He built me a batting cage when I wanted to be a softball star. He bought me my first camera when I decided I was going to be a photographer. He listens to my crazy dreams, encourages me endlessly and since day one has given me the freedom to be me.

Through cassette tapes and a long ride from Idaho to Oregon when I was 10, he introduced me to the classics, to some of best friends - The Doobie Brothers, James Taylor, Don McLean, Jim Croce, America, and Fleetwood Mac. The older I get the more I need my dad, Jimmy P, to remind what life's really about. I needed him to tell me to trust my heart the day I decided to leave New York as much as I needed him to help me tie my shoe when I was three.  I need him in the middle of the week when I'm feeling restless to remind me to slow down as much as I needed him to drive around my high school parking lot with me a 100 times until I learned how to use a clutch. I need him to encourage my photography business right now as much as I needed him to buy my paintings at my fake store when I was 6. : )

I needed him to be my date to the Eagles at the Hollywood Bowl this year as much I needed to look up at nearly every single one of my softball games for 12 years and see him in the stands. Somewhere caught between endless wiffle ball tournaments, barbies, mustang rides, late nights on the back deck, Medford summers, Idaho to Connecticut, a lot of college football games, breakfast scrambles, Y ball, trips to the bagel man, & thousands of swings in the batting cage, my pop taught me it's about staying true to your word, putting your family first, living in the moment,  not giving up, being passionate about everything you do, listening to your heart, enjoying good Italian food, red wine and classic music.

This Father's Day I was fortunate enough to be dancing with my dad in a barn in Mt. Hood, Oregon at Matty's wedding. As I've grown up and moved away, we've found cool ways to team up and go on adventures. I could talk to my dad for hours and hours....and hours. Just ask my mom ; )   He's the most important person in my life, he's a dreamer and a shaker, in every since of the word - when I think something up, he tells me to go for it and has been there every last step of the way.  I look up to him and love his passion for story telling. He's the most enthusiastic person I talk to and reminds me constantly that while we can't change what happens to us, we always have control over our own attitude.

Thank you dad for traditions as simple and sweet as galamod on Christmas eve or singing God Bless America at the top of our lungs on the Fourth of July - when I think of my life and all its blessings, these are among the first that make my soul smile.

Here's to wearing your heart on your sleeve and telling the people you love how much you really do. Happy Fathers Day 2010

Just live in the moment. 

Seems easy enough, right? Just have fun, don't worry about tomorrow or where you'll be 10 years from now or if your dreams will ever manifest into anything like you had imagined, just be.

HA! When I was younger that felt easy. Today: well that's a different story. For the dreamers out there reading this I think you know what I mean....

With hopes of taking my photography career to grand places, I can't seem to stop thinking about the next thing I should do, person I should shoot, or piece of equipment I should buy to help me "get there." Sometimes I move so fast with all my new ideas and put so much energy into building my business I can't keep up with myself.

At my age, (24 that is!), it's all about chasing; maybe that be success, love, or happiness. And while the chase can be beautiful, I think those of us that want something so bad need to be reminded to slow down, look around, and consider the blessings already surrounding us. Maybe we should try harder to actually enjoy the ride. As an artist it's not about how fast you "get there." It's about how sweet the ride is. And the people you connect with along the way. 

In perhaps one of the coolest books of all time, "Ignore Everybody and 39 other Keys to Creativity," Hugh McLeod, (possibly one of the coolest writers of all time) starts his second to last chapter out with this:

"As Buddha says, there is no one road to Nirvana. Enlightenment is a house with 6 billion doors. While we're alive, we intend not to find THE DOOR, not a DOOR, but to find OUR OWN, UNIQUE DOOR."

That line is what inspired this friendly reminder to myself that there's a sweet balance between focusing on where you're going and enjoying what's right in front of your face. Those of us that want big things in life need to be reminded of this.

Create something beautiful TODAY. Make moments that count and let your dreams take on a life of their own.

With that said, the first office of Christin Rose Photography is up and running. Conveniently it's located 3 steps from my bed in Los Feliz, California. I'm sure there will be many more offices; probably with more space, more equipment, more clients, maybe even a desk chair instead of this little stool I'm sitting on! 

But until then... I'm pretty happy being right HERE. 

By way of Nashville, Emma Fitzpatrick took the plunge less than a year ago into the land of the stars. Since then, she has found her way onto many Hollywood sets and stages. We piled into my jeep and she pulled out a baby pink vintage dress and paired it with a leather jacket. That my friends sums up, Emma, entirely. She's fearless, knows exactly what she wants, gets it on the regular and still finds a way to charm anyone that comes in her path. She's got a rock star vibe and backs it up with the way she lives her life. But somehow, like that baby pink she sneaks in some sweetness. She lights up any room. She is a songwriter. A dreamer. She is dynamite.