The Black Dog’s PhotoBlog

(Pictures in this post are provided by Photojojo. Photo credits: ’stpiduko’)

Thought it might be time I post a little update.

We’ve finally finished remodeling the studio and waiting area with the exception of a few finishing touches. It looks so nice and fresh with the new flooring and paint. It’s so nice to have the waiting area and shooting space all one big open room. When you’re doing a shoot, you never know when you’re going to want to spread out. It also lets the light from both rooms flow throughout the space.

I’ve also been busy updating the décor in the waiting area. Gone is the old country/outdoorsy décor and we’ve brought in a nice caramel color microfiber suede sofa and love seat. It’s a cleaner more stream lined look yet still very comfortable and casual.

Of course with the updates I had to find some new and innovative way to showcase some of my recent photographic work. But what’s “new and innovative” in displaying photography? There isn’t too many different ways to do this and they’ve all pretty much been around for eons now. To my thrill and surprise sitting in my email inbox was a newsletter from Photojojo with the lead story being Glass Jar Frames. GREAT idea! Here’s a link to the article and directions to make your own Photojojo’s Glass Jar Frames. Not only is this a fun idea it’s also eco-friendly.

I used some of the old bottles I have around and loved the results. Sorry that I haven’t had the time to take my own pictures to show you my Glass Bottle Frames. I’ll have to try and get a few up later this week. If not, I guess you’ll just have to stop by my studio for a look-see.

Now if I could just get my hubby back to work on those barn wood frames.

Another thing we can do to be help our environment. Shopping at thrift stores. Really, think about it buying previously owned items helps cut down on waste and the needless production of more items.

My mother and father are the original “green people” in my life. They were very environmentally friendly by today’s standards doing things like composting, conserving energy and mom always loved shopping at thrift stores. So when I accepted the current project I’m working on one of the categories they wanted pictures for was green shopping ideas. I had to think back to what my parents did and thrift store shopping came to mind.

Many thrift stores contain all sorts of merchandise. Many people associate thrift stores with used clothing but there are many other items from furniture, books, home decor, jewelry and kitchen items (and the list goes on….)

I have to send a BIG thank you out to Family Pathways in Wyoming, MN for welcoming us into their store and letting us photograph. And to my 2 shoppers Melanie & Elizabeth, first for suggesting this store and second for letting me annoy them while they shopped.