A special thank you to a special friend Tracy Brown

I have a lot to be thankful for.  One of the many things I am thankful for are friends.  Friends of mine are a very special kind of person. Allow me to explain.

I am not easy to be friends with.  Not because I'm not a nice person or even loving for that matter.  In fact, I'm a very loving person,  maybe even to a fault.  I have a special place in my heart for many of the people I have met and clients I have worked with.  Some of them have come to seem more like family than someone I met through the photography business.  It can be a challenge to be friends with me because I run all the aspects of a small business and it's just me.  I have little time with my family, let alone my friends.  I don't answer calls once in a while.  I silence my phone and miss an important text.  I forget to do something because I'm so focused on work.  Being friends with me requires confidence, trust, understanding, independence, patience and persistence.  Some qualities that most days I struggle to have within myself.

There are many facets behind running your own business that happen behind the scene.  Often photographers are viewed as someone who simply takes pictures.  Big deal, right? The aspects that often are not considered are the accounting, consultations, marketing, continuing education, showcases, editing, album design, social networking and even delivery driver.  Some days I don't know if I should return the over 25-30 emails we receive daily or the phone calls.  It's often a decision of which fire to put out first.  I know I could not survive, let alone thrive in this industry without the grace and mercy of my savior Jesus Christ.  I give him all the glory and know that without divine intervention, none of this would be possible.

I am thankful for people he sends, and today I am saying a special thank you to Tracy Brown.  Tracy has been working with me as a second photographer for a few years now.  She's amazing and I feel confident in her as a photographer, a professional and as a friend.  She has dealt with a lot and given a lot to be a part of this business and to be my friend.  She calls me, emails me, texts me and even talks me down from panic once in a blue moon.  If she calls and doesn't hear from me for days, I can rest assured that she will still be there for me when I need her.  She has done everything, from taking over shoots when I am over booked, to watching my daughter when I'm in a crunch.  What I love about Tracy is she will do just about anything for her friends and she does it with sincerity.  Tracy has really been there for me. A few times I have needed a last minute babysitter for a photo shoot.  I go to the photo shoot, return late, and she's there making craft projects with my daughter.  She takes me from a sense of rushing around to a sense of thankfulness.  She has been my right hand and sometimes my left.  So today, I wanted to recognize her personally and publicly. Thank you Tracy, for being a co-worker and a confidant.  Thank you for all you do and who you are.  I am blessed by knowing you.



She never likes how she looks in photos so I hope she forgives me for posting one.  Knowing her, she will.  That or she'll take one of my backside when I'm fixing a wedding dress and leave it in the wedding pictures for me to cringe at.  Love ya Tracy!

P.S.  I made it small and black and white.  What more could a friend ask for! (wink wink)

Catherine and Jason, D.C. Engagement Photographer

Making the connection - Love and respect.  An engagment shoot in D.C.

When Catherine and Jason told me they wanted to have their engagement pictures taken in Washington D.C., I was delighted at the opportunity.  I was so excited I didn't worry about the details.  I knew they'd come together but I just had to say yes!

Okay, I've said yes so now it was down to getting it done. I rarely venture into D.C.  I love the memorials, the museums, the sites and shops but the driving and parking, not so much.  As my daughter would say, "No thank you." 

My first plan of action was to find a driver.  Fortunately, I have the most amazing father who just so happens to know that area like the back of his hand.  For a tank of gas, a hot meal and a grateful daughter he will do just about anything.

Second plan of action, figure out how I'm going to get these gigantic memorials into an image without completely losing the subjects.  So I rented a wide angle lens from borrowlens.com.  The 16-35 2.8 Canon L-series. 

And last, get the permit.  That's right a permit. Who knew?  Fortunately I did some research and was advised in the nick of time that I better get a permit or the park police would boot us out.  Just a word of advice, if you are doing any professional photography in the Washington D.C. area, I highly recommend the permit.  Here's the link to apply National Park Service.  It's a $50 application fee and a $50 land use fee.  I will not complain because the client covered the charge, but seriously?  When we were approached by the park police I was relieved.  At least it was worth it.  He was ready to give us 'the speech' and get us out of there. It brought me joy to pull the 10 page document out of my camera bag. Below is one of my favorite shots.  There are many but I just love this one at the Reflecting Pool.

After I got over my initial excitement a familiar feeling started to wash over me. Reverence and a little bit of sadness.  Certainly not anything that interfered with the job at hand, but you can't help feeling the presence of soldiers who gave their lives for us, for our freedom, for our country.  It's the ultimate sacrifice.  These men and women laid down their lives for us.  I get choked up when I think about it.  It's overwhelming the sense you have when you are at the memorial sites.  I had to shut down a part of me and almost pretend as if I wasn't in the midst of someone who died for me.  I tried looking through my camera lens as much as possible. I found comfort in looking through the viewfinder. I could make the bigness of it all a lot smaller. I could see Catherine and Jason clearer and all the stars and names smaller.  Here we are at the National WWII Memorial.  Each star represents 100 soldiers that died in the war.

Later I talked with my father who is a retired officer.  I told him I had difficulty making a connection between celebration and reverence, conveying a sense of romance and patriotism.  He put it so perfectly for me and I will never forget what he said.  He said, "When you think of them, all the soldiers that died for us, what do you think they died for?  They died so we could love, so we could live, and be happy. Do you know how happy they would be to see Catherine and Jason living a life of freedom, a life of new love?"  That's when I made the connection.  Washington D.C. is love. They loved us and future generations.  I'd like to think some may see down from heaven and smile that their sacrifice was for great purpose and great joy.

Something that was new for all of us was Jason's uniform. He graduated the first week of November!  We were unsure if there were any rules about things you are not allowed to do in uniform.  Was he allowed to sit down in it on the ground?  I never thought about these things until that moment.  I wish I had looked that up too.  Everyone was staring at him.  Catherine and I will say because he's a handsome man but that uniform attracts serious attention, especially wearing it in D.C.  People were taking his photo like he was a tourist attraction. I guess it will get him accustomed to all the attention they will get on the wedding day which is coming up on December 29, 2010!  Look how cute they are together.

I think the Capital was one of my favorite spots.  The sky was so blue and it was gorgeous.  I wanted them to have fun, loving images that captured the excitement of the new life they are starting together.

After finishing up at the memorials we headed to park for some relaxed and casual shots.  I loved these too.

I could not have picked anyone else who I would have rather spent this time with.  Catherine and Jason are very much in love.  They are headed into sharing their lives together as husband and wife and I am once again honored to be a part of this special time.  I am so blessed and thankful.  My cup runneth over.