Ann and Kevin.

I've had my eye on a particular hummingbird for a couple weeks now. I discovered her (it's a girl, of course) on a run one morning by the river trail south of town. I had been running for a while and finally stopped to rest for a moment in the shade under a tree that hung out over the water. As I caught my breath and looked up, right in front of me was this sweet little buzzing flash. Only a few feet away, it took my eyes a moment to focus on it. As it quickly landed in it's tiny nest I immediately felt like I had discovered something magical and secret no one else knew about. I grew up only seeing hummingbirds when my mom or grandma hung a feeder out the window. I thought the only way to see one was by luring it in with sweet sugar water and red food coloring. Of course, I new they existed elsewhere. But being so tiny and so fast, how would you ever find one?

I watched this little bird in amazement for a while. People walked and biked by looking at me and then looking in the direction of my gaze, not ever seeing what I saw. It's nest was probably 2 inches in diameter just barely big enough for it's little bird booty. So cute. I immediately planned on coming back with my camera. A couple days went by and I ended up going by the nest two more times without my camera. Both times, the bird sat chilling in the tree. In the mean time I discovered yet another one, AND it's nest in the tree shading my backyard. That one is there every morning and evening, like clock work. I've tried photographing it, but need a telephoto lens or a huge ladder. Chad about has me convinced to climb up on the shed. I wouldn't put it passed me to follow through with it.

Anyway, I finally made it down to the river with my camera this week. Daphnie came along. We sat by the tree for a long time, waiting patiently for her to show up. The nest was there, but it was dinner time and I started getting the distinct feeling she must have known about someone's house near by that had a plastic, ever-flowing fountain of red sugar water. That or she was hiding in the tree watching me, waiting for me to leave. 

So, a failed hummingbird sighting turned into a portrait session for my dog. I found the prettiest patch of yellow wild flowers and had to take advantage. I'm sure these are just pictures of a dog to you, but to me they are priceless. I could never get tired of looking at this face. She gets into the garbage can, steals my dirty underwear, and has horrible breath (imagine that.) But I love her more than anything. After almost 11 years I still say, "Oh my gosh look at Daphnie! She's so cute!" It's usually an exclamation on something she's done a million times before. But it gets me every time.

Happy 4th! Have a fantastic holiday!

It's not the most amazing picture.

But, I snapped it quickly Friday night as the wedding I had photographed all day was finally coming to an end. I wanted to remember me at that moment. That moment when photographing weddings was new. When it was a challenge, but extremely exciting. When I don't have all the equipment I want yet and rely solely on my eye and knowledge to get me through. I wanted to remember being the second photographer. The nameless girl in a new town with a box FULL of business cards sitting at home on the shelf. That girl who has wanted this for five, going on six years. The girl that will someday look at this picture when she's a hot item on the photography market and feel humbled that I made it happen- every step of the way. You will want me to photograph your wedding, you just don't know it yet.

:)

p.s. I'm also the girl that took pictures for 2-3 hours that day (including ceremony) with her pants unzipped.

classy.