Dear Elijah,

You are one lucky boy.  Your mom and dad are a rare gift to this world and specifically our community.  They are loyal and faithful friends, and already committed parents.  You’re not even here yet, but you’ve been loved so well.  You have been prayed for, taken care of, and thought of long before we even knew you were coming.  I can’t wait to meet you and see your little personality… and teach you some awesome dance moves!

Love,

Kat

There are six children in my family.  Yep, you read right:  I am one of 6 kids, which basically makes my mom a saint.  The older I get the more I realize what an amazingly strong woman she is.

Grace is my youngest sister.  My mom had her when I was a senior in high school if you can believe it.  When she was a new born I used to take her to the mall to go shopping with me, and everyone would comment on how good I looked with having such a small baby!  Did I correct them, and let them know she was my sister, not my baby?  No way; it was too much fun to pretend I was a teen mom!

Grace is 9 now, and although she lives in Texas we are super close.  She’s my pen pal, and we write to each other about things like Justin Bieber, and her new genie trolls that she buys off e-bay.  It’s also not uncommon to come back from a run and find that I have 15 text messages all from her; it cracks me up and makes me feel special.

Over Christmas we snuck away and took some pictures in our backyard and alleyway.  These pictures are the essence of my precious little sister.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do:)

I love you Grace.

“Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor.  It’s a gift to the world and every being in it.  Don’t cheat us of your contribution.  Give us what you got”.

Steven Pressfield, The War of Art

My blog has felt quiet lately.  I don’t know if it has felt that way to you.  The surface may have looked still the last month, but just below so much has been happening.  In a sense I’ve been on this journey of discovery.  By the time 2011 ended I felt as an artist (and to be honest as a person)…well I felt burnt out.  I lost sight of the why, and began to go through the motions in my craft.

I felt dry, and uninspired…not sure what to do next or what I should/could/ought to do next. Then I began to read The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, and slowly I felt a change.  Maybe change is the wrong word.  I felt a resolve.  A resolve to press into my craft not for the sake of status or fame, but a resolve to be a more true artist.

I think what people connect with is honesty.  When I read a John Steinbeck book I know it’s him.  There’s a certain rhythm, a distinct voice to his work.  All I need is a few seconds to know that a particular song is by Jonsí. I can spot a Peggy Sirota image from a mile away.  I connect with these artists because they are (or at least seem to be) exerting their own voice and not mimicking another’s success.  They are trailblazing a new path.  Maybe there are some fakes out there that are successful, but I’m starting to wonder if the most successful people are those that know themselves and vulnerably offer their craft from a very personal place.

The truth is that I’m in the beginning stages of my craft, and I’m still looking for my voice, my rhythm, what defines me as an artist.  I come into 2012 with a resolve though.  A resolve to push myself as an artist, do shoots that are completely out of my comfort zone, open my work to other artists for criticism, and to keep moving.

Even if it’s small, tiny, almost unnoticed steps I am committed to movement.  There may not be overnight success, in fact I already have a few bumps and bruises, but there will be growth…a quiet growth.

Pssst…here’s a sneak of a recent shoot I did with LA based model Jessica Seeley.

This was not a typical day in Santa Monica.  The marine layer rolled in early afternoon, and turned the ever busy and fast paced Santa Monica into a quiet, peaceful, and intimate setting.  (Folks outside of Southern California…Santa Monica is everything but quiet!)  But  what was perfect about this is it’s just what Molly and Hunter wanted. A small intimate beach wedding with their favorite people.

Born and raised in the South, Hunter and Molly ventured to Santa Monica last year for work, and as their time here was coming to a close none of their family had come to visit them.  So…why not plan their wedding in Santa Monica…that’ll get people out here right?  Right!  Molly and Hunter rented a GORGEOUS house in the Malibu Hills for the closest friends and family, and celebrated  their marriage, their move back to the South, and New Year’s Eve!  I couldn’t think of a more fun way to close out a year could you?

Thank you so much Aaron Young for letting me shoot this fabulous New Year’s Eve wedding with you; it was a wonderful way to cap of 2011! Check out Aaron’s images from the wedding HERE.

It never fails; each time I drive to San Diego my heart gets this anticipation…I’m not sure what heaven will look or be like, but I kind of hope it’s something like San Diego.

On Saturday I could not wait to spend time with Mariana and Craig.  From our first meeting I knew they were a special couple.

Craig and Mariana are adventurous, caring, generous, and a live-life-to-the-fullest kind of couple.  In fact Craig and his friends are climbing Machu Picchu for his Bachelor party…that’s not a big deal at all right?

They live minutes from the beach (which I’m super jealous of), and so we spent the afternoon traipsing all over Del Mar.  These are some of my favorite shots from our time together.  Guys I cannot wait for your wedding in September, thank you thank you for hanging and being adventurous with me last weekend:)

As we drove to Temcula for this outdoor wedding; it was pouring down rain.  The windshield wipers clapped back and forth loudly as if to prove they were working extra hard.  Since when does it monsoon in Southern California?  As we pulled up to the winery; it was raining.  As we were taking detail and getting ready shots; it rained.  Then, right before their first look until right after the ceremony we experienced a little miracle.

The rain stopped, and the sun broke through; it was such a gift.  These two could not have been more thrilled.  Their intimate wedding of family and a few close friends had this sense of readiness and peace.  It was filled with quiet moments, and also bursts of laughter and some sweet tears of excitement and happiness.  Thank you so much for allowing me to capture such an intimate affair!

It was a gift to shoot this wedding with my fabulous friend and wonderful photographer Melissa Vossler!

So much of life is about timing.  My dad likes to remind me that things tend to happen just right at the moment when they’re supposed to take place.  Not a second late, or a moment too soon.

Johnny and Erika lived on the same street just a few houses away from each other for 10 years, and neither of them knew the other was alive let alone that they would some day be getting married to one another.  Both wanting to be married…but it just wasn’t the right time.  Then a little over a year ago, Johnny and Erika met at church.  Several months after meeting they were flying overseas for a missions trip sitting next to each other talking about life, their dreams, and their goals–and it hit him.  He was sitting next to the woman he was going to marry. But timing.  So he waited until for the right time, just a few short months later on another overseas trip and proposed.

What is special to me about this couple is their patience.  They waited patiently for one another.  Patience is one of those qualities that we all like to say we have, but then when we’re stuck in traffic slamming on our horn because someone just cut us off we (or should I say I) realize how little patience I truly have.  However, these two exude patience in their lives and in their relationship with each other.  Johnny, I love how you make Erika laugh, and Erika I love how you constantly play pranks on Johnny.  You’re my kinda girl.  I feel blessed to get to shoot your wedding next month!

Thanks for spending the afternoon with me at one of my most favorite places in Los Angeles:  Griffith Observatory.

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Leonardo da Vinci

Creative Direction/Stylist/Everything woman:  Jackie, Mercí New York

Jewelry:  Jupiter Jewelry

Model:  Kira, Fenton Moon Models

Gowns:  Gabriella Bridal Salon

Florals:  AvaFlorals

Hair:  Maysoon, FaceTime Beauty Concierge

Make-up:  Sharon, FaceTime Beauty Concierge

About three years ago I was hanging with my friend and Sarah Shreves one day in San Diego.  As we were chatting about our lives and dreams she was backing up images from a recent shoot–”what does ‘backing up images’ mean”, I asked blindly.  (This was back when photography was more of a distant dream in my life).  Needless to say to do a test shoot with her a few weeks ago was kinda a little dream come true.

Over the past few years Sarah (along with our community) has pushed, challenged, and encouraged me to not just ‘go for’ photography, but to RUN boldly after it.

Sarah, you still are one of my most favorite people as well as one of the most actively creative people I know.  You push the envelope, think outside the box, and view your life, your career, your faith holistically.  Thanks for getting creative with me.  I eagerly await our next project together darlin:)

PS.  Sarah took some shots of me as well; it’s a totally different story being on the other side of the camera. I was honored to be in front of this woman’s lens.  Take a look at her blog and the images HERE.

It’s hard for me to believe that three years ago photography was something I only dreamed about.  Little did I know that photography would soon woo me in such a way that it would become my life’s passion.  When I get to take pictures of people, my soul comes alive.  It feels like I’m running, jumping, and dancing barefoot through an endless field.

I feel free, and I feel more me when I shoot than when I do anything else.  It’s such a gift to be able to pursue and do what I love.

When Jackie of Mercí New York approached me last fall to do a Look Book for Jupiter Jewelry in New York I all but ran around the room and danced throughout the office.  (All of this sounds dramatic, but I tend to be on the dramatic side…)  On an early rainy fall New York City morning, Jackie and I left Manhattan all packed for the shoot and ready to go.  The day was over in what seemed like minutes.  Hands down this was one of the most fun shoots I have ever done.

What has come from this shoot is more than I could have dreamed.  I am so honored an privileged to have worked with Mercí New York and Jupiter Jewelry on this shoot.

Ladies, this was a dream come true for me.  Thank you thank you thank you times 10 for allowing me to collaborate with you all.

Now here’s the rrrrreally exciting news:  Utterly Engaged featured our shoot for their Cover editorial for their January Sparkles and Crystals Issue.  Please go check them out and the issue HERE.  Lucia, you are a gem, and I have loved getting to know you and can’t wait to partner again with you and your wonderful team!

Vendors:

Creative Direction and Stylist: Jackie of Mercí New York

Jewelry:  Jupiter Jewelry

Florals:  Ava Florals

Gowns:  Gabriella Bridal Salon, Rent the Runway, and Mercí New York Style Salon

View Utterly Engaged’s Editorial HERE.

View Behind the Scenes images from the day HERE.

PS…Thank you Trent Bailey for assisting me, and for being a bomb friend!