Alpha's "Amigos" Photo Shoot

Alpha Resource Center has a social group called "The Amigos" and is a group of adults with developmental disabilities that get together for events and social time during the week. They read the paper, play cards, games and have outings in the community. 

My second ever photo shoot (the first was another event for Alpha) was with this group. They were gracious enough to let me come take portraits of them. They welcomed me, posed for me, greeted me with handshakes and hugs. One amigo wanted to dance. They made my photo shoot as comfortable as it could be for an amateur. It was perfect!

It was an hour and a half, 267 photos. I would have been happy with 5 great shots, but instead got 21 and loved making friends with the amigos. Here are some of my favorites:

I just love their faces. 

I am fascinated with eyes - the window to the soul - 

and tried to capture as much of their eyes as possible.

I couldn't help but think about what life was like for them as children 30, 40, 50 years ago.

I wondered what the world was like back then. If they had been accepted at school or if they even were able to go to school in those days. The challenges, the victories.

I craved to see the world through their eyes. 

I arrived not knowing what to expect and left feeling so humbled and happy to have met the amigos.
This experience makes me want to spend more time with them.
I plan to be back to take more pictures and hang out.

Marco and Irma (below) spent a lot of time with me. They very quickly felt comfortable and let me take as many pictures of them as I could. They were amazing models.

This photo below is my very favorite. To me it is a powerful and beautiful silhouette. 

This is Marco saying goodbye. He has such joy, such friendliness. Even though he didn't have much language I understood everything he was saying.

I could understand his joie de vivre. It felt very familiar.

July 9th the Alpha Resource Center is hosting their 4th annual Ride, Walk & Roll from 8:30 - 4:00 at Girsch Park. We will definitely be there!

Here is more info if you want to join us:
http://www.alphasb.org/currentevents.html

Happy Fourth of July!!
God bless America!

xoxxo

PINK

ROADTRIP!!!

Saturday morning we packed up our bags and left for SLO.

We stopped by to admire the vineyards on the way. 

One day very soon our vineyard will be this far along. 

We went to see some of our favorite people - the Kesleys - for Sophie's 13th birthday.

(Happy Birthday Soph!!)

.... and we stayed at  the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo.

I never knew I loved the color pink so much. 

I guess you don't know how much you like a color until you are surrounded entirely by it.

This weekend we slept, ate, dreamt, breathed... emanated PINK!

It was so beautiful to see open pastures with horses and miles and miles of country white fences.

I love the countryside. 

I love the life in the countryside because it is simple, close to the earth and sweet.

Tyler knew we all needed a break.

He took a chance and magically arranged a stay in the Jungle Rock room. It was a large cave-like room with trees and walls of rock, animal prints, blue carpet and a waterfall shower. 

It was literally a wild room and we fit in it perfectly for the night.

The Madonna Inn has the most personality a hotel has to offer. I was mesmerized! I thought it would be  a bit cheesy, but it really was not. It's one of those places one must see before they die.

It's hard to explain it except that love it or hate it, it will stop you in your tracks.

...and I loved it!

Breakfast! Mylie wore her pink pjs. 

We must go back for some of the cakes. We ended up eating too much to have dessert so we missed out on the incredible cakes. We MUST return for those cakes.

This was the steak house and the room with the most amount of PINK.

It was awesome! It was surreal... kinda like living in pink frosting.

Beautiful weekend with some of the most beautiful people we know.
and we got a nice heap of pink to last us a while.

Life in vivid color rocks!
I definitely recommend it!

wishing you a vividly colorful week ahead!
xoxox