Pentax 645N & Hasselblad 80mm 2.8 | Canon 1-V & 50mm 1.2L | Canon 5D MKiii | Scans by Photovision
Spring Break 2016
05.02.16
I shot through a roll of black & white film over spring break – just everyday pics of my kids with their messy hair and play clothes – because in reality it’s the everyday moments I want to remember most… the way their cowlicks won’t brush down, the scraped knees from climbing trees and riding bikes, the ice cream drips and pizza stains on their clothes: evidence of a happy childhood. How can they be getting so old? It’s bittersweet. I love the new ways we are exploring life together – reading aloud through books I loved as a kid, soccer games and band practice, watching them try sushi for the first time, hearing about their crushes and their hopes & dreams for the future… but still… I miss the ways they used to need me. Now their needs are different: less physical, more emotional. They need a listening ear here, a little gentle nudge there… no more tying their shoes or holding hands at the store. Except for baby! Oh my sweet, sweet Hazel. Thank goodness for my cheeky baby! Her snaggle-toothed grins melt my heart and make me ache from happiness. I can hardly remember life before her. I feel like I have the best of both worlds right now – beautiful blossoming friendships with my older kids and a squishy, delicious baby to snuggle with at night. Life is good.
Ilford Delta 3200 film | Canon 1-V & 50mm 1.2L | scans by the FIND lab
Valley of Fire Editorial
04.28.16
Angel & Casia | Valley of Fire, Nevada
Pentax 645N & 105mm 2.4 & Hasselblad 80mm 2.8 | Canon 1-V & 50mm 1.2L | Canon 5D MKiii | Scans by Photovision
MUAH: Ruby Finch Salon
Dresses: Free People
Moroccan-inspired Desert Editorial
03.23.16
Emily and Freddy | Valley of Fire, Nevada
Pentax 645N | 105mm 2.4 & Hasselblad 80mm 2.8 | Scans by Photovision
Stylist: Cactus & Lace
Hair/makeup: Ruby Finch Salon
Dress: Wear Your Love XO
Suit: True Gentleman Suits
Florist: Flora Pop
Food Sylist: Megan Blake
Linens & Ribbons: Silk & Willow
Paper:Stephanie B Designs
Cake: Peridot Sweets
Veil: Liz Le
Headpiece: Phenomena Jewelry
sunstone villa & the artist holiday | 2.
12.03.15
To view part one, click here.
Film scans by Richard Photo Lab
The Artist Holiday w/Jen Huang & Kurt Boomer
Styling by Ginny Au with Sarah Park
Floral design by Nicolette Camille
Dress by LOHO Bride
Veil by Twigs & Honey
Makeup & Hair by Chiali Meng
sunstone villa & the artist holiday | 1.
12.02.15
When a person works in a demanding creative field, I think it’s important to periodically take the time to step back and refill the creative wellspring. It’s also crucial to continue learning and growing as an artist, and one of the best ways to do that is to explore different mediums. The Artist Holiday was a beautiful opportunity to do both. I was drawn to this workshop in particular because of the various expressions of art taught. We were able to explore calligraphy, floral design and styling, as well as delving deeper into film photography which of course I was excited about … and being surrounded by all that beauty and sunshine was an added joy!
Film scans by Richard Photo Lab
The Artist Holiday w/Jen Huang & Kurt Boomer
Styling by Ginny Au with Sarah Park
Flowers by Nicolette Camille
Dress by LOHO Bride
Veil by Twigs & Honey
Makeup & Hair by Chiali Meng
Sarah & Jason | Ecola State Park
11.10.15
My beautiful sister with her husband, shot on the Oregon coast in September – mostly medium format film.
Fujifilm | Pentax 645N | Hasselblad Carl Zeiss lens | film scans by Photovision
Sophia
10.02.15
My beautiful friend, Sophia, is expecting her third baby very soon. I’m so glad that I had the chance to shoot these before she and Aaron leave to move back to NM later this month. I’m going to miss her steadfast spirit and heart of gold. I love that we can crack up laughing one minute and then be talking about deep, serious stuff the next. She has been such a gift in my life.
Photos are a blend of digital and medium format film (Pentax 645n with Hasselblad Zeiss lens)
we did it!
09.04.15
“For what it’s worth…it’s never too late, or in my case, too early, to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit. Start whenever you want. You can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people who have a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.”
I’m wildly proud of Peter today… wildly proud of us. Five years ago we made the decision to close our cabinet business and take what seemed like a giant step backward – or maybe a blindfolded leap off a cliff, not sure which felt more accurate! – so that Peter could pursue his desire to become a medical provider. A lot of you know the story. In a nutshell, we downsized from a large house and successful cabinetry/woodworking business in Idaho to an airstream trailer for the summer with our two kids in tow. We then moved into a tiny 800 sq ft house in Spokane so Peter could begin paramedic school with the end goal of getting into the UW Medex program to become a PA.
It’s been an intense five years. Let me tell you: going back to school full time with kids is no easy task! Peter worked nights in the ER while going to paramedic school and did as many cabinet jobs on the side as he could. I filled my summers with weddings so I could to help put him through and support us. Our kids shared a teeny-tiny little space. We joked that if we had another baby it would have to sleep in a dresser drawer. Money was tight, extra time was non-existent, but our spirits were high. There’s something so compelling about setting off on a new adventure with the people you love. I wrote in my journal during that time that the difference between feeling discouraged and feeling challenged is hope. It can be the exact same situation, but with hope and a dream, it makes the tough times seem like stepping stones rather than insurmountable boulders.
I can’t even begin to recount the amazing stories and connections that have happened over the last five years. The right doors continually opened at just the right time. Peter barely squeezed into one pre-req class after another, was initially rejected for the PA program because of a lack of clinical hours but then they recalculated and accepted his application, the Medex branch in Yakima closed so they relocated us back to Spokane, and on and on. It’s confirmed in my mind that even if things seem stuck and impossible at the moment, another opportunity will be around the corner as long as you keep hustling and knocking and keeping the faith.
And now he’s done!
Standing here looking back, it does feel like we hiked over a mountain. I remember how daunting it felt on the other side. Not necessarily the years of school, but just the whole starting completely over. The 180* fork in the road. The letting go of the known to pursue a dream… but so worth it! I’m so glad that Peter was able to look at his life and realize that he wasn’t doing what he wanted to be doing long term. I’m glad he had the humility to admit it and to let go of the achviements he had in one area to start at the very bottom in another. That takes guts. He risked and worked hard and wasn’t afraid to fail a few times if necessary in order to get on the right path. He’s inspired me constantly! We have one shot at this thing called life. I want to live it fully. I want to risk and step out and dream and explore and fail and try something different. No regrets, no what-ifs.
There have been so many people who have inspired and encouraged us along the way. A huge shout out to all of you! To my awesome clients, THANK YOU! You’ve all meant so much to me and I can’t find the words to express how lucky I feel to have been able to work doing something I love while supporting my husband in his dream. To our friends – both the dear old ones and the new ones that we’ve made through this process – you are all the best! And most of all, to our awesome families… we would have been hard pressed to make it through without your love and support. We are so grateful.
From here, we’re just excited about what the future holds. We still hope to move overseas to do relief work at some point – that’s one of the biggest reasons why Peter wanted to go into the medical field. It’ll be exciting to watch more doors open in the coming years!