Food: It’s What’s For Dinner

My mom is a fantastic cook. She makes gourmet dishes on the reg. This is one of the many reasons why I love her so!

Monday night menu:

- Sole Meuniere (filet of sole with lemon butter sauce and sprinkled with lemon rind and Italian parsley)
- Broccoli with seasoned salt
- Rice Pilaf

Anne

This is Anne:

I met Anne the day I moved back to Austin at our office holiday party. Little did I know, this amazing girl was destined to be my first new friend here! She was instantly friendly, inviting me to local activities (Christmas Carol Sing-A-Long at the Alamo Drafthouse anyone??) and within a few weeks I felt as if I’d known her for years. It’s really difficult to be new in town and not know many people. Being new can seriously limit a person’s social life. However, lucky for me, I met this great friend who’s made the transition into this chapter of my life that much easier! So thankful for you, Anne!

A few weekends ago, we ventured out to the Capitol grounds for some early morning photos. We feared rain (and the cold!) might ruin our shoot, but all ended up working out according to plan.

My favorite parts of this shoot:

1. Anne’s left eye. Look closely, it’s blue with a splash of brown! So unique and pretty.
2. Her striking, colorful clothes. Love that pink sweater and bright turquoise dress! Such statement pieces.
3. The two of us parading around the Capitol. The funniest part of photo shoots for me is my subjects are decked out to the nines and gorgeous while I’m wearing yoga pants, hair pinned up and hardly any makeup. We must look pretty funny!
4. A man walking by us on the path asked Anne if she were famous. When he asked me if I were shooting for a magazine, I simply told him the photos were intended for online publishing.

Without further ado I give you the lovely Anne:

I love this reflection!

We met a little friend!

Happy to be home!

This Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Back then, it was just the beginning. With a camera strap around my neck and the viewfinder glued to my right eye, my friends affectionately adorned me with several nicknames: Paparazzi. The Professional Party Photographer. Graduation picture-taker. The latter part of my college years were devoted to constant photo shoots, no matter the occasion. Back then, Her Side Project was merely a distant dream.

Kristina and her family were some of my earliest supporters. They hired me and my old camera; taking a chance on a college student with an artsy eye and a fiery passion for capturing special events and moments. Reminisce with me about that fun day here.

There was a moment during the graduation festivities that I watched Kristina’s grandfather motion her over to his chair by the window. I watched as he spoke softly to her and lovingly reached out in her direction. The sunlight poured in as I pressed down the shutter. In an instant, the moment was captured.

It wasn’t the best photo in the world. As I mentioned earlier, it was taken with my old, non-SLR camera, and doesn’t have the quality level I strive for today. That said, at the time I knew it was special. I vaguely remember mentioning (during the results presentation) how much I liked it. “It’s such a classic grandfather/granddaughter picture!” I think Kristina agreed, but it probably wasn’t that big of a deal to her at the time.

It pains me to report that Kristina’s beloved grandfather passed away last week. It’s been almost three years ago since I took the picture and, until now, I had honestly forgotten about it. When I called Kristina to talk to her during this difficult time and she mentioned finding the picture on her computer. She said it didn’t have much significance to her when she first saw it – after all, it was just another picture of her wonderful grandfather loving her, nothing out of the ordinary. (lucky girl) Now, she says, she and her family appreciate the photo very much. She says they are so glad to have a photo that encompasses the grandfather’s love for Kristina, and how proud of her he was in that moment (as he was most likely every day.)

My friend Anne reminded me that some pictures are worth a thousand words. This one most certainly is. Not only does it spell out the relationship between a proud grandfather and his successful granddaughter, the impact encompasses why I love taking pictures for others. Evoking emotion and strong memories, years later (even after a person has passed away or grown up) entirely sums up why Her Side Project exists. There really isn’t much else I can say, but luckily, I don’t have to – the picture does all the talking for me.

Cooking with Dianne

Dianne, my college roomie, is a great cook. Some of her famous dishes include: tortilla soup, breakfast tacos, turkey wraps, oreo and pumpkin pies. Oh yeah.

Last weekend I ventured to Killeen to visit Dianne and her husband in their first home! Before I arrived, D and I exchanged emails discussing what we were she was going to make for dinner. An epic menu was born: steak, salad, scallops, mushrooms, green beans and red wine. Amazing.

Upon arrival, I documented the entire process and even managed to help cut the green beans. Hey – contribution is contribution! Thank you for making such a lovely meal, Dianne (and for being a fantastic hostess!) I always have so much fun with you and it’s even more fun now that Andrew is in the picture. Now, as Julia Child would say — Bon appetit!

While the ingredients were chopped, mixed, salted, buttered and sauteed, we masked our hunger by snacking on crackers and Boursin cheese. Dangerous!

Garden Salad Complete With Feta Cheese And Toasted Pecans

Dianne embarked on a special, complicated, steak recipe. The process called for heating a cast iron skillet in the oven at 500* for a certain period of time, then quickly transferring it from the oven to the heated stovetop to sizzle the steaks on both sides for a minute or two, then back into the oven ASAP! This task had to be done quickly and efficiently or all would be lost.

If You Can't Take The Heat Get Out Of The Kitchen

Despite a little smoky atmosphere (and subsequently opening the front door and windows to avoid setting off the smoke detector) Dianne had flawless execution! Very impressive.

Scallops Prepped, Ready To Be Cooked

Don't Worry, There Was No Shortage Of Butter

Cute Table - Almost Ready To Eat!

Leftover Wedding Napkins!

Finished Product! So Pretty

Sweet Smile and Seventies Poncho

Look at this little girl. Check out her little poncho! Her mom wore it in the seventies, now she wears it in 2010.

I can’t get enough of her chubby cheeks, sparkling eyes and overall sweet disposition. Love her!

P.S. – OMG this hat. There are no words.

I Like It Here

Happy in this moment, happy in this place.

Blue Dahlia Cafe | Austin, TX | 01.20.10

Baby Nola

My friend Erin, current resident of Chicago, IL, recently visited her hometown, Austin, Texas, over the holidays. Just before New Years, Erin invited friends to her mother’s home to get together. Two of her wonderful friends, Phil and Chris, came by with their precious baby girl named Nola. I stole the family away for a little while and we had a mini-photo shoot right then and there! Here is the result of our time together:

Her Side Project: 2009

Happy New Year! As this decade comes to a close, I’d like to reminisce over the last 365 days and post my favorite photos from Her Side Project: 2009.

On a personal note, and mostly for my own benefit, here’s a list of what 2009 meant for me!

| I moved from Fort Worth, Texas to Austin, Texas | changed jobs | was a bridesmaid in two fabulous weddings | welcomed the sweetest baby boy in the world to my extended family (cousin’s first child) | made incredible new friends | established a solid photography client base in DFW | started to re-build that photography client base in Austin | went bridal gown shopping with my sweet roommate Brooke for her wedding | survived the Swine Flu – yep | eagerly anticipated and celebrated the birth of a childhood friend’s baby | attended Alison & Kenton’s awesome wedding | converted from the Blackberry to the iPhone | traveled to Arizona for Renee’s wedding, to Georgia with Sydney and to Washington DC for the first time by myself!|

Needless to say, I had a busy and exciting year, but it wouldn’t have been the same without my adventures in photography. I’ve loved meeting each new person, taking each photo, editing each image (even when grueling and into the night!) and most of all, giving my clients memories to cherish for a lifetime. There is no greater gift than when someone laughs, cries and/or has a visibly positive reaction during the results presentation. Thank you to each and every one of you who have asked me, or in some cases – let me, take your picture. Each experience has meant so much to me. I can’t say it enough… THANK YOU!

Glad to be back in Austin, Texas. Facing 2010 head-on. Confident it’s going to be the best year yet. Happy New Year!

Now, onto the beautiful people:

Sweet Expectant Mother

My roommate Brooke got engaged!

New friend Emily poses despite the rain

Beautiful and fashionable co-worker Jenna

Sunlight

Newborn Baby Kent! (Cousin's son)

Six Months Later and Kent is getting BIG!

Baby Sister models for the camera

Sara before she moved to San Diego in June

4th of July Family photo shoot

My good friend Monica got engaged!

My dear friend (and college roomie!) Dianne married Andrew on 11/21/09

DC Baby Boy Liam

Visited DC and experienced a "Real Fall"

iPhone Photography (my sister and me)

Baby Nola: First official Austin photo shoot!

Pint-Sized Converse Sneaker

This shoe is so cute it should be illegal.

The Last “Single Girl” Photos

What can I say about Monica? She’s a great friend, former – – co-worker, and the most unintentionally hilarious person I know. I just love her! Sweet Mon and her beau from the newspaper back in Oklahoma got engaged last summer in a wildly romantic way (the weekend of his parent’s 50th wedding anniversary celebration). They’re planning an exotic trip to the Caribbean this March where they will become husband and wife… just the two of them, the officiant and their photography team. I can’t wait to see those pics and also celebrate with Mon when they return and have a big party!

Before all the festivities commence this Spring, I took some photos of my beautiful friend and her bling. Below please find documentation of our fun photo shoot – the last pictures of Mon as a “single girl.” After all, he liked it so he put a ring on it.

I don’t even have to tell you to notice Mon’s beautiful blue eyes… they stand out all on their own!