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This last year has been amazing. I have shot weddings, engagements, portraits and even shot my own family.... But while doing so, I have realized that there is one thing that I think ALL of us have in common......Fear. Whether we are artists behind a camera, a canvas, or simply someone that sits behind a cubical, we all have something holding us back from living life to our fullest. For some of us, it's what people think of us. Maybe failing at something that is important to us? Maybe its not being the BEST at our craft? Or maybe it's just being afraid to been seen by those around us. We all seem to be afraid or insecure about something and we really shouldn't be. We are the way we are for a reason. We all see things differently for a reason.
I found this quote and I think its so true in life. " Don't be afraid to go out on a limb. Thats where the fruit is."
I think sometimes it's easier to sit back and watch everyone else do things so that we don't have to make a fool out of ourselves... or maybe we won't be noticed. Maybe we are afraid to be ourselves... The truth is, you might just surprise yourself. Being a photographer, I know there are so many times I don't have faith in myself. It's a battle I know I will fight every time I take a job..... but the honest truth? I can do it. I know I can... it's just knowing that you have to put yourself out to the world to find what you are really capable of doing. I think for artists, we are afraid of failing or seeing someone that is better than us succeed. We should be cheering on those around us who are doing well and while watching those succeed, we should use our deep down motivation to push ourselves forward to do better and find what we are meant to do.
For photographers, I think we compare ourselves too much to each other. We find ourselves emulating each other because we are afraid to find our own style. Why? Find your own style and OWN IT. Be PROUD of it. Don't live your life around what others think about you or the approval from those around you. LIVE your life to the fullest and LOVE it.
I encourage you all to think about what YOU are afraid of and why. Figure out what it is that's holding you back from being you. No matter who you are, there is something you are afraid of. With only two months left in this year, I encourage you to be yourself and stay true to what you believe. Start next year even better then you did this year. Love casts out all fear. Find what you love and do it with all your heart. Today I went out on a limb and explored the unknown. I have faith God will lead me to something even greater. I just need to be patient.
One of my fears? Heights. For now, i'll hang patiently high in the sky and look for an opportunity to reach out on a limb..... reaching out where the great beautiful colored fruit is, and maybe dream of taking a bite of it. Until then, I'm satisfied. |
If there is one thing I love the most... it's TRAVELING. I write this as my husband and I are on our honeymoon in Maui. It got us talking about the wedding we just shot this past July here in Hawaii. It was awesome!! As we sit in our hotel room a little red from the sun, we are reminiscing about all our past travel experiences and how fun it is to shoot weddings out of state. A few summers ago, my family, Stephen, and I traveled to Europe. We explored the streets of Rome, Austria, and Italy, enjoying the lush greenery and antiqued famous architecture of the world. What is better than that?! It's inspiring, enchanting and just plain exciting. I LOVE traveling for vacations but most importantly, to shoot weddings....far far away weddings. Although my business is based out of Scottsdale, Arizona, more than half my weddings are destination weddings. I hope to keep it that way! I love love love traveling and exploring new areas. It's good for my soul and helps my creativity flow! Don't get me wrong, I love shooting local weddings and wouldn't ever want to pass them up, but its nice to see a change of scenery sometimes too :) I thought I would do a mini post about where I have traveled to and a little advice to those who choose to travel.
To my blog readers that are photographers : Don't pass up out of town weddings because of fear. Most of the time, its inspiring to shoot in new places!!! DO make sure your entire travel is paid for and DO make sure you are aware of the area before traveling. You may lose some time working at your computer but traveling is usually worth it in the end. It helps your name get circulated further then just the place you live in! ALWAYS arrive a day early and explore the area around the venue. There are many times I have no idea where the venue is located but google maps is sure to help out. I always search other photographers that have shot at the venue to help me gain a better idea on what to expect. DON'T copy other photographers but get a feel for what the lighting is like at the venue. Be prepared. DO encourage brides to travel to a location near by if the ceremony or reception is lacking scenery. Don't be afraid to explore!!!! The times i have done this, are usually the best decision I have made all day. Also, Im not writing this to brag to anyone about where I have traveled but to encourage you all to extend your network beyond where you live. You may ask how I did this? Well, I was lucky to have a lot of newly engaged couples that were friends getting married from college. I moved home from San Diego to Scottsdale and had ALOT of connections back in California where I went to college. Their sisters, brothers, family, friends etc... your name begins to get around the circle. I would say I am more lucky to have started this way BUT I also sometimes would work a little with my clients on packages to travel if I really wanted the wedding. Do I work a lot on budgeting now? Hardly ever. Travel does take a lot of work after having traveled so much, I no longer give discounts. They JUST simply pay for all the necessary expenses. Airfare, hotel, car... and I don't mind it! Some photographers charge extra for the extra day they are missing to travel. I find I don't need to do this because I love traveling, I get to shoot in a new area and its a new creative outlet. Its also an opportunity to expand my business!! Not everyone wants to travel and be destination photographer... but for those of you that do... take my advice! My out of town weddings have been amazing and I am so thankful I gave a little to gain them. Its not always easy to get your name out but I suggest networking with photographers around the world. Another perk about shooting out of state? It might be easier to get them featured on wedding blogs or magazines!! This also helps to get your name out! Everyone wants to see something different and sometimes traveling can get you just that.
To all the brides: DO hire out of town photographers. I know its sometimes scary to hire foreign photographers but we will bring something new to your venue. DO trust our ideas. We are able to be creative anywhere and your wedding will be no different. Relax and enjoy yourself. Photography should not be your concern the day of your wedding!!!!
These are places I hope to return to: ATTENTION ALL BRIDES- DESTINATION WEDDINGS? YES PLEASE!! |
| I shoot a lot of weddings in California. I LOVE California because its close, I have family near by (my new in-laws :) and there are always good friends a phone call away. I love the green scenery California has and you just cant beat the beach and all the beautiful venues!! Carrie and Greg's wedding was shot at the the Darlington House in La Jolla. I LOVED this venue! |
| Carrie's dress, makeup and veil was STUNNING and I LOVED all her creativity in all her details. the Darlington House was PERFECT for Carrie's vintage theme. I think its so awesome when a couple incorporates their venue with their theme. This wedding was also done on a smaller budget and I loved how they pulled everything together. |
| HAWAII. OH OH OH sweet hawaii! What I would give to shoot another wedding in Hawaii. If there are any Hawaiian brides reading this... please call me :) I had the opportunity to shoot Jillienne and Brandon's engagements and wedding within days of each other. We made a great vacation out of this wedding too. Too many amazing spots... |
| The wedding was on the North Shore of Oahu and the reception was held at Haleiwa Joe's . AMAZING food. |
| This past summer, Stephen and I drove to Napa Valley and stopped at the beautiful V Sattui Winery where Dustin propsed to Kristen. We are SO excited to shoot their wedding next summer in Malibu!! If anyone has ever been to the V Sattui Winery, you would know how AWESOME this place is. Definitely go and grab a glass of their famous chardonnay! |
| Shaley and Javier got married at the beautiful Perkins Chapel chapel where the lovely LeeAnn Rhymes was also wed on the Southern Methodist campus. The reception was held at the Crescent Hotel in Dallas Texas. UNBELIEVEABLE location. GORGEOUS. I loved the old southern charm the school was surrounded by! It made for amazing photo opportunities! |
| This wedding was featured on Southern Weddings Magazine Blog for all the little details Shaley and Javier spent putting together. I loved all of them! |
| Chicago. This was definitely one of my favorite weddings. I shot this wedding last year and still remember it like yesterday. We strolled around downtown and walked the streets before heading back to the reception site. |
| This was my latest destination wedding... we traveled to Fruitland Idaho (outside of Boise) for Cortney and Scott's wedding wedding. It was perfect!! I loved this wedding because it was SO creative and done on an amazing budget. This is one wedding I had the bride and groom hop in my (rental) car and drive along fruitlands roads to look for cool spots. We found some great spots! Cortney and Scott got married at Cortney's parents house and it was fabulous. Style me pretty featured this wedding under a budget friendly wedding and I think EVERY bride should read it. I love it when a bride and groom thinks outside the box!!! You can still have a lot of details and stay on a great budget! |
| And it doesn't cost anything for a cute little apple!! Just a stroll along Fruitland's apple orchards! |
| Our last one of the year will be in Beaver Creek Colorado this November. A great end to a great year. Id love to network with all my blog readers more... Please leave a comment and lets network! Send over any questions you have about travel or just plain ANYTHING! |
I have known Stephen for about four years now. I was young and a new art student at Point Loma University. I couldn't wait to venture into the art world and absorb what the world had to offer. Stephen on the other hand, was a business student. He played golf, liked to surf and loved San Diego. We seemed to have a few things in common and our first date was a success. Beyond our first few dates going well, we both saw something in each other that was different. When I first met Steve, I really wasn't sure what to expect. I adored his smiling eyes, beautiful smile, and spunky personality but I really wasn't sure if Steve was "the one". I loved our friendship and all the good memories we had but something just seemed to be be missing. I had never felt so strongly about anyone my entire life but I really wasn't sure if we would end in marriage. God has a way of surprising us doesn't he? It seems that little thing that was missing, was my trust. It didn't take too long for me to see a future with Stephen and eventually, I sat back, trusted and waited. We enjoyed our friendship and eventually, we realized we were truly meant for each other. Im not sure I believe in what the world knows as "fate" but whatever path God has us on, I think we happened to be on the right path at the right time.
Last Saturday, Stephen and I stood in front of 160 guests who witnessed our story come to life. We soaked up God's blessing as we looked at each other deeply in love and decided to commit to each other for a lifetime. I am proud to say, that I am now a MRS. and am truly in love with a beautiful, loving heart filled man of God. I am more in love with him than I ever have been and I can't wait to learn even more about each other through out the years. To my husband Stephen, I love you.
Yes, this is a self portrait we took on our honeymoon in Maui. I know im crazy for even picking up my computer on my honeymoon but I have to brag about our new adventures together as we have only been married for 3 days!! I of course brought my camera but no editing tools... who needs those in hawaii? Its a perfect background! |
| Last Friday, my family, Stephen, and I, drove to Tucson to document our two very dear friends wedding day. Last March, we met Bethzaida and Kevin near their favorite restaurant El Charro in downtown Tucson for their engagement photos. It was a gorgeous day and we loved getting to know the two of them better as a couple. I have known Kevin for years. Being one of my brothers best friends, I was able to get to know Kevin and the rest of the family very well. I have never met a more beautiful, smart and loving family!! Of course, it doesnt surprise me that Kevin found the perfect girl. Bethzaida is stunning, smart, creative and outgoing. A perfect match. I know these two will do great things. Their love for each other and for God is so evident through how they treat each other and it was so wonderful to watch the wedding day all unfold. The ceremony and reception were both held at the adorable Stillwell House in downtown Tucson. Bethzaida's family brought the wedding a little bit of the beautiful Mexican charm. It was so neat to see an entire mariachi band sing over the couple and all the little beautiful details that were implemented into the ceremony that made the day simply perfect. |
| There were so awesome little photo spots behind the venue that I LOVED!!! |
| I LOVED watching the first glance!! They were so calm and sweet to each other. |
| I am obsessed with this bright colored wall!! It was around the block from the venue but it was definitely worth the walk!! |
| I loved how excited they both were the ENTIRE day. |
| I love this shot of Kevin and Jared. Jared has been friends with Kevin for years and it was amazing to watch Jared marry one of his best friends. It was A GORGEOUS ceremony and Jared delivered a powerful message. |
| These girls had AMAZING voices and they could DEFINITELY play the violin perfectly! |
| It was a blast watching everyone dance! |
| My brother and Kevin. Long time friends... |
Yesterday, I spent the afternoon with family. My brother and sister-in law just had their second beautiful baby boy last June. A day shy of my birthday, beautiful blue eyed Wesley was born and graciously welcomed to our family. We sat and watched Wesley admired the outside sky and enjoyed the cool fall weather as it is slowly creeping in. We laid him on numerous colored blankets. Yellow, blue, red and polka dot pillows that lay on Christy and Michael's bed. Blankets that are worn with love and threads that soak in warmth. I am more than excited to watch these two boys grow and what they will become. I have no doubt they will be strong, independent men of God and I know they will be something great. I know somehow, and some way, they will change the world. I know they will look back on these colored blankets and remember feeling secure as they laid wrapped in the tiny colored warm threads. I have watched my brother become an amazing father, teacher and leader to those around him and I can't believe he is really all grown up. After getting to know Christy through the years, it does not surprise me that she is a gorgeous 26 year old mother of two, talented multi-tasker and a strong encourager. I am more than honored to say I am apart of this family and can't wait to watch it grow. For some of us, family is what holds us together and reminds us to keep each other strong.
As Stephen and I prepare to marry each other next weekend, we will soon be surrounded by family and the tiny little threads that remind us what we are here for. Little reminders that give us perseverance as we remember the times God keep us warm, safe, and tightly knit together. We will soon create our own blanket of warm tightly knit threads and hopefully one day, have the opportunity to wrap our own little ones up with love. |
| I just want to SQUEEZE him everytime I see him!!!!!!! |
| For those of you that know the Fay family... you know little Oliver has a funny little smiles sometimes... looks like him and Wesley chatted and Wesley is doing the same thing. Little sneaky boys! |
| What a stud! Watch out girls!! |
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