McConnell State Park
I needed to see the sun today so Valerie and I went on a hike at McConnell State Park. It was a bit hazy out, but we enjoyed watching birds swoop and dive, hawks twirl the skies, squirrels play and some fresh air. I love this park, it’s overgrown and interesting and almost creepy. Jasper came along for the walk and entertained the whole way. There is simply nothing funnier than a teacup chihuahua.
For a while I was able to forget about the recent loss of my Uncle Mike, and that was nice. It’s really been hard, grieving for a life lost so prematurely. I’m not thinking about it every moment anymore, but every few minutes I remember and it takes my breath away. I know it will get easier for me but I can’t imagine that being so for my cousins and their kids- and that hurts me just as much as our loss. It hasn’t been a good start to 2009 for me. But maybe great things are just around the trail.
You can see more photos from our walk here.
Rings
Wedding Photography
A few weeks ago I photographed my sixth wedding ever… a very quickly put together occasion for a special couple about to be split up in name of the defense of our country. It was the first time I got to photograph a sailor in his dress uniform- what I would have given for some daylight and a few more minutes to buff up my portfolio! Hee.
Michael & Karrie are an adorable young couple, so full of love and hope and dreams… and there isn’t anything more fulfilling for me to do with my time than help create memories for them to reflect on in 20 and 50 years time! I wish them lot’s of happiness together.
Things I learned from this shoot:
- It is important that guests at weddings should be asked nicely not to interfere with the photographer or try to take photos of the couple and bridal party at the same time as you are.
- It is important to have a list of exactly who gets photographed to rely on and to appoint someone in charge of getting all of those people (and JUST those people) together for the shoot and keep them in one place.
(I think I learned these lessons at the last wedding but just didn’t implement them perfectly.)
There’s always more to learn. 
Cake
From the quickie wedding I shot for a Navy couple on December 30th, 2008. Mmmm cake!
February Goals
Each month I make a list of the things I’d like to accomplish before the month is through. Usually I write it on my desk calendar but right now my desk calender is kind of buried in the mound of crap on my desk, so here goes:
1) Photograph my photo products and incorporate into site (and decide which site I want to use for my main store once and for all, foralwaysphotography.com or phaedraphotography.com! Your thoughts?!)
2) Renew business license
3) Put a few premade website designs up for sale on this domain
4) Photograph and offer for sale some of the jewelry I’ve made recently here and on Etsy
5) Develop my Freebies page (What would you like?!)
6) Finish my donated site for a local non-profit
I think I can come up with a few more ideas but I’m figuring this is enough for one month! Especially when I hope to book a few more photo shoots in February. I’m really having fun with photography and plan to focus as much as my attention as I have to give growing my clientele!
Engagement Photo Shoot
Sunday I had the pleasure and honor of photographing Brian and Tonya in celebration of their engagement. We traipsed through downtown Modesto, stopping to get fun shots along the way.
I grew up with Tonya but hadn’t seen her in a decade, so it was wonderful to catch up- and her fiance is such a great guy! I’m so happy for them both. You can see the rest of the session here. Thanks for looking and commenting if you see fit!
I can’t wait to shoot their wedding in mid-March!
<3 Phaedra
Abandonment Issues
This week has been intense, and for that reason I have abandoned development on this blog, the 365 day project I had been participating in at flickr.com, and pretty much everything except grieving and trying to lend a hand where I can. I plan on resurrecting all of my projects after the funeral service monday afternoon. Hopefully by then I can think something besides, “Oh my God!? How did this happen? Why Uncle Mike?!” and on and on.
It’s just awful when something so tragic as a stupid car accident steals a loved one with no warning, no explanation, no reason. The entire family is left wondering what we could have done to stop this, what we can do to get through it- what life will be like without him. I hate it for all of us. I really hate it for my cousins and their kids who were so close with their papa.
There is a obituary up here in case you want to know what the world is missing.
I went to the mortuary today to drop off some stuff and I can’t tell you how much I hated stepping foot through that door again. We’ve buried too many people these last two years. I can only hope and pray this is the last for a long while. And wish to God that we weren’t doing this now.
Back soon.
Love,
Phaedra
In memory of my Grandma & Uncle Mike
I can’t believe I’m writing this, it’s still so unreal to me- but we got the worst news today. My Uncle Mike has passed away unexpectedly. I’m going to miss him so much. He was the laughingest, kindest uncle in the whole world.
My grief cannot possibly touch that of Uncle Mike’s kids, grandkids. Please help me pray for them.
The last time I saw Uncle Mike he walked me to the car, laughing and chatting the whole way. He hugged me goodbye. I’m so grateful for that hug.
This photo was taken in late December in memory of my Grandmother. She passed away in the summer of ‘07 and family had this tree (center, with bow) planted in her memory. We visited her tree that day, and I took photos of all her kids together. Uncle Mike is in the back row, second to the last.
Weekend Bliss
17/365 – Weekend Bliss, originally uploaded by phae.
It was a nice Saturday. Spent the morning fiddling about, cleaned out the guest room in my parents house this afternoon… cuddled with the littlest and watched Survivorman this evening, then wrapped the day up with a book, some delish coffee with Baileys in it, my knitting and my cat in front of a fire. And I finally got to enjoy my most recently finished knit project, the throw on my lap.
And wow. My livingroom is REALLY yellow in the evening. Yellow walls, yellow tile, yellow fire = YELLOW. I like yellow, so that’s ok.
Hope you had a lovely Saturday!
- Phaedra
16/365 – Country Girl
16/365 – Country Girl, originally uploaded by phae.
There’s a saying that fits- you can take a girl out of the country, but not the country out of the girl. I’ve always been and I’ll always be a country girl at heart.
Farming and living in the country has been on my mind lately. This evening I went on a little field trip down the road to my friend’s parent’s squab farm. As I set up this shot I thought- ‘This is perfect. This is how I want to live.’
Now, if I can only convince my hubs to leave the suburbs. “More chores?” He’ll ask… “NO WAY!” He’ll say.
Ha.
What I Want
