Yes, I am alive.
On a very personal note, this last year has been a life changing for me in so many ways.
I have been faced with many hard life lessons and trials and yet, I have been equally as blessed and have gained so much knowledge and appreciation for things I once over looked.
Happiness is not something that is found easily. It has no price tag. It is not given through somebody else; not through social circles or material facades.
Happiness is merely a choice. It is a way of life. It is an inner peace. To achieve it, it is a journey, an adventure, a challenge.
People come and go through out our years lived but without the moving forward, one may look over new opportunities, relationships, and the silent joys we find along new paths.
I am learning what makes me happy. I am learning what tests I can overcome. I am learning who I am.
Although, I have changed immensely throughout the last 12 months, I am still the same.
I still know the simplicities of my personal joy. I’ve learned what I want from life and I look forward to each new day because of it.
Simply put, I am happy.

Back the main purpose for this blog. Photography.
I have been so busy with lots of different aspects in my life and I really put this blog on the back-burner. There have been so many sessions I have shot since I have last posted and of course a lot of weddings that I have documented and posted on Of My Affections website. Off the top of my head here were a few images that I thought I would share just to kind of pull this blog up to date. A new goal of mine to post and share more often, if not for anyone else, it is a great personal photo-log.

For now here is a variety of sessions including, babies, kids, seniors, families, travel, music, and a peak at a few personal projects. Enjoy!

I will be the first to admit that I have been a terrible blogger in the last few months. I have been happily consumed with the things and people I cherish most in life as well as keeping very busy with my wedding photography business, Of My Affection. 2010 was an amazing year for me as far as fulfilling so many dreams. I was able to travel to the third world country of Fiji and take part in bringing safe and clean drinking water to the rural island villages of Kadavu, Fiji. I along with two other travelers/board members for Wananavu Kadavu were able to live right in the village with the most humble and amazing people I have ever had the privilege of meeting. So many days and especially nights I find myself reminiscing about the distant faces and sweet memories I hold from the short weeks I spent in Fiji. I long for my own children to experience a world where video games have no meaning, money can’t take you far, and a life where you literally have to live off the land to live. It was truly an amazing, and a fundamental reason for many changes I have made in my own life. I long to go back soon and hope it will be sooner than later.
Another great thing I was able to accomplish in 2010 was the official launch of my wedding photography business. Along with my business partner Malea, who is also one of my bestest friends, have had such great response to what we offer. We feel so lucky to be staying busy and also to have the opportunity to work with and get to know so many amazing people who are so happily in love.
My children grew a year older in 2010. This is bitter sweet of course because my babies are no longer babies and never again will we have little babies of our own at home. Although it is sad to get rid of all of the baby things it is so exciting to see my children grow and develop intriguing little personalities.
Last year many may have noticed I didn’t take as many family, babies nor children sessions. As much as I love working with all of the wonderful sweet faces and families I have in the past, I really decided that I need, as an artist to photograph what I am passionate about. I will continue to fully documenting what I am passionate about this year as well and hopefully for all the years I am behind the camera. That being said, I will give it my very best to post more of what I am taking pictures of and the wonderful projects that I have and will be involved in.
I really have been very blessed. My goal for this year is to depict the passion I have for life in the images I will take.
Hugs-
Serena

I have two beautiful sisters. They are both unique and wonderful in their own ways. Together we share something that we can share with no others. We share a childhood. We share an imagination of three little girls living in a perfect world full of magic and fairy-tales. A world with no pain, lies, trials or illness. The only challenges we faced in our playtime were those that took place in our made-up adventures. As children we would giggle and put on plays and dance in our p.j.s.  Life was not a reality yet. We hadn’t come to experience the things that we’ve now come to know. BUT, the most “magical” thing about us, is that when we are all three together, we mysteriously turn back into little girls who giggle and dance and have no cares in the world. My sisters are mine and we share something that we can share with no others.







I love the motion in these last few….

Maybe I have forgotten because I am pretty sure senior boys weren’t this cute when I was a senior. Could just be my memory failing me since it has been 10 years since I was a senior in high school (yes… I did just admit that. bawhaha) but even if I am wrong, Gabe is adorable and he was a pro for his senior pics. Enjoy!

Okay, until I get a full post ready here is a quick glimpse of what I’ve been up to lately.
Below is an example of exactly how behind I am at posting… ugh.

Summer was full of lots of amazing weddings Malea and I photographed. See more here…

Awesome commercial shoot for FIGHT THE NEW DRUG.


Back to school pictures for my boys. {oh how I love my babies!!!}



And of course ’tis the season for Senior pictures…
Meet Gabe…

I will try my best to get a full post up soon but until then ENJOY!
Hugs,
Serena

but to make it up, I have been working on lots of fun new projects and here is just one of them…
Now announcing OMA Design Shop, a one stop shop of design templates for photographers. Malea and I have working on the designs for sometime now and we are tickled to final introduce the line for all who are interested. Check it out HERE!

I promise I will post soon. I’ve been up to lots of exciting things so I will catch you all up to date shortly.
Hugs,
Serena

My goodness, how time gets away…
I have been so preoccupied with life and such that I have hardly had a chance to think about my awaiting blog.
I will give you a quick update of what I have been working on these last few weeks. As always I tend to take on mounds of projects that I dream about finishing but a couple of weeks ago I actually completed a few of them. I bought an old banged up piano and have been putting a little elbow-grease into fixing it up. I am now almost down with painting it and I am excited to share.
In other news, I have been quite busy shooting weddings with my “all things wedding” business OF MY AFFECTION PHOTOGRAPHY. Malea and I really have such a great time working with couples in love and every session-wedding is wonderfully fun to shoot.
We have been working on something really big but it is still under-wraps for a bit. It will be so exciting to share, it feels like the beginning of a dream come true. Eeek!
I also just returned home from a week of beach camping on the West coast. It was perfection, nothing less! I will share pics when I get a minute.
Last but not least I have been so excited about our WATER PROJECTS upcoming golf tournament. Things are going so well for our foundation and we have made so much progress in the rural villages in Kadavu.
Until I can post again, here are a few simple little pictures.

Yay, this was such an amazingly fun shoot! I had the opportunity to work with a handful of super talented gals and beautiful models. We had a long and great day of shooting and I ended up with way too many pictures to decided from. For now here is what I have finished. There may be more to come. Enjoy!













Stylist, Make-up artist, hair design: Jenessa Roberts (http://www.modelmayhem.com/1153497)
Necklace and hair piece designer: Lindsey Knight McBride (http://www.etsy.com/shop/UrbanVintage)
Models: Krystal, Hillary and Elisha
Photographer: Serena Gene
Thanks everyone! It was so much fun working together!

Little miss Bri is already over a year old now and I seriously can’t over the feeling that it was just yesterday that I took her newborn pictures. Time would you please slow down!
Isn’t she just a doll-baby?! I could take her pictures all day long!
Enjoy!