[Seth] Headshots

   The shoot this morning was a stretch for me. Literally. My model, Seth, is so much taller than me, that even on my tip toes, I wasn't going to get the shots I needed. So he was a great sport and sat down for me. I know Seth from CharACTers - he's family. Theater family :) Again, lovely weather here.

   I am taking the time to get to know my other lenses - I have been playing favorites and I need to pay attention to the rest of them. Loving the results from today :)

[M]

   Hoping everyone is having a wonderful week so far! Raining here - but rain brings on the green. And I do LOVE the green. I would have it in every single one of my photos if I could. I've been taking this time to update my portfolio and refresh my website while the weather has been divine. January, and it is going to be in the low 70's this weekend. Uh, yeah...this is MY kind of weather. Shooting with no jacket or coat, pretty nice I have to say :)
   Yesterday, I got the privilege to work with an aspiring model. This young lady was not only incredibly polite, but she was totally a natural in front of the camera. She really is the whole package, smart, sweet and beautiful. She has a very bright future. Thanks "M" for working with me...I will be contacting you for future projects!
   I have had my 85mm for awhile now, but I am so attached to my 50 that I just have a tendency to gravitate towards it. I took it off and put the 85 on and gave it a whirl. I like it! Still getting used to it...but I think it will grow on me the more I use it.

Beloved [Bodley]

   Let me introduce you to a very cool couple. This is Jeff and Teri Bodley. They came in from Tennessee Saturday afternoon for my very first Beloved shoot. I have known these guys for several years and it has been such a pleasure. They both have huge hearts for Jesus, using the vehicle of music as their ministry. Jeff is the Jeff in the "Jeff Bodley Band" :) Check out his link below. He is a very talented musician, and Teri is incredibly talented as an artist.
   Jeff had contacted me back in November to set up a time for shooting his band. But back up a week beforehand, I had posted on facebook about needing a couple to model for a Beloved session. I was looking for a particular couple. I came up empty handed. During our conversation Jeff said that he would also like to get some portraits of just him and Teri. Light bulb moment. I asked him how long they had been married - and he said the magic number. 20 years. In my head, my couple would be awesome (Jeff and Teri, check!) they would be married for 20+ years (check!) and would be artistic and unafraid to be real in front of the camera (check!). Done deal, we set it up!
   I feel drawn to Beloved sessions. My husband and I have been through so much. It is just not something that you can imagine when you are engaged. You know, the actual thick and thin. There is such a richness to a relationship after you have literally built a life together. It is something that the older I get, the more dear it becomes to me. I'm kind of a romantic that way - that or its the only way of keeping my sanity lol! What I see however, are couples who have forgotten how starry eyed they were when they first met. Because of all the thick and thin. It is the greatest feeling for me as a photographer to be able to dig past all the everyday hum drum and remind people of those butterflies. What a gift! It makes the journey all that much sweeter. My hope is that it is as passion fueling for the couple, as it is for me as a photographer. We all need reminding from time to time.
   I have to say, this Beloved session is everything I had hoped it would be and more. I truly love this type of photography. Please share this post, and hopefully more and more couples will want to get in on this...I promise you will never regret it.

                                                                  http://jeffbodley.com/home.cfm
                                                                  http://jeffbodley.com/music.cfm

   *As a side note - a lot people wanted to know what Jeff was singing to Teri - of course, it couldn't be more fitting - Life is a Highway ;)

Cody and Santana

   Have a seat. Take a look at this :) This couple are friends of mine. Santana is Biggest and Middle's instructor at Dreamcatchers. She has the patience of a saint, if you ask me. That is a lot of giggling girls. Cody is the director of CharACTers, and is extraordinarily talented. To top that off, he's not old (neither is Santana). This is a very accomplished young couple. I have found that the CharACTers theater family is a fabulous one, and I am super thrilled to be able to photograph productions with them. The girls are in some of their shows. They love it! Let me just tell you folks, there is a LOT going on in Gadsden Alabama. I am talking shows that will knock your socks off! You would be amazed at the talent.

   I love shooting artistic people because they aren't afraid to be expressive. These two are great examples, Santana loves the camera! I am always tickled to see where we end up during shoots. If I had a pull back photo of our sessions you might flinch at some of the locations. It just goes to show you two things. One is "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and two, "There is beauty everywhere, you just have to look for it".

   I had a lot of fun with you guys!

Check out the links to what these two do!

http://www.charactersentertainment.com
http://dreamcatcherstroupe.weebly.com/

	http://www.santanasstudio.weebly.com

2012? How'd you get here so fast?

   It doesn't take much, time just flies. Looking at other photographers photos this morning on my Facebook newsfeed, I realize how little my kids aren't any more when I see families with small children. It seems like yesterday when I started driving and gas was $0.98. It seems like forever ago, and yesterday at the same time that I met my husband. We will have been together for 15 years real soon! Sitting here with hair color on my head - FYI - you would think that brown hair is easy to match color to, uh, totally isn't. I consider my natural color better than a bottled color but these days I am seeing non brunette hairs popping up, you all know what I am talking about lol. So there you have it. We have arrived at 2012, not unscathed, but alive and well in the scheme of things. Can't complain! So what have I learned in all my years? Well, so many things apparently, just ask my honey - we just watched a bit of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire - I rock (although he never believes me). I've told him countless times that I have loads of information in my head, all sorts of trivial nonsense...but in itself, it amounts to a lot of knowledge! But seriously? I've learned compassion, forgiveness, to laugh and be silly. I've learned hard work is what makes success. That success isn't always what you think it is, it's usually deeper. I've learned to push through diversity when I want to quit (except in the exercise department). I've learned it is OK to allow yourself to have and feel emotions. That no matter my frailty, God is for me (you know the rest - who can be against me). I'm not cookie cutter. And that is ok. I thought what I wanted was different than what I got. But as it turns out - I didn't know anything. I am so happy with what I have, I can't explain it. There is greatness in every day, sometimes you have to look for it.

                                 I know me. I push me. I. LIKE. ME. And that is enough.

For what it is worth...I am going to push myself more this year. I need to. Me, me, me. I, I, I. This is the sort of thinking you get when you lay in the best spot in the house until you can't take it anymore and are about pass out from the bone warming deliciousness. I of course, am talking about the "sun spot". The most popular spot in the house by far...you have to fight the dogs and the cat to get it. By the way, as I was laying there I thought of my sweet precious sister Lori...she do love her sun. Makes the mind start drifting to a beach day :)

So get ready my friends. You have all supported me on my photography journey thus far. You will never know how much it means to me. I am blessed! On with the show.

Starting on Monday, January 9th until Tuesday, January 31st I will be offering a Headshot promotion.

                I leave you with this...Be THRILLED with you! And don't be scared to love deeply.