The new year slid in last night while I slumbered away.  In bed, intertwined with my two hot bodied kids for hours before I half woke to the sound of fireworks.  A few final curve balls thrown at us in 2015, setting us up for a strong year filled with purpose, strength and intention.

So many ideas and dreams swirling around in my head, I wish for eternal time.  Now here I stand, we all stand, with an entirely new, clean-slated year ahead of us.  So here we go, together, with the pent up cheer in my head that I so desire to share with you all in the coming YEARS.

For a while now, it has been my dream and goal to BE THE MAGIC.  It is sort of, totally my tag line for my photography (www.carriecheng.com).  
What does that mean?  A lot.

Carrie Cheng Photography Carrie Cheng is a child and family photographer in Naperville.

In my photography the magic is me, creating the scene, the mood, the story, finding the best of you and capturing that in timeless art. Photography for me is magical. I see so much beauty in the world and so much beauty in the people who do and don't step in front of my camera. I see it in children holding on to their parents, the way they embrace, the look in the eye.  The innocence and the fear.  I see joy, I see pain.  I see a proud mom, a charismatic dad. I see it all and I watch... Photography is my passion and one of my main outlet to help others see that magic that lies within.  That is my magic.

The magic is you, taking the risk, making yourself vulnerable in front of the camera.  Listening, trusting what I say and seeing the light shine within yourself.  It is all of us, letting go of the insecurities, forgetting our short comings and finding the best within us.  

The magic is having the courage to be wrong.  It is about looking at things for a new perspective.  It is about having sympathy and empathy and everything in between.  Understanding that we all come from a different place and have different stories to write.  Finding the right angle, changing how we think about things.  Paving the way for our friends, family and children to follow in a world of good instead of one of gossip, guilt and blame.

Be the magic.  Don't rely on others to make you happy. Don't wait for your turn.  Find the light within you that you want to show and make it shine.

2016 for me is all about being this magic.  I want to show everyone the light that shines with in me.  I want to carry that light strongly with me on everyday that I can.  I will have my bad days and obstacles will get in my way, but being the magic is a path I choose.  I am working on several new ways to be the magic and share the light in 2016.  Please stick around a join me and invite everyone you know too!

#bethemagic

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