I’ve been MIA all week- but ya know, I’m enjoying life not just blogging about it. Truth is, starting this weekend I am on a July wedding extravaganza until I leave for Hawaii so I’m just trying to relax and enjoy the calm before the storm, all the while secretly obsessing with goals I am attempting to accomplish by the new year. Two wedding at Wayfarers this Saturday though- should be fun!

A few things…. if you are a reader, a novel lover, one who has a new literary love monthly you must pick up Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover- or section at the book store, rather (the cover is quite nice). Although located in the “Teen Lit” aisle, it’s impressive. I have been vocal about this, but I’ll say it again- I’ve been in a bit of a book slump lately- starting and not finishing many a novel (much to Timmy’s chagrin- our bedside table looks like a library cart full of books waiting to be refiled) but my dear friend Ashley turned me onto this beautiful love story. I won’t give anything away because part of my fascination with the book began with not knowing anything about it – but be prepared to fall in love with a vampire. It’s got Lestat written all over it. Oh Edward Cullen and that crooked smile of yours, be mine forever? (Don’t worry, Timmy, I won’t leave for a fictional character… I don’t think….)

On that note- who has my copy of The Time Travelers Wife? I am aching to revist my last literary love, Henry DeTamble. Come back to me!

Also, last Friday while vegging out on the couch I decided to go ahead and rent a horrible move from OnDemand (my new favorite movie renting source). Scrolling… scrolling… ah yes, 27 Dresses will do. Okay, so it wasn’t that horrible, but I have a point here. I came across the work of a lovely lovely song man named Ray LaMontagne. Download “Be Here Now” and see the future. Well, maybe not, but close your eyes and enjoy!

I can’t leave you photo-less, here are some vintage images of my nearest and dearest friend Gabe! Vintage as in, senior year of college… spiced up with a little Totally Rad Actions: The Revenge. If I recall, Gabe was a real trooper- broke out in ragweed induced hives as soon as the shoot was over.

Have a wonderful weekend, we will most likely meet again Sunday Morning… rain is falling… steal some color share some… oh okay, fine, I’m done… ciao!

A piano!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A real upright, ivory keys, beautiful piano! I know my blogging has been lacking lately- it’s the busy season for us wedding photographers and I’ve been scrambling for free time to paint the walls of our new office, buy rugs, buy lamps, paint trim, hang photos, hang shelves (okay Timmy does most of that stuff)… and well…. eat, sleep, and breathe! (not to mention WORK OUT with that Hawaii trip coming) … but this piano, it was too beautiful not to blog. It’s going in our music room, which is supposed to be the dining room, but who needs a dining room? Tim and I couldn’t be happier where we both our in our lives right now and this piano really just adds to our happy home.

Things are good.

We got a piano.

Wish I could be there, Daddy. Thanks for music, art, laughter, love, and the importance of knowledge. I love you- Happy Fathers Day!

Mom and Dad last 4th…

As most of my clients know by now I am a Pictage User- and most of my photographer friends who use Pictage know that there is a lot to learn about it! So the lovely and talented, not to mention my mind soul mate, Heather Kincaid and I decided to head out to this months Pictage User Group meeting held in Beverly Hills. As is our style, we grabbed some wine before with my two cousins, chatted (sarcastically no doubt), then carpooled it on over. Last night’s speaker was accountant Mark Varshawsky of Mark S. Varshawsky & Associates. Although I definitely have my main man, Adam Yorkshire, this accountant really knew his stuff and really talked to us about things that were pertinent to our business. Very insightful- although the best part of the night was reading Heather’s mind.

Can you spot us?

(from Jules Biachi)

Heather and I will be PUG Spotlights later on in the year so we’ll be working hard to impress. Good for Juan Turcio, though, he was last nights and it was really a pleasure to see his work and hear him talk a little bit about his processes!

My dad recently reminded me of my first business venture- I was probably around 15 years old, I had discovered my two loves: music, specifically musicians, and photography. Those of you who “knew me when” will chuckle at this admission: I was a huge huge.. huge… Hanson fan. The love still lingers but thankfully has matured quite a bit, however not only was I a Hanson fan, but I made money off of them. Armed with my mom’s camera and her zoom lens I attended countless Hanson concerts and took countless photos- a couple times from the meet and greet line- thats right folks. I GOT BACKSTAGE! At some point it must have dawned on me that they were good photos compared to the “.gifs” we were all downloading and collecting in folders titled, “Taylor 1997.” So I started a business!

I had all my negatives organized in a box and scanned prints of my favorites. Uploaded the scans and created packages. 3 4×6s of Taylor, 3 of Zac, and 1 of Ike for $25- then I created an ebay account and a website, and waited for people to bite. … and they did! 13-17 year old girls everywhere sent in orders and my trips to the Walgreens photo department became more frequent. I’m not sure how long I sold those things, it probably got to be too much work or I may have moved onto other bands, but I had my little envelope of cash and I was happy- more importantly I was making money off of something I loved doing.

So here I am now, dating my musician boyfriend of 5 and a half years paying my rent (almost) doing something I love. It may not be photographs of Hanson anymore and my boyfriend might be leaving the rockstar dreams behind, but the passion and excitement is still there in both photography and my musician.

My love in 1997: Taylor Hanson and Photography

(scanned from a print found in a shoebox, sorry ’bout the quality)

My love in 2008: Timothy (on the left- Andy Barr on the right) and Photography