French cousin: We don’t say “adieu.” That’s bizarre. It implies that you’ll never see that person again in your life.
Me: Really??? But they say it in Sound of Music!
French cousin: No. *shakes head* It’s a bit rude.
Me: But…Sound of Music…

So I suppose, and hope, that this isn’t adieu for us and Breckenridge. Because we do hope that we come back in future seasons, although none will be quite as extended as what we’ve managed to do in the past year. And in honor of the past few months, here are a few of my favorite photos from this season.

Tomorrow we head off for Colorado Springs and Pike National Forest, starting a two-week road trip back to LA. Will we stay in LA, you ask? Ummm, not completely sure yet. Yes, we still don’t know where we’ll be living in a month. But let it be known that we will be forced to make a hard and fast decision…soon.

1. I’ve been taught to be scared of strangers.
2. It’s a major time suck, and I don’t need any help in finding distractions.
3. I’m not cool enough.

1. I’m scared of strangers. As a kid, I was taught not to talk to strangers. They’re bad. They want to poison you with their candy. They want to kidnap you. It’s ingrained in my brain and it’s just carried over into my online behavior.

Facebook doesn’t scare me because I’ve limited it to people I know. But Twitter, Pinterest – those are the ones that frighten me a bit. I tried to stay off Pinterest for a very long time, but finally broke down when I decided to put together a board for website design inspiration. I really only meant for it to be just for me, but then people started repinning my pins. What was this? People were repinning my pins, liking my pins, following me…and I didn’t know a single one of these people. I got an email like this from Pinterest. This ended in 43 repins – it’s really not a lot, but for someone who expected/wanted nothing, it seemed like the world. Commence freak out.

Yes, this is the point of a social network. I’m getting used to it, and while I still do a little freak out when I see strangers following me on Twitter (not that there are many) or repinning my pins, I understand why it’s happening and how it can benefit my business.

2. It’s a time suck. Part of the reason I was trying to stay off Pinterest and Twitter was because the last thing I needed was another distraction. It turns out Twitter isn’t so bad for me, but Pinterest? So. many. pretty. pictures. It’s almost like sensory overload. So I imposed restrictions on myself. At most, I’m allowed two pins a day, but mostly I keep it to one. And I’m not allowed to spend more than 30 minutes a day playing on Pinterest.

3. I’m not cool enough. Really, I’m not. I’m not one of those trendy people who know about things before they’ve even happened. I’m not on the forefront of anything. I didn’t even join Facebook until 2007. So when I see all of the “cool” stuff that’s getting posted? I think, I can’t do that. Everyone would just ignore me! And what’s funny is, I kind of do get a bit ignored on Facebook, where all of my friends are. Probably because it’s just too big now and I feel like less people are actively using it (or so I tell myself). But on something like Pinterest, where I hardly know anyone, people are incredibly active.

So yes, social media scares me, but I’m starting to come to terms with it. It’s making me change the way I use the Internet, making me a bit more engaged, getting out of my comfort zone – and I can’t say that’s a bad thing.

And because everything is better with a photo, here’s one from a recent trip into Denver. Happy Friday!

Mary and Mark met while working in the Bay Area but relocated out to Breckenridge for a more relaxed lifestyle. They’re the proud owners of Summit Mountain Rentals. If you ever plan a trip out to Breck, you should definitely look them up – they take great care of their clients. Really, I should know – I’m one of them! And suddenly…I feel like the Rogaine guy.

Anyways, back to our photo session. We had a fun and chilly afternoon of shooting around Main Street. Mary and Mark have been married for nearly 15 years and it’s reflected the comfort that they have with one another. I can only hope that after 15 years of marriage, Edwin and I still have their kind of passion for travel, eating, and laughing.

Did you happen to catch those two little ones in the photo above? If not, here they are for a full family photo. That’s Bella (on the left) and Buddha.

Apparently, I am quite entertaining for my clients.

What I imagine to be a very typical scene from the life of Mary and Mark.

Mary & Mark – thanks again for such a fun afternoon!

1. Light.
2. With a nice bag to transport my equipment.
3. With a ghetto bag for everyday use.

This probably won’t work for everyone, but it’s just what works for me.

1.  I travel light. Yes, I would love to have just the right lens for every situation. But I’m 5’4″ (I recently discovered I’m really only like 5′ 3.75″ – rather traumatizing) and I don’t have all that much in the way of upper body strength. So this is what I carry.

That’s a Canon 5D MII, 50mm/f1.4, 24-70mm/f2.8L, and a 13″ MacBook Air.  I also have a small hard drive, various CF cards, cleaning pen, a blower, extra batteries, battery chargers, and my laptop power cord.  All the small items I put into a pouch that came with a LeSportSac bag I once purchased.

I would say that during my travels, I used the 24-70mm 80% of the time.  It has an extremely versatile range and was the best option for me when visiting a wide range of locations. Once I was more familiar with a location or felt like I had the wide shots I wanted, I would start using the 50mm.  It’s actually my preferred lens – it’s crisp, light, and yields a beautiful bokeh.  But to keep things light, I would choose one or the other, picking one before heading out for the day and making do.

2.  I bought myself a new bag for the sole purpose of transporting my gear.  Yes, it’s fancy.  Yes, it was expensive.  And yes, it was painful to purchase.  With my buyer’s remorse affliction, I’m surprised I didn’t return it.    But it was the only bag that fit my needs and I couldn’t find anything else I liked better.  I figured it was better to shell out the cash on something I would keep forever instead of spending it on something I’d want to replace eventually.

Here it is, photo taken from the Crumpler website.

This is the Crumpler Local Identity backpack in large.  I knew I wanted a low-key backpack that didn’t scream, “Expensive photo equipment in here – please jump me!”  It has a sleeve for my laptop, a removable camera pouch that is easily accessible via side zippers, and a large open space above the camera pouch for my accessories.  Perfect.

3.  I have a ghetto bag that I use to carry my camera around while sight-seeing.  This bag didn’t start out being ghetto.  I actually bought it in 2009 during a trip to Hong Kong.  But with all the use it’s gotten, it’s become faded and a bit torn up, making it perfect for hiding an expensive piece of equipment.  It consists of one giant, zippered pocket, with a small zippered pocket on the outside of the bag.  I empty everything out of the large pocket so that it is only holding my camera, allowing for easy access.  Everything else goes in the small outside pocket.  No, the bag isn’t padded, but I don’t go around plopping it down on any hard surfaces.  In the end, depending on how touristy the area is, I usually just walk around with my camera out anyways.  It’s only in the bag if I know I’m not shooting for a while or I don’t feel safe.

And really, that’s it.  The only other piece of equipment I hemmed and hawed over was a tripod.  We didn’t take our main Manfrotto one because it was too heavy, and the only time I regretted that was while we were in Cambodia at Angkor Wat at sunrise.  Then I could have fit in with all the guys who got front row seats.

So before heading to New Zealand, where I knew I would likely find myself wanting a tripod, we purchased a lighter Manfrotto tripod that fits in our luggage.  We now take it with us everywhere.  And by we, I mean my husband.  He carries it whenever we take it out.  Oh, and that leads me to #4.

4.  I have a husband.  Who carries everything else I can’t carry.  Here he is with our main tripod strapped to his snowboarding backpack. Thanks, honey!  [I don't ever call him that.  But it seemed appropriate here.]

Hope everyone is having a happy Friday!

On a perfect Santa Barbara day, MJ and Leon exchanged vows filled with laughter and smiles. With the sand squishing through their toes, they shared their joy and happiness with friends and family who laughed and smiled right along with them.

Here they are getting ready for the big day. MJ has become quite the arts and crafts guru while planning her wedding. She made all her own jewelry, plus that of her bridesmaids. By the way, her bridesmaids? Amazing. They took care of her like superstars.

MJ and Leon opted to see each other before the wedding ceremony, something that’s often referred to as the “first look.” I’m happy they did, because it allowed us to take advantage of Santa Barbara’s beautiful scenery and gave them more time to spend with friends and family after the ceremony.

The only comment Leon could make when he first saw MJ? “That’s my wife!” I think she stunned him with her gorgeousness, because that’s exactly what she was. Stunning.

I have to say, having a wedding on a public beach when the weather is perfect for sunbathing presents some…challenges. Most people were really forgiving when we asked them to move out of our line of sight, so we did our best!

Congratulations again, MJ and Leon! Many, many thanks for letting me and Edwin be a part of your special day – I hope we did you guys justice.

A big thank you to Kyle Wai Lin for his slick work on the new logo.  If you guys are looking for a graphic designer, check him out.  Not only is he good at what he does, but he’s just a genuinely nice guy.

And of course, thank you to my husband, who has put countless hours into customizing this site to make it look just the way I asked.

So some of you are probably wondering, why Endpin Photo?  Well, an endpin is the end piece you see on cellos and double basses.  It’s the piece of metal that extends from the bottom of the instrument that adjusts its height and balances it on the ground.  Ask any cellist and they’ll tell you how picky they are about adjusting the length of the endpin or what they use to prevent it from slipping on the ground.  Sometimes it can be a whole ordeal.

Yes, I grew up playing the cello.  It was a huge part of my identity up into college.  While I’m sad to say that it’s been much too long since the last time I played, it is something that I often think about.  It taught me discipline, determination, frustration, joy and accomplishment.  It showed me how to be an individual, as well as how to be part of a larger group working to create something beautiful.  I expect, and hope, that Endpin Photo brings me many of the same things (although I could do without the frustration!) and, above all, becomes a new way to create.  A way to create memories, relationships and emotion.

So please peruse the website and portfolios.  I hope you enjoy and find something interesting.  And if you do, here’s hoping that we can create something together.

* Brooklyn Industries.  Brooklyn, NY.

That’s what Jack told Edwin as he was cleaning up the kitchen after breakfast. Mona couldn’t help but notice Edwin’s cleaning and giving Jack pointed looks. I laughed at her antics and told her she could expect that after 12 years of being together. Oh, the things we have to look forward too.

But really Jack – you could never look bad. Not with the way you look at Mona, or with the way she looks at you. And I have the photos to prove it.

Mona and Jack asked if it was possible to do an engagement session while they were visiting us in Breckenridge. Why, yes please! While I’ve been taking shots of the town all winter, I was excited to put a beautiful couple in some of these gorgeous locations.

It was so cold just days before Mona and Jack’s visit that if the weather had continued like that, we wouldn’t have been able to shoot outdoors for very long. But we got lucky – a warm, sunny day for some amazing scenic shots.

Here’s Mona and Jack looking anything but bad.

We hopped inside a local used bookstore for a few indoor photos. Amazing place to shoot! Many thanks to Justin of Ole Man Berkins!

This photo? This is just gorgeous. Go Jack.

Mona, my camera loves you. Really. It says you are welcome back at any time.

This is what happens when you ask Jack if he can give Mona a piggy back ride. Yeah, I think maybe it needs some work.

One of Mona and Jack’s friends said this photo looks like it’s out of a Korean drama. Love!

With most photo shoots, couples can feel a bit awkward in front of the camera at first, but usually loosen up as the shoot continues. I might even venture to say that some couples get silly – like here, when Jack went for a peek inside Mona’s jacket. Why yes, it’s just a purple turtleneck under there – nothing to see folks! But Mona’s reaction was priceless.

This? This is romance.

Haven’t had your fill of Mona and Jack? Check out the slideshow below for more of their engagement session!

It took him a while to warm up to my camera, and even longer to give it some love.

Andy just turned two last month, but some of these expressions are just way beyond his years.

Look at this gorgeous smile. And the size of those chompers!

Andy’s sweet little brother, Aiden.

And the beautiful family.

Stephanie and Dave – Thank you for a fantastic afternoon and for all your hard work getting these little ones to pose for the camera. It’s not an easy thing to get these guys to sit still for a family portrait!

This little boy is so sweet and is such a happy baby. When I walked in the front door of their apartment, he stared at me, gave me a big, flirty smile, and then proceeded to drool. I was charmed.

This is how Alipio kisses. I hope he didn’t learn that from his papa.

And he’s so satisfied with himself afterwards!

Wenny and Todd welcomed these funny munchkins to the world about six months ago. Yes, they’re twins. And they’re an endless source of entertainment. I know this, not because of the photo shoot, but because Wenny is great at updating her Facebook status with their latest shenanigans. Let’s check what it says right now:

Ordering makeup, huh? Well, they shouldn’t be wasting their money, because I think they look just flawless.

This is Ella. She is quite dainty.

And this is Maddie. She’s quite goofy.

You would never guess that just seconds before, she was doing this.

The Katzentungs!

Just look at that sisterly love.

Wenny and Todd – It was great catching up and finally getting to meet Ella and Maddie. Thank you so much for letting me into your home and document these little drool machines – I hope I was able to do them justice!