Today is Brian’s birthday, and I’ve got to let the whole world know because he is the MOST AMAZING husband, dad and friend. I love this man!
He makes us laugh.
Whether you are a kid or friend from Cambodia!
He never ceases to surprise me and the ladies at our CONFIDENCE Workshops!
He watches over our family like no other. Behind-the-scenes he does more than anyone could imagine whether it’s homeschooling the kids in History and Science, helping me prep for a presentation, being the technical hero when we do the Nate Berkus Show, playing with the kids in a way that opens their imagination to the impossible being possible (like Barbie Photo Shoots!)
and then letting me know he believes in me–no matter what.
Brian believes in the impossible and finds evidence of life everywhere–with his heart, with his camera, with all that he is.
Because of Brian, I’ve soared to heights I never dreamed possible, and I know our kids will do the same. There is so much that I owe to this amazing man.
I simply love this man.
Will you help me wish Brian a Happy Birthday today?!
If he’s made a difference in your life, no matter how small or big, will you post up your story today? Thanks so much!
(I love you honey! Little did you know what blog post I was working on while I was sitting right next to you! :))
xoxo,
m
Happy, happy birthday, Brian. Me Ra summed it up. You are BRILLIANT. It was so much fun meeting you last year, firstly at the NJ workshop and then in DC in September. You are the reason I now have a 5d Mark II and a 75-200mm lens!!
I hope our paths cross again in the near future. Maybe in NYC one of these days.
However I will remind myself not to lend you a laptop/Mac Book, if you use them to rest your muffin pans on! (SEE FIRST IMAGE ON THIS BLOG POST!!!)
Have a great day Brian.
hey bri..happy birthday bud! I’m honored to call you friend. enjoy your day!
LOVE this post!
Happy Birthday Brian! You are so obviously cherished by your family and you are also adored by those of us priviledged enough to meet you and know you. You are a gifted artist in your own right. I am so appreciative of the moments that don’t go unnoticed with you and how you are able to capture those in your images and in your story telling. LOVE how you tell a story. 🙂
I am also appreciative of how patient you are in explaining just how the camera works – how you spent time with every person at the workshop I attended to make sure they understood the settings on their camera. How many times have you done that? – no way to know, because you approach each person with the same energy, patience and willingness to help.
You bring “light” to any room, Brian. Many and continued blessings for you.
Much love,
Lisa
Happy Birthday Brian! I love the image of you and Blaze skiing! Also, are you bouncing light off a mirror on to Barbie? That is some fabulous instruction! You and Me Ra fit together like peanut butter and jelly! I can’t wait to see both of you in a couple weeks. Have a great day.
Happy Birthday to you brother Brian…. May the Lord keep blessing you and your family every you need…. 🙂 I was such of blessings and joy to stay with your family… 🙂 Blessings, Rin
Happy Birthday Brian!!! You already know how much I love ya, but in particular, I will always be grateful to you for the time you spent with me at the Confidence Workshop. Your patience, insight, understanding and gentle encouragement helped push me through a difficult time. I am sure you will be spoiled as you deserve on this very special day! Enjoy!!!
It was such of blessings and joy to stay with your family… Thank you for every thing… Blessings,
Happy Birthday Brian!! I hope you know how much you are loved by so, so many ladies. The world is a better place because of people like you. So thank God for another year, and so very many more to come!!
Love Ya!!
Happy Birthday Brian! Three years later, I still remember how hilarious and incredibly helpful you were at the workshop. You have a great combination of humor and patience, which is such a gift!
When I bought a new camera this year, I worried I didn’t set it up correctly, because you set up my last one. 🙂 Chances are you don’t remember that I showed up at the workshop not even knowing how to attach my camera strap! You set up the camera for me while I stood there like a moron! All the settings served me well. 🙂
Hope you enjoy a great day and a wonderful year!
Dear Brian. Wishing you a very Happy Birthday and a year filled with good health and happiness. Thank you for sharing your jammed packed life with us this past weekend. You are the wind beneath Me Ra’s wings. I appreciated your kind, thoughtful and funny ways. Once again, thanks for explaining the camera in ways we can understand, equating shutter speed to MPH was fabulous.
Brian — happy birthday! I think my favorite memories of you are from the ‘old’ days when the PUGs were at your home… fun people, fun conversations, and of course a little vino! It’s been a pleasure to watch you, MeRa and the kids pouring out into so many people.
May you have a blessed day & year!
:)Tessa
Me Ra, no doubt your love for him shined in this blog but I think the last picture showed it all! You two are incredible together and separately and compliment each other so well!
Happy Happy Birthday Brian! You are one lucky loved man! 🙂
Hugs,
Summie
Happy Birthday Brian! I appreciate your sense of humor that you have brought to the blog. It is evident that your family is grounded in truth and love in the ways you balance a crazy successful business and a beautiful, joy-filled family.
-Christen
BRIAN!!!!!
happy birthday, to the person who called my skin ISO100 (hey, white is the new tan) & spent the time with me & my camera & got the light to click on about METERING & what the crap all the stupid dials do & where the thingy is supposed to be. yay! my biggest AHA moment in photography was due to your one-on-one explanation & help.
thanks so much.
I will always remember the fun sound of your laugh & your excitement for life. I can see how great of a husband & buddy you are to MeRa – besides what she says about you – by the way you guys work together so well (even when you’re disagreeing!) & know each other so deeply… even by the way you look at her.
I hope you have an awesome day!!!
Happy Birthday Brian!
I remember at the confidence workshop last May, when all the ladies were sharing their stories and I started to tear up with a few others, he ran to get us boxes of tissues! So thoughtful!
I hope you have an amazing birthday!
~M~
Oh, Brian. Happy Birthday! Although all of us Seattle 2011 ladies just got to sing to you yesterday, now I’m back in the “swing of things” and it seems like it was a long time ago.
One of the things I loved about Brian is how he compliment Me Ra. The way you meld together and present your information is great. It’s like a delicate (and sometimes real and clumsy) dance that you pull off to make learning FUN!
When I loved you most was when you showed up yesterday and your hair was a MESS. I literally laughed to myself. If I didn’t know better, it looked like you slept in your car!! And yet you bopped in with all that camera equipment and that great smile ready to support the class. It was just wonderful, and REAL! You made me comfortable to learn, because it was as if we were sitting with you at a coffee shop, seeing REAL people teach.
Feel blessed today as you spend time with what really counts in life….your beautiful family. I feel blessed because I got to know you both! xoxoxo
Happy Birthday To the “Man that is the wind beneath our Wings!!!” I know it sounds corny…but I know it’s true! Thank you for the love, support, encouragement and pure joy you bring your wife and children each and every day! All that you are and all that you do in secret has been a gift not only to those closest to you and most dear to your heart… you dear friend have blessed countless others through just being you! Happy Birthday Brian…we love you and appreciate you so very, very much! Your smile is radiant, your love so pure, your spirit contagious, your laughter a joy!!!! May your Birthday be as much of a blessing to you as you are to others…May you have a gentle, humble and hilarious day!
brian! all the best to you today and all the todays that follow.
Â
me ra, pascaline and blaze – you have been blessed immeasurably with a husband, father, and friend who is that rare combination of ridiculously hilarious and upright of heart. celebrate him always!
happy birthday, bri-ahn! you are amazing. here’s to a great year with your family!
Happy Birthday, Brian!
You taught me about flash bounce, which I think is probably the thing that makes the biggest difference in indoor photography. Imagine having a whole winter of sucky photos if you didn’t know about bouncing your flash!
Also, thanks a lot for helping me with my camera yesterday! I was so bummed to not be able to join in, with all those magic moments happening all over the place, but you saved the day!
Okay the barbie photoshoot pushed me over the edge….Brian you are simultaneously compassionate, loving, AND of course, a total Bad A**. Happy Birthday!
Oh Ladies and Jeramy and Rin,
You make me laugh and feel good about my self. Thanks so much for each of your comments. It means a lot to hear that I have a place in your hearts and that I have given something meaningful to you. Gosh. I feel really thankful to read your stories. Thanks so much for sharing with me this morning.
I had NO idea this was Me Ra’s Bog post for today.
Happy B-day!!! It was a pleasure meeting you last year at the Seattle Workshop. Thanks more making me laugh and teaching me how to use my bounce flash. Have a great day.
Yay Me Ra! You got him soooooooooooooooooooooooooo good! 😀
Brian, you make my heart sing in so many ways. From your technical (and other)brilliance, your disarming self-referential humor, sincere kindness and love towards people, flat-out honesty about life and the ever-present deep heroic love for Me Ra, Pascaline and Blaze. And much more.
From you I’ve learned so much about what’s possible in the work realm, gained compassion and respect for myself in the photography and have enjoyed every (well, almost :D) moment of conversation we’ve had. I knew Me Ra was a prize – you are SO the BONUS! ~ *I’m with you Julie – glad I didn’t give my Barbie away yet 🙂
This was the most fun to read with breakfast – seeing the kitchen shot (is THAT what REALLY happened to your MAC? (raised eyebrow)) so makes me want ground lamb, feta and cilantro! Brian’s fave breakfast everyone! YUM! HAAAAAAAPPPY BD B!
Happy birthday!!!! I hope you guys get to do something extra special today! 🙂
Brian – Best Birthday Wishes to you! What a treat to see your bright smiling face yesterday. Mr. Safari photographer extraordinaire… I have some fond memories of you from the Oakland workshop trying to be conspicuous, lens peaking out from behind a random shrub, your cover destroyed by a pair of tall white and pink satin bunny ears peaking out from the top! aha! Cheers!
Nikki
Brian, you are THE FUNNIEST person….ever! I will always remember dinner out at that mexican resturant after I attended the workshop. Oh, I can still get to laughing over that night! But most of all, I just love the way you take care of Me Ra. You are one of the best people I know! Love Ya!
Brian, you do know you are my husband’s long lost little brother don’t you?
Happy Birthday. It was so much fun getting to know you (even a little). You being the only male in the room reminded me of when my husband took me to see Sex in the City (the first movie) and there were no other men in the whole theatre and some woman shouted out from the group, “Look! A MAN!” and the whole theatre busted up laughing. My husband puffed up his chest and went and found us a seat. ROFL! (Seriously you two should not meet because the “ADD / Alpha Male / Comedy Routine” would be off the charts!) I’m so glad Me Ra found you, took you in and gave you a good home. :)~
And yet again my commnet includes a word that makes it need to be approved. ROFL! Okay, happy birthday!
PS…Anybody find my workshop bag with my black sweater in it this weekend?
Well Brian looks like Me Ra got you!! I am so glad that I got the privilege to get to know you at the workshop. You were VERY funny, very patient and helpful. I can’t express how lucky I am to have gotten to know you and Me Ra, boy what a great team you two are!! Happy Birthday Brian! Thanks for all the memories of a very great and inspiring weekend.
Happy Birthday Brian! You have more “girl friends” than any guy I know, even Barbie. How lucky are you? I know you became my new bff when you set my camera to the right settings too. Every manual in the world doesn’t compare to the hands on teaching and fun you bring to the learning. What a great, committed father, husband, and business parter you are for your family. I hope you feel celebrated today!!! Enjoy the little ray of sunshine we are having!
Happy Birthday Brian! I remember at the confidence workshop I attended years ago, how much fun you were as I worked through the workshop. It is your zaniness that is amazing paired with your down to presence inspite of the great knowledge and talent you possess. Last year when I stressed over not finding my SOAR video submission (it was there the whole time) you actually emailed me back with a supportive note. 🙂 You and MeRa have been inspirational to me in my journey of reconnecting with my creative self which had (notice the past tense) taken a back seat for quite some time. I hope you and your family enjoy an amazing birthday celebration! 🙂 In your photos posted above is that a lap top under the cookie sheet next to the blender? heeee heeee–love it!! Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Brian! Thanks for keeping all of us laughing and smiling. You have a true gift. Enjoy the love and attention today and always. Cheers!
Happy Birthday Brian. How awesome it must be to be you! You have a wife and two beautiful children who clearly adore you. That is success in my eye! You made quite an impression on me at the Oakland Wksp! Your charm, honesty, sense of humor and interaction with your wife was a blessing beyone measure. I am glad to have had the chance to meet you and look forward to seeing the two of you again in AZ.
HaPpY BiRtHdAy, BRIAN! Hope that you have a wonderful day with your family and friends.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the wonderful patience, time and wealth of knowledge you as well as Me Ra provided to everyone at the Seattle 2011 workshop! You both are an inspiration to everyone! Anyone who has the opportunity to interact and meet you is blessed!
Wishing you all the best in 2011! Take care and keep smiling!
Brian,
Happy happy birthday to you!! This first blog post I ever read from Me Ra: https://fioria.us/2008/03/28/brian-in-boudoir/
And can you believe that it didn’t scare me away and instead drew me in? I had just gotten my camera, was scared of it and excited about it at the same time. I was trying to learn how to use it and so I searched for photography tips and up popped THAT. 😉
Thank you for always making photography FUN and APPROACHABLE! Brian, you have made the two workshops I have been to a true treat. Thank you for teaching me to use my flash, your most excellent description of the thirds principal and for making MeRa so happy. Because a happy MeRa is who we are all drawn to!
Hope you have had a wonderful day!!!
PS – I know others have said it also, but that Barbie photo shoot is amazing!
Happy Birthday Brian!!!! I hope you have/had a wonderful day!
What can I say that others have not. You made me smile at the Oakland Workshop, I can be so shy, but for some reason seeing you and Me Ra smiling at all of us just brought me to life. Plus you showed me that I soooo need a new camera. Still working on that, but hopefully soon.
Happy Birthday!!!
HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIAN!!!!!
I hope you get some birthday money and you treat yourself to a new pair of pants! Remember, San Antonio…..you gave us all a show!
I hope you have a really great birthday! Here’s to many more! Cheers!!!
Happy Birthday, Brian!! It is the end of the day but I couldn’t call it a night until I added my 2 cents! and warm wishes!
I loved meeting you and MeRa at the DC10 Workshop!! You both touched my heart and life in such a special way. I love your personality, your authenticity, your humor, your intelligence and your love for MeRa and your children. Not to mention your love for your work and every single women that you teach at your confidence workshops. You give everything you do, your all.
But I would have to say that my very favorite memory of you is when we surprised MeRa with the headbands when she came back into the room at the DC10 workshop. YOU were hilarious wearing the headband just like the rest of us. But when MeRa walked into the room and first saw you and busted a gut laughing it was priceless. THEN when she realized we were ALL wearing headbands she screamed and laughed even harder!! It was the best!!! I laugh every time I think of that. Thank you for going along with us on the whole surprise. YOU made it work!! Then just keeping the headband on for the photo shoot just added to the experience.
But joking aside, thank you for your dedication to serving your family and your world. When you meet someone for the first time and you feel like you have known them forever, you know that is a special person. And that is YOU. Happy Birthday, my friend!
Happy birthday, Brian! Words can never capture what a supportive and nurturing man and father can be to his family!
Proud to know I share a birthday with such a fella! 🙂
Happy Birthday, Brian! Your laugh (along with a slightly mischievous twinkle in your eye) always draws a smile from everyone who surrounds you. You are warm, charming, and humble beyond measure — you deserve the very best of this day, and the entire year to come.
I can’t help but laugh when I remember a certain Discovery Workshop breakout session and talking about flash and slowing down shutter speed…and then some sweet ninja/dancing skills coming out with Garrett & Jason. (Oh, yes you did…!!)
With warm, heartfelt wishes to you for a fantastic birthday and many more happy memories to come. Cheers, Brian!
I LOVE this post Me Ra! You guys are such a beautiful inspiration for Charlie and I. Love you both tremendously. Thank you for sharing your love and joy with all of us.
Happy Birthday Brian. The Kanes love you! We are honored to call you guys friends. Seriously, my kids are still asking when they get to see you again. You etched out a place of “coolness” to the “n”th degree for them. And I must say that the Barbie shoot just pushed you up even further on the scale of amazing and cool.
I hope you had an amazing day!
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Happy Birthday, Brian! You are such a truly wonderful person and oh so FUNNY. You and Me Ra are such a great team, and your patience with all of us at the Seattle Confidence workshop this past weekend was incredible. I woke up this morning missing the workshop and spending time with the group! The past two days have been amazing all thanks to you and Me Ra. Enjoy your special day. You deserve it.
Happy birthday, Brian! I feel blessed to have spent the past two days with you at the workshop. To begin with you are hilarious, but underneath the obvious you are a patient and gifted teacher, a calming presence because of your humor and lightheartedness, and clearly an amazing husband and father. I love your analogies…some very helpful ( race car) and others, well, let’s just say I’m STILL trying to figure out the sniper one! I will never forget the warmth of your smile. I hope your day was full of the kid of love and joy that you spread on a daily basis.
I suppose proofreading would be good…I meant to say the “kind” of love and joy not ” kid”, although you have many “kid” like qualities, and that is a complement 🙂
Brian, I feel so privileged and honored to have attended the Seattle 2011 workshop! You and Me Ra have such gifts for teaching and inspiring! Thank you for sharing those gifts! Genie referred to you as the “dynamic duo” and that is such a perfect way to describe to two phenomenal individuals! I hope your day was absolutely perfect and that the upcoming year bring you all that you wish for!
[…] « Previous February 1st, […]
Brian,
When: L = laughter, BMW = (best medicine in the world), B = Brian
Then: B = (L)(BMW)
You bring such joy to so many people! When Chelsie and I came “West” to the workshops we were so nervous about coming into a crowd of folks we didn’t know and being new to this photography thing made it even harder for us. But once we met you and Me Ra we were immediately immersed in so much laughter that we couldn’t possibly be anything but at ease. We truly have learned that laughing can take the pressure off of just about any situation and you ALWAYS make us laugh. And your support of Me Ra and her journey is a great example, not just to other husbands, but to anyone who is standing in a place to be supportive of someone they love. (And I’m willing to bet you receive the same support from Me Ra in return.) Thank you, Brian, for being who you are and doing so with such gusto! Happy, Happy Birthday and I hope you always cha, cha, cha your way through life!
😉
Hey Brian! Happy Birthday my friend and awesome neighbor! LOVE the photos above!… especially the barbie photo shoot with Pascaline! Fortunate for you… age is a state of mind… so I think you are safe from aging for a while! 🙂 Hope you day was fabulous! xxx. jill
A belated happy birthday Brian! Glad it was a good one. Love the pic from the SA workshop!!!
Happy birthday Brian!
I don’t know you YET, but I plan to meet you
Someday soon at an upcoming workshop!
You are both so lucky to have each other and the
Obvious love you share- what better gift is there?
Hope you have an amazing year filled with wonderful experiences!
Enjoy!
brian!!! you’re one of my faves, ever! : )
You’ve made so many of us laugh, cry [happy tears], and feel good about OURselves. I can’t imagine last year without your influence as well. You are amazing–I hope you enjoyed your birthday! You deserve the best!!!!
And I’m so with Julie–stop right at that Barbie photo shoot. LOVE IT. You’re. a. stud.
Oh man, I miss Brian! I think you are one of the few guys who can make me laugh non-stop. I’m glad I know someone like you. Wishing you a very happy birthday and many blessings in another new year. Cheers.
-Yuriy
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