Archive for the ‘Personal’ Category

Make Your Wedding Memorable

February 4th, 2013

TweetWeddings to me, as a photographer, can sometimes seem different. I’ll admit I’ve never been a bride, but I do know far too much about weddings. People ask me a lot why I like weddings and what draws me to them. It’s really hard question to answer because for me it’s hard to put into [...]
 

Weddings to me, as a photographer, can sometimes seem different. I’ll admit I’ve never been a bride, but I do know far too much about weddings. People ask me a lot why I like weddings and what draws me to them. It’s really hard question to answer because for me it’s hard to put into words.

I was talking to a friend the other day about planning her wedding and she was worried about cost, traditions and family drama. I can’t blame her, everyone worries about these things. It’s only natural and most families (especially mine) are a little crazy, mostly in a good way!

However, a wedding to me is more than all these things. A wedding, more importantly a marriage, is more than one day of celebration. I don’t believe you have to have a big wedding, an elaborate venue, food, drink, etc. In the end that’s not what’s memorable. Weddings to me are the perfect combination of beauty and strength. A wedding should be personal to a couple and set the ground for their marriage. Are you funky and fun? Or romantic and traditional? It should be intimate.

So, why do I love weddings?

Weddings light me up inside. They makes me realize I’m stronger than I ever thought I could be. Weddings makes me happy and sad at the same time. They empower me to be a better person and a better photographer. Weddings challenge and change me with each new couple I meet. Weddings are my Everest, and I get to climb to the top with each new couple’s story I am privileged to tell.

Remember why your getting married. Make your wedding memorable!

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Good Reads: My Favorite Books

January 30th, 2013

TweetAdmittedly, I was burnt out after college. I double majored in four years with the last two years going straight through both summers. I was done with reading! I had to read so many art, history and business books I just about gave up on ever being able to read for enjoyment ever again. It’s [...]
 

Admittedly, I was burnt out after college. I double majored in four years with the last two years going straight through both summers. I was done with reading! I had to read so many art, history and business books I just about gave up on ever being able to read for enjoyment ever again. It’s only now, almost six years after college (and building my business, aka reading more boring business books) that I’ve made it my goal to start reading again for pleasure.

To start, I thought I’d share some of my all time favorite books. In later posts, I’ll share what I’ve currently read and tell you what I think. Sound like fun? I thought so!

The Catcher in the Rye

The Catcher in the Rye,  JD Salinger. Ok, this is hands down my favorite book of all time! The character narration always gets me so enthralled that I start thinking like Holden. There’s something very magnetic and honest about him.

The Yellow Wallpaper

The Yellow Wallpaper, Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Don’t knock me for loving chick-lit because I just can’t stop myself! This is actually a short story published in 1892. My bleeding feminist heart loved the decent into madness this oppressed woman goes through.

The Masque of the Red Death

The Masque of the Red Death, Edgar Allen Poe. I LOVE scary stories, horror, exorcism, crazy masked killers, gripping murder mysteries… YES TO ALL! I started reading Poe in high school and I couldn’t get enough. I love the writing style, the quick metaphors and descriptions. My English teacher had us listen to a reading of the Tell Tale Heart on Halloween with the lights off one year. The beating sound of the heart… ah it’s brilliant!

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Hamlet. I swear teacher, I’ve read it cover to cover multiple times. Ok, well the abridged version. But still I love the classics. I can’t help it. I’ve read Hamlet probably at least fives times. I love the way Shakespeare used words. The words he invented and the Old English prose. I love the effortlessness of Ophelia and the courage of Horatio.

Well, if you couldn’t tell by these, I’m a nerd. Hardcore. I love the classics that most people hated reading in school, crazy murder stories and feminist ranting. I’m just going to own it. Because these books shaped my adolescence.

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Feel free to follow me on GoodReads, this amazing website and app that lets you track your books and set up reading lists and discussions. See my profile here, and friend me. I love to see what other people are reading and getting recommendations!

 

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Stewie the Super Dog

October 26th, 2012

TweetFall is my favorite season and Halloween, my favorite holiday is fast approaching. Brayton begged me not to, but I just had to get Stewie a Halloween costume this year. At first I wanted him to be Batman (because he’s the greatest super hero) but this costume was easier for him to wear. He will [...]
 

Fall is my favorite season and Halloween, my favorite holiday is fast approaching. Brayton begged me not to, but I just had to get Stewie a Halloween costume this year. At first I wanted him to be Batman (because he’s the greatest super hero) but this costume was easier for him to wear. He will only keep it on for about 5 minutes until he starts biting it off. So, I decided he would be SUPER STEWIE!!!!

“Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!”

“It’s a bird, it’s a plane…. It’s SUPER STEWIE!”

Saving the world is hard work… Happy Halloween from Stewie!

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Telling Their Story

October 23rd, 2012

TweetI glanced at the clock through blurry eyes. Six am. I quickly converted the time difference in my head. Ugh, 4am. I tried to roll over and sleep. I begin to feel it. Remember the dream I just had. Its a blur, voices and people whirl around me. Forgetting memory cards, dropping lens losing images. [...]
 

I glanced at the clock through blurry eyes. Six am. I quickly converted the time difference in my head. Ugh, 4am. I tried to roll over and sleep.

I begin to feel it. Remember the dream I just had. Its a blur, voices and people whirl around me. Forgetting memory cards, dropping lens losing images. Upset guests, parents yelling at me. And I can’t stop it. It continues until I wake up in a panic. After washing my tired face, I check my bag again. Doubled, triple checking memory cards, lenses batteries. Reading over the day of schedule I tried to take a deep breath. I call my mom…

“I’m nervous!” I hesitantly blurt out.

“Take a walk, she suggests. I stretch, rubbing my wrist feeling the tension in my arms. What I can control is my makeup, my hair. I make sure everything is perfect. Or as close as I can get.

I open the door to the church, I’m the first one there. I sit in silence in the lobby. I breath in deeply. Today is not about me. Today is about them. Today is about family, love, emotion.

I can do this! Somehow…

The anxiety begins to fade and I hear bridesmaids busting through the doors. I’m on. I’ve got this.

Shaking a little, I pick up my camera, put a smile on my face and walk over to the girls.

It’s time to tell their story….

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Motivated by Fear

July 17th, 2012

TweetI’ve been sitting in a lot of churches lately. I say ‘sitting’ because I can’t be completely present at every mass because I’m working. I’m still think about the ambient light in the room and my ISO. However, I have caught little bits and pieces of prayers, different religious traditions and hymns. My job is [...]
 

I’ve been sitting in a lot of churches lately. I say ‘sitting’ because I can’t be completely present at every mass because I’m working. I’m still think about the ambient light in the room and my ISO. However, I have caught little bits and pieces of prayers, different religious traditions and hymns. My job is really interesting. I like seeing how different religions worship.

This past weekend, I was helping my friend Jenna at a wedding and I had a moment to reflect. The pastor/priest/minister (etc…) was talking about how marriage is scary, and how that is a good thing. Big life decisions are supposed to be scary. He wasn’t trying to frighten the crowd, but speaking from the heart. Scary is good. Scary means you’re taking a risk; growing, learning. I could help but relate in my own way.

Brayton asked me over wine one night what I would do if I was broke. No money, no credit cards, and no prospect of future income. What would I do if I had no money for the rest of my life?

“I’d find a tin can, and make a pinhole camera!” I immediately replied.

This answer may have been slightly fueled by wine but it’s true. I’d still find a way to photograph.  Not only because I love it, but because it scares me sometimes. I’m afraid I’ll fail. But that’s what motivates me. I know this is a sick way to motivated yourself, but fear also pushes me. Fear pushes me to be better… enter Art Prize, experiment with a new lens, take risks personally and professionally.

I had planned on shooting with my 70-200 mm lens for this wedding and the sun was blaring! There was no shade in sight and I felt that fear creeping back up. How the heck was this going to work? But then I took a moment, re-grouped myself, pushed the fear away and leaned on my technically skills. I know how to shoot in bright sun. I can do this! And I surprised myself with the end results. Because, in the back of my mind, I knew I could do it. I just needed to believe in myself!

How does fear motivate you?

More from Jill and Matt’s wedding coming soon!

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