Spring has sprung

We've been having such great weather out here in northern California. Today I did some major work with some help on my garden. What satisfaction I get from digging and planting. It's the best. I've been spending lots of time lately looking at other wedding photographers websites just to see what they're up to and to get inspiration. Today I spent some time with thebecker.com. [b]ecker's work is just amazing.

It's Me

Here's a picture of me from last year. How different I look from my photo above. We all have different aspects that want to be expressed. How important it is to be true to ourselves, no matter what others think.

Thought of the day

Do what you feel in your heart to be right --- for you’ll be criticized anyway. You’ll be damned if you do, and damned if you don’t. – Eleanor Roosevelt

Inside Passage, Alaska

Last summer I went to Alaska on a small boat cruise with Cruise West. We stayed in the inside passage the whole time. Being on a small boat, we got to go places that larger cruise ships could not go. I got some decent pictures as seen here, but nothing in comparison to John Hyde's work, a local photographer in Juneau who's work I admire so much.

Another beautiful day in Sausalito

I'm so grateful that I do what I do every day. Today after dancing in the morning and then kayaking on Richardson Bay in Sausalito, I did a photo shoot with Anjali. Here are a few of the pictures we captured.

Prego, Prego

I'm a big believer in visualization and recently I put a number of pictures I cut out from some magazines of pregnant women and babies on a vision board.

A vision board is basically a board that you can create and put on there whatever it is that you want. You put the board in a place where you'll see it often, and because like attracts like, you will attract that into your life. It always works. Well, back to my story.

I put these pictures on my board because that is what I wanted to attract; a family. I guess I wasn't specific enough though because within seven days I did a photo shoot with two different pregnant women, where before I had done none. Now I'm very happy for the opportunity to have done this shoot and I'm clear that I attracted it, it's just not exactly what I had in mind at that moment.

Here are the two beautiful expectant mothers.

Golden Gate Bridge

Watching the sun rise in the Marin Headlands facing the Golden Gate Bridge is an awesomely beautiful site. Here are some of my pictures of it.

Eric's Journey

This is a portrait session I did with my buddy Eric. Eric has taught me so much about friendship, compassion and keeping life in perspective. Three years ago Eric fell off a roof while in India and broke his neck. He is now quadriplegic. It amazes me how he can continue to stay so positive, even in the dark moments. Eric's planning to go to China in 6 weeks for stem cell therapy. Anyone interested in helping him with this huge expense can contact me regarding contributing money or United frequent flier miles for this upcoming adventure. With any contribution over $75, you'll receive a signed custom 11 x 17 print of any of my work.

A Thought

What did you do as a child that created timelessness, that made you forget time? There lies the myth to live by.
-Joseph Campbell

Zion National Park

Last fall I took an awesome workshop for a week with the Rocky Mountain School of Photography at Zion NP. Here are a few of the beautiful landscapes I captured. I got to spend an extra week at Bryce NP and Kodachrome Basin State Park. What an inspiring place to be.

Chris and Ralph's Wedding

Here are some pictures from a recent wedding in Encinitas, CA with Chris and Ralph. They made my job very easy and were great to work with.

Lane

This is one of my current favorite shots.

Engagement in San Mateo

Jenn and Sa'id were freezing during the beginning of our shoot, hence it took them a little time to relax. Once we got in the groove, they were like pros.

Engagement in San Francisco

I did this very fun engagement shoot in San Francisco recently with Chris and Lanny.

We're having a baby

My 2nd photographer and friend Heather sent me this.

Eric

I caught my friend Eric as he was checking out a mural in San Francisco.

Antelope Canyon

In the fall I was down in Antelope Canyon and captured this awesome picture. The place is so amazing, it's hard to shoot a bad photo.

Thought of the day

This always inspired me although I do not know its origins.

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or just hit delete.

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

Insights from Jay Abraham

What is Your True Competency and Passion?

Jay Abraham the marketing guru, insists that we should "gain the maximum leverage from every action and investment or time we ever make." No matter what kind of business you run - whether you're the Mom driving your kids around from day to day, or you're a global CEO roosting at a desk in the highest skyscraper in Manhattan - you must figure out your three most important functions, then root out six or seven sub-elements within those three, then evaluate those key elements against just two items - your true competency and your passion for those functions.

As Jay continued, "Going from just OK to brilliant is a geometric move. Going from brilliant to passionate and enraptured is a much higher level of performance. If you're spending all your time managing accounts payable in your company and you're the rainmaker for that company, you're likely not operating at your most passionate and competent levels. You must figure out a way to extricate yourself from this task. Bring someone else in who operates at a passionate level in that arena. There's always a way to find someone to take on other functions, freeing you up for your highest and best use.

"You ALWAYS have to look at your business, your hours, your opportunities and activities, and your capital and energy investments through the screen of your highest and best use."