WPPI {And Fabulous Las Vegas} :: Photography

Whoa. One year ago I was on a plane with my mother {who I love}, headed to Sin City to spend a week at the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International {WPPI} conference. It's no exaggeration when I say I didn't know a single soul in attendance. Nobody. No one. I vaguely recognized a few of the featured speakers' names, but aside from this, I was the definition of a loner. I was so alone, in fact, that I emailed my own wedding photographer asking if there was any chance he was going to the conference. You know, so I could stand by his side the entire week and pretend I knew people. But he wasn't going. Which meant I really, really didn't know anyone.

Fortunately for me, I didn't leave the conference not knowing anyone. Over the course of the week I met what have become some of my closest friends and peers in the industry. I love these people so much that this year I'm rooming with them, dining with them, walking to class with them, and dressing up in true Mad Men fashion with them to attend the photog. parties I was too mortified to attend last year. At the risk of sounding shamelessly pathetic, I'mSoExcitedToHaveFriends!!

Today I'm getting on another plane headed for Las Vegas, and while I'm thrilled to bring along Colton and my dad for the weekend, I'm super, super happy about the fact that I'll be spending the next five days with fellow photographers who inspire me, encourage me, push me to be better. If you're headed to WPPI this week, let me know when you'll be where - I'd really really really love to meet you!

And to my mom, thank you for being my roommate last year and for making me dinner every night when I didn't have any friends to hang out with. You really are the best.

Happy Weekend!

Michelle

The Knotty Bride :: Preferred Vendor

I awoke this morning with a skip in my step. Maybe it's the sunny 60 degree weather or the fact that it's low tide and our beach looks a million miles long. Either way I sprung from bed with a song on my lips, determined to make today awesome. It only made sense, then, that on such an awesome day I would hear from Alison of The Knotty Bride {TKB}. I'm so, so, SO excited to be able to say that I am now a preferred vendor on The Knotty Bride's super wonderful site. If you're a bride planning your wedding {or a past bride who still loves seeing beautiful dresses and the occasional peony bouquet} I definitely suggest stopping by the site. Not only is Alison's witty sense of humor {and fondness for sarcasm} a nice twist on the typical wedding blog, but the amazing couples + events featured are seriously stunning and full of inspiration. I frequented The Knotty Bride when planning my own wedding and I can only say that it is a true honor to join the collection of incredible photographers, wedding planners, florists, and videographers on TKB's vendor list.

Alison + the entire Knotty Bride crew, thankyouthankyouthankyou! And if any of you brides-to-be are looking for vendors for your own wedding, I definitely suggest CLICKING HERE!

Happy Tuesday!

Michelle

A Reason to Celebrate :: Life

I'm the type of girl who regularly checks the calendar for any possible reason to celebrate. Chinese new year? I'd say it's definitely a day worthy of eating pork fried rice and broccoli beef. Columbus Day? Of course I'll throw a party for the man who didn'treallyevencomeclose to discovering our great nation. And Yom Kippur? Why yes, yes I think I will celebrate this Jewish day of atonement despite the fact that, uh, I'm not Jewish. So today, on Valentine's day, if you give me a reason to tape cut-out paper hearts on every mirror in the house and die the milk pink, you should know that I will definitely be showing up to the party. If you follow me on twitter you'll know that last night I went a little cra-azy with my shopping cart. In an attempt to maintain a single ounce of dignity I won't go into too much detail, but let's just say I left the local grocer with no less than one loaf of french bread, a box of fettuccine noodles, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, marscapone cheese, prosciutto, and a carton of whole milk - HolyHeavensILoveCheeseandCarbs.

Colton and I are getting ready to make a drool worthy dinner full of all the things we haven't been eating lately. But I couldn't let this day slip by without sending bundles of love via the blogosphere. I hope your day has been full of all of your favorite things {like chocolate and puppies and cut-out paper hearts!} and I hope you've hugged someone you love. If you haven't, now would be a perfect opportunity to do so.

Happy loving and lots of hugs being sent your way!

xoxo...xoxoxoxoxoxo

Michelle