Annie & Chris

Chris and Annie's wedding

So I had my first wedding today. I was pleased with the results. I haven't edited anything yet these are SOTC. I ended up taking 1,360 shots. It was really a beautiful day with a great couple and an awesome family. I linked up with my photography blog incase you are interested. 

I am beat. This was a long day and I am done in! Going to bed as soon as I can. 

Embrace the Camera : July 29th

my very first

 Embrace the Camera Every Thursday... 

By the time I realized it was Thursday no one was home except Maddie...

So I grabbed her and all she would cooperate with was this one.

By the time the rest of them got home no one would act serious and this was the end result... (I warned them it was going on the blog) They didn't care. 

clouds

I have been a bit obsessed lately with clouds. They are so beautiful. Aren't they? 

Enjoy!

Somedays

Somedays you just are so tired your brain is on Stupid mode...

Like take today for instance..... I thought the entire day long.... it was Tuesday. Then I proceeded to argue with my husband as he told me it had been Wednesday all day.... (by this time it was supper time) 

What a dingbat! LOL LOL 

Oh well. It was a nice day regardless of that small minute detail.

Inspiration

Where does inspiration come from? 

I believe God has given me a gift.  A gift to look at things and see the beauty in them. Even things that may not seem to have beauty.

Take this cow for instance. I do love cows, have since I was a very little girl.  Every time we went on a car trip I would utter the words...."Daddy, stop the car please, I want to pet a cow" He never stopped by the way.... lol Now I stop the car and get as close as I can without getting shots fired at me from some farmer who thinks I am crazy practically laying on the mushy ground to get at the same level. Look at her ears! They are great. I think I may have been annoying this cow as in a few photos she put her ears back as to say "that is enough or I am going to get up and charge you...."

So as God may have put it in me to see beauty in my surroundings even as a very little girl, I want to send you a challenge to do the same thing.

    Give it a Try it. Soon you will be looking at things in an entirely new light.

nothin' better

Nothing better...


 then a freshly picked homegrown tomato (of the heirloom variety) brought inside, still warm from the sun....mmm mmm mmm. 


slice some nice fat slices sprinkle with some s&p, toast up some unhealthy white bread, generously slather the toasted bread with mayo, put a few leaves of crisp iceberg lettuce on there, layer on some crisply fried bacon, put the top on... Slice in half on an angle (makes it taste better) and Voila the best sandwich of the whole year.... By the way I anxiously wait watching to see which of my first tomato's will receive the highest honor...


BLT Baby. Nothin' better

By the way ... my family does not share my obession Love of the Tomato. Emily came into the kitchen while I was taking these photos.... "Mom, why are you taking a picture of your sandwich" 




How does your garden grow? 


Enjoy your day....  

How Blessed We are

Well, I am feeling extremely blessed. I read today about a family who lost their 17 month old baby girl yesterday. You can read their blog here. I read this and then held our youngest baby girl in my arms and sobbed.  This family is showing that they are really giving this tragedy to God. It is in His hands.
I take for granted (as I am sure that many of us do) so much with my kids.  Think about how special Hugs, Sweet kisses, hearing the words I Love You and so many other daily occurrences are..... ugh! Makes them that much sweeter.  I feel blessed that we have been gifted almost 17 years with Emily, 11 years with Sara and 2 years with Maddie. What a GIFT! You never know what tomorrow will bring.

I had a wonderful week. We had VBS. I was blessed to be able to be around many wonderful woman, but there were a few who are just Kindred Spirits. We are all about the same age....(I think I may be the oldest..BLAH) we all share the same interest, we are all Stay at Home Mom's. ( Jenn if you are reading this... I am not some crazy stalker... I promise) & We are also all parents of toddlers. I think that is pretty cool...
So anyway, Sarah lead the women's Bible Study where we studied Proverbs.... WOW.... Did you ever really study proverbs? I knew some of them but I had never actually done a study on them! I have to tell you we spoke about being wife and a mother and I was convicted more then once. These are some powerful words! There is one I can't get out of my mind

Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.


I am sure that verse has changed my life. I know how powerful the words that come out of our mouths and across our lips are but when you think about how kind and encouraging words are to someone. That they are so sweet that they can satisfy and nourish the soul and have healing powers to who we are, well, that is just HUGE! I included this cool photo of honey so you could see how it oozes with goodness.
But just as sweet words are to the nourishment to the soul.... It is safe to say that harsh words break bones... malnourish the soul. It is hard to take back the ugly awful things that come out of our mouths.... I have struggled with this awful sin for most of my life. Yes all 36 years. I have defiantly (with God's help) Become much better at not spewing hurtful things at people (usually people who I love...)  but I will certainly be held accountable for the miserable things that I have said. Thank the Lord that  he is a forgiving God who loves us and helps us to seek change. 
Well, I just wanted to share that. I really want to hold tight to that verse. So that I think about that and encourage instead of use words that break someone down. 


I am only human & I am blessed for the Grace of God that he shows me daily. 

Best thing ever

I was thinking today about one of one of the best things ever. This makes me fall in love with my husband all over again  (for the umpteenth time) every single time this happens.... 

We will be out walking somewhere ( usually this occurs in a  parking lot ... I know isn't it a romantic picture I have just painted for you...) and his hand goes to the small of my back to protect me from some impending danger. As if he is directing me ever so gently to where he needs me to be.  

Love that  : ) 

guest post

I was asked to guest author on a photography blog. WOW... now I just have to think of something to write about. It is  a photography TIPS blog. hmmmm I think I am going to write about photographing children.... 

I will practice here on my blog.  Here goes.... 

TIP 1 

Try and get your subjects to laugh. Have some fun it makes them look more natural. 

  TIP 2 

  Make sure that the sun is to the back of your sweet subjects so that they are able to see. 

TIP 3

Feel free to  change locations if you find that it is not working. Don't be scared to get that whole group to move. 

TIP 4

If parents insist on coming to the shoot.... (which most likely they will) Instruct them at the beginning of the shoot that they are welcome to be there but it would help greatly if they would stand off to the side, not behind you (the photographer) kids tend to look at there parents for direction. You do not need 10 children looking in different directions. Example below. 

TIP 5

 Have a short meeting with them prior to the photo shoot. You can discuss Location, wardrobe, props. Have your clients look at your porfolio before hand. So that they are familiar with your style of work. DO NOT, under any requests, the day of the photo shoot start allowing the clients to direct you.... this is what will happen.

TIP 6

It takes about an hour (which goes quickly) to get about 10 - 30 good shots. So have fun and relax. If you are uptight your subjects will most likely be as well. You can do it. 

A big Thanks to my models. My nieces, nephews & my kids. This was a Photograph for our parents anniversary. They loved it. Made my Mom cry.... (I am so mean) 

Powerful Quote

"What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God."
Eleanor Powell

I read this quote today and thought it was very powerful. I think sometimes we forget just how many gifts God gives us. I love the last part that "what we become is our gift to God." 

When I think about it that way it makes me want to use my gifts all for his Glory.  

We were at the Delaware River this weekend. 

These are some of my favorites.... 

Enjoy and go use your gifts...

     

       

         

summer lovin' or lovin' summer

I am so much enjoying summer! It has been just lovely.
I celebrated my birthday on Thursday and we went down to Cape May. It is such a extraordinary spot that God has allowed us to enjoy. We first went to the Cape May County Zoo. For all the people that live close enough to get there I strongly recommend taking your family. It is by far one of the best zoo's that I have ever been too. We have been several times and I always remember as we are walking around why we go back. It is clean. It is well maintained & it is free.
We took a picnic lunch with us and ate in the shade of some enormous trees. Then we walked around the zoo. We hopped into my  Candy Apple Red '67 Mustang  family van.... and drove to Sunset Beach. (Which is also free) What an amazing spot. (seriously get there once in your lifetime. ) Driving around Cape May you feel like you have been transported back to the 19th Century. Words can't describe these estates.  Gorgeous.
Then we spent the weekend at the Delaware River with my family. I haven't gotten a chance to download my pictures yet. What  great way to spend 4th of July!
All in all we have had a busy yet wonderful few weeks.

Oh and I took a photograph while I was at the beach that happens to be my favorite that I have ever taken in my life.  ( I cried when I saw it ) It got me. You know... it evoked that emotion.... that certain something. I will share it in another post.

Hope you are enjoying your summer so far.