Thanks, Family and Great Food

Happy (day after) Thanksgiving! Just barely missed getting this posted ON Thanksgiving, but better late than never. :)

 

I hope all of you wonderful people in cyber-world have had a truly fantastic Thanksgiving. I love this time of year and how the next month or so brings families and friends closer as we celebrate some wonderful and warm holidays.

 

Thanksgiving day is always full of good food, family and hopefully a much-needed turkey induced nap. :) Unfortunately I never made it to the nap this year!! BUT, I am most definitely getting ready to crash right about now!

 

But before I do, I just wanted to take a minute to thank you, yes YOU! It is because of my amazing family, friends, clients, fans and others that I am who I am. It is because of you that I have worked to develop, and continue to develop, my love for photography. It is because of you that I have the opportunity to do what I love, so THANK YOU.

 

My Thanksgiving was spent with family, eating lots of yummy food and just talking, and, of course, pictures. I have not seen my cousin in a couple of years! Can you believe that... YEARS! But they have now moved much closer, and a four hour drive is much more do-able than a three day drive! So it was so great to see Amanda and Daniel again, as well as Mr. Seth who was only five months old the last time I saw him! He is so big now! And he has a baby sister, Miss Stella who is already six months! Time flies!! But I got the opportunity to hold and love on Stella and to take some pictures of this adorable family!!

 

 

 

 

From TK to you, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you have a blessed holiday season!

 

A Busy Weekend

Boy has it been a long weekend... but, it is one I am grateful for!

 

Saturday was such a beautiful day, and it gave me the opportunity to hold two great sessions!

First up was a Family/Holiday session with the R- Family! This was my first time meeting them, and they were just so sweet, and the kiddos were just too adorable! I love meeting new people! And, since this was my first time meeting them, it means my work is starting to trickle out there a bit. She had seen some work I had done of another group of kids and that brought the family my direction! I cannot wait to get started on this shoot!

 

Saturday afternoon brought another great session, though a much more stressful one! It has been quite some time since I shot a wedding!! I was a little nervous, but I believe I got some great shots! And congratulations to Terry and Neal! They looked fantastic, and I am so happy for them and their new journey as they bring together two families into one! Talk about a house full!! :)

 

 

 

 

 

Growth

“Often, it’s not about becoming a new person, but becoming the person you were meant to be, and already are, but don’t know how to be.” 

 

I don't remember where or when I first heard this quote, and I may not even be quoting it just right. (I suppose with the workings of Google I could probably figure it out... but I'm too lazy for that tonight. ha ha) But there is something about this quote that struck me, and recently it has resurfaced and gotten me thinking.

 

When I learn and grow or try something new, I am not changing who I am, I am adding to it. I am becoming a better me. I am working toward the person I was already meant to be. I tend to shy away from change and from trying new things that often seem too difficult. NOT COOL. It is a flaw I need desperately to overcome, and I have been working to do so. I am trying to put myself out there more. I am learning to not settle, but to push myself and learn more and do and be better.

 

I am not trying to "toot my own horn", not by any means. I still have a very long way to go, but I do see the improvement in my work. I have grown over the last few years of taking photographs. I have come a long way and can't wait to see where I go in the years to come!

 

You can see some improvement in my photos... but I just had to post this. He is my inspiration... the reason I picked up a camera in the first place. Look how much he has grown! From a tiny tot of just three to a handsome little seven year old! My how time flies!

 

This shows some improvement, just over two years. Bryan and Amanda on the left were my very first wedding. And on the left is Brandon and Marie. It has already been two years since their wedding, and I have improved since then also, but I love this shot. With their wedding, and others around that time, I became much more creative in my shots. I took more risks, and finished with far greater images. 

 

 

I am so very grateful I have a passion for photography. Capturing life's little moments is a great feeling. I can't wait to see how much more I can grow and develop!

 

 

 

Late Nights and Gratitude

I have come to the conclusion I have the absolute worst sleep schedule ever! Since graduation, I have not had a set schedule, so I stay up until three in the morning sometimes, other times I am in bed by ten. I get up at noon, sometimes at seven. I am in much need of a regular schedule, I need to get my body back on track and keep going!

 

But, late nights do have their advantages, like when they are spent editing. I love going through photos, looking through the emotions captured and sometimes just remembering the fun that was had. I have had a wonderful time with each and every one of my clients. They are the best! I cannot say thank you enough to them, especially to those who were with me in the beginning, offering me the opportunity to photograph them and trusting me to capture their memories and special moments in life.

 

Without my clients, I would not be where I am today. Granted, I am still small and in the growing stages, but it is because of those original clients that I have been able to begin and get up and keep going.

 

Thank you! to all of my former clients, current clients and future clients. You allow me to follow and develop my passion for photography. You are all absolutely wonderful! I couldn't do any of this without you!

 

 

 

 

 

Back in the Saddle

Today I have resolved to get back on the blogging saddle. I have been faltering for quite some time due to other commitments, especially school, followed by the job hunt. Nothing yet, but on the bright side, forces me to focus more on my photography to work out a living, which is what I would much rather be doing anyway!

 

So, here I am. Back at it. I hope to give all of you, not only samples of my work, but some of the thoughts behind the camera about who I am, what I love and why I enjoy photography.

 

This first post is brought to you by the cutest and TINIEST little girl I have ever met. It was a new experience for me. Up until this shoot, the youngest I have had the pleasure of working with what about seven months old. This little angel was right at a month old when I took her photos, but she was a preemie, so talk about small!

 

She also wasn't too thrilled with her mom and I on the first day. I managed to calm her for a few shots here and there, but for the most part, she was just NOT having it. I went back the next day also, and we tried again, and between the two days, I believe we captured some great shots, and I am quite proud of them. Again, it was a new experience, and I have a lot further to go and so much more to learn, but I look forward to the challenge and rewards that go with working with newborns!

 

 

 

This is little Miss Rebekah Kate. And she is a doll!

You can see more of Rebekah Kate on Facebook!