Cairn // vol. 31.: january + february 2021

Well dang. 2021 didn’t start slow. Let’s revisit the highlights. Because there is way to much to talk about and I guarantee you don’t have that kind of time. Let’s get started.

TRAVIS + SYDNEY ENGAGEMENT
This was my first snow session and I have to say I am smitten with it! We had so much fun, goofing around, laughing and making great images. Oh, and playing with Largo, their adorable mini Aussie. I love when couples include their pets in their photos. Please bring your pets, or if you want, do an in-home session (after COVID of course), and include pets that can’t really leave the house like some cats and lizards.

BIRTHDAY IN MINNESOTA
Boy did I need this sweet little break. Glenn and I went up to Eden Prairie for the weekend to decompress. It’s been a stressful two months, and there was nothing I needed more than a good massage and a relaxing weekend. The massage therapist in Excelsior said that in 30 minutes she got a good start on release all the tension in my back and neck. It was bad enough where I was experiencing migraines. Spending the weekend with Glenn and his family was so wonderful. I talk a lot about how its necessary to take breaks and recognize when your body is telling you to chill out for a bit, and why its key to being a successful entrepreneur, but these last few months I did not take my own advice and I paid for it dearly. You don’t owe it to anyone to work yourself to death. You owe your clients your best you and your best work. You can’t do that if you’re spread too thin and chronically stressed out.

In addition, we got to visit the Wings of the North where a P-51 Mustang was getting ready to leave for a fly-over in Brainerd. They had a to-scale replica of the Wright Brothers flyer that achieved flight at Kitty Hawk/Kill Devil Hills, an exhibit on women in aviation, and the Boeing Stearman flown by George H.W. Bush. For being a small air museum, they had phenomenal collection, and really knowledgeable tour guides.

EXPLORING HOW AVIATION FUELS MY CREATIVE WORK
When I first started thinking about that post, I really wasn’t sure if it was going to go anywhere. I wasn’t sure if I thought I had something but then would find that I didn’t have a whole post worth of content about it. As I wrote, I discovered just how deeply intertwined my creative work and my aviation career are intertwined. I learned that even though I’m a strong designer and a skilled photographer without aviation, creative work and aviation tend to bring out the best of both.

It was a busy and hectic start to 2021. Here’s to a strong march!

Cheers, kids.