Real Padawan Updates

Apparently this is what I look like when I am using the camera.

A constant state of confusion and analyzing.

Over-analyzing, really.

Yep.

So I was gonna give this big long spiel of whats been happening

(because it's exciting, trust me)

BUT really what it boils down to is that I have been taking a lot of photos.

A lot.

Like an obnoxious amount.

But it's cool. 

mainly because it's a blast. 

There have been issues here and there.

There are issues that are mine.

Or the cameras'

Or the little girl editing tools that I am using. 

Really, they are all my issues but we'll just blame it on the technology for right now:)

So let's look at all the photos of late.

Here are a couple that I have taken with A Moment In Time Photography with my mentor, Liana. 

(edited by Liana using big girl photography tools and skills)

FYI, I'm just gonna shorten A Moment In Time Photography to "AMIT" for the rest of this!

A close friend at a fundraiser from church

very first engagement photo used for a real album for AMIT

another engagement shoot I got to do with AMIT!

 I have also gotten to tag a long on a couple of weddings.

Will some of my photos get used in the real set of photos??

I don't know! 

It's always exciting and nerve-wracking to get feedback from Liana.

She has been nothing but encouraging

But it feels like the equivalent of giving a famous chef a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and hoping they will at least just taste it.

I have also done some of my own stuff

Three family photo shoots?

The Barney Family

Pretty much models, right?

And from these photos I got 2 more shoots!

The Sauer Family

And also

Christy and Mike

These two just so happen to be getting married in February

And guess who gets to photograph this wedding?

This little padawan right here!
I'm so lucky, it's ridiculous

It has been lots of fun
and I love getting feedback from people
and like I said there are still issues

nervousness

I barely know what I'm doing

blurry photos

little girl editing tools

But I'm banking on the fact that these things will come with time 

(and dinero) 

I hope at least.

And then one day I'll have a facebook page and website and my own photography blog and a legit company name... (you just got a small glimpse into my way too optimistic head. I also am hoping that Santa and/or the city of Phoenix will get me a Sprouts and/or Sunflower Marker and a Super Target within 2 miles of my house) 

I'm so realistic.

But like I said at the very beginning of this adventure...

There will be good photo days and not-so-good photo days

And learning how to make the first outweigh the latter is a crazy good adventure.

Also random fact: it is a really odd experience to airbrush yourself

 I guess that's enough of an update!

And I'm positive this is way longer than anyone intended to read for.

 I will leave you with some of my favorite Christmas photos

GQ, right?

 Merry (early) Christmas from the AZ photography padawan!

Jedi In Training

N. Jedi

1. warrior that fights for the good of humanity in the world
2.   respected by people all over the galaxy, and are considered wise and authoritive 
3. gifted with heightened sensitivity to and awareness of "The Force"   

The force. As in photography. Totally makes sense, right?

I feel this accurately describes all the people I will be listing below :) Each person is not only gifted and respected in the area of photography, they have been great encouragement, or cheerleaders if you will, for my little personal photo journey.  

• Josh and Kelley: first of all, they are some of our very first Phoenix friends and I love the friendship that we have developed with this awesome couple. Josh does all the technical stuff and Kelley likes to snap a camera at pretty things and it ends up awesome. They recently joined radiant photography team. Kind of rock star, right? And here they are being introduced on their blog.  Josh is so patient and is willing to spend time teaching me all the technical stuff!
• Liana: Liana is a fun, new friend who is also a rock star in her own right. She has her own photography company, A Moment In Time. I nervously asked her if she would be my official photography mentor and she said yes!! It was kind of like a proposal. And I think she might be more excited than me sometimes. She helped me figure out what package to buy and where I could find the best deal! She is also going to graciously take me on shoots and talk me through every thing I need to know.
• Krista: Also a newer friend as well as a coworker of my hubsters. She is starting her own business, Bella Foto.  We have had a few chats about technical things and she is going to be someone I also take lots of notes from.
• Tommy: A close friend from high school who recently moved to New York to get into fashion photography. Not sure I can do that, BUT he has been very encouraging and is very talented! You can see some of his work here. Underwater photography? Crazy cool!

I am pretty positive I have "The Force" with me.

See. Jedi IS the appropriate term to use. 

Lucky + Blessed = This Girl

A.K.A. Jedi in training

Having my own website and all of that is like a way, way distant dream 

(I may or may not have named my company already. Shh. A girl can dream, right?)

I know, I know. It is only day 5 of the challenge.

I need to tell myself to chill.

I don't know if I have the skill yet. And that's ok. Like I said before. I will own it and accept it if I am not cut out.  As long as I don't wake up a 70 year old woman and ask myself, "What if?" 

(insert great article that one of my favorite Bowmans found)

Call it what you will. 
I will refer to it as my pre-mid life crisis. 

But I am pretty sure my Jedis will keep me in the know and I trust they will be honest with me. 

One day the good photos will outweigh the not-so-good photos. 

It will be a wonderful day.