Archive for March, 2011

3 years ago today : I was married.

March 29

3 years ago.

I knew, but yet I did not know.

I knew that this was the man God intended for me. He had made that clear enough through a long-distance relationship in Japan, through many late night phone calls, through so many affirmations. It was as simple as the way he made me feel. It was as simple as knowing that I would rather not live the rest of my life apart from him.

Yet I did not know, then, that this man would truly be FOR ME. That he would make me a better person in every single way. That he would support me in ways I could not imagine, through dark hours of bad health, through the hardship of starting a business. I could not know, then, how he would be the reason I could follow my dreams.

I know now.

I know without a shadow of a doubt that this is a man, and a marriage, worth fighting for. With everything in me, I know.

We are so completely opposite, him and me. And there are days that I feel tired of working those things out. Trust me, I do. Every one  has those days.

But oh, friends, it is worth it.

Marriage is not meant to make you happy. It is meant to make you better.

If you, if I REALLY believed that, today, how would you serve your spouse differently? I know that I would stop my selfish internal monologue and start serving more.

My commitment today is to keep fighting.

A good marriage REQUIRES fighting.

Fighting the part of me that wants to be selfish. Fighting the business and staying in for a night on the couch. Fighting the distractions of our work, the internet, the world.

You know why I love wedding photography? Because it is a reminder of the way we felt then, the love that filled us up so much that we were brought to tears.

But also because it reminds me just how FAR we’ve come.

Aaron, I love you.

You are my heart.

And I would marry you again, 100 million times.

(Our tables were named after famous individuals who had visited the Palace Hotel…)

(The cake was supposed to be white with colored buttons. I’m over it, clearly.)

Aaron, I love you more today than ever before.

 

Xoxo

Em

 

…

Our wedding vendors: It’s Your Day! Wedding + Event Planning / Nikki Ritcher + Jenny at Red Loft Studios / The Palace Hotel / Gown : Melissa Sweet

Posted in personal, wedding | 11 Comments »
ludwig family : lifestyle portraits

March 28

Meet the Ludwigs.

3 girls, 1 boy, and a whole lot of chaos. The best kind of chaos imaginable.

It’s a flurry of dance moves and hula hoops and laughter and whining and crying and singing.

It’s a beautiful mess.

I love every single one of these photos because they capture my friend’s lives right now : messy, but good.

And really, it’s just impossible to get everyone looking at the camera at the same time.

But you know what, I like it that way.

In fact, I never make any promises any more that I can get everyone to look at the camera at the same time. Not only does it never work, but I would much rather run around and play together and get a little messy.

That’s how these pictures happened : we made some time to play.

I am so thankful we did.

Dave + Victory, I love seeing you both raise these kids in your way. You are so gentle and firm and I respect you both so much.

One day : Aaron and I want to be parents like you.

my favorite photo of sofia:

favorite of little miss violet. little diva.

 

Xoxo,

Em

Posted in family, kids, portrait | 11 Comments »
home : comfort

March 24

Going home can be difficult sometimes.

Not only are empty weekends hard to come by as a wedding photographer, but because when they do, I want to sit around and relax.

The thing is, if we don’t drive down to Torrance to see my dad and brother whenever we can, we don’t see them very often.

This weekend we chose love over comfort, and I am thankful.

Choose love.

Even if it hurts.

Of course, it didn’t hurt to smell the ocean.

That was good.

Xoxo,

Em

Posted in personal | 1 Comment »
for japan : with love

March 17

Tomorrow is a day of silence.

Silence from bloggers in support of those who are hurting from the devastation of the immense earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

I will be silent.

I will be praying.

And I hope you will join me.

Please click here to donate.

Every little bit is important and does make a difference.

 

With Love,

Em

Posted in personal | No Comments »
my space : the office

March 17

 

I’ve been meaning to show off my office since my sweet friend Michaela came over a few months ago and helped me paint the office and lend her design eye to help me reconfigure the room.

I’m so thankful for her help! It was quite a challenge to figure out a good way to open this small space up for clients while also having room to store items and fit my computer.

What really took me forever though, was getting everything on the walls.

I’ve recently come across a canvas company that I am crazy about… the quality, the look, the feel. Perfect.

So it’s been a process figuring out which canvas sizes to show off…it’s important to me that my space is not only about items I love to give to my clients, it’s about what I like. Things that make me happy and inspired.

So now I will show you my space. My happy place.

Right now the office is a mix of old and new. Aaron and I have to share this space and so it was important that it not be too girly and also functional.

One day…. there is a loft somewhere with my name on it. Tall ceilings… exposed brick… huge windows…. huge couches and canvases.

Until then, as my business grows, I appreciate the challenge to conserve where I need to and make what I have work.

And until then… I still dream a little.

Chaise lounge + Cardboard buck from Urban Outfitters. Clock from IKEA. Suitcases from the Salvation Army. Mirror from a sweet friend. Coffee table stolen from my dad.

… new business cards from Emily Ley Creative and Making Brands Happen!! I love.

Chandelier repurposed from the house that Aaron’s parent’s tore down to build their new one. Score!

Some manly things above the bookshelf. I love the drawing of Abraham Lincoln that Aaron and I scored at an Estate Sale last year.

Canvas! From Jon +  Ledah’s wedding. Probably my favorite image ever.

Above, my mom’s 35mm pentax. Below, a photo of me she took with it.

I wish she were still around to see how much I love her images. I should scan them all in so you could see them. There are thousands…

Getting organized : This chart helps me see visually where I am at with my workflow. So helpful!

My sample albums. Sometimes I just flip through them. They are so beautiful.

These canvases are in our living room, which is a partial extension of the office.

I love that these are not only samples but they are also my cherished momento from our amazing day after session with Gabriel Ryan.

Thanks for stopping by, friends. Odin hopes you will come over in real life sometime, too.

 

As a reminder, images from this post are on sale and 100% of the proceeds will benefit survivors of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan.

And tomorrow I will be participating in a day of silence to benefit for japan with love. more on that later today.

 

xoxo,

Em

Posted in personal, photography | 5 Comments »