For the Love Workshop.Oregon

Last week I went to a workshop called For the Love. This workshop was a photography workshop where you could come and learn more knowledge and better your skills as a photographer, but most importantly it was a retreat to focus on God and fire up the burner in my Christian walk. This season in my life is busy, and trying to balance work and family has been difficult for me. So, last week I headed up to Oregon and got with God one on one and I feel full again. The group that came to the workshop will now be some dear friends. We cried together, laughed, talked photography and shared two passions in our life-God and photography.It blesses my heart to have met these people. Our instructors Mike Larson and his wife Rachel and Zach and Jody Gray were phenomenal. Their hearts for God is contagious and their photography work is inspiring as well as how they run their successful businesses. Thanks to Ginny Corbett for listening to God and not letting anyone get in the way of putting this workshop on. Ginny has a heart for teaching and she is blessed with those  wonderful skills. She ran the workshop smoothly and I know I can speak for everyone who was there when I say we adore and love you Ginny. God gave you one of the coolest personalities. Thanks for making us laugh, and most of all thanks for getting us out of our comfort zone to get real with God.

Also, gotta say, the worship leaders, Johnathan David Helser and his wife Melissa were like no other. (check out some songs on their website)  They sang with raw emotions and you could feel God's presence. It was by far the best worship time I've had in a long time. Thanks for being real and too for getting us out of our comfort zone and getting real with God.

AIWL. part two. New Mexico Photographer

I have so many images from my Alice in Wonderland shoot I did two weeks ago. The best way for me to get these image rolling for you to see is to do them in parts.Let me first start off by saying everyone who helped rocked my socks off. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Check out part one here.

Models: Lexie Bonestroo and Jennifer Strebeck

Location: Clovis Floral and Greenhouse

Hair stylist: Julia Zarikta

Makeup artist: Shannon Book

Seamstress for skirts: Aimee Bruyninckx

Floral designer: Callie Parr (flowers provided by Clovis Floral and Greenhouse)

Bakers: Kerri Davis, Tara Rucker Bonestroo, Holly Burgin, Julia Zarikta, and Ms.Camps-thanks to Danica McAden

Decor furnished by: Debbie Merritt, Drew Merritt (owners of Underground Embassy)and Jan Garrett

helpers: Ali Garrett, Jan Garrett, Holly Burgin, Callie Parr, Tara Rucker Bonestroo, Myrna Weaver (my mom), Tanya Bennett, and, Ben and Benson.

Thinking outside the box. AIWL part one. New Mexico Photographer

*Updated*A few more from the Alice in Wonderland shoot (AIWL) More images and full write up coming soon...

Dreams do come true. New Mexico Photographer

Today was the day. It was the day where all of the ideas in my head would come out and be put into production. I can't believe it. It was more than I could have ever dreamed of. It was better than I could have ever imagined. I was overwhelmed with joy by all the people who helped out and made this day possible. This shoot was definitely not a "one man" gig. Each and every piece of this day was compiled and designed by some amazing people with crazy amazing minds.Here is one from my Alice In Wonderland Themed shoot I have been dreaming of for a year.

New Mexico Senior Session. Gab 2010

Gab's senior session is not your typical senior session. I had a concept for her. She is unique, and I wanted to give her something different.Theme: An Artist (because that is what Gab does) She and I together (along with some of Benson's help) put together the newspaper backdrop. I wanted to include some bright colors to reflect her bright and spunky personality Also, in search for a bouquet, I decided to do something unique and went with radishes. I love Gab's clothing choices. She was her own stylist. And a great one at that!

There was no possible way for me to post a few from her session. Our creativity put together resulted in the images below. And I am so excited about them all. Gab looks so lovely and beautiful in everyone of these images. Take a looksy...

Installment #3 (I think) of Gab.The Artist

Gab's session aloud me to be more creative than normal with senior sessions. We thought outside the box. I have lots of favorites I want to share with you, and I'll be doing them in different groups. Here is another of Gab, the artist.Click here to see the first post of instax film

And click here to see the second post inspired by JCrew and other things

Give Me Moore Workshop.Full Recap

I can't say thank you enough to those who voted for me to go to Kelly's workshop. Ben and I ended up making a trip out of it for the two of us, while Benson stayed at my parents house. Sunday we drove to Dallas and stayed in the Westin hotel connected to the Galleria mall. We ate some of the best sushi ever and went to the movies. The next day we did a little more shopping at the Container Store, which I truly believe I could live there. It is an organizers heaven, and I'm not necessarily the most organized person, but it made me want to be. The drive from Dallas to Ruston, La was beautiful. It is totally different from where we live in east New Mexico. The weather was beautiful and trees EVERYWHERE to block wind if any. (If you live in my area you know we could use some trees to block this tornado like wind).When I arrived to the workshop it was just Kelly, Brandi, and me for ten minutes. It was nice to visit with them one on one just in a friend setting. Kelly made heart shaped southern biscuits, fruit, and orange juice with fancy berry cubes :) The workshop was held in the cutest little cottage, called The Cottage in Ruston. It was perfect for our small group of eight girls to sit around and visit. The group consisted of lovely ladies just starting their business to being in business for eight years. I felt like I learned something from each one of them. Kelly shared information with us on how she balances personal life and business as well as workflow, and her photo taking skills. Brandi is her bestie/"sister" and she did all of the styling for the models. Here are more images from my Give Me Moore Workshop. Hahaha I just realized something on the first model...I guess my eye favors the "arm on head" pose.  I promise she's not doing this in all of her images :)

Preview from Give Me Moore...

Going to bed, but I wanted to share with you some of the images from Kelly Moore's workshop today, that YOU helped me go to.Night night :)

Gab, the Artist. New Mexico Photographer

Yesterday was the day of a session I've been waiting for ever since we scheduled it back in the Fall. I knew doing a session for Gab ment I needed to get really really creative. Between the two of us, we planned out an idea that totally rocked my world and lit a fire under my creative booty. These are from my fujifilm instax camera and I'm uploading the digital images now so I'll show those later this week.Happy Sunday!

Food, fun, and fotos

Tonight I met up with some friends for dinner at Stellas in Lubbock and then on to shooting each other. It was the first time for me to meet Shari and Memoree and they were a delight to be around. I have hungered to be with some photog girlfriends and take pictures of each other and I was very excited when Lauren Z invited me to go with them.I had so much fun and wish we could do this every week! Thanks girls!

The beautiful Lauren Zaffos who is almost 7 months preggers.

Fabulous MemoreeSilly Lauren

Lovely ShariAnd one of me Lauren C took

Nicole and Katie.Hippie Chicks

I had a booty load of work to do yesterday, but gave myself a nice little break to take pictures of my niece and her friend.  They came in from Kansas to hang out with her grandma (my mother-in-law) and enjoy a relaxing time sun bathing.  I'm so so glad we did this little spontaneous shoot.  They are beautiful, fun girls who are delightfully enjoyable. When I opened the images up on the big screen computer my heart nearly jumped out of my chest I was so happy with the results.  I'm working on wedding galleries now, but hope to post more from this shoot very very soon.

Thanks girls for a fun evening :)