Goin' back to Cali.

I don't even know where to start, there's so much. Last Friday, I left for San Francisco to photograph my friend Melissa and her family. Melissa and I have such a long history together. In fact, I started to write about it, and just deleted three paragraphs because it was turning into a novel. Basically, she's one of my favorite people. We grew up together, and have gone through enough to know that we'll always be in each other's lives. Even if we rarely talk on the phone, and just occasionally email. She's the friend where years can pass, but the conversation will still be immediately easy, and comfortable, and candid. Plus she's freaking hysterical! My cheeks are still hurting from laughing so much.

My old friend.

She knows me so well. :0) We went straight from the airport to the spa. How cute is this place?...And look at the quote on the wall...love it.

Then a glass of wine.

Toward the end, we were in a hurry to meet her husband Carlos, for dinner. We looked down and noticed that we were both clutching our purses like old ladies. This is Melissa's "Golden Girl" immitation.  Heehee!

And, reason number 1,000,0001 why I love California. Can you say wine flights? THIS is how to enjoy a lunch peeps. Oh, and this is Melissa's friend Lindsey whom I really wanted to hate. She was teensy skinny and perfectly put together. But then she had the nerve to also be completely adorable, and funny and real. I can totally see why she and Melissa are best friends. It was awesome to meet her. And oh, how I wish I could blog the things we talked about.  :0)

And this is a random edge of a painting that was hanging in the bathroom of the restaurant. I've been looking for something to inspire me to paint my TV cabinet, and finally found it. Don't you love these colors together?

My sister, and ulterior motive for flying out. Look at her, she can't even be ugly when she tries. Beeyatch.

Told you all we did was laugh. And it was just like old times sleeping in Melissa's guest bed with my sissy. I told her I was going to roll up a blanket  between us so that she couldn't "cross over to my side". Did anyone else do that as a kid? Anyway, in the morning we both woke up like mirror-image vampires laying next to each other. You know how you can't ever really relax when you're sleeping away from home? Well, apparently she feels the same way,  because we both slept on our backs with our hands across our chests, like corpses. Hahaha!

One of the coolest things about the trip was that I got to experience SF in a totally new way. Having grown up an hour north of the city, we only used to come down for something special. It was always a big production to get there, and it never crossed my mind about what a neighborhood it really is. Made me love it even more.

Oh, and I swear I'm the worst picture-taker, because this is the only shot I got of my friend Tasha. She also went to high school with us, and was in town for a marathon. I felt so lucky to have gotten to see her, because it had been YEARS. Even though I should apologize for trying to peer pressure her to drink the night before she had to run a bazillion miles. Oops...  :0)

If I had to summarize, I'd say that this trip was a comforting realization that some things never change. No matter what.

So then, Chapter Two: Since I was already in CA, on a whim I decided to meet Katy and DD in LA to help them do Ashley Simpson's nursery. And I really don't have much to say about it because it was fairly uneventful. We finished painting the first day, and the big highlight was when Katy broke the antennae off the huge (extremely intricate) Llego bee. Whoops.

Everything else was just chillin in LA. Which always seems like a different world to me. Doesn't it? Oh, there's not time to write about it, so I will just leave you with a shot of the divas looking very LA-ish.

Also, an update. Thanks to my amazing husband who can pretty much fix anything, my computer is back to normal. And so am I. We're running full steam ahead. Saturday was the first of the big Christmas shoots. And I will say that it went surprisingly smoothly. Can I just say again that I have the best clients on earth? FOR REAL. Also a HUGE THANK YOU to my sweetest friend DD who volunteered to keep me company ALL DAY. Like for no reason, other than just to be there for me. In the heat. And even brought  me lunch. You are awesome and I love ya sister. xo 

And even though I'm posting this at 7:04pm, I will still be posting tomorrow. So get your Crapshoots ready and come back then!

Californ I A...yay!

On my way to San Francisco this morning to photograph my dear friend Melissa and her cute family. Then Monday is LA to help Katy with another celebrity nursery (I'm not sure I can say who it is yet). And on Tuesday, we get to see Dancing with the Stars. Totally excited, although I do have to admit that I've never watched an episode the whole way through! Will do my best to blog along the way, but if I don't make it, I'll see you next Thursday!

In the mean time you can reach me by email at maile.wilson@me.com or at (210) 259-3271. I'll do my best to return all calls/inquiries within 24 hours...(except Saturday and Sunday). BYE Y'ALL!

The Alvheims

Stefanie and her adorable family. As soon as she opened the door, I felt like I'd known them for years. The whole shoot was super fun!

Don't you just feel like this sometimes? I love them.

Thank you Stefanie! And also THANKS to Maridee Bruner and Carrie Friesenhahn for the referral! You guys are awesome! :)

Also, an update. There is one more spot for the October 11th Red Sofa "country" shoot, and 5 more left for the "urban" background on October 18th. So if you're interersted, call or email me soon! Remember this is the only special that I will be running for the rest of this year. And probably not until next Christmas!  admin@relishportraitstudio.com. 

Happy hump day peeps.

Crapshoot Tuesday

What is it?

Amped up on gallons of coffee, my head was buried in the computer, and the to-do list, and the news about our financial sky that is falling. Then I turn to see Emily who'd snuck into my office and curled up like a kitten in the window. She was just enjoying the wind on her face. Maybe life doesn't have to be so complicated. Loving this moment, I got up to grab the camera, and had hoped to get the silhouette of her face. But by then she was aware of me, and on to something else. All I got was the back of her head. But I love it for the reminder of how quickly these sweet moments pass.

What do you have to share today?  

San Antonio Living Show

I think this was the fourth time I've been on the show,  but I still woke up with visions of myself blurting out obscenities on live television. You think I'm kidding. I swear. It's like when you're not supposed to laugh in church, and all of a sudden everything is hysterical. That's how I feel every time the camera is pointed at me. That for no reason, I will break out into Terets, and scream out every curse word that I've ever heard. Seventeen gallons of coffee didn't help.

But I have to say that once I got to the station, it was no sweat. My sweet friend Selena who normally produces the weather, happened to be filling in to help. And Shelly is a good friend now, so it kind of felt like I was just chillin at girls night. Well, minus the wine. Anyway, if you want to check it out, here's the link.  

AND, there is still time to get in on the Red Sofa Christmas Sessions! We are almost full on October 11th, and have about 4 or 5 more spots left on  the 18th. So call today if you're interested! 210-259-3271

See you tomorrow for Crapshoot Tuesday! :)