Friends since 9th grade....now our daughters are HS friends!

Today I had the opportunity to photograph my daughter and the daughter of one of my best friends. Both were seriously due for a photo session and they love hanging out together anyway! Going through the pictures I couldn't help but smile and laugh. Here was my 9th grade daughter goofing off with my friend's daugther and it reminded me that Carrie and I met in HS in 9th grade  - our lockers were next to each other.  We were part of an AMAZING group of friends....that are still dear to me today.  And as if it couldn't get any better, our daughters have been friends for years and  have so much fun together! It seriously warms my heart to see them laughing and having fun!  So...... I felt inspired to find a recent picture of Carrie and I together...and compared it to the one of our daughters today....like mother, like daughter.....literally!

Here are a few of my favorite images from the session....

I like this crop even better - Linda can't wait to use it for her FB profile!

I was inspired by the cover image of my recent issue of Professional Photographer magazine.....

Community Balloon Launch Memorial for KR Grad - Devin Topps

I heard from a 2010 KR Grad and senior client that a community balloon launch was going to take place in the KR parking lot at 5:00pm today.  Fifteen minutes later I was in my car heading over there.  It was very touching just to be there....as a mother of one KR graduate and two still attending Kentridge - I can hardly comprehend what has happened to one of our youth. His loss will be felt for years to come.  It really breaks my heart.

So I was in Paris, on a bus, in the rain.....

Almost exactly two years ago I found out that one of my good friends was going on a business trip to Paris.  I couldn't believe what a fabulous opportunity this was and immediately started daydreaming  (or scheming )about how I could go.  I called and asked if she would let me share her hotel room if I could figure out my airfare.  She agreed and I got to work.  I don't know if all the planets aligned or what - but I was able to fly to Paris using 25K air miles each way!  There was some kind of deal going on for the month of November, I couldn't believe it! I mean I can't even fly to LA for 25K miles each way - this was a miracle!  So with the strong encouragment of my husband and went.  While my friend worked and attended conference meetings, I wandered the city, toured buildings, cafes and museums and took pictures.  It was soooo much fun!

The story behind this image is that I was bound and determined to see as much of Paris as I could.  This could get tricky in the evenings because, for the most part I was on my own -so I jumped on a double-decker tour bus.  When I saw this building the bus was at a stop light - I held my camera as steadily as I could and clicked.  Paris on a November evening....

This image was awarded first place  (My first ever) at the Seattle Professional Photographer Association November meeting.