The letter is from Jeanie from fototail.com  A letter she received in the summer from a former client. Its so sad but yet so powerful.  As a photographer sometimes it is hard to convey what images will mean.  How special they will be.  Photographers are passionate people! Why you ask?  We love to capture love. We are hunters of beauty!  We love what we see.  We see love, we see you love one another.

P.S. parents back up your computers, phones, and please go make prints. You never when your computer will crash.

Jeanine - 

Today I am writing for a couple of reasons.  I have some quiet time at the moment and need to get a couple of things off my mind.  I will leave this for my husband to deliver to you when he is ready.

You photographed my wedding, you photographed my first pregnancy and my first baby.  I contacted you awhile back to photograph my 2nd child and family.  After getting prices and realizing I would want all of the pictures as we love your work – I decided against spending $500+ – which is what I normally spend for portraits and prints with you..  Please know it is not because I don’t value your amazing eye, or how much we love the experience.

That week that I decided to NOT do a session with you, this is how I spent some money.

On Sunday I called and cancelled our session.  Monday I went out and got my hair cut ($39+tip), and colored ($65), Thursday I had my nails done ($24), my family went out to dinner at a somewhat expensive restaurant for no particular reason costing us $79 + tip.  This was just 4 days since canceling our session, already totaling over $200 for un necessary things.  My nails only lasted about 2 weeks, my hair is gone, and seven weeks passed when I got the phone call from our doctor.  It was not something I expected and the cancer has spread very quickly.  I will be leaving my husband, my 6 year old girl and my now 2 year old – not by choice.  It is very hard for me to talk about it which is why I need to write you.

I watch your Facebook page and your posts about the value of a photo and if I could give back all of those things that I purchased this few weeks after I cancelled my session with you, knowing what I know now, and have that session, well… I would do it in a heartbeat. 

Now my time is done and there are no more chances for me.  The next time someone cancels a session – my wish is that you forward this letter to them.  Time is fragile, it is gone before you know you had it.  If you charged $200 for one print it wouldn’t be enough for what it is actually worth.  I cringe to think that my priorities were a manicure over a memory to pass onto my babies and husband.

My love and thanks for what you have given us from past photos.  I am so sorry that I did not see it as more than paper until now.

Karen L.

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The husband and I have been trying to make a point to do something after 5, even if its just taking a walk.  We get so busy with coming home from work, and then doing nothing.  So here is one  adventure of after 5 last week.  It always seems like so much work, but every time we do something we are so glad we did it. Surfing at Chuns, North Shore.

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A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. – Washington Irving

 

 

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Did you know my husband I just made three years last week.  I still can’t believe it.  When I stop and think about it I am  amazed. I can honestly say it has been some of the best years of my life.  I love having a best friend to walk with me in this journey.  I am excited for the adventures ahead.

Dear Love,

Thank you for letting me dream!  Helping me be a mother and letting me be your lover.

You are my shining star when nights are dark. You  help me see the best in everything.

You tickle me even when I don’t want to be.

You wipe my tears when I cry even if they are happy tears.  You put up with all my silly ideas and dance moves.

You make me tea in the morning and walk the dogs.  You have a passion about you that is so captivating.

I love how you sing to our son and never to old to do anything with him.

I love they way you still try to steal kisses from me.

I love that you want me and only me.

I am OH so thankful for you my dear.

I could write and never be out of words for my thankfulness for you.

love your bf

“Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. Love still stands when all else has fallen.”

Our some of our engagement images. All images by Victore Sizemore

P.S. I have a ton of post coming so stay tuned.
P.S.S. I am sorry I have not been blogging much, I am still learning how to be a momma and balance work. If you have tips please comment.
P.S.S. New website coming soon. Skipping and Jumping

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One boat named Kanoelani. Two Ahi’s 205lbs. & 170lbs. Three friends. This is what dreams are made of ! -Justin Abilla

Justin,

Thank you for taking my husband out on your boat yesterday!  I think this might be the best day of his life.  Besides marrying me. haha

I will now have to hear this story for the rest of my life.

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This is me and my new little family!  My friend Joanna Tano took these of us.  I just love them.  I started crying the first time I saw them.  I know, but is been a crazy couple of months for me.   Here is what I wrote for her blog.

“Love comes in all different shapes and size.

Three months ago I was wife and a daughter hoping to one day be a mother! Never guessing that my dream would could happen so fast and so perfect!

Three months ago I was asked to help out with a two year old, just thinking I would be babysitting till they could get their feet back on the ground. Two months later I would be signing the papers to make little Le’i ours!

It has been one of the most rewarding journeys ever! I never knew I could love so much and so hard.

The papers have been signed, now we just have to wait till the state can add Eriksson to his name. Thanks to furlough Friday it could take a couple months before they even see the paper work, due to them having to do so much in such little working days!

Le’i you are a dream, your smile, laughter, dance moves and your sweet cuddles are more then I could ever ask for! I am blessed and honored to call you my son and watch you grow up! I may not give you everything you want, but I promise to give you everything you need.

The proudest new mommy,

Christy

Joanna -I am so grateful for these images. I am so blessed

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This week has been crazy, totally crazy.  I have so much to tell you all, but I need to have time, and I have been super short on time.  I am so excited for the future and the plans ahead.  I feel over whelmed with happiness and fear.  A good fear I think.

I am excited I have a wedding on Friday and a couple shoots this week. Plus another 5 of so that still need to be blogged.  Hopefully I can get on the ball.

I am going to leave you with one of my favorite quotes and a picture of coures.  ”We love because it’s the only true adventure.” -Nikki Giovanni

Dock at the fish pond in Kaneohe

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Who doesn’t love shaved ice?  Summer is approaching fast, and I am thrilled! I know, I live in a place where most people think its summer year around, but there is something different, maybe it’s all the keiki’s out of school.  I am not sure, but I do know summer is my favorite season in Hawaii and Matsumoto is a must! Nothing better then light flakes of ice topped with sugar water.

Happy Sunday.

More to come on their shoot, this was just for fun!

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Sorry for the late post! I was being an extra on the filming of  ”Soul Surfer” , the Bethany Hamilton story.  It was really fun (mainly because I ended up knowing a lot of people, its a small island) They have a really fun cast, Helen Hunt, Dennis Quaid  and of course our local girl Sonya Chung!  Its not that glamorous to be on set!  I am sunburned, tired and over worked (okay, not over worked but the day was long)!

A post is always better with a picture.

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Dear Baby Tay,

On this January day you were dedicated to the Lord, it was so beautiful.

Your family was there to speak words over you and bless you.

You started talking like you understood, and laughing. We all started laughing.

You are a JOY!

You are such a blessing to our lives, I can not wait to watch you grow up.

love,

your aunt/godmomma

p.s. your dad took your uncle hunting and he missed the buck, it still makes him mad.

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