Thanksgiving!

I am blessed with so many amazing friends (and now they're multiplying with incredible kids)!! I spent my day of Thanksgiving with Katie, Jim, Owen and Ella; a fabulous family and the most delectable dinner hosts. It's always great to be with them and their smiles and laughter, playfulness and creativity. They embody a soulful abundance and the most hospitable warmth...that I tried to capture through the lens. Before the perfect golden turkey and maple pumpkin pie went in the oven, we spent some time in the studio for a few quick portraits.

I hope your Thanksgiving was full and festive. As the holiday season continues, remember to make note of life's details. Maybe it's a recipe, an object, a face or a family portrait. All become part of your journey, your story to be remembered.

Listen!

The annual conference of the Association of Personal Historians was held in Franklin, TN, November 8 – 11, 2007. It was an amazing weekend of speakers, workshops, music and conversation focused around the theme of storytelling; specifically the importance of listening to personal stories and preserving those stories for future generations.

It's hard to put into words the fullness and richness of the experience. For now, please listen to the tune Jane Baxter, owner of Roots and Branches Productions and our conference host and organizer, wrote. In my opinion the inspired song reflects the real, raw, root passion and spirit of the APH community – a community I'm honored to be a part of.

I thank everyone at the conference for reminding me of the essential role of storytellers. Simply, storytellers keep history alive. Sharing stories is fundamental to understanding one another and understanding ourselves. Whether you tell a story to heal or to teach, it's important to tell it. Your experience, your perception is unique to the world and you never know who you will effect by giving. The other side of telling of course, is to listen – with attention and presence; a larger challenge at times. By joining the APH community, I link forces with others who share my values and commitment, on a personal and professional level, to become a better storyteller and an active, open listener. And, wow, the weekend was a testament that in the act of listening, you receive.

In Santa Fe: Lightroom and Photoshop for Photographers

I've been teaching digital imaging workshops at the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops for the last six years and this week an Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom class in Santa Fe, NM marks the last class on the calendar for me. That's right. I'm taking a year off to focus on my personal history and portraiture business. But, this week, like others before, has been a blast! Guiding 12 talented and creative photographers through the process of organizing, editing, enhancing and printing images with the goal of sharing and presenting those images is a thrill. I know, the group shot doesn't quite show the excitement we've been experiencing because it was taken outside. The fun has been happening inside; in the dark, in the digital lab. Don't worry we'll get back outside soon to find the muse.