So, Sunday I had a huge day of boudoirs! It was awesome! But after the boudoirs, I had an opportunity to shoot with a model - Kayla. She was AMAZING. AND my good friend Elizabeth Tolley did the hair & makeup - also AMAZING. I just took a couple of minutes to check them out & here are some of the crazy shots we got around 4am!! More to come!
I covered her a little more than what she had on just to keep this a PG 13 blog 
Here’s a couple that I am 100% in love with. Linda & Ryan just got married a few weeks ago, and I am so incredibly blessed to have come in contact with them. These two have had a very long courtship, have been through some tough tough times together & are so in love. They both have somehow clung to an inner naivete - complete kids, but they also have incredible professional careers. It’s an amazing balance that they both have. They are very mooshy gooshy together, but they also are very realistic in the way they handle things. They are hard, hard workers, but they also know how to play. And the both are them just drip sweetness. They have really given me inspiration & peace - if you have are having a bad day, I recommend be-friending these two!! I could spend all day writing about how these two have touched my life, but here’s a little window into their awesome world.
PS - Linda made a special meeting with me to bring over her scrapbook to show me the richness of her & Ryan’s relationship that she has scrapbooked about. There are so many things that are special to them, but we tried our best to capture what we could in 1 session! First of all, they Love cooking together
I asked them if they were spices, what would they be.. Basil & Oregano (I think it’s Oregano - I don’t cook, so that’s guess)
They do picnics in their backyard together a lot.. How friggin’ precious is that?!
This is their beautiful home in the background
This represents their kid side… They build tents in the house together & sleep in it. hahaha! AWESOME!!!
These two are also amazing triatholons - how talented can one couple be?!
Oh, and Ryan acts on the side. Witness his amazing Blue Steel
And awesome dancers - wait until you see some of their first dance pics from their wedding!
A couple of Linda’s gorgeous bridal images
Thanks so much you two for allowing me into your world.. I’ve learned so much from you.
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Today I’m spending the day catching up on some work… and thought since I’m on a mission to create a better balance in my life, I would listen to some podcasts while I’m here editing away. I’ve listened to some really awesome ones, but there’s one that I actually took some notes on. Some simple things - all of which I have not been doing… SO, I’m sure there’s other overwhelmed people out there that may benefit from this too. It a podcast from “Center for Creative Leadership”: www.ccl.org/leadership/pod.xml
1. Recognize the signals of stress - heart rate, clenching, getting hot & learn to manage your stress by recognizing your signals
2. Create a Ritual - Take Breaks - a quick walk, deep breathing, etc
3. Get Away - Set boundaries between work & home (what about those of us that work from home?! - create office hours), No phone or emails during personal times, have a life outside of work
4. Exercise Regularly (Say What?!)
5. Develop a support system - have others help encourage you to live a normal life. I have an AWESOME group of friends that are great at this…. I just need to listen to them.
6. Re-Group on the Task - Streamline work, clarify expectations, complete tasks before deadlines
7. Take Time to Recover - Like all professional athletes know, you can’t be 100% 100% of the time. Relaxing and recharging is Critical for creative thinking, creating strong relationships & good health
8. Re-Define Balance - Life is always changing, so it’s important to re-focus and re-prioritize constantly
Yeah - I’m a nerd. But these really helped me… I don’t do any of them & I’m going to start acting on them!
Enjoy your holiday weekend!
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When my first child was born, an older lady came up to me in tears & said, “Please be with your babies as much as you can. I missed my children’s childhood because I was too absorbed in my work.” I nodded, grinned, and thought she was insane.
2009 has been tough. I’ve had some AMAZING photography opportunities, but I’ve been completely 100% consumed with work. I shoot all weekend & spend from around 8:00am-12:00am (or later) editing every day of the week. I’m exhausted. I’ve been pulling this schedule since before April. Praise God I’ve had so many photography friends that have stepped up & helped me out TREMENDOUSLY. But my children have grown up.. 1 year is a long time for a 2 & 3 year old. I see pictures from last year & tear up because I’ve missed a year of their lives for work, and now that lady isn’t so insane to me.
I love photography, I love my clients, but my personal life has gone down the tubes this year. I almost lost my marriage, I miss my 2 baby boys that aren’t babies anymore.. I miss my friends. BUT.. with the workload I’ve had, I can’t shoot constantly & keep up with all of the editing. I’ve stayed behind on work this year despite the 7 day work weeks & praise the Lord for the understanding of all my clients.
Ahh… I’m in love with evoke, but I’m so emotionally & physically bankrupt. So.. I’m learning to take breaks, which can only mean less shooting. This winter I’ve decided not to accept anymore jobs & 2010 will be a limited amount of weddings and boudoirs. It’s time for me to be more of a wife and a mom.
Thank you to my 2009 clients for being so patient and understanding. Thank you to my friends for being there for me 100% of the time and helping me out so much. Thank you to my mother for keeping me strong. Thank you to my children for the kisses & hugs and to my husband for hanging in there despite the problems.
And for bearing with such a wordy post, here’s a pic of my supportive little family - a photo taken a year ago of course because I haven’t taken the time for a family pic this year yet. Thank you Ken for taking this last year!!
Here’s a group shot of all my amazing friends that have helped me this year
And another shot of my awesome friends.. plus my makeup looks hot here. Thanks Elizabeth!
One day I really will post a full session! This has been a crazy year!!!!
BUT.. I need TWO ladies to help me fill some spots this Sunday August 30th at The Renaissance in Raleigh, NC. Please email me if you’re interested and I might give you a last minute hook-up!!!
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