Ah, the down season. This year it took me to Argentina over my 31st birthday with my family. Lots of red meat, red wine and red hot tango.

The Andes – you’re looking at a 22,000 foot mountain right there…

Music, music, music! Tuba Skinny to Preservation Hall to the street.

This was just what I needed. I’ve been itching to just wander and shoot and New Orleans was the perfect place. It’s raw, colorful, beautiful and smelly. And the music, oh, the music.

I surprised my husband with a weekend trip to NOLA for his birthday. I also surprised him with 23 of his friends and family. Um, it was ridiculously fun. And I think I gained 10 pounds. And need to go to rehab…just kidding.

Anyway… I’ve been trying to shoot for myself more. Not worry about the end product and just capture the feeling. Here’s part one. We hit up the first Mardi Gras parade of the season, went to Preservation Hall, walked around, listened to street musicians, ate, caught some beads, drank and walked some more.

And this is what it looks like when you leave your white balance on florescent from the night before… ;)

For the past two years, I’ve been bartending 4-5 nights a week. I always promised myself that as soon as photography took off, I would be able to quit. But never knew when I had taken off – when I booked 30 weddings? When I made $60,000 a year? Two weeks ago, I had a major breakdown. The regulars at the bar were draining me – I was being negative and basically becoming a person that I did not like. I was unhappy with myself, mean to Bryan, putting negative energy toward a job that was supposed to be temporary and not putting the positive energy, time and work that it takes into building a business. Plus, I was seeing my husband for like 20 minutes a day at lunch. It sucked.

So, that afternoon, I cracked open a beer and started going through our annual expenses, writing down what it would take for both of us to make it work for me to quit the bar. My husband just finished law school and opened his own practice, so it’s not like we were rolling in dough by any means. I knew by me quitting the bar it ould be a major leap of faith for both of us. But I had to do it. There was no other option. And there was no other option than that we will both succeed in our prospective careers. Photography makes me happy – it challenges me, it fills me up, it’s my passion.

Since I gave my notice, I’ve booked two more weddings, a few portrait sessions, have three more possible brides and begin this Thursday walking on a cloud. I worked my last shift last night and woke this morning with relief, anxiety and a whole world open to me. I feel proud that I am going for it. I am going to plow through Seth Godin’s so-called “Dip” and come out successful on the other side.

And now for some snow day pics – 12″ we got on Tuesday and today it is melting fast …

Caught this woman taking a break on the lawn before I left a wedding recently. The light attracted me to it, and then the smoke made me pick up my camera.