I’m excited for 2011 — can it get here already?  I have so many ideas brainstormed that I’m having head and heart explosions.

I don’t, however, want to forget about 2010 and how remarkable it has been.  I’ve been in business a year and a half now (full time photographer since May 2010) and sometimes it feels like forever … while other times I sit and wonder how this all happened so quickly — how it feels like only yesterday I was sitting in an office at a comfy state job, thinking I’d just go through the motions my whole life … envying people making a living in the arts.

People, follow your dreams.  Does that sound cliche?  Who cares — some cliches exist for good reason.  Life is too short to go through the motions.  When you chase what you are passionate about, you’ll come into contact with an endless variety of other passionate people.  These are the people I am so lucky and thrilled to be sharing life with now.  To dream, run, play, travel the world, shoot, and just relax with.  I can’t believe what the past year has brought.  Being a photographer has fulfilled me and made me, well, me again.  That girl who spent most her life (until mid-college and a few years after … those years I started settling for security) creating and getting lost in new ideas.  I am a better person because I’m exploring the things I feel made to do — no longer negative, bored, or insecure (not all the time, anyway :)).  I can give and be more to others because I am pursuing what matters most to me.

2010, you’ve been amazing.  2011, I have even bigger hopes for you.  Thank you to all my beyond-words-amazing clients and new friends.

As you can see, it was difficult for me to narrow down my favorites.  This is in large part because I have creative clients with great taste.  They are absolutely the BEST and I feel so grateful to have met, worked with, and become friends with them.  Thanks for the past year, everyone!!

xoxo,

a.

This is my dear friend Adam Fell.  We’ve known each other 10 years now, which makes me feel really old.  Did you know that college freshman today were born in 1992?  That just weirds me out.

Adam has been one of my biggest supporters since I got the crazy idea a year and a half ago to pursue a photography career.  He always says he’s proud of me, and that means the world to me.  Adam moved back to Madison a few years ago and helped start the successful Monsters of Poetry.  He has his own book of poetry coming out in the near future and I’m super happy for him.  We walked around this week and took some photos of him … some options for his poetry book bio shot.

I was worried I’d get bored this winter because I hate shooting outside in the cold, but after this shoot I’m adoring the natural light from windows.  I’m excited to get my shoot on indoors all winter long now.

Shot with the 50 1.2 at 400 iso and at f/1.8.  Shutter speeds were at 1/200 for the first half and 1/100 for the shots with colorful walls.  Adam’s apartment and Mickey’s Tavern on Willy Street.

Some of my friends opened a restaurant in Madison called Underground Kitchen.  It’s beautiful inside — dark, white, rustic.  The menu is playful, creative, seasonal.

We got together there recently when Kaleen & James were back in town.  There’s something I love about Kaleen always showing up with knitting needles and yarn in hand.  No matter where we are — a bar, someone’s house — she’s making something for someone.

All taken with the Canon Powershot G11 at 3200 iso;  f/2.8; 1/10 or 1/25;  no flash; only post-processing is a gradient map BW conversion.

We went to San Francisco a few weeks ago and I brought my crappy P&S camera that I barely know how to use.  Surrendered to its junk quality; put it on “P” for professional; shot away the whole trip.  Here’s some of what I got.

Gladys & Chris got married.  It was perfect.

My friends Jonathan & JoAnne have the best tattoos.

My friend Jasmine shot Gladys’ wedding (check out her beautiful photos here) and after she was done she stayed and danced with us.

My friend Heidi lives in SF now but we used to live together in the same old house in Madison.  We volunteered at a basement coffeehouse together and we celebrated the midway point between our birthdays.  She made ice cream cake that was amazing.

No, bartender, don’t give us our change now … the self-timer on my camera is about to…

My point & shoot camera is the Canon G11.  Sometimes, the “worse” the photo, the more I actually like it.  My favorite camera is still my Canon Powershot — the 2nd generation powershot from the early 2000′s.  It’s 3 megapixels and takes super blurry (artistic) photos.

Some meals shared in the past few weeks with Jenny C, Athena P, Troy, Heidi and Chris.

Austin, San Antonio and San Francisco.

Food, drink and people are my favorite things to photograph.  More on the people in posts to come.