My Sister's Birthday. An Inspired Cup Filling Maine Photographer

Every year since my sister Carmen died I have blogged on her birthday, February 10th.  No need to double check your calendar, I'm a bit behind this year, but all with good reason.

This year I chose to attend Inspire.
Inspire is a little get-a-way retreat for photographers.
A little "cup filling" for the soul

Cup filling.

When my kids were babies, my husband and I agreed to let them go to our employers daycare.  It was pricey, and my part time salary didn't even cover the costs, but we both agreed that the boys would lead a richer childhood exposed to other adults and other kids then they would staying home with me watching Y&R.  Our employers daycare was an accredited little school and we enjoyed a few perks as parents, including an occasional guest speaker with sage advice for new parents.  Hands down, the best advice we ever received had to do with that hell hour...you know the one...when you pick up the kids from daycare and get home and try to start supper.  Why was that crazy hour?  Ugly hour?
OMG get me out of here hour?

Simple.
Our boys needed their cup filled.
Undivided attention.
They needed to know we were there for them.  They needed us to sit with them.  Hold them.  Just be there for them.  They hadn't seen us all day.
Fill their cup.

Sometimes cup filling took just a few minutes.

That advice changed our routine.  Now, nearly 20 years later my husband and I continue to use that phrase, but we are usually referring it to me or to our dogs.

The Inspire photographers retreat was cup filling for my photography business soul.  It was emotional.  It was exhausting.  It was soul searching.  It was sharing.  It was vulnerable.  It was tiring.  It was fun.

So, back to my sister Carmen.
She was with me throughout the retreat.  I took one of Carmen's journals with me to use for notes.
Carmen would have loved Inspire.
Happy Birthday Carmen :)
I am inspired.
My inspirational cup is full

Family Portraits a Moment in Time. A Passionate Maine Photographer

Some say a photo is worth a thousand words...

Take a 15 minute break out of your busy life and let me capture your thousand words.

Where:  Riverton Trolley Park

When:   Saturday October 25, 2014 (15 minute time slots) between the hours of 9am and 11am
              Sunday   October 26, 2014 (15 minute time slots) between the hours of 9am and 11am

Cost:     $50  Please make checks payable to Westbrook Strong.  100% goes to Matt's Scholarship!

What do you get in return?  An unbelievable awesome feeling of doing something great and a beautiful digital negative of your very own thousand words that you can use any way you wish.

In addition, I will offer three different packages for purchase, all at reasonable rates, and  available for a limited time to receive and enjoy in time for the holidays.

Can't make it that weekend?  Then here's a special offer just for you!
$100.  Limited time slots, must be prepaid.  Thanksgiving Day.  My studio in Westbrook.
(12:00, 12:30, 1:00, 1:30).  Half hour timeslots, perfect for those of you who have college students home for the holidays, or extended family you wish to capture in one photo.  No limit on family size!

What to wear?  All photo shoots will be outside.  (if it is monsooning, we will move indoors to my studio)  Identical clothing and colors are not my style, and need not be yours either, however, if you keep your shirts to solid colors with no patterns and large logos, and your colors coordinate nicely together as a family, you will capture a forever moment in time that is also visually pleasing!

How do you reserve a timeslot?  Email me at minormomentsphotography@gmail.com (please just copy and paste...the link is causing issues to my sanity) and list your requested day and preferred timeslot.  Please give me a range if possible.  I will confirm within 24 hours of your email.      

My personal thoughts.  I wish to thank Laurie and Gary Rairdon for letting me share their thousand words.  Their family portrait was my first family work of art as a professional.  There is no monetary value that can be placed on this photograph.

Together.  Let me photograph your thousand words.

Remembering to be Grateful, Today and Everyday. A Maine Photographer

OK, I'm taking a quick break from my normal routine to remember to be grateful...and today I am choosing to share it with you.
As I sit here typing, I'm hearing the new Pope, Pope Francis, who has just been introduced to the world for the first time, I'm hearing his words of gratefulness on the TV next to me.
Today I am grateful to have friends to share my blog with, my stories, my life.
I am grateful for my husband and my kids.  I am grateful for my dog Chloe, who still hasn't let the cute stud mount her yet.  I'm grateful for the crock pot lasagna I made this morning, so that I can work this afternoon knowing that supper is already made.

Now, here's a new one.  Something I've never really expressed gratitude for...until now.
I'm grateful for the opportunity to teach my passion of digital photography to others.  I'm teaching my third round of digital photography at the local community center.  Again, if you know me, I've expressed many times my love for Jim Carrey's movie "Yes Man" and on a few occasions I have challenged myself to say "yes" to whatever comes my way.  Last fall was one of those times, and when asked if I would teach an "introduction to your digital camera" class, I said "yes" without hesitation.  After saying yes I learned that I would have very limited resources at my disposal...basically I would have a classroom with electricity and tables and chairs.  What I didn't have was Internet or even a big screen to share info on.  It was a learning experience for both my students and myself, as I taught with very little visual aids, and I shared lots of info through emails and links after class.  When asked if I would do it again, this time with a large screen I could hook my laptop too and Internet access, I didn't even hesitate to say yes.  Now here I sit, half a year later, in the middle of my third round of classes. 

OK. I'm going to get personal.  I am insecure.  I am not a teacher.  I'm not the greatest photographer that walks the streets of Westbrook.  I do think I'm somewhat of a comedian.  I do try to follow the law of attraction and live on the "positive" side of life...however, I still am my own worst enemy when it comes to believing in myself.  I do believe one needs to step out of their comfort zone to succeed.  I do believe that everything happens for a reason.  Today I am grateful for saying "yes" last fall to teaching photography. 

So, what brought on this recent revelation? 

Her name is Elizabeth, and she was a student in my last photography class.  Elizabeth received a very nice camera for Christmas, a gift from her husband.  Elizabeth showed up at the first class carrying her new camera, still in the box it was purchased in.  She said she had no idea what to do with it.  That was then.  This past weekend I saw photos on Elizabeth's facebook page...and that's when it hit me.  I may not be the best photographer that walks the streets of Westbrook, but I do have a gift of sharing my knowledge.  Chinese Proverb "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.  Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime"
So, am I worried that I will teach you all so well that there will be no need to hire me to take photos?

"Yes"

I suppose I can just keep teaching.
I asked Elizabeth to let me share her photos.
Don't you dare ask me what kind of camera she has!
Most cameras can do the same thing...you just need to have a good teacher who will teach you how to operate it.  I will add that the "vision" and "creativity" seen in these photos is all Elizabeth's, that, I cannot take credit for!
I taught Elizabeth how to use her very nice camera...and today I am grateful  :)

Being Grateful...One day at a Time

About three years ago I read the book The Secret and it has changed the way I view my life.  I took many notes on the book, and I watched the film, and I do try and believe in the Law of Attraction.  I do falter...but I do try.  Currently I'm reading The Power, also by the same author, Rhonda Byrne.  I'm not a huge reader...so for me to admit I'm reading something...well let's just say some things take awhile.  OK, so the point of today's blog post is that I'm grateful for many things, and I need to remember to be grateful for my many blessings...because being grateful is a very powerful feeling in the concept of the Law of Attraction...and grateful is a good feeling that I want to attract more of.  So here is my Thanksgiving post, and a few of the reasons I am grateful and thankful for today.

I am grateful for being witness to the birth of ten beautiful puppies on Thanksgiving Eve.

I am grateful to my significant other for choosing me to share his life with.

I am grateful for family.

I am grateful for the persistence of my kids...who beg us to do things we may not be in the mood to do...whatever it may be...I'm grateful.

I'm grateful for my photography career...it brings me endless joy.