My best girl friend, Natalie, was back from NYC this week.  The house where she grew up looks a lot different than where she lives now.  I never found rural Wisconsin beautiful until I started doing photography for a living.  Now I can’t get enough of it.  I want to shoot against a rustic landscape every day of my life.  I just feel right in my element in that space.

I had a mini shoot with Natalie and her Wisconsin animals  today — only about 5 or 10 minutes long.  And it was noon (yes, the worst light ever).  But I felt so inspired in those few minutes.  Sometimes you can shoot for hours and not be especially inspired … but I was just.so.inspired.  Wind-blown messy hair always gets to me.  So does a girl who doesn’t care if her hair is blowing around her face. Because that’s real … and real is what I love to photograph. Natalie, an emu, some chickens, a pony, a horse, a donkey, peacocks, and a crazy dog.  Perfect.

Except that the dog bit me.  But we’ll let that go for now.

Natalie, it was so so good to spend today with you.  Thank you for being so beautiful … in so many ways.  I think these photos make me tear-up because I already miss you.  Safe travels back to NYC, my dear. xoxo.