Pink Lotus Yoga Center Celebrates its First Year!!!

"I can't believe it's been a year already..."

That's the first thing I thought of when my girlfriend Nicole told me that she was preparing to celebrate the first year anniversary of her yoga center, The Pink Lotus Yoga Studio in Lexington, SC.

Nicole and I met when I was sent to photograph her studio for an article in a local magazine I was working with. We became instant friends with an array of past life experiences in common. Since that day we have spent countless hours doing nothing but laughing. I mean rolling on the floor, cry your eyes out laughing. And I haven't had a girlfriend that I could be my complete self with in much too long.

I love how I don't have to be anything other than me. If I want to curse, I curse. If I want to cry, or bitch, or scream, or plot (lol!!!) I can do it with her, and it feels so liberating.

I have captured many images of my friend since that fateful day, and today just added to my growing Pink Lotus Yoga file...

Thank you Nicole. Thank you for your friendship in this town that is so hard to make friends in. Thank you for taking me just as I am, and for not judging. Most of all thank you for just being you, and for loving those in your life with such grace.... I am forever grateful!!!!

Congratulations on your first year of success! Here's to many-many-many more.

Namaste.....

As the Olympics draw near...

It's 9 days until the Olympic Games of 2012 begin in London. I'm sick at the thought that we could have attended if we were still in Germany right now. :(

I can't wait to watch our United States athletes compete for gold. As most might assume, my favorite sport to follow is surely Gymnastics. Each and every year these little ladies perform routines that we were not even imagining back in my day. I am never not amazed at their talents.

Awhile back a commercial came on our tv from P & G that thanked Olympic Moms for their dedication to building our next round of Olympic hopefuls. I was on the couch in tears. I mean the "UGLY CRY" tears. My husband was lost??? "What is wrong with you baby...?" I couldn't even answer him, I just pulled the video up on YouTube and pointed to the screen.

This commercial is so my mother and I. She was the one waking me up early for practice, prepping meals, cheering me on from the side lines, crying with me at the failures and screaming with me at the successes. I never did make it onto the Olympics, but my dreams of that accomplishment and those of my mother still haunt me to this day.

In our own little ways I don't think either of us ever got over the loss of that dream. And although we have not spoke but 3 times in well over 10 years now, she is always in my thoughts and prayers and a video such as this just touches my heart.

Those were the happy days between her and I...

Much Love

Meet the McKnights~

One of my last 3 weddings in the states, and it was held at the famous River Walk Marriage Island this evening under calm skies and light winds... and it was wonderful! I have such a personal attachment to my clients, and this couple was no exception. In fact, as Jennifer and I stood in her suite talking about the ceremony I welled up. Just after Matthew came to me bag in hand, Jeni was giggling "Go ahead Deb, open your gift!" My gift? Me... a gift? But its your day?
That's what kind of people Jennifer and Matt are. Beautiful, thankful, humble, kind, and amazing! In the box was an amazing bracelet with a camera charm!!! It was custom made just for me and it was incredible! I will cherish this forever... so thoughtful of you both. I love it!

Clayton joined me this wedding, playing with his new Mark II... I'm so jealous! :) So together we started snapping images of the bride preparing for her groom, as the groom grabbed a drink at the bar in the lobby of the Historic Mengar Hotel. Then we all waited, as Jen opened the patio door and walked up to an anxiously awaiting Matt. It was so wonderful to watch that first look. Matthew cried, I just love when they do that!

We all headed to Marriage Island where Rev. Henry Kahl performed the ceremony for the excited couple. Following the ceremony we took portraits of the bride and the groom then set them free to an evening at the Achiote Cafe' at the Hyatt.

Thank you for my beautiful bracelet! Thank you for allowing me the honor of being the one to capture this precious moment in your lives. It has been a pleasure! Oh, and I have to tell you that it takes one heck of a woman to climb a cement post in the middle of the street just for that "money shot", as Jen put it! You're the best girl!

Huge thank you to Clayton Austin for his beautiful video of Jennifer and Matthew!!! He has MAD skills!!!! (Be sure to turn off the volume for this blog before playing video) :)