Dante is my hero, for real.    Have a wonderful weekend, everybody!

xo

(Taken with my Nikon FM and 50mm lens on Kodak Portra 100 film.)

I know I’ve been talking a lot about how much I miss Norway, so I’ll shut up about it now and just say that I’ve been happily watching the photos from today pop up on the local Norwegian paper’s website, and the photos my family there have been sharing on Facebook.

And just to be mean, I’ll share this saliva-inducing photo with you, taken the last time I was there:

OMNOMNOMNOM!

xo

Mama, I only hope I can do half as much for my future children as you’ve done for me. The more I learn about this world we live in, the more grateful I am for the unconditional love and support I’ve always had from you (and dad!), and the knowledge that you will always unquestionably be there is more valuable than anything.

You’re my biggest cheerleader, my staunchest critic and, now, the voice of my inner conscience. I’m really not sure when that happened, and I’m not sure how much I like it, but damn it if it doesn’t work like a charm.

And lest this post get to sickly-sweet: yes, we still fight occasionally, but I love that now it typically ends with us laughing at our bitchiness together. It’s bound to happen, with us being practically carbon copies. (Poor dad.) I couldn’t have asked for a better mother-daughter relationship, I really couldn’t.

I love you. Happy Mother’s Day.

xo

I promise more photography goodness next week, I’ve got lots to catch up on! This weekend my dad and I are kidnapping my mom to take her somewhere (secret) for the day tomorrow, and then the whole family is BBQ-ing it up on Sunday to celebrate her awesomeness. What are your Mama’s Day plans?

xo

I’m Such a Dodo Giclee Print, $25, by Funnelcloud Studio

Personalized Cutting Board, $37, by Taylor Crafts

Owl Porcelain Planter, $20, by Muddy Heart Pottery

Oaxaca bag in deep blue, $329, by Valhallabrooklyn

Don’t Give Up Print, $25, by Ann Shen

Opt to Adopt Hoodie, $49.69, by Max and Molly Designs

Personal Library Custom Stamp, $55, from Paper Pastries

With Love Washi Tape, $3.95, from InTheClear

Green Druzy Ring, $62, by Rhonda Michaels Jewelry

What are your current faves? Link me up! Hopefully tonight I’ll have the energy to process some photos to share.

xo

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! My mom and I (and Dante) are off to my cousin’s house in San Diego tonight so we can all go participate in the Humane Society Walk for Animals. Can’t wait! You can follow me on Instagram @ellingsenphoto, I’m sure I’ll be sharing lots tomorrow. And hopefully I’ll be seeing the Avengers tomorrow night. Assemble! 

xoxo

April 1st – A very original self portrait in the (dirty) side mirror

April 2nd – Colour: strawberry blonde hair and mint green cardigan

April 4th – Someone who makes me happy: Dante!

April 9th – Younger me with my mom up in the mountains for a snow day

April 11th – Eating breakfast at my desk

April 12th – Crazy-eyed Dante on the stairs

April 16th – A riot of pink flowers, and Dante

April 21st – Bottle of my all-time favorite hand cream from Aveda, always by my bedside

April 24th – Something I’m grateful for? My mom!

April 25th – Looking down at my book (polish color is Essie’s To Buy or Not To Buy)

April 26th – Black and white of the back of The Night Owl, our new favorite coffee shop

April 28th – 1pm: mini carnations on the table at lunch

So do you guys like photo-a-day challenges? Link me up! Also, a sidenote – the last couple were taken and processed with the new VSCO Cam app, which you should go and get right now if you like iPhoneography as much as I do! The filters are gorgeous. Right now it’s only 99 cents, which is a super steal.

xoxo

Stay tuned because at the bottom of this post I’m sharing two awesome promotions that are going on at the shelter in May! And yes, I know, it’s no longer April anymore, but that’s when I shot these photos and since it’s my blog, I get to decide what month it is. 

{Click any photo to go to the shelter’s page about that dog!}

First up is sweet little Beth, a rat terrier who would definitely be the queen bee of any home, in the best way possible. And she’s a great cuddler!

And then there’s Fabio. Who lives up to his name in every way – he’s such a great model! He was so funny, acting like a dog half his size and trying to cuddle with Sarah.

Miss Fiona came to the shelter with bad eye and skin infections, and now you can hardly tell there was ever a problem! And what a sweetheart temperament she has – just look at that smile! (Maybe it’s just my generation, but every time I see the name Fiona I automatically think of Shrek. Anyone else?) She qualifies for the Back in Black special going on this month – more on that below.

Simon and Lacey are the cutest little pair. They were found together and are so bonded, the shelter wants to make sure they find a home together. Shouldn’t be too hard, seeing as they both fit in one lap, right? 

So there we have it, the newbies for April! Quite a few we worked with that day have already found homes, which always makes me feel awesome (the goal here is to not be needed, y’know?). But what I did notice is that there are several that we’ve photographed in the past who are still waiting to find just the right family. Luckily the shelter is currently running two promotions this month! First, Back in Black, which is actually a nationwide event sponsored by the Best Friends Society – No More Homeless Pets network, which the SBACC is a part of. They feature black-furred animals because they can often be overlooked or hard to get a good photo of, so for the month of May adoption fees are reduced to $35 for cats and $75 for dogs.

This would mean that Fiona and Lacey would qualify, as well as pups you might remember like Mr. E and Olive.

And Olive would also qualify for the other promotion running this month, Super Senior May!

So if you’ve been waiting to find a new family member, now is the time, friends! You really can’t beat those adoptions fees, and you can also feel great about going to the SBACC knowing that they’re a pro-life shelter – I know I do!

xoxo

This quote comes from Dorothea Lange, an inspiring documentary photographer (before there really was such a thing), who’s most famous for her photos of the less fortunate during the Great Depression. Even if you don’t know her name, you’ll probably recognize this photo. At any rate, I found this quote in my grandmother’s quote journal and it really struck a chord for me. What do you think? Doesn’t she really nail it on the head?

1280 x 1024  |  1600 x 1200  |  1680 x 1050  |  1920 x 1080  |  1920 x 1200  |  2560 x 1440

Fonts are Claire Hand by Team Scope and The Only Exception by Kimberly Geswein. Hope you all have a wonderful start to the month!

xoxo

I’m pleased to introduce a group of women photographers that have adopted me, effectively creating what we like to call the United Nations of Women Photogs.  Some of us got together to attend Jasmine Star’s The Fix workshop in LA last month and it was a blast! First, Netonya and Ami:

And Nancy and me – so glad we finally got a photo together! (Somehow we rarely get photos that we’re both in, despite both being photographers.)

I’m so inspired by all of these women (we were just missing Fizzah and Smita that day), and thrilled by how warm, open and welcoming they all are!

And then there was the sunset right after a rainstorm that had me reaching for the camera – as seen from my bedroom window.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

xoxo