It's My Dog's 14th Birthday Today!

My Emmie Lou is 14 today and I’m kind of astounded! 14?! I feel like she was JUST a puppy, running around the house in circles, getting her zoomies out and chasing my roommates’ cats! Here are a few of my favorite photos from the past year. I first got Emmie when she was a puppy and it was just before I started my photography journey, and before I knew what I was doing with storing/organizing digital files! I have printed copies of the photos from when she was a pup, but digging through years of digital files that aren’t accurately organized is too daunting to me so I won’t be showing any puppy photos today. Even though she was the cutest-yet-saddest-looking pup and she used to hide under tables when I first brought her home. She’s always been a timid creature, but also the most snuggly little BFF I could’ve asked for. I love this girl, my fur baby, with my whole heart.

Loss, Love and Life in 2020 - A Pandemic Journal Entry

In the event you’re needing some positive, colorful, loving encouragement today, this is for you.

2020 has been a challenge for all of us, that’s for certain. It’s been a tremendous season of loss and heartbreak over here and I’ve been in a grief-stricken state for the majority of the year. Every time I come close to terms with a loss, another one happens. My grandfather passed away at the end of January, the same week as Kobe Bryant. Just over a month later, my friend Jackie passed away unexpectedly in March. And in June, a childhood friend lost a rapid battle with an extremely aggressive brain cancer. Mix in all the turmoil and devastation from the pandemic, in an election year filled with even more police brutality, and I’ve really been struggling. I keep thinking how lucky we were to be able to have a funeral for Grandpa right before the world shut down and my heart aches for those lives who haven’t been properly celebrated yet. It’s all a bit much to handle this year.

I am a feeler, a wear-my-heart-on-my-sleeve-er. I feel everything to the max. Total 4 on the Enneagram, if you’re familiar! I tend to get swallowed in my own darkness, but lately I’ve been wondering about all those in my life I haven’t seen in months. Friends, family, clients. You’re all on my heart and I’m hoping that if life is giving you lemons, you’re making the most of it. If not, you have my deepest appreciation and I hope you’ve turned those lemons into a nice stiff cocktail!

What I’ve found to be the most therapeutic this year is my garden. It’s something to take care of and tend to, other than myself. I’ve been harvesting basil and making pesto every other day and picking small floral bouquets for around our house. I’ve lost two lavender plants this week, and I’m pretty bummed because those are my favorite! Even my horticulture background doesn’t make me immune to plant loss but I’m at a loss as to why they died. I blame the pandemic. Or the 80 trillion ants.

Jackie’s birthday was this past Sunday; she would’ve been just 42. I was out watering, fertilizing and picking flowers this morning when I realized I wanted to create an “edibles” project but when I saw what I was creating, I knew it had to be a tribute to honor her life. Colorful, vibrant and beautiful - just like her. I sure miss you, Jax.

Much love friends. Still missing you all.

xoxo, Courtney

Everyday Life - Lockdown Style Family Photo Session

This lockdown life has been good for me in terms of photography and getting creative! Since I’m not able to get close to people physically when I’m photographing these days, it’s harder to pose and give direction. Especially when really small children are involved. SO… I’ve been documenting more lifestyle/real-life and going back to the roots of what made me fall in love with portrait photography!

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy taking a nice family photo with everyone looking at the camera. That’s what parents want, usually, and I also appreciate those types of photos with my own family as well. But, what makes my heart soar the most is when I take a bit of a fly-on-the-wall approach. When people forget that I’m even there, that’s when I make some of my most favorite photos I ever take. They show genuine emotions & reactions. They’re not “too posed” or stiff. People let their guards down. They’re too busy just being themselves and not worrying about how they might look on camera. Typically, this is pretty easy to do with kids in general because they aren’t as self-conscious about how they look and their attention spans are shorter so they forget I’m there quicker! ;)

If you’re photographing your own kids at home these days, try this approach instead of asking them to smile! They’ll appreciate it and you’ll hopefully love those in-the-moment photos even more. Time goes by so quickly, let’s document real moments in real life.

Stay safe, friends.