The Gift

Back in my grueling-but-fun advertising agency days the tide of work would ebb and flow drastically. Sometimes we'd work 80 hour weeks, travel extensively, chase deadlines and produce mountains of work. Other times we had what we labeled 'the gift'. These were spells of time that would last a week, maybe two or three, where work was ongoing but seemed like breaks or 'gifts' of time made so much sweeter having just come through the grind. We would take long lunches, re-acquaint with our spouses, do stuff around our homes and still produce at work, but we could just kind of... coast.

January, for many, is a gift. Only three days in and I am a happy camper. In November and December, we shot tens of thousands of images. I photographed several beautiful wintry weddings (one was in Jamaica...oooh), three editorial assignments for Virginia Living and countless portrait sessions. Holiday orders and appointments for bookings next year filled the spare moments. The desktop digital Mount Everest was largely conquered by my awesome assistant Jamie while I was out shooting and adding to the pile. I loved it, thrived on it, and now, the gift! Yahoooo!

SO this month will be about catching up. Work continues, but in addition I will enjoy family, home, exercise, and a fun trip to L.A. with the girls. More on that later.

Following are a few pieces in the latest and greatest Jan/Feb 2008 Virginia Living magazine. Cary and Pierce's wedding was fun and gorgeous, and it was such a treat to work with them. The food was delicious, and I am now a fruitcake convert. That creation was divine!!! But I confess, I was a wee bit surprised to find the chili was deer (ok, venison) meat when I read the actual article loooong after eating it for dinner that night.... which explained the slightly different texture.