All posts filed under: Photography

2017 Monthly Photo Project || January

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I barely picked up my camera this month. Which is not so bad, considering I barely put it down the last couple of months. Ebbs and flows, ebbs and flows. As some of you may already know, my little Bailey bear was diagnosed with congestive heart failure this past week. It was unexpected and I’m in the process of getting him the best treatment possible. I need my little guy to stick around as long as he comfortably can. It gives me hope that he is doing well otherwise and remains in good spirits. Photo #1 Title:  Bailey Photo #2 Title:  Squinty Eyes This is the face he gives when he doesn’t want me to take pictures of him.

2016 Monthly Photo Project || December

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Oh, 2016. I loved you, I hated you. You made me laugh, you made me cry. You threw me curve balls, but I don’t play baseball so that wasn’t very fair. You gave me hard choices, but in making hard decisions, I remembered my strength. I accomplished things that made me happy. And proud. I took my first Milky Way shot. I went to Iceland. I saw hundreds of dolphins swimming in the wild. I pushed my photographic boundaries. I finished my seventh year of teaching with an award from Yolo County. And I finally let go so I could move forward with my life. Oh, how free it feels! 2017, I hope you’re a good one. It’s onward and upward from here. Photo #1 Title:  New Addition Photo #2 Title: Baby Will Photo #3 Title: Landon Photo #4 Title:  The Dogs Were Better Behaved Than We Thought They Would Be 

2016 Monthly Photo Project || November

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November is drawing to a close and December is already overwhelming me with a jam packed schedule. This month saw six photo sessions, a visit from my brother and his fiance, and another wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. It was great having an entire week off from work. But all that time off just reminded me how much I prefer not working. Until I went back to work and remembered it’s not as bad as I make it out to be in my head. Two and a half more weeks until winter break. Wheee! 😀 Photo #1 Title:  Sibling Love Kaitlyn and Ryan! ❤ Photo #2 Title:  Family We take family photos every time my brother and Sofie come home to visit. Bailey would rather not. 😛 Photo #3 Title: One of These Colors is Not Like the Other Obviously I didn’t get the “wear burgundy” memo.

2016 Monthly Photo Project || October

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Usually October is the looongest month of the school year. This year it was the third week of October before I realized it was October. Today I looked at my calendar and said “Holy shit” out loud when I realized Thanksgiving is three weeks away. Egads! With a booked holiday photography season plus a bajillion other things to do, I feel a bit frazzled all of a sudden. So without further ado, here are this month’s photos. Photo #1 Title: Eyes This is my third session with Denise and her family. Janae’s eyes always make it into my favorite images from each gallery. Photo #2 Title: Big Siblings Soon Janae will be a big sister twice over, and Andrew will be a big brother. Perhaps we should call him Big Buddy from now on instead of just Buddy. 🙂  

Not All Pretty and Pink: Thoughts from a Breast Cancer Warrior

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This is Amanda. Amanda was one of my students back in 2012. In November 2014, she found a lump the size of a marble in her right breast. Doctors told her she was too young. Only 21. Just a fibrocystic breast change, they said. Here, take some pain pills, there is nothing to be afraid of. On June 5, 2015, at 22  years of age, Amanda found out she had Stage 2 Grade 3 breast cancer. Invasive ductal carcinoma ER and PR positive HER2 negative. On September 9, 2015, she underwent a double mastectomy, no reconstruction. The images in this post were taken a month after her surgery. On May 5, 2016, Amanda completed her last chemotherapy session. She continues treatment with a monthly shot that will span the next five years. This is Amanda’s voice: “Your test results came in. It’s breast cancer.” I hung up the phone and broke down. My son was right there and tears started to fall. When you get diagnosed with cancer, you automatically think DEATH. What about Jayden? What about my family? You hear stories of …

2016 Monthly Photo Project || September

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September has come and gone and another blog post is in the books. This month was pretty fantastic for many reasons–two birthday celebrations, a family trip to visit my brother and his fiance in New York, and a fabulous first month of school. So much happy all wrapped up in one whirlwind of a month! Photo #1 Title: Mono Lake Turning 34 was less traumatic than I thought it would be. It’s not about getting older, necessarily, but about not being where I thought I would be at this age. However, I’m in a much better place now than I was a year ago, and for that I am supremely grateful. To celebrate my birthday, S took me on a getaway to Mono Lake. Our first weekend trip was lovely and I can’t wait until the next one. 🙂 Photo #2 Title: 15 Years My family and I were in New York on the 15th anniversary of September 11. I’ve seen photos of the Tribute in Light, but it is such an incredible experience seeing it in person. This photo …

2016 Monthly Photo Project || August

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I am two days late posting for August. I have no good excuse other than I am too busy all of the time, even for photo editing! August was pretty great photography wise. I was finally able to get out and shoot the Milky Way! So exciting! Also, I turned 34 today. Lots of mixed feelings about it, but I had a great day filled with love and happiness. Many changes happened during year 33, hopefully there will be more positive ones in year 34. Fingers crossed. Photo #1 Title: Loon Lake My first Milky Way shot! With a shooting star! Photo #2 Title: S and the Milky Way If you’re connected with me through FB or IG, you’ve seen this image. It is probably my all time favorite. Photo #3 Title: Lake Camanche Loon Lake was so fun, we headed out to Lake Camanche the weekend after for more Milky Way madness. You can see the light pollution much more clearly here. Photo #4 Untitled