expectations, hopes, wants.

I want to reach out and help people with words, introduce sentences, sentences that give meaning.


Expect constant posts.

a photograph is memory in the raw.

Meet Arianne.


Who is Arianne? A talented, inspirational, devoted, and passionate photographer. She's got the biggest heart and the greatest talent out of everyone I know, I hope to pursue photography and have just a fraction of her talent. My motivation for this blog? Lola had a photo shoot today, her photographer was Arianne. The photographs turned out wonderful, the experience was great, and I have pictures to last me forever. She does everything from weddings to birthdays to graduations to pets to senior. I'm not sure there's anything she can't succeed at, I am not sure I know anyone as talented as her that still maintains such humbleness and awareness of others. Anyways, here is a short interview I did with her.


What inspired you to get into photography?
I started taking pictures when I was 12, my parents got me a camera for a birthday gift. I went through a roll of film a week on friends. Then as I got older my friends started having children and then I would practice with them, and started advertising on myspace, my first customer was a 1st birthday and she LOVED my work. since then shes come back three times in two years. That's when I went from hobby to fulfilling my passion; making memories for people.


What is your motivation?
I guess when people tell me that I captured their child's innocence. They take pictures but they never get the same results, compliments and praise are my motivation.


What separates you from other photographers?

I'm creative! I don't rush anyone, I let the family warm up, if the kids are hungry we take a "snack break", if you want to change clothes 5 times, I have no problem with it. I am all about the experience and making you comfortable, its not JUST a business transaction.



Do you have any goals with your photography career or are you just taking it as it comes? What are your goals?
My goal is get a studio within three years. My goal was to start a business within five years. That was two years ago. Since then I've built relationships with 30+ families, puppies and even Jerry Lewis! Ohh and Uncle Kracker and Michelle Williams, (i think that's her name, she's country, used to be wiog material)...is that her name?



Michelle Branch? You've photographed Jerry Lewis, Uncle Kracker, AND Michelle Branch?
Yes I used to work at wiog, oldies, wheelz and z93.



Okay, last but not least, if you could photograph anyone who would it be?
Triplets or quadruplets as newborns. I love newborns. Or maybe someone famous, like Drew Barrymore or maybe Cameron Diaz when they have babies. OR even better I would love to take pictures for a baby, child, or family that may have only a photograph as their last memory of their sick family member.


To see Arianne's work and schedule your photo shoot today, visit her website here.

old habits die hard.

A New Year's Resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous. The name comes from the fact that these commitments normally go into effect on New Year's Day and remain until fulfilled or abandoned.

With that being said I am going to do something I have never done, and that is make a New Year's Resolution, or two, you can do the same, feel free to leave your resolutions as a comment. : )


1. I vow to reserve at least an hour a day for my reading. My book collection is already extensive and is constantly growing, I will never be ahead of the game if I don't make sure I have book time reserved for myself.

2. I vow to pay it forward by giving one person a compliment daily, whether it be a stranger, a relative, a friend, or a coworker, one small thing can brighten someones day, and in turn they may brighten another's.

3. I vow to have at least one day/night a month be entirely devoted to my little brother. I am missing out on his adolescence and I hardly see him as much as I would like.

4. I vow to learn something new, to step out of my comfort zone. I am leaning towards a tango dance class with a friend, interested in being my tango partner? Comment. : )

5. Last but not least I vow to pursue photography. It's something I enjoy, good or not. I like to capture people in there most vulnerable moments, in the midst of laughter, tears, shock, happiness, and to have that ability to do so and to reveal to someone how beautiful they are in their most raw state of emotions is extraordinary.


comment, comment, comment. : )

p.s
I apologize for the delay in new posts, its the holidays, work is chaotic, and I got a new puppy.




p.s.s
take the poll. : )

green is the new black.

Going green, its what's "in" right now and its better for you. Living Green is all about taking actions that are not only good for the planet, but good for your wallet, which in this economy we can ALL use. So I am going to give some simple tips on how you can go green.


1. Only buy locally grown produce. The fruit or vegetable you're about to buy may be great for you, but if you traveled thousands of miles to get to your local grocery store then it's not great for the environment. Plus, buying locally means your purchase will support local farmers.

2. Fill your bottle with tap water as opposed to repurchasing bottled waters. The plastic isn't good for the environment. (I bet you didnt know that Americas demand for water bottles requires 1.5 million barrels of oil ANNUALLY, which can fuel up to 100,000 vehicles for an entire YEAR)

3. Skip out on the paper and plastic when grocery shopping and take your own reusable bag. Visit here to purchase your very own reusable bag.

4. Bike or walk to work, your wallet will expand, its healthier for you, and its less air pollution.

5. Carpool.

6. Recycle. Population is dense and landfills are scarce, recycling is a must. The average person creates 4.5 pounds of trash per day. Think how much is going into the landfills if you are not re-cycling.

7. Don't eat meat. I am not saying become a vegetarian but cut back on the meat consumption. If you cut back on eating meat you can help to prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer. This act alone can save you a boatload of money in future medical costs, not to mention, maybe just MAYBE save a little cows life.

8. Move away from plastic food storage containers. Americans have a high dependency on plastic, plastic is a non biodegradable material, so save money and protect your health buy using glass containers.

9. Do laundry only when you have a full load.

10. Take shorter showers.

11. Plant a tree. Trees suck up carbon dioxide and make clean air for us to breathe. Save 2,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide per year.

12. Don't leave the water running while you brush your teeth.

Don't think that you can go without doing these, the more people that go green the better off we are, even if all we do is make a dent, a dent is better than nothing at all.

wish list.

Christmas will be here in a month, how crazy. Anyways, to go along with everything Christmas I am going to make my wish list. Feel free to borrow a few of the items I am wishing for for yourself. =]

Iron Fist Flats
Crazylilbellule & The Poppies Shanghaijava Collection

An Abundance of Katherines

Thirteen Reasons Why
Definitely Maybe

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

The Nightmare Before Christmas Collectors Edition
Acoustic Guitar
Twilight Soundtrack

Wii Fitness

Broadway Chair

Ugg Slippers

Make Up Brush Case and Set
Luggage
Cube Picture Frame

It's small but practical. And I would be happy if I got these items. =]

oh twilight.

I am guilty as charged. I definitely jumped on the Twilight bandwagon. Tonight was the premiere of Twilight, anxious as ever to see it I bought tickets to the midnight showing. If you've seen the previews this film is really nothing like it portrays, but I guess film trailers have always been propaganda. Book lovers, especially lovers of the Twilight series are loyal, they stay true to the book, and anything left out or not portrayed in the way they pictured will end up in bad reviews. But lets face it, when reading a book one becomes engrossed in it, it' s an escape, you imagine the characters, the location, the facial expressions, it becomes yours. This fact in itself destroys the potential a film based on a book might have, because as readers we will never be satisfied. Shall I continue with my critique of the film?

Twilight. Hmmph. It was interesting, engaging, and tacky. I am not familiar with the director, but he/she needs more experience before releasing a film claiming to be the "film of the year." The dialogue was awkward, camera angles unflattering, and the acting was slightly forced. Kristen Stewart, the female actress that played Bella was an extraordinary actress, and I knew she was going to be before stepping foot into the cinema. (She had a role in a film called 'Panic Room' with one of my favorite actresses, Jody Foster, and she kicked ass) Edward Cullen, otherwise known in reality as Robert Pattinson, was mediocre. I am not familiar with his work but the acting in the beginning was comical without the intention of being so. I guess he did his main role in the film, which was to stand there and be gorgeous, the 15 year olds I was surrounded by got a kick out of that.


The second scene in the film with Bella speaking with Jacob Black is enough to make a frequent movie goer CRINGE. It is forced, awkward, and painful to watch. Not long after Bella walks into her Biology class, her first "encounter" with Edward and the scene proceeds in slow motion as a fan blows through her hair. To me, that is a joke, unless you are creating a spoof/spinoff there is no need for tacky cliches, a cliche that doesnt fit with the seriousness of the film, that almost makes you want to walk out of the theater right then, so what is really intriguing about this film? What makes us want to go see it? What stood out on the previews? Why will this be a blockbuster for the next few weeks at least? Two simple words. Edward Cullen.

a walk down memory lane.

Lets play a game. Pick one of the greatest memories you have and leave it in a comment. They can be from when you were young, recently, or just something completely random, those tend to be the best. I'll start, but I am going to pick four memories, just to get the ball rolling.


Okay, my first memory would have to be when I was singing with my adorable little brother, Chaz, he's not so little anymore because he's twelve. I had my camera, and he took it from me and said "lets do something." I was taken aback but inquired and he said, lets make a video. This is when I turned on the radio and realized it was Chris Brown's "Kiss Kiss." The video is on my myspace and I still laugh when I watch it. You can watch it here. I can be myself with him and even lose my mind for a second, and that I will forever be grateful for.




Okay, memory number two will be my third trip to Cedar Point. Don't let the multiple visits to this theme park fool you, I HATED roller coasters, I hated the smells of this place, and I hated waiting in line in Michigans unpredictable weather. This all changed at the end of my senior year when four amazing friends persuaded me into coming with them. I was hesitant, but played it cool for most of the ride, that was until we pulled up to the park and my heart dropped into my stomach and I declared to them that I would wait in the car until they were done. They were having none of this, that I thank them for. They got me over my fear of roller coasters, brought me out of my shell, and to this day I love cedar point. I guess it took going with four patient and wonderful friends for me to realize this. (Thank you Randi, Britt, Linds, and Becky.)




Memory three is very cliche but I'm doing it anyways....graduation. I had a permanent smile the whole time, I did it, all the hard work, the tears, the laughter, the sweat, the getting up at the crack of dawn finally paid off. It was a wave of emotions but all I did was smile. It was a proud, breathtaking, and scary moment in my life, but it will forever be one of my favorite memories.




And last but not least my fourth memory would have to be my first year at college. It's kind of a big memory, so I will keep this as short as possible. It only lasted a year, but thats for personal reasons, but what makes this so special to me is the people I met, the places I went, the laughs I had, the tears I had, the fights I had, and most of all learning who I was. I wouldnt trade that first year for anything, I want it all for myself, the ups AND the downs. The people I met and the relationships I formed with those people were amazing, and the people I still talk to are some of my best friends. So with that, Central is my memory.





Okay, now that I shared a very tiny piece of me I want you to leave one of your favorite memories in a comment, or more than one memory, I'm not picky. : )