This blog began as a way for me to share the crafty endeavors going on in my life five years ago. Sadly, I rarely have time to craft anymore. Photography has taken over my life (which is cool).
I would love love love love love love love love if you would join me in my new little blog :) It would mean the world to me!
Thank you friends for your support throughout the years!
Sometimes, I find myself spotting love everywhere I go. Do you?
Le blog is on a bit of a hiatus while I get the new blog set up. It's like totally awesome and ten times better than this.
The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!"
At times I feel this unquenchable desire to learn more and more about the human condition, about each and every one of my friends, about strangers. I want to know all the stories that make up the 90 year old residents that I serve meals to every day at my day job.
While I am not the brilliant, curious anthropologist I always wanted to be, I am quite happy I am able to map out the stories of human kind with my camera. Map them out, connect them and create a chart to guide our future in the right direction.
Also, I have been shooting with film non stop for the past month. My computer's failing CPU thanks me.
As if I needed more reasons to love Portland more than I already do, the fantastic Amy Olson creator of beautiful jewelry interviewed me for her blog Portland Loves Local, a delightful blog about, well, Portland and its vast roster of talented artists that she runs along with photographer Misha Ashton. I appreciate anybody who takes great pride in their town and in the people that make it work. So I was quite honored when Amy asked me I'd be willing to be interviewed. Of course!
Please visit their blog! Even if you don't live in Portland, you might feel inspired to discover more about the local talent in your town.
Hearts!
"How do you cope with this Portland winter?", a friend asked me last week. I had absolutely no answer. It is no secret that January and February are my toughest months, emotionally, ever since relocating to the States and more specifically, dreary, Sunless Portland. I can't tell if it's the constant sprinkly rain (I am a huge fan of big ol' fat rain) or the dark mornings or lack of Sun or the post-Holiday blues or the slow season in photography or being new to the business and freaking out about the slow season or the fact that it is weird that I have actual no-sessions weekends now instead of having 10 sessions a weekend and 40-hours-a-week day-job...or what. But SOMETHING gets me really down.
And in the two Winters I've spent in Portland I haven't done a single thing to combat it all. Until I somehow landed on this blog: Color Me Katie. Extremely adorable and full of color, love, balloons (!!!) and inspiration to be happy. I believe you should also embrace feelings of sadness and helplessness, if only for a bit. They are, after all, HUMAN feelings. We are not perfect. Eventually, you feel tired of not wanting to face the world every morning.
So, I am devising activities to clear my head of any lingering negative thoughts, like learning watercolor! My obsession with watercolor runs deep, but I have never been able to acquire this skill. Finally, the timing is right now, as a dear friend gave me a kit back in Christmas! I grabbed a Beginner's book from the library, starting with very simple lessons. Not skipping, like I usually do.
Why, this surely makes me happy :) :) :) :) :)
May I ask, how do YOU cope with consecutive negative thoughts? Do you just ride it out, or do you combat it?
Have a great day! Noodles!
Now I know why people told me to hold on, hold on and brave the Winter for the flowers will bloom and you will be amazed. Swoon swoon swoon swoooooon. Cherry blossoms everywhere. It was a like a dream come true (minus the allergies, woah)! My friends hosted crafternoons, dinner, lunchies, picnics, walks, photo adventures... all welcoming the nicer weather and the fruit of all that rain.
March marked the first wedding of 2009, an intimate ceremony held at an old elementary school in Forest Grove, OR. Lovely. I am very much looking forward to this March 2010. I can already spot the buds on bulbs all around. *happy smiles*
I would say February marked the beginning of my obsession with balloons, in huge part thanks to these photos above. The Ladies of Fernhill reunited in Winter to shake the cold and photograph pretty things. We got together on a surprisingly warm (55 degrees!) Saturday afternoon at Oak's Park. New ladies joined this time and we thought that was swell.
Right when I moved to Portland, someone advised I take a trip somewhere warm in mid-Winter in order to escape the gloom of the Northwest. So I bought a ticket to Las Vegas (the best I could do) to visit family, friends and attend a photo conference. It was cloudy and cold in Vegas... wth? But at least I got away, and got to hang out with my dearest little friend Genesis. Oh how I love this girl.
Happy weekend, y'all!
Who can resist cheeks like Charlotte's? From what I understand, no living human being can turn away from the hypnotizing power baby cheeks have over us. I, for one, surrender to our big-cheeked overlords.
This session marked the first time I ever stepped into Downtown Vancouver, WA. Quaint and adorable, as were Sarah, Trevor and baby Charlotte. :)
Baby Charlotte loved entertaining us with her patented "Touchdown!" pose. I was very amused!
I really love this shot.
Red shoes on kids = Instant win.
Ever since moving to the US in 2002 January has been my least favorite month. In the early years of college I would spend the entire Winter break in Sunny Puerto Rico where it was constantly 80 degrees only to return right after January 1st to the "frigid" cold of Georgia (OMGZ 47 degrees!). My little body is too frail for anything under 75 degrees.
Nowadays, January might guarantee me 5 days of Sun. MIGHT. Last January was my first in the Pacific Northwest. A dreaded anxiety built up the months leading to January for I didn't know how horrible a PNW Winter truly was. While it wasn't the end-of-days scenario many painted for me, I must admit it wasn't easy.
But I made it through and was able to find some comfort and beauty in my old neighborhood of Mt. Tabor, and in friends, as always. As much as I despise this Season, Winter lighting is BREATHTAKING. Something about it...
I'm not sure if posting images from Sunnier times is a wise idea on this most depressing day, but that image up there may just be my favorite one of 2009. Did y'all know I love bubbles? No? Well, I do. Like, a lot. Bubbles, balloons, little kid clothing. You name it. I love little Ella's curly brown sun-kissed hair, striped dress from Grasshopper and, of course, the bubbles.
I photographed this family of three (plus dog, Charlie) in NE Portland last October. What a wonderful afternoon it was. Definitely one of my favorite sessions from the Fall. :)
My childhood was nowhere near this awesome.
Those shoes...
Ella and I composed a few songs. She's got excellent vocals. I'm more the mysterious toy xylophone player.
I have to admit, I've become a dog-liker thanks to some of my clients' own canines. Not that I used to hate dogs, but I never felt any attachment to them (I've never owned a pet... well, except a parakeet or two that I never quite fed.... yeah).
""B" is for Bennett!", exclaimed the little one while his parents exchanged a puzzled look as they did not know where their son had picked up that phrase. I quite enjoyed this and many other little quirks that make up who Bennett is. This boy is just too adorable. He kept pretending the blue goggles was a camera and "photographed" me throughout the session.
We made sure to incorporate the "first born", Marley, in our photo shoot.
I absolutely adore that photo on the right. ADORE IT.
BUBBLES! SUMMER!
Tools of the trade.
Papa arrived from his flight and joined in on the fun!
Healthy boy! Up to this day, I still drink my glass of hot chocolate milk every night. Go me!
Hearts!
One of my goals for 2010* is to improve my directorial skills during a photoshoot. I've become so used to photographing kids, I have forgotten that older folks require some sort of direction.
Except Gabriela. She didn't need any. She totally made my job a WHOLE LOT EASIER. Thank you, Gabriela! Much luck in your graduating high school year** and I hope you get to attend my alma mater, SCAD! :) {Also, I used a mix of film and digital for this shoot. Photo above is film, oh how I missed you)
* Oh BTW HAPPY NEW YEAR, Y'ALL!
**2010 also marks my 10 years from my own high school graduation. How did this happen, again? Hmm?
I honestly do not recall ever being as pretty and stylish as the high school senior ladies I have photographed in the past year. Really. Somehow this isn't fair. :P
Euri was awesome and a total sport, as we searched for neat spots in and around The Ace Hotel in Downtown Portland.
Cheers! (I wonder if I'll blog again beforethe end of the year...)
After my session with the Clouds was over last December, little Jonathan asked me join them for ice-cream that Saturday afternoon. Sadly, I had to decline. Never forgetting an invitation to have ice-cream, this year the Clouds were total sweethearts and offered me a vanilla cone (with sprinkles, of course) during the session. The kids joined too and lots of fun was had.
Ice cream + darling family + gorgeous sunny morning = TOTAL WIN.
Love my job :) :) :) Such great benefits.
Hearts, y'all!
A sweet and close-knit wedding I photographed on October 10, 2009 in Seattle, WA.
Twins!!
Little Ella is such a darling girl.
I photographed this family of three sisters, the three husbands, five kids and one grandma last year. I heart them.
Secret Agent Levi on the run!
Proof that internet dating DOES work! They have been married for 12 years now. :)
Those cheeks!!!!
Little Harper wore a pink coat, so did I :) We're colorful gals.
Okay, I'm gonna go ahead and have an ice-cream, snuggle up in bed and pass out. Blogging is exhausting! :P
Heartsies, have a great weekend y'all!