below are various iphone and smilebooth images!

A huge thank you to Amanda Churchill for the gift of being photographed on my birthday for our holiday portraits. We haven’t taken a “real” picture (besides the iphone snaps) of us since our wedding day, and I will cherish these forever. Since I’m so used to taking other people’s portraits, it was strange being on the other side of the lens after so long! Time seems to fly right by, and it’s so important to capture these moments before more years trickle on by.
I hope to capture “us” and our everyday more often.

1. Blog more! Especially with all the weddings, bridals, & engagements as of recent, I can’t wait to share all the beauty and happiness I’ve been witness to lately. I’ve really loved getting to know the 2013 couples and share in their special day – lots of happy tears have been shed every weekend! I have also been asked some photography questions lately and would love to share some more personal tidbits about our happenings around here – so look forward to more personal posts to!

2. Finish decorating the office! One of my favorite parts of our new house is the office to call my own! It has french double doors, a window that lets in soft light, and I recently purchased a love seat & coffee table that make me swoon whenever I enter the office! It’s starting to get “client ready” and I can’t wait to host & have meetings right here in the office! Now if only I could make a decision on how I want things hung up in here — but I’m getting excited!

3. I joined the gym last month and I made a promise to go AT LEAST 3x a week (if not more!) I’ve been sticking to that promise (for the most part), but I’d like to get on a consistent schedule. I think pre-planning which classes and workouts I will go to for the whole month will get me up and moving in the morning for the classes. It’s better than checking the schedule daily and deciding whether or not I’m “in the mood” to sweat.

4. Date nights. They are so incredibly important for a strong marriage. Especially during the busy wedding season, it’s more important than ever to shut the computer down at a good time and spend quality time with the husband. Our work schedules are pretty much the opposite, so it’s important to plan out our date nights and quality time together!

5. This may seem like a silly one, but drink more water. Especially since I’ve been working out more (and it’s starting to get HOT out in this southern humidity around here), water is so so important! I have never been one that likes the “taste” of water when I’m not being active or working out. My Mom introduced me to these amazing Dasani Drops that taste like pineapple/coconut and I’m in LOVE! I just add a few drops so it adds a little “somethin somethin” and YUMMO!! Cheers to staying hydrated & healthy this summer!

I could probably write about 50 goals that I have swimming around in my brain, but it’s important to set a small amount of goals so that the list of things doesn’t overwhelm and shut me down from getting anything done!! As soon as I wake up I make a “daily must” list that breaks down bigger tasks that have future deadlines. That way things are getting done and I feel productive. What are some of your June goals? And below are a few sneak peeks of posts that are coming this way soon!

I’ve been reflecting on what to post for this weeks Date Night Thursday and my mind keeps coming back to the same thing. This week there was a video that was going viral about a young man that has been battling cancer for a few years and made a video that he wanted to leave as a tribute & message to others. I sat at my computer and wept for the young man who passed away the very morning I was watching the video. What struck me was his contagious smile, positive energy, and AMAZING outlook on LIFE. It brings me back to the Choose Joy post & way that I’m trying to improve my outlook on life & maintain a healthy marriage. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, check out the post here. I love that this video has received so much attention, the message hits home with so much impact. Instead of sitting back and watching life pass us by, we need to love harder & go out and do the things we keep putting off till tomorrow. It really struck me that Zach felt invincible as a graduating senior about to attend college. Invincible. Wow. I’m sure the last thought in his mind was that he was going to find out he has cancer and only have a short time longer on this earth. I’m not saying we should all sit around and worry about how much time we have left – but quite the opposite, and the message that Zach carried out till his last breathe was to choose joy, live out your dreams, and LOVE with everything you have (every moment of every day). Most importantly, to tell those around us just how much they mean to us. Thank you Zach for the reminder that life is insanely precious. Thank you for the reminder to squeeze & hug on to my loved ones just a little bit longer every day and feel blessed for every.single. moment. The video speaks louder than anything I could say in this post, so I’m leaving you with the video and individual that touched my life this week. Much love friends.

Did you know that tomatoes (and most fruit!) start off as flower blooms? Something I learned as a new plant “parent”! (Plus it’s SO pretty!)

A very special thank you to Amanda at Woven Creative Studios for sending me this garden picture. Everything I know about patio gardening & herbs, I learned from her! xoxo

We are pretty much ALMOST done painting the downstairs (still have the awful fire engine red bathroom to do!) and Eric did an amazing job on the upstairs loft area. Painting gets tiring and we quickly learned that it’s a lot of time, energy, and financial cost to paint every single room in the house right away. I started to become frustrated with feeling like we were slowing down on our progress and felt like we needed to paint, decorate, and FILL the rooms with furniture (we don’t presently own) to make them “complete” and feel like HOME. See, I was afraid it “wouldn’t feel like home” with rooms that still had boxes or the awful “baseball” wallpaper that blinds me when I walk into one of the guest rooms. Things started to get really stressful and I was starting to not enjoy having so many options. We realized we needed to slow down and give ourselves a break – it doesn’t HAVE to happen overnight. This Date Night Thursday post is about slowing down, enjoying the process, and realizing that some things in life just take their time. There is NO rush. And you know what? I’m starting to realize that I like taking my time on this type of project. I don’t want to quickly pick out a paint color for our bedroom “just to get it done”.  Day by day we empty a box and things find their place. We have a roof over our heads and are SO thankful and blessed for the opportunity to even have this home. I’m shoving the perfectionist side of me away, and enjoying the process as much as I will the end result. Just as in life, it’s not about the destination but the journey. Plus I’m enjoying getting to spend some extra time with the husband as we do the house projects together as a family.  It hasn’t been easy, but I think the best things and moments in life never are. So for now, I’ll pass by the boxes and random clutter in the dining room, I’ll wake up every morning and stare at our bedroom wall full of paint samples, and I’ll continue to scour the internet for ideas and read home decorating books as I start to fill our walls with art and memories.

 And I’m ok with that.

 Because home is where the heart is, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

Come visit us! 

Life has a “tricky” way of becoming overwhelming fast. During the last few minutes of a Yoga class I attend, I feel this total peace within my life and soul. Of course, as soon as I start driving back home, reality hits as someone cuts me off or I am rushing to the next appointment. Lets face it, there is a lot of stress that happens (often on a daily basis!) to gripe and complain about. The reality is, the more we continue this cycle/pattern, the more it BECOMES us. It becomes who we are and our thinking patterns. Are you one of those wives/girlfriends who as soon as your significant other walks in the door you just pour out all the hashes of the day? I’ve been there. Sure it “seems” like a nice release, but when we start constantly thinking and acting in this way, it becomes part of HOW we start to think and then turns into how we act and react.

This also pertains to our complaints about others. I love marriage; it’s such a beautiful gift. When you put two people in a household, you are of course going to have your differences in how you do things. Often, someone has to be “right” in their method of doing things. In turn you start to nag and complain, and start to really take your loved one for granted (especially if after awhile, all you see is the negative).  So, why not choose joy instead? Why not choose the now to thank your significant other for all they bring to your life. Yes, we all have our gripes, and I think I’ve ACTUALLY told my husband “why can’t you speak to me in sonnets like Edward does to Bella” – but you know what? I love him for all the little things he does because he loves me. Giving me a kiss on the forehead EVERY morning before he leaves for work. Like cleaning out my car on his Saturday off as a surprise and even putting a “new car” scent smelly in there because he knows I love good smells. And how about rushing home during a busy workday to help me bring Henry to the vet when his paw was torn up from stepping on glass. The list can go on and on; but the fact of the matter is that he loves me unconditionally has his wife and best friend, and I need to show more gratitude on a DAILY basis. Don’t wait until a bad thing happens in your life to start being grateful or saying thank you. We must take a stand to “Choose Joy” TODAY and remember all the beauty and blessings we have right in front of us. I’m not saying this is going to be an easy thing. No, it’s not. So even if the toddler is getting into mischief or you’re up to your neck drowning in taxes, find the silver lining and choose joy. Because this to shall pass, and wouldn’t you much rather be a person that exudes positivity? Think of what it can bring to your relationship if instead you chose to thank your partner for just being him than complaining about something he forgot to do. It definitely will be a struggle at times, but I promise the effort will not go unnoticed and your relationship will strengthen.

So for this Date Night Thursday, I ask that you write down a few things that your spouse/significant other did for you this week. It doesn’t have to be GRAND gestures. It can be as simple as “cleaning out the dishwasher” or “making dinner”. Find some quiet snuggle time and THANK each other for one (or a few of) those things you were thankful for that might have gone unspoken this week. I know of couples that make this a weekly occurrence or keep a “thankful” journal. When at any point you’re feeling that life is bringing you down, or you’re upset with your partner, take out the journal and read past entries. Take the time and effort to learn the language of gratitude.

A special thank you to the adorable Rachel-May. We talked in depth about this topic together and it was she who inspired the branded “choose joy” image above. Check out her work!

She did an AMAZING job when the camera got turned on ME!

For this weeks “Date Night Thursday” I want to talk about something near and dear to my heart. The Italian heritage is strong within my family. With that background also comes the love for ALL things food and cooking (and I especially enjoy baking!) Even now when my family gets together, it’s almost funny how our schedules revolve around the meals of the day. And no, I’m not joking. Looking back I don’t remember nights where we weren’t all together at the dinner table – because it’s just what you do as a family. In our own marriage, dinners together are still very much an important part of the day. It’s our time to thank God for our many blessings, to enjoy a meal together without any “social media” distractions (turn those phones to silent for at least an hour!), and of course connect and hear about how our day was. Eric and I FIRST started dating around Valentine’s Day (6 years ago!) At the time I was freaking out about what do you get someone after only dating a few weeks? I called up his Mom and asked what Eric’s favorite recipe was – I surprised him with a candle lit dinner featuring his favorite dish (and a collage of recent pictures we had taken together, which still sits at his desk!) Every time I make his favorite chicken and bowties (sometimes for special occasions, other times “just because” – it’s SO good), I think back to our very beginnings with a smile and my heart flutters with thankfulness for our relationship and the gift that a good meal (and beautiful company) can bring to your life.

So I challenge you all to make sure to sit down and be present at dinner with the one who makes your heart flutter. Better yet, make dinner together and connect during the process. Try not to talk about all the stressors of the day – but instead focus on the positive blessings in your life. Sometimes it’s really fun to reflect on the past and where you currently are today! The journey isn’t always an easy one, but I wouldn’t have traded it for the world. As I sign off for today, I will leave you with some Italian words of wisdom that I fondly recall my grandmother speaking at the dinner table, “Mangia Mangia!” (eat eat!)

 Oh and the *WINNER* of the movie date night package (by random number generator) is Megan Gielow! YaY! More contests in the near future!

I decided to start this weekly post back up because I truly believe in the importance of being active and deliberate for the health of our relationships. I realized that I myself have the educational background and date night experience (in my own marriage) to share and people have been excited to read about them. So I’m dusting myself off, pushing away the fears of failure and embarrassment for having stopped this so many months ago, and starting over. I would still love to publish real life couples (so please send in a date night you’ve recently shared), but that won’t be the FOCUS of the weekly posts. So lets cheers and make promises to making our relationships a priority again. Don’t waste time as if you have a million years to spend. Lets forget about the chaos of life for at least ONE day a week and be deliberate in reconnecting. I’m excited to share in this journey with all of you again.

As I mentioned, date nights don’t have to be grand excursions. Sometimes all you need is a comfortable couch, a bag of popcorn (which I like to dump white cheddar on top of), and a movie you can both agree on (or take turns!) Getting lost in a movie can be the perfect escape from the chaos of life. Make some time to snuggle and relax with your loved one soon.

And to kick OFF this weekly series again, I’m giving away a fun movie night package.Comment below on a good movie you’ve recently watched to enter! 

10 Fun (Random) Facts About Denver & Boulder

1. I didn’t know what a REAL hipster was until I visited Denver/Boulder. For real.

2. Everyone looks like they are ready to be photographed. ALL THE TIME. So much fashion goodness. Didn’t know you could make flannel and snow boots look SO GOOD.

3. Dogs are allowed in bars/coffee shops. Not just small purse dogs, ALL sizes. Not only does everyone recycle and love the earth but also our furry four legged friends! Ya’ll know how much I love animals. This made me squeal.

4. They have the coolest coffee shops EVER. Like, four on every street. Paradise to us latte lovers. Pure paradise.
I think I could have done photoshoots INSIDE all of them to. They look straight out of an anthro catalog.

5. The mountains are epic. You can see them from everywhere. You could LITERALLY see in all directions (360 view) for miles. It kinda freaked me out and awe inspired me at the same time.

6. They have vending machines just for protein/running snacks (proof below)

7. The sun is blinding. Literally. Don’t forget your sunglasses, it hurts.

8. The food? How does everyone stay skinny? (SERIOUSLY)

9. I love how active everyone is – Tiffany has countless groupons for amazing outdoor activities (even sleigh rides!)

10. Black athletic pants are worn as leggings with boots (by seriously everyone) – guys just wear skinny jeans. Style AND comfort !

1. Get a “branding” notebook, jot down ideas/free thoughts/paragraphs/words. I used to jot them down on various pieces of paper or even a note document in my phone. Although it’s good when the thoughts come to you, make sure you transfer these over to your designated “branding notebook” It helps to have everything in one place!

2. Look through your sources of inspiration. Be it pinterest, magazines, or blogs of other photographers. Spend an hour saving images to your desktop, pinning on pinterest, or in a pile (magazine) that REALLY speak to you or stand out. Don’t think too much about it! You shouldn’t have to really reflect on an image, it should strike you right away. After the hour, look at ALL the images – is there a theme that is present? Now look at some of the individual pictures that REALLY spoke to you, write down what it is about the image that stood out. Is it the bokeh? The toning? Are the subjects filling the frame or far away? Is it strong emotional content or more editorial? Are most black and white or color? This should almost be free flowing thought as well, jot these notes down and continue to look for themes in what stands out. If these elements are missing from your own work (and they are what you would like to start shooting), than start practicing! Ask questions, google for answers, look for classes or mentors to help you achieve the style that is in your heart. THIS will really help in branding as this also speaks to the type of photography and client that will want to book you. If your all over the board you might be sending the wrong message. Lets say you want to be more editorial but all of your work so far as been photojournalistic (or vice versa) – start shooting more for the style you want to achieve. I’m sure Jose Villa and Elizabeth Messina didn’t just pick up a film camera and unicorns and magic shot out the first roll they shot/developed. This profession (like any), takes practice practice practice! I think one of the most magical things about photography is that three photographers could be at the same wedding and all get different/drastic results. Just another reason why branding both work and “storefront” is so important

3. Look at your current portfolio and jot down the first five words that come to mind while viewing them. Ask friends and past clients to take a look at your website/blog (your portfolio), and do the same. There SHOULD be a theme (or the same words!) that line up. These can be key words used in the overall branding of your logo, website, etc

4. Start a pinterest “Business/Branding Board” – start pinning images that stand out. Be it packaging, decor, website ideas (organization of website), fonts, colors, ect. Think of it as your opening a real life store (which to photographers, it’s an office or studio). Since you are going to want to brand your storefront similar to your online presence, start pinning using the same mindset. Based on the exercises above, there should have been words that arose in the branding theme. Search google images or pinterest for some of those things. If you love outdoor/barn weddings, google/search for terms that have to do with those things. I think at one point I typed in “lovely fonts”, “lovely outdoor branding”, “eco pretty office”, etc. You would be surprised what popped up! When something stood out, I would pin it! Just like the exercise above, don’t think too much when it comes to pinning. When something stands out I pin it and then go back after some time and look for themes and connections. I jotted these ideas/themes down.

5. If you have a “home” pinterest board, sometimes this will really help with branding as well. Since branding so personal, many people decorate or at least have “dreams to decorate” very much how they would brand their businesses. Since branding should be so much part of us as PEOPLE (not just photographers), I sent my graphic designer my home board as well as my business board. When I look through my “home” board it screams out to me very much the way I want my brand to feel.

6. My graphic designer probably thought I was crazy, but I also sent her music. Since branding is closely tied to “the way a person feels” when looking at your work or walking into your storefront (be it online or in person), when I listened to specific songs it was exactly the way I wanted people to feel when looking at my work and website. If I had the ability to sing (and oh my goodness I don’t), I would sing all the time. I spend 90% of my day listening to music or at least having it on in the background (it’s gotten to the point that silence makes me uncomfortable! ha!) I love the way music and lyrics has such a beautiful ability to match or change a mood. Music and lyrics speaks to my heart and soul, and I wanted my website and branding to do the same, so along a big branding e-mail, I sent my graphic designer music.

7. I also created a document so that my graphic designer could get to know me on a super personal basis. I wanted to share my quirks, my dreams, my fears, and all the little silly things that make me Alicia White! I want my branding to super reflect who I am in hopes that it will attract clients who get along so fantastically well it was “meant to be!” As I was creating the list I literally thought “she is going to think Im CRAZY for sending this”, but I’m glad I did. It made me feel better about the process as it’s information she wouldn’t know unless she spent a lot of time with me. And although I think that would ROCK (and we’d have SO MUCH FUN!), she sadly lives in Portland, Oregon. So just as important it is to look at themes of your work and branding, it’s equally important to focus in on WHO YOU ARE and what makes you DIFFERENT and UNIQUE!! This is SUCH an important part of branding. I’m not one to throw a thousand pictures of myself all over my website, but it’s really important to have a strong online presence and let couples/clients/the world see who you are on a personal level. So much of branding is relating on a personal (emotional) level, so don’t forget that part.

Ravyn and I really collaborated ideas back and forth when it came to a logo. The process wasn’t one that happened overnight, but it was a collaborative effort. It really helps to give your graphic designer actual font/layout ideas as well – it’s easy to brand pretty images of packaging and colors, but fonts and layout are equally as important. It’s insane to me how fonts can change the FEELING of something so incredibly much. Remember to really thank your graphic designer as well – it’s HARD work. I am so thankful for Ravyn for putting up with my word documents and e-mails after each round. I knew in my heart that when the logo was RIGHT, I would just know it. As we got closer to the final round I became more excited and I knew we were headed in the right direction. More on the logo process later, but I wanted to launch/share the NEW logo! YAYYY!!

It feels SO me – and I love the different variations of the logo that Ravyn created for me to use in my branding/packaging as well. It’s so personal as she completely hand drew the floral element and customized the font/lettering until I felt like it was 100% me!!! I couldn’t be any happier and I feel so EXCITED to have a logo that is SOOOO my brand!

Also, the *WINNER* of the Starbucks Card is: Emily Dowzak

YAYYYY!!!!!