Happy Birthday Grandpa!

A blog in pictures:

We went to a new State Park this weekend with my Dad for his birthday.  We had a really good time (right up until the end).  I was feeling pretty good on Saturday and got to take some cool pictures.  I've been shooting mostly people lately, so it was nice to take a few nature shots.

I still have to shoot some people!

This one was more about the grass than the person.

This park was near Lafayette.  It wasn't much for trees, but had a bunch of cool Prairie grasses.  It was nice for a change.

(BTW, I figured out how to put watermarks on my blog pictures and make them big enough to actually see, but not really obnoxious.  Aren't they cool?)

OK, back to the people

Jack and his new friend - Corrine I think it was.  On the "Trolly Ride"  (a hay ride without the hay.)

I seriously got this shot by telling her not to look at me.

Here it comes . . . Looks like fun

FYI that tube grandpa is standing next to is about 10 feet high (according to Jack).

Why it wasn't so fun at the end.

But he's a trooper.

And we all got cake.  Happy Birthday Grandpa!

P.S.  I like Indianapolis Wedding Photography because I am an Indianapolis Wedding Photographer

Beauty and the Beast

I am really looking forward to attending the Beauty and the Beast photography seminar in Indianapolis next Monday. It is right up my ally for "the things I need to learn." It's all about posing for weddings and lighting. Lighting is one of my biggest challenges right now. I get some great shots on an overcast day! If I'm going to be successful, I'm going to have to do better than that! I am going to have some money to invest and I need to know what to buy and how to use it. Time and money are pretty scarce these days. (That's just me right?)


I'm excited to have stumbled across this giveaway for free entry into the seminar! Not only that, but there are some really cool videos on just the subjects that I am so interested in. I'm sure I will be spending a lot of time on your site Mark! 

 So, here is my entry into the contest. She is a beauty. This is short notice (I am doing this on my lunch hour at my "day job," but wanted to get something in quick because I know I am past the deadline). I wish I had time to do something a little more creative. I also couldn't resist the second picture of the bride and the horse. Beauty, Beast, you know. Even if I don't win, I am really glad to have found your site. I am HUNGRY for information on lighting and equipment. I hope I will make it to the seminar. Thanks for taking the time to consider me!

Googly Eyed!

Have you ever googled yourself?  I have, and I'm not getting the results that I want.  I went through FIFTY pages of Indianapolis Wedding Photographers, and no Erica Salmon Photography.  Thanks to my "kickin' webmaster" I know that there are many reasons for this, some of which I know how to fix.  One of those is blogging about Indianapolis Wedding Photography (sorry, really, I am - this is going to happen again).  If you google Erica Salmon, I am on page 1!  That is really great considering that there is another Erica Salmon that has been on Good Morning America promoting her fantasy fashion something or another.  Pretty cool.  If you type in Erica Salmon Photography - I am right up there at the top.  Also cool, but . . . I kind of doubt that any potential customers will be browsing the web for photographers named Erica Salmon.  I guess it's a start.  I do have some patience.  I have children.

Another thing that has me googly eyed is Google Analytics.  This is the coolest stuff ever!!  I could get lost in all this information and forget about my Indianapolis Wedding Photography for weeks.  (I told you it would happen again).  This stuff will tell you who visited my sites, how long they stayed, what cities they live in, what pages in what order.  I wish it would give me names and address, but sadly it won't.  I was beginning to think that no one ever read my blog, because no one is following me, and no one ever makes any comments.  But analytics is telling on you my friends.  I know there are some of you out there.  So say hello, don't be shy.   Click that little comment box over there and drop me a line.  You could even follow me if you wanted to be really kind.  Let me get back to my Indianapolis Portrait and Wedding Photography business and stop trying to figure out who you are!  :)

P.S. Check out the Business card - coming soon

C-O-O-L R-I-D-E-R

If any of you are on the fence about just how cool I am, I'll have you know that I was out "terrorizing the neighborhood" (as my amazing husband Jim would say) on my very own Motorcycle just last night.

Before you make your decision, I need to let you know that this was a last minute thing. Safety gear check - I was already wearing long pants (gray dress pants from work). I had to change my shoes. Where are my boots? Never mind, here are my tennis shoes. Need something long sleeved? I'll throw this denim shirt on over my short sleeved dress shirt. Eye protection? It was starting to get too dark for sunglasses so I wore a pair of Jim's safety glasses. And of course, my helmet. I'm really sorry to say that I don't have a picture of this ensemble. My neighbors Allison and Tania were out running as I was riding by. I'm sure that their faces were more amused than awed or impressed.

Here is a picture of me looking a little bit cooler (Biker wise) than I did last night.

I'm also sorry to say that the reason I was out riding last night was that today, I sold my bike. That trip around the 'hood last night was my first time in a couple of years I'd been out riding on my own. I guess I'm more of a back seat rider than a front seat rider. (Because you know, you don't drive a motorcycle, you ride it).

Don't worry, we only sold my little beat up brown thing that if you don't live in my neighborhood, you've never seen. We still have our "really" cool bike, the Indian Chief and don't have any plans to get rid of that one any time soon.