Bathtime

Can you even stand it! I think this is the stage that everyone has a panic attack after buying a puppy and not believing they are going to get through the puppy stage. Is it too early to bring Cesar to my house. I think I will write him a note and it will go a little something like this.....
Dear Cesar - Thank you for all the amazing advice on how to become a pack leader and be the boss of our dog. It is going really well I think...she barks, growls, bites and shits all over the place. If this is what you were talking about in having a well-balanced dog, I think it is working;) I can't wait to see what the toddler and teenager years hold for me. No, really it is going as well as can be expected with a puppy this age (9 weeks). In her calm-submissive times of the day, she is the most loving dog ever, but in her hyper times, we are pretty sure that she is the spawn of the devil himself! I am in constant check of my energy and what I am giving off, and I am realizing, I am not as calm as I have always thought I was. Apparently I have been bestowed with such a gift as Cesar Millan...He is the "Dog Whisperer", as am I....but, my energy apparently whispers to them, to be defiant, crazy and down right psycho most of the time:) We love you Keeta and I am sure that one day I will look back and just remember the sweet puppy breathe.....right before I smelt the steaming pile of pooh on my carpet!

Reflection

Here is a look into my ego and my heart...


Many times you have read on here about my photog. playdates. Well, this is one that I did with my friend, Amy Hall the other week. We went to check out a warehouse that her friend owns and she wanted to get some tips on photography. As I handed her my camera to take shots of me while I explained photo tips to her, I was reminded of a day that a woman did the same for me. I could hear the excitement in her voice and the fire in her eyes as she held my camera and it was hard to tell if it was her or a reflection of me. The woman that sparked that desire in me was Joyce. She handed me her camera and studio, gave me a couple quick instructions on how not to ruin the camera (one of the first digital) and threw me into the trenches. I was hooked ever since and I learned as fast as I could and networked as much as I could. I put a lot of ridiculous hours into every aspect of every choice I made in photography and it was a very personal journey. I realize that my passion is contagious and that is why I am going back to my roots of why I originally got into photography in the first place. When I watch people become "professional" photographers around me, there is a flare up of the ego. I feel like one of the good ol' boys I have talked about in the past. I feel my competitive edge coming on and I don't like the emotions attached to the thoughts going on in only my head. After a long, hard look at myself these last few months and especially after this shoot, I was forced once again to shed another layer of my ego and go to the root of the emotions. I am so excited for all those around me that find joy in pictures. I want every mother to be comfortable with their cameras so that they can take a properly exposed picture of those moments they never want to forget. It's never been about clients to me or the number at the end of the year (all the things that rate you as successful or not in the photog world). I have always been about the journey and spreading as much knowledge to any that ask. I don't want to let the competitave edge on the business side to take me over again. So this leads me to the much anticipated announcement of a class for anyone that just wants to hear about my journey, or pick my brain, or start a business for that matter. I will release details soon and I hope to make it more of a class series, rather then a workshop. I hope to continue inspiring others to take photos and teach them, as I always say "to take the emotion out of it, and get paid":) I look forward to many more playdates with all of my friends so that we can continue to inspire, and push each other to be the best we can be and to help each other on our very separate paths. Thank you Amy for making me feel beautiful since the day I met you. You have the gift to make others feel special and now you are going to rock their worlds by creating a picture to go with the emotions you instill.Man, did you ever help me feel sexy that day (even though it was 20 degrees in there)...just what the doc ordered:) To Amanda and Aaron....for coming onto my path in the most unintrusive, delicate way. You hang out with me any given day and flow with the family as if you have been in it forever. You continue to inspire me with your lives more than I could ever teach you.Thank you Cindy for the shirt that makes me smile everytime I look at it. You bring a smile to my heart that is engraved forever. And to the girl that continues to inspire me daily. I have been so blessed to be able to observe your path and jump on it every once in a while. I am so thankful for you in my life and all that you bring to it. Thanks Shamone.To all of my friends that I haven't mentioned because I didn't have pictures handy...you know who you are and I love you. Go out and inspire someone!

Twin Bliss

These little twins have a special place in my heart. I have photographed them once before and they were amazingly sweet. But, what I really love about them is that their Mom "gets me". The twins are sensitive to new surroundings and they like to warm up and get comfy before they agree to get photos taken;) I just love to sit back and watch Kristen interact and gaze at her babies. She is so in love and in awe of her two little loveys and I love to try and capture those special moments in the studio that they don't know are happening. Easier said then done in the studio with the strobes going off all the time. That's why I take hundreds so that they just think that they are at a disco and not bothered by the flashing lights:) Their smiles melt me and I am blessed that they let me see through that window of love. Thank you Kristen for believing in my talent and for brightening my soul with 'L' and 'N's beautiful smiles and laughs .

Peace

I was hoping that bringing a dog into our life would bring a couple different things. I wanted it to be my constant reminder and teacher on how to master staying in the moment. I wanted the kids to get a taste of responsibility of having a pet. I wanted her to bring more love into the home and lastly, making walks a new constant in my life.

What I didn't expect.....that Cesar Millan's book would come into my life and affect me as much if not more than "A New Earth" and all the other self help books I have read. He believes that dogs are brought into our life to specifically teach us something that we are needing or missing. Well, let me tell you what she has brought to my life in just 2 short weeks. Whenever I get blazing mad at her for biting or defecating in the house, I have to check my energy. She feeds off my energy and she knows when I am high strung. This will help me be more conscious of stress (the #1 feeder of my disease). She takes a lot of naps, she eats raw and healthy, she NEEDS exercise and above all, she needs LOVE. What am I trying to say here? Keeta is bringing me peace. She is teaching me all sorts of daily lessons that not only making me a better person, but also a stronger parent (a parent to my kids, not her). Yes, I have had a dog before, but it wasn't the right time, clearly not the right breed for our chill family, and Cesar wasn't in my life then. I am happy, I am walking everyday (as far as a puppy can go), I am playing V-ball again, and each day I get mentally stronger. All this is helping me in the larger picture of my life....putting my body at peace. Now don't go running out to get a dog, for God's sake.....just know that if it is the right time and the right dog, they just may help you shed another layer of that ego of yours and you may just learn something more about yourself. Thanks (not so little Keeta):) Everyone keeps asking why we picked a Great Dane....I think she picked us and there was a higher hand in the mix of this;)