jumping in

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as i read back over this, i realize all of this makes much more sense to me since I lived the day {don't ya just hate cryptic jabber}...and there is a WAY too long of a post that did explode all over a word doc. However, some major editing will have to take place before that sees some light. ...thank you for allowing the verbal expulsion. : )
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the drought is over.

It isn’t that I had abandoned my blog entirely...I did think of it in passing from time to time. It’s just that I really had nothing to say. Sure I could have shared a photo session or two or twenty.. {and if you follow me on fb.. I have...} but this blog means more to me than just a collection of “what I do” it is a bit of my heart and soul.. a sharing of my life that runs deeper than just an image or two... yes, I will still share those.. but the dam had to be broken. The proverbial seal removed before I could jump back in.

Tonight as I ran home from the park the words pounding their tiny vocabulary fists on my brain, I knew it was over.

the thing is, I never know how long it will last. Will I feel this joyful bliss of words pouring forth for a week? just tonight? a year? how long can I stay connected this time? will I allow/be ok with the fact that when it does close the door again..that, that too is just a part of the whole? It is after all, the finding my way back that cultivates the juice... perhaps it’s even more significant than the re-opening itself. For what would I have to say if I hadn’t been questioning.... hadn’t been agitated and curious...hadn’t let the frustrations cause me to finally ask a different set of questions?

The question this morning being... “How can I be of service? How can this life I am living better the whole... where will I be drawn to give...what will it look like, and how will this divine spark that yearns to be set free show up on this earthly plane?”

This is where my day started and here my sweet friends, is where it led me....

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chips - salt + grease
photo shoot
connection
artist
inspiration
light
laughter
tea
frustration
editing
emails
fb
ice skating
connection
sun
home
change
dogstar
kittens
adoption
puppies {NEW.. puppies!}
chai + coconut milk + raw vegan treats
new art gallery
a chihuahua named pearl
art
fun and fantastic laugh out loud greeting cards
inspiration
more art
gallery owner + wonderful conversation
shopping
shop owner
fellow leo
births
connection
sun
dinner
kitties – my boys
concert in the park
kite flying
beautiful children living with no boundaries.
connection to a stranger
joy at the unexpected
answers that I am still uncertain that I want to/or can hear.
darkness falling
beauty shown
life
children to bed
dirty feet
music
play and laughter
joy and smiles

....then....

to home I tumble
pounding of keys
words dodging my grasp
then forming too fast
typing again
free again
connecting again
I breathe again
I live again
I am me again.

and so it begins.

Dr Claire Wheeler | Portland headshot photography

I always walk away from a headshot session with a natural high. I've just spent two hours really seeing someone. It's a bit giddy that exchange of energy between us. I have to be open enough in my own person to create space so that they feel they can be open with who they are.

It's quite an amazing process.

Claire is a brilliant Dr. and teacher, an incredible person and dang funny. We laughed just about the entire shoot. Her website is currently under construction, but if you want to know a bit more of her work and her story you can check out her bio on the Center for Mind Body Medicine website.

tracy | portland headshot photography

It's really crazy how much fun I have with my clients when we are creating a new headshot for them. Generally they come into the session pretty excited because they are either re-branding, re-launching or stepping into some new adventure.

You might call me a geeked out photographer...it's ok..I can take it. But with the goodness of all that energy swirling around, and the pure joy of getting to know a person, headshot photography is honestly kinda thrilling.

Getting to know Tracy and the brilliance of who she is, was one of those days where I say a humble 'thank you', for what I am allowed to do.

Updates on the launch of Tracy's re-branding and new website to follow soon.

victor | portland portrait photography

Classical music has always been my escape....my transport to witnessing the divine. In fact as a slightly odd 5yr old little girl, three of my favorite albums were some random classical records picked up from the library throw away pile + an album of humpback whale songs {yes, that would be the eeeooOOOOooowwwOOEEiii...type of song}

But it's late and I digress.

In feb I was contacted to do a simple headshot for a very talented young man. He plays the viola and needed just a simple shot to put in the concert program.

When victor arrived he was none to keen on having his photo taken, but I was thrilled! All thru the shoot I was HOPE HOPE HOPE-ing he would play for me. Recorded music is one thing, live music is something altogether life altering.

We completed our 'safe' shot and were ready to call it, when mum and dad came in and asked if we could do a few more creative shots. uhh YES! I've included just a few of those here..but I'll spare Victor the full monty.

When we were finished I had to ask..and yes he did, and yes it was brilliant.

I am posting this tonight in his honor, as I just heard from his proud mama, that he was named Principal violist for the Portland Youth Philharmonic!

Way to Go VICTOR!

Or as the humpback say CooooOOnnngggrrraaaAAATOOOoooOOlaayyyTiOOoonnns.

Victor you are an amazing young man. Thank you for my private mini concert and for being such a good sport in front of my lens.

Phillis Yes | Portland headshot photography

I met Phillis Yes just once, but her strength and presence of character was so strong that I my spirit got a permanent lift.

The headshot she needed was to be 'quick' she just needed something for an award she was being presented...and then we started to talk.

She is a teacher/amazing artist and brilliant human being.

The shots above were her final selects from the bunch. I do believe she went with the first one for the ceremony, but I just adore the other two.