It's hard not to think of all the possible Pinterest perfect inspirational quotes that come to mind when I think about how gorgeous our trip to California's central Pacific Coast was. Coming from Southern California--particularly Los Angeles, we don't see all the stunning blues and lushes greens that world can offer. Every color was so vibrant and full of life that the best words I can come up with to describe it is...

Beauty and Gratitude.

​As I close out the last week of April, I am just filled with just gratitude. 

Today is my birthday, which is it's what I like to think of as the end of a chapter and the beginning of a new chapter as May rolls in. This month had so many highlights for my business and I'm so glad you're here to reminisce with me as I go through everything amazing that happened.

I woke up one morning and realized it was mid-March and wondered what's next for me and my business, and well..my life?
As always, in order for one to know where we are going, we need to know where we are right now.

A I'm closing in on March 2018 already and I cannot even believe time is just zooming right by (even more so that I didn't even see the end of February)! Since I didn't get a chance to do a Month in Review for February alone last month, I thought I'd give write up a TWO months in review and explain what's all the chaos been about: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

​Here we go...

As I begin this week's post, I'm thinking about the title The Power of Apology and Forgiveness as these are topics I've been going back and forth in my head these past couple of weeks.

I hesitated writing this, but I somehow keep finding myself resurfacing the idea.

What is the connection between photography to this topic of apology and forgiveness?

From a wide angle, they don't have much in common, if any. But then, if you look at it through a macro lens you see what photography really is. It's a connection between the camera and its subject; the mere idea that you have to feel compelled to capture whatever it is that you are photographing. 

Before I lose you, think about this...

Why does anyone apologize to another? Or why does anyone feel the need to forgive or ask for forgiveness?

It started with a simple introduction, an awkward text and a continuation of what bloomed to become my favorite love story...

It's hard to believe that we were saying goodbye to 2017 one month ago already. It feels like only yesterday when I was writing down new year goals and watching that New Years Eve ball drop. But here we are friends--31 days into 2018 and left with a single question:

As some of you may know (but if you don't, you're about to know), I'm not a full-time photographer yet. 
I work a corporate job punching the clock Monday through Friday 9 to 5. So when I was asked "What did you do with your January?" I have to honestly sit back and let that settle in and think... Where did time go and what did I even accomplish?

Here are some things that I'm proud to have accomplished in the month of January in my business and personal life:
​

Don't beat yourself up. It takes everyone time to know who they really are.

I was sitting at my computer desk in our tiny studio apartment with a cup of coffee I've reheated twice already while staring at photos I shot just a few years ago. Thoughts of "this isn't my style anymore", "your work really wasn't that great", and "what was I thinking?" came shouting down the stairs of self-doubt and self-worth as I stared at my own work.

As I sat there on the first day of 2018, my girlfriend said these words...

You know the feeling you get when you're walking into a small town and you feel at any moment there's going to be someone breaking out into song with a flock of animals like a fairy tale princess? 
No? Just me then?

There I was wondering what could we do for my girlfriend’ birthday. Where can we go for a weekend adventure? She suggested Santa Barbara and it was done. No negotiations needed. I was sold.

Santa Barbara, California is one of those places that makes you just want to enjoy the leisure, laid back vibe. If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you know I’m a sucker for palm trees and a beautiful sunset. And let me tell you, there were no shortages of either in Santa Barbara.