Help with your point of view | Kirkland Family Photographer

Sometimes you just need a better view, a different point of view.  A little help never hurts.

Orange and minimal | Kirkland Family Photographer

Do I even know how to sign in to this thing anymore? HA! Well, hello. I have missed this blog but I haven’t missed the responsibility. I like the idea of reducing responsibility. How about you? I’m trying out the minimalist approach.  Have you seen the new shoes that are for minimalist?  You don’t doubt that I own some… These are the New Balance version.  I love them.  No socks… well, I’m still getting used to that part.  I was mostly drawn to them because of the color.  Surprised?  Me either.  My dear friend, Jenna, was shopping with me and already owned a pair-she already shared her love for those little things so I needed my own so I too could indulge in the minimal-ist way.  So, here is to walking, working and blogging on the minimal edge.  Try it.

Pleated jeans and Aquanet? It’s time for mini sessions! | Kirkland Family Photographer

It sort of scares me that I have flipped my calendar to September through November in planning for these upcoming mini sessions.  We just barely had four days in a row of sunshine and I’m thinking winter?  Something is wrong here…

Have you thought about your family sessions-getting ready for holiday cards?  Or how about simply updating what you have hanging on your walls… I mean, c’mon you don’t use Aquanet to spray your bangs in place (while using a hairdryer to flare out the sides) and you certainly aren’t wearing pleated jeans… are you?  Update!  Celebrate! Create some family memories… it’s time!  And please don’t tell me that pleated jeans are on your “perfect picture” outfit list.

Tulip buds and working | Kirkland, WA Family Photographer

I was contemplating a blog post…  I’m trying to feel like I am on vacation but I view pictures and want to put them to work.  I found this and remembered the real work!  The bus unloads and many many workers move up and down the isles clipping the perfect buds to later sell.  There is a rhythm and a method.  They have a routine and it works.  Within moments, they move to the next isle repeating the process, creating bundles for loved ones and displays everywhere.  Thousands of Tulip Buds make it around the world for sale due to these  hard workers.

I see that pile and think of my messy desk, piled so high I don’t know where to start so I figured this was a good start-right here, updating my blog.  : )

Bus driver | Kirkland, WA photographer

So, when we moved to Washington, I applied to be a bus driver.  Long story-sort of.  Are you laughing?  I can be a bus driver AND a photographer, right?  I spent hours at the computer completing the in depth application wondering the whole time what exactly it takes to be a good bus driver.  I wanted to see the world-the people in the world who would board my bus and maybe have a conversation or two about who they are.  I had a picture in my head of how I wanted my bus driving career to be.  When I told my husband what I was doing when he called one afternoon, he laughed and had to ask again.  Yep.  I am serious.  I wanted to be a bus driver.  I was new around here and wanted to meet new people-what better way then driving them around?  : )  Well, to make the long story long, it didn’t work out and the schedule was well, not going to work for me- I suppose bringing my four year old son with me on my route wasn’t an option.  But, the idea still excites me… maybe someday.

My vacation | personal

A VACATION!  This vacation was much needed.  But, I must say that I am embarrassed that the last thing on my blog was pictures of me and here I start the next post with well… a picture of me.  : )

These pictures are from Kauai-I think the most gorgeous of the Hawaiian islands.  This island suited me well… tons of adventure, hikes, swimming, snorkeling, and the beauty was amazing.  I needed more time to get in the kayaking and hiking as we only accomplished one hike.  The hike was the Napali coast.  It was difficult.  Difficult.  We hike 2 miles in to a private beach, 2 miles up to a waterfall but maybe I forgot that I would need to hike the 4 miles back out?  I could barely move the sore muscles the next day!  It was time to get out of Kirkland, Washington and enjoy warmth and the sun.  We met up with several of our favorite couples, making it a superb vacation!  One of my favorite activities was the zipline!  If you are headed to Hawaii anytime in the near future-check out Kauai!  Do the hike along the Napali Coast and visit Princeville Ranch for their awesome King Kong zipline!  Now, its time to check back in to my regular life and get blog posts rolling, Photo A Day (flickr page here) caught up, and tasks checked off my to-do list (and finally stop the vacation responder in email).  I suppose vacation can last only so long…

The other side of the camera

It is rare that I see myself in front of the lens (in a professional kind of way).  I was actually a little thrown off when I saw these… I thought, “Do I really look like that?”  It is such good exercise to be on the other side of the lens every once in a while and a must do for any photographer.  It was interesting to feel a little awkward and uncomfortable, wondering what to say, what to do, where to sit and so forth.  When I am the one with the camera, I can see exactly what I need and how to shape and form the portrait.  But, then there is the other side of the camera-the other experience.   There is this constant wonder, “Do I look ok?”  “Was I blinking?” “Do my arms look silly?” “What should I do with my hands?” “How many rolls can you see?” “Is it a good hair day or bad hair day?” and the questions go on and on.  Insecurity.  Are we ever comfortable with who we are in pictures, what we look like in pictures?  Do we have high expectations that what we see is not what really is?  Do we look at pictures and immediately start tearing ourselves apart (look at that hair, what was I thinking?  Look at my stomach, I didn’t remember my Spanx, etc.)

I like these photos by Jessica with Twist Photography.  She did a fabulous job getting little snippets of me while we were working on OCF versus natural light.  Jessica is awesome and I am thankful that I have these!  I am ok with my funny arms.  : )

Interested in an update on my personal project?  Visit THE Flickr page!  Headed into May and I still have a picture every day.  It’s clearly miraculous!  :)

Spring Cleaning and Discounts | Kirkland, WA Photographer

Who doesn’t love a discount?  : )  I’m cleaning out, archiving, and offering some savings.  This is good through May 20th.  Any orders between NOW (April 20th) and May 11th will include some savings!

Butchers, Pigs and American Thighs | Kirkland, WA Photographer

A local, organic meat shop, Bill The Butcher, was celebrating its birthday at the Redmond location.  Not only were they roasting a pig (at which my kids said, “Who would ever really eat a real pig?”) and feeding the visitors, they were doing raffle drawings and entertaining us with live music.  It was a celebration not to be missed.  American Thighs was performing (Seattle’s newest AC/DC tribute band), and we had front row seats.  It was some good rock n roll-prefect addition to the celebration. It was all quite the entertainment in Redmond!

Loving the light | Kirkland, WA Photographer

There are few moments when I am able to go on an excursion with my camera for personal projects and fulfillment.  I’m not complaining (well, sort of) I am simply stating reality.  : )  I reserved a “day off” to visit Seattle and some of the spectacular sights on the University of Washington campus.  I was lucky enough to meet up with other photographers from the surrounding area so we could collaborate ideas and have fun.  We visited the Suzzallo Library, got about 30 steps in the door, and saw the grand staircase.  We were all in love with the light and stopped for what was probably close to an hour in this place. We walked around ooohing and ahhhing about the pretty light. We truly didn’t mind losing ourselves in here…  it was quiet and full of opportunities.  The unfortunate side of losing ourselves was losing track of time.  Why does time fly when you are having fun?

(love the shot above of all of us “in” the picture some way or another)

We wandered out to the common area where all the cherry blossoms canopied over us like fluffy umbrellas.  Amazing!  The color, the texture, the smell…   We used most of the remainder of our time together here with these trees.  Our visit together ended with refreshments at Starbucks and a walk around U Village (a shopping center that I didn’t know existed until this day).  We didn’t use our time wisely and get a shot of us together… I certainly hope we can clear our calendars once every 2-3 months to have these moments to explore and discover new things as friends and fellow photographers!

You can visit Jessica at Twist Photography.   You can see more of this day and other pictures from my Photo A Day personal Project on the Flickr Page.  Go, see, enjoy.  : )