The Breakfast Club

I woke up super early this morning. I tossed on some clothes, brushed my teeth and headed out the door with my gear in hand. My first stop at Starbucks met me with dark windows. You know it's early when they haven't turned on the lights yet.

I headed north and found my way to the second coffee shop. Extra hot latte in hand, I made my way up to the windy meeting spot that we had all agreed to the day before. I was the first one there, but was soon joined by three other cars. We unloaded and realized that we couldn't get to the part of the park we wanted because of locked gates.

A quick change of plans and we piled back into our cars and headed to one of the parking garages in downtown. We shot as long as we could stand with the cold wind and then decided it was time to head over to breakfast.

 

 

I love that I have local photography friends that will dork out over ISO and shutter speeds. Who talk shit to each other about Nikon or Canon and who are all willing to teach and learn from one another. Thanks for waking up early gang! that was a fun morning.

January 5 on 5

January was both extremely fast and yet, I sort of don't remember what happened all the way back at the beginning of the month. Maybe the best way to define the month would be to call it FULL. Photographically, I had some great opportunities - I got to play with off camera flash. I hung out on a fairly big photo shoot, results from the day will befeatured in some large name magazines. I spent the day twirling an umbrella, cutting up apples, being a good assistant the photographer, models and stylist. I went on two epic and super silly photo walks with a great group of local photographers. Andy and I got a four day get away visit to Tacoma, WA. I was asked to do photos for The Nest. Owner, Tessa outfitted the boys of Vokab Kompany before their show at the Brew Haha and had me come in and photograph the chaos and fun. 

Personal projects for the new year, I started two new 365 challenges and a 52 week challenge.One of these has caught on like wild fire over on Instagram, and I now have well over 60 people "Shaking it Out" with me on their iPhones and androids. I was asked to be a part of a fantastic group of photographers for a new blog project called The Hours. We are only a month deep, but we have caught the attention of the Flickr blog and Tracy over at Shutterbean.

February has a ton of promise and excitement both professionally and personally. I am looking forward to the whirlwind I know it will be. If you are local, I would LOVE to have you come see me and my work at one or both of the group art shows I am participating in this month- February 6th head down to Never Ender for the Broken Hearts Collide Group show at 6pm. The second show will be February 8th at Atelier Beauty Bar. Help them celebrate their grand opening at the Launch Party and Art Show. I am also working out the details for a workshop that involves packaging and washi tape. More news on that soon!

Now, on to my favoirte photos from January!

Off camera flash with Austin

Part of the Off-Tract blog photo session. 

Lights of Tacoma, WA

Burke and Robbie finding their way at The Nest.

Mad love for the Yashica that we found while exploring American Flats with the Photowalkers of Reno.

Now head over to see what Adriana has going down for her five favorites this month.

Photowalkers

I have been fortunate enough to find a great group of photographers here in Reno. A few weeks back, four of us hiked in 3 miles to see a frozen waterfall. There were so many laughs, a few falls (ice and mud and backpacks full of photo gear really don't play nicely together). The trip was so fun that we started plotting a second adventure.



On Sunday we drove up to Virginia City and grabbed a quick bite to eat and then kicked up some dust and caravanned into a spot known as American Flats. Oh, and did I mention that part of the goal for the day was to get some killer bubble photos? I will let the images do the talking. Thanks again to a great group of people willing to be silly and awesome at their craft.

And when your with other photographers its, "Shoot or be shot..."

Comparing Android to iPhone.

I like it round, and big....

Quick draw

 Triangle Pose - photog style.

December 2013 - 5 on 5

December was so incredibly full. I celebrated my birthday, we had lots of family time and friends around. Christmas was sweet and simple. I finished my 365 challenge and photographed three special families. I can't express how full I felt as the year ended. It was almost a complete opposite from last year. My word, my heart, and my life is pretty amazing. I can't wait to see where things lead in 2014.

Make sure to head over to see what December 2013 looked like at Smallroots when you are done here. 

Andy and I during my birthday date in Tahoe.

O flying his new glider toy at the park. I love how both he and the toy are on the edges with the big blue sky filling in the space behind him.

This lovely lady and her family made my heart fill with love. Laughter really is good medicine.

An adorable fluff ball that belongs to a family that I was incredibly honored to photograph.

Christmas Day, chillaxin by the tree.

And one more because it's my blog and I can, tee hee.So much baking and eating. yum!

2013 Year In Review

Last January I decided to write out goals for the year. I had 13 things I wanted to do. I don't really like resolutions, but I guess goals are a resolve to do things so...

I fulfilled so many of these on the list and that makes me feel really good.

• I took a class from a local photographer, Jeff Ross.

• I ran the RTO, which was only one race but holy hanana-banana

• We went to the aquarium, the Exploritorium, and the California Academy of Sciences and the SF MOMA

• I did swim in Donner, but only once, but we spent the entire day there and it was SO good.

• We fulfilled our camping quote and had so many great adventures! Santa Cruz (twice), Half Moon Bay, Smith Creek Playa, Morro Bay, and the kids and I went Cabin Camping at Steep Ravine. Also, I am not sure that you could call what we did this year camping, it was more like "Glamping" with Pop-up Penny!

• Although the application process isn't traditional, I worked with three new photographers, partnered with two local blogs, photographed for several local businesses as well as families, and I wrote up my first major proposal for a photography gig.

• The strangers challenge wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. I had more of a street photography idea when I wrote this out, but I fulfilled this and then some. I photographed several business owners and artists in Midtown Reno (see my images and interviews here), during weddings I captured so many faces and moments that I can't even count them all, and while documenting the various events around town I was forced to get over my shyness and hit the shutter button. I found out a little about myself during this process. I always am a nervous wreck before I start. It takes me a few shots to get warmed up and over myself and then I get in the zone and am a snapping machine.

• Not sure if I did this completely, but we sure did cook and bake a lot this year. And the kids have started to BEG me to let them help out, which is a hoot (and a tad bit of a PITA) but I will take it since I want them to be kitchen kids! 

• I may have failed at the book reading- I did finish the Hunger Games trilogy and LOVED it!

• I know I did a lot of painting with my girl, Fifi and I made this a regular activity during the week.

• I don't know if I spent time alone or not. I know I feel a lot less claustrophobic then I did last January and a lot more 'me'. So that's a good thing.

• I shot a ton of film. The majority of it was with my two Polaroid Land Cameras, but I also messed with my range finders and Minolta a bit too. Oh and I can't forget about the Indisposable Concept! The most exciting film news? Three of my film photographs are in print. I can't wait to get my copy of the NSEW book.

• We really worked on making time for each other this year. Date nights were sometimes quiet nights at home without the kids, other evenings included a couple of friends and a few drinks. Making time for our marriage was and is important.

Last year I choose the word, "Shine" as my year long mantra.I truly feel like I did just that- I stepped outside of my comfort zone artistically, I pushed myself to ask and the majority of the time it was a yes and not a no. I wrote, photographed, networked and have made so many new friends along the way. I feel the light inside and out.

 

This year, I choose the word, soar. I want to keep moving with all the momentum and fly high in my work, my love and my world. 

 

Let's do this 2014! I am ready. Off I got to make my list of 14 things for the year!