On being IN FRONT of the camera.

I've said it before - being in front of the camera is an uncomfortable place for photographers. We like the other side. Being the one pressing the shutter.

However, I couldn't pass up on the chance to have my photo taken by the amazing Amy & Jordan. These two are so incredibly talented and more importantly such genuine and kind people. We were laughing the entire time - Jordan does a great 'Canadian' accent and his remix of MJ's 'Billy Jean' to 'Kari Jeanne' had me in tears!! I am so blessed to have met them.

I learned a lot from being the subject of a photo shoot. It was so great to hear how Amy & Jordan interact with their client and see different posing techniques they use. The biggest thing I took away from the experience is how it makes me want to make my clients feel comfortable in front of my camera - it's a guaranteed way to get great images!

The main reason I was so excited about having them take photo's of me was to have new - non self portrait in the mirror - photo's to display on the blog! Check out the updated About Me section! I know it's kinda cliche but I really feel like they captured 'me'.













Super duper humungous THANK YOU to Amy & Jordan - you two are almost too talented for your own good ;)

Chasing Dreams.

Forever ago, Scott told me one of his life dreams was to spend the winter living in Phoenix so he could golf.

I can barely believe that we chased that dream and made it a reality.

This is our last weekend down here in sunny Phoenix before we start our long drive home and I am so incredibly thankful for these past three months. Grateful to dreams coming true. This experience was so much more than we ever thought it would be - and we are sad that it went by so quickly.

However; at the same time, we are excited to get back home. To our family and friends. To the next chapter in our lives. To our own pictures on the wall. To Tim Horton's double double's.

Watch out Canada. We're coming home.


Sunset in Phoenix - appropriate metaphoric photo about our time coming to an end down here? I think so ;)

Sedona.

After our day at the Grand Canyon, we decided to spend the night in Sedona. It was overcast and dark when we got to our hotel so we couldn't really see any of the red rocks that were supposed to be surrounding us.

It made waking up the next morning even more magical. I was shocked when I saw the view from our hotel balcony - pillars of red rocks in the most amazing formations. Jaw dropping beauty. In an instant, I was in love.


The photo on the right is of 'Elephant Rock'! And, yes. That is it's real name - I didn't just make it up! No wonder I loved this town :)

Again, just like at the Grand Canyon, the overcast sky and dramatic clouds added to the majestic of this special town.



Everywhere you turned you were met with another amazing view - each one different and unique.



One of my favourite stops - Chapel of the Holy Cross. Built right into the side of the rock.







Our last stop of the day was Tlaquepaque - a little village unto itself that was modelled after a mexican village of the same name. Which means, "best of everything".







And, last but definitely not least, my favourite shot from the day. Scott didn't even know I was taking this photo during our trolley tour. It makes my heart melt a little bit that he looks at me like that :) Even the trolley driver lady was smiling because we're just so cute!



I can't wait to go back one day and spend more time in this little gem of a town.

Zach & Jody.

How in the world can one little photographer be so lucky?!?! I honestly am feeling so incredibly blessed for this past month. My photography socks have been completely knocked off!!!

Last Thursday, I was so very excited and giddy to be going with Amy & Jordan & their friend Meggie to the monthly Phoenix PUG meeting to listen to yet another of my favourite photography teams speak.

Zach & Jody!!!!



We may have been slight groupies as we showed up 20 minutes early - first ones in line! We just had to get front row seats!! Which we did - and I even got to hug both Zach & Jody in the process! They officially know I exist!!

These two have such giving and caring hearts as well as SO much business savvy - it's crazy. They share their know-how so openly and truly want every photographer they meet to succeed, as Jody quoted: "A rising tide lifts all boats."


Yeah, just a little excited!

Giddiness aside, they gave such a great talk. It was all about No Cost Marketing - essentially tapping into your biggest referral source, you clients!

There were 3 main points to their approach:

1. Qualify...your clients. By having clients that really fit with your personality and photography style you will ensure a great experience for everyone involved! The easiest way to attract the type of client you want is to put a lot of YOURSELF into your website/blog and allowing clients to relate to the content on your site and connect with YOU.

2. Give...a great client experience. Give your clients a reason to want to talk about you - simply through going above and beyond to enhance their experience. Surprise them with thoughtful gifts, under promise and over deliver, enhance their lives!

3. Build...relationships. With clients as well as vendors and other photographers. Become an expert in building relationships and seek to help others (with no gain in mind!). I love this quote Zach used: “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” (from How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie)

After their talk, Zach and Jody hung around for a while and we got a chance to have a really great talk with them and snap some photo's. They are such genuine and caring individuals. When we left Jody actually gave me a *real* hug - tight squeeze and all :) I was also able to see with a few other photographer's I've met down here again, like Sarah & Suzanne, which was so great! Such an amazing night!


Amy is the most recent recipient of my crochet gift giving :)

The Zoo.

It's almost silly how much I love animals. Okay, it's very silly. I just love them. I turn into an excited 4 year old when I spot an animal 'in the wild' (read: when I see squirrels, rabbits, pretty birds) - so just imagine my excitement when we went to the Phoenix Zoo!!!

I bet that you'll be really surprised by the animal that got me the most excited....



... I died a little and went straight to elephant heaven.





And the rest of the animals were pretty exciting to see too :)









Just an overall exciting day at the Zoo!

The Grand Canyon.

I could barely believe that just beyond those trees up ahead was one of the world's great wonders. The place every child knows about and want's to visit. A place of such awe and wonder - one of God's great masterpieces.

The Grand Canyon.

Words still fail me about this experience. It was just so amazing. The photo's don't even do it justice. Simply, awe inspiring.



It was a little overcast and chilly the day we went - but it kind of just added to the majesty of the whole thing. The canyon took on a whole different look every time the clouds shifted.









The first snow I've seen since December 30 & the most reassuring graphic warning ever.



Looking at these black & white's makes me feel that they could have been taken 100 years ago - how many people have come and gone and been as amazed as me?





Mother Nature was a bit moody the day we were there - changing from sun shining through the clouds to snow falling in a matter of minutes.





This shows really just how massive the Grand Canyon is - we barely saw any of its expansive beauty.



The lovely family I got to share this experience with... Larry, my mom, & Scott.

Lunch with MJ.

In a rare moment of bravery, I decided just to do it. Press send. An email asking one of my most favorite photographers, Melissa Jill, to go out for lunch with me.

I could barely believe it when I got her reply - she said yes!

I was so very excited and yet so very nervous at the same time. Driving over to meet at her place before going to the restaurant, I felt like I was going on a first date. Sweaty palms, running through things I wanted to tell her in my head, does my hair look okay???

* Side note: When I say one of my favorite photographers, I really mean that I have a major photography crush on Melissa. I've been following her blog for years. I keep coming back because not only does she take amazing photo's, not only does she share her knowledge so openly, but because her personality shines through her blog and I just truly felt like we should be friends. She even crochet's too! *

I knocked on her door and she opened it, literally, with arms open wide. I got to hug Melissa Jill. She is just as nice in person as she comes across on her blog. Nicer, even. The only downside - I was in such awe and excitement of meeting her and being in her house that my mind went into overload and I kind of went blank. Everything I wanted to say? Totally gone. I was at a complete loss of what to say!

Thankfully, Melissa is such a conversational wizard that there weren't really any awkward silences. Seriously, she is just so nice. I'm so happy that Sara also joined us for lunch! (I creeped introduced myself to her at The Fix) It was amazing to get to know them both. And they even liked the scarves I made them :) Oh yes, the crochet gift giving has begun!

I didn't ask too much about photography - my goal wasn't to milk as much free information out of them as I could - my goal was simply to meet these amazing ladies I admire. And now they know that I exist!



So, if there is a point to this story it's this: You never know what might happen if you don't even get up the courage to ask. Just ask. The worst that can happen? Someone says no. But the alternative? They just might make your dreams come true and say yes.

Crochet Creations.

Remember my new adventures in learning to crochet?

As much as it makes me feel like a total granny, I kinda love crocheting. I also really like that this is a hobby that my mom passed onto me (I think she learned from my Grandma) and that one day I might get to pass onto my future daughters.

I am by no means a pro yet but here are a few of my crochet creations!


My very first scarf and a scarf/necklace type thing.


My favourite one so far - a continuos scarf that can be wrapped twice or three times around :)


I think that I'm going to have to start crocheting more for other people otherwise I risk turning into that crazy lady who only wears things made from yarn!! I am okay with being the crazy lady who only gives them as gifts though ;)

Struggles.

Last week, Jasmine Star began her presentation talking about something that really resonated with me. Our struggles. She encouraged us to share our struggles. To put them on the outside. Because, as she pointed out -

Our struggles connect us.

And it is so true. The people I connect with the most are usually those who share the struggles in their life or who I share my struggles with; because, either I say "I've been there - you're not alone!" OR they say to me "I've been there - YOU are not alone!" And it is so comforting to know that we are not alone in our struggles.

I asked myself why I didn't share more of the things I'm struggling with on this blog. And I realized, it's because I don't want to seem weak. Or inadequate. Unable to handle the struggles life throws at me.

But, that's not what it's about. It about sharing the very things that connect us.

To kick off the start of sharing more of the not so bright and shiny parts of my life, here, are some things I'm struggling with lately.

Not having done a photo shoot in 4 months.

This just plain sucks. I miss taking photo's of people. I don't know how to go about changing that down here. I do know that this will change soon though - moving back to a country where I know more than one other person ;)

Being lonely.

We are kind of living a charmed life right now - we are so blessed to have this opportunity to live down here. But still...Scott golfs a lot and I stay home a lot. I am the master of entertaining myself but it sometimes get lonely here at our little apartment.

Not being able to afford top of the line equipment.

It's just not in the cards right now. Camera equipment is super expensive. But, I'm gonna rock out the gear I do have and no one will ever know I don't have the $1500 lens. Or at least that's what I'm striving for!

Whether or not to cut my hair.

I know, my struggles are way deep.

Whether or not to share this post.

Okay, obviously I shared it. Part of me wanted to click delete and post something cute and witty instead with some pretty pictures; but, another part of Jasmine's talk was about how we can work through the struggle and what we can learn from it as well. This is me working through my fear of sharing my struggles.

And to end off - photo evidence of another struggle. Film photography. The film in the camera was super old and so the colours are way off they all look a little dingy but I still like the way these photo's feel. This is definitely a struggle I'm planning on working through.

Vintage Love.

There was a book on our bookshelf growing up that I contribute to kindling my love of old books. It was a green and gold hardcover copy of Oliver Twist with thin uneven pages. I couldn't even read yet and I would take that book out all the time. To flip though the grainy pages and put my nose to the binding. I couldn't get enough of that smell.

I still can't.

I came across this amazing used bookstore in downtown Mesa and the wonderful musty smell from the books of yesteryear was intoxicating.





And, just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I found this unbelievable Antique Plaza just down the street. Oh my heart was so happy. Aisles and aisles of the most random collection of antiques.















Such a wonderful, unexpected, day of browsing. I can barely believe I had enough self control to walk out without buying anything!!!