My Valentine

It's Valentine's Day (although the date of this post might not reflect that, it really is.) I started writing this post on Thursday, which tells you how my weekend has gone.

It's really February 14th, which means a lot of different things to people. To me, it just serves as a reminder to be thankful for the love I have from my husband and so many other people.

I really am. Thankful, that is. Even if I have to constantly remind myself of that when I find everything to complain about. Which has been way too much lately. I'm a pessimist by nature and as much as I hate it sometimes and try to change it, I just am. It has been so much easier lately for me to find things to be upset about, or worry about, or complain about... it's ugly. And it never ceases to bring tears to my eyes when I am forced to stop and think about how lucky I really am in this life. Sometimes the reminder comes in the form of a song on the radio, sometimes it's hearing a story from a friend whose life contains much more worry and stress than mine ever thought of having. Or other times it's just plain silence, which I am convinced is God's way of making me think of how unappreciative I have been. And just so you know, I always picture God as a parent figure, putting me in a corner and saying, "Now you sit here by yourself in silence and think about what you've done!" Only, in this case he's saying, "Think about all I've given you."

I saw this on one of the blogs I follow, and without fail, my cynicism initially got the best of me. But then I read it again, and it is so refreshing and so true. So in a way, this is what I am focusing on today:

"I am thankful...

For the wife who says 'It's hot dogs tonight'

Because she is home with me

and not out with someone else

For the husband who is on the sofa being a couch potato

Because he is home with me

and not out at the bars

For the taxes I pay

Because it means I am employed

For the mess to clean after a party

Because it means I have been surrounded by friends

For the clothes that fit a little too snug

Because it means I have enough to eat

For my shadow that watches me work

Because it means I am out in the sunshine

For a lawn that needs mowing,

windows that need cleaning,

and gutters that need fixing

Because it means I have a home

For all the complaining I hear about the government

Because it means we have freedom of speech

For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot

Because it means I am capable of walking

and I have been blessed with transportation

For my huge heating bill

Because it means I am warm

For the lady behind me in church who sings off-key

Because it means I can hear

For the pile of laundry and ironing

Because it means I have clothes to wear

For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day

Because it means I have been capable of working hard

For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours

Because it means I am alive

I am thankful."

With that said, I am thankful for my amazing husband, my forever Valentine. The one and only Jordan Tampien. :) I wanted to try out a few new picture spots and camera techniques, and he willingly came with me as my model. Don't feel too sorry for him because I think he secretly liked it. :) So in the spirit of Valentine's Day, here is my fun, sexy, smart, thoughtful husband...

Just as a side note for you photogs out there, I am an idiot! My ISO was jacked way up and I didn't even realize it until I got home. I almost tried to play it off and say I wanted a cool grainy film effect, but I figured I'd better admit my mistake instead. :)

I've really been wanting to try out some funky reflection pics and it had just rained, so there are a few that I think turned out pretty cool...

Smokin' hot, huh?! :)

If you've made it this far, thanks for baring with my random post. Sometimes it's nice to get my thoughts out in the blog world, even if my Mom is the only one reading them. ;)

Happy LOVE Day!

Ben + Nina

I had a great opportunity at the beginning of January to be a second shooter for Keri Doolittle Photography for a wedding in Spokane. Being a second shooter is definitely an easier role than being the main photographer, but the trade-off is that you don't get all the shots you'd get if you were the main photographer. I was able to get quite a few detail shots as the girls were getting ready at The Davenport Hotel and then I got to spend some QT with the boys. :) In fact, I was put in charge of all the groom and groomsman shots while Keri photographed the bride and bridesmaids. So I have a lot of groomsmen shots, but not very many of the bride!

Ironically, I ended up knowing the bride, Nina. Just when you think Spokane is getting bigger, you get a friendly reminder that it's a small world. :) Nina and I took driver's ed together and then she worked for my Chiropractor a few years later. Nina and Ben are such a fun, laid-back couple and they were so easy to photograph. This isn't the first wedding I've photographed and it has yet to fail that I tear up during the ceremony. Not sure if you're supposed to do that as the photographer...?

Anyway, here are a few Flat 4 favorites from Ben and Nina's wedding day! Remember you can click on any of the photos to see them larger if you want.

First look for the bride and groom on the terrace of The Davenport Hotel overlooking Spokane...

The ceremony was actually at a beautiful little church in Deer Park.

Congratulations, Ben and Nina! Your wedding day was beautiful and I feel so fortunate to have been a part of it!!

Anybody have any favorites?! :)

Jones Girls

Not that I am ready to have kids anytime in the foreseeable future, but I have always wanted a little girl with blonde hair. I just think they are so dang cute! I have come to grips with the fact that the likelihood of this happening is pretty slim considering that Jordan and I both have dark brown hair. You always want what you can't have! :)

I was able to live vicariously through my friend, Julie, when she asked me to take pictures of her three ADORABLE little girls who all have beautiful blonde hair like their Mama. :) Julie was a senior when I was a freshman and we played volleyball together at Whitworth and have remained friends ever since! Our lunch dates are few and far between now that she is a busy Mom of 3, but every time we hang out it feels like we just pick up where we left off. Julie is one of those people who is just so REAL and you can tell when she asks you questions she really cares about the answer. It is so fun to see her as a Mom -- did I mention that her three girls are all under 4 years old?! SHE IS AMAZING!! And she also happens to be one of the best volleyball players I've ever played with. Seriously. Anyway, she is surprising her husband, Brad, with these pictures for Valentine's Day so keep your lips sealed! :)

Anyway, here are a few of my faves from our picture outing with the Jones girls! Olivia (on the left) is almost 4, Isabelle (on the right) is 2 1/2, and baby Emi (not in the picture below) is about 8 weeks old. Remember you can click on any of the pictures to make them bigger if you want...

The girls were a little cold so we wrapped them up in a blanket!

And of course I had to bring some balloons for the girls... what's a photo shoot without balloons?!?

I'm not usually into the "black & white with some color" pictures, but this one just seemed like it fit.

I LOVE this one below of Olivia and Isabelle holding Emi's foot... so cute!

All four of the Jones girls!

Beautiful baby Emi! I've always told Julie that she makes really pretty babies. :)

This one below is my FAVORITE of the whole bunch!

Another black & white with color pic...

Beautiful mom and baby...

Balloons and suckers... what more could a girl want?! They were even nice enough to share a sucker with me -- maybe I should start requiring a sucker from my clients after every photo shoot? :)

The New Wine Cellar

I love when my parents go through their garage because it usually results in us getting some pretty cool stuff. :)

About a week ago, we inherited an almost-brand-new wine refrigerator that holds up to 6 bottles and chills wine at the exact temperature it's supposed to be chilled at... please don't ask me what that is because I have no idea. Well, one thing led to another, and Jordan decided to rebuild our wine rack in the storage cellar in our "basement" as well as some better storage shelves. Not only did it turn out AMAZING, but it also forced us to organize and get rid of stuff down there, which I LOVE doing. :)

Here is the big reveal...

Our wine collection is slowly growing! Believe it or not, a few of these bottles are still leftover from our wedding!

Jord was so proud of how the doors to the glass storage turned out... and I'll have to agree with him, they look awesome! For whatever reason we have been saving all of our wine corks over the last few years and he finally decided to put them to good use. Don't worry, we did have to borrow a few corks that my Mom had... these aren't ALL ours. :)

This is one of my favorite parts because it frees up so much space in our kitchen cabinets... the glass storage, ta-da!!

Jordan finally agreed to let me take his picture in front of the new wine cellar. Good job, babe!! :)

I am still doing a bunch of editing for my last two photo sessions, so stay tuned for more posts soon!

Blog love! And life...

The last couple weeks have been a little nuts, but in a good way... for the most part.

Jordan started school this week, the beginning of the END! He has one semester left, thank God. I know the end is officially in sight, but for some reason it still feels so far away. His schedule this semester does not help one bit -- he has three 7am classes a week and three night classes that end at 8pm. Seriously, not right!

I, on the other hand, have been way in over my head with photog stuff! :) I started a photography class that I think will really help me improve in a lot of areas. Did I mention this happened to fall on Monday nights, the one night a week Jordan doesn't have class? Of course. I was also able to be the second shooter for a wedding last week, which was SUCH a great experience. Don't get me wrong, I did have a couple freak-out moments, but I survived and learned so much! I shot with Keri Doolittle, who is an amazing photographer and a HUGE inspiration and mentor of mine... not sure that she even knows that, but she is! She has been so incredibly helpful and willing to answer so many questions I've had in the last few months. I am surprised she hasn't blocked my email address from her inbox after all the emails I've sent her. :) Anyway, she posted some pics from the wedding on her blog and put some of mine up too -- so exciting to see some of my pics on another photographer's website! I included my pics from her site below, but click here to see the full post.

Another blog I follow, Wheat Blossom Weddings, just featured my 'engagement' photos and our Photo Booth on their site! Lindsay, of Wheat Blossom Weddings, has been a friend since middle school and we have had fun reconnecting now that our future career paths have crossed. :) Anyway, click here to check out Wheat Blossom Weddings and the blog love they gave me and Flat 4 Photography.

All of the above are the good, crazy parts of the last two weeks.

Not that the rest has been bad, but just a lot of feeling like I'm taking one step forward and two steps back... with everything. And I am left feeling overwhelmed with life and simply unable to keep up. There are so many things I want to focus on and devote time to lately that I haven't been able to do any of them well, or in some cases at all. Working out, the dogs, every facet of my photography business, the house, MY MARRIAGE...

I know, I know... that's life. But sometimes it just swallows me and I hate that.

With that said, Jordan and I have decided to go to my lake cabin for the weekend, just us and the pups. We never go to the lake this time of year, but we decided we really needed a weekend together out of Spokane -- it feels like it's been FOREVER. It's a catch-22 because we have so much we could get done at home this weekend, but I hope going up to the lake will give us a chance to relax and recharge a little bit and simply spend some time together with no distractions. At least that's the goal...

I can't take credit for this picture -- I think my Mom took it last winter at the lake. Granted there is not as much snow this year, but this is the view I will be looking at all weekend. So if I don't answer my cell phone or my emails, you'll know why... :)