I remember that I always looked up to you because you were so smart and so opinionated and knew exactly what you wanted even at such a young age as ours. I remember sitting on my laptop with dial-up until six in the morning, role-playing and talking. I also remember you were the first online friend I ever talked to on the phone. I remember pacing around my room in California because I was so nervous. But because that went so well, and because my away message said, “On the phone with CJ”, Eric then messaged me and said he wanted to talk to me too. But you and I lost contact and after years, I had an email in my inbox and today you left me a message telling me that if you didn’t see me tomorrow, you wished me a Happy Birthday.

You are patient, kind, and forgiving and I’m sorry I don’t know you as well as I should. And thank you for so many wonderful years.

I was so terrified about this photoshoot I can’t even begin to explain it all, but here’s my attempt: It was my first time actually using the studio aside from the fun test shots I took with the girls, and to be honest, I really feel as if I have no idea what I’m doing. I thought those shots with Riley were a fluke. And around 11 o’clock I started panicking. What am I doing? Am I crazy? I can’t shoot someone’s senior photos. I haven’t even used this studio before! But it couldn’t have been more fun. Ink and Jamie were absolutely wonderful, and Jamie assured me that the point was to have fun, and that I was building my portfolio- and that’s all that mattered. She was also kind enough to bake some of the best damn cookies I’ve had in a while, so if you read this- thank you Jamie. They were both super creative and willing to try anything so it was a blast. I adjusted the lights and was able to test out a few different styles, and shot about a zillion photos. Obviously the ones I posted are just highlights, some of my personal favorites, but overall it was a great experience. Thank you both and I hope you enjoy the turn out as much I have. You can either view them at the gallery or if you have a flickr account and feel like viewing and commenting there, feel free.

Well, I’m off for a birthday dinner with my mom and perhaps some of the rascals, and then maybe we’ll do something silly later. But not to celebrate of course, because I hate that. : D

PS: Doesn’t Jaime look like strikingly like Kate Beckinsale in some of those photos?!