LOVE IT: Animoto

I just got an email from photojojo.com about using animoto.com to create super cool videos! Check out this one I made with Marlena & Nathaniel's Engagement photos and then go try it for yourself!!



This wouldn't be very practical for my wedding slideshows because I include so many images, but it's perfect for just a few images like this!

The Lovecat List

There are some really great people out there linking to my blog, so I wanted to show them a little blog love by giving a shout-out to them on my blog!! I'll check my little "blogs that link here" blogroll from time to time and add more lovecats to this post as they show up. There are some really interesting people below... check them out! ;-)

Here's my official Lovecat List! What a bunch of awesome people!
Gary Fong
David Jay
LaCour
Emilie Inc.
Captivating Studios
Garrett Nudd Photography
Miss_O_Hara
Meganderings
Danafesto
Jasmine Star
Stephanie Edens
Colleen Donavan
Alison Bynum
Leepak Hope-ra
Pretty/Modest
Davis Family
Aufbau Ost
Seshu
Chantel's MySpace
Dee Jay
Movie Viz
Wilton Diaries
Foundation Workshop
Wedding Podcast Network
Stampead
The Green Children
The People
Wedding Junkie
Picture Infinity Studios
Jillian Kay
KMB Foto
Julie Walton Shaver
Jennifer Images
Lifespring Photography
bobbi+mike
Photo Forward
Lucky Red Hen
Frank Dimeo
Schaefer Photography
CU Photography
Blue Mountain Photo
Candy's Photography
April Rocha
Stevie's Cam
Polis Photography
Kari Douma
Kendall Price
Nataly Lemus
Jennifer Grigg
Adam Squier
Janelle Lynn
Gerald Pope
Kairos Moment Wedding Films
Ma5en
Stephanie Edens
Shades of Tangerine
Taylor Grey
Croft & Campbell
Jen Lee
Mellimage
V Lynne
Lilia
Moot Toast
Dreams, Jems, & Family
Christine Farah
The Gloriously Mundane
Alissa Hall
Nicholaus Haskins
Offbeat Bride
Classic Bride
Chelsea Hudson
Brandy J Adams
K H Mason
Wedding Bee
Pondered in My Heart
Shelby Leigh
Made By Madeline
Melissa Earle
I Wish
Northern Light Filmworks
An Excited Bride
Ready 2 Spark
Snippet & Ink
Outstanding Occasions
Molly Bennett
Nicole Green
Don't Box Us In!
J Sandifer

LOVE IT: Wayfaring

I have to give my hubby props for finding this uber cool tool and emailing it to me! Wayfaring.com is a free online program that utilizes the power of Google maps to allow you to create your own multi-point map online! This solves one of the biggest issues I've had with a lot of the online map makers for a long time: that I wasn't able to easily create mutli-destination maps and have them all saved onto one map. WeddingMapper.com was one of the first tools that I had seen accomplish this effectively, but it was targeted specfically to weddings with icons like a cake, church, etc. Wayfaring.com is a multi-point map for any purpose!!



The coolest thing about Wayfaring.com is that you are able to SAVE your maps, SHARE your maps, EXPLORE other people's maps, and ADD to maps other than your own!! For example, check out this Indy Indie Map created by user afischer. I love the Indie scene for everything from fashion & crafts to film & music, and I have to admit that I've been hard pressed to even find the Indie scene in Indianapolis!! Now I have this uber cool tool to help me find those places that are off the beaten path - and if I find any cool places, I can add them too!

You could use this to organize a scavenger hunt, share your favorite restaurants around town, plan a road trip, or share your favorite picture taking spots!! The possibilities are endless! What are you waiting for? Go check it out! And if you're ever find yourself in Terre Haute, IN, check out my "Best of Terre Haute for College Students" Wayfaring Map!

Google Battle!!!

Eric Hegwer showed me this awesome SEO popularity tool and I'm having WAAAAYYYYYYY too much fun with it!!! Visit www.googlebattle.com to check your Google popularity!!



Of course, these results mean nothing if you don't understand where they come from and what exactly they represent. Google Battle is just measuring the number of search results that come up with the specified key word. So.... to be fair, I would lose to everyone above if we separated our names because I'm one of the only "Ruthmann" names on the web.. but there are many more Jessicas and Kevins and Davids and Bobbis... and by simply writing all of their names here, I just increased each of their search results, so... this is just a fun tool to play with, but shouldn't be used as a serious measure of an individual person's popularity.

It can however, be a fun way to solve small matters and make everyday decisions like whether to stay in or go out, eat Italian or Mexican, go to the game or head to a concert, and of course... to determine who's right. ;)



If you understand SEO, this can be a great tool to help you define those keywords which will attract the most relevant search results to your website!

New Site is LIVE!!!

Check out my superfragalistic new site! The new site has already received some uber-rave reviews from clients, friends, and other photographers - but I'd still love to hear what YOU think!!! I'm extremely excited and can't wait to tell everyone I know!!!! I love how the chartreuse color catches you off guard and makes you think "wow, that's different!", and I looooove the BIG pictures- so you can really see some of the amazing details. I'm also experimenting with some different viewing options in the galleries, so I may change things up from time to time. ;-)



I also have to give a big shout-out to Stacy & Mary, who gave me the awesome new portrait for my site, along with many other fun pics!! I just love their portrait photography, and right now you can get your mug shot by them for FREE (in exchange for a model release and the right to sell your photos). They are even giving away 8x10 prints just for coming in!! Seriously, that's an amazing deal, and you'll end up with some amazing photos. If you live anywhere near Indianapolis.. contact them NOW! These women are all about fun, funky, and unique portraits! ;-)

Getting a new website feels a little something like this....

New Look!!

I'm pretty sure I have a lot of readers who just visit my blog and not my website anymore... and who could blame you? I cringed every time I looked at it, and I've wanted to change it FOREVER!!! Websites are supposed to be the first impression for potential clients and I can only imagine what people thought when they first saw it - I was actually embarrassed when other photographers would refer clients to my website to see my work! I know what I think of crappy websites when I first see them, and often times it's really hard to see how amazing pictures are when there's an ugly design getting in the way! With the same token, a really great web design can give off an amazing first impression and make an average photographer, look pretty spectacular.

First I was waiting on a friend who was going to help me out with a new site design in exchange for sharing my mad photography skillz, but he has since disappeared into the Bermuda Triangle. After waiting so long with an anti-climactic outcome, I went to purchase a new website from a flash designer, but after several calls and emails, I was never called back. So, here I am fed up with my "ghetto website" (as my brother-in-law called it) and too impatient to wait for another designer, so I decided to attempt my own design. What you see above, and now on www.anneruthmann.com is what I was able to whip together with zero dollars and not much time to spare. Yay for iWeb and .Mac! Finally I don't feel incredibly ashamed to send people to my website!! I still have plans for a bigger and better site, but I may keep this little baby as an html backup site. In any case, please leave a comment and let me know what you think!! Is it fugly? Is it cool? Does function and look good in your browser?! Oh yeah... and while you're at it... what do you think of the new branding?