Believe it or not, MANY people don't like receiving gifts. It's a form of social anxiety and is usually a result of guilt, fear of being in debt, inadequacy and dislike for the spotlight. To become a counselor, I’ve had to learn some surprising things about how a person percieves things. One of them kind of relates to Christmas — and helps explain why I hate it so much (or more accurately, why it makes me deeply uncomfortable). I’m someone who genuinely doesn’t receive physical gifts well....

Why is it we tend to stop putting effort into ourselves after we get married or have kids?  It’s like all the energy we used to have for looking and feeling our best was isolated to being attractive to a potential spouse. And with kids, there’s simply no time to put effort into anything other than them.  Let’s face it, their needs come first, and they are demanding!  It’s easy to put yourself last in that case because what little energy you do have seems wasted on putting on makeup or pretty...

As a photographer, my role extends far beyond merely snapping photos; it’s about forging meaningful connections. One of my favorite things about being a photographer is seeing my clients outside of our sessions — whether it’s in the grocery store, at a local event, or just around town. I love the chance to say hi and see how everyone is doing. Those little moments remind me how special this job really is — because it’s not just about the photos. It’s about the connections that come with them....