Welcome to my blog! Here you will learn who I am: what I love, what I do, and what inspires me. This is a continuation of my story, and I hope eventually our stories will entwine.
I invite, nay, encourage you to connect through comments, facebook, or email. I look forward to our time together!
I believe:
Marriage is exquisite : God is bigger than the Boogie Man : Love is Louder : Pie is the new cupcake : Muppets rule all
I value:
Community : Compassion : Honest narrative : My lovely clients : Documenting life : A man who cleans the bathroom
I swoon over:
Warm light : Clothbound books : Yellow shoes : A soulful harmony : Etsy’s handpicked homepage : My superb husband
I pretend:
I’m a hobbit when I wear my weird awesome Vibram shoes : Good beer has no calories : to have mad dance skills
The Soggy Bottom Boys | O Brother, Where Art Thou? | I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow My mind is a curious thing. To truly understand me, you must be willing to brave a trip down the rabbit hole! Allow me to use this song [...]
The Soggy Bottom Boys | O Brother, Where Art Thou? | I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow
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My mind is a curious thing. To truly understand me, you must be willing to brave a trip down the rabbit hole! Allow me to use this song as a means to provide a tiny peek into the ADD thought process that speeds through this crazy brain any given moment.
I sat at my laptop today with no clue what song I wanted to share. There is too much musical goodness floating around to narrow down. Sometimes a good distraction leads to the right answer, so out came the iPad, up popped Instagram, and then the following thought frolic came to be:
Ooooooh new comments…
I should post a new picture of James as my hot nurse….
I know I was joking about getting a picture of his bum, but I could use some entertainment!
…#thegreatbumchallenge…
I’m kinda jealous that James has a much cuter rumpus than me…
James should lecture wearing only low rise jeans. His class attendance would be remarkable…
I probably should get around to reading the Illiad like I told him I would…
Or maybe I’ll just reread the Odyssey. It looks so pretty on my bookcase…
It’s been way too long since I’ve watched O Brother, Where Art Thou….
That soundtrack is amazing…
Why haven’t I posted anything from that soundtrack on my blog? ….
Soggy Bottom Boys. The Great Bum Challenge. Done and done….
If you tracked right along with me, we should hang out more. If you didn’t understand a word I just said, thank you for still loving me.
Congrats Stephen Bayer! I knew in my heart that this would be the winner the moment I saw it, and the voters agreed. Your Pinhole Press prize is coming soon, I can’t wait to see what you do with it! This image is framed and ready to sit by my bedside to make me [...]
Congrats Stephen Bayer! I knew in my heart that this would be the winner the moment I saw it, and the voters agreed. Your Pinhole Press prize is coming soon, I can’t wait to see what you do with it! This image is framed and ready to sit by my bedside to make me (and likely my nurses) smile.
I love humor. I smile or laugh almost as much as I talk, which, believe me, is a difficult feat. I think one of my greatest strengths in life is the ability to find light and humor in just about any situation. Life is often unkind and harsh, and many painful circumstances may arise, but we [...]
I love humor. I smile or laugh almost as much as I talk, which, believe me, is a difficult feat. I think one of my greatest strengths in life is the ability to find light and humor in just about any situation. Life is often unkind and harsh, and many painful circumstances may arise, but we can control how we choose to respond. A tendency towards wit and playfulness is undoubtedly a defense mechanism at times, though as far as coping habits go, I wouldn’t prefer any other. 30 years of seeking out hilarity has balanced out my education (both formally and and all those audited courses at the School of Hard Knocks), and produced the well rounded person writing to you now. I love a good debate, thrive on serious & genuine conversation, and have my fair share of dark and twisty… but I believe life is simply to complicated not to find balance by seeking out joy.
How fitting that the inspiration for this giveaway started as a joke. Many enjoyable and ridiculous moment in my life also started that way. Seeing Celine Dion live in concert, a roadtrip to Roswell with my college roommate, the epic Dr Mario tournament of 2004 …. those all started as an off-hand comment and evolved into some of the more hilarious memories of my life. So, I have learned to just roll with it. A few weeks ago, a sweet friend joked about creating a line of “Hey Tumor” memes, along the lines of the adorable Ryan Gosling Hey Girl blog, but with far meaner quips than usual. This evolved into tumor related memes of all varieties, followed by the idea to make a competition with friends, and eventually opened up to everyone in my delightful, creative little world. Which brings us to the competition:
To bring a little light to my current dark situation, please join me in using the stupendous pairing of wit and pop culture, and send me your best surgery related meme! To make it fair, I have created an example using my favorite meme of all time (apologies to those who wanted to use this):
Get creative. Have a little LOT of fun. You can use an online creator, or photoshop your own, and I’m available by a slew of methods if you feel you need more info to perfect your creation. Please email all submissions to bmoore.photographer@gmail.com by Friday, April 27. The contenders will be voted on over the weekened, likely on my Facebook wall, and the winner will be announced shortly after surgery… via video. Which James will be recording during a hospital interview… while I’m still on my pain meds. Feel free to submit your own questions via comments. Good times and laughter for all.
For a bit of extra fun, the winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to Pinhole Press!!
Why Pinhole Press? I’ve had a hankering to do a giveaway with this company for some time. As a photographer who is obsessed with paper, I can’t help but swoon. In addition to gorgeous products, I respect this team and the way they run their business… thoughtful, kind, passionate, and just plain fun. Everything about this company makes me smile, so it just felt right to share a bit of joy in return for your efforts. Please check them out and fall in love yourself. Below is a few images of my most recent orders… there will be many more to come!
I’m looking forward to many laughs to come! Thank you for making this experience as happy as possible.
Anyone who enjoys to read or write knows the importance of a good opening. This is something I struggle with the most when I blog. I sat here for a solid 20 minutes, staring at the screen, wishing for a witty way to segue into today’s topic, ignoring the fact that a problem with bad [...]
Anyone who enjoys to read or write knows the importance of a good opening. This is something I struggle with the most when I blog. I sat here for a solid 20 minutes, staring at the screen, wishing for a witty way to segue into today’s topic, ignoring the fact that a problem with bad news is that there often is no (appropriately) clever way to share it. That is what makes it so awkward, and in that nature, I’ll just say it… I’m having surgery in 2 weeks. I’m not happy about it. I stare at my ankle, shake my fist, and make my most intimidating face, but no silly gesture can change the facts. So… I vent. I look for the positive when I can. I ignore. Today, I write.
I have struggled with a giant cell bone tumor since before my move to Boston. Thankfully, it is not malignant, but comes with its own set of problems. They are uncommon, and very little is known about these malicious little suckers. Essentially, they feed off of my bone. The best I can explain is to imagine if The Blob had a teeny tiny baby, which then decided to use my ankle as a crib… and just couldn’t stay away. This will be my 3rd surgery, which is an unusually high recurrence. It’s almost like my prior surgeries were the tumor leaving for college and then moving back in when it couldn’t find a job. But I digress…
In light of everything, there is much to be thankful for. James and I have found ourselves in the best possible situation. If life hands us lemons, we’ll try to squirt them over some lobster. We were lucky enough to schedule the surgery and recovery time over May & June, when I mostly had vacations and workshops scheduled, so I am happy to report I will be back on my feet for the bulk of my wedding season! My surgeon has never seen it come back a 4th time, so we are hopeful that this will be the last time going through this ordeal. Additionally, we were reminded over the last few weeks just how much our community here has flourished. The outpouring of support has been overwhelming in the best of ways!
A handful of additional silly silver linings:
1. James has agreed to finally watch LOST with me. He claims it’s a pity agreement, I think he is happy to have an excuse to give in to the awesome.
2. Offers of good home-coooked meals are building. As a foodie, I welcome this.
3. I wondered when I would have time to give my new branding and website all the love & attention it needed. Now I know.
4. All of my friends with boring office jobs will get to enjoy more distracting mid-morning conversations via Instant Messenger.
5. Because laughter is the best medicine, I’ve come up with a rather silly give away that will both lift my spirits and provide one lucky reader with something fun in return! Keep your eyes peeled for the full details this Friday!
Many thanks to everyone for your support! I look forward to the opportunity to connect more over the blog in the coming months. Lastly, because everything is more fun with a photo, here is a sneak peek at last weeks SoCal family shoot:
There were many causes for celebration this weekend. 4 cups of wine were raised among friends. Words of hope resonated across teeming church pews. Bursts of color exploded into our vision from every angle; cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, tulips & daffodils peeking out from their winter hiding spots, happy children frolicking in their [...]
There were many causes for celebration this weekend. 4 cups of wine were raised among friends. Words of hope resonated across teeming church pews. Bursts of color exploded into our vision from every angle; cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, tulips & daffodils peeking out from their winter hiding spots, happy children frolicking in their bright spring attire. Chocolate fueled sugar highs leave countless slightly nauseated, but oh so satisfied. For some, not partaking in any of the above was reason to be happy. However you chose to enjoy this time, I hope you wrap up your weekend refreshed & delighted.
It’s that time of year again! Another opportunity to: 1. Make a batch of delicious homemade Irish Cream Liquer 2. Look through my old photos & miss the Emerald Isle. 3. Toast my loved ones Image by Trooper Kristianson . This was a pretty fabulous day. May love and laughter light [...]
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
The dream of building a business is always more sparkly in our imaginations. Not vampire sparkly (bejeweled Edward still haunts my memories), just… brighter. Cleaner, more crisp, and incredibly enticing. Much of my work has all of that glimmer; the charm of beautifully styled events, the inspiration of creative new ideas, the comfort of editing [...]
The dream of building a business is always more sparkly in our imaginations. Not vampire sparkly (bejeweled Edward still haunts my memories), just… brighter. Cleaner, more crisp, and incredibly enticing. Much of my work has all of that glimmer; the charm of beautifully styled events, the inspiration of creative new ideas, the comfort of editing at home in my yoga pants. Of course, there is the stark yin to my twinkling yang; the disappointed twinge of a lovely couple going another direction, the excessive sacrifice of time & finances, the provocation from others in the industry offering criticism (without alternatives) and applying pressure to ‘keep up’ on superficial trends. To put it simply: there are dark days. On those days, we all need a little support.
I wasn’t going to write about attending Jasmine Star’s theFix workshop. Truth be told, I was not blown away by the content. Not because I don’t love J* (I do), and not because what she had to say was not valid (it is), I just have followed her for so long that it wasn’t new. But that wasn’t really the point of her tour… it was inspired by so many photographers reaching out and expressing that it felt good to know they were not alone in their struggles. As she spoke about the fact that, as professionals, we should help each other, I took a look around. Within that room, as well as my instagram and email feeds (yes I checked from the workshop, I’m an addict), I was reminded of other inspiring and aspiring creatives whose interactions, both large and small, have shaped and enriched my transition to Boston. This post is for them.
I raise a glass of prosecco to a gaggle of girls who reminded me how much I thrive in an artistic community. Kat, Debbie, Kendra, Laura, Kristen, Nicole, Megan, & Steph… your generosity, kindness, and fellow love of crafting all the things made me finally feel at home. Additionally, Jen, any lover of Green Day & theater is a friend of mine… and your sweetness helps too!
I raise a damn good craft beer (plus a cocktail or two) to Li & Alex for making me laugh while keeping it real. Some days I feel like my perspectives on life & business are not following the hype & guidelines of the industry, and then your careers remind me: screw that, I can set my own standards. A huge thanks to Li for repeatedly providing me with images that capture my life in the most honest of ways. Also, a warning to Alex that I may let the air out of your tires the night before you try to move to Oregon.
I raise a parmesean truffle fry to the driven, helpful, and thoughtful Shang (girl, you knows that’s better than a drink).
I raise a cup of coffee (hopefully better than the one I made him) to Tim for trusting me before you ever even met me. I owe a few amazing weddings to you, and I can’t thank you enough.
I raise a margarita (like the multiple yummy ones he paid for his informational thank you dinner) to Joe… and I say NO…thank you. From one semi-reformed punk rock kid to another, I can’t thank you enough for getting me organized and keeping me sane!
I raise a gin & tonic to Kristin. For design advice, cutting through the jumble of opinions bouncing in my head and getting to what I really want… you help me show the world who I am. For your friendship… well, there is too much to say. You & Eric are priceless.
I raise a Sam Adams taster glass to Alison; my most frequent visitor, most enthusiastic Music Monday contributor, and sharer of photo adventures. I’m looking forward to having you join me on my first wedding of the 2012 season.
I raise the contents from a rootbeer keg to my ladies from Spectre. From my own personal IT dept to the decorator of my windows, to so much more. You know who you are. You know what you do. You know I can’t post a link because that would reveal our secret group on Facebook. Oops. Carrying on…
I raise a glass of Malbec to Chelsea. For trusting me to photograph your wedding when I was still so new. For trusting me in so many other aspects of your life in the years before and after. Your friendship, your honesty, & your strength are cherished.
I raise my mug of tea to my oldest & dearest friend, Stephanie. You support me. You let me dream. You put up with my ever-changing crazy ideas. You paint me an Alot for my office (not so subtle hint? hehe). You are amazing.
I raise my arms to James & hold on for dear life. I wouldn’t be where I am today without your love.
Cheers,
Briana
ps- I did raise a glass to every single one of you. To be honest, it had tea in it everytime. What? It’s lunch time. I woudn’t have gotten through this post hammered…
I realize that I linked to this old blog post earlier today. However, as I read over these words again, I realized they are just as true, as vulnerable, as necessary as when I wrote them just over a year ago. I could think of no better day to post them again. If you don’t [...]
I realize that I linked to this old blog post earlier today. However, as I read over these words again, I realized they are just as true, as vulnerable, as necessary as when I wrote them just over a year ago. I could think of no better day to post them again. If you don’t mind a long read, here is a peek into my marriage.
For those who don’t know me well, they might find it odd that my most loved and excessively used nickname for James is something as formal as “Sir”. It is typically spoken with a slight lisp and a very large grin. I myself thought is was one of the more random habits to have surfaced, until the fateful day I revisited this video:
Again, for those who do not know me well, I would like to clarify I do not find my husband akin to Rasputin. I just really really love Bartok the bat. I quoted him a lot in college and it brought me great joy. Upon making this connection, I realized my calling him Sir meant that I was so happy, I brought out one of my favorite quotes without even being aware of it. This makes me smile. It also tempted me to respond to misunderstandings with “oh sure, blame the bat, what the heck”, but I think I will hold off on that for now. ha!
For our one year anniversary, James bought a journal for us each to update every year. It is where we write it all down. The better and the worse, our hopes and our fears. We are only a few years in, but already I enjoy reading through our yearly expressions and seeing how things have change, how we have grown. I am a bit behind this year with everything that has happened, so I have been thrilled to have this time where I am forced to rest. I have sat, focused, reflecting, and enjoying every moment of it. I realized as important as it is to write the thoughts for each other, I don’t always want to stop there. I have been reminded lately how much I cherish what I have with James, and how rare that has become. I would like to take a moment to say publicly what I say at home everyday… I love James, more than anyone or anything in this world.
I love that James is my family. For me, the word family has mostly been laced with pain and bitterness. When we got married, I breathed a sigh of relief that WE were a family, and for once that word was so sweet. Our home is a place where each is safe; safe to love, safe to struggle, safe to be imperfect, and safe to trust the other to redirect when needed. Though our attempts are nowhere near perfect, we try to remember to put each other first instead of fighting for what we want ourselves. That simple question of “how can I serve this person” is not how we are naturally geared, but the more natural that comes, the less headache comes with it. I love knowing that James is here. He is present. I love that we can have our own traditions. I love that he is not afraid to break off from his old life and make our family OURS. I love that we each play our own roles within our marriage, and that we are learning how to respect and value those roles equally. I love that I don’t like sleeping without him there next to me. I am excited for our family to grow… even though I don’t want that for a little while longer ha.
I love that James is my best friend. I love that he encompasses those things that are the most important to me within friendship. Honesty, open communication (even if it’s awkward), support, and accountability. I love that he can make me laugh, really hard, and consistently. I love that there is not a thing in the world that I can’t tell him. I appreciate that he knows when I am being silly just to make him shake his head at me… and promptly shakes it with a straight mouth but a glint in his eye. I love that we can dance like muppets around the kitchen. I love that he doesn’t let me win any game we play AND that he is not a sore loser considering how often I kick his trash at scrabble. I love that I can sit in silence with him in the car, for an hour, and feel at peace. I love that he lets me dream while he keeps his feet on the ground, and I love that with that balance we can make those dreams come true.
I love that James his own person… and that I have remained mine. Naturally marriage changes people, there are traits within each of us now that older friends are not sure what to do with…. and I’m perfectly ok with that. However, we still know who we are. I enjoy that we can take trips solo, indulge in separate hobbies, and essentially hold on the IMPORTANT pieces of ourselves from our past. You know, those things that drew us together in the first place? I love that we can disagree. I love that after all these years we can debate, get flustered, and hold on strong to our differing opinions… and then give each other a kiss. I like that I can tell him to stop being a turd, he can tell me stop being so sensitive, and we know we will each still stubbornly be ourselves… but try to ease up a little. I love that we have balance. It’s what makes us successful in many ways. We can be our own people while still respecting what we have together. We can respect our separate interests while keeping our life together the main priority. I am beyond blessed for that.
I love that James is a good man. I am beyond blessed to be married to someone as honorable as him. James is honest. If integrity could ooze out of someone, I would recommend a good majority of the world to come touch him and hope it rubbed off. He is hard working, and that word almost doesn’t do him justice. James has one of the most respectable work ethics I have ever seen. He comes across harsh to many, even myself at times. A practical man, he is characteristically calm and matter-of-fact. There are times this drives me bonkers… then I remember it’s just what I need when I am in a fury of passion or sentiment. I love that James has mature priorities, and I love even more that he sticks to them. He is responsible. He has taught me so much. I love that he is tender, but reserves that for those who deserve it. He is choosy with who he lets into his life, and he protects me from those who have not deserved their place in mine. I love that he is confident, but not above reproach. I love that he doesn’t put up with bullshit. I love that I need to stop myself here or I will go on forever.
I love James. I just figured it was time to let you all know what I meant when I said that.
I’ve been singing this cheesy Jeffrey Osborne song all morning (click the link at your own risk). Today is not just a day to celebrate love… here in the Moore household, I’m celebrating MY love… because James was a Valentines Day baby! I’m fairly certain his mother would have preferred chocolates over labor that [...]
I’ve been singing this cheesy Jeffrey Osborne song all morning (click the link at your own risk). Today is not just a day to celebrate love… here in the Moore household, I’m celebrating MY love… because James was a Valentines Day baby! I’m fairly certain his mother would have preferred chocolates over labor that day, but I enjoy the overlap.
Normally the musical choices are a bit more sophisticated in this home, but I’m considering making an entire wing playlist for tonight. Suggestions are very welcome. Last night, I informed James that I thought maybe he would enjoy Birthday chicken wings. He then laughed and said he had been thinking I might enjoy Valentines chicken wings (with a side of potato salad, of course. mmmm). After a hilariously shaped sunburn dubbed James “chicken wing” last year, and his fondness for calling me spud, sharing this meal brings me great joy. Well… that and the crack that I’m fairly certain our local joint puts in the sauce. Seriously. These wings fly through my dreams. I can’t wait to sit down with my sweetie over good beer & delicious food, reveling in another year of his life… which is the best part of mine!
However you choose to celebrate this evening, I hope it is meaningful… whatever form that may take.
Happy Birthday, Sir! Thank you for making me laugh & prance & sing silly joyful songs on a daily basis. I love you.
My final “shoot” was casual. Spending two nights with my dear friend Chelsea, I was able to enjoy not just our usual cherished conversation, but the added fun of watching her & Dieter with their daughter, Annabelle. I’m so proud of them. Here is a few of my favorite moments with this adorable, curious, Beiber [...]
My final “shoot” was casual. Spending two nights with my dear friend Chelsea, I was able to enjoy not just our usual cherished conversation, but the added fun of watching her & Dieter with their daughter, Annabelle. I’m so proud of them.
Here is a few of my favorite moments with this adorable, curious, Beiber -lovin’ lil lady.
The last few days of my trip were the most joyous. I love Boston, more than I can say, but there are many things I miss about my home state. Friends. Burgers. Sunshine. The children who first won over my heart (and are getting too big) and the new little ones that make it so hard to be away. The best Chai lattes ever. Sports games where the fans don’t semi-scare me. Dogs… lots and lots of special dogs. For these moments, I left the gear packed up and tried to simply be present… though in my weakest times, I brought out my phone for a quick snapshot. Here is a summary of life away from the expensive glass.
Looking forward to a brief trip back in April. Until then, you stay classy California.
