Now, let me share some of my favs. Some I just love and some, you may just love. Feel free to send any of these my way if you are feeling overly generous.

I love this belt. It seems homemade, but as in my case of ‘homemade,  much better quality. Hey, what can I say – I will admit that I HAVE HOT GLUED BUTTONS ON instead of sewn them. Ahem. So I really appreciate someone else’s handi work when it comes to fabric art.

This is one of my favorite stocking stuffers: MOOSE-staches!

If I knew how to embed the image into the blog, I would, to keep you from having to click here and there. I guess you can see how much I blog and how fluent I am with – umm, just adding my pics and that’s about it.

I love the idea of this photo journal. For many photography forums/classes one of the first things they want you to do is start to see the beauty in your world. What moves you and the best way to begin this process is a 365 day photography journal. Take a photo a day of something, of anything, even when you don’t feel like it at all.  JUST DO IT! Once you do start taking photos and making it a daily routine – somehow you begin to look for the beauty in things you had taken for granted in your ordinary every day life. Love this idea!!

If there is one thing I really really love – besides coffee, chocolate, photography, art………I love good bedding. I am actually borderline obsessed with it. If you have never had a really ‘GOOD’ down comforter… I have to recommend Pacific Down Comforters. They are AMAZING. I actually just threw mine away after I have to say 15 yrs. It got washed in the regular wash and feathers ended up all over the place one too many times, so I’m having comforter envy and really missing my comforter. If you are one of those folks who love ‘SOFT’ things, this is the softest, comfiest comforter I’ve ever had.. and I’ve had a few. I can’t say enough wonderful things about this brand.

One of the ‘bucket’ list items for me was to get back into my art. Where I’m very happy and I found these markers that are AWESOME. For any of you that sketch visual journals and want to add some color to your world, I recommend these. They are smooth, easy to use, seem to have a lot of ink in them, although I haven’t used them all up yet, so I’m not sure how long they actually last – I do know the colors are vibrant and impacting if that’s your thing. It just so happens to be ONE of my ‘things’ so I know the product is a good one.

Perhaps this one is a little ‘out there’ for some, but this is a wish list of sorts and winter……so this bolero is so beautiful I think I’d feel guilty wearing it. It’s so soft and feminine that it just screams beautiful and an occupant that will stay in a bubble as to not let anything spoil it’s beauty.

I grew up in the midwest and have always had a fondness for cows. I understand it doesn’t seem too humane to love cow hides, I rationalize that they died for someone’s dinner plate so may as well not waste any resources. I am a resourceful animal lover. I will, in my lifetime have a cow hide.

Stocking stuffers: These are really cool but I think they’d be even cooler if they were personalized with your own photos but anyone can use Magnets.. and cute ones at that.

I used to get weird soaps like this when I was younger and thought……EW! GROSS. They looked funny, the bar was too big and awkward and the smell was usually not like the bath and body works fragrance fest I had grown accustomed to. Lately tho, since I’ve matured, I appreciate the artisian-ship that goes into these hand made soaps and I love that it doesn’t smell commercial.

Turquoise is a stone that has power. The power of the Turquoise is usually ‘protective’ and when I had my piece a while back, I used to keep it nice and snug in my bra against my heart so that my heart was protected. I have somehow misplaced that stone over the years, but this necklace would be a great way to keep it near and dear to you so the turquoise is always right over your heart space.

Since the dryer gets hungry about the time I take the socks out and end up with ONE of any set, I seem to go on the hunt for socks often. I can’t resist these socks and any girl I know would love a fun pair of these.

Clock collection? I have plenty of friends that have them and trying to find an unusual clock is on my check list. This one was fun! This prolly won’t fit in a stocking so don’t try to stuff it if it won’t fit.

Me and High Fructose Corn syrup aren’t friends on any level. So, I look for products all the time that are made with actual SUGAR instead. This is a process and a half to say the least. The funniest thing I’ve found is most european products are all made w sugar while America is a cauldron of HFCS in pretty much everything. I wonder if they are doing studies on that being the reason America is so overweight.  Some examples are Ketchup, yogurts, drinks.I was really CRAVING candy the other day and I set out to find something with sugar instead of the syrup concoctions and there was NOTHING, not one single option – bc every sweetened product in America, is made with Corn Syrup. YUCK! Sugar is hard enough on your body, that’s a given but then introduce that foreign stuff that not only raises your glycemic index but is a foreign toxin that your body doesn’t know how to metabolize. Booooo! Needless to say, I found Italian Sodas that are made with Sugar instead and fruits with carbonation. Delish. World Market makes a really good one too. These do the job and seems to be less artificial ingredients. I haven’t heard of any Italian Sodas being able to clean crime scenes.

I’ve always been an advocate of letter writing. I know I’ve found old letters from my mom, my grandparents and when I see their writing, their penmanship, it’s like they are right there with me. I say, make an effort to write letters so your handwriting is out there somewhere to be found and cherished. Don’t underestimate the astonishment and appreciation someone will have when you send them a letter you sat down and wrote for them. I love going to Barnes and Nobles and having a Starbucks while checking out this department. Write someone a letter!

It would take a special woman to appreciate this and not get offended by it instead. I love how frilly and sweet it looks, so I’d be thrilled to sport this hoot!

Umbrellas are always one of my favorite props, but I love the hearts AND that it’s see through! I can just seem this paired w a cute rain boot.

Organic, smells like you belong on an island and hydrated skin. Happy Girl! Lotion.

My apologies for all the open links. Someday when I figure out how to embed the images, I will do a better job at blogging. I hope you get everything on your lists and extend your humanitarian spirits to those lonely or less fortunate this year.

Merriest Christmas From Tomme and Erica!

First off, for those of you who don’t know, Tomme was my wedding photographer. She photographed my engagement to my bridals to my wedding day… to capturing my first born and my family. She has, for sure, captured every ‘big’ moment most would die to have captured. And not to mention the QUALITY of images I have all because of her! No lie, my house is covered with her artistic photography ability.  But this isn’t about how talented she is — this blog is about a woman who is the best friend / mentor / woman I could ever ask for.

‘She is a friend of mind. She gathers me. The pieces I am, she gathers them and gives them back to me in all the right order. It’s good, you know, when you got a woman who is a friend of your mind.’

You know when you find that person who just ‘gets you’. That person you can ‘pick up where you left off’. That person you can ‘say nothing but have said everything too’. Yep. That is Tomme. She is ‘that person’ to me. We balance each other out. In the last two years, Tomme has taught me a lot about life / photography / business / relationships / love / friendship / and more. I could never have chosen a better boss / partner to work with and for.  I only hope that I am the same for her — that I gather all her pieces and put them the correct order for her — that I am her ‘person’.  Thankfully, when she hired me on as an assistant, she was looking for ‘all my strong points’. Laugh. Funny cause I never really knew what they were… But, apparently it meshes perfect and we both wouldn’t have it any other way — hopefully — wink.  She’s a phenomenal friend / mentor / woman.

You know when you’ve had one of those awful days? Tomme is the person that writes you a sweet email / texts a sweet message.

You know when you feel you have pushed your self to your limits? And want more? Tomme is the person that teaches and shows you how to expand and grow.

You know when you get old and you think you don’t receive Christmas or Birthday presents anymore? Tomme is the person that remembers and gives you something anyways!

You know when you need someone to brainstorm concepts / ideas with? Tomme is the person I call / email / text to explore my thoughts.

You know when you wish you had someone who can always cover your back? Sigh. That for sure is Tomme.

You know the person that always asks you how your day was before you can ever get the words out of your mouth? Tomme. All the way.

You know how rare it is to find someone to work with and actually enjoy it, every time? I’ve got that with her.

And you know you can always pick up where you left off? We’ve got that.

I know I have tried to reiterate how much I love her to all you readers out there… And how much I appreciate her. But words can never really express my true feelings for her. She has taught me so much. And guided me to really appreciate love / family / photography / friendship.  Of course, I am not so sure about the order of those things… As they are all very important and meaningful. I could not have asked God for a better woman to be placed in my life.

I just wanted to send you some love your way, TomTom. I love you and I am so glad I get to work with you every day. I wish I could see your cute little face everyday, but I know seeing you on weekends for weddings is enough :[] j. Hugs and Kisses from me!

xo.

your assistant / friend — erica.

Or for some, useful … depends on what you do in your spare minutes.

I found this website that has COLORED tape. GAH!!

Little known secret – I have a fetish for stationery and all the accessories that accompany. Hence my watermark, thank you Erica!

Perhaps it stemmed from when my husband and I were in love, waiting desperately at the mailbox for his letters each day after school. He had gone into the Marines when I was still in high school-regular ole snail mail  was our only way to communicate. Can anyone fathom that today when email and text messaging is abundantly our mode of communicating?

He would tell me stories of having mail passed out in their barracks,  the letters that stood out the most ended up getting the most cat calls. It seemed to be a welcome break from the seriousness of the drill instructors ,  making sure all your corners in your bed were tucked in and exhaustion and loneliness they all encountered. While boot camp for them was a time of camaraderie, breaking them down to build them back, that one mail moment by themselves were what kept them going, kept them motivated and let them know that love was just another letter away.

Here are some of my favorite things:

Folders

Stantionery

Craft paper

Desktop Backgrounds

Coffee Mugs

Stamps

Sketch pads

Old windows

Charcoal drawings

Random… I know. But why not be random?

I want to try to provide my readers / blog viewers of my randomness more often. So, this is my ‘resolution’ — too late? — nah — my ‘resolution’ to blog more and let you into my inner self… inner random self.

x.o. ladies and gents. till next random blog.

Take a glance at the Best PHOTOBOOTH presented by Alston & Brad.

Thank you Alston and Brad for bring such characters to your wedding! We were more than happy to capture their ‘best’ moments the night you got hitched!

Until our next BEST…

tomme and erica.

*if you are interested in a Photobooth at your wedding, please contact us for more information at gallery.tommehilton@gmail.com

“Eh, not so much” I’d think & trudge through those mid day slumps hoping that some miraculous zest of energy would find itself landing on me, aiding me with a cinderella-like song within to not just finish my impending chores but actually enjoy them. I realize then almost immediately fantasies are kids tales,  then turned Disney movies, making some teenager, not more than 17 – a millionaire. Hey! Who cares? One can only hope they go into rehab before they are 23 and their parents try selling their stories to tabloids for profit. But that didn’t squelch my desire for a real live love of sitting on my computer entranced in my daze of negative ions. All in a day’s work.

The phone vibrates.  My sister calls. I don’t answer. WHAT?  I’m in the middle of some vvvveeerrryyy important work.  She then follows up with a text, somehow with a witty clairvoyant appeal, knows I’m dodging the call. I can only imagine what she wants. My sister and I haven’t been the greatest adversaries, and most of our conversations aren’t generally those either of us enjoy to the fullest. ‘Call me’ it reads. Translation = ‘Doom’.

Mine and my sister’s relationship has been laborious through the years. Our paths  different, our attitudes have been — let’s just say– varied.  I was the go-getter  always described as having wings and needing to fly to make my way. Oh, I’m sure there were much more colorful words than that, from my mom who swears I abandoned her. Which of course isn’t the case, the true story is I wanted to see some of the world, no desire to remain stuck in the midwest without hopes of seeing the outside world. My sister on the other hand was very opinionated and much more averse to change, she was more than comfortable with the world that had come familiar to her.   Instead of understanding one another, more often than not we stood on the side lines of one another’s  lives not really understanding each other, but instead observing – judging, scolding and shaking our heads. I would be described as the responsible one. Always one to remember birthdays and special occasions. In my harried schedule somehow always remembered to get everyone a card or acknowledge them in some way of  their special day while my sister was always the ‘Well, you – know – how – she – is’ sister – and for some reason that excuse seemed to disguise her irresponsibility or consideration for others for nothing other than this just being some born innate anomaly she was cursed with. That excuse never fully impregnated my desire for an equally responsible sibling whom my children would come to love as their aunt. To love them the same way I would love my own aunt.  My children, who should be spoiled by her time, her words, her presence if not her physical remembrance of a couple puny gifts throughout their lives.  But that didn’t happen.  It took much soul searching and much understanding, but I realized as an adult it didn’t become questionable throughout the years as no one wanted the confrontation for full fledged recognition of her ways. She was excused for her lack of familial responsibility with a shrug and a statement.  The excuses didn’t work for me and made me bitter over time. Holidays would pass, she wouldn’t remember to send cards or think in advance to buy gifts for my children.

Let’s not get consumed with my complaints being materialistic.  I’m not hung up on the materialism of the exchanges. My kids didn’t have much of a family so every little acknowledgement was recognition, of realizing a special day was theirs. What kid doesn’t need to feel special from time to time?  A text message and maybe a phone call may resume. MAY, I said. My daughter’s graduation came and went with a Facebook comment on her graduation pictures that she was proud of her. But that was it. The most monumental day of my daughter’s life to date and what? A Facebook comment?  My mom didn’t do anything more. But there was no Facebook mention from mom, so I guess I can’t complain about my sister’s familial Facebook responsibility. At least Facebook made it possible for my daughter to be recognized on HER BIG DAY. Thank you Facebook for that at least.  And it became evident when me and my sister were together that I didn’t care for the way she was so callous about ‘This-is-just-the-way-I-am” mentality that everyone else seemed in acceptance of.  We fought. I didn’t cower as everyone else usually did to my sisters opinionated, overly stated ways and me, the responsible one was very vocal about those things when we were together. We even once had a fist fight at Thanksgiving. I know, redneck and ridiculous! I was young and unsure how to channel my anger productively at one time and fists flew easier than words. I stayed distant and far away from their drama. I learned to convince  myself they weren’t like me. I wasn’t like them. We were so different. I cared. I paid special attention to her kids. I Made sure they had gifts and cards and phone calls. It was just easiest to swallow that way.  I moved 750 miles away and never looked back. At times I missed my family. I missed my family mostly for my kids having family, PERIOD. But there were also things I would never miss. But when it was all said and done, was I really so different?

A few hours later I called her back. “Are you sitting down?” She asks quietly.

“Does driving count as sitting?” I ask fumbling with my radio stations instead of dividing my full attention directedly. I’m half listening and half not.

“Donna has brain cancer”. She said. Now, when people talk about a bitter silence, there is nothing to describe it. Stifling,  numbing silence. I stumbled for a response. She had my full attention now.

Donna was my aunt. Not just my aunt, my favorite aunt. Where me and my sister struggled to find commonality. Donna and I just had a bond that was just indescribe-able. She became that sister. We are 9 years apart and we grew up together. My mother was 16 when I was born, so I spent a lot of time with my grandmother – which is where Donna spent her days growing up as well. She probably hurled me into adulthood well beyond my years with talks of dates, french kissing, braces hurting.. not to forget Leif Garrett posters, Shaun Cassidy and Good GAWD don’t let Andy Gibb in those tight leather pants escape me for one second. But in my mind, I was already the sophisticated adult I knew I would seed from.  I wasn’t even of the age that I thought boys were cute, but since I looked up to Donna – and she thought they were cute…. I automatically thought they were cute too. Only later did I truly realize I thought that none of them were really cute. Scott Baio was much more my type.

“How bad?” I managed to ask dignified even though I couldn’t really comprehend the message just laid on me.

“Stage 4.” Silence. Awaiting a response from me, which there was none. “Pretty bad. She’s asking for you.”

I have a background in medicine. There are 5 stages of cancer. I didn’t even have to use my fingers to count the stages…

This wasn’t good. Breathing became short and shallow. My mind raced for the possible solutions. Is she going to give up and enjoy what she has left? Or will she fight with all modern medicine has to offer? I wanted to know her reaction, her response, her demeanor. I was itching to figure out what her mind has set out to do about this. Was she in pain? I somehow couldn’t fathom it. It became as foreign as Chinese algebra must be. I somehow had a need to reach out to her, to them. My family. The people I worked so hard to escape, I now have a desire to be there.

I spent the next few days in a fog. The same fog I had hoped my coffee would somehow magically lift. The coffee wasn’t working. Neither were tears, neither was hope. I wasn’t much of a “hope” kind of girl, and was surprised at my reaction even permit it to enter my consciousness, I always thought of myself as more of an action – take – charge kind of girl. But what could I do? How could I help? Where could I fit myself into this equation?  I was yet to call her. She was asking for me and I wouldn’t. I couldn’t call her.

HOW. How do you call someone you haven’t talked to in so long only to discuss their impending death? I couldn’t do it. It made no logical sense. In most situations you call someone to make idle chit chat. To catch up. To talk about what was for dinner or how your husband annoyed you or hurt your feelings. The big meetings where big decisions are made. Face-to-Face is THE only option. But that is a long drive, I can’t just take off. I have so many things to do right now…….

I picked up the phone several times with the attempt, looking over the hospital phone number, dialing in the first exchanges. I would then hang up. Repeat.I never got much further even though this ritual lasted ten minutes or so.  I can’t call her. I just can’t. My sister. My aunt. My closest relative, who every time she sees me – she sees that eager little girl with bright eyes and a quiet thirst for life. ‘Tom, Tom’ she called me. It was the most endearing term I recall of my childhood. I even bought the Tom Tom Navigation system b/c it was such a tender pet name that always took me to the door steps to the best part of my childhood. “I want to see my Tom Tom” she says.  It always made my heart warm. Not many memories of my childhood made my heart warm but this one will always be my favorite. And it was from my favorite person.

My sister, the next following days keeps texting me to remind me that Donna is asking about me. ‘Have you told Tom Tom?’ she asks disappointingly. They all sit silently. They don’t want to make me out to be a villain, but they don’t know what my intentions are either. They are my other family members, some new that I’ve yet to even meet. They know me by reference. Yes, I’ve been around that much. One of the things I always kept meaning to do – go visit and just hang out, make myself present but that never seemed to creep into my schedule. Does anyone EVER have enough time? Distance was my safety blanket.  I keep pitching the idea of just taking off to see her. I’ve always been rather spontaneous and random, it isn’t exactly unlike something I’m capable of undertaking, but I do have responsibilities here that need taking care of.  I keep tossing it around, over and over in my mind. Then you know how it is. You get so annoyed with yourself for so many deliberations you just make a decision for the sake of arguing with yourself. Then decide to just live with it regardless of any consequences.

It was just inevitable to me that I just had to go.  Words on the phone wouldn’t pacify and fill the void within. I know she thought I didn’t care. I couldn’t leave that legacy.

I finished shooting my wedding Saturday night, arriving home about 1 am or so. I was soaking of sweat, disheveled, tired and sore. I tried to unwind slightly and go to sleep which wasn’t easy. I tossed back and forth thinking heavily. It was hard to get into that place where I relished the thought that sleep would find me easily and consume me. I would shut my eyes and instantly was transfixed to those days of ole. Sitting at my grandmother’s table. The TABLE of WOMEN (deserves caps b/c this was a big deal, full of adult grown women I revered) – the table of all knowledge. All things good converged here. Where all troubles became apparent and were worked through with dessert, conversation and coffee. The smells of female companionship floating through the air hung like Christmas Eve in Rockefeller center with warm coffee and the love of your life – watching ice skaters and enjoying the magic around you. It was the single best place in the world.  For me as a little girl, it  was all those wonderful things.  All the women in my family would crowd around her kitchen table. She would make an intoxicating coffee cake or on rarer occasion, cheese cake. They would cackle at some thing I am sure at the time even if I did pay attention to the words, the conversation wasn’t aimed for me to understand. The female camaraderie was something I would never forget and never to date again be permitted to partake in. It was a once in a lifetime presence.  I will leave in the morning. There was no way around it. There was no other option. I finally dozed off……coffee cake looming in the air as I fell into my trance.

The next day I found myself on the road by about 9:30.  Chelsea Handler’s book on DVD was keeping me company. It was rather like having a very sarcastic friend as a passenger without having to talk, keeping my mind occupied with stories of bad sex, smoking pot with her dad and boyfriends with strange fetishes. Although I was masterfully tired, upset and concerned – I did find myself laughing to the book as I drove. The yellow lines racing past abruptly.   I drank very little water strategically,  Not having  to stop at sub-rate gas stations where pee is  spattered all over the critical spots becomes a welcome avoidance on the road.  Oh, if you do get lucky and there is toilet paper – it’s quite the consistency of air. No thanks. I was dehydrated,  feeling a dehydrated headache coming on, but I wasn’t going to buckle. No way.  I would persevere. I had to get there. It was now my inevitable mission.

After 9 and a half hours, and passing that ‘Welcome to Kentucky’ sign miles before. I finally reached the driveway. I sat there for just a full minute trying to figure out if I would be that strong one, the crutch to hold onto if she needed me or the big sap unable to control the flood of emotion that I’ve somehow managed to conceal.

*To be continued*

We will be at my studio:   147 Central Avenue Summerville, SC  294

83 on Wed. Dec 30th from 2 to 7pm.

*Email me with questions at gallery.tommehilton@gmail.com

I will post some pictures. Simmer down. I’ve also got some NEWS! squeal! I have switched from Canon to Nikon. This is a big deal as I’ve spent thousands. Gasp! of benjamins on my quip. So I essentially am starting over. Which is tough.  A friend of mine let me borrow her Nikon and the rest was history. So.. I am cleaning house. Any hobbyists/amateurs or other photographers intersted – here is what I have:

24-70mm/2.8 L series USM *Excellent condition* approx 2 yrs old                                        $900

Battery Grip for the Canon 5D *Couple scratches, but other than aesthetics works perfect*  $100

Adobe CS2 Mac version educational version                                                                            $150

Adobe Lightroom 1.0                                                                                                                $75

I am still deliberating on selling my fisheye 15mm/2.8 (less than 200 shutter release)         $550

and my 16-35mm/2.8 that I JUST bought in January. (have maybe 60 S R’s)                         $1400

Email me if you are interested. tommehilton@gmail.com (well, just in case you didn’t know!)  I still have a Canon back up camera that I use as my 2nd camera so I don’t have to get rid of everything but I’d like to let someone else use what I very rarely will instead.

And we have an addition. STELLA. She is a gift from Jim. I have always wanted him to get me an animal as I always thought that was the cutest gift of affection. Well, she is CUTE and BAD! So, be careful what you ask for. She is a biter. A chewer. Who really enjoys peeing on my carpets! She is about 9 wks old so I think we are still in the young stages and I can only hope the bad traits she grows out of. x fingers.

Ok, don’t be fooled. Turn off your cute radar! She is feisty and her teeth are like little razors!

Ok, enuf about my life. Let’s get onto my recent Wedding. Rachel and Kevin. When I met Rachel she was so happy go lucky and whatever ish (then at the wedding turned into bridezilla!) he he. Just kidding. She was one of the most laid back brides EVER. I ask that my brides get dirty after a wedding – the nuptials are done and the majority of the pics are done. Let’s worry about great pics now! Right? Right.

We were at Harmon’s Tree Farm in Columbia, SC. And the place was a BUFFET of great stuffs. Rain threatened, but I secretly did my hula/rain go away dance (which if those kids that were chasing rabbits mention that girl in the back acting like a maniac, that was prob. me.) – So we got gray and some rain.. when it did come down it REALLY came down. But DUDE! We had a BENTLEY.. which Kevin’s uncle owns and told me that if any brides want it for their wedding to contact him and he will be happy to accomodate! Umm SUPERB picture opportunity. AHEM! Needless to say, Rachel was game for whatever I threw her way. Dirty, great attitude and in my opinion — great pics as a result!

One of my favs. Isn’t that car Bad ASS? that deserved a cap lock!

Hot, right? The couple isn’t so bad either.  

They naturally were very cute together. Sometimes I get told that they don’t want any intervention. The couple would prefer total photojournalism. Well in my opinion, and it’s just MY opinion. I’m hands on only because not EVERYONE is animated. And I’m not saying that in a derogatory sense. The best PJ pictures are one of VERY animated, emotional couples. And some folks are naturally shyer than others and don’t feel comf showing emotions in front of their f/f and the camera. So sometimes I have to coordinate things and be hands on. IF that is something you don’t prefer, just remember that PJ is just showcasing the emotions and feelings you had so you have to wear your feelings on your sleeve for that to be successful. 

These are textures that just make a photo feel moody. I like how its warm and gives mood to the photo. 

I had so many old cars in the background to give a STELLAR backdrop for me. UGH! My mind was so racing at this location. I’m just grateful that Rachel was up for it all!

HE HE HE! Another old car. A DIRTY old car, right Rach? Looks awesome in pics tho.

Locations I’m not familiar with or have shot before, I go in and assess and do a quick scan of what is safe and what is capable of being photographed. Well, this yellow horse was begging for a rodeo show! 

This is their cake topper! Cute, huh?

Well ok now. I hope I made up for a little lost time today. I have a wedding and a bridal this weekend and several still to edit. So see you shortly with new stuff.

xoxoxoxo

Until next time

I’m sure it’s no surprise that I’m always weak in the blogging department. I’m a VISUAL person and not so much of a journalist……maybe a photodocumentalist or how ever you may coin that phrase. Writing doesn’t come so natural to me, but I’d like to try to paint more words within my photos to give them life and dimension.  So here goes. Feel free to let me know how I do.

We found ourself having the conversation of whether there is a such thing as singular ‘Cacti’ or if it was just plain ole ‘Cactus’? Needless to say, we were busy most of the day so we were always rushing to get in the few photos we could. This, we pulled into what looked like a park called ‘The Boulders’ and it was sunset. There were lots of people not very happy with us as we snapped away! But, we are photographers. It’s in our blood lines.

My first impression of AZ. when we got out of the airport and on our scenic way was how VIBRANT the colors were. Ya know that color that we are always trying to capture in photoshop? Well, in AZ. there is no need for it…the blues are so crisp and clear and the red, orange mountains and rocks just are a seemingly amazing vista view. I was shocked at the color palette. It felt so clean and light there, the air being thinner and lighter. I’m a fan.

This image is STRAIGHT out of the CAMERA or SOOC. I took about 10 to try to tweak the settings to get the lens flare…… I bought a new lens so I wanted to see if it had my standard qualifications of ‘mad flare’.  It passed.

Me and my friend Lisa kept comparing cameras. She shoots Nikon and I shoot Canon so we were constantly taking the same shots with the same settings doing side by side comparisons. I got a new Canon body and I’m not sure about all my settings yet, so it was fun to play and see them working comparatively. *End Result* Canon Rocks! ahem.

I don’t know why, nor have I really thought about why.. but when you turn an image b/w it suddenly has feeling beyond the conception of the image. It takes you there and it draws you inside the photograph. I wished I would have had more time, I would have done a whole series in b/w. Truth is: We didn’t have much photo taking time.

There were lots of oranges and warm colors… ya know, the ones I like best. This was a lone flower in front of a warm stucco bldg. the edge of this is a wrought iron sign to the shopping complex we were at. I love how it turned out.

We escaped for a few mins and went to a nearby town (Carefree Arizona) and found these little shops. This pot was just sitting here, a mosaic in the brightest blues. Was gorgeous!

This was one of the stores. It was an art gallery with lots of native american paintings and relics. I happen to have almost an unhealthy obsession with cowhides and loved this storefront.

Well, there are plenty of photos from this trip and may add a few more as I go.

Until next time.

xoxoxoxo

I use flush mount genuine leather albums. The sizes are 8×8 which typically are parent albums, 10×10 are the most common size and easy to carry, and the 12×12 are the big dads and pretty impressive! I have used a several different companies in the past and the company that has won me over does an OUTSTANDING job! I have learned through trial and error and they even exceeded my expectations (and I can be a tad bit anal about my products!). The most popular and classic color is black although you will see in my photo they do come in other colors. The largest album is actually a tan camel although may look orange depending on the monitor you are viewing it from.

You also have a say in the design of the album, which I think is really a nice feature. If I think  you look fab in a photograph, but you aren’t diggin’ it then you have the final say before it goes to production!

The pipe is there to give perspective to the sizes and isn’t included with each purchase. Just so you know.

If you aren’t able to see a large enough photo and would like more information please email me.

xoxoxoxo

 I am still editing away at a few sessions so I wanted to take some time to reflect.  A blog is a way for the reader to connect with the writer. In doing these blogs I certainly hope that you connect with me and I can reconnect with myself.  I think of myself as a terrible writer, but I really hope to improve.

I look at people through the lens all the time. When is the last time I took a good hard look in the mirror at myself? Well, I did. I figured I would share my findings with you. Good and Bad.

Me. Webster’ s describes this as an ‘objective case of I’. These are things I want you to know about me that I find hard to talk about. I feel like I’m kind of guarded as a person but it’s healing to talk about things that define ourselves. Even those things we don’t like so much.

I am shy

Now, you’d probably think this is a negative thing for a photographer  but I think it’s a blessing. I have seen things and observed things my entire life. I capture those things that other people never noticed and it’s a personality trait. I can be very talkative and sociable when I kind of get to know you, but my strengths really are documenting things that most people take for granted or never take time to see.

I’m by far the better friend

I’m the friend that always listens to my friends woah’s about life. I listen, trying to understand all sides of the stories to give aim and perspective. And I lend an ear. Always. Non judgemental, but open to all they may have to say.  And then…………..I decide to throw in my discussion about MY life. Stupid self. No one wants to hear about other’s angst (except me). It’s a selfish world and people only want to talk about themselves. That’s not me. That’s not my style. When I’m your friend, I’m your friend. Thick and thin. It’s not all about me nor all about you.  I have been so disappointed and run over by “friends” most of my life that I’m on a friendless mission right now. I do believe in the laws of attraction and I have put vibes out in the world for great, warm, loving friends. I did this for photographer friends and have met some of the warmest photographers anyone could ever ask to meet .I know it works.  World, please send me friends that aren’t selfish. That aren’t full of themselves. That aren’t crazy! (Don’t ask, have had WAY too many crazy friends in my life). That will help me grow as a person. That will have chocolate cake with me at 3am if I want to. Will talk smack about our husbands with me and love them still afterwards. Will understand that my work, my love consumes alot of my time but still be my friend anyway and understand. Will help me wade through issues and give me another opinion or idea. That will believe in me when I can’t find it inside myself to believe in myself at the moment.

I’m a good person

If I have ever hurt you or done anything stupid that I don’t know about. I’m sorry. It wasn’t intentional. I am not a malicious person. I don’t steal. I don’t lie. I don’t do things back handedly thinking I will get ahead. I am such a firm believer in Karma that I know all influences in this life will surely haunt me some chapter eventually. If I have done something stupid, there are explanations for it. Don’t judge me hastily as there are always two sides to every story. In my obituary, I want to be remembered as a good person. An honest, down to earth midwestern girl with core values that really made her business excel because of her beliefs and not being a business tycoon. I’m against the corporate lores- I believe in helping small businesses thrive and flourish and I’m not about being a cut throat anything.  I think we’ve forgotten that mentality to help a fellow person out when needed. We’ve all been down and out at times and that helping hand always goes a long way. I’ll be that hand for you and hopefully, if I need it you can be that for me.

I believe in LOVE

That’s another reason I’m NUTS! over wedding photography. I’m so stupidly blinded by people being in love. My husband and I met when I was 13 (put down the calculators) EVERYONE, and I do mean EVERYONE said it was a passing thing, I didn’t know what love was at 13 but I did. I knew he made my heart leap when I would hear him talk. The smell of him to this day (and there has been MANY days inbetween) is a smell I long for. It’s a familiar smell, it’s a smell that makes my heart happy. I knew love then, I know love now. I love my husband deeply. He is such a good man, and to beat all he loves me back. I feel like it’s such a gift to share love and to be loved, that truly I can’t even begin to describe how I feel being a part of the love a couple feels towards each other. I love doing engagement shoots to just sit back and watch a couple be in love. There is no trick to that photography. That is just chemistry, and I again with a little prodding on my end get to be the photodocumentalist that watches it all happen. I know this sounds a little sappy, but deep down I am girly, and sappy. I still cry every time I watch the ‘Notebook’, there are certain songs I catch myself reaching for a kleenex for. I think I’m just a girl that Values Love. Values Life. Values Relationships, and people and friends.

And  I could go on and on about some things but I will continue this later, if I’m still editing by next week I will continue my exploration of life. Life-o-logy.

(Umm, that’s enough about you now!)