Sitting with Jessica in Taylor Books- local coffee shop here in Charleston. Not my favorite place, but it works. A senior shoot got rained out this morning and rescheduled it for tomorrow - getting everything ready for the wedding this weekend and crossing my fingers that my lens shows up in the mail tonight as planned. 

Been finishing up editing shoots from the past month or so - finally done. End of the month… tying up loose ends… feels good. 

Saw my sister’s dress rehearsal last night for her ballet performance, “The Little Mermaid.” Looks like in the coming month there will be some more dance portraits on the way! Really looking forward to working with more company dancers from around here - dance + photography, mmm - what could be better? : ) 

A few more from Liz Stanley’s model shoot: 

We picked up the old canvas frames in a trash bin and spray painted them. Really liked how they turned out in the photo and how we hung them in the trees. 

speak with sharpness, integrity and truth -
lauren 

the lovely Katie:

the lovely Alli: 

I’ll eventually catch you all up on life recently. Right now, I simply need to live it… 

full house, again.
-lauren 

a few words that fit.

You repair all that we have torn apart and
You unveil a new beginning in our hearts and
We stand grateful for all that has been left behind and
All that goes before us

You’ve got all things suspended
All things connected
Nothing was forgotten
….your love is perfect
You are our healer
And you know what’s broken
 We’re not a mystery to you

Lord, you mend the breech
And you break every fetter
You give us your best, for what we thought was better

What a wonderful girl - she seriously blessed me on Sunday afternoon when we headed out together to do her shoot. She’s so talented, graduating, and her heart is exploding with creativity. I’m sure she didn’t even realize when she encouraged my heart when she quickly stated, “It’s incredible you’re able to be a photographer… the world is your canvas. You can do anything. you. want.“

…and just to warn you, as I have changed, so has my photography and it will be taking a new form in the next few months. I may back off from blogging as much. Solitude calls me again. It’s all brewing and has been for quite sometime.

A little excerpt of the email she sent me after the shoot that made me smile:

“I very much enjoyed my afternoon….and the creepers, and the big guy questioning our motives on the dilapidated house of awesome, and the exploding/mystery marble floating Japanese Jones drinks “

Yep. We have fun on shoots. ; )

Learning a lot more, trying to apply it - some photos from Sunday:

Tonight = good. Crepes, cloves, good friends, old museum overlooking the city, conversation, love… yes, good.

band of horses, anathallo and andrew bird - you kinda own me right now.

enjoy your night -
lauren

I was able to meet briefly, Michael WInters, at Quills in Louisville, KY. I am intirgued by his photography as well as his wife, Mickie’s.

I’m hoping to purchase some prints from Mickie’s “Bend” series - which strikes a strong chord with me, since I am a dancer as well a photographer. She captured the movement so beautifully.

To look at the series - simply go to Mickie’s website, click archives, and type in the password box, BEND.

-lauren

Sigh, I am tired. I love photography, ohh I really do. I adore it. I don’t want it to loose any of its spark. Sometimes, you have to switch up the artistic mediums a bit. Yes, I have been painting some. Yes, I still choreograph. Yes, I play piano every single day when I can, and when I can’t, I crave it. I’m craving for the things that make me alive. As always, I’m reevaluating why I create, what I love and who I strive to be. It’s healthy to be continually humbled in all that you do. I am more than blessed to do what I do - and have come so far even only looking back over this past year.

Sometimes, you just need to sit. Silent. Reflect on how far you’ve come and appreciate your work. Once you’re finished and gleamed what you will - you move forward with more ‘umph’ and drive - a new kick of alive; something fresh. I’ve wanted to do this recently.. but I’ve been unable to do it to the extent that I would like to. Right now it’s only reflection in bite size pieces - but I need something lengthy pretty soon.

So, remember to reflect… it’s one of the most important things in creating and being an artist.

[I am writing this, just now getting home 20 minutes ago; 3 hours of sleep last night; woke up at 4AM to take Jess and Dan to the Columbus airport; spent a little time seeing a good friend and headed back home; it's been quite the long day]

-lauren

’tis the season for senior portraits… Michael started the wonderful madness this week:

and a little vid for fun:

Jess and Dan leave for San Fransisco early in the morning. They’ll be gone for a week - and they’ll definitely be missed. It’s been an amazing month… full of its share of ups and downs, but it’s definitely made me stronger in ways I never thought possible. You know when you haven’t exercised in… let’s say, months… and then you decide to jump back into a new routine of exercising again - welllll you’ll definitely feel muscles you forgot were there/didn’t know where there ; ) That’s a pretty clear depiction of what’s been happening - and it’s been so good.

I’ve been reading a little bit of ‘Thirsty’ - a collection of poetry by Mary Oliver (thanks to Dan), finishing ‘What is the What’ by Dave Eggers, and starting a new way of reading the Word every day… I’ve been lacking in the daily-reading dept, and I think I’ve finally changed my pace.

Okay, Target run about the happen… Grocery store run to finish Chicken ‘n Biscuits for dinner. And ohhh, it’s been great to cook again. Sunday night, we had a dinner party here at the house - Jess, Dan, Andrew, Britt, Lydia, Bradley, John and myself were here - Dan, Jess, Bradley and I got the good, the ladies (plus the wonderful Bradley) cooked the meal and we partook… ahh, so good! We made a vegetable pasta of sorts - zucchini, yellow squash, onion, red pepper, tomatoes; tossed with angel hair pasta; white wine, olive oil and our choice of spices made the light sauce; asparagus on the side. mm, mm, mmmm. I want it again right now just talking about it!

Sigur Ros film happened - ohhhh, Sigur Ros : ) Last night, another film - “Into the Wild” - was watched… It kinda messed me up, in a good way. I was definitely glued to the screen.

…and I can’t wait to show you all the bridal shots of Jodi in a few weeks ; )
-lauren

I have been editing straight for days now. Managing to fit in some quality time with the wonderful people here around me… they’ve been breaking me, challenging me and somehow, healing my heart. Can’t really pinpoint what exactly I’m being healed of, but I feel more whole nonetheless and I have them to thank. So, thank you.

I would love to put up some grreat and hilarious photos from the road from this past weekend (which, I can’t believe it’s already been a week since I got back). I’m in some type of time warp - time is so slow, yet so fast. I still feel stuck back in late Jan/early Feb. Uh, it’s April?

So when I get the chance, I’ll post some photos, update with some more great clips of video, and let you in on the new things happening.

And for all you photographers - you know when it just gets to be too much work for everyone else you have to take something crazy for yourself? Well - this happened in about 5 minutes tonight…

trying out some new lighting techniques. being frugal. thanks to nate, stobist.com is now a part of my daily reading.

early morning ahead. overall, today has been good. my heart is experiencing a slight cold. let this thought sink in for all you women out there… better to make a man than fix a man.

goodnight.

en route to NC somewhere in VA. take the scenic routes.

more photos of our trip here.