Red Flags

My horoscope* told me today that I would be spread too thin with too many projects, and that I would need to learn to prioritize. Oh, how right it is.

My biggest problem, I think, is overcommitment. I want to do everything for everyone. I hate giving up control - my workflow, album design, proofing; I want to do it all myself because I like being in control. I think that this has something to do with my aries nature.
But what suffers the most is... emails. I know, sounds weird, but I am SO bad at emailing people back or taking care of things that are emailed to me. I've started dealing with this by actually using the little red flags marker in outlook... and it actually seems to be working! Lets hope I can keep it up. And that other things don't fall out as a result.

And, as far as prioritizing, i've found a new number one priority: finding second shooter positions. I've done weddings on my own and some as a second. But I really want to see other photogs in action. I want to see how they work and think, and how they keep their creative juices flowing. If anyone knows of anyone out there who needs a second... let them know i'll make them my top priority!

*(yes, i'm still 15 at heart and get my horoscope emailed to me everyday)

Vacation Memories

A couple of weeks ago, I had a complete photo related meltdown. Luckily, it was not relating to a paying client - instead it was relating to my most vivid memory from my vacation last month.

Brandon and I strolled through the modern shops and old cobblestone streets right after arriving in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We eventually made our way to the old fort and spent the rest of the afternoon exploring and taking photographs. In addition to being one of the most beautiful things I saw on our trip to the Caribbean, it was the only time I pulled out my camera in earnest. One image in particular stuck out in my mind - the older woman sitting on the bench, enjoying music. She made the best subject ever. She was sitting, silent and still, absorbed in the music across the courtyard. She seemed serene. I wanted to be that way too - I silently vowed to make that my goal for the rest of my trip. It was nearly pitch black, but I set my camera wide open, balanced on a bench as a makeshift tripod, and got a shot.

Fast forward home. My flights - during the long Thanksgiving weekend - were seriously delayed. I barely made it on my plane, literally running a 400m dash in the Denver airport, then gasping for breath the next 20 minutes from being out of shape and at 6,000 ft, about 5900 ft higher altitude than usual. After arriving in San Diego at midnight, I was locked out of my house from my well-intentioned brother in law, who took my keys to feed my doggies, until he came at 3am on his way to work. Instead of sleeping in the next day, I woke up early and drove to Palmdale to see my best friend off before she was leaving to join her husband in Connecticut.

The point: at some point in all this, I remember taking out my memory card and replacing it with a new one, so I could get some photos with Lucinda and her daughter Kate. So I knew the card was at home... but after a week, I had no idea where. I got caught up in work, forgot about it. Then right before Christmas (when I sold my old D80 after receiving a fabulous upgrade), I went on a rampage. I cleaned everything in the house. And it was nowhere to be found.

I was crestfallen. But then... last week... I found it! And now I have photographic proof of my presence on that lovely evening. The picture didn't turn out as well as I had hoped (my biggest issue with the D80 was grainyness at higher iso's), but in my mind, it will always be the masterpiece I envisioned when I saw the woman on the bench.

Brandon took a picture of me taking the picture (his words: you look ridiculous, you know this, right?)
And something lighter and more tropical like to end on a positive note!

Happy New Year!

I don't really believe in New Years resolutions. General goals, yes. But not so much resolutions - because I feel like that sets one up for failure.
Instead, I try to use the start of a new year to reflect on the past year, and how I incorporated my general life goals throughout the last year. I really took significant steps to starting a new business - something that I love to do, rather than something that I am good (but unhappy) at. I made a big move - from LA to San Diego - which has made my hubby and I happier. I have taken significant steps to save money and become bad debt-free.
This year, my overarching goal is to become better and more experienced in my craft. I want to really work on booking events and making more business connections. I want to take classes to enrich my personal life (that's me, lifelong student). I also want to work on living healthier - not just lose weight (although I wouldn't complain about that), but really more centered on exercising more, managing stress better, and eating a better and more balanced diet so that I am a healthier person.
Wait - and I do have one resolution. Back in October, I started working on my list of 101 things that I want to accomplish in the next 1,001 days. I got to about 65 and then lost my list. My one resolution: find the list, finish it, and then start working on those goals.
Hope that everyone had a happy new years!

Brooke and Nick - Wedding

I mentioned that Brooke and Nick have known each other for ages (from their engagement session). I got a chance to know them even better at their wedding! The videographer did this cute interview of each about how they met, how he proposed, etc. It turns out that Brooke turned Nick down in 8th grade, and decided to date his friend instead. Luckily, that 8th grade relationship didn't turn out to be too serious, and they started dating in high school. At the reception, they had an adorable table of memories, including a giant picture of them from prom. Too cute!


Some of my favorite images from the day:

Apparently Brooke insisted that she was going to wear flip flops under her dress from day 1

Right before heading to the ceremony location (I love how you can see that nervous anticipation on her face):


Brooke stopped to talk parents on her way back down the aisle
My favorite part of every wedding is right after the ceremony - the congratulations, the tears, the happiness. I have tons of pictures of people hugging and congratulating each!
The grooms nephew - the ringbearer. Adorable!

Congratulations to both, best wishes for a happy life together!

Brooke and Nick - Engagement

I met Brooke and Nick at La Jolla cove last week for engagement pics. Nick is in the army, and flew in the day before for a whirlwind of his birthday (which was the same day as the engagement session), Christmas activities, and then his wedding tomorrow! I have felt like my holiday period has been crazy - I can't imagine what his has been like.

This shoot was also the first using my beautiful new Canon camera! I only had a 50 1.8 and a 70-200 2.8 (rented) for the day, so I had to be creative. I can't wait to acquire a couple more primes for my new baby - the shots out of the 50 were gorgeous!

Some of my favorites from the shoot:










After the engagement session, I did family portraits - the last time as a family before their little girl got married. Pictures to follow!

Merry Christmas!

First, I have to let everyone know - I made the switch! Last Friday, after I received my bonus, I went out and bought a beautiful new Canon 5d. And then my wonderful husband gave me a new speedlite and 50mm lens for Christmas! So now i've got a nice set up. I'll have to rent lenses for a while for events, but not such a biggie, because now I have a gorgeous camera.

Christmas eve is a tradition that has (thankfully) mellowed as we have gotten older. My husband has two brothers and three stepbrothers, 3 older, 2 younger. The old Xmas eve ALWAYS involved a keg and Pass Out. And gift opening, but this was all secondary pre-children. Now two of his stepbrothers have kids, so gifts have become the center of things. And while we brought the keg back this year, there was more screaming children and less alcohol (for which my body thanks me today). Different, but nice. Because I just can't drink up the way I used to when I was 19.





Some pictures of the chillens last night (taken with my new setup:

Did anyone see the pictures from the photographer, Jill Greenberg, that took away kids lollipops and then photoshopped the kids faces to be all red and contorted from crying? This kid wouldn't need any of that photoshopping - he makes the weirdest faces. (if you haven't seen the pics, you can check them out at her site, http://www.manipulator.com/, under "End Times")

Family Portraits - The Lass Family

I'm all about getting anyone to let me photograph them - it improves my skills, lets me try out new things. So I was thrilled when my sister in law asked me and my husband to take family pictures! The kids (my nephews through marriage and more marriage), Gavin and Spencer, are absolutely adorable camera hams. I had so much fun working with them, even though it was impossible to keep them still or in one place for more than twenty seconds at a time. While Steve, my husband's stepbrother, doesn't really like the camera much (an understatement, trust me), it was so cute to see him and Elicia interacting. They dated since high school, and have been married for years, and they just have this level of comfort around them.

The kids ran out to get their dad (who was searching for a parking space), and then ran back to get to us. I think they just like running.

Spencer:

Gavin, who is a little more shy:

A shot of my hubby in action.


Elicia:
When you see Gavin and Spencer's parents, you can see how the kids look so different. Its a running joke in the family that they each have one kid.








I've done some other family sessions like this and have attended a few kids birthdays, but i'm SO behind in blogging. Oh yeah, and I have a bunch more weddings to blog too. So hopefully I will be able to catch up over the slower (yeah right) holiday season.

Hope all are well, and that you have a merry Christmas!

Decision Time

I've been seriously debating whether I want to stay with Nikon or switch over to Canon over the last month. I need to upgrade my body regardless, and it will cost about the same either way. All I have for my Nikon in terms of lenses that I would like to keep are the 18-200 (which, while awesome with versitility, isn't entirely giving me what I need) and a 50 1.8. The 50 1.8 was only $100 - and the corresponding Canon lens is only $70. And generally, good Canon lenses are slightly cheaper than good Nikon lenses. Since I have so little invested in the way of high end lenses, it really won't add up to much (if anything) extra over time.

Pros of Canon: better color, cheaper lenses, better performance at high ISOs.

Pros of Nikon: sharper lenses, I know the system and have always used them.

I rented a 5D and 70-200, which is what I am thinking of upgrading to, just to try it out. I think that I might need to do so again - I freaked out because a bunch of my family portrait session pictures today were out of focus, but later found out its because someone screwed with the diopter and I never thought to check that when I started shooting with the rental (luckily, I brought my other camera too, so I have plenty of pictures that are good). So i'm not sold on Canon... just yet.

Its hard to break away from what you know (Nikon - or being a lawyer) and enter a new world (Canon - or being a photographer). But change seems to be the underlying theme of my blog - change is what I am going for in my life. So I think it might time to change my camera system too. We'll see...

The Nerve!

Finally, for the first time ever... wedding pictures! I finally have worked up enough courage to show my work to the viewing public.

This is from the third wedding that I second shot (I swear I will catch the others up). Susanna and Ben knew each other since elementary school - and were even on the same page of their elementary yearbook! (which they had framed at the reception entrance) Lifelong friends, they decided to give dating a chance just a year ago. Apparently they knew it was right from the beginning. I can't believe that they planned the wedding in just two months - it was beautiful!

On the Road Again...

Finally back from vacation and have had time to breathe (but not download all of my pics from the Carribean yet).
Today I went to a workshop at the local Calumet photo entitled The Art and Business of Wedding Photography. For all those new to the business, I highly recommend it. The speaker (who was an awesome photog, by the way) went over tons of general business and pricing stuff - stuff that you can figure out on your own (I mean, hello, i'd like to believe my $120k law degree bought me some common sense), but its nice to have it all laid out. There were only 3 people there, so we got some one on one assistance and critique on work, got to share personal stories, discussed photography and ways to branch both into and out of weddings. I learned so much helpful stuff that I intend to implement. And the instructor told me that she thought I had enough good stuff to make a great album from one of my weddings! So... thats my next project. Time to step into the album world and explore. Leather Craftsman... here I come!