BBL 2013-2014 | Find an Awesome Sangria Recipe

#16 FIND AN AWESOME SANGRIA RECIPE

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

I love Sangria, so I thought it would be great if I found a recipe that I can make at home any time I want.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

Better! I ended up combining two different recipes in an attempt to reduce the sugar as much as possible and include more of my favorite fruits.  I was expecting to have to make some adjustments or try a few different recipes, but I got lucky and loved the very first recipe that I tried!

The details...

If you like Sangria, give this recipe a try!

• 1 Bottle of your favorite white wine
• 1 Lemon cut into wedges
• 1 Orange cut into wedges
• 1 Lime cut into wedges
• 1/2 cup limeade
• 2 shots of apricot flavored brandy
• 2/3 cups Agave nectar
• 1 cup sliced strawberries 
• 3/4 cup raspberries (fresh or frozen)
• 2 cups club soda

Pour wine into a pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon, orange and lime into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if possible) then add the agave nectar, limeade, and brandy. Chill overnight. Add club soda, strawberries, raspberries and ice just before serving.  Yum!

Do you want to see my entire 2013-2014 Birthday Bucket List?  You can find it here. Did you miss my 2012-2013 List? You can find it here.  Or my 2011-2012 List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2013-2014 | Make a List of 50 Places I Want to Visit

#18 MAKE A LIST OF 50 PLACES I WANT TO VISIT

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

Travel is one of those big ticket items that just about everyone has on their bucket list.  While I do keep a global 'some day' bucket list, my life is such right now that most of my focus is on my Birthday Bucket Lists full of less grandiose (not to mention less expensive) items.  So, travel destinations have been a bit neglected in my dreams for what I want to experience in the future.  I decided to rectify that with this list.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

I don't know that I had any hopes for making this list, but I am happy that I now have a list of places I want to visit complied and saved for future reference.

The details...

Of course, I had a few places I want to visit jotted down but most of them were still floating around in my mind.  It took me a while to get them all out of my head, and I had to do a lot of googling to jog my memory.  While I was searching I was stunned to see how many top U.S. travel destinations I've already seen!  I have been very fortunate in my life with the amount of travel I have been able to do within the United States.  As you will see, the majority of the places on my list are also in the U.S. as there are still many places here that I would like to see in my lifetime.  So, perhaps some of these will show up as future Birthday Bucket List items.

Here is my list:

1. Statue of Liberty (New York)
2. Central Park (New York)
3. Times Square (New York)
4. The Bean (Illinois)
5. Willis Tower Skydeck (Illinois)
6. Grand Canyon SkyWalk  (Arizona)
7. Horseshoe Bend (Arizona)
8. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming/Montana/Idaho)
9. Yosemite National Park (California)
10. Lake Tahoe (California/Nevada)
11. Four Corners (Colorado/New Mexico/Arizona/Utah)
12. Boston, Massachusetts
13. New York City, New York
14. Ellis Island, New Jersey
15. Nantucket, Massachusetts
16. Cape Cod, Massachusetts
17. Jackson Hole, Wyoming
18. Hilton Head, South Carolina
19. Branson, Missouri
20. Savannah, Georgia
21. New Orleans, Lousiana
22. Austin, Texas
23. South Padre Island, Texas
24. Salt Lake City, Utah
25. Denver, Colorado
26. Boulder, Colorado
27. Aspen, Colorado
28. Portland, Oregon
29. Seattle, Washington
30. Maine
31. New Hampshire
32. Vermont
33. Massachusetts
34. Rhode Island
35. Connecticut
36. New Jersey
37. Delaware
38. Washington D.C.
39. Washington
40. Oregon
41. U.S. Virgin Islands
42. Puerto Rico
43. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
44. St. Lucia
45. Tahiti
46. Bermuda
47. Aruba
48. Australia
49. England
50. Ireland

And now I am challenging you to come up with your own list! Where do you want to go?

Do you want to see my entire 2013-2014 Birthday Bucket List?  You can find it here. Did you miss my 2012-2013 List? You can find it here.  Or my 2011-2012 List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2013-2014 | Attend a Photography Conference

#35 ATTEND A PHOTOGRAPHY CONFERENCE

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

I decided to put this on my list because I thought it would be fun to attend a conference. I was hoping that I would learn some new photography skills and maybe meet a few fellow photographers along the way.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

I attended a conference back in late January and I think I've been putting off writing about it because I didn't want to say negative things but the experience didn't turn out quite like I was hoping.

The details...

I've been dreaming of attending WPPI for the past few years, but unfortunately the timing of it just didn't work with my schedule this year. So, when an online photog friend told me that she was attending Imaging USA, I jumped at the chance to join her. The conference was in Phoenix so the cost and convenience made it a no brainer, plus I was super stoked to get to actually meet my photog friend in person after exchanging emails and phone calls for the past 3 or 4 years.

Unfortunately, my friend ended up not being able to get the time off work to attend, and Kevin and I decided to purchase our house a little sooner than we planned which added some unexpected craziness to my life. So, by the time the conference rolled around I had lost a bit of my enthusiasm for attending, which probably didn't help my experience.  But, the conference didn't turn out quite like I would have hoped either.  I felt like there weren't enough classes offered, and a lot of them were nothing more than well known photographers showing off their work and talking about their careers.  While these were interesting and motivating, I didn't take away as much new knowledge as I would have preferred.  The classes were also held early in the morning and late in the evening, with 4-5 hours in the middle with not much going on.  Perhaps if I wasn't a Phoenix resident and was trying to squeeze in a few hours of sight seeing I might have felt differently, but I felt like I wasted several hours each day just sitting around waiting for the second set of classes to start.

While it wasn't quite what I was hoping for, I am glad that I attended, and one of the classes I took was awesome and taught me some great new techniques that I've been practicing!  I didn't take very many photos during the conference, but below is a little collage of the ones I did take.

Do you want to see my entire 2013-2014 Birthday Bucket List?  You can find it here. Did you miss my 2012-2013 List? You can find it here.  Or my 2011-2012 List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2013-2014 | Watch a Silent Film

#9 WATCH A SILENT FILM

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

I've never watched a silent film and I simply wanted the experience of watching one.  With today's incredible (but maybe a bit over the top) movie special effects, I couldn't imagine how the stories were told back in the day of silent films.  However, I wanted to find out.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

I really wasn't sure what to expect, but I did think that I'd have a hard time following the story line without any dialog.  Surprisingly that wasn't the case at all.  The story was definitely simpler than most movie plots today, but I had no problem following along with exactly what was happening.  I even found myself laughing out loud at many parts of the movie.

The details...

Since I wasn't familiar with any silent films, I did a brief google search and found a list of the top 10 silent films ever made.  From there, I went down the list until I found one that the local library had and checked it out.  I ended up watching City Lights starring Charlie Chaplin.  It was actually quite good and I was surprised how much I enjoyed it.  I definitely would watch more of his films if I ever get the opportunity!

Do you want to see my entire 2013-2014 Birthday Bucket List?  You can find it here. Did you miss my 2012-2013 List? You can find it here.  Or my 2011-2012 List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2013-2014 | Plan a Surprise for the Hubby

#31 PLAN A SURPRISE FOR THE HUBBY

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

I've always wanted to pull off a really great surprise for someone, like a party or a trip. When Kevin finally finished the bar exam last week it seemed like the perfect opportunity! He's spent the past several months studying non-stop and hasn't had a moment of free time to do anything else, so I thought this would be a fun time now that the stress of bar prep is finally over.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

We had an amazing time at the party and Kevin claims he was totally surprised. Although, I find that hard to believe because I almost blew it on several occasions! I'm not very good at keeping secrets or telling lies.

The details...

A few days before hand I sent out an invitation to our friends asking them to come over for a surprise party for Kevin. I enlisted he help of one of Kevin's friends to get him out of the house while everyone arrived. When they returned Kevin walked into a house full of friends, and was totally shocked.

We had a blast at the party! But I was so worried about keeping it a secret and pulling it off, I didn't even take a single photo the entire night. So unlike me!

Do you want to see my entire 2013-2014 Birthday Bucket List?  You can find it here. Did you miss my 2012-2013 List? You can find it here.  Or my 2011-2012 List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2013-2014 | Buy a House

#28 BUY A HOUSE

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

I have to say that this wasn't originally on my 2013-2014 Birthday Bucket list, even though it has been on my global bucket list since the day I sold my house in Indiana.  We were originally planning on waiting to purchase a new house until Kevin started working, but we (meaning mostly me) had reached our tolerance of living in a cramped rental house with no control over anything.  I guess I'm just a nester by nature, and not being able to make our living space into my own permanent home was having a profound affect on my mental state and my ability to adjust to living in Arizona.  Even after living here for 2 ½ years, I've been really struggling to feel at home. I knew the only solution was to start putting in some real roots by buying a house and settling into it, so we decided it was time.

The original #28 on my list was to plan a trip post gradation and bar exam with Kevin, but buying a house meant all our savings would be used up for a while, so I decide to swap the items on my list.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

Moving into the house wasn't quite as smooth sailing as I had hoped, which I mentioned in last month's self-portrait post, but overall I'm beyond thrilled to be in our own house. I love the layout of the house and our backyard is too amazing for words.  We've already made tons of changes to personalize the house, thanks to the help of my incredible dad who is a fix-it genius!  We have a mile long list of more updates he is going to help us with this spring.

The best part of the experience is that after 5 ½ years Kevin and I are finally living in a home that we picked out together, and soon we will be filling our home with furniture that we both got to choose.  I can't tell you how huge this is for us!  All this time we have been using things that I owned when Kevin and I met and being able to fill our new home with things that we picked out together feels like we are finally creating the life we dreamed of when we first started dating.

The details...

We started looking for a house back in late October, found one we liked in late November, and moved in in late December.

I took this photo a few weeks ago when I was practicing ring shots with my new lens.  It is our rings hanging on a gate in our new backyard.  I'm sure I will eventually post house photos, but for now I felt like this image was the more fitting.  After all, home is where you hang your heart, right?

Do you want to see my entire 2013-2014 Birthday Bucket List?  You can find it here. Did you miss my 2012-2013 List? You can find it here.  Or my 2011-2012 List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2013-2014 | Photograph a Wedding

#40 PHOTOGRAPH A WEDDING

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

After a childhood spent shying away from life because of a fear of failure and/or looking stupid, I have turned into an adult who refuses to allow fear to rule my world or dictate my decisions.  Yet, that was exactly what I was doing when it came to photographing weddings.

At first, I refused to photograph weddings because I knew that I simply didn't own the equipment required to do so.  I don't care what anyone says, equipment does matter, and there was no way I was going to commit to capturing someone's wedding day knowing that my equipment wasn't up for the job, so it was easy to say no without feeling bad about it.

However, once I upgraded my camera body and purchased some lighting equipment, I could no longer use that as an excuse.  I had to admit to myself that the real reason I've been turing down weddings was pure unadulterated terror.  Just the thought of photographing someone's wedding was enough to make me break out in a cold sweat.  I just couldn't imagine myself being responsible for photographing someone's wedding (A WEDDING! OMG!) No way.  No how.  Not. gonna. do. it.

But as requests to photograph weddings have been increasing, it's been getting harder and harder to ignore the fact that I've been letting fear control my decisions. Quite frankly, ENOUGH. IS. ENOUGH. I've been being ridiculous.  I absolutely adore photographing engagements, so there is a huge possibility that I might actually (gasp!) like photographing weddings. But I'm never going to know if I don't get out there and photograph a few, so it was time to bite the bullet and add it to the bucket list.  The good and bad of my life is that I am very easily ruled by lists. So once on the list I knew that photographing a wedding was going to happen, and here we are.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

I'm not going to lie, the experience was terrifying and horrible.  But it was equally thrilling and magnificent. (And that pretty much sums up all of life's truly amazing events, doesn't it?)

For three weeks leading up to the wedding I could feel the fear lodged in the pit of my stomach where it had taken root and would not let go.  Every waking moment for those three weeks was spent worrying about what might go wrong, and what I could possibly do to prevent it.  I read and watched more photography tutorials in those three weeks than I did in the past three years combined.  I practiced shooting like an insane woman.  And I learned more than I ever could have thought possible and expanded my photography skills beyond measure in those three short weeks.

As soon as the wedding was over, I came home and backed up the photos just like I always do after shooting.  But I couldn't actually bring myself to look at them. What if they sucked? What if I missed something huge?  The next day, I knew I couldn't put it off any longer and reluctantly started sorting through the images.  After I'd gotten through about a third of them, I was stunned.  The images were actually (dare I say it)... good.

{Insert happy dance}  OMG!  I did it!  I did it!  I did it!

Seriously.  I am on top of the world.  I can't really describe how amazing it feels to have concurred this fear and come out so much better for having done so.

The details...

I was really hoping to photograph my first wedding last fall as a second shooter, where the responsibility wasn't quite so huge, but by the time I started inquiring about second shooting for the few wedding photographers I know, their schedules were already full.

Instead, I took Kourtney and Eric's engagement photos back in November, and then they asked me if I would photograph their wedding.  I knew that their wedding was going to be an intimate affair at a small local wedding venue, and I felt like it would be the ideal setting for my first venture into wedding photography.  I was so excited that they asked, and I'm thrilled to say that the wedding (and the photos) went off without a hitch!

I've included a collage below of some of my favorite photos from their day. You can also click here to visit their blog post to view more photos from the wedding.

Do you want to see my entire 2013-2014 Birthday Bucket List?  You can find it here. Did you miss my 2012-2013 List? You can find it here.  Or my 2011-2012 List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2013-2014 | Have New Professional Photos Taken With the Hubby

#30 HAVE NEW PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS TAKEN WITH THE HUBBY

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

Kevin and I started dating on August 17th, and got married on August 17th two years later.  When we celebrate our anniversary we celebrate the length of time we have been together not how long we've specifically been married.  So, this year marked our 5th anniversary as a couple and we wanted to honor the milestone with new photos since the last ones we had taken were at our wedding.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

Our photos were taken by Trevor Dayley, who I've mentioned a time or two on my blog before.  While I would have preferred to be the one behind the camera instead of in front of it, Trevor is a really laid back, easy going guy and he made the process a breeze.

The details...

August in Phoenix is pretty toasty, so we decided to wait until things cooled off a bit to have our photos taken. We were originally planning on doing them back in November, but then things got really crazy with purchasing our house and Kevin wrapping up law school so we bumped them to earlier this month.  We had our photos taken at one of my favorite downtown locations to shoot, and it was really awesome getting to see Trevor's vision of this area come through in the photos he took of us.

Here is a collage of just a few of my favorites...

Do you want to see my entire 2013-2014 Birthday Bucket List?  You can find it here. Did you miss my 2012-2013 List? You can find it here.  Or my 2011-2012 List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2013-2014 | Purchase a Macro Lens

#37 PURCHASE A MACRO LENS

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

I rented a macro lens a few years ago and had fun playing around with it, but didn't see the need to own one at the time.  Since then, I've considered doing a little wedding photography and a macro lens is a must to take ring shots.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

I didn't love parting with the money, but so far the lens has been great!

The details...

Every wedding photographer I know uses the same lens to take their ring shots, and I figured that many photogs couldn't be wrong, so I opted to join the masses and purchase the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM.  I did do some test shots with it using our rings and loved the results!

Do you want to see my entire 2013-2014 Birthday Bucket List?  You can find it here. Did you miss my 2012-2013 List? You can find it here.  Or my 2011-2012 List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2013-2014 | Make a List of 101 Things That Make Me Smile

#19 MAKE A LIST OF 101 THINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

It's too easy to concentrate on the negative in the world these days, so I decided to do something to redirect my attention to the positives.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

I was surprised just how hard it was to come up with this list!  I tried to only put things on my list that really 'fit' for me and not include things that were overly random.  It took a while, but I finally came up with 101 things that make me smile.

The details...

Here is my list:

1. feeling the warmth of the sun on that first spring day
2. reading a really good book that I can't put down
3. listening to the sound of crashing waves
4. snuggling with my fur babies
5. getting a compliment from a stranger
6. catching up with an old friend
7. watching a beautiful sunset
8. hearing my favorite song come on unexpectedly
9. opening the mailbox to find a card or letter from someone
10. watching a lightening storm
11. relaxing in a bubble bath
12. having my toe nails painted a new bright color
13. lighting an amazing smelling candle
14. experiencing the vivid colors of a Midwest fall
15. smelling something good cooking in the kitchen
16. having my entire house clean and organized
17. looking through old photographs from my past
18. accomplishing a goal I set for myself
19. coming home to a love note from my hubby
20. really connecting with someone new
21. enjoying a glass of my favorite wine
22. taking an afternoon nap
23. hearing that I look much younger than I am
24. watching hummingbirds in our backyard
25. feeling a cool breeze on a warm day
26. eating movie popcorn smothered in butter
27. celebrating my birthday in style
28. discovering an amazing new recipe
29. finding money I didn't know I'd lost
30. watching an amazing fireworks display
31. being blown away by a great movie
32. floating in the pool
33. finding a new flavor of chapstick
34. having an unexpected day off of work
35. watching my hubby play guitar hero
36. getting a massage
37. finishing a really good run
38. tasting the first bite of a favorite food I haven't had in a while
39. watching fish swim
40. finding a new item of clothing that fits perfectly
41. crawling into a bed made with freshly washed sheets
42. reminiscing about my childhood with the ones who were there
43. throwing a well attended party
44. having an empty seat next to me on an airplane
45. sitting around a campfire
46. popping bubble wrap
47. watching our wedding video
48. pushing the button for the elevator and it's already there
49. writing with a really awesome pen
50. walking on the beach
51. fitting into a pair of jeans I haven't been able to wear for a while
52. having a good hair day
53. trying to merge into traffic and a courteous driver lets me in
54. gazing at a lit christmas tree
55. returning to visit the cities where I used to live
56. wearing oversized comfy clothes
57. capturing the perfect photo of someone
58. being surprised with flowers or a gift for no reason
59. rediscovering old music
60. listening to our cats purr
61. eating a piece of perfectly ripened fruit
62. mastering a new photography technique
63. exploring a new place for the first time
64. waking up feeling well rested and ready to face the day
65. spending quiet time home alone
66. marking something off my bucket list
67. seeing my hubby smile
68. having a good friendly debate
69. singing along to the car radio
70. collecting inspiring quotes
71. finding the perfect gift for someone
72. waking up and realizing it's not a work day
73. laughing uncontrollably at something
74. spending time chatting with my mom
75. finding a coupon code when purchasing something online
76. stepping on the scale to see I've lost weight
77. snuggling under a blanket when it's cold
78. finding the perfect halloween costume
79. coming home to dinner already prepared
80. feeling appreciated
81. finding a front row parking spot
82. drinking pop from a glass bottle
83. experiencing the gorgeous views while hiking
84. being welcomed home with tail wags and puppy kisses
85. getting to see my husband in his work world
86. having an empty email inbox
87. being asked for the recipe for something I made
88. getting dressed up for a special event
89. discovering a new hobby
90. remembering there are good leftovers in the refrigerator
91. going to bed knowing you can sleep as long as you want
92. meeting someone whose name is spelled the same way as mine
93. falling asleep next to my hubby
94. crossing things off my to do list
95. watching our pets play together
96. gazing up at a sky full of stars
97. being told I'm good at my job
98. seeing the kitchen fully stocked after a big grocery store trip
99. experiencing the smells that come with the changes of season
100. watching fireflies
101. seeing a rainbow

Plus a bonus because I mis-numbered:

102. looking up at the clouds

And now I am challenging you to come up with your own list!  What makes you smile?

Do you want to see my entire 2013-2014 Birthday Bucket List?  You can find it here. Did you miss my 2012-2013 List? You can find it here.  Or my 2011-2012 List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2013-2014 | Give Up Pop for 30 Days

#23 GIVE UP POP FOR 30 DAYS

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

Years ago I had managed to kick my pop habit to the curb.  However, as my life has gotten increasingly more insane over the past few years I've fallen back into the habit of drinking way too much of it again.  I started drinking it for the caffeine, and ended up addicted again because I really do love the taste.  My hope is that by giving up pop for 30 days, it will start me on the path of not drinking it again.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

In general, I actually had an easier time than I expected.  The only time I had to battle my craving was when I was eating foods that I usually associate with drinking pop - like pizza or fast food.

The details...

I stopped drinking pop on October 1st, and made it though the 30 days with no problem.  After about 35 days, I did cave in and drink some Pepsi on a day where I had only gotten a few hours of sleep and had along day ahead of me.  The caffeine provided the needed pick-me-up, but I was surprised that I didn't enjoy the taste like I was expecting.  Since then I have indulged in the caffeine hit on a few other occasions, with the same surprising result so perhaps I just might be well on my way to kicking this habit for good!

Do you want to see my entire 2013-2014 Birthday Bucket List?  You can find it here. Did you miss my 2012-2013 List? You can find it here.  Or my 2011-2012 List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2013 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2013-2014 | Photograph a Maternity Session

#38 PHOTOGRAPH A MATERNITY SESSION

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

I put this on my bucket list because I've never had the opportunity to photograph a maternity session, so it just made sense to add it to my list as something new to try.  I really do enjoy experimenting with different types of photograph sessions.  I feel like each new experience behind the camera stretches my abilities and my creativity to make me a better photographer.

I'm also a firm believer in the idea that you never know if you're going to like something until you try it.  So I am slowly trying to explore all areas of photography to decide which ones I enjoy and which ones aren't for me.  This way I will know which session types are a good fit for my business, and which ones I'd prefer to refer to one of my fellow photographer colleagues.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

It was better!  I really had a lot of fun photographing the session, and the photos turned out better than I expected for my first attempt at posing a couple for maternity photos.

The details...

I never want the first time I try something to be when someone hires me to do it.  I'm just not a fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl.  I need things to be plotted and planned out well in advance, and that's exactly what I did for this session.

Back in the spring one of my friends told me that her daughter was expecting her first child at the end of the year.  When I heard the news, I asked if she would be willing to be my subject for my first venture into maternity photography.  She agreed, and her boyfriend was up for joining in, too, so we set a date for the session. And the rest, as they say, is history.  I've included a collage below of some of my favorites.  You can also click here to visit the blog post of the session.

Do you want to see my entire 2013-2014 Birthday Bucket List?  You can find it here. Did you miss my 2012-2013 List? You can find it here.  Or my 2011-2012 List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2013 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2013-2014 | Start a Love/Gratitude Journal With the Hubby

#29 START A LOVE/GRATITUDE JOURNAL WITH THE HUBBY

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

I stumbled upon this idea when I was searching for something completely unrelated and a blog post popped up in my search results talking about creating a love journal with your spouse.  I thought it sounded like such a great idea that I decided to add it to my Birthday Bucket List.  In relationships, and in life, sometimes it is too easy to focus on the negatives.  I thought it would be a good way to try to spend more time paying attention to the positives.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

We've been keeping the journal for about a month, and so far the experience has been a good one. Keeping this journal has me spending more time looking for the good as I ponder what to write in the journal the next time I get it back.  It has me noticing and appreciating more of the nice things that Kevin does instead of taking them for granted.  I know it probably sounds a little bit corny, but I really do think it is bringing about some good changes.

The details...

A love and gratitude journal is exactly what it sounds like - a place to write about love and gratitude for each other.  Basically, we write things like "I love you becauase..."  "Thank you for...."  "I appreciate that you..." One of us writes something nice to the other and then places the journal some place where the other will find it.  Once the other person does find it, they write something in it, and then leave it for the other to find again.

Kevin picked out the book we are using for our journal, and they didn't have an orange one, so of course it had to be green!

Do you want to see my entire 2013-2014 Birthday Bucket List?  You can find it here. Did you miss my 2012-2013 List? You can find it here.  Or my 2011-2012 List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2013 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

Birthday Bucket List | 2013-2014 Edition

Since my next birthday is a big one, I decided to go big with this year's Birthday Bucket List.  Instead of my usual 12 items, I decided to go with a list of 40 things I want to do before my 40th birthday. (Unless someone invents the rewind button for life first, in which case the only thing I want to do is go back to being 25!)

Not everything on this list will be a ton of fun, but sometimes the end goal is worth the work. Plus, there should be more than enough good stuff on the list to balance it out and make me forget about the tough ones.

So here is my 2013-2014 Birthday Bucket List:

1. Perform a random act of kindness... CHECKED + BLOGGED

2. Tell someone that they inspire me... CHECKED + BLOGGED

3. Tell someone that I admire them... CHECKED + BLOGGED

4. Hike Camelback Mountain... CHECKED + BLOGGED

5. Tube the Salt River... CHECKED + BLOGGED

6. Have my handwriting analyzed

7. Go on a picnic... CHECKED + BLOGGED

8. Watch a movie at the drive in... CHECKED + BLOGGED

9. Watch a silent film... CHECKED + BLOGGED

10. Watch, read, or listen to 40 things suggested by others... CHECKED + BLOGGED

11. Read 40 new books... CHECKED + BLOGGED

12. Watch 40 new movies... CHECKED + BLOGGED

13. Write a letter to my future self... CHECKED + BLOGGED

14. Write a letter to an old friend... CHECKED + BLOGGED

15. Write a letter to a new friend... CHECKED + BLOGGED

16. Find an awesome sangria recipe... CHECKED + BLOGGED

17. Join a gym... CHECKED + BLOGGED

18. Make a list of 50 places I want to visit... CHECKED + BLOGGED

19. Make a list of 101 things that make me smile... CHECKED + BLOGGED

20. Make a list of 200 words that describe me... CHECKED + BLOGGED

21. Go social media free for 48 hours... CHECKED + BLOGGED

22. Follow a sugar free diet for 30 days... CHECKED + BLOGGED

23. Give up pop for 30 days... CHECKED + BLOGGED

24. Kick my caffeine habit... CHECKED + BLOGGED

25. Visit a farmers market... CHECKED + BLOGGED

26. Visit Jerome, Arizona... CHECKED + BLOGGED

27. Visit Payson, Arizona... CHECKED + BLOGGED

28. Buy a house... CHECKED + BLOGGED

29. Start a love/gratitude journal with the hubby... CHECKED + BLOGGED

30. Have new professional photos taken with the hubby... CHECKED + BLOGGED

31. Plan a surprise for the hubby... CHECKED + BLOGGED

32. Make a list of things I love about the hubby... CHECKED + BLOGGED

33. Look up the meaning/history of my name... CHECKED + BLOGGED

34. Remove everything from my closet that doesn't make me feel beautiful... CHECKED + BLOGGED

35. Attend a photography conference... CHECKED + BLOGGED

36. Update my website

37. Purchase a marco lens... CHECKED + BLOGGED

38. Photograph a maternity session... CHECKED + BLOGGED

39. Photograph a trash the dress session... CHECKED + BLOGGED

40. Photograph a wedding... CHECKED + BLOGGED

As I complete the items, I will mark them off the list and write a blog post about the experience. I'm a little nervous about my ability to complete all of these items in the next 12 months, but I am going to give it my best shot!  I am really excited about some of this year's items, and looking forward to marking more things off of my Bucket List.

Did you miss my 2012-2013 Birthday Bucket List? You can find it here. Or my 2011-2012 Birthday Bucket List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2013 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2012-2013 | Become a Regular

#1 BECOME A REGULAR

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

I've been struggling to feel at home since I relocated to Phoenix, and I thought that if I started visiting some place on a regular basis where I got to know the other people who were also regulars (or workers) there maybe it would help.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

I didn't accomplish this in quite the way I imagined, so it wasn't exactly what I had in mind. However, it still feels great to feel "at home" some place.

The details...

When I put this on my Birthday Bucket List, I was thinking something along the lines of becoming a regular at the gym, or a yoga class, or a book club, or a hiking club, or the library, or maybe a Saturday morning brunch spot. It wasn't until I was looking back over my 2012-2013 list in preparation for my 2013-2014 list that I even realized I had accomplished this item without even intending.

Oddly enough, the place where I have turned into a regular is the spa where I get my nails and toes done every few weeks. After being a client there for the past 8-9 months, I am greeted by name when I walk in the door. They know when it has been longer than usual since I've been in and comment that they haven't seen me in a while. They know what services I usually have done, and even know what polish colors I usually pick - like at my last visit when I picked out a color much lighter than I usually do and the technician painted one nail, only to stop and say that it was too light and went over and picked a darker color that was the exact color I had in mind only the one I picked had been deceiving in the bottle.

Do you want to see my entire 2012-2013 Birthday Bucket List? You can find it here.  Or did you miss my 2011-2012 Birthday Bucket List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2013 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2012-2013 | Adopt More Fur Babies

#12 ADOPT MORE FUR BABIES

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

I have to say that this wasn't on my Birthday Bucket List for 2012-2013 when I originally wrote it. Instead it has been lingering on my global bucket list for the past few years, ever since my 14 year old cat got cancer.  We knew we wanted to adopt two kittens at some point in the future, but had put it on the back burner while we were dealing with moving and getting settled here in Phoenix. Once we felt like we were ready to consider adding more fur babies to our family, we figured we wouldn't be able to because we live in a rental house.  So, we continued to talk about it as something we would do someday, but didn't move forward toward making it happen.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

This is one of those things where the experience of it isn't at the beginning, but all along the journey. However, so far I'm happy to have our new sweet peas as part of our family.

The details...

We got to talking not too long ago about how it would be ideal to adopt kittens right now because our opposite schedules allow one or the other of us to be home with them most of the time.   We have no idea what the future will bring once Kevin graduates and starts working, so it made sense to take advantage of this schedule while we have it.  (Not to mention it just plain stinks for us actually seeing one another, so we might as well find a silver lining in it somewhere.) Plus, most of the furniture we own right now is old and won't be joining us when we finally buy a house.  So we would much rather be training kittens not to scratch now, as opposed to in a house full of new furniture.

We finally decided to bite the bullet and talk to our landlord about permission to adopt two kittens, fully expecting them to say no way.  Surprisingly, they agreed and we began our search for our new fur babies.

We adopted Daisy and Gatsby from a shelter that rescued them shortly after they were born, on May 6.  We adopted them on August 14, and brought them home to live with us on August 18.  They have slowly been getting adjusted to their new home and to us.

They both love to play, so right now that is how we are getting them to come close and interact with us.  After a few days, I got out my camera and took a handful of photos of them playing with one of their toys.

This is Daisy...

And this is Gatsby...

This one just cracks me up...

Obviously, this isn't a playing photo, but I loved it and wanted to include it anyway.

Do you want to see my entire 2012-2013 Birthday Bucket List? You can find it here.  Or did you miss my 2011-2012 Birthday Bucket List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2013 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2012-2013 | Visit Some Place I've Never Been Before

#2 VISIT SOME PLACE I'VE NEVER BEEN BEFORE

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

I really enjoy traveling and experiencing new things. It's really as simple as that.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

It was more! I fell so head over heels in love with Prescott that I am already plotting how I might one day be able to own a small rustic cabin there for weekend getaways.

The details...

Kevin and I rented a cabin in Prescott, Arizona this past weekend to celebrate our anniversary. I've already blogged about it in a special Snippets + Snapshots addition here, so head on over to that post if you want to read more about it and see some photos from our relaxing trip.  But since I'm a bit OCD, I really needed to add this post to my Birthday Bucket List accomplishments for the year.

Do you want to see my entire 2012-2013 Birthday Bucket List? You can find it here.  Or did you miss my 2011-2012 Birthday Bucket List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2013 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2012-2013 | Buy a New Camera Body

#6 BUY A NEW CAMERA BODY

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

I didn't set out to become a photographer.  I just kind of fell into it after falling in love with taking portraits during a photography class.  When I decided to go pro, I immediately upgraded my lenses but continued to use my entry level camera body.  Since I had to pick where to put my pennies, I knew I would get the most bang for my buck if I upgraded my lenses first.

While that was definitely the best long term decision, it didn't come without frustrations about the limitations of my camera body over the past three years.  I've repeated it over and over but my current camera body has horrible image quality with a lot of noise at any ISO over 400.  It doesn't allow me to set Kelvin temperatures which makes it more of a challenge to get my white balance right in the camera.  It has way too few focus points, which has made it challenging to get my composition right in camera.  Instead I've learned to set up my shots so that I could crop them during editing.  It also has a crop sensor, which impacts the focal length function of my lenses.

All of the limitations of my camera have made things a bit more challenging for me and have needlessly added a lot of time to my editing process.  On one hand, those limitations have made me a better photographer.  It forced me to learn my equipment inside and out and to push the limits of what it can do, and it taught me to get creative in seeking out alternative ways to accomplish my goals for my images.  It has also made me better at photoshop.  Since there were things I wanted to do, but couldn't do, with my camera it forced me to learn how to do them while editing.  On the other hand, I feel that I have reached the limit of what I can do while using my current camera.  If I want to grow and expand my skills (and my business), it's time to bite the bullet and move into the big leagues with a professional grade camera body.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

Let's just say that I know it's going to be.  I've shot two sessions with my new camera, and WOW is all I can say.

Now, the experience of actually buying the new camera body.... that's another thing entirely.  But as they say, when you buy the best you only cry once.

The details...

I decided to go with the Canon 5D Mark III for a whole lot of reasons that I won't bore you with.  But the bottom line is that I felt like this camera would allow me to do everything I want and need to do now, and also allow for a lot of growing room in the future.  After living with so many limitations for so long, I wanted a camera body that wasn't going to deliver a repeat performance shortly after purchasing it.  I'm certain the Mark III will fit that bill perfectly.

Do you want to see my entire 2012-2013 Birthday Bucket List? You can find it here.  Or did you miss my 2011-2012 Birthday Bucket List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2013 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2012-2013 | Visit the Grand Canyon

#3 VISIT THE GRAND CANYON

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

Kevin had never been to the Grand Canyon and my last (and only) visit was about 25 years ago. I didn't want us to be those people who live in Arizona but have never taken the time to see it!

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

Absolutely! I really didn't remember much about seeing it the first time, so I think I was just as impressed with it as if it was my first visit. The pure size of it is astounding!

The details...

Kevin's brother and his brother's girlfriend came to visit us for a week, so we planned a little trip to show them Sedona and the Grand Canyon while they were in Arizona. We left early and drove through Sedona, toured the red rocks and had lunch before making our way to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. We stayed just outside of the park and spent our evening and part of the next day seeing various parts of the canyon before heading back to Phoenix.

I will admit that the temperatures in the higher elevations were a bit cold for me now that I am a fully adapted Phoenician, but other than freezing my fingers while taking tons of photos, everything about the trip was too amazing for words!

Here are some of the photos I took during our visit:

The first three images were taken during our late afternoon/evening visit, and the fourth one was taken just as the sun started to set.  While I don't like these first photographs as well as the more vivid ones further down (what a shock!) I decided to share them to show the huge contrast in the lighting and appearance of the canyon depending on the time of day...

The rest of these photos were taken the following morning/afternoon when the sun was out full force. This second set of images is my favorite because, as I'm sure you know by now, I heart bright, vivid colors in my photographs...

The last two photos are closer ups of the watchtower pictured above, which we climbed to get a bird's eye view of the canyon...

As you can probably tell, I was getting a kick out of playing with the trees that were along the edge of the canyon for framing my images. While I had a lot of fun experimenting, I have to admit that this trip definitely opened my eyes to the fact that I don't know a thing about landscape photography! Before my next trip I definitely need to see if I can pick up some pointers for how to improve my landscapes.

Do you want to see my entire 2012-2013 Birthday Bucket List? You can find it here.  Or did you miss my 2011-2012 Birthday Bucket List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2013 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC