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While I was reading one of the few blogs that I actually follow I came across this article on the Offbeat bride blog.  I remember when I was planning my wedding wanting more choices than just white or ivory.   I have always been a little different from everyone else and now once again thanks to the power of the internet, I know that I am not alone!

Colorful dresses from Wedding Dress Fantasy that will make you forget “ivory” ever existed

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How did you start?  Why do you do this?  Questions that I hear often.  Everytime I get asked this question I have to take a deep breath and exhale slowly, while trying to decide if I should give the short or the long answer.  Is anyone even interested in the long answer?  I think not, but I figure I can put the short version here.

It all started  long long ago when I was a little girl growing up in the Washington DC/Maryland area.  No wait a minute this is about the business not my life story.   Sorry lost track for a moment.  But in some ways the two are intertwined becuase my Grandfather who was my entire world growing up owned his own business.   I knew without a doubt that I too someday would also own my own but didn’t know what it would be.  Fast forward to getting out on my own and at job after job I never felt satisfied and some jobs were never satisfied with me.  At the one job I was fired from during the exit interview they actually told me I would probably be happier working for myself.  To say I am a bit of a do it my way not always the right way kinda person is an understatement.

I have always had a camera in my hand.  A point and shoot, SLR, Video Camera didn’t matter the type I was just happy to be recording events as they happened.  Knowing this a friend asked my now husband and myself to record the events of thier wedding for them and they offered us money to do it.  Now I would have done it for free but hubby didn’t see it that way.   Well as they say one thing led to another and before we knew it we were working on the video business more than our jobs.  But I still wasn’t completly satisfied.

One day we got a call from a friend who wanted to know if we could do a very small wedding not just the video but pictures as well?  A little hesitant but always eager to be behind a camera I quickly agreed to take the job.   That was truly a turning point for me.  Capturing the emotions of the day is something I love, love, love to do.    Owning a photography studio gives me the freedom to do it the way I want to.   Meeting with people, helping others, being able to take time out to play with my Granddaughters that makes it all worth the endless hours behind the computer, lack of sleep, and the other things that go along with owning your own business.  It’s the best and the worst all rolled into one but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.  And that is how C & K Photography came to be.

Here is a an image that I shot at one of my first weddings.

Work, work, work is all my beloved husband seems to do.  So much so that some times I feel neglected.  But I can’t really complain too much because I am guilty of obsessing about my work as well.  When you work for yourself and or work from home, it’s that much easier to do becuase your work is always so close at hand. 

We do take a big vacation or two every year one with the entire family and one alone but sometimes it’s important to take a break in between.  That’s just what we did this weekend. 

We planned it for a week and when the morning sun came up there was a definite chill in the air.  Had fall finally arrived in Orlando?  We dressed jumped in the car and headed down the freeway before anyone else in the house even knew we had left.  We were headed to my one of my favorite places in Florida and I was very happy.  My husband likes going but it’s not his favorite place.  As we got out of the car and went in my excitment was all over my face.  It was a magical day just like I knew it would be.  We were there finally for one of the best events ever.  The Food & Wine Festival held at Epcot every year.  A treat not only for the my stomach but a chance to have a little fun.

We spent the day walking, talking, eating, and getting lost in the magic that is Disney.  We made our own virtual roller coaster. Llearned about saving with our own talking piggy bank, we didn’t reach our goal but had fun trying.  Wwatched a woman make candy in the Japan area and danced to some wonderful music in Moraco.  All while sampling some of the best dishes ever. Seared Beef Tenderloins with Sweet Potato Puree from Cape Town, South Africa were my favorite of the day.  Kyle’s was the Braised Pork Shank with Cabbage and Fresh Herbs from Krakow, Poland.  We both agreed that of the 27 different countries and stands that we visited and sampled foods from our all time favorite this year was the Warm Chocolate Lava Cake with Bailey’s Ganache from Cork Ireland.

As we dragged our full and sleepy selves back to the car at the end of the day our pockets were much lighter from all the money we had spent.  Our feet were tired and ready for a soak and we knew when we got back home work and everyday headaches would be waiting for us.  But for those few hours……it was bliss no worries, no phone calls, nothing but us having fun.

The pressures of the world get to all of us.  Times are tough for some of our neighbors and lots of people are stressed.  It’s important if your planning a wedding, making life changes, going through tough times or doing ok for the moment to take time out to have a little fun.  Do something different, change it up.  Relax and let your mind and body have some fun I promise you’ll feel better in the morning.

Entering Epcot

Some of the sights of the Day!

This is us an actual picture of the two of us togther.  I rarely sit still for a picture but I was having so much fun I figured why not!

Finally two more images of the day.

 

I know to my regular readers it appears that I have ababdonded you and my blog but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I have been going through a dark period in my personal and professional life. I want bore you with all the details, but it started when my part-time J-O-B closed down suddenly one day.

 So I find myself at a crossroads of a sort. I have wanted to make some personal changes which may include relocating. I have also been toying with the idea of taking my business full-time. So it’s a scary but exciting time for me.

 Taking that first few steps is a hard thing sometimes. We get comfortable with the status quo. I have been having a lot of self doubt but I received a phone call today that made me re-think my preception of myself vs. other’s.  It was an old friend going through a rough time with their teenager.  Something I have been through and lived to talk about it.  She needed some encouragement and someone to listen.  But before the call was done she told me that I was a strong bold woman.  Strong and Bold not two words I would have used to describe myself as of late.  Then I read a blog post that was talking about excuses.   Theses two things in one day had to be a sign I thought to myself.  They are the light at the end of my tunnel. As I focus on what I really want to do with the rest of my life and with my passion I hope that you my few (for now) but faithful followers will be there with me following me on this journey. Encourage me, give me a kick in the butt when I need it, be honest with me I can take it.

 And because no post is really complete without a picture I am going to post a picture from a recent boudoir shoot I did that kinda sums up how I am feeling today.