Erica- Durango senior.

Someone gave me the nickname "Legs" a few years ago. I'm only 5'8" but grew up standing in the back row with the guys for a group photo, getting asked all the time if I played basketball, and was mistaken for a college student numerous times(in 7th grade.) I remember not wanting to wear heels in High School because then I was even taller than my boyfriend. I was self conscious. I never thought of myself as tall, because 5' 8" was all I knew. I think it was just an illusion though, because it was all in my legs. I'd wear shorts that fit standard school dress code, but would still get stopped in the hallway to do the finger check, making sure the edge of my shorts met the edge of my index finger. 

Erica is the same way. I kept wanting to call her "Legs" out of nostalgia for my own old nickname. We had so much fun on this photo shoot. Hanging out in abandoned houses and random street corners. She loves fashion, so I strived to make her photographs scream to be on magazine pages. Lets just say she made my job easy. :)

Kelly- Durango senior.

She instantly reminded me of myself 5 years ago. Quiet at first, studious, artsy, stylish, easy going. Excited about her future, excited about today. The way she and her mom looked at one another and laughed, almost as if they had their own code language, reminded me of my mom and I. 

I couldn't wait to take her picture.

Kelly, congratulation on finishing high school, and fully being you. You're beautiful. Thanks for letting me peak into your life for a minute. I loved what I saw. :)

So I spent some time this week randomly laying on my back in the driveway just enjoying fall. A storm was moving in and the leaves were rushing down out of the trees just as fast as the wind could blow them. It never rained, unless you count the leaves. I had to take a break away from my busy week and do nothing. Nothing but listen to the wind and watch everything hastily swirl around me in the rushing way that only autumn can bring. Two senior shoots, a lot of work, a wedding, and trip planning. Phew. If it wasn't for the out-of-character coffee I had this morning, I'd be exhausted. That, and if so much of my work this week hadn't been behind my camera, I'd be complaining. But, just like clockwork, I pick up my camera to shoot people and get a high. It's a fuel unlike any form of caffeine. Corny, I know. But, so true.

And... I had to share a cute outtake from my latest photo shoot:

Nicole & Alex.

I had the privilege of shooting a wedding with Kyla Jackson Photography a few weeks ago in Silverton, CO. The aspens were just beginning to change and the weather was perfect.  These people knew two things: they knew how to love and they knew how to party. I think I'll have a Jewish wedding someday. Well, probably not, seeing that I'm not Jewish. So maybe I'll incorporate a few of their ideas to meet my own. I loved the hand painted ketubah, the circular ceremony, the chair lifting, and how passionately everyone celebrated their connection as family and friends.