About a month ago I attended a photography workshop in a small town near San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. It was one of the best experiences of my life and a major turning point for my business. And I don’t say that lightly… I’m not the type of person that thinks everything is good. I’m a harsh critic… like I would let you know your signature soup isn’t good- harsh (that’s of course if it wasn’t good). Trust me when I say I’m harsh!

The workshop I attended was the FIND workshop with Jonathan Canlas. It was shooting film for three days, learning how to expose properly, seeing how Jon shoots and interacts with clients, learning how he makes the big bucks, no question was off limits… it was three full days of learning, growing, and having the cojones to shoot only film.

It’s hard to put into words what this workshop has done for me. And to call it a workshop does it no justice- it’s a community, a family, a place where learning continues long after the three days of the workshop. I’ve never attended a workshop where the photographer putting on the workshop is available and is more than willing to help you with anything… Jon genuinely wants to help and not just for those three days. I know if I need anything or had a question, Jon would help in a heartbeat.

If you’re looking for a workshop to attend, want to learn, want to shoot film… trust me when I say the FIND workshop is a must! It’s worth it! Every last penny! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, one of the best experiences of my life!

Here are a few images from the workshop. I will post way more later…

;

It’s been awhile, way too long… I’ve been consumed… by a good book. It’s great to read a good book but I’m the type of person that spends every waking moment reading and the balance in my life goes out the window. Aaaaand! I’m missing my friends that I just spent a week with, every waking moment with… my reality is teetering, and I’m having to cope with the loss.  see, this is why I shouldn’t read. I have no control!

In my other world, this is what I’ve been up to…

travelled to long beach to hear Matt of www.mattbites.comspeak about food photography. I’ve followed his blog for years and when a good friend called me up to tell me he was speaking, I was all over it. He’s funny, cute, and he’s my bff- my reality is still a little bit shaky

traveled to Lake Tahoe to photograph an elopement with Logan and Amy. Amy is a great singer and make up artist but a horrible driver. Logan is a great photographer but a horrible dj. And I’m definitely horrible at giving directions, I’ve lived there for years but couldn’t remember anything!

finally watched The Vow and I cried about 10 different times… hard, sobbing cries. it was not pretty!

I’m on week 6 of Insanity and it just doesn’t get easier. the first month tricks you. makes you think the workout is doable… so not the case for the second month!

I shot an all fim engagement session at Keys Creek Lavender Farm- my first time there and it’s an amazing, beautiful place!

On my Tahoe trip I had my first plate of chicken and waffles and I’m in love!!! IN! LOVE!

the rest of my life in instagram pics:

to see more http://followgram.me/harmonyloves/

Just doing a little catching up. I haven’t been posting as much as I should, oh the story of my life. The weather has been so nice this winter so that’s where I’ve been… outside, at the beach, shooting, etc. I also went to Las Vegas last month for WPPI (photography convention… NERD! give me a break, I used to attend science teacher conventions) and usually Vegas in miserable during the winter, but it was surprisingly nice.

And here’s what else I’ve been up to…

enjoying san diego sunsets

and days at the beach

shooting film more and more and loving it. i’m shooting my first all fim session today, wish me luck

baking, I tried to make creme brulee for the first time and thought I could get away with a regular lighter to torch the top. that was a big failure. but the rest of it was pretty good

i went to vegas with a fun group of people last month, Logan, Amy- who decided it was a good idea to paint her nails in the car and then stick them out the window to dry, and probably the funniest and maybe the loudest person I know, Dianna- she’s the one with the snake

we explored the vegas strip, although I used to live there and i’ve seen the strip, it was fun anyways. Logan took pics while Amy, Dianna, and I shopped and looked around

Lola found her long lost triplets, they look exactly alike running around

my new obsession and probably the worst thing for me right now is draw something. my drawing skills are not great but i think i have a knack of conveying my message anyways. my two drawings i love so far are brad pitt and angelina jolie and the lorax

i saw the largest lobster ever last weekend in la jolla

Logan and I started off our wedding season (I say Logan and I cause we shoot together a lot) last week at an amazing venue right outside of temecula. does it get any better than a bride and a boat?

i’ve lived in san diego for a couple of years now and finally explored old town a little. very cute!

It’s what computer backgrounds are filled with, walls are adorned with, wallets packed with, facebook avatars uploaded with… it’s our favorite pictures. Pictures of friends, family, kids, you as a baby or a child, you looking cute or you just looking fiinnnnne! Pictures that speak to you… tell a story that you and a select few know, fill you with memories, remind you of special occasions, or just remind you. For whatever reasons, they are your favorite and most prized possessions. We all have our favorite pictures and some are hard to let go and even hard to replace… I think what I’m trying to say is…

It’s easier to replace a dead man than a good picture. -George Bernard Shaw

I noticed that certain pictures seem to end up as my profile pics on several different social sites, as my iphone background, or on my computer screen. And it’s these certain ones that seem to be the ones I adore.

Here are some of my favorite images and why. Some you may have seen before, in fact I’m sure you have because I use them everywhere.

What are your favorite images and why? Feel free to share yours with me… share them on facebook, here, instagram, twitter, your blog If you don’t have any favorite pictures then I encourage you to take more pictures or have them taken of you until you have not just one favorite, but several.

One of my all time favorites is one from my wedding. It’s of my husband, myself and my two step kids. I adore this picture. It’s on my wall and I use it everywhere I can.

I’m not sure why any parent would allow their children to be seen in public like this but it happened… underwear, tank tops, and halvsies… I’m sure isn’t respectable outerwear. I remember this time so clearly. I’m on the right and I remember being so angry with my sister because I wanted to wear the yellow half shirt. Clearly, it’s the better shirt and I wanted it. I love this picture because other than us not smiling, this was us… running around with curlypigtails and half naked

This is my step daughter, Adrianna, when she was around 4 years old. I wasn’t in her life at this point but the picture is one that I can’t get enough of. It shows her personality so well and I can just imagine how sweet she was at this age.

Speaking of… you can see her same sweet smile here as well. She wasn’t supposed to be in the picture but if you know Adrianna, she’s trying to get into every picture she can.

Unlike his sister, Blaine isn’t always so keen on having his picture taken. I had to make up a lie to take this picture and every time I see it, it reminds me of that day and I laugh. I literally laugh out loud.