Rachel has touched down in the Aloha state… and I am finishing up some business prepping to make the same journey. I am feeling a bit excited and a bit guilty for leaving my family in the freezing cold and snowy weather. But my husband and family is amazing… and the kiddo is in great and able hands!

Top Ten things I’m looking forward to while in Hawaii:

10. feeling free

9. wearing sandals

8. getting a pedicure with Marina and hopefully Rachel

7. Taking a yoga class with my cousin Jennifer

6. dancing the hula, spinning poi balls and maybe shaking an ule ule

5. drinking a fancy drink out of a coconut (Rachel says this is the best)

4. photographing things my eyes have never seen before

3. spending time with some amazing photographers and people

2. reflecting on my business and coming up with some big ideas for 2009

1. getting lei’d

(ok – number 1 is always supposed to be funny! Sorry Andy!!!)

~Amy

First impressions.

I’ve known Amy for a couple of years now through the online wedding photographers’ community. I didn’t know much about her aside from her thoughtful posts and intelligent responses in community discussions.

Over the course of 2008 I got to know Amy a lot better. I met her in person for the first time one day before our wedding. Amy flew alone all the way from Wisconsin to San Francisco to hang out with a bunch of people she had never met and celebrate our wedding. I was impressed with her boldness, generosity, and willingness to take a chance. She was also fantastic to fill in with Marina when we had some family photo chaos during the Sofreh Aghd section of our wedding

As a former professional dancer, Amy was totally at home crazy dancing with all of our Persian family. Everyone loved her and wanted to set her up with their sons even though she is happily living the American Dream, complete with handsome husband and cute son. (I think they actually have a white picket fence in their yard.)

Amy and I are very different. Our professional work is pretty much opposite. When I tend to be painfully direct and unfashionably inclined, she is a graceful, stylish, classically tempered beauty. When we work together shooting a wedding, it’s really interesting to see how each of us complement the other person’s work and how we challenge the other to consider an alternate viewpoint.

I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Amy G and I am looking forward to spending some reflective time together having adventures and refreshing after a year of growth and change in our personal and professional lives.

This is Amy. She’s fantastic.

and back again. 

Last December I meet an innocent yet adventurous and strong young woman looking for a piece of paradise in my part of the world.  I learned so much about her by  watching her experience things for the first time. Her wide-eyed wonderment reminded me that there are truly genuine people in this world. 

Zip forward two months, now becoming a wife to an equally interesting young man, she is my 10 hour bride.  She never fails to inspire or shy away from my artistic suggestions.

Another three months pass and now I am on her coast of the country.  I am unfamiliar with Long Island traditions, but she as my equal, shows me things I have never seen before.  Together we capture the joy and tears of long distance clients. 

Now in less then two weeks I will have my partner in all things skillfully caught between our apertures.  I look forward to her serene way of listening to every word like you are the only person in the room and her graceful method of finding a good angle.  

Soon I will reunite with my friend Rachel.

December 1-4 :: Honolulu / Waialua, Oahu

December 4-7 :: Kona + Hilo, the Big Island :: Coffee Farm visit, James Rubio Studio tour

December 8-11 :: Diamond Head, Honolulu Oahu :: The W Hotel

We’re keeping our expenses simple for this trip, as this is our scouting for next year when we will bring back a small number of other women photographers for adventures and refreshment. For those of us headed out this year, we’ll be splitting:

• car rental
• r/t flight to the Big Island
• basic lodging for December 1-8
• fancy lodging December 8-11

I shot this from a moving car!

I am looking forward to our time in Hawaii not just for the adventure, but also as an opportunity to ask myself some challenging and introspective questions about life and business.

• what do I need to say ‘yes’ to?
• what do I need to say ‘no’ to?
• where did I spend my money this year? was it worth it?
• where did I invest my time this year? was it worth it?
• what are my regrets?
• what brought me the most joy?
• is my motivation based on fear and insecurity? or…?