Thursday, August 25, 2011

What's your passion?

Passion - any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate.

My passion is photography, what's yours?  When I pick up my camera, it's like I am in a totally new world.  Everything pretty much goes silent around me and it's just me, my camera, and my client/subject.  I see everything is a completely different angle.  What others see as just an over grown field I see as the blades of tall grass dancing with one another, the rays of the sun making the grass look like glitter.  Now put a beautiful woman in a bridal gown in that field, and it's MAGIC!!  That graffiti tagged building you think is tacky, is a building that has personality.  But not every session has to have a unique background.  Just the simplicity of a piece of plain fabric with an adorable sleeping baby in front of it, makes the perfect "awww" moment.  I have clients ask where the best spot is to take pictures...my answer...the perfect spot, is you and your loved ones in front of my camera.  As long as there is love and emotion being emitted from my client, there can be no bad location. 

I've been asked why I don't charge as much as other photographers, and that I need to really go up on my prices.  I have a hard time doing that!  Photography is not really a job to me, yes it helps pay the bills.  But if I had all the money in the world, you would still find me taking pictures.  Just because I don't charge and arm & a leg to take beautiful pictures, doesn't mean I am not confident in my passion.  I love every place I shoot, and love everyone of my clients.  For someone to allow me into their life, their family, and capture memories, warms my heart.  To see the love that two people share, and to freeze time for them, makes me happy.  Years from now, people are going to look back at pictures and recall those memories.  Without pictures, without cameras, and without photographers (amateur or professional), how will your great great grand kids, remember you?   

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

All because of you...

So this past week I had to get some completed photo shoots off of my laptop because I noticed that it was running really slow.  Moving them all over to the external drive, I noticed that I have already completed 46 sessions this year so far.  THAT'S AMAZING!!!  Then I went and looked at 2009-2010 and saw that I only had 53 sessions with those 2 years combined.  So my business has grown A LOT and I can not thank my clients enough for making my business what it is today.  It's pretty amazing to have some many people rooting for you and putting your name out there.  My returning customers are amazing and have become great friends of mine.  Here are just a few of my sessions through out the years that have put a smile on my face and really attest to my decision of starting my own business doing something that I love to do.  







There is a lot more people that have made an impact on my life and to each and every one of you, I am so grateful to have as life long customers.  Thank you so much for letting me capture your memories every year.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Faux-tographers

"Look at the world like you're looking through a camera lens and you'll see everything in a whole new perspective"
I will admit that I jumped into photography.  YES! I loved taking pictures and you wouldn't catch me without a camera.  It all started back in 2007 with a few friends that allowed me to try and photograph them.  I used a little Nikon point and shoot camera and a program off the Internet (I think it was Photobucket!)  Of course I didn't charge my friends for the first year or so, because I was still trying to figure things out and decide what DSLR camera I needed, or even if "photography" was my thing.  I really just looked at it as a hobby and nothing more. 
So let's start off with my very first "Hey Girl I got an idea that I want to try out, will you be my model" session...
      
 So as you can see, this picture is all kinds of bad, except for my beautiful model!  She is such a good sport.  I love the fact that I even put a watermark on the picture...LOL!  
Now that I have gotten a DSLR, couple lenses, backdrops, lighting, and a few dozen (ok maybe a little more) session under my belt, I can actually look back at the first couple sessions and laugh at how bad I was.  
Here is my beautiful model's new session that I did a couple weeks ago...
MUCH better if I say so myself!!  And yes, I did watermark this picture as well...lol!  
With all that being said, I know that everyone has to start off somewhere.  You start at the bottom and work your way up.  I by NO MEANS consider myself a pro but I am somewhere in the middle.  I am constantly learning new techniques with my camera, and I upgraded to an actual photo editing program *two thumbs up.* 
What irritates the fire out of me, are these people that put a camera in their hand for the very first time and consider themselves a photographer and start charging people.  In the past month or two, I have had 7... SEVEN... different fauxtographers contact me and ask questions about "How do I program my camera?" and other basic camera questions.  Then they get their friends to ask me how much I charge for certain sessions so they can compete with me.  REALLY people?!?!  That's just rude!!  If you want to know the basic functions of your camera, then do your research.  Call me a bitch, but I took the time and effort to do my research and learn everything myself, that I'm not going to just hand you the information.  
My word of advice... Do your research!  Take a course!  And DON'T CHARGE people when you don't even know lighting & composition.  I feel soooo bad for your "clients" because that is their hard earned money and they are getting ripped off.  

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Remind Me

Recently I heard the song "Remind Me" By Brand Paisley, and even though I have heard it before, this time I really listened to the words of the song.  WOW what an amazing song.  That got me thinking about my relationship...When was the last time we really kissed each other.  I'm not talking about the little kisses goodbye, or the kisses good morning.  When you start dating someone, you basically can't keep your hands off of one another.  We all have busy lives and not enough hours in the day, but how did we have time for so much passion in the beginning?  I know that everyone has something that takes up most of their day whether it be work, kids, or both.  Listening to these "love songs" makes me realize that we don't make time for one another like we use to.  I am sure most married people are in the same boat.  So how do you make Love and Passion last?  I have heard of scheduling "mommy & daddy date night" but most of that time is spent talking about work and kids.  Shouldn't we still be learning new things about one another?  

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Just Pray!

It's been a pretty long and emotional week for our little family.  We got to pay our respects and thank Ofc. Bryan Hebert for his ultimate sacrifice.  The service was so beautiful and his sister getting up to speak about him was very touching.  She is a lot stronger than I could have been, but I guess when you have an angel like Bryan by your side you can face anything.  There were officers from all over, Houston, Corpus Christi, North Richland, and even Missouri City.  It really was a site to see, it's just a shame that there have to be a death of an officer to see something like that.  I have never felt so protected and so honored to be a police wife then at that moment.  I think the thing that really bothers me about processionals, are the people standing out by the road waving and smiling.  It's almost like they think it's a parade or something.  And when people don't stop or slow down as a processional is going by is just down right rude!  I just wanted to roll down my window and yell at them. 

As I sit here and pray for the Hebert family as well as BPD family, I pray that we never have to go to another officers funeral.  I pray that I never get that call, or get that knock on my door.  I pray that none of my friends have to go through the pain of loosing their husband, wife, dad, mother, brother, sister, etc...  How does one stay strong for someone that is going through so much?  I hate seeing my husband down and stressed.  I wish I could take the pain away from him so he doesn't have to carry it with him.  Lord knows he carries so much on his shoulders when he goes to work anyways.  I just pray that he comes home safe to us every night, and that he will get to see his girls grow up. 

I guess that's the only thing we have at the end of the day, we just have to pray!   

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Just part of it...

This is night 3 that I have not been able to sleep well.  I lay in bed and try to clear my mind from the events of this past Friday night, but it just won't go away.  I can recall every text message, every phone call from Friday night.  I can see his face just drop when I tell him that one of his collegues didn't make it.  My heart starts racing and I think... "What if he hadn't taken off work?"  He would have been all over that call because that's just the type of guy he is.

Yeah we might have arguments over stupid stuff, like toilet paper, but if I wouldn't want to have those stupid arguments with anyone else but him.  He's been with the department for over 3 years, does being a police wife get any easier?   

Tomorrow he goes back to work.  Tomorrow I will watch him play with our girls.  Tomorrow I will watch him put on that vest, that uniform, and that gun belt.  I will kiss him goodbye and tell him I love him, and me & the girls will watch him pull out of the driveway.  Tomorrow will be different though...Tomorrow I will wonder will I see him again?  Will I hear him come in at 3 o'clock in the morning?  Will I hear him take off that loud vest?  Will I feel him crawl in bed with me?

So tomorrow night before I shut my eyes, I will say this prayer, as well as the next night, and the night after that for as long as my husband is a cop. 

Dear God as I ready myself for a night of rest
take care of my police officer he's the best.
Watch over him as he works the streets,
With danger and and violence surrounding his beat
I pray every night he's able to come home,
because I don't want to grow old all alone.
I know I married for better or worse,
But some days God, his job is a curse.
So please hear my prayers, Dear God this night,
Because I am a police officers wife.


http://www.policepoems.com/WifesGoodnightPrayer.htm

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Some things I just don't understand...

I'll be the first person to speak up and say "I just don't understand' so today's blog has no exceptions.  I've had a few days to think about this blog and I think with the outcome of the Casey Anthony trial, I'm ready to share my ramblings.

SINKHOLES!!  I just don't understand how they happen.  I'm actually kinda terrified at the thought of the world really opening up and swallowing me whole!  It's not like a hurricane or tornado where you get days or at least 15 seconds of warning...nope...it just decides to happen and you can't prevent it, or run away from it.  You are screwed!!

PEOPLE SLOWING DOWN ON ENTRANCE RAMPS!!  Ok so if you are trying to get on the highway with people going 70+mph WHY would you slow down and even STOP on the entrance ramp?  Do you want to die?  Where do people learn to drive now-a-days?...Shady Pines retirement home??

BAD PARKING!!  Really and truly, how hard is it to park your car between two straight lines?  And just because you are pulling a trailer, boat, RV, Etc... does not mean you get to take up 4 parking spaces at the front of the parking lot.  The nice and courteous thing to do, would be to park waaaaaaay at the back of the parking lot.  

GROCERY STORES THAT DON'T HAVE DOUBLE SEATED BUGGIES!!  Most families these days have 2 or more kids and at very close ages.  So why haven't the buggies been updated a little?  I know H-E-B and Sam's have the double seated buggies and to those stores I am forever grateful!  As far as the other big well known stores, i.e. WAL-MART!  TARGET!...why do you not have double seated buggies? 

OPINIONS & BUTTHOLES!!  Everyone has them so why do so many people get mad or upset because you have voiced your opinion?  No one said you had to agree.  If you ask someone for their opinion or advice, don't get mad when it's not what you would have said.  And if you really don't want to take their opinion/advice into consideration...Don't ask for it!

And lastly...CASEY ANTHONY... even though there was not enough evidence to pin you to the death of your own child, YOU will have your real judgment day.  I will never understand how people can take the life from an innocent child.  Even if it was an "accident" she still help cover it up, didn't even report her child missing for THIRTY-ONE days, and was out partying like a rock-star.  Does that sound like a mother mourning or even missing her child. 

I just don't understand it!  

Saturday, July 2, 2011

No I'm not buying what your selling

Don't you just love it when salemen come door to door trying to sell something for free.  We have had several guys come to our door wanting to put an ADT sign or another security sign in our front yard to advertise for them and in return they will install a system for free.  NO THANK YOU!  I think we have a great security system in place.  It's called Hand gun or Shot gun!  I'll even let you choose which one you want me to use.  Not only is The Hubs a great shot....so am I!!  I had to tell this guy today 5 times that NO I don't want it, while my two daughters were screaming at the front door.  He wanted to stand there and chit chat with me about "what's holding me back from a FREE system"....really dude!  Can you tell I'm a little busy?  And No you can't talk to my husband because he will tell you the same thing. 

Friday, July 1, 2011

It's just been one of those days

You ever have one of those days that you would just like to crawl in bed, curl up in a little ball, and go back to sleep.  Today has been one of those days for me.  Maybe it's because I have only had 2 hours of sleep but you would think your husband and the kids would get that.  Not in my case!  I snapped at "the hubs" and A & E have been super cranky.  I got a cortisone shot in my bum knee yesterday and instead of feeling just a little bit better, it feels worse.  The girls have been super clingy and want to crawl all over me, and even though most of the time I enjoy all that love, today I just want to be left alone.  Selfish, I know.  I know that the girls are cranky and clingy because they are cutting their back teeth.  I'm trying to love on them and spend some floor time with them but at the same time, my knee really hurts.  How can I give 100% to my family when I, myself do not feel 100%?  I know that I shouldn't be complaining because I could have it much worse.  So as much as I want to wallo away in my own sorrow and want my me time, I know that I can't do that. 

A lot of people on my facebook page always post the awesome things their kids did or say but the days that I like this, I'm just glad that I have survived it so far.  I cooked a really great dinner for me and the girls tonight.  The Hubs is at work and I just pray that he has a good night.  Maybe tomorrow will be better!