Tucker is an amazing young man with so much talent, he doesn’t know which way to turn with it!  Throckmorton’s 6 man football team won the State Championship, and his basketball team made the Regional Quarterfinals.  He was named Player of the year in both sports!  And he also plays in the marching band, which made the state finals.  He is an accomplished showman, and has won numerous scholarships and had many wins with his Red Angus show heifers.  Tucker was a state FFA leadership qualifier in Senior Chapter Conducting.  He loves playing his guitar as well, which you will see in several of the shots.

But the main thing about both of these boys is you can see their love for the Lord, and it is very obvious that above all else, they are young men of God.  We have been so blessed to be able to haul and show with great families like the Browns and have wonderful role models for Carson and Henley.

Lanham is quite the athlete, too.  He plays football, basketball, as well as golf.  You will see by the photos of him though, his heart is heavily swayed by the ranching heritage in his blood.  He has a passion for riding and has started a few colts last couple of years.  The one in the photos is his two year old prospect this year.  I couldn’t help but grab some fun, punchy shots of him as we all navigated our way around to several locations Kelli had picked out for us to shoot at.

So, please check out the slide show to music after you scroll down and see a few of my favorites.  Thanks for the opportunity and hospitality Brown family, we love you!!!

And now for both the boys and some of Lanham!!

So, as you can see, the theme of this “styled shoot” is Breast Cancer Awareness.  Being an OB/GYN, this is a subject close to Dr. Lisa’s heart.  She is the most kind, compassionate person who truly loves her job, the women she cares for and the babies she brings into this world.  She always loved the Gypsy Tails shoot I did last year, so we pulled those out and painted a big pink ribbon on Cookie Monster’s hips.  Here are some of my favorites from this fun session.  Thanks for the opportunity Dr. Lisa, sessions like this keep my passion for my work alive and well   Here’s the link to her fun slide show to music!

But there is a bittersweet ending to this story…. I found out from Amber that earlier this week the beautiful palomino stud we used as our model unexpectedly passed away.  What an incredible animal he was, and was so good for the shoot.  Just goes to remind us that we should treasure every minute with our loved ones, friends and those important to us because we never know when it will be our time.   God is in control. 

This was such a fun session, thank you Amber and crew!  You have to see the slide show to music- click here!  Until the Gypsy Tails website is up and running email Amber at amberebers@gmail.com or find them on Facebook

Let me preface this post by saying : I DO NOT SHOOT WEDDINGS! I DO NOT SHOOT WEDDINGS! I DO NOT SHOOT WEDDINGS! 

Ahhh… that feels so much better.  Ok, here’s the deal- I really don’t have the time to dedicate to shooting weddings right now, and being away from my young family on the weekends, and the stress is just not what I want at this point in my life.  As a bride, you deserve a photographer who can put their whole heart into your special day, and who loves everything about weddings.

On the other hand, I do LOVE fun, personalized portrait/lifestyle sessions.  I understand as a bride you will probably get a better package deal that includes bridals, engagements, and wedding day coverage.  BUT, if you really think that you like my style and think that we could come up with some really fun engagements, bridals, or even boudoir sessions, please don’t hesitate to contact me   This is when the fun stuff happens!

On to the subject that matters most here…. DESTIN!!!  Destin is a family friend, and our families have several things in common…  We are partners with them on a commercial set of Red Angus, the same set you heard about being in danger at their ranch on Possum Kingdom Lake during the devistating fires last month (you can see some incredible images and story here).  Their home was one of four that was spared out of 50+ in their housing division, and the cattle are ok.  God is good!  They also own Lonestar Ranch and Outdoors in Cleburne, Texas.  This is how we initially met the Cooks, and they have become a valued dealer for Tony’s company, ADM.  More importantly, they have become really good friends. 

Destin married Levi Hardcastle, and they are going to live in Cleburne now.  The theme of their engagement and marriage is “2nd Love,”  and they are living by the verse “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”  Colossians 1:17.   Henley and Carson were both in the wedding last weekend, which was beautiful!  We shot Destin’s bridal portraits in Fort Worth at the historical Stockyards.  We started the session at the Stockyards Hotel, then moved about the area for the rest of the session.  True to her fun, laid-back personality, she wore her silver glitter Toms and insisted on a set of balloons instead of flowers   The last image you will see was taken after the ceremony when they were getting their wedding party/family pictures taken by their WEDDING photographer….

Thanks Destin for the opportunity!  Click here to see the rest of the fun images from her session in a slide show to music!  Too many good ones to post them all here

Love the cottonwood floating around her in this shot…..

Check out Reilly’s obsession with shoes that has resulted in this collection!

He set up his workshops at the Saunders’ Twin V Ranch in Weatherford.  This family has been ranching for many generations and strives to preserve the “cowboy way” in everything they do.  Thomas went above and beyond to set up some incredible shots for us with his great crew.  Many thanks to the family for putting up with us and all their hard work. 

I mostly enjoyed hanging out with photographer friends and taking in the whole lifestyle experience.  Most of the time I wish I was the one horseback cowgirlin’ instead of behind the camera- that’s where my heart is, and the reason why I got into photography :)  

These are just a few of my favorites, but please click here for the slide show to music of the entire weekend…  it will take a few minutes to watch, but worth the wait!

At the beginning of the session we snuck in a few family pics

Anyway, I really struggled with using a bird because they are so popular right now in the photography industry in logos….  but JD really encouraged me to go with it because it is so personal, and I have a true love for them through frequent encounters here at the ranch.  Who cares what anyone else is doing, right???  Here’s my scissortail on the barbed wire, and the circles represent the lens of a camera….

So, here it is…  the original Green Tent design on the left, and my color changes on the right.  I’ll still use both, just probably the brown one more with my equine/livestock marketing, and the fun green one for my lifestyle portraiture to really catch the eye of one of my favorite subjects- high school seniors!  Watch for some fun t-shirts with the logo this spring   Thanks so much JD- I highly recommend him and the team at Green Tent!!!!

We didn’t have to travel much this year, so it was nice to be around some on the weekends.  Had a great Christmas filled with joy and togetherness.  Henley turned five earlier in December, and got a new horse for her birthday- “Rosetta.”  You will have to check out the slide show of pics from her big day here.  Then after Christmas, Lane turned 16 and got a new car- Tony and Lane’s mom surprised him and I hid out in the bushes being Lane’s personal paparazzi until the big reveal- he should get used to that considering he wants to be Mr. President one day, you know.  Pics of his big moment can be seen here.  Last weekend, Carson had the first of several stock shows this season.  He had a great show, sold his goat in the sale, and ended up with Reserve Grand Champion Breeding Female with one of his little Red Angus heifers, “Mulberry.”  He won his first buckle and was all smiles for a few days.  Read the whole story here about his weekend and the wonderful friends a family who came to support our young showman!

On a personal note, not many fancy New Year’s resolutions here…  I am going to make a better attempt to journal more and spend more time in the Word.  I want to spend more quality time with my kids, and document more with my family.  I am going to try to take better care of myself- drink more water, take better care of my skin (sunscreen!), and of course exercise more.  I want to have more date nights with my husband.  Tony is such a wonderful supporter of anything I want to do, and I fall more and more in love with him every day.  And of course, make more time to ride, my first passion in life.  Basically, just get my priorities right.

As for this business, I feel truly blessed by the friendships and contacts I have made.  I have really enjoyed the people side of my work- portraits (especially the HS seniors!), commercial, etc., but I’m really ready this year to get focused back on the equine and livestock side of things.  I have always felt like I have a good balance between the two, which keeps me creatively fresh and not too burned out.  But I’m ready to tilt the balance back to my horses and get more into the cattle side of things.  Since we have “re-branded” our marketing this past year to include our registered Red Angus herd as well as the Quarter Horses, I feel especially drawn back.  You can visit the newly redesigned “blog site” for Cross B Cattle Company that Colleen of Equine Essentials has worked so hard on.  I’m going to try to connect more with people on our website through the blog like we do as photographers- updating with current fun pics and information to keep you coming back for more  

I have had the opportunity to work with a wonderful marketing company, Green Tent Design and Marketing, to create a new logo for me.  Within the next few weeks, I’ll reveal the grand “re-branding” of Cross B Photography, so stay tuned!  In the meantime, we’re hitting the stock shows, I’m getting back to the barn on a regular basis, and shooting a few sessions in-between!

Henley introducing her new horse “Rosetta” to her pony “Chaps” on her birthday…..

Lane turned 16 and got a new car…

Carson and one of his show heifers “Mulberry” that will keep us busy over the next few months hauling to stock shows…..

Head trainer Jeff Kanady and his son……

Boss-man Kyle and Tyler Magnus…..

Here is a recent ad for Super Loooper Magazine….

“I started this blog to create a resource of information on living life to the fullest in the country and out in nature. I believe that people were happiest when they lived on farms surrounded by their families working the land together. My grandmother still tells me stories like this of raising their own food and the fun times they would have as a family on the farm. One story she always tells me about is when she was baptized in the river behind her house and the entire community came to swim and eat watermelon with them in celebration. When did we lose this? Was it when children were put in front of televisions instead of sent outside to play, create and use their imaginations? When we all moved into suburban houses surrounded by malls and fast food restaurants instead of having our own land to take pride in? This blog is for those people who dream of living life a step back or two in time, into the old ways of living off the land and being kind to the earth and the people you love the most.

In this blog you will find inspiration in all of the different contributor’s posts through tips and tricks, photo essays, DIY ideas, recipes, healthy living and fun farm facts. Read up and enjoy!” -Lauren

Soooooo….  go check out Farm Revival and bookmark it so you can keep up with all the fun infomation coming your way!

Kerri from Commanche…..

and Zach from Granbury HS…

What:  20-25 minute “mini” session.

When:  Saturday October 9th, afternoon sessions, may add morning sessions if needed.  Rain date October 16th.

Where:  Pretty spot here at the ranch in Morgan Mill (see images below)

Who:  Anyone- families, couples, etc.  First come, first served…. there will be limited sessions.

What you get:  An online gallery of 10-20 high-res images for you to download, keep and print off of.  ALSO, 3 images enhanced/edited free!  **Additional edits $15/ea. **

Cost: Keep in mind, a regular Saturday photo session runs $395 (weekday $350), so this is a steal

           Option A- $125 plus tax gets you the mini-session and 10-20 high res images, 3 free enhancements

           Option B- same as above but with DVD additional $25

How:  The ONLY way for me to keep track is to please EMAIL  taballinger@embarqmail.com to secure your spot.

Here’s a peek at the location I plan to use- the Griggs family session from last fall…..

First, I had the privilege of shooting a fellow photographer’s new family a few weeks ago.  I met Deena at last year’s Love Affair Workshop in Atlanta.  Baby Arabella arrived in early August.  She and Mikel came to the ranch from McKinney for their quick session.  Click herefor a slide show of their images!

Another recent newborn session is of baby Hannah, the granddaughter of  family friends Lisa and Jim Scroggins.  Click here for a slide show of her session!

The next session is very close to my heart…  my cousin Cole and his beautiful wife Heidi are expecting triplets!  She has just been put on bed rest as of today, and may be hospitalized soon to keep those babies growing as long as possible.  Please lift them up in your prayers as this has been a long-awaited pregnancy and we need these little “peas” here healthy!  I went over to their home the day before her baby shower last weekend to get some pics of her and their little “peanut” Toby.  Boy does he have a rude awakening coming!  The slide show of images from that afternoon and the shower is here.  You will remember Heidi from this image….

All along I was fitting in several sessions a week, mostly high school seniors (which I LOVE), ranch calls (which I LOVE even more), and some design work.  There are several sessions this spring I didn’t have time to blog, and may still yet, but here are a few you should really check out:

Seniors: Alyssa, Hailey, Shaelyn

Equine: Dynasty Equine/Fallon Taylor, Wimpys Little Step/Schols

After the open house on June 12th, I finally was able to step out of the clinic scene- kinda.  I am still helping to manage the inventory/ordering, as well as help fill in when needed.  And of course, handling the marketing needs.  That said, I am so excited to say that I have finally been able to get more hours in the saddle!  Oh how I have missed my horses.  So sad that I am surrounded by so many nice horses, and I have not been able to enjoy my first love…. even before my husband, camera, kids, etc   I even splurged last week and treated myself to a new/used saddle.  Instead of a lens, camera body, etc. I went with what was going to make me happy at this time.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my photography & business, I just need some balance in my life.

That balance includes my family.  I have decided to not schedule any more sessions the rest of the summer other than ranch calls/equine sessions.  Those of you who I previously scheduled/consulted with, I will honor those dates, but otherwise we are looking at the middle of September.  This will allow me to start the fall of with a fresh outlook, and loads of creativity   It’s just too hot, and I want to spend time with my kids, and enjoy these precious times while they are young.  My kids have been spending a lot of time riding with me, and we have had soooo much fun.   I am so proud of the progress they have made and confidence gained with regular riding.  They have been practicing for the LJR in different events.  Carson has also just finished up his show season with the heifers. 

That brings up another subject…  our Red Angus cattle program has grown by leaps and bounds.  We are a relatively young breeder by many standards, but Tony has jumped in with so much love and enthusiasm for the breed.  He has been elected to the board of the Texas Red Angus Association, and it looks like we are in it for the long-haul.  The kids have loved going to the shows and it has been a great family endeavor for us (although I might not have agreed a few weeks ago when I was having to help pull a calf).  So it looks like we will be “re-branding” our marketing for our livestock to include both the horse and cattle breeding programs- Cross B Cattle Company.  Last year we were officially at our 10-year milestone as breeders with AQHA.  We are really excited this year about the addition of our new stud Shiner’s babies to the foal crop- there are some really pretty babies with lots of color!  We plan on continuing to raise high quality cow-bred Quarter Horses for the ranching and performance horse industry, as well as grow our registered herd of Red Angus. 

Sorry to be so winded, just wanted to update on things going on around here.  Thanks for understanding, and I look forward to working with you this fall!  Here are some shots from an evening riding at a friend’s arena…..