{The Dog | At the ball park}

I ran across this little guy at the ball park a few weeks ago... and he made me smile :) Happy Saturday everyone!

{Saturday Sharing: The Good Woman Project}

I know this is Sunday... but I meant to write this yesterday, I did!

The Good Woman Project has posted a LOT of really good messages, but this one has been one of my favorite..

{Click here to read Singleness - Trying to write a Love Story}

I think this applies to every area of our life... Are we *really* giving it all up into God's hands? 'cause we should be.

{Saturday Sharing: Willa's 365}

I meet this girl named Willa on facebook and the LDPS . I really wish we lived a little closer than we do, because I'm pretty sure we could be friends :) Her style is amazing. I love it! 

She's doing a 365 project this year, and I wanted to share some of my favorites. Show her some love, and go check out her other images over at her Tumbler called SOOTC {Straight Out Of The Camera}.

She's good at her stuff:

{May Showers - May 20th}

{A Little Bird Told Me - May 16th}

{Vinyl - May 13th}  I really love this one....

and two more :) really like both of these.

 {17 - April 19th} 

{No Frills - April 25th}

{Saturday Sharing: Brandon Kidd and on my bucket list}

Brandon and Kristin Kidd Photography - New Zealand Part II

This is a two-fold sharing post because....

1. This couple is amazing. Literally. Their photography, their faith, their perspective, their weddings... I love them all. So after you read this specific post, you should read the rest of their blog.... and follow them.

2. I'm sharing this post.... because this has just become something on my bucket list [and no... those aren't just for old people]. Canyoning {traveling in canyons using a variety of techniques.... walking scrambling, climbing, jumping, abseiling and/or swimming} sounds like a fabulous adventure! Just look at the pictures.

Rappeling. Rock slides. Free Falls. Zip lines. WIN!

So enjoy the pictures... and plan a trip with me. Sometime in the future. Hopefully near[er] future. For now.. just dream!

Have a rad weekend!

{Saturday Sharing: Balancing Beam}

A friend of mine [Abbey] mentioned this video the other day during a good conversation. We were talking about how as Christians a lot of times we're so scared of falling, or sinning, or getting corrupted that we err on the side of safety. Always. We rarely take risks, because we're scared of getting stained? Or hurt? Or.. Or.. Or..

That's not what God called us to do! We're here to seek first the Kingdom of God, not safety, not salvation, the KINGDOM OF GOD. Which means we need to be conquers, overcomers, on the defense, not the offense. Someone recently said, "I truly believe that He who is in me is greater than He who is in the world. I truly believe that, and that's why once I've raised my kids I send them OUT into the world."

Our God is greater. Do we truly believe that? Then let's stop clinging to the beam and get out there! There's no point in staying pure or unscathed if we aren't doing things for the Kingdom of God!

Saturday Sharing: Chase

This post over at Chase Jarvis' blog was really good. He puts the thoughts down bluntly, and yet encouragingly at the same time:

SO YOU WANT TO BE A PROFESSIONAL?

TUESDAY - 5TH OF APRIL, 2011

So you want to be a professional?

Photographer. Director. Golfer. Belly dancer. Designer. Waiter. Model.

If you’re wondering if you’ve got what it takes to go pro, try it. Seriously. Quit what you’re doing now and go there. You’ll know soon after you’ve tried to go there whether or not you’re in the right spot. If you don’t have what it takes, it will be obvious – going pro will be too hard, other things will seem more interesting, more pleasurable, more fun.

On the other hand, if you do have what it takes, you will be reborn. All setbacks will seem small, all goals achievable, all hurdles put there only to keep out the others. You will know you’re on the right path.

One thing for certain is that both paths–trying to go pro and steering clear of going pro–will be full of fear. In one case the fear is that you’ll fail and not be good enough. In the other case the fear is that you’ll never have lived your dream…

When you think of those two, which one is worse?

So what is it for you? Which is worse? What's keeping you from being a "professional" in your field? What's keeping you from your dreams?

Saturday Sharing: Photography By Ruth Ann

Ruth Ann is another IPSite. [You make good friends there, just sayin]

She does some beautiful photography, and I always enjoy her blog, but this post is about something new.

This girly is starting to pursue a dream she's always had of having a stationary business with her photography. Right now she's offering five gorgeous designs which you can see here.  She also wrote a beautiful blog post on God, and dreams, and you should read it :) 

Dreams are beautiful things, and you shouldn't be afraid dream! Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. I'd  love to hear what dreams are floating in your head, or which ones the Lord is working right now, or even your forgotten dreams... email me. 

Anywho... she's going to give away a set of five notecards to one lucky reader... but you have to enter: 

1. leave a comment saying which is your favorite design

(and you *could* mention one of your dreams...)

2. Facebook/Tweet/Blog the link to this  post or the link to her Zenfolio account

(http://photographybyruthann.zenfolio.com/p692180170 )

{You may leave two separate comments for each}  

Give away ends next Saturday, April 2nd.

Dream big! 

Saturday Sharing: Lady Greenleaf

This is Jennette. 

She's cool. She's an IPSite, and a writing instructor and a high school senior. 

And she shoots guns. Which makes her even more cool.

I met her in Portland last summer, and I've been following her blog.

We've been doing a writing challenge together on facebook called The Red Inkers and between that and reading her blog, I've decide that I really like her writing.

Basically this is my way of saying that you should check out her writing. 

Her main blog:

 http://greenleavesofpaper.blogspot.com/

Her Red Ink Blog: 

http://oceanusauthor.blogspot.com/

Enjoy! 

Saturday Sharing: He Is

A Word from the Valedictorian of Vacation Bible School. This fired me up, and made me cry. What a kid!





Here's the link to the page

Saturday Sharing: BHLDN

Ok I am NOT planning a wedding [unless you are getting married.. I'd love to plan yours! haha] but I AM slightly obsessed with Anthropologie's new wedding line: BHLDN

{and btw, it's pronounced Beholden}

They're pretty expensive, but fun to look at... and get inspired by. Have fun!


[A few favs]





























[Love this dress... not so much the hairpiece, little much ;)




[This one... love it. If the top actually fit]



[And this one is just so delightfully different... mmmhhhhm]




[They also have some gorge hair pieces.. some, though, are pretty insane.]


[Oh, and these gloves {sigh} they're so feminine]

Saturday Sharing: A Single's Valentine

Since it's Valentines Day on monday... and since I'm still very single this year [Although I did get some chocolate! haha, thanks Abbey!] I thought I'd share this Video with you from the gang over at Jostie Flicks . I got a kick out of it.

Happy Valentines Day to you ALL!

<3 Kelley

Saturday Sharing: Dark Side of the Lens

This video combines thoughtful narrative, inspiring quotes, gorgeous video and awesome waves. My favorite quote: "I may only scrape a living, but at leasts it's a living worth scraping".

Watch it and be inspired to see life in the little things, "angles, lines of perspective, a slow turn of the head, the blink of an eye, subtle glimpses of magic of a photograph past by..."



DARK SIDE OF THE LENS from Astray Films on Vimeo.

Saturday Sharing: Your Story

So I know this is supposed to be Saturday Sharing.. but I've been a little absent from this blog.. and I decided to share some of my heart today [so it's technically "Saturday Sharing" right?]

Anyway, it's been an interesting month. In both good ways and bad. I wanted to share something that I wrote in my journal last night that God told me. I decided to go out skating late last night after working and we had a good talk.

Every good story has conflict. We learned this in Photoj, they teach it in writing classes, it's what makes the story. No conflict, no plot, no excitement. 

I wanted an adventure, but in reality I didn't want the conflict. I wanted excitement, but I really didn't want the hard stuff. 

Sometimes... I feel like I'm swimming against the current. Like one step forward, two steps back. My Zenfolio account balance tells the story... up $20, down to -6... up again... down again. It's what I feel like the rest of my business is doing.. and sometimes the rest of my life.

When I pictured an adventure, I see in my mind overcoming the world, climbing mountains, warring against LIFE. But when the world looks me in th eye, and when real life comes tearing around the corner I don't get it. I thought it was supposed to be easy climbing the mountain!?!? [ok, maybe it's a lot of tough work.. but not too hard]

Do you really think that in the movies, when the hero is staring down the barrel of a gun, the think... "Oh, it'll be ok.. I'm the hero, everything has to turn out right." ? [ok, yeah, it's just a movie.. but bear with me... these things do happen in real life.] When we watch a movie, or read a story we're fine in the action parts, because hey! they're the hero! 

My point is, as Christians, we are the hero of our story. We have even more security than being the lead role in a movie when the conflict comes, because we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God. [Romans 8:28] And with Jesus we are more than conquerors. [verse 37]

See, we might have a mountain to climb, a river to swim or a gun in our face, but we're not going to die because we're the hero in God's story. 

I wanted a story, and that's what I'm getting. 

Saturday Sharing: Two Photographers, An Idea and an Event

Last year.... Actually I think it was early spring... A friend of mine [Laurel over at Chai Addict] from my first IPS class and I came up with this idea:  "shooting together", the same things, or ideas, and posting them online. We called it a Long Distance Photoshoot.

It was really a lot of fun. Then I got *super* busy and life got crazy... and so I didn't make the events. I still enjoyed looking at peoples images, and helping Laurel with new ideas. We'd love to see it keep growing.. you should join us!

This last shoot, "New and Old" [head over here to see the rest of the images] I finally got around to doing it... even if I was a couple days late ;)  And it was fun!!

[Something New]

[Something old... taken at the Restore Store with my phone ;) ]

So this is me saying.... if you are a photographer.. or just enjoy taking pictures... head on over and join our group page for updates on when the next event is! You'll get a chance to shoot more, to get encouragement and feedback from other photogs, and lots of inspiration!

Group page: Long Distance Photo Shoots 
Next Event: Self Portrait [So excited about this one... join us!]

Hope to see your RSVP there! :D

Saturday Sharing: Junebug Weddings

Ready to see some inspiring wedding photos?? Check out the Best of the Best 2010 gallery over at Junebug Weddings.

I have a couple of favorites.... [you ready???] 

This one:

I think I love it so much because of how classy the dress is, oh and because of the light... and because [ok, maybe it's just enough to say I love it :) ]

I also reallly like this one:

I don't think I'll try to explain it. I'll just let you enjoy it.

If you wanna see the rest head over to the Best of the Best 2010! [Little warning, though, you might want to skip over number 33 of a bride getting ready]

Saturday Sharing: Katherine Alison

There's this girl named Katherine... that I kind of first met online [meaning we were in an online photo class together] and then we *really* met at Photoj [a workshop hosted by IPS] last August. Actually, we were roommates.

Since spending that week together we haven't seen each other in person [unless Skype counts ;) lol] but we kept in touch. I've been following her blog, and lately I've been super impressed by the stories she is posting.

Well... she *did* get to go to New Zealand with IPS, and those were some amazing stories, which you should check out. But my favorite recent post was this one about a Thanksgiving outreach. There aren't many words, yet the story is really strong.

So you should head over and check out Katherine Alison Photography. 'Cause it'll make your life richer.

[This is the sadly the only picture we have together, but it brings back good memories! :) The end of 60 hours of intense photography training in five days.... apparently your brain doesn't think straight anymore. haha!]

Saturday Sharing: Christa Taylor

Oh I how love her style! Although {unfortunately} she has discontinued her on-line store to pursue a photographer career, she still blogs about fashion and the Empowered Traditionalist. She's the kind of girl [my kind!] that sees "the potential" in things. [Some of my close friends can tell you how much I like that saying ;) haha]

Anyway, you should follow her blog, she's got lots of good stuff over there! So... GO!

Click HERE ;)

Have a rad weekend everyone... filled with lots of potential!

Saturday Sharing: Gingham

I think I fell in love with this dress. I'm definitely putting something like this on my wish list [ahhhhhh] It's so cute, and pair it with a low pair of black heels and a cute little white sweater, it'd be perfect. Or put some thick straps on it and wear it with flip-flops, and it'd work for *anything*. Hmmm, can you tell I'm a big fan of this?

I found it here while searching for some images on google [totally different images I may add. lol. you'll probably see them in an upcoming post]

Saturday Sharing: Depraved Indifference

A friend of mine shared this on facebook, and it really hit home. I think as a culture [especially with all the media that is involved in our life] we have become so bombarded with messages, and stories that we have become immune to them. As Gregory Spencer puts it in his book, "Awakening the Quieter Virtues", we've become "viewers who brag they can watch anything and not be adversely influenced." But we have been influenced, and in a very detrimental way. We think there might be consequences to watching sex and drugs on the internet, but hey, we'll learn to not let it affect us. So instead we've learned to not care about other's stories.

Everyday we watch the news on TV, we read the newspaper, we watch horror films, we read forwards, and we've slowly learned to just "not worry about it". We as Christians haven't even *begun* to break through that indifference. We've become self-focused, thinking that *someone* else will take care of the poor, the needy, the starving, the unsaved. We ignore the stories of others, because we've heard and seen them all a million times, and have *chosen* again and again to pass them by, like the men in the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10.

Spencer shared a story about a Belize that chose not to watch the news, because, he said that he "didn't have time to grieve". We in America think that choosing to do that is "burying your head in the sand", but yet, if we have no intention of doing anything about the stories that we see and hear, what is the purpose of watching them?

Yes, not everyone is called to the orphans in Liberia, but I'd like to encourage you to allow this to move you so much that you seek the Lord to hear where He wants you. Let things break your heart, because that's what He's feeling.