A Special Gift - and Giveaway!

You probably know someone like my Husband....extremely hard to buy for!
Anything he wants, he just goes and gets himself.  He doesn't have "wish lists" like you or I can effortlessly name off, nor does he want "our" money being spent on something for him.

Needless to say, he doesn't get much in the way of Christmas gifts from us....one or two agonizing choices we hope he'll use or enjoy....and that's about it.

....but this year was different!

Maggie and I got him something from the heart, a reminder of who appreciates how hard he works to provide, a way to tell him that we are here, thinking of him and loving him all day long!

We gave him us.....a portable us he can carry around with him or put on his desk, so he can see our faces and feel connected to us even when we are apart :)

It was hard keeping this secret photoshoot to ourselves!

The phenomenal photographer that made this awesome gift possible is Taylor Kalander.
I've followed her blog for a while and decided to ask her if she had any openings so close to Christmas.

To my surprise (and delight!), not only did she make herself available at the last minute, but after asking me what I had in mind for our photos, suggested a perfect location where we could meet up halfway.  She even bent over backwards to work within my budget! Crazy, I know :)

We are tree lovers, so you can imagine how much we enjoyed being among these!

 

Taylor was breezy and personable, engaging Maggie in conversation and making us both feel instantly at ease.  I already liked her from what I had read on her blog....but, she is just so much sweeter than I ever knew.  I just know you'll like her, too!

 

 

To prove it, I did a little interview, a formal introduction, if you will.....because I want everyone to meet this talented, generous and nicer than nice fellow Blogger/Photographer!

 

Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging so that I could show my mom/aunt/grandma/friends the condo I purchased a few years ago without having to email them all photos. A few people started reading regularly, so I started posting more often.

 

**Her Blog is Here ------> and blog button up at the top of my sidebar***

 

Have you always enjoyed/aspired to be a Photographer?

Not at all. I didn’t really do anything creative until a few years ago. I was always a very type-A kid. I focused on school, swimming, dance, water polo, diving, field hockey, MUN, my hostess job, my job at The Gap, et cetera. In high school, I was just trying to get out of Orange County. In college, I was just trying to learn and party as much as possible. Post college, I was working in commercial real estate and thought that I might want to go back to school to become a nurse midwife. I became a birth and postpartum doula to make sure I really wanted to go back to school for this career path. I bought my first dslr so that I could take decent photos during labor and delivery, if the parent(s) wanted them. I decided that going back to school to become a nurse midwife was not the path for me, but fell in love with photography. And here we are…..

These are her favorite photos of 2012. Will one of yours be included in 2013?

 

What did Little Girl Tay dream of being?

 Little Girl Tay wanted to be a bad-guy-busting-power-suit-wearing district attorney!

 I have a definitive moment in time where I started feeling comfortable introducing myself as an Artist......when was it that you finally felt you could call yourself a Photographer?

 Actually, I’m just kind of reaching that point. I’m hoping to fully be there soon. Photographer is a big word, literally and figuratively.

 

What inspires you most?

A blank roll of paper and a set of crayons. I love making timelines, setting goals and making lists of things I want to accomplish. It’s also a fun way to plan photo shoots. I love seeing the progression of one idea to the next; one goal to the next. About once a month I unroll about ten feet of paper in my living room, turn on some music, pour a huge glass of wine, and just let my mind go.

You should try it. It’s really fun.

When I’m looking for inspiration from outside sources, I love flipping through the ‘New York Times Magazine Photographs’ book, Herb Ritz’s ‘The Golden Hour,’ reading The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho or ‘The Power of One’ by Bryce Courtenay. I also love watching George Michael’s ‘Freedom’ music video (random, but so great), or Jay-Z’s mini documentary ‘Where I’m From.’ I also love to read Vanity Fair (the magazine, not the book). Those media sources always inspire me to make something profound and beautiful.

Where would you like your path (as a photographer or otherwise) to lead you to eventually?

I want to be a storyteller through both my photos and words. I think this is what all photographers want? I want the things that I think are beautiful, valuable or important to be saved and preserved. Not necessarily for everyone to read about, but so that I know my thoughts and memory will be there somehow forever and ever. I want my great grandchildren to know what I did and thought and saw and accomplished.

 What is your idea of perfection?

 Smiling a happy smile no matter what the circumstance. Also, bubble baths are pretty perfect.

 How is it that you so darn nice?! (I just had to ask...she really is!)

 This is going to sound bad, but there were some key people in my life growing up who are so ugly on the inside; miserable, scared, mean, egomaniacal. From a young age, I knew that I didn’t want to be ‘like them.’ I didn’t realize what exactly they were, or which characteristics they had that caught my attention, but I knew that I didn’t want to live my life in the way they were (are) living theirs. I am not one to be self-congratulatory, but something I have done very well is to learn from other people’s mistakes. People who I love and think are fantastic and people who I love and think are not living their lives in a kind way. I love thinking about how these people got to where they are. What happened? What was the sequence of steps that led them to act this way? I try to identify similar points in my life and act differently. That has made me who I am and has led me to act a certain way. I’m so glad that you perceive it as so darn nice. :D 

It's not often that we get to meet people so giving of themselves and their craft, that the results are better than you could've ever expected....but it does happen.  And when it does, it just makes you all warm and happy inside. 

Maggie and I had a great time with Taylor and were so excited to give these photos to the Hubs!  This one is his favorite...

Taylor wants to offer you a special gift...
...her services....for free!

Would you like a chance to have your very own photoshoot?  Camera shy?  It's okay! Get stunning photos of your kids or grandkids, your pets, you working in your studio (wouldn't it be nice to have professional profile and adverstising pics!).  Maybe make a plea for someone else you know?  I just don't want anyone to miss an opportunity to have her take beautiful pictures for you...

....and she's willing to travel to you!!  I told you she's a Sweetheart!  She will come to your location (not just out of the city or out of the county....but out of state, too!) at a later date this year as agreed upon by the 2 of you....
Once you see the pictures, you'll be so glad you entered....heehee!

Please just leave a comment stating why you'd like/need the uber fabulous, super talented Taylor to come take pictures for you.  Take your time, be as detailed as you like.
She'll choose her favorite answer on Monday, February 25th.
I can't wait to see your photos :)

Now I just have to figure out what I'm going to get him next year. These are going to be impossible to top......haha!

Creative Blog Buddies are the best....Love you all!
Cam