Its been a week and a day. Each day that passed since my last post, i kept telling myself, you've got to sit down and write. But here's something for you: maybe the key to a blog is writing when you have a story, not because its been so many days...

I've got some stories.

The last picture i showed you really inspired me to start taking some awesome photos. The majority of Wednesday - Friday, I played up in my office. I pulled things from all over the house and tried to capture them. I ended up with some really cool photos. Look out for a website update in a week or two. I don't want to make any promises about what its going to be like, but if i learn some things between now and then, it might be unlike any I've had to date.

(My setup for the new work. And Liz's dress in the background... We can't find a place for it)

This past weekend Liz and I went to my house in Chattanooga. We visited family and had a wedding reception planned for us. As much fun as the trip proved to be, we were most excited about sleeping together under my parents roof. It just felt dirty.


While we were there i got to carry out a project that i had been mulling over since we started our wedding plans. We had bought some wood from the Habitat Home Store to construct rough tables for the reception. I happened to notice that some of the wood we grabbed was really nice. I spent the better part of Sunday in the garage building the new addition to our living room. The only thing that diverted my attention was our garage flooding from all the rain.


Along with the excitement of having built the entertainment center, we left with the realization that we had a house warming party in just six days (and a completely unwarmed home). We had no furniture, no organization, no art, no feel. While that can be stressful, its really been a lot of fun. I've been playing Trading Spaces for the past 4 days. In a conversation with Liz i noted that I'm finally getting to the chance to carry out my crazy ideas i've held close since high school. Its been an amazing time exercising my creativity in this facet.

Here are some of the new additions to the place:

(This is about 4'x 2.5'. Im really stoked with how it turned out.)

(From left to right: Our new IKEA Expedit bookcase via ModerNash; New Vase from West Elm with a cool wall hanging I made over Christmas vacation; My Great-Grandmother's old Lamp with a new look! Its looking for a new shade.)

Ps. Im still loving the new camera. Its really changed my game.

So, this is the new year. And... im about to make a resolution. However, don't categorize this as a new year's resolution. I endeavor to maintain said resolution.

My goal is to keep you up to date on everything Will Knowles (professional, social, spiritual, emotional, etc). I've tried and failed... and chalk it up to not having much to say/me not leading a terribly exciting life. But i think that with combining all aspects of my life and interests, i can hopefully carry out a semi-succesful web-log.

If the first few weeks are an insight into what the rest of the year will look like, I'd say that there is a lot of good in store. On January 2nd, I got married to the love of my life, Liz Fitzsimons (now Knowles). As soon as my friend and mentor, David Molnar, releases some photos of the day, i intend on making those photos public to you, the reader. (EDIT: During the writing of this, Dave put a slideshow up of the pics!) Another exciting part of these first few weeks is that Liz and I are settling into our home. We're spending Bed, Bath, and Beyond gift cards like there's no tomorrow. We've also made several large purchases... A big red comfy couch and the 5D Mark II. Im slightly more excited about the camera. Its the first of purchases this year of which im hoping will provide the backbone of my photo career. Now, don't get me wrong, gear wont make me get there, but it certainly wont hurt!

I've been doing a lot of dreaming about this next year, I can't tell you how excited I am about what it will bring professionally. This is the year I put myself in a position to be a full-time professional photographer in 2011 or not. Now don't get me wrong, thats my title for 2010, but i just need the projects to sustain the title. I've got a few months before I'll be super busy with weddings. As daunting as week after week of weddings sounds, i'm really excited. I've found some new inspiration in the work of Tec Petaja and Jose Villa. I just love their discerning eye. You could say I'm jealous...

You might be wondering what a full-time photographer does without projects. Well, me too. I feel more like a stay-at-home-dad-minus-kids/photographer. While my wife teaches, I clean, work on finances, and hone my craft. Today has given me this. The prototype to what i want my product photography to feel like.