I am a dreamer.

And a firm believer that we should chase down those dreams. Like a wild animal. Like your life depended on it.

Because it does.

At least it does for me.

Because it breaks my heart to not live my dreams.

But to chase dreams is risky too. The looming failure. The doubt. That little voice in your head that says, ‘you won’t make it.’

But you will. You WILL make it. Even if you fall short of your goal.

Why?

Because you did what many would not or could not or even dared to dream of.

But you did. You dared. You tried. You fought tooth and nail.

And it’s scary. I know the fear. The crushing, overwhelming fear. The moments of defeat when things didn’t turn out just as I had planned. The moments of kicking myself when I was down and telling myself I should’ve done ‘x, y, z’ differently. The avalanche of ‘if only’ thoughts.

But all of those dark moments are worth going through to live my dreams.

To live YOUR dreams.

So get out there. Take a risk. Channel the inner wild animal and chase those dreams.

I found these fun and inspring quotes over on pinterest – here.

When not photographing a wedding, boudoir or commercial project…You can still find me with a camera in hand, usually an iphone, using one of my all time photo apps – instagram. The convenience of using my iphone to document the everyday happenings of my life was a breath of fresh air. Which up until recently was as if those simple yet precious moments didn’t exist. Which is a shame. Because it’s the everyday simple moments that make up most of my life. Find me on instagram - here.

Although I adore instagram and all the fun filters, I wanted just a bit more control.

And then I found the charming $0.99 app called VSCO CAM.

OHMYGOSH.

OHMYGOSH.

OH.

MY.

GOSH.

I love this app. It gives you the ability to take a very digital looking iphone image and make them look more like film. Something I love especially with me falling back in love with the stuff. And for the most part the filters are subtle, not super in your face like – ‘HEY! Look at me! I’m a filter!’ Just a nice enhancement.

This app also gives a lot of options when editing your photo outside of their 10 preset filters. Some of the adjustments that can be played with are, exposure, contrast, vignette, saturation, grain, just to name a few. Or, you can run your image through one of the presets and then further tweak it to your liking using those additional options. All very fun

Here are a few recent images using my iphone and then editing it with VSCO CAM.

When not immersed in iphoneography I like to mix it up with the fun and addictive 6 second video app called Vine. Vine is ridiculously fun. It allows you to capture a fun snippet of life, by either recording a smooth continuous clip or my favorite way, to record in chunks with different angles to tell a 6 second story. Most of which are of my dogs…I’m sure I will graduate onto more subjects as I keep playing with the app.

Finally, to wrap up todays Monday Mashup post – churros, strawberries and polaroids. Technically they are polaroids of churros and strawberries, but those two food items deserve merit all to themselves. On a recent trip to Costco (which I have a love/hate relationship with) I picked up 5lbs of strawberries. I remember thinking there is no way I can finish all these…But it’s not like they have smaller sizes at Costco…Not to mention they smelled like pure berry perfection. So, I caved.

When it comes to churros, the warm, cinnamon/sugary, deliciousness that they are –  I just can’t say no.. Plus, you’ve probably never seen someone sad or angry while eating a churro, because it is impossible not to be anything, but utterly happy while eating one.

Happy Monday! Go eat some churros!

While taking a break and grabbing a bite to eat the other day I opened up Danielle LaPort’s “Fire Starter Sessions.’ Which my dear friend Bria let me borrow. For some reason I am reading this book out of order. Picking and choosing chapters and pages as I see fit. As I was thumbing through and I ran across her 18 Questions to ask yourself. Which inspired me in creating this blog post  :)

1. What do you know to be true, unquestionably beyond a doubt, certain with every cell of your being, completely, righteously certain?

Beyond a doubt, certain with every cell of my being – My love for Milan and his love for me. The world could collapse tomorrow, but as long as he was by my side, everything would be okay.

 

2. What was the dumbest thing that you used to believe in? What changed your mind?

That I couldn’t make a living doing what I love. I thought I should take the safe road. Be a teacher, then it was lawyer, then back to teacher. Because those were ‘safe careers.’ Then I thought I could be a graphic designer, it’s creative and it’s safe. I mean who doesn’t need advertising made or logos, I told myself. When all I wanted to do my whole life was be a photographer. That’s it. I had no idea how that could ever be a career. Even though my heart ached for it. And even though I was working as a photographer at another studio. I didn’t know how I could ever make it work.

Silly me.

What changed my mind was Milan’s support and belief in me paired with a blessing in disguise. I was working as a graphic designer for a local dot com and was laid off. I was heartbroken, as I loved the people I worked with and the company as a whole. Turns out getting laid off was the kick in the pants I needed to make my photography career happen.

And now four going on five years later – here I am. Doing the thing I never thought possible.

 

3. What do you know the most about?

Probably no surprise, but photography. It is both my career and my hobby. People ask me all the time, ‘what do you do when you’re not taking pictures?’ Honestly? I keep taking pictures. I love expanding my creative vision. Growing as an artist. And the best way to do so is with personal projects. So, when I’m not photographing for a client, I’m out photographing for myself.

And while I don’t know everything about photography and never will as art, in any form, is a constant journey and not a destination. I wish there was a less cliche way to say it, but it’s true.

 

4. Why do you do what you do?

When photographing for clients – I do what I do because I love connecting with others. Learning about them and then capturing who they are in a photograph. I love showing them how truly beautiful they really are.

When photographing for personal projects – Self expression. Photography is my outlet. My way to communicate to the world.

5. One word : breakthrough. What comes to mind?

Hitting a wall and breaking through. Seeing that nothing is impossible. And now I have the Doors, ‘Break on Through (To The Other Side) stuck in my head…

 

6. What has been one of your most memorable experiences in your career?

Documenting a birth story. There is so much emotion going on. It’s a feeling that is beyond words.

 

7. What global policy, credo, practice, or law would you like to decree?

Ice cream and marshmallows for everyone!!! Seriously. Who could be upset when eating either of those things?

 

8. What experience tested your mettle, but made you a better person?

About a year ago I injured a disc in my low back. Which by the way I don’t recommend….It was extremely painful and is an injury that takes a minimum of 9 months to heal with doing physical therapy, exercise and going to the chiropractor. The whole experience taught me patience and to appreciate my health.

 

9. Finish this sentence : “It’s a good day when…”

It’s a good day when…Milan and I take a leisurely hike through nature, with our two dogs running wild and ridiculously happy just before sunset. I take pictures. We talk. We laugh. Come back and enjoy a home cooked meal. It’s simple. But I love it so very much.

 

10. When was the last time you thought, ” Yes! That person has so got it going on!”?

Ryan Gosling. Did you mean like, ‘Oooh, that person has got it goin’ on girrrllll!’ Cuz that’s how I interpreted it

 

11. What question in your life has had the biggest impact on you?

What’s for dinner. Okay, so that wasn’t a very deep response… Honestly, it would be, ‘What do you want to do for a living?’ As I talked about in question one.

 

12. What are you positively addicted to?

Several things. And in no particular order…Marshmallows, Milan, and the Creative Process.

 

13. What’s the best advice you were ever given in terms of business?

Do what you love and the money will follow.

 

14. What’s the most common life advice that you could give to your friends?

See above.

 

15. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word devotion?

Dedicated to Milan and our life together.

 

16. What are you most interested in?

Food, photography and travel.

 

17. What are you incredibly grateful for?

I am incredibly grateful for so many things. My grandparents who were the first to show me what unconditional love is. Sammie and Olive for their spirit and always making me laugh. To Milan who truly believes in me. You can read more about what I am grateful for in these posts – here and here.

 

18. What’s your form of service to the world?

Giving people a tangible and authentic representation of their love via photographs. Of who they are in this moment right now. So that they can look back years from now and see just where their story began.

Now it’s your turn! Take one of your favorite questions from above and answer it in the comments below. Tell me I’m not the only one who would answer #10 with Ryan Gosling