monday motivation

I think I've shared this quote before, but it's such a good one! These words mark the beginning of the documentary Happy. If you haven't seen it, it's a "play now" on Netflix, and if you've got a day of editing ahead of you, this would be a great little something to have playing in the background.


In this film, you meet some amazing people with beautiful stories from all over the world. And you'll learn scientists who studied happiness find circumstances like income, social status, where you live and age only account for 10% of our happiness.

Looking at an early usage of the word joy in Old French (c.1300), we understand it to mean the source of happiness. After hearing a hardworking rickshaw driver with a gleam in his eyes explain how his family is happy in their home covered by a plastic tarp and lives well in the beginning of this film, it would be hard not to see joy.

Here's to a week well-lived and one with a happy ending!


xoxo-E

monday motivation

I picked up a book by Madeleine L'engle randomly last week and could not put it down. I sat in one place on a couch soaking up the truths on the pages I incessantly flipped and scanned. After 50 pages or so I closed the book only because I thought it best I buy it if I were going to read the entire thing.

L'engle speaks often to creators in her books saying, "Unless we are creators we are not fully alive." Can you connect with this too?

Before I lose anyone who might actually read this blog and not work in a field the world deems artistic (like the amazing engineers who make up nearly half of my immediate family), L'engle makes it clear anyone can be a creator:  "Creativity is a way of living life, no matter our vocation or how we earn our living."

I hope these thoughts provide a big boost to get you going for this week. If we are not a finished work—if our self is always becoming—let's seek to make something really great with these next few days.

Here's to a great week of becoming and creating!


xoxo-E

flower anniversary

 He didn't give me flowers.

I know. The fourth anniversary is the flower anniversary. Sounds simple enough, right? But he gave me more. He stole me away from the world and gave me the time and space to see and enjoy the vivid colors, myriads of shapes and sweet smells of spring blooms.

My husband has my heart because he knows it so well.

After one of our photo shoots earlier this week, Bryan grabbed the car keys from me and, to my surprise, reported that we were not heading home. He had been scheming and had already packed a bag and had plans to steal me away for our anniversary. It's amazing how renewing a short night and day away can be.

I am refueled and reminded of how grateful I am for our marriage. And for why we're so excited to document wedding days for our couples.

Like anyone else, we need to be better about actually putting together and printing photo albums. Sharing a few images from the start of a new year with you today. A little bit of a different film process than we usually use, but something that speaks to the feeling and experience of our day away.

Happy anniversary, love! May we have many, many more!


xoxo-E

monday motivation

As creatives, how many times do we measure our success by comparing ourselves to others? And how often can we really create something worthy to call our legacy if we are not willing to take small risks...and sometimes fail?

This morning I enjoyed reading an article written by Todd Henry that gave me a good Monday morning boost. The following is an excerpt from his writing—most of which I also copied into my journal for this week so I would see it every day.

From the article:

The key to finding your voice is to begin to take small risks to express yourself each day. Don't try to be someone else, and don't fall into the trap of taking shortcuts that ultimately cost you more than you gain. It is a kind of poverty to spend your life chasing the limelight.

We need to do the things for which we are qualified, and ignore the things for which we are not.

A list of things for which you and I are profoundly unqualified:

• Determining our legacy. (This will be backward engineered after we are already fertilizing daisies.)
• Choosing our times. (We must deal with the times we are handed.)
• Making others like our work. (You can't do it. You will always have people who hate it.)
• Ensuring safety. (No matter how hard you try, there is no such thing as perfect safety.)  

A list of things for which you and I are qualified:

• Making something, now.
• Contributing value, now.
• Speaking up.
• Learning something new every day.
• Taking small risks instead of retreating.
• Refusing to allow the opinion of others to control our life.
• Refusing to ignore wise advice from others.
• Emptying ourselves each day. 

Here's to fully emptying ourselves today!


xoxo-E 

engagement sessions

Let us tell your story from the very beginning...

What is it about him that makes you smile? What does she do that makes you fall in love with her every single day?

An engagement shoot is not only the perfect time to get to know your photographer, it is also a wonderful opportunity to become comfortable in front of the camera.

Most of all, it's page one. The beginning of your new narrative.

And we want to help you document this time.


xoxo-E

brooks family

The Brooks family surrounded by beautiful blooms!

We sure do enjoy getting to see this family every spring and capture these kiddos grow into little adults, each with such a unique personality. And Clay and Ashley are just the most awesome parents to these four adventurous ones.

We're so thankful for you all and the way you treasure having photos made of your family. Ashley once wrote us and said, "I want you guys to do our pics every year, even when we're covered in grandbabies." This thrills me to the bone! Our clients are friends and family to us and we love being a part of their lives by helping to document them.

Thanks so much for having us out for a family photo session, Brooks fam!


xoxo-E