I was at Fedex today, sending a package. As I was filling out the form, I asked the lady if it was March 15th, because that’s what day I thought it was. She gave me a weird look and, half annoyed, she said, “yeeeaaah… it’s the 31st of March today.” Awesome. The whole month of March slipped past me without even leaving a note. I suppose that’s what I get for moving to a new place, planning a wedding, and working like a mad-woman. I do have SOMETHING to show for the big black hold of crazy in my schedule, and that is…. I finally got my wedding invitations out! Woohoo! (as I wipe blood, sweat, and tears off my forehead with the back of my wrist) I’m super excited about the way they turned out, and I’m uber relieved to know that I can move on and continue planning the smaller things now that the bigger ones are taken care of. Here’s the final product! What do you think?

Along with the invitations, Chris and my wedding website is FINALLY finished! After 3 months of being “under construction”…. everything is finally there. When you get a minute, check it out! (click the photo below to visit our site!)

And for those of you going through wedding photo withdrawals…. I’ve got two fresh new weddings and a bunch of portraits to be sharing with you soon!

Recently, I heard someone say that said we should never go a day without “being in wonder about something.” That’s been on my mind a lot lately, and I think that person is very very correct. Wonder is something that comes naturally to us as children, and then, at some point, that innateness fades and life begins to feel not that exciting… even overwhelming at times. It’s a real skill to be able to tap back into that state of wonder, but I think it’s something I need to practice… daily.

When Junko approached me about shooting some portraits for her up and coming book and music album, she explained that she was looking for something fun, whimsical, and nostalgic. She wanted to convey the feeling of joy and wonder, and also to illustrate her growing up in Japan. This was right down the alley of that whole “being in wonder” idea I had been processing. So we excitedly brainstormed some sweet ideas and made plans.

Junko is an incredibly gifted musician whose joy and passion for people emanates from the deepest part of her being. She’s a singer/song writer/performer/worship leader/wife/mom …. basically superwoman. Spending time with her was such an honor…. We had so much fun during the shoot!

After we said our goodbyes for the evening, I packed up my gear as the twilight slowly turned to darkness. I turned the ignition in my car and just sat for a second, taking in the pink afterglow of the fully set sun. As I drove home, I felt full… full of wonder. I was in awe of how beautiful His creation is, how wonderful Junko’s smile is, how awesome the hills looked painted pink and orange at sunset, and how the pursuit of wonder changed my view of life that evening.

Junko… you’re absolutely radiant in these photos. Your joy seeps through every inch of your being and leaves me inspired. Thank you for letting me be a part of your story and for reminding me to take in the wonder of His glory.

There’s something in the depths of my soul that craves rain. I’m not talking about  a slight mist, but a real big storm that blows torrents of rain into my closed window… the kind of rain that clears my rain gutters of all the dirt and dead leaves that have accumulated.  Falling asleep in my warm dry bed to the sound of downpour outside is one of my most favorite things in the world. And once it’s rained enough, once the skies have satisfied their fury, a glimpse of sun peeks through the clouds and lights up the darkness. It slowly grows brighter until the light reflecting off all the world is more brilliant than I can bear. All the water begins to fly through the air like smoke, going back up to where it came from…. until all is new again. This is why I like rain.

Today was the day after the rain… and it was GORGEOUS. Blue skies, clean green grass, and the smell of rain on asphalt. So good! I got to spend some time with a dear friend today and shoot some portraits for her new book and album…. Here’s a sneak peek of my portrait shoot with Junko….

There’s a bright side and a not so bright side to working for myself. The bright side is what everyone else sees…. the flexible schedule, being my own boss, working in my pajamas, etc. The not so bright side is what very few people see…. such as working by myself most days, a packed schedule full of things a whole office of people would normally be working on, lots of taxes, etc. Most of the time, I feel like it’s an even blend of both sides, but as you know, life is not always as balanced as we try to keep it.

Every year, there is a Wedding and Portrait Photographers International conference in Las Vegas. Last week, I, along with over 16,000 other photographers made the pilgrimage to the city that never sleeps to meet & greet, learn, shoot, and play. There were stylized shoots to attend, trade show floors to walk, classes to attend, and TONS of people to meet. Walking the 1/2 mile from my room to the convention every morning and evening, I ran into people I’ve only met in Twitter world and on the internet. We got to meet in person, bond over the lifestyle we both share, and hone our skills and knowledge side by side. It was a trip…. let me tell you! I’m so excited to implement what I’ve learned, the ways I’m working on being a better person, and the ways I’m working on being a better photographer.

At the end of every day last week, as my tired feet and overloaded brain made the long walk back to my room, I felt thankful…. thankful for the bright side.

(Photo Credit: Betsy Lackey)