I believe it was in 5th grade when I read Anne of Green Gables and decided I wanted to be a redhead. It wasn’t until around 11th grade that I actually went all out and dyed my whole head red. In the last 6 years I’ve had basically every color between bright orange and bright red. And in those 6 years I’ve only had one complaint as a redhead… that far too often my face turns the same shade of red as my hair. I have an intense problem with blushing!

You’re all probably thing what the heck does that have to do with anything?! Well last night I attended my first SmugMug meet up. Before I got on the freeway to begin the trek to Costa Mesa I tried to convince Alexis, my more than amazing friend who came along as my moral support, that there was no way we would make it there in an hour. No way. But I still got on the freeway. I think I started shaking with nervousness about the time we passed the 22. As the Harbor Blvd exit got closer and closer the more I desperately wanted to turn around and be anywhere but Costa Mesa. I can be a teeny bit dramatic sometimes. ;]

As I parked [locked my keys IN the car] and walked into a room full of 250+ photographers at 7 o’clock exactly I’m sure I was quite a comical sight. Eyes wide as I recognized people whose blogs I read religiously and glued to Alexis’s arm because I was so nervous someone would talk to me and I would have to admit to another photographer I was, in fact, a photographer. As we sat down Alexis was kind enough to point out that my face was nice and red. It’s embarrassing just being me! Hahaha.

It was an amazing night though, totally worth the blushing and the butterflies. Becker gave an amazing presentation [am I allowed to just call him Becker? I don’t know him! Haha] and I was reminded for about the millionth time this week that I truly am passionate about photography and how thankful that I have finally found something I love to do and want to do everyday of the rest of my life.

Will I go to the next SmugMug meet up? Of course. Will my face turn a pronounced shade of red upon entering the same room as the photographers I admire so highly? Probably. Will I actually step out of my comfort zone and meet 3 new people next time? Maybe. Haha. It depends on how bad my awkwardness is flaring up. ;]

Wow! That was a long story! When you probably just came here to look at pictures 😀 These are some of my most amazing friends who were kind enough to let me capture their extreme beauty when I had an itch to have a shoot :] I love that my friends are so loving and willing to support me. They’re the best ever.