Quote
This quote speaks to me, every time I pick up my camera and look through my lens, I know the history of all the images I have viewed, everything that has ever inspired me and influenced me is captured. This brain of mine has years and years of information stored, memories cataloged, and my own personal itunes library there as well.
Do your life experiences creep into your profession and influence your work?
Photographer Gigi
Happy Wednesday!
Xoxo,
GIGI
Quote
I think this is a “James Brown” quote–
10 days is a long time to be away from your routine. This quote applies to me in so many ways- I’m feeling so frazzled right now, this is when I know I am all of my 55 years, a couple of all nighters and I am done.
Moving on, my son is back in school, I’ll be back to work on Friday, Reggie went back today and I have a couple of days to get my home back together, the animals settled and take advantage of the last days of summer.
Reggie and a classmate
Reggie’s dorm room
I decided I really want to put together some time saving steps in place so that I don’t return from vacation feeling as though I need another one. Simple things like keeping a makeup/toiletry bag ready to go, workout stuff ready, just try and be a little bit more organized. I have a few more trips planned before the end of the year, NYC, Salt Lake City, Chicago and Palm Desert, so if I discover some magical tricks I’ll certainly share them.
kitty menage se troi
Tiny with his new cut
Happy Mid-day Tuesday…
xoxo,
Gigi
Gigi
QUOTE
At 55 years young I have finally learned this. I purpose to live each day to its fullest, staying in the moment. I can’t worry about the what “I shoulda coulda woulda done”…I apply this to all areas of my life, it is so easy to get caught up in the past. Are there things I would of done differently? Probably…but I can’t worry about that…If I would have started my photography career earlier, I doubt if I would have a business focusing exclusively on women. Everything happens for a reason.
Photographer Gigi
My son will be a senior this year and we are working on the dreaded college search application process, I am just exhaling on this journey, not focusing on why his GPA is not higher, or SAT score stronger, I know I have a good kid and there are colleges that would love to have him.
Little Reggie
I find joy in the simple things like my garden, and being an active observer throughout my day always having the flexibility to stop for a moment and “see” something that I could have easily missed. The beauty of being my age is you are reminded frequently about how delicate life is, hence more the reason to focus on what in happening NOW.
Gigi breaking the speed limit-55
As James Brown said- “I don’t care, about your past, I just want, our love to last”.
Happy Wednesday!
Xoxo,
GIGI
quote
This took me a long time to learn and receive. Rejection whether professional, from a friend, a club, a lover, a client, or any type of relationship can be painful, at the time it is difficult to be open to see what is “around the corner”. I believe that some things or persons are only meant to be in your life for a season, and you have to be able to accept the good and know that these situations contribute to making you the person you are today.
As I reflect on my own life experiences I certainly have had my ration of rejection, everything from the boyfriend that I thought the world revolved around to the weird “job” that was going nowhere. I had so many weird jobs, even got fired from a couple, that I knew early on that I had to work for myself. I have had friendships that ended, but after the pain of the perceived loss was gone, I could focus on all the good that came from the relationship and how I am “me’ because of bits and pieces that I gained or learned.
My daughter Amani, is working on becoming an applicant for medical school, I am constantly telling her to be open to all possibilities, don’t focus on “if I don’t get in”…Reggie will be a senior and I am telling him the same thing, you can only go to one college so you really only need one acceptance and that you will get. For me and my business if everyone wanted me to photograph them I would not have the time, I shoot an average of one client per week, which if I worked every week, which I don’t, that would be about 50 people, so with that limited number, I don’t worry about why is that person not booking a session with me…which allows me to really focus on each client and really get to know them and give them a special unique experience, instead of a “formula” shoot.
So my friends embrace your day including any rejection you may have and know something better is waiting for you!
XOXO, GIGI
Gigi
Quote
I came across this Maya Angelou quote and thought long and hard about what it meant to me and my life. Yes. Let the truth be told , I was being “reduced” by things that were happening to me. For one I had abandoned my blog, which I love and miss dearly. I had let a host of interferences take over, succumbing to various interruptions. So this evening after everything was quiet, I picked up my pen again.
I’m at an age where all of a sudden I am surrounded by devastating diseases attacking loved ones, numerous deaths, sprinkled with untimely divorces, complicated family dynamics, and a 17 year-old son navigating the college search, all of which were chipping away at me little by little. I stopped and exhaled and decided to take control and reclaim myself and the bits of me that were disappearing, like my blog.
One thing I learned during my hiatus is that life is precious and each day should be cherished. Take care of your physical, mental and spiritual self and surround yourself with those who love and support you. Learn to say “no” to sh– you really don’t want to do. Make time for self, nourish and exercise your body daily, this is how I maintain my sanity.
So let me update you to a little of what I have been doing.
What I’m reading: AMERICANAH by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie-loving it!
Americanah
What I’m excited about: Lupita on the cover of Vogue
Lupita
What I’m watching: my guilty pleasure
orange is the new black
Latest Movie: Chef–Loved it!
What I want to see: Yves Saint Laurent – yes I’m a closet fashionista
Last thing I bought: Lanvin high tops for Amani – of course a steal at the outlet
Lanvin High Top
What I’m enjoying: My first veggie garden- I planted tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, arugula, collards, basil and melons.
my garden
What I’m listening to: Janelle Monae
And my new love Sam Smith
My Work PS Couture:
PS Couture
We have photographed over 50 women this year! I will be posting some of my shoots here very soon.
And lastly I’m happy to be back…
Gigi
XOXO, GIGI
Quote
Love this quote…no matter what is going on, I always think about, something good is going to come.
Happy Wednesday.
Xoxo,
Gigi
Quote
I came across this quote and thought about how everyday could be the “beginning of anything you want”. Most of us end the year reflecting about the previous 12 months and then start the new year off with a host of resolutions, you know the usual suspects, exercise program, lose weight, eat better etc. and then come February, March the backsliding begins.
2014 will be a busy year for me, I’ll be celebrating 25 years of marriage in some manner, my son will be returning from Italy, starting his senior year, and the college application process. My business is starting the year with 3 sold out events, most of my waking moments are spent planning all the details I’m so excited, and of course I will be posting all the details here. On a lesser note, I will be on an emotional roller coaster, being the rock for a family member who is about to embark on the biggest battle of their life. With all of that going on, I still plan to post my musings here, inspired by things that bring me joy, things that inspire me, things that put a smile on my face in even the darkest moments.
gigi’s Black eyed peas
Today I made black eyed peas, a New Year tradition that is said to bring good luck. I modify a recipe from Samuelsson Marcus that I love, it is african/indian inspired preparation and if you like spice, it is simply delicious. All I do is saute in olive oil instead of butter, use veggie stock instead of chicken broth, and I use whatever fresh pepper I can find locally.
Marcus
I do have a few personal goals for 2014
1. Take as many beautiful portraits that I can-many I will be sharing here.
2. Look for that perfect little casita, maybe in the desert, or by the sea or up in the mountains…it is something we have always talked about, but this may be the year to start seriously searching and make it happen.
3. Do another triathlon- sprint of course.
4. Keep calm and carry on…
5. Give back and make a difference whenever I can…
6. Travel , Travel and Travel–Brazil, Turkey, Vietnam, Madagascar, and Bali are just a few on my long list of places I hope to see one day.
7. Lastly continue to work on being my authentic self. Remember my journey is just that- my journey, and sometimes my GPS gets twisted, but it always recalculates and gets me going in the right direction again.
Remember this is your BEGINNING…
XOXO,
Gigi
Buddha Quote
The holidays have a way of bringing up all kinds of feelings. So when I stumbled upon this quote, I could not help but to think about how these principles are magnified at this time of year.
“How much you loved”, this one should be simple, but for many it is complicated. Love starts with self, and if you are having a challenge loving the one in the mirror, it is difficult to love others. The holidays have a way of mending hurt souls and bringing families together that may have had strife in the past. This past Thanksgiving all of my family was together, which was truly a miracle, we have certainly had our conflicts, but I was happy that we were all together and to see my 82 year-old mother witness this, was priceless.
“How gently you lived” another one that should be simple, but is complicated as well. Our world is so crazy busy, shopping on Thanksgiving? Really? Trampling over other human beings to buy the latest game system, camping out in front of stores, I don’t get it…Each day I try to appreciate the simplicity of life. I’m not perfect and at times I too can get caught up in the rat race, but the older I get the more control I have over this behavior. I find it is much easier to exhale and move on, and focus on relationships and the things that have no price tag.
The last principle “How gracefully you let go of things that were not meant for you” is the most difficult, because it conflicts with “love”, more than likely the thing you have to let go of was something you at some point loved, perhaps it was a husband, wife, significant other, or a friend. Most times depending on who initiated the “letting go” it can be a time of hurt and pain at the loss of the relationship. The holidays can be subtle reminders of time spent with that person, and depending on where you are in the healing process it can be difficult to be “graceful” when there are memories. I like to think that everything happens for a reason, even if at the time I don’t understand the “why”, but I try and concentrate on the good that came about because of the relationship and how it has contributed to the woman I am today. We have to have boundaries, and to the best of our ability surround ourselves with uplifting positive energy. I’m not saying if someone is not walking around “zen” like all the time, leave them alone, but you can be the catalyst for another person the inspiration for them, but just have a balance.
So my friends, go Love, Live and be Graceful!
Gigi
Happy Monday
Xoxo,
GIGI
quote
Friends this has been an incredibly difficult day for me…Take this quote literally. I am on my way to New Orleans, have a happy weekend and tell a family member that you love them.
New Orleans
Xoxo,
GIGI
QUOTE
This is true is so many ways…it can be applied to everything from physical possessions, to relationships, to habits, the list goes on and on. At my age I finally get this, you can try and change some things, and may even have some success, but ultimately you have to be willing to edit with vengeance. You have to be able to look at your goals and question what is blocking you from obtaining them…usually it is something obvious or something we fear.
I remember when I decided to go back to school and finish my degree I had major blocks. I knew I had to complete my degree, the thought of my children asking me one day “why do I have to go to school–you didn’t finish” was daunting. Reggie was in grade school and Amani was is middle school when I decided to return. I had to “subtract” the crazy blocks I had in order to “add” this educational piece to my life, and trust me it was not easy to humble myself and go back to the same school I started at 25 years ago in my 40’s. It was even more interesting because some of the administrators at the university were students I started with the first time I went there. Some of our friends had children that were attending my school.
The other big block was that when I was there the first time, I did not do well academically, lets just say I was asked to leave. So one random day I threw my pride out the window, and drove out to U.C. Riverside, and walked into the dean’s office and said, “I went here a long time ago and I want to come back and finish my degree.” of course the dean said that was great, that was before she pulled the “microfiche” yes I went there before computers…heheheh She looked at my grades and said “hmmmmm It is going to be difficult for you, because you are going to have to make up a lot of work, but I am going to sign off and give you a special admit”. So here I was starting my school 25 years later on “academic probation”.
I had to juggle my kids, their activities, my home, and doing my school work, because I had it in my head that I had to finish before Amani finished high school, so I had to go full time, oh and the school was an hour away. The quarters zoomed by, soon I was not on probation, I made friends with some of the young students, became a confidante of some of my professors, most were my age, and renewed friendships with staff who I attended school with the first time.
Looking back, I graduated in 2006, I was glad I was able to return, glad my children could learn by seeing me pull all nighters, not let my school work interfere with their life or our family dynamics and keep it moving. So friends, look inside and figure out what is blocking your success–and subtract. I’m always working on something, adding subtracting at any given moment, right now it is balancing my photography business and finding my rhythm of shooting, processing my work and still having my weekends to do “me” – I had to quickly subtract the thought of doing weddings, cause I know it is important for me and my life style to have my weekends for my family.
Gigi’s Graduation 2006 at 47
Happy Tuesday!
Xoxo,
Gigi
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