I held a contest for a free session through Busy Bee Lauren last year and Lauren and Nick were the winners.

Ever since the Life {as an artform} Chicago workshop I have been slowly implementing the Beloved movement into my sessions.  From the little games we play to the amazing moments shared between my clients….it is something they will always cherish. In case you were wondering what exactly this Beloved movement is…here is the vision according to its creator Jesh, “The Beloved movement is the belief that, as photographers, we have the ability to touch the world, one relationship at a time. Beloved is a remembrance of what is most important, a celebration of love.”

I practiced some of the Beloved movement with Nick and Lauren…..the images speak for themselves.

I know Lauren and Nick cherish these images….their thank you note said it all.

Much love, Miranda

Shelby has the type of smile that is contagious! Seriously I could not stop smiling as we were hanging out! Check it out!!!!

See what I mean!?!?

I wish you nothing but the best Shelby!!! Happy Senior Year!!

Much love, Miranda

First off I want to thank all of my wonderful clients for an amazing 2011!

Photo of me in Tennessee for Matt and Elyse’s engagement!!

They’ve flown me all over the country yet again this past year and I can not thank you enough for supporting me and my art! Each of you made an impact on my year all for the better!

Sometimes I stand too close to the edge….but that is where I like it……and you all are there to support me!

Thank you thank you thank you to my clients, friends, and other photographers who’ve helped and encouraged me. I am so glad to have people like you in my life.

In 2009 I posted a list on the blog on things I wanted to do before turning 28…..then I upgraded it and changed it to 101 in 1001 days.  I had been reading a lot of self helps blogs and craft blogs and found it very interesting and more of a challenge by doing it this way!

So last year I took my list and started adding things to it……I know some of these will not happen in 1001 days but that just means I can keep it on my list for the next 1001 days!

In 2011 I accomplish 20 plus things and hopefully blogged about most of them! This year I hope I can mark more off my list and really keep up with my blogging about them! I think number one on my list this year is to have a life outside of my photography and not be so tied to my desk…..I really hope this comes true!

Here is to a WONDERFUL 2012!  I am so excited to see what this year will bring!

My list started Jan 5th, 2011 and will come to an end on Wednesday, October 2, 2013

1. smile and laugh every day
2. remember to just BE.
3. sleep under the stars one night
4. go sledding with the family and make a snow angel – (DEC2009)
5. go back to cropping daze with the Hey Hay Sisters – (JAN2010-OCT2011)
   
6. ride a train – (JAN2009)
7. take a road trip alone
8. take a road trip with Adam (Portland/Seattle JUN 2011)
9. spend the night at the grand hotel in Mackinaw
10. go down as many slides as possible
11. spend an afternoon at a museum by myself
12. get to know myself a little better (AZ-May2010 & IL-June2010)
13. take up yoga
14. go sky diving
15. get over my fear of salt water
16. remember to stand still and take in those little moments & capture it along the way
17. go white water rafting in Colorado (July2010) LINK
    
18. take Adam to Oktoberfest in Munich
19. believe in myself
20. stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
21. kissed in the rain out of no where
22. de-clutter my house/life!  -  SLOWLY working on this!!!!
23. discover my green thumb
24. gotten flowers for no reason
25. get the roll of film developed from our honeymoon 3 years ago…..
26. design and print my own wedding album
27. buy an ipad (FEB 2011) LINK
    
28. practice “pay it forward” any chance I am given
29. start recycling more
30. go kayaking 4 times (JUL11)
31. buy 12 things from etsy.com I THINK I HAVE FAR SURPASSED THIS HEE HEE
32. send a random gift to someone on my mind once a month (JAN11FEB11MAR11APR11MAR11JUN11JUL11AUG11DEC11)
33. throw a party “Miranda” style 4 times– (DEC2010-AUG2011-DEC2011)
34. plan a once in a life time adventure
35. loose a shoe
36. make a difference in someone’s life
37. go see a French film at a theatre
38. visit a foreign country
39. go strawberry-picking
40. go back to LA NO
41. SCRAPBOOK at least once a month – with BECKY
42. scan in my old photographs
43. buy a good scanner
44. create a window display for every holiday for a year(Oct10-Dec10-Jan11-Feb11-Mar11-Apr11-May11-Jun11-Jul11-Aug11-Sept11-Oct11-Nov11-Dec11)
45. add new white serving bowls and platters to my collection (JUN11)
46. CLEAN and organize my desk once a week
47. buy my desk add-ons from IKEA (MAR11)
48. host a psychic party
49. travel back to Arizona
50. travel to Maine during LOBSTER FEST!
51. don’t eat fast food for a year (taco bell excluded hee hee)
52. buy a house
53. add a new addition to our family (human not animal) Ha Ha oooppps LINK to meet Feta!
54. take Samson and Feta for a walk at least once a week
55. lose 20 pounds
56. FINALLY get family photos taken of Adam, Samson and I (THANKS DEREK!! Dec2011) LINK
    
57. have lunch or dinner with a different friend once a month (Jeff-Becky-Thacker-LesaSherry-Derek-Miller-Andrea)
58. write a letter to myself to open in 10 years (how I met your mother)
59. Attend WPPI
60. get Urban Women up and running
61. buy a new camera (MAY 2011)
62. have my work published in theknot magazine!!!!!!!!!!  LINK
    
63. get my business in order and stay in order!
64. learn to save $$$$$$$
65. have new fun headshots taken (APR11) LINK thanks ED
    
66. hire an office assistant/intern (APR11) LINK
    
67. get more involved with ThinkPink / breast cancer awareness (Signed up for 3daywalk! DEC2011) LINK
    
68. finish website and launch by July 7th
69. begin a new photography project
70. hang the wall of inspiration
71. remember to take photographs just because (PORTLAND-JUN11)
72. take my company to a new level
73. buy new lens (MAR11)
74. watch the “one light” DVD that has been on my very messy desk for 2 months now (SEPT-11)
75. put together a monthly newsletter
76. have my stickers printed for my new packaging (FEB11)
77. blog post about albums and packaging
78. blog post casual Fridays – every Friday!
79. blog once a day for a month LINK LINK
    
80. photograph at least 2 more baby bump series
81. photograph a live birth
82. attend a very special workshop……
83. travel to California, Colorado and or Portland (wedding to shoot or not)
84. redo the lighting in my office (Adam put in a FAN Light!! AUG-11)
85. rework my workflow (JUN11)
86. rekindle my love of all things Adam
87. paint the spare room and decorate it!
88. blog more personal posts!
89. edit my personal pictures and not let them wait years!!
90. read 6 books
91. blog 4 times a week
92. do another self portrait series
93. figure out a weekly work scheduled and stick to it!
94. set aside Sunday nights for date nights with Adam sub part to #86!
95. stop drinking Soda!
96. hang out with my family more!
97. -personal-
98. walk in the Michigan 3daywalk event in August 2012
99. finish 6 projects from pinterest (food not included)
100. blog more of my dinner recipes…so yummy!
101. finish backing up my system & keep current!
102. buy this from Ikea to organize my tissue paper collection!
103. be a good friend

 Welcome 2012, I am SO ready for you!

Much love, Miranda

Their wedding is this summer and is taking place in the University of Michigan’s Union and I am beyond excited for it!

For their engagement pictures Jonny and Kristin wanted to go back to where it started….the University of Michigan campus!

It had been a while since I had photographed there, so I was up for finding some new places. We had a blast!

Here is where it all happened…..where Jonny proposed!!

I loved the outfits Jonny and Kristin picked out….I loved all the fun colors!

I think the highlight of the day was heading to the Painted Rock! I even joined in……don’t hate me!!!

Oh so much fun!!

I can not wait to see you two again!! Can June get here already!?!?!!?!

Much love, Miranda

I know I blogged my personal pictures from that trip but I am just getting around to blogging their wedding! AH! This year has been CRAZY!

Rojea and Amanda were married at THEwedding Chapel at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino! We had dinner later that night at The M Resort in the private Studio B Show Kitchen Buffet! Oh the food…..

I met up with Amanda at the salon and hung out with the ladies while they got their hair done!

love the little details…..

While Amanda was getting her Bride on……Rojea was getting ready with his guys!!

They are so cool……..

As I have said before Vegas Chapels have this weird rule where no one can have a camera except the chapel photographer, so I do not have any pictures from the ceremony. BUT Amanda and Rojea love the ones the chapel did! BONUS!

After they said I DO, we had time to go take bridal party pictures!!

Right before dinner we found out their wedding video was already up online and of course everyone re-watched it!! HA!

The next morning, bright and early we went to Red Rock Canyon!! It was SO cold but SO amazing!!

Later I will post their at home reception!! :] But for now enjoy!

A big thank you to Rojea and Amanda and her father for braving the cold morning!!!!

Happy One Year to Rojea and Amanda! Here is to many many more!!

Much love, Miranda

#67 on my 101 in 1001 days

I have taken on an incredible challenge.

On August 16-19, 2012 , I’ll be walking 60 miles over the course of three days, camping out at night with thousands of other women and men taking this journey with me.

230 DAYS until I put on my walking shoes to join these amazing women.

It’s for an event called the Susan G. Komen 3-Day™. One hundred percent of the net proceeds from the 3-Day benefits Komen and funds innovative global breast cancer research and local community programs supporting education, screening and treatment. Susan G. Komen™ works hard to build a future without breast cancer, and I plan on raising $2,300 to help bring us closer to that goal.

Please consider making a donation. You can spread your donation out over four months, using the payment plan option, when you donate online at The3Day.org. Please also ask your employer if they will double your donation with a matching gift.

You have seen my posts on the blog about team Sajhee Sajhees.  It is all about them.  I walk in honor of Christine, Aunt Mo and my Aunt Laura.

Just follow this link to visit my personal fundraising webpage and make a donation. If you don’t want to donate online, please download and print a donation form from my webpage and mail it to the address on the form. Or you can call 800-996-3DAY to donate over the phone. I would like to reach my fundraising goal by July, so don’t delay!

Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you for your support.

Much love, Miranda

P.S. Don’t wait – donate today!

I went into the workshop knowing nothing about Jesh, only that I was on the hunt to re-find myself and what I wanted in life. I even wrote a pre-workshop blog post about how I felt!  The first day of my work shop I looked at my roommate, Sam and said “Oh my gosh I found it!”

I felt lost and everything just seemed blah. During the workshop Jesh said things I already knew but YET I needed to hear!

An excerpt from this blog post after attending:
“…I owe Jesh for giving me the chance to partake in this AMAZING adventure. A journey I had been longing to take.  My first blog post prior to going was all about me doubting my work.  In reality I knew what I loved and wanted in life all along.  It took me three days to find and figure it all out…”

Yes, Jesh was an amazing, but the growth I experienced those three days wouldn’t have been possible without the other 11 people in the room. I knew none of them going into the workshop not even Sam, my roommate.  But yet by the end of those three days, I felt like I had known them for years.

This is not a photography workshop and it is not just for photographers. You will get to see how Jesh interacts with couples. You will get to learn about some of his Beloved Collection. You will get to meet some amazing people.

But most of all you will get to learn about yourself.

I tell you all of this because Jesh has giving me the opportunity to go through this all over again and I need you.

In June of 2012 he is bring Life {as an artform} to Detroit.

3 day workshop $1895

I know it is quite the investment, BUT for me it was SO worth it. This workshop is not for everyone but I do hope you look into it more!!!

email Shar at support@jeshderox.com for payment plan options or if you have any questions!

As a bonus Jesh is offer the Detroit attendees that if they register before the New Year, they will receive one free registration to either Business {as an artform} or the Beloved Collective (either physical or virtual for either one).

Email me if you have any questions!!

Much love, Miranda

 I took these images during the workshop when we were experimenting with the Beloved Collection.  Such passion.

A Christmas card for you all!

Much love, Miranda

Thanks to Jarrah and Jon, who’s wedding I have yet to show off……for allowing me to submit their wedding!

A big thanks to the lovely people who work for the knot Michigan for helping me and pushing this wedding!!

Goal #62 has been met on my 101 in 1001 days….. “have my work published in theknot magazine” CHECK AND DONE!

 Here is the cover….

 AND here is my published WORK!!!!

 The Knot Michigan is on newsstands NOW!! Get your copy!! :]

Much congrats to Jarrah and Jon!!!!!! I will be posting about their wedding after the new year!! :]

Much love, Miranda

WE welcomed Feta into our home on Thanksgiving day and have loved her ever since!

SAY HELLO to Feta our French Bulldog!

Samson is SO excited to have someone to play with! Their favorite thing to do is play tug of war!

Feta loves rawhide and barking a squirrels……she also enjoys laying on Adam’s lap.

I love this picture of Feta!

I just love how she sits….so CUTE!

Samson and Feta wish you a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!!! :]

Much love, Miranda