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Tami Paige
Tami, a blogger and wedding photographer, sits down with people from all different places in life and discusses life, love, family, relationships, and wherever the conversation leads.
...what did I just say??
I repeated it, "This was the year that so many of the 'no's in my life made sense".
The profound gift of that sentence was not lost on me. I looked at my friend and he smiled and reached out and squeezed my arm. I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked down, hoping he wouldn't notice the tears...although happy tears...filling my eyes. He did...and he said, "You're one of the lucky ones."
It was all things black + white, Chanel, good food, sweet friends, fun music, and celebrating the beautiful birthday girl with her husband and friends! This is the second event I've gotten to shoot at Twenty Eight in Newport Beach, CA. The lighting, atmosphere, food, staff...everything is always perfection.
It was one of those times when I was truly just documenting love. I gave little directions here and there, but the looks, the laughs...those were all theirs.
Today I ate oatmeal for breakfast. I'm about to workout as my new month resolution, devotions, edit images I shot in Los Angeles over the weekend, work on emails, plan out my week for Tami Paige Photography, do some writing, and work on a couple design projects I have lined up.
I was standing in a line that just felt stupid-long. The kind of line that only makes sense on Black Friday, at Disneyland, and...the post office at Christmas. I'd been standing there for probably 5 min. and it hadn't moved.
This story is anything but glamorous...because I was 14 years old...and nothing in my life was glamorous at 14.
Her name was Rachel. I don’t know where Rachel is at…it’s weird how she left my life as quickly as she entered it. It was a few years ago. I don’t remember much about where I was in life; living in Chicago, contented, shooting weddings, visiting home too often because I was homesick…you know, the usual. :)
I think I may have trust issues because of Vanilla Extract. Well, vanilla extract and oatmeal raisin cookies portraying themselves as chocolate chip cookies. :)
As we were walking to take pictures, Greg (the groom) came up to me and said, "If we could include all the guys into the pictures, like the ushers, that would be great." So, here's the thing...there were a lot of guys. And when Greg said that to me, it spoke volumes of who he and Kelley are...because they have such a love and warmth about them. They make you feel like you could call them up and ask to drink hot cocoa in their living room and talk about nothing and everything. And by "you" I mean "me". ;) The people in their lives aren't just fillers...it was evident that every single person there had great significance to and love from Greg and Kelley. Their families are their best friends and their friends are like family.
The day was rainy and cloudy, but there was so much warmth and love between these two, that it literally turned a gloomy day into a cozy hug. Kelley and all her beautiful bridesmaids got ready in the Elizabeth Taylor suite at the Public Hotel and I was DIE-ing over the light!! I mean, DIIIIEEEE-IIIINGGGG!!!!
The beautiful ceremony held at the St. Alphonsus Church was breath-taking and the reception and celebrating followed at the Germania Place. It was such a sweet day filled with a lot of laughing and love.
Greg + Kelley...I'm inspired by your love for each other and how it pours out to all those around you. It was an HONOR to be a part of your day and I simply adore you both. So much love for you.
TP
A HUGE HUGE HUGE thank you to Erin Joy Moody for being my second set of eyes and taking such beautiful pictures by my side!! You are always such an amazing partner on a wedding day and I was honored to have you with me!!
Bridal Suite - Public Hotel
Ceremony - St. Alphonsus
Reception - Germania Place
Wedding Planner - Kelly Kloak Events
Makeup Artist - Salon Duo
Hair Stylist - Robyn Tornabeni Productions
Car Service - Dynasty Limousine
Band - Chicago Catz
I don't know if it's because I've been living back home for a few weeks now, or if it's the coffee dates I've been having, but I've realized that there's just something about those friend who "knew me when..."
She was a friend of a friend in college, and I hadn't really seen her since. But last May, when I had my workshop back in Central Illinois, Lindsay came...and I was reminded again how much I just really like her. She was expecting their daughter at the time, so when she emailed asking about doing a newborn session...I didn't hesitate!!
Last week, I got to spend the night with my stepmom and their dogs while my dad was on a trip. These boys are so funny and are known for only understanding Japanese. The couple times I've babysat them, I've found myself Googling Japanese words like, "Please eat!" (as they're so polite they won't eat 'til you give them permission) and "Move over" (as Randy loves to sit on my lap)...it's always quite the experience!! :)
I drive a lot. I mean, A LOT. You should hear my car...a mechanic would say it's a muffler problem, but I think it's Dezzie cursing me under her breath. And she's sounding like a mountain man who's had a few too many whiskeys. I think she caught wind that a 30 hr. drive is coming up, and has decided to go on strike. I'm annoyed with her. She's being a brat
If I could, I'd have breakfast, brunch, lunch, lupper, supper, and late night popcorn with each of you!! We'd sit and have a great update-hash-out session. It'd be awesome. I have this amazing combination of kettle corn and chili cheese fritos that would blow. your. mind. You doubt it...I can hear your thoughts ;)...but trust me...it'd be blown.
Today feels like a big day. Even as I'm writing this, I keep thinking, "Wait, this is for real?" And it is.
But I feel like I need to give a little backstory first...
I remember sitting in my cubicle in the P-3 building of State Farm. I had basically been handed a job right out of college and it had landed me in a sales position. It was a great company...one I'll always love because of the opportunity it gave me...but I also knew it wasn't what I'd envisioned for my life. I was the girl that was going to be the actress, the astronaut, the jockey, a talk show host, and more realistically, the lawyer. I had never dreamt of being a sales rep selling auto insurance...and not very well, I might add.
I didn't hate my job...but I also knew it wasn't necessarily a good fit. I worked hard and was decent...but knew this wasn't a long-term reality. Pretty quickly, I started seeing not just months pass but years. I moved to a couple different departments...new positions. I decided to try out photography on the side...so I bought a URL, a camera, and made my big announcement.
It was somewhere about that time that I was sitting at work when I got an email from my sister telling me that she started following a photographer out in California. She said, "I keep feeling like I'm reading your story...this girl reminds me of you because she was homeschooled, she worked for an insurance company, she was going to be a lawyer, she likes to write, and now she's a photographer. You should read her blog...her name is Jasmine Star." If you're in the wedding photography world, most likely, you know her name.
To be honest? I didn't think I'd read it. I wasn't much for reading blogs...just writing my own. But it was late one evening and I looked her up...and the next thing I knew, I'd read all her post from the previous 5 years. This girl was telling my story...or maybe, the story I wished was mine. I began following her career, and a few months later, heard her speak in Chicago. I remember 2 things from that day...1. She walked in and said, "Helllllooooooo DC!!!" to a Chicago crowd. I thought it was hilarious...I was trying so hard to hold in my laugh because that's completely a mistake I would've made and I thought, "Yep, I like her." and 2. She said that her husband JD told her, "I would rather you fail at something you love than succeed at something you hate."
That next evening, I was sitting in a team meeting at work and we were each supposed to go around and say what our dream job would be. It varied from landscaper, nurse, stay at home mom, professor...and me? Talk show host. :) What struck me is that no one...not ONE person said sales rep for an insurance company. We were all succeeding at something we didn't love. And I walked out of that meeting knowing I was going to take the chance on photography and resign with State Farm.
Through the years, I met Jasmine one or two more times at different events she spoke at...and each time, she was extremely kind to me. For some reason, I always wanted to cry and pour out my life to her! Ha! That's embarrassing. Her blog became my reference point for photography and business questions I had.
About 3 years ago, she taught an online class with Creative Live called reSTARt in Seattle, WA. I flew out to be an audience member. After the last day, everyone was at the wrap party and talking to her. I was tired and I could only imagine how exhausted she must have been feeling. Not wanting to make her talk to one more person, I turned to leave with my friend when she called me out. I'm so glad she did, because we ended up talking a little and that was probably the first 'for real' conversation we had. After we talked, she asked to take a picture with me...I knew she didn't need a picture of us...but she was offering it 'cause she knew I'd never ask. :)
Last fall, Jasmine and JD were in Chicago to shoot a wedding, and she contacted me to see if I could recommend someone to act as an assistant for the day...and I think in a drawn-out polite way I basically said, "Um, yes!!...ME!!" :) I followed them around watching firsthand how they shot a wedding, and I felt like I was an incredibly lucky student watching a team that does is so incredibly well. But what struck me even more than their photography was they are who I hoped they were. They consistently thanked me, included me, and trusted me. We talked, laughed...and I knew I was leaving with them as friends.
Since then, Jasmine and I kept in contact as she has talked me through business decisions, personal decisions, and has been a great sounding board for me. A couple months later, she blew me away by asking if I'd consider assisting her and JD again...this time while she shot The Knot Dream Wedding. I'll be honest...I wouldn't have said yes if I didn't believe in her and her business. I wouldn't. I knew it was going to be a huge day, leading up to it, and following the day...but I didn't hesitate for a moment...because of who she is. I was in and incredibly honored to help represent her brand.
I write all this because come September, I will be moving out to California to join her team in an assistant/apprenticeship role. In talking with Jasmine, we both feel like this is good timing and an extremely exciting step!!
I've been asked if I will still shoot Chicago weddings and my answer is...
ABSOLUTELY!!!! I will continue to shoot Chicago weddings and central Illinois weddings, and destination weddings. None of this will change. I am open for bookings and I definitely remain a wedding photographer.
This feels big to me...but in a good way. A very good way. It's not lost on me for a second with what an incredible opportunity this is...it's going to be an adventure!! I'll be sharing on here, Instagram and writing along the way!!
Much love.
TP
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If you've read my blog at all, you're probably familiar with my friend, Lauren (Wakefield) Truelock...she's one of my dearest friends who also happens to be a great photographer.
This is always a tricky post to write...the one I write on June 11th. It's tricky because a big part of me thinks, "People are tired of hearing about my mom"...and yet, the other part of me desperately wants to acknowledge this day that we lost her.
As a photographer, I get to document all different stages of relationships. I've photographed couples where it's brand new and they're a little nervous and some who have been married for 50+ years and holding hands feels like putting on a glove.
"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."
- Martin Luther King Jr.
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Talking photography, love, marriage, surviving cancer, and the beauty that came from all the hard times.
It's time for another weekend of...........
#Tamigrami
!!!!! :)
The word for this week is:
F O O D I E
I don't know if I'll ever forget sitting in the table for two in the restaurant window at Jane's with Laura.
Tami Paige sits down with her sisters and answer both fun and serious questions about being sisters and life
I'm so glad we're bringing TamiGrami back!! It's the perfect mashup of my favorite social media outlet and a game!! I always have to pick the winner at a random draw 'cause I could never pick from my favorite photo!! They're all great!! So, this week, the winner is...
Check out the hashtag #tamigrami for more fun Valentine pictures!!! You can always follow me on Instagram by click HERE !!!
It's time for another weekend of...........
#Tamigrami
!!!!! :)
The word for this week is:
V A L E N T I N E
___________________________
Here's the explanation ...
I post a word/phrase.
...no explanation.
Just a phrase.
You can take the word however you want to interpret it, and take an Instagram picture representing that word.
*You can follow me on Instagram by Clicking HERE or finding me at @tami_paige
And as I always love a give-away...one winner will be chosen for a $5 gift card to Starbucks or iTunes (your choice!)
Happy Valentine's Weekend!!!
I've said it before...I have an obsession with interesting interviews, provocative questions, profound stories, and fun conversations. I don't know what it is! I really don't. If you give me permission, I'll as the questions. ;)
"Okay Drew, I want you to look at Hannah...but don't smile." I said as I looked through my viewfinder at this beaming groom. He tried to tuck away the grin that was spread all over his face but was failing miserably. He laughed and said, "How am I supposed to not smile when I'm looking at her?!" I laughed and smiled to myself as I said, "You're right...you should always feel free to smile when looking at her." I never like cheese because it feels insincere to me...but there was nothing about that moment that felt cheesy or insincere. He literally couldn't NOT smile when looking at his bride.
Laura Romero and I have always known each other, but it wasn't until we both moved to Chicago a couple years ago that we began meeting over coffee to chat. These talks lead to sharing, dreaming, and a fun collaboration coming in 2015! Laura's photography focus is on lifestyle, senior sessions, and family...and it's always so fun to get a peek into a different world of photography!! She's run a very successful business for many years and is always a great motivator for me! When Laura asked if I'd answer some questions for her blog, I was extremely honored, and like our talks...was very honest. ;)
I think it's because I clicked into this video right after I'd watched an interview she'd had with Howard Stern (Yep, I watch Howard Stern interviews from time to time). I think I liked this for a lot of reasons...and it surprised even me.
"O-o-o....can I make it?!?"
I slid into the elevator behind a group of 6 and looked at the lit up "5" button that had been pushed.
I heard someone say behind me, "Oh good, we're all going to 5".
"Aaaaactually, I'm going to 4" I laughed and jokingly cringed as I pushed the button below theirs and added, "I'm so sorry! I'm going to make you all stop at floor 4!"
It was the first snow in Chicago...and we took advantage of it!
I loved walking around Lincoln Park with Greg and Kelley, laughing, feeling the snow, and breathing in the cold air!
It’s been almost a year since I began asking myself the questions, “What does it means to ‘love well’?”. How does one do it?
Today is my birthday. Taking a look at the 33 things I learned (or re-learned) this past year!
I LOVE shooting "Anniverary sessions" with my couples. I got to shoot Jeremy + Jenny's wedding over a year ago in Wisconsin, and it was full of wonderful family, great details, location, dress, wedding party...pretty much all the things that make me love a wedding. But beyond the wedding, I remembered just really liking Jeremy and Jenny...it was that feeling of wanting to hang out with them beyond a wedding day.
YOU'RE HERE!!!
I can't even tell you how exciting this is that I've actually launched my new blog...that the URL works (tremendous accomplishment!!!)...that I was able to publish it...and now, you're reading these words.
It's Back!! The Hero of the Month feature!! It just felt appropriate as I had a hero show up for me when I really needed her.
There's something about couples from Central Illinois that always hold a special place with me. I love having the excuse to go home and shoot in places that feel familiar and hang out with couples that know my friend's cousin's roommate...or something like that. :)