Audio: Interview with David 3yrs old
August 26, 2011 Leave a comment
Audio: Once Upon a Time
August 26, 2011 11 Comments
Once upon a time I didn’t take photos. I didn’t even edit videos. What did I do with my creativity? -I miss understood it, I miss understood myself.
An old friend commented on my wedding post on facebook and said, “Too bad you didn’t take photos when I got married..” It got me thinking, “Wow, there was a time when I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life.”
This is the first photo on my flickr account. It’s of me in LA, back on page 287. When I see this photo, I see a girl who was at the beginning of her journey.
I write this post not to talk about me but to remind you that where you are now doesn’t mean you will be there forever. Life evolves and each year you discover something new about life and yourself. Today, you might be at the beginning of your journey. In a few years, that road will lead you somewhere you never thought possible. You have to choose to keep on moving forward. To listen to yourself when you say, “I love doing this, wish I could this for a living.”
I remember for years my family misunderstood me, therefore I misunderstood myself. So much of my identity came from them that I was allowing their opinion to shape me. “You’re weird Monica,” my older sisters used to say. They were teenagers then and I was an awkward 12 year old girl. I’m sure I was weird but looking back now I was just trying to figure out who I was and their comments were holding me back.
What helped me was when I discovered God made me creative for a reason. The more I hung out with Him, the more I began to understand myself. I found my image and identity in Him.
‘Once Upon A Time’ may be right now for you. That just means you are at the beginning of the story. Keep moving, even if you feel like you’re the only one pushing yourself.
Photos: Olivia & Ruben’s Wedding
August 25, 2011 Leave a comment
Olivia & Ruben’s Wedding
The past few weddings I’ve done have been video. I usually stand behind the photographer and follow their lead. This time I was the photographer. I had vowed to myself that I wouldn’t stress out, that I would keep my cool while shooting. I’m not sure how much I kept that vow but I do know being a photographer for a wedding isn’t easy. There are many things going on at the same time that need to be captured.
For one, I felt the nerves of the bride. Olivia at one point just stood steal in the back room and watched everyone in the room panic and get dress. To my surprise Olivia seemed to be camera shy.
Soon, everyone was ready and the time had come to finally say ‘I do’. Watching the expression of the groom when the bride comes down the aisle for the first time is one of my favorite parts in a wedding.
After the ceremony I took the wedding party outside the venue to get some group shots. We were lucky cause that morning it was raining pretty hard. It turned out to be a hot sunny day.
I finally was able to get Ruben and Olivia alone together. It was cool to see how much Ruben made Olivia smile. She may be shy with others but I could tell she could be herself around him.
Inside the venue everyone was waiting for the bride and groom. I began to sweat as I was feeling the pressure. I wish I would have had more time with the couple but their fans were waiting.
Even though the room was full of people I thought it was sweet how the couple went in to their own world. They were whispering to each other and laughing. Lord only knows what was being said haha.
One thing I know is that Olivia and Ruben are indeed perfect for each other.
They lived happily ever after, cause they worked hard at it. 
Photos: Summer Camp
August 18, 2011 3 Comments
This weekend I went to summer camp.
As a photographer I am hired to be a spectator. I stand back, see a moment and document it. Little did I know what I was getting in to. One of my twitter friends asked if I would shoot Cottonwood’s youth camp. The last time I went to summer camp was when I was seventeen. I remember that week impacting my life dramatically. It was there, I made up my mind that I would serve God no matter what happened in my life. Since then my summer camp friends and I have chosen very different paths and I’ve become a busy adult.
This weekend I heard a new generation cry out to God.
There would be times when I would take a photo of a group of friends and think to myself, “They have no idea how beautiful they are.” The hope of life was seen in their eyes. You may think I’m being over dramatic but I haven’t hung around teenagers since I was one.
As I was in line for dinner I suddenly remembered my youth days. The hope, the dreams, the mystery, the excitement. I closed my eyes and took it in. I could hear young girls behind me talking about their day, laughing and joking with one another.
After I got my food I was suddenly in high school again, “Which table should I sit at?” I laughed to myself at this thought. I saw some of the young production guys (where I am always welcomed) and ate with them. We laughed and talked about video ideas.
My friend had arranged a special room for me.. or so I thought. I ended up sleeping in one of the cabins with some of the girls. They were up talking all night. haha.. I soon found myself at Summer Camp. I was eating, sleeping, getting dressed, and worshiping with these kids. My photos began to change.. and I was now apart of summer camp. No longer was I a spectator.
In the evening we had a worship service. I was snapping photos but then.. I couldn’t help but.. I turned on my video. The sound of young kids worshiping their Creator could be heard for miles..
At one point I put my camera down, closed my eyes and sang with them. The message that was preached talked about stop comparing ourselves with everyone. As a creative person, I do this all day. He said, “Walk the road God has graced you with.”
Anyone who goes to summer camp is never the same. God has their full attention and He never fails to speak in to their lives. I hope when they see these photos they are reminded what God did in their hearts..they would remember the prayers they prayed. Cottonwood’s youth is pretty awesome. It was great to be apart of the family for a few days. I know I came back impacted. 
Video Editing with FCPX & God
August 17, 2011 Leave a comment
My twitter friend from Australia shared a video with me about the new updated editing software FCPX.
As I watched the demo and listened to this editor explain the new software, I became excited at the new program and was no longer concern with what everyone else was saying about it.
I was now forming my own opinion.
This made me think of how people react to God. (Yes Im making this deep, haha) There are misconceptions about Him. We’ve listened to others opinions, never really checking Him out our self. A change in life style (or editing software) would mean we will have to break old habits, learn how to do things, and forget our old ways. Some complain that living for God means the party of life is over but in fact so much life is found in Him. Editors were so busy listening to what the software couldn’t do that we didn’t listen to what it can do.
And that concludes this editing devotion haha Here is the video to check out yourself. What do you think about fcpx? or better yet.. What do you think about God?
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Ive been a video editor since 2002 and a photographer since 2009.
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