Can miles truly separate you from friends...

This quote makes me smile every time I see it! I try to think of the reason why. Well, the last couple of days made me realize why? Everyone who knows me personally considers me as a work-a-holic and kid-a-holic. I think that as well. I am always at home studying and just spending time with the little one. The more and more I stayed home, I have forgotten about myself and my self worth. Doubting my self all time has caused a strained on me as a person. It started to take a toll on my self esteem and confidence. During this time, you realize who are your friends and who are going to stand by you to the end especially when are at your low point. 

"I am beautiful and I am worth it!"

Really comes to mind and what a good feeling it is. Spending the weekend with friends and associates has helped me with my mode of thinking today. I can actually say yesterday it exciting as well. I put my makeup skills to use on ME! Hey, I do have to make my almond eyes pop, don't I? Being out laughing and enjoying life was really fun. Maybe, things will turn around maybe I can change again, but I do know one thing..

"It is sad not to love, but it much sadder not to be to love."

Please comment if you like. I would love to hear from you..

Until next time, 

Tosha XOXO

Photographer's Worst Nightmare..

Well.. my parents can tell you that I am surely accident prone. I have been that way for years.Well, after 32 years, it has finally has caught up with me. My greatest fear has came true, which is a night mare as a pediatric occupational therapist and a photographer. I, Tosha Gaines, with a medicated mind and good sensor humor has fractured a bone in my hand. Yes, I said it..  I am in a cast...Roll Tide Baby....

I supposed to be crying at the moment. NOT!!!!! I am actually ready to take on this challenge in both professions. I can test out my occupational therapy skills on myself (yeah, buddy!!) This also gives me an opportunity to understand my clients better who are limited with movements in one part of their body. I know this is going to be hard, but luckily I have a good support system and alot of people who care about this brat. I am just mad cause I am missing out on a gym day until I figure out how to write and adapt some things for functional use. I did  not expect to leave with this big thing on my arm. But things happen for a reason.. BTW.. I figured out how to hold my camera.. hahaha.... 

Until Next Time,

Tosha XOXO 

Ability beyond disability....

This post is well over due, but it will leave a lasting impression on you (I know for me, it will).  In December 2011, I had the opportunity to photograph the "Young Soloist Competition" for VSA Alabama. Before the competition, I was so exhausted from my daughter's Holiday Faire event. I was not sure how upbeat I would have been. When I walked into the room, my mood suddenly changed especially when the performers took the stage. 

A young women with a cello and violin

A young man who sung a beautiful song

A young man with a visual impairment with a voice of a grown up

A young man with smooth sounds of jazz from a saxophone

A young women with a voice that raised the hands of the room

...ALL CHANGED MY OUTLOOK THAT DAY...

I will end this post with this quote and something for you to remember

... NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE, THE WORD ITSELF SAYS " I'M POSSIBLE'! ...

THANK YOU VSA ALABAMA FOR BEING PART OF MY LIFE 

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

TOSHA

XOXO 

PS. PLEASE SHARE THIS POST.  THESE INDIVIDUALS DESERVE RECOGNITION FOR THEIR ABILITY

Oops.. Catch up time..

It is so hard to keep up with social media, it is scary. I am going to try to do better and I am going to start with boot camp for blogging. Maybe it will put me back in shape. November and December has been very busy for me and I was loving every minute of it. Here are sneak peeks of the sessions I have done for the last two months. Stay tuned for a brief summary of each session.

Lets start from top to right to left.. 

Arian: An old patient of mines while I was working in Early Intervention. She has grown up so much. It was such a joy to see her family again.  She is a miracle.

Clay, Carter, and Currie (Mom): Clayton lives in his own world which is Autism. He is also a former patient of mines.  Lovely family and I am happy for Currie with opening a new chapter in her life.

Bottom: 

Michelle and the girls (Lexie and Sadie): Ok, I thought my dog was rotten .. LOL I was wrong. The girls got him beat. This session was meant for her holiday cards.Check out the fancy neck wear. Sassy Chic  (the one who is holding them) is the designer. She is up and coming and wait watch out.. She throws a mean party as well. 

Elijah: Sweet boy, loved every moment with him. He is the son of a mutual friend. His mother was a delight to be around and truly loves him. The connection with them was priceless. 

Paighton:  I was going to shoot this sweet girl at the Railroad Park, but realized the park was crowded so we made a change of plans to the gardens (which I do not like btw, but hey you do what you have to do).  That day I am so happy I had my running shoes. But all in all, this girl is a diva. Her mother works for the stop that I shop for my daughter ALL THE TIME. Sadly, they know me by name now.. LOL

I will end this blog with this note. Three of the children has special needs. My focus in 2012 is to photograph more children with special needs. I am allowing myself to have one or two pro bono spots to families who want high quality pictures. These individuals with special needs need us. 

Until Next Time

XOXOXO

Tosha

Great Family.. than a heck of a week!

I spend my day off with a wonderful family at Old Town Helena on Veteran's Day.. I was kinda hesitate to photograph this family because they are a AUBURN family ( I am so a Alabama fan #RTR!) Wonderful personality and a caring relationship was felt during this session. I even had an opportunity to have lunch with them... Ain't I special? Here are some peeks of their session.

Now.. that discuss the week from heck... After this wonderful session, I completed some last minute errands for my daughter's birthday party and then went home. I went to my computer to connect my hard drive and nothing was showing up.. I tried to my laptop and I even drove to Pelham to see if it would pick up on my computer at work.. Nothing. I went to Best Buy since I purchased the drive from there less than 3 months ago and they could not do nothing either, but tell me they need $250 upfront to ship it. Great.. I called around.. Quotes from $250-$1,000.  Still waiting to see what a friend's tech guy says.. We will see.. Next.. I had an over emotional conversation with someone I cared about... that went well.. Loser points for me... following that our Great Dane, Skylar died.. One day of a break of bad news. After getting my tickets for the midnight premier of Twilight, I went back to work to finish up with some patients, I had the some one come to the office to tell me that my car was broken into... Great... My co-worker's car was also broken into as well..  At least I can say .. they caught them.. So I guess karma is true.. Here is the article regarding that manner, click here  Karma.. Well that is my week in review.. I know things comes in 3s.  I sure hope so.. 

Until Next Time, Tosha XOXO

MIA but Engagement, Head shot, and A Cool Mother and Son

Well, it has been a while since my last blog post, I guess I have to give you the month in review.  So, sorry I am trying to get used to blogging. Last month was becoming a bit overwhelming, but I needed some time to breathe and take it nice and easy. Breathing, that is funny. Did I mention, I ended up with bronchitis and a severe sinus infection which made my life so so fun. Lets discuss the weeks in review...

 I had a wonderful session in Aldridge Gardens (w/o snakes) with very special person, Meagan. She needed some head shots since she is so popular (Jealous), just kidding. But Patty said that her head shots that she was giving to media looked more Facebook profile shots. That is funny, really.. Here are some sneak peeks from the session..

Well.. Well. Well... Ivan (Kay's dad) had a nasty 6+ feet fall from the stage when he was videotaping at WorkPlay in Birmingham. Believe me it was the worse site to see. I was so amazed that he got up and started to record again. Well, after maybe 30 minutes of footage, he could not bare the pain and he had to go to the hospital for a bruise lumbar. Loritab and muscle relaxers were his best friends and I was just the servant out of a hundred (you not believe me, if I told you what that comment means!) He needed assistance with an engagement session that weekend and his back was still a mess. Here is a sneak peak of the session that I was a second shooter with Joshua and Alicia..

Congratulations! I wish you the best...

Finally, this session means alot to me in more ways than one. Anne and me went to high school together back at JCA. I was a couple of grades of ahead of her and we really did not talk or have nothing in common. Me and Anne connected via Facebook (yes, that darn Facebook). Come to find out that we have so much in common that it is darn near scary especially the connection of our kiddos. Her son, Hunter will always have a special place in my heart even though I had to bribe him with bubbles and ice cream.  He is lucky to have a beautiful mother like Anne. If you are reading this.. Thank you for all the support and advice.. Hugs.. Here are the sneak peak from this heart warming session...

1

Love you, both.. 

BTW.. Stay tuned.. I have more on my exciting my life with Kaylen, Ann, and a new friend Jennifer.. 

Until we next time, Tosha  XOXO

Living Again..

Been a while since my last blog post.. Been pretty busy .... work and other extra activities. Either I am hormonal or just thinking too hard, but I needed to get these thoughts out of my mind.. So, here I go.. everyone who knows me are aware on how much I love holding a camera or how much I love to capture moments especially every moment of my beautiful little girl's life.. But most of you do not know .. there are times when I do not want to touch or look at a camera because it is a shameful reminder of a life I had before (getting teary eye as I type this).. Everyone says, you learn from the mistakes that you make in your 20's and you are just found identity in the 30's and those are your best years.. Well ..I just turned 32... and I am still waiting for those best years... Often, I look at my camera and I just want to post it on Ebay or Craiglist, just to sell the darn thing.. Why do I want to get rid of an very expensive camera.. I have my reasons, but it is also bittersweet as well. I love it and I hate it.. but the camera just reminds of a past that I once had and how content I was in that world. I miss the care-free moments, I miss just smiling for no apparent reason, miss doing art and using my creative mind and miss joking around. Those are the things I miss when I pick up that camera.. I miss having support without me thinking negative thoughts and wandering of intentions of that person or their peers. I miss being with someone who shared the dreams and inspirations. Just on those moments alone.. my camera sickens me. Just want to keep it in a bag and do not want to touch it again. Even, looking at Photoshop makes me sick to my stomach cause it just reminds me more and more.. Well, all those are alot of thoughts .. I hope I do not sound psychotic.. On the bright side, I want to capture everything of my little ones' life.. I do not want to miss a beat.. I love people looking at the world from my point of view. Everyone point of view is always different, but you having someone who loves the world from your eye.. It can bring a smile on your face.. one that no one can take away.. Have you ever read the book "The 5 Love Languages," if not it is a good read. I have learned that my love language is giving.. Boy!! Don't I know it. .. I think I have given so much in the 20s, but I use my eye to give to others in my 30s. Sounds weird, huh.. But that is the way I feel ..  Maybe I need to be patient or maybe I am just a little more mature .. or maybe I just need to move on and stop dreaming.. or maybe I just need to stop being giving and just forget every one but darn it.. Just want the same smile on my face as my 20s.. well.. nice way coming back to blogging. Just a Hopeless Dreamer trying to find her way in the world..

Until Next Time, Tosha XOXO