The BUILD Workshop :: Photography

A few weeks ago, before I jumped a red eye flight to D.C., I had the opportunity to join a handful of other wedding photographers at a BUILD workshop hosted here in Orange County. The workshop focused on four keys specifics of running a small business and provided a unique perspective as it was taught by fellow wedding photographer Gabriel Ryan. At times it can be incredibly difficult to feed the artistic, photography minded side of my brain without neglecting the structured, business side of my career. The truth of the matter is that it's impossible for me to have one without the other. In my experience it is only after the affairs of my business are in order that I truly feel the freedom to take the pictures I love and am most proud of. What I enjoy most about attending workshops is that they inspire me to work toward something. I came away from BUILD excited for the relationships I have with my clients and eager to make my business, in the words of Kanye West, harder, better, faster, stronger. There's a lot to love about being a wedding photographer, but these are the things that make me truly passionate about what I do.

While the focus of the day was on our business, we did have a quick wedding themed shoot in the afternoon. Here a few shots from the adorable session styled by Melanie of Jesi Haack Design.

Happy Tuesday,

Michelle

Conway :: Four Legs of Awesome

I've dreamt about this post for the past four years. Colton and I have been longing to add to our family since college (and far before we were ever married). And as the months and years passed all we could do was dream about the day when the timing would be right for an addition. Days and weeks we spent discussing breeds and names and oh.the.adventures we would have together. With each new move we found ourselves one small step closer to expanding the Cross home. And then, finally, with the move to California we knew the time had ultimately come to bring our baby home. On Saturday Colton and I drove to the Westside German Shepherd Rescue of L.A.. After spending time with a handful of other shepherd puppies we saw Conway (named Samson by the shelter) across the lot and knew we needed to meet him. Two hours later we left the rescue with bursting hearts and a slobbering canine in the back seat.

World, it is with such great joy that I introduce you to our new love. Rest assured he'll be making regular appearances on the blog - most likely too many. While his full name is Conway, we like to call him Connie. I think it's a particularly dapper old man name and perfect for this handsome new boy of mine.

{Thank you, Emily Scott, for our first family photo}

Don't be thrown off by Connie's size, he is still very much an eight month old puppy. He's even expected to gain around 50 additional pounds, making him roughly the size of a small Great Dane!

I'm sitting at my desk with Connie curled up at my feet as Somewhere Over the Rainbow plays on Pandora. It's sunny outside and the windows in my office are opened to the morning's singing birds. The air is chilly but my feet are warm as Conway stretches out across my toes. I didn't know it was possible for me to love something this much.

...and I think to myself, what a wonderful world.

M.