Last weekend, my sister Kara, her boyfriend Josh, my Richard, and I took a quick trip over to Carmel mostly for the food. Kara and Josh are both in college in Boston, and are going back to school in a little over a week, so we had to make the best of the time we have now. The Cheese Shop is a bit hard to explain, but they have this magnificent collection of international cheeses that is just amazing! You can try as many (or in Josh’s case: all) of the cheeses as you would like, and just sit out in the Carmel Plaza courtyard and enjoy your wine and cheese. It’s one of those wonderful relaxing moments in time that is always enjoyable to remember. The Carmel Plaza courtyard is also a beautifully relaxed garden setting with delicate flowers and foliage everywhere you look. While Josh was busy selecting his hundred pounds of cheese to take home with him, I took a lovely stroll around the courtyard and practiced a little bit of Flower Photography. I have a feeling some of these images are going to end up framed and in the office, or at home because of how they remind me of peace and serenity! Hopefully they will inspire the same for you!

The sun was just setting as Kara and Josh headed out onto the beach as the clouds were rolling in.

Kara was insistent on doing “jumping pictures” and these turned out to be some of my favorites!

Richard and I!

My sister Kara and I!

Kara and Josh being cute…

Richard enjoying the Carmel sea breeze overlooking the beach.

All the pretty flowers from the Carmel Plaza courtyard.

Yummy Cheesy cheese from The Cheese Shop!

The sunset through the coming storm clouds.

I don’t think anyone, even a client, has ever asked me what my inspiration is for my photography, but I’m going to put it out there anyway. I definitely find my inspiration between the pages of the yellow bound magazine covers of National Geographic. For the aforementioned reasons, the sparkling photography, and the amazingly exotic places featured in them, I can’t help but feeling that we are all so similar, rather than different. Each of us only want the best for ourselves and our families, no matter where we’re from, or what language we speak. Everyone feels love, and pain, and excitement and sorrow, and although not always in the same way, our emotions are the same. If I can just capture a tiny sliver of your happiness, sorrow, excitement, nervousness and contentment in an image that lasts long after we are all gone, I could sincerely call myself the luckiest women alive.

In my November issue of National Geographic, there is an article about the pets of the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt, and I can’t wait to read it! As you might have already noticed, I love cats, and have always been curious about the whole mummification of cats thing… I mean, I think it’s a fabulous idea because every time I lose a pet, it just kills me. Literally, a piece of myself goes with them. Sometimes, the reverence I have for animals, especially cats, gets taken to a whole new level. Now don’t laugh, but I believe that it is absolutely fabulous good luck to find kitty footprints on your car. It makes me feel lucky. So, I suppose I’m a nutty, slightly superstitious, nerdy, National Geographic reading, wedding photographer in Fresno, California, watching a sappy Christmas movie, and I couldn’t be more content with myself!

It’s interesting to reflect during these slow times of the year on what I have done before, and what I can do differently in the future. Richard and I are good friends with one of the first couples I photographed about two years ago (Josh and Erin, bottom left corner of image below). A couple weeks ago out at dinner with them at North India (yummy Indian food…), I mentioned that I felt kinda bad about their photos, seeing as it was my second wedding I had ever photographed. A little stunned, the groom said, “Why!?!? We love them!” To which I replied in the only way I could saying, “Well, I could have done better…” I was hoping that they wouldn’t be upset with me, like maybe I had short-changed them in some way, but he was completely understanding. He explained how that is exactly how I should feel, because if I ever feel like everything is easy or perfect, I would not continue to improve. I was a bit taken aback by this thought, because I am meticulous in my perfectionism, and am the harshest possible critic that I could have. I guess I am a real artist after all, brooding over perfecting the medium of expression I work through day by day by day…

I’ve learned so much in my first two years of business, and although I hope the hardest parts are behind me, I am more than up for a challenge! On that note, the image below is a sneak-peek of some a promotional 8X10 I will be making up for the coming season. Some of my favorite images are included, some from a while back, and some from more recent weddings or engagements. If you are in any kind of wedding planning, florist, bridal boutique, make-up artist or whatever wedding related businesses, let me know if you would like some similar items made for YOU! I would be happy to supply the photographic expertise…

My mom was out of town visiting her parents this week, and my sister is still in Boston for Grad school, so we had Thanksgiving at Richard’s mom, and aunt Carol’s houses. My dad who is in town was given an open invitation to participate, but instead declined the social invitation to stay home and lounge around the house in several different pieces of flannel, watching TV with his four dogs…

Despite not having Thanksgiving dinner at my place, and because I like to cook, I volunteered to contribute homemade cranberry sauce, and freshly baked honey-white rolls. After making one batch of 24 rolls, and eating about four… I looked at the measly allotment and shreiked, “OH No! I need to make more!” And then proceeded to make 24 more rolls, and then two hours later eat another two… Luckily, enough rolls made it to dinner, and no one seemed to notice the 6 rolls that were missing…

Since we’ve moved from Monterey to Fresno last Saturday, it seems like much has happened, and very little has happened at the same time. I’ve spent a lot of time working on my business, editing photos, responding to e-mails, and making phone calls. Unpacked boxes, and starting making plans about what to do next. First on the list: Join a gym… more on that later…

Richard is out of town this week. He is an IT Security Consultant by day (my fabulous second shooter by weekend) and often gets flown out to fix problems that I don’t understand. So, since he’s gone, I have the whole house to myself, and all the unpacking to do on my own.

It’s times like these that the girls and I need to get together for Girl Time! Girl time is usually started off with some kind of alcoholic beverage, followed by trying to act cool, and ending with the conversation inevitably turning to boys. Even as I’ve gotten older, the conversation always goes the same way as when I was a teenager. Either way, girls, you need to call me so we can do this soon! I’ll bring the Mead!

This series below was a Girl Time experience a while back during which we found a cool old magnifying glass and though it would be fun to take silly pictures of each other… Fun times… From left to right: Lisa, Me, and Jennifer.

I would characterize myself as relaxed, groovy, easy to get along with, and pretty much game for a laugh. I’m a real person. I don’t lay on a thick sales pitch when I meet clients, I just try to get to know them. I’m extremely organized and always super-duper prepared for my weddings (that’s the Girl Scout motto “be prepared!”). I work very hard at what I do, and spend hours during and after the wedding editing and perfecting each image.

It’s sometimes hard to connect with people over the phone and when I talk to potential clients, I feel like I have so much to tell/ask them! So much to talk about! What are your wedding colors? What does your dress look like? Just tell me everything! Those are words Richard dreads hearing… “tell me everything” is like Man-Kryptonite, it just melts him into a quivering mess of incapability. Like he just can’t store that much information in his mind at one time. I digress… I’m a girly girl when it comes to weddings, and I love the mundane details about all the cool things my brides come up with for their weddings. I’d love to be considered a friend along the way, and not just the hired help. It’s true that I spend a lot of time with my couples on W-day and more than any other vendor.

Whatever the reason, it’s hard starting a business. No matter how good a Photographer I am, if no one knows about me, I will never make it. So, if your reading this and you know anyone getting married or engaged or whatever, send them my way! I promise to take good care of them, and I won’t disappoint! After all, in a few years, I plan to be one of the BEST Photographers in the country. It’s a lofty goal, I agree, but I aim high.

Moving Update: We’ve moved from Monterey to Fresno, and I’m now endeavoring to unpack the myriad of boxes stacked in the dining and living rooms. Dottie is not helping much. In fact, the cats have done nothing but nap since we arrived… lot of help they are…

I can take pictures. So what? I can take gooooood pictures! Now we’re getting somewhere! But how am I (and a camera maybe) going to change the world? Well, to tell you the truth, I don’t know. All 2 of you that read this blog probably already know that I have started a Photography Business with the greatest of intentions. I fully intend to become one of the greatest photographers in the world. I don’t know if I will get there, but I want to be the best. Anything worth doing is worth doing well! Right? Everyone has to start somewhere, so here I am at the beginning. I’ve practiced my skills, I’ve purchased abused and tortured terribly expensive equipment, I’ve adopted professional business practices into my arsenal of skills. My work consumes me. I am utterly drawn to my camera and computer screen with an obsessive flare, staring at my images until my eyes hurt, until I figure out how to make my images good, better, the best. I’m a perfectionist. No seriously, if you look in the dictionary under “perfectionist” you would find a picture of me. I know a lot of people that would consider perfectionist tendencies a weakness, but I consider it a strength. My photos are a reflection of my soul, a reflection of myself, and my clients emotions all at the same time.

I consider myself first and foremost an artist. I’ve always been artistic, although I was never any good at drawing, and I have mad respect for those who can! Secondly, I consider myself a storyteller. I love telling stories, writing stories, creating stories. I’m especially thrilled that I can combine my artistic perfectionist visions with my love of storytelling in the ever amazing art that is Wedding Photography. I think most people truly under value their wedding photography. If you only have someone take a photo of you in your wedding gown, you’re missing out on all the fun stuff! I love weddings the most in those weird awkward nervous moments in between the main events. I am lucky to be a part of one of the most important days of your life! Wow! How cool is that?!?!?! And not only do I get to be there, I get to know you, your family, your dreams, hopes, and most importantly, your love.

I put tremendous value on the reactions of my couples to their photography. I actually get disappointed if I don’t hear anything when the bride and groom look at their photos in their Online Proofing Gallery. Like I have failed. Failed myself, and failed them. I really truly want you to LOVE your photos, and I do what I can to achieve perfection. Come with me on this one, and we’ll se where this goes…

Kitties Love Boxes! Packing update…the cats have chosen their boxes and are ready to go!