How was everyone’s Christmas?  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and getting ready for the new year!  It’s almost 2012!!

I don’t collect anything.  I don’t have knickknacks around my house.  It’s not really my thing.  BUT, I do have a bit of an obsession with the ornaments from Starbucks.  Every year, I find myself buying their newest little coffee mugs to hang on the tree.  I realized this year, all those little mugs I keep buying have blossomed into my one and only “collection”.

Speaking of Christmas trees, last year’s tree was such a disaster, I decided to buy a cheap $20 tree from Target instead of messing with a real one this year.  Yeah… it looks fake and small, but it’s better than dead needles everywhere.   I put the tree in a wooden box to “dress it up” a bit.

I threw up a few reindeer around the house, and called it done.  I’ve been so busy this year, it’s all the decorating I could handle.  But sometimes keeping things simple is just enough.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and happy new year!  Merry Christmas!!

Things have been nuts lately.  Not only is November my busiest time of year, but I also feel like life around me is unraveling and the road before me is not yet known.  I see similar uncertainties creeping into my friends and family’s lives too.  2011 has definitely been a year of change for everyone!

Everything we once knew is no longer.  Everything that we once felt certain and confident in, now seems to be the unknown.  Everything seems to be changing, and even though change is good, it is scary to be in the middle of it.  We are no longer the old version of ourselves… but we haven’t yet moved into the new.  Being in the middle is like being without our identity.  Questions start to pop up….   Who am I?  Is this what I want?  Is this the direction I want to go?  How will I get by?  How do I stop worrying?  How do I not over react?  How do I have faith it will all turn out for the best?

The only way through times like this for me, is to remember I’m not alone.  There’s some larger force out there working for me.  But it’s hard to always come from that place of knowing when life gets nutty and starts to turn into distracting noise inside my head.

Recently, I was reminded of this when I was walking to my car after an engagement session.  I had a lot of noise in my head that day, and was unable to shut it off.  As I crossed the street, I looked up at the church on the other side and admired the cross that reached way up into the sky.  I felt that moment served as a reminder for me.  It’s OK to stop.  It’s OK to be quiet.  It’s OK to not have all the answers.  In simplicity, it’s easy to understand we already have everything we need in this moment and that’s enough.

“The spiritual meaning of number eleven is quite diverse. The number 11 is thought of as a “master” number in numerology because it is a double digit of the same number. When this occurs – the vibrational frequency of the prime number doubles in power. Meaning, the attributes of the Number One are doubled. Therefore, the very basic and primaryunderstanding of the Number One is that of new beginnings and purity. When we see this digit doubled as with the 11 – then these attributes double in strength.”

You can read more here about the meaning of “11″.

It’s going to be one of those days!  I’ve been running around like crazy the last few weeks…  family has been in town, photographing weddings, and working on other projects…  busy, busy!  Which is why I haven’t blogged recently.  I’m off to photograph Norma and Adam’s wedding in a few moments.  I’m excited to get back into a normal grove!  More posts coming soon.  Happy 11.11.11 (and Veterans’s Day!!

I thought it was going to be different this year.  I had so many plans for you and me.  Maybe my expectations were too high, but you really let me down.

I was hoping we would have time to get to know each other.  I envisioned lazy days…  Sleeping in late, wearing pajamas all day long while catching up on the Housewives episodes.  Maybe I would feel productive and complete my miscellaneous “to do” list (organize the files, start designing new holiday templates, submit some wedding photos to publications, develop more efficient work processes, order new wedding sample albums, and update the website).  Maybe I’d finish unpacking and finally settle into my new house.  Or maybe I’d take a nap, because thinking about my “to do” list is exhausting.

But the point is, we were suppose to have time.  Lots of time.  To do whatever we wanted to do.  But is that what you gave me?  Oh no!!!  With one quick blink of the eyes, you took off.  Gone.  Just up and left.  I don’t know how you did it, but you managed to make 31 days feel like 2.   Do you know how that makes me feel?   Like a crazy tired person!

So I’m saying goodbye August, but not as friends.  I’m over you.  And next year when you come around again, I’ll be smarter… I wont fall for your empty promises.  And if September knows what’s good for him, he’ll be a little more generous and stick around for a while!

The last few months have been a bit of a whirlwind.  It was my busiest wedding season to date.  I’ve also had my regular portrait sessions on my calendar, so I was juggling more than usual.  And in the middle of my crazy work schedule, I decided to buy a house.  Maybe I shouldn’t have looked for a home during this time of year… but that’s the path I was called to take.  But now that I’ve moved into my new home, starting to unpack my boxes, and  catching up on work, I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I am ready to take on a more steady pace to my life.  And soon I will be posting the sessions I’ve had over the last few months.

But for now, I’m excited for this new change in my life.  I’m excited to get out of the rental world and own a home.  I’m excited that I had the opportunity to work with so many amazing brides/grooms/clients this season.  And I’m even more excited to see where I am called to next in my life and business.  Now that I have my own set of keys, I’m looking forward to opening more doors.

Happy Tuesday!!

I’ve been so busy these last few months (especially these last few weeks), and part of that reason is because I’ve been working on my new website.  It was time to create a more professional online presence, but I didn’t want to use a pre-made template that someone else might have.   I knew I wanted something unique that represented my brand.  I’m not a master at coding, so building a website from scratch was not going to happen.  And I don’t have thousands of extra dollars laying around to pay a web designer to build one for me.  So when I found Showit, I knew it was the best option for my new website.

However, the downside to not purchasing a pre-made template is I still had to design the website (but at least I didn’t need to code anything) and this took some time.  I wanted to have the website represent my brand and have consistency throughout each page, and it took me a while to figure out how to realize my vision.  Not because Showit is hard to use, but because I made many revisions before I felt satisfied enough that my website represented who I am.

And now… finally…  I’m happy to announce my new website:  www.danielle-daigle.com

Enjoy!!

Oh… a shout out to Sarah from Fazzi Photography for taking all my bio pics!!!  She rocks and is an awesome photographer!

Me today at 12:00 a.m.: “Whoo Hoo!  Yeah… it’s my birthday… you know it…  it’s my birthday!”

Me today at 12:05 a.m. “Crap.  It’s my birthday.  Crap.”    Early mid-life crisis sets in.

The clock is ticking.  But ticking for what?   Suddenly, all the big questions lay on my shoulders.  Should I get married and have kids?  Isn’t that what 30 year olds do?  Should I buy a home?  30 year olds do that, right?  Am I making a real contribution in life?  Am I doing what God wants me to do?  Am I on the right path?  Should I eat more fruits and vegetables?  I need to start eating more salads.  And fiber.  I probably should start thinking about my fiber.  I think I should exercise more too… yeah…  cardio is good for the heart and I’m getting old.  Is 34 too young to get botox?  Because these lines on my forehead are not working for me, and bangs don’t really work with my hair.  How much is botox anyway?  And what am I doing up past midnight?!!  I need my 8 hours!!

All these questions swirled around in my mind as I tried to fall asleep last night.  When I woke up this morning, I decided I would just thank God for another birthday.  Then my dad called me and wished me a happy birthday.   And my most favorite aunt called me.  And then more of my family called.  My friends called.   I got emails.  I got text messages.  I got crazy Facebook love.  My friends got me gifts (starbucks gift certificates, cards, cookies = awesome friends!).  My mid-life crisis became a distant memory.  I’m thankful to be here and life is good.  I can handle 34.  I’m actually looking forward to it.

Thank you everyone who wished me well today.  I love and appreciate you all!!

Dear Christmas Tree,

When I first saw you standing in the tree lot, I had to have you.  You were perfect.  The right height, the right build, and you smelled so good!  I thought we would be so happy together.  But I was wrong.  So very wrong.

There were so many red flags right from the start, but I chose to ignore them all because I foolishly loved you.

It all started that first night.  When I put you on the stand at home, you no longer stood tall.  You had a perfect 45 degree angle.   I pointed you towards the wall and tried to tell myself you had character.  Perhaps I should have returned you that night, but I made a commitment and I was determined to see it through.

You never once drank from your bowl.  I thought most trees liked water?  I should have returned you then, but I tried to tell myself you were sweet to share your bowl with my cats and you would drink eventually.

When your star became covered in cobwebs (how does that happen in less than a week?), I should have moved you outside.   But I tried to tell myself you liked the company and it would be wrong of me to break up your new friendships.

When your limbs quickly sloped downward and rejected your pretty ornaments (who doesn’t like the Starbucks collection hanging on their limbs?), I should have dumped you in the trash for betraying me.  But I tried to tell myself that you preferred a classic look and I shouldn’t take it so personally.

When I walked by you the other day and the slight movement in the air caused you to drop half your needles on the floor, I should have taken you to the dump.   But I tried to tell myself that it was your cute way of saying hello, and I grabbed the vacuum instead.

But unfortunately, I just can’t ignore the signs anymore.  I’m scare of you.  I’m afraid to turn on your sparkling lights, because deep down I believe you’re true desire is to find someone who needs kindling.  We were never meant to be.  You never wanted to be a Christmas tree.

So today, I am letting you go.  It’s only been two short weeks, but I’m afraid you and I are not working out.  I know it will be messy to split ways…  I know I’ll have lots of cleaning up to do.  But it’s for the best.

But please know I’ve grown from this experience.  I now know what is best for me and I’ve only learned this because of you.  Next year, I’m buying a fake tree.  A tree I can depend on.

So thank you for teaching me such a valuable lesson.   I will remember you always.

With love,

Danielle

If you got an email from me today…  or 20 or more…  I apologize!   My email account got a little crazy and auto-responded to everyone, regardless if you emailed today or not!!

But it should be all fixed now… no more crazy spamming from me!

I was recently asked if some of my photographs could be used on the Cord Blood Parents (CBR – Cord Blood Registry) website.  I immediately said yes and I’m happy my work is associated with such an important organization.

We all know the enormous benifits stem cells can have in treating many diseases, as well as, heal other potential problems or injuries. But I’m not sure everyone knows that parent’s have the opportunity to preserve their newborn baby’s stem cells.  These stem cells can be used in the future to treat your child, just in case the unfortunate happens.  No one likes to think about the bad things… but having access to your child’s stem cells can also provide peace of mind.

Please visit the website to learn more, and share with other parents who are expecting.

I sometimes think I have an unhealthy relationship with my dog.  I think I love her a little too much.   Almost… almost like she is my own child.  But then she looks at me with those eyes and I don’t care if it’s unhealthy.  She makes me happy, and I love her that much more because of it.

Ah!!  The last two weeks have been busy!  Not so much in the photography sessions…  summer here in Phoenix is slower for photography because it is so hot.  But, I’ve been busy in so many other areas of my life and other areas of my business.  I hope to share some of the things I’ve been doing on the blog soon.  And I should resume my photo posts tomorrow with an awesome engagement session I shot last weekend.

Happy Saturday everyone!!

One of my favorite photographers is Andrea Joki, from Ajaton Joki Photography.  She’s a huge inspiration to many artists in the field.

Last week I was suprised to see her post the following question on her blog:  ”Are all photographers the same?”

Obviously, the answer is no.  Andrea continues to point out all the reasons that justify the higher costs of a professional.  I found her post very interesting and I agree with her perspective.  So, if anyone is interested in understanding this subject more, I think it is best said by the amazing Andrea Joki.   You can read her post here.

I’ve been out of commission for a while.  My computer was in the shop getting worked on by the nice folks at Apple.  The first thing I did when I got my computer up and running again was finish Ken’s Birthday photos and get them uploaded into Pictage.  I use Pictage for all my event photography, so the photographs can reach large groups of people.  Today was my first time putting together a slideshow using Pictage’s marketing tools.  I’m not sure I like how they compress some of the photos into the slideshow, but I do like the idea of putting the photographs together in this format.

So…  here’s some more photos from Ken’s party!  Enjoy the show!!!

I have been meaning to post other pieces of my life on this blog in addition to my photography work.  My intention was to have this blog be more of a journal… a way to document my journey as I create and grow my photography business.  But if I want to be honest about that journey, I also need to share about the rest of my life because it’s all intertwined.  So I thought today would be a good time to start writing more about me.

I went to church today.  I haven’t gone to church on my own (except for weddings and funerals) in YEARS.  And I have to say, I’m so glad I took the plunge and attend church today.

I grew up Catholic, so church to me was a series of rituals, communion, gospel music, priests, in a stained glass building full of statues of Jesus and Mary.  Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I just never felt connected to it.  As I moved on in my life, I grew more aligned to New Age teachings, such as the Law of Attraction and other energy related ideas.  But today I decided to attend a service at the Mission Community Church in Mesa, and it was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.  (Thanks Chris for recommending this church to me!)

My first clue that it was going to be an awesome experience was when I walked into the venue with the most amazing Christian rock musicians on stage.  For a moment I thought I was attending a concert.  Was I in the right place?  Uh… church and rock music go together?  Anyway, I found a seat (not easy to do because there were hundreds of people there) and got comfortable, not really knowing what to expect.   So what happened in that one hour?  Well, I learned about Jesus and Easter from a different perspective… not like anything I was taught growing up.  I learned that the Pastor is probably the coolest person I’ve ever listened to in a religious setting, and I felt his honesty and love in every word.  I learned I can be moved to tears when hearing the stories of 11 adults and why they chose to be baptized today.  And, uh, dare I say I learned that I actually like church now?  Well, yes, I guess I do.  My experience today was really beautiful.

I hope everyone out there has a wonderful Easter experience today too.  Wether you celebrate it in your faith, with your family, or even if it is just a cool excuse to have some yummy food and catch up on your favorite reality show…  I hope it’s full of love and happiness for you all.

Happy Easter!

I’m not much of a cook.  In fact, I hate cooking.  Hate it.  So anything that is quick and easy (preferably take out), then I’m all for it.  Well, my local grocery store has some yummy pre-prepped food that only requires heating and I’m all for that.  I’m also a lover of meatloaf.  So when I stumbled on this product, I thought it was worth a try.  But…  uh… does anyone see anything wrong with this?

I know the economy is suffering, but really?  Really? That’s all I get?