If you build it, they will come..

Sorry for the cheesy movie quote, but that's what I'm good at. Field of Dreams has a lot of wisdom scattered throughout it... plus it's a pretty awesome movie, too. Kevin Costner's character had a hard time grasping the whole 'do something crazy for people that don't exist anymore' thing... but he did, and they did come. I'm not sure if San Fran had the same strategy while building their city, but the people sure did come! There are people everywhere! And the buildings are amazing in that this-is-a-weird-kind-of-building-why-did-they-choose-this-design way. Like Kevin Costner's corn-field baseball diamond, the architecture of San Francisco powerfully draws people in. The city is full of people and cultures, you can walk right out of one neighborhood and into another, and never see the seam. When I would ride the bus, I'd always hear about 5 different languages being spoken around me (I also got to practice my French, once or twice. Oui Oui). I loved the buildings and architecture and the people that came to live/work in them.

here are a few glimpses into the San Fran style.

Also... remember tomorrow is the day! Comment on tomorrow's post about your favorite image from my trip for a chance to win a FREE 8x10.

This is a classic example of what all buildings in San Fran resemble. There are no houses, only town homes and condos. And they all look like this.  Also, this is the left side of the street and the one below it is the right side. 

Gorgeous Catholic Church at Sunset in Little Italy

This is inside the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero (at the water)

The sunset on the Buildings. Yummy.

This is China Town from the cable car... took it kind of fast, but I like the blur and glare that is added to it.

Here is the shopping Mecca in Union Square Resembles Europe a little (the flag maybe?)...largest shopping area I have ever seen, though. I mean... a 5-story mall? really?

The sights and the sounds, but mostly the sights

Eye candy is everywhere. Really. I actually got OFF of the airplane and began taking pictures immediately... it was that tasty. Of course everyone from then on knew I was a tourist, I mean who else takes pictures inside the airport?? As I rode the transit to my hotel I was trying to map out my route for the day; making sure that I hit up every sight, sound, and smell that I possibly could during my 3-ish day stay on the West Coast. However, as soon as I dropped my junk off and boarded the cable car, all of my plans hitched a ride out of town and I just went with the flow (which happened to be the California line cable car straight to the coast). The sights got me... everywhere I looked I wanted to snap a picture of something! The architecture is AMAZING.. there really is something different about port cities, maybe it's because they are older and more established, but they will suck you in with all that they have to offer.

Because of this...most of my photos from my trip were of various buildings and city-scapes. San Francisco has beautiful sights and sounds... but it's the sights that got me.

Today's photos are all themed around the city-scape. Lots of skyline and some neighborhood devotion. Tomorrow we will go full-on with the architecture.

Remember to comment on THURSDAY for a chance to win an 8x10 of your favorite image from my trip :)

The view from my hotel room...25th floor and the Bay, baby!

Ghirardelli Square... remember I said that there was chocolate everywhere? This is why.

China Town! It was decorated for Chinese New Year... so I got lucky!

Cable Cars... really are fun, and slightly terrifying. They run through the major neighborhoods and areas.

Love is actually all around...

Have you ever been to one of those cities that just screams love and/or romance? You know, the kind where everywhere you turn there are couples oogling each other (yes... oogling), there are chocolate and ice cream stores on every block, and you've never seen so many fresh bouquets with red ribbons in your life. Oh.. and there seems to be a soundtrack of sultry accordion playing in the background, because accordions can be sultry. Ever been to one of those cities? Prior to San Francisco, the only city like this that I had experienced was Paris, and that's a big fat 'duh' on the love/romance scale.

I wasn't expecting this of San Francisco... I actually don't know what I was expecting- maybe something along the lines of 'Full House' or the 2nd 'Homeward Bound', but definitely not the 'You've Got Mail' type of cheesy romance. Maybe it's the close proximity to the water, or the abundance of fresh foods, or the permanent 68degree climate, or the fact that no one is separated from each other because they all take mass transit... I noticed that all of these things permit the San Frans to be out and about with each other, encouraging relationships with each other. Could you imagine if New York was never 19 degrees? People would never be cold and pissed off! Or at least... I wold never be cold and pissed off, making me definitely more personable and lovable.

I have no idea what it is that makes the San Frans so loving, but I think I came back a little more giddy and oogly than when I left. And that is a great great thing.

In honor of Valentine's day... here are some photos of some of San Frans inherent romance...

There is chocolate everywhere.

Fresh flower stands and open-air markets are on every corner. Always an opportunity :)

How romantic is this little outside cafe? This is in Little Italy (North Beach)... and they have these gems everywhere

Here's the little restaurant again

Happy Monday everyone... and remember, if you didn't get your chocolate fix yesterday, all of the candy is 75% off today! Go get 'em tiger!

San Francisco... #2

Atlanta is so different than San Fran! I'm saying that now as there is a steady snow fall outside of my Atlanta home... which I think accentuates the differences even more. In San Fran people wore flip flops and cargo shorts everywhere! And ALL of the time. In Atlanta right now people are freaking out, the roads are gridlocked, and Kroger is out of bread and water. Oh yes. But it's wonderful because it forces, I mean blesses, everyone to stay inside with their loved ones. Roomie snuggle!!

Here are a few more pictures from my trip to San Fran, remember to leave your comment on NEXT THURSDAY's post to enter you to win your favorite print from this San Francisco series. Your very own San Francisco treat :)

The photos for today reflect the landscape of San Francisco. I was AMAZED that everywhere I went... the landscaping was so different. Lots of hills and cliffs... but the trees and sand and grass are different too. A photographer's dream really, I mean... my camera was permanently stuck to my face. Enjoy.

Here is Ocean Beach... absolutely gorgeous, but a little chilly. hence the jackets.

Um... yeah, so the grass really was that green

Here is the view from the Embarcadero piers... life is just a little slower in San Fran. I love it.

And Again...

Remember to comment NEXT THURSDAY (2/18) for a chance to win a print of your favorite photo from San Fran!

I left my heart in San Francisco

So I got back from San Francisco yesterday evening. Though it was a short trip, my thighs and calves felt like they'd been there for months... seriously, I'm hurting this morning. We don't have hills in Atlanta like they do in San Francisco. On Monday I got off on the wrong bus stop, which to me wasn't a big deal... I could just walk to the next one and be fine, right? I was fine for about 15ft and then I realized that the reason they have an amazing mass transit system in San Fran is because you're an idiot if you try to walk anywhere. The hills!!!!! On a perfectly related note, my bum is shaping quite nicely :) Swimsuit season here I come.

And so in light of my recent trip to San Fran, I'm going to blog about some of the city's characteristics for the next week. Along with these posts I will of course share a picture, one of my favorites from the trip. Leave a comment on your favorite picture and at the end of the week, I will pick a comment at random and send you a free print of that picture :) My gift to you.

Things I noticed about San Francisco #1 and #2

1) People are super-active, everywhere you go. Always biking, walking, or playing. I snapped this at the Embarcadero, a huge people-center right on the water.

2) There is chocolate EVERYWHERE. And if you can't find it, they have signs pointing you to it. Really. Oh love.

Thinking Thankfully

Traditionally I am not a thankful person. This may turn some of you off right now.. but please stay with me, I promise (sort of) that you won't despise me at the end of this. But seriously.. traditionally 'thankfulness' is something that doesn't exactly reign over my thoughts day-to-day. Most of the time my thoughts are more like 'Geeze.. well if I was Jennifer Aniston I wouldn't even care about having Brad!" or "If I could just have a car that didn't leak every time it rained, then I would be satisfied" or "If I could just afford to go to all of those workshops then I would be much better photographer". Confessing all of that right now just made me realize that I'm probably not a fun person to hang out with. I'll work on that too.

This 'epiphany of thankfulness' happened yesterday while going through the study my small group is doing. The task of the day was to be challenged explore the joy of our faith, and to be aware of the things we have to be thankful for. After reading that I think I wanted to smack the author and be like "girl you don't even know me!", however I don't think that was the response she was getting at... so I decided to participate. This was hard since, like I said, I float around in a cloud of dissatisfaction most of the time. But after some careful meditation and mindful reflection... I became overjoyed with all that I have :) Really! I have a new joy over the big things, the little things, the things to come, the things that have happened.... etc. I made a list, just to be 'all serious and junk'. And the thing I've found about being conscious of what we have to be thankful for is that is causes you to be hyperaware of blessings throughout your day (and probably weeks and months). It's a pleasant state of mind to live in, and I challenge you to try it. Make your own list, nothing is too cheesy... heck, this morning I am thankful for the I :heart: Jim coffee mug in my house.

Here's my list:

1)Grace

2)my leaky car

3)coffee in the morning

4)the love of my friends

5)the ability to log on to Pandora every day

6) Chacos

7) My sight

8) My big ol' lips :)

Trended-Tuesday

To me it feels like Monday. I guess yesterday was a wash so my mind has just decided to start the week today instead of yesterday. Fine by me! But though my mind wants to call today 'Monday'.... apparently the rest of the world didn't feel the same way, so the calendar still says 'Tuesday'. Better luck next time, I say!

Today's Trended-Tuesday topic is in honor of all of those getting married between now and the end of March. It can also be in honor of all of those planning weddings during this time, too. This is what we lover's of all things amour call the off-peak season for weddings. And though it is still a pretty rare time for most weddings to take place, there is a growing trend among couples to get married during the off season because of the AMAZING deals you can get on all of the things you saw Fergie put in her wedding (but wrote off because you didn't want to have to sell your car and your mother in order to pay for them).

So here's to you "off-peak season"! Thanks for letting the $20,000 wedding look like a million-bucks... oh and that castle you got married at? No big deal! You'll have fond memories of the castle while you tour Italy and stay in a 5-star resort on the coast... which is also, no big deal :)

If you're stuck on the fence about off-season weddings, consider the amazingness of all of your options. And speaking of castles... there is one right down the street from me that's perfect. I'd love to shoot your wedding there!

Rhodes Hall Atlanta, GA

Be sure to wear flowers in your hair...

Ok world, exciting news... as of TODAY I am officially going to San Francisco for the Spread the Love Tour 2010 by Justin & Mary Marantz. I can't wait. I have never been to San Francisco, and actually this is my first ever photo workshop ever. Though it technically isn't a photo workshop.. it is a LIFE workshop, which excited me even more, because I am a liver of life before I am a photographer of life. Process that for a minute :)

Thanks for entertaining my randomness tonight, have a great Sunday.

Not Much Today

Happy Friday to you all! Not much on the agenda today, I am getting some weddings ready to blog later next week... and they are amazing! I was looking through my photos today and realized that I hadn't yet blogged them... so I am going to get right on that. Most of them are from the fall, and so I figure that will help appease the distaste we have for the cold weather right now. Right? Because everyone hates cold weather just as much as I do... right?

I'm about to leave my work station for the weekend, but I did want to show a quick picture of a little girl that I've been babysitting for a few months. Her name is Gracie and she's changing my life :). Seriously. I have an abnormal distaste for children for a woman of my age. But this kid, she is pretty awesome. Maybe it's because she is potty trained? Or that she is sarcastic, yet she's only 3? Or that she is so stinkin' adorable. I'll never know... but I think I could put up with more kids if they were all like this. We will see. Stay tuned for my entrance into the world of baby-lust. Maybe. I may be getting ahead of myself.

Here she is! Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

What's coming up....

Hello! #1 Slacker right here, apologies for being out-of-touch the last couple of days. This week has materialized and then disappeared again right before my very eyes, and of course because I know everyone runs on my time schedule... I'm assuming it's been the same for you. This week has actually been quite fantastic, full of new things that I've never done before... like:

1)Shoot a boudoir session

2)Assist a boudoir session

3)Get in front of the camera for a glam-session of my own (insert Homer Simpson-like 'Doh!' right here)

4)Get an Atlanta Parking ticket (timed at 3 minutes before I actually returned to my car)

5)Actually sit down for the State of The Union address

I'm excited about knocking these things off of my To-Do list, even though I never really had a to-do list to knock them off of... But it did get me in the mood to make some more lists. I'll share one of them today, and maybe as I get better at them and eventually become a professional list-maker with my own TLC show (oh yes, oh yes) I can be your list-peration (yes, I did just make up a word mashing list and inspiration together). For now, I am going to stick to photography because that is what I love, but in the spirit of doing things that I say I am going to do, here is that list:

What's coming up!

1) Wedding Season!!!

2) My Re-branding (super excited... contests will follow it's launch, so stay tuned)

3)Watching 'The Pregnancy Pact' on Lifetime because we DVR'd it. Yep.

4)VEGAS BABY!!!! I'll be there with zillions of other Wedding Photogs. No repeat of 'The Hangover'.

5) The Grammy's. Some of the best and worst live performances ever.

6) 70-Degree weather in Atlanta. HOLY GOD I am so tired of the cold.

There is my list for things coming up that I am super excited about, I didn't promise you it would be life changing (Although the pregnancy Pact could be pretty moving...)

To celebrate my 1st boudoir experience.. here are some photos that I took of the amazing Joy Wilson during the sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday! Thanks to the Georgian Terrace in Atlanta for their gorgeous rooms. Also.. thanks to my new Canon 7D for being so awesome. All of these photos are straight out of camera (SOC) with absolutely no editing. It rocks.

Joy has a beautiful laugh

Tanner and Margaret -Engagement

I've been jumping to blog this engagement since I took the last shot back in December.... so I am super excited to be sharing it with you today.

Tanner and Margaret are one of those couples. You know, the kind that are so in love with each other that just being around them makes you giddy and smiley.. yet they never exclude their company and find some way to make everyone around them feel as just as loved and appreciated. I love them. Really. They were so gracious to put me up in their Tybee Island home for a few days while I came to relax and take their engagement photos! I love every single photo that we took that day, December on Tybee gives the most gorgeous light (making me even more excited for their December 2010 wedding!) Thanks guys for a great time, consider your love now shared with the entire internet world :)

He proposed on the beach with his guitar, so this was only appropriate

Yummy sunset colors of the marsh... this would be behind their house. Jealous.

A lot of our time was spent laughing, Tanner is quite hilarious

LOVE the gorgeous sunset that way given to us... and yeah, they see it every night.

And My favorite from the day because it shows every cranny of their personality...

Trended-Tuesday

Alright... I've decided to start my first 'Blog Feature', and since it's Tuesday.. I thought I'd self title it! Also, I am a huge fan of alliteration, so I had to stay with tha' T's. My english teacher would be so proud..

So here it is, I'm introducing Trended-Tuesday! I spend a lot of time on blogs and buried in magazines looking through the latest trends in everything from weddings to cooking to booty dancing (oh yes, it's true). I always find some spectacular things that I want to share with all of you, and this is how I'm going to do it. When I blog it, consider it trended :)

Trend of the moment? I'm loving pears. A friend and I talked all about them on Sunday (makes you want to be a part of our conversations, doesn't it) and so I decided to look and see what I could find. I found a lot, but here are some of my fave's. Delicious.

How unique are these? What a great personal addition to your wedding decor. Found here.

Cute Stationary found here

The most gorgeous 'something blue', love the pear-shaped stones

Find it here

Ok this is by-far my favorite, a unique twist on the traditional guest book, guests leave well-wishes for you in this 'Perfect Pair' jar. Fabulous. Find it here

Happy Tuesday to you all, and please, if you haven't done so already (or you want to do it again) please text HAITI to 90999 to donate $10 to the relief fund.

The power of 'potential'

Do you ever look at things (anything.. books, pictures, your outfit..) and say to yourself "Wow, that has a LOT of potential"? I do it a lot to my outfits, because honestly, I'm more of a comfort person than and cute person, and so a lot of times my outfits have 'potential', and would probably reach their potential if I took off the t-shirt and put on a nice jeweled cardigan :)

I was editing some photos today and as I was going through them, there were a lot of photos that were great, and had reached their potential... and then there were some that I would look at and say "Hmmm". This cycle continued all of the way through the series I was editing. At the end of the edit I was reflecting on the set, and the philosophy behind the different edits I applied (what kind of philosophy, you ask? that's a whole other post for a whole other time, sorry babes) and I came up with this thought:

Every photo that you take should be one that captures the potential of the moment.

Meaning? Each moment has the potential to be a great photograph, the job of the photographer is to capture that great photograph... showcasing the moment. As hard as it is to accomplish, we shouldn't look at already taken photographs and say 'wow that has the potential to be a great photograph'... we should look at moments and say 'wow that has the potential to be a great photograph'

I'm sorry if you disagree... I love to post-process and I love the results that I get from it. But you can't make a great photograph out of a crappy one by photoshop alone... you will just have a highly edited crappy photo.

This is a philosophy, or mantra, or whatever you want to call it that I hope I employ with every single press of my shutter button. I'm not a super-fantastic photographer, but I hope that by shooting for the power of potential I can become one.

Here is one of the edits from today... one that I looked at and knew that I had captured the moment's potential :)Also, thanks to Margaret and Tanner for being such a gorgeous couple!

I take back what I said yesterday...

I got an early start this morning... partially because I left my blinds open and the sun made itself known at 8am, but also partially because I think my brain knew that today was going to be a BEAUTIFUL day!

Remember last post, where I was bitter at the cold because it was forbidding me (because I'm a diva) to get outside and take pictures? Well this morning, I set my diva aside and got out there. Why? Because this morning allowed me to take pictures of something I had never taken pictures of before- SNOW! I got up early, immediately put on my boots-with-tha-fur and got outside in time to take serene pictures of our street, the little footprints of the kids that had already been out, and our birdhouse laden with a white roof. It was fun and cold, but more fun than cold.

After I got back inside I ran to my computer to show you what I came up with, and share my wonderment at the snow... which got me thinking. Yes, I've never taken pictures of snow before, and that's why I got out this morning. But really, if you think about it, each morning and each day is different. Each morning and each day is something that I have never before taken a picture of, nothing about it is the same as the previous morning or day. Sure there are similar elements, but what will happen and what happens to be present will all be different in some way. So no more excuses about finding something 'new' to photograph... just wait for the sun to come up.

I was also very inspired and moved by this video-post today by Zack Arias.

Some Snow-photos, or "snow-tos". :)



Here's the birdhouse



Here is our Cute little house!



And Finally, I will leave you with my boots-with-tha-fur

When Life gives you lemons

Hey Guys. So I have this new camera, and this new lens... and I promise I am way more excited about them then how I sound right now. What I am NOT excited about is the freezing cold weather we are having in Atlanta right now. Not because our pipes burst (because they didn't), not because I'm homeless and have to sleep outside (because I'm not), and not because of any other non-selfish reason.... no, I hate the cold weather right now because I can't go outside and take ANY pictures with my handy new gear. I know, I know... whine whine whine.

So I stayed inside, and I took pictures of a lemon. (this is when you raise an eyebrow at me and tell me to maybe check in to getting a life). But really, after I took pictures of the lemon, things started looking up.. and a cute little phrase came to mind.

"When life gives you lemons, take pictures of them!". It's a simple truth, make the best of what you have.

Corn-ball am I :)

I hope you are all enjoying your day, and your lemons.

Who I want to be

'Tis the season for a new you!!! I don't know if you've noticed but there has been an influx of TV commercials about losing weight, Proactiv ads for clear skin, and little men at the mall that hand out pamphlets to us as we go into the food court. They all know that at the start of each new year about half of our population signs itself up for the 'New and Improved!' label. I'm not really one to make goals, to be honest I don't like setting myself up for disappointment...that way anything I DO accomplish officially exceeds my expectations (I know, it sounds awful).I'm not sure if you are one of those people or not, but regardless... since we are all affected by the 'new and improved' labels whether we just see them or we participate in them, I have something to share.

Sunday at church was the first sermon of the new year, and the pastor talked about setting goals, respectively. However the approach was one that I hadn't hear before. There was no talk of motivational songs, no 'safety words', and no 12-step plans. His take on goals was one that had its foundation in who we are as people, rather than what we want to be as society. It's quite a biblical foundation (go figure), as Christ preaches more about who we should want to be rather than what we should want to be (a point quite frustrating to me at times when I just want a Magic-8-Ball type of conversation with God!). The point of the message was that before we decide what we want to be, we need to decide who we want to be, because ultimately... who we are is what will last longer than what we are. People get fired, houses burn down, finances get messy... but character (good or bad) will prevail.

He recommended that we make a list, or write some paragraphs, containing who we wanted to be known as after we die (morbid, sorry).

Here's mine:

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!! Can you believe we just hit 2010? The past decade flew by (sorry if I'm making you feel ancient) and every year seemed to be as unpredictable as the last. The 2000s were a little rough, and our world is a completely different place than it was 10 years ago. Aside from all the chaos that's happened... we can be sure a few things will stay the same; we have life and love. Time marches on, we get older and wiser, we make mistakes and learn lessons, and we celebrate the great things that life brings us. Here's to celebrating, may your celebrations this year outweigh your 'lessons-learned'. It's a new year!!! No... it's a new DECADE!! And we all know that means that everything in the past doesn't count, right? Woo Hoo!!!!

It's the little things

Starbucks has thought of it all, haven't they. You may or may not like them depending on your loyalty to corporate coffee or not... but lay all that aside and really think about it... Starbucks has a couple of geniuses working for them.

This probably seems like a truly random topic... but I promise it's going somewhere. I stopped by the Zeus of coffee yesterday (I got a couple of gift cards for Christmas!!) to indulge in my Non-Fat-Cafe-Misto-with-a-shot-of-Mocha and left a happier-than-normal camper. The reason you ask? Well my coffee was excellent and it was pleasantly warm inside compared to the 30 degree Atlanta Monday, but that's not it. No no no.. the reason I was all giggly when I left was because of those little green sticks Starbucks invented that go in the sippy-hole of your lid in order to prevent coffee spillage while your driving, walking, or dancing with your hot cup o' joy. What an amazing idea! I'm not new to these little green sticks, but lets just say that yesterday I saw them in a whole new light. They may be little, but they can make or break a white shirt and prevent your hand from blistering due to hot coffee spilled in transit. Come to think of it... they probably save Starbucks some lawsuits; I bet McDonald's wishes they'd invented some little red sticks.

The moral of this rando-story? I think too many times we focus on what the big things get us, or what the big things won't get us. Rarely do we stop to notice all of the little tiny things around us that are supporting and helping us...making life easier or more fun, and I think we are less satisfied because of it. I'm probably the worst at recognizing what I've got, but I'm going to make a pre-New Years resolution and start today and I hope you will too, because sometimes... it's the little things.