Pink + Poppy Still Life

Some outtakes from today’s shoot for my Fashioned Florals column over at Oh Joy this morning. Curious to hear your thoughts on the new layout. Yay, nay? The black background make its, in my opinion. I will be investing in some photographer-esque paper rolls, it appears.

More outtakes, and as many images as I could muster as those garden roses were on their last breath. So perfect, I almost couldn’t stand it.

I’m really into still life composition these days, which probably has part to do with my education [architects are always thinking about representation, the story, the flow or procession of space, things, life] and part to do with my desire to wish time still, just a moment. Sometimes the beauty of simple things are almost overwhelming to me, I just can’t quite believe my eyes, and just wish I could take it all in.

Anew

It’s a new year, with new goals. I think I’m a little late on everyone’s big posts this past week with their to-do lists, [or reduction of, which might be more pertinent around here] but I just had to wait until now.

We’ve been working madly away for the past two months to get this new website up and running — and she is here. [There will undoubtedly be some tweaks here and there, as I'm a nit-picker and am wont to do.] However, her bones are solid, and will hopefully host my work for more than a balmy 12 months, while leaning towards a very, very long time. The original website, while smart, simple, and to the point, eventually became a little too simple, and not the best vehicle to explain our work to a larger audience. Not to mention I think it’s much nicer to have everything under one roof. So! Ta da! Browse around, enjoy, and let me know if you see anything wonky.

Now—to the good stuff. The New Year. A New Start. I’ve got it simple this year, and it bears a striking resemblance to what I referred to here.

Details, Mattering

This weekend I had the absolute pleasure of finishig up our fall wedding season with a kind, generous, creative, and most unassuming couple ever. I loved these two. They made me want to deliver five times more than what we’d agreed upon. It reminded me why I get into a service-based industry, and why I have always, truly, been a people person. I love connecting with them, helping them make something happen that they’d only imagined of. And the groom’s response upon walking into Mercury Hall while we were all busy setting up was “Wow, oh wow, this looks incredible. Better than I ever imagined!”.

But that wasn’t the statement that really got me. At the end of the night, as we were all loading our wares back into our car, and I was congratulating this low-key, and delightful couple on quite the dance-packed reception, the groom repeated:

“You know, I didn’t really think the details matter, but they did. They made this night so special because they were so meaningful.”

And so, in response to the public debate on Jonas’ Peterson’s Mason Jar Manifesto I say: the personal, appropriate, humble details do, truly matter. They do. Pick the things that are important and reflective of your relationship, history, heritage, and family— those are bound to merely enhance an already magical day. The marriage is most important, but there are a lot of people, experiences, places who were critical in making everything up until that happen. Honor them, in these small ways, and honor yourselves.

Authenticity, I suppose, is at the heart of it all.

[Above: the elusive white clematis that I searched each coast for, and finally finagled some. Photo by The Nouveau Romantics.]

Three Points Ranch Prepping

Back in mid-October (oh hello November and your brisk winds and chilly mornings!) we were tasked with florals for a sweet wedding out in the Texas Hill Country at Three Points Ranch. While we’re waiting for the professional shots to come back, here are some outtakes from the studio. I still can’t get over the incredible quality of light in this new place, and something that I seriously marvel at every day.