Kim Indresano, Puerto Rico, Canon Xti

Kim, Puerto Rico, fort, Canon Xti

This is Kim, and the reason behind so many good things in my life. Since she and her family left the bay area (heartbreaking for me) we have been trying to create clever ways to spend quality time together. She hired me to shoot the big bash in Puerto Rico and it was such an incredible time both professionally and personally. Because I am prone to feeling anxious I have never wanted to take on shooting weddings myself, but I love being the second shooter at her events. The Garfunkel to her Simon. The Hall to her Oates. Or is it Oates to her Hall?

Anyway, she happens to be one of my favorite people in the world and one of the easiest to photograph. She glows with life and always inspires me with her calm wisdom and playful joy.

Kim, fort, Canon Xti

The first time we met was in a yoga class. She spotted me first because I didn’t have my glasses on and didn’t see her! We were getting our shoes on and somehow asked each other out for a spontaneous tea. We spent nearly four hours chatting at the cafe that day. I still remember walking away, grinning to myself and thinking, “My entire life is about to change…”

And it did. She introduced me to my dear one Sasha (who happens to be in the current issue of Bust magazine this month. Go Sasha!) She introduced me to my beloved Matt and mostly opened up a whole new world to me of friendship, community, adventure, and loving the natural world. I had never hiked or camped before I met Kim!

I will never forget the compassion she showed me one particular day. I was still going through infertility and she became pregnant with her second baby. I remember sitting on her kitchen floor with Liam when she told me the news. I congratulated her but the tears of grief came almost immediately. I felt ashamed. She hugged me and held me and said, “I know, I know… it’s isn’t fair! It was your turn… it was your turn…” In that moment I felt so incredibly loved and understood.

If you have a blog, I encourage you to write a little ode to a friend today. In writing this, my heart is full.

Kim, Andrea, photo by Anne Hamersky, Canon Elph SD1000