101 Goals in 1001 Days - UPDATE!

I remember when I started this list all those months ago!

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days. (Started Febuary 19, 2009)

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

MY START DATE: 2/20/2009

MY END DATE: 11/18/2011

1. Travel to a country outside of the United States.
2. Become comfortably fluent in Spanish.
3. Buy a pair of leather boots. (10/09)

4. Spend a full week with my dad and baby brother.
5. Get published photographically for my portrait work.

6. Attend WPPI in Las Vegas, NV.
7. Get a professional massage

8. Carry my camera everywhere with me for a month.

9. Decide on my college major. (12/09 - Visual Studies)
10. Visit Assateague Island and see the wild horses. (Planned May 2010)

11. Plan a vacation with my best friends in Ocean City. (Planned May 2010)
12. Grow my hair back down past my collarbone. (10/09)

13. Pack a picnic lunch to the beach/park.

14. Photograph a wedding out of state.
15. Shoot in RAW. (2/21)
16. Go on a cruise.
17. Get back into shape/lose 10 pounds.
18. Design my logo and branding. (04/09)
19. Take an actual art class. (09/09 - Digital Design)
20. Ride the metro alone! Ahh!

21. Buy a peacoat. (03/09)

22. Photograph a Senior Prom Party. (05/09)

23. Take my mom out to dinner.
24. Visit New York City again!
25. Keep my nails painted pink for a month.
26. Buy a Fisheye lens.
27. Get dressed up on Halloween. (10/31/09)
28. Get a custom blog!

29. Organize the monster that is my email inbox.

30. Attend a summer concert at Merriweather Post.

31. Design a wedding website. (Expected 01/2010)
32. Photograph a lacrosse tournament. (06/09)

33. Dip my toes in the Pacific Ocean.
34. Buy something from Etsy. (3/1/09)
35. Read a book for fun. (10/09 - Sookie Stackhouse Series)

36. Subscribe to a photography magazine. (08/09 - Photo Pro)

37. Get a new and improved cell phone. (06/09 - Blackberry Storm)

38. Go out to lunch with my friends from high school.

39. Invest in the stock market.

40. Join an interest group.
41. Give up soda for a month.
42. Convince my mom to let me take her pictures.
43. Compile a cookbook with our family recipes.

44. Call my grandparents everyday for a month.

45. Buy a Nikon D700! (11/09 - WOOH!)
46. Keep a 3.8 GPA or above. (Freshman Year 08-09 = 3.97)
47. Pull an all nighter.
48. Get a portrait session done with Huey.
49. Blog every day for 14 days straight. (0/14)
50. Buy an HD video camera. (07/09)
51. Itsy bitsy teeny weeny little polka dot bikini.
52. Go through my closet & donate old clothes.
53. Run 3 miles without getting tired.
54. Write a letter to my senator.
55. Teach someone something new!
55. Discover three ways to reduce my carbon footprint. (0/3)
56. Photograph alongside two of my photography heroes. (Throughout 09)
57. Photograph a wedding at St. Mary's Church in Annapolis, my parish.
58. Visit my old high school.
59. Take a yoga class.
60. Re-read the Twilight series, for the third time.
61. Buy a pair of flip flops other than Reefs.
62. Find a four leaf clover.
63. Treat my boyfriend to a nice restaurant. (10/09 - Fogo de Chao)
64. Get my first credit card and build good credit!
65. Go on a girls' weekend with my best friends.
66. Create my own scrapbook.
67. Purchase a new laptop. (07/09)
68. Add a third buddha statue to my desk collection.
69. Photograph a newborn.
70. Vacation somewhere tropical.
71. Hold my own fabulous contest.
72. Enter a print competition
73. Stay off Facebook for 48 hours.
74. Create a Photobook of all my macro photography. (12/09)
75. Have my work displayed somewhere. (05/09 - Present @ Liu Liu's Salon)
76. Buy a fun umbrella. (Bought 09/09 - Died 10/09)
77. Go to the gun range with my Dad.
78. Ride on a roller coaster.
79. Buy a new camera bag/case to compliment my Shootsac. (11/09)
80. Attend a bridal showcase.
81. Throw someone a surprise birthday party!
82. Wear my cowgirl boots in public. Without being pointed at.
83. Attend another Ravens game.
84. Plan a unique themed fashion shoot (50's, 80's, ect.)
85. Shop (and buy something) at Urban Outfitters. (09/09)
85. Shoot and edit a session in one day. (3/8/09)
86. Photograph a boudoir session.
87. See a Broadway Show.
88. Go from Sole Proprietorship to LLC. (2010)
89. Photograph a fellow photographer. (04/09)
90. Go a whole month without eating out.
91. Sleep in past 10 am.
92. Shop at a consignment store.
93. Write down all of my friends/family members' birthdays.
94. Drive a jet ski.
95. Go sailing in the Chesapeake Bay.
96. Surprise my mom with breakfast in bed.
97. Get my own apartment.
98. Write my grandparents a thank you letter, for everything they do.
99. Do some digging into my family history. Make a family tree.
100. Create a signature photography video.
101. Volunteer for a charity that gives back. (Littlest Heros & Think Pink!)

The Key:
BOLD: Completed.
ITALIC: in progress.

Yours Truly,

Natalie Franke

Update

This summer has brought me so many opportunities to meet and work with some incredible people! On Wednesday, I am moving up to Philadelphia for the fall semester! I believe that this is a good way to update everyone (especially my seniors) on when I'll be scheduling in the Maryland area. I will be keeping my blog updated as I continue to photograph my amazing couples at their weddings and a few families that have already agreed to make day trips to Philadelphia! Keep checking back for new photo sessions and weddings as autumn begins.

Session Availability:

1) The December Holiday - I already have four sessions scheduled and I have about three more openings left! Winter is a beautiful time of year for photography. Scarves, leggings, dresses and boots! :)

2) After May 12th 2010 - I will be heading home for the summer on May 12th and will begin photographing seniors immediately. Most schools don't hold graduation until the very end of May or early June and this allows us to shoot right through the month! I'll also be photographing pre-prom parties again, so email me if you would be interested!

Another exciting thing that happened last week, was making the front page of Flickr's Explore!

Thank you to Melissa & Bobby for listening to my crazy idea and going for it whole heartedly! :)

I am making progress with the six sessions I have to edit from the past week or two! If you are waiting for your gallery, thank you so much for your patience! I'm hoping to get everyone finished by the end of this week! :)

Roger that, We're going digital!

As announced a week or so ago - my pricing is changing slightly to make it easier for people to get everything they want in one simple session! Beginning today all portrait sessions include a disc with copies of the digital images. Before, this was an add on option & often caused confusion. Now - I'm stepping into the 21st century and giving digital images to every client that schedules with me.

Why give all clients digital images? Although the majority of photographers restrict access to the digital image files for portrait clients, I feel that as a society we are moving forward. Social networking, personal blogs, and the desire to have information at our finger tips calls for digital image access. It also gives my clients more flexibility by allowing them to print pictures with me or at any other photo lab of their choice. :) It's just simpler that way!

What goes into a session? Each session is so different and is catered directly to the client's needs. I dedicate on average about 10-15 hours of my time to each individual session. The break down of hours lies in: travel time to and from the session, the session itself, downloading the images to the computer, backing them up on two external hard drives, editing the images, uploading them to the online gallery, as well as burning, packaging, and mailing the customized discs. After all of that is said & done, I still need to blog, return emails, and go to college full time. Crazy, I know, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

*Note: As mentioned in an earlier blog post, Rising High School Seniors that schedule between now and August 26th have the option of booking with the summer sale offer. Click HERE for more info!

**Double Note: New prices & packages can be seen on the investment page of my website.

All the best,

Natalie Franke

New Website!

Last night, after helping to design a new website for a local lacrosse organization, my entire photography web page was accidentally deleted. After scrambling and freaking out for an hour - I realized that this would be the perfect opportunity to design a new website exactly the way I want it! =)

With that said, I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. The new website should be up and ready to view by Friday! Stay posted for updates and all of the information as it becomes available! =) I wish you all the best & happy fall!

Yours Truly,

Natalie Franke