Your Story Matters

Today I’ve been practicing with lighting and depth of field…and…thanks to my daughter…enjoying fresh baked cookies.

Can you smell them?

For you fellow photo geeks, I shot this on manual at ISO 400, f/1.8 at 1/40.  I used my Nikon D700, Nikkor 50 1.4 lens, SB-800 Speedlight,, and the SP Systems Barn Doors Set .

(note: I only paid $10 for the barn doors set and it’s been so fun to use. I can’t wait to do portraits with it! Here’s a pic from B&H of them).

Laurie is beautiful, quick to laugh, smiles easily, and loves Jeff deeply. Jeff is handsome, gentle, is also quick to smile and he loves Laurie.

Laurie + Jeff = a beautiful relationship. Here are a few photos from their May wedding. Congratulations!

Thank you, Laurie & Jeff!!!

Yesterday I chatted with a friend-client. I told her that I really liked her fiance. She said, “Me too! I mean I’d like him even if I wasn’t going to marry him.”

You know what? I like my husband, too. I love being around him. He’s my friend. Mark is a teacher and just finished summer school (Yippee!). That means he’s home until August. Everyday. And that makes me happy.

Not everyone is so fortunate. My mom struggled with my dad being home. Over the years of their marriage they had grown apart. For much of their married years, he worked out of state and came home occasionally. When he retired, he was home all the time. My mom had a separate life. My dad had expectations of her and didn’t know her. He didn’t (or perhaps couldn’t) see and appreciate her for who she was.

My life is so different. When Mark is home, he doesn’t seem to have high expectations of me. We just are home together. He sometimes works on projects. I work on projects. We work on projects together. At other times, one of us is “goofing off” or napping, while the other is taking care of the home or kids. 

I’m so thankful for his acceptance of me for who I am. He gives me grace, freedom and champions me. I’m grateful.

Here’s my man. I like him

A couple of weeks ago my family went to the 2010 Special Olympic Summer Games to hang out with our good friends and watch our pal Nolan swim.

He took the gold!

Nolan takes the gold, baby! from Jenny Arnez on Vimeo.

Congratulations, Noley! We’re proud of you. =)

The song for Nolan’s video is The Sound Of Sunshine. I don’t normally use non royalty free music but this one just fits. Here’s Michael Franti’s video: