Photo a Day in November: Week 1

Taking a photo a day is an item on my 12x12 list (and I think one of the few items i've actually gotten started on...)

Here's a set from November 1 - November 6. 

{new glasses . november1}

{makeuptrial&error . november2}

{missing my SD buddies . november 3}

{breakfast . november 4}

{cold&rainy yet warm&cheery . november 5}

{fall classic champions . november 6}

{reflections: }

The exercise of remembering to take a photo each day initially was because I wanted to challenge myself creatively - I have certain angles that are just automatic for me now and sometimes, that's when they stop being exciting. However, a second challenge cropped up and its actually far more significant than than just keeping a creative edge. As I start to wind down my day (and lose that precious natural sunlight that I often depend on for photographs) I start thinking "What is significant enough for me to take a picture of and post about? The naturally following thought is "What did God bless me with today? What do I have to be thankful for?" Even though I may not always feel like it, there is always an answer to that question - there is always something to be thankful for in each day and it is always something that I don't deserve. 

I was reading Psalm 104 on Saturday and it talks a lot about how God provides for his creation, whether its through providing shelter or food….all good things come from his hands. And likewise, enjoying things without acknowledging God as the source of goodness and grace is actually meaningless.

So I'm thankful that i was able to see that in real life over the weekend. A lot of times things happen and if i don't like it my first reaction is to question the goodness of God - but that's very opposite of who he is. He is a good God, and everything he does is good, whether or not i like it. I was thankful to Him for giving me the mindset of seeing his goodness in everything and building more trust in his truthfulness and as a LOVING heavenly father.When talking to a friend, I was reminded that everything is from Him, through Him, and to Him. For his glory forever {romans 11:36}

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;

   I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

May my meditation be pleasing to him,

   for I rejoice in the LORD.
{Psalm 104:33-34}

sparks fly.

After a longer than planned hiatus, I unexpectedly was inspired again.
I think it was just this week, but i'm not quite sure.
It just sparked something in my heart again.

And suddenly my hands are itching to go venture somewhere and shoot.
I have been wanting to keep awake all crazy hours of the night in order to craft. 

I'm excited. 

Oh yes, and visit my friend Moon, who makes things.
moonmakesstuff.wordpress.com

Soon enough you're going to see what we'll be making together. 

Good stuff. It is coming. 

Jane of All Trades {a reflection.}

Today, I was curious. I really wanted to know if anyone out there was reading this. Well aside from my best friend and my sister.

Surprised to find out that I have 73 subscribers. I'm assuming the number is more like 72, because most likely I'm #1. The reason I was so curious is because for the first time, I seriously considered pulling the plug on this blog. I've changed a lot since I started it in 2007 and the reason I was blogging have too. Somewhere in never-neverland, I think I believed that one day, I really could have a fullfledged photography business. I remember being so passionate about it when trying to convince my mom that leaving my full time job wasn't a bad move. She put her foot down and said that I didn't have to stay at my current job but I didn't have enough of anything (experience, money, business saavy) to run a business.

It's not a bad thing that she was right. I never did get to that point and even more surprisingly, I got past wanting to do photography 24/7. I realized how much I would miss out in the lives around me and how limited I would be in being available at church. 

Plus, other hobbies of mine were burgeoning.

I have a lot of hobbies.

Not quite sure how this happened, but I ended up doing Eileen's hair for Hanna and James's wedding. Well her and two other bridesmaids. Annnnnd many other bridesmaids over the past year.

I started experimenting with silk flowers and hair combs and then people started asking me to make them for fancy schmance hairpieces. You'll remember that season as my GreenTea & Ivy venture.

Then I got the amazing opportunity to work with REAL flowers and made a few bouquets for weddings. It's crazy. Waking up early, staying up super late. Toting buckets, worrying about temperature, wrapping and unwrapping...and I absolutely loved it.

Flowers from the Ko wedding.

Maria's bridesmaids bouquets

Maria's bouquet {photo credit: Cathie}

Alterpieces for Kev and Chels' wedding
(Totally yoinked this off Kev's facebook. Photocredit goes to Kiki Honda)

Kev's bout, Chel's bouquet and a snippet of what the bridesmaid's carried

{Photo credit: Kristin Chan}

I've done decorating for weddings. 

{Carol dared to dream and I just had to find a way to make her vision a reality. The results were PRECISE. Photo credit goes to her wedding photographer, Brandon Kidd.}

With the need to do my own makeup for a wedding over the summer, and a bit of encouragement and a lesson or two from the amazing Stephanie Yu, I started playing around with makeup. 

My gal pals allowed me the luxury of a makeup flurry while I did 4 of them before a fun photoshoot we did with Hannah Michelle. 

{photo credit: Hannah Michelle}

Kristin's wedding - I did my own make up! I was so proud. :) And I also did Sabrina's hair and make up. 

Then Karen asked me to do her makeup for her wedding.

Oh yes, and her four bridesmaids too. Whaaaat?

{Photo credit: Dan Baker}

I've enjoyed every moment of getting to use these hands to help other people in a myriad of ways.
And I don't know how to describe it, but somewhere along the way of flowers, lace, engagement shoots, hair combs and lipstick, photography stopped being fun. Other people seemed much more excited about learning and doing things with their cameras where as I felt chained down by having to carry mine with me. I would do sessions for people and they were fun...but I felt uneasy like I was going to let them down and not produce what they were hoping for. It felt like a lot of people were doing what I had dreamed of once doing, and much faster and better than I am. I would look at my shots and they...didn't feel special anymore. And I admit, blogging wasn't very fun because I had no idea if anyone was out there reading. {The proof is in the comments. :/}
I don't quite know what to do with that.

So, I'm still sorting things out. About once a day I think of the other directions this blog could go. And I can't believe I'm putting it out there. So for the 72 of you, Happenstance will still be around...and thanks for your patience with the lack of creativity. :)

A cup of Spring

Early in February, my OC pals {a.k.a. Liz's bridesmaids} had a request - enough greentea & ivy pieces to give away as favors at Liz's bridal shower! Considering the special opportunity to bless one of my long time friends, I took a deep breath and agreed - I'm sure I was a little on the crazy side of my brain for thinking I could put together 50+ unique clips and brooches (especially with mike & jen's wedding being right smack in the middle of it). However, thanks to my roommate, Sarah, we finished them all (as well watched an array of movies) in two weeks time! It was a wonderful opportunity to share the love - and I would do it again if I had the chance. :)

Jules also had a special request: purple & gold headbands for the bridesmaids.
Though initially it was a challenge to come up with something lovely yet matching the Lakers theme for their wedding, I was MORE THAN HAPPY to incorporate full love for my favorite team in a greentea & ivy project!

Something special for the bride - a big fluffy peony for Liz.

Some of the other pieces...about half were brooches and half were clips

I had a contest running for facebook fans this past week asking them what their favorite part of getting ready for a wedding was. Out of all the ladies that replied, Yuna Park is our winner. :) Congrats Yuna! Please send me either a facebook message or an email at courtlynn.photography@gmail.com with your address and indicate if you would like to receive a pair of ranuculus hair pins (red, gold, white or pink) or a white peony hair clip.

Lastly, as I mentioned... Happenstance has been lookin' just a little different around here - and that is thanks almost entirely to cathie hong! Ever since she started her new blog, Ampersandity, I have been won over by her craftiness on a daily basis... talk about a quick learner - she's a quickly budding calligrapher/graphic designer/stylist/photographer and I knew she was the perfect person to design the new logo I had in mind.

Her penmenship is gorgeous and easygoing...just a touch of whimsy. I'm hopefully those are
words can also describe courtlynn photo in due time as well. :)

Cathie is also up for other projects if you are interested in hiring her
(which I recommend...I would have her write everything for me, if I could :D)
Check our her blog for more details!

practice makes perfect

I'm just about caught up with posting most all of the projects on my plate from early winter, there should be no more 4-5 month delays in blogging!

But an idea that I've been challenged with recently is to shoot more for myself. Not being selfish, mind you, but being more intentional in shooting when I don't have to and allowing my creative to develop. With the heavy intake of blogs that I read daily, its so easy to get discouraged by how AWESOME everyone else seems to be and how wah-wah I am as a photographer. That's what I'm gonna try to do while I'm here in Tennessee...just practice thinking outside the box.

I did manage to have one day in the past months when I took some photos...just because I wanted to. I had a yummy brunch with two of my favorite sisters (jen & caro - you've been seeing a lot of them on this blog lately :D....because I love them) to celebrate caroline's birthday. I love Cafe 222 - if you're ever in SD, be sure to stop by! They give you free coffee while you wait for a table. :D

Made of teacups and spoons! I think i took about 10 shots of it.

BISCUITS AND GRAVY. Yum.

happy to be healthy

t's been a bit of a tough week at our house.
With two of our roommates being pretty ill (no surprise with the bug goin' round), we're all on the tired side. Becky and Joyce are tired from not feeling well and actually both are tired of having to sleep all day.

Becky is feel better today - a little more like herself and I know she's thankful.




and she reminded me again that we should be thankful to God that we have good health! She also reminded me that God was gracious to us - and what depraved lives we would live if God had not rescued us.



Indeed, we're happy for that.

Beauty in being broken

So....



A whole summer flew by with nothing but a smattering of updates from things that recently happened. In terms of blogging, I've realized that I have an average of posting pictures about 3-4 months after I've taken it. And its been 2-3 photos at a time.

Frankly, I was uninspired after returning from Cz. And a bit disgruntled. Wishing that I didn't take more pictures of J&P's wedding as well as C&S's wedding. They were both beautiful events. A bit regretful that I didn't take better care of my camera gear (I need to take my go-to lens to the shop. It works fine now, but it's definitely likely to be further damaged if I don't do i it soon). Grumbling that everything about photography was not coming easily to me. I was frustrated that I kept comparing my photos with seemingly everyone else. My camera sat in its bag for a good month and I had no desire to take it anywhere. Photography just wasn't that fun anymore.

I don't know if that's just a phase but one thing became very clear to me. I never wanted my identity to be primarily a photographer. My identity is in Christ. I'm still reconciling that and all the things that I've taken pride in and allowed my head and heart to puffed up with. The Lord has been reminding me though, that everything I have - money, time, and in this case talent or skills is to be used for his glory.... used to serve other people not not myself. And as he reminds me of the joy that comes from loving and serving him (through serving other people). So maybe I don't have fancy stuff. Maybe one day my eyesight will be gone completely. And maybe I won't be able to take photographs anymore. I think 4-5 months ago, that possibility would have devastated me. But for now, I have the opportunity to take pictures. And slowly, i've been picking up that camera more.

I know that's a lot of text for a photoblog. :) But I just wanted to share those thoughts as they pertain to my developoment in photography.