Archive for the ‘Me’ Category

There will be no Art Display Project today but Come back on Tuesday for my last guest blogger, and then Wednesday for a sneak peek into a few wall projects of my own I’ve been working on AND… the GIVEAWAY winner will be announced!  So use this break to enter the contest and have a peek into a wonderful lifestyle project I’m doing this year with a handful of incredibly amazing talent.  

The weather has been absolutely beautiful this month, nothing like January at all.  Today was no exception so after church we decided to go exploring to find a new place to hike.  One of the things I adore about where we live is the diversity in the landscape.  Our house backs to “open space” with golden hills and scrub oak trees.   We can drive less than an hour west and hit the Pacific Ocean.  And just up Highway 24 we can enjoy redwood forests and lush vegetation.  Today we headed to the trees.  It felt like a different world once we entered the trail.  The redwoods towered above us letting pockets of light in here and there.  The scent of Eucalyptus hung in the air. It was cool and moist and everything was incredibly quiet, it was almost eerie.  The kids said they felt like they were in Jurrasic Park.  I would have to agree.  It was magical.  A stream and a bridge and all was well with the world.  We’re going back again soon!

 

Don’t stop here.  Continue around the circle and take a peek at what everyone’s been up to this month starting with Jennifer Nguyen | Snails and Pigtails Photography | Temecula, CA Photographer.  Keep clicking through the circle and you’ll end up right where you started.

 

I adore the time between the holidays and spring.  It’s the “slow season” for most photographers and for me it’s the time I get to spend more time with my family.  I’ve made it a goal this year to balance my business and personal life better so I’m starting here on my blog.

These are my two girls.  They both have the best. hair. ever.  I’d like to say bribery was not involved in this little session, but that would be a lie.  We did have to whip out the peanut butter jar for a few of these shots.  I love how they turned out.

Project 12 | December

January 1, 2012

I can chalk 2011 as the year I took on too many personal projects.  Don’t get me wrong, I loved every single one of them.  In fact, many of them are still going strong, including What ____Looks Like, and Elevate | A Fine Art Photography Exploration, as well as Grace in [Focus].  But I’ve struggled with a few of them, including my Project 12.  My goal was to get my family together, all six of us, once a month for a picture.  A spontaneous picture of everyone together.  Once a month.  And it started out strong.  Until I got to month 4.  And then I lost momentum and my Project 12 turned into I’ll-Be-Luck-If-I-Take-One-Every-Other-Month Project.  Which is roughly what happened.  My Project 12 has officially ended as a Project 6.  And I’m actually OK with that.  That’s 5 more pictures of us together than we had last year.  I plan on attempting this project again in 2012 because I really believe in it and I hope it has inspired others to set the self-timer and record their families in the moment, real, and together.

Here is our final Project 12 image for 2011 taken on December 31st.  It’s not perfect, but it’s us.

 

 

One of my favorite things about “after Christmas” is taking down and putting away Christmas.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’m just as enthusiastic to put it up the first of December.  But I just relish the feeling of “clean” and “orderly” and “clutter-free” when Christmas is packed away again for another year.  It helps me prepare for the new year and new goals and a fresh start.  And I find that when everything is packed away back into the garage, I get the itch to rearrange furniture and redecorate a little.  For me January is a month of new beginnings.

This past year, my goal has been to print and display more of my own art/images in my home.  I found that I spend the majority of my “work time” shooting, editing, and printing  clients’ work and , while I do spent lots of time shooting for myself, my own personal images are often left on my hard drive hoping to one day see the light of day. I wanted to print and display the pictures of my own kids so that they could enjoy them in our home.  I also wanted to offer ideas for clients who may be struggling with how to use the images from their own sessions in their homes.  Once I made that my goal, I was perplexed as to where and how to display them.  I scoured the internet and Pinterest looking for inspiration.  And while I found many ideas, it sparked a curiosity of how my friends have used and displayed photographs in their own homes.  And how many, like me, haven’t.

So, I’ve invited 32 of my fellow photographer friends to guest blog here every day during the month of January and share how they use and display their own photographs in their homes.  I hope you’ll come by and get ideas and inspiration from these talented women to use in your own homes!

Tomorrow I will kick off the project and the new year with Joyce Smith of Joyce Smith Photography!

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas 2011

December 25, 2011

The past month has been spent getting ready for Christmas and spending time with family but I wanted to jump on and wish you all the merriest of Christmases and the happiest of holidays.  I am blessed to have a job that I adore, a family that supports and loves me and friends, both far and near, that make me smile.  I truly love this Christmas season and the opportunity to reflect on the gift of my Savior.  My heart is full.  Merry Christmas!