... Chloe ...

This past weekend I had the pleasure of not one but two birthday sessions in my home studio.
First to visit me was little miss Chloe. She was cute as can be. From the flower in her hair, to her bright blue eyes (which I didn't edit at all!) and to her black and pink zebra dress & shoes, I was almost overloaded with the cuteness standing before me.

I then showed her where to sit and we were ready to shoot... until my cat walked in and decided to photo bomb half of the pictures. Chloe loved him and wanted to play with him, but I don't think that Mommy & Daddy would want pictures of their pretty princess with some strange cat.
If I wouldn't have known any better I do believe that my cat thought all the props were set up for a session for him. Good thing I have mad photoshop skills that allowed me to get Mr. KiKi completely erased from the pictures ;)

Here is a little teaser at Chloe's 2nd Birthday Session. Enjoy!

... life, family & photography ...

When I seen a few friends posting today about the loss of a loved one, it hit closer to home than I ever thought it would. 

It made me think about how badly I lack at giving myself what I give others. 

How I take more pictures of other peoples families than I do my own. 

If I was to pass right at this moment, would my family have pictures of all of us that they could cherish forever? Yes, a few. But not nearly the amount that I want them to have.

No where near the amount of memories caught on film that I want them to always cherish and remember.

So that being said....

Starting today, I'm making a promise to my family to take more pictures and create more memories for us.  I promise to take more pictures FOR myself. (not of myself because well... that would be kinda conceded honestly)

Not just the average posed pictures where everyone is one big happy smiling family, but the ones that speak louder than words ever can. 

The ones that are 100% of our everyday lifestyles.

The ones that will make my family look at a picture and say "That's exactly how I remember that day."

I feel that I should say something along the lines of "This is not my way of announcing anything that people should know". This is just me simply starting that I need to start doing more for myself and my family when it comes to the photography part of my life.  

 I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.  ~Author Unknown

... Photography Bucket List ...

By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be - Mark Victore Hansen

According to the definition, a bucket list is a list of ideas you would like to achieve before you pass, or "kick the bucket" as some say. While I do have a bucket list for my personal life, I recently realized that I also have a photography bucket list. On this list I have places, achievements and photos that I would like to capture in my lifetime. Of course millions of thoughts have flooded my brain, but until now I never thought to share and document my bucket list along the way. So I grabbed a pencil and let all those thoughts spill effortlessly onto a piece of paper.  Some are a little cliche and over done, but either way their are something that I want to do. So, in no particular order, here's it is.... drum roll please...

 

1. secretly capture a proposal
2. elderly couple madly in love
3. surprise birth annoucement
4. birth session
5. dancer in mid air
6. lightning
7. complete a 365 Project
8. photograph my brothers wedding
9. attend WPPI
10. have one of my pictures published
11. become apart of The Tiny Sparrow Foundation and capture pictures for deserving family.
12. capture a photographer in action
13. have a photographer capture me in action
14. open a studio
15. photograph a complete stranger
16. session in the rain
17.  series of seasons from the same location
18. inspire somebody else to become a photographer through my work
19. bird in flight
20. dramatic self portrait 
21. nude shoot of a tattooed girl
22. city life night shot
23. raw emotion


There it is. I will be keeping everyone updated as I start this journey to complete my bucket list, and of course I know several more ideas will be added along the way.
My Bucket List journey starts right now. I welcome you to come along for the ride.