Holiday Vacation Schedule

posted on: December 17, 2009

Is it just me, or did this year just fly by?!
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As of Saturday December 19th, 2009, Anne Ruthmann Photography will officially be on holiday vacation until January 2nd, 2010 in order to take time to visit and celebrate with family and friends.  While on vacation, email and phone calls will be returned as soon as possible (taking into consideration that more time will be spent socializing rather than working), but other services will be limited based on what can be accomplished when working remotely.

If you'd like to give professional prints as gifts to family and friends with arrival before December 25th, you will need to place your order by December 18th, 2009 through Pictage.com and select overnight shipping.  I would also recommend that you have your photo gifts sent directly to the recipient so that it arrives to its destination easily without additional handling or packaging on your part.  Prints ordered through Pictage.com are always ready for gifting because they are packaged and shipped in elegant black gift boxes.





Please travel safely this year while you visit your family and friends and remember to cherish every little moment you get with them, you never know when it will be the last chance to celebrate together.  Life is far too short to live with regret for what we did not do or say, but it's also full of opportunities to forgive and let people know how much we love them, no matter what.

Hugs & peanut butter kiss cookies! - Anne



(Flying Emma photo taken during our Free Holiday Photo Booth, featuring the daughter of MKDPhotography.com)

Fashion Show Fundraiser | The Revolving Museum | Lowell, MA

posted on: December 10, 2009

One of my favorite art organizations in Lowell is The Revolving Museum, which provides opportunities for local high school students to engage in art projects that further their creativity, confidence, and skills to work collaboratively and independently in a dynamic and diverse working environment.  They recently relocated to the Western Ave Studios (right above my studio) in order to preserve the funding for their programming and improve the creative working space for the students.  To celebrate their grand re-opening in the new space, the students put on a FABULOUS Fashion Show Fundraiser!  I was so glad that I was able to attend and help support the museum and its future at Western Ave!  Of course I had to take some photos while I was there- click play to watch the music video below (for total awesomeness, pump up the volume!!)



For a look behind the scenes at The Revolving Museum's new working space at Western Ave >>CLICK HERE<< !

TOP TEN FREE HOLIDAY PHOTO BOOTH IDEAS!

posted on: December 3, 2009


10. Act out lyrics from a holiday song


9. Rock out your ugly holiday sweaters


8. Demonstrate how you've been naughty or nice this year


7. Reenact a scene from your favorite holiday movie


6. Show off your favorite indoor or outdoor winter activities with personal props


5. Create a holiday comic with handmade word bubbles


4. Demonstrate one of your many hidden talents


3. Show off your fashion savvy winter style


2. Get photographed with the items you'll be re-gifting this year so they won't be re-gifted to you next year


1. Surprise your significant other with an on-camera engagement proposal


If you're in the Boston or Lowell area the next two weekends, please come by for my FREE HOLIDAY PHOTO BOOTH!!
Saturday & Sunday
December 5-6 & 12-13, 12pm - 5pm
122 Western Ave, Studio 302
Lowell, MA 01854


(Check out the holiday card my husband and I made two years ago: 2007 Holiday Card)


Special photo thanks to my Holiday Photo Booth Assistants for 2009: Emily Ku & Lauren Peate, and to my lovely friends Ali & Rachel Hadiashar who I will miss dearly.

Happy 1st Anniversary WeddingBee Pro!!

posted on: December 2, 2009



Over a year ago, I was contacted by the delightful Bee Kim, founder of WeddingBee- where many brides blog about their journey through wedding planning all in one place! I thought the blog was the best thing since happy meals, so when she asked me to become the first photographer blogger on a new blog dedicated to wedding professionals, I didn't hesitate to say yes. Since today is the official 1 year anniversary of the WeddingBeePro launch, I thought I'd share a little about my journey of being a featured blogger.

I knew WeddingBee was big, but I didn't realize what kind of spotlight I'd be under when I joined WeddingBeePro - to me it was just another opportunity to help brides on a larger scale- but I quickly found that it elevated me to a status I wasn't quite ready to handle, especially after having the busiest year of my business on top of moving to a new city. I felt really guilty when I had to take an extended break from blogging and social media, just months after the Pro blog launched, in order to catch up on all the private parts of my life that had slipped through my hands over the last couple of years while my business was taking off like crazy. I had been trying to do everything myself, which I now realize is impossible if you actually want to be successful. However, I'm so grateful that taking time off allowed room for so many other wonderful photographers to become featured bloggers. WeddingBeePro has become a collection of some of the most talented, thoughtful, humble, and loving wedding professionals in the industry and I'm so glad that I get to be included in that bunch of people.

I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of a community of people who love and share love on a regular basis. It's inspiring and joyful to see people pour their hearts into their work. I almost considered walking away from it all this year after the stress of the prior year, but after taking time to find greater balance in my life, I'm happy to say that this really is the best career I could ever have. I get to utilize so many of my talents in different ways and then share everything I love with people who love it as much as I do. Now, before you think it's an idyllic life, let me remind you that there is a balance to everything and there are plenty of painful, stressful, and boring parts of this job as well, but when all is said and done, they make the reward that much sweeter.

I sincerely want to thank Bee Kim for creating a wonderful and thriving community of bloggers. I know she works incredibly hard with very little reward or recognition because so often she's just behind the scenes pulling the strings and connecting the dots. I know that there are a lot of other bloggers and wedding industry professionals out there who have probably considered giving up at one point in time because they felt like no one cared. So if you love what someone shares with the world, please let this be the day that you take a moment to let them know how much you appreciate them. Bloggers are a special breed of people who give, often without receiving much of anything in return, but are inspired and motivated by your appreciation for what they take the time to share. :-)

December Desktop Image - Art is Everywhere

posted on: December 1, 2009



Sometimes I'm looking for cool textures or unexpected art and sometimes they just hit me so hard in the face that I can't ignore them. For these pieces, I was actually doing a study on the space outside Western Ave Studios and testing the limitations of of the 135mm f/2.0 lens, which I don't use too often but absolutely love. When I do a study, I basically take an extended look at something and explore it in as many ways as possible through whatever photographic means I have available. It's a great way to challenge your creativity and to remind yourself how to look for that which is often overlooked. I'm pretty sure both of these were on the side of some train cars temporarily parked on the tracks next to the studio. I love the combination of textures and colors. I haven't decided which one will be my desktop background yet, maybe I'll have one for my laptop and one for the studio. ;-) Click on either image to instantly download a high resolution copy for your desktop.

Mobile Monday - Week 9

posted on: November 30, 2009

Mobile Monday is a weekly collection of iphone photos and twitter captions from my daily adventures.

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I love someecards, they know just what to say to brighten my day. 11.23.09
Sorry you're faced with the unspeakable trauma of having to choose between a BlackBerry and an iPhone

What an incredible human story... 11.23.09


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Some things are just meant to be. 11.25.09 (click play to listen)


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If it's a friend you need... let it be me. ♫ 11.26.09 (click play to listen)


Thank you for lettin' me be myself... ♫ 11.27.09


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Cute ♫ 11.27.09


Take a walk on the wild side ♫ 11.27.09


Winter's cold is too much to handle ♫ 11.27.09


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Mobile Monday - Week 8

Mobile Monday is a weekly collection of iphone photos and twitter captions from my daily adventures.

Kicking things off with a little David Bowie "Panic in Detroit" 11.16.09 (click play to listen)


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Grooving with some MGMT "Electric Feel" 11.18.09 (fun trivia note - Maya & Clint used this as a modern dance art piece during dinner at their wedding reception. Yes, my clients rock.)


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I love this song. 11.20.09


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Love is not convenient. 11.20.09


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Interesting fact: that was the fifth wedding I photographed for free this year, and the third time I was the second shooter for another photographer in the Boston area.

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LOVE IT: Harvard Oktoberfest & Honk! Parade & Festival

posted on: November 27, 2009

On our way into Cambridge on a Sunday morning we were stopped dead in traffic for 30 minutes, so after about 8 minutes of sitting in the car and not going anywhere, I decided to hop out and see what was happening. To my delightful surprise, the intersection in front of us was overtaken by hoards of crazy costumes, invented instruments, and all around FUN!! Just one more reason why I adore living in Massachusetts- people fearlessly & publicly celebrating the geeky and weird. ;-) After getting home, I found out that it was actually the Harvard Oktoberfest & Honk! Parade & Festival which is meant to “Reclaim the Streets for Horns, Bikes and Feet!” how awesome is that?! Take a peek at some of the fun that went down while many angered and confused drivers sat in their cars (press play to start the slideshow):

Jack Kerouac Memorial Walk | Lowell, MA

I heard about this little adventure through Lowell at the last minute and since the starting point was literally next door to me, I decided to check it out and hear a little more about one of Lowell's legends- Jack Kerouac, author and beat poet. The night started with a stop at the home he spent quite a bit of time in while living in Lowell, followed by a walk over the bridge mentioned in Jack's memoirs, with a few stops at his hometown church and favorite hangout - the public library. The evening ended with a set of readings of Jack's work and original work inspired by Jack Kerouac. It was a fantastic evening for a walk and for being immersed in the words of a man who lived fully in each and every day. Here's what the adventure felt like to me (click play to start the show):

Weekend Photo Assistants Needed!

posted on: November 22, 2009

Want experience working in a studio environment with a series of fast paced mini-portraits? (Need some holiday cash?) I need two assistants who can commit to the following dates: Sunday 11/29, Saturday 12/5, Sunday 12/6, Saturday 12/12, Sunday 12/13. The pay is $250 for about 25 hours of work over the course of 5 days and you'll need to sign an independent contractor agreement. All of the work will be done out of my studio at 122 Western Ave. Lowell, MA.

Great assistants will be reliable, honest, creative, flexible, able to multitask well, maintain a positive attitude and cool head in a fast-paced and unpredictable environment, explain online viewing and purchasing options to visitors, and have GREAT attention to detail. Assistants do NOT need to be a photographer, but if you understand studio lighting equipment, I might just marry you (of course my husband might not like that idea, but he hasn't offered to learn studio lighting either... ha!) A good understanding of how to load, print, and backup photos with a Mac is preferred. If you're totally awesome and I fall in love with you, there may be more weekend work in the future. ;) Please email info(at) anneruthmann.com with your full name, phone number, location, and top 10 reasons why I'll love working with you. :-)

stalked by the paparazzi
(Photo of Tim Co. and I from 2007 WPPI BluDomain Party Booth.)

POLL: The Knot vs. Brides

posted on: November 20, 2009

Quick question:  Would you rather be featured in Bride's Magazine or The Knot Magazine?  Which accompanying website?  Please respond in the poll, or if you can't see it (iphone users) respond in the comments and let us know if you're a photographer or a bride (or another wedding vendor!)  I'd love to hear your reasons too!



Real Weddings Sneak Peek

posted on: November 18, 2009

Here's an itty bitty, teeny weeny, isn't fair, hardly any, sneak peek of only a few of the fabulous weddings I've had this year!  I have so many gorgeous weddings to blog - I love my clients!!

Maya & Clint's Real Wedding - Brown & Green

exotic wedding bouquet


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