Life is a Verb {Columbus Ohio Photographer}

Are you comfortable in your own skin?

Are you where you dreamed you would be, when all those years ago you said... "When I grow up, I..."?

My life has taken many twists and turns. Happily, I am now following my bliss by creating a business from my passion of photography. I got derailed along the way for various reasons, but I have now arrived at this wonderful place! Currently, I'm slowly reading "Life is a Verb" by Patti Digh. Wow. I feel like I'm sitting down with a friend I have know my whole life and we're chatting over coffee, solving world problems and our own! If you feel like you are moving too fast, like you are feeling unsettled or stuck... I highly recommend this book! Only halfway through, numerous pages are dog-eared, words are scribbled in the margins, quotes are circled and starred - really good read! Reading this book has made me realize that finally, I AM comfortable in my own skin. And all those years ago, when I very confidently told everyone and the world that "When I grown up I want to be a photographer (insert your own here)".... I know that I have indeed arrived there.

Be who you are and say what you feel

because those who mind don't matter

and those who matter don't mind. ~ Dr. Seuss

Today, tell yourself these things... and believe them!

Published in Artful Blogging magazine! {Columbus Ohio Photographer, Northwestern Michigan Photographer}

When Artful Blogging magazine first came out, I was immediately & deeply smitten! There were pages upon pages of beautiful photographs, art and poetic words to get lost in for hours. The magazine was food for my creative soul and the images were so moving and inspiring - such talented artists. So... when I received an email earlier this year from Stampington (who publishes Artful Blogging) saying they were interested in featuring my photography and writing, I was a little incredulous. How did they find me, I wondered. My work is simply the result of how I see and experience the world every single day. Yesterday, my complimentary copy came in the mail, and it was almost surreal to see my photographs and words in print! I was over the moon!! And I am elated and honored that several of my favorite portraits from my portrait photography business were selected by Stampington for the feature! And for those of you who know about my copilot Maggie May - you can imagine my glee that she was also going to be featured! Still pinching myself a little about it all! And feeling very grateful for the gift of how I see the world - as a beautiful, magical place.

Spring Blossoms {Central Ohio Photographer}

In the heart of the world there is a place that holds the secret names of the rocks & the trees & all the children of the earth & around it gather women & men who hold it dear & each night they stand together to keep it safe for as long as it takes till morning comes & no matter what you have been told, this will always be so, in the heart of the world.
~Story People

Slow sweet delightful spring............

A Hello from Mom {Columbus Ohio Photographer}

Do you believe in "signs", synchronicity or serendipity? You know, those ever so gentle knocks on the door of your heart from the great beyond/universe/God? We probably receive them more often than we realize... if only we were cognizant or in the moment enough. But when we become aware of those unmistakable moments, they are like rays of sunlight warming our cheek. The other day, I had a sign... a pretty BIG one in fact! It was a very ironic "Hello! I'm fine and I'm here with you!" from my mom.

Mom passed 16 years ago - much too young and too soon (58). During the viewing, children from her school laid origami cranes on her - and so, origami cranes always remind me of her. On the anniversary of her death, April 8th, I was getting beautiful at the hair salon. I was enjoying a wonderful massage/shampoo, and then returned to the stylist’s station. I sat down & looked next to me to find a woman sitting there making origami cranes! Wow! It's funny because I had been thinking I hadn't "felt" her in a while.

Thanks Mom, I love you, too!

After this little "message" from Mom, I decided to go through her old photo albums.




Mom as a baby with her mom, my grandmother.





Always some of my favorite photos of mom - angelic and mischievous at the same time!



Mom's dad, my grandpa. I think Mom got her joie de vivre and happy personality from him.



Mom was from a small town in Eastern Pennsylvania. When she turned 14, she went to the Jersey Shore for summer work with friends. They worked at ice cream shops and later at posh restaurants that saw the likes of Frank Sinatra.





Some of my favorite photos of mom are from her days at Kutztown State Teachers College (now known as Kutztown University). Up to this time she had always just been "Mom". Seeing these photographs was like looking at my mom as a real person. Mom is in the top photo on the left.



Mom was always a fun loving people person. Here she is bottom center.



I have always loved shots from the 1950s - the styles, the mood.
They were always posing & trying for a glamorous look!
Mom is top right under the umbrella!



Mom, top left - yes, with the beer can!
I always loved her smile... & she was always smiling!



Mom's graduation photo from Kutztown College.


Thank you to my photographer friend from across the pond, Claire, for inspiring me to go through Mom's scrapbooks. xo



xoxo Mom....