The top 10 reasons I've been a sporadic blogger (don't you just love the word sporadic?).

I must admit it seems a little problematic to be calling myself a bad blogger. Against the voices in my head I'll admit I've been a sporadic blogger for the better part of 2010. Why? Read ahead for the top 10 reasons I've been MIA.

10. I've been working! I know you would love to see everything that I do, but you don't :( sad but true. Blogging takes time. A LOT of time. If you are a blogger then you know. You have to shoot, edit, prep for web, backup, write, upload, publish, promote... and the list continues. I love hearing your feedback and I love sharing my work. I've got some super exiting projects this summer. I will share. Promise.

9. I branched my company. I've separated my portrait work from my wedding work. As you know Melissa Tomeoni is now a .com and it has a gorgeous logo and spanking new brand. It's going really well and I know it was the correct business choice for me. I just got my new cards in last week. I've committed to letterpress and it's beautiful! Studio M made sure of it. I love how it does double duty on both sides. Gorgeous!



8. I've been photographing more Boudoir, I love it! Sometimes I wish my clients were a little less conservative so I could show you, but hey, I respect that :)



7. This feels a little strange writing this on my business page as I don't even share all this with my own mother but personally things have been a little... how should we say... stressful. Josh and I are closer than we have been before but for reasons outside of our control (I love being in control!) we have been going through what someone has labeled as a "crisis season" of our lives. I laughed when I heard this partly because it was so refreshing to know we aren't the crazy ones. Again, for reasons outside of our control we starting going to counseling and I'll tell anyone-- it's AMAZING and worth it's weight in gold. I always viewed counseling as a negative experience. The thing is... it's so healthy. It's allowed Josh and I to not only grow closer together, but it's opened up this entire world of dreaming we didn't realize we had.... and we're doing it together! It's amazing and I can't speak highly enough of the process, the councilor and personal growth. I'm sharing this partly for encouragement for those of you who read the blog who may have been thinking of seeing one. I say, do it. I think that if you are considering going, go. It's so wonderful. I think that if we go and in the end are more capable of communicating with one another that it can only lead to good things, healthy things. If you want to chat more about this, write me! For the sake of brevity (which this post is most certainly not) I'll move on. But before I do; Josh, I love you and I'm so proud of you.



6. Speaking of personal growth I've been trying to do things that make me happy because the weather the Northwest has been driving me bonkers! I've been trying to get outside more and take little Persay on more walks. Sometimes the only cure to a cloudy day is a dog running free. It always make me smile.


5. New products! Since I attended WPPI back in March my brain has been going nonstop about different ideas, products and so forth. I've slowly been adding more products to the list... Here are the new accordion mini's! They are so perfect for babies, mini gifts for grandparents, boudoir... engagement, seniors. Actually, I just got a idea. What if you did it as a grandparent gift of your wedding. Cute, right? They are small enough to carry in your purse and show off at anytime. Here are my studio samples; senior, baby and boudoir.



4. I've been spending a lot of time with peers in the industry. I along with other local photographers get together and talk business  a few times every month and I have to give a shout out to them. I love our meetings and I love having other people to bounce business ideas with. It's great to know these ladies and I think they deserve my time so they totally make the list.

3. Brainstorming more ideas on how to give back to the community.... of photographers! Would you guys like to see more behind the scenes? What about video. Would anyone watch video if I had a channel on youtube? Is it crazy that I just learned you can have your own channel... Feedback please! Here is one behind the scene shot of a newborn session from yesterday. We're trying to make baby happy by comforting him while he is set up ready to go in his basket.



2. Reading and... possibly writing! I've been reading a ton of business books, and a few personal books and the occasional gossip magazine. I'll admit I'm totally obsessed with the Kardashian sisters.... Anyway, my point is that you might be reading more from me in the future. More on that later.

drum roll please.....

1. Quality, not quantity. This isn't Costco, people. This is a custom photography studio. :)



And there you have it! 10 reason for my sporadic nature this season. Like I said earlier, I love hearing your feedback and I love sharing my work. I've got some super exiting projects this summer. I will share. Promise. Thoughts?

It was quite the trip. What felt like a few days was actually a week. Surprisingly. If you and I are friends on fb or twitter this may be a repeat of info, but non-the-less here we go.

Josh and I drove, with Persay, down to visit my sister in Santa Cruise. See previous post. It was so wonderful to see her, my bro-in-law and their new place. I'm quite jealous as they live 2 blocks from the beach complete with seaside walking trail. Stunning. I would begin my day on the trail if I lived there. Have I ever told you Persay loves the beach?

We then traveled down to my home town of Agoura Hills, CA (which is right by Thousand Oaks so, If I told you I live there I almost do). We celebrated my dad's b-day (Happy Birthday, DAD!) and we also attended my high school reunion. It was so hysterically awkward I didn't know what to make of myself. Personally, I don't think there is enough time for everyone to completely change so you are really able to see little bits and pieces of HS all over again. I was able to recognize most people as I'm connected with then on fb (gotta love social networking). It was fun, exciting and totally awkward all rolled into one night-o-fun. I'm sure I'll put myself through the same thing and go to the next one. Who else has been to a reunion of sorts? I think the strangest thing about it is that you are not meeting people for the first time... you already know about them so introductions can present themselves as quite awkward.

Non-the-less it was great fun. The weather was glorious and I soaked it in with beach trips and pool lounging. And let's not forget eating myself under the table. Why is vacation always like that? Oh well. I'll leave you with a image of us right before the reunion. In hindsight I should have done the ultimate prom shot. Next time.
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Big Smiles,
Melissa Tomeoni

Family. One really could not name a more loaded word. Am I right? I know that everyone has different feelings and different expectations toward family. I know I do! Often times different feelings toward family come from the different people within your family unit. Which I suppose is somewhat of a "duh" statement but also in some ways quite profound.

Anyway, This weekend, family happens to bring a smile to my face. I'm spending the weekend with mine here in SoCal. It's so nice to get away, tour your old stomping ground and relax for a bit. This weekend is also my High School reunion... gulp... wish me luck :)

I hope this brings a smile to your face, cause I know it does mine. Family, sisters... and Persay, of course.



Happy Friday!
Big Smiles,
Melissa Tomeoni

OVERWHELMED.
I know you wouldn't be able to tell from my blog, but I've been busy. Lots of things have been happening, some of them have to do with me, and some of them are happening around me. Nevertheless they are pulling me in different directions. If you asked me yesterday I would have described myself as overwhelmed. Rushing around only allows me to enjoy life half as much as I should, or more importantly, could. I enjoyed a all too short girls retreat last weekend, installed my show this week... make sure you stop by! I'm working on branching my brand (more exciting news on that later) and planning my upcoming boudoir weekend for some fabulous ladies. AND I'm hosting a baby shower this weekend in the middle of Easter services. Breathe in, Breathe out. See, told you. Busy.

PAUSE.
Yesterday I was rushing around trying to get double the amount done in half the time. Typical Melissa fashion. I impatiently sat at a red light and casually looked to my left. My heart stopped for a brief moment. What I saw completely changed my perspective for the week. What I saw through my drivers window has made me so grateful yet feel so selfish at the same time. What I saw was this: a under nourished man slowly climb the steps of the bowling alley. He was heavy with the weight of the world on his back in the shape of a garbage bag. Gingerly he leaned on the stair railing. He painfully bent down as he stretched out his hand to reach for something. A used cigarette.

Breathe in, Breathe out.

THANKFUL.
Today I cry as I write this. How silly am I living my life sitting in my heated car feeling stressed because I have to plan things. Fun things, nevertheless. I have a life that is so, so full. How can I not enjoy everything I have "to do"? So, right there sitting in traffic I decided two things; 1. Be thankful for everything. No matter what this life throws at you, be thankful. I know a lot of people are going through hard times these days. I don't think you should ignore them be any means, but recognize them and be thankful for what you do have. And by all means write that out so you remember! 2. Enjoy today. Enjoy the process, enjoy the little baby steps that allow you to reach the top and come back down.

I journal almost every morning. Recently, I've made it a point to write one full page of things I'm thankful for. In the end, Most turn out to be simple joys. I truly believe life is more about who you live your life with, rather then what you life your life with. Breathe in, Breath out.

Speaking of crying and breathing, I'll share one of my favorite images of my dad and I in honor of his 60th birthday. I'm thankful I have a wonderful dad who is ALWAYS smiling through think and thin. Happy Birthday Dad, I love you. Thank you for walking me down the isle to meet the love of my life.

Life is a funny thing, isn't it? Full of both mountains and valleys, ups and downs. It, life, seems so predictable but yet never turns out the way I envision it. The moment I plan something, view my life for the next X amount of years is the exact moment I'm saying no to spontaneity. I'm saying no to the unknown and I'm saying yes to normalcy, "yes" to me.

However, there is one tiny catch I forgot to factor in. I'm married and I share my life with someone. Sharing is a powerful thing; love is a powerful thing. The moment I have my life planned down to the yellow brick road which leads to the white picket fence is the time at which I come to a dividing point. Is it my path or your path? Enter love. My wishes, desires, needs become less important and Josh's begin to take first place. The time I say yes to Josh is when I say no to myself. The moment I listen is the same moment I say no to my own desires to be heard. See, life is a funny thing. I want to live it for myself and live life it to it's fullest. Right?
 
The moment I found out life is fullest with love is the moment I said "no" me and "yes" to us.

Last week Josh spoke in front of NAIFA. I couldn't be more proud.



I mean, really, who couldn't love a face like that!