Renee Teresa Benson

My beautiful friend Renee left this world to be with the angels on February 8, 2010. This has been a tragic loss to those who knew and loved her. Renee’s life and story has touched countless lives...she was a beautiful soul and the most inspiring person the world will ever know.

I will hold each and every single memory of her unbelievably close to my heart and will forever be grateful for all she taught me about courage, gratitude, grace, friendship, and the ability to love beyond belief. Words will never describe just how much she will be missed.

To learn more about Renee and her courageous story please visit ReneeBensonBelieve.com

A very special thank you to KristinaLeePhotography for capturing such heartwarming images at the memorial.

Life Photography

I just added this photo to my “life” gallery on my website...it’s one of my faves. I took this at the Orange County Fair this year. There’s something about black and white photography that I just adore...

Senior Photography Session

Had an oppertunitly to snap a few photographs of this group the other day for a Bible Study group, they were all so fun and sweet!

Aliso Viejo Fire 6.5.09

On my drive home the other day I stumbled upon a cluster of traffic in the road. As I approached the area closer I quickly realized that there was a giant cloud of smoke in the air and a pretty sizable fire across from my home. (Eeek!) I was speechless and startled, I had never really witnessed something like that up close and personal. WOW! It was frightening and very-very hot to say the least. I quickly ran into the house to grab my camera and headed over to the scene. I was able to snap quite a few shots of the fire and the surrounding area.

It was so inspiring to see the fire crew do their job and fight the fire. I felt so grateful that we have so many men and woman who choose to do this as their job. It’s amazing how many lives they much touch on a daily basis.

To my surprise, I received a very kind email message from a firefighter from the OCFA in Orange County. He had ran across the images online that I had taken somehow and contacted me to thank me for documenting the incident so well and that he was enjoying being able to share the photographs with his family and the rest of his crew. He wanted to know if he could use some of the images there at the station. I was so taken back that HE liked MY photos, it was one of the biggest compliments I have ever received. I was so excited and felt so honored at the same time!

Here are some of the photographs from that afternoon and if you’d like you can see more on my Flickr page at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/krissygimenez/sets/72157619307563938/show/

So to any and all firefighters out there, I thank you for all of your brave work that you do for us. Especially the crew over at OCFA!
Krissy

I love the smell of antiques in the morning...

One of my favorite things to do is to just walk aimlessly around an antique store. I could get lost in that mode for hours upon hours.
It reminds me so much of my childhood, the smell alone just takes me back to being a little girl. I grew up and was raised around antiques from as far back as I can remember.

My grandparents were (and still are) collectors and have always had the most amazing treasures ever. I have countless memories of being a little girl and having my grandma sit me on her lap to show me her newest antique jewelry find and my grandpa showing me all of his antique toy trucks that he collected. Their house was surrounded with antiques, and only antiques. (They even had a working vintage stove in their kitchen that they would cook on.)

I love the shear smell of vintage antiques, all the dusty things for sale, the vintage clothing, and the people weaving in and out of the booths trying to discover their newest cherished find.

I love to look through the old postcards and Victorian photographs trying to figure out the story behind the people in them. Wondering how their lives were, what they’d seen, if they loved, etc…

I spent a morning out and about the other day and came across an antique shop that let me walk around with my camera in hand and allowed me to take some photographs.

I ended up taking home a couple of old Vargas prints from an original Vargas calendar from 1946. (I ran across all kinds of things that I wanted to take home with me.) I especially loved this old mannequin figure that I assume belonged to some kind of dressmaker in the past.