Chrysanthemum

When I was a child, I loved to read.
I'm sure that came because of my parents' love for books and words.
I used to read book after book.

We would take afternoon trips to the library, and I would come home with PILES of books. Many times I would begin reading before we were even out of the parking lot.

I remember hiding under my covers with a flashlight after I was supposed to be in bed, so I could read one more chapter of "The Baby-Sitter's Club" Or "The Saddle Club" (Apparently I liked Clubs?). When my parents would come in to check on me, I would fake sleep so that I could get back to reading (sorry mom and dad!)

One of the books that has stuck with me even into my adult days is a book by Kevin Henkes called "Chrysanthemum". It is the story of a little mouse whose name is Chrysanthemum. She loves her name, but then she goes to school and the children make fun of it. It's too long... it sounds funny... it almost doesn't fit on her name tag...it's different.

My mom used to read this book to me, and I identified so much with this little mouse. My name was long, and sounded funny, barely fit on my name tag... and it was different. I remember going through a phase when I wanted to be called Kristy. I loved that name. Then in high school I decided I would shorten my name and go by Dia (you know, like "day" in Spanish?). My poor mother. She thought my name was beautiful and perfect.

Now as an adult, I am grateful for a name that is unique. I think my name is beautiful and perfect. I am even more grateful for it as a business owner with a business that is centered around me and my name.

I have been in the process of branding and finding my own uniqueness as a photographer. And I am soooo excited to release my brand new LOGO! I have a wonderful graphic designer (Elise Hogue) who also happens to be one of my 2010 brides. She did an AMAZING job taking my signature and creating a logo for me.

So thanks Elise, for a beautiful logo.
And thank you, mom and dad, for a beautiful name :)

Hello 2010!!!

I don't make resolutions. I just don't. It's not that I fear failure... and it's definitely not that I don't have anything to improve upon. I just don't make them. But when I was getting ready to write this blog welcoming the new year, my plan was to go back and reflect on the goals I'd made for the new year LAST year. Or at least the goals I'd THOUGHT I'd made. Then I started looking for the blog... and it wasn't there. I just KNEW I'd written it... and so I kept looking.

And there it was.

In JUNE!

I wrote my goals for the year in the summer! Which is apparently how anti-resolutions I am. But I have decided that 6 months later, at the start of a new year... I would go back and reflect on the goals I made only 6 short months ago.

Here are the goals I made last June, and my progress:
1. Accomplish 5 more things from my life list
I have checked off 4 things since last June, as well as completed one that was in progress... which I think totally counts!
2. Book at least 7 weddings
Yep! I've booked and shot many more than this, and I have several booked for this year now too!
3. Book at least 18 additional shoots (everyday, in love, wiggles and giggles, etc.)
I'm honestly a little surprised at myself with this one. When I made this goal, I decided to think big... and I sure did! But I am so excited to say that I did it!
4. Go to at least one workshop
Okay... so this one is kind of in progress. I've been at several things that have been learning opportunities, and I have been fortunate enough to get to shoot with some people who are incredibly talented and have taught me a lot... but as far as an ACTUAL workshop... my first one will be Jasmine Star's next month! I can't wait!
5. Enter at least 3 photo contests
I've been participating somewhat regularly in the I [heart] faces contest. It has been a lot of fun, and I'm very grateful to them for making contest entry easy :)
6. Attend 3 networking opportunities
Yep! I love meeting new people and hanging out! I especially like making new friends and I am so glad to say that I have done just that. I am thankful to all of the people who have invested in me and helped me and encouraged me... but even more for the people who have befriended me!
7. Buy at least 2 new lenses
I bought a lens and a camera body... does that count? This is one area that I want to invest more in... I am soooo blessed to have a good friend who loves to take pictures and has invested in a lot of great equipment. He has been so generous in letting me borrow his stuff. But this year I plan to get some great new lenses :)
8. Launch a new website (hopefully using showit?)
One of the best decisions of my photography career. I absolutely ADORE my new site and the wonderful showit and their staff! I have nothing but WONDERFUL things to say about them. This decision really helped shape my business and I would definitely recommend it.
9. Get workflow down (including mom)
I'm still working on this one, especially when it comes to my mom, but I have definitely improved!
10. BRAND BRAND BRAND
I think this is never ending. And I love it :) I recently met with a talented graphic desingner (who happens to be one of my 2010 brides) and I know she is really going to help me tie everything together! I can't wait!
11. Get office set up
YES!!! I have to say that this was more my mom than me. In fact, I didn't do anything. My mom worked really hard to get our office all set up and ready to go. I can't wait to start working in there! There are still a few finishing touches... then I'll post pictures :)

2009 was a great year. It was my first full year in business and definitely a defining year. I am so excited for what the next year holds! I can't wait to meet all of my future clients. I can't wait to challenge myself and grow. Here are my goals for the next year...

1. Book and/or shoot 15 or more weddings
2. Shoot at least 30 other sessions
3. Attend WPPI (or another big photography event/training/workshop)
4. Buy 3 new lenses
5. Buy off camera lighting equipment
6. Re-brand with help from graphic designer
7. Accomplish 5 more things from my life list

What are your goals for 2010? What do you want to accomplish?
Happy New Year everyone!!!

***I am currently booking for 2010! Weddings, Engagements, Everyday shoots... and Valentine's Day is coming soon! Pictures make a great present! Email me (diandra@diandraann.com for more info or to book!)***

Goodbye 2009!

I cannot believe that it is 2010. Seriously? Did that really just happen?
I think back to htis time last year and where I was in life, and in business and I cannot BELIEVE where I am now, heading into 2010. I am so excited at what this year holds! I know it is going to be a great year! I wanted to look back at my progress and remember some of my favorite pictures from the year. So here is a look back at my favorites from 2009. You can see how my branding has changed several times even in just a year! Leave me a comment and let me know which session was YOUR favorite! :)

It's Football Season!

It's been a little while since I talked about something other than a shoot on here, and while I know you all LOVE pictures (that's why you keep coming back, right? :) Part of the reason I write this blog is as a journal of my life RIGHT NOW.

And RIGHT NOW... it's football season!

I'm a sports girl... I've always played on sports teams from the time I was young (we're talking like 1st grade)... basketball, volleyball, soccer, waterpolo, golf... you name it, I've played it! I have this ever growing competitive nature that seems to be contained on normal days, but put me on a court (field, course, etc) and the big monster of competitiveness comes leaping out.

When I headed off to college, I was set and determined to be a lawyer. I knew that's what I was going to do and I was going to do it well. I registered for classes with that in mind. I was quickly dissatisfied and decided that this was not the direction for me. I didn't want to be stuck in an office (or a courtroom) every day until I died. Or retired. Whichever came first. So I started thinking about the things that I enjoy and how I could make a living doing something that I love. I decided to change my major to Physical Education. Yes, PE. I was a PE major. I decided that I would teach high school PE and play sports everyday for the rest of my life. Sounded pretty good to me! So that is what I majored in until I was done at Point Loma Nazarene University. Little did I know that my life would take all kinds of different turns and I would never set foot inside a high school gym as a PE teacher.

My love of sports grew during that time as I learned the ins and outs of different sports, and how to teach them. I even got to spend a year as a PE teacher (with my roommate, Rachel) for 1st and 2nd graders and 5th and 6th graders. Those are some of my very best memories from college. I don't have so much time for playing sports anymore (although I AM going to the gym 5 times a week), but I have taken to watching other people play.

A couple of years ago, I decided that I needed a football team to be MY team. I have grown up watching football... in high school, with my dad, my friends... it always seems to find me. But I have never really chosen a team. There were a few months when I was young that I decided I loved the Dallas Cowboys because my cousin, Troy, loved them... and I thought he was super cool. Then there was that week that I loved the 49ers because we met one of the players in our small town Wal-Mart and he signed my hat (that I bought at Wal-Mart just so he could sign it). As a 22 year old, I decided it was time I found a team. So I began asking people why they chose the teams they chose. I got many different answers...

Because they are in the same physical area
Because they have pretty helmets (my mom)
Because their mascot is cool
Because they have pretty colors
Because you're dad likes them
Because they're the best team in the league at the time
Because they're the worst team in the league at the time

When I started asking around, I couldn't believe the response I got. People are PASSIONATE about their football teams! My dad and I had quite a conversation as he tried to convince me to root for his Seahawks.

Diandra- "So what are Seahawks exactly?"
Dad- "They're like hawks that eat fish!"
Diandra- "arent there any teams that have mascots that dont kill things?"
Dad- "You mean like the Louisville fluffy puppies?"
Diandra- "Now that's a team I could really get behind..."
Dad- "with pink and teal uniforms?"
Diandra- "No dad, that is way too girlie... pink and BLACK... cuz boys like black..."

Unfortunately the Louisville Fluffy Puppies do not exist. So I was back to searching for a team. After lots of conversations with lots of different people, and endless emails with some great arguments and some not so great arguments, I chose the Miami Dolphins. Keep in mind this was 2007... if you remember, that was the year they lost EVERY GAME... well, except one. So I am a true fan :)

I have some great friends that are Dolphins FANATICS... they have a ceremony before the opening game... a blanket you can't step on... a whole lot of yelling (especially if you walk in front of the screen at the wrong time) and Dolphins colors EVERYWHERE. I even bought a jersey because I felt so left out... and that's what really solidifies you as a fan, right?

So as we get ready to start this season (my 3rd official season as a Dolphins fan), I would love to know who you root for and why. And for those of you without a team... I highly recommend the Miami Dolphins... Or there's always the Louisville Fluffy Puppies :)

My birthday week is over...

...and it was WONDERFUL!
I am so blessed to have wonderful people in my life.... Wonderful people in my life who humor me when it comes to my birthday week :) And I know that not all of you entirely understand the whole birthday week thing... but I wanted to share about mine... I know that life can be taken in an instant. I know that we should life life to the fullest and celebrate each day of life we have. I love any excuse to celebrate... especially a birthday! So here's to celebrating life! :)

Monday I was taken to the movies. We saw "The Taking of Pelham 123" and it was one of those sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat-and-hold-your-breath kinds of movies. I liked it. And I liked seeing a movie at 11 at night like I did when I was a teenager.

On Tuesday I went to the Aquarium of the Pacific with my mom and her kindergarten class. I got to pet rays and hold lorikeets... One of the things I like to do but don't get to do nearly enough is Scuba Dive... so I have kind of a weird fascination with fish and water-dwelling creatures. I think I was more excited than the kids!
Wednesday was a busy day... lunch with my friend (and intern), Sarah, and then youth group Wednesday night. The kids all sang happy birthday to me which was kind of cool. Sarah also made me the coolest present ever (she made it out of spakle, sand, and her feet!!!):
Thursday was super fun. I had a "Friends" marathon with my good friend Bianca, and Javier. Sam stopped in for a little bit too. We watched several hours of "Friends" and laughed like crazy. Bianca also brought me balloons and a Red Velvet birthday cake. Mmmmmm... I'd never had that kind of cake before and it was delicious! We topped the night off with a yummie pizza dinner. I love relaxed nights like that with friends.

Friday was welcomed with many midnight text messages from friends and family wishing me a happy birthday. That continued throughout the day, along with facebook messages and twitter tweets :) Friday morning I headed to Ihop to meet the birthday "gang" and have breakfast to celebrate my day of birth. The people at Ihop even sang and brought me a pancake with a face.

**Disclaimer: I did not have my camera on me ONCE last week. All of the pictures you see were taken with phone cameras, so you'll have to excuse the quality. I know it is not the best compared to what you usually see on this blog :)From there, Sam and Javier and I headed up the mountain and went on a hike. It was hot outside and beautiful and fun. Although I am not very good at hiking... we still had a great time, and they were pretty patient with me. It was my birthday after all :) We even found a little water hole. After the hike, I raced back to the church to be there for the Dinner Theatre that the teens were putting on. They did an amazing job. After it was over, the teens simultaneously broke into (very LOUD) renditions of the birthday song. While dancing :) It was great.

Saturday morning I woke up early and headed to the Orange County Swap meet with my parents. We spent the day wandering through rows an rows of all kinds of stuff we didn't need but were convinced to buy anyway. We had expected sun, but it was cold and rainy. We still had fun.
I even had a wonderful hot dog lunch :)
Birthdays only come around once a year, and I know it means that I'm one year older, but I think I will always have a birthday week :)

Thanks to all of you for the wonderfully kind birthday wishes... the gifts, the phone calls, the text messages, the facebook messages... it all played a part in making my birthday wonderful!

Go for the Goaled....

When I was in elementary school, I drew a horse.
It was beautiful.
All of the other 3rd graders were raving about my horse.
I couldn't wait to take it home and show my mom and dad!
That afternoon when I proudly showed my mother the horse I had drawn at school that day...
SHE DIDN'T BELIEVE ME!!!
It was THAT good :)

I made it my goal in life to prove to my mom that I COULD draw. To this day, I bring pictures and paintings to her and say, "look what I drew mom!". I'm almost 24. Yes... I am that girl.

But there is something to be said for goals.
It's easy to go through life day to day, living life flying by the seat of your pants (do you know where that saying comes from??? I guess that's another post :). I like to just LIVE... enjoy life... not make plans (okay, so that's not ENTIRELY true... I do plan like crazy... but still).

Lately things have really picked up, and I feel the need to set some goals for myself. So since this is my birthday month, and the start of a new year (because you know, the new year doesn't REALLY start until I've had my birthday!), I have decided to set some goals for the next year, and share them with all of YOU! Next year, we can all look back and reflect on them together!

So here we go... my goals for the next year:
1. Accomplish 5 more things from my life list
2. Book at least 7 weddings
3. Book at least 18 additional shoots (everyday, in love, wiggles and giggles, etc.)
4. Go to at least one workshop
5. Enter at least 3 photo contsts
6. Attend 3 networking opportunities
7. Buy at least 2 new lenses
8. Launch a new website (hopefully using showit?)
9. Get workflow down (including mom)
10. BRAND BRAND BRAND
11. Get office set up

Some of these are big goals... some are not so big. But at least it is a starting place. I am really excited about the future of this endeavor and I can't wait until next year when we look back and see that I've accomplished these things!

And in light of yesterday's post, I just want to take a minute and thank God for the blessings in my life. I am so thankful for my family... my mom and dad who love and support me regardless... who back me and my crazy ideas and believe in me when no one else does. I am so thankful for my wonderfully amazing friends (even though it's a small group, it's a wonderful group!). For Javier, Bianca, Allison, Sam, Sarah, David and everyone else that I didn't mention. Thank you for backing me and standing behind me and loving me and supporting me. Thanks for having crazy adventures with me and smiling and laughing instead of mocking my wild ideas and silly utterings. I am thankful for wonderful, beautiful cousins who always have been and always will be the very BEST of my friends. Heidi, Holly and Rebecca, you are beautiful and amazing and talented and I cannot wait to see where God takes you. For my teens... you are wonderful and amazing and I am so grateful that I get to be a part of your lives... that you allow me to hang out with you and talk to you and share life with you. You are the light in my life and you are what keeps me going on so many days that I want to give up. Thank you for being real.

Take the time today to tell your friends and family that you love them! Because you never know when you won't have that chance anymore!

And since no one likes a post without a picture... here I am at work yesterday with NO MAKE UP(and taken with my phone)! I know... you're all wondering why I would post such a thing in the INTERNET... well, one of my personal goals is to be more comfortable in my own skin. So I guess we'll start here....
And for those of you that were wondering about the saying, "fly by the seat of your pants"... it's used by pilots... when they end up in a situation and the instruments don't work (fog, storm, the rapture... ya know), the saying was meant to tell if you were right side up or upside down... if the seat of your pants wasn't on the seat... then you were in trouble :)