This is Adleigh.

And this always happens with babies this age. You plan and plan, and even plan some more, and they still, no matter what, run the show. She's absolutely adorable! She really is, but I believe Mom and Dad (Patrick and Chelsea) when they say, she is usually so happy and full of smiles! But when a stranger shows up, puts her in a wheat field and strips her down to her onsie, well, you are bound to get a few different looks.

And we did!

We started out at home, so Adleigh could get used to my voice, and then we drove out to Woodrow Road which has the coolest fields of green, green grass! But Adlieigh really wouldn't smile or interact with me, and I can't blame her one bit. The girl was more interested in the grass. LOL



















Once home, though? In her own high chair? Yep, smiles. She was happy eating those peas.




Chelsie is such an amazing artist! She asked me to photograph her portfolio at the end of this year as she was having trouble getting a good image of some of her stuff. She wants to create a web site and feature her work there for everyone to see. I seriously think she should and even encouraged her to start a blog. (another blog for me to read...insert evil blogaholic laughter!) So, don't be surprised if I post a link here someday.

Here's just one of her amazing pieces!






My personal favorite from our time together. Such a great feeling, especially for all moms and dads out there! I love this one!

elizabeth + daniel

Ahhh! Days don't get much better than this one! Friday, April 27, 2007, Elizabeth and Daniel said, "I do!". And it was such a great wedding! It didn't have flowers, music or even a white dress, but it had what mattered the most, which is committment and love and family. (oh, and me!)

Congratulations you two! I'll see you "three" in June!

lonestar

Wow! I just checked the archives and it's been months since I have photographed my daughter's soccer team! They desperately needed documenting. Many of the girls have grown, gotten faster, gotten stronger! I've so enjoyed watching them through the lens this week!

I won't post very many here, because I post them all online for all the parents. You can view their LONESTAR SPRING GALLERY by clicking HERE.

Congratulations GIRLS on your BIG win over Amarillo Lightening! GREAT, GREAT GAME!!!

ginger + brett

YUM

That's really all I should say. YUM

I haven't posted much this week. Devin, my husband has been out of town and my girls are busy with spring sports, thus I'm "Taxi Mom" alone! Just last night, we had 2 softball games, and 2 basketball games. I didn't make it to bed until 2 AM and there was absolutely no drinking involved! Oh, my! How unfair is that?

I have hardly had any computer time this week and it shows! I'm behind! But I absolutely had to post my favorites from this couples session before I sit on another row of bleachers and surrender myself to the "bleacher butt" syndrome of pain.

I know Ginger because I know Ginger's mom, Candy. She's what I would call, "old school" portrait photographer. And I so admire her! I've known her for several years now and she "grew up" photographing Large Format portraits. She's digital now and loving it, but I so admire her work and art that she's created for others and around her home. (I'm still waiting on that print of the red door, Candy! I love that shot!)

Ginger and Bret are "tying the knot" this summer, at her Family Home (I love that!) and we needed some good portraits of these two, for the announcement and just because. I am thrilled to be a part of this, and honestly, downright flattered. Along with admiration of her work, Candy has the BEST taste in all the things I love, so if she's letting me snap the shutter at this wedding, I must know what I'm doing! HA!

We didn't have the "best of time" according to the Professional Handbook for Outdoor Photography. It was afterall, high noon. But I've broken a few rules in my time alive and since these two were just in town for a bit, this was it. Our time. I think we did very well together.




I love how the "family dog" just had to tag along with us!































Thanks you two! You did fabulous! I'll have the rest posted soon and will let "Mom" know.

Until June...

slideshow happy

Now that the scripts are getting worked out and the sound is back on my computer, I'm slideshow happy! Here's Katherine + Tim's Slideshow. You can also find the link to the right of this post under the slideshow's listed.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

new slideshow!

I've been behind on my slideshows, thanks to a computer glitch. But I have a new computer IT girl, and she got things squared away. Thanks, Sheila!

Introducing, to your far right, under the slideshow link, Haley + Austin's slideshow! So much fun!

kathleen and kyle

Whew! It took most of the afternoon to pour through my favorites, but here they are! Kathleen married Kyle last night at my home church, St. Joseph in Slaton, TX. I've known the Brosch Family (Kat's Mom and Dad since my first week in Slaton, Texas over 17 years ago. I even taught their oldest daughter, Christie at St. Joseph school when I was a teacher. Yep...a teacher. Kat also has worked for us at our video store AND I photographed her sister when she married Jason almost 3 years ago. In other words....HISTORY. There's HISTORY.

I love photographing weddings where I know all the guests. It's so much fun to visit with folks you know and catch up on what's going on. Just a warm friendly feeling that feels like HOME. I LOVE IT! And Kathleen's wedding was that, it felt like home. On to the details...

minister, Deacon Darris Linder
florist, Deann Funderburk
band, the one and Only REX THOMAS BAND
baker, Chad Wilson, with the Slaton Bakery
food, Clint Davis and Lloyd Kitten





I met the "gents" at Stonegate Golf Course that morning. They were partaking in a scramble and besides endangering the life of a lawn gnome, they did quite well. They sure were having fun, and that's the main thing on your wedding day!




Our church is undergoing renovations in the area that is usually reserved for the bride, so Kathleen just got ready at her Grandma's. It was nice to have everyone all in one place.




I love these shots of Kathleen trying to help her Nanny put on her pearls.


The shot above is Makayla, Kat's neice in her high heels! She was so excited!




This is Kodi, Kyle's niece, another adorable flower girl!








Kathleen's Dad.








I photographed their engagement and they used the images in all sorts of fun ways! These are the programs they put together. Such a great idea! Anything involving photographs is good by me.



Having fun with the rings! Stephanie got this shot below. I love having her along for weddings! It's fun to hang out together and in tight situations, that extra eyes and camera sure comes in handy.








Stephanie took this shot of the guys before the ceremony. They were hanging out at St. Joseph Hall which is where the nearest out of sight location was. AND it had beer. That's a good thing for waiting. I love Kyle's Dad's Hat in this photograph! Such a great look!



Right before their BIG walk down the aisle.



I love this shot Stephanie got during the ceremony of Mr. and Mrs. Brosch watching the ceremony.













Reception time! Looks like Makayla is up for it, huh?









Many Catholic weddings feature a Grand March that is so much fun! We did one at my wedding and it involves all the guests from the reception dancing around the hall for several minutes and finishing surrounding the bride and groom. From there, they dance their first dance. It's such a great tradition and I love how the guests are all featured in the background of their images.















I've had exits that have involved, flower petals, sparklers, fireworks, even sleigh bells, and yes, the traditional bird seed. But golly! I've never been pelted this hard! OUCH! When I came home to put my pj's on, bird seed feel out of clothes and socks and bras! I can only imagine what they got hit with!

Thanks, you two! It was a wonderful celebration and you were so much fun! Congratulations! You can view more of their images HERE with the rest ready soon!

The Wedding Party

Bride's Parents: Glen and Sherri Brosch
Groom's Parents: Larry and Glenda

Maids
Sara Stricklin
Ashley Angle
Natalie Leoyard
Deann Funderburk
Christi Brosch
Cheyenne Edwards

Gents
Cody Burns
Cody Coltharp
Jason Traweek
Jason Duncan
Kevin Meador
Steven Brosch
Zach Dicken
Doug Hopkins

Flowergirls
Makayla Funderburk
Kodi Edwards

shing

I just got home from Kathleen and Kyle's wedding. I'm pooped. My feet are aching and I need to go to sleep, but as I was downloading cards, I realized I didn't blog about Shing Ling and her kick butt Grad Session! She totally rocked it like a TOP MODEL! LOL

Enjoy!

brandi

Meet Brandi.

She's graduating from Texas Tech in just a few weeks and needed some photographs for her announcements she's mailing out. The minute I laid eyes on that red hair my mind started racing! I LOVE RED HAIR! I had to share with Brandi how both times when I was pregnant with my girls, I so desperately prayed for them to have red hair and freckles. They got the freckles and one, strawberry blonde, but nothing like this gorgeous mane of hair Brandi sports!

Oh, and talk about pressure! When she had her Senior HS Portraits made, she had them retaken 3 times! And still hated them! GOSH! Let's hope I pleased this beauty!

Oh, and be sure and check out her adorable birthday gift from her friends! His name is Darryl. He's so cute!

Thanks, Brandi! You did great! I'll have the rest up early next week!

katherine and tim (part 2)

They did it! They got married outside, under those amazing trees, right by the lake, standing on the ground where Katherine played as a child. On the Tucker Farms, April 14, 2007. And it was cold, and windy, and cloudy most of the day, but the sun shone through just a few minutes before the first guest was seated and lasted through the vows. It was such a pretty ceremony!

Here's the "goods"!

The girls started the day together, after a rousing "Bachelorette Party" at the Post Office. Don't worry ladies! I'll keep my lips sealed about exactly what you ladies did with the cucumbers!

This is Katherine's sister, Allison, showing Dad, Mr. Tucker, the bridal head piece she made for Katherine. And the girls were enjoying the coffee and just relaxing before they started getting ready for the ceremony.







A girl's gotta have her juice, even if it is Bert and Ernie.



Allison also made the bridesmaid's jewelry. It was so pretty! This girl is very talented, as she photographs, too. She did their engagement session.



I LOVED her bridesmaids dresses! JCrew!



Katherine wore her hair up, but it was curled so she could pull it down for dancing at the reception later.






A gift from the lady that cooked and also made the lunch. (I'm sorry, but I forgot her name.) I think she's a caterer because she has a cook book that she gave to Katherine. These pearls I think were a family heirloom? Or possibly something Katherine really wanted because she wore them with her wedding dress.



The dress!



Details of the back!



ahhh...



Putting on her way cute Texas A&M garter!






Katherine's mom made these ribbons for the girls to dress up their dresses. They were perfect!


Her bouquet was so pretty! I love peonies! They are my favorite flower. Always...


I huddled them together for warmth. HA! It was sooooo cold!


Before she walked down the aisle. I kept thinking she would use her bouquet as a mike and break into song and dance. LOL










This is Ava. She was absolutely adorable and so sweet. I think she was perplexed at the entire thing, but interested all the same. She looks a bit worried right here, but dad was down on the front row, waiting on her. She did GREAT!


So did Mr. Tucker and Katherine.




I was so glad the sun came out! Just look at that pretty blue sky! It was still cold, mind you. But that made for some great moments between the two of them. Tim was definitely sweet and pulled her close several times and rubbed her arms.













I love this grab shot of Katherine, really checking out her wedding ring before it goes on her finger. I have no idea what she was thinking, but it made me smile!















































You can view more of their photographs by clicking HERE.

Thanks to both families, Tim's and Katherine's. You'all were wonderful to work with! We will have the rest of the photographs ready soon!

katherine and tim

I'm in Waller, Texas avoiding the thunderstorms and cold of back home. I saw on the news where some places got baseball size hail! Oh, my...I'm seriously hoping my ride suffered no damage. Anyway, Katherine Tucker is marrying Tim Clymer and I'm so excited to be a part of it! I met them for the first time (in person) yesterday at the rehearsal. I meet many of my clients this way as we communicate online for the most part. These two are so cute together!

The wedding is taking place at Katherine's family place in Waller and it's so pretty and green here. The trees are super tall and everything is so lovely and after spending some time with the families last night, it's going to be such a wonderful celebration tonight.

the cotton brothers

Gosh, Beverly! I hope I have the spelling right? Let me know if I don't. OK?

Meet, TJ and Wil. Otherwise known as The Cotton Brothers. TJ is graduating this spring from Texas Tech and his brother, Will, from Lubbock High. We spent Thursday evening together, along with Concho their JRT. I love that they brought along their dog!

They did great! And it was so fun photographing these two and seeing their similarites and differences. I have to say, as Jack Russel's go? This dog was so well behaved and just easy going. The guys did great, too.

meet annmarie

I loved this session! How much fun? First, she's a Cooper girl and that's hits close to home for me, since that is my children's school, and 2nd, she's a lovely, blonde girl who loves fashion, and knows how to wear it. AND the icing on the cake? The fact that her sister LOVES photography. Very cool.

Graduate season is fast upon us and the weather has been perfect for on location shooting. And what awesome locations did we find! Just check these amazing photos we made together!

Thanks, Ann-marie! I had such a great time with you and your family and tell your sister, the disk is in the mail! Here's the sneak peek, the rest will be on your gallery soon!

easter 2007

Oh, wow! It was so good to spend time with family we love and to also get a perk or two in there for the photographer's soul, too. (I photographed a Hindu wedding!!!)

We arrived in time for Brooke's soccer game, but it was too cold to photograph, and plus, they lost with a huge point margin that I would never in a million years post. This is my sweet niece Brooke by the way...



She is growing into such a sweet young lady! I have several God children in my life and I pray for them all daily. (usually in the shower, but that is way too much information.) I don't see them all near enough, but the prayers I offer to God, to keep them safe and to specifically pray for the friends around them, their teachers, their parents, even their future spouses, well, when you spend time with them, however brief it is, and see the work that God can do in their lives. Gosh! It's such a blessing to be involved! It really is!

She's strong, and such a fighter, yet knows how to let her hair down and have fun with her cousins. She's definitely a girl, but not a "fru-fru" girl. She's the perfect balance of "sugar and spice and everything nice".



I mainly had time to hang with the crew on Friday as Saturday was given to a wedding. (I'll post more on that later.) First, my hip-hop, slowly loving the camera hubby. Yep. I'm shamelessly blogging him again. This is becoming a habit. Hmm...maybe a future book project?





Can't you just fee the "base" in his head as his "tude" exudes from every pore? Can't you?

Of course I didn't take near enough photographs, as sometimes, that seems like such a chore! HA But I had a great time spending time with them all the same.

Jack, my nephew getting his "tude" on.








Summer getting her "tude", too. LOL



We were at the Plano Sports Plex, watching Jack's game and with the 5d and 50 1.2, well, plenty of light! I sure love that about this lens! So, I took the opportunity to have a mine "ANTM" shoot out with my girls!









They had this cool red wall, upstairs, where you could sit and eat food and watch the games. I think they called it "above the net".











Happy Easter Everyone!

Plano Bound

Just a quick post to let you know I'm heading to Plano with my family to spend time with my neices and nephews. I'm so excited to see them! It has been way too long!

I will also have the chance to shoot a wedding with Brooks and my favorite girl, Leigh of http://www.brookswhittington.com/. So, check back on Sunday, and I shall try to have a sneak peek up for you.

A special thank you to everyone that has been so kind and wonderfully patient this past month. Many of you have waited patiently for albums, enlargements, and photographs and March has definitely been a month that has tested me both spiritually and professionally.

Please know that everything is being taken care of and I hope to befully caught up soon! I have a new "person" to introduce you to that is going to be such an assest to everything I love about my job of photography! I'm very excited about changes that are on the horizon for me and my business, and of course I want to share them with you.

Take care,

Kristin

the last one

Yesterday, was district track meet. A little back history for those of you that do not know my daughter, Kalyn.

She hates to run.

Yep. It's always like this in life, huh? Those with the gift of speed usually hate to use it. This is her.

So, she runs the 800 and the mile, and she runs very well. So, well, in fact, that she was just 8 seconds off the 7th grade school record. I'd love to come on here and say that she beat the record, but she didn't. She did even better, character wise. And as a mom that prays for character in her children, it's even better.

She finished. Yep. We aren't quitters, and she desperately wanted to quit track just a couple of weeks in. But she didn't. She finished, and I so very proud of her! The first place was just a bonus.

Here's a few pics of the day!















Lauren, aka "boo" is a good friend of Kalyn's and I must confess, one of the reasons these meets are bearable to both Kalyn Marie and ME. She's definitely one to entertain! We LOVE YOU BOO!







This is Brittney, right before the mile relay and running with an injury. She did great, and kept our team in the lead, but gosh! I don't think that thumb felt too good.









Way to go Cooper Pirates! We are so proud of you!!!

View all the track photographs I managed to take, by clicking HERE.

shhh...

don't tell anyone...

but someone needs to check her email. Her "sneak peek" is up!

brittany + jordan

WARNING: Image OVERLOAD! I wonder how many is too many? A sneak peek can have 400 images, right? Right?

Oh, my gosh. Vegas has my mind thinking and trying out things I've never thought of before! And it's paying off in the best way! My work. Leave me a comment to let me know what you think, but I'm loving my most recent engagement session!

Mett Jordan and Brittany. They are two love bugs who are cute, fun and most of all, IN LOVE! I had the best time with them on Saturday evening, chasing the light. We found a donkey, some cool new places, and even a Constibal. Yep. We were deliquents and didn't even know it.

The trouble these young folk get me into. LOL








































Technical info just for "you know who"...

Well, all of these are on manual mode, mostly with my 16-35 2.8. I just got her back from Canon after totally destroying her at a wedding. I usually keep 2 bodies on me during weddings and she banged one two many times against the other body.

I kept the iso low if I could. Wanted a good file to work with. I tend to underexpose more than over. With the 5d you have the priveledge of room to play. I love this camera!

yoo hoo

Someone's sneak peek is ready!

I sent you the link by email.

a word about the [b]

I first heard of Becker through the DWF. (Digital Wedding Forum) And I listened to him, liked his work, but didn't really "know" him. Then in 2005, he gave a seminar at the first DWF. I didn't like him. He was all about image, branding, etc. and "slickness", and even though I loved his Billy Idol slide show, "SCREAMING hot sexy wedding photos" in my face, I just didn't warm up to the dude. His Southern California cockiness rubbed me the ultra wrong way, and he always had chicks on his arm, working for him like a "harem" of sorts.

It wasn't what I was about or what my business and photography style was about. I mean, come on! Anyone who knows me, knows I'm the furtherest thing from the "kewl" chick. I like to think I am and even have very cool dreams sometimes, that I am, but I'm a total goof ball nut, wanna be cool chick. (which someone makes me cool to my clients, go figure?)

So, after DWF 2005, I kept an eye on the [b]ecker and even read his blog faithfully because let's face it, the dude can take some pretty pictures. But in reading his blog, I got to know the guy behind the slick, smarmy image I had of him in 2005. He was a nice guy. I was totally wrong about him. He loved his family, his music, his "man bag" and anything Apple. (I swear they should pay him for the publicity he does for them.)

He's a nice guy. He really is.

He likes U2, and having fun, hates going to the gym, loves his nephew, enjoys poker and plays very well, (so I've heard) and loves to have fun at weddings.

He's a people person.

Oh, and DVR and movies, etc.

Hey, we have a few things in common.

So, when I was in Vegas this year, and saw him strutting up the sidewalk with that HUGE people grin on his face, what do I do? Become a total [b] fan and ask for a [b]ecker sand which. Yep.

Got me one.

LOL

AND then checked his blog daily to see if we showed up. We did.



But take a look at his and then mine. Man, he had to Photoshop the fire out of Me and Stephanie to make us "blog worthy". Golly! Now I'm feeling a bit goofy again. Oh, well...kewlness can always be lost.

LOL

Click HERE to see his new blog. It just launched today.

back from Vegas

Whew! What a week! What a month!

I'm home and slowly getting back into the swing of things. Actually, I hit the ground running with 3 sessions this weekend and loads of laundry and dishes. But first? Vegas. I have to share Vegas with you.



I attended the Digital Wedding Forum last week in Vegas and our group stayed at the Westin. It's across the street from Bally's which is where the trade center was for all the cool products.

I had a wonderful time attending classes and meeting old friends and creating new ones. It was just a great time of "filling up the vessel" if you know what I mean. I'm so obssessed about this "photo thing" that going and having a place to feed that obsession in a healthy way, discussing things, clients, techniques, workflow, etc. It's just great! It gets you so excited about coming home and shooting again.

Plus, the trade show and seeing albums frist hand and getting ideas for design and approach, it's just a perfect mix. We went with a group from Texas/New Mexico and it was such a fun group! I didn't get to hang out with all of you, and I didn't even get photos of everyone. I tried! I really did! (we did sleep together quite expensively, at KA one night. LOL) But after editing these iamges, I realize, I didn't even come close to taking all the photos I wanted! Let's share, OK? You guys send me your snail mail addresses and I'll burn CD's. I want any of your photos too, well, except for those on the stairwell, that one night. You know which ones I'm referring to. You all can keep those! LOL! I don't think you want those in the wrong hands, if you know what I mean. LOL

Anyhoo, let me introduce a few people. I know many of you read this blog and I really do intend to email you and thank you for such wonderful experiences! I had an absolute ball in Vegas and not just because I threw back a few drinks. I think for the most part, you can tell I thrive off people and love meeting them, bouncing things off them and just plain being with God's creations. Gosh! We are such unique folk, aren't we?

Christy Cross







Christy was the absolute BOMB to room with! Talk about a fire always lit. Yep, especially when "Saved by the Bell" came on. LOL We had a wonderful time feeding off each other and she exhibits such a great spirit, so the "loving life" tag line for the business, it really WORKS! I'm not quite the same "morning person" she is, but I would like to think I was when I was younger. (I was the oldest in this group, by far. We won't say how far, but gosh...I'm old.)

Christy! Thanks for an awesome Vegas trip! Keep up the spirit and the love for this craft! Email me anytime! Call me whenever and you can come shoot with me any time you want. Seriously.


Fred Eagan








I'm glad I got to meet "Freagan", too. I knew "of" him, through Lauren and the OSP, but seeing him in person and getting a feel for his quirks and actually talking to him that first day about what his purpose is in finding his style, I enjoyed the discussions. You are a passionate fellow, Mr. Eagan. I'm so glad I got to know you this trip! And hopefully, the teasing part of "freagan" is okay. It's a really cool nick name though. (thanks, Christy) and you should maybe somehow use it in your marketing. HIRE FREAKING EAGAN! LOL

Lauren Clark







I've known Lauren for quite some time now. She's a photographer in this area and we've photographed together, laughed together, prayed together at her wedding. She's a fabulous photographer that I consider my competition in Lubbock. Seriously, I do. I totally respect her work and love it! And send referrals her way constantly.

I don't have as many photos of you, Lauren. Sorry! I sure wish I did. You should have flung your body around in the sunny sand like Christy did. Wait, you did. But do it where I can photograph it! That would have been cool. I'm serious about the billboard idea and have done some thoughts on it recently. I'll email you privately though. I don't want anyone to get wind of us "taking over WEST TEXAS" photography. They can't know our Evil Plan. (insert evil laugh)

K?

Emily Alexander









I met Emily in 2004 when I photographed her wedding. The most beautiful wedding, music wise! She is my "culturized friend" having lived in Rome for quite some time, and she's just plain lovely as hell to look at. Look at this skin! Seriously. She is expecting her first baby (with Juan-a-thon) this year and she was so tired on this trip. I think she really enjoyed the seminar, but maybe not the hard time getting home. UGH! Did you ever find a gift for Jonathan? I'm dying to know what you found. That is always so hard. I took home 2 stuffed monkeys that had Las Vegas on their bellies. Just what my kids needed. More stuffed animals.

Emily knows her cheeses. And her food. And I would love for her to live with me and just order good food for me daily. Yum. She's starting her photography business along with "her family" and click on her name above and go to her blog to see her work!

Okay, last but not least, is my dear PERSON, Stephanie Ehlers.










I met Stephanie at a Volleyball game when she said she "liked the size of my lens". Yep. She uttered those words. She lives in Lubbock, loves photography and has a butt load of kids to photograph.

She doesn't do photography for a job, but just for a passion. I've gotten her hooked on Grey's Anatomy so now we can really bond over conversations that involve McSteamy and McDreamy. LOL Stephanie, we had sooooo much fun! I don't have to say much here, because I will say much more later over our weekly lunch date tomorrow.

There's the individual pictures. Stay tuned for my "favs from Vegas" thread.

PWP's

This is Karen and Kiki.

They are the makers and shakers behind PWP, the Professional Wedding Photography Forum. I've known Karen for what feels like 100 years and she's such a cool person that is always willing to share and tell you like it is about anything, almost.

We had a "get together" Monday night at Ceasar's Cafe Largo and it was so much fun getting to see everyone in the flesh, sort of speak. I loved that!





Check out the Jack Black impersonator in the background of this photo of Zack Arias and Susan Stripling. CRAZY hairy DUDE is what we called him. I think he's a friend of Zack's.

the desert

When we were in Vegas, we rode busses out to the desert to watch David Beckstead and John Michael Coooper in action. They team photographed a bride and groom. Wicked cool to watch and even better to see the images the next day. They both are so cool and different and I've been following their work for quite some time.

Well, it's one thing to have all those photographers photographing the same subject, it's quite another for me to actually do that too. Nope. I found my own things to photograph in the desert.

NOTE* Many of these photographs are mine, but many could be Stephanie's. We shared cameras, cards, lenses, etc.