{Breath}ing deeply

On days like today,
when I feel especially broke,
i have to remind myself to take a step back.
To breathe.

I remind myself on these kind of days that money doesn't equal happiness. Mac and cheese for dinner or not, I have a husband who loves me . Unconditionally and always. For better or worse. And while we may not be in the forbes top 20, these are the days we will look back on and cherish someday. The days of our youth, when we were young and free. No children, no ties. Open to possibilities. Open to adventure.

If I were in a different time and place with boatloads of money, there is no guarantee I would be happy. I may, in my alternate world, have a closet stuffed to the brim with Jimmy Choo and Chanel purses and be amazingly stylish but I may be in love with an idiot. Or not in love at all.

So today, I am making a concious choice to be thankful for what I do have. Even as frustrated as I am with the now. While my 30D isn't the 5D, I do have a camera that I was so longing for a year ago. I may not have my branding, or my custom blog that i want so desperately that I've actually dreamt about it, but I do have a website. All the greats took it one day at a time too. And while I may not have all the answers, at least I'm beginning to understand.

I'm frustrated with album designing, but I'm learning. I'm frustrated with my work flow process but it will come with practice. I'm frustrated with learning how to use the TRA mix, but I do have them. And when I figure out my own unique look it will be a glorious, glorious day. {And there will be free ice cream for all.}

It's all about the learning process in this thing called life. One foot in front of the other. {Breathe} Getting up and trying again. {Breathe} The joy of discovery. And all the glorious possibilities tomorrow may hold...

Brandon & Jessie I May 17, 2008

They wed on the lawn overlooking the lake at five in the evening. Brandon stood flanked by his groomsmen, nervously awaiting his bride. On the balconies of the resort, overlooking the ceremony lawn people watched for her entry. The music started and Jessie apeared, glorious to behold. She was beaming from head to toe, excited to marry her love. So excited in fact that when the minister started with "Jessie do you take-" she interjected an emphatic "I do!" before he had even finished. The friends and family attending laughed along with the couple at her eagerness and Brandon beamed at his bride, delighted to be wanted so much.

The flowers were beautiful. The Bride and Groom were all smiles. The lake glistened. The bridal party was full of disko divas who stayed on the dance floor all night long. And the favors were boxes of gourmet chocolate. Does it get any better then this?

Brandon and Jessie, thank you for allowing me to be apart of your celebration. And thank you for letting me steal more then one box of chocolate for the ride home! ;) Have a blast in costa rica! ~A

Love letter

My love,
I'd do anything for you. I love you more then I did two years ago.. and less then I will in thirty years. You are my other half, my soul. I love you. Happy anniversary. Better late then never, right? ;) Always, Me



Our wedding anniversary was on Wednesday. We spent the day in San Juan Capistrano, wandering around the old mission, exploring the fabulous antique stores and walking the town. The mission was absolutely breathtaking and very romantic. In a tragic titanic kind of way. Afterwards, we drove PCH up the coast to Laguna beach and spent the sunset hour on the rocks watching the tide come in... and we ate the most glorious ice cream cones ever invented. Grape flavored. With nerds mixed in. Seriously, life changing and a very close second to watermelon...

May 21 is by far my favorite day of the year.


2 years ago...

Liberty Anna

I still remember the first day I held her. She was the prettiest baby I'd ever seen. Gorgeous brown eyes. Wisps of curly hair. When Liberty was born I was sixteen and I thought she was perfect. Nine years have passed since then. And I still think she's pretty much, well, perfect. Lib is a bundle of energy..a tomboy who can run with the best of em. While wearing lip gloss, of course. She is absolutely breathtaking and I love being able to bust my camera out and photograph her.

Maternity I Lindsay Jo

Lindsay and I met freshman year of college. She was the good girl. I was the loud one. She liked to study. I liked to go get coffee and pretend to study. Somehow, polar opposites that we were, we became friends. I think it had alot to do with the fact that back then I liked to shock people and Lindsay was easy to shock. ;)

A few months ago she came into town and we met for lunch. Over In and out we talked about life as we'd known it, growing older, being married. Kids. Lindsay and her husband Jake have been wanting a baby for awhile now. What we didn't know a few months ago was that that Lindsay was actually already pregnant. Last week she came back into town.. and I took some pictures for the excited, blushing mom to be.


Congratulations guys! I am so incredibly happy for you two! Lots of love,
A

E session I 40's fashion

They fell in love over coffee.

When Lydia told her friends about a boy who she liked to debate with after she got off of work, they all raised their eyebrows and smiled knowingly. The couple would meet up at the local coffee shop and talk long after it closed into the wee hours of the morning. Religion. Politics. Movies and Music. After a while the topic wasn't really important anymore... and they began to fall in love. Her friends said he must be something special. Lydia knew he was. And the rest they say.. is history.


Lydia and Daniel wanted something different for their engagement pictures. Something that would be considered art on their walls. After much thought they decided on a 40's fashion feel at Union Station in downtown LA...

First comes love ...

They were high school sweethearts. And although parents will tell you first loves don't last, Rachel and Steve are living proof that they can, and do last. Their wedding was a celebration of their love and the long awaited joining of their lives.

Steve and Rachel~ Thank you so much for letting me be apart of your special day! I hope your honeymoon was amazing and that you did get to see monkeys in the trees!





My favorite part of a wedding~ without a doubt, is when the couple is introduced as Mr. and Mrs. ~ the bride is always beaming from head to toe!

Every day matters.