{She's coming to visit | Personal}

All I can think about right now is this lovely lady.... 

IS COMING TO VISIT!!

Katherine and I meet two years ago at photojournalism class in Atlanta.. we were roomies :) The only picture we have of the two of us that week {ok, we look tired... but we had just finished 70 hours of class in five days. Yes.} And she also takes extremely lovely photos: {http://www.katherinealison.com}

I got to visit her last year in California... and we did lots of amazing stuff, including shooting a wedding, hanging in San Diego and Coranado, camping and rock climbing in Yosemite and lots of other adventures. And now she's coming to MN! :D

Tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow.

Which means I'm scrambling to catch up on last minute things which included lots of photo work, things for the newspaper, CPR recert {ugh}, filling out a camp application {I'm guarding for a week this summer! Yay!}, and wayy too many other things.

So... so long for the next week, during which we will be shooting another wedding, canoeing on Pillager Lake, exploring the country and camping up the North Shore {among other things}. :)

Until then!

{Katherine | Banning California Portrait Shoot}

Ahhh I'm getting to some of my trip pictures :) It was a fabulous trip, but I've been running ever since my plane hit the ground on Friday night [two and a half hours late, I might add] and this weekend and the next two weeks look like they are going to be even busier.

The last night I was in CA [yes, I know I haven't gotten to the other parts of the trip:) but these are what I have edited] Katherine and I did a quick improptu photoshoot. We originally went out to find graffiti [part of my bucket list] and although we failed there, we still got some gorgeous images of Kate, and succeeded in having quite a bit of fun [just like the rest of the trip]

Enjoy! [more trip images to come... hopefully soon]

{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: 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: 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: 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!]