Blu's Daily Blog

Florida's Jeremy & Kara Pennington and Minnesota's Scott & Robyn Sjostrom

.kailee's new year's resolution- to write a blog entry everyday.  If she breaks it- $400.00 interfaces all day

.i have to say you all are keeping me on my toes. I get emails in every time zone telling me to I broke my resolution. well not today.  I like to keep you on your toes. Rumor has it that I write the BLOG during my work day. 100% false. Why spread rumors.  BluDomain knows better than that. I was hired by BluDomain as an intern to Big H "Blu's Creative Director" to start my "design" career. The next thing I know I'm getting paid to write during a time that most sleep. Enough money to buy a jawbreaker from the local grocery store gum ball machine. I love to write and I happily obliged.  I think I'm going to post the TOP 10 Rumors of 2006. Where do people find time?

. very sad to hear the news about reality start Anna Nicole Smith who collapsed & died yesterday in her hotel room.

. NEW $600.00 interface "Betty" www.bludomain.com/photography31

. BluDomain is growing. We are in the midst of building out a support module that will be "just what we need"  It will take 4-6 weeks to complete. We appreciate your patience while we find solutions to our growth.

. BluDomain to host "Shindig" at the WPPI in Las Vegas. Invitation a must to get past burly security guards. Party at the PALMS in the Playboy Fantasy Suite "The Kingpin". Celebrity photographer bowl off at 9 p.m.  We will reveal the line-up next week. And another famous photographer will compete in a bowl off with Blu's Big H at 12:30 p.m. No sleep when you hang with us. If you would like a VIP invite email kailee@bludomain.com (we were informed today we have to abide by capacity regulations so party is almost in overflow status)

Who's That Couple???

My name- Jeremy & Kara Pennington
My style- creative. artistic. real.
Where we are  from- Tampa, FL (soon moving to Gainesville, FL)  GO GATORS!

Why I do what I do- Because we enjoy it!  Wedding photography is an awesome job that allows us to be creative and portray our own style
through our images.  It's amazing to be such a vital part of the most important day of a couple's life.

The piece of equipment I can't part with- our canon 70-200 (2.8) - the most amazing wedding photography lens ever

The vendor you should know about- Pictage.com (basically the most amazing company ever),  GraphiStudio.com - we love the elegance and quality of these books

If I had to have someone shoot a portrait of me it would be- David Jay - we are huge fans so he'd be our pic

When I'm bored you'll find me- EDITING?!!!  I don't think wedding photographers know the word "bored"

A piece of advice that improved my photography- create your own style

If not a photographer I would have been- kara - beautician (i laugh at this now:)   and jeremy - still in school for building  construction.

Jeremy & Kara's favorite image of recent

You should check out- betweenthetrees.net  they are friends of ours with incredible talent

Our friends think we are - hopefully the coolest couple ever 33  free :)

We shop at- we love Target

A goal of ours- to experiment more with portrait photography (children and babies)

What we eat for breakfast- cereal or donuts

The part of my business that leaves us tired- definitely editing and tedious "office" work

The perfect client is- someone that appreciates our style and trusts us to deliver amazing photographs

The gum we chew- doublemint

Our favorite software- David Jay's Showit Effects

Something we are proud of- our family  . . . we couldn't ask for a better one

On a Friday night at 8 PM you'll find us- at home trying to recuperate after the craziness of the week and spending time together

Check out their new site- www.karapennington.com

Who's That Couple???

Our names- Scott & Robyn Sjostrom
Our style- Fine Art Photojournalism
Where we're from- Inver Grove Heights, MN

Why we do what we do- We find photography endlessly interesting. It gives us the opportunity to bless others and challenges our creative and
technical skills. We love the excitment  of
creating something totally different, and getting to meet so many fun people. Nothing makes us happier than a happy bride.

The piece of equipment we can't part with- Our water bottle :) After my Canon 70-200 2.8 IS, it's my rolling Tamracs bags, it's the big wheels.

The vendor you should know about- White House Custom Colour

If I had to have someone shoot a portrait of me it would be- Robyn- my husband; Scott- my wife

When we're bored you'll find us- Biking, skiing, hiking, running, swimming, camping- we love exercise and the great outdoors.

A piece of advice that improved our photography- Learning how to make flash photography look like it isn't. Bounce it, practice it. Much thanks to Neil van Niekerk. (www.planetneil.com)

If not a photographer we would have been- Robyn- a forest ranger; Scott- a sports (especially baseball) announcer

You should check out- SoulCamPhotography.com!!!

Our friends think we're- Kids at heart

Scott & Robyn's favorite image of recent

Our friends think we're- Kids at heart

My first photograph sold for- $10 of a kid throwing a baseball.

We shop at- The Apple store.

A goal of ours- To master off-camera flash.

What we eat for breakfast- Robyn- chocolate malt o meal- yum; Scott- spinach smoothies

The part of our business that leaves us tired- Full days of shooting (expending long hours of creative energy)

The perfect client is- Someone willing to try something different

The gum we chew- Not really gum chewers

My favorite software- PhotoShop

Something I'm proud of- Robyn- Being married to a wonderful man who
loves the Lord. Expecting our first child in July.

On a Friday night at 8 PM you'll find us- Hmmm...watching old reruns of
Little House on the Prairie...yes, we are children at heart :).

 

.congrats to our 5 runner-up "Betty" entries. You receive any interface of your choice for ONLY $300.00.  Thank you again for sharing your toes with us. E-mail me at kailee@bludomain.com.  Congrats to Amy White, Rochelle Haisley, Jessi Stringham, Jessica Limeberry, and Jägare Justin.

. it's so not fair that you all can't win something but I'm broke. All of the other entries that you are not seeing are superb!

Betty Winner Announced

.Notes if you request a contract we will honor it all day tomorrow if you request it before midnight tonight. We are testing and debugging any glitches today with the new "Betty"  We will start setting up the interfaces tomorrow. So no worries you will be contacted.

Congratulations to our "Betty" winners who each win a free interface. Our new flash genius programmer "Mr.Wade" struggled in picking our two winners. 935 entries to sift through.  This was such a fun contest. Shortly I will post the 5 runner-ups who are all eligible for a $300.00 interfaces.

I love all these cute little toes.

Congratulations to Peter Carlson of Dove WeddingPhotography.com and Amy Ellinghouse of AmyEllinghouse.com

Email me at kailee@bludomain.com  to claim your prize.

Betty launches  www.bludomain.com/photography31

$420.00 until midnight tonight.  $600.00 tomorrow and every day after. Betty has 6 galleries, client proofing, contact page and 4 text sections.

Betty Launches $420.00

.betty launches. $420.00 until midnight on Wednesday. www.bludomain.com/photography31

something new- Your clients can now gain entry to your client proofing module through the splash page. Upload a horizontal image, 3 vertical images and/or 1 vertical and one horizontal to the homepage.   Upload one horizontal image, one vertical or one horizontal and one vertical image to the galleries. Control if the menu bar goes on top or if it goes on the bottom. You can assign a consistent background color through out the site or you can assign a unique color to each photograph. You have control of the thumbnails in the galleries positioned on the right or on the left.  You can position the logo  on the left, the right or the center.

something we always have- you have complete control of changing all images, photographs, text, button names, colors, music and your logo. Unlimited jukebox.

. you have control of making the menu bar a solid color or not appear at all.

. You have full control of placing the menu bar on top or on bottom.

.NEWS- BluDomain has just sold out of "Betty" in Illinois. No more interfaces will be sold in this state.

. a big thank you to Blu's talented photographers - Scarlett Williams of captivating-studios.com whose photographs are seen throughout this interface  and Amy Wenzel of  www.amywenzel.com who photographs you can see in the "little ones" gallery and the contact page. We are gracious for their kindness. These girls are HOT. 

Betty Launches for $450.00 Shortly

Update- she has hired the bodyguards. please don't harm miss aundrea. I'm not joking she is sweating pearls.  20.00 more off for the 9:15 launch. No more promises if she is not done then you see it as it is. So at 9:15 this site is only $420.00 for 24 hours. Betty is launching at 8:30 sorry but Aundrea is picky.... picky.  $10.00 off if she misses.

. who is "Betty" She is modern. wild. care free. and likes to be the center of attention.

. this may be my FAVORITE site. You know I'm constantly falling in love. (oh by the way I have a new boy)

. A BIG thanks to Scarlett Williams who is beyond talented. More on her later.

.Mr. Wade's first interface launch with Blu. You know when a site launches we order a bottle of cheap champagne and toast. We try and stop periodically along this journey and enjoy our accomplishments.

.due to the interface launch, project director Aundrea is MIA for part of the day. Don't worry this girl doesn't sleep so you'll hear from her sometime by morning.

.and lastly I have to say that you all are so MUCH FUN. I seriously can't express that enough. 835 entries for our "Betty" contest. You still have time to send us a photograph of your favorite shoes and make sure your toes are present in the shot.  info@bludomain.com

. you are going to scream for these photos. I can't believe the polish, the unmanicured toes, the hot must-have shoes, and the time you all take to be creative.  If creativity and fun is what I can induce then Kailee is here to stay. 
stay tuned for Betty.

Betty Will Launch Around 7 MST Tonight- $450.00 Launch Special

. speaking of Girl Scout cookies. I just bought 12 boxes last night from 4 different girls. I have to pace myself, they sit outside and take turns coming to my door in 1 minute increments. They are incredibly smart and business minded at such a young age. I can't say no to these darling little girls just trying to win a prize.  My favorites- Trefoils.

. girl scout cookies or the newly released "no sugar" diet book that can supposedly take inches off of my waist and help me shed weight in time for bikini season? Hmm...

.if you are not familiar with Peter H. Gott, M. D. he is America's most popular medical columnist. His column appears in more than 350 newspapers worldwide.

.this book is hot.

BluDomain News

Betty Launching Late Today

NEWS-  the good news- bludomain6.com gets 1.6 million hits a day. the bad news- emails and servers are started to slow down.  BluDomain has been working all day yesterday and today to take clients off this server and move you to a new server.  The server is maxed with these daily hits and usage  and so we have to move a handful of clients over.  This will not affect anyone just an update on what we are doing at BluDomain headquarters today.

.due to the fiasco, catastrophe, disaster, wreck, failure of our email servers BluDomain will launch our latest interface "Betty" on Tuesday.  Our apologies but after a long weekend at work with little food or water we need one full work day to test out the servers and make sure everyone is getting through to BluDomain.  If you haven't heard from BluDomain before Friday please send all emails to info@bludomain.com

We expect a very fabulous day on Tuesday and want to celebrate the expansion of Blu and Mr. Wade's debut as our latest genius flash programmer with no stress.  I have to say it's no fun working all these hours with no play time.

."Betty" will be our first interface for only $600.00. On Tuesday "Betty" will be $450.00 for 24 hours.

.you have one more day to send in your entries for a free NEW "Betty" or the interface of your choice. Take a photograph of your favorite shoes with your toes present in the photograph and send it to info@bludomain.com. We are giving away 2 new interfaces and entries must be sent in by Tuesday at 6 p.m. MST. I have to say that your entries are incredible. I seriously can't believe how many creative souls there are out there.

.Photographer Resource delayed until Wednesday due to fiasco.

COLTS WIN SUPERBOWL XLI 29-17 KAILEE PREDICTS 27-20

- Live commentary below through out the Super Bowl game (yes sad as it is the entire BluDomain team will not be attending any Super Bowl festivities) All work no play.

.i did post on Friday but erased it. a note about BluDomain email issues. Just to remind you my New Year's Resolution is to post an entry everyday. If I break my resolution everyone gets $400.00 websites that day.

.send me a SuperBowl picture today with a sign that reads your predicted score and you can win something fun (surprise). The sign must be sent in before 5:00 today MST. Send it to info@bludomain.com

. thanks to Miami Beach photographer, Ray Santana for sending us this wonderful photograph of the Chicago Bears & Indianapolis's Superbowl shoes.

.currently 66 degrees in South Florida and chance of rain at game time.

. if you ever wondered where the losers of SuperBowl XLI t-shirts go, here's the answer. The shirts will be shipped Monday morning to a warehouse in Sewickley, Pa., near Pittsburgh, where they will become property of World Vision, a relief organization that will package the clothing in wooden boxes and send it to a developing nation, usually in Africa. They are locked behind hidden doors and never seen on live television or sold on E-bay.

5 reasons for my Super Bowl XLI  prediction

1. the "blu" uniforms that the Indianapolis Colts don.

2. Peyton Manning. His time has arrived. Manning is the best player on the field and he deserves it all.

3. because  legendary  and Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath said so  " I think Peyton Manning is the best that's played already. I mean ever,'' Namath, said. "When I look at him, his technique, what he does, the way the game is today -- he's one of a kind.''  By the way Joe Namath doesn't think Peyton Manning needs to earn a Super Bowl ring to have his place in history secured. In fact, Namath thinks Manning is already the greatest quarterback in the history of the game.

4.  and of course I studied both team rosters and  the Colts have more talent (wink-wink) Take note of the "beast" Colt's Dwight Freeney. I'm not kidding you girls should watch the game just to check out those uniform pants and those to die for butts.
 

5.  Obviously, kicker Adam Vinatieri is money when the Colts need a key field goal. So should the Bears decide to show up, the Colts Vinatieri will save the day!

Final Score- Vegas favors the Colts by 7 points and so do I.  Indianapolis Colts 27, Chicago 20

Live Commentary

- Check out famous tight end, Shannon Sharpe's pimped out attire as he yaps away on the SuperBowl Today Show. Shannon Sharpe is a former Denver Bronco and friend of BluDomain.

Shannon Sharpe's prediction- Colts 38 Bears 27

- The companies you should know about-  Pizza Hut. Ford Edge, Bud Light, Doritos, Sierra Mist, Toyota Tundra,  FedEx, Snickers, Go Daddy, Garmin, careerbuilder.com, HHR (Chevy), United Way, Coca Cola, Revlon, T-Mobile, Nationwide

- In case you didn't know-  the head referee for the SuperBowlis Tony Corrente.   In 1995, Tony was selected to become a member of the NFL officiating staff as a back judge before being promoted to referee at the beginning of the 1998 NFL season. When he is not officiating he is a high school social science teacher in California.

Key Plays

. Chicago Bears Devin Hester runs the ball ALL THE WAY BACK for a touchdown. Chicago leading 7-0.  Chicago on fire, #46 Chris Harris intercepts the ball.

- #87 Colt's Reggie Wayne runs 53 yards for a touchdown. Colt's Adam Vinatieri fumbles the kick-off. Bears 7 Colts 6.  2 fumble recoveries- the game is OUT OF CONTROL.

. Chicago's  #20 Thomas Jones paves the way for a Muhsin Muhammad Chicago touchdown. Chicago 14 Colts 6.  Sending Peyton some Kailee vibes.  Did you see that 5 seconds after I sent the vibes the COLTS #93 Freeney recovers the fumble. Colts ball.  Colt's Adam Vinateiri kicks a field goal. Chicago 9 Bears 14.

. Colts #33 Dominic Rhodes battles back to take their first lead in this game with a Colt's touchdown. Colts 16 Bears 14

it's raining in Florida and Chicago's Charles Tillman recovers the fumble. One play later the Colt's recover a fumble.  The second time this game that there has been back-to-back fumbles. Colt's Vinateiri MISSES a field goal. Vinateiri comes back in the second half to score a field goal. Colts 19 Chicago 14.  Colts are still winning!!

Ouch Chicago Bear's Rex Grossman gets sacked TWICE. So sad.  Could Colt's kicker, Adam Vinateiri score the most points in this game? Vinateiri scores yet another field goal.  Colts 22 Bears 14. Chicago Bears possession, NFC Pro Bowl kicker #9 Robbie Gould hits a 44-yard field goal. Colts 22  Bears 17.

- Colt's #26 Kelvin Hayden grabs his first interception ever for a touchdown. Colts 29 Bears 17. Did you know that no team in NFL history has ever came back to win trailing 10 points.  Rex Grossman what is going on?  Grossman throws it right into the open arms of Colt's #21 Bob Sanderson. Colts win the SuperBowl!  Woo-hoo!

Prince rocks- if you missed his performance check it out here
You Tube

My parting notes-  The Indianapolis Colts beat the Chicago Bears 29-17 in the Super Bowl, making Tony Dungy the first black coach to win a National Football League title.

- Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning passed for 247 yards and a touchdown in a steady rain to win the Super Bowl for the first time in his nine-year career. His career-long quest for a championship finally ended Sunday in Miami with a Super Bowl MVP award added to his long list of achievements.

- the best moment of Superbowl XLI was Colt's coach Tony Dungy's acceptance speech during the trophy ceremony "I'm proud to be the first African-American coach to win this," Dungy said "But again, more than anything, Lovie Smith and I are not only African-American but also Christian coaches, showing you can do it the Lord's way. We're more proud of that."

The Winner Is

I announced this contest within 2 hours of the deadline to submit the photograph and I had over 210 entries. I'm in shock.

BluDomain asked for your final score prediction and Adam Mandel son of Giovanna Mandel wins my little contest.  A $100.00 gift certificate to any store online. Email me at kailee@bludomain.com with your choice! And I wish I had time to post all the winners but here are a few. Thank you for taking the time to enter.

BluDomain's Shindig - WPPI 2007

-BluDomain working all weekend to get everyone back on track.

- BluDomain has been working for months for the WPPI interface launch. Smokin hot!  Visit our BOOTH 1321 (thanks Tim).

BluDomain announces Blu's Shindig. Stay tuned for our official party invitiation.

Monday March 26th at The Palms in the Kingpin Suite

.no business just pure unadulturated fun. cocktails. appetizers. and a CELEBRITY Photographer Bowling Match (the line-up is fierce) and possibly a DJ (details not finalized but 99% sure)

.the guest list is hot. invitation a must to get past the security.

This retro style 4,240 square foot suite features two bedrooms, three bathrooms, LCD and Plasma TVs throughout. It also includes regulation bowling equipment, a pool table, full bar, iPod® Hi-Fi and theater size projection television with lounge.

No joke this party is going to be the Party of 2007.  Must have invitation to get past big burly security guards. email me at kailee@bludomain.com with your address. (you will be mailed the invitation via the mailman. due to the amount of requests we will not be responding to your email- you will simply be sent an invitation)

Missouri's Chad Jeffrey Spickler

- side note

the sun is out. it's not snowing today in Colorado. it's Friday. we are busy working on our temporary 911 email module that will eventually expand into our new email system. due to this h*@* week we are all working all weekend to get all of our clients back on track. I'm working late last night and all of a sudden 4 emails just float in from Monday. Just out of the blue. Where are those Ghostbusters.

.so you will all be very happy on Monday just in time for the launch of- Betty- Photographer Resource- and little blu version B.  we ask for your patience until Monday and then we will decide the punishment for Blu.

.okay back to work and peace.love.

Remember we are giving away 2 FREE interfaces on Monday. Contest A send us a photo of your favorite shoes and make sure your toes are somewhere in the photo. 

Who's That Guy??

- according to Chad this is him on a bad day, how much better can he look on a good day. I need some hormone therapy!

My name- Chad Jeffrey Spickler
My style- Bubblegum and garter belts i.e. a sweet and sexy fly on the wall style.
Where I'm from- St. Louis, Missouri

Why I do what I do- The people, I love to hear about people's lives and dream's.  They just seem to let it spill with me.

The piece of equipment I can't part with- My intuition, no piece of camera equipment could ever make up for that.

The vendor you should know about- Albumesque, Hi Janey and Amy I 
miss you guys!  Oh, and of course BluDomain they make me look professional even if I don't always feel that way.

If I had to have someone shoot a portrait of me it would be- The late Richard Avedon, I would want to see what made that guy tick.

When I'm bored you'll find me- Unfortunately spending money.  Thats why I try not to let myself get bored.

A piece of advice that improved my photography- Don't stress over  perfection, be content that nothing is perfect.

If not a photographer I would have been- I would still be trying to figure that out.

You should check out- Joe Rogan's Fashion photographer video on www.youtube.com. It kills me every time I watch it.

Chad's favorite image of recent

My friends think I'm - A romantic and a complete wacko!

My first photograph sold for- You mean you can sell these things, I need to get on that.

I shop at- Banana Republic and H&M. Oh and Nordstroms.

A goal of mine- To grow old and gray with the love of my life.

What I eat for breakfast- Oatmeal and apple's

The part of my business that leaves me tired- The whole "business" part.  I wish I could be independently wealthy and just shoot for 
charity.

The perfect client is- Refer back to question six

The gum I chew- Juicy Fruit

My favorite software- GarageBand as of right now.  I am starting to write some music just for fun.

Something I'm proud of- My Family, I couldn't ask for a better one.

On a Friday night at 8 PM you'll find me- Either with my friends or at home for a quiet night.

Check out Chad's new site.  www.chadjeffrey.com