Fifty Shades Of Love

So I finally hopped on the 50 shades bandwagon. Although I did not really like the books, the more I read the more they kinda grew on me. The books are not well written at all. They are very repetitive and it is like reading the same scenario over and over again. However the concept was not too bad and if a decent writer had written them they would be good.

I did however like the ideas it gave me and loved the music the author choice to mention in the books. I also loved the ending. I am also thinking this may be one of the rare cases where the movies will be better than the books. I am not gonna lie I am a little excited to see who they will choose to play the characters. Should be interesting. I just hope they do not pick an older actor. They need someone fresh and young.

So that is my two cents. I can tell you I will enjoy reading passages of the book to my Mr. Grey tonight, should be quite interesting... ; )

Consumed By Work

I adore my job. Taking photos and making memories for my clients is truly my dream come true. I do no more than 3 sessions a week and so people assume I have any easy job and only work a maximum of 10 hours a week. However this is so untrue.

Taking the photos is only a small percentage of what I do. The majority of my work is done in my "office" were no one sees. The reason I do only 3 sessions a week is because editing takes so long! I am a perfectionist and each photo I select to edit I make sure it is perfect and up to own personal standards before I consider it done. This does not mean I over edit in anyway, it means I take my time and edit the right way.

I first go through and select the photos in light room. In there I will do clean edits and make sure the lighting, wb, contrast, ect is perfect. I will also decide which photos are going to be in color and which will be in b/w. I always use my presets in lightroom to convert to b/w.

Next is exporting and converting to JPEG. I then edit all photos including the b/ws in photoshop. The b/ws I will usually only sharpen a bit if needed and make sure the details are ok. The colored ones depending on the setting, I will pick the actions I need to use. The majority of the time I use 2-3 actions and low opacity. However if a photo needs a little extra pow or is a really good one I will add a bit of texture. I then sharpen if needed, smooth skin, whiten eyes and teeth, and any other close up editing that may need doing.

Once this is all done ( and note this is done on between 20-70 photos) I need to use PSP to create my CD inserts, and tray cards. This can take sometime as I customize each one and make it special for my client.

So all in all that 3 hour shooting time turns into about 10-20 hours of editing. Hence why I only do 3 shoots a week! This of course does not include bookkeeping, email/phone responses, site updates, blog posts, and making previews for facebook.

So the next time you think being a Photographer is easy please think again and appreciated all the work that goes into making your images perfect. :)

Dear Airi

You are 4 years old. This means you are no longer a toddler, but are instead a kid! It seems like just last night you were 6 months old and falling asleep on my chest, now when you sleep over you take up 1/2 the bed!

You are too smart for your own good, and I love watching you play pretend by yourself and with Shiloh. I think this is the best part of the age you are at. Life is so magical to you and everything is good and an adventure.

A lot has changed for you this past year. You are no longer the baby of the family, you are now a big cousin to Maddi! You are in school and although you had a rough start at it, you are now doing amazing and learning something new everyday.

Uncle G and I love you more than anyone! You will always be his "favorite kid in the world." and I know when the time comes it will because of you that he is going to be an amazing daddy.

I still can not believe that you are 4! It is shocking. I mean really were does the time go? You have turned into such a beautiful little girl in what seems like overnight and everyday I love you more and more. I know this post may not be as long as some of the other Birthday posts, but it is just really hard for me to wrap my head around  how awesome you truly are.

The bottom line is I we love you and hope you have the best birthday ever! I know your 5th year here on this earth is going to be amazing, and I can not wait to see how you change and grow this coming year. I love you baby girl. Forever and always.

Oh Shiloh

I seriously love my baby boy, he clearly needs to get shaved soon, but how freakin cute is he!! PS this new app for my iphone to create GIFS is my new best friend. It is called Gifboom and I LOVE it!

What We Did Today

Yup. This pretty much sums it up! ; )

My Six

Continuing on from the post yesterday here are my six songs for G.

Chasing Cars-Snow Patrol

I do not know when or how this song became important to us, all I know is the words fit us to a tee and every time it comes on he sings it to me<3.

Neutron Star Collision-Muse

The first time I heard this song I fell in love with it because it reminded me of our love.

You Are The One-HIM

We've had our share of misfortune

We've had our blues

And God is not on our side

Yes it's true

We keep forgetting baby

The beauty of us two

There is no one who can take that away

From me and you

You are the one

And there's no regrets at all

Seriously those lyrics are perfect for us! 

Hands Down-Dashboard Confessional

This song reminds me of our first kiss (since afterwards I went home and played it on repeat all night long!) It also brings me back to those fun, innocent , first love, crazy for each other feelings.

Turning Page-Sleeping At Last

This is the newest of our songs, it is simple, sweet, and to the point about how we feel about each other. Plus it is one of our potential wedding songs. Also I think it really describes how we feel right now, in this moment.

23-Jimmy Eat World

This song takes me back to our darker times. It reminds me that it took a lot of work on both of our parts to get to the point that we are today. It is bitter sweet, and it is important for us to remember those times that have made us stronger.

( The intro is quit long skip to 1:30)

Six

G and I have a box with different ideas of things to do when we are board, need a date night, or just because. A few days ago we picked one idea out and it was " Each pick 6 songs that remind you of our relationship."  Here is the list he came up with.

“Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol- this song reminds me of us as we don’t need anything or anyone to be happy as long as we have each other.

“Neutron Star Collision”- our love is forever and our two lives and our two hearts combined like a neutron star collision.

“I’ll Be There for You” by The Rembrandts- this song reminds me of when we used to cuddle and watch the original best show ever and when I used to talk to you on the phone for hours before you would watch “Friends” before you went to bed and I’m still mad I watched the last episode without you. P.S. season 10 disc 4 lol

“You Had a Bad Day” by Daniel Powter- the lyrics in the song don’t remind me of us but I miss the times we used to jam out to this song in bed.

“Only Hope” by Mandy Moore- one of the best movies ever reminds me of the best girlfriend in the world and you are my one and only hope.

“I Will Crumble” by Mike Vogel- if you were ever to leave me, I would surely crumble as you have helped me in so many aspects of my life

My list will be posted tomorrow ; )

20 Something

I am going to be 24 in two months. It really amazes me how as you get older time seems to go by so much faster and therefore becomes more precious. When I was a teenager I could not wait to be out of school and on my own. I have always had an Independent spirit and although I would never want to be back in high school again, I wish I was that age again.

Life was right there for me to grab by the horns and anything and everything I wanted was right there in front of me. I know I am by no means old, but it is amazing what a handful of years can teach you about yourself and the world around you.

So far my twenties have been good to me. Although the first couple of years were rough, they were also learning experiences. I learned to really grow up and think about what I want out of life. It took me awhile but I finally found my passion in photography. In this I consider myself lucky, as some people never find that missing piece in their life, and I have found my relatively early. It is what I identify myself with, you can not have me without having my photos.

I have also learned what real love is about. G and I have been together since I was 16 years old and he was 18. Looking back and seeing how much our relationship have evolved is amazing. We went from dorky kids in love to people who were too passionate and arrogant to get along, from there we grew apart as our lives seemed to be going in two different directions, and finally we are in the here and now. The spot were we know it takes a lot of work to make our love work. We gladly do it and know that be are stronger because of it.

I have learned to let go of the past and not let it control me. This has made me a much more happy person. I have also learned to have fun and enjoy life. It is too short not to try everything you want to.

Most of all I know what I want. I will never be an outgoing person who likes to party and go out until 3 in the morning. Instead I want to be a geek to loves to read, cuddle, and have small dinner parties with friends. I also know that I am ready to be a parent. For the longest time I was so scared that I would not be a good mother, now I know I will be, and both of us will be amazing parents to our kids.

By this time next year I hope we will be moved and settled into our first home, getting ready for our wedding, and continuing to love each other.

By this time in 5 years I hope to have a extremely successful business, have a toddler to run around and love on, and realize I am truly living the life I want.

So What

• So What if  we are pushing the wedding back until next year, at least we will have our dream wedding and be able to do it the way WE want it!
• So what if I do not charge my clients an arm and a leg for photos, it is my business and I want to make $$ but also make it affordable for my wonderful clients.
• So what if I hate cooking but have a zillion recipes on pintrest, when I do cook it is banging!