the return

Oh, look.

I have returned.

..And the title of this post reminds me of a movie sequel. You know, the ones who just can't bring themselves to be called, "The Movie, Part Two," so they entitle themselves something impressive like, "The Return," and it ends up being super emotional and dramatic. I guess you could compare this blog to a movie of sorts--I am returning, and it does feel like a sequel. Hopefully not an emotional and dramatic one. But don't count on that.

 I feel like Lucy, stepping back from her trip to Narnia to find that nothing has changed--all is as it should be; albeit a bit dusty.I apologize for such a long, unexplained absence, dear friends (are you still there? I won't blame you if you have vanished like Aslan did when he knew the time was right). My life has changed so much: for the better, for the worse, but mostly for the 'busier.' I am now attending a community college three days a week, and on top of homework, daily life, and the occasional big photography job, I am...swamped, to say the least.

But I wanted to come back to this. And when it all comes down to it, it was one word that brought me back--breathe. When I write, I breathe. And that is what I have missed. Breathing. I feel like I haven't caught a decent breath of air in months, and not just because of a lack of writing. Life has gotten....at best, weird. I feel like a stranger to the girl of eight months ago. But not an entirely bad stranger, so maybe you'll still like me. 

Mostly, I feel like I've grown up. A lot. And I have a love/hate relationship with the fact.

Photos? I have millions of them. Not even kidding. Words? They're all here, in my head, ready to spill out once again as inky type on the crisp white screen. What is my plan for this little corner of the web which has become so distraught with disuse? Well. I don't exactly know. But what I do know is this: I have returned, and I have much to share (even if it's to myself. But that's okay. I like talking to myself. I can deal with that).

xoxo lucia <3 nbsp="" p="">

mary | senior preview // portland, oregon

A few shots of beautiful Mary. This girl is such a cutie, and she rocks the curls so well. One of my favorite senior sessions to date.

More to come. 

-lucia marie 

-photos copyright (c) 2013 l.m. photography-

before summer slips out the back door

We went to the beach in August, over my 18th birthday. We visited the same house we have been visiting since I was two feet shorter and celebrating a toothless eighth. I haven't changed (or grown) all that much. And neither has "Glory Be."

I love the ocean. I used to be afraid of it, and still am, a little. But the same waves that used to frighten me with their pounding and roaring and foaming wrath now caress my toes and send a shiver of delicious cold--not paralyzing fear--up my spine. Did my fears grow up along with me? Or do I simply see the ocean as something under God's power? Because His power is mighty. And I love the ocean because it whispers His name in the froth that laps at my feet, and the billows that crest the rocks.

And now, summer is slipping out the back door. I have taken a long, long break from my little web home, and it has felt strangely wonderful and sad all at the same time. I have cut back on computer time to focus on other things--school, now ended, and photography, and simply living. But I love this feeling--I had forgotten how much--the typing of my simple little words, the compilation of my simple little photos, and the moments they all bring back to me.

 I promise not to be gone so long again. But the future is closing in upon me with breathtaking speed, and Autumn is approaching--crisp, cozy Autumn. My heart is full.