8.26.2010

High School Days are Coming to a Close

Phew, have been MIA lately!! I am almost done with the first week of my Senior year, and I am ecstatic. And scared.
I'm starting my national merit application, I'm opening a CommonApp account, I'm thinking about where I'm going to be next year! I want to have an amazing year with my friends-- they people who I've known since I was 7 years old, or 13 years old, or 15. The people I can rely on, laugh with, and love.


I have a ton of really exciting things going on that I haven't blogged about. I did a really really awesome couples session with the great photographer Gladys Jem but I haven't uploaded any pictures yet because I don't have them! But I promise, a really exciting post about that will come soon enough.
On another really really exciting note, I've had the opportunity to work with another great photographer recently named Thai Mai. He's been letting me assist him on engagements and a few weddings! I'm going to be assisting at about 4 more weddings for him before the end of the year, and I am sooo excited. I help carry bags, set up light stands, things like that.. but I get to shoot when he doesn't need help. It is an amazing experience to see the flow of the day, his posing style, and just experience what I truly do want to do. Unfortunately I won't be posting any images from the engagement or weddings on this blog. It's been an amazing experience and it will continue to be one!
I am so thankful and lucky for all the help I have gotten from within the photography community. Two photographers, Gladys and Thai, have reached out to me and helped to guide me in this process. I am so thankful because who am I? I'm just a 17 year old girl with a camera. There are thousands of girls just like me who want to do photography, but Gladys and Thai have believed in me-- just by meeting with me. I feel kind of like they're telling me it's okay to do this, to try to take this journey. I can be more than just a girl with a camera-- I could actually be that person I see myself as. That wedding photographer.
I am blessed enough to have time. Time to attend school, time to rely on my parents, time to not worry about money as much as I will have to eventually. So I don't see myself shooting a wedding by myself in the near future-- at all. I want to second shoot eventually, I liek assisting, I want to shoot my friends. But I don't feel confident enough in myself yet. I'm also really young! :) And not experienced enough. I am so grateful just to be getting the chance to gain experience.

Whew, a long post. Well.. I'm off to finish my AP Statistics homework and then, who knows, sneak in a little tv watching. :) Wish me luck in my last year of high school as I hope to establish more of who I am!

8.16.2010

Excited for What is to Come.

I'm currently bidding on a Canon 5D on ebay. Eeeek! And if I don't get a good bidding price, I'm still planning on buying a different one. I'm excited, but scared!!
This is a huge step forward for me, a move closer to accomplishing this dream. It's obviously a huge investment, and it's so hard for me to part with what little money I've saved up, but it's worth it. I'm really excited to buy one and to finally have it in my hands. I'm really excited, but I feel like this will just make me want even more equipment :)


On another note, I've been really MIA lately. I've been swamped with work, getting ready for school, etc. I start back next week, but this is my last year! Yay!! I'll definitely be blogging more soon. Look forward to an awesome couples session I got to do thanks to the amazing Gladys Jem. I am so sosososo thankful for all the help she has given me! She's a great photographer and she is sooooo nice.

8.13.2010

Anytime: Naomi

I had sooo much fun in my session with Naomi. Maybe because she's gorgeous inside and out , maybe because we found some really nice spots to shoot, or maybe because she's just an awesome girl. Naomi and I have been friends since 5th grade, and she's been amazing. I've been to Japan with her, Washington D.C., Italy, France, London.. and she's the girl I cried to in Japan when I was feeling miserable. Naomi is one of the nicest, most amazing people I know-- and to top it out, super smart and talented. (You'll see some of her stellar dance skills below!)
Thank you so much Naomi, for letting me shoot you. You're absolutely gorgeous and I hope you like these pictures.

See what I mean about her being gorgeous? Michael is a lucky man!




Love, love, love this image. Naomi scouted out this great spot for us to take some pictures!








See what I mean about her dancing? Shesh, woman!












Ill end with this picture just because I'm amazed...

8.10.2010

Happiness

Some things that make me happy.


Company, and great hosts who make you feel welcome in their homes


Beautiful things, beautiful flowers


Traveling to beautiful places



Friends who make great faces


Great light, and cute shirts (until they rip one day later)


Best friends, who you can make laugh



Sisters, hard at work


Cities I fall in love with