Some Music because I miss Blogging

I really had thought I posted this song but I can't find it so I'll post it now. I saw this band in Texas and they were great. They are called Dogwood and Holly and I highly recommend you look them up. And look up their song El Shaddai on Youtube

Fallway

... and I am just trying keep my hair in place.

I am quite sad this semester is almost over. I would have never thought I could enjoy school this much. At the beginning it was scary partially because a few people had tried to talk me out of switching schools and were telling me I was settling by going to a technical school. And because I was scared.

10 weeks later I am so glad I took the risk. This has been the farthest thing from settling. I am being pushed and challenged as an artist/photographer but also a Christian. It's still scary but the good kind. For the first time since high school I 100% positive I am heading down the path God intended. I am thankful for a family and boyfriend that support my decisions and (hopefully) think I can actually do this. 

Looking back the past four years weren't a waste, I have great core classes (and some random ones that I hope will benefit me in life) that transfer and built strong friendships that I would need once I left. And as terrible as it sounds, my lack of paying attention in class allowed me to focus on photography and learning from my boss for two years. With how much the classes require of me now I wouldn't have been able to that.

To anybody reading this I hope whatever you doing, it's what you want to do. And that it makes you happy. As someone who pretended to be satisfied with what they were doing for way to long... The change is worth it.

And to the friends still at ASU who I do miss greatly, I know we don't see each daily but ya'll will never be replaced :)

For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. 

-Col. 2:5

That's life

Everything is moving pretty fast as school gets closer. We are all dragging our feet and trying to cram all our activities in these next few weeks. 

 We had a shower for our good friend Caroline. Her big day is so close, I can't wait to see what a beautiful bride she will make and how God will be glorified through their marriage.

Getting some wisdom from Windy :)

And more from the other day with Caitlin

 

I got to help shoot a coming home of an adoption with my boss. I can't post them all now but here one :) The kids loved the balloons that were waiting for them and watching them was adorable.

American Girl

Forth of July is coming up so I am listening to a lot of Patriotic themed music. 

This particular song was shared with me by a friend who is constantly trying to make me "seem cool so I can only assume my usual musical habits do not portray that. But this song has Kiss in the video and I find Katy Perry to be adorable. And the song is catchy.

Warning, this video is slightly inappropriate.

Happy Places

At the Master's Table this woman played "This Little Light of Mine," she was so cute and talented. When I told her how good she sounded she said, "Not everybody likes it but you can't please everybody, don't ever even try."

The past week has been none stop every day from the moment my feet hit that floor (I realize it's only Tuesday but I'm referring to the past seven days). 

The weather was finally acceptable for Chatt to go camping again :)

I got to test out my new camera's ISO and document how ridiculous my friends can be 

TBC...

Changes

So, slowly but surely I am making changes around here *Cue the opening to the famous David Bowie song*

Starting with the name. I realize changing the name of a blog is strongly advised against but I predict the handful of people that keep up with my blog will have no trouble redirecting themselves.

I had known I wanted a different name for some time but struggled with what this change would be. Combing through the English language  it was obvious no word in my native tongue would suffice. My next stop was Spanish, nothing popped out there even though I love the language so much. Greek, Hebrew, and Arabic? While they fascinate me I can't deal with a different alphabet. Somewhere in this time I was beginning to feel the need to make up my own word. Blame it on an early childhood Tolkien obsession but I loved the idea of my words. 

Because photography is "drawing with light" and that is a concept I am in love with I looked up light in other languages. I found that in French light is "lumière" pronounced lu-mee-air. This word I liked. It was pretty and unrestraining for any growing my blog would do in the future. But it still needed to make it my own. 

The rest was pretty simple. The last part of the word reminded me of my middle name, I've always liked my middle name because I felt the world has put forth much more interesting Marie's than Leah's.

So LUMARIE was born.  I love it. While I have found there are a surprising amount of people actually named Lumarie, there has not been too many photography related things on Google (trust me everything has been thought of when it comes to photography).

Lumarie

And in the spirit of changes a couple weeks ago I did senior portraits for Jamie. I was elated when she asked asked me to because I LOVE this girl's freckles. Her personality is completely easy going and she was up to whatever I asked.  Her pictures turned out beautiful and I could post all ninety-something and be completely proud but I won't  :) I know she will rock college and life in general so I am grateful I got to document this final high school achievement.

2013 :) 

Pick Me Up

If you are extremely depressed over the Downton Abbey Finale, then I recommend this video for cheering up.

End It.

The past few weeks have been quiet crazy. I am for the moment, after I click the "Publish" button, completely caught up with almost all things photo related (except for my backup CD's but I am pretending those don't count for the moment). I took hundreds of photos this season and was thrilled when they began arrive printed in the mail on people's Christmas cards. I am proud of how far I have in the past year but it is impossible for me not to give almost all the credit to my boss. Any decent photo I take is influenced by her advice and constructive criticism. I can't wait for this next year and how much left I have left to learn from her.
Also I am grateful for the people who let me photograph their lives and families. Especially the people who came back to me this year. I realize you have to start somewhere but looking at my pictures this time last year makes me cringe. I am glad anyone likes my pictures and that they like them enough to want me take them again.
Here are some of the photos I had the privilege of taking and a link to post of the families previous photos if they have them.
And for your listening pleasure one of my favorite songs from Passion. I have never had a Chris Tomlin before his most recent "Burning Lights." It is a terrific album and I highly recommend it.

This was my first maternity shoot. This family is beautiful and I can't wait to see their precious baby. 

This is one of my favorite families. I have taken their pictures before but not posted them. I love the kids faces especially because they were laughing at their phenomenal daddy.

I grew up with this family. Corey is literally in many of my family photos and Mrs. Michelle is one of the few people my families completely trust. I love how their photos turned out and that I was given the chance to reconnect with all of them.

Casie was my first boss and her boys make absolutely adorable models.

This gorgeous family doesn't take a bad picture. For real, when they are in front of my camera I have nothing to delete. I am pretty sure they don't blink.

Once all the photos were neatly tucked away I got to spend my first Christmas actually with Tyler.

One of my gifts from him is this keyboard cover that I still can't get over how perfect it is.

Finally, we went to Passion 2013. This is my forth time attending but the experience never fails to floor me. I recommend going to the 268 Store and get the All Access Pass so you can get the sermons.

The most important thing I can share from this year is Isaiah 61:1 "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners."

Christ came to bring freedom for us all and the fact that 27 million are not allowed that freedom is something we should all take very seriously. To start we need to realize was is being kept from these and let other people know. You can sign the pledge for the End It Movement. It may seem like a very small gesture but we all need to begin somewhere.

Pledge to be IN IT TO END IT!

I tried to be like Grace Kelly

It's that time of year... I don't know anyone who isn't feeling busy or rushed right now, I am definitely one of them but I don't wanna complain too much because I absolutely love this season. 

Despite everything that has been going on I have been spending time with the most beloved people in my life.

Then came Thanksgiving. It was a whirl wind of a holiday because my cousins had to be back by four that after noon but was okay. We relaxed, rode my sister's horse, and ate. It also gave us a chance to get everyone some family pictures which we are always glad to get.

And finally, if your having a rough day I just recommend this song. If anything you will so in awe of how odd the main singer is you will forget your problems for a few minutes.