If you’re interested in knowing what was the one “thing” that motivated me to really put my dream into action, just ask. It’s a somewhat personal journey so it feels strange to put it out here in the open. I’ll say this much: it’s been a dream of mine to be a photographer. I got my first camera at age 12. It was from the 99 cents store (it costed maybe 15 bucks, 14.99 LOL). My sister bought it and we shared it (thanks sis!) Out of my friends, I became the “class” photographer. I took my camera to school, I learned the functions, and I spent hours in the library reading books. We didn’t have internet back then…or did we and my family was too poor? Anyway, if we did I would have been surfing the web too.

I can’t say I was good but I sure was ambitious. I took pictures of really mundane objects. A desk, orange peels on the ground, a sign post. It allowed me to see that there is beauty in the ordinary, that a person’s experience is parts 1) attitude, and 2) perspective. I was a curious, curious child. I watched people, I anticipated movements, and I was always asking questions. Above all, I was (and still am) CURIOUS. It made me be more flexible in how I viewed the world, how I saw myself, and how I interacted with other people. I like documenting people and “things.” I love documenting the little moments that other people might not catch. The world is so full of energy! I love that! I love that photography can capture memories, relationships, people’s quirks. There is range when it comes to photography. In college, my photography teacher noticed that I liked to take pictures of impermanent things. I lived near the beach and would make markings in the sand, take a picture, and immediately the waves would wash it away. Though the markings were gone the photograph would remind me that yes, it was once there and yes, I had experienced it.

It’s so much like a wedding. Not much is permanent, even the cake will be gone in a year and the dress stored away, yet the photographs allow the memories to be shared and re-created over and over again. The pictures will even outlast the memories. That’s why photography is so important to me and I put so much value on it. I’ve been through so many wedding magazines and books in the last 10 years and the one thing that brides wish they would have done was allocate more money for photography and took the photograph more seriously. I know for my own wedding the top three priority would be photography, venue, food. But that’s just me.

In the past months I’ve been given so much love and support from my family (I love you Big Sis! Tiffany!), Matt, my school mates/ art therapy friends, and my other friends near and far, especially Boravy and Darina. I put faith in the universe that everything will come together. Thank you. I can’t say it enough how wonderful you all have been. Now, Matt and I have a date so I must go!

Sending you positive vibes,

Chatti

(notice the area where there should be a logo, new one to come shortly!)

Also! we have a couple exciting new additions to the savady photography team! Find out what or who they are on Tuesday!

If you’re interested in knowing what was the one “thing” that motivated me to really put my dream into action, just ask. It’s a somewhat personal journey so it feels strange to put it out here in the open. I’ll say this much: it’s been a dream of mine to be a photographer. I got my first camera at age 12. It was from the 99 cents store (it costed maybe 15 bucks, 14.99 hah). My sister bought it and we shared (thanks sis!) Out of my friends, I became the “class” photographer. I took my camera to school, I learned the functions, and I spent hours in the library reading books. We didn’t have internet back then…or did we and my family was too poor? Anyway, if we did I would have been surfing the web too.

I can’t say I was good but I sure was ambitious. I took pictures of really mundane objects. A desk, orange peels on the ground, a sign post. It allowed me to see that there is beauty in the ordinary, that a person’s experience is parts 1) attitude, and 2) perspective. I was a curious, curious child. I watched people, I anticipated movements, and I was always asking questions. Above all, I was (and still am) CURIOUS. It made me be more flexible in how I viewed the world, how I saw myself, and how I interacted with other people. I like documenting people and “things.” I love documenting the little moments that other people might not catch. The world is so full of energy! I love that! I love that photography can capture memories, relationships, people’s quirks. There is range when it comes to photography. In college, my photography teacher noticed that I liked to take pictures of impermanent things. I lived near the beach and would make markings in the sand, take a picture, and immediately the waves would wash it away. Though the markings were gone the photograph would remind me that yes, it was once there and yes, I had experienced it.

It’s so much like a wedding. Not much is permanent, even the cake will be gone in a year and the dress stored away, yet the photographs allow the memories to be shared and re-created over and over again. The pictures will even outlast the memories. That’s why photography is so important to me and I put so much value on it. I’ve been through so many wedding magazines and books in the last 10 years and the one thing that brides wish they would have done was allocate more money for photography and took the photograph more seriously. I know for my own wedding the top three priority would be photography, venue, food. But that’s just me.

In the past months I’ve been given so much love and support from my family (I love you Big Sis! Tiffany!), Matt, my school mates/ art therapy friends, and my other friends near and far, especially Boravy and Darina. I put faith in the universe that everything will come together. Thank you. I can’t say it enough how wonderful you all have been. Now, Matt and I have a date so I must go!

Sending you positive vibes…

Matt and I met R.J. Kern at the Free To Succeed Seminar. I always remember him as the energetic, always smiling, approachable photographer. He was also the guy who kept saying Matt resembled Mike Colon. My boyfriend still has no idea how big Mike Colon is in the photography world. In fact, I even asked him if he knew who we were referring to and Matt answered, “What? I thought it was a made up name!” ; ) Anyway, R.J. holds a coffee shop tutorial every month and this time I got to pick the topic (lighting!).

I hope I will be able to attend as many coffee shop tutorials as possible. R.J. is really talented, down to earth, and nice. I know “nice” is a simple word to describe someone but honestly, there’s not that many nice people existing these days . Oh and he had a sweet Nikon D700 with him, which makes me question our switch to Canon. Yes? No?

Anyway, I love meeting with photographers. I even got to see Vania again. She’s really cool and she has a way of telling stories. I was cracking up with Matt, tears in eyes, belly ache and all.

Some photos from R.J.’s blog:

Also, we got a MAC computer! I know its a big essential for wedding photographers. I’ve been waiting awhile since big purchases scare me but because we are students we are bless with student discounts. We’ve been editing our pictures in a very old school way so now with new programs and our new computer we’ll be lightning fast (without sacrificing photo quality). Plus Matt can finally teach me InDesign.

It’s coming together!

I come to the conclusions that: Photography is my way out. It’s where I can so what I enjoy most and be my own boss.

Once we start getting clients and booking jobs I won’t have to take on random babysitting jobs. Matter of fact, I’m over it. I made a pact with my therapist this week that no matter what I will no longer take on more babysitting jobs. It’s not an easy job. It’s a lot of responsibility and my heart isn’t in it anymore. I think I’m pretty much drained.

the worst feeling ever.

Why couldn’t I just resist?!! Damn him for being so cute!

This is my first time on here.. hello, this is Matt. (AKA…. blueyes!) Well it finally happened, After a lot of convincing, I finally got Chatti to be my model! I know, i know, i was just as surprised as you are, but it just must have been a special day, or maybe she felt bad for me because i was sick. She ran into the bedroom, threw on this cute little sun dress and we went out. We climbed up some rocks, ran around a parking garage, and i even got her to lay in a bed of flowers FULL of BEES!!!!! Regardless of what she says, i think she was an amazing model!

Well enough with the wasting of time with all this type, lets get on to what we’re all here for! The cute girl in the red dress!

]]> http://theartbook.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/the-girl-in-the-red-dress-o/feed/ 3 theartbook http://theartbook.wordpress.com/2008/08/31/wordle/ http://theartbook.wordpress.com/2008/08/31/wordle/#comments Sun, 31 Aug 2008 04:35:37 +0000 theartbook http://theartbook.wordpress.com/?p=170 ]]> Just insert your blog url and Wordle will come up with word art. LOVIN IT! I love that my wordle has so many positive words and phrases. Makes me keep pushing forward.

Note: You’ll have to click on the picture to see it full size.

He’s also been kicked to the couch which doesn’t make me look so nice but truth be told, the couch is a more comfortable than the bed (or so I thought). I’ve even begged to sleep on the couch! I won a few night ago. Yet, to my amazement it turned out that the couch isn’t so comfortable without him snuggling next to me.

In the middle of the night I rolled over to hug Matt and instead got air. I woke up with a start as a wave of anxiety came to me. Realizing where I was I clumsily walked to the bedroom, got into bed, gave Matt a kiss, and went to sleep. Don’t tell him this since I’ve been dubbed the “less affectionate” partner but I rather sleep on the floor with him next to me than sleep on a king size bed with 5,000 thread count sheets. I fit perfectly on his chest and I hate to sleep without him. It just SUCKS, for a lack of a better word. It’s not the same.

Anyway, I was cleaning up his computer yesterday (burning files on CDs and such) when I came across this picture:

I JUST CRACKED UP!

We had gone on a photo excursion a few months ago, doing silly poses and playing around with the camera. Every time I tell Matt to “pose” he goes into A) surfer mode or B) he does the stupid contemplative, hand on chin look (I hate that look!). Yet yesterday, I realized that he had added an ocean background using a picture I took of Laguna Beach, and did some surf board outline which turn out to be RAD!

Even at his sickest and moodiest he manages to make me laugh!