Reaching Out in the Local Community.

May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that we may live deep within our hearts. May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may work for justice, freedom and peace. May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and turn their pain into joy. And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done. (Thanks, Frank, for that email.)

I had the great pleasure to photograph an event for RRISA last week where they invited different organizations, churches, companies, and politicians to learn more about their work in resettling refugees here in Atlanta. Check out their website to learn more about what you can do! I was first introduced to this organization through our church in hopes to reach out to our local Atlanta community. It's so crazy how much you can do to serve right in our own backyards if you only allow yourself to be available to do it.

Working with the community, RRISA strives to improve the plight of displaced and uprooted people. RRISA answers the humanitarian call to serve those fleeing from persecution, war, famine and extreme poverty. Their mission is to help refugees, asylees, victims of human trafficking, and Cuban/Haitian entrants resettle in the U.S. and regain self-sufficiency. (Taken off their website)

What's so cool about these types of organizations is that you can work with them right here in the community that you live. You don't have to go overseas to help out. You can give monetary donations as well as furniture and clothes. You can also get more personal and help out with assisting the families in adjusting to the U.S. or in tutoring English. Not only will it be a blessing to them, but I can assure that it will be a huge blessing to you too.

It's all about thinking globally, acting locally. Here were a few photos from the night. The first one I shot right before the event of the church right next door.

Relationships. Friends. Friendquaintances.

Lately I've been having all sorts of conversations about relationships (platonic ones included). I guess it's just a part of life that's very important to us. Thought I should jott down some of my thoughts. Sometimes we have this idea or dream of how we think life and the future ought to look like. Sometimes we can get very carried away by our day dreams and miss out on the here and now. So here's a very fine example of that in my own life. At one point in my life I had this idea that I would marry this really talented photographer with a huge heart who (seemingly) had a similar vision to mine (ie, loved God, loved people, and enjoyed a lot of the same things I did, etc). We would not only build a wonderful life together, but with our powers combined... take over the world (maybe just the photography world heh)! Talk about being carried away. lol Even if the relationship would have continued this far, the reality might look very different from how I envisioned it. Life is sometimes very different from the way you dream it out to be, does that mean we stop dreaming? No way, jose. Let the old ones fade out, and you build new ones. But it's always good to keep in mind to be flexible. At this point, do I feel like I've missed the very best? No. The new ones won't be like settling for less. They may look different, but I think they'll always be better. :) I heard an older, wiser woman tell me that the best is always ahead of us. Don't expect any less.

(Side note: Basically, don't live in the past or be too focused on the future. Live in the present. Some older people have been saying that only when you're younger can you afford to live with this kind of mentality and afford to have risks. When you're older you need an insurance policy for the future. Maybe I just want to live more dangerously. I sure hope it doesn't change for me, and I can live more by faith.)

That being said... why is it that we always mostly think the grass is greener on the other side? For example if you're single, it's better to be in a relationship or vice versa. The present is a wonderful place to be. So many opportunities to pursue. There's too many things I want to do all at once. Swing dancing, salsa, guitar lessons, cooking classes, tennis, running, bowling, hiking, rock climbing. Yep. This is all on top of my photography work and traveling. I think I might have to prioritize this list. My 30 before 30 list is coming soon. :)

And even more important than those activities, what about growing your current relationships with family and friends. I mean how much time do we really have to spend time with our family and girlfriends after we're married? With all the activities I want to be involved in and people I want to build relationships with, I'm coming to realize how much more precious time is. I read/heard somewhere that you can only develop strong, intimate relationships with 12 people (including family) in your life? Any more and you begin to spread yourself out thin. Makes you want to be more intentional with all your relationships. Here's an interesting article a friend posted on Contacts vs. Friends: Bridging & Bonding and Person-Centered Planning. Something to think about.

If that's really the case, can you easily identify who your 12 close friends/family members?

Just wanted to leave you with a few photos of some special people in my life over the years. :) I love all my guy friends too... but as my photog mentor once said, 'girls are nicer to look at, and they get way more hits'. haha ;) XOXO.

Al-Azhar Park - Cairo, Egypt

I miss Middle Eastern culture. The people in Egypt have taught me so much about hospitality and love for family and community. I was so impressed, in fact, that I've been wanting to incorporate some of this good stuff into my own lifestyle. Wouldn't it be awesome if you can combine all the good qualities about each culture and make some sort of super culture?! I don't know how they manage to do it. Nothing ever runs on time there, which was really frustrating to get used to. Well, to be honest, I don't even think I could ever get used to it. BUT I love how their time revolves around their relationships rather than the opposite, relationships revolving around time.

I dislike having to tell people for example, I'm too busy for them Monday, but I can fit them into my 5-7 slot on Wednesday. I want to be as open and available whenever I'm needed. I do realize after a couple schedule conflicts that this doesn't quite work in a culture when everyone else is that busy and sometimes you do need to schedule a few weeks in advance to get things done. I'm still trying to work it all out. Other than work, I want to still remain open. We'll see how things work out.

I really like the 'I'm Yours' song by Jason Mraz. Especially these lyrics:
'Well open up your mind and see like me, open up your plans and damn you're free, look into your heart and you'll find love love love.'

I know my job allows me to be a lot more flexible with my time, and I am very grateful for it, but even when I had a 9-5, I knew it was still possible to have a more free and flexible schedule. Sometimes when I'm running in circles trying to get things done, I have to stop myself and ask what is really that important about what I'm doing. I've come to find that in the end, people are always more important than most of what I think I need to get done.

With that said, I wanted to update with a few photos from Egypt. One of the last days we were there, we went to Al-Azhar park. This woman kinda walked into my photo, but that's okay!



This is an area overlooking the city where you can see a mosque at almost every corner. Supposedly there are so many mosques that there is one mosque per family.





We randomly met a group of six girls at the park and ended up sitting and chatting with them. They taught us so much about their culture and identity. It's cool to learn how different they see the world in being part of an honor-shame culture. It really makes you wonder how much of how you perceive the world is from your upbringing. After chatting some, we were suddenly being fed by them and celebrated one of the girl's birthday with them. :) Seriously, southern hospitality has nothing on Egyptian hospitality. Of course, I couldn't help but ask to get a few portraits of these beautiful girls.

Angel.

I was never much of a pet photography person, so I never took a gazillion photos of my dog. That's why nobody really knows I own a dog. I suppose he does deserve some space on my photography blog though. hehe Maybe I expand a little and will branch out!

No one really knows I have a dog except for the friends that have visited and he scared away. I wish he was more of a people person so I can take him out to parks, but he's very anti-social. Plus, some folks have been asking to see what my dog looks like. haha So here you go! This is my Angel and I after our short run together yesterday. :) I was trying to show my dad how to 'operate' my camera. After many trials and tons of cropping, not so bad, huh? Focus on him, not me! lol I haven't been in the mood to doll myself up lately.



These two are dug out of the archives (Isn't he cute?):





What I was excited for when getting back into the States, and I've managed to accomplish (refer back to earlier post):
1) Hanging out more with family. - I watch movies with my dad now. Can you believe that?
2) Sleeping in my own bed.
3) Having southern sweet tea.
4) Eating at all my favorite places. - Maybe not ALL, but we've hit up some good places like Fat Matt's. :)
5) Walking my dog.
6) Reorganizing my room and cleaning out my closet.
7) West Coast trip planned and flights booked.

hahaha I realize now all the easier ones are done. :P Now for the Top ten things currently in the works (what I didn't complete from the Germany list is added onto this list.. and then some):
1) Catching up with friends.
2) Editing all my work-related photos and all the backed up travel photos.
3) Catching up on the Office. - Where are the missing episodes in Season 5? There must be an order! :(
4) Planning a weekend away with friends. - This needs to happen!!
5) Teaching myself guitar... but I guess the order of it would mean I have to buy one first? hmm.
6) Finish reading Princess Bride + all 20 of my unread books on my bookshelf before I purchase more.
7) Inviting people for dinner. I learned a few things about cooking while traveling. :P
8) Finish the last piano piece I was playing before I quit six-seven years ago. I've been inspired to pick piano back up just for fun. It is a bit frustrating realizing how much I forgot, but still kinda like riding a bike... some things you never forget.
9) Planning an East Coast (road)trip up to DC-Boston-NYC
10) Learning to cook Korean food (well). Maybe Sarah can help me out! :)

I could go on forever.... since I'm naturally a very curious person who loves to learn new things, but I will stop there. Ten is good for now. I'm going to update this list every now and then to see my progress.

California Dreaming.

LOL how appropriate. We just ate there for dinner.

I'm caught with the travel bug. I don't feel like sitting still! hehe So looks like I'm already on the road again, but it's going to be a mix of work and play. :) I have a wedding in LA early June, and I wanted to take some time and do some traveling on the West Coast. The weekend of the 6th will be busy due to the wedding, but here's my itinerary as of now:

June 3 Arrive in Los Angeles
June 9 Fly into SF (Actually it's SJC --> SF --> Big Sur?!)
June 19 Fly back to LA
June 23 Back home to Atlanta!

So for the ten days in SF, I'm not really planning on staying there too long. I want to be able to see everyone and then travel up the coast. I'm pretty open to going anywhere.. ie Napa Valley, etc... but I especially want to go to Big Sur! I've never been before, AND it's supposed to be super gorgeous there! If anyone would like to meet up in LA or SF during that time, let me know! And if you want to join along on the roadtrip, you should do it!!! :) Fly in the same time as I do! hehe

These are some old photos that I dug out from the archives from when I visited SF.

Chase and Charissa Baptism

Easter Sunday, I went to go photograph my cousin's twins getting a baptism. Of course, I couldn't help but photograph other parts of the day. :)



Chase loves being thrown in the air. Over and over again. lol He's an active one.



Here he is with daddy.


The baptism:





Mini photoshoot up in the baby's room. haha It went from "Chase, lean back so you don't fall over. Keep your hands down! Look at me!" to "Okay, I'll let you do your thing and if you laugh at me once in a while -- Score!" :)





Charissa is a shy one. It's so cool to watch their personalities develop at such a young age.




Okay, Auntie's gonna feed you. Good thing they taught us how to do this at the orphanage. lol



And make a mess on your face just to take a photo of you. lol



Chase loves talking on the phone. He laughs and smiles whenever he hears a voice on the other end. Who is it? Is it daddy?


Last but not least, Chase and her Auntie. :) He kept trying to pull of my glasses, but finally I managed a good photo with him.



Baby photography is different from photographing adults and kids. No matter what they are always so comfortable in front of the camera and always have natural expressions. But there are a lot of similarities as well, because you have to get these expressions out of them. Cooperating with your vision is a whole different story. haha

Sometime during the process of starting my photography business, I started to lose sight of my love for photography. I always had a fear that when you something you love into a career, you could quite possibly lose your love for it. It did happen as I started focusing more on the networking and business aspect of it. I stopped taking my camera out for anything other than photoshoots and weddings, and began to think what's wrong with this picture?

I am so glad that it's days like this, spending time with loved ones and capturing the day that make me realize how much I love what I do. Even my six month trip overseas made me rediscover my passion for photography and my absolute love for people. Photography is my medium to love and serve people. Getting paid for it is just frosting on the cake. :) This is always important to be reminded of.

Jean and Mike E-session 2.

Wow. I am so stoked with these photos from their session, I need to do a second post in a row. This has been unprecedented in my blog history. I stayed in Friday night working on photos, and it looks like tonight is looking very much the same. I have been toying around with different post-processing, but so far I'm really liking the new look. Btw, what happened to textures? I came back six months later, and it doesn't seem like photographers are using them as much.

Here are just a few more photos from the session. I just couldn't resist! The next time post about them, it will be their slideshow.

They wanted to incorporate their smart car into the photo, and I told them I'll see what I can do. Lucky for them AND me, I may have found myself a new favorite photo of all time!! :)


The reflection off the car. We tried to use a dirty old sock to wipe off the pollen, but it never goes away. Let's just pretend that they're reflections of stars, or even better, a texture! :)



So peaceful.









I'm finally able to unleash all this creativity inside me now that I am... what's the word? Shameless. And this is in the most positive way you can think. haha Also, it usually helps when the couple is willing to do just about anything for a good photo opportunity. :)

I think I have always had some amount of insecurity with whether the couple would be comfortable with me during the photoshoot, whether they would cooperate with my ideas, or would I even have good ideas?! There's a lot to think about. Lighting. Location. Posing. etc. etc. etc. It can be overwhelming if you're not confident in what you're doing. You always have to expect the unexpected and know how to make lemonade out of lemons.

What changed? Two things. The first is practice. I do believe with more practice, we are able to be more at ease with ourselves in our giftings and abilities, and we're able to explore new territory. Second, I feel a lot more free in the way I interact with people. I'd like to think that God has given me this gift and career for some greater purpose. I want to be able to pour my heart out into my work and into the people I work with.

And of course at the very least, I want us to just have a good time. Having fun on the photoshoot is just as important as nailing the shots. Usually they go hand in hand as well. :)

Jean and Mike E-session.

The weather forecast was rainy, but luckily for our few hours of shooting, the rain stopped and the sun peeked out. Finally the weather cooperates with me! Then the storms of life rolled in afterward. My car battery died TWICE. Once in the parking lot, and the second time while I was driving. Good thing I was too paranoid to drive on the highway. I was stranded for three hours, and then had an emotional breakdown because I really needed to go to the bathroom, but my key was stuck in the ignition. lol Then I asked if it could get any worse. haha Never ask that question. It started raining, then hailing, then a tornado. Yes, I said tornado. I saw a tornado on the way home and huge chunks of hail hit my car. Yesterday was probably the longest and craziest day of my life. Now, I can sit here and laugh about it. Hey, it's not so bad. I had a great engagement session where the weather cooperated with me, then got a new car battery, and I survived a tornado. I think it was overall... a great day. :)

Now the e-session. I was only going to post up two or three teasers, but I could not stop myself from finishing more photos. First stop, Jean and Mike's favorite date spot. I can see why. They're creme brulee french toast was amaaazing! :)



They were telling me how they took a roadtrip to NYC to buy these shirts. That's exciting. "Hey, I want to buy a shirt. Let's drive to NYC." hehe :)





Dave and Busters. Game time!









The guy was nice enough to let us only pay for two people to get on the ride. ;)







End. Btw, I needed to add this one last pic in here. This would be hail that I found on my lawn when I got back. Crazy day.



More will be posted on facebook. ;)