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One of my personal goals to myself this year has been to bring more balance into my life. My business has been so busy these last two years, which is a blessing I'm very thankful for, but sometimes I feel as though I've been neglecting me and not doing the things that I love to do... such as reading books and watching movies (that are not of the G-rated variety) on a consistent basis. So these past few months, I have been trying to do more of that and have found I am reconnecting with the things that I love so much and make me, me. Of course, there are several things I like to do in my personal time ( other than photography): drink wine and have good talks with close girlfriends, practice yoga (its been a while on this one thanks to some tendanitus in my wrist), travel, and above all spend time with my family. But this post is about books and movies I have been able to catch recently::
I just finished The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond. The story intrigued me because the main character is a professional photographer  who actually loses her fiance's 6-year-old daughter, Emma, on a foggy beach in San Francisco when she looks down for a moment to photograph a seal. The story then follows her endless quest to find Emma, with whom she was quite close and loved very much, and the unraveling of her relationship with Emma's father Jake following her error in judgement -- by looking away for a few seconds -- and how she deals with her guilt and own memory of the incident. I think the thing that impacted me the most was the thought that this could happen to anyone and how your life can change in 10 seconds. I'm sure as photographers, many of us have found ourselves pulled into the lens, pulled into something we are photographing, where we do in fact take our eyes off our children for a second too long and they could be gone in an instant. I wont spoil the ending and it is hard to put down because you so want to get to the end to find out what happened to Emma. Now I digress into the consequence of reading such a book: I liked the book overall - and it's well written and engaging - but as a Mom, it is difficult for me to read or watch things that deal with stories about kidnappings, abuses, traumas, neglect, or kids dying before their time. I can barely even watch the evening news anymore, because every single story it seems is about children being killed, children being beaten, or kidnapped, or intentionally left at airports by their mother, and it literally -- literally -- makes me ill. Something in my heart changed when I become a Mom and I want to protect and love all these damaged children even though I know I cannot. And as much as I want be knowledgeable of world events and the news, it's hard to take it all in sometimes, and my thoughts about human beings in general shifts to a more negative state than normal. Not a place I want to stay too long. So bottom line, it's a good book and quick read, but if you are a parent you might find it hard to always separate the fear from your own child.  E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About ItSimply put - a great book. A must read for any small business owner. This book was recommended to me by a few people over the years and I finally picked it up and read it a few months ago. I then gave it to my husband and he read it in a week and then bought 3 copies for clients to read. It describes [quite accurately] the life cycle of small businesses and outlines why the majority of them fail. And how to create a business that is more capable of surviving over the long term. Even if your business goal is to stay small, it is a still a great book in terms of strategy, thinking big and evolving.
 The Boleyn Inheritance - The follow up to The Other Boleyn Girl which chronicles the women that followed after Queen Anne Boleyn's downfall including those who played a role in her demise. If you were a fan of The Other Boleyn Girl (one of my Top 10), then you will probably like this one too. The characters are just as well drawn out and the story, while not quite as complex as the first, is also incredibly engaging.
And a few movies I've seen/rented recently...
 Sex and the City: The MovieFour out of five stars for me. I was a fan of the series and appreciated how the movie really focused on the friendships of these four women and how close bonds like that get us though many of the chapters of our lives. I also thought SJP/Carrie did a good job getting quite serious through the middle half of the movie and showed her true acting chops a little more. I laughed, I cried, I pondered. What more can I ask.
 The Other Boleyn Girl (movie)NOWHERE near as good or detailed as the book. In fact, the movie changed several things and I don't think was able to establish the complexities of the book or the women and why they made so many of the decisions they did. I'd only give this one 2 stars.
 The Kite Runner:: Another book-to-movie-adaption, but I liked this one. I thought the movie did a good job following the book and developed the characters quite well. I found this to be a thought-provoking and moving story of betrayal, guilt, and redemption told through another culture. 3 1/2 stars.
There is more, much more, but this post is already too long. You guys reading any good books out there?
Labels: PERSONAL
Kim and I held our first Photography Workshop for Beginners yesterday. We are so grateful to have met each of you and appreciate your great reviews and good feedback! Based on all you said, we feel it was a success and look forward to doing more in the future. Everyone said they learned something new and some of you felt it was a tremendous help to understanding your cameras and the fundamentals better through the hands-on instruction.
We will definitely hold another workshop or two in the fall; likely the beginners workshop again as well as a more intermediate version that will include models and a live shoot. As of now we do not have a date selected, but if you are interested in being on the mailing list for our future workshops, please send me an email and we'll make sure to keep you updated! All of you who attended yesterday will be automatically added.
Thank you to everyone who attended yesterday and helped make our first workshop a success! We can't wait to see your work and how you evolve from here! Labels: NEWS, WORKSHOPS
I'm a little delayed in getting this posted up the blog! Tracy and Tom were married late last month at Circle Bar Ranch and held the distinct honor of being the last event ever to be held there. It's a beautiful ranch:: wide open fields, wide open skies, and generally quiet and peaceful, with a rustic, old-world charm. They wanted a smaller low-key wedding, with their cute little dog Haites playing a role, and only their nearest and dearest as part of the celebration. These two were very, very kind and easy-going and a pleasure to spend the day with. Congratulations Tracy and Tom - you two are wonderful! A few favorites...  I loved Tom's genuine show of excitement at being pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Tom Doody  Playing with some off camera flash...  A fun little dance series with the newlyweds   I wish you both all the happiness you deserve! Labels: WEDDINGS
We have completed several albums in the past few weeks and I wanted to share one so far that I just love. Laura and Brandon's beautiful wedding at a private home above the Sanctuary Resort on Camelback Mountain. Not only do these two look like Guess models, but they were blessed with an absolutely perfect day. Check it out!
 Labels: ALBUMS
There is just one week left before our workshop next Saturday! There are a few spots left for this great opportunity, so be sure to hurry and register if you are thinking of coming. While we may do another one in the future, the price or content may be different, so this is a great opportunity for those starting out in photography, for those wanting to increase their skill set, or for those who just want to take better pictures in general. One of the reasons Kim and I decided to hold a workshop is that we have both felt that seminars and workshops have been the single best source of eduction for us in our own careers. I have not taken photography classes in a school setting because I always felt I could learn as much, if not more, through the hands-on component and direct feedback of the workshop setting -- and in a much quicker fashion. I still attend workshops because I always walk away with something new, with renewed inspiration for my photography and personal goals, and I always learn at least one thing that I did not know before. All of which have been instrumental in building my business and honing my craft. * * * * *
Here are some of the topics we will be discussing next week:
*The best lenses for the least amount of money for digital SLR cameras (hint: it's not the one that came with the camera)
*How to turn off the flash and achieve professional looking results, even in low light (avoid the "blur" factor)
*The fundamentals of shooting manually (where the magic really happens!)
*Easy lighting tips and techniques to get the best results
*How to get the most out of your Point-and-Shoot (using ISO effectively, burst rate, and more - however we will only discuss point and shoot cameras if we have those attending with them - so far, everyone has a digital SLR)
*The fundamentals of composition (the rule of thirds, framing your subject effectively, reducing your background elements, and more)
*Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom Tutorials -how to manage your workflow and make your images pop
*And much more, including time for open-ended Q&A If you have any questions, please be sure to send me an email. You can register directly by clicking here. Labels: RESOURCES, WORKSHOPS
Well this is a "red-letter-day" for me, as my Grandma used to say. First, I have received two incredibly touching phone calls from perfect strangers today complimenting me and my work. Both calls touched me deeply and really made my day. Thank you Theresa and Pat for your kind words.
Second, I just saw that Michelle & Craig's b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l wedding from last summer has been published on The Knot. Whooo hooo! You may remember images from their wedding at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale last June, but if you would like to view their album or slideshow, here they are again :)
 Labels: NEWS
I met Andy and Neil recently to take some engagement photos for them. I'm not shooting their wedding as they are getting married in California later this summer, but I sometimes have couples who find me here for these types of sessions and we go out and capture some fun images for them. Labels: ENGAGEMENTS
A few of you may have already seen some of these image on Kim Jarman's blog. Kim is a fellow wedding and portrait photographer here in Phoenix and we have become good friends over the years. I was very flattered that she asked me to shoot her pregnancy pictures, as it is always a bit daunting to do work for another photographer (and an awesome one at that). She was also pretty nervous because she kept telling me how much she hates being in front of the camera, but I think she worked it like a natural, and we all got our groove on pretty quickly. Jamie was a total pro as well, as you can see. These two are going to make extremely loving parents. Little Baby "K" (I'm not sure if Kim is publically sharing the name) is going to be one lucky little girl.  Initially we were going to go to Lake Saguaro, but it was that day several weeks ago when it was crazy hot, so we moved it last minute to The Farm at South Mountain, and I was so glad that we did. I was immediately in a backlighting frame of mind there.  At the very end, we played around with off camera flash and this was the very first shot, almost an accident with the settings, but it was my favorite. I had so much fun with you guys! Thanks for putting your trust in me. Maybe someday I'll be calling on you to take some of me :) Labels: PORTRAITS
I was excited to see one of my images from Charlie and Kent's wedding this part March placed in the most recent quarterly WPJA contest. I got 16th, but I'm just happy that I placed at all considering they are uber-picky and it's hard to place at all!
 Labels: NEWS
Workshop UpdateWe still have some seats left for our workshop. Many of you have inquired, so please send in your registration forms if you have not already to ensure we hold your spot. You can v iew the flyer and registration form here. If you know any parents or hobbyists that might be interested, please feel free to forward them this link.
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Assistant Position Update
Thank you to all of you who have sent me emails about the assistant position! I am planning to go through the emails this week and will then get in touch with you.
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August Beach Sessions in California
We are pretty much booked up for the week Aug 10-17 with various photo shoots. I may have 1 spot left, but be sure to email me and book quickly because it wont last much longer. Please note that beach sessions are $350 because they are longer and a little more work than non-beach sessions. (And you will likely get a little wet!) But I do throw in some extra goodies for you :-)
******** GasWhat in the name of Mary is up with the gas prices??!! This is getting ridiculous. I paid $4.39 two days ago and didn't fill it up because going over $80 for a tank of gas just seems to fly in the face of principle, so now I'll need to fill it up again and it's probably going to cost me at least $4.50 now. Im planning to drive to CA this summer, at and this point I could fly over there for substantially less than it will cost me to get there and back. We have got to start coming up with alternative energy sources, and stop relying on the middle east for oil.
 Bob Englehart, Hartford, Connecticut -- The Hartford Courant
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We made it home in one piece and are (sadly) slowly adjusting to the normal routine of life again. I thought I would post a few more pictures from our time in Hawaii last week before I get back into the swing of things and forget what a good time we had! I think another reason that I blogged so little is that we all really stayed on Arizona time while there. Not so much on purpose, but after waking up the first morning about 5:30 AM, we just found ourselves going to bed early and rising super early. I'm not normally an early morning person like this (I'm one of those lucky Mom's whose daughter typically wakes between 7:45-8:30 AM), but it was great to be up that early and outside before the world came alive. I'd walk the property and take pictures or drink my coffee and read on our balcony. So peaceful. Along with my point-and-shoot camera, I also brought along my 5D and two light weight fixed lenses (my 50 and 100 macro) so I could capture some of the scenery and florals. I actually really love shooting with my macro, so I had some fun finding so many different beautiful flowers. That was one of my favorite things about Hawaii - how lush and tropical and beautiful it is.    Sydney picking the flowers at our hotel  Our good friends who we vacationed with: Tom, Marie, Sydney and Delaney   On our last night there, we went to a Lual at the Royal Lahiana Resort, which the kids just loved!  Jordan enjoying two juices at once. Now that is a vacation treat.  We had a great play pool area for the kiddos at our hotel. It was super family friendly, which was helpful and more fun for everyone involved.  Jordan mastered the waterslide in no time  My little poser  And finally, one of my favorite feelings in the whole world :-)  Can't wait to visit you again in the future Hawaii! Labels: PERSONAL
 (The view from our hotel.) It's hard to believe that our wonderful vacation is coming to an end tomorrow. It has been one of the most relaxing trips I have taken in a long while (even with 3 kids). The last time I visited Hawaii I was only 12, so it's practically a new experience for me since I don't remember a great deal from that long ago. We are vacationing with our very good friends Tom and Marie, and their daughters Sydney (5) and Delaney (4). It's been great for all the girls as they have been having a blast together swimming, playing at the beach and generally tiring each other out all day. We are staying in Wailea on Maui at the Marriott, nestled between the Grand Wailea Resort to our left and the Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort on the right. There is a 1.5 mile coastal walk that runs the length of all the area resorts, and spans several white sand beaches. Paradise. This past week has FLOWN by, but it's been such a great week. I really disconnected more than I thought I would do-- I guess because I really needed to. I thought about blogging often, but when push came to shove, I kept choosing to be out there experiencing and relaxing, rather than sitting inside our hotel room in front of my computer. But since we are leaving tomorrow, I thought I should share some of our highlights from our time here in Hawaii.
One of my favorite things was a snorkel excursion to Molokini island right off of Maui. This wasn't one of Chris's favorite because he got sea sick for the first time in his life, but I loved seeing all the fish and sea turtles-- and the fact that we got Jordan in the water to at least see one fish underwater. All of these were taken with the point-and-shoot:
  Jordan looking at Molikini, the small, uninhabited crater island famous for its clear blue water and great coral reef.  Speaking of the clear, blue water --it looks more like pool water. The slide off the side of the boat.  Another great snorkeling location was Baby Beach in Kaanapali. The water was pretty calm and you could go out a way to the breaker amidst the coral and sand. There wasn't nearly as many fish here, but Marie and I had fun falling over in the water while trying to walk in our flippers (we are both well known klutzes in our respective families) :)  Our very favorite spot to snorkel though was this little, off the wall cove in Makena, just south of Wailea. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of it because we just took our gear and left everything else in the car, but if you are in Maui and like snorkeling, this is a fantastic spot. Tons of fish and opportunities to see turtles. We didn't see any, but it was our favorite place. If you are ever in this area and like to snorkel, definitely check it out! One of our favorite beaches: Big Beach, just south of Wailea. The waves were a bit big for the kids, but they still loved it!  I thought this kind of summed up the best way I can relax on the beach at this point in my life... only partially given the kiddos.  The girls looking for shells at the rock beach just below our hotel.     The Dad's took the girls out on this rock formation to watch the turtles. There were a ton that swim right here at our hotel each evening and morning. They said they came right up to them out there, so they saw 4 or 5 right below them. The girls loved it!     I'll have a few more to share, but wanted to get these up. I wish it didn't have to come to and end :( Labels: PERSONAL
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who actually loses her fiance's 6-year-old daughter, Emma, on a foggy beach in San Francisco when she looks down for a moment to photograph a seal. The story then follows her endless quest to find Emma, with whom she was quite close and loved very much, and the unraveling of her relationship with Emma's father Jake following her error in judgement -- by looking away for a few seconds -- and how she deals with her guilt and own memory of the incident.
E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It
The Boleyn Inheritance - The follow up to The Other Boleyn Girl which chronicles the women that followed after Queen Anne Boleyn's downfall including those who played a role in her demise. If you were a fan of The Other Boleyn Girl (one of my Top 10), then you will probably like this one too. The characters are just as well drawn out and the story, while not quite as complex as the first, is also incredibly engaging.
Sex and the City: The Movie
The Other Boleyn Girl (movie)
The Kite Runner:: Another book-to-movie-adaption, but I liked this one. I thought the movie did a good job following the book and developed the characters quite well. I found this to be a thought-provoking and moving story of betrayal, guilt, and redemption told through another culture. 3 1/2 stars.
