Snapshot: January

I'm not good at working on Thursdays. Maybe I'm too excited for Friday? I don't know, but Thursday tends to be my least productive day of the week. And instead of fighting it, I'm embracing it (which I can, because I usually make up for it by working on the weekends). Thursday is now "get inspired" day, to be filled with reading and workshop videos, blogs, pinterest, and new things to think about.

And on top of it, it's the last day of January. Which means looking back to see what happened this month. I'm kind of nostalgic by nature, and I believe in celebrating successes, but's what's a party without people to share it with? And hopefully something that I found this month will inspire you and give you something new to explore and get excited about. It's always better to share great things so that we can all enjoy them!

What I did: Made gifts for last year's clients, went on a hike, cleaned out my email, started a business plan (and subsequently abandoned it because organizing all of my 100+ goals was too daunting...I need a goal intervention), started systemizing some of my workflow and researched a lot of productivity apps, got all of my client questionnaires on my website, put myself on a blogging schedule (we're still working on sticking to it, but it's getting better!), booked a lot of travel for the end of February and March (so excited about this - I'll be visiting Illinois, NYC, Nashville, and Atlanta, and always love to see old and new friends), put together a completely DIY styled shoot...that will be on the blog tomorrow :0) Oh yeah, and Ben and I finally (after signing a contract in October) purchased our condo, making us officially homeowners!

Goals accomplished: Feeling really good about off-camera flash, after using it for the styled shoot. Can't wait to bring it to weddings this year!

What I read: The Fault in our Stars...probably one of my favorite books ever. And I am working through the stack below. I have made a personal commitment to attending a workshop twice a year, but this year, I really, really, really want to do a big one, that requires travel (read: expensive), so I'm saving money during the first half of the year by participating in an online workshop and expanding my business library. Right now I'm in the middle of The War of Art (I know, am SO late to that party)...it's a lot to digest, but oh-so-thought-provoking.

What I loved: // Kid President...I'm pretty sure everyone posted it to Facebook, but it put the biggest smile on my face, and if you haven't seen it yet, go do it now, seriously // This Isn't Happiness...a great tumblr that has a lot of inspiring stuff, all kinds of art. I could easily spend an entire day there // Glee coming back made my month // And...I got a sneak peek of the new Sitehouse designs from Promise Tangeman Creative that rocked my world (you can see them on Monday if you go sign up for her newsletter) // Also, gold and black is my latest obsession and I think I'm going to cover my kitchen in it, now that I own my walls and can finally paint them!

What I'm working on: Scared to say this, because then I actually have to do it, but...after seeing the new Sitehouse designs, I've decided to redo my website. It's time...I feel like I've come a long way with my photography and branding from where I was when I created my website last summer. I'm also going to start a 30 day video project tomorrow...do it with me! And, as always, looking for new DIY projects for my house and to share (I pinned a bunch here, we'll see which ones end up working ;0).

What I watched: Sheep LED art...yes, really. This just proves that you can make art out of anything. Easy A...late to the party again...which officially established Emma Stone as my new celebrity crush. And this amazing documentary...absolutely life changing, there are no better words.

Favorite Cat Picture of the Month: yes, this is a gratuitous category, but still. See below.

Who I added to my Google Reader: Breanna Rose - love her modern, minimalist, vibrancy // Ben Sasso - fun, bright, film photographer // Ann Street Studio - fashion, edgy, editorial photography duo (this month they did an amazing photo tour of Italy...my heart is pulling me back there now)

What did you do // what did you love // what are your latest obsessions // in January? Leave them in the comments below!

Weekend Plans

Last weekend we were lazy. The evidence is in the post below.

This weekend, we are jam-packed full o' fun. Saturday will be filled with festivities for a good friend's wedding (and you know there will be pictures to come!). From the wedding, we will go directly (not passing go, although $200 might be nice) to the beach for some R&R and family time. Again, there will (hopefully) be some photographic evidence of all this crazy fun.

And my plans for fun on the beach include those three beautiful library books on the right in the picture above. Aslan, however, has no place in my plans, but decided he needed to be in my picture and wouldn't get out, even when I asked politely. I even tried to tell him I was going to pick the ugliest picture of him and put it on the blog, but he just looked straight at me and refused to take a bad one. *Sigh*

Oh, and if you look closely (and my pride secretly hopes you don't), you'll see the words Sweet Valley on the spine of one of those books. Yes, it is exactly what you think it is. I don't know what you did with your summers as a kid, but my sister, my best friend, and I all spent them reading the Sweet Valley Twins series. Jessica and Elizabeth took us on the best adventures...and I'm pretty sure they were the reason we completed the summer reading challenge EVERY summer at the local library. When I saw this on the "NEW" shelf at my local library today, I hesitated before deciding it might just be the perfect beach read. If nothing else, it will take me back to those sweet summer days of no school and hours to spend in an imaginary world where a set of blond twins were my best friends.

Cheers to a fabulous and relaxing weekend!

My Favorite Things

Now that we have moved and all of my treasures are unpacked, I have lovingly given them new homes.

Among all of the things that I have wanted to be in my life (and believe me, the list is so long I should probably be diagnosed with an identity disorder), one was an interior designer. I love arranging and rearranging my things. It was one of my favorite things to do when I was 10, and still is to this day. Oh, and I always swore I would never own objects that didn't have a function (a byproduct of the weekly dusting I was required to perform on my mom's antique collectibles). For the most part I've done pretty well, but I seem to have a weak spot when it comes to pears...and vases...and toy dinosaurs (I have Photojojo to thank for that last little collection).

Anyway, here's a small peek into my new space, a little vignette I created with several of my favorite books, my most favorite piece of art, and my favorite color. It's not much, but it's a start on defining my sense of style.

Also, I broke out my wide-angle, kit lens...and instantly remembered why I love my 50mm sooooo much. I'm sorry I cheated on you, favorite lens. I probably won't do it again soon.



Doodles credit: myhappyaccidents on Etsy

The Inspire Files: Glasses + New Blog Loves

I'm always on the lookout for new sources of inspiration. And I know that what inspires me may not light the fire for everyone else. But these things are so cool I just can't help but sharing. They have been bringing me endless smiles and smiles bring me fun new ideas...if nothing else, I hope they bring you smiles too :o).





I Am A Girl - The Girls With Glasses Theme Song from The Girls With Glasses on Vimeo.

1. The Girls With Glasses. I watched this three times in a row. No lie. And that's actually a weird quirk of mine - random side note: the first time I saw The Princess Bride, I watched it three times in one weekend. When I really like something, I mean that I really like it. Probably a flaw, but I call it passion. Which is why I watched this so many times. They got me first with the yellow balloons, then Lucille Ball and all of the globes, then Marilyn's white dress and Audrey Hepburn. Oh, and the super spunky beat, silly la's and sweet melody...and did I mention that's Brooke White??? I adored her on American Idol. It doesn't help that I'm a girl with glasses, too, who once felt dorky wearing them, but they make it look stylish and cool.

I heart you guys. You are on my list of we-don't-know-each-other-but-should-totally-be-best-friends-because-we're-like-twins (triplets in this case?). You make keeping it real so, so cool. {And btw, I really like the word cool today...I'm pretty sure I just used it about five times already.}

From londonvsparis

 2. LondonvsParis. I wish that I could come up with things as cool as this. Two photographer friends {oh, yeah, it would require me to have real photographer friends, not just ones who I think I'm friends with but they have no idea I exist}, one who lives in London, and the other who lives in (can you guess) Paris, decided to take pictures of similar things, everyday objects, in both of their cities and put them side by side. I don't know which city I want to visit more. They look so different, but each has it's own unique charm and beauty. I'm definitely living vicariously through this one. But it does inspire me to look at things that seem mundane to me in different ways...and it definitely fits with my love of being a tourist in my own city.

3. Promise Tangeman is another one of my new internet best friends. She does the most fabulous design work I have ever seen. I've heard her name around some of my other favorite blogs (here, here, and here)...and with a name like Promise, how could it possibly not stick with me? I finally looked at her blog, and zomigosh, it is a treasure trove. She shares so much of her creative process and she puts so much of herself into her work (I don't know her, but I can totally tell)...her style and her quirkiness and her vivid zest for life...I would be thrilled if my work showed all of these things as much as hers does. If I ever make enough at this photography thing, she will be the first person I go to for a website design. And in the meantime, I am drooling over her designs at Sitehouse that are made by her and are offered at very reasonable prices. But most of all, I heart her for being herself and redefining the what it means to be cool. Oops, there it is again.

4. Shuttersisters. I bought their book on Amazon. It's taken me days to work through it because the pictures are so full of feeling that I can hardly look away. And then I made the mistake of looking at their blog. It is just as wonderful. These women photographers are amazing at tapping into their emotions to create pictures that are filled with meaning...which is something I am always striving for in my photography. They are changing who I thought I could become and I am loving the exploration they inspire within me. Even if you are not aspiring to be a photographer (as I imagine most of you reading this fall into that category), it is beautiful and so worth looking at...just to take a moment and appreciate the small things that happen everyday - that is what you will find there.

So there you have it...in too many words, and too many cools. I get so excited about this, I can't help but share it...hopefully at least one thing brings a smile to you today too! And if you want to share what's been inspiring you lately in the comments, I would love to know!

My Material Loves

I will be the first to admit that I am addicted to buying new things. No, really, I think it runs in my family, my dad's side of the family. If I go too long without buying something new, I start to get weepy and show all the signs of a full-on depression.  Secretly, I hope that the people who have to see me like this every day get so tired of it, they want to just give me the money to go out and get something so that they don't have to see me so sad. But alas, that hasn't happened yet. Guess I need to spend some time in front of the mirror practicing my sad puppy dog face - maybe that will help my cause.

So now, I give you my list of things I am not-so-secretly coveting. Please do your best to forgive my greediness.

1. An iMac. My sad little college laptop is acting like a little old man. It's hard for him to get up these days and he's moving pretty slowly. And if I ever want to be able to learn #3 on my list, well, we may have to find a funeral home for my little old Gateway. Once you go Mac, you never go back. (And can we talk about how pretty they are? I really don't care what's inside of it, I want it because it looks awesome).

2. A Nikon 50mm f/1.4g AF-S lens. Pretty much the best portrait taking lens. For the style of photography I want to do, fixed lenses are where it's at. I'm going to be second shooting a wedding soon, and this lens is on the top of my list of things I need to get before that big day.

3. Photoshop. Picnik will only hold me for so long.

4. A Nikon SB-900 flash. It's a little on the expensive side. But this great photographer I know once made the mistake of buying a less-expensive flash and then ended up upgrading only a few months later. So the big boy is going on my list. Oh, and I get to learn how to use it on April 5th!

5. Jose Villa's new book. Because his pictures are di-vine. And maybe I could learn a thing or two from him. But mostly, it's pretty.

6. Scott Kelby's Digital Photography Boxed Set. I've been thinking about signing up for his online training program...but I've been holding out until I cross numbers 1 and 3 off my list. As an alternative, I could use these books immediately. I mean, Mr. Kelby is almost God, and this is like the Bible.

7. The Dreamy Diana Lens. Along with my love of film, I also love all the lomography stuff that's back in style. It's a little experimental, but that's what makes it so fun.

So there you have it, all the things that are on my to-buy list. Unless some generous person decides to give them to me for my birthday (and in case you forgot, it's now 24 days away, so you all better get shopping). Or maybe I'll win the lottery. Maybe I should add a lottery ticket to the list.

Exploring

Soon I will have new pictures to post! We are going skiing and I want to take some pictures on film so that I can finally get this roll developed. Well, this roll and the other one. The other one still has pictures from our cruise back in October on it...but I have this weird thing about developing two rolls at a time. Never just one. Maybe because two is my lucky number. Or maybe I just don't like making two trips to the camera store.

And I've been reading Freeman Patterson's Photography and the Art of Seeing, which is so full of inspiration. He's definitely an explorer. Looking at mundane things and finding ways to reframe them into something spectacular is what he's trying to teach in this book, and he suggests that most of the time all you need to do is let go of the rules and the way you're supposed to look at it, and get to know it from every angle. Not just look at it, but really see it. As in, the shapes, the colors, the textures that are part of it. If you have even a moment in the next day or so, try to see these things and not the object in front of you. Just for fun.

What I want to do on my next day off is take some time to just play. And maybe there will be something from that to share. Even though I like taking pictures of people the most, I'm happy just taking pictures.

And just because I always do this, every year without fail...today marks the last month of me being 23. So here's to making it exciting.