After I shoot a wedding, I usually send an 8x8 custom designed album to the venue where the wedding was held.  Its a great way for the venue to show off images of past weddings to new potential brides.  And the great thing is, it gets my name out there as well!  This is an album that is going to The Raven.      

I love the pages on these albums, they are thick and they lay flat.

I keep the design simple and clean.

And of course the back has my logo and my website!

Just a little sneak peak of this adorable 2 year old!!!  Isaiah's mommy and I were close friends in high school, so it was awesome to see her and her growing family!!  I found out Isaiah likes me a lot better when I don't have a camera in my face (or his face).

So I decided since I have so many friends that own their own businesses, it would be great to highlight them on the blog!  I'm going to be posting about a new business every month, so make sure you show them some love!  The first one is Handmade Colectibles.  Nicole {Cole} makes these awesome wreaths and bouquets using felt!  They are pretty sweet.  I'll let her tell you more:

1. What is it that you do?
I create felt wreaths and centerpieces with a bit of a whimsical & modern flare. And I'm excited to announce that I've recently added felt wedding bouquets and boutonnieres to the shop! 

2. How did you get into opening your own business?

It started back in 2009, I had just made the decision to stay home with my boys and was loving every minute of it but still felt like something was missing. While we were on vacation that summer we stopped by an outside handmade craft fair and I just knew that that's what I wanted to be doing. I was inspired by all the artists there, but needed my own idea. Fast forward a summer later- I wanted a wreath for my house but something fresh and contemporary. Come to find out there's not a whole lot of modern looking wreaths for sale in the stores. So I played with some ideas and after making a few wreaths as gifts for family, decided that I had found my niche.

3. How can people take advantage of your services? 

After I had made the decision to go ahead with the business I jumped right in to the wonderful world of etsy. Etsy is an online marketplace for handmade artists all around the world. You can find my creations at handmadecolectibles.etsy.com. All sales are done right from my online shop. You can also stay up to date on what's new in the shop, sales, giveaways via my shop facebook page- www.facebook.com/handmadecolectibles.com 

4. Besides making handmade collectables, what is your favorite thing to do?

Right now I'm loving re-decorating my house. Baking. Reading. I would lay in bed and read all day if I could. My absolute favorite would be early morning snuggling in bed with my boys.

5. Tell us 5 things about you that have nothing to do with your business!

-I'm a mom to two silly, beautiful boys. Wife to the man of my dreams. seriously. 

-I'm a blogger! You can find out a little more about what my days look like by visiting me at www.lettersfromcoco.blogspot.com 

-I have a special talent for making some seriously awesome mixed cds. 

-Just a gal completely crazy in love with Jesus! 

-Blessed beyond words to be able to say that I make pretty flowers for a living! 

I'm going to be starting a thing I call 10 on 10.  Basically, I'll answer 10 random personal questions on the 10th of every month!  I'll be honest, I'm such a- to the point, spare the details, just give me the good stuff type person, that I had to really make my self be more detailed when answering these questions.  Details are great for blogs!  But I hope that you will enjoy them and that you'll get to know me better!  If you have any questions that you would like to ask, just let me know.  And I would love it if you want to leave a comment answering the same questions- that way I can get to know you too!

Thanks to Gail for the idea! 

I'm posting these 10 questions on the 23rd instead of the 10th, since I missed the 10th of March.  But the next 10 on 10 will be on April 10th!

1. What was your first job?

My first job was at AMF Bowling Center.  It was a pretty awesome first job, besides having to disinfect the stinky shoes.  I loved having to walk down the isles to get a stuck ball, hosting birthday parties and I loved interacting with the customers-whether I was checking them into their lane, or taking their food order.  I think the funnest part was closing, after the customers left, the staff would blast the music, make it pitch black with only the disco lights on and bowl our little hearts away.

2. What's your favorite flower?

Uhhh…. I don't have one!  Seriously, I could care less about flowers.  My husband knows this and he no longer buys me flowers.  Why waist money on something that will die in a few days?  I think shoes are a much better choice!

3. What is your favorite font?

I don't have a favorite, but I do know that Papyrus and Comic Sans should NEVER be used again, with Scriptina being a close third!

4. What's one thing your mom instilled in you growing up?

PUT ON SUNSCREEN!!  Anytime we were outside for a long period time, she was slathering sunscreen on me and reminding me that all it takes is one bad burn to cause skin cancer.  I still to this day remember to put on sunscreen every time I'm going to be out in the sun for a long time.

5. What's one of your craziest dreams?

I seem to have lots of crazy dreams lately!  The one that is the most vivid is me being pregnant as can be (I'm 6 months pregnant in real life) sitting on the back of a red convertible, a gun in each hand, hunting down the bad guys…. How's that saying go….never mess with a pregnant woman haha!

6. Apple juice or orange juice?

Although I like apple juice, I'm definitely going to pick orange juice, and the kind with tons of pulp!  Thanks to my husband for introducing me to "high pulp orange juice" I never would have tried it, if it weren't for him.  And now it's my favorite- go figure!

7. What is your business motto?

I'm not sure if this is a motto, but it's something I try really hard to accomplish.  Never work when my husband is home.  This has been number one in my life/business since I started Stacey Poterson Photography.  I've seen way too many photographers live's fall apart because work always came first for them.  So with that in mind, I work when my husband is at work, I stop when he comes home.  And I make sure he keeps me accountable to that.

8. If you could live anywhere in the U.S. for a year, where would it be?

Manhattan for sure!  I'm definitely a NYC girl.  I just love that city and wish I could go back more often.

9. Do you like to clean?

I don't necessarily like to clean, but I love love love a clean house!  I can't stand clutter- my mind feels cluttered when my house is not clean and not organized.  

10. What is your bedtime?

Lately it's been 2am.  I'm trying to change this to 10pm, but I just am not tired at 10!!

Find me on Facebook!!  I just recently added a "welcome" page to my FB site.  So for those of you who aren't fans, and you click on my photography fan page, you will see this (well at least I hope you do, if all my coding is correct ha!).  Be sure to like to me!

Check out my page here

If you are interested in making a welcome page for your Facebook page, here is how you do it.

If you need help with a design for your front page, let me know!  I can design something snazzy for you! 

So for those of you who don't know, last year, I started a '25 things to do before I turn 25' list.  I've slowly, but surely been accomplishing them!  Number 7 on my list is "Hang a gallery wrap of me and Jon in my living room".  Well, I finally got that done!!

It took me a while to do this one, because I wanted to repaint/redecorate my living room and kitchen.  So I finally got it repainted (thanks to my mom and hubby) and am now adding the finishing touches.  Once everything is complete, I'll be sure to post pictures.

I love decorating my house with photography.  It just really personalizes the space and helps make a wow statement.  So, without further ado, here is my gallery wrap (image taken by my friend and fellow photographer, Matthew Priestley).

I posted this pic, so you could see my baby bump in the reflection of the tv!  About 4 more months to go until I meet this little one!

Meet the handsome P.J.  We had a great time at his shoot as we ran into spiders and little adorable kittens that would follow us around.  I'm looking forward to seeing where the future takes P.J., as he wants to be a web designer.... so awesome!

That reminds me, be on the look out for my new designed website coming summer or fall of this year! 

Seriously.... how do I get the most gorgeous senior girls?!?  I love it!!  All my senior girls are beautiful, including Katriena.  Not only is she pretty on the outside, she's lovely on the inside too.  I had a great time hanging out with her during our photo shoot!!  I'm excited to see where God will take her after high school :)

So, I accomplished another thing on my list "25 things to do before I turn 25".   

Well, number 16 is  'Add a wide angle lens to my equipment bag'.  I had a hard time deciding which lens I wanted to buy.  It was between the 35mm prime or the 24-70mm.  I am definitely a prime lens girl all the way.  I love my 50mm and 85mm and I use them the most.  But I decided to go with the 24-70 this time.  It's a good all around lens that will let me go wide if I need to or zoom in a little bit.  I must say, I am so impressed with this lens.  I have read many reviews that say they have problems with this lens being crisp.  But every image that I shoot with this lens is super crisp, I couldn't be happier!

Tayler and Michael were married on the 19th!  They opted for a "Day After Session".  So they dressed up in their wedding attire and went to a cool location and got some more unique shots.  So we went to Hawaii for this shoot.  No, I'm just kidding, I WISH! This is actually the lovely state of Arizona!

This is definitely my favorite shot!