My Brazil Pix on the New OakStar Ads!

I was contacted recently by the president of a local ad agency in reference to purchasing some of my 2009 Brazil photos for a new OakStar Bank ad campaign. The theme of the campaign is "personal passions."

Remember Charles? Charles Hachtel is the Vice President of Commercial Lending at OakStar, and his personal passion is the mission work that he has been part of the past several years in Brazil through our church and a great organization called Christian Missions Unlimited. I have been to Brazil with Charles and this group four times in the past five years and can attest to the life-changing impact it has on the person who is there to work and lay bricks, as well as those who are on the receiving end.

Charles passed on to the ad agency that I was quite a shutterbug and may have some photos available of him that would work for the campaign, and they took the bait! Here are a few of the photos that were used... Five were used altogether.

And here is the final ad, "What Sweat Taught me About Banking." You'll be seeing this ad rotated in the Springfield Business Journal for the next few years!

Be sure to contact Charles at 417-447-9559 if you have any questions about OakStar!

Wall Decor

Here are some of my new favorite pieces from CAS's new product line. The photo shoot we had in Florida at the manufacturing plant went well. After lugging around about 400 pieces of wall art and mirrors and velcro-ing them onto a wall of carpet, I have a whole new appreciation for wall decor!

Florida Adventure

If I'm being honest, I'm not quite ready for my 5:55 am flight tomorrow morning for Florida... I still have a lot of last-minute things to get together before I head out for my mini-vacation/commercial photo shoot. It's been a pretty interesting week and I've learned a lot about having flexibility with the unexpected.

Plans were changed for the upcoming Florida shoot... Lisa, Becca, and I are going to use Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as our free days, which will involve a visit to Universal Studios, the beach, and some fabulous outlet shopping.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will be our work days shooting CAS's new product line. Ordering rental studio lighting has been quite the experience...

Here are some things I've learned this week:

* Procrastination is my enemy.

* Go with your gut when you think that people are being rude to you. They are. And they don't deserve your business.

* It's good to know people who know things.

* Stay calm when things don't go as planned. Something will come along that works just as well.

* With a little prayer and wisdom, it will all come together in the end. :)

Random thoughts:

* I hate to pack. I hate it with a passion. I will procrastinate, and I will ultimately forget something.

* I love my house. Especially my sweet new decorative shelf for my office. I'll post pix soon.

* I need a vacation.

* Roller coasters are calling out my name. I am so ready.

* I'm excited to fly again. Weird, I know. The window seat is my favorite.

* Made my last payment on my living room furniture. It's officially mine. woot.

* Thank God for good friends!

Have a wonderful Easter weekend! And remember what it's all about...

Upcoming Adventure

So I have exciting news... I have a commercial project coming up that I am really excited about. I was approached by my friends Lisa and Becca at CAS Wall Decor to shoot their new product line for the season at their manufacturing plant in Orlando, Florida in April. 

CAS stands for Creativity Assortment Style. They offer a huge selection of framed imagery, a mirror collection, and other decorative items. I'll be getting to shoot their product line for their catalog and website. I'll spend a few days in Florida working, and possibly making a day of it at Walt Disney World with Becca. I've never been before, and it's on my life list, (and I helped send a few hundred Wish Kids there during my days working at Make-A-Wish) so I hope I get to cross it off my list of things to do... Wish me luck!

Commercial Project

I was contacted by Michael Perry of New Seasons Landscaping to photograph a recently completed project that included a bridge, a built-up patio, and an amazing enclosure, complete with a super-cozy fireplace and an amazing ceiling. It sure made me envious! It was snowing the day of the shoot, which made things interesting. I'm sure it was pretty entertaining to watch two grown men follow me around with umbrellas to block the snow. :) Anyway, here are some pretty pictures for you to look at.