It is that time of  year again.. time for the annual WPPI conference in Vegas...

.. and here I am again...  almost midnight... the night before I leave... unpacked... and of course what am I doing...  PROCRASTINATING... I've been on facebook .. twitter... and now  blogging... and I think its all because I don't want to face the fact that I HAVE to fit 4 pairs of boots, a pair of heels, tennis shoes, and flip flops (along with my clothes) into my small suitcase...  but come on... doesn't everyone take all of these shoes for 4 days in Vegas!!  You never know... it is Vegas baby!!

I'm starting to get excited... seeing old friends... meeting new ones... and hopefully learning A TON from all of the amazing speakers... and of course maybe a little equipment shopping (granted there may not be room in my suitcase for more camera gear... but a girl can always make it fit)!!

Have a fun week... 

Love
A

I know I have been off the radar a bit... but its pretty hard to keep up with the blog when I am hopping from family to friend to family to friend all over the northeastern part of the US...

But I have a quick break from my niece and nephew (who are tired from ice skating... actually I think I'M more tired then they are) to hop on the computer and upload a few pics from New Years on the island... and this past week with my adorable niece and nephew...

I'll be hopping on a plane late tonight ... and finally back to my routine in my office Monday morning... in sunny California... (finally my feet with defrost)!!

Hope you are all enjoying the first week of 2010...

Love,
A

Here's some of a Wintry Mackinac....



And here a few of my favorite 4 and 8 year olds...

 

A walk in the snow... some mulled wine... meeting with old friends... wrapping presents... holiday music...  and a little work too!!   Gotta love the holidays.



I arrived in Detroit on Friday and was instantly whisked away to Greenfield Village for some hot cider, caroling, Model T rides... and shivering while watching fireworks!!  Followed by an evening of reconnecting with friends from college.



And now, just prepping for the annual Sushi Stroll in the Snow... a tradition my friends and I do every December... who doesn't walk to a sushi dinner in the middle of winter in Detroit.

Below is a map of my travels for the next few weeks. If your in any of these areas... just let me know and we can meet up for some holiday cheer or even a photo shoot (I of course have my camera with me)!!! 



Happy Holidays to everyone...  stay warm... have fun!!

Love,
A
 

Oh BTW... here's a link to what I've been working on today.  Jenny & Simon's slideshow...

CLICK HERE for the Slideshow!!!

 

Last week I was so excited to meet up with three of my couples from years past who all happen to live in SF... (my favorite city!!...  even more than New Orleans... but if NOLA were in Cali... it might be a toss up)

My weekend started Friday night with Amy & Michael... an incredible couple that lives in SF and Australia... but travels all the time in Asia... and had their wedding on Mackinac ... can you believe it.  I was able to photograph their wedding in Fall of 2008... it is was so much fun to reconnect .. they've now convinced me I need to start shooting in Australia and China... sounds awesome!!



Then it was a Saturday lunch with Michelle & Jeff at the classic SF joint Tadich Grill... I met up with these two a year and a half ago at a coffee shop in SF... then months later I was photographing their touching wedding in Ventura...  I had such a great time I could have sat and chatted with them forever (even if they are PC/Nikon users... I won't hold that against them)!!

So I promise this will be the last time I babble on about New Orleans (especially because this weekend I am off to my favorite city.. well prior to being in NOLA.. San Francisco... the jury is out and will let you know next week . . will it be NOLA or SF!!).

Well...  along with a life changing 30 hour car ride... amazing photo shoot... inspiring photo conference.. NOLA was also sooo much fun because I got the chance to see .. not 1.. not 2... but THREE very dear friends I hadn't seen in years that all live in NOLA...  I was so stoked to hang out these peeps in their city and each one had different things to show me... I LOVED IT!!  I had FRESH deep fried Cajun shrimp one night at 3 in the morning from a tiny little grocery store... I watched the Saints break a record while listening to live jazz in the background... I saw a group of peeps jitterbug like crazy... and I even saw an extremely raunchy 80 year old Jazz Singer flirt with the crowd while singing and dancing his heart out (at 2 in the morning)... just to reiterate again... I LOVE THIS CITY!!

Well.. .the very last photo shoot I did... was especially cool... my friend Joe (who I grew up with in our tiny little cow town in the middle of a corn field) let me capture a window into his New Orleans life... Joe in the privacy of his home... with his books and notes strewn all over (he's a writer... as you might be able to tell from the pics)... imagine NOLA meets the Sun Also Rises...

 

I absolutely LOVE doing lifestyle shoots... no posing... no thinking... no purpose .. just me capturing someones everyday life ... in the place where they can be most comfortable... their home... I really hope to do more of these... what a fun way to capture a chapter in one's life!

Hey Buddy... thank you again so much for letting me see a glimpse of your life.. .and capture it!!  This city has definitely adopted you... and you it!

Okay... bye bye New Orleans ... until next time!

May you all discover new places of joy... be it in your back yard... or half way across the world!

Love,
A