Friday, April 30, 2010

Life's Art

Photography is the art of taking photographs. Art is the "quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance" (according to dictionary.com). To me, photography is life's art, and this is my passion.

My grandma keeps a box of pictures under her bed and I love going through them with her. They all have story. I love to see those pictures as she tells me everything she remembers about that exact moment that was frozen in time. I love seeing how things have changed and yet, how they have remained totally unchanged at the same time. Genuine happiness is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I love to see their wedding pictures and to hear about that day in July of 1959. It was nothing more than her wearing a sundress at a preachers house in Raymondville, but they had the world with each other. She tells me how they didn't have enough money to have a big wedding, but it didn't matter. They had each other and that is all that mattered. Their smile was the same then as it was on their 50th wedding anniversary just a few months ago. These photographs are held very dear to me and I will show them to my grandchildren one day while I pass down the memory to them and they too will see and feel the love they had for each other. One photograph not only speaks a thousand words, but holds such emotion and memory.


As a photographer, I get to preserve an exact moment of time...freeze it, capture it, and document it. My goal is that in years to come, you can look back on your pictures, close your eyes and go back....go back to the day you said "I do," to those first steps your child took, to those first moments when God breathed life into your baby. Go back to the breeze on that fall morning, to the smell of rain coming. Go back and hear the way your husband and children were laughing because you kept closing your eyes for the picture. Go back and remember just how much you love those people standing by you in the photograph and how much they mean to you.

Life inspires me. I love life. I love seeing it, I love experiencing it and I love capturing it. Life happens so quickly. I'm so thankful that God chose me and gave me the gift that He did.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Friends

I have some of the best friends in the world and they have the cutest little boys! My sister is my best friend and my nephew is precious. I'm pretty crazy about that little guy [can't tell right :) ]. And I don't know what I would do without Kaylon and Joni! Here is Joni and Dakota's newborn, Easton Dale.



Logan

And here is Easton's older cousin, Logan. I love this little man so much. He is such a happy baby! While Easton was getting his clothes changed and eating, we went outside to get a few of him and his big smile. Logan's big brother was with grandma when we took these or I would have him up here too!

Jake

I loved taking Jake's pictures. We ended up with so many! We took some at the baseball field, football stadium, his backyard, took his drums outside, and even snuck into the school for a few!




Adalee and Ellie

I have been able to photograph Adalee since she was born. I love being a part of her life. She will be ONE next month!

She did NOT like the grass! It was so funny. However, she loves blocks and they kept her distracted while we caught a few pictures.

And this is Adalee's beautiful cousin, Ellie. She will be two soon. She did such a good job.


Pho and Jessica

These two were way too easy to photograph! Jessica is gorgeous and Pho absolutely adores her. They are getting married in June and I can't wait to be Matron of Honer/Photographer! It will be a beautiful wedding!





Chloe

Chloe is such a precious little girl. She was having so much fun playing outside, standing on the "hill," playing with Molly dog, eating her sucker and even coloring!




Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Africa

In February, a group of 12 of us went to Cape Town, South Africa. It was such an amazing and life changing trip.

Here is our group! We got together with most of us at least knowing of each other and we left as super close friends.

Cape Town is considered the 5th most beautiful place in the world. I totally agree that it is. But...


...this part is ignored. At least 40% of the country lives like this. These squatter camps changed my life. Humbled doesn't even begin to touch it. I'm beyond thankful for even the smallest conveniences.


They were happy with what they had though. Even thankful for the "roof," which often times was nothing more than carpenters plastic, over their head.


This lady had her baby two days after this picture was taken.


These kids loved candy and I loved these kids. They kicked my butt in "duck-duck-goose!" I was the first one to make it to the middle!


Beautiful Rebecca. She was the sweetest little girl. She gave me the biggest kisses!


We got to hold a baby white lion cub. This was pretty incredible!

My husband with the lion cub.

Oh my, I can't tell you the sinking feeling I got when I took my lens cap off! I was so thankful for my UV filter! It saved my lens!


Still haven't figured out what happened here. All I know is I got huge ankles out of the deal!


All in all, it was awesome! These pictures don't even begin to do it justice. We seen many lives changed, including our own. I'm so thankful for the journey and for the people we met while there. We have an amazing God.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Leah

A quick preview for Aunt Marisha!