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You can’t go home again! Or can you?    I recently went back to my hometown the place I was born and where I spent the first eighteen years of my life. Living in the south for the last twenty-three years, I have often wondered if I was missing something by not being back in the DC/MD/VA area.  Not just the food, culture, public transportation, but my past, my memories, a sea of firsts. I hadn’t been back in about ten years and we really excited for the chance to show my now grown children my past.

Somewhere during the trip I started to realize that it wasn’t like I remembered and time hasn’t always been kind to my beloved city.  By the end of the trip I was ready to get back to my house, my bed, my dog, my home. It was wonderful for a while to eat the foods, hear the music I missed, ride the Metro, but than it changed and it wasn’t so wonderful anymore.  That makes the place of my birth a nice place to visit, but no longer my home, still familiar and comfortable just not quite the right fit.

So I guess I understand that old adage now, as we move forward in our lives and our way of thinking the things we used to hold dear may be better left as just that a sweet memory.

Five years ago today I started on a new journey.  After many years of just being friends, dating not dating Kyle and I were ready to make it official.  We weren’t sure if the wedding was going to happen, not because of us but due to Mother Nature. As the minuted ticked by I remember watching the tv to see what Katrina was going to do.

As we got closer to the time for the photo shoot I had scheduled with our Photographer prior to the ceremony all I could think about was marrying my friend.  The photo’s we took in the French Quarter have turned out to be some of my favorites.

After returning to the hotel I was relieved to learn that all our vendors but one had shown up.  The one who didn’t make it was the DJ but thanks to me having back up music on CD and the chef loaning us his boom box the rest of the day went off without a hitch.

Some of our guests were unable to make it due to the hurricane, our honeymoon that was supposed to be in New Orleans got cancelled.  Our adopted home city was devastated and it took us 6 months to get our wedding license.    But it’s all part of our history, our story that we will pass on to our grandchildren and they to their’s.   And even with everything that happened then and since I would still do it all over again!!!!!!

All of our guests that did manage to make it in to the city and out again safely.

My husband and I love New Orleans.   We like it so much we had our wedding there in August 2005.  Now we go back every year any chance we can.

I was excited for the trip this year because I figured it would be the last time we would have my two youngest children with us.  Turns out that was the least of my worries.  Our trip was started out pretty normal and New Orleans was beautiful as always.  I was looking forward to the chance to take photographs in this city again and eating all those favorite foods of mine.  Our trip started out just fine but day 2 turned into something not so great.

We had to cut our trip short and rush back to Orlando due to my falling ill.  Turns out I had pneumonia and a few other things.  As my Dr. put it “I was really sick”!  But I am doing much better now.  Sadly I didn’t get many photo’s taken due to being so ill.  But I get another chance for our anniversary when we go back to Louisiana for a wedding.  I’m kinda excited because we are going to Shreveport and New Orleans.  This means new places to capture awesome images and who dosen’t like that?

Here are a few photo’s that I managed to shoot before I got sick.

This next picture is located right across the street from the convention center and the hotel where we were married.  We were married the weekend of Hurricane Katrina which I will write about closer to our anniversary and this is part of the memorial they placed in this spot.

This is my blogsite.  A combination of website and blog that shows you my images and what goes on with the person who creates them.  This segment is all about the adventures of planning a wedding from the step-mom’s point of view.

This weekend was the first meeting of the two familes.  While I had no apprehension going in a few other’s expressed various concerns over the days leading up to this meeting. 

Saturday afternnon arrived with clear skies, lots of sunshine and anticipation.  I am happy to report that all parties were present minus the brides Mom and the get together was a great event.  The conversation flowed easily and their was plenty of  laughter in the room.  Later as we were cleaning up the groom remarked to me that he was glad it went well.  He said was worried weall wouldn’t get along.  Or even worse something would happen like the secne in Father or the Bride where Mr. Banks ends up in the pool. I just laughed to myself  as we finished up at the thought of Kyle falling in a pool.

Well that’s all I have to report right now.  It would appear that we are off to a good start but only time will tell.  I welcome comments and or advice and  if you haven’t seen the movie you really should watch it.

Till Next Time

When I look at other’s blogs and websites I see them doing things like ten things about me or ten things I like. I thought of doing something similar. Then while watching Ace of Cakes a show that I really like I got the idea to just start a series of things that I really like/love. So once a month I will talk about some random things that I love.

I’m not sure if it will really help anyone know if they want to hire me but you will get to know me a lot better. And in the process you will find out just how eclectic and broad my taste and interest are.

So here is a short list of Books I love.

1. Danielle Steel books are wonderful sometimes they take me a minute to get into them but once I do I can’t put them down till I finish them. I think every girl needs a little romance in her life sometimes.

2. Donald Trumpbooks are like an obesession with me. I can’t always afford them at full price but whenever I see them at Barnes and Noble on sale I buy it. Even though I may not read it right away. This is a big deal because I used to have so many books that I have had to stop buying them and just borrow them from the library.

3. Christopher Lowell’s books make me happy and I have read them all and keep them next to my bed. My secret desire is to have him come and help me redecorate my house using only Ikea products.

4. This is actually a big one and I could go on and on about this for days but I will try to restrain myself. I have this thing for Vampire books. But not just any vamps certain ones only. There are three female authors who each have a series of books involving some the kookiest, funny, sexy, or just plain badass female lead characters ever. The first is by Mary Janice Davidisonwho writes about Betsy the Queen of the UnDead and lover of shoes. She’s like Carrie of Sex in the City but with fangs. The whole Undead series is one funny ride full of lots of interesting  humans, ghosts, wares and vamps. All I can do is laugh when I read her books.

Then there is Charlaine Harris who writes the Sookie Stackhouse novels now more widely known as True Blood. I was reading the books way before the series came out and while I like the series the books are way, way better. Sookie reads minds and dates vamps, and wares. She gets into all sorts of messes, while still holding on to her serving job. You never know what Sookie is going to end up doing next and her passion with vamp Eric is great reading.

My absolute favorite series ever that I love,love,love is the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series by Laurell K Hamilton. It’s not just that this character has more lover’s than I keep track of. But she carries a lot of weapons and knows how to use them. I really like reading about strong woman who go after what they want and don’t wait on a man to always rescue them.

5. My last book that I love has to be the Bible because it has everything I need in it to know how to live and love myself, my family and my fellow man. It brings me more comfort than other book I know. And when you think about it, you can find murder, betrayal, forgiveness, miracles anything you need all in one place.

And there you have it a little bit more about me. I really do love to read and always have. I thinks libraries are wonderful places and visit mine once a week. So yes I am a nerd and I like to read books!

It has been a long time since I have blogged. I wish I could say it’s because I have been on a long cruise and I had no way to blog. I wish I could but I can’t.

I have been very busy and very sick and than very busy again. I feel better than ever and am now ready to hit the ground running again.

We have a new look in case you haven’t noticed. In order to make things easier on me and simpler for you we have just launched our brand new blogsite. It’s a blog, it’s a website it’s a two for one kinda deal. Everything and anything you need to know about me or the company will be found right here. since it’s all in one spot it should be easier to keep everything fresh and new.

I have been doing some great work with some amazing people and will be blogging about it in the coming weeks. Please feel free to write comments and email me with suggestions or ideas.

Tina

Five years ago my oldest grandchild was born.  I wasn’t ready for it, wasn’t ready to be a grandmother.  As the big day approached and people would ask me how I felt I told them I wasn’t sure.  Then the day arrived and my life changed for ever, for the better.  I can’t even imagine now what I was ever scared of.

Being a grandmother is like the best thing in the world, it’s  one of the only things I love better than getting to photograph weddings.  I like to describe it as a sweet reward for all the sleepless nights, 3am feedings, cupcakes you bake and messess you clean up. For all the kids you played taxi for and the hormone swings when your kids were teens you receive a sweet bundle of joy one day to hold and watch grow.  Now instead of being the bad guy, I get to be the good guy having fun and adventures that I was too worried and stressed to do when my kids were young. 

All those things went through my mind last weekend at Daviona’s birthday party at Chucke E Cheese.  For those of you who don’t have children it’s an indoor wonderland for kids with food, video games, indoor playground, prizes and a big rodent named Chuck E Cheese who more often than not makes the kids cry.  It is not for the faint of heart and if you are hard of hearing so much the better because the sound levels are through the roof.  It was hard to think at all but I had to find some way to amuse myself as they young children played. 

Turning five is one of those milestone birthdays.  The one where you can put up your whole hand, be called a big girl or boy and start on that new adventure called school.  I am so glad that I am here to see my granddaughter meet this mile marker.  I remember almost fifteen years ago being told that I was sick and would die before my own children graduated high school.  They were seven, five, and three at the time. I didn’t know what to think but I know I prayed and asked God to let me live to see them make that milestone in there life.   I am so blessed by God to be here as my youngest finally graduates from school this year.  I am doubly blessed to see my grandchild turn five.   I am blessed and I pray I never forget it.

Here are a few pictures from Daviona’s party.  She is a delightful young child with a beautiful smile and a generous heart. 

One afternoon as Kyle and I strolled through Universal Studios a cast member walked up to us and wanted to know if we are interested in being in the show?  How did he know that Kyle and I are not the kinda people to turn down a chance to do something new, fun, exciting, scary, etc?  And having watched Fear Factor for years we couldn’t say no. 

 As we stood in the waiting area with the other lucky contestants I started to consider myself the luckiest of them all. Compared to what the other participants would have to endure I felt I was getting off easy.  The Mother and Daugther we talked with before sitting told us they would have to eat mystery stuff.

As we were escorted in to our special seating area the tension started to rise.  Despite the fact that we knew in one part of our minds that this was all more show than anything, and they wouldn’t let anything really happen to us. The fear of the unkown was almost enough to make us turn and run from the place.   Before I was ready it was my turn.  My heart was beating in my chest so hard I was sure people in Miami could hear it.  I sat in the chair and felt them strap me in.  You can do this I told myself.  The ear plugs, nose pincher and goggles made it hard to see and hear.  Stay perfectly still and don’t move is all I could remember at that point.  Then it was time, the moment that they were going to put the live creatures they showed me in back on my head. 

From the little I could hear I learned they were putting live scorpions in the box with me about 30 seconds before they did it and I have never been so scared in my life.   Anyone who knows me, knows I am basically a scardey cat about creepie crawlies.  I wasn’t about to move or even breathe I was so terrified.  What was only a minute or two seemed like thirty.  Then wouldn’t you know it one got stuck in my hair and they had a little trouble getting the last little guy out.  All the while I am sitting there praying that I make it out without wetting myself.  When they finally released me I could barely walk back to my seat.   Mom and Daughter were up after me, they had to eat some gross bug stuff that they said tasted as bad as it looked.

It took the rest of the show for my heartbeat to return to normal.  In fact I was shaking and crying as Kyle put his arms around me and told me I had done good.  As we exited the theatre a woman handed me a picture so I could remember my time in the show. 

 People approached me the rest of the day.  Some to tell me what a good job I did and others to question if the scorpions were even real?  They were I assured them, they actually crawled across my face and I will never forget the feel of thier bodies.  Hard with pointy things sticking out of them.  Your brave I heard over and over again.  And you know what I agree with them.

Just so you know this really happened and it not a figment of my imagination I have included the picture of me and the scorpions.

I am brave and fear is not a factor for me, I can’t afford for it to be.  I have too many things I want to accomplish, places I have yet to visit and experiences I have yet to have.

So after considering doing my own 365 project I opted to do a 52 weeks one instead.   I opted for this option so that I would be able to post my work to be accountable.  I wanted to be able to do finish what I started so this works out better for me.  Next year I will be ready for the 365 project.

The way I have decided to approach this is this.   I have set up different themes for each month of the year.  Every week I will take pictures on that topic and pick one or two to post on that subject. 

I am hoping that through this year I will challenge myself and get my creative juices flowing.  All my life other people have always told me that I am creative.  I wasn’t always so sure about that, my Mom is an artist she can draw and paint and the best I can do is stick figures and even those are pretty bad.  I remember once when I was in the fourth grade we had to write a book, illustrate it and even bind it.  I got someone else to draw my pictures because I knew mine would look terrible.   

I hope you will enjoy the journey as much as I hope to.  I also hope that you will give me comments, encouragement, and feedback.

With that said here is my first foray into this project.  I decided that the month of January should be about Food.  I love food all kinds of food.  I have a dear friend who is a chef and she loves to cook for me. She say’s I enjoy my food so much that it is a treat to see me get pleasure out of what she has prepared.

In case you haven’t noticed this is not real food but plastic miniature food. I have always loved things in miniature dollhouses, food, movies and books about miniature people grab my attention.  So as I was thinking about what to shoot my granddaughter asked me to play tea party with her.  As I started looking at her new foods I started thinking it looks so realistic and tasty.  No wonder kids try to eat it if I was their age I would to!

Oh and just so you know that book I had help with back in the fourth grade……… I won first place.  The next year, I decided to write a sequel and illustrate it myself and got nothing.  That’s when I learned if you can’t do, hire someone who can!

Peace & Blessings

It’s 2010 and I haven’t really posted on my blog like I would like.  While everyone else was celebrating and making resolutions (which I don’t do) I was taking care  of my youngest daughter.  She’s 19 and thinks she’s grown but sometimes she needs and wants her Mom and I am glad to have a chance to be there for her. 

Now that Jasmine is doing better I have decided that it’s time to get down to work.  Last year as Kyle and I were talking and trying to decide what the next step should be in our business  my son (17) encouraged me to write in my blog.  At the time I wasn’t sure what to say or how to say it.  I hadn’t really put myself out there since I was planning our wedding back in 2005.  I had an online journal of a sort on this wonderful site called African American Bride and I had the chance to meet, share, and learn from a great group of women.  I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do that again or if anyone would even be interested in my rambling.

Now that we have a clearer vision for our business and where we want to go I have decided that it’s time to do like my son said and blog the good, bad and ugly.  So here goes with a new year and a new focus I am going to giving you more of me and who I am.  This blog will be about the adventure of changing our entire business at the age of 40.  Our wonderful clients and the events and people we get to shoot.  Dealing with grown children who have had to move back home.  The joys of  being Grandparents.  The trips we love to take and anything else I feel like talking about. 

C &K Photography is in a sense just starting out.  Back in 2003 when Kyle and I were just dating we started a videography business.  Since then we have worked with some amazing couples and had a lot of fun making videos that moved our clients.  During that entire time I was always shooting images that we would incorporate into the final video.  There were times I was asked to be the photographer at the wedding along with doing the video.  As time went on I was finding myself less interested in the video side of our business and more interested in the photography side.  I hadn’t really taken images for pay since I worked for a major studio doing school photography.  But I was drawn to it like a moth to a flame.

Around June of 2009 the decision was made to not take on any more video clients and only do photography.  So in many ways this is going to be our offical first year of business.  Making this change has been exciting and scary, full of some real ups and downs.  As 2010 starts we are looking forward to a great year.  Hoping to meet lots of great people clients as well as other’s in the business and we hope that you will join us for the ride.

I would love to hear from my two readers if your still out there.  Sometimes it’s nice to know your not alone!  Fell free to leave me a comment, contact me here or email me at Tina@candkphotography.com.

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