Its Shopping Time: Holiday Gift Ideas

I have to admit that I have a love/hate relationship with the holidays.  First of all I love them, they really are one of my favorite times of the year.  It’s a time of reflection and thanksgiving and a season that helps remind you of the things that are most important to you.  For me it’s family and friends and spending time with them, no matter how busy everyone is.  Then I think about the prospect of buying gifts and I can quickly and easily get stressed.  Finding the right gift to give is a challenge and that is the part of the holiday season that causes me the most anxiety.

I’m hoping that these ideas might help you get started thinking and help with the ideas this holiday season.

First of all it’s the easy things.  Does anyone need any thing?   A word of caution here, if you’re going to go with a general or household item, make sure that it is going to be okay.  For many household items are just that household items and they don’t meet the personalization that some might prefer.  For others a needed household item may be a welcome gift, still others may appreciate the thought but might want to have input in the selection, you just have to know your audience but giving gifts that someone needs and can use can be an instant winner.

Next, move onto interests.  Does someone love wine, cooking, collecting Pandora charms, massages?  You get the idea.  Any special interest gives you a great starting off point.  Look for items that tie into their interests and you can’t go wrong. It adds to the thoughtfulness of the gift.

Moving on hint hint.... This one can also be an easy one.  Often people will inadvertently or purposefully drop hints telling you the perfect gift, all you have to do is be observant in may cases.  The end result another win for thoughtfulness.

This next one can be a big hit or not so much, this is the gift that is something that your loved ones wouldn’t have though of.    It can open the doors to something new and give them a very pleasant surprise.  So often the best gifts are the ones unexpected.

Creative gifts.  I must admit I love this category.   Be warned that creative gifts often take a fair amount of time and preplanning.  These should usually not be left to the last minute as they often take a lot to put together.  Homemade gifts fall into this category and knowing that your work and efforts went into making the gifts can make them even more special.

I know that a lot of early birds are done with their shopping, but if you’re like me you’ve still got a lot left on your list.  Don’t let your shopping stress you out and I know that you’ll be able to find the perfect gifts.

Happy Shopping!

-Trina

A Season of Thanksgiving: A Photographer Who Is Thankful for the things that Matter the Most

The holiday’s are often a mixed blessing we get to spend time with our family and loved ones, but at the same time, there is a lot of pressure to entertain, host and present perfection.  It’s easy to get overwhelmed and forget what the season is all about.  It just takes me one look through a family photo album to be reminded of all I have to be so thankful for.  I have a wonderful family, an incredible man in my life, amazing friends and beautiful life and I have been truly blessed.

2017 has been a year of challenges.  From the beginning with the loss of my dad, our family would never be the same.  Although everyone must experience the loss of loved ones’ and everyone knows that it’s a part of life, it doesn’t make it any easier when it happens.  My dad had been sick a long time but you still can’t believe it when you get the phone call that he’s now in heaven.  You do what everyone does and you start to adjust to your new normal.  It’s been a year of firsts without him and sometimes you think your adjusting just fine and sometimes something unexpected will bring back the pain.

Just when we thought we were getting better we found out that my mom has had a recurrence of ovarian cancer so we settle in for the next fight.  Scared but determined, once again we’ve been reminded of how blessed we are, family and friends stepping in to make sure that she’s taken care of. Another reminder of how much we have to be thankful for.  We miss our dad but we have countless memories and we know that he’s no longer sick.

It can be so easy to stay focused on what has gone wrong, what you don’t have or what you need but I remind myself everyday that I have so much to be thankful for.  During this time of thanksgiving I take extra time to focus on what is truly important. 

Flipping through those photos, old and new I can’t help but remember how very thankful I am.

-Trina

Finding My Studio’s First Home: I Love My Photography Studio

Just about a year ago I was in search of my first studio space, a home base where I knew I could meet with clients, complete in studio sessions, display my work host events and so many other things.  I needed something small and affordable and in the greater Los Angeles area that combination posed no small challenge. 

As I looked I just happened across the Hawthorne Arts Complex.  The timing was perfect and there were just a couple of smaller spaces available.  As a photographer it is all about the light so I was looking for a window.  There it was a tiny little space with a window.  It had my name written all over it.  Should I do it, could I do it?   I wanted to but it was a commitment.  Pushing the doubts and worries away I was in.

I still remember the feeling of turning the key to my very own studio for the first time.  I went in and sat down in the middle of the floor and realized that Trina Yarrington Photography had a home of it’s own for the first time.  I love my home it’s the perfect fit for this point in the business.  There’s room to roam inside and out, filled with white walls just waiting for a creative spin.

In the middle of an industrial area in Hawthorne, you might never know the Hawthorne Arts Complex exists but it is there.  Home to a collection of different artists working in a variety of media, it’s growing and expanding by adding new studios and bringing in new artists.  Thanks to Danny the manager who does an amazing job of keeping everything in order.  Just a quick stroll through and you’ll be instantly inspired by the art surrounding you.  It’s a wonderful mix of creativity with kind creators and constantly changing artwork. 

I hope you’ll have a chance to attend an open house or another hosted event and get inspired.  Maybe you’ll join me in my studio for a portrait session.

Can’t wait to see you.

- Trina