{2009 in Review} Big Plans for 2010

I thought this app on Facebook was pretty cool! It highlighted a random assortment of your update status from the past year in a collage. I'm not sure how they were chosen but it's fun to look back and remember this year.

 

As many of you know, I entered a contest to win a photography scholarship to Hawaii with Mike Colon this week. I bugged you all on several occasions via email and Facebook! I didn't win but placed in the top 20 in OVER a 100 awesome photographers. I'm so humbled by how many of you voted and spread the word for me on Twitter and Facebook too. I really appreciate all the support you have given me and will continue to work hard to make my dreams a reality. A special thanks to Danny Mendoza & David Sno for being the ultimate opponents and cheering me on, even though you guys were hoping to win too!

I'm super excited for what 2010 has in store! I'm dreaming BIG this year and hoping they all come true. One of the immediate things I have been working on the last couple of days is my application for MeRa Koh's SOAR scholarship. It is an entire year full of mentorship, inspiration, and challenges. This would be the opportunity of a lifetime! I have known about this scholarship since it was announced a couple of weeks ago, but kinda just put it out of mind. In order to apply you had to make a 2 minute video. I thought to myself that it would be too much work in the midst of the holiday season. I would never win. I hate being on video. And a million other excuses. Well, that was until another photographer encouraged me to apply. That is the coolest thing in the world about this profession. It is such a supportive group of people!

Ughhh...it's so difficult to see myself on film. But whatever. I'm going to be 35 this next month and I am who I am. I am embracing ME! The video quality is not that great. It was recorded by my iPhone and MacBook Pro photo booth. I only had one day to capture it. I also did not write a script. I really wanted to speak from the heart and feel that comes more natural when I don't overthink and prepare for it. On a side note, Brooklyn cracks me up in this video! She is so stinkin' cute (if I can say so myself). You gotta listen for her to say "Santa", which we only taught her that day. Let me know what you think!

SOAR application from charla BLUE on Vimeo.

http://www.soarwithmera.com/Pages/About-SOAR/10499374_osLTF

Here's a quick snippet from her website, if you were to win the scholarship.

SOAR! is a new scholarship that is not only going to change the lives of three women, but breathe hope and encouragement into people across the nation. The SOAR! Scholarship is going to help three women take their dream of building a photography business come true. Starting December 1st, we invite women to submit a 2 minute video that shares why they have what it takes to SOAR! in building their own photography business. On January 1st , we will announce the three winners and begin their next 12 months of self discovery, empowerment and support to building a business that will last. Women will receive camera gear from Sony, beautiful websites and blogs from SmugMug, designed by Chopping Block. They will also receive software from Adobe, ShootQ, and SHOWIT that will make their life easier. The recipients will be mentored by industry leaders as well as Me Ra Koh’s business coaches from Wisdom Connection. They will be inspired by each SOAR! partner to go for their dreams. But SOAR! is not for the faint of heart. The winners will be required to document their year long journey on the SOAR! website through blog posts, videos, images, teleconferences and more. In turn, the next 12 months will change their lives. And even better, all entries and followers of SOAR! will get to shadow their experience and grow alongside them in real time. SOAR! is about understanding the wind that lifts us. SOAR! is about having the courage to believe our dreams were given to us for a reason. SOAR! is about climbing swiftly and powerfully! SOAR! is about helping you jump, take flight, and believe that you can not only learn to fly but SOAR!