Look for me...

My photography calendar has been filling rapidly for the first quarter of 2010! I am so excited to share with you a few great causes and events that I will be photographing.

February 12, 2010
As a long time member and supporter of the Center for Women I am thrilled to be photographing the 5th Annual Women in Business Conference!
"This collaborative conference assists hundreds of local business women-like-you advance professionally by providing networking opportunities and timely topics. You'll leave inspired with tools to take your business to the next level during this economically challenging time."

For more information and to register for this event go to the Center for Women's website.

February 28, 2010
After growing up with pets, I was surprised at how strongly I now wanted to be involved with pet rescues, specifically Pet Helpers, when I adopted Peanut into my family. I have had the best time photographing charity events for Pet Helpers and the rescues themselves. Which is why I am so happy to announce that I will be doing Pet and Owner Portraits at their "Paws Go Red" event in conjunction with the Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" Campaign.
So join me Feb 28th to benefit Pet Helpers and to get your picture taken!

For more information and to the Pet Helper's website.

March 2010

I'll be showing my work at the Center for Women's Women's History Month in conjunction with MUSC. I'll also be photographing the Pet Helpers Oyster Roast at the Downtown Visitor's Center Bus Shed. More to come on these and other events... and of course, check back for pictures!

I'd like you to meet...

No need to go to a bar to pick up a hot blonde, there's one waiting just for you at Pet Helpers...

Meet Goldie:I was feeling a bit creative yesterday so I stopped by Pet Helpers, camera in hand to meet a few new friends with whiskers. I'd like to introduce you to two of my new friends!This hot little mama reminded me of my own little Peanut when I saw her, she's quiet but not hard to get to know. A lady never tells her age, but my guess is three-ish. She wears her age well on her petite Lab frame. On top of her good looks, she's got a great personality. I suspect she'd be a great cuddler.

Being a huge Ceasar Millan (Dog Whisperer) fan I have to say, this little lady has all the right energy.

It took all of my willpower not to scoop her up myself and to just trust that she has a family that is just waiting to love her to pieces. So go say hello, she just might be the one for you.

If tall dark and handsome is more your style...

Meet Orion:

This tall drink of water is, well, tall! Orion is thought to be the love child of a German Shepard and a Great Dane. He has a quiet mystery about him... that's right Orion, leave them wanting more! If you like long walks and room to roam as much as he does, then look no further, your love is here!

Dog Trials

I have been thinking of signing Peanut up for dog agility for a while now. She is such a smarty pants that I thought it would be good for her. She gives me these looks like, "If I had aposable thumbs, I'd do this myself, but I don't ... so I'll just sit here smiling at you until you figure it out." Needless to say, she's energetic and bright. So I went to a meet for Lowcountry Dog Agility in West Ashley. I had no idea! The dogs are amazing! Such intensity and determination! Here are a few of my favs from the Lowcountry Dog Agitlity Trials.

Thanks Holly for the primmer on dog agility! She saw that I as a bit lost durring the frestyle portion and gave me a mini-tutorial. Those little guys are fast!

Check back in the spring for a shots of my little Nutty out there!

one candle is enough...

Birthdays give me heartburn. This is surprising to most who know me. For a person who enjoys thoughtful contemplation, birthdays (the traditional time for such introspection) that my own birthdays are cause for such anxiety is perplexing. My guess is that birthdays cause me to look outside of myself instead of focusing inside... I have used January 13th as a day of comparison;

It's too close to Christmas, not like a June birthday which has no other festive competition. Humph! I am one year older, what do I have to show for it? Ugh! Am I doing as much with my life as Betty? She discovered a cure for cancer, is single-handedly saving the rain forest, has a pack of rescue dogs, has more Facebook friends than I do... and she is two years YOUNGER than me. Aaahhh!

I am (blank) years old and I still feel insecure and unsure that I am doing enough, wait, I am unsure that I AM enough. When will I be?

I had a wonderfully deep and profound conversation with a friend today about all of this wonderfully icky stuff that my birthday is bringing to the surface. Armed with nothing but oversized coffee mugs we sat down to tackle the issues. It was a long talk. She suspended her judgement and encouraged me to do the same... and then she shared her thoughts as only those truly insightful friends can be...

In a bright sunny room a candle can never know how bright it is, because there is light all around it. This is a world of duality and comparison. Light can only be known and appreciated when in comparison to dark. Just like wet vs. dry, or hot vs. cold. You can only know yourself in comparison to that which you are not. You need the dark for your light to show up.

So let's look at this comparison thing again...

Not next to anything else I am forced to see me for me, compared to me...
I am following my dreams, maybe not perfectly, but I am headed in the direction of my dreams. I am better today than I was yesterday, because that's what I choose. I am making better eating choices than I did last year.... and on and on.

So the image of the birthday cake today is to remind me to look at me in comparison to me, not against all the other bright and shining candles out there... to be comfortable with the dark, even if it does seem stark. And that one candle was enough.... enough to light up that yummy chocolate cake.

I am enough.

You wouldn't know it to look at her but it was about 30 degrees in the sunshine on the day of our shoot! K, thanks for being such a sport about the whole thing! Pam.... you were awesome. Thank you for all of your help!

Meet Nelson...

This is Nelson.I have a thing for gentle giants... so I just couldn't help following this lion looking big guy around with my lens for a few minutes when I spotted him on my latest adventure to the dog park.

Nelson is a seven year old Newfoundland. I really wish that I could have gotten a snap of my tiny little kiddie pool pup next to this Olympic retriever. It's no exaggeration that his head is about the same size as all of my little Nutty.I think his dad could throw that stick until his arm fell off and still, Nelson would bring it back for another go round.

The amount of water that he carries in his coat after a fetch is... well, let's just say that I thought it was raining. And I had to be careful of my gear because his timing was impeccable! He'd wait 'til he was 'in range' and then he'd let it fly! That is one happily wet dog. Thanks for letting me snap a few shots of ya, Nelson. You'll have to give me a few pointers on my doggie paddle next time I see you out there. Happy swimming!