Change!

I was at trader joes last week chatting with the checker about New Years resolutions. She said "I don't make them anymore, I never follow through," On one hand, her statement felt really freeing, but on the other hand, it felt defeatist. Like giving up. Since that conversation, I've been thinking a lot about New Year's resolutions and why we make them on a certain day.

As I've gotten older (and wiser) I've come to realize there is no magic to January 1.  Or Mondays.  Or Mondays that fall on the first day of the month. (!) But the bottom line is, that I won't give up.  It doesn't mater when you start to change, because "A year from now, you will wish you had started today." (Karen Lamb)

My mantra for change in both my professional and personal life comes from Napoleon Hill--"Do not wait: the time will never be 'just right'.  Start where you stand, and work whatever tools you may have at your command and better tools will be found as you go along."  No, definitely not perfect at remembering this, but getting better!  

Happy New Year's--here's to change happening all year long!  See you in 2016!

Featuring: Senior portraits--Blake Duarte

When Blake's mom called to inquire about senior portraits, we spoke for some time and I learned so much about her relationship with her son.  And when we ultimately met to photograph him, I was able to see their amazing relationship first hand.

I can't imagine yet what it's like to have your only child ready to venture off to college and conquer the world, so I watch and learn from the wonderful mothers of the seniors I photograph, so that when the time comes and my own little bird flies from the nest, I might be just a little more prepared.  Maybe.

Thanks to his parents, I feel confident that Blake will be soaring.

Own every second.

"Hoping you take that jump
But don't fear the fall
Hope when the water rises
You built a wall
Hoping the crowd screams out
Screaming your name
Hope if everybody runs
You choose to stay"

"I, I did it all
I, I did it all
I owned every second
That this world could give
I saw so many places
And things that I did girl
With every broken bone
I swear I lived"

One Republic


Honestly, I'm a little speechless--but as I was editing, One Republic's I Lived came on and the words just fit.  I've only scratched the surface of Carly's senior portraits and I can't believe all the gorgeous-ness of her.   

There are great things in store for you Carly--own every second.

Featuring: Senior portraits!

With the holidays behind us, it's time to think about your Senior portraits.

It's funny, while Senior portraits have changed a bit from when I was in high school, I think back to the studio that I worked for when I WAS a senior and realize now just how cutting edge we were.  We were the preferred senior portrait photographer, because instead of shooting with a traditional in studio backdrop, we shot in our own gorgeous back lot, filled with long flowing grass, trees and even a wagon wheel.  Being in Southern California meant that we often went on location to the beach (which was almost within walking distance) or a park filled with pine trees just down the way.

Nowadays, it's de rigueur of course to shoot outside, (minus the wagon wheel!) especially here in the West, but even in the East--in the snow!  And I find a brainstorming session with my senior clients on new locations and ideas for their sessions some of the coolest consultations around.  We talk about everything they need to think about to prepare for the session--from a to z!

Whatever your thing--hockey, water polo, dance, swimming, theatre--whatever you feel like--jumping in the pool with your tie on, wearing your letter jacket, being gorgeous on a gorgeous beach--let's find just the perfect location and ideas to compliment who YOU are so you can ROCK YOUR senior portrait!

Give me a call and we can start brainstorming!

Are you (or someone you know) a procrastinating high school senior?

The end is near!  Of high school that is!  Have you ordered your graduation announcements yet?  Wait, WHAT?  You haven't had your senior portrait taken yet? There IS still time, just not a lot of it!  Call me and we'll get it done and in a SICK way!  For you older folk out there, that's groovy, cool, rad. ;-)