{Pinned: Amelia Lyon}

I decided that I was going to find inspiration to start the New Year! When trying to figure out how to do so, I decided to finally join Pinterest. Then I decided to do 12 Days of Inspiration, in celebration of 2012. Some say the world will end and if it does, I will leave with ideas in my head!

Hopefully the next 12 days can cheer you up and keep you motivated to stick with those resolutions!

The first gem is a photo taken by photographer Amelia Lyon. I found her work and fell in love! I looked over her blog and frankly, her editing skills and candid skills are stunning. She uses tilt shift in her work, which makes me adore her even more! Complete motivation to do the same! Check her out!

The Pin.

{A touching letter}

A photographer posted this on her blog, not wanting to share how expensive she is but to show that capturing memories is vital to our everyday life. Memories last for a lifetime, manicures do not. Freezing the moments of your child's youth, the excitement of an engagement, the massive steps of a wedding...all deserve someone who truly cares about capturing those special times.

http://fototails.wordpress.com/2012/01/02/a-letter-on-my-doorstep-portraits-are-more-than-paper/

(Here is the excerpt from the whole blog)

"July 2nd, 2011

Jeanine -

Today I am writing for a couple of reasons. I have some quiet time at the moment and need to get a couple of things off my mind. I will leave this for my husband to deliver to you when he is ready.

You photographed my wedding, you photographed my first pregnancy and my first baby. I contacted you awhile back to photograph my 2nd child and family. After getting prices and realizing I would want all of the pictures as we love your work – I decided against spending $500+ – which is what I normally spend for portraits and prints with you.. Please know it is not because I don’t value your amazing eye, or how much we love the experience.

That week that I decided to NOT do a session with you, this is how I spent some money.

On Sunday I called and cancelled our session. Monday I went out and got my hair cut ($39+tip), and colored ($65), Thursday I had my nails done ($24), my family went out to dinner at a somewhat expensive restaurant for no particular reason costing us $79 + tip. This was just 4 days since canceling our session, already totaling over $200 for un necessary things. My nails only lasted about 2 weeks, my hair is gone, and seven weeks passed when I got the phone call from our doctor. It was not something I expected and the cancer has spread very quickly. I will be leaving my husband, my 6 year old girl and my now 2 year old – not by choice. It is very hard for me to talk about it which is why I need to write you.

I watch your Facebook page and your posts about the value of a photo and if I could give back all of those things that I purchased this few weeks after I cancelled my session with you, knowing what I know now, and have that session, well… I would do it in a heartbeat.

Now my time is done and there are no more chances for me. The next time someone cancels a session – my wish is that you forward this letter to them. Time is fragile, it is gone before you know you had it. If you charged $200 for one print it wouldn’t be enough for what it is actually worth. I cringe to think that my priorities were a manicure over a memory to pass onto my babies and husband.

My love and thanks for what you have given us from past photos. I am so sorry that I did not see it as more than paper until now."

Karen L.

{Happy New Year!}

2011 is coming to a close in 12 hours and well, I always take this day to reflect over the past year. Like most humans, I'm optimistic and hopeful for the coming year, regardless of rumors that the world may end, because there is so much room for growth this year!

I've taken it upon myself to take five classes this semester at HPU, on top of working on this love of my life, the business! Some may say I'm insane, especially when you throw a trip into the mix, but I am never pleased unless I'm busy. I am clueless on how to deal with empty time, so this is the only thing to keep me happy!

I don't remember most of my resolutions for 2011 (which may imply they weren't achieved) but for 2012, I hope to travel more. I resolve to not take life too seriously. I resolve to be healthier. I resolve to learn how to budget better. I resolve to do more sessions for myself.

I also resolve to grow this business to dreamy proportions. I have a giveaway coming up in March that I started working on in early December, that I'm working hand in hand with some awesome business owners!

In eight days, it's my husband and I's one year wedding anniversary. My sister is also moving in with us from Texas, with the goal of giving her a new start on life. 2012 is already filled with milestones and new beginnings, so here's hoping yours is as well.

Happy New Year!

{Evans' Family Photos}

It has been incredibly chilly lately and especially on the Kaneohe side! We met up for a dawn session and despite the moody clouds threatening rain, we had a good time in the soft sand and surf! That is, until it rained and the little one became too cold! :( Regardless, the expressions are precious and I really enjoyed the little time we had!

{Four Beautiful Ladies}

Katherine contacted me way back, wanting to purchase her mother a photography session for Christmas while they visited Hawaii. I LOVE surprises and love even more assisting others in surprising their loved ones, so I was game! We decided to go around Waikiki and enjoy the different sights and options the location gave us.

Ice Cream? √
The Beach? √
Beautiful Sunset? √√√

What more could a girl ask for?

{Sun Flares in Waikiki}

On my way to a session today, I decided to do a little fun photography for myself. I honestly get so caught up in client work, that I never stop to expand my own awareness sometimes. So today I decided to see how I could catch sunflares, my favorite camera technique, in different perspectives around Waikiki. Enjoy!

{Bella's Birthday}

My good friend Kristi has one of the most adorable petite little girls I've ever met, named Bella. Her birthday was at the Clay Cafe in Ward Warehouse, where the kids got to paint and eat, all within an hour, because really, what is the attention span of toddlers? Mickey was the theme, which I thought was delightful. It's been ages since I've dealt with Disney anything, so I had a lot of fun! Enjoy!