Celebrating in Complete Gratitude

Yesterday I celebrated my 46th birthday surrounded by love, gratitude, and something that felt deeply symbolic—the color red.

As I looked at my stunning birthday cake, adorned in rich, vibrant red, I was struck by how perfectly it represented this moment in my life. In many cultures, red symbolizes abundance, prosperity, good fortune, and the courage to live boldly. It symbolizes life force, passion, and the willingness to fully show up in the world without apology.

And that's exactly how I'm choosing to step into 46.

The Symbolism of Showing Up

I'm deeply grateful for a life filled with love, passion, creativity, and abundance. For my incredible wife, my parents, and the circle of friends who've become chosen family. For the countless extraordinary moments that weave together to create this beautiful tapestry of an ordinary life, and for the support system that holds me through it all.

Yesterday's celebration—complete with that gorgeous red cake—gave me the perfect opportunity to do what brings me the most joy: capturing beautiful moments through photography. But this time, I did something I often forget to do as a photographer: I turned the lens on myself.

The Joy of Self-Portraiture

As photographers, we're so focused on creating magic for others that we often forget to document our own stories. We become invisible in our own narratives, always behind the camera, never in front of it. But yesterday, I made a conscious choice to celebrate with pure joy and intention by creating self-portraits.

And let me tell you—it was absolutely delightful! Picture this: me, a birthday cake, and a red tutu that I tossed around with complete abandon. It was playful, it was joyful, and it was exactly the kind of lighthearted celebration my soul needed.

There's something magical about giving yourself permission to be silly in front of your own lens. It's not about creating the perfect shot or being overly serious about the art form—it's about capturing joy in its purest form. It's about keeping the promises we make to ourselves to actually do the things that light us up.

I've talked about the importance of self-portraits before, about how we need to document our own stories too. Yesterday, I didn't just talk about it—I actually did it. With cake crumbs and tutu twirls and laughter that I can still feel when I look at those images.

The Power of Intentional Living

This past year has reinforced a fundamental truth: when we choose to love ourselves boldly—without apology, without shrinking—we create space for more joy, expanded opportunities, and deeper connections. Like the color red, intentional living demands attention. It refuses to blend into the background. It says, "I am here, I am worthy, and I deserve abundance."

Creating these birthday self-portraits was my way of embodying that energy—taking the time and intention I usually reserve for my clients and gifting it to myself.

At 46, I'm embracing the red energy of:

• Continued growth and fearless creative expansion
• Opening myself to receiving all the abundance this world offers.
• The courage to show up authentically in every moment—including in front of my lens
• The passion to help others step into their brilliance

Living in Full Color

There's something powerful about choosing to live in full color rather than muted tones.

Red doesn't apologize for being bold. It doesn't dim itself to make others comfortable. It simply is vibrant, alive, and unapologetically present.

This is how I'm choosing to move through this new year of life. With the abundance mindset that red represents. With the passion that fuels my creativity. With the boldness that allows me to step in front of the camera and document my own story. With the intention to help others see their own beauty and step into their power.

As I raise my glass to this new chapter, I'm reminded that our most meaningful celebrations aren't just about marking time—they're about honoring the love we give, the growth we embrace, and the intentional way we choose to move through the world.

Here's to another year of living fully, loving boldly, and showing up in all our vibrant, unapologetic color—both behind and in front of the lens.