My mood today is...

HAPPY. My husband Matt gets home tonight after being gone for TEN WEEKS! He's been doing some training for his job and I've been counting down the days until he's back in Montana. Now I'm counting down the hours!


Photo by: Brandi Sutherland

And I thought MY camera was heavy

Here's a photo from the June archives that I forgot to share with you. I stopped by a World War II Memorial in San Diego and could not believe my eyes. I mean, their cameras looked dangerous! Wow. The next time I'm wiped out after doing a bunch of photo shoots, I'll just think of Master Sergeant William Dubiel.

Caught with a Cupcake

My second shooter at weddings is incredible at catching the candid moments. You know...kids playing, the bride laughing, grandma getting teary eyed. Stuff like that. Matt Austin is also really great at catching ME up to no good. He's caught me doing all sorts of goofy things at weddings. Here's me squatting down in a corner chowing down on a cupcake! I know Kristen + Ty would have insisted though. I'm actually the one who told Kristen she had to hire Five Loaves Bakery to do her cupcakes. So really, I was simply doing a taste test to make sure everything was just right. :)

Thanks again to Kristen + Ty for everything! Your wedding photos will be on the blog very, very soon. A cupcake from Five Loaves would make things move faster. KIDDING!

Catch up

Home sweet home. I'm back in Great Falls after flying around the country over the last couple of weeks. It's been an amazing time filled with some of my all-time favorite memories! Mia + Matt's wedding was so beautiful it's hard to describe without pictures (so get ready for tons!) My day-long layover in Chicago turned into a tour of the city with the best guide ever - my sister Sam! And my 4th of July in Minneapolis was a perfect way to wrap up my two-week adventure. Matt + I got to see nearly his entire family and spent the weekend swimming, boating, eating, taking naps, eating, getting sun and more eating. I'm really excited to post the pictures from my trips, but first - I've got some patient people who've been waiting to get a sneak peek of their sessions! I'm going to be posting like a mad woman the next couple of days...so get ready for families, kids, engagements, a *day after* session and seniors. And because posts are boring without any pictures, here's some from Minnesota that I just love...my husband with our little nephew Grayden. How cute is he?!?!?!? Sorry Matt...I'm talking about the baby this time!

Thought of the day

I'm back from Vermont (wedding was oh-so-romantic, intimate and simply beautiful) and a day in Chicago (bad: delayed flight, good: got to hang out with my sister!). There are so many memories and photos I have to share with you. But now I'm off to Minneapolis to see my husband's family. I'm working all day catching up on orders, emails, phone calls and a photo shoot tonight. I'll be back after the 4th of July weekend! Until then, here's something I saw in Chicago.

Headed to Vermont

I'm taking a break from shooting weddings to be IN a wedding! Mia + Matt are tying the knot this Saturday at a beautiful place in Stowe, Vermont. I took this picture last fall and it's exactly where the ceremony and reception will be. Everything is outside...and very Vermont. Leading up to the wedding, they've got all sorts of things planned for us to do: hiking, baseball game, dinners, BBQ....and a lot of chillin' out. I've been running around the last several days getting everything ready for this trip...and now I'm looking at the clock and it's already 1:00 a.m.!!! I leave in less than 6 hours. I'm sure you think I'm crazy. But I've always been like this. I'm a permanent night owl...and plan to just sleep on the plane. I'll have email access on-and-off so I'll get back to everyone as soon as I return next week. If it's urgent, I'll have my cell. Take care everyone...I'll return with lots of pictures. Here's a look back at the bride and groom-to-be.

Exposed

My favorite jeans are now history. R.I.P. A huge RIP in the worst place possible...and it happened right in the middle of my first senior shoot of the summer. Thank goodness my senior was a girl!!! Thanks Adrienne for laughing so much at me, guarding me from people walking by and taking this picture as incriminating evidence.

Happy Anniversary

3 years. That's how long I've been married to the love of my life. :)

To celebrate our big day, I'm sharing some of our favorite wedding pictures. Rick Hunter in San Antonio was our photographer and, at the time, he didn't specialize in weddings. I didn't care though. I loved his style. Rick was a newspaper photographer for years, before he quit to devote his time to his art galleries. He's got an amazing natural talent and captured our entire day on that prehistoric stuff called...FILM! Seriously, I know firsthand now how tough it is shooting weddings...and to think that he did the whole thing with film and couldn't see any of his photos until they were developed impresses me like crazy. All of these images are straight out of his camera. That means...no Photoshop or retouching at all!

This next one is actually my favorite. I was extremely emotional during our vows and remember vividly the way Matt was looking at me. This photo takes me back to 3 years ago...

I love this moment because it's right after we were announced as husband and wife. We took a quick second to just look at each other before we went outside and headed to the party.

It was very important for us to have a military wedding because if it wasn't for the military, we would've never met! The honor guard was actually busy that day doing another event, so we didn't think we were going to be able to have the arch of swords. But some of Matt's best friends and fellow pilots in the Montana Air National Guard made it happen! It meant the world to us and seemed like a dream...

...until one of the men smacked me right on the butt with his sword! I forgot that was part of the ritual, so I jumped and screamed. Here's our reaction right after the sword smack...

A little bit of Asian flair was thrown into the Texas/military wedding.

My Matron of Honor's mom designed my bouquet.

Chapel One almost looks fake, doesn't it?!?! The church is stunning. Old fashioned and intimate inside...just absolutely stunning.

Our reception site was actually at the place where we met --- the Officer's Club on Randolph Air Force Base. Long story, short: it was my first time there. My friend talked me into going that night. Matt was there with his buddies. He was looking for someone to go two-steppin' with (something we're both actually pretty terrible at!). I declined the country dancing offer, but he -- thank goodness -- still asked for my number. Here's the exact spot where it all started...

Korean dancers put on 3 different shows for us. It was awesome!!!!!! My mom was so proud. :)

And classic Cindy clumsy style. I tripped while we were making our grand exit.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MATT! Thank you for being the most incredible best friend a girl could ever wish for in the whole wide world.

Shootshop

Fresh. Fun. Real.

That's what this workshop in San Diego was all about. Nate + Jaclyn Kaiser (my photography heroes!!!) of *the image is found* touched on everything that's cool about photography. I'm already implementing what I learned into my sessions and business. Get ready for some changes (all good ones) around here!

There's way too much to share, but I will tell you one thing I learned: blog like nobody is reading. I often filter my thoughts to keep all of my blog posts positive. But I love the idea of using my blog to share exactly who I am and what I'm thinking...even on the bad days. This is the best way for YOU (especially my clients, prospective clients, fellow photographers and blog stalkers) to know the REAL me.

One of the best parts of the whole experience was meeting so many new people! THANK YOU to everyone for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm. Will, Daniel, Aaron, Kurt, Aleena, Craig, Min Mi, Michael, Brandy, Lauren, Deena, Libby, Neal, Stacey, Angie and Lisa traveled from places like South Carolina, Seattle, Surprise, TX and as far as Buffalo, NY to experience the awesomeness of this workshop.

For a peek at our "radical" (Nate's word) day, take a look at the slideshow my new photog friend Michael Andrew put together. There's sweet music...so turn it up!

See! I'm not the only one who shoots around Dumpsters!

Pork + Beans

Is anybody else happy/pleasantly surprised that Weezer is still rockin' it? Their Red Album was just released this month....and I've actually still got their Blue Album (circa 1994 and some of the best songs E-V-E-R) playing in my car right now. Here's the first video from their new album...it's ridiculous.

From the beach to WHAT?!?!?!?

This is what I was staring at just 14 hours ago.

Now I'm staring at snow and broken branches all over my yard. It's June. I'm confused. I'm cold. And I'm completely exhausted. Although it's nice to be home...the warm sand in San Diego was pretty amazing. So was the workshop. Amazing tips, inspiration, people. More details soon. It's 3 a.m. and I'm regretting that grande latte I had in the Seattle airport. I'm going to try to fall asleep with my Smartwool socks pulled all the way up and not think about the snow outside...

"Going Back to Cali"

I'm headed to San Diego this morning for a photography workshop!!! I've been counting down the days and can't wait to share my experience with you. This photo may seem VERY random, but there's meaning behind it. Tonight, my best bud Stephanie (who I've known since 6th grade) emailed me this photo of us on a high school band trip in California (yes, I was in band...trumpet...last chair...thank you very much). Steph is the tall one with the sweet hip sack standing next to some stranger with crazy hair. I'm the one in the middle with the fashionable Mickey Mouse T-shirt and matching hat (gotta love the early 90s). I just think it's so weird that Steph has no idea I'm taking off for Cali and she randomly sent me this old picture! I'll be back in town late Wednesday. Minus the Mickey Mouse clothing.

I know, I know...

...I've been slacking. I have a really good reason though! My dad returned home from Iraq a bit early, so I got a last minute ticket to San Antonio to surprise him! I'll be posting tons of photos very, very soon. Lots of families, children...even kitties! Stay tuned...and enjoy the beginning of summer. Woo hoo! Duncan is pumped.

Taste of my own medicine

I feel really weird posting pictures of myself, but now I know how my clients feel! My ultra talented and super cute assistant (AKA: my husband Matt) has been bugging me for months to do a photo shoot. Trust me - I made up some good excuses. I finally gave in for important reasons.

#1: I need updated headshots. The photo on my website's "about me" section was taken in 2003.

#2: Matt wanted to practice doing a portrait session. I've been teasing him since his first and last one when he told his subjects to "Do something neat."

#3: The main reason --- I wanted to know what it felt like for my clients. When I bust out my camera in front of people, it's easy for me to tell them how easy it is. Yeah right! It's kinda scary - "What if I look terrible or weird?" "How does my hair look?" Awkward - "What do I do with my hands?" "Where do I stand?" Cold - "Matt, this wind is going to blow me away!" "I have goosebumps everywhere!"

OK, so now I feel your pain. Yes, it can be very intimidating to have your picture taken. But it's also liberating and good for the soul. It's fun to see how another person sees you. In this case, it was my through husband's eye. I had an absolute blast --- and that's my goal for YOU.









Seriously, if anybody wants to hire Matt instead of me, go for it! He has an easy going approach with a keen eye for detail. I must admit, I had my doubts when he was telling me where to pose, how to sit and what to look at. But whenever I tried giving him tips, he told me to be quiet. And I'm glad he did. Matt - I would hire you any day!

Homecoming

Last week, more than 170 members of the Montana Air National Guard came home from Iraq. Five of MANG's F-16s were also part of the two month deployment. The anticipation on homecoming day was so thick in the air, you could feel it. Everyone was either jumping up and down, or quiet...trying to hold back their tears. THANK YOU MANG for your service and hard work!!! Welcome home!


I bet this guy didn't sleep a wink the night before because he was so excited!

All of the homemade signs were so, so sweet.




When the doors opened, all you could hear was screaming! I got goosebumps all over and instant tears.







This young boy was flooded with emotion. You could clearly see that Dad is his hero.


LOVE this one!


Chaysen hugged Pat so hard that he bounced off of him!



Touching moment


100% joy...



...100% moustache. Ben - it's not March anymore!!! ;)



A Vietnam War veteran who wanted to show his appreciation.

Even Sam came to welcome his Dad home!!!

There's something about homecomings that brings out emotions you've never felt before. Matt went to Iraq the first time they deployed back in 2004, which is right after we got engaged. I'll never forget the way my cell phone was practically super glued to my hip. Or how exciting it was to get a new email. I remember the worrisome nights, the countdown until homecoming day and the way it felt to hug him when he stepped off the plane. It's a mix of pure happiness, relief and pride. Here's a photo we have on our fridge (thanks to Mia for stealing my camera). Whenever I glance at it, I'm reminded of how blessed we are to have our freedom.

God bless our troops who risk their lives for our country. Now I'm counting down for my dad to come home. 39 more days!