Centerpiece Photography

Hands down, the best business decision I’ve made this past year was to join BNI.  BNI is a business networking organization where members refer potential customers to each other.  The BNI members in my chapter have graciously given me many, many referrals, which have substantially increased my business.  I would love to repay their generousity by flooding them with referrals! 

So, here’s today’s contest:  Look over this list of the BNI members in my chapter and if you or someone you know has an interest in their product or service, please let me know.  You are in no way committed to purchasing their product or service, but simply are expressing an interest in learning more about what they have to offer.  I will give them referral slips at this week’s BNI meeting on Thursday and they will contact you after the meeting to discuss their product or service. 

Shane Maendele - Advanced Business Supply - Full line of office supplies, rubber stamps, and printed products (competitive pricing on products they deliver right to your door).

Kyle Mead - Lawyers Title of Topeka Inc. - Title insurance and real estate closings (if you are buying or selling a house, be sure to request Lawyers Title because you have a choice in title insurance companies).

Tom Beall - Henson Law Firm - General practice law firm (my former employer, an established law firm in downtown Topeka).

Angela Munker - Munker Financial - Investment advisor (I am pretty clueless when it comes to investing and Angela was extremely patient in explaining all my options).

Ron Ramberg - Ramberg & Associates, P.A. - Certified Public Accountant, Certified Valuation Analyst and Business Consultant (I’m also pretty clueless when it comes to taxes and tax season was much less painful last year with Ron’s help.  Plus, if you own a company you must sit down with Ron to discuss your business with him.)

Linda Smith - Smithco Specialty Sales - EcoQuest air purifiers (Amazing changes in the quality of your air).

Sue Buckley - Dynamic Computer Solutions of Topeka, Inc. - Data Networking, Computer Systems Integration and IP Convergence of computer and telephone networks (Be sure to let me know if you have any networking  or computer needs and I’ll pass that along to Sue).

Toni Shenk - Coldwell Banker - Real estate agent (Toni and her team go the extra mile for her clients).

Debi Ramlow - Personal Interiors - Interior design, floor plan revision, space planning, commercial and residential interiors furnishings, such as carpet, tile, wallpaper, window treatments (You can check out her work at Two Hearts in Topeka and in my basement studio - we got our new carpet from her).

Valerie Nelson - Heritage Bank - Personal and business banking, lending services and investments (Brilliant, and very friendly, banking).

Jeremy Snowden - American Family Insurance - Insurance agent (Offering a full line of insurance products)

Kathleen Hunter Levy - Liquidity International - Nutritional and skin care products (I love her skin care products).

Deena Abbott - Morris Communications - Advertising on 94.5 Country and AM 580 (Deena can help you put together a marketing plan for your business).

Noni Cremer - Crown Trophy - Trophies, awards and gifts with your logo (Really neat products with a quick turn-around).

I highly recommend each of these professionals.  So, if you have a need for any of these products or services, or if you think you might have a need for them in the future (such as you are planning on buying a house, but not for 6 months), then just send me an e-mail with your name and contact information and I’ll pass it along to the BNI member(s).  Each referral received before 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 30th will be entered in a drawing for a $25 print credit and you are welcome (encouraged!) to send in more than one referral. 

But wait there’s more…

Do you own or work for a business that would benefit from receiving referrals?  If so, please be my guest at a BNI meeting.  My group meets at 11:30 on Thursdays.  I’ll gladly pick up the tab for your lunch and answer any questions you have about BNI.  Just send me an e-mail and let me know that you’re interested in joining us for a meeting.

Update:  Thank you for your referrals to my BNI friends!  Congratulations to Amanda for winning the drawing.   If any of you are ever looking for professional in any field, please let me know.  If that profession isn’t represented in my BNI group, there is a good chance that someone from that profession is a member of one of the other BNI groups here in Topeka.  I will do my best to put you in contact with a highly qualified person in that profession.  So, please do not hesitate to e-mail me with those questions.  Also, my invitation to a BNI lunch is a standing invitation.  If you are ever interested in attending a meeting, just let me know.

This morning’s sweet tooth sessions were a blast!  The kids LOVED the giant lollipops and I loved snapping their pics as they had fun.  Here are just a few of my favorites:

This little cutie is a little too little for a lollipop, but she had a great time, nonetheless.

This little guy thoroughly enjoyed his first lollipop.

Here’s today’s contest:  We all know that the giant lollipops are loaded with sugar, but just how much?  E-mail me with your guess on how many grams of sugar are in a 3 ounce lollipop (which is the pastel lollipop that the little girl above has).  Guesses will be accepted though noon on Monday, August 27.  The person with the closest guess will win a $25 print credit.  In the event of a tie, the print credit will be awarded to the person who e-mails first.  Good luck!

Update:  Thank you to everyone who participated in this contest.  The guesses ranged from a low of 15 grams of sugar to a high of 166 grams.  The correct answer is 68 grams.  Congratulations to Jennifer who had the closest guess of 66 grams. 

On Saturday, we had the pleasure of photographing the Chi Omega Bid Day event at KU.  The ladies had a great time hanging out in the fountain in front of their house as they waited for the freshmen ladies to arrive.  Of course, I had a great time getting fun candid shots of them.  This one is my favorite, I’ve titled it “Portrait of a Self-Portrait”

After the freshman girls arrived, we took group shots of each of the classes in addition to a huge group shot of the entire sorority.  A big thank you goes out to the Chi Omega ladies for selecting us to photograph their event and to their advisor Sue who recommended us for the gig.  If any of you have an uncoming event (such as a reunion, wedding or other function) and are in the market for a photographer, we would love it if you would consider us. 

Here’s today’s contest:  The first person to e-mail me with the common name of the fountain in front of the Chi Omega house at KU will win a $25 print credit. 

Update:  Congratulations to Lisa who correctly identified the fountain as the “Chi Omega Fountain.”