Reunions!

I don't know if this is a secret that no one ever told me about.... but apparently spring time means visitors!

Back in 2009 when I had made the decision to move here, I contacted an old Cheer Ltd. friend, Aisha to let her know that I was moving to NYC as she had been living in the area her entire life. She would more or less be the only person I knew in the area when I moved here. Well as time went on and life happened, we never were able to coordinate getting together when I got here. It wasn't until a year and a half after having lived here that we finally got together! Aisha recently became engaged to a really great guy, Matt, and I could not have been more flattered or honored when they asked me to shoot their engagement photos!

I would really love to share a few with you, but I'm in the process of editing them right now and A&M haven't even had a chance to see them yet... so I need to reserve the first view for their eyes :)

Since A&M's engagement session would be not only the first one that I've shot in a while, but the first one I've shot in NYC... so I needed some reenforcement, I needed to find an assistant!
Unfortunately, all of my photo buddies in NYC were busy that weekend. But very luckily another friend from way back when lives only a couple of states away and is just starting to get into photography.

Mallory and I met in Jr. high and have stayed in touch ever since. She just recently started taking a photography class and I've seen her grow a lot as a budding photographer. I was so happy when I contacted her asking if she would come up from D.C. to assist me on this shoot and she said "yes"!
Just days before Mallory came into down, I had breakfast with another high school friend who lives here, Anna. If you are a loyal follower, you might remember me talking about Anna and Marcos from when I first got to NYC. They were nice enough to let Emily and I stay with them for the first week while we found jobs, our apartment, and our way around the city. Anna, Mallory, and I all went to high school together so Anna and I agreed that when Mallory got into town we'd all have to get together again.
It was so fun catching up with them and listening to all the things we have done and gone through the last 10+ years when we were all together last.... marriages, moves, buying homes, and babies on the way!

Isn't Anna the most adorable preggers you've ever seen!? I cannot wait until May when Anna, Marcos and I will be doing a maternity shoot!

In about 2.5 weeks, my good friend Amber will be coming to visit for a few days. Amber and I met while coaching CHS cheerleading in Portland.

We're going to have a blast shooting her trash the dress and hopefully get in some stunting as well :)

In the middle of April, my mom will be coming to visit me in NYC for the very first time ever!

I'll be running my first 1/2 marathon and I'm so excited that she's going to be there cheering me on at the finish line!

At the end of April, my Major BFF, Amber (different Amber) will be coming to stay with me for a whole week!!!! I haven't seen her since 2008!!!!

I can't wait to have her here and do all the silly, girly touristy stuff with her!

As staying in NYC forever was never really my plan, I encourage all of you to come visit me soon... Spring, winter, fall or summer! I don't know exactly how long I'll be here, or have a plan of leaving, I just know it will happen someday. I'd love to see you before that day comes!

NEW, New York City

I know it’s been a minute since I’ve written anything. To those of you who actually read this, I’m sorry. However I haven’t heard any requests to post anything new, so I don’t think anyone is too devastated that I haven’t posted in four months. 

I started this blog because I was about to embark on this brand new, big huge, journey. I thought, maybe someone out there will be interested enough to follow me? Well now that I’ve “arrived” at my “destination”, and have been living here for close to a year, it’s all starting to seem less and less exciting. I mean no insult to NYC. This place is still packed full of excitement, surprise, and new things daily. But everything is becoming so routine now. Anything that was new and shocking 9 months ago is just life now. 

I will do my best to recap what has happened the last four months, and try keep it somewhat interesting for you-

Two major things have happened since I’ve posted last. 

First, I have moved out of my apartment in Brooklyn and am now living in Queens. Living with 5 people who all had very different personalities and living styles was just not working out for me. Many times, I considered sticking it out to the end of the lease. But after too many sleepless nights due to completely different sleep schedules; and picking up after others one too many times, I realized it was time for me to make a move. I found my new roommates on Craigslist and loved them right away. The only thing that I didn’t love right off the bat (and still don’t love, though am starting to get used to) is that I now live close to a mile away from the subway. I was spoiled my first 9 months in Brooklyn living only 1/2 block away from the subway. I try to remind myself every time I make the “trek” that it’s good exercise. But somedays, I really miss the ease of being closer. I’m not looking forward to the winter- but I’m sure I’ll get used to that as well. 

I am in love with my neighborhood, my apartment, and my roommates. I live with two guys in their late 20s, early 30s, both optometrists. One has lived in the apartment for 8 years, the other for 5 years.

*To answer the most common questions: No they are not a couple, and are both straight. 

I have a good sized room, a CLOSET! (this is very exciting) and my own bathroom!!! <- I don’t think a girl could ask for anything better!

The other “big news” I should share is that I have a new job! For a girl who could absolutely care less about comic books, it was only a matter of time before I gave up on that place. It was hard for me to get out of bed everyday and drag myself there. I was really unhappy, and was barely scrapping by with the pay check. I knew I wanted to work in the health & fitness industry because on the tiny paycheck I was getting, and the high price of gym memberships in this city- I knew it would be the only way I could get into a gym (most gyms offer free memberships to their employees). I now work front desk for a private training gym, Brownings Fitness. The job is 100 times better than anything I could have asked for. Not only do I get to use the gym for free whenever I want, but I am also able to make use of the trainers as often as I would like, I get a discounted subway card, and health insurance. On top of all of that, we have a location in Southampton and I am asked to go out there for about two weeks at a time to "work". I use that word loosely because while I do work every single day I am out there, the shifts are short and the days either start or end with me on a beach. 

I am extremely grateful for the changes in my life the last 3+ months. I don't feel like I have been this happy in a really long time. I feel very fortunate to be living the life that I do. I also can't thank Brownings enough for introducing me to so many amazing people...

These new coworkers, and now friends are what get me though each day. I honestly don't think I could do it without them.

So I do believe a big thank you is in order for Craigslist for helping me find not only perfect roommates, but a wonderful job, that has led me to friends that I'm sure will be around for a long time...

I can't wait to see what the next four months have in store for me...

And I promise, I'll try not to leave you all hanging quite so long!

Internship

What a whirlwind the last 2 months have been!

I can’t believe that that’s all it’s been since I’ve moved here! There is always so much to see and do, I feel like it’s already been 6 months!

One of the greatest things I’ve been lucky enough to experience is my fabulous internship! As you may remember, before I even got here, I had high hopes of finding a female photographer to intern/assist with. Mostly because this industry is mainly powered by men, I really wanted to work with another female to see how SHE does it, and to help keep me motivated if ever a man tries to take me down! I definitely set out to  find an internship with a fashion photographer since that is the area I’d like to specialize in, but I also know that I have SO  much to learn, and that working with a pro photographer in any area would really help me. Back at the end of August, I spent hours and hours on Craigslist looking for job and internship opportunities. When I interviewed with Jill Lotenberg of Jill Photography, she explained to me that the majority of her business nowadays is commercial, and head shots. Not exactly my cup of tea, but I knew I needed to start somewhere! This was only the second interview I had been on since having moved to the city, and she pretty much hired me on the spot!

The first shoot I went with her on was to photograph the founder and CEO of Jump Apparel Group, Glenn Schlossberg. Jump is celebrating their 20th anniversary and Jill was hired to photograph him as well as some behind the scenes shots for the front cover of Fashion Manuscript Nove/Dec 2010 issue. It was really exciting for me because the moment we stepped off the elevator and I saw logo on the wall, I knew I’d heard of Jump before! It took me a second, but I definitely wore a Jump dress to a winter formal, or some sort of formal dance when I was in Jr. high or high school. 

Here's the cover!:

Look! That's the inside of the magazine with MY name in print!!!:

A few weeks after I assisted on that shoot, Jill asked me to assist her while she shot THIS!!:

Now, I’m no Top Chef fanatic, but I knew this was pretty cool. I was also really excited because she told me I could invite anyone I wanted. That same week, a friend of mine from high school, Shaun, was in town visiting so I invited him as well as all of my roommates. It was just one of those lucky nights when a bunch of them were all off and three of them were able to come along! It was such a lovely evening, and I must admit, that I think we all had a moment or two that night when we thought to ourselves, “I can’t believe this is my life, I’m so lucky”.

(left to right: Marcus, Lois, Shaun, Alaina, Emily, me)

Shortly after that event, Jill asked me if I would be available to go with her on an overnight trip to Boston for a shoot. When I got her text message, I stopped dead in my tracks and could feel myself grinning from ear to ear. Not to toot my own horn, but I am well aware that this was not something that she was offering to her other interns- it really hit me then, that I might actually be doing a really good job. I had never been to Boston and of course wanted to jump at this opportunity! Not only that, but she also informed me that this would be a paid trip! As if I really needed to be convinced even more!?

I really feel so lucky to have this opportunity and still sometimes can’t believe how this sort of just fell into my lap. As far as how long I’ll be working for Jill, I’m really not sure. I believe I’ll be done in or around January sometime. But I am fairly confident that this internship is only going to lead to bigger and better things. I hope to do a recap in a couple of months when all is said and done.

Below, enjoy some photos of the different locations we’ve been so lucky to shoot in!

Chef Marcus during the cooking demonstration at 5th on the Park:

On location in Queens: 

Last week we went back to 5th on the Park to get some shots of the building. This is the view around 6PM from the 25th floor overlooking Manhattan. Off in the distance, you can see the Empire State building: 

Atop a Brooklyn condo, shot by Jill:

Workin' hard for the boss lady: 

Downtown Brooklyn in the background, me, Allie, Clair (other interns) and Jill, far right: 

Update: My computer is (obviously) back up and running. It was extremely frustrating however to not have my computer for almost 2 weeks. Though I have to give my roommate Alaina a HUG thank you for letting me borrow her computer almost every day while she was at work!! If this has taught me anything it’s, BACK UP!! Sometimes computers just crash, and there are no warning signs. It’s a good thing I love what I do, other wise I don’t know if I’d be able to put up with the amount of money it costs to keep this going. 

I hope you are having a lovely day!

Until next time.....

A