MY SUPER, AWESOME, EXCITING, WONDERFUL, JOYOUS ANNOUNCEMENT

You could say I’m an adventure driven person.

I always have been.

I love everything about an adventure-

the mystery,

the excitement,

the wonder,

the uncertainly,

the revelations,

and everything else that comes with that.

Its incredible to me…

the way adventure changes you.

You never end the same person you were when you started.

You change….

You learn….

You grow…

All for the better.

I have never been interested

in staying with in the comfort zone of my own culture

or community.

What’s the fun in that?

I have always believed that,

while staying in your comfort zone is

Well, comfortable,

And easy,

It’s not where the magic happens.

Nothing extraordinary ever happens

in the confines of your own comfort.

There is so much to see,

experience,

and so many adventures to take.

I’m so excited to travel the world

and photograph people of other cultures

and their different kind of beauty.

SO….

It is with GREAT pleasure that I am here to announce that……

DRUM ROLL PLEASE……

IM GOING TO AFRICA!

Kenya,

to be more accurate.

I have the opportunity to travel to Kenya next summer with a dear friend who is opening a drug rehab center and I’m coming along to photograph its building.

(O.k. the two day Safari through the African plains might have something to do with it as well)

I am completely blown away that I have this amazing opportunity.

I could not be more excited

Or overjoyed.

This is a dream come true for me

And I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

But I am also overwhelmed by the fact that I need to raise 4000 bucks

In the next ten months….

So if you can

AND

would like to help me out.

PLEASE let me know.

I will need all the finical help I can get.

Every cent will help.

But I’m not writing this to ask for money.

Anyway, that’s my news and I’m overjoyed to finally share it.

You have no idea how hard it was for me to keep it a secret for this long. ;)

Thanks for listening to me babble over the internet.;)

EEPPP!

Have I mentioned I'm excited! ;)

What's been going on in your life, person of the internet?

I’d love to here! ;) 

Portraits: Brianna

Last Friday I had the amazing opportunity to photograph my super GORGEOUS friend, Brianna. Brianna practically lived with my family for the first years of both of our lives. She was like my sister. She use to boss me around and I loved it.

Well, a lot has changed since then. (For example, I was the one bossing her around this time. Haha.) I grew up to be a Photographer and Brianna grew up to become a ridiculously talented singer/songwriter. She has a very promising future. She will be famous one day! I can't wait to see all the amazing things she will accomplish! Needless to say, I LOVE photographing my long-time friend! Our photographs are like a dream!

Because what would a photoshoot be without a selfie, right? 

Fun Fact: Later that night, while we were watching Americas Next Top Model, Brianna discovered a rather large snake on her porch. Needless to say, it ended up turning into a snake killing party. No worries, I killed that snake, without anyone getting hurt! Whoop Whoop! ;) 

Letters: Part Two.

Letters: Part 2

“Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten. Then when you hit puberty they take the crayons away and replace them with dry, uninspiring books on algebra, history, etc. Being suddenly hit years later with the 'creative bug' is just a wee voice telling you, 'I'd like my crayons back, please.” ― Hugh MacLeod

As photographers, we are meant to be creative-its part of the job. But sometimes staying creative is hard. Sometimes it freely flows out of you and sometimes its left you and gone far, far away- and that's o.k. It happens to everyone.

To say that the shots that are my best or my favorite were the ones that took me forever to conceptualize, light, pose and then photograph, would be a lie. Don't get me wrong, some of them are, but not all of were so easy. Sometimes the most extraordinary shots happen out of no-where, and the serendipity of it is incredible. But you can't solely rely on luck. This is were your creativity comes into play.

Here's what I have learned about creativity.

***insert cheesy movie line*** If you build it, it will come. Creativity is like a muscle, when you work it, it grows. The more you use creativity, the stronger, and more abundant it is. But you have to use it. It's a daily thing- an exercise.

But here's the thing about Creativity. To be a creative thinker, you don't have to think creatively. In fact, the more you focus on trying to be "creative" the less creative you will be. Creativity cannot be forced. Forcing it out of you will only frustrate you. To be a creative thinker you just have to keep your thinking open and wide.

Most often, the thing that cripples us from being creative is small thinking. Small thinking will only hurt you. Small thinking forces you into a box, it gives you limitations and constrictions.

So be careful, because cramming yourself in a box is easy, and staying open is hard- it takes work. But always remember, out of limitations comes creativity.
 

 

 

 

 

Letters- Part One.

There will be a few times in your life when all your instincts will tell you to do something, something that defies logic, upsets your plans, and may seem crazy to others. When that happens, you do it. Listen to your instincts and ignore everything else. Ignore logic, ignore the odds, ignore the complications, and just go for it. For me, Photography is that thing- it has always been that thing. Photography has completely transformed my life. I love it. It has changed me in a really really good way. Its taught me alot and I am ready to share what its taught me. So where to start? haha.

Brittany Spears is the most googled thing in the world. Why?? Because she has guts. She was a teenage sex symbol, shaved her head, has taken hold of the tabloids, and so many other things. She never cared what others thought about what she said or did as a artist. Like all other artist she has a voice, regardless if you agree with it or not, she has an apparent message that she withholds too. The bottoms line is, she is bold, SUPER ridiculously BOLD. As photographers, I feel we could learn from this.  

Everyone has a voice. Everyone stands for, firmly believes, and has convictions about things. As an artist, it is your job to use your voice, to speak up and to speak out for what you believe. For is you don't, then what's the point?!? I firmly believe that an o.k or even ugly photograph with a point or message is far more powerful then a breath-taking photograph with no meaning.  

If you don't speak up, how is the world suppose to know that you exits?!?! I am not comfortable remaining silent. I was given a voice so i shall use mine through what I love most. I encourage you to do the same. It takes guts. Have to be bold, sometimes you need lots of courage. But it's worth it.  

When it comes down to it, there will be people who won't like what you create, they may not like what you have to say, they may not like what you stand for. They may say that your work is weird, disturbing, not pretty, too pretty , or too perfect, the list is endless. But at the end of the day, not matter what you create, there will always be people who won't like you- and that's o.k. So you might as well speak up. Just use your photography for a purpose because it better to be hated for what you say but then to be loved for your silence.

Before and After.

Today I decided to post some Before and After's.

What the heck, what could it hurt, right?

I have always had such a passion for Photoshop.

I am completely in love with it.

In fact,

I would say I love it more than actually photographing people.

I love the transformation,

I love being able to change,

alter,

and manipulate a photograph.

But just because I use Photoshop doesn't make me less of a photographer though.

Call me a hack,

A fake,

Whatever.

I don’t really care.

I am a photographer.

I take pictures.

But I am also an artist.

I am make art.

My photographs are my canvas,

Photoshop is my brush.

I use Photoshop to achieve my vision.

Always remember,

An artist is not an is artist for his labor,

But for his vision.

Enjoy;)