Ashley Rodgers Photography

NEW BLOG!!!

2011-01-20T10:07:00.000-06:00

I have a NEW blog and portfolio site! Please check out the new look and let me know what you think! It is still under slight construction and the portfolio will be launched soon, so keep checking back for changes! This blog will remain here for the rest of the year, just in case you need to visit past posts. Feel free to browse both places.

Click ASHLEY RODGERS BLOG to visit!

The Anchormen

2011-01-07T11:41:00.000-06:00

This quartet needed some updated images and wanted something with a little more of an edge. Go check them out here -> The Anchormen.

Micah & Ethan

2011-01-06T09:45:00.002-06:00

I LOVED this wedding. Micah and Ethan are so easy going...my kind of people. This wedding was so fun. The ceremony took place at a beautiful church, First United Methodist, in downtown Lubbock, and the reception at one of my favorite places, LHUCA (Louise Hopkins Underwood Center of the Arts). When I'm in an art gallery, it feels like home. ;) Of course, my rockstar friend Amy-Rose King came along. She'll be posting her awesomeness real soon... so go see.

Miss Laney, Welcome.

2010-12-30T22:40:00.001-06:00

This awesome family moved across the country to join our church and become leaders for our youth. The have such sweet spirits and I was honored to photograph their growing family. Friends, meet our newest Southern Belle.

Laney was bouncing a bit, so she's a little blurry in this one... but I like it anyway. :)

Proud big sister, Tessa.

My Anna.

2010-12-20T17:54:00.001-06:00

It was an amazing and warm night out at my parent's house this weekend. I looked at the temp at 10pm and it was almost 60 degrees outside. That's just nuts for December here in West Texas. As we sat around the fire on the back porch, I saw Anna hand-raking leaves into a pile getting them ready to throw. I ran for my light and camera. :)

I thought the moon was a fun touch in the background. Ha!

Micah: Bride

2010-12-18T20:01:00.000-06:00

Micah and Ethan were married today and I am so excited to show her bridals to everyone. She has SUCH an amazingly fun personality and has been a joy to work with. Their wedding was beautiful, as is she in these photographs. Have an awesome time in New York guys!

Amazing kids

2010-12-08T00:07:00.000-06:00

I had such an amazing time with these four siblings. I really hope that my kids are as awesome at these kids when they get older. They are so genuine and have true care for one another.

I love this family...

2010-12-03T19:08:00.001-06:00

I have know these guys since high school, Sarah was actually one of my best friends my junior and senior years. I'd drive 45 miles twice, sometimes three times a week to either hang out with them or go to their church. They are so much fun and have added a few 'team members' the past few years. I was honored to photograph them all together over Thanksgiving. Amy-Rose King and I were tag-teamin' this big family so some of these shots are her's. Thanks for the awesome help, as usual, girl! Here a few of my favorites. :)

The boys like to get together to play catch...

Hunter was pretty tired and had a little "stage fright" when it came to the camera, so I let him take a few... Introducing: Hunter Mac Photography

And here's the famous self portrait. :)

Allison

2010-11-29T23:34:00.001-06:00

Her beauty radiates from within.

It was WINDY. Even inside this bus.

Life. It is so precious.

2010-11-29T23:17:00.004-06:00

Andrew was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. This kid is amazing and has been through two major heart surgeries with one more scheduled to go in January. Visit the Flashes 4 Hope blog for Andrew's complete story.

Anna & Brad

2010-11-27T22:00:00.001-06:00

A great friend of mine asked me to help her with an engagement session about a week ago. She isn't a professional photographer, but loves taking photos and learning new things about her camera. If there's any chance I have to hang with her (since she's actually a pediatrician and SUPER busy) and a chance to possibly teach a little photography, I'm SO there. We have lots of fun together. She was telling me about the couple who had asked her to shoot some images of them and they sounded really unique and fun. I knew that was true when I met Anna and Brad and Anna showed me her backseat full of ideas and changes of clothes she'd brought for the day. They were really fun and I was privileged to be able to hang with a great friend and do what I love to do, even if I didn't get to stay for the entire session. Thanks for asking me Elisabeth! And Anna and Brad, thanks for letting me crash. ;)

Yes friends, that's a dictionary. And it's dang cute.

Original idea for the image below is from The Image Is Found

The Tapps

2010-11-27T00:51:00.000-06:00

This is one of those families that is a little intimidating when it comes to anything creative. The moment you step foot into their home, you know the love design and anything unique. They had great vision for their session that I thought was right in line with the things I was thinking for them. Hopefully we nailed it. ;)

Micah: Preview

2010-11-24T10:22:00.000-06:00

I can't wait to show the rest of Micah's bridal shoot. As always in a bridal shoot, we had a few obstacles to dodge. ;) Despite all of those, I may have some new all time favorites come out of this one. ;)

Mr. & Mrs. Kennedy

2010-11-13T00:56:00.001-06:00

I had the pleasure of photographing Lindsey and Tim's wedding on October 30th. This couple was SO much fun. I enjoyed every minute I was there with them and their family. Amy-Rose King helped me with this wedding, of course! She'll have a blog post too! :D

Amy-Rose set the shot below up for us. I love her. Amy-Rose, thanks again for being awesome. ;)

The Underwood Family

2010-11-11T18:28:00.000-06:00

Kenny and Miranda had never done this for each other. They wanted a few photos of the whole family and the rest of just the two of them. I loved this session because they laughed at every stupid thing I did and at all the weird sound effects that I inject into normal conversation... :) Thanks for giving me the creative license with you two guys! I had a great time!

Il-lu-mi-nate Workshop

2010-11-08T22:02:00.003-06:00

Amy-Rose King and I had a super fabulous time with the ladies that came for the Il-lu-mi-nate Workshop. I loved that we had as many as we did because everyone got to ask as many questions and learn as much as they could soak in during the day. It was great to have one on one time with each of these ladies and to hear their stories, struggles, and triumphs in their life with photography. Thank you all for coming!

Hi Amy-Rose. :)

It didn't take long for the Kelly Moore Bag that we gave away to be put to the test. It passed with flying colors...duh.

I was in a "texture" kind of mood tonight, so that's what you'll get. ;) We actually gave away a set of these textures I used below at our workshop! :D Thanks SO much to McPherson Cellars for letting us use their awesome space!

Of course, these ladies learned as much as we could teach them in our limited time about OCF.

The Beasleys

2010-11-08T15:08:00.000-06:00

We made sure to get one of the boys before they ran off too far. ;)

The Tidwell Family

2010-11-03T16:35:00.003-05:00

Might be one of my favorite family sessions so far. ;) It helps when you have crazy kids that were willing to do anything I suggested! Ha! Thanks for giving me all the creative control and just rolling with whatever I wanted to do. You guys rock!

Crazy PS just for fun. :)

Hello sun.

Apparently, sunflowers are a pretty big deal to those who are from Kansas. ;) I didn't know this when we shot these images. Coincidence? Nah.

FAVE.

Fave.

Goofs.

More Faces of the Arledge Fundraiser!

2010-10-31T12:45:00.000-05:00

Thanks again for being you!

Lindsey

2010-10-31T11:42:00.003-05:00

Lindsey and Tim were married yesterday! Time to show her bridals! Kudos to Kelle Barnard from Barnard Interiors for the awesome bouquet (here's her BLOG too)! Stay tuned for more images from Lindsey and Tim's wedding day.

Flashes 4 Hope

2010-10-27T10:12:00.005-05:00

Faces of the Arledge Fundraiser

2010-10-26T17:02:00.003-05:00

I've been doing something I love to do for some people that I really love. I know there have been lots of photographers organize fundraisers for different organizations and things, and I thought it was such a great idea. The Arledge family has completely committed their lives and family to mission work, whether in this country or another. After several years here in Lubbock, they felt that God was calling them to travel abroad for something a little different. Their plans were changed a couple of times and they soon found themselves looking for places to live in Prague rather than deep in the heart of Africa. Quite a change from where they initially thought they would go. I had the idea of this photo fundraiser as soon as they told our small group how much money they would need for travel and living expenses...but that was back in the Spring. Soon after that, there were lots of fundraisers in the works and they were amazingly successful. I had a friend tell me to wait until Fall to do this fundraiser as the Arledges will still need money to live since they will probably be staying for more than a year... The spots quickly filled up and I have been feverishly editing images for all who graciously donated. There will be more "faces" to come, but here are a few so far. :)

Posted this one for Amy-Rose. ;)

The Monden Family

2010-10-15T21:57:00.001-05:00

Such a fun, sweet family. I apologize again for calling Lendle the wrong name... For the record, I was only slightly off... but yet, still wrong. Thanks for being patient with me and my quirks and imperfections. ;)

Kim: Texas Tech Senior

2010-10-11T16:49:00.002-05:00

Kim is a proud, soon to be Tech grad. She's confident and gorgeous. She came to me for some unique portraits, and well, I think we were pretty successful. ;) She is graduating with a degree in French so for a little nostalgia, we played around near the Foreign Language Building at Tech, then ventured to the fountains. ;) Kim, I SO hope you get to travel to France very soon!

Colin: Senior

2010-09-27T00:14:00.002-05:00

I had a great time getting to know Colin yesterday. He wasn't completely comfortable being with me and my camera, and I was informed that he didn't really like having his pictures taken (something I hear a lot). After a short time, I just assumed that maybe I misheard and that they MUST have been talking about someone else...because obviously, Colin could hold his own. He really did a great job. He is a little shy, complex, intelligent, interested in SO many things, is super relaxed and content...you can definitely see all of that in his eyes. Watch out world.

Ridge

2010-09-13T00:29:00.002-05:00

He has changed JUST a tad since his last session. I can't believe it has already been A YEAR since I pulled him out into the cotton field just days after being released from the NICU. *cringe*

Lee (Ridge's mom) was the star behind the scenes...well, and Reagan, Ridge's big sister. ;)

How in the world could we get corn without getting cotton?! Ridge's dad is, after all, a cotton farmer... :)

Lindsey's Bridal Preview

2010-09-08T12:36:00.001-05:00

I can't wait for Lindsey and Tim's wedding at the end of October! I'll post her bridal shoot when she officially Mrs. Kennedy. ;) Isn't this bouquet gorgeous?? Kelle Barnard is Lindsey and Tim's floral designer. Check out her Website and Blog!

Connor, welcome.

2010-09-02T15:20:00.000-05:00

I love it when I get to photograph something so special for a friend. Meet Connor. He's a little guy that showed up a little earlier than expected, but really had perfect timing.

An Arledge Fundraiser!

2010-08-30T16:31:00.001-05:00

Remember THIS FAMILY? They will be on their way out of the country soon to follow God's call to missions once again and need your help with funds. I would love for us to help them and for you to get a little something in return! Here's the rundown -- I will be booking 2 short sessions per day for a 10 day period with both sessions in the evening (mid to late October). The sessions will be about 30 minutes long and you will receive 5 full resolution images on a disk for you to keep, print (any size!), or use for Christmas cards, ect. You pay $100 for the session and images and 100% of this will go to Campus Crusade for Christ. If you want in and would like to secure a spot or have questions about booking dates and times, please click on the "contact me" button at the top! Or email me at ashleyrodgersphotography@gmail.com

**Also, if you are wanting to book a family session for Christmas cards, I will have a deadline this year! No more waiting until the last minute for Christmas card orders, y'all! ;) Book your family session no later than November 12th (this is as close to "last minute" as it gets) to get Christmas card orders placed and mailed out before the Holidays!

Sydney, welcome.

2010-08-24T15:38:00.001-05:00

Remember Lora and Koy? Remember how their baby's gender was going to be a surprise to them? They were pleased to announce the arrival of Miss Sydney a couple of weeks ago. Thanks for letting me freeze time for your growing family once again guys!

Ready for Illuminate??

2010-08-24T13:07:00.000-05:00

It's BACK!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

Amber

2010-08-24T12:41:00.000-05:00

We took these JUST in time. Baby Connor showed his face to the world less than 36 hours after our mini-session. :D

Candice

2010-08-08T23:42:00.001-05:00

It's very safe to say that bridals are my favorite. I tend to go a little overboard with shooting well beyond the "time frame"... But they are usually well worth it. Candice is a beautiful bride who was also an amazing model. She seriously was a natural. She will be leaving in about two weeks to get married in Hawaii. Whoo-Hoo!! She wanted some portraits done before she left. Amy-Rose, thanks again for helping me. We work a little TOO well together. Ha!

Melissa & Trevor

2010-08-04T22:10:00.002-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I was, once again, privileged to be Amy-Rose King's second shooter for Melissa and Trevor's wedding. You should go to her site and check out the "for real" images. ;) I tried a little different editing style this time for these images. I felt like I had to talk myself into giving myself permission to try this. I'm not sure this will be a consistent "style" for me because I'm not really that into super "Photoshopped" looking images. I've said it before, I just want my images to look like a "real camera" took them. ;) I like that raw film look, but I know I divert from that now and again. :) And do you think there is any way to talk all these brides and grooms into having all weddings outdoors?? Seriously, it's really awesome...

There she is! Good things happen when you're on the other side of her camera. :D

Amy-Rose set this shot up...and then I stole it. She gets credit for it's coolness.

These were small cards that were printed with Amy-Rose's engagement session images on them. Such a cool idea!

It pays to have a VERY dirty lens sometimes...

light.

2010-07-28T23:13:00.001-05:00

Ever wish your camera would see things exactly the way your eye sees them? Or ever wish your eye could see what your camera sees? I do all the time. It makes me amazed at the creation of the human eye (and the eyes of all other living things as well). ...that something so small, flexible, and fragile can produce such vivid images that are locked into your brain forever. Eyes instantly bring in light and block it out to create the perfect balance of shadows, midtones, and highlights. Light is pretty neat. This is a shot of light as it meandered across the wall... I liked it.

Lora & Koy

2010-07-19T20:55:00.000-05:00

This couple will soon welcome a long awaited addition to their family. They are waiting for this baby's birthday to find out it's gender. I can't wait for the phone call to come photograph this new little one!

Cristin

2010-07-18T18:04:00.000-05:00

I love this girl.

Jennifer & Paul

2010-07-14T15:20:00.004-05:00

The rain didn't dampen this couple's awesome small town wedding. :) Of course Amy-Rose King was there to help. I seriously couldn't have done it without her. She was everywhere I wasn't and then some. Thanks again girl! Check out her blog for more awesome images from the day.

Paul walked his bride down the isle.

Paul was singing every word as his sister and good friend sang...(fitting since he's a singer himself). ;)

Arledge Family

2010-07-12T20:12:00.003-05:00

These are dear friends who have been called to full time ministry and have worked with Campus Crusade for Christ for several years here at Texas Tech. They make us very happy (especially Anna)! Recently (very recently, actually) they have felt called to a different place through the same organization. The doors flew wide open for them to go to Zambia, Africa for an entire year to work with college students there as well as a local orphanage. It will be a ginormous life change for them and these two sweet kids. It will be so amazing to see what God does through this family so far away. To see some of the faces they will be ministering to at the orphanage, click HERE. Be sure to look at the entire site. It will make you wanna hop right on the plane with them when they go later in the Fall. Right now, they are seeing their family for the last time for a year. I thought they needed some family shots before they left. :) They are still raising support!! Click HERE to make an online donation. Their staff account number is: 0581598.

Oh Henry... He's a tough cookie. This is the closest thing I got to an "ok" shot of him. Missed the focus a little, but there ya go...

I can't wait to see what a typical African sky looks like. ;)

Shanna & Wes

2010-07-07T16:56:00.002-05:00

I had the privilege of second shooting once again for Amy-Rose King a couple of weeks ago. It was super fun as always and thanks Shanna and Wes for letting me crash. ;) Here are a few... Go check out Amy-Rose's blog for more.

Eamon, welcome.

2010-07-02T13:13:00.001-05:00

These are some seriously proud parents. :)

The Allred Family

2010-06-29T22:43:00.002-05:00

Shanna

2010-05-25T22:34:00.001-05:00

I helped Amy-Rose with her bridal shoot this past weekend. As always, I had a great time, but I didn't get too many shots for myself. I was busy fighting the wind and bugs, fluffing the dress, fetching gear, ect. :) Here are just a few that I got, but go to Amy-Rose's blog to see all of her awesome images!

Emma, welcome.

2010-05-17T22:51:00.001-05:00

Remember Brooke? We were very glad that we went ahead and took her pregnancy photos instead of waiting until the next week to do them... She had little Miss Emma two days after I posted her photos. Way to go Brooke! You're are great mom. :)

Mr. & Mrs. Whitaker

2010-05-12T14:30:00.000-05:00

It was so much fun photographing this wedding a few weeks ago. I had not met the couple until taking their engagement photos a few months ago, but we had many friends in common. It was great to see familiar faces in the pews at the wedding and to see all of the planning and anticipation finally manifesting themselves into a forever marriage. You guys are a fantastic couple! It was truly a pleasure. :)

Brooke

2010-04-25T21:43:00.000-05:00

Her doc told her that she needed her pregnancy photos taken SOON so we went out on Friday when the wind happened to be blowing 55mph (NOT exaggerating). She doesn't look like she's big enough to hatch that little one, but apparently, the doctor knows best. ;) Be looking for Miss Emma Grace here soon!

A little drama is a must...

Addie, Welcome.

2010-04-24T02:02:00.000-05:00

Remember Ashley from a few posts ago? Well, she, her husband, and big brother Jackson welcomed a new little girl last week. She decided not to sleep for us (much) this afternoon. But we managed and she finally gave it up at the end. :)

BIG THANKS goes to Amy-Rose King for letting me borrow her camera while mine is in the shop. Too bad I need one like her's now... :D

Lacey & Kris

2010-04-19T11:07:00.000-05:00

Just a few details for now...

Miss Allie: Welcome

2010-04-14T00:35:00.000-05:00

I really like newborns.

Greg: Senior

2010-04-13T13:32:00.000-05:00

Meet Greg. He will graduate from Coronado this year. He's super chill, goes with the flow, has the best smile, and was so fun to photograph. Thanks for humoring me, Greg. :)

Greg the Fierce. ;)

Sage: Senior (again)

2010-04-12T13:18:00.001-05:00

No, she's not a senior again... We have just had several sessions. :) She's so much fun and has so many different expressions. Aaron, that crazy boyfriend of her's, helped a ton with the reflector. Thanks Aaron! You're hired.

I love these (below, into the sun shots) but someone needs to teach me how to white balance them...

Antiqued this one...

This is about how the whole session went... This, some random and VERY friendly stray dogs, a near skunk encounter, some gross nostril licking, and CRAZY wind... Thanks Aaron. Ha!

Brooke & Ashley

2010-04-11T16:44:00.000-05:00

These two best friends who are pregnant at the same time. Brooke wanted a few shots to remember the moment since Ashley only had a few days left until her baby girl arrived. We took just a few minutes so Ashley wouldn't be in too much discomfort. :) Here are a few.

I had to laugh at Brooke on this one when her belly disappeared as soon as she laid down.

Ashley.

Melinda & Larry

2010-04-01T16:58:00.002-05:00

I had the privilege of witnessing a new chapter in an amazing testimony a couple of weeks ago. These two have amazing stories and reminds me of how big God really is. Thanks so much for letting me experience the beginning of this new chapter in both of your lives, and the lives of your families.

Heather and Wolfgang

2010-03-17T23:16:00.002-05:00

I LIVE for these kinds of shoots. Heather is an artist and wanted some creative shots of her and her son, Wolfgang. She made her dress, manipulated Wolfgang's outfit with handmade patches and buttons, and sewed the cutest teddy bear ever...and I LOVED it. She has creativity running out of her ears and I'll be sad to see her leave back to San Antonio this weekend. Thanks for being so inspiring Heather! We'll definitely do this again sometime! Hopefully next time we won't almost get stuck in the mud, we'll find the locations I am looking for the FIRST time, and we'll have a/c in the car. HA!

Amy-Rose (of course!!) came along with us! Thanks SO much again Amy-Rose for helping and letting me use some of your equipment. Go check out some of the amazing shots she took!

Miss Harper

2010-03-16T17:01:00.000-05:00

Harper is my niece. She, her sisters, and her mom stopped by on their way to Grammy's house to play, chat, and take some pictures. :)

Lauren (and Amy-Rose)

2010-03-07T23:06:00.000-06:00

I tagged along with Amy-Rose again last week to photograph a beautiful bride, Lauren. I love that Amy-Rose and I have such different styles and we can go into the exact same place and come out with completely different results. We are really learning so much from each other (probably me learning more from her. Ha!). Thanks Lauren for letting me in on the fun! And you can see Amy-Rose's awesomeness HERE.

Amy-Rose at work. :)

Oh yes I did use that action! YES. I. DID. :D (but just this once...)

Sharon: Senior 2010

2010-03-01T11:29:00.002-06:00

I had the privilege of photographing this (almost) 6 foot tall goddess a few days ago. Sharon is a Frenship senior and as you can see, I went a little overboard with the number of photos in this post. :) It was way fun! Our "tour" of Lubbock was well worth it!

Julie

2010-02-25T14:24:00.001-06:00

Julie is gorgeous. She and her mom came in from Austin for her bridal session. We had a great time at The Watson Building and we played "freeze out" afterwards outside in the "woods" of Lubbock. I think we moved outside as soon as the cold wind hit (just before the snow storm that came in the next day). Julie braved the frigid wind so her awesome dress and veil could catch some air. ;) Thanks Julie for choosing me to take such special photographs.

This next image was completely inspired by Shan Renee taken from a photograph she took of a bride in The Watson Building a while back. She gets full credit for this one. :) I'm all about giving credit where it is due and this is a beautiful image worth recreating. Thanks for letting me post this Shan! And go check out her recent work!

Get Schooled.

2010-02-18T10:20:00.005-06:00

Wanna learn how to get away from that "green box" setting on your DSLR and get the results you really want? Go HERE for more information!

Things I love...

2010-02-13T17:01:00.002-06:00

There are so many things that I look at online. Too many, really. And not that it really matters to most, but here are some of my favorites that I look at on a very regular basis.

A few of my favorite photographers (in no particular order except for the first one):
Sarah Rhoads: Because she knows what it's like to be an artist.
Cristy Cross: Because she's just different and doesn't want to be like anyone else.
Shan Renee: She plays with light and pushes the envelope (whatever that really means) all the time.
Promise Tangeman: Because she's just cool.
Leigh Taylor: She has a pretty rockin' style and is a great wedding photog
Chad and Tressie Zellner of Two Pair Photography: Another set of photogs with rockin' style
Kelly Moore: Duh.
The Image is Found: Most people know of them...and they're just freakin' cool.
John Michael Cooper: Because he just rocks.

There are seriously like 15 more that I look at, but these are the ones that come to mind right now. ;)

Another thing that I love...Grey's hair in the mornings. And for some reason, since he's been moved to a "big boy" bed, his hair doesn't do this anymore. Weird....?

Amy-Rose Photography

2010-02-12T11:42:00.002-06:00

Amy-Rose was gracious (and patient) enough to deal with me as her model last week. The day was foggy, wet, muddy, and COLD and we didn't spend much time with the shoot, but she got some really great images. Go see the rest of the post HERE.

And despite our rather lazy efforts at keeping out of the worst of the mud... ;)

It's HERE!

2010-02-03T16:45:00.005-06:00

I pre-ordered THE Kelly Moore Bag back in mid-December. The day it was released. It came in just a couple of days ago and I am thrilled! I'm SO glad that I got the flashy turquoise croc. ;) I can't wait to use it!

It came with a cool tote. Yay! My husband said it was a bag for the bag for the bag... since the bag itself came neatly inside a cool, clean, white drawstring bag. LOVE it.

Play Date

2010-01-28T12:04:00.002-06:00

I have had the privilege of getting to know Amy-Rose King the past few weeks. We have been meeting for coffee and exchanging ideas on everything from life, church, kids, and of course, photography. She is a real celebrity on Flickr and Digital Photography School. ;) She is also a wiz with the camera and with photoshop. So much so, that she writes and sells her own Actions. I used many of her actions on these images. She has an awesome skin smoothing action and also one that makes eyes shine. If you are a photographer (or have a camera and use photoshop) and use actions for any type of image, you need these! She (and I) were really itching for a little artistic freedom and inspiration and she set up a session with Corina, a gorgeous girl from her church. And she asked me to join them in the fun. Of course, I wanted to bring my off camera lighting equip along for the ride and help Amy-Rose with her knowledge of it as well... I always learn something new when working with it and it's SO nice to have someone like Amy-Rose with which to share the fun. Off we went. I was just along for the ride and tried not to shoot ALL the time and let her play. :) Corina was an amazing model and such a trooper. Amy-Rose is awesome at posing and great at not settling for something that looks a little better than it was before just to make the model feel more comfortable. She pushes poses beyond that and really gets what she wants. That's something I need to work on. :) Thanks SO much for letting me tag along girls. I had such a great and fulfilling time yesterday...it really got my juices going again. :)

I have two versions of this one... couldn't decide...

The Dysons

2010-01-21T19:44:00.000-06:00

These are our dear friends. They will be moving across the country very soon to become famous scientists and cure the world. I wanted to give them a little going away present before the made the very long trip north. We'll just have to see which "windy city" is more windy. ;) We'll miss y'all for sure!

My inspiration.

2010-01-21T15:46:00.003-06:00

I look at the sky so much. I always have. I even wanted to be a meteorological researcher when I grew up. Really. But since my brain can't do a lick of math, I had to settle for visual arts instead. My parents are so proud. ;)

A friend once told me that he had never seen an ugly sky. I absolutely agree.

These are SOOC shots. I didn't even bother to clean the ugly spot off my lens. Whoops. (not the flare on the right, but the gray one on the left)

Lacey & Kris

2010-01-15T14:25:00.003-06:00

This couple was so much fun to hang out with! We ventured through east Lubbock, then went into the woods near Seattle...oh wait, that was still Lubbock (ok, so it doesn't REALLY look just like the northeast, but we can use our imaginations), and then headed over to the library. :) Lacey loves books so I thought that would be a fun, personal touch. And Kris, you were a CHAMP. Y'all made my job very easy! Thanks so much for a great time!

Oh. My.

Just a fun different crop. :) (for me at least...)

This was kind of a "happy accident" while editing... I left it... :)

Kalab-FHS Senior

2010-01-12T15:59:00.002-06:00

I love senior sessions. Who doesn't?? And one of the best things that I hear from anyone right before a session is "Sorry, but I'm SO not photogenic..." I like to prove them wrong. Dead wrong. :) Meet Kalab. He's driven, ambitious, super fun, and doesn't want to follow the crowd. Thanks for choosing me guys! I really had a great time!

...and a traditional shot for mom. ;)

Photog gab: I really wanted to pay attention to my focal length in this session. Sounds like a pretty elementary concept, but since I don't shoot with prime lenses at the moment, I feel like I have gotten lazy with this. I tended to move my lens instead of my body which caused me to get a little too wide with one of my lenses... Then I would end up with distortion (usually slight) and have very unhappy thoughts. :/ So I was more intentional with several technical issues of which I felt that I was slacking. I really like the results. Realllly. :)

WINNER!

2010-01-11T00:10:00.007-06:00

Thanks to everyone who voted! It has been great fun to watch the numbers shoot up each day! I will definitely be having more contests! And here's your winner for the Best of 2009!

Congratulations Amanda and Dallas! You'll be getting your prize soon! :)

And THANKS TO EVERYONE for helping me reach 10,000 hits on my blog! I know this was aided tremendously by this contest! There were almost 1,200 votes in this contest! Awesome. AND now this blog has more than 12,000 hits. Thanks again!

The BEST of 2009!

2009-12-31T22:38:00.004-06:00

There are lots of photographers that are doing this as well. It looks like lots of fun! :) So I joined the bandwagon. Here are some of my favorites from this year. How about y'all vote on which one you like best and the winner will get a FREE 10x15 mounted print (of the print shown). :D Go vote! And get your friends and family in on it too! Scroll through the images and down at the bottom of the post, there is a small vote box. One vote per day please and voting ends on January 10th! Good luck!

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>>>VOTING IS CLOSED<<<

I just can't decide...

2009-12-17T22:22:00.001-06:00

I really don't know how many people REALLY look at this blog, although I do have a clue with my counter thing... And really, there aren't that many of you. I love ALL of you that stop by to browse and THANKS SO much for doing so! I try not to beg for feedback or comments although they are (very) nice sometimes (ok, all the time), and this particular time is a nice one. ;)

I have been going back and forth with this issue for well...probably a couple of years now. Do I get a website? Do I have one made for me? Do I try to build it myself? AND does my blog do what I want it to do as far as showcasing recent work and letting others know where they can get in touch with me? I still really like my blog...and really like the way it looks. But do I need something else to go with it? Do people still look at websites? I mean, I do... but are they necessary if you have an easily navigable blog where you can find what you need in a few clicks? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to look at websites! They are SO fun! I could probably name about 30 that I love right off the top of my head...and they all have recent views from me looking for updates and new fun things. So here it goes... A vote. Tell me what you think I should do!

Again, not begging, but if you have other thoughts other than the options listed in the box above, feel free to post them! Thanks!

The Rockstar Status.

2009-12-11T12:58:00.000-06:00

There are so many photographers out there strive for this status. I'm not gonna lie, I have been guilty of this from time to time. The rockstar status is about being well known across the nation or world for what you do, and being praised for your work on numerous occasions. It is about having others idolize you. Really, you can want or strive for this rockstar status in any type of profession. I think there is an obvious difference in striving to be the best you can be at what you do and glorifying God in the process and comparing yourself to others while wanting to be better through that comparison. Enter the comparison stick, once again...

I think everyone has this feeling during their life... wanting to be the best at something isn't harmful, and yes, it keeps us from being comfortable and striving for bettering yourself. (Is that a word?) But there is a fine line that is easily crossed. It's easily crossed by me so many times...every day, in fact. I feel the need to be better and know everything there is to know about photography, my camera, the business, the networking (nightmare) , ect. When all of this began, I wanted to know how to use my camera before I even got to photoshop. I wanted to be able to depend on my camera and myself to get things right before depending on photoshop (or whatever!) to "fix" whatever I had done wrong with an image. I still don't know everything...not even close. But I still compare myself to those who do know so much more than I do. A good friend told me once, "Photography has a glass ceiling, you look around and at your level, things seem to be great and comfortable...but then you look up and see all the things you have yet to learn." Gosh... And even when I feel like I have busted through one glass ceiling, I look up, and there is another one waiting for me. Again, I think that it's great to better yourself and constantly learn, but what if it comes at the expense of others?

I have talked in other posts about setting goals for myself. I talked briefly about the one who got me thinking about these goals and my priorities. I remember her saying something like, "So it seems like you have put your family ahead of you business..." I was a little shocked at the way this was said, not that that person meant it the way I took it at all! But I felt like I got a little defensive after that statement. As if putting your family ahead of your business was a "bad" thing. Again, this person probably didn't mean this statement to be the way I took it...I tend to over think things... So I of course came back with something like, "Yes, I will always put my family ahead of my business...always!" Who in their right mind wouldn't, right? But then I sat there thinking about why I got so defensive. Was I putting my family ahead of my business? Was the "rockstar status" factor coming into play? Was I striving to be a better photographer, while comparing myself to others? Was I striving to be a better parent and wife LESS than striving to be a better photographer? Yes. My intentions were clear. My business and longing to be a better photographer were, in fact, much more of a priority than my family. Really?! Pshh... I can hear my alter ego in the background... How many times have I felt like I NEEDED to work on the computer during the day when my kids were at home with me? How many times have I told my kids "just a minute" and gotten frustrated by "interruptions"? Is that how I feel about my kids? Are they just "interruptions" in my life? Heartbreaking...once I realized... My kids will only be this age once. They will only be home with me for a certain amount of time and I'm thinking of them as "interruptions"?? How selfish can one person be? Obviously in my case, VERY selfish.

I have thought about this so much lately. And an interview with Davina Fear (and a few other photogs) was published in this month's issue of PPA magazine. It blew me away. It really made me want to prioritize and realize that when I say "yes" to a client, I'm really saying "no" to something else in my life... like my husband or my kids. Davina talked about how she woke up the morning of the first day of school this year and realized that she had completely missed the summer with her kids. She had been shooting weddings almost every weekend and editing during the week. And now, they were all gone to school during the day... Shocking to think that time can pass so quickly before your eyes... Obvious, but shocking when you witness it for yourself. Davina started to not take time for granted and set some guidelines for her business. She though in the beginning that working from home would let her have "time" with her kids, when all it did was cut out the separation of work and home. She found herself bending over backwards for clients more and more, instead of actually spending the "time" that she though she was gaining with her family. If you want to read the whole article, here's the link. It's well worth it.

So the goals I have set for myself include my family's wellbeing as well. I will not strive to shoot a wedding every other weekend...nor do I even want to...and not that I even have the opportunity to do so. I feel like I am much less busy than other photographers right now, but I don't want my family to be put on the back burner. I don't want to feel like I "have" to stay home from holiday events because I have to work on editing or send off for orders. I don't want my house to suffer (although it does even when I'm not working) from neglect and feel overwhelmed by the fact that you can't see the floor of any room because I've had "no time" to clean or keep up.

Again, I will still (try to) strive to be the best I can be while glorifying God in the process. And if glorifying God means that I WILL slow it down a little and bake more "pretend" cakes with Anna and read a few more books to Grey, then that WILL be what I do...because I know I don't do that enough. And doing that with a happy heart with my priorities set to where I don't feel the need to get an order out or finish editing a session right that second. If I don't have another day with my husband or my kids, will I regret what I have done or not have done with them today? Right now, absolutely. I need to fix that.

Stephanie & Paul

2009-12-07T16:17:00.004-06:00

Stephanie and Paul were married last Saturday when the weather was so nice, warm, and sunny. I was a second shooter for this wedding, therefore, some of these images may be a bit random...that's how second shooting goes sometimes. My second shooting was a little last minute and I was/am sad that I don't have the whole story on this great couple. They were so gracious and calm through the day. I was a fun time. Congratulations you two! I had a blast. :)

Christmas Cards??

2009-11-30T20:31:00.000-06:00

Hey all you families that want Christmas Cards! You need to get your order in by the end of this week so that I have time to design and send off the order. Please contact me if you have your order ready or have questions! Thanks!

Card Description: 1-4 photos on a custom designed, 5x7 double sided card with a linen texture or pearl finish. Envelopes are included.

Prices:
25 Cards=$50.00
50 Cards=$85.00
100 Cards=$155.00
150 Cards=$215.00

--Prices do not include sales tax--

The McAlpines

2009-11-27T13:47:00.002-06:00

There are some times when I know when I can get a little more creative with families. This family loves photography and I was honored when they asked me to take some shots of them together. They were fun and I love families that have "older" kids that will be patient with me and my quirkiness. :) Not that small children aren't patient at times... I am an observer and an internal thinker. I have to look and process some things a little longer sometimes just because I want to search out every possible angle or perspective that I can explore. Maybe that's another thing I need to work on. ;) Thanks for hangin' with me and trusting me with my weirdness. Dug (dad) wanted to come to cool, red building. I was down with it!

The Mitchells

2009-11-27T13:16:00.006-06:00

A Wedding Album

2009-11-25T21:10:00.001-06:00

Want something more than awesome? This is one of my wedding albums that arrived a week ago. I have already shipped it off to the beautiful bride and they are enjoying it now. This is a completely custom designed, flushmount, hard bound album made with genuine, subtle leather. There are many different cover styles to choose from. I went with this one to compliment the detail of the rings inset on the front.

The Petersons

2009-11-19T16:05:00.001-06:00

I've known this couple for years...and years. Carrie and Heath live in Kansas, where they've (pretty much) always lived, and dated through high school, and through college, and now they are married with one of the cutest little boys ever.

It's so funny how much I like the challenge of photographing families with small kids. If you knew me and the way I used to think, you'd totally laugh at that statement. Kids are such a positive challenge and really make me push myself further every time. No matter what MY plans are for a session, the kids usually take over from the second we start. I just go into a family session expecting that the kids will have nothing to do with me or my ideas, then maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised. I always am. This nugget of cuteness is Beau. He's a vibrant, gentle, and a bit of a shy kid that could light up the world with his smile.

Carrie has always had the BEST hair. I want it... or maybe just some of it. She has plenty to spare. ;)

The Comparison Stick.

2009-11-18T15:15:00.000-06:00

Ah... We have a love/hate relationship, the comparison stick and me. We like each other for a little while, then the stick knocks me square on the forehead...and it hurts. It leaves a dent. Dents in foreheads are not so attractive. But after I have that dent in my forehead, I keep that stick close by while giving it the evil eye, as it sits and laughs at me. Then BAM. It whacks me again, and again, and again, until I have to get up and walk away from it. It thinks to itself, "Oh she'll be back... just wait." And yes, it's right...every time. I'll come right back and sit in front of it waiting for it to whack me in the forehead. Again.

Ok, maybe you can scratch out "love" up there at the top. That dang stick really gets to me. I am always looking at other photographers' blogs to see what they are doing, but constantly compare my work to theirs. It's relentless and discouraging many times. Why do I do that? Why does anyone do that with anything? I keep telling myself and hearing others say, "just be yourself"... An easy request. But not at the same time. It's actually easier for me to want to be someone or something else all the time, rather than not. And that's just plain lazy. It is a constant struggle to be different, to create new, but timeless things for others to cherish, to be creative with angles, perspective, color, exposure, light, concept, illustration of relationships, and so on. I want to do something different every time I pick up my camera. But sometimes others beat me to the ideas that I feel are so one of a kind and I so long to try out... Again, comparison stick...

I was asked a few months ago by another photographer about my goals. I realized that I hadn't really thought about goals or why I'd even need them. That got me thinking... And I actually set a few goals for myself to be accomplished maybe by the end of next year. Real goals. Reachable goals. Difficult, but reachable. Some of these are tangible and some not so much. I no longer feel like I'm just lost in translation, but have a purpose for what I'm doing. Not that I didn't think I had a purpose before, but you know... And it won't be just for me, but for my family and for my business. I am a person that can find contentment in almost any situation, but that's not going to make me a better person and a better photographer. Or will it? It is sometimes a good quality, but I am learning to step outside my contentment box. To actually put myself out there for once and not to almost step out, then step back inside thinking that that was enough for one day... Lubbock seems to be a place where photographers multiply by the minute. Sigh... And there it is again, that comparison stick...

The Winters

2009-11-12T15:27:00.001-06:00

Sage: Senior

2009-11-09T11:56:00.001-06:00

The Franks

2009-11-08T15:13:00.004-06:00

Special THANKS to Jan and Clark Wood for letting us use their AWESOME ranch!

Catherine, welcome.

2009-11-06T19:31:00.001-06:00

Aaaaannnndd... she's done. Not really. Catherine hardly made a sound while I messed with her for an hour or so. She was SO happy with whatever I did to her. And in this shot (below), she really didn't make much sound, just made a horribly uncomfortable face. ;) Christie, you said you like the "real life" shots. HA!

Sorry folks...

2009-11-03T12:19:00.000-06:00

I have a bit of a mess on the blog right now and am in the process of fixing it... So there is a large gap in the middle somewhere where there are no photos. They'll be back up in the next couple of days. Yuck.

I've moved north!...sort of.

2009-11-02T21:51:00.001-06:00

Any of you remember this image of Elisabeth? It was one of my absolute favorites from the session because not only was it a striking image of her, it was an interesting and different composition... Not to mention a tad bit intriguing. ;)

She's one of those brides that seriously could be on America's Next Top Model...and win. She's got it. She's a photographer's dream, really. I hardly had to tell her anything while on our 5 hour bridal shoot. It was amazing. She amused me by doing whatever quirky idea I had and I am SO thankful for that. Sometimes, brides are not so fearless, and that's fine too. ;)

A designer contacted me asking to use this image of Elisabeth for a billboard. WHA? She was designing a billboard for an estate in Chicago that hosts large, extravagant parties, weddings, and wedding receptions. Where in Chicago? Near the prestigious Glen Eagles Golf Course....there are a few celebrities that live there and there have been many championship golf tournaments there as well. WHA? I'm still in disbelief. Of course, when I told Elisabeth, she was ecstatic. So excited that she and her husband planned a trip to see it. So the "billboard" was not exactly a Texas sized billboard. But nonetheless, it's a billboard with one of my photographs plastered all over it, in a completely different part of the country than where I live. And that's pretty dang cool. It is a double sided billboard. :)

Michael, Amber, & Zeke

2009-10-25T16:09:00.000-05:00

This family adores each other. They were so much fun to work with. Photographing kids is awesome because it always challenges me to work on things that I'm not so good at. Some things that I have been wanting to work on were my differences in angles and perspective. I'm not at all a master with these and have a long way to go... Thanks Zeke for pulling me out of my comfort zone. Thanks for forcing me to do things that I don't normally do. Zeke, you made me a better photographer on Friday, I sure needed it!! ;)

...Only sidewalk chalk, don't get scared. But we didn't wash it off when we left. So someone got a nice surprise... ;)

Loved the next two.

Sorry Amber. You'll still be my friend, right? :)

Shades...

2009-10-19T20:40:00.000-05:00

This is our Grey. I sometimes post shots of my kids on this blog, but not all that often. I snapped these while we were at the park playing with Anna's new soccer stuff she got for her birthday. Grey is usually running away from me since life is just a big ol' game to him. :) And he knows that 75% if the time that I call his name, he's in trouble for something. So he rarely looks at me, I had better be quick because within an instant, he's out of the viewfinder. Gone.

Yum.

2009-10-17T22:02:00.000-05:00

This is a parent album that I made for Lexi and Brady's wedding. Lexi and Brady were married in Tulum, Mexico back in July and will be having a reception/party for all their friends and family this weekend. I was able to get these albums ready for them to be able to show their guests images from their wedding! Yay! They don't know they are ready and will be delivered to them by a friend who is attending the party. So they'll be surprised. :) Their larger album is in production right now and probably won't be ready for another couple of weeks. I'll post images of that yummy album as soon as I get it. Stay tuned!

The Reinharts

2009-10-13T19:57:00.000-05:00

This family is one of those who demands that they have fun wherever they are and with whatever they do. You could see it on their faces. They were ready for whatever I had for them, and if I happened to not have anything, they'd figure it out in an instant. They were full of laughs and genuine happiness. Meet Jacque, Adam, Josh, and Elizabeth. Thanks guys for an amazing session! You made me forget completely about the drizzly, cold weather and made me question, again, why I even call what I do a "job"...because it was WAY more than that on this day. :) This session happened the same day as the session posted before... so you can see the continuation of quirky compositions. I'm likin' em... a lot. :)

I seriously have a weird fascination with people... I always look at groups of people and love it when everyone is doing something completely different. No one is really paying much attention, just being... That's why I loved this next shot...not to mention it's just fun. :)

love. this.

Is Adam bird watching? Ha! I loved this one too.

The Gustafsons

2009-10-12T23:51:00.000-05:00

Meet the Gustafsons. They are a super fun family who needed some updated shots all together. We all braved the cold, drizzly weather Saturday morning and did some updating. :) The were up for just about anything! I was in a quirky mood and you'll probably see a reflection of that in some of the compositions. :) Thank guys! I had a blast!

Credit for this last one goes to Dana (mom). She wanted a reflection of their busy lives and thought this would work perfectly. :) Hit the nail on the head... Ha!

Ridge, welcome.

2009-09-25T21:24:00.000-05:00

This cute boy is almost 3 weeks old. And he's my nephew. Poor Ridge...having an aunt who is a photographer... :) Hundreds of photos is only one consequence of being cute. Ridge was born at 32 weeks and was already 5 pounds and 19 inches long. He was a big ol' baby for his age. He spent a couple of weeks in the NICU and was released a week ago yesterday. He is doing so well. And my camera and I will be taking as much advantage of his extended newborn phase as we can. According to my sister, it is likely that he may stay in his sleepy newborn phase until his due date. That WAS in late October. Crazy.

We did some experimenting with Ridge and brought him back to his "roots"... which were only a few steps from his front door. You'll see what I mean.

That cute newborn cocoon was handmade by Randa Landusky. Thanks so much Randa! Ridge loved it!

Yes friends, another smile. :)

absolutely.

And at last, the everyday Ridge. He's got it pretty rough.

Something old, something new...

2009-09-17T15:44:00.000-05:00

I just got these cuties in today. They are pocket albums. And this is the mess that I made JUST to put on the old lace ribbon and antique buttons. ;)

Three Dents.

2009-09-14T21:19:00.000-05:00

Meet the Dent Family. What an amazing family. This couple has been so patient and so reliant on God through their lives. After 11 years of marriage and deciding that it would be great to be a couple with no children, God made His plans known. And after three hard years of adoption paperwork, prayer, and patience, they now have a daughter, Lillee. This spunky 5 year old is hilarious. She's a fast thinker, a fast mover, very quick witted, and full of laughs. This little girl came from China and when she met her new parents, she spoke a dialect that was unrecognizable to any of their translators. She is also a special needs child, although you wouldn't know it... I didn't even know after spending a couple of hours running around with her on Saturday afternoon. She was born with cerebral palsy and has come a long way since coming to live with her awesome new parents. I seriously had no idea. This couple has done such an amazing job with her. They make such a beautiful family.

Miss Lillee

2009-09-13T23:57:00.000-05:00

Meet Lillee. She and I along with her mom and dad played around in Ransom Canyon on Saturday afternoon. She was the most amazing kid I've ever photographed. So expressive, so hilarious, SO cooperative... She was still awesome even 2 hours into the shoot. We had lots of fun and a little bit of candy. :) I'll have more of Lillee and her family soon.

Announcements!

2009-09-03T14:42:00.000-05:00

I love making stuff like this. It's just fun.

You've seen this...

2009-08-19T22:00:00.000-05:00

But you can see it again. Sage. One of my all-time favorites...ever.

Kaleb, welcome.

2009-08-08T12:56:00.000-05:00

Our friends, Jessica and Felipe, and their daughter, Lily, just welcomed a new member into their family. This is Kaleb. He's so sweet and has the longest fingers I've see in a while! I kept torturing the poor guy by pulling his pacifier out of his mouth just after he got happy so I could get a shot of all of his face. He was such a trooper. Thanks Jessica and Felipe for asking me to "freeze time" (as my friend Carla would say) for you. And thanks for letting me invade your (always CLEAN) house. Seriously, I can drop by any time and it's always spotless. Jessica is supermom...again.

Mr. & Mrs. Hackfeld: Tulum, Mexico

2009-08-04T21:05:00.000-05:00

Lexi: Bride

2009-07-25T00:48:00.000-05:00

Ya know, it's not every day that you get to spend a few days in Mexico with a wonderful family and their crazy, fun friends. And it's not every day that you get the chance to photograph the wedding of an amazing couple in Mexico either. This is Lexi. She is beautiful. I decided to break up the posts dedicated to their destination wedding because, well, there are so many dang cool shots. We didn't have a ton of time to do these bridal shots and some of them were done after the ceremony. And as you'll see, there are many similar images, but I love them all. I think it's not really the cool thing to do...to post several similar shots, but it's MY blog and I'll do what I want. ;) The heat was just ridiculous in the Rivera Maya, as well as the 800% humidity. So we tried to take it easy on this couple during their many "sessions" over the weekend. Here are some of just Lexi for now.

Adam & Kim

2009-07-22T15:25:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I mentioned a wedding which I helped shoot with another amazing photographer, Rachel Debell (check out her blog for more of her awesome images). Rachel had a daunting task of going through not only the great images she captured, but having to go through all the ones that I gave her as well. That was a big job. She said it best on her blog as she described this wedding; it's not about the details and ritual of a wedding that make a marriage, it's by God's grace and amazing hand that we get to witness a miracle of Him bringing two different people together. That's what this wedding was about. Although there was a beautiful wedding with a beautiful bride, loving groom, and gracious family and friends, you could feel that this marriage will endure forever. Thanks Rachel, Adam, and Kim for letting me come along for the ride.

Lily, welcome.

2009-07-14T16:09:00.000-05:00

My good friend Carla gave birth to her second child last week, her first daughter, Lily Hope. I had several rather off the hook ideas for this shoot, but when I got there, I decided that this needed to be a "home" shoot. Lily's big brother, Jakob, was so interested in what was happening and needed to check on his baby sister regularly. I was great to have someone else there (while his mom and dad ate some dinner) to talk to during the shoot. When Jakob wasn't there, Lily and I hung out by the window in her room. She's such a great baby and didn't mind a bit that there was a HUGE black camera and lens pointed at her the whole time. There are a little less than 300 images from this shoot and all of them are so sweet. But I made myself narrow it down...twice. Here are only a few of the favorites.

Big brother, little sister.

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