cousins

You'll recognize Miss Kate here, sqeezed in the middle. (a Kate sandwhich) I posted her Birthday Party here a few days ago. Today I photographed her, Dalton, her brother and her 3 cousins that were in town for the Texas Tech and UT game. ALL BLONDE! And all utterly adorable! So much laughter, so many giggles! Just load of fun!

Grandma needed a good shot with all of the them happy and smiling. I think I got it!

adleigh

Newborns are the best! They cross their eyes and smile, they make funny noises, they are such new little creatures, everything about them just makes you happy. They are joy, hope and faith in humantiy, all rolled into one cute little package.

This is Adleigh. I photographed her mom and dad a few weeks back when she was just a belly. I had the chance to spend some quick time with her yesterday and just enjoy her utter cuteness!

the mcgehee family

I've been friends with Julie for more years than I care to count. She's in this frist picture with her husband Heath. We used to have a Bunco group in Slaton that we all met and fast became friends. They had 2 boys, Price and Ben, when we first met, and now as of 2006 they have 5 all together! Drew, Rex and the newest member, Meghan.

I wanted to photograph them each in their rooms and surroundings and I'm so glad I did. I met the bunny that Meghan sleeps with, and the cowboy chaps that Drew loves to wear. I saw the animals that Price has hunted and hung on his wall, and I heard all about the football practise that Ben was sacrificing for my efforts. It was a great session!

Thanks, McGehee Family!

kate's birthday

This is Kate. She just turned 4. She knows how to do the hokey pokey, talk on a cell phone and how to apply lipstick. She's quite the diva. So, how appropriate is it to have your 4th birthday at Dressin' Divas? It was too cute and too fun and the clothes? Way too small for real women, but hey, I have a camera and nothing but time.


The store had some really cool funky walls to use as backdrops and some cool hanging things to play with while the girls were getting made up.



the diva's in the dressing room admiring everyone's choice of colors. The feathers were a big hit!




Summer has a ton of hair so this was a BIG do for her! She didn't really think twice about it, and when I noticed her (instead of all the clothes) I realize her clean hair was teased HUGE and had green paint in it! AND she's got a 2 PM Basketball Game. Oh, well, it washed out. And a Diva can play ball, right?



Kate has always, always had a way about her. She's mature beyond her years in those eyes and such a precious spirit. I love just hanging around her and waiting for what happens.









Happy Birthday, Miss Kate. I'm so glad I could be there, and I'm so glad we are friends.

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Love,
Cousin Kristin

oh, dear

remember kyle and amanda from the fair a couple of weeks ago? They are getting married december 9th and we needed some "traditional esession" photographs for tradtional kind of stuff. The paper, grandma's desk, etc. Don't you just love the "glad to meet you" handshake above. I was laughing so hard when Kyle mentioned it. I was so concerned about other things, I didn't even notice it. And I was the one that should have! Don't worry, we got some other, good ones in there. And just because I can never take only traditional style photos, we played a bit. And these two are just the couple for that!

















I love this chair! Kyle? Amanda? I know you read this blog, so here it is, in WRITING...

if you ever sale this chair, PLEASE call me! It's way cool. And it works great for quickies in the street. Portraits that is! HA!

And my personal favs from our session. Not sure why? I just think they are so cute and very reflective of the two of you! Thanks so much!

the hurst girls

it's been quite some time since I had the chance to frame these faces. This is Taylor (the oldest) and Payton. Amazing blonde haired beauties with eyes the color of amazing sunsets. We spent a good part of our afternoon out and about, searching for locations that fit them, their home and just the day.

stricklin family

Meet the Stricklin Family.

They like Dr. Pepper's and Cherry Limeades.

I had the pleasure of photographing them again tonight, and they are such a great family to photograph! I'm not sure if it's because I have known them for quite some time? Or if they are just so laid back and easy with each other, it just turns out great?

I think perhaps a bit of both.

a nap

I'm going to be in so much trouble if Devin reads this, but I'm uploading orders to a server and can't process any files, so here I am, blogging. (my guilty pleasure...right up there with Nelly and Usher)

Canon was taking a nap quite some time ago, before the "no dogs in the house" ban. And guess where? Yep. He perfers Devin's office chair.


I found him like this.


He hears the clicks and wakes up, thinking to his doggy self, oh, no...here she goes again with that black box.


why? why? I hate it when she points it at my privates. It's bad enough that she removed my man hood and now I hang out with the girl dogs all day, but she keeps pointing that black box at them. why?




I saw a cat do this once.




darn fleas




oh, that feels sooooo good



go get the long lens

every mom should do this

seriously...

talk to you child with your camera in your hand and the first few times you do it, you won't get much of anything that's not real. Depeding on the age of your child, or course, but eventually, they will get used to it, and ignore it. And then when you discuss how the day is, how it went and they open up and share? The magic happens.

I put the 50 on, set the parameters to Lauren's favorites, and set the aperature to 1.4. After all, my ride was pretty messy and I sure needed the depth of field! HA!

You can see the results at the link below.

GO READ THIS.

more Taylor

I had a second while waiting for the coffee to brew and wanted to share with you a few more of Miss Taylor Faith. I realize that Ally and Dustin do not know most of the reader's of this blog, and I'm sure as new parents would not appreciate EVERYONE and his dog, stopping by, but this baby girl is soooo pretty! She really is. I can't wait to see her again in a few weeks.

Congratulations you two!

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taylor faith

I'm heading out the door to meet the "chick clicks" for lunch, but I had to share the news!

Allyson and Dustin had their baby girl, October 16th @ 11:06 PM. (I hope I got that right!) I went and visited this precious baby girl yesterday!

genesia + jerry

This is (l-r) Kim, my sister, Genesia and Me. Summer of "many moons ago" and we were at my Mom's house in Northern California. Vacation! Probably the last real vacation I've had. Gosh, that's sad. But anyway, it was a wonderful vacation except for the part where Kim and I almost drowned Genesia. I won't go into too many details, due to the lawsuit and being liable and all. (teasing) but I'm so glad this spitfire between us made it! This weekend, I had the pleasure of photographing my cousin Genesia's 2nd wedding to the same guy, Jerry. I'll explain.

Their first wedding in my mind was always so romantic and lovely and just plain hot and sexy. He woke her up one day and said, "Baby, I wanna marry you today". So, they went down to the courthouse on got married. I thought, "how romantic!" But in reality, Genesia got sick with a stomach bug and Jerry got the truck towed! I had never heard that part of the story until this weekend.

So, here we are, October 14th, 2007 and they did it again! Vegas style! They wanted family and friends to help them celebrate and WE DID!

It was so much fun to see family again! I hadn't seen my Uncle Mel in years! (Genesia's dad) and to visit with my Granny. When you get my aunts and granny together it gets, 1) loud and 2) hilarious! We laugh the kind of laughter you do that forces your cheecks to ache and your stomach hurt! Seriously! And then of course there's always the Helton Danger of peeing your pants! (or britches as Granny refers to them.)

Here's some of Granny in action!






I'm laughing just looking at these again! We had eaten dinner at Cozymels and Mom and Granny were hoots! No alcohol involved, really. Okay, one or two margaritta's but seriously, even if I hadn't drank them, this still would have happend. I know these women. It always happens when you get Heltons together!

Back to the wedding. (I know you are reading this Aunt Debbie, and if I don't hurry, the phone is going to ring. And not that I mind talking to you, your wit and sarcasm always make me smile. Ü)





Genesia has totally grown up! Just look at her in these shots! She's long and lovely with the most amazing chocolate eyes and cute turned up nose. Oh, and the lips! Wonderful lips that people pay thousands of dollars for. Jerry, you hooked a good one. I hope you know that! These photos were snapped early Saturday morning at the hotel where the girls were getting ready. I think she had only slept maybe 3 hours and had no makeup on whatsoever. She's so lovely.



HUGE Cub fans! Yep. My cousins lives in Chicago and I'm so going there soon to visit. It's the one city I've always wanted to see and now I have a good excuse. HA!


Those amazing lips getting slicked up and ready for their big wedding kiss!




Getting her "eyes ripped". I think that's how she referred to the process?



The bride's favorite candy.



chatting with my mom



Her Maggie Sotoreo gown! So lovely with the gathers and jewels. At the moment this photo was taken, the room was a total mess at the Circus Circus. Ask anyone that was there at this moment. TOTAL mess. And by that I mean, busy-ness, kids screaming, girls not being able to breathe due to being bustled, people rushing....MESS! I love how simple and stunning her gown is just waiting for her. Despite the MESS!



messy proof, and I must confess, my favorite part of the day of all weddings. I love the RUSH right before, the nerves, all of it. Because eventually, you get the calm.



This is Miss Addisyn. Jerry and Genesia's baby girl. She just wanted her mom. But mom was in a gown, with makeup and a veil and it was hard enough to breathe let alone hold a child. But she did.



I love this shot of Genesia waiting for the hotel elevator! You can create amazing images without alot of fussy-ness. In everyday life, there's moments that are simply stunning and we forget them if we don't impress them. I choose to impress them visually. I love the way this shows off her gowns details in the "pulling up".



and the reaction of the hotel guests when the elevator doors open and they see a BRIDE!


I don't think Addisyn was impressed by it all. This is her on the way to the ceremony. Her dress was sliding all over that seat!


The results! Like I said, long and lovely.


Things get messy for the groom, too. First time to meet my cousin. The men's room at the ceremony site. HA! I love you Jerry for letting me get these photos of you! He had an amazing sense of style that day. I love the entire gansta themed tux, and the shoes were AWESOME! Jerry's on the right of this shot.




This one just cracks me up! And it did everyone there! It was such a wonderful ceremony. Full of laughter and tears and just REAL. That's the best way to describe it. Of course, I could be totally biased in my thinking, as my Mom performed the ceremony. But even if she wasn't my mom, I still think I would have felt that way. She knew them personally and kept it real. Made it special.





I love this shot! It had rained most of the morning, so to see the sun shining and for them to both be so happy and emotional! I love it!



Others were emotional, too.

The Happy Couple!




Mom, Granny, Aunt Debbie and Uncle Dave enjoying the reception!


Addisyn enjoying it, too! I love how fragile, and so sweet she looks here. That rich carpet just makes her looks so cherib like.




This was sooo cute! The DJ played "Going to the Chapel" and the entire room started singing! It was so fun! Of course, my spirited Genesia had to serenade her Gangsta Hubby!



The amazing cake!


and what they did with it!






Dancing with her Dad, my Uncle Mel. This is the guy who introduced me to the "spook light" in Joplin, MO and I couldn't sleep for a week! I thought he was so cool because he drove a black covertible, and of course, since he agreed to drive me around in it, I was cool, too. I almost pulled a Helton (peeing in my pants) just waiting on that dirt road for the spook light to appear and now that I think about it? I bet it was just an excuse for me to not look at him and my aunt making out. Hmmmm? Good one, Uncle Mel.




Jerry and his Mom.


My Granny danced with the bride and Aunt Debbie cheering her on.










Congratulations you two! I'm so happy I could be a part of this and be there for this emotional day! I had a wonderful time and wish you two the BEST of everything possible in this life!

Oh, and I'll need a place to stay when I visit Chicago. K?

View the rest of thier photographs HERE. Complete gallery up soon.

Oh, and family? I know you are reading this, so please, PLEASE leave comments and share the love with Jerry and Genesia!

in vegas

ahhhh....

I travel quite a bit. Not as much as many, but I do travel. And over the years, I've turned into quite the hotel snob. Yes indeed. I like my Hiltons, my Marriotts, and most of all, my Westin's. I love the Westin.

I'm in Vegas staying at the Westin, (photographing my cousin, Genesia's wedding.) My Granny Helton and my mom, Cheryl are here, but I arrived early Friday and immediately after the crazy shuttle ride from the airport, calmed by the little duck that was waiting for me in my lovely Heavenly Bath. I turned on the TV, hooked up my computer and decided to order room service. They have an awesome service at this hotel and just really are wonderful the way they treat you. The turn down service each night with my cute little bear and mints on my pillow, oh, and the slippers by the bed, I LOVE it!

7th grade cooper homecoming

Kalyn didn't have soccer practise for the first time in ages, so we took advantage for the Thursday night off and went to Cooper's 7th Grade Homecoming Game. I'm so glad we did! I ran into several new friends and many old ones, and Kalyn did, too! I took a few photos, although Boo took most of them. She's pretty good on the personality part of my job, engaging the subject and getting the best out of them. She just needs some fine tuning on the composition and focusing, and the girl could have a career in photography! Boo is our cousin and she's in Kalyn's grade. She grabbed my camera for a bit that night.

First off, St. Joseph is having the Sausage Festival this coming weekend and the Slatonite always features a front page story of the pre-activities. Ida Lee, Devin's grandmother made the front page, so Kalyn called her and congratulated on her 15 minutes of fame!

I tried to take some football photos, but it's much more difficult than soccer. Harder to anticipate just where they are going to go with the ball. After watching my girls play for years, it comes pretty easy, photographing soccer. Football, just a lucky thing I got what I managed to get.

The sunset was amazing that night! I love this shot of our neighbors house, Dereck and Jane Kitten. The live up the road and the clouds were AMAZING that night. I had a client apointment later on that evening, and really wanted to make the bonfire. But no such luck. I did come by at the end and stopped to take a few "burning embers". I'll be in Vegas this weekend, and no chance to see the games or the Sausagefest. Good Luck with a great turnout and a good score.

the blue smurf

I can so relate to this smurf! Just look at him! The poor fellow, all blue and sweaty! It's a cup that I've had for years. It sits on the counter at Take One - Video. It's a store in Slaton that me and my husband own. It's a video store, so for years I've been known as the "video lady" and my kids, "the video babies". That's what folks in Slaton called us. So funny.

We opened TOV in Oct. of 1990 before we got married. It wasn't easy and looking back, if we had known how much work it would take, we probably wouldn't have jumped in so eagerly. But I love my store! I absolutely love it! It provides me with FREE expense of my guilty pleasure, movies. I love movies! I could sit on the couch and watch them all day. Before my kids were born, this is what I did.

I raised my kids at TOV before they started school. They worked with my while I poured my blood and sweat and tears into that place and I loved it. Having them with me at work was such a blessing! It was hard, yes. And I'm sure I wasn't happy all the time. But I wouldn't change it for the world. They can talk to folks easily, and they can count change back to people and know every Texas Lottery ticket known to man. Their first boss will love me for that counting change back. It's becoming a rare trait with our techno world and just believing what the register tells you.

I'm rambling.

Owning your own business is kind of like having a third child. You can hire workers, and good ones too, but you will always be chained to that child. Always connected. Always a part of you.

So, when my AM (assistant manager) Casey Lou, fell ill recently, I've had to step up to the plate and fill in. Take over duties I haven't done in FOREVER. Juggle work schedules and responsibilities that I've done before, but have pushed into the dark recesses of my brain. (scary place!) They are coming back slowly, but it's been hard.

And it's been very difficult for me to juggle TOV (acronymn for Take One Video) and my life. I have kids that I love very dearly that I put before the store and my photography and my life. I have a husband that if any of you know and love, will realize is a full time job in and of itself. He's a wonderful, stubborn, precious, hard working, not easy man. Whew!

I'm not sure why I'm posting this. Everyone has times in their lives that is difficult and hard and just plain not fun. It's part of our molding, building character, part of our walk with HIM. And I know "this too shall pass".

I guess I'm just pouring out my thoughts today so I can blog even though I haven't been able to create an image since forever ago and I'm feeling a bit dry and worn out. I need my camera. I need to create. I think that's why I hung up my "video lady" hat after 10 years, so I could fill up that part of my soul. That part of my being. And now that I'm wearing it again, it feels weird. Like it doesn't quite fit anymore. Like I've outgrown it perhaps.

I'll be glad when Casey is back. S ay a prayer for her today folks. She's "molding", too.

My camera went with me to work last week when I pullled a night shift for Dana, who is an employee that has been with us since the beginning. She was having a "molding" time last week when her computer from her full time job, crashed. Not fun...computer stress. Thought I'd share a few.


We have the BEST popcorn! It's popped at just the right tempature with just the right consistancy of oil and kernals. And the oil is what makes it soooo yummy! Coconut oil is very expensive, but very creamy and buttery and just plain sick! I love it! When I quit working there full time and popping it, I swear I dropped 20 pounds. Which after working there again, I'm sure will quickly find my hips.



I have photos of my kids there. Not very recent ones, but like a "bus man's holiday", I don't have recent pictures of my kids anywere but my computer. Shameful.

I walked around a bit while shelving movies and took a few of my favorites. Movies that I have to watch at least once a year or so. I love good dialouge movies and these have the best scripts, or screen plays.

We still carry VHS's even though we are quickly selling them off and replacing them with DVD's. Hence the wierd looking boxes to some of you! Ancient, huh?

Enjoy your "molding" day, if you are having one!

the things

Halloween is a BIG time for us. Or rather, it's a BIG time for me and my girls. Devin could care less. Well, he could care about the Almond Joys or Snicker Bars that are gathered up, but the costumes? Not his thing.

So, when Kalyn and Summer were invited to a Birthday "costume" party, Kalyn thought it would be cool to go as "thing 1" and "thing 2". I loved the idea too as well. We used clown wigs from Party City and red sweats from Wal-Mart. The decals were created using those iron on things you can run through an ink jet printer. They now make them for dark clothes. Worked great!






disgusting prize for winning most creative costume. UGH....

the tapp family

I met this family through the Craig Family. Michelle and Amy work together and Amy saw all the photographs I've taken of the Craig Kids through the years and wanted that same look for her family's photographs. I'm so glad she did!

Meet, Amy and Tim, and their adorable kids, Hailey and Hayden. (I hope I'm spelling these right Amy.) I must admit, it was very hard to tear my camera lens away from anyone but Miss Hailey, with those amazing eyes and quiet nature about her, but I managed to, and I did, and had a wonderful end to a very busy Saturday.

You can view the sneak peek by clicking HERE. The rest of the images will be up soon.

lonestar day

When I'm home on weekends, instead of photographing weddings, I photograph soccer! I love watching Kalyn play! (my oldest daughter) It's so amazing to me that something from my body, with some of my genetic makeup, can run, jump and kick so amazingly well! She's so good at this athletic thing.

I didn't photograph the first game. There's a parking situation out at Behrl Hoffman Park and I had to park 1/2 mile away and did not want to carry my gear that far, so I only photographed the Lonestar 94 vs Lonestar 95. (snagged a curbside up front park) But all the same, I love doing this and wish I could photograph every game, but what would I do with all the images?

Lonestar Gallery



Bree broke her ankle a few weeks ago and is out of commission, but still cheering from the sideline. Her parents are so much fun!


Dave and Chris watching the game. I'm sure Chris is explaining what little she knows of offsides. HA!

This is Jordan. She played for us last year and moved on to Cruz Azul. We miss her and her family, but we still see her on the fields from time to time.


New baby girl for Melanie's family. Such a cutie!