The Way You See.

"I've found that photography has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them" - Erwitt

 

Meet Tara.

My old tennis shoes step on to that green baseball field and against my protest my eyes start to fill with a tear or two.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. 

First, I want to introduce you to a lovely young lady.  Her name is Tara.

This beautiful baby girl went to heaven after just ten short years with us.  

She loved playing baseball with her brothers so since she passed her amazing parents have held a baseball tournament in her honor every year.  

I believe the first year there were 28 teams.  206 teams participated this past weekend.

All the proceeds from the tournament go to the Tara Sawyer Foundation.  This foundation has helped over 1,000 children afford to play sports.   

But back to what I was talking about, what makes this year different from the rest is that they had a special needs buddy ball game. If I could only bottle up that enthusiasm and passion for life that was on the field that Saturday morning. 

Sunshine.

 "Can’t you feel that sunshine telling you to hold tight?

Things will be alright."

I was oh so lucky to find myself in Hawaii this summer!  These are a few photos I took at Iolani Palace.  And while the palace was cool, I found myself not wanting to leave these trees!  I know, I'm in Hawaii and I'm taking photos of trees! Don't judge. That's just how I roll, what can say?! lol! 

Run.

He is standing beside me and I hear him say take a deep breath.

So I take a breath that is a little bit on the shaky side.  I keep my arms by my side, scared they will show the nerves that I've been trying to hide.   

I hear him say I'm going to count to three and you need to run.

One.

Two.

Three.

And I run. I don't think about it.  I run.  I don't think about everything that could go wrong.  Or the what ifs.

Or how insane I am for having just ran off a platform 100 feet off the ground.  I just ran.  I didn't even hesitate!  I trusted everything would be ok.

And there is a moment before the zipline catches you, where you are just falling.  Its just a brief moment before I'm sliding down, but it feels like forever.

(Notice the exit sign at the bottom of the photo!)

~~~

So I'm now a college graduate.  I've picked up the diploma and everything.  It still feels so strange!

I'll never forget sitting in halls with my friend after my last final.  I was still worried.

I kept saying how I was done, wondering if maybe the next time I said it I would actually believe it myself.  I didn't.

I was mostly thinking of things that could go wrong, you know, natural disasters and such.

Maybe my crazy journalism teacher would decide to fail me or maybe I didn't study hard enough for my business law final.  I obviously didn't know enough about Billy Bubba Hawkins and his legal troubles.  What if there is a tornado and all my grades fly away!

My friend confidently said to me that he was sure everything would be just fine and that what was the worst that would happen? I go for another semester.

My first thought was that we obviously disagreed on how devastating going another semester would be. :p

But by my second thought I decided to be a little more rational and saw his point.  So then I let myself believe, that maybe, just maybe, I really was finished.  That that really could be my last day as a college student.

~~~

So here I am.  Having just ran off the platform, waiting for the line to catch.  Not knowing what's next in my life.  Maybe everything will work out and it will be a fun ride.  Maybe I'll hit the ground and have to come up with a plan B.  

All I know is I just ran.  I didn't even hesitate!  And I'm trusting everything will be ok.  :)

Life.

So what have I been making such a big deal over???

Well today is the day!

And I specialize in life.  Yes, you read it right. Life.  I don't specialize in weddings or portraits.

I specialize in life.  And you are going, say what?!?!  And what does that mean missy?!?!?

That means I specialize in my client's story.  Who they really are.  When someone looks at my pictures I want them to go, "Oh my gosh, that is so 'insert name." lol

I want my clients to be comfortable in front of the camera.

And another rumor I may have started is that I actually don't have any photos that I took on www.BrittneyAnn.com.  It's true!!!

And you now really think I've lost my mind!  But the reason I don't have any of my photos on my website is because all my clients will have their own website now!  And links to 3 sample websites are on my website under the section shoots!

So go explore the new www.BrittneyAnn.com and let me know what you think!!!

I made it.

GRADUATION TODAY!!!!!!!!

I just hope I don't cry at graduation!  ....I'm sure I will though.

Anyway, I wanted to write this awesome blog today.  And I debated what it would be about in my head.

Maybe what I learned in college.  Maybe advice for high school seniors.  Maybe how it was Brittney Ann Photography's 1st birthday yesterday!

But it is kind of a big day tomorrow with the big unveiling at noon and there is still lots of work that needs to be done and I sort of have this stage I need to walk across today.

So, here is the big awesome blog.....

I made it.   :)

It's the hallways I'll miss.

It's too soon.  I keep having to remind myself it's too soon.

My college alumni shirt is hanging in my closet.  And everyday I want to put it on.  I some how convinced myself that it goes with everything in my closet.  Yes, the bright blue shirt with orange writing totally goes with black dress pants and high heels. Trust me.   

I keep trying it on, but I refuse to wear it before graduation.  You think it would be a wedding dress or something!

Silly, I know.

~~~

3 years ago, I was 18 and dreaming about college.  I could not wait to get there!

I remember freshman orientation, campus seemed so huge.  I remember wondering how I'll ever be able to get around.

I remember telling a fellow student at orientation that I wanted to start my own photography business.  She patted me on the back and sarcastically told me "Good luck with that! You'll never make any money."

I just half-heartedly smiled and shrugged my shoulders.    

~~~

Today, I'm sitting in class.  My last day of college.  I now dream about what color I should do my future kitchen in and I wonder what would be the best location for my shoots this weekend.

Campus is a lot smaller than it used to be.  I could get around with my eyes close and I'm fairly sure I have several times.

And that photography business that would never work, is so busy my head is spinning and is about to be officially 1 year old!

  ~~~

I've been counting down to this day for what feels like forever, but lately I've been trying to figure out what I'm going to miss when it's all over.

It took a lot of thinking, but I figured it it out.

It's the hallways .  It's where I sat swapping crazy professor/boy stories with my friends.  It's us laying in hall laughing about what happened in class.  It's the meeting my friends for lunch after a long day of classes.

Yea, that's what I'll miss the most.

~~~

Ok, now for a few picture! These are from a shoot I did last weekend, I just love how they turned out!

I adore the look on his face here! lol!