HELLO loyal subscribers!,,,

I just wanted to let you guys know I moved to Blogspot. My new blog looks more professional than the one on xanga with all the ads going on. Hehe. Anyway, I want to thank everyone that has and is still supporting me the past couple year as I expand my life passion in photography. Thanks again guys and check out the new blog! :D

-much love, Diem

Houston, TX
www.diemphotographer.com

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Paola contacted me last year expressing an interest in my services. I can still remember the tone of her voicemail telling me how great she thought my work is and that she wanted to make and appointment to meet up for a consultation. And about a month later, I was set to cover her wedding this coming May. They are going to have their reception at Ricardo's country home in his backyard! I've always wanted to covering a backyard wedding! I already know it's going to be BEAUTIFUL!

Apart from growing and maturing into the life of a wedding/portrait photographer, I have also been blessed to have met so many people in love. It's the energy that you can see and feel when they first set foot in that starbucks to meet you up for that consultation. Being a wedding/portrait photographer, you don't just create a photographer-client relationship but you also create a friendship that may last for a very long time. I still keep in touch with a lot of my past clients to this day. That's one big aspect that I love about my work. To be honest with you guys, a lot of times I don't even see this as a job but as an opportunity to help couples express themselves to everyone. Nothing is a job anymore when you absolutely love what you do.

I hate to end this entry now but I'm so exhausted. But before I go, I want to know what each and everyone's passion is and whether you pursued it. Alright I'm going to end it with some of my favorites from this session. Hope you guys love it! I do!

ps. And no it sucks that I'm not attending WPPI this year. There's so much that I'm going to miss. =(

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We take weeks (minutes for procrastinating shoppers) to prepare for Christmas. But in a few instances after presents are open and dinner, that day is over.  But whether we take weeks or hours to shop for our friends, families, and co-workers, we should not forget the reason for this time of year. And that’s FAMILY. It may seem cliché but it’s true. Christmas is actually a great excuse to get family together. To take a lot of photos and make slideshows out of them. =) After Christmas day we usually reflect on how the year went. The good, the bad. The friends that we made, the ones that we lost.  We think about the resolutions we made and whether we achieved it or not.

So tomorrow starts a whole new year to make new resolutions. To make new friends, get closer to family, and become the Good Samaritan to yourself and everyone around you.  Everyone’s ultimate goal, I believe, is to strive to be happy and every year we try to get closer and closer to that ultimate goal. A lot of times people aren’t happy because they’re afraid to risk and sacrifice. What this statement leads to is my deviated decision (from the typical Asian stereotype) to become a wedding photographer after 6 ½ years of college majoring in Biology and Biochemistry. But I won’t get into that since it seems like I post something like this in every recent entry. I know I can get really repetitive, but it’s the New Year so forgive me. =) If you’re not happy with what you’re doing, change it. Do what’s comfortable to you. Sacrifice and take risks, accordingly of course.

This entry is for everyone to stoutly pursue their resolutions and not half-ass it like I have this year, actually.  I tried to lose 20 lbs this year but only succeeded at 11 lbs. I planned on graduating in the spring this year but didn’t until at the end in December. After all of this, though, my main goal was to get my photography business off its ass and on it’s feet. This feat alone made my 2008 great and I thank everyone for their support including my fans. THANK YOU.

All in all 2008 was great. My only resolution this year is simple, do what it takes to be happy. My focus are friends, family, love, and photography. And God thank you. Nothing could nearly be where is it today without your blessing.

MAY 2009 BRING GOOD FORTUNE TO EVERY ONE OF YOU. There’s prosperity this new year, take it! IT’S YOURS! (Yes, I got that from Troy)

ps. Lets start this year off grand so please don’t drink and drive!

-Diem

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I still can't believe how fast 2008 has gone by. i can still remember like it was yesterday how I blogged about my 2008 resolutions. Most I kept, some I neglected. 2008 has flown by, but nevertheless, a lot has happened. One of the biggest things is finally telling my parents what I wanted to do with my life. I started my photography business with the launch of my website. And finally graduating after 6 years of college.

Starting a photography business or any business for that matter is tough. Knowing the in's and out's of how to network effectively is very important and crucial to any business. Choosing your printing labs, album labs, etc. Starting anything that involves the public, especially on your own, is a scary thing. But after everything that comes with opening a business, it's very exciting looking back on it. I don't think anyone can appreciate a business unless they were part of it from the get go.

I'll post my 2009 resolutions in my next post. =) Stay tuned! Here are a few of my favorites from this E-Session. The slideshow is at the end. Enjoy guys!

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-Diem
www.diemphotographer.com

...in the neighborhood, won't you be mine? Won't you be mine?"

Don't ask me why but that Mr. Roger's song came to my head when I asked myself how I felt about this past weekend. =) Everything is DONE! I've walked across that stage just like how I imagined it 6 years ago. The graduation class had approximately 50 people. Pretty small huh? The ceremony was short and SWEET! Although it was 6 long years, I can still recall my high school graduation like it was 3 days ago. I've had so many of my professors this semester tell me how happy they are that I was on the list to graduate. But it's probably their way of indirectly saying it's about time. HAHA! No but seriously it is about time. I see students enter their first year of college and graduate before me. But you know I don't waste my time contemplating about pointless crap. I'm just happy I'm done and finished what I started.

My parents came down this weekend to see me walk. I didn't expect it but I feel really accomplished that I've went to college and graduated. I can write a book about the adventures in 6 years of college. Of all the friends that's come and gone. Oh and how can we all forget the days during finals. The great amounts of caffeine intake for those late night cramming. All the organization that I've become part of. So I'll say this off the record, yes I will miss college. I mean how can we not miss the supposedly greatest part of your academic life? But trust me, I don't miss it enough to go back. Nevertheless, my college life experience is definitely priceless.

So what's next? Pursuing my passion at full force of course! But while my photography career is on the runway for takeoff, I'll be staying at my optometry job that I've been working at for the past 1.5 years. I'm so excited that I've finished a chapter of my life and start a new LOOONG one! =)

I'm going to go ahead and end this entry with some photos from this past weekend. Had one of the greatest parties of my life so far. I wanna thank everyone that came out! Here are some photos during graduation and a slide show of the party. Most of these photos were taken by my good friend Jessica. She isn't a pro but she handled it pretty well. ahem* =)

ps. off topic but how in the world do you people that add salt to pineapple eat it? It's crazy tangy! ahhah ok that's all.