today, the kindergarten classes had a mother's day celebration -- muffins for moms. when we arrived in the classroom, the moms walked around the room to find their place, based on locating the drawing their child made of them. then we were all served muffins and juice and we received hand made stationary cards as our mother's day gift. so, so thoughtful and special!!
couldn't help but laugh, when i saw ryder's drawing of me. i think he got everything just perfect. :-) and sigh...i love him more than the sun and the moon and the stars.
i'll be away for mother's day but wanted to wish all you mommas out there a fabulous mother's day!! i'll be in salt lake city, utah for the weekend. i will miss my family but i'm super excited to do tons of shooting, along with lots of laughter and sharing with friends.
also, here's a couple photos of my family taken by my beautiful friend and amazing photographer, leah, last week. i am so blessed to call leah one of my best friends and cherish her so!!
if you are unsure about having family photos taken (for whatever reason), please read the perfect time post. i hope it will give you the push to get them done SOON!
just got back from travel sessions in VA, NC and san diego and am super excited about lots more traveling around the corner...
salt lake city, UT -- may 7 - 8
denver, CO -- july 23 - 24
maui, HI -- july 13 - 20
san diego -- sep 3 - 7
NY, NY -- sep 9 - 11
chicago -- sep 13 - 14
session dates still available in each location (regular pricing | no additional travel fees). please email me for more information or to reserve your session date and time.
closing with a few photos from one of my san diego sessions...
that pretty much sums up the past couple days. back from virginia and now i'm off to san diego this morning. busy but grateful and loving every minute of it.
super excited to be photographing a military homecoming and a few family sessions, while in san diego. along with seeing a few of my best friends and spending some family time!!
virginia was absolutely amazing...
sharing some exciting new stuff once i'm home, settled and caught up. :-)
yep, i'm off to virginia beach, VA. actually by the time this launches, i will already be on my flight.
while there, i'll be photographing this family. baby scout is now six months old, with a full head of fabulous hair, and my friend, steph, is now rockin' an awesome, new pixie cut.
and this family. not sure if peanut will be included again this time, but i do know that she is lou's precious baby. it was 30 degrees when we did the photo below. looking forward to the predicted 60s. hoping to dodge saturday's rain/thunder/wind forecast.
along with photographing a few families, who i am super excited to meet, one of them being in OBX!!
i'm home tuesday evening and then headed to san diego on thursday, for family fun and more client shoots.
the reason that I can be 38 and have two kids and wear a bikini is because i work my ass off. it’s not an accident. it’s not luck, it’s not fairy dust, it’s not good genes. it’s killing myself for an hour and a half five days a week, but what i get out of it is relative to what i put into it. that’s what I try to do in all areas of my life.- gwyneth paltrow
although i have to say...gwyneth paltrow does have some pretty damn good genes. have you seen this photo of gwyneth and her mother?
i haven't posted a crossfit update in a while so i thought now is as good as time as any. it's been almost eight months since my first day at crossfit jaguar. i remember so clearly walking in, nervous as hell, thinking what the hell am i doing. but i did it...telling myself over and over again, what did i have to lose; if crossfit isn't for me, i don't have to go back.
since my last update in january, i've lost a couple pounds (no, i'm not trying to lose weight) and about 1/2 inch everywhere. i've also dropped about three percent body fat.
i crossfit four times a week and do my best to eat well -- high protein, low-glycemic. but some days are just off days and i waiver, like this past week. but i WILL get back on track.
a couple weeks ago, i tracked my daily food intake. i quickly realized that i just don't eat enough food and how very easy it is to eat a lot of carbohydrates. i've never been a big eater and i don't like vegetables that much, so i really have to work hard at this eating well and eating enough thing.
here i was, pre-working out, may 2010.
and here i am today. proud to be a 41-year-old, mother of three, fit, healthy and stronger than i've ever been in my entire life. when i started crossfit, i could maybe do one military style push up. the other day, i did 100 (no going to my knees). can't wait till the day that i can share that i did one unassisted pull up.
there was no editing, retouching, tweaking or anything done to any of these photos. i wanted to be honest and real, with everything i posted throughout this journey.
i share these continued updates to hopefully inspire. you CAN do it!! it's never too late to get fit and be healthy. i truly haven't felt better and i keep getting stronger and stronger. it's really been an amazing journey and i never thought i'd say this but...i actually look forward to working out; i crave it. i know and completely understand that crossfit isn't for everyone, but i hope that you will find that thing that works for you!!
you can see more photos and read more about my getting fit journey here.
i pinned this today (via pinterest) and it says it perfectly (couldn't find original source to give credit)...
lastly, check out this amazing video of crossfit women. blows my mind!!
if you have any questions, please ask! i'm no expert, but i can offer my personal thoughts.
ETA --
Q: is it a class or did you have to get a personal trainer?
A: personally, i started out with a personal trainer three times a week. and did that for three months,until i got to the point that i was comfortable to go into a class. however, depending on the gym, you might be able to go right into a class (many gyms are now requiring a fundamentals or foundations course). for me, i wanted to get a good understanding of the workouts and make sure i knew how to do the lifts properly so i wouldn't get hurt.
Q: where do I find this workout? i admit Im out of shape and have a few health issues..i need to get fit!!! how often do you train?
A: you can read all about crossfit here. that website has everything -- workouts of the day (WODs), demo exercise videos, etc. you can also google crossfit in your local area, to find all the crossfit gyms around you. i researched all the gyms in tampa, before deciding which one to go to. i wanted to find one that was a good fit for me. while the fundamentals of each crossfit gym are the same, the gym personalities (feel or vibe of the gym) can be very different.
i started out training three days a week. some days it was 20 minutes. other days it was an hour. now that i'm in classes, i crossfit four times a week.
and this awesome momma shared about her journey, doing and managing her own personal crossfitting.
Q: i am still finding it hard to get specific exercises for my waistline. do you have any that you have found that worked particularly well?
A: my waistline was my HUGE trouble spot and in the first five weeks of crossfit, i lost three inches in my waist. with that being said, i think it was the combination of all the exercises (so many of them work my core) and changing my diet. i really don't do that many sit ups (or ab specific exercises) at all.
Q: as a previous carb-addict, what do you eat for breakfast now?
A: i typically have a protein shake in the morning (water, 1/2 banana, spinach or kale, almond or peanut butter, flax seed, protein powder and ice). if i don't have a protein shake, i'll have eggs and/or bacon. i don't eat until after my crossfit workout, so that's around 10:30 AM. if i'm really hungry in the morning (pre-workout), i'll have a clementine and some almonds.
hats can be short,and hats can be tall.
you can wear them to the market,
or you can wear them playin' ball.
some people wear their hats
to block away the sun.
some people wear their hats
just because they think it's fun.
the pilgrims, they wore hats,
and nurses do too.
sombreros are a spanish hat,
but that I bet you knew.
hats can be all colors,
all shapes and sizes too.
like a cowboy hat or a pirates hat
in black or white or blue.
magicians use their hats
to pull their rabbits from.
and a sailor has his hat on
when it's home from sea he comes.
there are hats for all occasions
and many places too.
last night we thought we'd model
this hat for you.
- author unknown
came across the above poem and couldn't help but share. reminds me of dr. seuss, which we read nightly in this house and...last night, i asked sky if she'd let me take a few photos of her, to test out my new hat. (the poem will also be a perfect addition for my family's annual book.) we didn't have a lot of time to shoot last night -- about 15 minutes in between sky and ryder's gymnastic start times and then about 10 minutes when we got home (until we had enough of being attacked by mosquitoes).
photos shot with lensbaby composer | double optic and nikon 50mm f/1.4G
also, i wanted to share this video series i just discovered and am totally diggin' -- [framed] show, by melissa niu. i watched ryan muirhead's [framed] video yesterday and i can't stop thinking about his closing words...
...find your own voice and the only way to do that is by working. you can't read up on it. you can't learn it. you can't absorb it from someone else. but if you're out there shooting constantly -- on good days, on bad days, when you're feeling creative, when you're not...carry a tiny camera with you everywhere you go. if you do that enough, your voice will find you. it's inevitable.
YES...
your
voice
will
find
you.
thanks ryan for your ongoing inspiration and the reminder to keep shooting...through the good days and the funks!!
a few weeks ago, i found a lump in my breast. i ignored it for weeks, thinking i was imagining things. that i wouldn't feel it tomorrow. but i always felt it. over and over again, the pea-sized lump was present. so finally, i made an appointment with the MD, to confirm what i already knew. yep, the lump really was there. she scheduled me for a mammogram. i already had had one two years ago in san diego. normal.
so this past friday, i had my diagnostic mammogram and a bilateral ultrasound. nothing abnormal was shown on mammogram. and i'm assuming that the ultrasound was normal because no additional tests were ordered. i should know for sure in the coming days.
but the whole process stirred a flurry of thoughts and emotions. most impacting was telling steve. i think he was actually more worried than i was.
his mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at my age.
she died six months later.
steve was five.
steve's dad was left with three children, one of them being hearing impaired.
i couldn't help but think about the possibility of breast cancer, no matter how much i tried not to...and believe me, i tried.
i share all this for a couple reasons...
as parents, we do such a great job at making sure our kids see doctors and get their appropriate check-ups, tests, immunizations, etc. but what about YOU?
especially in the case of a mammogram. seriously, pain free. 10 minutes. done. so simple. i've now had two and neither hurt one bit. so what, my boobs were squished. better than breast cancer, surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
i had thought about blogging about my lump. and my mammogram. and then i came across this photo on facebook and well, i knew i had to blog about it.
the scar project fricken blows my mind in amazing-ness. you can see the entire gallery of images here.
i love the SCAR project tag line -- surviving cancer. absolute reality. and i'm excited to see that he's now offering a book. wishing the exhibition would go on tour. although, i have no doubt that one day it will.
i hope you'll go make your necessary appointments. you deserve it. your children deserve it.
i love this womani am grateful for this woman
and all she shares with us
she reminds me what it means to be
good
and gratefuland not-so-serious
in this crazy, mixed up
world of ours
while in kansas, i started a grateful 365 project. to be completely honest, something went off course and i never finished. and then we moved. and then i was sent really off course. but seeing hailey's video has me longing to start another one. although i'm taking the daily pressure off and simply calling it my 'grateful project'. can't wait to see what comes of it.
how can anyone ever go wrong with a project that reminds them of all they have to be grateful for...each and every day.
hope you enjoy the video...
please don't forget to check out their 365 grateful site -- 365grateful.com
last but not least, here's a few photos from my 2010 (iphone) grateful project...
and lensbaby recently launched a couple new products, which i'm super stoked about --the sweet 35 optic and the composer pro.
i already have the sweet 35 optic (but haven't had it very long at all). it's awesome. it's different. and i can't wait to play with it more. below are a few shots that i've taken over the past couple weeks. i really haven't shot a lot, period, over the past couple months...something i'm hoping to remedy soon. very, very soon!
and i should be getting my composer pro next week.
i
just
can't
wait.
oh yea, one more thing...
it's truly an honor to share that the photo below was selected for the packaging of the composer pro. purchase a composer pro and you'll find this image beautifully wrapped around the box. thanks lensbaby!!
ETA: one thing i forgot to mention is that with the sweet 35 optic, the aperture can easily be switched, from f/2.5 - f/22. the double glass does not offer that. but the two definitely have their own, unique look and feel (IMHO). and i will always love my double glass. which means i'm completely torn on which optic to purchase, if you're purchasing a lensbaby for the first time.
an intangible element
luck and patience
the graphic elements, framing, lines and light
what is said about the image maker
what is said about the subject
images that make a statement
vulnerability and awkwardness
a feeling and reaction
an insight into an inner universe
an element of surprise
insightful and engaging
a meaningful connection
an emotional exchange
tension in the moment
infused with believability
mutual trust
a raw and honest exchange
the capturing of a state of grace
something that rarely happens
an unanswerable question
these were some of the thoughts (of photographers, bloggers, curators, editors and gallerists) shared on conscientious.
the article has me thinking (a lot) about the portraits i've taken. what i love. what i don't love. what i've been doing. what i haven't been doing. where i hope to go. it also has me thinking about how much growing i have yet to do. i try and remind myself often that it's only been six years and i still have so much to learn, expand upon and explore. and patience...i must simply have patience. and continue to study and work hard.
after i read the article, i spent some time with my accessible work | portraits. here are some portraits i've taken over the past few years that strongly speak to me for one reason or another...
so, what do YOU think makes a great portrait?
i hope you'll not only take the time to read the article, but also sit with your own work and thoughts for a while.
i think this might be the last launching of photographs on wall space gallery's life support japan and i feel so honored to have my photograph including in life support japan 5.
you can purchase my print (shown below) here. 8x8 print. edition of 10. all prints on the site are available for $50 each. pretty amazing opportunity to get some awesome art. i've already purchased two prints myself. would have purchased a few others, if they hadn't sold out so quickly.
direct relief international (for medical) and habitat for humanity (for rebuilding) are the organizations that will benefit from the life support japanprint sales. the goal is 100% donation (as long as they can get donation of shipping supplies and financial help towards shipping costs).
so love that my three still play together like this. when i edited this picture, from a a couple weeks ago...
i couldn't help but think of this picture, from 2008 (in our backyard, san diego).
and that had me looking through more photos of my three, cherishing these memories i have of them together. makes me weepy, when i think how fast the time has flown and how big my three now are.
feels like i haven't shot in forever. but now that my entire family is done with this week long belly bug, i'm hoping to remedy that soon.
is another man's treasure. or for this man, he has transformed his junk into an inspirationalmuseum of wonder.
mmmm...
my dear friend and best finder of special things, erin, shared this video today and i can't say enough about it. please take five minutes and watch it. i promise, it's something special and you won't regret it.
so authentic.
so beautiful.
a man just living.
and being.
discovering.
and exploring.
doing what he loves.
simply because he loves it.
and mr. john henry toney.
i want him to sing to me.
i want to just sit and talk with them.
both of them.
and listen.
i'd love to hear their stories.
for hours.
i'd love to soak in all they are...
and all they have to share.
one of these days while stationed here in florida, i'm going to make a road trip to alabama. hopefully with my family. in an RV. i want to visit mr anthony's museum of wonder and if i'm lucky enough, i'll have the opportunity to chat with mr. anthony for a bit. he inspires me. in so many ways.
really, i've watched this video a couple times and each time, my eyes fill with tears.
saw this on cup of jo today. there's a new documentary coming out (march 16th) about bill cunningham. so who's bill cunningham? this is bill cunningham! maybe you knew who he was, but i had no idea. and now...after watching the trailer, i absolutely can't wait to watch his documentary. i wish we had more bill cunninghams in this world. he seems pretty darn fabulous.
and darn it. these cool films never come to tampa. click here to see if the film is coming to a city near you.
although the site does say...
If you do not see your town listed please urge friends and family to request the film at your local arthouse venue. Arthouse theater owners/managers really like to know that their local audience is interested in a particular film. Theater managers can contact our theatrical booker Clemence Taillandier at clemence@zeitgeistfilms.com and we can work out a date to open the film.
You were born a daughter.You looked up to your mother.
You looked up to your father.
You looked up at everyone.
You wanted to be a princess.
You thought you were a princess.
You wanted to own a horse.
You wanted to be a horse.
You wanted your brother to be a horse.
You wanted to wear pink.
You never wanted to wear pink.
You wanted to be a Veterinarian.
You wanted to be President.
You wanted to be the President's Veterinarian.
You were picked last for the team.
You were the best one on the team.
You refused to be on the team.
You wanted to be good in algebra.
You hid during algebra.
You wanted the boys to notice you.
You were afraid the boys would notice you.
You started to get acne.
You started to get breasts.
You started to get acne that was bigger than your breasts.
You wouldn't wear a bra.
You couldn't wait to wear a bra.
You couldn't fit into a bra.
You didn't like the way you looked.
You didn't like the way your parents looked.
You didn't want to grow up.
You had your first best friend.
You had your first date.
You had your second best friend.
You had your second first date.
You spent hours on the telephone.
You got kissed.
You got to kiss back.
You went to the prom.
You didn't go to the prom.
You went to the prom with the wrong person.
You spent hours on the telephone.
You fell in love.
You fell in love.
You fell in love.
You lost your best friend.
You lost your other best friend.
You really fell in love.
You became a steady girlfriend.
You became a significant other.
YOU BECAME SIGNIFICANT TO YOURSELF.
Sooner or later, you start taking yourself seriously. You know when you need a break. You know when you need a rest. You know what to get worked up about and what to get rid of. And you know when it's time to take care of yourself, for yourself. To do something that makes you stronger, faster, more complete.
Because you know it's never too late to have a life. And never too late to change one.
JUST DO IT
- Nike
omg. this has me in tears this morning. the kind of tears that make it hard to breathe. hard to swallow. a lump in my throat, as i read. and re-read.
my friend, tara, shared this nike ad today on facebook. i had never seen it. she said she had it taped to her wall as a teen. today, i will share it with my teen. i will print it for her, with hopes that she will pin it on her inspiration board. with hopes that she will read it and re-read it and embrace the words.
kiele is thirteen. turning fourteen in a month. and as i read the words above, the remaining teen years just flew in front of my eyes. in a blur. i ache knowing that she is growing up so quickly. in a few years, she will be in college. most likely no longer living with us. at the same time, i'm so proud of who she is. the beautiful little lady she has grown to be. i truly couldn't be prouder!!
it took me a long (a VERY long) time to become significant to myself. i hope that i can teach kiele different. i will definitely do my best...to share that she is significant NOW. and will be forever!
thanks tara for sharing. for sharing something so beautiful. that has affected me so deeply.
i'm a photographer. and this is my work. some of it is this. and some of it is this.
really great photographers can't stop taking pictures. they do it like other people eat and breathe. her whole life is her subject.
two quotes i loved from the video below.
annie leibovitz intrigues and fascinates me on so many levels. i'm so grateful to have attended her exhibition in san diego a few years ago.
i just put the annie leibovitz: life through a lens documentary in my netflix queue. not sure how i missed that it back in 2008. and i think i'll sit with her a photographer's life 1990-2005 book this afternoon, while the kids are doing gymnastics. i guess it's just an annie leibovitz inspiration kind of day.
sadly, i just don't sit with my photography books enough these days.
such an amazing endeavor is taking place right now...
crista dix, from wall space gallery, recently launched life support japan -- where photographers from around the world have donated prints (no larger than 8.5 x 11, edition of 10) for (set-price) auction.
these prints can be purchased online at wall space gallery for $50 each!!
direct relief international (for medical) and habitat for humanity (for rebuilding) are the organizations that will benefit from the life support japan print sales. the goal is 100% donation (as long as they can get donation of shipping supplies and financial help towards shipping costs). so far, the auction has raised $10,000...in two days!!
it's incredible the number of photographers, who have stepped forward and donated. new photographs are being added daily, so if you don't see an image you love and want to purchase, please keep checking back.
seriously...such an awesome opportunity to purchase a some art, while also helping the relief efforts in japan. and a special thanks to aline smithson for all her hard work and coordination efforts.
ETA: i just read this article. and the pictures. OMG...my heart aches for the people of japan.
and a recent note from crista dix:
Life Support Japan + online print sale benefit information.
Natural disasters happen all the time, like landslides, floods, earthquakes. We live on a planet that isn't static. Friday, March 11th, we witnessed a natural disaster with a very human toll. The earthquake in Japan was of such magnitude that even the most prepared nation in the world to handle a disaster of this type was overwhelmed. It wasn't the earthquake alone, which was devastating enough but watching a 30 foot high wall of mud and debris wipe entire communities away was beyond any ability I personally had to comprehend.
I had to do something. Aline Smithson, one of our gallery artists wanted to do something too. Ryan Nabulsi and Jennifer Schwartz joined the effort. Soon I was hearing from every part of our creative community that we wanted to reach out to help the people of Japan. Life Support Japan was created to bring assistance to those in Japan who need it.
We have selected two charities to benefit from the sales of these limited edition prints.
Direct Relief International, for help with medical supplies.
Direct Relief works closely with the United Nations (U.N.) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA), which has activated to assemble the international response. Direct Relief has mobilized and staged materials at our headquarters, which are standing by ready for airlift to Japan.
Habitat for Humanity Japan, to help in the rebuilding of communities in and around Sendai and northern Japan.
Artists from around the globe have donated limited editions, over 300 to date, and we will be consistently updating the images available.
Galleries from around the US are banding together for a series of benefits, for these two and other charities to benefit relief efforts in Japan. We will be posting information as it becomes available.
Thank you for your support and for being part of a global community.
i had already blogged about lifetime's new show, coming home, which features military homecoming stories, here. but last night's episode (episode 2 | daddy's little girl) featured the beaty family's homecoming.
if you missed it, no worries, you can watch the full episode here. the beaty family is on episode 2 (daddy's little girl) and starts about a third of the way in.
love them so!!
some of my favorite photos from the beaty family's homecoming...
thinking about the hutchison family!! their oldest boy, sam, lost his battle against the terrible beast, neuroblastoma, a year ago today.
i visited sam's blog this morning and margot shared...
go out and “get in the game” today in honor of sam.
remembering sam and his fun-loving, soccer-playing, heelie-wearing, taco-eating, video game-playing, bike-riding, magic treehouse book-reading, bionicle-building, transformer-transforming, brother-loving, baby brother-kissing, speed-loving self!!
hutchison family --
love you guys.
thinking about you guys.
it just seemed wrong that i had a mother's day post at the forefront of my blog, after i heard the news of this japan's devastating tsunami. so instead, i wanted to post a few simple ways that one can donate and help japan. you can...
go to red cross or simply text “red cross” to 90999. if you text, $10 will be automatically be charged to your phone bill.
donate to doctors without borders. they already have a team trying to reach the battered areas of japan.
purchase a 9x11 fine art print (or two) from wall space gallery. photographers are donating prints to be sold for $50 each and have already raised over $10,000 for direct relief international. what an incredible opportunity to purchase a fine art photograph, while also helping japan.
my heart and thoughts go out to all those affected by the tsunami. i just can't imagine.
