a little vintage finish on the next one….

If you ask me, six moths old is the perfect baby age.  Sitting up on their own, those chunky baby rolls, the gummy smiles.  I was glad for a little reprieve from the heat yesterday. It was still quite a work out shooting outside, but I am looking forward to fall weather.

Be Good!

Be Good!

Be Good!

Fair warning… I’m getting ready to get all mushy/artsy on you.  I just came back from Texas School for Professional Photographers.  This is my second year going and I will be going back again next year.  I have to say, the first year was over whelming, a bit depressing, and inspiring all in one.  For one week you have an intensive class with an instructor or group of instructors.  The amount of information I received last year is still sitting in a spiral with notes all around it.  I still go back to it and look to see what I have implemented and what has been lost over time.  It was depressing last year because honestly they tore my business apart, but only so I could rebuild it and make it better.  Sadly, I only spend about 20% of my time being an artist and the other 80% doing other business stuff.

This year, I went into it with an understanding of what was about to happen.  It was a very different experience for me.  I left there inspired by words and music.  Strangely, I had let my passion for words escape me.  And the music… I sit in silence at my studio most days and I never realized how much it was hurting my creativity.  It should be interesting what changes between this year and next.

The model above was provided to us for an event they called “The Shootout”.  I thought she was a high school senior.  We later found out she was 15.  If you are a photographer reading this blog and you are accepting payment for your work, I urge you to attend next year.  It is the single best piece of advice I can give to you.  They will challenge you to be your own artist, they will help you run a successful business ,and they will help build a network of friends you can go to whenever you have questions.  There is nothing better than learning from the best in this industry.  Save your money.. be at Texas School 2011.

Be Good!

You don’t often see those words together do you? That’s because you typically never utter them in the same sentence. This morning I met a bride at the studio for her bridal session. As usual, we were walking in Downtown Waxahachie when this woman walked out of her car. With tears in her eyes she asked the bride, “are you getting married?” The bride said, “yes, in June”. The woman clutched the bride’s hands and placed two folded fifty dollar bills in them and told her, “take this – do something with it, live life to the fullest” . The bride, her mom and myself were all bewildered with this random act of kindness. She went on, “My son committed suicide last night and he never had the chance to get married. I want you to have it, and I want you to use it for something special.”

So you can imagine – three strangers to this woman holding each other in the middle of the street, comforting a woman who was mourning the loss of her son who had taken his own life just hours before meeting us. We did ask all the questions that are running through your head. Why are you alone? Do you need help? Can we call someone? She said, “I brought him into this world alone and I am going to make arrangements alone. I am going to dress my son up and make sure he is given a proper burial. As his mother I have to do that for him”

Live life to the fullest. We never know what tomorrow brings.
Be Good!

It is one of the most touching moments I have ever witnessed while photographing a newborn session.  Carly’s mom speaks to her and says, “Carly, the birds are singing for you” and Carly smiled on cue.  It was amazing.  I know many of you are going to say she had gas.  I don’t believe it this time.  I believe she was happy to hear her mom’s voice and it made her smile.  You just had to be there.

Be Good!

So what can I say about Calvin.  I can say he is one of the most “real” people I have ever met. Honest but not abrupt, funny but not demeaning, polite and happy.  He’s very California to be in Red Oak.  In fact, he plans on making a trip out there this summer.  I asked him where he would stay.. he didn’t know, maybe in his car.  Oh, to be young and fearless again!

Be Good!

I have already photographed Salina – this time I got to spend time on just her.  I had done a mini friends session with her friend Malloy about a month ago.  I loved her in that purple dress.  I wanted to post all of her images in that purple dress- but for the sake of variety, I’ll post the very last image from her session.  We walked around all evening smelling hamburgers. I think we were all hungry walking around the square.

Be Good!

I had to post these previews of a sweet newborn girl before the four seniors I need to show.  If you are facebook friends with me you know I was loving the smell of a newborn in my studio.  And guess what I get to smell it again tomorrow.  So excited!!

I tend to encourage black and white photos for a newborn.  But that first one is just begging to be in color.

I need to get back to work on my seniors – Be Good!

I’ve been talking to Justin about his senior photographs since December.  I feel like I know him, yet he is still an enigma to me.  Justin challenged me the nth degree.  Not in a bad way, in a creative way.  He knew what he wanted.  He wanted a twist on the usual – he wanted the Un-usual.  I could give it two him to different ways.  I could change the way I photographed in the usual places, or I could change the way I manipulated the photo after I took it.  His session is a little of both. It’s a little bit of classic, a little bit of funky, and I think a whole lot of Justin!!

Be Good!