I hope everyone will indulge me a little bit here-but I am about to climb the walls if I don't get it out.  Sometimes just starting out on a whole new "thing" is a bit scary.  I have done it a few times in life and it has always turned out to be the best thing I ever did, but it was never, never easy.  There are many moments along the road that, upon reflection, make me wince.  But I always end up on the other side much wiser and many times, surprised at myself that I got through it.   

Having said that, it is less than a year that Nancy and I started in this business.  The competition is fierce and VERY talented.  There is a lot to learn and a lot expected from day one.  As you guys know, we keep trying to improve our process and product so that we are providing the best experience we can.  It is endless reading and experimenting with light and my poor children who are completely "over it", then read some more and try again, wash-rinse-repeat.  Its overwhelming sometimes.  Soooooooooo, it was very, very nice to be selected out of the tens of thousands of photos that the Pioneer Woman goes through for each photo assignment.  I submitted an non-commissioned shot of Rocco and Lily's swimteam teammate.  Sometimes I just take photos out there for the parents who don't have a camera or can't make the meet.  I ended up with some great shots this year.  (Thanks Sarah for letting me use your photo.)  It was a catagory on my absolute favorite thing, water.  I encourage you to check out her website.  She has taught me a lot and the photographers that submit on her website have inspired me to get a different kind of shot and strive for that kind of perfection. 

  I am slightly bummed we didn't make it to the finalist round, but we got headline billing on a huge website for the last week...plus, it will make me try that much harder to get to that next level.  In the meantime, I am celebrating the little gold star I got this week.