galactic dec-a-dance

the arts factory is hosting a new year's eve party tomorrow night. i won't be there, but it looks super cool.   

go here for more info

winter in southern california

is different than winter in minnesota.

photo taken at a baker, ca gas station

permission to flirt

funny story: i received a voicemail recently from someone wanting me to photograph a party he was hosting. he made me a very low offer, but told me that in exchange for the discounted rate, he would let me take part in the festivities and "hit on the male guests." that last part made me laugh.

have a joyous christmas!

the most charming little holiday video. enjoy.
originally found here

gift idea #12

the most you can give someone is a part of yourself. there is no substitute for offering your time by serving another person. and every single person has something to offer. for example, i could never offer singing lessons. however, i could teach someone to draw or organize their closet. 

#12: any service

last year's gift idea

merry christmas eve!

gift idea #11

even as a little girl, i enjoyed looking through the national geographic magazines we had in our home. i mainly just wanted to see the photos, but as i've gotten older, the articles have become equally as interesting. by reading them, i feel more in touch with what is going on throughout the world, not just the united states. 

#11: subscription to the national geographic 

last year's gift idea

go red

one of my clients works for the american heart association and is asking for donations for an upcoming silent auction. if any of you would like to donate money or a professional service, let me know and i'll shoot you an email with more information.

gift idea #10

it's the little things that count. my sister came back from a trip and brought me back a camera keychain because she's a sweetheart like that. anyway, i love it. i've had a few people ask if it is real. unfortunately, it is not. it would be great if it were because camera gear is heavy! 

this little bad boy even flashes.

#10: small and thoughtful gifts

last year's gift idea

do you like my shirt?

in case it's hard to see, there is an ornament hanging from a christmas tree saying, "somebody save me!! help me down from here!!"

if i were an ornament, i would want to get down too.

i just realized

that sos radio has been playing commercial-free christmas songs all season long. i've been listening to 106.5 and 105.7 for my christmas song fix, but now my radio is tuned to 90.5. i just can't deal with the same commercials over and over and over. i think i can recite that chase commercial verbatim.  

gift idea #9

my friends and i donated blood last week and after we were done, they gave us each vouchers to enjoy a free hot air balloon ride. it's been ages since i've been in one, but i thought, "what a great gift idea!" it's certainly not something that we do everyday and think of all the rad photo opportunities from hundreds of feet in the air. i'll have to remember to bring my camera. 

#9: a hot air balloon ride!

last year's gift idea

photo swiped from web

gift idea #8

this is my lifeline. i constantly have it with me and i'm constantly looking through it and writing in it. i don't know how people survive without one because it has become another appendage for me. my mom gave me a new 2010 planner a couple months ago and i am beyond excited to start using it. trust me, a planner can change the course of your life. 

are you sold yet?

#8: planner

last year's gift idea

gift idea #7

i love sleeping in these. i bought mine (bright blue!) at wal-mart, but you can find them almost anywhere.

#7: jersey sheets

last year's gift idea

gift idea #6

for the person who has everything, i bet they don't have these: 

#6: custom playing cards

at the kodak website, you can personalize a pack of playing cards. how cool is that? ideally you would give these to someone who actually plays card games; otherwise, they'll sit on a shelf along with the other dusty knick-knacks. in this town, though, a card player shouldn't be hard to find.

last year's gift idea (this is a great one)

gift idea #5

#5: the greatest christmas decoration ever!

i'm not even sure where/if you can buy this, but i think it's hilarious. the man hanging from the roof is the christmas decoration. the hanging string of lights and fallen ladder also contribute to the realism of this decoration. neighbors and passersby would probably have a heart attack driving by, so maybe this is better in theory. or on candid camera.

last year's gift idea

thanks for the idea, heather

gift idea #4

Women Are Beautiful. we don't need a book to tell us that, but that is the title. it's a great gift for anyone who appreciates women. thus, it's a book for nearly everyone! 

#4: women are beautiful by garry winogrand

Winogrand [the photographer and author of the book] explained why he chose to photograph these particular women: “I respond to their energies, how they stand and move their bodies and faces. In the end, the photographs are descriptions of poses or attitudes that give an idea, a hint, of their energies.” He goes on to say: “I don’t know if all the women in the photographs are beautiful, but I do know that the women are beautiful in the photographs.”

buy it here

last year's gift idea

gift idea #3

#3: madonna's new album, celebration

this album has almost all her hits and a couple new tracks i really like: "revolver" and "celebration." i've been jammin' to it for the last few days.

last year's gift idea

gift idea #2

#2: bloomsberry chocolate

i appreciate clever things. especially clever chocolate. i haven't actually tasted this particular brand of chocolate (i'm on a no sugar kick at the moment), but i've heard it's good. check out their website. it's pretty neat. 

last year's gift idea

gift idea #1

#1: violet candy 

even though this has been around for ages, i was recently introduced to it when i stopped by a boulder city candy shop. the packaging peaked my interest so i bought a pack and i liked it. they taste like edible violets. they also smell good. 

p.s. if you're poor like me, this is a gift in and of itself. otherwise, it's more of a stocking stuffer.

last year's gift idea

since you're not technically "working"

you can do whatever you want to your coworkers during the holiday work party. that's the general rule, right?

what the world really needs is more love and less paper work.

casey and shoshana were such a pleasure to photograph. they were open to everything and came with a few ideas of their own. they met each other several years ago through mutual friends and well...now they're engaged and set to be married next year (in mexico no less!) they make a wonderful team and i can't wait to see what their future holds.  

p.s. shoshana just became a full-fledged lawyer here in las vegas. if anyone needs a lawyer, now you know who to call.

p.p.s. i adore this tangerine-colored wall. 

who: casey and shoshana

what: engagement session

where: lake las vegas, nv

title quote by pearl bailey