Sweet Summertime….

admin — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 20:55:15 +0000

Well, I’m here to check in for a minute and give you an update on things. As many of you know, my life this past spring was consumed with trying to balance my business, family, and help my Dad start up his new veterinary clinic in Stephenville- Cornerstone Animal Hospital. Many, many hours have gone into the renovation of the facility and start-up of the new business. Although the long-term goals and plans have not been met, the clinic is in a great place to provide excellent care for its patients. God has been good, and he has blessed the clinic with so much business we can hardly keep up. Thank you friends and family for your support and help through all of this

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…..

Kylie {newborn}

admin — Sun, 16 May 2010 18:35:42 +0000

This precious baby belongs to some very dear riends of ours, Tommy & Myndie Coan, & big sister Lakota. Myndie kept our kids for years at her house, so she is like a second mother to them! Congrats on the birth of Miss Kylie McKenna! She is about 8 days old in these pics….

Kylie Rae Harris {singer/songwriter}

admin — Thu, 13 May 2010 02:49:13 +0000

Kylie Rae is one beautiful, talented young lady with a huge future in front of her! She is a Texas Country singer/songwriter who is releasing her first album in the next few weeks. We had a great time getting some really cool shots for the album- so many that you will really have to check out her slide show, set to KYLIE’s great music. GO.CHECK.IT.OUT. here!!!! So beautiful, so talented, and oh, did I mention so in love? Her super-sweet guy, Trent, was by her side the whole time, at her beck & call…. thanks guys for a fun evening!!!

Bailey

admin — Mon, 10 May 2010 20:15:36 +0000

I can’t believe I have watched this young lady grow up so fast over the last few years! I can’t even remember when I first met the Stevenson family, but Bailey must have been around 7 or 8. They bought a mare we had previously owned, and I was giving her some beginner riding lessons. Now, fast forward to eighth grade…. wow! I told Shannon I would try to make sure she looked her age, but I’m afraid I failed miserably… she looks like a HS senior! That’s not my fault Anyway, she still loves her horses, sports, and friends. We got a few shots of her with Shannon and Eric, too, while celebrating this milestone of graduating eighth grade. I can’t wait to do her HS senior session! Here are a few of my favorites….. and click here for a link to the slide show!

Trevor

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 02:52:15 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, Tracy Hedeman asked me to come out and get some pictures of her younger son Trevor and his show heifer. We are all proud of Trevor and this heifer- they won pretty much every division and grand champion they had entered up in this year. She was actually shown last year by his brother Lane, too. She is an incredible female, and it was lots of fun to watch him be so successful with her (ps- she’s also on ADM show feed ). Tracy is our 4H leader for Morgan Mill, so we were all running together at a few of the shows. Congratulations Hedeman family on the great show season, and for raising two good kids! There are some fun candids and action shots of Trevor roping on the slideshow- you can click here to see the action!

Megan {senior}

admin — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:31:43 +0000

Megan is a Dublin HS senior this year. I can’t get over her incredible eyes and smile! She was so much fun to work with, as well as her mom Betty and sister Stephanie. To view the gallery click here. Thanks girls for a fun afternoon!

All the pretty babies…. {equine}

admin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 04:28:40 +0000

I had the chance a few weeks ago to photograph this year’s foal crop by Spooks Gotta Gun. He’s an incredible reiner who is putting his stamp on his offspring… lots of bald faces, socks and blue eyes! Beautiful babies were everywhere. See more color and flash here! Thanks to Lynda Adlof and Hicks Ranch for the opportunity!

Ashley {senior}

admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 02:10:12 +0000

I have had the privilege of photographing some really beautiful people lately, and Ashley is no exception! She is a senior at TSU and ready to move on to a career in cosmetology…. I think she will be very successful! One thing she has a proven track record in is barrel racing. She has two beautiful mares we included in the shoot that she is very competitive on. No doubt she will be great at anything she sets her mind to. Check out more incredible beauty here…… gosh, these people make my job so easy (and fun)!!!! Thanks Ashley!

Tidwell {family}

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 02:14:13 +0000

I don’t usually post many family shoots, but this one is hard to pass up- the Tidwell Family of Dublin, Tx! It has three of my favorite subjects all rolled into one: young adults, couples in love, and horses…. what more could I ask for? Super fun, beautiful family. You don’t want to miss all the images in their gallery, so click here. But this has to be one of my favorite shots of the day…..

American Buckinghorse Registry

admin — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 23:50:47 +0000

My good friend Joy Hawks has organized a new registry ABR to let the equine atletes of the bucking horse world shine. This will be a huge step towards recognizing these athletes that are a part of our Western American history. Don’t be fooled by any images that may lead you to think otherwise, for these animals are as well kept & fed as any other valuable performance horse. They have a job, they are bred for it, and it truly shows. I took some “artsy” shots for Joy at the Saturday night performance of the Pauluxy River Blowout a couple weekends ago. The light was horrible, so what I ended up with was a great set of punchy images that really portray the lifestyle, animals, and action that these folks know and love! :) You have to check out one of the next performances…. shhh…. this may be the next PBR/CBR! Check out the gallery here!

Erath County Living Magazine

admin — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 20:23:01 +0000

Well, I have officially earned my first cover with Erath County Living Magazine!!! I had the pleasure of working with some great people to help get images for their ads in the magazine, as well as submit a few photos for consideration in the magazine. They chose this pic of Carson and Cookie as well as a few others inside. It is a great publication- very high quality and has great stories and pics of our Erath County. Thanks to the editor Treva and the publisher Jay for using my image, for I’m sure there were many other great ones to choose from by other local photographers. You can pick one up at the Chamber or other local businesses.

Cody & Chelsea {engagement}

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 02:23:59 +0000

Meet Duke…… and his parents Cody and Chelsea What better way to start a great time on an engagement shoot than a big, beautiful, wrinkly green-eyed beast? Thanks guys for a fun evening! Click here for the rest of the gallery!

Tobie & Allie {seniors}

admin — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 21:28:59 +0000

I hope you can see a glimpse into the fun afternoon I had with Tobie & Allie, and get a feel for the energy these girls brought! Absolutely beautiful girls, but better than that, they have incredible, big personalities. We started out in downtown Dublin, then moved to Western States Ranches where family friend (and client of mine :) ) Audrey Adams graciously shared their place for the shoot. The girls even had the privilege of having the celebrity equine himself, Diesel (three time AQHA Horse of the Year in Heeling), make an appearance! These girls are smart- horses are better than any guy to share the frame with! Anyway, check out the full session here! Thanks girls for the fun, inspiring session! Come back to see me soon!!!!!

Cori {senior}

admin — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 02:11:08 +0000

I was dreaming about this shoot for days before it happened… we lucked out and caught all the white blooms on the trees that usually last about a week here in spring. Meet Cori…. a beautiful Stephenville HS senior, who had to tolerate my rush of creativity and energy for two hours! We had a great time- after we left the field of trees & grass, we headed back downtown to her old stomping grounds on the square. Her mom GeriAnn owns a kid’s store in town, 4 Kids Only (a favorite of the locals) that used to reside there. Check out the full gallery here!

Remembering Ray

admin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:42:44 +0000

Last month a group of horsemen and women gathered to pay tribute to the Legacy of a Legend- Ray Hunt. As quoted from the weekend catalog of events, “Ray’s influence has changed the horse world. It was always clear that his priority was always the horse; but in helping the horse, he helped the human. He created an industry within an industry. Ray Hunt was a Master Horseman. His legacy will live on through his students and all who come after.”

I want to thank Carolyn Hunt for allowing me access to the floor so I could get an incredible view to document the grandsons work with their horses, as well as the other the clinicians. To see more about the people who attended and the idea behind the tribute, visit Ray’s website. There you can also purchase educational DVDs. To view a very large gallery of images from the day, visit here. Just be patient while the slideshows load, there are over 900 images. But it is worth the wait to watch the images on slideshow to music This is one of my favorites of the day…

Lyndsey {senior}

admin — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:22:21 +0000

WOW! Lyndsey is one true Texas beauty! She is country girl at heart, with all the class and style to go with it. She’s in love with her family, her guy, and life in general… nothing is going to stop her from being successful at anything she puts her heart and mind to. I had so much fun on this shoot, thanks Lyndsey! Check out the rest of her gallery here!

~Camilla~

admin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:38:59 +0000

Although family/child photography is not the bulk of my business, I still get the opportunity to capture the unique personalities of some beautiful young people. This sweet child belongs to one of my dearest friends. Camilla is one of those kids who has an old soul, the kind of quiet wisdom that is not spoken, and a heart for God. She reminds me so much of my Carson, as does her sister remind me of Henley We had so much fun on this shoot that ended in her favorite place to play… the playground of our Morgan Mill School, where many of our families’ childhood memories are made! Check out the rest of the images here!

Cooper & Mica {seniors~engagement}

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:38:24 +0000

Meet Cooper and Mica- high school seniors & so in love! They are engaged and looking forward to finishing up school so they can move on to the next chapter of their life together! WARNING: very long post! To see the whole gallery, click here!

Emily {senior}

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:40:12 +0000

You have met Emily before…. third time’s a charm! visit her gallery here….

For The Love Update…

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:01:54 +0000

“Are you tired? Worn out? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.”
Matthew 11: 28-30

Wow… is all I can say. I feel like I’m at a Christian youth camp, but for adult photographers. :) Good stuff going on here…. His spirit is alive and well, and touching many of us. Pray for rest, inspiration and healing for those seeking Him. If these images speak to you at all, check out the gallery of day one here!

For The Love Workshop

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:27:30 +0000

I’m headed out tomorrow to the smokey mountains of Tennessee! I’m so excited to get to go to another wonderful workshop called For The Love. It will be a great combination of spiritual retreat and learning… perfecting my skills for you all!

Brandon Wayne

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:19:34 +0000

I had a fun shoot this week with Brandon Wayne. He was needing some images for the marketing of his singing career. Click hereto see his gallery and hear his great music on the slide show. If you are a classic country fan, you will love his sound! And yes ladies, he is available! For the moment….. Visit his website at www.brandon-wayne.com!

Can’t beat it!

admin — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:12:42 +0000

The view from our porch this morning…..

Off to another cold weekend at the stock show! Good luck to Carson and Number One at the Red Angus Show! Updates coming soon:)

Gage {newborn}

admin — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:31:24 +0000

Well, he finally made it! Early, of course…. this kid is going to do things his way and he wants his parents to know this from the beginning! You will probably remember Shawn’s maternity shoot from this post. Gage was very alert for most of his session, so we didn’t have time to get too creative with a bunch of props. Shawn finally rocked him to sleep about 1.5 hours in to the shoot! That is when we got this priceless image….

The blanket is Shawn’s baby blanket from when she was little, and the boots were Sammy’s as a child. So much fun… thanks guys for letting me come over and play with Gage- looking forward to many more years! To view the gallery of images click here!

A story worth sharing…. and a new outlook for the year 2010!

admin — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:55:25 +0000

Meet Emily….. isn’t she beautiful? She’s a senior at Stephenville High School. She is in front of my camera for the second time….

I actually took Emily’s senior portraits and a few of the family one afternoon about 4 weeks before this. After Thanksgiving I went to process/edit the shoot, and couldn’t find the files ANYWHERE. I frantically looked on all my hard drives & storage and couldn’t believe what was happening. My heart just sunk in sadness. In my six years of shooting digital, I have never had this happen.

But it did- and I can’t exactly pinpoint when or how, all I know is that during all the madness and rush of last minute holiday sessions, the files must have been erased or overwritten. And since I didn’t go to edit them until a few weeks after the shoot, I just don’t know when or how. So, I contacted Becky, Emily’s mom, and explained to her what had happened. And apologized through the nose over and over. The one thing I didn’t do was lie- I told her the truth as soon as I figured out that I didn’t have them. I figured honesty was the only thing I had left to give her. I have actually known Becky for a while now through a good client of mine, but this was the first time to actually do work for her personally. I was prepared for an upset, disgusted response and potential client loss. Which I totally understand.

But instead this is what I got….. “Allison, I can’t imagine what you are going through! We are available….. Just don’t worry and we will see you tomorrow.” Really? Is she really this forgiving? Now, I know she and Emily were upset/mad, they had to be. But instead of putting more guilt on me, she went out of her way to try to make ME feel better. Me, the one who messed up. The one who lost files of some really cool senior session shots that Emily ROCKED. Amazing.

So, we grabbed a couple family pics and a few of Emily to get what they needed for Christmas…

Now, as if her kindness wasn’t enough for this thoroughly embarrassed “photographer” you will never believe what happened next. I went by the office where she works for her sister-in-law to drop off a cd a few weeks later. Becky hands me this really cool little wooden box, all the time smiling. I looked at her puzzled, and she said it was for me. I opened it up to find this…

Becky made this beautiful pen. She made it out of wood she found, and created this keepsake that will forever mean much more to me than she will ever know.

The more I thought about it, I just couldn’t help but see the love of Christ. Now, I don’t know Becky well enough to speak of her faith, but she has always been a kind, wonderful person to work with, and I was so excited to actually work with her personally. All I can say is that during a time of year when the Spirit is so alive and we are celebrating our Savior’s birth, it was very timely to be forgiven in such a way. To be reminded that Christ was born, and died for us so that we could be forgiven of our sins. All we have to do is ask… ask for forgiveness and for Christ to be your personal Savior.

And at the end of the day, that is all that matters. All the “material things” that we think are necessary to survive here on Earth are worthless in our home in Heaven. I am only human and we all make mistakes, and that is why I am not ashamed to share this story with you. More importantly, I wanted to share how someone so graciously handled the situation with kindness. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not making light of this mistake, because I pray that it never happens again.

I don’t have a huge list of New Year’s resolutions- mainly because I am not going to set myself up for failure with unrealistic goals. But one thing we are going to do is continue to lead our children and teach them by running a Christ-like household and businesses that will hopefully teach them right from wrong. And I’ll probably look into a better back-up system for file storage!

It is amazing to me to still see the kindnes in people when we are living in a world of such sadness, hatred, and selfishness. Thank you Becky & Emily for renewing hope that we as individuals can make a difference in the daily lives of others. I can’t wait to show you the images we will create for Emily in her SECOND Senior Session! Stay tuned!

Girl’s Weekend!

admin — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:59:05 +0000

A couple of moths ago, we invited all my mom’s side of the family from Dallas to come out to the ranch for a girl’s weekend. I was wanting to experiment with some off-camera flash, and we needed and excuse to get together. What better way than to have a bunch of beautiful sisters and cousins to model for me! It was around the first anniversary of the death of our grandmother/mother MaBelle. She was a classy, elegant, beautiful woman who left behind a legacy of Bell girls to fill her shoes! She was affectionately known as Gamma to the great-grandkids. She always had beautiful skin, eyebrows of a movie star, and alot of the time had a little tissue in her hand or a box of kleenex nearby!

So, in memory of her, we got together and had a fun girl’s weekend and played dress-up. As you will see, there is no lack of beauty on my maternal side. We had a fun session with my mom and sisters Saturday afternoon. The only thing we were missing was cousin Kendall. We missed her beautiful self and her great sense of humor- we will plan earlier next time and make sure everyone can be there. Even little sis Lauren took off from playing doctor for the weekend! If you want to see more of this…..

click here!

Sammy & Shawn

admin — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:21:13 +0000

…and soon to be Gage! Sammy & Shawn are friends of ours that are patiently awaiting the arrival of one stubborn little boy. He is a breech baby, and he doesn’t want it any other way, so they have scheduled a c-section in a couple of weeks. Sammy has been helping us start our colts the last couple of years, tending to the horses’ feet, and more recently, helping us get a handle on our show heifers. It is so nice to have good friends that you can count on that will do anything in the world for you, and you would do the same for them. This baby has been a long time coming, and there are many family and friends who can’t wait to love on this little cowboy. It sounds like he has already taken on a few of his daddy’s traits, which isn’t a bad thing Poor Shawn will just have to put up with two of them! There is also a gallery up that was taken back in June when they just found out they were expecting, and it is one of my favorite shoots that I unfortunately didn’t have time to blog, so make sure to check it out, too! I’m sure there will be newborn pics there soon so check back later! To visit their galleries click here.

Merry Christmas!

admin — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:57:18 +0000

I am so truly blessed…. I hope that this Christmas brings you joy and peace during this special time to celebrate our Savior’s birth. May we never forget the real meaning of the season- Merry Christmas!

Cody & Melissa {engagement}

admin — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 06:52:40 +0000

How cute is this? Really- I can’t wait to show you a full gallery of this shoot because it REALLY deserves one! Cody is an old friend of mine from way back in the day when I was showing my first reiner at AQHA shows. He was showing his halter horses and we ran up and down the road hitting the Texas circuit. We might have hit the road three times on the way to a show- I remember driving our load once and he looked down at the dash and said….. well, I won’t tell you what he actually said, but I think he may have hauled his own the next time! That was the year I actually qualified my gelding for the World Show in Amateur Reining. Speaking of World Show, Cody just had a really successful show this year, and I know it had quite alot to do with his beautiful sidekick Melissa. They will make a very successful team, and I couldn’t be happier for them both! Check out Copeland Show Horses site here, and watch the slideshow of images here!

Katelin ~ West HS Senior

admin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:05:13 +0000

WOW! What a blur November was- sorry to be so bad about posting… Just a quick reminder that I’m not booking any more sessions this month, so it will be January before I’m available again. I’m excited to spend some quality time with my family during the holidays.

I have so much to catch up on, but for starters, you get to see this beauty! Katelin is a senior at West High School- she had her heart set on an outdoor/ranch shoot here. She was pretty involved in showing cattle, so she didn’t mind sharing the spotlight with some of ours. Good luck on the next chapter of your life- you will do well with your sweet heart and beautiful smile! Click here for a link to my galleries where you can see all the fun shots from this session!

more Kallie {senior}

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:40:55 +0000

I finally finished editing more favorites from my session with Kallie- she’s a senior this year at Stephenville High School…..

Happy Halloween!

admin — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:08:40 +0000

We had a fun night carving pumpkins tonight! Carson looks like he already has on a Zorro costume from the shadows in this pic! Carson’s buddy Cody joined us. I have to tell you…. I personally designed & carved the witch freehand for Henley! Toot toot! I said my inner S.B./Martha Stewart came out! Dad carved the cool big face greenish one, and Tony did our Cross B. The boys did the others… We accidentally grew our own pumpkins in the dump from last year’s- they rotted and the seeds grew some really cool green ones and a few orange. Good times- kids & grandparents. Hope everyone has a great, safe day tomorrow!

Kallie {senior}

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 05:19:19 +0000

Kallie is one of my senior reps for Stephenville High School class of 2010! We had a shoot earlier this week, and I had to share with you this little jewel. We had so much fun, and got some really great shots. I have not had a chance to edit the whole shoot yet, so you will have to wait and see! Some really cool props were made available by Karla (thank you!) off the square downtown Stephenville. Kallie has some killer outfits and jewelry, thanks to her mama (West & Co. Jewelry)! She’s so much fun and I can’t wait to share the rest, but for now……

I have my Dallas family girls & sisters coming out this weekend. It has been a year since the loss of our grandmother MaBelle and we are going to celebrate her classic, elegant beauty by taking lots of pics & having some good quality girl time!

Welcome to my Blog & Website!

admin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:10:57 +0000

Hi! Thanks for visiting my site. Scroll on down for recent blog posts full of fun pictures and more. You can click on “Categories” above and choose the subject you want to see more of or visit the online galleries. Thanks for stopping by & email me if you have any questions!

If you are looking for prices and scheduling for a Portrait Session click here.

If you are looking for prices and scheduling for my Equine Photography & Grapic Design click here.

To visit the Online Galleries click here.

2010 Calendar

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:07:15 +0000

I just ordered the 2010 calendars! They should be here in the next week or so. They are 5×7 postcard size with rounded corners and a gloss finish. I’m happy to share these with anyone, just help with any postage when necessary. They are a great size for desks, refrigerators, and to keep in the car!

Courtleigh {senior}

admin — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 04:51:44 +0000

I donated a photo session to the SHS senior graduation party last year. The winner was this beautiful girl- Courtleigh. She told me on the phone that she was not “your typical, average high school girl” and that she was wanting to shoot at a location or two where she hangs out. I was totally inspired and excited to get out of my rut. I was in desperate need for some new surroundings and light. As you will see, we ended up at the cemetary- not exactly what you would expect (maybe even a little out there), but I was game (as long as we were respectful and didn’t disturb anyone). We got some incredible shots and she was very photogenic- made my job very easy!

Kate

admin — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 04:54:40 +0000

Meet Kate…. my guinea-pig beautiful model! No, really, she is the daughter of my dear friend Kari of Dublin, and has been helping me out quite a bit lately at the barn, with the kids, and on shoots. Not only does she get her good looks from her mom (I love ya, Bruce ), but her talent, too. Kate is on the yearbook staff at DHS, and I’m sure she will teach them a thing or two! I have categorized her as a “senior” because 1) she could pass for one even though she just turned 16, and 2) this post is meant to show my “creative abilities” and some pretty fun editing to show neat effects that can be achieved in photoshop. At the last workshop I attended in Atlanta, Love Affair Workshop, I learned some really cool off-camera lighting techniques that can be very dramatic, or very subtle. We had to postpone this shoot a couple of times due to the rain (thank you Lord), but it was worth the wait! Check out those long legs and beautiful eyes! It has been very refreshing and motivating to get out of my comfort zone and see light from another perspective. I still love my available light, though! Can you guess which two are available light? See answer below…. Anyone ready to get creative and do something different?

ps- this first image is edited to look like the tilt-shift lens I don’t have!

Images 5 & 6 are available light…….

More Colorado…..

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 03:59:05 +0000

I was editing a few pics tonight and thought I would share this precious family with you. Jeff is a fellow ADM employee that made it on the Colorado trip with us last month- this family pic was taken the same night as some of the ones posted earlier. He is Tony’s horse specialist, so if you need help putting together a feed program for the mules, he is probably going to be in the mix somewhere (no, not literally)! His sweet wife Kaycee and their three beautiful girls (Lily Grace, Sadie Lynn, and Maggie Rose) have ended up being good family friends of ours. Kaycee also co-owns a fun shop in Weatherford called Monograms-R-Us if you need any monogramming done. Jeff is also one of my heroes who has started some of our colts for us. Check out the cute flower hats and handmade dresses- all available through Kaycee……

Henley has always quickly bonded with the girls when they get to see each other again- they talked Lane into a game of Ring Around The Rosie….. then there’s Miss Maggie Rose- her cookie is almost as big as she is!

Later in the evening there was entertainment- the band was singing a song about a Moose to the girls so they were making antlers on their heads. There’s nothing like seeing the bond between a couple of dads and their girls……

Equine Ad Design

admin — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:29:25 +0000

Just wanted to share a couple of fun ads I designed recently….. One is for Bill and Mindie Burch, friends of ours in Aledo. The other is for Fightin 7 Ranches of Stephenville that I have been taking a lot of pictures for their web and print advertising. I could do this stuff all day…..

Life is good….

admin — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 05:23:51 +0000

You know it’s going to be a good day when you go to the grocery store and the basket runs like a porsche. Not fast, but smooth and easy. Know what I mean? No wobbly wheels that thump every rotation, no questionable gunk on the handle bars, just good, clean, fun shopping. If that’s possible… Then fill the middle of the day with horses, family and friends. THEN, end the day with date night. Can I tell you what great kids we have? First off, I tell Henley to “be good” for the babysitter, and she responds with a smile and “ok Mommy.” OK, something’s a little off, I thought. No, she just really meant she was going to be good- and she was. Then on the way out the door, Carson (mind you he’s my eighty y/o man in a 9 y/o body) proceeds to give Tony a $20 dollar bill and says for us to “have fun.” What’s wrong with this picture? Nothing, I say, life is good! We are so truly blessed…..

Here are just a couple of pics from our road trip to Colorado and Tony’s award trip with the company in Vail country. Hopefully more to come soon…..

You Know You’re A Redneck If….

admin — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:51:01 +0000

Gone again….

admin — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 03:58:59 +0000

If you haven’t already figured it out, this has been one crazy busy summer! One of the highlights for me was the opportunity to go to Love Affair Workshop in Atlanta. Now, before you let your mind wander off too far, listen up…. It was the most amazing, life-changing (for me, anyway), photography workshop- for women only! I learned many new lighting and photoshop tips & tricks, but more importantly I came away with a refreshed outlook on my business and life. Thanks to Davina, Lauren, Kelly, and Millie. I learned that it’s ok to say no, that there are no photo emergencies (thanks Millie!), better organization skills, and that it’s ok to pursue what you love and not what everyone else wants/loves. SOOOOO, that means that there are going to be some big changes for this little business coming next month. I’m so happy and excited to be able to provide a better quality service and be a better wife, mother, and friend. I am so blessed in more ways than one, and I’m looking forward to sharing it all with you. You can look forward to more regular blog posts, too!

We’re off to Colorado tomorrow am- ROAD TRIP!!!!! Yep, all five of us- in my truck….. I’ll let you know who survives! We’ll be back the day before school starts- I can’t believe summer is almost over. Neither can the kids! I’ll leave you with a few pics of my model from Atlanta, and a fun shot from a recent horse shoot (that sounds kinda morbid, I know, but you know what I mean!). Lovin’ life……

Hello? Are you still with me?

admin — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 04:55:50 +0000

Oh my…… I have so much to tell you, and share, and update! For now I’ll start with a new blog header…. yay me! Stay tuned my friends…..

Summer is here….

admin — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:45:35 +0000

Ok, so I thought once the CRAZY month of May was over I would have all this time to catch up, update the blog, relax, etc…… NOT HAPPENING! I’m sorry I haven’t posted lately, and I hope you are having a great start to the summer. Lots going on around here- the breeding season is finally finishing up (Shiner’s mouth healed nicely), traveling to Dallas last week, the George Strait concert at the new Cowboy’s Stadium (that deserves it’s own post!), leaving for Bandera to visit sister Lauren through the weekend, and all the while lots of photo shoots in between! Thanks to everyone for their patience on getting pictures back- I’ll hopefully be caught up next week sometime! I still haven’t processed the pictures from HAWAII!!! So at least you know your shoots come first. I’ll leave you with a cute shot of the kids and one of the babies… speaking of, Tony and I got a certificate from AQHA this week to celebrate 10 years of breeding Quarter Horses- seems like yesterday. Oh yeah, that reminds me, Tony and I have our 11th anniversary this Sunday- Happy Father’s Day and Anniversary sweetie, love ya!

my babies…..

isn’t he wonderful…….

Henley- Before & After

admin — Sun, 31 May 2009 14:21:35 +0000

We all have different opinions when it comes to favorites from a shoot. There are endless possibilities when it comes to editing/cropping/artistic looks for images. Just contact me after you decide on your favorites and I can get you a quote on these services and options. Here’s another good example of a before and after…..

Love Affair Workshop

admin — Fri, 29 May 2009 05:20:05 +0000

I’m so excited to tell you all that I’m going to attend an amazing workshop this summer called Love Affair. It’s hosted by four of the most amazing, inspiring women photographers in the industry- Lauren Clark (I’ve already had the privilege of a one on one workshop with her last year), Davina Fear, Millie Holloman, and Kelly Moore. I have wanted to attend forever, but it just wasn’t the right time. If you want to read the questionnaire I had to fill out they posted on the workshop blog, click here! You might just find out something new about me!

Tonight….

admin — Mon, 25 May 2009 03:55:56 +0000

Ok- The quality isn’t great, but you get the idea…. how can you not believe in our Creator? I took this quick shot in our front yard after sunset- we were blesssed with good rain this weekend, shortly after we baled hay!

Senior Ads

admin — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:54:54 +0000

Just wanted to share a couple of senior yearbook ads I built for some SHS kids…..

Jennifer & Zack- Maternity

admin — Wed, 20 May 2009 02:42:38 +0000

Ok- This is the cutest couple you have ever seen. You could see just how in love they are and the excitement over baby. Zack took care of Jennifer all night long….We dodged lightning and storms all evening because we just couldn’t put the shoot off any longer. Baby Erwin will arrive almost two weeks after our session. They will soon meet baby Emma or Ethan- they wanted that element of surprise. So after finding out that baby is breech, she is scheduled for a c-section on Thursday. Good luck guys! Here are a few of my favorites- there were too many to choose from!

ps- there will be a newborn session to follow, so stay tuned!

An Old Farmer’s Advice

admin — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:11:19 +0000

This is a great email I got from my cousin today…..

An Old Farmer’s Advice

* Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
*Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.
*Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.* Meanness don’t jes’ happen overnight.
* Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.

* A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
* Words that soak into your ears are whispered…not yelled.

* Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
* It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge
* You cannot unsay a cruel word.* Every path has a few puddles.
* When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

* The best sermons are lived, not preached.
* Most of the stuff people worry about ain’t never gonna happen anyway.
* Don’t judge folks by their relatives.
* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.

* Don’t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t bothering you none.
* Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a Rain dance.
* If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.
* Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
* The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin’.
* Always drink upstream from the herd.
* Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

* Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back in.
* If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.

* Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
–

Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.

Meghan- Senior

admin — Mon, 18 May 2009 03:23:05 +0000

Meghan had her session a while back, and I’m just getting to post these- I’ve been so swamped this month. All you seniors keep checking back, I’ll slowly but surely get them posted!

Richard & Paula- Engagement

admin — Fri, 15 May 2009 04:17:15 +0000

I have meant to post this for a while, but just got around to it…. Paula is a vet tech at the clinic my sister works for, Bandera Vet Clinic. When Hayden and I went down to visit Lauren a few months ago, we had this session. The three kids are Paula’s, and she and Richard plan to get married next month. We were at Richard’s family ranch outside of town- it was absolutely beautiful! A great change of scenery…. What a beautiful family they will be! Best wishes!

Lilly blows bubbles!

admin — Wed, 13 May 2009 01:49:58 +0000

She never ceases to amaze us…. look at how big she has gotten!!!

Happy Mother’s Day!

admin — Sun, 10 May 2009 22:03:21 +0000

Sweetness……. pure heaven! This is the treat I found on my porch Friday that started out my Mother’s Day weekend right. I think I survived on pure sugar this weekend- good for the mind, not so good for the behind! My in-laws sent these beauties for me- thanks so much!

Wow- what a crazy time it is for me right now. I have been blessed by a growing business, a VERY supportive husband that is so good to me, and family, too. But today I’m reminded that it is a priviledge to be the mother of my great kids. As my father has said before, “My quiver is full!” The only thing I don’t seem to have enough of is time…. It seems like my family (and house, laundry, etc.) has suffered the last few weeks, and I need to somehow learn to manage my time better. I’m very thankful for my mother and mother in law- they both help out so much, as well as the rest of my family. Happy Mother’s Day!

Rein in Cancer- Check out this gorgeous gal!!!

admin — Thu, 07 May 2009 22:03:16 +0000

Shorty of Shorty’s Hattery in Oklahoma asked me to photograph this beautiful performance prospect to use in advertising for the raffle they are holding. Shorty lost her sister Shirley to breast cancer and in her memory she is working to raise money to support other patients struggling to beat cancer. The money will go directly to the Shirley Bowman Endowed Fund at the OU Cancer Institute.

From the NRHA Website: “Rein in Cancer and rally around a cause that touches so many of our fellow reiners and friends. Be sure to get a raffle ticket for Shortys Dream – a two-year-old dun filly with 90 days of training and a 100x hat from Shorty’s Cowboy Hattery to be given away on Friday, June 26. All proceeds from the $10 ticket goes to Rein In Cancer. “

*CLICK HERE for more information and chance to win this beautiful mare and support a wonderful cause! A chance to win this mare is only $10!

Alexandria- Senior

admin — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:23:07 +0000

Alexandria- isn’t she beautiful? This gal has sass- wonder where she gets that from, her MOTHER possibly? I can say that- her mama Kit is a good friend of mine! Kit has always been so supportive of me and all my endeavors. We had so much fun- I love all the great clothes these girls are bringing for their sessions. Good luck Alex! Here are some of my favorites- I could have posted them all……….

Justin & Jordan- Engagement

admin — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:59:15 +0000

This cute couple is getting married this fall- meet Justin and Jordan. Justin is the son of some friends of ours Dick and Christie Daniels of Stephenville. And Jordan is the daughter of Chuck & Kristie Peterson, most of you know Kristie as a multiple WPRA World Champion and million dollar cowgirl. Miss Jordan is a very accomplished barrel racer and trainer with many titles to her name as well, so mama better make some room at the top pretty soon! Justin is an avid and accomplished roper himself. I love the opportunity to shoot people with their horses and other four-legged critters- these animals are our lives and rightly do belong in the mix. So don’t ever hesitate to ask to bring them along! We had alot of fun during the session, but you can see they felt most comfortable at the end in their jeans and with the horses! Best wishes to you both!

Off to Hawaii… and a few Sneak Peeks!

admin — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:45:33 +0000

Tony and I are headed out to Maui, Hawaii tomorrow for a week! We are so excited. Our friends Kary and Robyn invited us to go with them while Kary teaches a clinic and gives lessons at the Piiholo Ranch- click here to visit their website. In the meantime, email me with any questions, bookings, etc, and I’ll return them the first week of May. I’m leaving you with a sneak peek at some fun shoots I had the last week with more to come when I get back…..

Justin and Jordan- Engagement Session….

Danielle- Senior Session…

Meghan- Senior Session…

Alexandria- Senior Session…

Ranch 108 Media Kit

admin — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:28:22 +0000

Here is a sample of the endless possibilities there are for Media Kits. I recently completed this project for our friends Kary and Robyn McNeill at Ranch 108 and the Reined Rope Horse Clinics and Camps. Keep them in mind for any of your performance training and learning needs whether it is for you, your horse, or your family.

Stephenville Girl Scouts

admin — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 21:43:20 +0000

I had a fun shoot with the Stephenville Girl Scouts this week. They are so cute and full of life! They are going to record some songs for a cd and needed some fun shots for the cover. Here are a few cute ones…

Lauren & Brody Engagement

admin — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:12:53 +0000

This is the CUTEST, SWEETEST, most IN LOVE couple you will ever see! Lauren is the daughter of a dear friend of mine Jon Anne, and her dad Mike is the Pastor at Cottonwood Baptisit Church of Dublin. Lauren and Brody came to me in a pinch needing ONE picture to put on their wedding invitation. As you will soon see with my bad need lately to post an abundance of pictures, that we came up with too many to choose from. I guess there could be worse things in life, right? It’s kinda hard to take a bad picture of two good-looking, happy people…. You will also see the fun custom invitaion I designed for them, too. Thanks to you both for a fun shoot, and may God bless your marriage! Best wishes! Here are the favorites of the favorites….

Prayers for Dually

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:31:30 +0000

My sister’s baby dog (and I’m not kidding you, he’s her CHILD) got snake bit this afternoon…… Please keep him in your prayers. They live in Millsap, so she got him to Aledo Vet Clinic to get him stabilized before she headed on in to Dad in FW at the clinic. The doctors and staff took very good care of him, and he may not have made it this far if it were not for their exceptional care. He’s not out of the woods yet- the bite is above his right eye, and he has alot of swelling in his face/neck. I’ll keep you posted on his recovery. In the meantime here are some cute shots of him from last weekend while we were dying Easter eggs- and yes, those are egg stickers on his head!

Dually, AKA Doodie, Precious, etc………….

*** Wednesday update: Dually is better today- long road to recovery ahead, but he’s stable!

***Thursday update: Hayden has stayed at our parents’ home here at the ranch for the last two days so that she could be close by to Dad in case of an emergency during the night. This is a picture taken this afternoon on their way out to head home. You can see the bite is above his right eye. He looks really good considering his condition. Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers!

Katie Parker- SHS Senior

admin — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:09:45 +0000

From the previous entry, this is Miss Katie. OK- Get ready for a long post- I couldn’t narrow it down, so you are getting all my favorites! These are the rest from our shoot last week….

Katie- Senior SHS sneak peek!

admin — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:59:54 +0000

Meet Katie- she’s a senior at Stephenville HS & on her way to Texas A&M! We had so much fun- her mom Karen has been counting down the days for this shoot. We had to reschedule a few times due to the HIGH WINDS we have been putting up with around here. Anyway, this is also a short post on before and after- you will see the image you initailly receive straight out of the camera, and then the second one is manipulated in photoshop to really punch up the color and bring out the subject. Once you receive your images on cd, you can pick your favorites and have me edit/crop them for an additional cost. As many images as you receive, it would not be very good use of time to edit all of them this way initially. There are so many fun filters and options for different images. It’s definitely worth the little extra on images you have enlarged or anything that goes to press. So keep in mind this option when you go to have your images printed- either at your lab or through mine. I’ll be posting more on Katie soon!

Hoppy Easter!!!

admin — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 04:34:02 +0000

I know this is a late post, but It’s been kinda crazy around here. What a wonderful weekend- spending time with my family and celebrating Easter. Of course there are all the traditional things that go along with it- eggs, bunnies, chicks, etc…. but the real meaning of Easter is precious- the gift of eternal life with our Savior. We got some much needed rain, but thunderstorms that force children into the parent’s bed don’t make it very easy for the Easter Bunny to do his/her job!!!! I think that was a purely intentional funny joke by the Big Guy Upstairs!

Here are a few pics from our egg-dying fun….

Lilly is a …..PIG????

admin — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:26:23 +0000

Ok- Nobody tell her, but Lilly is a PIG. Not a dog, like she thinks. Nor is she a cat, since she has taken over the donut cat bed- which, by the way she has gotten way too big for that, too. She will belly up to a bowl full of (rhymes with Murina- we can’t say the P word around here) dog food, but not the specialty ADM pig feed! I’m including a pic I took a few weeks back of a few of her beautiful relatives we saw on our neighbor’s place. I hate to say it, but feral hogs are so ugly- check out the big nasty on the left. Sorry Lilly, you are just like a lot of other animals that are sooo cute as babies until….. they grow up! We still love her, though!

Equine Sports Reproduction

admin — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 02:47:12 +0000

I have been working with the fine folks over at Equine Sports Reproduction in Weatherford for the last couple of years on their stallion roster ad. I love this year’s ad- maybe because it has so much color and one of our cute Sprat fillies in the background. Love those babies!

TSU Yearbook Staff

admin — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 01:50:29 +0000

Last week I had the privilege of working with the Tarleton State University yearbook staff and some friends. We spent a couple of hours working on getting to know the camera a little better and any questions I may have answers for. As you can tell by the group shot outside it was very windy and cold, so we spent most the afternoon inside working with available light. This was my first attempt at teaching a group of people, and I was really terrified I wouldn’t have all the answers they needed. It ened up being alot of fun and they were all like sponges- I love the fact that I was in their place not too long ago myself. There is always room for growth and new things to learn! Thanks guys!

A Bittersweet Shoot… the Lueck Family

admin — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:26:11 +0000

Julie- always such a nice person to me, and an inspiration as I was trying to grow my own business. And here she is, leaving us for Oklahoma! Julie Jacques-Lueck, as most of you know her…. and her very successful photography business she ran out of 4 Kids Only children’s boutique in Stephenville. They have decided to move to Oklahoma to keep the family together as her husband Fred has found a good job up there. She has always been known for her beautiful family and children’s portraiture both in the studio and out, most notably the Texas bluebonnet locations. I am sorry that I didn’t get the chance to know her better, and her beautiful family… I do know that she has always been kind, and more than willing to share any knowledge she had with me. I am severely lacking in everything she is so good at- especially those beautiful studio shots! So, I really wanted to give Julie and her family some fun memories of Texas to have, but really the main reason is because it is very rare that we photographers/mothers get in FRONT of the lens and have our pictures taken! If anything, we need to do it for our children……. here are some of my favorites!

Sarah, Karina, and Marissa…..

What a beautiful family…..

Funny faces…… these girls are so photogenic- they know how to work that camera! Oh wait, that’s right, their MOM is a photographer!

I LOVE this shot of the girls jumping across the hay!

Ok- I really think this would make a great Christmas card- check out Mom & Dad’s kissing shadow on the horse’s back!!

Thank you Julie- what an honor it was to photograph your wonderful family- good luck in OK!

Miss Camilla

admin — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 03:28:15 +0000

Well, it’s that time again…. I got to shoot the beautiful, sweet, fun Miss Camilla. She is the sweetest thing, and so much fun to work with. She reminds me alot of my son Carson. Here are a few of my favorites….

Maya Angelou poem

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:27:07 +0000

I received this neat poem from a good friend today- thought I would share it with you….

BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN SISTER
By Maya Angelou

‘A woman’s heart should be so hidden in Christ
That a man should have to seek Him first to find her.’

When I say… ‘I am a Christian’ I’m not shouting ‘I’m clean living,’
I’m whispering ‘I was lost, Now I’m found and forgiven.’

When I say… ‘I am a Christian’ I don’t speak of this with pride.
I’m confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say… ‘I am a Christian’ I’m not trying to be strong.
I’m professing that I’m weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say.. ‘I am a Christian’ I’m not bragging of success.
I’m admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say… ‘I am a Christian’ I’m not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.

When I say… ‘I am a Christian’ I still feel the sting of pain…
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say… ‘I am a Christian’ I’m not holier than thou,
I’m just a simple sinner Who received God’s good grace, somehow!

Pretty is as Pretty does… But beautiful is just plain beautiful!

Baby Ethan

admin — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:13:41 +0000

This is baby Ethan- he belongs to a childhood friend of mine, MC, and her husband Ben. Don’t you just want to eat him up? He has eyes and lashes to die for. This is a post with several shoots included- an infant session, one at 6 months with this cousin Barrett and his mama, then the last shoot at 9 months. Love those babies!!

these are a few from his newborn shoot….

cousin Barrett and his mama Monica…..

the cousins- they were born a month or so apart….

this is from our 9 month shoot at their house- check out his wonderful nursery!

Lilly goes to MM Show & Tell

admin — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 02:45:24 +0000

Last Friday Carson took Lilly to show and tell at school. He had talked it up all week long, so she was eagerly anticipated by all his classmates. The kids all sat in a circle and she made the rounds!

Ashley

admin — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:42:24 +0000

This is one of my favorite shoots… Ashley graduated from Tarleton last December. She’s such a pretty girl, and we had some great locations to work with. Good luck Ashley!

Meet Lilly… the pig!

admin — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:49:51 +0000

Ok- So I’ve been waiting to introduce you to Lilly- just wanted to make sure this little creature had a good chance of survival before you get all “emotionally attached” like us! Last week Dad was out on the gator in the one of the back wheat pastures, and drove up on this baby- no other pigs in sight. His bird dogs promptly recovered her and brought her to him- just like hunting quail, dove or pheasant, right? Well, we had a hard time the first few days figuring out just how to keep her alive and eating. She took a major turn on Saturday and went from surviving to thriving. She makes THE BIGGEST MESS when she is eating- true to her kind, she eats like a pig! And here she is in all her glory….

Lilly decided Pete makes a great step stool….

Pete decided he needed to help her “Clean up”…

She tries really hard to keep up, and does a pretty good job!

a boy and his pig…..

Mark & Nancy Kate

admin — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:38:10 +0000

Look at this BEAUTIFUL couple! Meet Mark and Nancy Kate- they are getting married later this year. Mark is my friend Courtney’s brother-in-law. We had so much fun- but not as much as their little Cocker Spaniel puppy- she went nonstop the whole time! Warning: this post is really long (I couldn’t pick just a few- there were so many fun shots), and really loaded with lots of KISSES!!!!

this is one of my favorites…..

under the mistletoe!!!!

still for one second…..

another favorite….

Another pretty boy….

admin — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:51:42 +0000

We had another little stud colt yesterday- this one will most likely be a bay roan like his mama.

and this is the one born last week- isn’t it amazing how quick they fill out! so much fun…

Secrets

admin — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:00:10 +0000

Meet the Henleys…..

Looks like they’re up to something, huh? This mare is owned by the Shaws who bought her as a weanling from us. She is, of course, named after my Henley…. She’s also a full sister to the new baby posted a few days ago. I love the interaction in this pic, and there is a series of them, but this one really speaks for itself. They look like kid sisters about to get in BIG trouble! Today is crazy for me- I’m vaccinating all (and I mean ALL 35+ mules horses), with the help of some friends. Wish us luck!!!

In need of a good horse…

admin — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:06:04 +0000

My friend Colleen of Equine Art Works, who designs my wonderful websites, needs help finding a trustworthy mount for trail riding and HIPPO therapy. See her note to me below and contact her at equineartworks@gmail.com if you know of anything that will fit their program. Thanks!

“I promised Rosey, who is training Ally, that I would ask you a favor. If you hear of any really nice older AQH geldings that need a great home could you let me know? Her pony is just being “a pony” and hates to show. Ariel LOVES to be a hippo/tr horse so Rosey is donating her back to the stable (she bought her from the stable last spring for $1K) and is in the market for a new partner. The big issue is that she needs a horse that is good in a TR/Hippo setting and loves trails, possibly showing and just being an all around great horse. It would be a horse that Rosey adn Ally could work with, and take to the local shows and just plain old enjoy.

Finding a horse that can be all those things is tough, and because we have the Unadilla auction house in our area we tend to be over run with horses that people know nothing about. Or we have the tracks all over so we are overrun with 17hh OTTB behemouths. That isn’t the kind of horse we can have at the barn…not with the little ones, wheelchairs, walkers etc. We have a small (read that as TINY) budget since we have to add travel into the hunt now, but it would be worth it to us to look well outside the tri-state area to find the perfect horse!” -Colleen

Our first baby is here!

admin — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:07:42 +0000

Well folks, things in my life are about to hit a fast forward at the barn. Longer & warmer days, babies hitting the ground- it’s time for the breeding season to start! Our first little guy is by Sprat, and out of “Penny”- he has several full siblings that are making great performance and rope horses. Lots of expectations for this one! We have also introduced our new stallion Shiner. He came all the way from California! We were looking for a stud to cross back on Sprat mares. He’s really cool- great color, good performance/cowhorse pedigree. We’re really excited about him. Kary McNeill has him in training right now- we hope he’ll make a nice rope horse. I’ll post more pictures on him later. It is also the time of year for me to cowgirl-up and start getting our 2 y/o colts going! Yikes! I’m such a chicken… that’s why I have several great guys that help me get them started- I’ll post more on them later, too- they’re my HEROES!

Happy Birthday Haydie!

admin — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:26:18 +0000

Well, my sister Hayden has a birthday today. Isn’t she beautiful??? She is on the road to recovery from a previously injured back that was just diagnosed as officially “broken”. Hopefully she can wind down and rest her body since we are both not working in Fort Worth at the clinic anymore. We have had a very stressful last couple of weeks during the process of our Dad’s veterinary business changing hands. As many of you already know, we are a very close family, and we have been raised knowing nothing but University Animal Hospital as our rock. We have many precious memories growing up in and out of the clinic as kids, and more recently working there as adults. Dad has felt like it was time to move on to the next season of his life, and get closer to the ranch, and the Lord provided him a buyer in his associate and friend Dr. John Minnerly. Change is hard, though- very scary, yet very exciting. Dad always says “God is in control”- and we have to take comfort in that. We have been truly blessed by the clinic- it has provided us well, and we have made so many lifelong friends that we will always cherish. Anyway, Dad and Hayden are off to a Father/Daughter weekend retreat with Dudley Hall of Successful Christian Living Ministries. Have fun guys- love you both & Happy Birthday Haydie!

ps- I smell a Lida’s strawberry cake!

Hello Old Friends, and New!

admin — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 03:40:34 +0000

Well, I’m officially back from my several month hiatus from the blog. Sorry folks, too much craziness around here, especially leading up to and during the holidays. I’m so excited about this new blog/website (yes, there will eventually be only one site that combines both- how cool is that?) my dear friend Colleen at Equine Art Works has put together for me. If you have any web needs at all, horsey or not, please give her a shout- she does AMAZING work. Eventually I’ll get my galleries updated- out with the old, in with the new! Thanks for your patience- it will be worth the wait!

Mommy are you too busy?

admin — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:50:00 +0000

That is what my two year old daughter asked me about a month ago as I was sitting at my desk, working on who knows what “important” project…… “Mommy are you too busy?” Pretty sad, huh? All she wanted was for me to read a book to her. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our fast-paced lives, that we fail to recognize the most important things in our life, sitting right in front of us- family. I was having lunch with a great friend of mine today discussing this very thing. At the end of the day, all the material things we posses or desire have little importance when compared to faith, family, and friends. I hope that you all take the time to slow down for a minute and live in the moment. Life is precious, and it can all be gone in the blink of an eye. So please forgive me if my blogging has taken a few drops down on my priority list, but I have found that my life has hit fast-forward for the moment. I promise to upload new pics as soon as I can. I have had lots of fun shoots lately- beautiful light and colors this time of year, as well as beautiful people and animals…… I can’t complain- life is good, I have been truly blessed by faith, family, and friends.

My little sis, Lauren, DVM

admin — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:13:00 +0000

Well, I finally had a minute to work on these pics, and I still don’t have all of them ready. I’ll come back later and add more (famous last words!). I’m headed out again today to go visit my little sister Lauren. She graduated from Vet School at A&M in May- we are all so proud, especially Dad. For those of you who don’t know, he’s a vet, too. He as been practicing small animal medicine at his own practice in Fort Worth for over 30 years! My middle sister Hayden works for him full time, and I go in once a week to manage the inventory and swing as a tech or receptionist. So, needless to say, we are all somehow involved in the veterinary industry. Lauren got a job in Bandera working for Dr. Richardson at his mixed practice, and yes, she loves the pigs, goats, cattle and horses, as well as our given affection for the small animal companions! She is a wonderful doc, and the best thing is that she inherited our dad’s great people skills. Bandera is one lucky little town to have won the bragging rights to Dr. Lauren Adams!

Curtis Hill Fundraiser

admin — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:22:00 +0000

Wow! What a great guy- meet Curtis Hill. He is the son of a friend of mine, Mary. Curtis has Cerebral Palsy as a result of being born prematurely and suffering a cerebral hemorrhage at 3 days old. In more recent years, he has endured several surgeries to correct his hips and back. He is an inspirational young man who has overcome many obstacles in his life, but they haven’t slowed him down much. Curtis just graduated High School and has plans to attend college. His future plans are to become a preacher. His family is in need of a vehicle now to accommodate his new wheelchair. There will be a fundraiser held at the Stephenville Park on August 13th, and will feature a concert with Ricky Skaggs. They are still accepting donations, and if you need more information contact Mary at 254-485-0635. I have donated a photo shoot, so if you have been thinking about booking a shoot, or need family pics this fall for the holidays, this would be a great opportunity! Check out this good-looking guy- I’ll post more later….

ps- We’re off on vacation to San Diego and Disneyland tomorrow! Yeah!!!

McDougal Family

admin — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:33:00 +0000

This family came together to celebrate their grandparent’s 60th wedding anniversary- something so special in today’s world. What a great example to set for the future generations. Shelley Barrett of Cowboy Capital Chiropractic asked me to document the occasion and get some family pics- what a treasure…. Thanks for having me!

Becky & Alan

admin — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:29:00 +0000

This family was so much fun! Becky and Alan plan to wed this next November, and brought her daughters Madison and Allyson along for their engagement session. These girls were too cute!

hello

admin — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:19:00 +0000

Well, it’s been a CRAZY fun start to the summer around here. I’m afraid dear friends, my posts will be very sporatic the next couple of months. I have had some fun shoots lately, from baby to engagement/family, to horses & kids…. lots of kids. Carson has been at camp at Ranch 108 with Kary McNeill- Reined Rope Horse kid’s camp. They have had a tremendous start to the year and the camps are filling up so quickly, they are having to add dates. Check out their site at www.reinedropehorse.com. Tony and I just got back from a long weekend in Vegas- talk about CRAZY! We were celebrating 10 years- yay! Time flies, and yes we have had fun. Neither one of us had ever been- needless to say, we got an eyeful! So I need to get over myself, and just go ahead and post images the old way until I get my new blog up and running. You come here for the pictures, right? Not to listen to me ramble…… So I have some personal stuff I still haven’t processed starting back in April! Lauren’s graduation from vet school, PBR, Wynona, etc. And of course my recent shoots….. See ya soon, next time with pics, I PROMISE!

Things

admin — Mon, 26 May 2008 03:37:00 +0000

Ok- I’m behind again. Sorry! I have several shoots to post, just can’t find the time (or maybe I’m putting it aside util I make sure and have my “bigger image” issue figured out!). This week will be crazy, too. Carson gets out of school, and we jump head first into summer and start with swim lessons. I have several shoots the end of the week that I hope my new lenses get here in time for- the 85mm 1.2L, and the 24mm 1.4L….. Canon of course! I’ve been saving up- and I’m so excited!

Is it bigger?

admin — Sat, 17 May 2008 04:49:00 +0000

This is a re-post of an old blog pic. I’m trying to figure out how to post these images so that they are much bigger………. have patience- I’ll figure it out! The blog may look funny for a while until I complete the “makeover”!

*Update*- This little note is for any of you who are trying to figure this larger image stuff out, too. I found this link to Blue Orchid Blog. Let me know if you find anything else out that may help!
ps- Thanks Lauren for your help, too!!!!!

Reasons NOT To Assault A Ranch Woman

admin — Fri, 16 May 2008 01:11:00 +0000

Ok- This is totally worth the read, and there will be many of you, my friends, who this hits home with! It is a forwarded email I got, so there was no one to give credit to as the author. This one’s for all the girls!

Reasons NOT To Assault A Ranch Woman

Violence does not scare us. We ride 1,500 pound horses and stare down an alley full of mad, snot-slinging cows that weigh over 1000 pounds. We run our horses full speed holding our breath and gritting our teeth and still know whose face was at the first barrel. We’ve held down calves that outweigh you by four times.

Don’t try to intimidate us. Most of our husbands stand a head and shoulders taller, outweigh us by 75 pounds and we aren’t scared of them. Why would be we be frightened by some gang member or thief? Every time we work cows, our husbands threaten us if we don’t get out of the gate. They threaten us if we don’t stay in the gate. We are pretty much not impressed by threats. Plus, if you get much closer we may give you some threats of our own to consider and be able to back it up.

Don’t wave that knife at me, boy. I castrate when we brand, throw the ‘mountain oysters’ on the fire AND eat them, dirt and all. You probably don’t want to go there.

Don’t threaten to steal my pickup. I work for a living, so have insurance. The chances of you being able to drive a standard are next to none and there is no spare. I’ve walked home from the back side of the ranch, I can walk from here.

You want my purse? Take my purse. It has little money in it because, as I mentioned, I work for a living. You will find various receipts for feed and vet supplies, some dried up gum and the notice for my next teeth cleaning. The only ‘drugs’ you will find is something that is either aspirin, bute, or a calf-scours pill but its been in there so long I’ve forgotten which it is.

Don’t threaten to hurt me. I may look old and fragile to you, but I can ride horseback for 10 hours, with nothing to eat or drink. I have been kicked, bucked off, run over, and mucked out. I’ve had worse things happen to me in the corrals than you have experienced in the little gang wars you’ve been through, and still cooked supper for a crew.

You may whip me, son, but you’ll be a tired, sore S.O.B. in the morning and yes, I will remember your face because I am used to knowing which calf belongs to which cow and which colt belongs to which mare. I’ll also remember which direction you went and what you were wearing because I’ve tracked many a cow with less information than you’ve given me.

You are not going to scare me with that little ‘Saturday Night Special’ when I have a .38 in my boot and a knife in my pocket. You need not think I won’t shoot you. I’ve shot several coyotes and numerous rattlesnakes. I put down my horse when he broke his leg and shot my pet dog when he killed some chickens and sheep. Don’t think I won’t consider you a rabid dog and go on my way.

Don’t mess with this ranch woman!

~authour unknown~

Jessica Taylor

admin — Thu, 15 May 2008 02:38:00 +0000

I did these pics for Jessica last month- just playing catch-up! Another SHS Senior… What a beautiful girl!

Senior Yearbook Ads

admin — Thu, 15 May 2008 02:32:00 +0000

This is the fun stuff- I love taking the pictures I’ve shot with these great kids and turning them into a collage of memories. Here are a few for SHS…..

SHS Glamour Girls- Prom!

admin — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:20:00 +0000

Ok- Can you say beautiful??? Check out these girls all dressed up and going to the prom- with each other- NO BOYS! Who needs guys anyway, right? Especially when you have your best friends to hang with all night! The hair and makeup was amazing, and their dresses so colorful and unique to each one. I’m proud to have been a part of their evening- what a pleasure to photograph these beauties. Kinda reminds me of all the Disney Princesses!

Pretty Girls

admin — Tue, 06 May 2008 01:49:00 +0000

Once again, I had the opportunity to photograph the beautiful Buchanan girls Camilla and Corinne. They were in their Easter dresses, and looked so cute! These were also taken right before the “weed kill”. They are girly girls all the way, and you can’t help but love their innocence and curiosity. Love ya’ll!

Amelia

admin — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:00:00 +0000

Meet Amelia- she is my ex-babysitter, always best friend’s, cousin (TMI?). Anyway, she is the last one to catch the beautiful “weeds” in our coastal fields that were promptly killed by my husband this week. What a beautiful girl, with a great smile. Another Stephenville High School Senior!

Travis & Colby

admin — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:38:00 +0000

Check out these cute guys! Travis and Colby are both football players for Stephenville High School, and I’m sure that’s not the end of their talents. You can tell these guys are close buds. We had so much fun and they were great sports about trying out new locations. I’m finally getting closer to being caught up on my shoots- thanks again for your patience!

I’m so behind!

admin — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:28:00 +0000

The reason why I haven’t posted in a week (and I was doing so good for a while!) is because I’m so behind, and I have nothing to show right now. Thank you all for being so patient! I should have a bunch done by the end of this weekend. Then I’ll be posting some really cool stuff- it’s worth the wait!

Baby, Baby- finally!

admin — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 03:09:00 +0000

We FINALLY had another baby yesterday. It has been 6 weeks since the first five, so now there are nine more to go! I couldn’t resist taking too many pictures of this pretty girl. She is by Sprat, and out of “Ellie Mae” or Miss Fourteen Carat to AQHA. Once she laid down to sleep, I was able to get up closer, but as you will see at the end, it was not without mama’s watchful eye!

Where’s Miss Kitty?

admin — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:25:00 +0000

I’m still working on tweaking my new workflow when processing images. I took these cute pics a few weeks ago. Can you find Miss Kitty in the first pic?