I have been neglecting this blog.
I won't lie. I have opened this very page, to make my entry, and I am so drained by the end of the day that no words come. I am going to work on changing that. Promise. One of my goals for the next year is to better my photography business by A LOT, so this is a major player in all of that. Expect more positive posts from me in the future, k?
I am stressed out people. Like that really, paralyzing, all-encompassing kind of stressed out. Sometime soon I'll be able to share why, I suppose, but until then I prefer to keep it under wraps... you know. Sometimes, the tears come; at others, that heavy weight of confusion and powerlessness tugs at my shoulders.
I feel like I am at a pivotal point in my life, and that the decisions I make now will greatly effect many people's outcomes. Deep stuff, eh?
It's not all deep, I promise. I just wanted to share why I have been horribly neglectful of this blog. At this point, I totally feel guilty for wanting a photography business, for having dreams and goals, and for attempting to reach them.
Times like these make me thankful for that little voice in the back of my brain that whispers "what if, sarah" "you can do anything, sarah". These days that voice is getting stronger, if only by sheer will. I certainly have NO idea where it is gathering the energy!
I want to soar. I want to give. I want to love. I want to have faith.
Right at this moment, I want to cry.
But. I. Can't.
If you have an extra prayer for me right now, I would so return the favor.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Have you ever? | Things that define me.
Labels:
autumn,
definition,
gratitude,
personal awareness,
perspective,
photography
I have a confession to make.
I am in L-O-V-E with Brandi Carlile. If you don't know who she is, she is an awesome singer/musician/songwriter from Seattle, WA. You can check her out HERE. Honesty, emotion, and vulnerability shine through her performances. That's like the holy trinity of music, right? :) Think about it... it grabs us, makes us think, makes us feel. It's real.
Realness is important to me. I seek out the organic (and I'm not talking the whole-foods movement here...); the raw and real. The vulnerable. I am inspired by people who wear their flaws openly and proudly. Part of me knows that's why I loved my career in Mental Health so much. There's no pretense.. everyone is who they are. Crazy, not crazy; none of it matters. Everyone has a story. Most want to share it, if only someone would listen. My grandmother - she was that someone. My father - he is that someone. Me, I strive to be that someone. I have been blessed with amazing people to guide my philosophies on life and love and kindness and gratitude. But- that's another post. Another time.
Everything I do in my everydayness - I try to stay real. I try to love. I try to share stories. That's all our lives are... a story. When all is said and done.. what will yours say?
In my photography, I try to capture the realness. The organic. The story.
The biggest compliment I could ever, ever imagine is a mother saying "THAT is who my child is". I try to stay real and honest, so if I ever stray away from that, feel free to send a swift kick my way. Really, I'll love you for it. :)
So, I wanted to post some song lyrics that really stick with me. They are to Brandi Carlile's song "have you ever?" and go like this:
Have you ever wandered lonely through the woods?
And everything there feels just as it should
You're part of the life there
You're part of something good
If you've ever wandered lonely through the woods
if you've ever wandered lonlely through the woods
Have you ever stared into a starry sky?
Lying on your back you're asking why
What's the purpose I wonder who am I
If you've ever stared into a starry sky
Have you ever stared into a starry sky
Have you ever been out walking in the snow?
Tried to get back to where you were before
You always end up not knowing where to go
If you've ever been out walking in the snow
If you'd ever been out walking you would know
See why this resonated within me?
Welcome to my church, my sanctuary, my meditation:
Enjoy this day! For the ups and downs, and the for the story that is being created. Right. Now.
♥
I am in L-O-V-E with Brandi Carlile. If you don't know who she is, she is an awesome singer/musician/songwriter from Seattle, WA. You can check her out HERE. Honesty, emotion, and vulnerability shine through her performances. That's like the holy trinity of music, right? :) Think about it... it grabs us, makes us think, makes us feel. It's real.
Realness is important to me. I seek out the organic (and I'm not talking the whole-foods movement here...); the raw and real. The vulnerable. I am inspired by people who wear their flaws openly and proudly. Part of me knows that's why I loved my career in Mental Health so much. There's no pretense.. everyone is who they are. Crazy, not crazy; none of it matters. Everyone has a story. Most want to share it, if only someone would listen. My grandmother - she was that someone. My father - he is that someone. Me, I strive to be that someone. I have been blessed with amazing people to guide my philosophies on life and love and kindness and gratitude. But- that's another post. Another time.
Everything I do in my everydayness - I try to stay real. I try to love. I try to share stories. That's all our lives are... a story. When all is said and done.. what will yours say?
In my photography, I try to capture the realness. The organic. The story.
The biggest compliment I could ever, ever imagine is a mother saying "THAT is who my child is". I try to stay real and honest, so if I ever stray away from that, feel free to send a swift kick my way. Really, I'll love you for it. :)
So, I wanted to post some song lyrics that really stick with me. They are to Brandi Carlile's song "have you ever?" and go like this:
Have you ever wandered lonely through the woods?
And everything there feels just as it should
You're part of the life there
You're part of something good
If you've ever wandered lonely through the woods
if you've ever wandered lonlely through the woods
Have you ever stared into a starry sky?
Lying on your back you're asking why
What's the purpose I wonder who am I
If you've ever stared into a starry sky
Have you ever stared into a starry sky
Have you ever been out walking in the snow?
Tried to get back to where you were before
You always end up not knowing where to go
If you've ever been out walking in the snow
If you'd ever been out walking you would know
See why this resonated within me?
Welcome to my church, my sanctuary, my meditation:
Enjoy this day! For the ups and downs, and the for the story that is being created. Right. Now.
♥
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Gunderson Family | Session Faves!
Labels:
autumn,
children,
fall,
families,
photography,
portraits,
preschoolers,
toddlers
Last Sunday I got to meet an awesome family - The Gundersons. Mom and I have known each other... oh for forever. :) But, meeting her beautiful family was a first for me and I am so grateful that I got the chance. You know those families that just "fit"? This is one of those families. They are so relaxed and at ease with one another... not an easy task when you have three (read: energetic!) little ones!
We had a perfect fall day to spend in one of my favorite places. The colors were rich and the light was beautiful... all a recipe for awesome photography!
Kristy! Here's your peek! :)
I had so much fun with your family.. I cannot thank you enough for allowing me the opportunity to know and capture them. I hope you love these as much as I do.
I have the month of November open for last minute fall portraits, and am working on designing holiday cards and gift certificates! Woohoo! That's a whole separate post, though. Please let me know if there is anything else you would like to see offered... I can't do this without all of you!
Let me just say that I LOVE my clients! They are awesome and their faith in me is inspiring. My clients drive me to be better as a photographer and as a person. I am so excited for the future with them and seeing their families grow! Much love to you all!
Peace and love,
Sarah
We had a perfect fall day to spend in one of my favorite places. The colors were rich and the light was beautiful... all a recipe for awesome photography!
Kristy! Here's your peek! :)
I had so much fun with your family.. I cannot thank you enough for allowing me the opportunity to know and capture them. I hope you love these as much as I do.
I have the month of November open for last minute fall portraits, and am working on designing holiday cards and gift certificates! Woohoo! That's a whole separate post, though. Please let me know if there is anything else you would like to see offered... I can't do this without all of you!
Let me just say that I LOVE my clients! They are awesome and their faith in me is inspiring. My clients drive me to be better as a photographer and as a person. I am so excited for the future with them and seeing their families grow! Much love to you all!
Peace and love,
Sarah
Saturday, October 17, 2009
I love
Saturdays.
So much to fit into so many hours. Up until just recently, I was usually super busy on Saturdays, having to work every other weekend at a local hospital. I made a leap of faith. My leap was to step away from a solid, stable job I loved to staying home most days with my kids.... Something I have never done. My faith was to trust that life/fate/(insert religious icon here) would take care of me. Because of this leap, my Saturdays are much, much different. No longer rushed to squeeze in everything, I can sit back and relax. Though we still have plenty to do, it seems so much easier to enjoy the time.
Saturdays have gotten a lot better. :)
The funny thing is, I never expected to see such a change in myself. My really, really true self that I have neglected to acknowledge for years now. I have always been creative. Art was something I excelled at. Music, too. Even more important, those were the things that brought me daily joy and peace. Somewhere along the lines of growing up and being responsible, I forgot about those things. The leap brought those back to me. (ah ha! That's the change...) I have passion, patience, and creativity again. I had to buy a journal to write all of my ideas down into - they just keep coming!
Peace. With myself as a mother, knowing I am there for my kids anytime. Peace with myself. For being myself.
It is a wonderful thing. I'm so glad I jumped.
Other things I LOVE this saturday:
Smelling my babies heads.
Twitter. Haha.
Fall flowers.
Golden Oreos.
Orange. Anything Orange. The really rich orange that accompanies fall.
Hats with earflaps.
Morning Frost.
Slippers.
Helping with first grade homework.
Pressing a tiger scout uniform.
Hazel. ♥
Connecting with women photographers. We rock!
To Do lists.
Dreaming.
Gourds, apples and pumpkins.
Crockpots.
Lipgoo.
Socks.
Orange Spice tea.
Cinnamon.
Wearing glasses.
Fall scented candles.
Brandi Carlile!!
costumes.
candy!
fresh bread.
my friends.
planning to see my friends soon!
Earth day conversations.
Two year olds.
Windex.
Have a beautiful day!
Oh, the fall flowers?
Here they are:
And a snap of a very proud tiger scout:
Have a great Sunday!
So much to fit into so many hours. Up until just recently, I was usually super busy on Saturdays, having to work every other weekend at a local hospital. I made a leap of faith. My leap was to step away from a solid, stable job I loved to staying home most days with my kids.... Something I have never done. My faith was to trust that life/fate/(insert religious icon here) would take care of me. Because of this leap, my Saturdays are much, much different. No longer rushed to squeeze in everything, I can sit back and relax. Though we still have plenty to do, it seems so much easier to enjoy the time.
Saturdays have gotten a lot better. :)
The funny thing is, I never expected to see such a change in myself. My really, really true self that I have neglected to acknowledge for years now. I have always been creative. Art was something I excelled at. Music, too. Even more important, those were the things that brought me daily joy and peace. Somewhere along the lines of growing up and being responsible, I forgot about those things. The leap brought those back to me. (ah ha! That's the change...) I have passion, patience, and creativity again. I had to buy a journal to write all of my ideas down into - they just keep coming!
Peace. With myself as a mother, knowing I am there for my kids anytime. Peace with myself. For being myself.
It is a wonderful thing. I'm so glad I jumped.
Other things I LOVE this saturday:
Smelling my babies heads.
Twitter. Haha.
Fall flowers.
Golden Oreos.
Orange. Anything Orange. The really rich orange that accompanies fall.
Hats with earflaps.
Morning Frost.
Slippers.
Helping with first grade homework.
Pressing a tiger scout uniform.
Hazel. ♥
Connecting with women photographers. We rock!
To Do lists.
Dreaming.
Gourds, apples and pumpkins.
Crockpots.
Lipgoo.
Socks.
Orange Spice tea.
Cinnamon.
Wearing glasses.
Fall scented candles.
Brandi Carlile!!
costumes.
candy!
fresh bread.
my friends.
planning to see my friends soon!
Earth day conversations.
Two year olds.
Windex.
Have a beautiful day!
Oh, the fall flowers?
Here they are:
And a snap of a very proud tiger scout:
Have a great Sunday!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Chasing my dreams...
Labels:
autumn,
Change,
fear,
personal awareness,
photography
Change is in the air. In northern Minnesota, the leaves are crisp and bright, and the earth is cool and sweet. The gardens have been turned, pulled up; harvest has been claimed and celebrated. Autumn is my absolute favorite time of year- though it is bittersweet.
Change is hard for me. It always has been. From the time I was a little girl, I remember throwing big fat tears when my dad would shave off his mustache. I remember sobbing and a sense of abandonment when we bought a new car and had to leave the old in a cold, dark parking lot. Where would that car go? What if it missed me? What about the glitter I had spilled in the back seat -it was so pretty to look at.
This has followed me into adulthood, though now I embrace it as a part of who I am. The fears and questions that surround Change have been altered, but the fear itself has not.
This summer, Change has hit our family and household in many forms. It is not a story of tragedy - rather one of choice. Choosing to make change is not any less scary. At ALL. :)
Choosing to make Change is however, freeing. It is liberating. And it is terrifying.
I have been afraid to share that change with my friends and family openly for fear of failure.
It is now my choice to share it here, with anyone who happens to stumble upon this blog. And yes, I am terrified. :)
This blog will be documenting my life, both photographically and personally. I hope you don't find it as terrifying as I do.
Have you had a recent change in your life? How are you dealing with it? What are the things that you do to keep you from wavering along your path?
Please share with me in your comments... for truly, we are all along this journey together.
With that, let the games begin!
Onward!
One last goodbye to summer:
Enjoy the change of the seasons. It brings good things.
Change is hard for me. It always has been. From the time I was a little girl, I remember throwing big fat tears when my dad would shave off his mustache. I remember sobbing and a sense of abandonment when we bought a new car and had to leave the old in a cold, dark parking lot. Where would that car go? What if it missed me? What about the glitter I had spilled in the back seat -it was so pretty to look at.
This has followed me into adulthood, though now I embrace it as a part of who I am. The fears and questions that surround Change have been altered, but the fear itself has not.
This summer, Change has hit our family and household in many forms. It is not a story of tragedy - rather one of choice. Choosing to make change is not any less scary. At ALL. :)
Choosing to make Change is however, freeing. It is liberating. And it is terrifying.
I have been afraid to share that change with my friends and family openly for fear of failure.
It is now my choice to share it here, with anyone who happens to stumble upon this blog. And yes, I am terrified. :)
This blog will be documenting my life, both photographically and personally. I hope you don't find it as terrifying as I do.
Have you had a recent change in your life? How are you dealing with it? What are the things that you do to keep you from wavering along your path?
Please share with me in your comments... for truly, we are all along this journey together.
With that, let the games begin!
Onward!
One last goodbye to summer:
Enjoy the change of the seasons. It brings good things.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Summer fun!
I am so so happy that summer is here! Finally!
I have used the opportunity to get out and use my camera to capture some of my most favorite parts about summer... but I think I still need to do more! I am pleased to know that my website will soon be up and running, and it is beautiful!
So... this is what we've been up to:
I have used the opportunity to get out and use my camera to capture some of my most favorite parts about summer... but I think I still need to do more! I am pleased to know that my website will soon be up and running, and it is beautiful!
So... this is what we've been up to:
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
In the park!
So, I have been having fun and enjoying the nice weather lately. I had the opportunity to shoot a beautiful 10 month old girl, and it was wonderful! I have to say, I am loving getting out and about (finally) and getting to shoot at some beautious outdoor locations!
A peek at my session in the park:
A peek at my session in the park:
Monday, May 18, 2009
Hi! Welcome to my photography blog.
Maybe you know me, maybe you don't, but either way thanks for stopping by.
This will be my home base for my journey with my photography. You will see my latest works, or other random meanderings here. :) I have recieved a ton of positive support for developing my photography skills, and this should be a much easier way to enjoy seeing my progress.... if you enjoy that sort of thing.
So. Let the games begin. :)
Maybe you know me, maybe you don't, but either way thanks for stopping by.
This will be my home base for my journey with my photography. You will see my latest works, or other random meanderings here. :) I have recieved a ton of positive support for developing my photography skills, and this should be a much easier way to enjoy seeing my progress.... if you enjoy that sort of thing.
So. Let the games begin. :)
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