker and creates some of the most delicious smelling soy candles I've ever had the pleasure of being around. My favorite is Hillbilly homebrew!

I serve on a local non-profit board for the Montgomery County Leadership Academy. Part of that responsibility has been to update the current website for this tiny non-profit. This has given me the opportunity to use my newly honed dreamweaver skills on their website too. All this on top of getting ready for the holiday season has been keeping me extremely busy. Now... back to knitting.

Travel time

My husband is preparing for another travel adventure, this time to Olive Branch, Mississippi. He won't be too far from Memphis, TN and our friends John and Maria Flora, whom are just across the Arkansas border near Memphis. He's already spied out a Cigar bar In Memphis to visit. This is a new fascination for him and I'm sure he'll report back if it's any good.

Exposure 2011 | Lauri Shillings

Hey, do me a solid and check out my photography submission for Artists Wanted photography competition. Click the "LIKE" or "VOTE" button to give me a shot at winning "major awards!"
It wont hurt, I promise.
Exposure 2011 | Lauri Shillings

Client Love!

I've recently finished a website redesign for a client in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Myshka Chiropractic came to me by word of mouth recommendation. Her previous website was not very user friendly, was bogged down with repetitive information and endless links to the many pages that could be condensed into a smaller framework. The graphics were outdated and huge. My revamped site can be seen here. The client, Susan Myshka, Was overjoyed with the results and quote, "I've been waiting for someone like you to come along and make it all better!" Thanks Susan. I'm happy to help.

If I can help you with any of your website needs, just drop me a line here, or visit my business site at Piratesmilemedia.com

Hanging at McDs, soaking up the wifi.

better product photography

I've been working at increasing my photography skills. I think I've got a pretty good eye for photography, but I'm always looking for ways to increase the 'technical' side of the business. You know, like, studio lighting, light boxes, camera settings and the like. I've even gone so far as to take a photography class in indianapolis. I already knew most of what they had taught, but you pick up a few tidbits. so anyway, I made my own small lightbox out of remnant materials laying around the house, (my finished product looks SORTA like this but nearly as cool) a wooden frame, white freezer paper for a background. The only purchase was an under the counter type of fluorescent light fixture that I mounted to the wooden frame. Plug the whole mess in and TaDa- you've got a countertop light box. I'm not saying it's the best thing. But it seems to work. I think I'm really going to have to add 2 side lights for it to be the 'greatest'. But for now, the overhead bar of light works. anyway, My ETSY account always has nifty blurbs about product photography. Here's the latest helpful how to video they've posted.

Great Product Photos from Etsy Inc. on Vimeo.

If Product photography is too tame, You can start to think like a sports photographer. I know from experience there is nothing worse on the front page of your newspaper than a TER-RI-BLE wet, dark, red eyed water monster known as a young swimming athlete that appears to be mucking around in a swamp.. but it happens. My friend, Ed Henninger offers a link for better sports photography tips here.

Good morning world!