Shackleford Banks Trip

I'm sure vacation photos aren't normally super exciting for others to go through so I'd thought I'd keep things simple and show some highlights from a trip I recently took over to the island of Shackleford Banks.

Shackleford Banks is special in that it is home to more than 110 wild horses. Only accessible via boat, you are free to explore the 9-mile long on foot in search of a glimpse of these feral beauties. When you finally lay eyes on one, it is pretty magical - almost like you have discovered a real, live unicorn.

Of course, there are other amazing creatures that call Shackleford Banks home and, honestly, it may be easier to find a few of them. Heck, we even stumbled upon a naked man hiking across the island (sorry, no pics)! To give him credit, it was pretty hot in the sun but I sure hope he had bug spray in his backpack - the mosquitoes out there were huge!!! Aside from the random naked dude, it is a wonderful place to visit!

I don't know of many things more magical than a wild horse walking down a deserted beach. Simply amazing...

If you ever make the trip to Shackleford Banks, I highly recommend using the ferry service from Island Ferry Adventures. Also, be sure to pack food, water, bug spray and sun screen! And, most importantly, remember the horses are wild so give them space!!!

What My Paws Are Diggin' - Personal

It's a New Year and that means resolutions to be a better person, get in shape, lose weight, etc. Because of that, I wanted this installment of What My Paws Are Diggin' to be a little more personal and focus on us 2-leggers. This time, I'm going to share with you some things that I personally use and love and they have helped me move down a path of health and happiness. Hopefully, you might discover something that will help you reach your 2013 goals!

1) Mumford & Sons: Ok, so maybe this one won't make you lose weight or get healthy but I promise it will make you happy! I just love Mumford & Sons! Their music is amazing and I'm obsessed with watching them perform (do a search on YouTube!). They are stellar songwriters and musicians and I finally get to see them in concert this Valentine's Day! Yay!!! Happy, happy, happy! :)

2) Bio Ionic StyleWinder: I have a ton of people ask me what I use to curl my hair with. I was introduced to this curling iron a couple years ago and now I use it ALL the time! It's unique in that you turn the barrel with your fingers - kind of. It's hard to explain but trust me, it works, it's super easy, it gives you "beachy" waves, and they last! I highly recommend this if you are trying to save time but still want a finished look to your do!

3) Hurom Juicer: I've always loved to juice fruits and veggies but this juicer has taken it to another level for me. It's a slow juicer which extracts more juice from your produce and results in a higher quality juice with less foam and oxidation. If you want to get more fruits and vegetables in your diet, this is the way to go! Lately, I've been starting my mornings with a pineapple/apple juice and I promise, it's like liquid sunshine! And you know what they say - you are what you eat (and in this case, drink). I know I'd really like to be a ray of sunshine!

If you don't know anything about juicing or it's benefits, check out a juicing class at your local Williams-Sonoma or watch Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead (it's available on Netflix).

4) P90X: So this is for the whole get-in-shape thing. Honestly, last year I was completely slack in this department so I'm stepping it up this year. I've done a cycle of P90X in the past so I know it works! It had me doing push-ups all over the place and probably in the best shape I've been in since high school. I started again at the beginning of the year and, while I currently can barely move because I'm so sore, I know I'll see changes very soon!

5) Vitamix Blender: This is the newest collection to the things I love. I've wanted a Vitamix for years and years but it was never in the budget. When my ghetto blender broke about a month ago, I finally bit the bullet and went for the Vitamix. OMG! I should not have waited so long!!! This thing is amazing and makes awesome smoothies, banana ice cream, homemade dressings and so much more! It is such a wonderful tool to have for a vegan, raw-foodist, or anyone that wants to make healthy meals at home!

6) Bean Vegan Cuisine: As many of you know, I have been a vegan for over 7 years now. While I never push my diet on others, I always try to help out if someone has questions and is thinking about going down the same path. One question that I always get is, "what DO you eat?" Well, trust me, there are plenty of things to eat but I'm also very excited that a new vegan restaurant has opened up in Charlotte. It might not be super-healthy and they even describe their food as comfort foods, but it is a great place to try out some delicious cruelty- and animal-free options. My personal favorite is the jalapeño/cheddar burger (my mouth is watering right now)! Even my meat-loving husband has turned away from chicken with the help of their buffalo fingers. Oh, and their Kitty-Kat Cake is unbelievable!!! Even if you aren't following a vegan diet, you should check it out!

To learn more about a vegan diet, check out Forks Over Knives. It's available on Netflix too!

The 13 Project

Chances are, if you visit my blog, check out my website, or follow me on Facebook, you are an animal lover. If you are an animal lover, chances are, you also get inundated with information about dogs on death row, overcrowding in shelters, abuse cases, poor practices in factory farms, etc. Sometimes it gets to be so overwhelming. It can get to the point where you feel hopeless. It can feel like you - one little person - can't make a difference. Trust me, I know the feeling.

The 13 Project was started by the wonderful Serena at the blog Pretty Fluffy. She wants to prove that each individual CAN make a difference. And together, we can make a HUGE impact.

The 13 Project's initiative is to perform 13 acts of kindness towards animals before 2013 (or as many as you can). This movement is spreading like wildfire and proves that every little thing you do can help the beloved animals here in our world. To read more about this amazing cause, please check out all of the details at the Pretty Fluffy blog.

I invite you to start a list for yourself and see what you can get accomplished by the end of the year. You may surprise yourself! Perhaps you can donate goods or services to your local shelter, have your own fundraiser, start volunteering, write a politician about policies in your area...the list could go on and on!

So here is my list of 13 acts of kindness to perform before 2013:

1) Continue photographing adoptable dogs from the Humane Society of Charlotte.

2) Do a super-special photo shoot for one adoptable dog and share the story and images on my blog and Facebook until he/she gets adopted.

3) Donate a Gift Certificate to a fundraiser benefiting a local shelter.

4) Donate photography to a fundraising event benefiting a local rescue.

5) Promote the local spay/neuter clinic and low-cost vaccination clinic on Facebook.

6) Write a blog post on veganism.

7) Coach someone down the path of vegetarianism/veganism.

8) Continue clearing out my home of toxic cleaners, toiletries, and personal products and boycott items that may have been tested on animals and/or are not good for the environment.

9) Share the story of a puppy mill dog.

10) Learn about the candidates running for Commissioner of Agriculture and vote for one that supports legislation to stop the horrible puppy mill situation in North Carolina.

11) Share a local rescue's Wish List.

12) Collect my pets' old towels, toys, and beds to donate to a local rescue.

13) Spread the word about the 13 Project

So what will be on your list? Let me know in the comments below. Let's inspire one-another! <3

Back in the Day...

A common question all photographers are asked is, "How did you get started in photography?" Well, in my case, I took my first photography class in the seventh grade and I was instantly hooked. I must have known it was something special because I kept my notebook from that semester way back in 1990. I've even kept all of my prints, negatives, and test strips! Occasionally I like to pull out my notebook because it takes me back to the beginning - back to when all of that information was so new to me. I like to remember the passion that was stirred up inside and the excitement I had for totally "getting" something and being "good" at it. (PS - check out the pic below. Haha! My maiden name!)When people ask me how to get started in photography or even how to improve their skills, I always recommend taking a photography course. Sure, there are a ton of amazing, self-taught photographers out there. However, not everyone has the discipline to learn the f-stops, shutter speed settings and ISO values and how they interconnect. We were required to memorize all of these numbers and know what to do when one or two of those numbers changed - it became second nature and we were regularly tested on that. Plus, we learned about composition, expression and many fun photographic techniques.Of course, we also learned how to process film and develop our own prints. While those things might not seem relative to today's business of "developing" your images in Photoshop, it actually is! Many of the tools in Photoshop come directly from the darkroom including dodging, burning, masking, filters, sponging, etc. If you know the history, you understand why the Photoshop tools do what they do and look the way they look.Anyway, thanks for tagging along on this trip down memory lane. If I only knew then what I know now... :)

My New Diggs

I am beyond excited to finally share this post with you! For months and months and months, I was tossing around the idea of renting a space so I could meet with clients, show them samples, go over their images, etc. You see, for the past few years, I've been taking my tiny laptop and lugging my huge samples to my clients' houses and the whole process had been awkward and not-so-special for them. I've been displaying Canvases on kitchen floors and Coffee Table Albums on the breakfast bar between kids' dinner plates - not the most ideal conditions. I really wanted a space where my client's could see artwork on the walls and where I could offer them something to drink. So the search began.

I looked for several months before I found a place that would work for me. I finally settled on a Key-man office space on Catawba Ave. in Cornelius - basically an office suite that is divided into several smaller offices. My office shares a common entrance, restroom, and kitchen area with 5 other offices. The office itself is pretty small - just 10'x13' - but it has everything I need. I have 24/7 access, plenty of natural light, and, most importantly, the ability to decorate the way I want!

When I moved into the space, it was a blank slate. It had hideous pale green walls that made me sick when mixed with the harsh overhead fluorescent lighting. Painting came first! I wanted the office to echo the colors found on my website so I went with a very pale grey color. It is almost white so it doesn't take away from the artwork in the room.

The only decor I had for the space were my samples, a wood console/desk, and an acrylic chair. Everything else had to be purchased or made. Again, I wanted to echo my branding so I brought in a lot of warm, rustic texture with wood, linen, jute, and wicker. I contrasted this with cleaner mid-century modern lines found in the couch, coffee table, and TV storage. I am certainly not a designer and it's not 100% complete, but I'm beyond happy with it so far!!! :)

This is basically the view as you walk in...

This is the view from the couch. When the curtains are drawn, my clients can view their slideshow and images on the TV. This is great for visualizing how their images will look as large artwork. It has helped them tremendously so far and is SO much better than the 13" laptop I was using in the past.Some of the things I love most about the space are the personal, little details. Because I started from scratch, many of the pieces of decor were either handmade or chosen just for this office.For example, this shelf was handmade. My handy husband and I cut the wood to size, stained it, finished it and added the hardware. It holds the framed covers of the past two Lake Norman Currents Magazine pet issues as well as adorable cardboard animal cutouts I purchased from Macy's in NYC while I was there for the Westminster Dog Show.The coat hanger was also handmade and finished in the same manner as the shelving. I even busted out the drill and added the hooks myself!My favorite handmade item is by far the coffee table. I saw this idea on Pinterest (my best friend as I was getting inspiration) and knew I had to make it. I purchased the mid-century modern legs from hairpinlegs.com. The top was purchased from Lowes, cut to my specs, and finished with the same stain as the shelves. I LOVE how it turned out and it adds a modern but warm twist to the room. I'm definitely going to make one for my home next!Isn't the wood/stain combo gorgeous?!It's so nice to be able to spread out the Coffee Table Albums on a table made just for them...I found this little camera at HomeGoods and knew I had to have it right away. I mean, it's a camera and it has a gorgeous wood base. Who could say no?Another one of my favorite items is the "coconut tree" I found at Ikea. It's actually growing out of the coconut and I just think that's the coolest thing. I hope I don't kill it.More handmade shelves fill in the back corner of the room. These are great because I can easily display different types of artwork, switch them out on a regular basis, and not have to re-hang them if I pull them down to show clients. When I envisioned my office space, I KNEW I wanted a chalkboard wall. I KNEW I wanted my clients to be able to leave notes as they stopped by. This added way more work to the painting process but I absolutely love it! I can't wait for it to get filled up! (One of my messages had to be blurred because the session is a surprise and the secret isn't out yet!)I had these bowls in storage and I happily came across them when I was looking for a container to hold the chalk. They fit the theme of the room perfectly and get the job done!I love that I'll always look at that wall and remember my wonderful 2- and 4-legged clients...Another thing that I knew I wanted were some floating, shiny, white cabinets. Ikea saved the day and had EXACTLY what I was looking for. These fit perfectly in the room and offer wonderful, chic storage with plenty of room for the TV and samples. I can't emphasize how happy I am with my new office! I have a few more handmade details that I want to add - maybe a few more samples too - but overall, it has all come together perfectly. If you are ever up in the Cornelius or Lake Norman area and want to stop by, just give me a ring! I'd love to have you over! :)If you have questions about my office, leave me a comment below! I'll be happy to let you know where I got anything you see here!

Before & After - Correcting Images

Ok, ok. I know what you are going to say.... EEEEEEEEKKKK! What is THIS picture?!?

Well, honestly, this is what came straight out of my camera - totally naked. I want to show you just what goes into the editing and post-processing of your images. I haven't done a post like this in over a year so I figured I was due for an update.

This not-so-great image is underexposed, contains distractions, is a little too blue and grey for my taste, and lacks any kind of pop. This need serious help...

Correcting all of these things probably took me 10 minutes or so. And that is just for 1 image. And, no, not all cases are this extreme but it can certainly happen on several images within a gallery. This is why it takes time for me to perfect your final product. The edited version reflects my style and has a warm and happy feel to it. What could have easily made it into the "trash" group for being underexposed, is now one of my favorite images from the session. This is all a continuation of my art...And a side-by-side...

I hope you enjoyed this little behind-the-scenes peek at my naked image. Ugh! Sometimes it's hard for me to even look at. But, hey, we all can't be perfect! :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you are getting over your turkey (or tofurkey) hangovers!!!

Sadie is Getting Big

The rain clouds cleared for a couple minutes this morning so I used that opportunity to snap a quick image of Sadie. She is growing so fast and I love her dearly!