What a great group of friends:)

On Wednesday, JT got a group of us together for lunch at the California PIzza Kitchen. I love hanging with other photographers and it's so funny because when I first started my business I had never dreamed that my closest friends would be in the same industry. Some of my closest friends are my "competition":-) Whatever that means:)

Here's a picture from the other day:) Thanks JT for the awesome lunch you sneaky boy:)

Can't wait to hang with you all tomorrow and all day Saturday:) JT is awesome and is going to go shopping with me and Janey. Then later on Shyla is driving up to hang with us and we are all going kayaking satuday afternoon and then a yummy sushi dinner that will follow. I am soooo excited I can hardly stay focused:) I love Kayaking!!!!!!!! wahooooooooooo, just don't tip me over because I'm afraid of sharks:)

Do you like engagement sessions?

I include engagement sessions in my package because I really like getting to know the couple before the actual day of their wedding. It's so funny because even before an engagement session I'm a little nervous, but once I see them I feel so much better. That extra day that I spent with my couple then leads to a wedding day where I'm not nervous and the couple is comfortable:) Everything becomes a piece of cake:) Right?:) LOL

So do you include engagement sessions in your package? Why or why not????????

Ok girls, I finally did it:)

I CAN'T BELIEVE I DID THIS:) Too funny!!! My girl friends are hilarious:) They are always bugging me to go on the Bachelor, and for those who don't know they are starting a new one pretty soon. My friend Nicky has been calling me, and everytime we are together she always reminds me that I need to submit an application for it. I always laugh because even if I did make it I'm sure I would be the first girl thrown off:)

Anyways, this morning I finally said fine, I'll do it:) Happy now:) LOL.................

That's what friends do:)

So tonight we had our Santa Barbara PUG (Pictage User Group) meeting. SInce our fearless leader David Jay was in Italy, he assigned me to be the temporary leader until he gets back:) I was a little nervous because I wanted everything to be PERFECT, since it always is when DJ is there. So I went over to his place a day early just to clean it and make sure everything was in order. However, I didn't get to finish everything that day so Janey called me today and said hey I'm gonna go with you and help get everything ready for today. It was sooooooo cute. Seriously, she didn't have to do that. Janey is one of those friends who is not only there through the good times, but the bad, ugly, and dirty:) LOL..... Even through hard times, she calls or comes over and just listens. It hit me today, sersiouly that's what friends do. They go out of their way to help their close friends, even when they are tired, and worn out. What's so crazy is Janey just flew in yesterday and is extremely tired I am sure but she still went out of her way, and I love that about her:)

Then there's JT, who is on vacation but right away started to take out trash and then started dusting. WOW, I'm impressed:) JT, I think you need to visit SB alot more:)

Bruce also helped out a lot. He is visiting from Arizona and right away he asked, what can I do. He was so nice and I really enjoyed talking to him and hearing about his business. We'll definitely have to chat some more tomorrow at lunch, can't wait:)

SO a big thank you to Janey, Jefferson Todd and Bruce for making our SB pug meeting so clean (LOL) and soooooo enjoyable:)

Anyways, the PUG meeting was soooo much fun. we got to look at the new Pictage proofs and then we all just hungout and talked about our businesses. We had like four new faces join our group, which was great and they were all sooooooo nice. I love our PUG group and I look forward to it every month. Can't wait for July!!!!!!

Going outside my comfort zone:)

Tonight I shot an evening engagement session and I had such a great time just hanging and laughing with Christian and Heather. Yes evening engagement sessions are challenging but it really made me think as a photographer and I had to go beyond my comfort zone. I was looking for every lighting oppertunity and really had to branch out.

I think as photographers we really should challenge ourselves as much as we can. It allows us to try something new and I know that when I go above and beyond what I normally do I always learn so much and the creative juices keep flowing:)

Here are a few:)

My kids

So I am back in SB and everytime I come back I always fall more and more in love with it. Idaho was beautiful and it's so funny because my mom always hints to me about moving out there. I thought about it for a while but soon realized at this time in my life I like the faster paced life. However, I do think that when I have kids I would like to raise them in the country. I was raised in the country and I loved every minute of it. Sleeping out side, building forts, making mud pies, the list goes on. My parents are very generous and they are giving both me and my sister 5 acres a piece. I would like to live most of the year in SB and then build a vacation house in Idaho where I would also plant a vineyard:) wahoooo!!!!!

So where would you like to raise your kids?

P.S. Here is a snap shot of my parents property that they just bought:)

Santa Barbara here I come

I have had such an amazing time in Idaho and yes it's going to be hard to say goodbye tomorrow, but I am very excited about going back to SB. I've been gone a lot lately and it will be nice to catch up on some things, hang with friends, and just be in Santa Barbara:)

So is it just me or do you all like going home as much as I do??????? When I am away I love it but when it's about time to go home I can't wait:)

The statement THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, is that really true??????!!!!:)

Idaho is beautiful

So I'm still in Idaho and having such a great time with my family. We are staying at a beautiful resort called Tamarack Lodge. There is so much to do here which is why I love it so much. Hike, swim, ride bikes, run, eat, relax, river raft, the options are endless.

Today we went river rafting and it was so nice, peaceful, fun, you name it. I really want to go on a five or four day river rafting trip. Who wants to go with me? Any takers????? Anyways it was hilarious because this huge wave knocked my friend James right into me during the worst part of the rapids and we both landed in the middle of the boat. I was very thankful that it didn't knock me out of the boat, that would have been pretty crazy. I don't have any pictures of the river rafting trip becasue my camera would have been ruined with all the water:( next time I need to get a water proof case for my camera:)

I'm serious, who wants to go with me????

P.S. I can't wait to get back to Santa Barbara:)

Hey Dad, I love ya:)

Happy Fathers day to all you fathers out there. Kinda sad because I don't get to spend fathers day with mine, but I get to see him tomorrow and I know he is soooooo excited. He is on his way to Boise Idaho, where we will meet him tomorrow. My dad is seriously the best dad ever and It's funny because he wanted two boys and instead he got two girls which he loves so much and would do anything for. We talk about it all the time and we realized that God gave him two girls for a reason, the reason being that he would have been way to hard on boys. With girls he had to be more gentle and sensitive to. I am seriously the most sensitive person on this earth and it's been good for the both of us to have each other:) Whenever I get to sensitive on occasion I'll get a "suck it up Amy". So if ever I get to sensitive just say "suck it up Amy" it works pretty well:) LOL

What I really love about my Dad is how he has been there through the good times and the bad, and that's what makes a father an amazing father. Growing up he poured his heart and soul into me and my sister and never once did I hear him say I'm to tired to play, or I wanna watch tv, or I'm playing video games. He was always wrestling with us, playing sports with us, and dancing with us. I think that's why to this day I love being outside and doing things. I know that when I have kids I am going to be the same way and I think it's a good thing don't you?

He is always so happy and positive, and is really the most friendly person that you will ever meet. When I look back he never was depressed or ever down except for when I left for school which took him a little bit to get over. Seeing me drive out of our driveway was really hard on him because at that moment he new that his little baby was growing up. It's so funny because he still calls me baby. I could go on and on but what I really want to say is that I love you with all of my heart and my cup runneth over. See ya soon!!!!!

Vacation with the family

So my family bought some property in Idaho and on Saturday I am flying out with my sister, mom, and the Miller family(our very close friends who I absolutely love) to meet my Dad and Mark Miller in Idaho. I am so excited!!!! I love traveling with this group because there is never a dull moment. We went to Italy with the Miller family and we had the best time. We are going to hike, run, river raft,laugh a lot, get massages and eat a lot of good food:) We fly out Sunday I think????? I better check the exact date. I am also meeting with a coordinator up at the Tamarak Lodge, which I am very excited about:)

So stay tuned for all the crazy pics................ I'll have my phone on me so don't worry, it won't be like Canada. I seriously had phone withdraws when I was gone last week:) LOL

Complimenting:)

So, I had someone come up to me tonight and say hey your hair has gotten really light. Soon after that someone else came up to me and complimented my hair color. I started to think, man my hair has been blond, black, dark brown and light brown, all in one year:) What color do you like? I also started to think how nice it feels to be complimented and I realized that I don't compliment people nearly enough. Really, doesn't it feel nice to be complimented???


BLOND:)



















BLACK:)



































DARK BROWN:)



































LIGHT BROWN:)

Love for weddings?????

I was working on my new website with my webdesigner/friend Brett (who is amazing by the way) and as we were working on it the question was asked, what is your favorite moment at a wedding. Seriously when I think about it so many moments come to mind. I could go on forever but I had to stop and try to narrow it down. It was really hard.........

So, I ask you, what is your favorite moment/time at a wedding?

Outdoorsy kinda girl:)

So this morning I decided to go on a run but before I went I asked Gary, "hey do you think it's safe to run by myself here in Kewlona". Of course he responded with his "I don't know" and then told me to watch out for Cheetahs and that I should run on the trail by the lake because it so beautiful. So here I am running to the most beautiful voice of Jeremy camp in beautiful Kewlona Canada and I start to think about what Gary had said and I start to laugh because he is such a dork. All of a sudden a dog starts running at me. I thought I was going to pass out but instead I screamed and the dog actually backed off. Then two seconds later another dog came at me so I screamed again jumped in the air and tapped him on the head with my foot. I seriously thought that I was going to loose a limb (which would have been the second time of almost loosing a limb while in Canada, LOL) but thanks to the owner she called her dogs and I ran away as fast as I could.

All I can say is there's never a dull moment in Canada:) Ok, gotta go because we are headed to the ranch to go riding on the four runners. What will happen next, nobody knows.....LOL.......

Next time I'm staying on the paved road instead of the little trail by the lake, thanks Gary:) LOL............

On a side note, thank you Gary and Melissa for inviting me up to Canada this week. I have had so much fun hanging with you guys and I am super sad to have to leave tomorrow. I love ya both:)

It's great to be alive and kicking:)

I'm still in Canada having the time of my life and yesterday we all went bowling and had such an amazing time. It was Gary's first time bowling and he did really good. But lets get down to the real reason for this post and it's because I beat DJ in bowling. At first it was all fun and games and then I saw that competitive look in his eye and I knew from that moment on that it was ON!!!!! I really had to control myself and not beat him to bad because I was afraid he would start to cry:) LOL.....

So, how does it feel to loose to DazzleAim???????? But seriously DJ a pink ball and that form how did you think you were going to win??????:)

On the screen you will see
Blondbombshell - which was Janey
Creampuff - DJ
Dazzle AIm - ME
Guttergirl - Kassandra


In the Photo starting from the left is
DJ, ME, Janey, Gary, Melissa, Keats, Kassandra, David:) You guys are the best and I am going to miss you all:)

Janey------- DON'T LEAVE:)

P.S. DJ took this pic......

P.S.

For those of you who are trying to get a hold of me this week, please send me an e-mail because I'm out of the country until June 12th. I won't have access to my phone until I return, but I will be answering my e-mails, so definitely send me an e-mail:)

I love Canada:)

Gary and Melissa invited me, Janey, and DJ to stay at their amazing lake house in Canada. We have only been here for one day and I feel like so many fun thing have happened:) I don't even know where to begin:)

One of the highlights was when Gary took us to his ranch that he just bought and it is absolutely amazing..... Picturesque is more like it. Missy showed us their beautiful log home and then right afterwards we took their four runner through the hills. I let Janey drive and I held on for my dear life. Actually I felt super safe with her driving, except when she yelled tree, that scared me a bit. But hey we're still alive and kicking:)

here is a picture of Janey and I having the time of our lives on the four runner. We tried to act like Gary, so we were yelling weeeeeeeeeeeee really loud when we were riding the bike:)

Oh, I had to grab this picture of DJ. He says he doesn't like the phone, but I saw his face light up evertime it would ring:) LOL

More tomorrow:) Night..............

Christian and Heather=super cute:)

On Saturday I photographed Christian and Heather's engagement session. After spending the morning with them I became very excited to shoot their wedding. They truly are the nicest couple and so much fun to be around.



Here's the slideshow:)