300 Cans for Comments - WOW!

I tallied up the comments on all of my blogs this week, which include this blog, the Weddingbee PRO Blog and the Photo Lovecat Blog and came up with a final count of 294 comments - WOW!! That's a whole lotta love and a whole lotta cans!! For convenience, I'll be translating that into $300 to go grocery shopping with, and here are some of the items I'll be buying based on suggestions from the comments...

• Amanda, C.J. Scott, Amber Hughes, Jaclyn Marie, Adrienne, & Tanya all love Annie's Natural Mac & Chese or Shells & Cheddar as much as I do!

• Sticky gave me a huge grocery list which I'm happy to accomodate: enchilada sauce, black beans, tuna, mac and cheese, whole wheat pasta, whole peeled tomatoes, artichoke hearts, green beans, kidney beans, crushed tomatoes, saltines, mushrooms
• Spam for Ed Pingol (omg, have you seen the spam website lately??)

• Ohana asked me to show my "CANS"- which I'll do later... jeez, I'm not THAT kind of girl!
• Chicken Noodle Soup for Ultimate Image
• Alphagettis or beans for Tracey Waye Kelly
• Peanut butter and honey for Mary Beth
• Kraft Macaroni & Cheese for SoireeLaura, J Castro, thethirddegree, and Nicole Hensley
• Canned pineapples for Vanita
• Spagettios for Adam Tyler
• Tomato Soup for Lisette Price
• Peanut Butter for Tracy Robinson and ShainaPearcePhotography

• Whole Wheat Pasta for Sarah Brittain
• Ramen Noodles for Kay Beaton
• Tuna for Lori
• Canned Peaches for Daria
• Nutella and Marshmallow Fluff for Kat Morse

• Mushrooms & Green Beans for Mellimage
• Canned Corn for Kate@MKDPhotography and Miguel Pola
• Pork & Beans for Josh Solar
• Canned peas and Chick Peas for Amanda
• Vegetarian Refried Beans for Sparks Photography
• Zoodles for Chris+Lynn (Crazy Canadians - do they sell these in the states? If not, I'll try to find some animal shaped pasta for you!)

and last but not least....
• Boston Baked Beans for I.P. Freely... hahahaha!!!

Several fun and unexpted things came out of this project:
• I discovered some new photographers and saw a ton of amazing blogs, including some really awesome customized blogspot blogs which will definitely help inspire me when I want to update this one! (go back through yesterday's list to see them!!)
• I blogged every day this week to help encourage new comments, which was more than I did in the entire month of November!!
• I received lots of links to my blog from other generous people also wanting to make a difference
• I felt lots of love from the people out there who might not normally comment, but are out there lurking regularly - thank you!!
• I got in contact with my local food bank and will be doing a documentary project with them to help bring attention to the need within my community
• I received a great shopping list to help me get started!!

Thank you for all the love and support you've put into this project with me!! I'll definitely do this again next year!! As I mentioned yesterday, I'll be making my donation after the holidays, when donations typically die down, and I'll do my best to document the process from different sides of the story (the giver, the food bank, the receiver). I've always wanted to do a personal project like this, and if it can bring attention to those who have been overlooked, that's even more inspiration to create something incredible. I hope you'll continue to follow this journey with me.
Hugs & Hot Cocoa (w/ canned evaporated milk- the way mom liked to make it),
Anne

Cans for Comments = Time is UP!! Results Posted Tomorrow

I have been overwhelmed with wonderful comments on my blog this week and I look forward to all of the giving I'll be doing!! I wanted to let you know that I will be making my donations after the holiday season, when donations generally die down. Part of my giving will be to document the process of getting food from the hands who give to the hands who need in order to help raise awareness about the needs within my own community, here in Lowell, MA. I would like to challenge the other photographers who are participating to offer the same service to their local food banks. As photographers, we can play an incredibly powerful role by using our imagery to inform, educate, and incite passion for the greater good of all. So please, hop on the "can-wagon" and join us in making this incredibly difficult time a little easier for all. As the economy declines, so do donations.... (click play on the short video below to watch the Reuters report on Food Banks)



You can add years of health and happiness to someone else's life by simply taking a few minutes of your time to leave comments on the blogs of all who are involved:

Special thanks to The Feds who put together the list below of Photographers, Graphic Designers, and Planners blogs who are participating in Cans for Comments.

This is just a *small* list of links starting close to home here in MA and CT
The Feds
MKD
Jason Groupp
Justin and Mary
Alana Couch
Dolce Pics
RockTheWedding
Renee Stephen
DeliciousJuice
Shandro Photo
Lisa Lacroix
Perspective Eye
Picture That
Calla Evans
Lori Moss
J Castro
thinkphotographics
Christine Tremoulet
Melissa Zihlman
Three Heart Photo&Design
Crystal Genes
Courtney Paris

The Roxy Studio
Anika London
Adrienne Gunde
Ed Pingol
Shaina Pearce
Andrea Murphy
This Eclectic Live
Loxy
Blue Orchid
Retropsective
John Waire
Melanie Mansfield
Chantel Stone
MetroBluePhoto
R Peters
Curtis Moore
KampPhotography
Heather Garland
EveryLittleMoment
Nicole Hensley
Rob&Lauren
Lisette Price
RedPhotoCo
Catie Ronquillo
Melanie Driedger
Deb Thompson
The OtherAngle
Edison Photography
Susan B

Asim Soofi
Josh Solar
Misty Dawn
lorenw
Erica May
LivingProof
Smith Gallery
Amie Otto
Lynsey Peterson
Michelle Sidles
Ultimate Image Weddings
Catherine Sparks




If we missed you, please leave a comment below so others can follow the link to your site!

Mystic 4 | A Meeting of Minds | January 18-19, 2009

From what people have told me about past Mystic events, it seems like a really cool gathering of minds sharing ideas about the art, technique, and business of photography (mostly from the wedding photography perspective) in a very stripped-down setting without all of the hoopla and advertising that comes with traditional conventions and tradeshows (though there will obviously be some, since vendors just can't resist an opportunity like this).

I'm incredibly honored that I have been invited to present alongside some of the very same people who I've admired since I got started in this industry. As many of you know, I enjoy sharing my personal thoughts and experiences with others in the hopes that it can help them, and I'm really excited to have this opportunity to do it in person, in a format where we can then have follow-up discussions in person.

The organizers have told me that Mystic 4 is already booking so much more quickly than it has in years passed and there are a really limited number of seats. Who can blame people for signing up early? At the cost of only $150 to attend, with lunch included, it's one of the best deals in the industry!! (Note: presenters are not being paid for their presentations.) To see many of these presenters individually you'd have to shell out a heck of a lot more than that... believe me, because I have.. and yes, it was worth it. I'm really excited to see what the other presenters will be talking about and I'm just incredibly honored that I can be a part of it!!

Here's a brief intro to what I'll be talking about: (the title is a JOKE people - relax!)

Anne Ruthmann
"How an Ugly, Fat Girl became a Popular International Photographer"
She didn't get lucky photographing celebrities. She isn't skinny enough to fit into designer clothing. She doesn't have a portfolio filled with lavish, over-the-top weddings. Yet, clients are willing to book her sight-unseen, fly her across the world, and even pay 5 figures for her work. Anne has learned what clients want most and why they will go out of their way and break their budget just to have it. She'll share her secrets to branding, pricing, and client care that have contributed to her rapid success in wedding photography.

Bio:
Anne is a self-taught photographer who started photographing weddings in 2005 while living in Detroit, MI, went full time in 2006 while moving to Terre Haute, IN (a rural farm city) and just recently moved to Lowell, MA in 2008. In those few short years she has gained an international following of wedding clients, won awards in AGWPJA and WPJA, been published in several different wedding magazines and was recognized as one of PDN's Top Knots for 2008. Before realizing her passion for wedding photography, Anne spent 10 years working in finance, marketing, and management for everything from large corporations to small non-profits. She regularly shares her extensive business knowledge and experiences on various forums, in private consultations, and on her business blog PhotoLoveCat.com.



I have to admit that I'm really nervous about being the last presentation on the last day because that means there's even more pressure to make it fun and interesting!! I have to end things on an AWESOME note so people feel like they had the best experience ever!! No pressure! *Taking a deep breath* I'll be working hard on my presentation over the holidays and will probably be practicing on anyone who will listen to me!! HA! Did I mention I'm a perfectionist (and much better at writing than speaking)? If you didn't click on one of the links above, here's the link to see the other presenters and to reserve your spot before it sells out!!! I look forward to seeing you there!!

-> CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP! <-