I have some incredibly beautiful and talented friends. Loved this day and I look forward to more. Check out Nichole, Julia, Tonhya, and Chantal’s work ASAP.

In an age when “anyone can be a photographer”, I’m not immune to the overwhelming amount of talent that surrounds me on every street corner and every other mouse click on the Internet. It’s inspiring and intimidating and frustrating all the time.

My photography defines my perspective, but my art, my passion, my vision—whatever you want to call it—is forever evolving.

I question everything, all the time, but I have always been certain about one thing… I just didn’t recognize it until Friday.

I am driven by moments.
Emotion.
An image that is both art and chemistry, intertwined.

Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ve expressed this as well as I should. I tell stories and I blog images. I hope for comments and likes on Facebook. But I’m left unfulfilled. Not by my job or by my clients, but by my own self-inflicted desire for praise or approval. I love what I do, no matter what kind of response I receive and that’s the honest truth. But I’ve conditioned myself to believe I need the approval of my peers, my mentors, and I think I finally have the strength to stop.

Stop looking.
Stop comparing.
Stop checking and re-checking my Facebook page.
Stop, just stop.

Things may change around here. Updates may be fewer. But my heart is telling me it’s ready for more. Ready to live a life based on what makes me happy, and not one that grants me more likes, follows, or any other false sense of entitlement.

It’s time to unplug and reconnect with what’s directly in front of me.

In Seattle, “slow season” is almost over for photographers. For me, things slowed down a little but never quite to a full stop. So early last week, after finishing the last thing I had left to deliver, I put a call out in the Twittersphere for anyone “itching to go somewhere” to take photos “for the shear joy of it.” My friends Ryan and Amber jumped on board and the four of us drove east of the Cascades to enjoy the cool tones of Vantage, Washington. The boys did their own thing while Amber and I took way too many photos of each other. Amber was inspiring, with a serious case of “eye fire” and wind ripping through her hair. I can’t tell you how refreshing it was to be in a new environment, taking photos just because. It reminded me of what I love about photography and why I decided to make it my career.

I’m looking forward to doing this again… and again… and again…

All images taken on D700, 35/f1.4, 85/f1.4 AI-S, and 45T-S/f2.8.

San Francisco, CA.

Finally got around to posting a few of the images I took while we were in San Francisco this summer. When it comes to wind, San Fran’s got it down to an art. On top of being a great trip, VSCO was pretty awesome too. Mostly, for the chance to meet so many amazing photographers in one place.

I’ve got weddings to share, but I’m waiting to hear from some wedding blog publications to get back to me first… Coming soon.

We barely took any digital photos while we explored San Francisco. Instead we futzed around with my old Nikon F3 and assortment of AI-S lenses. The 50mm ended up giving us an odd dark band on some of the slides, but I actually liked the imperfection of it. I may have to get the shot of the Golden Gate bridge printed off huge…

San Francisco, CA.

We just flew in about 30 minutes ago. I am wiped. But really excited about the next few weeks and the amazing experience I had at the Visual Supply Company workshop. More to come.

Pasadena, CA.

Kristen Marie is one of my favorite Seattle photographers and has become a wonderful friend of mine. I was lucky enough to join her in California to assist on a gorgeous wedding there (I haven’t blogged it yet, but I will). The day before the wedding, we walked around the city of Pasadena and took some photos. Check out her work. It’s beautiful.

Walla Walla, WA.

I get pretty ridiculous at weddings. The fact is, I love photographing them and when cigars are getting passed around, I’m not gonna pass on the opportunity to celebrate with everyone else. Simple as that.

Thanks to Ali Walker for this “incriminatingly awesome” frame and for having me along this past weekend. The wedding was bomb and I can’t wait for you to see the magic Ali created.

If you’re not a dog lover or even a “dog person”, you’re really missing out on a lot of love. The purest kind.

These photos were taken a couple days after my sister’s family found out sweet “Rudy”, the dog she’s had since college and the “man in her life” before she was ever married or a mother, was diagnosed with bone cancer. Yesterday, he went home and we all miss him so much already. He was a comedian and a sweet soul. My family has been in the “animal business” for nearly two decades, so we’ve never really taken our pets for granted. We’ve owned and loved some of the greatest dogs to ever walk the earth. I hate it when people roll their eyes at someone who mourns the death of their dog. They just don’t get it, so I feel bad for them. Because dogs like “Rudy” gave love every single day of his life without fail. How many of us can say that about our own lives? Trust me—No one can.