WE ARE OUR FACES \ DEC ’15 & JAN ’16

“We are our faces. That’s all there is, light on faces.” Garry Winogrand

There is a little camera that I keep by my front door. I grab it randomly, and only when the mood strikes. Sometimes I forget about it for weeks. Sometimes I think of it everyday.

This is the film from my personal point and shoot, taken December 2015 and January 2016. Portra and Ektar. Scanned by Pro Photo Connection, Irvine.

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Newport skies.

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Texted to my husband. Gotta keep it funky.

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Doheny State Beach with my midwest gal pal, Cathy Z. The snack bar gets me every time.

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Anna with a bowl of Top Ramen and the treasured Kantha quilt my dear friend Emily brought back from Thailand.

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Taking Mckenna home on a Sunday evening.

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January state of the living room.

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Casper’s Wilderness Park, hike with friends.

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Mckenna contemplates going out.

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When people you love arrive.

tarawhitney16_469tarawhitney16_470tarawhitney16_471The baby turned 13 and family and friends gathered.

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To see more from this project of mine, click here.

WHY I TRAVEL FOR MY JOB & THE OPENINGS LEFT THIS YEAR

Hi people, that’s me. I travel for my job. It scares me but it has added real satisfaction to my life. I have a hunger and an innocent curiosity to see EVERYTHING, how people live, what other somewheres look like, sunsets over different hills. Every trip, I go through the same things: excitement, anxiety, self doubt, worry I will get sick/my back will go out, inspiration, beauty, confidence, laughter, giving, power, satisfaction, and resolve not to get anxious next time. It’s a wild ride.

I have met so many lovely people. I have learned to take time for myself to recharge in between sessions. I get really into the skincare routine I typically slack off on at home. I starfish in my hotel bed, the one I have all to myself. I scarf down take-out in that same bed after a long day of work, watching trash TV and Face-timing my family. I drive to my sessions, taking the long way just so I can see more, music UP, windows open, iced tea in the cup holder.

All of the challenges always turn out to be worth it. People in airplanes. Airplanes. Not always knowing prime locations I would want to shoot in. Cancellations due to weather/client illness. Light and weather need to be adapted to. I learn more about myself, photography, and people every trip.

My first three are sold out, but I have openings in Paris/London/NYC/San Francisco. Click here for dates/info. I’d very much appreciate photographing you and yours.

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A FAMILY SESSION – BREAKFAST AND JAMMIES ON SATURDAY MORNING, SAN FRANCISCO

This family is soon leaving California for their home state of Ohio and wanted photos at home to keep as a time capsule of their time here. The morning of our session arrived with thunderstorms and dark grey clouds. After taking a walk around their house to look at the light, I realized that it probably wasn’t the best idea to continue with the session. We talked it over and it was so disappointing, but they shook it off and trusted me, which I was grateful for. We looked at the calendar on their wall and picked out a new date, a month away. And then they made me some coffee and I hung out for a bit before leaving. We had such a great talk and connected really quickly because, well, they were just really open and weren’t afraid of getting deep quick.

The new session date rolled up and coming over a second time was like meeting up with friends. Kids remembered me and were excited to play. Mom wanted a very relaxed session, including their typical morning routine. We started with waffles and jammies and quickly moved to dirty diapers, toys, and hide and seek. Then we took a short walk for some portraits outside before we finished. I love these types of sessions and I am always super thankful when I get to do them. So, big thanks to the Duxbury family for being so awesome all around.

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