...please pray...

Hi all. For all your photographers and blog readers, please pray for our fellow photog David Baxter and his family. He lost his Grandma a couple days ago, and is working through the grief of losing the woman who practically raised him. They were very close, and he is struggling to push through. thank you!

Jolie & Josh: e~session preview!

a sneak peak at our e-session from tonight! more to follow!

...I don't even know...

have you ever felt like you have invested time and energy and life into something you love, something you're passionate about, only to have it stolen out from under you by someone? 

how does it make sense to anyone that when you part ways with someone, suddenly all you know and all the connections you've made are hijacked by that other person...especially when its not even truly an interest you share? 

I have spent the last 4 years of my life creating connections, and absorbing tips and information, like a sponge, and forging friendships with people at the top of their craft from whom I have so much to learn. and now I feel like that foundation is being yanked out from under me, stolen even, by someone who has no right to do so. how is that fair? (yes, I'm aware...life isn't fair) I continue to glean everything I can from those connections while at the same time feeling stabbed in the back by so many of them. I cannot even begin to explain the hurt, and frustration I feel. it's enough to make me seriously consider where I have placed my trust, and to whom I look for advice, both business wise, and "elsewise..." and the path my life is taking. 

***I'm sorry...I really just needed to vent my frustration. It's been weighing on my for a week or so, and I've become a semi-grumpy (mostly just quiet) person because of it. 

Happy Birthday to you!! Happy Birthday to you...

So, today, 2 of the most important people in my life are sharing a birthday! First...The love of my life...Zachary!!! Happy 25th! I am so excited to be a part of what God has in store for you in the next year. I cannot believe how quickly the last 9 months have flown by. It seems like a few weeks ago we met for coffee that fateful day! ;) It's hard to imagine that the rest of our lives are going to get better than this time I've spent with you. Like you said last night, this is our first birthday together in a VERY long time! Like 6 years! Everyone with whom you come into contact is blessed by you, including me, of course! I am constantly reminded of how incredible you are...truly a man after God's heart. Time and time again, week after week, I have the privilege of watching you impact the lives of adults, and young people alike. A pretty awesome accomplishment at 25, if you ask me! :) I am so very proud of the way you treat people, and the way you are a consistent encouragement to everyone around you. You are wonderful, and I am so blessed to have you in my life! Happy Birthday my love!

Us on Valentines Day @ Disneyland

Us @ Ryan (Zach's brother) & Whit's wedding end of July

Steph!!! :) Happy 21st!!! I'm am so thrilled to be able to spend a fun night with you and our friends in celebration of this! Your friendship has been such a God thing in my life! I'm not sure whether its your effervescene, or your smile, or what....but your "joie de vivre" is truly contagious! I love having girl friends like you! You are so very loved. I pray your day is amazing, and your evening even better! ;) 

Steph & Jonathan (her boyfriend's brother) @ APU's graduation:

*** I also need to mention that Caeser's (my boss) birthday was yesterday! Happy B-Day C!!! Your love for the Lord is overflowing! I am so thankful that your family is part of my life! You are a blessing to all those around you! 

HELP!!!

Hi everyone! I'm hoping to go to New York to model for a friend's workshop in october...the only thing is there is no budget $$ for a model! Sooo, I found a cheap-ish flight out and back, I just need someone to stay with! Anyone have any ideas!? please please please let me know! it's be october 19-23

...it's been awhile...

Wow! I just realized it's been almost a month since I've blogged! I'm so far behind! Since Brian and Britt got married got so much has been going on! Zach and I went to Palm Dessert with Caeser and Linda and the girls for a little bit of a respite in our busy schedules, we went to a rodeo in Norco with Alex & Rachel, and Brian & Britt. We've had dinner with Brian and Britt @ their new place. I went with a friend of mine to pick out possible engagement rings for her. Zach and I went up to Santa Barbara Labor Day weekend to hang out, and spend some us time together...and we even got to see fireworks! We went to an angels game.....and it feels like something else too, but maybe I'm forgetting.  Hopefully I'll be able to put up pics from most of those things, but it seems like my p&s is having issues, so we'll see. 

I'm really excited! I have a friend with whom I grew up whose engagement session I get to shoot this weekend! Jolie was the winner of the Miss Los Angeles County Pagent, and I went to elementary school with her! We were in Brownies (little girls girl scouts) together, and have all kinds of crazy stories about growing up! I'm soooo excited! I was able to meet her coffee yesterday, and catch up a little bit about the last 8 years of our lives, and we had so much fun! I'm really looking forward to meeting her fiancé Josh.

In Studio 22 at church this fall we are starting a new series called Kingdom Culture....I'm super stoked about it! The high school department is going to to be partnering with the Jr. High and college departments to be a student ministry-wide series. We'll be focusing on Matthew 5 and how we can live out God's desires for us in this kingdom. The high school room is going to be re-vamped into an awesome "urban-esque"  mood with photographs, and art and some sweet wall displays. Check back soon for more details, and to see images of the awesome room transformation, and even better, hear (or read) the stories of how God is working in students' lives!

OOO!!! In other news, my new site is up! It's not NEARLY finished, in fact, I haven't even put galleries up yet, but it's up and running, none-the-less! Thanks to David Jay's ingenuity and his Showit Sites team! Special thanks to Andrew Barlow of the tech team! I was having issues, and he worked really hard to get everything solved, and working properly! Zach and I are working on developing a new logo for me...something really reflects my personality. We need to fine tune some of the details, but hopefully the finishing touches will go quickly, and it will be unveiled soon! 

I lead the freshman girls in Studio 22 with two other young women, Wendy, and Britt. Well, I still live at my parents house, which means that my house is still a prime target for Toilet Papering! And, leave it to my wonderful freshman, they got me good! I drove in right as they were starting, so of course they scattered like cockroaches in the light, then a little over an hour, they showed up again! I was JUST falling asleep, and heard the faint "ppffftt" tearing of the TP. I got out of bed, walked to the front window, and watched as my front yard was transformed into a world of white. After they left, I went outside and grabbed a couple shots on my iPhone cam of the damage, and cleaned it up before it had a chance to soak up the water from the grass. At least they love me! right? :)

yes, those are post-it notes ALL over the front of my garage...with notes, and all kinds of cute things on them!

Anyway, that's all I have time for right now. Hopefully more will come later! 

love love!