Somehow I’ve plowed right through my 20′s and ended up on the other side a 30 year old! As I approached this change in my life, I can definitely say I had some mixed feelings… some remorse for no longer being a young 20-something-year-old and some undefineable new confidence and maturity I hadn’t expected from this milestone.

Like any time I’ve rolled over the decade odomoeter, I can definitely say it’s caused some reflection and thought… and I’ve come to the following conclusion:

I was really uncertain of who I was, what I liked and what I wanted to do with my life when I turned 20 and my 20′s turned out to be an incredible decade for me. I married the love of my life, I realized my passions and established my business… in a nutshell, I learned who I am and where I want to be. If I could enter such an incredible decade so incredibly uncertain, it stands to reason my 30′s will be that much better given how much more I know about myself now!

To celebrate my 30 years on this earth I’d like to make the following resolutions for 2012:

make more time for the people I love in my life
learn how to make sushi at home
plan and grow my best vegetable garden yet
take more personal photos
make more home preserves than last year
become a better seamstress
master bread-making
laugh till I cry more often
ride my bike a LOT
finally learn to swim (I know, I know… it’s been a long time coming!)
wear dresses a lot more often
plan a trip somewhere totally crazy
knit and crochet a lot more
add to my vintage camera collection and take more time to play with film
go horse back riding at least once (I love horses)

I have a couple more resolutions, but they need to be kept under wraps until I know for certain they’ll pan out… will keep you updated on those!

So… farewell 20′s and bring it on 30′s! Let’s see what you’ve got for me!

{ amber }

]]> http://blog.amberhughes.ca/2012/01/10/im-30/feed/ 3 http://blog.amberhughes.ca/2011/03/18/wppi-2011/ http://blog.amberhughes.ca/2011/03/18/wppi-2011/#comments Sat, 19 Mar 2011 02:52:49 +0000 Amber http://blog.amberhughes.ca/?p=6737 Last month I headed down to Las Vegas to attend the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International annual tradeshow and convention. I had only been once before and for me this trip was a huge deal – not only was I going to to WPPI agan, it was also my first trip completely solo. I was nervous and excited for week before I went I could hardly stand myself!

While I was down there I had the chance to get together with an amazing group of photographers I know from an online forum. Some of them I’ve been chatting with for years but had never had the chance to meet them in person before. We had an amazing time getting to know each other and ended up heading out to the desert a couple of times for random photo sessions. It was nothing formal, but completely magical…

Below are some of the shots I took during our time together… the first shoot is in the middle of a dry lake bed just outside of Las Vegas, and the second portion is from a slightly staged but totally awesome ghost town.

I hope you enjoy

{ amber }

See you on the other side!
{amber}

{ amber }

I’m unsure how much access we’ll have to the internet, but will try to reply to emails whenever I get the chance! See you when I get back!

{ amber }

I was expecting to be impressed but even my far fetched ideas on how this lens performs were blown away. I’m seriously digging it so far! Tack sharp, amazing AF and beautiful bokeh… the things lens crushes are made of!

No one at my house was interested in having their photo taken, so here’s a shot of my ever faithful cat Pepper:

Looking forward to getting to know this lens better over the coming months! Yep, that’s right… it’s as good as bought! ;D

{ amber }

Happy Holidays everybody!

{ amber }

Are you a past, present or future client of mine? If so, I would love to be your friend on Facebook!

I think it’s a great place to keep in touch with each other… and I make a point of tagging all my clients in their photos so their friends can see them too.

Here’s where I am if you’re interested!:

http://www.facebook.com/amber.nashira.hughes/

See you there!

{ amber }

“Amber… Mum’s in emergency. She’s been there all afternoon…”

Life as I knew it changed in that moment. As I walked to the hospital I was admittedly scared, but had little idea of what I was actually facing. That evening I almost lost my Mother to a previously unforeseen disease…. and I realized how quickly everything you have can be taken away.

I left the hospital that night not knowing if I would see my Mum in the morning and to my horror I realized I hadn’t taken any photos of her (or the rest of my family) in what felt like eons. What would I do if I had lost my chance? How would I remember and treasure the face that had so often smiled into my own?

So it started… my personal project to photograph my family and those I love as often as possible. Life is so fast paced, sometimes it’s hard to remember how quickly things can change. I love my family very much and in my own way the photos I’ve taken since then are a tribute to that love and bond we share.

… or it would be, if there wasn’t one glaring exception. My Nana… She just won’t be photographed!

At 88 she’s often not feeling up to having me over for lunch, which she always insists on preparing for me no matter what. When I bring my camera along she almost always puts up a protest and says “Oh no… you don’t want a photo of an old woman like me!”. Let me tell you… even if I take a couple photos she decides it’s over about 3 shots in. “That’s enough Amber!” she’ll say, tossing her hands up in the air in protest.

When she called to invite me for lunch the other month I told her I would be delighted to come, provided she let me bring my camera for some photos. To my surprise she didn’t fight me and I’m so glad she didn’t! I don’t know how much time I really have with my Nana left and I love her more than words could possibly say.

*  *  *  *

I bought her the pashmina she’s wearing. She’s smelt like tea roses my entire life… it’s her signature scent… so when I saw the pattern on it covered with large roses I knew it was meant to be hers.

Her hands… I have so many memories of them. Brushing my hair, holding my hand, shaking a finger at me when I’m bad… her hands have always been there for me.

I love you Nana. You’re beautiful even if you won’t believe me when I tell you.

She’s had this mirror for time immeasurable. I used to love sitting in the matching chair while she did my hair… I felt like a princess looking at myself in it.

Yes, that’s me on the right. Yes, you can laugh…

Me and my Nana

I love her more than I could ever express. She’s my only living grandparent left and I treasure every moment I get with her.

Her beautiful laugh, her wonderful singing voice, the way she smiles at me, the fact that no matter how old I get she insists on giving me an allowance if I come to visit…  all of these things are a part of who I am.

I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t hear her beautiful voice on the phone… she’s just too special to me. I love you Nana… forever and always.

{ amber }