Phoenix Wedding Photographer Julie Branyan

I love New York City. There is just something amazing about it. All my memories there are wonderful. They are filled with laughter, getting engaged, wine, and happiness. I miss just taking the train from Hartford down to the city to spend the day. You can’t do the same in Omaha.

When I was in New York last time I saw the Brooklyn Bridge for the first time. It was incredible. I thought I would share a few photos with you, as well as a photo of me and my BFF Maly. I realized I don’t make many appearances on my blog. I do apologize. I am honestly not photogenic that’s why I’m a photographer. I’m almost as bad as Chandler on friends where he makes a goofy smile every time a camera is pointed at him. I will do my best to be better.

Lost in the lines

I miss the sun. I can just feel its warmth from this photo. I’m ready for spring!

A cute hipster walking from Brooklyn over to the city

Maly and I

I love this photo. This is just us. We laugh at nothing and are so goofy. We are those weird people and we love it!

Today was an awesome day. I got to spend the day at a photography class instead of being at my day job. I realized today how much positive energy my job takes out of me. I felt so happy to meet photographers and spend time learning about what I love to make myself a better photographer. I also got to meet with my wedding clients to discuss their wedding next month. What I love most about this couple is they are always laughing. They are so comfortable and happy with each other. I know their wedding day is going to be fun! I can’t wait.

Well I’d like to share a few random things on this Murray Monday. First, I’ve been thinking a lot about decorating. I admit Josh and I seem to move every year so there is no settling down. I think we like it that way, but part of me wants to do a little decorating. I found this site that lets me live vicariously through other peoples homes. The site is Decor8. It has everything, etsy recommendations and lovely photos of homes. I will warn you it is addicting and you will want to redecorate your entire home.  I spent an hour the first time I was on their site.

I love tea. I drink at least 6 cups over the day. I found this cute Tea Love Knit Mug Cozy that I’ll need to buy sometime soon. Tea and love, two of my favorite things. For love I found this adorable Love No 9 Letter Press Poster. It just makes my heart happy and I’m learning to appreciate letterpress more and more everyday.

What wonderful things have you found lately?

I promise a color photo will be next. For some reason they all look better in black and white.

I love the Olympics. I remember the first time I fell in love with them was the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.  What captivated me was the courage these athletes had to risk it all. They devoted their lives to the sport they loved. I remember thinking I wanted a passion like that, something that I would risk it all for.  I was watching the Vancouver Olympics last night while they were discussing the Chinese ice skating couple who came out of retirement just to compete in the games. When they were talking about their skating, the wife called it, “skating with heart.” I was so struck by this.  And watching them perform, it was so obvious.  Their entire performance was full of life. It was incredible.

The Olympics are about determination, dreams, and strength. We all need a reminder in our lives to follow our heart to let it guide us to where we need to be.

I’ve really been looking at myself as a photographer, what drives me? What can I do to make myself a better photographer? The truth is I want to photograph with heart,  to love every second behind my camera, to love my relationship with my clients, and for my clients to love their relationship with me.  I want people to see my passion radiating and to inspire/help others (pretty big goal!) These are a few things I wrote down to help me focus.

They are:

1) Truly know who I am as a photographer

2) Be Assertive

3) Be Authentic

4) Be passionate

5) Follow my heart and vision

6) Be unique

7) Always be Positive

Mom,

Today would have been your 58th birthday. I have to wonder what it would be like if you were here. Would we have a big cake, make jokes about how old you are, and just enjoy those moments together? I would like to think it would have been a perfect and happy day. To be honest I can’t remember any of your birthdays while you were on earth. For some reason they don’t exist. The only memories that do are the ones without you. I remember buying you cards every year after you died. I would write you a little note and place them in a box in my closet. I even think one year I bought you a stuffed animal with chocolate. The animal was wearing a prison outfit that said Prisoner of love. Funny to think an 8 year old would pick that out for you.

I often think about the relationship we would have now that I’m an adult, how we would talk every day about the stupid things, complain about how cold its been this winter, and just laugh. I’ll never know what it would be like to have you around. I think it makes moments like today difficult. I always find myself hating Valentines day because you are not here to celebrate another year of your life. I also know how hard it is on my Dad every year. He always tries to keep preoccupied, but after 17 years he misses having his soul mate in his life. I truly wish that time would make it easier, but it never does. I wish I didn’t get angry when I think about the precious moments of life you missed. I truly know there is a reason you are not here. God needed you and I needed to become the person I am today. The truth is I wish he would have given you so many more years. I wish we would have gone through the awkward teenage years, the year you turned 40, your retirement, my wedding, and you and Dad traveling the world. Most of all I just wish we could talk, just talk about anything, everything. I truly know you would have been the best Mom. You would have been perfect.

From down here on earth I’ll keep missing you and thinking of you.

All my love on your 58th birthday. Your daughter Julie