love. LIFE. Hello Friends! Over to the left you'll see all of the categories that you can check out. If you're a photographer make sure to check out the For Photographers page. I just launched the new Family GTKY kit and the NEW Insight Kits Blogsite!!! Click here to see the new site! LOVE. LIFE. TIPS. These posts will help anyone who is trying to keep or get back all of the things that they love in their life and/or business. The tips are packed with ways to manage a hectic life, kids, business, meaning, love...and more. Also, make sure you check out the new Women and Business series! (Click here) Also, see how Day with Davina can come to you. (Click here) My favorite pricing guide (that I wish I had when I started my business over 8 years ago). You need this guide! Easy as Pie. Click here to visit Served Up Fresh. (affiliate link) Thanks for stopping by...and don't forget to leave a comment...or two...I want to hear from YOU! And make sure to TELL A FRIEND! |
Entries from November 1, 2007 - November 30, 2007
Saylor
This is her life.
Saylor is an amazing little girl. Her mom is Supermom...I'm pretty sure if I would have asked her to reveal her alter ego she would have shown me the giant 'S' and the cape hidden under her regular mom look.
I first learned about Saylor when she sent in her essay for the Father's Day contest. Over the months I've thought about her on a number of occassions and knew that I wanted to meet her. I finally contacted her mom, Audrey, and we started talking about documenting a day in Saylor's life...which will actually be over the next year. After working out the details we decided to meet at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake. Saylor was born with spina bifida and has been in and out of hospitals since her life began. We went to her orthopedic surgeon who removed the casts (her eleventh set) she had on from her fifth surgery in her short 4 year old life; then drove to Shriners' to have her fitted for new braces for her legs.
Through out the entire process Saylor was so brave. Even when she was afraid she faced what was before her. In so many ways she seems so much older than a sweet little four year old. I was reminded of her still tender innocence and awareness when they went to the gift shop to get the balloon that she looks forward to during every trip to the hospital.
As much as I loved seeing the power and understanding of such a little girl, it was the sweet giving, sacrifice, and effort that Audrey goes to for her children that also touched my heart. As a mom she took my breath away as I Iistened to the health issues that each of her children have had, the endless trips to the hospital, the late nights, the early mornings, the heart stopping realities, and the happiness at little and big successes.
I realized that I wasn't documenting one person's story. I am documenting two.
real. LIFE.
Who do you know...
...that inspires you, moves you?
In the next couple of days I'll be posting a really wonderful session that I was blessed to get to be part of and that I will continue to follow over the coming months. When I saw the work that Carla did on her See Real Women: Really See Women and Millie's work with Dana I was reminded of documentary work I did a few years ago and knew I wanted to return to it. I wanted to be part of the discovery of art and humanity again, not just in the joy of weddings but also to explore the turmoil and struggle that makes us real, makes us human, makes us more than we thought we were. It moves me. It fills me up...and it's amazing to be with people who give their lives for something or someone else.
If you know someone with a story that moves you, please send me an email and their story, through your eyes.
real. LOVE.
Shalise and CJ
Finally.
I've been wanting to go out shooting with Shalise since I hired her at the beginning of the year. I can't believe it's already been that long that we've been working together. We knew when we finally made it out shooting we would want to do something a little different, and a little edgy with a bit of fashion. We did some shooting with just Shalise and then CJ joined us when he got off of work. Johanna came along and I can't wait to see her images!
I love working with Shalise no matter what it is. She is a great listener and she responds so well to whoever she is working with, no matter what the situation. She and CJ were so much fun to hang out with, laugh with, shoot with, and brainstorm with...it was all just great fun. I'm really excited about the results and grateful and Shalise and CJ were such great sports.
So...here is what we came up with. We didn't get to do all of our ideas so hopefully we'll get to go out shooting again soon!
cool. LIFE.
LOVE. LIFE. TIP #2
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Take a Vacation.
....a real one.
This means no cell phone, no lap top, no meetings, no business whatsoever. Just you and whoever is important to you. That's it.
I took my first real vacation this past summer for the first time in four years. I really wish I hadn't waited so long. It was wonderful and worth every minute and more of being away from my cell phone. No matter what it takes or what kind of planning...Just Do It!
Planning our vacation wasn't easy and with 6 people it's bound to be difficult. Because my son had a commitment to football when we decided to take our vacation we couldn't be gone for more than about 4 days and three nights, at the most, in a row. We wanted to do something fun but it needed to be fairly local. So we decided to have an at home vacation. These can be difficult if you are not committed to a real vacation. Here is how we did it:
1. We told everyone we were going on vacation because we were.
2. We didn't take any phone calls and left messages everywhere we could that we would be on vacation.
3. We made a list of all of the fun things that we would like to do or have wanted to do for a long time.
4. Everyone got to choose one thing that they wanted to do from the list.
5. Each day we did something that one person wanted to do.
6. We all wanted to go camping so we went on two camping trips.
7. We had a great time and went to the best swimming pool/park in the area for a whole day (I didn't take pictures of that...I need a water proof camera.)
8. Miniature golf was one evening.
9. Mike loves the nature center so we went hiking on trails and ate lunch there.
10. The Drive-In Movie was my favorite. The kids thought is was extremely cool to put our lawn chairs and air mattress on the gravel at the back of our mini van and open up the hatch on the back so we could get all the speakers loud and clear. We brought lots of pillows and blankets and pizza. At the break between movies we went and got some snacks at the very vintage looking snack area.
11. We were together doing things we all loved and sleeping in our own beds at night. Perfect all around.
Plan when you will take your next vacation right now. Get it on the calendar and then plan everything around it. Don't let anything get in your way of a little time away from everything else but those you love.
Adapt this for you:
*If you are single plan a trip with a couple of best friends or a best sibling. Keep your commitment to each other to go on vacation and leave behind your cell phones and laptops.
*JUST GO ON VACATION! No more excuses. No more reasons. No more. It will be worth it in so many ways. It ups your creativity, lowers your stress, and helps you gain a little perspective. And that just the beginning of all the good a vacation will do you. Let me know how yours goes!
Oh! and get ready for wayyy too many pictures. lol.
new. LIFE.
Just a few things you might want to know:
*when you meet an little thing that looks like a small squirrel but not quite a chipmunk, you can call it a squunk.
*if you go to a place with a hole in the ground toliet your 3 year old will probably ask you from now and forever every time she has to go to the bathroom if she will have to use a hole in the ground toliet. If you take her to a public toliet almost every time you walk into a stall she will say in a loud voice. "Oh Mom! It's not a hole in the ground toliet." And sigh in relief.
*When you make foil dinners make sure to put some water in with the potatoes so they don't charcoal.
*Playing mini-golf is a lot more fun when you take kids...who don't know the rules and don't care what they are.
*There's something about the nostalgia of the drive-in movie that takes you back to another era. If you haven't gone, find one. It's a time machine.
*You play mini golf better if you dress up like Tiger Woods.
*Vacations give you something nothing else can....GO.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Holiday.
We wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and let you know that the studio will be closed for the holidays from November 21 thru the 26th.
Have a wonderful holiday!
family. LIFE.