Inspired

Inspiration can come from many different sources. Even your birthday. My recent birthday encouraged me to look back over the year to the people and events that inspired me, my photography, the way I choose to engage life. Creative inspiration that you share with other people especially, can explode into a  fire that spreads through each person until it completely envelops an entire project like little embers. I was very blessed to work this past year with a couple of such talented women. Both women inspired me to light that creative spark within me and while doing so, I had fun just being a girl with a camera, free to create.

Michelle Day of http://www.jewelrybyday.com/ is one such talented lady.  I've known Michelle for years, growing up and going to school together in a small town. We happily ran into each other at Wheatstock this summer. After some catching up and admitting that I drool over just about every piece of jewelry she makes, we came up with a plan to get together.  We spent an incredibly fun day collaborating in a beautiful valley in Eastern Oregon with the prettiest cowgirl modeling Michelle's gorgeous jewelry, while her creative sister assisted us with props, horses, and ideas. This I could do again and again.

The other incredibly fun day was with a photog friend from Couer d'Alene, Idaho. Christina Goold of  http://www.christinagphotography.com/blog/ is an amazing photographer that inspires me to keep pushing forward, finding my niche, my passion. She answers questions, shares insights she's learned and encourages me to allow God's gift to grow and mature.  We spent the day shooting the sweetest young woman. When Christina and I were planning the shoot she said we would start at a barn she likes to use, the she paused and said "Have you ever done a shoot in a laundry mat? I've been wanting to try it"  I actually squealed in delight over the phone because I had been working on a plan to do just that! When I told her, after I caught my breath and my heart slowed down, she said "This was meant to be then!" 

Our young model was so awesome! She would instinctively look back & forth to me and Chris sensing which of us was taking the picture at that moment as we fired off simultaneously like the paparazzi following the latest new star. I preferred to catch the shots when she would pose for Chris and forget I was there, or get lost in thought while she waited for us.



Chris thought it was so funny when I climbed on a chair to take these pics that she took a picture of me taking them and posted it on her blog!

Don't be afraid if inspiration takes you down an unknown path.  You just might stumble onto something great!