you have to dream, you have to have a vision, and you have to set a goal for yourself that might even scare you a little because sometimes that seems far beyond your reach. then I think you have to develop a kind of resistance to rejection, and to the disappointments that are sure to come your way.
- gregory peck
i'm working on it. working on developing a resistance to our continued disappointment of not being able to buy a home here in san diego. we live in military housing and while our house is fine and in a great location, we so want to own. we want to have a house we call our own. steve works nightly (for hours) researching homes, homes that are affordable (which is kind of a joke here in san diego) and in a good location. it's hard. we don't find much and what we do find is small and a huge fixer-upper and...always over $500K. we keep finding these fixer uppers that we think we could work with but then something happens. usually it's me getting too scared, convincing steve that we just can't do it for one reason or another. but i swore to myself that this was going to be the one. this was it...this was going to be *our* house.
with each house we don't get, it's such a disappointment. i feel like it's me extinguishing our dream of owning our own home.
i don't think i've ever wanted something so bad and felt so far away from obtaining it. every day...i dream, i hope, i pray that we'll find that home that we can call our own and each time i'm disappointed to find out that the house that i thought might be it...isn't.
with all that said, i got a bunch of wonderful emails from clients and colleagues today. one client shared, Prince William never had such fabulous baby pics! i couldn't help but giggle and be so appreciative of her comments and email (and i let her know how appreciative i was). i keep thinking that those emails came today for a reason. as i dwelled on my computer problems and not getting a house (again), i countered it with the wonderful emails that i received today. it helps me shake off the disappointment a bit. i know i'll get over it. maybe even resistant to it one of these times. i know it will happen when the time is right. we will find *our house* when the time is right.
all in all, i have not a damn thing to complain about. when times are a bit disappointing, i just need to remember how lucky i am to have all that i have! not the material things. but all the things that are within and throughout. all those things that i have, that cannot be touched. truly. i am blessed.
thanks for reading.
thanks for the wonderful emails and comments.
here's a shot that i took of sky today...
- gregory peck
i'm working on it. working on developing a resistance to our continued disappointment of not being able to buy a home here in san diego. we live in military housing and while our house is fine and in a great location, we so want to own. we want to have a house we call our own. steve works nightly (for hours) researching homes, homes that are affordable (which is kind of a joke here in san diego) and in a good location. it's hard. we don't find much and what we do find is small and a huge fixer-upper and...always over $500K. we keep finding these fixer uppers that we think we could work with but then something happens. usually it's me getting too scared, convincing steve that we just can't do it for one reason or another. but i swore to myself that this was going to be the one. this was it...this was going to be *our* house.
with each house we don't get, it's such a disappointment. i feel like it's me extinguishing our dream of owning our own home.
i don't think i've ever wanted something so bad and felt so far away from obtaining it. every day...i dream, i hope, i pray that we'll find that home that we can call our own and each time i'm disappointed to find out that the house that i thought might be it...isn't.
with all that said, i got a bunch of wonderful emails from clients and colleagues today. one client shared, Prince William never had such fabulous baby pics! i couldn't help but giggle and be so appreciative of her comments and email (and i let her know how appreciative i was). i keep thinking that those emails came today for a reason. as i dwelled on my computer problems and not getting a house (again), i countered it with the wonderful emails that i received today. it helps me shake off the disappointment a bit. i know i'll get over it. maybe even resistant to it one of these times. i know it will happen when the time is right. we will find *our house* when the time is right.
all in all, i have not a damn thing to complain about. when times are a bit disappointing, i just need to remember how lucky i am to have all that i have! not the material things. but all the things that are within and throughout. all those things that i have, that cannot be touched. truly. i am blessed.
thanks for reading.
thanks for the wonderful emails and comments.
here's a shot that i took of sky today...
i believe the single most significant decision i can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. it is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my successes or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me, my circumstances, or my position. attitude keeps me going or cripples my progress. it alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. when my attitudes are right, there is no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me.
- charles r. swindoll
my morning today began with packing up my car for a newborn shoot and what did i find? my car was rummaged through and my GPS was stolen. everything was open and thrown all over my car. i happened to already be running late so finding my car broken into, i was not happy...not one bit. my immediate thoughts were nothing but grumpy, angry thoughts. but after a few moments, i realized that i had to shake it off and change my attitude b/c i had a newborn shoot to go to. and they deserved my 100%. so i worked on thinking positive thoughts -- ones about how lucky i was that there wasn't more in my car, that i was thankful that my garage or house wasn't broken into...that i was thankful we were all safe. i also thought about how lucky i am to be doing a profession i so love and how excited i was to be photographing this newborn today. and i swear...it worked. newborns are often tough to photograph (for me) b/c i like the baby to be asleep and well...that doesn't always happen as quickly as i'd like. so i arrived at my client's home and little A was sound asleep. i photographed her for about 30 minutes, until she woke up. mom fed her and then back to sleep she was. it was such a wonderful, fun session.
i try to always remember...
it is *my* attitude which will ultimately affect the outcome of each and every day.
meet miss A, who was the smiley-est newborn i've photographed so far.
and big sister, K, who i had a blast playing with during our session.
- charles r. swindoll
my morning today began with packing up my car for a newborn shoot and what did i find? my car was rummaged through and my GPS was stolen. everything was open and thrown all over my car. i happened to already be running late so finding my car broken into, i was not happy...not one bit. my immediate thoughts were nothing but grumpy, angry thoughts. but after a few moments, i realized that i had to shake it off and change my attitude b/c i had a newborn shoot to go to. and they deserved my 100%. so i worked on thinking positive thoughts -- ones about how lucky i was that there wasn't more in my car, that i was thankful that my garage or house wasn't broken into...that i was thankful we were all safe. i also thought about how lucky i am to be doing a profession i so love and how excited i was to be photographing this newborn today. and i swear...it worked. newborns are often tough to photograph (for me) b/c i like the baby to be asleep and well...that doesn't always happen as quickly as i'd like. so i arrived at my client's home and little A was sound asleep. i photographed her for about 30 minutes, until she woke up. mom fed her and then back to sleep she was. it was such a wonderful, fun session.
i try to always remember...
it is *my* attitude which will ultimately affect the outcome of each and every day.
meet miss A, who was the smiley-est newborn i've photographed so far.
and big sister, K, who i had a blast playing with during our session.
you don't have to be the best.
you just have to be better than last week.
- jerry ghionis
jerry ghionis. the last photographer | speaker we were able to see today at WPPI. not only was he incredibly inspiring, he was informative, funny, real and personable. his presentation was two hours but i could have easily listened to him all day (even sitting on the floor like we were; the theatre was totally full when we got there). you can check jerry's website out here.
WPPI. all i can say is...amazing. it was everything that i had hoped for and more. i'm exhausted but so ready to implement many of the things i learned and saw. there will be some pretty big and exciting changes for deb schwedhelm photography in the VERY near future. i highly recommend WPPI to any and all photographers. next year's conference will be feb 14th through 19th (mark your calendars ;-).
now. i have lots of catching up to do and i'm ready to get back to where i left off (just not at this moment; it's 2 AM...yikes!). i'm so excited and inspired. but i also know that i have lots of work ahead of me.
the photo is my dear friend's oldest daughter. we had planned a family shoot outside but who would have known vegas would be 45 degrees and crazy windy. so we switched things up and did photos inside. it was so wonderful to see my friends again.
all of the top achievers i know are life-long learners...
looking for new skills, insights and ideas.
if they're not learning, they're not growing...
not moving towards excellence.
- denis waitley
i'm off to vegas to attend the biggest tradeshow in professional photography, put on by wedding & portrait photographers international (wppi). i will be gone march 14th through 19th.
i'm super excited to see old friends (some that i haven't seen in 10 years), meet new friends, learn, share and be inspired.
if you're a photographer attending wppi and want to get together, drop me an email. i'd love to meet you!
for existing and potential clients, please keep in mind that after today, i will be unable to respond to inquiries and emails until i return.
looking for new skills, insights and ideas.
if they're not learning, they're not growing...
not moving towards excellence.
- denis waitley
i'm off to vegas to attend the biggest tradeshow in professional photography, put on by wedding & portrait photographers international (wppi). i will be gone march 14th through 19th.
i'm super excited to see old friends (some that i haven't seen in 10 years), meet new friends, learn, share and be inspired.
if you're a photographer attending wppi and want to get together, drop me an email. i'd love to meet you!
for existing and potential clients, please keep in mind that after today, i will be unable to respond to inquiries and emails until i return.
a man is happy so long as he chooses to be happy and nothing can stop him.
- alexander solzenitsyn
so today was haircut day for the little ones. i didn't realize how poofy ryder's hair was until he sat in the haircut chair and i was like...yikes, i think i waited a tad too long on this cut. the whole way home, i told my kids how great their hair looked, etc. once home, ryder kept saying,
am i handsome momma?
yes ryder, SO handsome.
it was the cutest thing. over and over again, with that sweet little smile. so proud of his new look.
i decided to take pics of their new dos (as in hairdos). and immediately, when i saw this photo of ryder, i thought of this photo of sky that i had taken almost a year ago. i so adore how similar their smiles are. (see photos below.)
stay with me on this one; it's worth it (well, at least i think so :-) ...
the kids and i went to target tonight (trying to find shoes for the photography workshop/tradeshow i'm going to, in vegas, this weekend) and of course, i spent way too much money. target does that to me. yes, i did find a couple pairs of shoes but i also found the kids pajamas, dresses, jeans and a few toys. oh yea, and transformer undies for ryder (ha...that's what this is all about). so ryder just loves his undies. i'm a boxer girl and began by buying him boxer briefs. somehow i accidentally bought him regular briefs one day and he's been hooked ever since. it seems that we now collect them--spiderman, cars, power rangers, etc. when we got home from the store tonight, kiele noticed that they were not only the beloved transformer undies, they glow in the dark. so of course, ryder wants to wear his new undies to bed. he takes off his jammies, puts on his new undies and proceeds to jump around. i turn and look at him and he starts slapping his hips.
ryder, what are you doing?
they're not lighting up momma.
oh-my-gosh. i was laughing so hard. he was trying to get his undies to glow in the dark (light up) like his tennies do.
i just love my kids so much. day after day, they are saying the funniest, wittiest things that make me laugh so hard.
my kids make me so...
happy!
- alexander solzenitsyn
so today was haircut day for the little ones. i didn't realize how poofy ryder's hair was until he sat in the haircut chair and i was like...yikes, i think i waited a tad too long on this cut. the whole way home, i told my kids how great their hair looked, etc. once home, ryder kept saying,
am i handsome momma?
yes ryder, SO handsome.
it was the cutest thing. over and over again, with that sweet little smile. so proud of his new look.
i decided to take pics of their new dos (as in hairdos). and immediately, when i saw this photo of ryder, i thought of this photo of sky that i had taken almost a year ago. i so adore how similar their smiles are. (see photos below.)
stay with me on this one; it's worth it (well, at least i think so :-) ...
the kids and i went to target tonight (trying to find shoes for the photography workshop/tradeshow i'm going to, in vegas, this weekend) and of course, i spent way too much money. target does that to me. yes, i did find a couple pairs of shoes but i also found the kids pajamas, dresses, jeans and a few toys. oh yea, and transformer undies for ryder (ha...that's what this is all about). so ryder just loves his undies. i'm a boxer girl and began by buying him boxer briefs. somehow i accidentally bought him regular briefs one day and he's been hooked ever since. it seems that we now collect them--spiderman, cars, power rangers, etc. when we got home from the store tonight, kiele noticed that they were not only the beloved transformer undies, they glow in the dark. so of course, ryder wants to wear his new undies to bed. he takes off his jammies, puts on his new undies and proceeds to jump around. i turn and look at him and he starts slapping his hips.
ryder, what are you doing?
they're not lighting up momma.
oh-my-gosh. i was laughing so hard. he was trying to get his undies to glow in the dark (light up) like his tennies do.
i just love my kids so much. day after day, they are saying the funniest, wittiest things that make me laugh so hard.
my kids make me so...
happy!
come fairies, take me out of this dull world,
for i would ride with you upon the wind
and dance upon the mountains like a flame.
- william butler yeats
this is one of kiele's best friends, J. she's been around horses her entire life. and she is one with her horse. it amazes me to watch. i watch in awe. awe of the beauty and their relationship.
kiele met J this year. J is kiele's assigned buddy at school. if kiele can't hear or something along those lines, kiele has this one assigned person to turn to. it's an important relationship for a deaf/hard of hearing child. and as a parent, you can only hope that it will be a great one. kiele and J hadn't really known each other prior to this year but, with so many similarities, it didn't take long till they were the best of friends. recently, J started asking kiele to go to the ranch with her family on the weekends. there, kiele gets to do everything with the horses (cleaning, feeding, riding, etc.). she is learning so much. soon, J's mom will begin giving kiele horseback lessons.
i'm so thankful for kiele and J's friendship and this wonderful gift that J and her mom are sharing with kiele. the entire way home from J's house, we were talking about how lucky kiele is...to have such a great friend.
i hope to take many more photos of J and kiele at the horse ranch. and...foals are due in may and june. i can't wait.
for i would ride with you upon the wind
and dance upon the mountains like a flame.
- william butler yeats
this is one of kiele's best friends, J. she's been around horses her entire life. and she is one with her horse. it amazes me to watch. i watch in awe. awe of the beauty and their relationship.
kiele met J this year. J is kiele's assigned buddy at school. if kiele can't hear or something along those lines, kiele has this one assigned person to turn to. it's an important relationship for a deaf/hard of hearing child. and as a parent, you can only hope that it will be a great one. kiele and J hadn't really known each other prior to this year but, with so many similarities, it didn't take long till they were the best of friends. recently, J started asking kiele to go to the ranch with her family on the weekends. there, kiele gets to do everything with the horses (cleaning, feeding, riding, etc.). she is learning so much. soon, J's mom will begin giving kiele horseback lessons.
i'm so thankful for kiele and J's friendship and this wonderful gift that J and her mom are sharing with kiele. the entire way home from J's house, we were talking about how lucky kiele is...to have such a great friend.
i hope to take many more photos of J and kiele at the horse ranch. and...foals are due in may and june. i can't wait.
grace was in all her steps,
heaven in her eye,
in every gesture dignity and love.
- john milton
i think this quote could have been written for kiele. everyone who meets her knows. there's always been something special about kiele; something that is almost indescribable. people often tell me what a great child kiele is--how she's special--and i always tell them that it's because of kiele. nothing that i have done. there is a goodness in her soul that seeps out her pours. a goodness that cannot be taught. i have no doubt that she will make a great impact on this world someday...greater than i could ever imagine.
kiele has taught me more about life than anyone else ever has. and yes, she has taught me grace, dignity and love. now if only i could be half of what she is. she is one amazing child and i'm so proud and lucky to be her mother.
heaven in her eye,
in every gesture dignity and love.
- john milton
i think this quote could have been written for kiele. everyone who meets her knows. there's always been something special about kiele; something that is almost indescribable. people often tell me what a great child kiele is--how she's special--and i always tell them that it's because of kiele. nothing that i have done. there is a goodness in her soul that seeps out her pours. a goodness that cannot be taught. i have no doubt that she will make a great impact on this world someday...greater than i could ever imagine.
kiele has taught me more about life than anyone else ever has. and yes, she has taught me grace, dignity and love. now if only i could be half of what she is. she is one amazing child and i'm so proud and lucky to be her mother.
...if you try.
come to the edge, he said.
they said, we are afraid.
come to the edge, he said.
they came.
he pushed them and they flew.
- guillaume apollinaire
come to the edge, he said.
they said, we are afraid.
come to the edge, he said.
they came.
he pushed them and they flew.
- guillaume apollinaire
every great dream begins with a dreamer.
always remember...
you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion
to reach for the stars to change the world.
- harriet tubman
i truly believe...
if you're passionate about it
and dedicated,
anything is possible.
don't forget to dream.
and dream big.
always remember...
you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion
to reach for the stars to change the world.
- harriet tubman
i truly believe...
if you're passionate about it
and dedicated,
anything is possible.
don't forget to dream.
and dream big.
individually, we are one drop.
together, we are an ocean.
- ryunosuke satoro
together, we are an ocean.
- ryunosuke satoro
for you i know
i'd even try to turn the tide.
- johnny cash
so today was a maternity session. everything was going along great and then all of a sudden, while laying on the sand getting a shot, i was knocked in the head by a massive kite. not the kind that a child flies. nope, i was knocked in the head with one of those huge windsurfing kites. he was done kite surfing and carrying his kite somewhere...and i guess he just didn't see me. the kite whacked me in the head and then i got tangled in the cords. i was fine but my camera...ugh...full of sand. it was actually quite funny and the client and i were laughing our butts off. anything for the shot, right ;-)
and i don't know what is up with my web uploading but all my images appear lighter than they actually look. grrrr. my computer and i are not getting along well at the moment.
i'd even try to turn the tide.
- johnny cash
so today was a maternity session. everything was going along great and then all of a sudden, while laying on the sand getting a shot, i was knocked in the head by a massive kite. not the kind that a child flies. nope, i was knocked in the head with one of those huge windsurfing kites. he was done kite surfing and carrying his kite somewhere...and i guess he just didn't see me. the kite whacked me in the head and then i got tangled in the cords. i was fine but my camera...ugh...full of sand. it was actually quite funny and the client and i were laughing our butts off. anything for the shot, right ;-)
and i don't know what is up with my web uploading but all my images appear lighter than they actually look. grrrr. my computer and i are not getting along well at the moment.