Hello, it's been a while!

Hello hello and hello! It’s been quite a while hasn’t it? I didn’t think people would be interested in a blog, or anything I have to say really, but apparently that’s not true! And I can’t express enough how loved that makes me feel. Thank you for being interested in what’s been going on in my world, both personally and photographically.

Let’s start off in my personal world….and I did not think it was that exciting, but I have had some insanely major changes in life that also affects my work. I moved to Oregon last year, and no, not to Portland, the cool part. I moved to an even cooler part of Oregon, and that’s the Willamette Valley, Oregon’s wine country. Think Napa Valley but way less pretentious, filled with green lush landscapes and tall pine trees. That’s pretty freaking cool if you ask me. Bonus points for being only an hour away from Portland (which around here seems to be like going to the edge of the earth, but really, it’s not that far), and some what of a bonus, although for me its a minus because I miss being so close, but it’s an hour to the beach too. Being the Southern California child that I am, having the beach so far away is tough, but the beaches here are so different, they’re not ones you go to lounge around all day….I mean you could, but it’s cool weather wise there, like all the time. The coastline is also a STUNNINGLY beautiful rugged scene, with big jagged rocks and cliffs and you definitely want to hike on those cliffs (and I have and its breathtaking) and wrap yourself in a cozy hoody and take in the scenery.

I moved here to help my parents, who are 80 and 77. My family has a small 10 acre vineyard here, and it’s super pretty, and is a lot of work. Like A LOT of work; work that I don’t even know of everything that in consists of, as my dad, at 80 is still out there working on and telling me, in his old fashioned ways, that some of this physical outdoor work is not for me as a woman (insert eye roll). But I’m here, trying to learn and soak up whatever he teaches me, and because we are so similar in our thick headed ways, arguing about me actually helping out in the vineyard. So far, I’ve been allowed to weed wack…oh, and got up on the big ladder to put up some holiday lights last winter. Baby steps! I’m trying my hardest to also take care of my parents, both physically and mentally, making sure they’re taking their health care seriously, escorting them on longer trips, and truly just helping them out on the day to day. I’m here for them, I am here. And I’m trying my best.

Photographically I’m still here too! I am still working my clients in Los Angeles, and have been to see families grow, have their first birthdays, graduate high school, and even through some extremely trying illnesses….all things I wanted when I created my business almost 20 years ago (eek!). I have wanted and continue to want to document family’s lives, the everyday, and the milestones, and I’ve been so fortunate that I have cultivated those relationships with clients (some turned extremely close friends) that have allowed me into their lives to capture those moments.

I have had a slower process in building those relationships here in Oregon. It is extremely tough starting a business all over again, while giving enough time to family relationships, learning a new industry, self care, cultivating personal relationships and friendships, and then, for giggles, diving in head first to a whole new realm of photography that I’ve always wanted, concert and live music photography.

Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, to live my new life mantra of “If not now, then when?” I also follow my favorite band (CAAMP if any of y’all are unaware and I don’t know how you would be) around the country. To date, I’ve seen them 17 times in total, 12 last year alone. I’ve got the same number scheduled this year as well, and I know it’s crazy…..CRAZY FUN!!! I’ve made some incredible friendships with people I’ve met at shows, have some silly fun stories and am also working on my goal of photographing the band- more specifically being a tour photographer…goodness a girl can dream!

My family has been supportive of me running away for a couple of days to super random cities to see the boys play, although my mom questions my sanity “Don’t you ever get tired of them playing the same songs?” Uh no, this is what saves my sanity thank you very much.

So with some traveling set up for this year, I’m available to photograph you and your family, or your band, or your restaurant, or your small business. Let me know what you need, a little pre-planning and I’m all in. I’ll be posting the cities I’ll be visiting so if you’re not a current client (then in that case, thanks for reading this far, goodness!) or a client that has moved away, let’s make a plan and I’ll come to you, where ever you may be.

Let’s live life by these two sayings:

• You can’t take a picture of yesterday

• If not now, then when?

Thanks for reading, thanks for caring. Love y’all