Light up someone's world today

ronnie Izon August 17, 2015

Ronnie Bliss Photography_0020.jpg Another Do something Good for someone Monday.

I hope last week was fun and you were a blessing to someone. You didn't just stop with a single call did you? You sized the opportunity and called a few more people. right? Good for you!

If you're new here, this an action based blog. Each Monday, there will be an activity to perform. Simple tasks that can be accomplished within mintues, or before the day is over, the choice is always yours. The idea is to take the spotlight off yourself and make someone else's day. Be a blessing. Simple!

Today's task. Light up somebody's world with your dazzling smile. That's right, smile, consciously, to at least 5 people today. Done right, one of the recipients will reciprocate. Some will even compliment you. Others may ask what's going on. Regardless of what you're going through today, smile. Brighten someone day with your infectious smile.

Did you do it? Well? How hard was that? How'd it go? Did you get compliments? Anyone smile back at you? Ask what's going on with you? Tell us all about it in the comment section.

Love the idea? Share the post. Until next Monday.... Do something Good for someone.

Make a phone call - Say hello

ronnie Izon August 10, 2015

Ronnie Bliss Photography_0020.jpg Welcome to the inaugural edition of Do something Good for someone Monday.

For most people Mondays can be daunting. We would rather skip a few days and move right into the weekend. But guess what? Monday always rolls around. The goal of Do something Good for someone Monday is simply to be a blessing to someone else. Simple. Make someone's Monday.

How?

This an action based blog. Each Monday, there will be an activity to perform. Simple tasks that can be accomplished within minutes or before the day is over, the choice is always yours. The idea is to take the spotlight off yourself and make someone else's day. Be a blessing.

Today's task. Make a phone call, say hello. Think of someone you haven't seen or heard from in a while. A few days, weeks, months, or years perhaps. Pull out your phone right now, yes, right now, scroll through the contact list, there's someone out there that would truly LOVE to hear your voice. Your mom, dad, sister, brother, friend old school room mate or colleague, that person you've been meaning to call. Brighten someone's day, start with a simple hello.

Did you make the call? Who did you call? How hard was that? Tell us all about it in the comment section.

Love the idea? Share the post. Until next Monday.... Do something Good for someone.

5 Fun Things To Do For The Newly Engaged. Plus a bonus tip

ronnie Izon August 8, 2015

Assuming you’ve returned from cloud nine – whoooo, and coherent, here are 5 fun things to do before the whirlwind of the budget, headcount, venue, date, dress, shoes, color, coordinator etc. kicks in.

Gather the girls together. You know, your bff’s, wing(wo)man, keeper of all your secrets, minder of your broken heart. Before you put it on social media, this is waayyyy to important to drop it on social media. You’ll have all the time to hit ‘post’, trust me. I’m talking serious girls night out here, details, details, details, it’s on!
Get a manicure, you have some serious bling to show off. Go for clear or neutral color, you don't want anything to compete with your bling. No punchy neon color or glitters. YOU. ARE. THE. STAR. not OPI, Essie or China Glaze. And, oh bring the girls along.
Perfect your engagement story. Why? Because you didn't hear what he said in the first place. You saw the ring and everything else was a blur. You are going to be tell this epic story over and over and over again. The idea here is not to tell a fib, but to perfect your unique, award winning, New York best seller story of how he proposed. Perfect one for the ages.
Dream. You’ll thank me for this later. Dream. A lot. It’s free. Imagine how you would love your very special day to unfold. What would you love to happen on that day? You know, ... out of the abundance of the heart.... It’s free and cheaper. You’ve been dreaming of this moment your entire life, haven’t you? You time has finally come. You're limited only by your imagination.
Start practicing your new signature and the sound of your new name. Remember what you did with your first boyfriend’s name? Practicing your signature as a kid, a combination of your maiden name and his? Or altogether adopting his name, aww, it doesn’t matter, the idea is to have fun before the details hits.

Most importantly, get a professional engagement photo. Right away. As in now. While you’re still glowing. Selfies are great, there nothing wrong with them, it just the fashion right now. Don’t believe me? How selfie crazy were we 10 years ago? You’ll need professional images for your announcements, invitation cards, giveaways, websites, social media profile, phone, tablet, laptop, pc screen cover, right? You get it. Call me, let’s capture the glow and leave evidence of your love for your children, grandchildren and generations to come.

Bonus tip. Add your honeymoon fund to the wedding registry, you can afford your own toaster or that 20 place setting you'll never use. Your friends and families truly would love to give you a great start. Take the trip of a lifetime and fall in love all over again.

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Eye candy

ronnie Izon August 6, 2015

Why drive 70 miles for a photo shoot?

When it's in the company of great friends, beautiful couple, wonderful creatives and an old cadillac.

Julie and Caleb looks absolutely gorgeous it was well worth the drive.

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And the venue? well, take a look.

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Here's to all the creatives who work hand in hand in support of one another:

Another Step In The Right Direction

ronnie Izon August 4, 2015

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The challenge was another simple task that lead to developing my good habit.

Write a list. That's it. A list. A very simple list. Nothing fancy, she wrote. Keep it with important papers or digital files.

So I wrote my list. A list of thoughts and ideas, interests and passion. And yes, there's a difference between interests and passion but that's for another day.

My list started simply enough, but grew quickly. Out of the list came 'Do Good Mondays', an inspirational short read geared toward doing something GOOD, mostly for others, sometimes for ourselves. Call it my Monday morning nudging.

I’m taking baby steps. Which of your business or personal goals do you need help with? There are 27 days left in August. Let’s do this together.

xo ... Ronnie

Sometimes baby steps is all you need

ronnie Izon August 2, 2015

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General theory is that it takes approximately 21 days to form a new habit. Let's see if that holds true on my personal quest.

Day 2 of my blogging challenge is taking baby steps by performing a simple task: make sure all updates on wordpress are applied.

Why are updates important? It ensures that the latest version of a software is running. Simply put today's task is to make sure my copy of wordpress is in a healthy state. This simple task is often overlooked if you use another plugin to write your blog like I do. I just started using BlogStomp which for many creatives and small business owners, is a major time saver. That time element alone is one of the reasons my blogging takes a back seat. By taking baby steps now I'm crossing three items off my mile long to-do list: 1) image placement? Check! 2) posting to multiple sites with one action? Check!! 3) apply wordpress updates? Check!!!

I'm taking baby steps. Which of your business or personal goals do you need help with? There's a whole 29 days left in August. Let's do this together.

xo ... Ronnie

If at first you don't succeed, try and try again

ronnie Izon August 1, 2015

An old adage that fits my situation perfectly. Try as I may, my blogging continues to take a back seat amidst the mile long to do list of a small business photopreneur. I know the advice I'd give anyone struggling with a attaining a goal is to try again, therefore, I'm taking a dose of my own medicine. In large quantities.

How?

I'm joining photography awesomesauce's month long challenge to develop a better blogging habit. No I'm not writing the next best seller, just sharing a bit of my work and piece of my universe with you. So, come along for the ride.

Look forward to seeing your comments. xo Ronnie Ronnie Bliss Photography_0003.jpg

Upper Marlboro, Wedding + Reception | Suliat & Akanni Sneak Peak

ronnie Izon April 21, 2015

For some their wedding day is just a blur and they wonder what just happened. For Suliat Adedayo and Akanni it was anything but a blur. April 11th was a day that started with prayer, filled with the high energy and excitement, with lots of friends and families, and star studded performances. A unique father daughter-dance, with both fathers: one sharing, the other gaining, united by love, dancing with a woman they both call daughter. To my very own favorite love song "Olo mi" performed by the one and only Tosin Martins. I'm not sure which captivated me the most, Tosin, the song or the electric charge between Suliat and Akanni as they danced that I nearly forgot to click the shutter on my camera. A million thanks to, my wonderful co-photographer, Toyin Photos who kept on shooting, otherwise, you would have missed much of that scene. And then there was the surprise performance of Banky W - "Yes/No" by our very own Nigerian-American Got Talent Temitope and her friend that got Suliat into tears of joy. Turns out Akanni had mentioned the song at the family introduction last year, well this year, Suliat Adedayo said "Yes" loud and clear at the Muslim Community Center in Silver Spring, Maryland and danced the night away at Camelot. One of the refreshing part from both Suliat and Adedayo was a departure from the predictable change into traditional attire. Suliat STUNNED in a body hugging, show stopping, breathtaking black and gold evening gown that leaves no doubt who the celebrant is. To put it in a wise person's word, Akanni 'took his eye to the market'.

Enjoy the highlight images of the night while I put the finishing touched on their personal website.