valerie's heart in new york city

this session is dear to me for so many reasons. the best way to sum it up though is to repeat what i said on my facebook page about this beautiful woman: i secretly believe every "pro" photographer has them. the people who believed in you before you actually knew what you were doing. i'm not talking about your spouse or your family, or someone who loves you and knows you in real life. i'm talking about those strangers out there who somehow noticed your work when you were still mostly messing around. they believed in you before you even believed in you. then the thing that makes them more amazing---is that they continue to do so. they actually stick around--and they get behind every thing you do -always encouraging, always supportive. and even though you know you don't always deserve it, you are so so grateful, because without the kind words, you may not have kept going.

valerie was/is all that and more for me. then she had to go and become a way more amazing photographer than i am

(http://www.colibriphoto.com/project/)

awhile back i had the huge honor of photographing her family in NYC. it was so hard for me to choose an image from our session to fb preveiw because there were so many lovely ones---but i think this simple capture does a great job of showing the inner and outer beauty of my good friend valerie. xoxoxo canon eos 3, tri-x.

A + G get married in Colorado

i'm going to keep it short and sweet tonight, because this post is heavy on the pictures. i have never laughed so much shooting any other couple. these two are made for eachother. special thanks to my second shooter James Anderson, and assistant for the day Cassidy Brooke. they made me feel like part of a dream team. p.s. this bride is a rad colorado photog, and seeing as how i just moved from the joint, well, you should maybe check her out http://www.apriloharephotography.com

p.p.s. A + G have the best engagement story ever. hint, it involves roller derby, a championship, and someone named winona fighter. yeah, check it out.

a few things that i know

my heart is full.

i have taken some of the most amazing shots of my career in the last week.

i have photographed some of the best photographers i know --and had one of my mentor's, someone pretty big and famous not only in film world, but the whole photography world at large...

hire me to photograph his family

the honor is huge. so huge it leaves me emotional.

but something i'm not sure of:

whether this slew of clients, many of whom are my photographer friends, have rallied around to hire me for my skill, or to simply lend me a hand--

bottom line?

it totally doesn't matter. either one is 100% touching to me and i'll take it.

and i'll do a freaking yantastic good job (yes i use my name as part of a made up adjective which is incredibly jerky, but its who i am).

the thing i know very very very most of all ------ is that nothing that happens in my career or the rest of my life would mean a darn thing without this:

i love them i love them i love them. and i'm ready to be done with this amazing trip and head home. just a few more days marty pants--just a few more days.

xoxo, yan