Shot these two waaay back in February when spring was still in full swing and allergies were something that everyone had in common. Back then they lived in a small studio just a few bus stops from where we live. It was small, very cozy and just the right size for the two of them.

The session was nothing but the usual since we also had other friends there to cook, hang out and offer valuable posing tips, creating an ultra-light session packed to the rafters with that distinctive Bisaya laughter and jokes (yeah, we get rowdy when we get together!)

They've since moved to a bigger apartment because another member of the family is arriving very soon!

lifestyle photography, couples, family, portraits, lifestyle photography, couples, family, portraits
In-home shots from that afternoon.

 Emily Brontë

“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.”

Emily Brontë

This week was a busy one but we had time to get into this cozy autumn session with the Bradys!  They came out sporting adorable flannels and the sweetest smiles that made this quick session so fun to do. And with the colorful fall foliage as our backdrop, taking memorable snaps of this beautiful family around this pretty little corner of the city was effortlessly easy. 

lifestyle photography, couples, family, portraits, lifestyle photography, couples, family, portraits

Some snaps from that lovely autumn afternoon. 

Macau's smallness makes it charming. Our hotel was just a short walk away from the Ruins, something you get to appreciate living in a city where your destination is usually 30 minutes to an hour away.

Also pleasantly surprised at how many Filipinos were on the staff-- it felt like we never left the PH! We felt comfortable talking in the dialect and in Tagalog in the hotel. And they were so friendly. Maybe they were missing home, too and the sight of us fresh off the plane, with the smell of Cebu still clinging to our clothes, was something that made them happy. Whatever it is, our stay at the Hotel Royal was something I'd definitely remember for years to come.

Having these photos help with the memories, too. As I was sorting them I was brought back to where we walked, how the sun stung during midday, how sweat dripped off my back like a fountain. I also remembered the stops at the local grocery stores to buy drinks, and as we lined up at cashier with the locals, I was thinking how cool to pretend that this was an everyday thing, that we live just around the corner.

I also remembered being impressed by my parents' energy. Both retirees, my mother is an Energizer bunny when it comes to exploring and my father can walk a good two to three hours nonstop, despite his arthritis.

Will I have that same kind of energy when I reach that age? I can only hope.

I think I have one of the worst memories of anyone I know and I think that's partly why I love taking photos, because in some way I can compensate.

A few photos from that trip.

Finally getting around to blogging photos taken in the first half of the year, on the first day of the last  quarter! Time flies, indeed, and in a few days the husband and I will be celebrating our birthdays and it's all making me nostalgic, excited, hopeful (I'm just a mixed bag of emotions at this point).

Having coffee doesn't help the calm the jitters any, but it does help get things done. Posting this set I took of Coffeelab in GYQ, which I did for a friend's coffeeshop review and published on the Chongqing Expat Guide (for fun news about CQ, hit them up on Facebook!)

She interviews third wave coffeeshop owners, and gets to taste their coffee, too! She has a subscription business of her own since sourcing single-origin coffee is still pretty hard for individual consumers here. All of this is fun for me, since I get to take photos of great interiors, taste great coffee, and learn so much about third wave coffee and sustainable sourcing at the same time.

CoffeeLab is particularly cool because it is a small shop in the busy GYQ district, right outside the bus top. Inside, they have this laboratory theme going on, and a clipboard of the day's coffee offerings. Choose what you want based on source, type of brew, cold or hot, etc. The barista measures beans, grinds, brews, and serves right by the counter, so you can pretty much see how your coffee is made right in front of you.

Some might think that all that work means that they'd charge more than places like Starbucks or Costa, but surprise, surprise, they don't! Their espresso is less than 20 RMB, and the American coffee is even cheaper. A bottle of cold brew goes for 25 RMB. You can't beat these prices especially because so many cafes charge up to 48 RMB for a cuppa--my heart hurts just thinking about it.

The Coffeelab in pictures.