13.12.12

Lose who you are.

So. The new I Knew You Were Trouble. music video released today.
It's safe to say that I'm already obsessed. I feel like I could possibly be the biggest 24 year old Taylor Swift fan on the planet.
The dialogue at the beginning and end of this music video kind of reminds me of Rihanna's We Found Love music video.

"I think, I think when it's all over it just comes back in flashes ya know? It's like a kaleidoscope of memories. It just all comes back. But he never does. I think part of me knew the second I saw him that this would happen. It's not really anything he said, or anything he did. It was the feeling that came along with it and the crazy thing is, I don't know if I'm ever gonna feel that way again. But I don't know if I should. I knew his world moved too fast and burned too bright. But, I just thought, "How can the devil be pulling you toward someone who looks so much like an angel when he smiles at you?" Maybe he knew that when he saw me. I guess I just lost my balance. I think the worst part of it all wasn't losing him, it was losing me."
Cue I Knew You Were Trouble. music video.
"I don't know if you know who you are until you lose who you are."

Well played, Taylor. Well played.
Every girl feels like they relate to most of Taylor Swifts songs. After all, that's why we love her. I feel like I can relate to this song and Back To December the most.
Don't get me wrong. T-Swizzle writes EVERY song about my life. >_<
However, these two songs have impacted me in more ways than I can even begin to explain.

11.12.12

Always thought I'd see you again




Really missing you today.



Our time together flew by. Before I knew it, you were gone. If I could go back, I wouldn't take advantage of the time we had together. Life is so, so incredibly, short. Can't imagine what my life would have been without this beautiful lady. So incredibly thankful.

I thank my God every time I remember you. -Philippians 1:3

31.10.12

Logo, Name, Facebook (Photo career)

When people tell me I'm good at my photography it's hard for me to agree.
It's hard for me to tell people I'm good.
BUT when I look back down my photography path I realize I've come SO far.
Then I can say I know I'm better than when I started.

Changes are literally coming sooner than what ya'll think.
Keep your eyes peeled.

-Logo
-Name
& Facebook are in the works.

Wouldn't be where I am without some of my family and some VERY good friends. Friends who believe in me and what I do, because, like I said, it's hard for me to be conceded in what I do.

29.9.12

HistoryX2 (Lydia preview)

Friday I photographed my first ever newborn! In fact, I photographed the first child under a year old thats wasn't my brother. I was honored when Laura and Luke asked me to take a few shots of Lydia and my nerves shook me around for several months before Lydia finally came into the world. Luke, Laura, Ethan and family celebrated Lydia's life on Monday, September 24. I visited them in the hospital on Tuesday and, honestly, haven't seen a more precious baby since my baby brother was born.

Ethan is Lydia's big brother and he is one of the cutest kids ever. He already knows what he wants to be when he grows up. This kid also knows how to entertain an entire room.

I'm going to be taking my precious little time editing these photos. Although, I probably won't have to do alot of editing. This baby and family are naturally adorable.

The following are a select few . I'm in the process of trying to get photoshop so I can edit these photos the best I can.
However, the few I've edited have me grinning from ear to ear. Ethan and Lydia already have a precious little bond that I can only describe in photos.


The following three broke my heart when I TRIED to edit them. I decided the au-naturel look was better. Lydia and Ethan, you are adorable as-is. :)

and as I told Luke and Laura, if they don't frame the next one of Ethan; I will! This little boy is the cutest! 

25.8.12

WANEGBT

I realized this week that I forgot what it felt like to be mad at a bestfriend.
Looking back, in sixth grade, I got into a pretty big fight with my bestfriend Maigyn Luthe.  Maigyn is/will always be my bestfriend. We've been through everything together. She knows me like the back of her hand and the awesome thing about our friendship is that we're on the opposite side of the States, only talk every now and then, and still love each other like we did in fourth grade! Anyway, I remember what our fight was about. It was dumb and I don't even want to say it out loud. Long story short, it sucked. I remember going to school thinking.. who am I going to talk bestfriend stuff to? will I lose my bestfriend? I think that entire day was honestly one of the worst feelings in my life.

This feeling happened again this past week. My bestfriend and I got into a petty little fight and it ruined an entire day of our friendship. Worst part? If I would have listened then it wouldn't have happened. No one hates being told their wrong more than me, but I was wrong. I believed that this dumb boy had changed. I had it stamped in my mind that this time it would be different. The entire day I thought... who am I going to text this bestfriend stuff to? will I lose my bestfriend? This. Sucks.
I don't think I can ever apologize to her enough, but I'm so glad that she's a forgiving friend.

And to the boy:
Karma will come find you one day. You can't continue to play with girls emotions and get away with it.
To all the girls:
Listen to your best when she tells you a boy isn't good for you. She's prrrrobably right.


Happier note?


10.8.12

twenty-four

Hi. My name is Megan and I'm less than a year away from a quarter of a century.
If that isn't scary, I don't know what is.

So, Saturday I turned twenty-four and my bestfriend, Taylor, helped create the best birthday I've ever had. Seriously, I can only think of a few things that could ever top this past birthday!
From cake batter birthday pancakes all the way to the $4 camera strap.  My birthday was on Saturday and Taylor even celebrated with me on Friday and Sunday! Saturday had to be the best, though. Mainly because at the end of the night Taylor, Tracy, Cameron and I went to Upper Crust. A great part of the night was the dessert. However, it wasn't the best. The best part was being with Taylor and Tracy! Cameron was pretty cool too, I guess. Haha. But Seriously. I think the whole Tracy friendship deserves a blog post in itself. I honestly can't explain how much I missed that sweet girl.
I don't know where  I'd be without some of my friends. Some people say that but I feel never really mean it. I do. Sometimes I even feel like I don't deserve some of these wonderful friends.

Anyway, I've come a long way in 24 years. I know I tell people I feel old, that's not a lie, but I still have so much more living to do. I have alot that I want slash NEED to accomplish this year.



Here's to being 24. Here's to a year away from a quarter of a century. Here's to living.

6.7.12

destined for greatness

I always knew I was destined for greatness. Stop laughing. Everyone feels that way at least once in their life, right? Pretty embarrassing, but growing up I always thought I would be famous for something. I thought I would become an actress or musician. I dreamed of it.

I tried drama in high school. I'm pretty dramatic, but when it comes to acting in front of an audience.. I croak. I'm the loud kid in front of familiar people, but when I get around a group of people I've never met or barely know I shut down and become a totally different person.
I tried piano when I was growing up and quickly lost interest. I took guitar lessons while in high school and realized I have no sense of rhythm. That would explain why I sucked at the trumpet in middle school and junior high.
I always thought I was a pretty artsy person. I tried art in high school. I sucked. Plain and simple. I can draw stick people sitting on a bench next to the ocean with a tree and the sunshine. That's about it. Basic or DYI step-by-step instructions.
I was never very good in school. If I was graded on my loud mouth or my social skills, I would have done a lot better. I was always the kid that got the comment on their progress report about how I should basically shut my mouth during class. It got me in a lot of trouble growing up. Almost every report card I would get the same speech from my dad. "Megan, your grades will stick with you forever. Not all of your friends will." It was always hard for me to put school work before my social life.

When I started taking pictures I felt like I didn't even have to try. Some people feel that way about acting, art, music or tests. I feel this way about photography. I honestly feel like I could point the camera at the ugliest thing and somehow make it look beautiful. I'm usually not so conceited as I sound right now, I promise. It's hard for me to say that I know I'm good at something. I haven't decided if I found out what it is earlier or later than most people. It took me several years (even after my Taylor Swift picture was published) to decide that I'm good at what I do. I still have SO much learning to do, but it's something that I like teaching myself rather than someone else teaching me. I can finally say I'm proud of myself and how far I've come with my photography.

You can view my photography on my Flickr by clicking HERE. Or to the left on my blog at anytime. :)

In 2006 I had a point and shoot Pentax. I was obsessed with photography. I had never even used a camera with a detachable lens. 
2006
2006

In 2007 I learned I loved to shoot bands the most. I love the lights and the fans I can capture in photographs. I love everything about photographing bands doing their thing. Maybe it's because I secretly want to be famous. Maybe it's because I tried the whole music thing and have a different kind of respect for them. Who knows.
2007

In 2008 my Pentax broke and I got my first point and shoot Cannon. It was pretty cool. 

In December 2009 I got my Nikon D60 for Christmas. My first professional camera. I would photograph anything and everything. I finally started using it to capture beautiful people.  I finally learned how to edit, but not the good kind of editing. I was a total N00B and used Picnik ALOT. I'm actually embarrassed by how terrible some of my editing turned out. I'm embarrassed that I thought I had to do alot of editing to cover up stuff. There is so much beauty in photographs that are totally unedited, to me. You can only use photoshop so much before your picture starts to look FAKE. and who likes a fake? 
2009
2009
2009
2009 ^I'm also embarrassed by my logo in the corner. Seriously? Peace?
2009
2009
2009
In August 2009 I got my second lens. I mainly use it for Thunder basketball games and concerts. This was the first picture I took with it:
2009

In 2010 my first photograph was published in a major magazine. Most of you should know US Weekly. They came out with a Special Edition Taylor Swift magazine and my picture was a spread towards the beginning of the magazine. This is when I fell in love with my flickr account. If I wouldn't of had my picture posted then the lady from US Weekly would never have messaged me. I would have never gotten published and wouldn't have been compensated. It was a major milestone in my photography career. 
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010

In 2011 I really started photographing people more. I dragged Taylor around on several photoshoots. I don't think she hated it. Also, it helped me get a little bossy. In the beginning of a shoot it's hard for me to boss someone around and tell them to pose a certain way. After a couple pictures of them not doing what I'm imagining I start to get strict on exactly how they pose. :)
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011

Brings me to 2012. My variety of people I photograph is growing. This flashback amazes me with how far I've come. I was once just a 17 year old with a camera. I had no idea what was in store for me. I've grown, but still have alot more to accomplish. 
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012


If you've stuck it out this long and read my whole post, I applaud you. No, seriously. Thank you. I'm moving forward with my photography and want to someday call this my career. I've been thinking of names for a business for a year now, so if you have any ideas... SHOOT them my way.
get it? eh? eh?
okay, I'll stop wasting your time now. 
:)

17.6.12

Lindseys photoshoot 6/16/12

Yesterday I took Lindsey to my dads property in Deer Creek to shoot some photos of her. It's been a while since I had my last photoshoot with a friend and I honestly missed it.
Everytime I get ready to leave my house for a photoshoot I almost forget something. I think out loud to myself: "Wow, Megan, you aren't ready to be a photographer. What were you thinking?"
Then I do my photoshoot and come home and can't wait to start editing. I think I edit too fast because I'm too excited to share my pictures with everyone, which could be a problem in the long run for me.
Then I post them and go back through all the pictures and I think to myself: "I'm ready. I've never been more ready."
Anyway. Here are some shots from yesterday. It's so hard for me to choose just a few to upload, but the rest are located on my Flickr or my Facebook. Click either link to view them. Of course, Flickr has the better resolution. As always.

Lindsey was so easy to shoot. She is basically my little sister separated at birth. She loves the camera and it's a mutual love. I only had to throw out a few pictures. She's a pro!

Without further adieu..














and my two favorites: