It's my birthday today!

...I can't believe I'm 20....woah...

Only 10 days until I'm off to Mexico for Christmas! I'll admit, I'm a little bit gloomy that I won't have the traditional snowy white christmas surrounded by miles and miles of family, but I haven't had that sort of Christmas for a long while anyways, so I guess I'm used to a little unconvention around this time of year.

From the looks of it, most people here won't be having a very white Christmas anyways. There's hardly any snow on the ground! Hopefully it snows a little more for everyone here before the big day. It's hard to imagine Winnipeg on Christmas without a nice, thick blanket of snow :S

Anyways, I know I won't be recieving any presents this year besides this trip to sunny Mexico... but do any of you know already what you'll be unwrapping this year?

Merry Christmas everyone!

So the other day I was writing an email to one of my lovely friends and we had started talking about drawing and art. It really made me think about how much time I used to spend drawing for art class up until grade 12, and then after that I don't think I've even touched a drawing pencil... at least not to actually draw a decent picture.

To add to this as well, I was just browsing through some other work on Deviantart and I realized how much I miss painting as well!

I've had these large canvasses in my room for so long now and I haven't touched them at all! It's such a shame! I think my goal for December will be to paint up at least one of those canvasses! Mhmm, that's what I'm going to do!

Anyways, I went through my grade 12 art portfolio and managed to find 2 drawings that I thought I might share with you. Here they are!

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Original photo by Lara Jade.

I'm so happy! The studio owner, who has been letting me use her space has fiiinally given me some available dates! Yay for relief! I can't wait to get my own studio background, and eventually my own space!

Other stuff, I have a shoot tomorrow morning! I am not a morning person, so hopefully this works out ok... it should be fun as long as I get my coffee

Look for some new posts soon!


Brittany Alyse

The weather here has been so strange this year! I really can't believe how unorothodox it has behaved. All summer it was raining, windy and freezing and then Septemeber rolled around and it became incredibly warm and beautiful outside. Throughout October it hadn't even gotten cold enough for the leaves to change their colour, but then it snowed for a day or two. The snow melted and it went to +7-14 degrees everyday... Now it's the end of November, and we still don't have snow on the ground! That's so untypical of Winnipeg!

I'm not complaining, although a little snow would probably put me in more of a christmas spirit. Ultimately though, it doesn't matter because I won't be having a white Christmas this year anyways. I'm just getting a little frustrated because now that the temperatures have become -5 somedays, it's getting harder to shoot outside and I don't have my own studio space.

I've been allowed to use another photographer's studio space twice a month, but it's getting to the point where I'm needing it more than that. I guess I'm going to have to think of some places to shoot indoors, other than in a studio...

I'm very grateful for a lot of the client work I've been getting lately, it's nice to have some money in my pocket, but I'm reeeaaallly itching to do some more personal stuff. I've set up a shoot with 2 of my favourite models to take place next week, I'm not going to say who they are or what we're doing, but I'm sooo very super excited!

I want to try some more conceptual work, as a lot of what I've been doing lately is more model portfolios, where they need specific shots just to show off their face or body and not really involve any sort of environment or idea. I've been enchanted by so many artists here, and on Flickr... I'm so inspired!

Anyways, it's day 5 of my gym obsession until I go to Mexico... I should go get in better shape...

Oh.. and on a side note... my dad's snowmobiles were stolen last night. That makes me so angry

So I went to go pay for my cheesecake & hot chocolate at this cute little cafe downtown yesterday, and guess what happened... it involves the debit machine returning the ever-so-dreaded 'insufficient funds' message. I was so embarassed! Haha Luckily I had an amazing friend with me who helped me out until I could pay her back. Turns out the bank hasn't processed one of my cheques yet, so my account was next to... well.. empty.

It's obvious, but this is what happens when you do not have a job. That's me, jobless.

Luckily I've got a line up of paid (YAY!) shoots throughout the next few weeks. And I'm actually ultra excited for them! I have a friend who is willing to lend me his beauty dish, and I'll be having my first in-studio shoot of the season! I'm so pumped about this. These will be fun AND rewarding (hopefully!).

Something else I'm hoping (well, more wondering if) will be rewarding-- I've been invited to join the Flickr collection for Getty Images. I've never done stock photography before, but I think it could be a great experience. Apparently they're quite reputable as well, because I've heard nothing but good things about them. I'm definitely seriously considering this... If anyone is reading this, and has experience with stock photography, I'd love any/all advice you've got!

Thanks for reading, if you are...

I have been reading blogs and going through websites of amazing photographers and it's just so inspiring. Reminding me never to give this up, to keep reaching for my goals and to always take a step out of my little box, no matter how scary it seems to me.
On a side note, I'm going to the lake this weekend! It's going to be freezing! Yes, it has just begun to snow outside... >

It's 2:40am and even though it's comparitively early for me, I'm actually kind of ready for bed. I've just spent the last few days watching House- Season 4 &5. I'm on the last disc for season 5, then I'll be forced to wait the complete duration of one week between new episodes as the 6th season has just started up on TV.

I've got a photoshoot tomorrow, so I should probably be sleeping I guess. I've already concluded that I am relatively tired, seeing as I fell asleep towards the end of the last House episode I watched, but part of me just can't bring myself to go to bed. Perhaps I'm just too lazy to clean off all the clothes on my bed... or maybe it's the brightness of the computer screen stimulating my mind to stay awake.

Either way, I'm not in bed. So I figured I'd update my DeviantArt journal. I haven't in a while, and just now I decided it's about time!

I'm still unemployed, but that's my fault as I haven't been searching for a new job. I know, due to the lack of photo uploads, it doesn't seem like I've had many shoots lately but believe me... they're coming. It kind of feels like the calm before the storm right now. I've had to bump a few around due to issues with the weather too (ie. the one day it rains, I've got a shoot booked), so now I've had to book back-to-back photoshoots which, honestly, I am not really used to as of yet. I'm sure I'll manage & get used to it though, and have fun at the same time.

I've had some other really cool things happen recently, related to model agencies and photoshop workshops but I'll have to describe them in another journal as I've finally come to the decision of sleep. And I better get to it before I change my mind and stay up until 5am.

Niiight!

Soo I'm still ridiculously tired! It's 4:06am which is usually about the time I'd get to bed if I was  working the night shift at work. The good news though, is that my job is finished! It was just a summer job and now it's over, so I can definitely enjoy the last few weeks of my summer!

I'm finding that I'm even more busy now though, than when I was working 10hrs a day. It seems like anyone who was interested in working with me has left it to the end of the summer and now things are starting to feel jam-packed and squished.

I had a photoshoot on Wednesday with Jamie Pryde! It felt soo good to finally start shooting again. We planned to shoot at the top of a parkade downtown, and then on the day of the shoot it began raining on us. And then there was a tornado warning... but we were pretty determined to shoot so I covered my camera with a ZipLoc freezer bag and we shot anyways. It was a lot of fun and I made a point to use my 50mm 1.8 more, which I am realizing I should have done a loooong time ago!

Anyways, something else that's pretty cool and that I'm suuper excited for-- I'm going to be collaborating with Asilwen (Brittany Dona-lyn)! We're not exactly sure when yet, but hopefully within the next week or two!

Coffee, Coffee, Coffee... if photography is going to be my profession am I pretty sure I will be addicted to caffeine for the rest of my life.

My job is coming to an end but things are really starting to get busy for me. The sun is going down faster and faster. Ruined my chances to meet someone really cool. Started going to the gym again. Bought 5 new shirts & a pair of super-tight skinny jeans. Stay up until 4am most nights because my work schedule messed with my sleep schedule.

Photoshoot tomorrow!

Need new shoes! Boots maybe... and a haircut-- thinking of going brunette again...

Too tired to make real sentences.

Niight!

FML...

I really need new music to listen to, I just bought the new Metric CD and looooove it! And I feel like I'm starting to really like Kings of Leon. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? My iTunes needs to be updated like CRAZY!!

On a side note, I have a photoshoot on Thursday! Woot! And I'm going on a roadtrip with 3 friends starting Friday! We're going to go up a mountain in Banff and then hang out at the West Edmonton Mall/Amusementpark/Waterpark all in one long weekend! It's a 15 1/2 hour drive to Banff but it's going to be a lot of fun

Bring on the Monster Energy Drinks!

After tomorrow I will have worked at my new job for a month already! I wish I could say it's gone by really fast but it really hasn't. I'm just very seriously happy it's only a summer job...and very seriously happy that the pay is quite decent! I have so many plans for that money too, so it's the motivation I need to get me through. Today while sitting at work I wrote a note to my friend Darcy that said,

"Dear Death,
Please swoop down and take me now.

Thanks,
Brittany"

I've made it my absolute mission to make sure I never have to work a job so monotonous like that for the rest of my life! Which means I guess I have to go to school. But what do I take?

I'm thinking of taking a business course at college. It doesn't sound like fun at all but it might be veeeery helpful! And I have no doubt that it will help me reach my highest goal of all: to be self-sustainable as a *fashion *portraiture * beauty *people photographer.

It's still a far off dream, but I'm working on it and I won't stop

Wow... I haven't even checked my deviantart page in probably about a month! When I signed in today I found that I had 433 Messages! I don't know if that's a lot for a whole month or not but I thought it was pretty up there... Most of it was journal updates, polls, news articles aaaand...critiques!? I should really pay more attention around here, those are new to me! I don't know how they work at all but they sound kind of neat.

I don't know though, everytime I sign into my deviantart account I begin to feel... claustrophobic...? I feel like there are so many different kinds of updates I really have no idea where to look, or begin. Which kind of makes me sad because then I get flustered and end up looking passed everything too quickly, or not at all and some of you deviants are very interesting and I hate missing your stuff!!

I'm trying to think of a solution for myself and I really can't think of one... maybe I'm watching too many people? I don't know, does anyone else know what I mean though? Or am I just a weirdo??

Enough complaining though! My life is nothing to complain about so I should tell you some positive things!

I got a job! Not a very creative or exciting one but it pays veeery well which is making a new studio lighting kit look like a very possible, near-future purchase! I've also got a light meter on my list of future purchases and maaybe pocket wizards... but I'm not sure about the latter just yet... I've heard and experienced some not-so-pleasing things about them. There are so many things I want though!!

I've been very blessed with a line-up of clients this passed little while too, which I am very greatful for as well! I love photoshoots, and post-processing and working with a team of creative people. This for life, would be such a beautiful life.

It's spring now too! Which means it's almost summer! Which means the sun will be beautiful and warm and golden and I'm very happy.

So right now, I can't find too much to complain about. I hope you're all doing well!

I'm soo horrible with these update journals! I'm sorry!
Here's a little re-cap of my life in the past few weeks for you though:

After my birthday I ended up returning to Vancouver to spend some time with my family out there. I wanted to check out a university that I was interested in attending and just get a change of scenery. I spent two weeks there and it was probably one of the best experiences of my life! I was busy from day 1 to the end! I even managed to contact a photographer and assist him on a fashion shoot!

My aunt got me in the habit of working out everyday too! It feels awesome!

Since I've been home again, I've managed to set a few interesting things up which I'm looking veeeery forward too! So those should be popping up in the next few weeks

Other than that, I've just been spending time with friends (when they aren't writing mid-terms :S) and chilling at home, I even cook dinner every few nights for my family. I desperately need to get a part-time job though!

Anyways, I hope you're all well! Happy Valentine's Day!!!

It's my birthday today!!!

I'm 19 now, not 18. Woah, that's one year away from 20! Sccaary!

Today, I think I might have done one of the coolest things I've ever gotten to do on my birthday! The president of a photography club that I'm a part of in Winnipeg took me to the top of the highest skyskraper in our city to take pictures. I have zero experience with any type of photography related to that level of elevation but the view was aammaaazzing! I just about froze my fingers off though because Winnipeg is so damn cold in the Winter (only -28 today, but when you're up that high...). I managed to get feeling back into them after a while though

Anyways I'm off to dinner now, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and a fantastic New Year! Did anyone get anything good for Christmas? I think I'm going to be getting a Lensbaby for my birthday!!

12/8/08
It is waay too late for me to be up writing a journal entry, but really... going to bed is lame! I know i am going to regret saying that tomorrow, but this screen is keeping my eyes from drifting anywhere close to sleep!

Tomorrow I'll be spending an entire 8 hours of work, downstairs, alone in a filing room with nothing but yellow invoice papers to keep me company! lol Does that make waking up appealing to you? It doesn't for me!

But here's a little update, since I'm up anyways. My Self-Love project has been put on the side for a bit, because I'm running out of close friends and now have begun to reach out to more distantly-connected friends, and scheduling is a bummer around Christmas time! I do have some more in the works though, so it's not over yet!

Also, one of my shots was chosen to hang in a photo gallery in my city! It was very exciting! I've never had anything printed before and I submitted it to be printed at 20x30! It was very big and very beautiful! I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to showcase my work like that!

And now I need to seriously kick my butt into bed... I know that I shouldn't go on the computer before bed, yet I do it over and over again and end up staying on until 2 O'Clock in the morning! Laaaame.

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I was introduced to photography at the age of about 13 or 14 by the ever-so-popular disposable camera. Since then I've bought a used Canon 10D with an EF 28-105mm zoom lens and never gone back! My camera bag also holds a Canon 550EX speedlight flash and a EF 50mm 1.8 lens.

I am forever striving to improve my photography, which I believe is also helping me to grow and define myself as a person. I love experimentation and wild pictures, yet I also love soft, subtle expressive works. Fashion and portrait photography is what I find myself most drawn too, but I would love to try out other kinds of photography as well.

I am a very nice person, I like to smile (although not in pictures somehow...) and be generally a happy person. If you would like to ask me any questions, please feel free to message me or send me an email (b.alyse@gmail.com). I know this saying is repeated too often, but really, I don't bite


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UPDATE:
10/14/08
I feel somewhat robotic today! I'm just in a mood to get things done and I think that it's just a little strange because I only had about 4 hours of sleep last night. You'd think I'd be glassy-eyed and drooling but I'm not *shrug*

I was so productive at work today that I actually ran out of things to do and started doing the receptionist's work. And then when I got home I grabbed some fresh sheets for my bed and cleaned my room and now i'm sorting through pictures and replying to emails. It feels really good to get things done

I went to the Flo-Rida concert at a club downtown yesterday. It was a little surprizing, to me, that he didn't actually go on stage until 12:30AM, I thought he'd start much earlier which is why I was there at 9. I still had a good time, I managed to touch his bicept and you can think I'm shallow but it was worth the wait He definitely works out... *eyes glaze over*


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I was introduced to photography at the age of about 13 or 14 by the ever-so-popular disposable camera. Since then I've bought a used Canon 10D with an EF 28-105mm zoom lens and never gone back! My camera bag also holds a Canon 550EX speedlight flash and a EF 50mm 1.8 lens.

I am forever striving to improve my photography, which I believe is also helping me to grow and define myself as a person. I love experimentation and wild pictures, yet I also love soft, subtle expressive works. Fashion and portrait photography is what I find myself most drawn too, but I would love to try out other kinds of photography as well.

I am a very nice person, I like to smile (although not in pictures somehow...) and be generally a happy person. If you would like to ask me any questions, please feel free to message me or send me an email (b.alyse@gmail.com). I know this saying is repeated too often, but really, I don't bite


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UPDATE:
09/25/08
I found a travel buddy! And calculated that I will definitely make enough money by April to do some serious Europe travelling for up to 2 months! It is SO on! I'm thinking I should get cracking on my french skills... or maybe italian?
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I was introduced to photography at the age of about 13 or 14 by the ever-so-popular disposable camera. Since then I've bought a used Canon 10D with an EF 28-105mm zoom lens and never gone back! My camera bag also holds a Canon 550EX speedlight flash and a EF 50mm 1.8 lens.

I am forever striving to improve my photography, which I believe is also helping me to grow and define myself as a person. I love experimentation and wild pictures, yet I also love soft, subtle expressive works. Fashion and portrait photography is what I find myself most drawn too, but I would love to try out other kinds of photography as well.

I am a very nice person, I like to smile (although not in pictures somehow...) and be generally a happy person. If you would like to ask me any questions, please feel free to message me or send me an email (b.alyse@gmail.com). I know this saying is repeated too often, but really, I don't bite


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So I think it's about time for an update. I'm horrible at this journal stuff! The longest I've ever kept an actual journal, is about 2 months and that was only because I was in Germany and I wanted to document every single day in such a way that I would remember it forever. I can't seem to wrap my head around this blog stuff though. It always looks so appealing when I read other people's blogs, but I just can't keep my own straight

This is for updates though, so update you I shall.

This summer I managed to get a full-time job in an office doing filing and back-up reception. It's an 8:30 - 5:00 job and not entirely creative in any way. But I'm hoping it will help fund my return trip to Europe, and if not I can blow it on equipment and/or post highschool education.

I wanted to take a photography diploma course, but it's a whole lot of money for a diploma ($10,000). I'm wondering if it wouldn't just be better to spend that money on lenses and lighting gear and practise on my own. Maybe take a course or hit a few seminars too...

Other than that though,I've been spending as much weekend time at the lake as is possible and I've had 6 photoshoots since summer began. And with each I think I've improved a lot too, you'll get to see a few of the resulting pictures soon so you can see for yourself.

I've got my very first male-model shoot in a few weeks too, so look out for that as well.

Well, that's all I've got for you. Let me know how you're summer is going! What have you been up to?

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