Scratching off #1

Saturday I completed number 1 on my 31 before 31 list... Run a 5K.  If you know me, you might think this was an easy one to scratch off the list. You know that John and I used to run like Forrest Gump and that we've finished more 5K's than we can count. However, this was my first post-baby race and like many post-baby firsts it was scary.
For one, I didn't have my running partner. John is nursing a foot injury and hasn't been able to run so this was also my first solo 5K. For two, I am not in ideal running shape.  I was in the back of the pack with the stragglers. The people that run for a while and walk for a while... I was chugging along with them. But, I ran the entire race and I finished with a better time than I expected. (and I wasn't last. whew.)

Even though John didn't run he came out to support me and snapped some pics.
What a great turnout! I'm in there somewhere.

I finished!

Big thanks to Earth Fare for organizing a wonderful (and FREE) race. Come run with me next year!

Wednesday Wishes

"Stop wishing your life away."  I guess my freshman roommate had grown tired of my standard wish that Friday would hurry up already. As I declared my wish for the thousandth time she reminded me that Tuesday mornings should be just as good. Life is, after all, what you make it and me wishing it was Friday wasn't going to make it happen any sooner. I agreed with the sentiment, but never broke the habit.

Todays short list ...
I wish I had gone to Vegas for the WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) Convention.
I wish April would hurry up and get here.
I wish I had it all together.
I wish my besties lived closer.

April, May and June are going to be super busy as I'll be full steam ahead into my first wedding season. Until then, I vow to make the most of every day and enjoy the calm before the storm. At least... that is my wish :)

31 Before 31

Happy Valentine's Day to any bride that loves Anthropologie. They launched a bridal boutique, B H L N D,  today. Who needs chocolate with all that eye candy? (For the record... I do).  As I drooled over one particular gown I thought, 'I can't wait to photograph a bride in this,' And for the first time I really felt REAL. I may not have a wedding on the books yet, but I know with hard work I will.

Part of that hard work is setting goals for myself and my business. I've recently been inspired by fellow (and kind of amazing) photographer Amanda Pair to create a list of goals for the year. Since I am turning 31 this year, here are 31 things I'd like to do in 2011.

1. Run a 5K
2. Run a 10K
3. Run a Half Marathon
4. Try a BodyPump class
5. Taste a cupcake from Cooper Cupcakes
6. Make french toast
7. Have a professional family portrait taken
8. Have professional head shots taken
9. Second shoot a wedding with 5 photographers
10. Build a wedding portfolio
11. Re-work website to focus on weddings
12. Finish branding project
13. Make a sample mini site

14. Have a sample canvas made

15. Book a wedding of my own in 2011

16. Be a part of Help Portrait in Montgomery
17. Set up a photo booth at a party
18. Attend a photography workshop
19. Find 3 new shoot locations in Montgomery
20. Blog every day for one week

21. Blog 20 days in one month

22. Meet (lunch, coffee, photo walk) with local photographers

23. Contribute to an online photography forum twice a week for one month

24. Work on a personal project

25. Figure out how to be relevant on Twitter

26. Create a facebook landing page for my business

27. Help an up-and-coming vendor by taking photos for their website/FB page

28. Vacation at the beach

29. Have dinner with my sweetie at Village Kitchen
30. Finish a painting for O's room
31. Take O swimming


What do you want to do this year?

A message to myself...

Sometimes 'no' means 'try again'.

Hats of Vaugh Road

Montgomery, AL isn't a large city by any stretch of the imagination. However, it is large enough to find it odd that there is a stretch of land along one of it's busiest streets that's 'uncitified.' A few acres on the side of Vaughn Rd between an apartment complex and a shopping center that remained untouched during the city's eastern migration. In fact, on any given day you can see cattle grazing in the field.
But, that's not all you'll see. Fence post after fence post you'll see a collection of ball caps the Mad Hatter would be proud of. These hats have mystified me for years. I turned to Facebook recently looking for the answer to my question, "What's up with all those hats?"
I was linked to this article on WSFA's website but even they couldn't find the answer. Seems to be an anomaly. Someone nailed the first hat and the collection spontaneously grew seemingly overnight.

As a personal project, I have photographed each hat. All 112 of them.

Here are some of my favorites.

As I was shooting these, just feet away from passing cars, I felt as if I was becoming part of the mystery. I know if I had driven by I would want to know why that girl was taking pictures. That's when the project became more than just documentation and I'm asking you to help me with the next step... Did you nail one of these hats to the fence? Do you know someone that has? If so, please email me. I'd love to tell your story.