Meet Cynthia and Ryan.

Ryan is a family friend from a few years back, and I could not be happier to have been reacquainted with him and to have been introduced to his gorgeous fiance Cynthia! Today we went out to Bragg Creek to do a few engagement photos of these two, as they LOVE it there and so do I! Cynthia and Ryan, I am so happy that we have connected. I truly had a blast today with the two of you trudging through the knee deep snow, and sitting on old dusty yellow chairs. Here are a few teasers – oh I love being a tease! XOXO

This past year has involved an ample amount of growth, countless memories, many journeys, and an abundance of emotional battles.  At 11:59.59 on December 31st, 2008 I made a promise to myself that the following year would be the most intense year of learning and self sacrifice that I have ever experienced. Part of this new journey involved lots and lots of learning.  Most of my learning was done during my world tour, with Scott Robert, (I will be posting about this soon) but a large amount of it happened at the world’s largest photography conference.

The most amazing photography gathering, aka WPPI! February 2009 was my first WPPI experience. I had, quite honestly, never heard of it until a couple of months before. I had never heard of Jerry Ghionis, Bambi Cantrell, Jim Garner, Matthew Jordan Smith, The Boudoir Divas, (I could go on forever)….I was so new to this industry, that you could probably smell the intimidation that I was emitting from miles away. Not only did I get to meet and hang out with some of the most talented photographers in the world, but I got to listen to many of the speak. I had no idea that this is what being a photographer could be like. I was completely and totally amazed, had gained about 105 new role models, and knew right then and there where I wanted my career path to go. It was so clear in my mind, and still is ingrained in my brain of where I want to go.  Vegas was the true start to my business, my career, my drive, and my personal changes. (I highly recommend that if you are in the photography industry that you attend WPPI 2010 – it’s in March and is going to be fabulous!)

I cannot wait for this year. The line up of speakers is phenomenal, and I am so excited to go to many more parties and meet tons of new people! If you will be there, I would love to connect with you! Fire me an e-mail (info@chantalmilaine.com), twitter or facebook me!

Here’s a picture of Sarah, Lyssa and I & Lyssa, Linda, Ingrid and I at a fun party – WPPI 2009.

Never, ever before had I heard of a 101 in 1001 list, until the year 2010 (ooh the numbers match, haha). I read someone else’s list this past weekend, and thought hmm what a fabulous thing to create and to blog about. That night I set out on Tim’s laptop to create my list. You would never believe how difficult it is to come up with 101 things to write down. I sat there for a good hour or two thinking, thinking, and thinking – and I only go to about 50. As this weeks gone by, I am still only at 75. So for now it is a 75 in 1001 list. That’s why I’ve been missing – this list has been haunting me, and will continue to haunt me until I get to 101! Seeing as that may take me months, at the rate I am going, I thought I would share what I have so far.

Here it goes, 101 in 1001 for Chantal Milaine:

1. Go back to Paris, with Tim
2. Start a Family
3. Marry Tim
4. Buy a House
5. Buy a new vehicle
6. Go to Greece
7. Photography 50+ weddings
8. Spend time with my family at the lake
9. Hike the West Coast trail
10. Bring Tim to the Okanogan Valley
11. Decorate each room of our house
12. Increase my shoe collection
13. Go to Egypt
14. Make photographs/artwork for my walls
15. Blog several times per week
16. Get in the best shape of my life (you will see abs my friends!)
17. Invent something
18. Start another business
19. Make a few real estate investments
20. Learn to like wine!
21. Bring my clothing and shoe donation in!
22. Improve my business
23. Take a business and marketing class
24. Get my business and work published in a magazine
25. Get published in a book
26. Enter and win a photo competition
27. Buy a new Macbook Pro
28. Run a half Marathon
29. Run a full Marathon
30. Shoot weddings in 5 countries that I haven’t shot in before
31. Triple my 2009 income
32. Have my own first Christmas tree
33. Buy Christmas decorations for the first time
34. Plant and grow a herb garden
35. Get a client meeting/office space of my own (that isnt in my home)
36. Get one of my images hung in an art gallery
37. Get 5000 facebook friends
38. Order new business cards
39. Get my own letterhead designed and printed
40. Cook 30 high class meals that you would get at a fancy restaurant
41. Donate Blood
42. Donate my time and/or funds to 5 charities
43. Be the subject in a boudoir photoshoot
44. Organize and shoot several boudoir sessions
45. Photograph, print and gift my parents of family photos and photos of us kids
46. Photograph and print photos of my parents
47. Donate more of my large clothing collection
48. Buy a king sized bed
49. Buy bedroom furniture
50. Try a pilates class
51. Try a spin class
52. Learn how to swim
53. Swim 50 laps
54. Be dairy and red meat free for an entire year
55. Get a ride in a helicopter
56. Run the Mother’s day run with my Mom.
57. Go to the dentist
58. Get Tim to go to the doctor and dentist for a regular check up (for 3 consecutive years!)
59. Host a full on, fully decorated, dinner party
60. Send my parents on a Safari of a lifetime (Africa)
61. Finish writing this list!
62. Stay debt free (minus house mortgage, maybe)
63. Get at least 1 comment on each of my blog posts.
64. Times my blog traffic by 10!
65. Times my website traffic by 10!
66. Speak at a photography event
67. Learn to relax without distractions or electronics.
68. Spend the day at a spa
69. Go on a couples trip somewhere with friends
70. Go to 3 plays
71. Spend at least a week in New York
72. Meet and learn from Matthew Jordan Smith, Jerry Ghionis, and Jasmine Star.
73. Throw an awesome birthday party
74. Go to a fancy party for New Years Eve!
75. Slow dance with Tim!
76. - 101. ……..stay posted

What are some of your dreams, goals, and aspirations?!