:issue: ahhh..home again

We're back from San Diego and ready to gear up for the next marketing push! Will be sharing promo pieces, etc. soon :-)

:issue: moving forward

Today I am taking the advice of Meredith Whitney " set realistic goals, achieve them, and recalibrate your goals so that you're constantly moving forward, as opposed to setting dreamer-type goals that you're going to get frustrated by" My goal today??? I hope to hear back from at LEAST 7 of the 30 kids clothing clients I sent my e-mail promo to by Friday!

:issue: hey, I never said I was a videographer!

scouting locations with Jill

Just playing around with this new software. Thinking about purchasing it for video editing.

:issue: when brainstorming goes right

Ah, great idea for the cover of my new portfolio... Working on it, samples soon!

:issue: when theme parks suffer, we all suffer

As soon as the kids go to bed, I turn off my ringer & usually do all my research on advertising agencies, ads, photo buyers, art directors, etc. Tonight I came across this article in AD Age about Six Flags filing for bankruptcy. This recession really has everyone losing out :-/

http://adage.com/article?article_id=137347

:issue: look mom, I'm famous!

So, I'm a bit flattered...

This weekend, Elbie has been at my house. She came for my reception and hasn't left yet. I am definitely happy to have some company, she's always helping out with the kids when she's here. But anyway, as most may know, she's a recording artist. So, she's having a conversation with a well known recording artist (his songs are used in a lot of movies, etc.) and she says my name (she was calling me to tell me something) & he says "JaTawny? The photographer? I love her work! You're at her house?". I can't tell you how flattering it is when someone has seen my work and knows who I am.

My reception is finally over and I can't tell you how happy I am for that! Shwew! It was fun while it lasted. I must mention that it called for thunderstorms ALL that day... I prayed and prayed it didn't storm on my reception until it was over and I'm telling you, it was storming everywhere else but my house ANNNND it started storming as SOON as people were leaving! I'm attaching the images of the decor to this blog. My fabulous mother and I came up with the decor and decorated with the help of KB, Aunt Earlene & Mecia (thanks Andrew for hanging the umbrellas). If you EVER need an event decorated, do contact my mother, she is the best! Her business card is below.

Now back to work, making connections and moves! San Diego with my rep on July 1st - 3rd to network.

:issue: sleep is for sissies!

It's 2am and I'm still working, working, working. Uploading, working on marketing material for my trip to San Diego with my rep, working on answering all of my e-mails, etc. Trying to get everything done this am (still have not gone to bed) because I know that in 5 hours I'll be getting pulled in each and every direction by Kailynn-James & Kardan. They've been so.... don't know the word... this week... Being a mother is the best thing in the world to me... but whoever said it was easy to run your own business and raise a family needs to write a book so I can read it!

Wanted to post a couple of my favorite shots from recent shoots & then I'm off to bed!

Beetlejuice London

Knuckleheads Clothing

:issue: stop spamming me

Quick note. A lot of my emails have been going to my spam folder. My apologies if I have not gotten back with you. Recovering messages tonight.

:issue: flying free

I am calling this TWOday because it's been a pretty busy weekend. I had a big shoot yesterday and another big shoot today. Today's shoot is at http://www.freewayaviation.com/ in Bowie MD. for Knuckleheads/Hula Mula. The kids are going to have so much fun! I can't wait.

*Boopity is going to be one of the models =)

I was scheduled to shoot a portfolio test with a teen model earlier today, but was informed by her father that her grandfather passed =-( My prayers go out to their family!

Yesterday, we met the sweetest woman during our shoot in Ellicott City for Beetlejuice London. We ventured into the most GORGEOUS land that had the most adorable little purple "house". We take the kids out, start shooting and this very sweet woman comes over and says "you like my garage huh?". GARAGE? I'm thinking! How adorable. She talks with Gigi for a while and then tells me that I can use any of her land that I'd like. I'd say there were over 20 acres of greatness and I loved it!

Alrighty, shower is runnin', gotta gooooo! See ya later!

:issue: when you jump for joy, don't fall, someone will laugh

So... My spring/summer site will be up today :) YIPPY! Each season will have a new theme...

Check out the front pages each day of the week as they will be changing! Also ordering my new promos this coming week as well :)

This weekend I will be shooting a few more pieces for Beetlejuice London. The line is so GORGEOUS! it's to die for~

I'm also finishing up for Knuckleheads & Hula Mula on Sunday. Got confirmation that we're going to be able to use this super cool location: http://www.freewayaviation.com/ CAN'T WAIT! They also have some retro airplanes that matches the line so well.

TTYL

:issue: sometimes I feel like they're literally attached

Wow... Today was kind of tough for me. As soon as I returned from New Jersey yesterday, we picked the kids up and all day yesterday I was in work mode. Client needed some images rushed over, tons of emails to be answered, confirm all talent for sundays shoot, lock down the location, finish shooting flats, go to grocery store and be a mother to 2 babies that missed me for 3 days and a wife to a husband that enjoyed spending 3 days alone with me... So, I got no sleep yesterday and today isn't very much different. I have to keep everyone happy so my day can go smoothly. Show kids attention so they can feel l oved, keep clients happy so they can come back again... It isn't easy but I manage and am happy with my life! Back to work I go!

Kailynn asleep on my lap as I work on my laptop

:issue: getting 3 hours of sleep

Heading to bed at 4 am only to be awakened at 7/8 by my lovelies... Then on to begin shooting for Beetlejuice London!

:issue: who would have thought...

Very cool! Just set up my mobile for blogging!

:issue: sometimes I'm MIA.. but I'm still in action

Hello Blog :) I've been shooting and shooting and shooting. I am feeling blessed tonight. I have a few kids catalog shoots I am working on and I'm super happy about that. I am also working on a new site. It was supposed to be up by May 1st....




Today I drove downtown to finally see the National Campaign I was hired to shoot in March and I could have fainted! It was so fun to see it come to life! Pics & press release below:



Ellicott City, MD, May 4, 2009 – CIMA Talent Management has completed the contract to provide the photography for the National Education Association’s “Teacher Thank You Project”. The larger-than-life mural will be unveiled this week by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, NEA President Dennis Van Roekel, and members of Congress joined by students and teachers for a special ceremony at the Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. to kick off the week-long nationwide celebration of National Teachers Week, May 4, 2009 through May, May 8, 2009. National Teachers Day is May 5, 2009.



CIMA Talent Management and photographer JaTawny Muckelvene Chatmon of JaTawny Vision chose to showcase Howard County School children as well as CIMA represented talent. CIMA models and JaTawny’s images exemplify the rich diversity of the school population.

The Mural will travel across the United States to major cities and events in 2009. The NEA and PTA joined forces and began a campaign to collect thank you cards from student in 2007. Thousands of individual thank you cards from people across the nation, including famous actors, athletes, musicians, television personalities, politicians and notable public figures, will be compiled and fused into one gigantic mural measuring approximately 8 feet tall and 75 feet wide.

CIMA Talent and JaTawny Vision are proud to contribute to the “Teacher Thank You Project” in a meaningful way as the nations says “Thank You” to all teachers.

Contact: Gigi Soto

Telephone: 410-772-9141

http://www.cimatalent.com/

http://www.jatawnyvision.com/

:issue: being self employed

Like the sky is the limit! I had time to reflect on the clients I have worked for/with this past year and I am so proud! I feel unstoppable and I can not wait until my new website is complete and my new promo pieces are ordered!

Not to mention, I am so happy I took the time to clean my house today. I feel refreshed and uncluttered. I think the kids do too.

:issue: doing what you have to do

I've been MIA because I've been swamped! I am excited to just finish wrapping up a huge project my rep and I had been waiting on! Can't wait to share. In the meantime I wanted to share a photo with you and show you how I've been having to get work done lately....

is this a classic self employed mom picture or what??

Ok, getting back to work. Just wanted to say HELLO!

:issue: Fat Tuesday

another shot from my shoot last Saturday...

:issue: just sampling

no words, just a sample

:issue: Cleaning

So, I'm cleaning my hard drives and trying to get re-organized as well as dealing with server issues causing me drama with uploading photos online. But I came across these photos of the kids that made me smile :)

me carrying Little Bittle in her sling

Boopity crying (can't remember why) These were taking a year or so ago

Boopity in his pj's and hat (that he got when he was ONE and randomly wears)

:issue: oatmeal cookies

The other day we baked oatmeal cookies. I can't say they were the best cookies I ever tasted, but they were ok :) Little Bittle loved them while Boopity took a couple of bites and said "yummmm" and 2 seconds later "I'm done now mommy" I wonder if that means he didn't like them...

The dishes were piled up so we had to clean those first

Boopity helped

while she played with HIS toys and had on HIS pajama pants

she helped stir while rolling her eyes

he helped mix everything in

they thought they knew what they were doing! I didn't take any pictures of the cookies... they weren't very pretty... it's the experience for the kids that counts :)