this week

Hey everybody, sorry I've been such a blog slacker this week. I've been a little under the weather fighting a cold but I've mostly just been holed up in my office chipping away at my TO DO list, trying to get as much as possible accomplished before the fall wedding season begins for me next weekend. I'm a little embarrassed to admit this, but the above photo is my current TO DO list. Yes, I am a total type A personality and find fulfillment in crossing off items on a list. The only problem is--and you can possibly relate--things often seem to get added at a higher rate than they get crossed off. So I feel a bit like a hamster on a wheel. But I guess that's the nature of life and running a business.

I'm excited to report that there's a few more things crossed off than last week, two of which are my last album designs from past weddings! Yay! I'm all caught up in one area at least! It feels great to get them done. Click here to see Chris & Courtney's album design and here to see Daniel & Jessica's.

Well, I hope you all have a great weekend!

Hope

Life gives us so many reasons to celebrate. I love that I get to work at other people's celebrations. Weddings are positive and joyous.

Maybe this is one of the reasons I never cease to be startled and saddened by some of the really dark, hard realities of life. I was talking with my friend Jessica the other day about some of the hard things we and other friends have been through just in the past few years. It's unbelieveable to me how many really heart-wrenching things happen just to me and people I love, not to mention all the things we hear about other people living through on the news.

I read a paraphrase of Revelation 22:4-5 today:

"Some day all of the darkenss will lift, and we will need no candle, no sun, for the Lord God will be our light. We will see His face, His name will be on our forehead, and we will reign with him forever and ever."

Thank God for such a hope! This is the reality we were created for.

I was just really encouraged by this verse today and wanted to share it with you.

Shooting with MichelleAllen

I apologize right up front. I got a little carried away and there are way too many images in this post.

Yesterday I got to tag along with my friend Kim Jarman from MichelleAllen Photography as a second shooter for Morgan and Brett's wedding at The Four Seasons Troon North. It was so much fun to shoot completely photojournalistically without having the preasure of running the portraits or making sure to get each shot. I just got to be creative and have fun. Kim is a great friend of mine and a talented photographer. I had so much fun spending the day with her. Here's a couple shots I got of her in action. Check out all that gear!



It was such a perfect day for a wedding yesterday. And what a beautiful setting:


Here's some fun shots of the preparation process--always a fun time of anticipation:








Morgan was such a beautiful bride! I couldn't pick which of these shots I loved more of her:





I hid behind a cactus for this shot while Kim was shooting some portraits:


These three little boys kept stealing the show the whole day. It's unbelieveable how cute little tuxes are:



The ceremony was beautiful. The lighting was perfect and Morgan and Brett just lit up when they saw each other:







The flowers were beautiful. I loved the colors:




I'm not sure what was so funny at this point but possibly something one of the groomsmen was saying or a face he was making?


Another cute little boy shot:


Man and wife:




And here's the cute, happy couple. Lots of kissing shots I noticed :)




The reception was a fun party with The Groove Merchants providing the music:






And I had to get a shot of these beautiful desserts. They were almost too pretty to eat, but not quite :) Very delicious too.


Thanks Kim for letting me tag along! You're great!

Cranking out the Albums

I love designing albums. And it's a good thing because this has been the summer-o-albums. So many of my clients with Spring weddings ordered albums, which I love--everyone should have one--and I've been playing catch-up all summer. I just finished Megan & Jared's album which means 8 down, 2 to go. Almost done! So Courtney & Chris and Jessica & Daniel--your designs are right around the corner! I am determined to finish before the chaos of the Oct/Dec wedding season ensues. Click here to view Megan & Jared's album design. Their wedding was in April at the Phoenix Country Club and was amazing. They are such a fun couple.

Photos selected to appear in local publicaton!

I'm excited to report that one of my weddings from last Spring got selected for publication in the September/October 2006 issue of The Wedding Chronicle, a local wedding newspaper in Arizona! Chris & Courtney got married last March at the Royal Palms and it was such a beautiful wedding. To see a few of the photos featured in this full page spread click here and you will be taken to the slideshow of their wedding.

D-backs game

Last night I got to go to my 3rd Arizona Diamondbacks game of the season with my parents. I love going to games with them. They buy me food and we cheer loud and talk about how great certain players are and how stupid others are--it's a great bonding experience.

Last night was such a beautiful evening in AZ. It was refreshing because there was actually a cool breeze as we walked to the park--the first one I've felt here in months! And they opened the roof! Here's a shot from our seats on the 1st base line:


Pretty good seats! I don't think I've introduced them on my blog yet, but here's the people responsible for my existence:


They are so special to me--thanks mom and dad for your support! Here's a shot of me and my dad (gotta love the guy in the background with his tongue sticking out):


This game was my last one watching Luis Gonzalez as a D-back. He's going to be a free agent at the end of the season and only has a few home games left. It's sad because he's been the heart and soul of the team for so long. He hit the single that won the final game of the world series in 2001 and is a huge fan favorite. It was touching last night because there were tons of fans holding signs in support of him that they showed on the big screen throughout the night. And everyone would stand and applaud for a long time when he would come to bat.

This girl was cute a few rows in front of us. She was supporting Gonzo on the front of her sign:


And had this on the back:

It made me smile cause I love the race they have between relish, mustard & ketchup. And it's funny because ketchup actually won last night! What are the chances?

Here's my cute parents sharing an ice cream:

And my dad with carmel on his chin:


It was an exciting game. We were ahead of the Colorado Rockies 6-4 in the top of the ninth and our stupid closer Valverde walked someone, gave away a triple and then threw a wild pitch and all of a sudden, it was a tied game! And it stayed that way until the 16th inning! Being the faithful fans we are, we stayed to cheer the team to victory. We got to experience another 7th inning stretch and sing "Take me out to the Ball Game" again in the 14th inning. My dad wanted to leave but I kept saying I was sure this was going to be our inning.

Here he is in the 15th:

But truthfully, this was just the first time I caught him on camera dozing off. I think it started back in the 3rd inning. :)

Finally in the 16th with 1 out and the bases loaded, Chad Tracy hit a sac fly to bring a runner home. And the final score was:


We left the ballbark happy and exhausted after over 5 hours at:


Go D-backs!! We will miss you Gonzo!! Thanks for all the memories.