Dream BIG in 2013

I have noticed many artists out there sharing their 2013 goals, the really important tasks they'd like to check off their "to do" list. As I read through everyone else's goals, I can't help but come up with a list of my very own. I have even gotten ideas for myself from reading their list of dreams to come true! So, why not? Why not share my goals, my biggest dreams for 2013?

Megan's Goals for 2013

***find a mentor***
* one for business
* one for photography

- attend two photography workshops
* one on shooting skills
* one on Lightroom workflow/editing

- second or third shoot a wedding with an artist I admire!

- work as an assistant for a wedding photographer to gain an understanding of workflow

- BLOG my travels!!!

- book a senior session

- enter a photo contest

- get a desk and ORGANIZE it :) teehehe!

- give away a family session to a family in need with an amazing story to tell

- outsource web design for an online portfolio that flows with my name and logo aka branding which I am VERY new to this concept!

- create a business name and logo (which I have already started but have not finished!)

- enter another race - I'm long overdue! Maybe the CHELAN MAN?

- order PRINTS of my favorite moments of 2012!!! (because I LOVED 2012!!!)

- create a canvas collage of multiple prints on my empty living room wall! (see above)


There they are! My goals for 2013. Today is day one! I have 364 more days to accomplish this list and I am so excited to do so!


I encourage you to chase your dreams. Don't hold back. Anything. What do you love? What have you always wanted to do but found every excuse under the sun not to? Go do it! You'll love yourself for conquering a challenge and be oh so happy when you get to check it off your "to do" list!


Happy New Year and CHEERS!

Megan Kathleen

Pet Portraits // Yes I said PET portraits!!!

You don't see many pet photographers out there these days, at least I haven't.  Probably because pets don't get married, they don't have anniversary parties or birthdays.  Animals don't have their family photos taken every year either.  Pets can be apart of the family but easily forgotten.  Many people might think it's silly to have pictures of their pet professionally done.  My dogs are sort of like my children, tehehe.  While other people are taking pictures of their babies first Chrismtas I'm taking pictures of Lola and Bo wrestling on their dog pillow.  I know, sounds cheesy.  And...I'll be the first to admit that we have a canvas picture of Bocephus on our wall.  Yes, you read that right!  Why?  Well, because I love them!  I don't think I'm the only one out there either ;-)

What is interesting is the process of taking pictures of animals.  They can't talk back to you.  If they're trained well, you can tell them what to do, sort of.  Good luck with, "smile...make this face...nuzzle your wife."  It's more like, "sit. stay." Then I make a loud noise and wait for their awkward look like, "huh?"  If they aren't well trained, then it's up to you to figure out how in the world you're going to make them look good!  

I set out Christmas Eve in our winter wonderland to take photos of my pups.  And here is what I captured!  It involved a whole lot'a throwing fake objects, kicking snow on them, chucking snowballs behind me so they'd run toward me, and of course making those awkward noises that a baby photographer makes at the newborn.  I have to admit, it was fun and I LOVE the photos I captured!  Whether it remains a hobby or I pursue animals in photography is undecided, but I know that I loved every minute of it!

Below, is quite possibly my favorite photo ever of Lola!

Proof, that dogs CAN smile!

Cheers!

Megan Kathleen

Friend me on Facebook, it'll be fun! 

Miss Megan Justice . Part 1 . Wenatchee, WA

Here is part one of Megan's Thanksgiving morning session.  This morning light looks stunning on her skin tone, doesn't it!?  Being that it is winter time, the days are so short.  The sun is setting at 4:15 PM.  Yes, I typed that correctly.  And it is rising at 7:22 AM.  That gives us a whopping nine hours of daylight.  That calls for early morning shoots, and it was totally worth getting up early for this light not to mention this was the first day of bright sunshine in a long time!

Here comes the sun, (doo do doo doo) here comes the sun...

A favorite of mine

I love this shot below.  Model status!

There are three parts to this session, one of which is filled with numerous attempts at blowing bubbles!  Ooooh....there are some really great photos coming up and I am so excited to share them.

xoxo
megan kathleen

:: how to launch a dream continued ::

In the dream state, specific conditions must be met.  We have to be open to the dream, and willing to accept it.  Sometimes I wonder if people dream like I do, not about objects, but about feelings.  For instance, one dream I have is to love my career. If we can create our lives to be just how we want, then we are living our very own dream.  This is pretty deep stuff, I know, but bare with me.  

To love my career, I must be doing something that I love.  I'll choose photography.  You choose anything you wish, ANYTHING.  I love photography, I always have.  My uncle told me to think up the one thing that I love to do, something I'd stay up all hours of the night for because I love it that much, something I'm probably doing now and not getting paid to do.  He said to me, "what do you love?"  I never dreamed of turning photography into a career.  I was told at a young age by a high school counselor, "oh honey, photography is just a hobby.  You need to think of a real career."  About ten years have gone by since I heard that and guess what?  There are photographers out there making a living, and they are living their dream!  

What is your dream?  What do you love?  

Now that we have that "something we love," we need to start dreaming.  How do we do that?  Well, I discovered just the perfect piece of artwork to help guide us through our dreams.  

First and foremost, as I stated earlier, specific conditions must be met.

From the poster:

adjust attitude to positive mode

synchronize feeling coordinates to open receptivity

check materials list for:

time, to relax

space, adjust for comfort

silence, tune out interference

calm, maintain peaceful awareness

slow down body speed:

take several deep breaths

close visual receptors (eyes)

relax muscles from head to toe

turn attention inward

release brakes:

stress

inhibitions

worry

judgement

noise

anxiety

These conditions are much easier said than done.  I think we will all discover a much more positive state if we simply, try our best to reach these conditions.

Next, we take off!

From the poster:

1. TAKE OFF

Spark imagination (using any of the following fantasy fuels:)

music - mellow & soft

words - lyrical, poetic

images - soothing

colors - vivid

Ready?

Set?

Take off! 

There are two more steps in this artwork, that guide us on launching our dreams.  Until then, please enjoy your dreaming, I know I will :)  

(To site the poster, the artist's name appears to be Eric Disney)

:: when in doubt, let your inner child out ::

I wrote a few days ago about children, how free-spirited they are, and how much I love that!  Well, who says we have to grow up?  If you want to have an awesome time and later laugh hysterically at yourself, then let your inner child out.  This may include running, jumping, dancing, riding carousels, and making funny faces.  You be the judge.  I'd say myself, we made one heck of a road trip, FUN!

:: how to launch a dream ::

Everything is as it should be.  We just have to let go and let it be which is the hard part.  I have made quite a few changes in the last six months.  My friends and I started referring to ourselves as "dream chasers" because we were all making big moves in our lives.  It felt like I was jumping out of a plane not knowing my fate, and crossing my fingers my parachute would open. 

This leads me to my most recent adventure, a road trip to Nashville, TN.  Before we left I met with a local photographer by the name of Kathryn Stevens.  Her energy and kind heart were just what I needed.  I walked away slightly overwhelmed, but so excited for the future!  Right then, I made the choice.  The choice to put my dream chasing into action.  I rented a camera and a couple of lenses.  When the box arrived, I felt like a kid opening the christmas present I had hoped for all year long, and right then and there I knew this is what I love, what I want to "do" for a living.

And this is where everything ties together, a real life example of, "everything is as it should be."  After ten days of driving, and me putting the camera to very good use, Selah and I were unpacking good will boxes the previous owners of the condo had left behind.  We were looking for things to keep when I saw a tube, something that a photo or poster would be in.  I opened it and pulled this gem out of it.  I don't think any explaining is necessary.  It was a picture perfect moment, a treasure I'll keep forever.

The artwork comes with a step by step guide on, "how to launch a dream"  I'll share those with you in the near future.

~peace~

Megan Kathleen

p.s.

Who would ever get rid of such an AWESOME piece of art?!  All I can say is, I sure am glad they did :)