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Today has been a very relaxing day. We had plans of running around with friends at a wine walk but decided to stay in instead. Which has been a nice change of pace... Not sure how much longer it will last, after all it's game day for ASU! We may just have to have dinner on Mill Ave. amongst the madness...
Hopefully you are enjoying an equally relaxing day.
Man's best friend. This lil' guy is only 9 months old. We found him a few days ago... He was covered in cactus needles, missing fur and what I thought was dirt I have come to find out are scabs. We had him scanned for a microchip on Sunday. Which he didn't have, not surprising considering his condition...
I can't help but wonder what his first nine months of life were like. How did he get those cuts, did someone hurt him and has he ever been cared for? I feel bad because I haven't allowed Presley to touch him much. He needs another bath (a long soak) but because of the topical tick medication we have to wait 48 hrs. He seems to be happy, really sleepy (from his shots) and two steps behind at all times.
He's really a good listener and secret keeper (hee hee humor). I guess that's why he's man's best friend... I'm not sure his home will be here with us. It's only been recently that we've been without Bailey and Moses... I had just told a friend (before he came along) that I was enjoying the freedom of not having pets. Something I haven't had in 11 years and this dog is at least a 10 year commitment. It's not a decision I want to make based on his cuteness, because he'd be in- no hesitation...
Ok I've been a total slacker at the fund rasing portion of this years Fight Gone Bad. Because of this you have an opportunity, yup contest time! Here's the information.
For every $10 donated to my Fight Gone Bad Event your name will be entered to win a 16x24in canvas print from me! It can be of one of my photos, a photo of you competeting (for you CrossFitters) or a photo I've taken of your family. And if I never have photographed you, don't worry if you enter and win you can use it as $100 off your session price or towards a print. OK there will be only one winner and I will randomly pick the name on Monday. You can donate until Sunday Night.
Just to be clear, if you donate $50. your name will be entered five times. There is no limit and if you already have donated, to my page- you're already in! This is a last minute deal- so your chances are so good!!
To get to the site click on the photo or on this link and let the games begin!
Let me start this post by saying that I it's only been recently that I have had a real appreciation of music. I use to find it cheesy when I heard on the radio listeners calling in saying how a particular song got them through a difficult or tragic time in their life. Part of the disconnect I'm sure is that I've never had much of an introduction to music. I don't even remember being in music class as a kid. This lack of knowledge lead to me being unsophistication on the art of it.
This past weekend my girlfriend Iris invited me to a house show for David Ramirez. A musician I had never heard of and being that I'm not a huge fan of live music I wasn't sure I was in (plus it was in Glendale). So before going I decided to check him out online. The only song I heard was, "Fires" and I was all in.
Not only was the music amazing but I have to say the video kicked butt. To me the video work was so good and either he had some money from a label backing his music or talented people around him that wanted to be apart of this, just because he's that good. Either way, this guy is talented and I wanted to be apart of it...
So the show was literally in a house in Glendale. I don't know the people and my friend didn't know them but heard about the show through a Facebook Event. Wow, isn't that crazy?! As a marketing girl, I love that!..
Ok so we get there and the front row are the only seats available. Lucky me, because I sincerely loved all the songs he played. A lot of them are about love and the pain of love. I have to say I'm a sucker for songs like that... I was sitting three feet in front of him while he was singing with this big grin on my face. I just loved the lyrics and was excited to be there... I was actually a bit embarrassed when I realized this- because how awkward...
Anyway, I think he's going to be huge and you should check him out (and buy a CD). You, along with me will be able to say you heard him "before"... The videos posted are a few of the songs that I love. I bought two CD's and I have to say I love every song on them...
If you click on the photo below it will send you to his Facebook page, become a fan and find a show!
my subtle color.
It's suppose to look very natural, a sun kissed color. I love this photo!
So I've been seeing this "ombre" hair color on so many of the Hollywood stars these days. If I remember correctly Jennifer Aniston was the pioneer of the style or better said, her stylist... Just google images "ombre hair" and you'll see tons of stars with it done. And I'm a pretty big fan of it, low maintenance color- who would be?
Upon my return from my summer in New York one of my first stops was to see Erica and get my hair done! Ahh, it was so worth it. Not only did my hair need a cut after a summer in the sun and water but it went three months without any attention. So to come back and have Erica try this new color/cut on me, it felt great.
I haven't done any highlights to my hair for several years now. I don't have the time to maintain it but I missed the depth highlights gives to my hair. So this style is a real welcomed change! Haha, and I'm already wanting to go lighter next time around- the curse of color. Anyway I loved it so much I wanted to share the love and tell you about Erica and her stylings. Give her a call at Le Bella Salon and Spa in Scottsdale 480.315.1999.
Wow, I have returned home and had to hit the hot Arizona ground running! This weekend I photographed another CrossFit Event at our gym, it was a 9.11 memorial workout. It was as usual a lot of fun and I got photos that I enjoyed. I've gotten a great response to the photos and have had several people ask me for their photos.
I've tried to figure out what the best way possible for me to make the athletes happy but not create a lot of extra work for myself. As it is now I spend usually 8-12 hours on any single event. That is my time at the event then the time editing. I usually edit most of the photos the same day. This editing is different then my family sessions because it's not fine touch editing (skin softening and blemishes). However, every photo posted for these events goes through some editing process.
I originally started photographing the events just to support my brother and Core CrossFit. I never expected to get such a great response from the people in the photos. Which is cool and a good problem to have, right?
I've decided to create a SmugMug account on a temporary basis. This will be a site where people can go to and buy prints. I'm not sure if people are going to be willing to pay for the photos. If they are not (which is totally fine) I will close up my virtual shop... Since this is new there will be some adjusting and changes along the way so when you visit the site, bare with me through this growing period.
And how do you get there?! Click on any of the photos above to be redirected there or copy and paste this www.vikkicolvin.smugmug.com to your browser or click on the link.
I'm backkkk! Yup back at my home gym and it is competition season. This morning our gym went to a event at Luke Air Force Base. I did not compete but I did take photos. I have not done a competition other then the Fight Gone Bad Event, which works for me.
Just going to these events and watching/photographing the athletes is pretty exciting for me. Of course I love the fact I get these great photos I wouldn't normally shoot. But seeing my friends doing these insane workouts is really inspiring for me. Today one of our girls (Emily) did 80 unbroken double unders (jumping rope two rope rotations for every one jump). It was great, the entire place watched, cheered and clapped when she finished. It's just a lot of fun and it's something that is good for me in so many ways. To be honest I haven't found a negative side to any part of my CrossFitting experience...
Today I went through the base's gym facility walking through the place I saw a lot of people lifting, running on treadmills, alone with their head phones on. Then I go back to the event where people are cheering, laughing and teaming up for their workout. I felt lucky that I have the camaraderie I get from Core CrossFit.
One of my favorite cards. Very clean.
Purple is the new black.
There are so many things that I love about my photography business. A fun bonus is the side business in business card creation I've created because of it. I pretty much enjoy anything in the creative field I've decided and I'm lucky I get to dabble in a lot of it.
Like anything else I do I try to come up with a little twist on the usual, nothing boring here. MVP Realty Team had their name but not their tag line. After a few ideas I had that got shot down, "Always your home team" got the green light. I'd like more projects in the area, it can be a fun change in my creative process... I guess I should make my own cards too!
Before the summer had even started I knew I wanted to make this video using this song. It's funny because during the summer I felt all I did was take pictures. Now looking back I wonder what I was doing!..
This summer was amazing! First of all the location was amazing and I'm so happy Presley is having this experience (hopfully annually). Another part that I really enjoyed and didn't expect was the friendships I made. We were on the Silver Bay campus with 100 employees (plus guests) all summer. Most of the employees are in college or just out of college. Being a Mom and my age (ugh) it's been awhile being around people this age.
I would highly recommend it! Because of them I've looked back and remembered the girl I was at that time in my life (giggle). Most importantly I remember the people in my life that encouraged me to keep the fire in my eyes at go after my dreams. They were few and far between as I remember. I think there is a huge importance in finding a career but I think it's even more important to find your passion. Luckily I know mine and it has created a future I'm excited about.
It was great feeling the energy and they have this whole life in front of them full of possibilities. I have no idea where their journey will lead them but I'm excited for them... Now, I have to explain. It's not like my life is over! I still have a life full of mystery ahead of me. And with my age has come a life I wouldn't give up to be in their shoes. It's just that conversations with my friends is not usually about what they want to be when they grow up.
Presley of course loved loved loved them! Most of the employees were Presley's camp counselors. They all knew her name and she knew theirs. It was unlikly if not impossible to walk anywhere without Presley stopping to say hi to someone. Everyone on campus was so great to Presley and I am sincerely touched by that...
So, the video above is made up of photos from this summer with Presley and just a few of our friends from this summer. I would of loved to photograph more of them but I can't be that crazy lady with that huge camera!