There will always be weeds

I took this image yesterday, not knowing how I was going to use it or what I was really going to do with it.  I just happened to notice the weeds and how they fit into the larger picture.

This morning I was having a discussion with a dear friend and business associate.  We were discussing a problem she was having when I thought about the image I took yesterday.  I said it out loud:

"There will always be weeds." 

We both thought about it for a minute, and realized that yes, weeds are always going to be underfoot.  There will always be weeds in your garden (just as there will always be bugs at your picnic or rain in your day.)  What's important is to quickly deal with the weeds and bugs and then focus and enjoy the surrounding beauty. There's always a bigger picture for you to see.  You just have to see past the little annoyances.  Oftentimes, those little annoyances help you appreciate the good stuff all the more!


(P.S.  I'm excited to announce that this image is the first of a Signature Series called Lessons From the Lens©.  These images will be available as fine art prints on textured portfolio paper or heavyweight giclee canvas.  Stay tuned for more details.)

Wet & Wild

Twenty to thirty foot waves were forecast for today, so I grabbed my camera and my daughter to keep me company.  Instead of heading to the North Shore and fighting traffic, we headed to the Waianae coast.  It was a beautiful drive and the waves were thunderous.  I watched one guy taking pictures with his point-and-shoot just as one of the waves splattered over him.  Fortunately, he was far enough away that the force of the wave didn't do anything but get him seriously wet, but I kept my eye on him.  (Not that I was going to go after him if he got eaten by one of those monster waves.... )  Later,  I caught up with him and we joked about how he was getting a little up close and personal with some of those waves. 

Old and New

My daughter had friends visiting from college, so one evening I asked if they'd like to do a portrait session.  I thought it would be fun for them and it would give me a chance to play around a bit.   They did their own hair and makeup and we pulled out some clothes and jewelry.   Kylie had pulled her hair into a pretty bun, and when I saw how she looked I knew exactly how I wanted to photograph her.  I had her put on my daughter's vintage dress (the one that's shown on my website homepage) and here was the beautiful result.  I love the fact that this is a modern-day 20-year old, but she looks timeless.

       
And here was another fun one from the session.  She was checking her texts during a break and I simply asked her to hold that pose. 

You've Got a Friend

This image is one I took two years ago, just after my oldest daughter graduated from high school and her friends were all getting ready to head to different colleges.  They were sharing one last sunset at the beach together.  Their friendships have endured since grade school and they most recently got together just a few days ago for a party at our home.  It's wonderful to see them all grow and change, and to see how their friendships still remain strong.

So when a friend shared this song today, it reminded me of how valuable our friendships are.  (This song was suggested for someone who's creating a playlist of positive songs to listen to whenever she gets a little down.)  This song takes me back and always wraps me in warmth.  I'd forgotten how much I love it. 

To all of you who are reading this, my warmest aloha to you and yours and I hope all of you are blessed with an abundance of love, gratitude, and great friendships!  I hope you'll share the warmth!

Maternity Portraits

Oh, how I love doing maternity portrtaits.  I get to photograph some amazing things, and a woman awaiting the birth of her baby is so magical.   Here's a portrait I recently did that I just love.  I think the look says it all.  I call this one, "Lindsay Waiting".

I'm always chasing rainbows

I was ready to settle in and do some office work this afternoon.  Then it started raining.  Pouring.  And the sun was shining!  That meant only one thing-- rainbows!  I'm a sucker for rainbows.  So I grabbed my camera, jumped in the car and headed to my favorite little bluff overlooking the city.  Of course, rainbows only come about when it's raining and the best shots are when the water is still coming down.  I really don't like taking the chance of getting my camera wet, but you really can't get a good shot while you're sitting in the car.  So I hopped out and snapped away.   Getting wet was worth it.

Living in the Moment

I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but I truly, passionately, absolutely love what I do!  I get to capture a moment in time.  A moment that will never be repeated.  The light will never be the same, the clouds will never be the same color, the expressions will never have the same look.  Just recently I got to capture a moment with Peter and Tiara against the beautiful Ko'olau mountains.  As I put them in position, we saw the sky start to change color and the sun shoot across the top of the mountains.  It was one of those "omigosh" moments and as soon as I snapped the image, I knew this moment was a keeper.

Why I love senior portraits

High school senior portraits are definitely one of my favorite types of sessions.   Maybe it's because I have two teens of my own and love the challenge of capturing their personality.  I get to be really creative and we have a lot of fun during the session.  We chat.  And sometimes we just stop and laugh.

I think the main reason I like working with seniors is their energy.  They have the whole world waiting for them. We talk about their plans for college and what they plan to study.  Where they want to go  and how they came to their decision.   It's fun knowing I'm photographing future surgeons, nurses, journalists, designers, engineers, and who knows?   I hope they'll drop me a line in the future and let me know how they're doing.

More Senior Portraits