Lately

Has it really been so long since I last posted? (And I thought I was doing so much better.) 

Life is full. Very full. So full, half the time I feel like I can't keep up.

But that's normal, right?

I know it is MY normal. It's how I function, really. Keep busy or be bored.

I don't like "bored."

But sometimes I need a breather, and sometimes I stare out my window to just be still. 

(Because every soul needs to be still sometimes.)

I've been doing some thinking in some of those still moments.

Thinking about what I want to do with my life. 

How is it I'm 33, and still don't know what I want to do with my life?

My baby goes off to preschool in the fall. 

And I'm afraid of that B word I mentioned earlier (bored). 

And I've wondered, do I start business back up?

Do I go back to school?
Do I get a job? 

I'd nearly talked myself into taking on some clients again...

but...

I started feeling overwhelmed by the idea, and I've realized...

it's still not the right time.

(sigh)

But my heart yearns to create.

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul.

No matter our talents, education, backgrounds or abilities,

we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.

Everyone can create.

You don't need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty. 

You might say, I am not the creative type. If that is how you feel, think again.

Creation is your opportunity in this life...Start small.

Creativity does not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano.

Don't let the voice of critics paralyze you. You will make the World a better place.

Improve, beautify, extend, smile, cultivate, develop, create."

-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

 And so it goes. I yearn to create.

I yearn to have a place to share the inner working of my heart.

I yearn to influence and inspire.

So I'm thinking I may pour some of my time into redesigning my online presence.

Change things up a little. 

Share my images, my words, my music, things that inspire me, thoughts...

...it's a work (really, just a thought) in progress.

But it feels right.

And I've learned to go with what I feel is right.

In other news, I was recently featured on a blog for my images on Instagram!

I love instagram, and it's been a fun social and artistic outlet for me.

Do you Instagram? If you do, I'd love it if you followed me.

You can find me HERE!

(my username is joannataylorphoto)

And that's all for now! I have some more images to share with you soon!

Gorgeous little details

While I am downloading a program to my computer I have been browsing etsy, and I came across this. Isn't it down-right amazing? Someone, please, do me the favor of buying it and using it for your wedding, will you? I'd be forever jealous that you got the chance. :)
(this is not my image)

For the glamorous bride...

...cut your cake in style. Seriously, aren't these amazing? I'm in love! Order your custom cutters here. (I did not take this photo.)

Ramblings

Okay, I admit, I'm in that "stage of life" where my kids get sick all-the-time. And somehow I often get it too (I thought I'd be immune; after all, I was a kid once too. Plus, I haven't really been very sick since I was twelve). But, no. And this time it's all me. I can't even thank my darling kids for my Tonsillitis and head cold. But I am finding blame, of course. ;)
I'm blaming it on:
the little sleep I had for several days,
and being in Vegas with so many people,
and the chilly air on the shoots I took part in,
and sleeping in the same bed as someone that *might* have been a strep vector (you know who you are;) ).

However I got it, it's taken up a majority of my energy this week.

Unfortunately I have so much on my docket. But, I've been *trying* to plow through and get things done anyway, and I'm happy to say I've made progress.

Do you ever feel that way? These kids still need me to take care of them. There's still business that needs to be done. The house is calling my name (far too loudly).

Well, today I turned off the phone and put my head down and (finally) got my taxes done. SCORE! And while I did so, I listened to some fabulous music by Diane Birch who is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Seriously, go check her out. She has this amazing voice, these fingers that move so smoothly on the piano (I'm jealous), and this soul that reminds me so much of the music my parents listened to when I was a child. It's a treat.

Meanwhile, if you've tried to get a hold of me this week, I'll be returning calls as soon as my voice returns to normal, and when I won't be sniffing and coughing in your ear! I'm crossing my fingers for tomorrow.

Exciting News | Utah Bridal Photographer

I just wanted to pass along a fun little note to let you know that Visions Salon will be at Frenze Bridal on Saturday doing free up-do's. So, any of you brides to be: go check them out and have fun!!!

The Give Initiative

It's easy to get caught up in our own lives, and to take what we have for granted. I know during the holiday season the mood strikes many of us to give to others. Our family tries to give Christmas to a deserving family every year. Sometimes this means we buy gifts. Sometimes we give money. Sometimes we do it anonymously and sometimes not.

But do you ever think that it would be nice to give to other people sometime during the year? When other people forget about it?

How many times have you heard a story of someone you know, or don't know, and thought to yourself, "I wish there was something that I could do to help." But you didn't want to intrude, or butt in? You didn't know how best to help? You felt like what you had to give was not quite enough, and didn't want to feel shamed that it wasn't more? I know I have felt this way many times.

The Give Initiative is an incredible, non-profit company that allows you to give to others. Anonymously. You simply tell them who you'd like to contribute to, and they make it happen. ALL. YEAR. ROUND. Isn't this an amazing concept? But if you feel like giving, and don't know who could use some help, they have a solution for that too.

Head on over and check them out. See what they are about, and hey, if you can, give a little something.

Photog Get Together

Every once in a while I get the opportunity to hang out with some of my photographer friends. One came in from Arizona and several of us decided to get together and shoot some bridals for fun. The lovely Kate and Tesha were our fabulous models for the evening. It's always a good time getting together with others that do the same thing as me; we bounce ideas off one another, "talk shop" and try out new pieces of equipment (see the dreamy blurry shot below, shot with a friend's lens baby...and I know I didn't get it right, but I still had a lot of fun with it;).

While I edit pictures...

While I'm editing today, listening to this...
(and this particular video is so pretty to watch)