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What does it mean to connect to the heartbeat of your soul? To live from a heart-centered place. To create the space and time to connect to, listen to, let the communication of the heart guide your life. To feel into what it means to be authentically you, not expectation you. To honor that inner knowing, calling, voice, unique expression that is you. To slow down, tune in, live from a place of your values and your goals. To drown out the external noise and listen to the internal voice. To honor the present moment. To cultivate confidence in being fully you. To build a life far beyond your dreams. To breathe. To listen. To honor. To create. To manifest. To cultivate. One of the aspects of life I am most grateful for in this moment, is this very connection, reflection, awareness. That of living from a place of connecting to the heartbeat of my soul and holding the space for others to do the same, it all expressions that I am - a Courage Coach, Photographer and Host of The Living Courageously Podcast. Creating space to connect to the heartbeat of your soul creates this incredibly inspiring, motivating, vibrant expression and cyclical nature of living from a place of complete alignment, honesty, authenticity and confidence. Doesn’t that sound so gratifying?!? This here, is Trish Taylor connecting to the heartbeat of her soul in bringing her maternity vision into reality. A clearness of what she wanted. An expression of that vision. And myself, as the receptor, holding the space, connecting and doing all I could to support that vision. Finding the most perfect location. Connecting with the lighting and where the setting of the sun would be on the mountain. Honoring the beings in front of me with complete love, seeing and knowing. It resulted in these, some of the most vibrantly expansive maternity portraits. For this, the connection, the sacredness of the exchange, I am grateful. Congrats dear friend! I am beyond happy for you and cannot wait to be witness to you bringing this radiant little girl into the world!
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 Happy Everything! We're moments away from celebrating with our loved ones. Just under a week away from the marking of this year, into a new one. An ending and a beginning. A place and time where I take immense delight in getting to reflect, to set, to reconnect to all that I have been, am and aspire to be. As my fingertips dance along my keyboard, I am filled, consumed, overcome by immense gratitude. For this moment. The calm that is present. The happiness that pulses beneath my chest. The space. The synergy. The time. The wholeness. The connection. The people who constantly shine their light on my little slice of this lifetime, serving as an inspiration to me, to being human, expansive, courageous, loving, curious, adventurous, honest, wholesome, grounded, connected, engaged, encouraging, beyond joyous and honored to be receptive to it all. These souls right here, my little family (not pictured, but also including our puppy Lima and 2 cats Zaleo and Askari) are my pulse. The reason, the why, the foundation for all of this existence. They are my compass, my grounding force, my equilibrium. When sitting in this space, this very time last year, I knew what has been, would not always be. I knew that change was coming. When and how, would come with time. I felt it in every part of my soul. You see, in May of 2021, we bought our first home and moved to a tiny mountain town. A calling that we had. A pulse, attracting us. Quickly, the messages started unraveling, the communication deepened, the universe - she was speaking very loudly. Being here has opened my soul, in ways I had only known when living in Tanzania the first time, back in 2013, nearly a decade prior. This place, these mountains have ignited my divine expression and reflection of how I am growing into being in this world. One that includes space, time, nature, connection, honesty, deepened expressions. One that includes an honoring of the courage that lives inside you and me and every single one of us. One that includes a deepened connection to my values, my deepest dreams, goals, desires, truth and creating sacred containers to hold space for you to do the very same. With this, I again, reflect in gratitude for the privilege of life in this very form and expression. And the honor of being in community with you. I am truly so grateful for you being here, being you, holding space for it all. As we moved into the new year, here is what you will see here : 1. Courage Coaching : Imagine if the goals you keep setting, the vision you have, the money you want to make, the leap you want to take all become your reality… I support women in building the courage to do just that! This is done through 1:1 coaching, my Living Courageously Blueprint and Courage Coaching Intensives. If desired and/or curious, you can book a complimentary hour discovery call to dive deeper into where you are in this moment and which one is most supportive for you. 2. Boutique Wedding and Lifestyle Photography : Photography has been one of the greatest tools in getting to truly connect with you, the community in an intentional, intimate and joyous expression. With this, I have 1 spot left for 2023 weddings (yes, already) and I will still be doing lifestyle photography (engagements, families, etc.) on a limited basis. If you are wanting a photography session, I would be honored, but please inquire early to ensure you get in. 3. The Living Courageously Podcast : This releases every Tuesday morning (2AM to be exact) where all podcasts are found. Episodes alternate between solo (where I reflect on tools, rituals, practices and tangible resources in living intentionally and courageously) AND the the interviewing phenomenal women through the lens of courage. I truly hope you tune in, in any-which form resonates with you! Please know, at all reflections, the inhalations and exhalations, I am beyond grateful you are here, you are a part of this courageous community and that I can so joyfully call you a friend. Happy Everything! Many blessings as you celebrate the holidays with your loved ones! See you in the New Year! 
 Photos by : Kristi of KLK Wedding Photography
Usually, this time of year, I am counting the number of sessions, reliving the reviews, looking at my calendar for the next year. This year, it all feels so different. I have yet to reflect on how many session I’ve done. I am grateful for the reviews as they come in but haven’t reread them. My calendar is very limited in its spots for next year. Instead, this year 👉🏼 💕I am counting my blessings, holding close and tight the experiences, the exchanges, the connections, the sheer gratitude of getting to be in space with so many sensational souls in this way. 💫I photographed souls from engagements to families after divorces, sessions in the sunshine and weddings in the pouring rain, expanded families and entrepreneurs adorned in thousands of dollars. 🤝My relationship with my camera, of which has served as a tool, my shield in a way. We transitioned. From that of using the tool to be a storyteller for all others lives to that of my own. Embracing moving from behind to in front of the camera. One of THE hardest transitions. To create space in something that I have always known, quite frankly defined myself as. To fall in love with my camera, the lens in which I view the world, my truth, in a whole new way has been invigorating. I feel alive in a whole new way. 🌱The power of connection. 🍃The power of telling a story. 🌳The power of photography being a means for education, for communication. 🌿The power of being witness to lives greatest and hardest moments and finding the connection and need for it all. I write this with tears in my eyes as the love for, the gratitude for, the expansiveness that this tool of a camera has brought into my life. That of love. Curiosity. Divine expression. Celebrating. Holding close. Expansion. Life, quite literally. Growth, losses, changes, challenges and triumphs. To all of you, present, past and future, thank you.Thank you. I am infinitely grateful. As we move into 2023, I will still be taking on photography clients, but they are very limited each month so please reach out so I can save your date. For wedding clients, I have just two spots left! This weekend, I shot at one of my all time dream venues— of which has been on my vision boards for the past four years. As I watched the bride and groom hold hands under the chuppah on Friday, a tear fell from the eye as I held my camera extra tight and encapsulated time with a little more passion. A dream, turned reality. Another vision, experienced. You see, this is my last full wedding season. I’ve alluded to this before as I’ve been too afraid, haven’t quite found the courage to share it with the world at large, but as the nudges from the universe have been extra strong lately, I am being guided to share. What does this mean? For years now, I’ve documented anywhere from 12 - 35 weddings in ONE YEAR on top of dozens of shoots each month in between. As I have grown and my life has drastically changed over the years, I’ve really been working towards and embodying creating a life that feels better than it looks. Shooting that much looked damn good, but how did it leave me feeling? Exhausted. Depleted. Hurried. Distracted. This being said, I truly embraced, connected with and gave every single one of those photographic exchanges every bit of my heart and soul I possibly could in the moment (and if you’re my previous client reading this, I truly hope that’s what you felt)! Moving forward, photography will still be intertwined with Courage Coaching, but in a very BOUTIQUE kind of way. With this, I will only be shooting a max of SIX weddings per year and very select photoshoots in between. Sharing this leaves my heart filled with so much gratitude and my soul vibrating with inspiration and love. Each and every one of the photographic exchanges I’ve had over the last 8 years as a full time photographer (nearly 1,000 of them) has been a catalyst for me connecting to and deeply understanding that LOVE is the greatest vibration we will ever know. Thank you — my photography clients, my community for showing me the power of connection, of intentional exchanges, of intimate expressions, of living through and with trust. Your connection has brought me to this very moment. One in which I stand inspired, grateful, proud, connected and courageous. Vendor love 💕: Coordination : @honeybearevents Florals : @lynnelucentefloraldesigns Venue : @casaromanticaweddings Photography : @ashleystrongsmith_ Rentals : @brighteventrentals Hair and Make-up : @crystal.goldenglowbeauty Entertainment : @luckydevilsband Cake : @susiecakesbakery Food : @carbonaracaterings Rabbi : @californiarabbi Mercedes and Henri's Tropical Ole Hanson Beach Club Summer Wedding - San Clemente, California10/13/2022 This space is all about being transparent, living in full honesty and expressing it all - the raw and the polished, the growth and the setbacks, the ah-ha’s and the itty bitty shitty committee moments. What you see most of these days is my courage coaching as that is a mission that is quickly becoming bigger than myself. In-between these courage squares and a few weekends a month, I am witnessing and documenting unique expressions of dreams turned realities, that of souls living in the highest vibration of love. Courage is intertwined in all that we are, do, say and live. This expression, right here is of two souls becoming husband and wife, after a decade of being partners. These right here, are another layer in my definition of courage. You see, photography is part of my soul. It’s something I’ve been doing for 15 years and running it as a business for the last eight. It’s the interweaving of my connection to and communication with the world. Without courage, these specific time capsules wouldn’t exist. Why, you ask? I used to shoot in a selfish way (I told you I’m honest). I used to shoot from a place of what I wanted to share with the world, what would look the best, what would make the most impact on the gram. Ugh, can you relate? How do I shoot now? Solely from a place of listening to, honoring, interweaving all the elements that tell their story, those at hand. Serving, fully, completely, presently. I have always given my clients my fullest capacity and talents, but there has been a shift. A massive shift as I’ve connected deeper with my courage and coaching. These time capsules, are fully, I mean fully for the couple at hand. They are no longer about me, about my talent, about my style of photography. They are solely, for them. With this, there is this glistening space where my work is better than ever before, simply from taking the focus off my “talent or work” and fully onto “them.” What a courageous place to be and a courageous thing to share. This, is another reflection of my definition of courage. Vendor love : Photo : @ashleystrongsmith_ Venue : @olehansonbeachclub Coordinator : @herestothemevents DJ : @djausto Beauty : @ocbeautyduo Florals : @zunigaflowersjosefina Tux : @theory__ Dress : @davidsbridal Shoes : @loefflerrandall Want to know something quite surreal, completely in alignment with where I’ve been expanding into? A realization that just recently happened? I’ve been photographing dreams turned reality for a decade and a half. As I grow into supporting women turning their dreams into realities in a very specific and tangible way, I am in awe, in inspiration, in connection to every single soul I’ve photographed over these last nearly 15 years. You see, each and every one of these individuals, couples and families have been guideposts – a beautifully, expansive expression and connection to souls realizing their dreams. 🌱That of individuals, becoming business owners. 🌱Lovers, becoming lifelong partners. 🌱Partners, becoming parents. 🌱Children, becoming siblings. These very expressions have been the catalyst for being in awe of life, this world and realizing our potential. It’s been the lens through which I can connect to the courageous nature within all of us. Each and everyone of us were born to do extraordinary things in this lifetime. Extraordinary being uniquely defined, by each and every individual. Some are simple and grounded. Others are complex and distant. Nonetheless, we are all living out our truths in the greatest expression imaginable. This weekend, I documented these two sensational souls sharing their intimate vows and first kiss in front of their most favorite people in this world. I was reminded of the dynamic paths all of our lives take and how they lead us to exactly the right place, at the right time. For being witness to this couple and all that have come before, I am beyond grateful for its impact and impression on me connecting deeper to my dreams and supporting others connecting to theirs. The most beautiful expression of the cyclical nature of our paths and this life. What is that dream living inside you? Vendor Love : Photography : @ashleystrongsmith_ Planning : @palmandpineevents Florals : @thebloomoftime Venue : @olehansonbeachclub Video : @noahrtaher DJ : @djgriff Hair & makeup : @beautifuldaybrides A question I’ve been getting asked A LOT lately is if I still do photography. The answer, YES. I am still documenting my favorite souls in this world alongside my courage coaching business. You definitely do not see as much in this space as I am so insanely passionate about sharing all the goodness behind that which makes up my coaching business. You see, truth is, photography is embedded in my soul. For as long as I can remember, 13 years professionally, for my whole life as a hobby — photography has been my vessel, my way of being in exchange and communicating that which I am inspired by within this world. Truth is, it was far easier to hind behind other people and my photography than it was to put myself out there and follow my calling. So here we are, in this incredible harmony where I have grown, my business has grown, my way of being in community, in exchange, in connection with you and the universe, has grown. I am at the latter part, although I am INSANELY HONORED to document the most inspirational souls, I am courageously putting myself out there, in ways I never had the confidence, courage, trust to do so. Courage coaching and photography coexist. Behind it all, my immense dedication to seeing a person, people through the most pure, positive, real kinda way. Where this very reality creates this space, this connection, this exchange for us to truly see, hear and honor each of us. As we are. Where we are. Who we are. This reality, damn is it so beautifully supportive. So dynamically, sincere. Behind my ways of being in exchange, lies the same foundation — that of my values and the why behind what I do. My values — honesty, presence, sincerity, quality time, acknowledging, honoring, holding dear, expressing gratitude and love, compassion, being kind. My why — I have been blessed to live a life far beyond my dreams and I am committed, every single day to supporting others in realizing their dreams. Here are portraits from a few weeks back when two of my favorite souls got to intertwine their lives and love as they intimately said I-do in front of a handful of their most favorite people. Truly, one of the most special days! Dream team: Couples : @theophiluslka & @joybear21 Bride's Hair : @rawwintuition Groom's Hair: https: @mobilehairpros & @vdrip1 Makeup : @shelsealuxe Florals : @fantasyfloraldesigns 
2022 Holiday Mini Sessions include --
3 dates with 3 locations and limited spots at each location! Location #1 : Saturday, October 15th at Elfin Forest in San Diego* Location #2 : Sunday, November 6th at Exploration Trail in Running Springs Location #3 : Saturday, November 19th at Caspers Wilderness Park in Orange County Each session includes 30 minutes, 30 images (always more), 1 photographer, 1 location. Investment : $395. *Please note, this location is an additional $50 for a shoot fee (per the venue) 
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Reconnecting YOU to the Heartbeat of YOUR Soul!
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