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Alyse French Photography bio picture

Welcome to my new blog!

Hello lovely readers! Chances are that if you've made it here, you've followed me from my old blog. (THANK YOU!!) I've transferred all of my old posts, however, so you can still catch them here!

I'm just a young and in love wife-to-be, sister, daughter, and friend - who happens to be a photographer. My passion hinges on warm, soft light, shallow depth of field, and freezing beautifully fleeting moments in time with my camera. Not to mention, Jesus, being organized, sushi with extra-extra ginger, making music with my guitar, anything and everything vintage, and Dylan-smell.

So make yourself at home, take a look around, leave a comment or two 'cause comments make me happy, and subscribe via the link above, or via Google Reader to keep up with the latest!

Tidbit Tuesday #17

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 Posted in Personal

As I sit here listening to Hillsong on iTunes, I can’t help but think, “I need some new music.” That wasn’t a hit on Hillsong. Don’t know what I’d do without ‘em! But seriously? The other night, I went to bed listening to Hillsong, and woke up listening to Hillsong, meaning, I have over EIGHT hours of continuous Hillsong. Comment now with some new and more varietous music. (Woah, varietous is a new word for me!)

So you know how TLC has just about every show on the planet about being sick without knowing it, or getting a coat hanger stuck in your esophagus, or accidently swallowing hearing aid batteries because you thought they were candy? (I’m not kidding..) Well, it got me to thinking.. About the time when I was 6. I had this headband with these pretty little jems on it. But one day, one of the gems (I believe it was purple!) happened to find its way up my nose. Way, waaay up my nose. When I came crying to my dad, he was not happy with me. He tried in vain for quite some time to get me to blow my nose, but what 6 year-old actually knows how to do that?? Alas, we never got it out. :( J/K. We did. :)

Yeah, that was gross. Hopefully you still like me and my blog and my stories. ;)

You won’t believe this! But it’s finally looking a little like springtime in Syracuse, NY!! Yesterday, I could actually feel the sun’s warmth beating down on my head as I walked to class. The skies were a bright blue and the birds were singing. No really, they were! And they woke me up that way. :) Barely anything makes me quite as happy as winter turning to spring!

Well, what do you know? Snow’s on the forecast for next week..

But it won’t matter! I’ll be home in Sharon for a whole week for my last spring break EVER. Brings me back to last year this time. A year ago today, I had mono but didn’t know it yet. All I knew was that my glands had swollen far below my jawline, my tonsils were literally the size of golf balls, and my throat had never hurt worse in. my. life. Then proceeded the absolute worst spring break in the history of the world. I remember lying on the couch for a week straight, thinking I could die at any second. (Drama, much?) For serious! This was the same week that SU beat UCONN in six overtimes at Madison Square Garden, and Dylan was at the game. I remember sobbing in despair when we had finally won, because it meant Dylan would not in fact be coming to my rescue, but instead going to the next game. (We actually didn’t find out I had mono until about a week later, so don’t hate on him too much.) :)

And just a quick reminder! This upcoming Saturday night/Sunday morning will require us all to lose an hour of sleep. But it’s totally worth the extra couple hours of yummy light each day! I’m telling you, I could never survive Alaskan winters. I love me some sun!!

Quick update on my 101 in 1001 list: I wore a dress on Sunday, ergo, #18 is well under way! But I must confess.. Dylan and I went to a flea market on Sunday (#71) and I came home empty-handed. :( If anything, I took home the ghastly smell of homemade cheese and musky antiques.

I leave you with an image that just makes me happy. :) Hope it works for you too!

Happy Tuesday!!

by Alyse

6 comments

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March 9, 2010 - 7:23 PM Alyse - @Nancy - I'm so glad you enjoy my blog!! And your awesome comments make it so much more fun! :)

March 9, 2010 - 6:13 PM Nancy - You have no idea how much I enjoy your blog! Tuesdays have a whole new something to look forward to (other than it just not being Monday anymore!)

March 9, 2010 - 4:11 PM Jessica Z - As tramatic as that jewel experience must have been, I almost choked on my water reading about it because you know that happens to ALL little kids! I chocked on an M&M once, thought I was literally going to die because it was lodged in my throat and didn't realize until after all of that, that it could easily melt. Anywho- I DIDN'T REALIZE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME IS THIS WEEKEND!!! That literally just made my day! Yay for Tidbit Tuesdays!! :-D

March 9, 2010 - 10:43 AM Mom - and obviously sticking things up your nose............

March 9, 2010 - 10:42 AM Mom - Beautiful photo! I hope you've stopped chewing on jewelry and hair accessories, though <3

March 9, 2010 - 10:29 AM Stephanie Pillsbury - Alyse- I totally watch those shows on TLC!!! Some are more disturbing than others! I have to agree with you about winter turning into spring and the extra hours of sunlight that come with daylight savings time!

My 101 in 1001

Saturday, March 6, 2010 Posted in Personal, Photography

Hello dearest Internet!

I have finally assembled my “101 in 1001″ – a list of 101 goals to be accomplished in 1001 days, because yearly resolutions are just too darn intimidating! Now, I’m not gonna lie.. It was definitely a struggle to come up with such a long list, (and I have taken a bit of inspiration from some other lists I’ve read) but I am completely stoked about every single item! Take note, I realize a lot of these goals seem way, way beyond my reach, but that’s why they’re called goals, right?

I’m planning on blogging about each goal once it’s been achieved, and will be modifying this post occasionally to show the dates of completion. The end date is December 1, 2012. Good timing too, as the world is gonna end just 11 days later. ;P

So, take a look! And let me know if you’re interested in helping me fulfill any of these goals! Then, make a list of your own, and let me know how I can help you with yours!! SOO fun! :)

1) Pay off my school loans

2) Paint my nails red at least once a month

3) Hold a Martha Stewart-like dinner party for a small group of close friends

4) Keep fresh flowers in my home as often as possible

5) Finish a whole coloring book

6) Blog at least three days a week

7) Institute monthly FAQ video blog posts

8) Revamp website(s)

9) Design and order our wedding album

10) Give wedding albums to both sets of parents

11) Get a bulldog and name him Sullivan

12) Do one thing every day to improve my business

13) Shoot a wedding in a country I’ve never been to before

14) Shoot a wedding in a state I’ve never been to before

15) Visit Ireland with Dylan (aka, the Morrissey homeland)

16) Vacation in California

17) Convince Dylan to move to California

18) Wear skirts/dresses daily when weather permits/if I feel like it

19) Try out a yoga class

20) Furnish our home with Anthropologie-like thriftyness

21) Sell something on Etsy

22) Do something nice for someone anonymously

23) Randomly send someone some small item they mention wanting

24) Send thank you notes for small, unexpected reasons

25) Give away one free wedding package on the bloggity (through a specific selection process)

26) Invent some awesome photo-business-related thing

27) Be interviewed as an “expert” for an article

28) Second shoot for a photographer that I admire

29) Photograph somebody I admire

30) Conceptualize a shoot, have it styled by local vendors, and shoot it

31) Try a new hairstyle

32) Join a book club

33) Read through the whole Bible

34) Watch a sunrise completely uninterrupted

35) Watch a sunset completely uninterrupted

36) Write, compose, and record a song for Dylan

37) Drink 8 full glasses of water a day

38) Go on a hike

39) Start and maintain a dream journal

40) Develop killer product packaging

41) Develop “after booking” gifts

42) Develop referral gifts

43) Develop an efficient system for submitting to wedding publications

44) Purchase filing cabinets & get organized!

45) Literally count my blessings

46) Book 25-30 weddings a year

47) Institute a regular date night

48) Throw a fabulous birthday party for a friend

49) Learn to whistle with my fingers in my mouth

50) Learn to snap for real for the first time in my life

51) Do something sweet for my boy every day

52) Get published on a wedding blog

53) Get published in a wedding magazine

54) Purchase canvas gallery wraps for our studio space

55) Purchase sample wedding/engagement albums

56) Increase Twitter followers to 500

57) Increase Google Reader subscribers to 500

58) At least double Facebook page fans

59) Purchase 27” iMac for in-office workflow

60) Take advantage of Showit + sites for clients

61) Attend WPPI 2011

62) Network, network, network

63) Start my own workshops

64) Mentor a new photographer

65) Discover a new musical artist for myself every month

66) Take a multi-vitamin every day!

67) Try one new restaurant a month

68) Get married! (Duh! This should have been number 1!)

69) Make some awesome article of clothing/jewelry that I wear all the time

70) Become a better guitar player (haven’t touched it in a while)

71) Buy at least one thing from every flea market I go to

72) Take a class with Dylan in something fun

73) Make a legit cake with fondant and purty decorations just like the Cake Boss

74) Have lunch with someone business related whom I don’t know very well once a month

75) Make daily lists to keep my schedule more organized and productive

76) Take at least one image I am happy with each day

77) Enter at least one photo competition

78) Get some new headshots

79) Write down all my business ideas and put together a legit plan to implement them

80) Update website after every 3 weddings shot

81) Incorporate some form of wedding videography into my photo packages (either outsourced or done myself)

82) Institute an internship program

83) Win a WPJA award

84) Create a consistent email newsletter

85) Go to 3 major workshops

86) Speak at a photo convention

87) Read one book per month to benefit my business

88) Take my sisters-in-law on a fun trip, just the three of us

89) Have people over to our home regularly (practice hospitality)

90) Keep Sundays as a day of rest

91) Get to bed by 11pm on weekdays (gotta be an adult now, guys..)

92) Take a martial arts or self-defense course

93) Become CPR certified

94) Buy something over 100 years old

95) Finish a 365-day photo project

96) Start pre-designing wedding albums

97) Write down the systems of my business – create a manual of what I do

98) Hire Promise Tangeman to re-brand my business

99) Trick out my emails – customize and personalize with my brand

100) Implement surveys to gather client feedback

101) Buy more shoes

by Alyse

5 comments

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March 8, 2010 - 12:34 PM Annie Byrne - Love the list! Very inspiring and could be daunting to get done in a year so great idea! I'm a wedding planner and based in Ireland so if you need help getting here let me know! good luck!

March 7, 2010 - 8:11 AM Nancy - I love your idea and plan to "borrow" it. What a motivational tool. I do have to comment that your #101 will be my #1!!!! hee hee I'll keep thinking about how I can help you achieve your goals and I'll share mine when the list is done....which totally may take a while!!

March 6, 2010 - 8:20 PM Mom - Very fun to read! My favorites are: 15. 51. 88, and 92

March 6, 2010 - 7:31 PM stephanie - i love all of them, but i really love numbers 64, 95, and 98. and i love YOU!

March 9, 2010 - 9:02 AM Tidbit Tuesday #17 | Alyse French Photography - [...] update on my 101 in 1001 list: I wore a dress on Sunday, ergo, #18 is well under way! But I must confess.. Dylan and I went [...]

Tidbit Tuesday #16

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 Posted in Personal

I was THIS close to skipping Tidbit Tuesday this week, but then my mom said that would make her sad. Alrighty then. This one’s for you Momma. :)

Dylan is gone this week. Off to Houston for some training. Does this mean he will in fact be staffed in Houston, meaning we will move there? Who knows! But I’m so ready to find out. Houston is looking pretty sweet right now in the middle of Syracuse winter.

So I decided to work on a 101 in 1001 list. AKA, 101 goals in 1001 days.. list. I only have about 20 goals written so far, but I’m hoping to release it to the blogosphere sometime this week!! :) I encourage you to make your own. Lists are soo much fun! (Woah, nerd alert?)

I am so ready to get married and move into this next chapter of life. No, really, I don’t think you get it. I. am. SO. ready!! I keep imagining how different life will be in 3 months. Drastically different. But in such an amazing way. I will get to wake up to my two favorite boys in the world, Dylan (of course), and Sullivan the bulldog. AND I’ll get to pursue my passion full-time!! I would scream from excitement, but I’m at work, and I’m not that crazy anyway.. ;)

I have a few really fun shoots coming up in a couple weeks! Hopefully, I can redeem myself for barely posting stuff recently. Think babies, seniors, and love, love, loveee all around.

HEY now! It’s March! When did this happen? It feels like February 30th to me. ;)

‘CUSE IS NUMBER ONE!!! The Syracuse Orange totally whooped Villanova this past Saturday. It was SUCH a great game. Syracuse once again blew everyone’s socks off with an on-campus attendance record for college basketball, as 34,616 fans packed the Dome. 95-77 ‘Cuse, babyyy!! We were ranked #1 by both AP and ESPN polls this week. Holla!!

Speaking of awesomeness, when my family gets a new puppy, they are naming him Boeheim. :)

I am addicted to Púrell Instant Hand Sanitizer. And terrified of the flu. It’s worked amazingly thus far. And is much better than shots! :/

For my social psych class, I’m supposed to violate a social norm and write about it. Any ideas? This could get interesting..

So I have this issue. A problem I can never seem to overcome. Without fail, whenever I know I should be studying or writing or reading for school, I end up curling my hair for no reason whatsoever, other than to have pretty hair for a few hours. When I’m alone. In my apartment. Completely. By myself. Yeah..

Look for some pretty sweet changes to the blog pretty soon. Just sayin‘..

Old school song of the week: You Consume Me by DC Talk. Such a powerful video. And if you still remember every word, that means you’re just as cool as me! (Cool is the right word, right?)

Funny article of the week: http://bit.ly/bAB6NJ. PETA, don’t hate.

And because every blog post is better with pictures, here is something to warm your little heart on this cold, cold morning. And seriously, doesn’t Dylan have nice hands?? :)

Happy Tuesday!

by Alyse

5 comments

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March 3, 2010 - 11:37 AM jessica guzman - so, something against the social norm huh...how about keeping a really noticeable wedgy for a long nice walk? that would get a reaction...or say hello to everyone you walk by...people only really tend to talk to people they know. and it's not socially normal to have purple or green eye brows...that might be fun...anyhoohoo, Dylan does have nice hands;)

March 2, 2010 - 3:59 PM Nicole - I'm glad you decide to post. Really enjoy what you have to say. I am doing my 101 list also and I am surprised at how hard it is to think up items.

March 2, 2010 - 1:46 PM Jessica Z - What would my life be without Purell and lists? Pretty empty. Is that sad? No longer do I think so! :)

March 2, 2010 - 9:18 AM Emily - I also would have been sad if you skipped Tidbit Tuesday! On Sunday night I had a list of things I needed to get done, but decided to alphabetize my books instead. I think I have a similar issue! Love you!!

March 2, 2010 - 9:13 AM Mom - Thank you for doing this tidbit just because I would be sad:( yeah right! you're seriously making me want to get a bulldog?!