ENGAGED

. . . ME + YOU = FOREVER . . .

In Our Own Backyard

 

I am not a writer so hang with me. Some days I just itch to get out and photograph people. Especially in these dark and wet short depressing winter days. It is hard as a creative person, photographer, artist, whatever you want to call it, to be trapped inside the house during the winter months. Thanks heavens for my studio which is like an escape for me, to get back in touch with my creative side and feel peace. It is a place that utterly describes me. Vintage, rustic, wood, browns and just a major mix of all things fantastic about what I love and do for my career. I can look around and feel "at home". I often take my youngest son with me to the studio, which at this point is well equiped with movies, art supplies, playdough and toys. Every time I escape to my studio I get this comforting feeling, like it brings me back down to earth and I can remember why I do what I do. I had at one point in my career tried to put the camera down, to stop and give it up, after some serious tears, emotional breakdowns and down right hair loss..... but I just couldn't.

It was like an addiction, every where I turned I wanted to photograph, someone or something, usually someone that would be my willing victim. It got so bad at one point during my carerr at the county, I would bring in a mini flip video camera and keep it in my purse. I would constantly pull it out and get video clips where I could pull still shots from it and just have fun,,,, I was very annoying at my county job he he! But it was during that time that it all came to a crash collision of what to do with my life. I never saw my children.... NEVER!!!! I worked for the county 9-5, then I would edit in the evenings and photograph on the weekends. I was miserable, I felt downright quilty and like a horrible mother. My husband was with the kids ALL THE TIME! I never got what I felt was real quality time with my children. As time went on I said many Many MANY prayers, asking for a clear path. Eventually they got answered and I was able to quit the county with my husband being in a better financial position allowing us to take the risk.

Its amazing thinking back on what we been through, what we are going through now, and trying to imagine how much more our lives might change in the future..... but through all of it the biggest blessing that came from this is being able to be with my children more... being able to play in the backyard

SOUTHERN OREGON BOUDOIR

NEW BOUDOIR STUDIO..... I am absolutely in love with my new boudoir studio and my new boudoir blog, I cant seem to keep up with both blogs very well but for those of you that follow me here please I invite you to go check out my new boudoir blog and photos of the new natural light studio. I am proud to be able to offer a unique experience to southern oregon boudoir photography clients. Being a boudoir photographer in southern oregon or a photographer in general means staying ahead of your competition, and it is not easy because we have some VERY talented photographers here in the valley. However, I almost gave up my studio 2 months ago and I think it would have been

....Mmmmmm chocolate....

I am not into long posts, besides I think this one just speaks for itself right? I hope your doing something to treat yourself for valentines day even if your single get out and be nice to yourself =)

Ba Ba Boudoir Baby!

 Boudoir is becoming increasingly popular in the valley, and lucky for me I love to photograph boudoir sessions. Boudoir is thought of by some as perhaps a little taboo, but the feel that I try to portray in my boudoir sessions is classy, romantic and fun.

Take lovely Sky here for example, we had an amazing time at her shoot and each shoot is styled and themed according to what your looking for. Each of my boudoir shoots is also styled with hair and makeup by my fabulous hair and makeup artist Hannah Coulter. This is all part of your 3 hour session.

When your session is complete, and I take your photos back to the "lab" I hand pick the best of the best and then begin my journey of creating a beautiful album for your special someone. Ladies keep in mind though, and I hear this time and time again that this is not only for your significant other, but more times that not it is for youself. I know that this kind of shoot can be intimidating but I do my best to make you feel at ease and now I am fully equiped with a natural light studio and commercial studio to better be able to serve the needs of all my ladies looking for specific types of boudoir sessions. Oh and did I mention there is wine?

. . . Sexy, Fun, & Freezing . . .

Let me start out by saying that we had quite the adventure the day of our shoot. Meet Jenessa.... I vibrant young woman with enough adventure in her soul to pretty much trust whatever I said, and let me tell you that takes some guts... LOL! The day of our shoot it had to be in the low 40's or upper 30's, lets just say it was FREEZING!!!! Jenessa agreed to do an outdoor Bourdoir shoot ( I had to beg a little ) because I had just simply been longing to shoot a Boudoir outdoors. We arrived at our first destination and hauled a changing tent, ladder, bags and bags, all different angel wings, cameras and more, but the one thing we needed the most we didn't have A HEATER!

Let me go back a bit, Jenessa's morning actually started out with her undergoing her makeover for almost 2 hours by Hannah and Tina two very lovely ladies at Elements Salon. Then from there I picked her up and wisked her off for her day of freezing torture! (love ya Janessa!)

Back to the scene, so as I am running through the usually routine of running, freezing, yelling, laughing, squating, shiverring (oh did I mention we had not even had any wine yet) here comes good ole mister Sherrif ready to comb the area for any "body" in the area that shouldnt be there.

 

 

 When I saw him coming I couldn't stop laughing because by this time Jenessa was running around in a freezing field near a freezing pond in her bra and underwear, yes that is right, just a bra and underwear- minus the wings you see above. I was so giddy having such a blast thinking about what I might have to explain the to Sheriff if they stopped.... luckily they didnt! So we kept shooting our freezing booties off!

 

 

Once we were frozen to the core we ran back to the car and zipped off to our next location! I think we were high on frozen southern oregon mist because we couldnt not stop laughing, maybe it was because we were heading towards a blissful state of hypothermia, I dont know. Needless to say I had an amazing time with Jenessa and cant wait to finish her pictures. We had a 3 part (locations) shoot that day and I must say I do prefer shooting even the Boudoirs outdoors over the indoor studio, but each setting provides a different look or feel for your shoot. Until wrap up time, I hope you enjoy this preview Jenssa and thanks for being such a wonderful sport!

 

 

PS. I know my spelling is horrible, I already know....

. . . Angels in Heaven . . .

I seriously cant believe that 2012 is coming to an end...... so much joy and tragedy these past few days it has been hard not to be emotional and crazy. If I lost one of my children I honestly dont know if I would be able to go on. I think about the parents eveyday who just lost their kiddos and I pray for you. Sometimes I sit here and think what am I even doing on the computer right now. I suppose it is an outlet, a way to connect with the rest of you that are thinking and or doing the same thing, those of you who work from home or do a lot of your work on the computer. My commitment for 2013 is to balance my life and spend more time with my children telling them I love them. Goodnight....

Tying the Knot?

Regardless of whether or not you have started planning for your wedding next year, this time of year is always hard to focus with so many things on your holidays to do list.

 

However, this is also a very popular time of year for the big question to be popped. My husband asked me to marry him on December 22nd 2005 on one of our dirtbike rides together up at Johns Peak. I had no idea it was coming because it was just a regular thing for us although it was a off time of the year for us to be riding.

 

So if your a lucky girl this holiday and the big question gets popped, well congrats to all the new soon to be engaged couples out there! I know that planning a wedding can be overwhelming but I suppose what I am getting at is dont think you have to hunt down everything on your own.

 

When you first head out to start meeting with vendors etc, ask them questions for referrals. They have worked with so mnay different people in the industry and have seen a heard lots of different things so your venue will probably be able to sugget some great caterers, or cakery. I personally have some of my top favs that I like to refer couples to if they need referrals still.

 

So just remember to take a deep breath, ask lots of questions, and have fun!

. . . Happy Holidays . . .

I have had an exceptionally progressive year of meeting new families, taking on new clients, creating new friendships and learning more and more about myself and my skill. I thought that this picture was the perfect picture to post to show how I have felt about 2012. When I am in my most insecure place ever my friends/clients are the ones that reinforce my drive to keep going. I am really not a fan of mushy heart on the sleeve blogging but man I tell you in all my years this past year has just been amazing. As time goes on I will be re-visiting the heart of my passion and my beginnings as to why I got into this field. Not many of you know but when I was in high school I was on a path for UC Berkeley to study the arts. Then my life took a little twist, when I was 17 I got pregnant with my first son whom I birthed at 18 and he is now going to be 17 years old. I felt at that time I still needed to go to college in order to provide for my son on my own. But due to my circumstances I had to stay close to home, therefore I started out at community college, went on to Oregon State, and finally graduated from Southern Oregon with a BS in Criminology. I went on to hold positions in corrections, social services, non profit, and investigations. By fate one year my friend dropped me back into photography,,,, I couldn't put it down from then on.

I know I have LOTS of learning to do, and I think that being a photographer means you never settled, or stop learning.... sometimes you get in a funk or creative ditch, I have been there many times and have pulled myself out and been towed out too. But next year I will off to LA to study with an absolutely AMAZING artist Joel Grimes! The point is to refocus myself as an artist and figure out what I am missing in my passion right now, work on myself to create better and better work, and determine my path in this life.

I am not going to say much at this time as to how this process is going to affect my business or my passions direction, who knows.... maybe I will discovery that I have been where I am supposed to be this whole time, but that is the point right? Discovering ourselves and learning to love life, seeking the truth and never giving up on what you know is right!