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

Day Trip to Bavaria Town, aka Leavenworth, WA

A sunday well spent with family in Leavenworth, WA.  Even though I live in eastern Washington, it is always fun to play tourist and meander around downtown Leavenworth.  Some of the shops we visited included: The Sophisticated Hippie, The Bag Shop, The Hat Shop, The Purple Door, Simply Found, The Cheesemonger, Kris Kringle, Jubilee Global Gifts (non profit & fair trade) and of course SOUTH for some yummy latin food!

Happy Holidays!

xoxo
megan kathleen

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To take the camera or to not take the camera?

I am always the one with the camera.  It never fails, a moment comes up and someone says, "I wish I had a camera."  And then, like Harry Houdini, I magically pull my camera out as if I knew I was going to need it.  And in the rare case I forget my camera, I am legitimately bummed that I won't have it with me.  I am not sure why I have always wanted to bring my camera with me.  It started when I was younger and would play with my parents' camera.  I remember opening the back and carefully putting in a new roll of film, and the excitement I felt setting out to take pictures.  I could often be found wondering around the neighborhood with my handy-dandy camera, snapping photos of anything I felt worthy of a picture.  It was very typical to see film rolls in their little plastic holders scattered all over my parents' home.  I wasn't very good at labeling things, so we never knew what was on any of the rolls of film.  It was a guessing game a lot of the times, "I thiiiink this is the roll from the family reunion."  Only to develop the photos and come home with 150 pictures of our cat.  Most of the time we would procrastinate on developing the film, and then all at once, my mother and I would bring down a shoebox full of film and get all the pictures developed.  I can't tell you how many times my mom was perplexed at my desire to take photos of the same thing, over and over and over again.  The printed images would come back and there would be 100 photos of a flower in the front yard.  I guess I really loved taking pictures, who woulda' thought? 

This brings me to the present moment.  In less than two months, John and I leave for our big winter trip, where we will head back to Southeast Asia and visit Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.  Last winter, I did bring my camera (duhhhh, teehehe!), however it was my top notch point and shoot.  Still small enough to put in my purse and a fraction of the cost of my current camera.  It survived, unharmed and holding precious moments from four weeks of backpacking around Southeast Asia.  I treated that thing like my baby, as usual, it went everywhere I went.  One thing is for sure, I will not travel without a camera. Nada!  So the next question is, which camera do I bring?  After shooting with my new Nikon DSLR, I can't imagine taking pictures with anything but my prized possession, however, do I want to take the risk and lug around my new "baby?" 

Does anyone have any suggestions or tips?  Any advice is welcomed!  At this point, I am leaning towards taking it.  I have a large backpack, and after seeing what little items I need to bring with me from our last experience, I am thinking there will be plenty of room for my camera to come along.  One thing is for sure, she'll be around my shoulder/neck the entire time, minus when I am sleeping. 

For the record, my little point and shoot did a decent job.  Here is a shot of John and me on the beach in Ao Nang, Thailand.  With a little touch up in Lighroom 4, it is a beautiful photo! 

Please, share with me your ideas!  To take the camera, or to not take the camera.  That my friends, is the question!

xoxo
Megan Kathleen

Backyard Traveling

 Last winter I had an opportunity to travel to Thailand with the love of my life.  We were there for four weeks and had the time of our lives.  We played in the city of Bangkok, went Trekking in the hill-tribes of Chiang Mai, lived the chill life in Pai, and soaked up some turquoise blue water and sunshine outside of Krabi.  It was absolutely wonderful!  Minus the two times John got sick and almost died.  Yeah, that was not fun at all.  Aside from the illness, which is bound to happen when you travel the way we did, I loved it.  We even considered moving immediately.  If we didn't have two kids of our own, aka puppy dogs, we probably would have done it.

Sooooo of course we are traveling again this winter!  And where to, might you ask?  Southeast Asia, again!  Woohoo!  Some don't understand why.  Why in the world would we go back to somewhere we have already been.  Well first thing is first, although we fly into Bangkok we will be spending time in Laos and Vietnam.  And second, well because we want to, that's why.  We loved the culture.  We loved the people.  We loved the simplicity of life.  Why not is what I say.

Okay, okay, okay, why am I talking so much about traveling???  Well, funny thing is sometimes I forget about the beauty in our own back yard.  I get my eye set on something so extreme, like Thailand, Laos, or Vietnam, and I miss out on some beautiful land not more than ten minutes from my house.  So, I took some time today and went exploring. I drove with my eyes wide open ready to make a sudden stop or turn down a lonely road with some pretty light.  I just let the day unfold.  And it unfolded beautifully!  Here are some shots I captured along the way :)

Maybe these images will inspire you to get out and do some exploring of your own :)

~ megan kathleen ~

the artsy side of chattanooga, tn

I am anxiously awaiting my new gear to arrive in the mail.  I am seriously, I mean seriously, excited!  There is a good chance I'll spend the majority of my days playing with my camera and my nights re-editing my photos with the new adobe photoshop lightroom 4 that is on it's way.  Yippppeeeeeee!  

In the meantime, here are some b&w's I really like!  I had a chance to swing through Chattanooga, TN to see an old friend, Miss Kylie Marshall.  These are a few shots from around the city.

till next time,

megan kathleen

:: 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!