Quite simply put, Spring combines my favorite things, the bursting of plants and flowers in nature and people coming out of social hibernation from Winter. It feels perfectly natural  to me to create nature based photography now. In fact creativity cant' be contained at this time of year, for me the creative drive is as abundant as the blossoms and flowers. My primal yearning to create photos in the lush landscape is as bone deep as the pollinators looking for nectar. My love of flowers goes way back to childhood. I used to pick flowers on the way to Kindergarten for my teacher, right out of the yards that I was walking past, but perhaps we will save that story for another blog post.  

I am an extremely visual person and that lends itself well to being a photographer. I also love to document things, both for historical purposes and to create visual representations.I do this for the sake of art, and sometimes to hold onto fleeting moments in time that will inevitably change, but through a photo we are reminded again and we remember.  

I think of myself as a part time believer in Astrology. I don't really pay any attention until things get really notably intense. When I want to know what is going on and what to expect, only then will I look up what's happening. Similarly, I began the year with the knowing that the Chinese Zodiac sign is the year of the Dragon. I was born in a Dragon year, so I figured this was my year for something special. The forecast for the year offers opportunities, changes, and challenges. 

The Dragon year forecast is very relatable so far, man this is a doozy, but I am riding this winged Dragon and covering some serious ground. You see, even though I have had a photography business for over 27 years, photography has been a part time for me, not full time. Last month I was laid off from the day job that I had worked for eight and a half years. The sudden change in my life was the catalyst for...more change for myself and the others at work who were also laid off. 

I am moving out of my home and in with my boyfriend Derek and his daughter Malia, but before that I am moving to Switzerland for three months this summer! This is the perfect opportunity to take my camera to the country where I was born and to work, and spend time with friends and family. For anyone who has had a child move off to college (this happend last fall), you will likely be able to relate to what it's like to feel the freedom choosing life choices that were not available to us while holding down the nest! My role as a parent has changed and this feels like the perfect window to take on new opportunities, explore and come back home a little wiser!

To bring it back around to the present moment, this means that from today until the end of May I am available to take photos for my clients. Then I will be off in Switzerland, returning again in September, just in time for fall portraits, senior portraits, fall weddings and all the the glory of Autumn! I will want to know all about your opportunities, changes and the benefits of working through any challenges you might have had, should you be willing to share. 

My passion is taking photos of the beauty in nature, not just as a backdrop for photos, but because as humans we are nature, we belong to nature, not separate from it. And also the Deeper Image photography that I offer literally revolves around big life changes, when one chapter ends and another begins. So here I am looking at what that feels like and bravely facing what feels like a lot of change all at once, but also leaning into it to welcome the growth and opportunity that are unfolding. I am thinking about what visual components might accompany this moment now into a photo idea...something to do with a dragon or riding a dragon....