I'm ready life, BRING IT.

Ahhh Portland. In so many ways it reminds me of my darling Savannah. I have met many a great people. Visited lots of cute shops. Gone to three art fairs already. I have THREE family photo shoots this weekend (two were booked before I even got to Portland). And I've only been here a week.

So awesome. But now, I must head to bed, for tomorrow I'm gonna have to forgo any plans of playing tourist and catch up with all 2000 photos I have backed up before this weekend hits. No, I haven't even started looking for a job...except I dropped an app at Anthropologie. Y'all know how much I love that store.

Little feet, little feet that will jump across the world, little feet that will ride a bike around the neighborhood, little feet that run to catch a ball, little feet that dance to her song alone in her room, little feet that will tip toe to kiss a boy, little feet that will carry her through a wonderful life

There's Miss Director with the camera

tee hee hee cutie. I believe they were looking at a plane passing by

Oh I will miss them so much :(

I love yellow. <3

It is such an odd feeling... I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what my life will be like in a week. I've never been to Portland, I've seen countless of pictures, but that's it. It's like pondering what happens to your soul after death, or where and how does the Universe end. Like standing on the edge of ... the unknown, with no guidelines, no map, no one you know (at least physically), and no reference to your point of origin.

It's such a WONDERFUL feeling, not scary at all. I live for this, to cross the unknown, to explore new worlds and civilizations, to... try not to turn this entry into a Star Trek quote-fest.

Lots of fun was had, drinks were downed, and pictures were taken that I cannot show to you because.. well... I just can't. :)

Thanks to all my awesome co-workers, brother, friends and everybody else who joined the Ceremony of Debauchery.

Two weeks ago I photographed my very first family portrait. I was so nervous, having never really dealt with families. A darling lady I met at the aforementioned art fair a few months ago asked me to photograph her family, because being a photographer herself she has thousands of pictures of her kids... but none of her in them. So we went to a park on the south side of Vegas (Hicksville, I call it, because it's still mildly undeveloped) and spent an hour shooting her sweet family. To be honest... I quite enjoyed it! The pictures turned out great and she was happy with the results. The photograph above is of 14 year old Shae. She is a sweet girl and I just love love love that portrait.

The family

Hilary Helton, the Photographer/mama/lady with great a decorating eye (her office is AWESOME)

Soon enough, the shyness disappeared.

Last Tuesday I photographed my friend Minnie and her two adorable kids. Now let me tell y'all something. When I think of leaving Vegas for Portland nothing nothing nothing at all makes me sad about it... except saying goodbye to this little girl. Just thinking about it makes me shed a little tear. I'm gonna miss little Genesis so much. She is such a smart three year old. So imaginative, energetic, shy (at first) and unbearably cute. Not that I have any plans to have kids at all, but if I do, I hope I get to raise her the way Minnie is doing. I like me some disciplined smart kids.

During our shoot on Tuesday, Genesis grabbed her mama's Canon 20D (the same model as my camera) and in no more than 10 minutes was already directing us where to sit, how to sit, where to stand, when the camera was ready, so on and so on. Three years old. Oh lordy. Her photographs actually turned out great!!!! I think I may have a partner in crime!

This is one of her shots. And yes, that's my bra.

I had asked her to jump for a photo... but instead she told me to jump. So I obliged.

I haven't finished editing the pictures from that session. I did snap like 600 shots of her, her lil baby brother (who is totally chill, and I adore him!), the mama and the grandma.

So definitely I will market this new area of my photography. I have to learn to loosen up around kids.

YAY FOR TAKING OVER THE WORLD ALL THE WAY FROM MY FUTURE HEADQUARTERS IN PORTLAND!!!!

That up there is the business card I want to get printed. The colors won't pop out as much, the screen shows the RGB not CMYK. But it's still dainty, I believe. ^_^

I know, I know, second time I post another of Feist's videos, but I am so in love with this girl. Her music enters me, swims through my bloodstream, plays my heart strings and the notes are my tears and my chuckles. This, The Buildup is a live version of her collaboration with the Kings of Convenience, yet another great band I discover thanks to her.

Also, 28 days till Portland! and I haven't packed a single thing. I'm screwed.

Every post is full of words of wonderment, delight, nostalgia and a sense that every day is rosey and unique even when some convince us otherwise. I have been so inspired by her artwork and outlook on life. Without realizing, I was falling in love with Portland, Oregon for the longest time through her eyes.

Even if I never meet Miss Alicia (though I would love love love to) once I relocate, it is such a comforting feeling knowing that people like her inhabit this grand City of Roses.

image by alyson

But there is an equally fantastic blogger I will actually meet! Miss Alyson of Unruly Things fame. Oh how I love her blog. Short words, great feelings, child-like dreams, neutral threads and sunday-afternoon-lighting-like photos. She has been stalking me a bit through the social networks of the Internets. That's totally cool with me. Also, how rockin' is that guitar of hers!

I still often dream of owning my little boutique where a little corner will be dedicated to beautiful fabrics. I would pair Japanese cottons with silks with Lara Cameron's amazing silkscreened linens and canvas. Next to the fabrics, you'd find dainty vintage buttons, ribbons and lace. ooo lace.

I hope this dream comes true within the next ten years. How awesome! ^_^

Over the past few months I have been collecting wine corks from work. To be perfectly honest with y'all, I have absolutely no idea why I am doing so, but so far I have 318. My bartender jokes I am perhaps building a raft to go back home. har har. Anybody have a cool suggestion? I guess I collect them because I just love collecting things that might otherwise fill up space in a landfill. Maybe I'm just a pack rat (not to be confused with a rat pack. lol).

Today I stumbled upon muxtape, clicked one of the profiles in the main page and discovered a most beautiful, dreamy song, Mar el poder del mar by Facto Delafe from Spain. Had never heard of this singer, but I am so glad I did. The video is just... delightful.

...adoro sentirte...