Carnival Coming to Town

After scouring the internet for a particular birthday invitation set (limited availability — only in my mind) I was sent into a tailspin. The search availed me nothing and I was running into the same photos, same websites, and same invitations again and again and again. So I did the next best thing– I designed the save the date myself. Not EXACTLY what I had in mind but I’m a portrait and wedding photographer, not a designer. And somewhere in a parallel universe there is a policy that states photographers must photograph weddings and people rather than waste perfectly good weekend hours attempting adorable little elephants balancing a ball while standing on a way too small stand.

If any of you know of a graphic designer or Etsy store that might provide said invite design please let me know!

(click to enlarge)

 

See  my latest work at www.ziemphotography.com and follow me on Facebook.

Celebrating Existence

February is super special to me because I get to celebrate my husband’s birthday and we also get to celebrate our joining as a couple. Much like wine, my darling just keeps getting better with age. So, as a token of my appreciation for the continuation of his existence and the love from a man I adore, I gave Milan a birthaversary month this year. Did you hear that, Internet? One. Entire (short) month. I surprised him with a few small gifts throughout the month, let him beat me in the No Tiger Cocktail Shrimp Left Behind Contest, I granted him his only birthday wish which involved my taking a suggested course of action that he feels would be of benefit to my business, and tonight at dinner I did not steal any of his food.

February has been a wonderful month. I survived rolling blackouts in Austin (in effort to conserve energy during the coldest week in Austin history the city shut off our electricity from 6:00am-2:00pm, restoring it for 6 mins every 45 mins), managed to board my flight for a spontaneous trip a mere two hours before the airport shut down and made it to FL in time for Tulsi’s first Vietnamese New Year, chopped off 2″ of my boring mane, found an ultra-trendy optometrist, and enjoyed a wonderful dinner and lounging at The W with my favorite girls in Austin.

Good bye February I am sad to see you go.


I never take off my wedding band, but just this once..
St. Thomas, USVI

I also share an anniversary weekend with two couples whose relationship I truly admire and hold in high regard. Love to my aunt and uncle, AN+TN (18 years), and cousins, HB+NB (5 years). Congrats to them as well.

 

See  my latest work at www.ziemphotography.com and follow me on Facebook.

Sea Dreamer

Last Saturday we embarked on a week-long Caribbean cruise, leaving behind all worries, phones, laptops, emails, dishes, cooking, cleaning, and media (save television, and I don’t care to admit how many hours we spent in front of the tube over the course of the last seven days) to revel in the luxuries of ship life. We took pleasure in family time, chatted up strangers, made new friends, came close to yelling BINGO! twice, and our favorite- enjoyed a family nap every day! It’s amazing how being chore-free and withdrawing ourselves from the cell phone and laptop immediately transported us a world away, so much that we have made it a point to do the latter more often for  a weekend stay-cation at home without the distractions of the noisy world. While basking in pure, golden sunshine, indulging our appetites and marveling at the sapphire ocean waters I felt so blessed and thankful- blessed to be alive and seeing all the beauty of the seas and thankful to be sailing with a man that makes me laugh and a baby that makes my heart smile.

In a less than excellent twist, hubby and I were awfully sea sick for the first day and a half and put on a synchronized regurgitation show during dinner. God bless that family sitting next to us who happened to make other plans for dinner for the rest of the trip. Well, surely, a couple that pukes together stays together 🙂

Now off to enjoy Sunday with my family.

Turks & Caicos
“Photograph colors as if they were the emotion they represent.”


Turks was by far my favorite stop of the trip and unfortunately this is the best family photo we captured on the island. At the risk of having on record I use these words- HOT MESS! We’ll always have the memories.

5 @ Friday

Next in line to creating photographs, the thing I love most about my job is my FREEDOM. Fortunately I do not have a job where I dread Mondays due to the fact that I will spend the next five days glued to a desk, doing something I do not enjoy, while answering to an objectionable person. I create my own schedule and I report to my desk each night clad in my PJ’s sans makeup.

I’m sure this was the set up I’ve dreamed of since junior high. Still, I lament.

One of my biggest struggles with this state of professional liberty that is working for myself is…well..working by myself and missing adult interaction (dare I say water cooler). Two if you’re counting but I wondered how nice it might be if perhaps a wedding and portrait photographer several doors down might have the answer to my color balance or online marketing quandaries. Since Friday 5:00 happy hour is a distant memory, three years ago last time I checked, I have created an equivalent. Welcome to my very first installment of 5 @ Friday where I will be answering five random questions on random Fridays. This week they come from Seymour Peeps.

1. Do you collect anything?
For a few years now, I have been collecting sand from (mostly) all islands I’ve visited. It’s amazing to see all the distinct colors, shapes, angularities and textures of the earth and also a nice way to reminisce about places I’ve been. My favorite is the black sand I brought back from Manual Antonio Beach, Costa Rica. I hope that someday my collection will include gravel pits, sand from mountain tops, a lush garden or caves.

2. What is your happiest childhood memory?
Being grandpa’s favorite and weekly outings for ice-cream and fishing with my grandparents. I can still remember the smell of the marina and the unsightly-dingy color of the fluorescent lighting at DQ. There is something so special about grandparents’ love.

3. Define a great relationship.
There are a few things I don’t leave home without. And then there’s Respect, Love, Friendship. I don’t lead a relationship without it.

4. When was the last time you swam in a pool?
A little over 8 months ago. It also happened to be my due date but that didn’t stop me from beating my brother-in-law in a swim race.

5. If you mated a bull dog and a shitzu, would you call it bullshit?
Happy Friday!!

Please check my latest work at www.ziemphotography.com and follow me on Facebook. I look forward to hearing from you!

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