The Ortiz-Wilsons

I've had the pleasure of photographing the Ortiz-Wilsons since before Mia was born. They're always fun to hang with, and super easy to photograph because they're not afraid to show affection. (*hint to all those potential clients out there: Photographers LOVE PDAs!). So, this time we went to Guadalupe State Park. Ryan is an outdoorsy guy from Seattle and brings the kids here a lot. So this spot had special meaning for them. Not surprisingly, I'd never been... because as Jason likes to say to our children when I'm screaming about frogs in the house, "Your mom is not a fan of nature". Well, I'm definitely going back when it gets hot again. So THERE. I actually am a fan of nature, as long as it's nice and easy, doesn't require dealing with critters, hiking, sweating, or having to pee into anything other than a toilet. On that lovely note.

Meet Jacqueline and Ryan and their cutie pattooties (again).  :)

Thanks Ryan and Jackie! :)

remembering and re-creating

These were taken a million years ago. The left is me and the right is Amber, one of my life-long best friends. Not because we talk all the time, because we don't. Because we owned a business together, which made our friendship seem more like a marriage or a sisterhood. When we started, neither one of us even owned a computer. We'd stay up all night at Kinkos just teaching ourselves how to use Word so we could make a price list. I remember the first batch having misspelled "proffessionally". As a client pointed out, "there's only one 'F'". Oh. Of all the words to misspell. There were so many hurdles and lessons and late nights. I had plans and sketches, and she knew how to jump into things. Like the first time we ever attempted an "OUTDOOR SHOOT" during a real session. I was so terrified of "NATURAL! LIGHT!", I would have broken my back practicing on seventeen thousand friends first. Amber just put them on our books and assumed we'd figure it out. We did. And I stood there with my reflector being so grateful for her confident way of ignoring fear. 

But I can barely remember the business stuff. What I mostly remember is playing and laughing every day until we were crying. The studio was in a little town called Sebastopol. You could walk to the post office and the coffee shop. We knew all the business owners and had turned some of them into caricatures. They were like characters in a crazy play. Like the translucent son of our mean landlord who had X-ray vision eyes. We named him "Amphibian" because he was always sweating, and somehow... pulsing. 

Then there was the man who owned the tanning salon. We were convinced that he'd placed hidden cameras in each bed, based on the solid evidence of his too-tight wranglers that offered up way too much information about him. That's when I learned about "moose-knuckles". And if you don't know what that is, trust me... you're better off.

I remember our cars. The one I bought for $700. You had to turn the key in the ignition and press this rigged-up button that was connected to exposed wires, then cross your heart and say a prayer to get it to start. She drove a rusty brady bunch station wagon. And yes we did have our clients follow us to photo shoots as we laughed hysterically with our bare feet on the dashboard. We had nothing, and we were so happy. After shoots we'd lay in the grass, stare at the clouds and talk about everything from makeup to marital issues. When we didn't have a client, we'd drive home to eat entire trays of brownies and watch HGTV. Our favorite was Christopher Lowell. And if you've ever watched him you'll understand why after a couple months we both had palm trees with "up-lights" smashed into every corner of our houses. 

The point of this post is that since Amber posted this photo on Facebook a couple days ago, I've been ignited by a feeling of home sickness. Not for California or for the beach, but for the girl who could just play and pose like a complete dork in the sunset. I miss the girl whose business was an afterthought to her life. Because as the years have progressed, and the mountains of responsibility have piled up, I realize that I've let my life become an afterthought to my business. And as I look at this picture, I realize that even my body has become buried underneath the cares. 

For as long as I can remember my mom has picked a Word to define each new year. I know that Ali Edwards does too. And I love this exercise of insight, of taking a moment to review your life. What's working? What's not? How can we make our lives match up more closely to our truest values? For me, this photograph has helped me to make that definition. But like Kal, I can't pick just one word. These are my words for 2010. 

Receive. I've become a person who is habitually scanning for what's missing. As a result, I've been missing out on what I already have. Like my children and the simple abundance of watching them play in the backyard or laugh at the dinner table. I need to learn how to be present without constantly thinking about what's not getting done, or what could be better. I must be grateful enough to receive the blessings that are already right in front of me.

Re-create. I don't mean that I'll be kicking it in Mexico all year. Although that would be nice, I know that my work will always be a large part of my sense of self, and I love that. But I need to re-create how I go about my work. I need stricter hours and guidelines... like checking my email once a day, and not at all on the weekends. I need more defined boundaries so that it's clear where my work ends, and where I begin.

Remember. The girl I used to be before the world sat on my shoulders. I realize that I'll never be that free of responsibility again and that's the rightful nature of things. But I know there's a way to incorporate her back into my life. The girl who dances on the beach and stares at the clouds. I left her behind, and I desperately need to make room for her again.

Do you have any new year words? 

the Barrys

It started as a fabulous morning. The sun was hot, the air was cold. Me, my coffee and Stone Temple Pilots were on the way to Seguin for the first shoot of the day. Only that shoot turned out to be about 45 minutes OUTSIDE of town. And I got WAY lost on the way. And that put me on a path of destruction for the day. To make matters worse I had no cell service so I was completely panicking. By the time I showed up to the Barry's lake house, where they had been DRESSED UP and WAITING for hours, I wanted to crawl under a hole and die. Or be struck down by lightning. Wondering how possible it could be to will myself to spontaneously combust, I forced myself to drive up to their door. Quickly scanning for snipers and resisting the urge to cry, I was met with what is probably the most gracious family I've ever photographed. Even though they were then late for their own plans that weekend, they rocked out a their session like nobody's business, and were so amazing and understanding. Plus, let's be real. They all look like hired models, so it's not like they could take a bad photo if they tried. Thank you for being so sweet Barry Family. You guys are awesome.

You probably recognize Brent because he used to play for the Spurs, and then the Rockets. And Erin works with the Heart Gallery and the city helping kids in need and doing social work. I know that San Antonio is really glad to have them back!

baby Daisy!

You probably know my friend Brian by now. He and his cute fam welcomed baby Daisy a few months ago. She is delicious. 

Sweet sisters.

I don't know how many times I've photographed Eva, but I think she's positively captivating. There is something about her eyes, and the depth of understanding that she seems to be holding behind them. 

These were taken a few months back when it was super hot, and the humidity fogged up my lens. I think it made them look kinda cool and polaroid-y.
If you are pregnant, go visit Brian and his cute staff at Babyvision Ultrasound. It also makes an awesome gift for someone too! 

until then, enjoy what "is".

Having some time off has allowed me to catch up on a few favorite blogs. One of them is by Rachel Ashwell, who I've been reading since she closed her doors this year. Like the rest of the world, I fell in love with Shabby Chic over a decade ago. I bought her books, and have been so inspired by her story. I think stories are what I'm most passionate about. More than photography or art or words, I'm completely overcome by how people spend time. Their circumstances and choices, opportunities vs. talent and determination. Maybe most of all I'm fascinated by fear... how some are able to push through it, while others remain unhappily yet comfortably paralyzed by it.

So it's especially captivating to me when people dream something up, and then find a way to make it tangible. It's the art of turning fiction into fact. And I think it's no less magical than pulling a dove out of thin air.

So it was heartbreaking to find that she too, had been among the casualties of this terrible recession. And then it was equally heart warming to find out that she was making another go of it. While catching up on her blog, I found these excerpts which I couldn't have related to more if I'd written them myself.

"My next focus is to make sure I make the time to experience all that I experience, when life speeds up sometimes I read books and don't absorb, I spend time with people but I'm already gone, I eat but don't taste, I sleep but wake up tired, I live but I'm not fully there."

"I know I must show up in my own life, that my thoughts are as vital as my words. Dignity and humility continue to be important characteristics for me to stand by. But I cannot make everything ok. Some things will stay broken. Not everyone will be happy with my decisions. But I will do my best to do the right thing." 

"After the losses and unraveling of the past year, I had many lessons and now my test is to slow down and savour. For me most importantly to get out of my head and not worry about all that may happen. With lives moving so fast and so much going on and around us, there is certainly much to worry about." 

This is my favorite part. Something I hope to internalize in 2010.

"But I am going to try and learn the craft of worrying when there is a problem, until then enjoy what "is".

How much do we love her, right?

Anyway, I hadn't intended for this post to be so wordy. But I do still have one more announcement. Maybe Tracey had told us that the Shutter Sisters would be included in the latest Kirtsy book, but I'd totally forgotten. So it was like another Christmas gift getting to open up this delicious piece of eye-candy. And even more of a fun surprise when I realized that one of my photographs/excerpts was inside. THANKS TRACEY and KIRTSY! What an honor to be included among such a killer group of talented women. If you haven't picked up your copy, definitely pick one up here. It's like a little vacation for your eyes.

So happy that they picked this photo of Jen. She's so beautiful inside and out. And that's one of my favorite shots ever.

One last business-y thing. With the launch of Epiphanie, I'm going to have to say good-bye to the Glam Sessions for a while. But I know that there are a bunch of you who have been counting on this as a Valentine's day gift. So I'm going to be doing ONE MORE session in January. Email me at admin@relishportraitstudio.com if you want to be notified with the deets. There are only SEVEN spots available, and this is the ONLY ONE I will be doing in 2010. So if you've been waiting to do this, until you lose weight, or turn 30 or 40, or get your boob job... LET IT GO! Grab a girlfriend, and join us for an awesome girls' day in. We will bring the mimosas! Since this is the last one, I want to go out with a bang. So this is definitely not the one to miss out on!