St. Louis Photographer » A Journal by Holly McCaig

I have pictures on the brain. It’s my business, what else should I be thinking about, right? Well, besides, knitting and other crafting, but it’s my livlihood and I am always thinking about it. Why not have a Tuesday Tally for the photo lovers?

The Ikimono camera } from Urban Outfitters is SOOO adorable. It uses 110 film – I’ve been dying to get into a little film shooting again. I swear, it’s been forever. I can’t believe in college I used to have to shoot with film and develop it in the darkroom for the newspaper. I miss that smell. Urban Outfitters.

Pinhole Key Camera } I admit it…I love Urban Outfitters. They have the best stuff! And, what a fun project to do with kids this summer. I highly recommend it for some good times. Get creative! Urban Outfitters.

Positive Negative } what a gorgeous cuff. I seriously want this – even though I hardly ever wear jewelry. Veer.com

stamps } a while back, Nancy Comelab sent me some Tim Tams from her country, Australia. I LOVE THOSE THINGS. And, she included some hand-stamped notes with these stamps on them. I have to get them for my business. SO adorable. I’d love to use them on my thank you cards and such. Darkroom Door

DIY Camera } this is another fun project I’d like to try – I just have to pick one. Urban Outfitters

You should really scroll through the camera stuff at Urban Outfitters. Awesome stuff and you can get 110 film there too!

Last night, I met up with Julie & Chris for an e-session at Longview Farm Park on Clayton Road in Town & Country. I have photographed Traci Branscum there before. I loved it then, and I loved it now. It’s a little too shady so not a lot of light comes in, but we managed to find a few good spots. This post isn’t really their sneak peek as much as it is for me to recommend this cute little park. It’s not super big, so it’s easy to do a few outfit changes in the restroom if you’re looking for a few looks with your sessions.

And, we may just see…

Yep – a deer! That’s a beautiful buck! To let you know how close we were to it, I’m only using my 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens on this shot and have it at the 70 mm focal length. I wish I had time to put my 70-200 on for this shot, but he started to walk away.

Longview Farm has the stables (shown on the left) with a lot of horses. They were all put away by the time we came back to the front of the park though. It’s really such a pretty place. Stay tuned for peeks from this session later!

I’m sure my followers read, Travel Not For the Faint of Heart post that I did last week. Reliving that again by reading makes me cringe. Yuck. Luckily, my next two trips in July are driving trips! Here’s to no tire blow-outs, please! In July, I’ll be heading down to Springfield, Missouri for a few days to do a high school senior photoshoot for Kristy’s oldest! Can’t wait to see Kristy – it’s been two years this summer since we last got together. This was Jess a few years ago there that I shot:

(Yes, I used to be Pink Gnome Foto).

Should be fun – I love senior shoots! Then, I’m so fortunate to be able to shoot two weddings this summer with Rebekah Wright (in town) and Megan Morgan (in Ohio). I really feel grateful to people that I can reach out to, or reach out to me and offer the opportunities to second shoot weddings with them. It means a great deal to me that they are so self-less and giving.

Okay – so you’re probably wondering, WHO won the contest that I had on that blog post the other day, right? Well, I sorted the list of commenters to remove my awesome friends that aren’t local and it left me with 11 local commenters. Better chances for everyone! Then, I used random.org to generate a winner:

So, number five on my local list belongs to:

Kari – I have been through one of those days at the airport, and it sucks! But, I love how you turn a complete negative into a positive! Thanks for the chance at a great prize!

Congrats, Kari! I look forward to doing a fun shoot with you! Will be in touch via email if you don’t see this first!

I really love giving back. As my business grows, I will certainly be offering more opportunities like this. Thank you for listening to me vent about my travel experience, but also to let me turn it around into a positive too!

This week, as I’m looking around for things for my sweet poochies (Jack & Daisy), I decided this week’s Tuesday Tally is about the mutts. Yeah, I know it’s Wednesday. I never promised I’d do it by the book!

Insert Graphic Here

Skull Collar } Seriously – I LOVE THIS! If it weren’t $70, Daisy would have this. But, my luck, she’d roll in the mud and ruin it. It’s such an awesome take on a skull collar. I love the embossed leather and a little bit ‘o bling! My Dog Collar

I think Jack could look cute in one of these!

Juicy Track Suit } I know, call me an insane dog owner, but I’d love to get this track suit for Daisy. A while back, I photographed little Dora and she had a pink one. But it wasn’t the full suit – still adorable on her.  Seriously…way cute, huh?

Shabby Chic Bed } Now, I saw this and thought two things: 1 – my dogs would NEVER give up their spots in my bed. Why waste my money? 2 – PHOTOGS! How cute would this be for newborn shoots? Calling All Dogs

Kill the Stink } Jack is getting multiple baths a day. Why? Not because I want to do it, but because he manages to roll around in something god-awful smelling outside in the dirt. I mean, we’re talking gag-riffic! So, up we go in the kitchen sink to get a half-bath (mostly neck and head). I saw these and think I want to try them…maybe with so much washing they will help sooth his skin but also help get rid of the smell. Happy Tails Spa

Harness ‘em } OH WOW – this handmade couture for dogs is amazing stuff! Check out this harness! Daisy has to wear a harness because her head is so small that a collar comes right off her neck. Ruff Stuff

Stay Cool } it’s hot out there this summer and you gotta keep the furry kids cool if you’re going to take them out with you! These collapsible bowls are adorable and stylish – yet functional. Itza Dog

Drink Up } Finally, it wouldn’t be summer without a cold brew…right? Now, your dog can even enjoy them! Bowser Beer…I’m trying to find out where to order it! 3 Busy Dogs

I haven’t done a blog post in a very long time that was a personal post, sharing life, thoughts, or personal opinion. Figured that I need to get this one out. I’m in a bummed mood today because I had no way of fixing the problem.

I get really frustrated when I can’t fix something. Like, last weekend, the shower diverter in the tub spout (the thing you pull up and down to make it run in the bath or the shower head) broke. Robin, of course was very upset that she felt she was the one to break it and here I was mad. No, I wasn’t mad at Robin. I was pissed that I went to Lowe’s two times and couldn’t fix this. I get so determined easily and just want to make the solution happen. When I can’t, I want to scream. I think this says a lot about the person that I am. I tend to take on everything and have a hard time delegating too. I must get over this way of handling things. Try, and if you can’t succeed, you ask for help. I think my eye twitched just typing that.

Anyway, this problem yesterday was completely out of my hands, but I wanted to try. As many of my friends know, I was bound for Albany, NY to shoot a wedding “today” with Carrie Bombria. I was really excited about this because I have been wanting to build up my wedding portfolio. I’m taking a workshop this fall from an amazing wedding photographer in Phoenix too. It’s a direction I’m putting all my marketing focus into and I knew this wedding would be an amazing addition to my portfolio.

I booked United airlines I think back in May. I diligently packed my belongings on Friday and managed to arrive at the Park Shuttle lot early. I got to the airport, checked my bag and me and cute, Jill-E camera back went through security. As I got to the very end of Terminal A in St. Louis Lambert airport, I realized something was not right. I should have known this might have complications when they told me that United doesn’t have a SkyCab to check bags curbside. Say what? How odd! The end of Terminal A was about 4 or 5 gates, with maybe 3 operated by United. Yes, I only noticed three United gates in this airport. You see, I had to make a connection in Chicago (I had other connection choices too, but I knew O’Hare and felt it was a good place to connect for me).

As I approached Gate 19, at the end of the this terminal, here stood hundreds of travelers. Lines were extended and seats were full all around me. I kept hearing about delays because of grounding in Chicago – due to weather. My flight still showed on time. So, I walked back down the terminal to find a place to get a Bloody Mary. The one and only restaurant/bar in this terminal was standing room only. Since when did we get the worst airport ever? One restaurant? Really? I decided to go into the Duty Free shop and kill some time looking. Amy called, we chatted. I opted for a Coke. Mind you, I had two cups of coffee all day. Then, I chose a seat a few gates down that was empty. I listened to Amy’s story about her rush to get moved into their adorable apartment in the city of Milwaukee (I can’t wait to come up there and do sessions in September).

I walked back down to my gate only to see my flight was delayed from 2:30 to 3:48. I have been at the airport since about 12:30 now. I arrived two hours early on purpose. So, I could relax and not worry about security lines. At about 3 p.m. I checked my phone for the United website to check flight information. The line at the United ticket booth by our gate had about 30 people in it. It said, “CANCELED.” Are you kidding me? But, the screen by the door still said delayed. And, had even changed to 4:15. I watched as they basically said “we have one seat left” and someone jumped and ran to the gate door. I was waiting for a brawl to happen! It was no uniform way of getting standby people on any extra flights at all. Chaos.

This went on for a few minutes before the lady got on the intercom to tell us that our fligh was in fact canceled and they would see what they could do for us all to get on standby. I heard someone in the line say that the main ticket counter told them that they wouldn’t be leaving out of STL for Chicago till the next day. OMG, Really? So, I got in this pathetic line and waited. And, waited. An hour later, it was my turn. Yes, I said that, an HOUR later I made it to the front of the line.

She asked me where I was heading and I told her. Albany, NY. “Oh wow, Albany is such a hard city to get in and out of.” Okay. Nothing. It would be after 10 p.m. on Saturday before she would be able to get me to Albany. “I can get you to Chicago tonight.” No lady, I don’t want to do that. I have to be shooting at this wedding by 3 p.m. on Saturday you see. She apologized to me and I of course said it wasn’t her fault. Even though I wanted to take it out on someone. My mom had texted me while in line to say, “you get more with honey than vinegar” so I took her advice. I didn’t get anything.

I told the woman that did me no good so I was lucky to be in my hometown and I would just stay. She started looking at other surrounding cities and I named a few as well. Nothing. She really tried. But, United…you suck in your set up here in St. Louis, man! So, I asked her how I would get my checked back and she asked for my claim ticket, which I gave her. She asked me to describe my bag and I did. It’s black. HA. I am going out to buy the most obnoxious suitcase this weekend. One that you cannot miss anywhere! She then told me my bag would be either on carousel 5 or 6 and told me that I could call United to get a refund because they canceled (even though I bought a non-refundable ticket).

I went downstairs to baggage claim. I watched both carousels. I even went to another carousel because they mentioned some canceled flights would be on it. Nothing. I was ready to just burst into tears. Where is my bag. I looked for an hour. By this time, I am grumpy, tired, and hungry. I was waiting for tears to just pour out and me go into total meltdown mode. Mom texted me to go file a report and just come home. As I walked over to the United baggage office, there sat my bag outside the door!

THANK YOU, SWEET JESUS! My bag. Hallelujah. Get me home.

From here, things went smooth. There was a shuttle bus waiting at the curb. He dropped me off at my car. I paid immediately and was stuck in no traffic getting home. I made it home after 6:30 p.m. Had a martini and some chocolate. And, here I sit. Wishing I were in NY shooting this adorable couple at their wedding with Carrie.

I was really crabby and showed it all day while I posted to Twitter and Facebook. As I was leaving the airport I saw all these Army boys coming off a plane from overseas. I thought, man, I have nothing to bitch about, do I? What a life-check. I’m still bummed, but I am fortunate to have the opportunity to even travel and see my friends and family.

Get poster here.

So, if you read through all of this. I’d like to do something nice. I absolutely LOVE what I do. I tell people that often. I’m passionate about my photography work. With that, I’d like to give away a complimentary session for a weekday shoot – valued at $100. It’s just the creative session fee that covers my time and talent and our photographing you on location somewhere. This is for up to two people. Couples preferred, but, I’ll do kids too or dogs – any additional people are $15 each. Your location of choice, and unlimited clothing changes for up to two hours. Has to be used by the end of this year (Mon-Thurs). Here’s how you enter:

Leave a comment on the blog. It’s that simple.

I’ll let you comment until this coming Friday and then, I’ll randomly draw a name. You should be within 30 miles of the 63021 zip code (that’s Manchester, MO).

Hope you have an amazing weekend and get your life-check too. It’s heart-warming.