New Favorite Quote!

"If I interrupt my impulses in the crucial moments, by the reminders of my goals, my chances of success increase greatly!"

Kyle shared this quote with me in the exact moment that I needed it.  I love the perfect way that he strengthens, encourages and helps me feel better when I lose a little bit of the perspective that I need.  Lately I have been feeling like I won't enjoy life until I am done with school, but I don't want to be one of those people that doesn't enjoy the journey and regrets the moments not lived when I had the chance.  What is the point of saving all our money if we never use it for the memories we wanted to make in the first place?  We are trying so hard to do things the right way, but will it pay off? Will it be worth it?  Or will we end up just as happy as the people who never had to try as hard?  But then we shouldn't be comparing ourselves to anyone else because life is never fair.  Some things just come easier to others at times and we each have our own obstacles.  I love that Kyle and I are debt free, even though it means I can't justify buying myself new clothes, going out to eat all the time or having a smart phone.  I love the chance I had to live in Hawaii, go on a mission and help Kyle get through school even though it means that I'm not graduated yet and don't have time to even make Kyle dinner at night or start a family.  I am not impulsive and that is why I am reaching my goals.  I am powering through and I know that I am learning everything I need right now to be the mother I always wanted to be in the future.  I am happy now and I know I will be just as happy in the future and into eternity.  I have the hope of the gospel, my best friend at my side and the determination to do things the right way to reach my goals.  Life doesn't always go as we plan, but as long as we are living in the boundaries of God's plan then we will be happy where ever He directs our life to go.

Celebrating Valentine's

 This year I received my very first Valentine's flower bouquet! Kyle had it delivered to me while I was at work this year :) What a sweetheart.

Twice he sent me gorgeous flower bouquets while I was living in Hawaii, but the second time I wasn't even there to see it.  I had flown home early to surprise him when he got home from Europe!

For Kyle, I did a traditional string maze for him to find his gift!  My mom used to do these for us every Valentine's Day when we were kids so we could find our Valentines treat.

That night we stayed in, ordered Chinese food and watched the Notebook together, since I had to be up super early the next day to do a session at the Brigham City Temple with my family!

I love Kyle so much! We have the best marriage.  Sure we tease each other, but we are always laughing together.  We really would rather be with nobody else except each other.  When we are home we are always in the same room, enjoying being with one another.

I love knowing that we get to be together forever.

Moments of Truth

I am so excited about my new work station!

Thank you Kyle and those of you that gave us Christmas money for our new computer!

I have had my lap top since 2006 and there hasn't even been a battery in it since I got home from my mission.  It was definitely time for an upgrade!

I have been so busy this semester, taking 4 studio classes (which I was advised not to do, but did anyway!  I need to finish school!)  Next week I apply for the BFA program and it will be the moment of truth for me!  I am terrified.
I do however, have a real website now as a result of the application process.  It's slowly been coming together, so if you want to see it:
amberlynnliddiard.com
All we use in one of my classes is the 4x5 camera.  It's a real adventure learning to use them too!  It's not like making prints in the darkroom with the red light on.  This is loading film holders and developing the sheet film in COMPLETE darkness! Scary!
I have been learning about Ansel Adam's zone system, reciprocity, bellows extension, ISO, development times and temperatures, filter factors, paper grades and film types, actual dodging and burning, toning etc…
Not to mention the things I have had to learn for all my other classes like all the elements of art, elements of design, history of photography, art history, color management, color space and color theory, white balance, lighting (and not just natural lights, this is soft boxes, beauty dishes, ring lights, strip lights, key lights, rake lights etc…) I am learning about posing, editing, working with models, RAW vs. JPG, print quality, mounting and building a business plan.  There are a million things to think about!
Then what do you do with it? Portraits, fine art, commercial photography, photo journalism or documentary?  Possibilities are endless!

My professors tell us repeatedly,

"Owning a camera doesn't make you a photographer any more than owning a piano makes you a pianist"

That would be nice though, given the 15 years my parents have had a piano in their front room.

There is so much knowledge and technique that goes in to the real art of photography and understanding what makes a good photograph.  I hope when all is said and done that I can have the courage, vision and ability as some of the photographers that inspire me, like Steve McCurry, Mark Mabry and Erin Summerill.  Will I ever get there?

Next moment of truth coming my way are the results of the EEG test I had done this morning.  I was allowed to sleep from midnight-4am then went to take the test.  I am pretty sure it was toothpaste that they put in my hair to get the 24 electrodes to stick to my head.

Didn't have time to shower, went to work then to school and here I am with gooey helmet hair!

I would love to not have another seizure, what kind of wedding photographer would I be if there was a chance I'd have a seizure in the middle of it?! I wouldn't.

Either I will find out something I don't want to know or find out nothing and be just as frustrated...

Whatever happens, happens I guess.

Happy Day was that I took Stephanie to the circus and we got to ride an elephant AND I touched his prickly bum :)