LOVE IT / HATE IT

I've decided it's time for a Love /Hate relationship on my blog.  Telling my loves at the moment and my hates (hates a strong word, so really my total dislike)  :)


LOVE IT:


:) I am in LOVE with Key Lime Pie- (NOT the yucky green jello looking "key lime pie") but the REAL custard like Key Lime Pie! OH how I miss it since I've been on a NON Dairy eating diet.  Anyways I'm enjoying a Key Lime Mango Salsa that I got at my local farmers market I got a few weeks ago. No it's no Key Lime Pie- but I'll take what I can get at this point. :)


:) Olbrich Gardens- I am super pumped I'm doing a photo shoot there on Friday morning! I can't explain enough how beautiful this place is and the endless options I have there for spots to photograph!


:) that I have off of work for the next week & a half and will get to spend more time with my hubby! 


:) a new coat I found at Express that I must own!  It's freakin adorable!  Can't wait to own/wear it.


:) that the new BOX of shadows is out from Urban Decay- i'll be picking mine up this next week from my favorite store- ULTA!!!


:) that my kitty is adventurous but really walking across the railings on my loft with at least a 12-15 ft drop is not cool. it's no wonder i've got pet insurance out on her. :)  thank goodness for pet insurance. (did i mention she also climbs ladders)


HATE IT:


:(  hate that I got a free software download offer from lightroom and the file is apparently corrupt! WHAT is that?


:( hate that one of my photolabs still has my old business name printed on only SOME of my orders after i've changed my name in their system. UGH.


:( hate when my kitty trys to sit on my laptop when i'm trying to type :( crazy cat.

I've never been a cat person...

I feel bad now admitting that I never pictured myself owning a cat.  I didn't understand my friends that had cats and were sooooo glued to them and all the "cute" things they do.  What is this obsession with cats? 

I have a story to goes along with my cat dislike: 

I have a hobby/passion for making jewelry - necklaces, bracelets, earrings, keychains, etc. I LOVE bead shopping and have so much fun making all these things. I decided to try out a few craft fairs last year and sell some of the things i've made. Ben must have thought I was crazy but he was game and he came along for it and we also dragged another friend of ours with too.  So we all sat there at this craft fair- the hall was pretty much a ghost town, very few people strolling through.  I think us vendors shopped each other a lot more than any of us got business-- except for ONE vendor the guy directly across from me. He was selling cheap sweatshirts from walmart or somewhere cheap with a kitty applique on it and puffy paint!  Kitty Sweaters!!!! Kitty sweaters were flying off his tables!  All the ladies were saying "ohhh how cute".  I will NEVER forget those darn kitty sweaters!  I even thought to myself- "man if I would have just changed my product to kitty sweaters I would have made a killing that day". :)

Knowing that me and Ben have been working crazy opposite hours we knew we wanted something at home to help keep us company- a dog is outta the question since they aren't allowed at our apartment so a cat was our only option.  We went to the humane society and knew before walking in we'd probably walk out with some cat that was cute or we felt sorry for.  Sure enough we walked out with our 3 month old kitten Charolette.  She was the friendliest cat there- wanted to be held and purred every second she was near you. 

I am now a Kitty lover and love the ridiculous things my cat does. Like how she follows us everywhere in our house and waits for me at the shower every morning.  How she runs to the door to see who's here to pet her, how she meows like crazy when she thinks shes getting some cat food from the fridge, how she tries to tightrope walk across the railings in my apartment, how she jumps up at the fish tank thinking she's going to catch one of the fish, how she will sprawl herself across my laptop when i'm trying to type or sprawl on me thinking i'm her chair.  Or her latest game of running in the bedroom before bed at night and hiding under the bed and then running out and trying to attach our legs as we hop into bed. Yes i've turned into a kitty lover but I will NEVER oooo and ahhhh on a kitty sweater and I won't be purchasing one anytime soon. :)

Attention to Detail...

One thing I LOVE about the photography industry is there is attention to detail and there is amazing customer service every turn I take.  I LOVE it! :)

About 2 weeks ago I ordered my very first Shoot Sac and was debating for sooooo long to spend the money on it- however I decided, yes it's time to splurge a little and buy a nice camera bag.  I fell in love with my bag and was happy to pay the money for it the second it arrived in the mail.  The box was custom made for shootsac, the info was designed just for shootsac and the logo was everywhere.  The details that were involved were appreciated. I felt like a child opening up my box and couldn't wait to use my shootsac.  I used it at the wedding on Saturday and also for the family shoot on Sunday. I've already gotten lots of compliments on it. :)  It was worth the price!

One of our first labs we've used is WHCC and we can't help but rave about the details they include in every order- like their free sucker that comes in EVERY box or how fast they ship- (um yea like within 48 hours I get the box everytime)!   Ben especially loves the free candy. :) 

We started our journey this week choosing a company to use for photo edits to help in the long run with workload and choosing to allow more time for us.  We are THRILLED to say we've chosen Revolution Imaging & Design and I'm soooooooo pumped already for this just from chatting with them. Genuine, kind hearted people that care about you and LOVE their job! 

I'm soooo blessed to be able to surround myself with wonderful companies to partner my business with and work with positive people. Its infectious and definitely spreads.  So choose who you surround yourselves with and it will pay off in the end. 

Happy Thursday!

2 of my Loves in Life

I got to spend this past Saturday with 2 Loves of my life (ok ok there's a million more loves, but these are definitely at the top)- Photography and Family.  I may not always get to see family and spend time with them but the moments I do get to share with them mean the world to me.  I learn more about myself and where I come from and traits that don't just reside in me- they exist in my relatives as well (like sleeping in- me and my Aunt Ida are not early risers) :)  Which is just perfect for me.  In fact last week we had a conversation about Vegas and how much we both LOVE it there- especially at night with all the lights and things to see! Oh Vegas how I miss you!

Anyways- my Saturday morning/early afternoon was filled with photographing my cousin her husband and Gorgeous baby boy. I was surprised with visits during the photo shoot with 3 other aunts of mine. :)  I really enjoyed it and it made me miss not living even closer to them than I already do and made me realize how much I love having a close family.

Elissa I can see the love in you and Dan and for your new family! :)  Here are a few of my favorites from the day...

More Moments Like This...

A few weeks ago my husband and I went to Chicago for the WPPI Road Trip!  It was filled with inspiration from amazing photographers around the US. 


We walked away from the road trip with new friends and lots of ideas!  :)  I couldn't ask for anything more.


Besides the amazing time at WPPI we got to go the day before to downtown Chicago.  Ben has Never been there before.  There were soooo many things to show him and so many things we wanted to see once we did get there.  I know for sure we need to plan another trip back!  Ben wants to go do the Sky Deck (1353 ft ledge above Chicago) sooo bad!  Yea I'll bite the bullet on that one when that opportunity comes up again. :) I'm not the dare devil in this house.


Ben has been traveling a LOT the past few months and to be able to spend a day with him in Chicago was much needed.  After much discussion and tears (from me), I am happy to say that he no longer will be traveling with work and took a position back at the local store to be able to be together more.  :) I suddenly feel like i'm 16 and want to sing Salt N Pepper - "Whatta Man". :) (ok maybe I still have that song on my ipod.) LOL  He means the world to me and getting moments like this in Chicago mean the world to me. 

Looking forward to more moments like this...

I can't wait to Rock it out next week...

So I realize as I'm sitting here writing this that I wish I had photos to show just all the moments and things I took in today!  I did a family photo shoot in the morning for my cousin.  Which today was perfect lighting for.  As I finished our photo shoot I saw a wedding getting set up at the park we took pictures at. That got me excited about shooting a wedding and then I decided to go out exploring the sites for my wedding next week Saturday. 

Wow did it set in that it is officially FALL!  Whoot whoot! :) (don't get me wrong Summer & Spring I LOVE you too- but Fall is just soooo darn pretty)  The leaves are turning colors, the air is clean & crisp and getting cooler, just a perfect start to Fall! 

  I got soooo excited when I went to the reception site for next week's wedding- the property is GORGEOUS and the view is amazing!   Then I adventured out to see the church. I scoped out the church area and saw a wedding happening as I was there exploring the outdoors.  And church is SOOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!!  So needless to say I am PUMPED for next week's wedding!!

Yesterday I got from UPS my backdrop for the wedding and my cards for the reception!  I am in LOVE with this backdrop and just how beautiful it is!  I can't wait to Rock it out next week! :)

Glam Me Over

I'm sooo inspired by the Boudoir world of Photography and where it's going.  Not the entire idea of posing half naked or the sexy lingerie side of it all, but more the feel good of doing one of these shoots and feeling more confident about yourself, your body, your looks, etc.  I've teetered on the idea of what to call these shoots and honestly I don't even know if "Glam Gal" is the right fit, but it's a start to what I've encouraged to my friends/family and I'm proud of the results already. 

So many of us feel we need a special occasion or holiday to do a photo shoot but really one of these shoots is for ANYTIME.  These photoshoots I did this past week were completely ANYTIME and were with nothing special going on.  I've gotten sooo many great comments from others and I know both Lei and Katie have gotten a ton of compliments from others too that they didn't expect. I have seen confidence build in both of these women since the shoot and have given them both something to smile about.  And they should because ladies you are both GEORGEOUS!  Thank you for letting me take these shoots and see your inner beauty outshine these amazing photos of you both. 

Katie's shoot:

Hair & Makeup done by: Michelle Nakasato

Makeup line: Smashbox

Clothing:unknown

Jewelry/Accessories: Forever 21

Leilani's Shoot:
Makeup & Hair done by: Michelle Nakasato 
Makeup line: Smashbox
Clothing: Charolette Russe
Accessories/Jewerly: Target/Express

If you'd like a GlamGal Shoot I give you permission to get your hair/makeup done, wear chunky jewelry, spurge on that new top you saw at the mall, buy and wear a pair of fake eyelashes you never thought you needed, get your nails done, etc. :)  Whatever you want to help you ROCK it in front of the camera. 
Think creative about the type of shoot you want to do - I'd love to do a vintage shoot or one at an icecream shop w cute 50's inspired dress and cute heals :)  just some ideas :)