RAW: Natural Born Artists

I was so excited on Thursday to get the opportunity to be one of the featured artists at the RAW art showcase! It was so much fun and I met lots of talented and amazing new people! People who absolutely love what they do and put so much hard work into their craft! It really inspired me and fired me up to progress further with my photography as well! Photography however was not the only thing that was showcased! There were some painters, sculptures, bands, hair and makeup artists as well as fashion designers! We ended the night with a stunning fashion show that blew people away! The whole night was truly a blast and I'm so thankful that I got the opportunity to be a part of it! A huge thank you to everyone who came out to support me and to the RAW organization! 

www.emilieannphotography.com

Display Designs and Valentines

This week I'll be participating in the RAW art show in Salt Lake City. It's a really cool show that features about 40 artists from painters and photographers to make-up artists, bands and fashion designers! It's this Thursday and I've been really busy building my display to showcase some of my fashion and concept shoots. If you would like to come you can get tickets at this site http://www.rawartists.org/emilieannphotography

I'm pretty excited and so far I've met a lot of amazing people who are so passionate about what they do! The display is coming along and I decided to make it allll from scratch! I'll post about the actual show after Thursday but here are some pictures of the display "in the making."

Valentine's was also extremely different this year. For the past two I've celebrated with my sweetheart Tyler. But since he was gone it was a little well, different. Not sad or lonely. Just different. I was still happy because I had sent Tyler a letter bomb the whole week of Valentines (which meant he got a letter every day with a different theme leading up to Valentine's) along with a small package for the actual day! Little did I know, he actually sent me a package as well that I just barely got today! It was a total surprise! So after celebrating love day by going to see Safe Haven with the girls and eating pink cupcakes at work, I was relieved to say one Valentine's day down and one to go! I haven't always loved Valentine's day. But I really felt so much love this year from seriously everyone around me! I'm so grateful to have such caring and amazing people in my life! Especially my sweet Valentine who is working so hard in California. It's been an extremely happy week :)

It's Been a While

Wow! It's almost been a year since I've posted to this blog! Well, that is way too long! I took a break from the personal blog to get my photography business up and running, and now that it's on its feet I figured it would be fun to get back to this blog! As you can see, I gave it a makeover and it's new, improved, and ready to go! :) So here is a quick summary of what has happened in the life of Emilie since I last posted. Tyler left for his mission to San Bernardino California (Spanish Speaking) and has now been out for 6 months! I'm living in Provo and rooming with two of my best friends while getting my bachelor's at UVU. I'm working full-time with my photography and making the most out of life as it comes. Life is good and I feel so blessed and happy. I'm happy to get this blog up and running again!

 This guy had an amazing farewell.

 One of the best girl friend's got hitched this past Summer! 1 down, 2 to go ;)

 Best pals and roomies throwing bridal showers and devouring sushi

 Saying goodbye to Tyler for the next 2 years

"Lasts"

Well, I can say I've been completely lazy about posting, but here I am with a little catching up! We are officially a little more than halfway done with my second semester of college which means... SUMMER!! I can't wait! I am just CRAVING warmth and sunshine! Why won't it come sooner? School is getting to me and I just want it to be over!

At the same time I want things to slllloooooooow down. Tyler turns his papers in April 22nd. So pretty much in a month. We had always joked about it but now it's coming faster and faster. It has made me realize all of the "Lasts" we've had, (at least for two years he he) Our last Christmas together, our last Valentine's day, Our last New Years, and finally... our last Summer together.

Tyler and I are planning on having an incredible Summer but I know he'll probably leave towards the end of it  or early fall. He's going to make the most incredible missionary and I'm so proud of him and the steps he's taking to prepare himself. But it's getting harder and harder for me to imagine two years without him. But enough with the sad!! The GOOD thing is is that we still have time and we are totally going to make the BEST of it!! Can't wait!! :)

 Surprise Valentine's dinner at my work! Tyler called to get me off work early and then he brought olive garden, roses, and chocolate covered strawberries. Best boyfriend award? I think yes.

 Ty also does... I mean... HELPS me with my math homework. He's a genius!

 Sledding day!

 Yep! He's rather dapper. Handsome guy :)

Distance makes the heart grow stronger and fonder...

A Little Bit of New Years Posting

Words can't even describe how excited I am for the new year but completely dreading it at the same time. So many great things are going to happen during 2012! I'm going to finish my first year of college! (I'm hoping my second semester is completely different than the first), I'm going to be able to spend an incredible Summer with my best friend and sweetheart Tyler, and I'm going to be moving out in the fall for College year 2 with my best friends Jessica and Emily to this awesome apartment where we are going to have a total blast!

On the downside, Tyler leaves for his mission this summer. I mean, it's not a total downside. He's going to have one of the most incredible, spiritual experiences of his life and I am so proud of him! No one deserves to go on a mission more than he does. He is SO passionate about the gospel and has a testimony that I truly admire and look up to. BUT it's still going to be hard. I know I'm going to miss him like crazy and I can't imagine not having my best friend in the whole world by my side but some things are inevitable. At least this experience will be bittersweet :) 24 months isn't that long right? ;)

But for right now I have many new years resolutions! But my top two are to be HAPPY and to be POSITIVE! I'm going to try to let nothing bring me down and to have a truly positive attitude for whatever is thrown my way in the future. I am SO excited for my next semester and 2012 will truly be... well... different. It will be an experience that's for sure.

Tyler and I went downtown to celebrate the new year with a bunch of our friends! It was so much fun!! Happy new year!!!

You MUST Read!

So my mom gave me a book to read when I get bored at work and let me tell you... EVERYONE needs to read this book! Especially during this season. It's one of those books that makes you look at your life and makes you want to be a better person. I almost finished in one day, I just couldn't put it down! It is a BEAUTIFUL story and you better go right to the store and buy it after reading this! It's called "The Seventeen Second Miracle" I can't really tell you what it is about, but all I can say is that 17 seconds can change a life... that's all it takes :) Get reading!!

Decision MADE!... for now.

Alright, after trying to figure out what I want to do with my life over the past few months at college, I think I've come to the conclusion on what my ambitions truly are. For my career I want to run my own photography and video making business on the side, but I have decided I want to shoot for being a fashion photographer. Every time I open a fashion magazine I always gaze at the pictures and imagine what I would have done if I would have taken that shot. Or just how much fun it would be to take pictures of models and CLOTHES in general! It would be incredible!

Ambition number two: I. love. musical. theatre. I love it! It has been my life for as long as I can remember! I can't remember a time when I wasn't onstage! I love theatre so much, both straight theatre and musical theatre and I can't imagine my life without performing. My dream has ALWAYS been to be a young ambassador at BYU, or to at least get into the MDT program. I know it's extremely hard to make the cut, but I'll never know until I try. I'm already signed up to take dance classes and I am still looking for a singing teacher that can help me improve. But I know if I work hard enough and believe in myself, anything is possible. Last year I had some peers tell me that it was a long shot and that I shouldn't get my hopes up. They told me that I had no idea what I was talking about when it came to theatre and I didn't understand theatre and basically that I wasn't as good as they were. They got me so discouraged that I decided I didn't even want to do theatre anymore, and I gave up on it. But you know what they say... "You never realize how much you miss something until it's gone." Well that is SO TRUE!! I realized that I can't give up on it! I missed it too much and I'm not making that mistake again. So I'm going to shoot for it! And even if I don't make it, I'll still audition for musicals and plays at different theaters because I don't think I could ever give up this passion.

So whether I'm going to major in digital media, photography, or MDT... it's all up in the air. But what I do know is that I'm going to work my hardest, take advantage of opportunites, let no one put me down or get in my way, and reach for my dreams, and let myself be happy in whatever I do.